ML19322D806
| ML19322D806 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 02/14/1980 |
| From: | Harold Denton Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Hartman C AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19322D807 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8002290196 | |
| Download: ML19322D806 (2) | |
Text
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'. E WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 February 14, 1980 Mrs. Charles R. Hartman RD 4, Box 310R Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania 17022
Dear Mrs. Hartman:
Your postcard to Commissioner Hendrie regarding the permane t shutdown of the Three Mile Island nuclear station and the release of contam aated gases from the facility has been referred to me for response.
I regrct that this answer has been delayed. The accident and its consequences have created a substan-tial increase in the agency's workload, which has prevented us from responding to you as promptly as we would have liked.
The Commission has ordered that a public hearing be conducted to detennine whether Three Mile Island Unit I should be operated and, if so, under what conditions the restart would take place.
Prior to start of the hearings, the NRC staff will conduct a review of technical information cor.cerning the re-start of Unit 1.
As part of this review,> the NRC staff will conduct meetings with the licensee in the presence of the public, and the public will be given the opportunity to raise questions and to make statements.
During the hearing, the technical issues that are appropriate to assure the public health and safety will also be addressed.
In addition, the Hearing Board may consider the psychological impact of future operation on the nearby communities. A copy of the Commission Order that outlines the issues to be considered is enclosed for your information.
With regard to Unit 2, the licensee has not yet submitted to the NRC a proposal for overall plant recovery, although the licensee is conducting feasibility studies.
It is not possible at this time to determine when such proposals for recovery may be submitted or how much time will be needed for the required reviews and approvals in connection with Unit 2's recovery.
I would note, how-ever, that the licensee's authority to operate Unit 2, except for those actions necessary to keep the reactor shut down, was suspended by Order of July 20, 1979.
With regard to your concern about the release of radioactive gases from the reactor building of TMI Unit 2, such releases are not currently permitted.
Be-fore the gases are disposed of by any method, NRC will evaluate the impact and the evaluation will be made available to the public. The Commission has also decided that concerned citizens should be given the opportunity to present their views orally at a public meeting prior to any approval of proposals to dispose k
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Mrs. Charles R. Hartman February 14, 1980 of radioactive gases in the TMI Unit 2 reactor building.
By this course of action, we will assure that a thorough assessment is completed prior to release of the contaminated gases and that the health and safety of the offsite popula-tion will be protected.
We appreciate your concerns and assure you that every effort is being made to ensure the continued protection of the health and safety of the public.
Sincerely, L
Harold R. Denton, Director f
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Enclosure:
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