ML19323C077
| ML19323C077 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 04/03/1980 |
| From: | Harold Denton Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Volpe T AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19323C078 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8005150005 | |
| Download: ML19323C077 (2) | |
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UNITED STATES 5,
p, NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION y;
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Dear Mr. Volpe:
I am writing in response to ynnr letter to tL-Nuclear Regulatory Commission regarding the accident at the Three Mile Islant nuclear plant (TMI). I regret that this answer to your letter has been delayed. The accident and its consequences have created a substantial increase in the agency's workload, which has prevented me from responding to you as promptly as I would have liked to.
I hope this response may still be useful to you even if it is too late for your project.
To respond to your question on long-range effects of the accident on the area near the plant, it is generally agreed that epidemiologic studies of the resident population of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, could not detect any excess morbidity or mortality due to radiation exposure from the accident at the Three Mile Island facility. However, the Center for Disease Control and the Pennsylvania Department of Health (with assistance from the NRC) have conducted a census of the population residing within five miles of Three Mile Island for the purpose of providing an adequate registry for potential future studies of health effects. The Department of Health of the Common-wealth of Pennsylvania also is planning to update the population registry every five years over the next three decades. In addition, the Health Department and several Pennsylvania universities are planning or already are conducting studies of health effects including pregnancy outcome, con-genital and postnatal thyroid diseases, mental health and cytogenetic abnormalities.
Although it is unlikely that these studies will be able to unravel the complex etiology of these health effects, the NP.C is monitoring the studies and assisting where possible through its Radiological Health Standards Branch.
With regard to your question about the " estimated cost of the damage on the plant," the utility estimates that it will cost about $400 million to recover and restart the plant. Plans for recovery and restart are contingent L
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on the results of the Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement and on other cleanup operations.
I am pleased to provide you with this information.
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Sincerely, A
i Harold R. Denton, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation I
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