ML19323E941
| ML19323E941 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 05/06/1980 |
| From: | Dircks W NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Goodling W HOUSE OF REP. |
| References | |
| FOIA-80-274 NUDOCS 8005280155 | |
| Download: ML19323E941 (3) | |
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UNITED STATES
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G1 6 13B0 Docket No. 50-320 The Honorable William Goodling United States House of Representatives Washington, D. C.
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Dear Congressman Goodling:
I am writing in response to your note of March 21, 1980 to the Nuclear Regulatory Comission (NRC) regarding the letter of March 7,1980 from your constituent, Ms. Joanne Piccolo.
I will address her connents and questions as they pertain to NRC in the order in which she presented them.
She states that NRC's staff and Metropolitan Edison recomended the purging of krypton from the reactor building without considering alternative methods.
NRC has issued an Environmental Assessment and two addenda that discuss possible alternatives for disposing of the krypten. Copies of the Assessment and both addenda are enclosed if you wish to forward them to her.
She next asks about prevailing winds during krypton releases.
Should the Comission decide that purging the reactor building is the best alternative for removing the krypton, the purge would take place only when moderate to strong winds favored dispersion of the krypton. Should favor 251e weather conditions cease, the purge would be stopped.
Weather data gathered t,efore and during purging periods would be used to ensure that radiological exposures not exceed the appropriate Federal regulations in 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix I, and 40 CFR Part 190.10.
Ms. Piccolo also asks if persons in the Three Mile Island area will be monitored for possible health effects. Although 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 f acility, 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 pro-viding an adequate registry for potential future studies of health effects. The 8005280
a - a, The Honorable William Goodling Department of Health of the Connonwealth 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, congential and postnatal thyroid diseases, mental health and cytogenetic abnormalities.
Althcugh it is unlikely that these studies will be able to unravel the complex etiology of these health effects, the NRC is monitoring the studies and assisting where possible through its Radiological Health Standards Branch.
I trust that this information adequately responds to Ms. Piccolo's concerns.
Sincerely,
]signediT. A.Rehm William J. Dircks, Acting Executive Director for Operations
Enclosures:
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- 1. Incoming Letter dated 4/11/80
- 2. NUREG-0652 and Two Addenda l
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1108 Yvarden Drivo Camp Hill, Pa.
17011 March 7, 1980 Honorable William Goodling House of Representatives 1713 Longworth Building Washington, D. C.
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Dear Congressman Goodling:
I as appalled that you haven't done anything to stop the venting of KRYPTON CAS into the atmosphere.
The NRC and Met Ed haven't even considered the alternative methods of disposing of the KRYPTON as they would be far more costly. Venting is the CHEAPEST and EASIEST way for the utility company to get rid of the KRYPTON, and they will sacrifice our health and safety for cost. They have deliberately ignored the other methods knowing that the situation will worsen and we will be forced into the venting procedure.
They could have started to inple=ent one of the other methods months ago, but haven't done anything ex-cept make jackasses of the public.
What happens when the prevailing winde stop and the radiation falls to the ground? Not only will humans absorb the radiation, but also the live-stock and vegetation which will again be passed on to humans by food consump-tien.
I am outraged that the public will be forced into absorbing this poison not once, but possibly twice, and you are responsible.
This is the United States, not Russia, where they force the public into accepting a situation such as this lunacy.
Where will you and your family be during the KRYPTON releases?
Will you flee the area? Will you travel a few hundred miles so you don't have to absorb or inhale the deadly poison?
What is this, a test area? Are you watching us closely to see how many of us develop health problems in the next few years? Are we guinea pigs?
I think we are, and you don't give a damn.
All you have done since the March 28th near disaster, is sponser bills that provide for disposal of nuclear waste.
That's fine, but at this particular time I think you should be fighting to stop the venting of the deadly poison that is threatening public health and safety.
I voted for you because I thought you were honest atd decent, but your lack of interest has proved otherwise.
PLEASE stop this nuclear madness before there is a disaster. We are at your mercy.
Sincerely,
,gs Joanne Piccolo i