ML19330A995
| ML19330A995 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 07/09/1980 |
| From: | Snyder B Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Mcglynn W AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8007300006 | |
| Download: ML19330A995 (2) | |
Text
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION y
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- E WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 L
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g Mr. William J. McGlynn 2602 Pineford Drive Middletown, Pennsylvania 17057
Dear Mr. McGlynn:
I am writing in response to your letter to the Commission regarding the i
accident at the Three Mile Island nuclear station.
I regret that this answer to your letter has been delayed for so long. 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.
With regard to your comments concerning the possible future operation of Three Mile Island Unit 1, the Comission has ordered that a public hearing be conducted to determine whether the facility 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 con-cerning the restart 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 Atomic Safety and Licensing Board has' indicated that NRC should 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 re-views 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.
In its Statement of Policy and Notice of Intent to Prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement of November 21, 1979, the Commission stated that the staff would prepare a programmatic environmental impact statement on the decontamination and disposal of radioactive wastes resulting from the accident at Three Mile Island Unit 2.
The statement emphasizes the Commission's inten-tion to coordinate its actions on this matter with the Presidant's Council on Environmental Quality and to provide the opportunity for public comments. The 18 00730o00f
h Mr. William J. McGlynn ~
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programmatic environmental imp,, statement will focus on the environmental issues and alternative methods associated with the performance of these clean-up activities.
The goal of the U.S. Nuclear Waste Management Program is to provide assurance that existing and future nuclear waste from military and civilian activities, including spent fuel from the once-through nuclear power cycle, can be isolated from the biosphere so as to pose no significant threat to public health and safety and the environment. The U.S. NRC is responsible for providing the framework of criteria and regulations that will ensure that the disposal methods developed for all types of radioactive waste are consistent with the achievement of this goal of safe, long-term waste disposal.
We have taken a number of actions with respect to all nuclear power plants as a result of the accident at Three Mile Island. Specifically, full-time inspec-tors have been assigned to each operating plant utilizing Babcock and Wilcox pressurized water reactors like those at Three Mile Island.
In addition, all these plants were shut down and the licensees of each plant were instructed to provide us with additional information about their facilities in light of the accident. After review of the information provided, orders were issued to the licensees that required them to make immediate plant modifications, to provide additional operator training, and to reverse certain operating procedures.
Additional long-term actions were ordered to further upgrade certain plant systems and operator training and procedures. All of these plants, except of course the Three Mile Island plant, have complied with the orders and have been permitted to resume operation.
You also ask about evacuation plans and routes in the event of an accident at some time in the future. Propose': evacuation routes for citizens in Pennsyl-vania are currently being developed by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency. Specific information about proposed evacuation routes can be obtained from the following source:
Colonel Orren K. Henderson Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120 I 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, not only at Three Mile Island, but also at all nuclear power plants.
Sincerely, P
Bernard J. Snyder, Program Director Three Mile Island Program Office Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Erclosure: Commission Order dated August 9,1979
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