ML19331D215
| ML19331D215 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 07/31/1980 |
| From: | Harris R HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES, DEPT. OF |
| To: | Ahearne J NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8008270532 | |
| Download: ML19331D215 (2) | |
Text
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h-h e,. L THE SECAETAAv OF ME A LTH AND MUM AN SE AvsCE S
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The Honorable John F.
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Chairman, United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission
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c 1717 H Street, N.W.
Wa shing to n, D. C.
20555
Dear Mr. Chairman:
Thank you for your letter of April 17 transmitting the concerns of the Special Inquiry Group of the Nuclear Regulatory L_mmission (NRC) on the Three Mile Island (TMI) accident.
I am sorry for the delay in responding to your letter.
The Department has reviewed the suggestions of the NRC's Special Inquiry Group regarding the need for public information and education and the provision of human services for comprehensive care of emotional problems.
A public ' 'gformation program is already in p'. ace for the residents of '.1I through the Governor's Advisory Panel in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
The Department is represented on that panel.
I have also asked Dr. Calvin Frederick, Chief, Disaster Assistance and Emergency Mental H<.alth, National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH), to contact Mr. Bernard Snyder to explore specific areas in which the Department might be of assistance in planning public information or human services programs.
A special program to relieve the mental health problems of the citizens in the community would be justified only in the event that existing community mental health centers and other resources are insuf ficient to meet such needs.
Such a program would be supplemental and analogous to the crisis counseling provided through Section 413 of P.L.93-288, the Disaster Relief Ac t, in the event of major Presidentially-declared disasters.
You should be aware that two Federally funded community mental health centers (C7f HC) in the TMI area and one nonfederally funded 04HC currently provide information, diagnostic counseling and referral services.
Each community health center has an emergency mental health component, which is designed to provide assistance in emergency situations.
This could include services in hospital emergency rooms or through outreach programs in the
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case of citizen relocation.
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e Page 2 - The Honorable John F.
Ahearne The National Institutes of Mental Health is supporting an investigation of stress in individuals at TMI.
This study, conducted by the University of Pittsburgh,-focuses on wrkers in the plant, mothers of young children and cental health clinics in the TMI area.
The initial data collected during the winter of 1979 and the follow-up data gathered at the time of the anniversary date of the accident are in the process of being analyzed.
The final report should be available at the end of the summer.
The Department anticipates using this information for more effective planning to address mental health and behavioral issues related to incident-specific disaster situations.
I anticipate that cur aceff will continue wrking closely with those of the NRC in this important area.
Sincerely yours, c /At u
Patricia Roberts Harris