ML19338B887
| ML19338B887 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 05/11/1979 |
| From: | Jason Wright PENNSYLVANIA, COMMONWEALTH OF |
| To: | |
| References | |
| TASK-TF, TASK-TMR NUDOCS 8001300365 | |
| Download: ML19338B887 (16) | |
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MEMO 3,y 7, 1979 suaJECT:
AGENDA Select Committee-TMI To:
Honorable Charles Mebus Chief Cleric I
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llonorable James L.
Wright, Jr.
Chairman, Select Committee - TMI 1
The following are scheduled to at car and testify before the Select Committee - TMI on May 10th and May'11th in the Majority Caucus Room.
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THURSDAY, MAY 10th Covernor Dick Thornburgh 10:00 A.M.
Lt. Governor William Scranton; III 11:00 A.M.
Colonel Oran llenderson Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency 2:00 P.M.
sIDAY, MAY lith Dr. Robert Wilburn 10:00 A.M.
Secretary of Budget & Administration N 5 01A / A) C A Ps in L 8Q' H A A R is b u n. y ; 7,g 9 s
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O COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA V'
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE - THREE MILE ISLAND Verbatim record of hearing held in the Majority Caucus,
Room, Main Capitol Building, '
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on
- Friday, May 11, 1979 12:15 P.M.
HON. JAMES L. WRIGHT, JR., Chairman Hon. Bernard F. O'Brien, Vice Chairman Hon. Nicholas B. Moehlmann, Vice Chairman Hon. Eugene Geesey, Secretary MEMBERS HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE - THREE MILE ISLAND Hon. James.D. Barber Hon. Ivan Itkin Hon. Reid L. Bennett Hon. Stanford I. Lehr Hon. Kenneth E. Brandt Hon. Joseph C. Manmiller Hon. Mark Cohen Hon. Marvin E. Miller, Jr.
Hon. Kenneth J. Cole Hon. Harold F. Mowery, Jr.
Hon. Ronald R. Cowell Hon. Jeffrey E. Piccola Hon. William DeWeese Hon. Samuel Rappaport Hon. Rudolph Dininni Hon. Stephen R. Reed Hon. Donald W. Dorr Hon. John E. Scheafter Hon. A. Carville Foster, Jr.
Hon. C. L. Schmitt Hon. Stephen F. Freind Hon. Ted Stuban Hon. Joseph M. Hoeffel, III Hon. Noah W. Wenger Hon. William K. Klingaman, Sr.
Hon. Paul J. Yahner Reported by:
Joyce Rao Schwarz O
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James L. Wright, Jr., Chairman
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4 Bernard F.0'Brien 3
l Reid L. Bennett 3
i Nicholas B. Moehlmann, 3
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i Ronald R. Cowell 4
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i Kenneth E. Brandt 5
4 l-Eugene Geesey 5
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Kenneth J. Cole 5
1 Marvin E. Miller, Jr.
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i Ted Stuban 12 f
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3 CHAIRMAN WRIGHT:
The Chair Vice Representative O'Brien.
REPRESENTATIVE O'BRIEN:
Mr. Chairman, I would like to move that Colonel Henderson be excused today.
I feel that as far as getting in the statement about the Governor and whether he made it and we feel that the ' record and the ' logs speak for itself.
As a Committee, we would like to have him come back later when we have a better chance to sort of digest some of the testimony that's been given and other witnesses that have to come.
So, I feel that we can have him come back at a later date.
REPRESENTATIVE BENNETT:
Mr. Chairman --
CHAIRMAN WRIGHT:
Representative Bennett.
REPRESENTATIVE BENNETT:
Mr. Chairman, I would like to cecond the motion made by Representative O'Brien.
At this time, I would like to enter into the official record of the Select Committee, the log of Colonel Henderson's~ activities '^ "
during that period of time.
CHAIRMAN WRIGHT:
It's so moved and seconded.
Voice all in favor.
(Ayas)
CHAIRMAN WRIGHT:
Opposed?
REPRESENTATIVE NOEHLMANN:
No.
CHAIRMAN WRIGHT:
You are excused until we call upon b
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you again at some future date, Colonel Henderson, REPRESENTATIVE BENNETT:
Mr.. Chairman, for the record, who was the descending vote?
CHAIRMAN WRIGHT:
Representative Moehlmann.
Representative Mochimann, who is the Vice Chairman of the
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Committee,' was >given an assignment 'by me ' to' set 'up meetings ' '
with the citizens in the area of Three Mile Island.
He just presented to me a written memo suggesting -- and I will read it.
" Representative Ken Brandt has requested a hearing on Wednesday, May the 30th from 2:00 P.M. until 9:00 P.M.-
at the Baimbridge Elementary School, Baimbridge, in
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Lancaster County on the east shore.
" Representative Gene Geesey has requested a hearing on Wednecday, June 6th 'at 7: 00 P.M. at the Goldsboro Fire Hall, Goldsboro, York County on the west shore."
nyob[eStionto'hbidib[theseheariNhsso~the
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public may testify?
Representative Cowell.
REPRESENTATIVE COWELL:
Mr. Chairman, did I understand you to say the first to be from 2:00 on a Wednesday af ternoon?
i CHAIRMAN WRIGHT:
That'c the suEgested time.
REPRESENTATIVE COWELL:
Is it not likely that we will be in session then?
CHAIRMAN WRIGHT:
Representative Brandt, is he here?
3 Do you want to handle that, Ken?
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Well, I don't know any more about it than you do.
We have to start sometime.
We can't make arrangements until we know we are going to be in or out of session.
REPRESENTATIVE COWELL:
Could you make it an evening
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mee' ting'like the'second one?
3 REPRESENTATIVE BRANDT:
I wanted it to start at 2:00.
I sugEested 2:00 because of this reason, we have -- I am sure Gene will concur that we have an awful lot of people that want to present their feelings and their thoughts and their concerns about TMI.
Cut that down to a 7 to 9: 00 time, it's very difficult to get everybody in.
We can push it back up to 2:00, you rill have a better chance for everybody to have the opportunity to say something.
REPRESENTATIVE COWELL:
Well, I will stay until midnight or later, but I think we do them a disservice by
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scheduling a 2:00 meeting and none of us show up and 'we,Just send a bunch of staff down there.
REPRESENTATIVE BRANDT:
Well, I really feel that if we are in session that day, then we will have to reschedule the meeting.
REPRESENTATIVE GEESEY:
Yes, I don't think I would want too many people --
REPRESENTATIVE COLE:
Mr. Chairman?
CHAIRMAN WRIGHT:
Representative Cole.
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May I suggest that we normally are here on Wednesday and second if we go with Thursday, it would be more than likely that we would not have to cancel after you have scheduled.
CHAIRMAN WRIGHT:
Any comment, Ken?
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Just pick a date.
CHAIRMAN WRIGHT:
Informally, without the need for resolution, Ken, may we chanEe that to Thursday, May 31st?
REPPISEIEATIVE BRANDT:
Gene, what day is yours, Wednesday or Thursday?
REPRESENTATIVE GEESEY:
Wednesday night.
REPRESEUTATIVE BRANDT:
Do you want --
REPRESENTATIVE COLE:
Do you have a problem with Wednesday night, Ken?
REPRESENTATIVE BRANDT:
No, other than that that is r.
.r Memorial Day week.
We might be running -- that will be our Tuesday of that week.
REPRESElEATIVE GEESEY:
No, I mean Tuesday.
REPRESE!EATIVE COLE:
No, evenings are no problem.
REPRESE?EATIVE DeWEESE:
June 6th?
CHAIRMAN WRIGHT:
Now, let's stick with Ken Brandt's request for Wednesday, May 30th, from 2:00 P.M. until 9:00 P.M, The suggestion has been made that that be changed to Thursday, May 31st.
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7 REPRESENTATIVE BRANDT:
I agree.
REPRESENTATIVE COLE:
Okay.
CHAIRMAN WRIGHT:
All right, I would like to continue along that vein.
The 2:00 P.M. to 9: 00 P.M., are you sure that you want to start at 2:00 in the afternoon?
You might be i. c.4 '..
running that meeting all by yourself,
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REPRESENTATIVE BRANDT:
I am not afraid to be in Bdmbridge by myself.
I have had 20 people come up to me since we had a mass meeting down there and said that they will want to present their thoughts.
I just don't like the idea, we r ut these meetings and I just -- I would rather, if we don't get enough, to just back it down and start earlier.
After 9: 00, 7_
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it's really ridiculous to have meetings and have people presenting testimony.
CHAIRMAN WRIGHT:
bkay, sobeit.
At this point, I will recognise Representative Mary Miller, who has called for
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,w a special order of business and who has a resolution to present REPRESENTATIVE MILLER:
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
REPRESENTATIVE MILLER:
Purcuant to the authority granted to us previously by the --
CHAIRMAN WRIGHT:
Make sure you are reading the right paper, now.
REPRESENTATIVE MILLER:
I will take a few moments of the Committec's time to read it in its entirety so there is no misconception.
Pursuant to the authority granted to thia
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8 Committee previously by House Resolution 48, in conjunction with the concern of Representative Brandt and Wenger and Mochimann and myself, in Lancaster County have, with reEard to the proposed water dumping into the Susquehanna River from Three Mile Island reactor, we would like the Committee's full
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I so move and request a few moments for a bit of editorial comments, Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN WRIGHT:
Do we have a second motion?
REPRESENTATIVE GEESEY:
Second.
CHAIRMAN WRIGHT:
Seconded by Gene Geesey.
Now, it's c,
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open for diccussion.
Representative Bennett.
REPRESENTATIVE EENNETT:
Mr. Chairman, let me state that I am not in any way objecting to the Resolution.
I have a quantion, however, on parlimentary procedure.
My question,
_ a Mr. Chairman, is under what rule of this Committee are we e powered to adopt thic Itesolution?
Now, the reason for my m
question is, does it mean anything to the Governor or anyone elce if we do it or should we have thic Resolution referred to the Rules Committee of the House and ask that they report it out immediately?
It's a purely parlimentary question.
I have no objection to the Recolution.
CHAIRMAN WRIGHT:
May I defer that question to our legal counsel?
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Representative Bennett, the Resolution 48 which set up this Committee originally did not speak to the question of whether or not this Committee can adopt a Resolution such as this.
So, it would be presumed that the Committee can do so.
The question as to the effect of the Resolution is that'it's a Resolution'just"'like'En'y $ther'R$soldtion'Nhich, in this case, is in writing strongly expressing the intent and desire of this Committee that something be done about the future potential of putting water in the Susquehanna River.
REPRESENTATIVE BSNNETT:
Mr. Chairman, I thank the counsel for the answer that he has given me.
However, I have a further question.
If this Committee adopts this and it seems that they will, and if the Governor does not immediately direct the Secretary of the Department of Environmental Resources to require the Bureau of Water Quality Management to establish what we are asking for, what then would be the position of this r.
Committee ?
REPRESENTATIVE MILLER:
Reid, the suggestion you made and the intial comments that it be directed tothe entire House would be the next step.
It would be the logical next step.
Might I just offer two minutes of explanation on the Resolution before we go on, Mr. Chairman?
CHAIRMAN WRIGHT:
Yes.
REPRESENTATIVE LENNETT:
I will yield to you in just f
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a moment.
I am satisfied, Ibrvin, at this point that the Committee wants to do it and if he doesn't do what we want, we will put it into the full House.
I am satisfied with that.
REPRESENTATIVE MILLER:
Very well, sir.
I thank you.
CHAIRMAN WRIGHT:
Representative Miller.
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REPRESENTATIVE MILLER:
BFief history, ~ two daya ago the residents of Lancaster County, the same residents as suffered the fear and anxiety of the original Three Mile Island accident, as well as those who suffered the cconomic impact of that particular disaster and those who will suffer what potential health hazards happen in the future, were informed by the news media that a potential dump was to take place.
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When you add to it the fac t that there are 100,000 residents of that county that get their drinking supply of water taken down stream from Three Mile Island out of the Susquehanna River.
We can change
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<s many things in this world, but that water still runs south.
Additionally, hundreds of thousands of other folko visit that area thrcuch our tourist industry and through the outlying areas of that county for their transient activities of the day, going or coming from work, and they have access to that water supply as well.
Those of us in the county are simply requestin6 to the Governor, through this Committee that enough is enough.
I doubt that we will be as tolerant about this as we were about the Three Mile accident that 1
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Finally, I wanted to call on Representative Brandt, who lives within eyesight of Three Mile Island for his commento and yield to that gentleman at this time.
CHAIRMAN WRIGHT:
Representative Brandt.
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Yes, Mr. Chairman.
I do concur with Marvin on what he has said about the Resolution.
I think it's very important that this Committee go in the direction of the issue of the water of Three Mile Island and in the reactor building, because it is very timely.
The radiation -- we never had to question how much radiation came from off the Island.
Ue can and we do realize how much water there is to deal with.
Although the testimony we have been receiving is very good as background information, I really feel that this is an issue that le can address to now and look at what can happen prior to its happening.
So, I approve the
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Resolution.
CHAIRMAN WRIGHT:
Representative Geesey.
REPRESENTATIVE GEESEY:
Gentlemen, just briefly to 1
concur with the previous two speakers, the mostterious pressing problem that remains for the people in the immediate area of Three Mile Island is the question of water disposal.
I have a question really as to whether or not the water ought to be solidified and transported that way, as opp 0 sed to attempting
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to decontaminate it and then release it.
The least that we
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CHAIRMAN WRIGHTi ' Repr5Ee'ntative 'O'BN$rf.'
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REPRESEUTATIVE 0'BRIEN:
I would just like to make an amendment to the motion that the state of Maryland be sent a copy of this Resolution so that they, in turn, can be certain that their drinking water is okay.
CHAIRMAN WRIGHT:
Second to that motion?
REPRESENTATIVE BENNETT:
Second.
REPRESENTATIVE GEESEY:
Second it, if it's to the Governor of Maryland.
REPRESENTATIVE O'sRIEN:
I would say to the Governor.
CHAIRMAN WRIGHT:
Any negative votes on the amendment?
,v (No response.)
CHAIRMAN WRIGHT:
Any further discussion on the suECested amendment?
REPRESENTATIVE STUBAN:
I would like to make a comment on that Resolution and I wholeheartedly support it, because I am sure that there are some agricultural.uses of that water along the river.
We have seen what happened in the Three Mile Island accident, if such release is allo:ved in the i
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river and there is any publicity on it whatsoever, the agricultural industry, not only in that area will suffer, but in the entire state of Pennsylvania.
When we get these states on the cutside of us to say "we don't sell Pennsylvania milk" and we are not selling Pennsylvania potatoes, the whole industry 3..
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is going to suffer.
So, I support the Resolution wholeheartedly.
CHAIRMAN WRIGHT:
Representative Bennett, I thought you wanted to address yourself to the sponsorship for the names appearing on the Rosolution.
Am I correct?
REPRESENTATIVE BENNETT:
Yes, Mr. Chairman.
I thank you for recognizing me.
It would be my suggestion that the motion be changed at the end of it.
Representative Miller kJ agreeing, that it should be signed James L. Wright, Jr.,
Chairman on behalf of the Committee.
I would like to see that lan$uaEe added to the Resolution, i
REPRESENTATIVE MILLER:
I have no objection, Mr.
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CHAIRMAN WRIGHT:
Just add those words or do you want all the Committee Members?
REPRESENTATIVE BENNETT:
Just add those words "on behalf of the Committee."
CHAIRMAN WRIGHT:
Second to that motion?
REPRESENTATIVE STUBAN:
Second.
CHAIRMAN WRIGHT:
So moved.
Any further discussion on the Resolution in total?
Any objection to the Resolution?
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14 It's been adopted unanimously.
I would like to direct the staff that they must work this into their suCEested schedule that we will discuss at working sessions our first week back on the floor of the House.
The question was raised as to whether the Mines and Energy Committee, ~the Mines and Energy Committee, not the TMI Committee, w-. t e would conduct their business next week and the answer is yes.
REPRESENTATIVE STUBAN:
Mr. Chairman, can I make a comment before you close here?
CHAIRMAN WRIGHT:
Representative Stuban.
REPRESENTATIVE STUBAN:
A group of Legislators who have met with PP&L at the Sheraton Inn are going to take a c
tour of the site of the Susquehanna Steam Plant on Monday morning at 9: 00.
IFnow that anybody from the press who would like to attend this tour and meeting and any representatives at your approval, it's not a function of this Committee.
It's
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a ' function of the representatives from that area, the meetings have been schedu:.J and held prior to Three Mile Island.
So, anybody that would like to, we would sure welcome them.
REPRESENTATIVE COHEN:
When is it, again?
REPRESENTATIVE STUBAN:
It is Monday at 9: 00 and we are going to meet at the Information Center at the Center of the Fucquehanna Steam Plant around 11 or 12:30.
CHAIRMAN WRIGHT:
I would suggest you go have your lunch, go home and take care of your constituents.
Thank you.
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15 (The hearing terminated at 12:35 P.M.)
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I hereby certify that the proceedings and evidence taken by me before the House Select Committee - Three Mile Island are fully and a'ccurately indicated in my notes and that this is a true and correct transcript of same.
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