ML19338D884
| ML19338D884 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 07/31/1980 |
| From: | Snyder B Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Riccitelli J AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19338D885 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8009240109 | |
| Download: ML19338D884 (2) | |
Text
'
.v n
I i
e staa I
O{
o UNIT ED STATES g
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION o
I WASMNGTON, D. C. 20555 C.
,8, JUL 311980 Ms. Joanne Riccitelli The Conservation Law Foundation of Rhode Island 3 Steeple Street J
Providence, Rhode Island 02903
Dear Ms. Riccitelli:
I am writing in response to your letter to the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation regarding the accident at Three Mile Island.
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 pre-vented me from responding to you as promptly as I imuld have liked.
Your letter discussed the decision that the accident at Three Mile Island was "not to be considered ' extraordinary.'" Extraordinary Nuclear Occurrence (EN0) is a term defined in the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (the Act), which identifies those nuclear accidents where campensation to people for damages or injuries will be on a no-fault basis.
In tne ever.'c of a nuclear accident ee-sulting in small releases or minor damages, these no-fault provisions would not apply and nomal legal procedures would be followed for persons submitting damage claims.
The NRC was given the authority in the Act to determine whether or not an acci-dent can be classified as an ENO. The Act defines an EN0 as an event that causes a discharge of radioactive materials in amounts causing offsite radia-tion levels that the Commission determines to be substantial and that the Com-mission determines has resulted or will result in substantial damages to offsite per Mns or property. The Commission was required by the Act to establish sNefic criteria in its regulations for making the EN0 determination. Although the accident at TMI was not a normal occurrence and would be considered extra-ordinary in everyday language, the Commission, in an April 16, 1980, finding, determined that the accident does not meet specific criteria for an ENO as defined by the Price-Anderson Act and the Commission iegulatione.
l l
ll sooosso l@
i o
Ms. Joanne Riccitelli 2-jgg31yggg 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,
)
Bernard J. Snyde, Program Director
^
Three Mile Island Program Office Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation l
i 4
9
).
/
6
+m y
-e--
r
,~,n--
-a e
e
"-