ML19338F287
| ML19338F287 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 06/29/1979 |
| From: | Bernero R NRC - NRC THREE MILE ISLAND TASK FORCE |
| To: | Rogovin M NRC - NRC THREE MILE ISLAND TASK FORCE |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8010150641 | |
| Download: ML19338F287 (29) | |
Text
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UNITED STATES
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,%... f JUN 2 91979 MEMORANDUM FOR: Mitchell Rogovin, Director NRC/TMI Special Inquiry Group FROM:
Robert M. Bernero, Leader Task Group No. 5, NRC/TMI Special Inquiry Group
SUBJECT:
TASK NO. 5 CHRONOLOGY AND STATUS At your request wc are providing the attached draft chronology prepared for Task No. 5.
We enjoyed a substantial head start on this work due to an initial chronology prepared by Stephen K. Conver and others in NRC's Office of Management Planning and Analysis. The work in Task 5 has thus far concentrated on background and NRC activities in the first few days, par-ticularly at the NRC Operations Center (Incident Response Center).
Our general understanding of the NRC response to TMI is as follows:
1.
preparations For Emergency Response On March 28, 1979 NRC had already experienced a few notable emer-gencies and had in place some facilities and procedures for emergency response.
Drills had been conducted with the arrangements. The agency emergency plans appear to have a number of deficiencies. Perhaps the most significant come from the absence of any complete definition or discussion of NRC's specific role in an accident situation. The specific concept'of what the NRC's role would be in a serious extended emergency has not been clearly defined. There are certain legal bases for various roles.
It is unclear whether these have been developed.in depth to specifically identify the various situations which would warrant various roles.
2.
Implementation of Emergency Procedures With some minor exceptions both Region I and NRC Headquarters were prompt in implementing the initial planned emergency procedures. The proxi-mity of the site to Region I, Headquarters, good roads, and airports was a great advantage.
3.
Effectiveness of Emergency Response Communications were a problem from the outset for two reasons; it was difficult to get phone contact, the contacts were frequently between different people.at both ends of the line.
Such fragmentary communications made.it very difficult to give Region I and Headquarters a clear understanding of events and
- 10150 gy
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-2 plant status. The information received at Headquarters.was fragmented and delayed so that the understanding of plant status and events at Headquarters lagged significantly behind the understanding of those on site.
It is worth noting that NRC people on site in the first two days did not appear to have made independent appraisals of the entire situation. There is constant re-ference to people on site giving Headquarters answers to questions, but no reference to telling Headquarters what Headquarters needs to know. The only evaluations are vague descriptions of how calmly or professionally.the licensee appeared to be performing. The Headquarters staff also seem to have had very low confidence in the accuracy or the completeness of the data they received.
At least for the first two days there is little evidence that the Conmission hierarchy was an obstacle to effective response. There was also little call for Commission action. There is the appearance at least that IE and NRR pro-vided tbs emergency response and the Commission, other offices, and other parties were on the periphery.
Another striking aspect of NRC's early emergency response was the very large effort by NRC senior staff that was taken by public and Congressional Affairs contacts.
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Robert M. Bernero, Task Leader Emergency Response of NRC cc:
G. Frampton E. Kevin Cornell R. C. DeYoung B. Budnitz s?isk Leaders Task No. 5
Attachment:
Draft Chronology e
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TASK 5 CHRONOLOGY 6/29/79 e
Date/ Time Activity Source Wednesday, March 28 00 4:00 Incident sequence begins.
None 6:50 Licensee declares site emergency.
Operations Center (OC) tape 7:02 Licensee notifies PEMA (Pennsylvania SP Followup w/PA Emergency Management Agency) of site emergency.
7:10 - 7:45 Licensee attempts to contact Region I Region I.
Duty officer and Dep. Director en route to office.when beeper sounds.
7:24 Licensee declares general OC tape emergency.
(mentioned in an 8:40 a.m. conversation on OC tape) 7:45 Upon opening switchboard, Reg. I Region I receives message from licensee.
7:50 Region I contacts TMI control Reg. I room; maintains open line.
7:55 Region I classifies event as a Reg. I.
Level 1 severity incident in accordance with Region I incident response plan.
8:00 Region I Incident Response Reg. I Center activated; John Davis, HQs., notified by Boyce Grier and also by Public Affairs (Fouchard notified by Region I Public Affairs).
8:05 John Davis orders Hqs Operations Various Center activated.
Region I State Liaison attempts to contact PA bureau of Rad.
Health.
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t Date/ Time Activity Source Wednesday (cont'd) 8:20 AM Region I contacts '7 dependent Reg. I measurement van (at Millstone site) and orders it dispatched to TMI site.
8:21 Incident Response Center (IRC)
IRC transcript tape started.
8:22 IRC returns Grier's earlier IRC transcript call and Grier gives Mosely the details on the accident.
Very little is known. Tur-bine trip - Rapid cooldown of primary system (faster tran-sient th:n they've ever seen before) safety injection.
Lost pressurizer level - pulled bubble.in primary vessel - In-dications of f ailed fuel - high activity in secondary system.
Containment pressure increased to 1 pound.
(01-737-17) 8:25 Gossick calls Davis.
Incoming Tel. Log 8:30 PA State Police informed that Reg. I NRC emergency vehicle would be en route.
8:31 Mosely calls Stello - informs IRC transcript him of incident. Suggest Stello send someone with expertise in calculating release. Says Stello, doesn't need to come over as he suggests reactor is 0.K. (01-066-3) 8:33 John Davis calls L. V. Gossick.
IRC transcript Davis tells Gossick we should activate the EMT.
(01-210-6) s 8:34 Davis calls Denton.
Denton not IRC transcript in.
Davis informs Case. Case says we will be right over.
(01-210-6)
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t Date/ Time Activity Source Wednesday (cont'd)_
8:36 /3 Davis calls Hendrie. Hendrie OC tape not in. Davis talks to Bill Dorie.
(01-210-6) 8:40 (approx)
Gossick and Case arrive at Operations Center.
8:40 Mike Wilbur calls Boyce Grier, OC tape obtains technical information.
8:40 Five inspectors leave Region IE-Int.
I for site: Charles Gallina, TMI-147 H.P. Lead, Don Neely, H.P.,
Carl Plun. lee, H.P., Ron Nimitz, H.P., Jim Higgins, reactor in-spector.
8:46 Davis calls Dorie, asks for 0C tape Comm. Gilinsky in Chairman's absence; Gilinsky not in yet.
8:48 Oudley Thompson notifies Tom OC tape Carter, NMSS. No HMSS action required.
8:48 Ward informs J. Davidson of IRC tape transcript IAT of incident. Says its not an IAT matter.
(01-06603) 8:50 Licensee calls Reg. I with Reg. I Log current status report.
8:54 Ward informs J. Miller of IAT IRC transcript of incident.
Miller says he understands its not a safe-guards matter.
(01-066-3) 8:50 State Liaison contacts PA Reg. I Bureau of Rad Health.
8:52 Davis notifies Comm. Kennedy OC tape (first Commissioner contacted).
Davis reports that he, Gossick, Case & Fouchard are manning EMT at 0.C.
Kennedy says he will notify Commissioner Gilinsky.
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Date/ Time Activity Source Wednesday (cont'd) 8:56 AM Gossick attempts to reach OC Tape Gilinsky through Bill Dorie and through Gilinsky's office.
Gossick talks to John Austin and requests that Dorie reach the Chairman.
8:57 Davis informs Commissioner IRC transcript Ahearne of incident. Commissioner asks Case to explain what the bubble is about. Case tells him he thinks part of the core was uncovered and activity is due to popping)the fuel elements.
(01-258 & 259-7 8:59 Bernie Weiss calls 00E emergency OC tape Operations Center.
9:00 Bill Ward informs Randy Pine OC tape (CA). Randy Pine indicates that she will inform local Congressmen (Heinz and Schweiker) and Rep.
9:00 Second vehicle leaves Region Reg. I for site (investigator plus inspector); Region I contacts RAP who has already been notified; two teams organized and standing by.
9:00 Ryan notified by SP Region I Bob Ryan personnel. Arrives HQs. OC 9:35 AM.
9:02 Weiss notifies EPA (Floyd CC tape Galpin).
9:08 Joe Fouchard calls Carl Abraham, SP notes Reg. I Public Affairs.
9:10 Gossick calls Congressional 0C tape Affairs Office. Randy Pine informs Gossick that CA had received several inquiries from local Congressmen.
t Date/ Time Activity Source Wednesday (cont'd)_
9:10 to 9:30 OCA places till to majority OCA and minority staffs of House of ".:ommittee on Energy and Ei..ironment, House Subcommittee on Energy and Power and Senate Subcommittee on Nuclear Regulation as well as Senators Heinz and Schweiker and Representatives Walker and Ertel to ady;se of declaration of site emerger.cy at Three Mile Island.
9:06 Bill Ward informs Communications 0C tape Branch.
9:10 Grier calls Moseley to explain OC tape technical aspects of incident.
9:11 Gilinsky calls Gossick and Incoming Log Davis.
9:16 Fouchard no.ifies DOE Public OC tape Affairs Office (Bob Dulin).
Between B. We" s calls White Houca situa-IRC transcript 9:00 - 9:30 tion Room and informs them of accident.
(01-355-8) 9:15 White House Situation Room Log OC Notifications contacted.
9:27 Defense Civil Preparedness Incoming Log Agency (DCPA) calls Joe Hegner.
9:53 to 10:30 Morris Howard calls each of the IRC transcript Region Offices informing them of the incident.
(01-500 & 501-12) 9:54 McCool of DOE calls to get infor-IRC transcript mation on TMI.
B. Weiss tells him there is no offsite problem at the present but that its possible that there coule be an offsite problem later en. McCool says Brookhaven t>boratory is on alert and ready for dispatch. Weiss tells him not to dispatch them at present time but to keep them on alert.
(01-836-19)
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Date/ Time Activity Source Wednesday (cont'd) 10:05 Reg. I response team arrives PN79-67 at site.
10:05 Reg. I contacts EPA Hqs.
(Also Reg. I attempts to contact EPA:III).
10:05 to 10:10 Discussion w/ GAP re Accident Reg. I Response Monito.:..g Survey Team
.(ARMS) aircraft survey. ARMS people put on standby.
10:15 Onsite team informs PA Rad.
Reg. I Health that they are available for questioning.
- 10:15 Gossick and Case call Commissioners IRC transcript Bradford, Gilinsky and Kennedy who are assembled together at H Street and brief them on the latest status of the incident.
(01-213-6) 10:20 Telephone to PA State Rad SP Log Health Dept.
(Gerusky not available). Call returned at 10:45 (1st liaison established by Hqs) subsequent calls every hour or two, starting about 5:25 pm to discuss status of sampling and monitoring.
10:25 B. Weiss calls DOE - EOC to IRC transcript discuss possible " upping" of the alert for NEST or ARMS". This is not a request for planes to depart but a check on thcir location aad readiness.
(01-837-19) 10:30 to 11:30 OCA calls principal oversight OCA committees (including appropri-ations subc.ommittees) and Pennsylvania representatives from vicinity of site to advise of release of radioactive materials.
10:30 Reg. I contact Delaware.
Reg. I 10:40 Reg. I contacts PA Governor's Reg. I action center.
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Date/ Time Activity Source Wednesday (cont'd) 10:40 Tom Gerusky of Pa. State describes IRC transcript iodine detected in the emission plume to someone in IRC.
(19-203)
(01-203-19) 10:45 Reg. I contacts NY State Energy Reg. I Office 10:30 First Press Release based on PRf79-64 Preliminary Notification.
10:40 Press Conference (from where?)
SP Log patched through to PA Rad '
Health Dept.
10:46 Grier calls Davis and advises him IRC transcript there is an indication of offsite iodine.
(01-214-6) 10:55 Telephone call to PA Civil SP Log Defense (second call to Operations Officer at 11:30 am).
10:57 B/ Weiss calls DOE-E0C and requests IRC transcript that they preposition the helicopter out of Andrews (apparently because of the iodine detected by the State of Pa. people).
(01-838-19) 10:58 White House Ducy Officer to Incoming Log Wefss.
11:00 Seca-d Team arrives at site Reg. I and in control room.
11:35 FPA cegion II contacted.
Reg. I 11:37 In response to question from IRC transcript DOE-EOC in Germantown, Weiss tells j
them we are not planning to send an NRC representative over to DOE-E0C.
(01-840-19) 11:45 NJ Dept of Energy contacted.
Reg. I 11:55 State of MD, Power Plant Reg. 1 Siting council contacted.
Ep:
Date/ Time Activity Source Wednesday (cont'dl 12:04 PM EPA Region III contacted.
Reg. I 12:10 DOE (Valley Forge Office)
Reg. I contacted.
12:30 OCA calls principal oversight OCA committees and PA representa-tives regarding latest infor-mati.n (arranged for briefing by Mr. atello in response to request from Henry Myers for technical information).
12:38 00E informs IRC that it has IRC transcript two airforce choppers at Andrews ready to take off if we need them. One airforce chopper has left and the DOE chopper will be leaving momentarily.
(01-074-3).
1:00 Third vehicle departs for site.
Reg. I 1:00 Reg. I contacts MD Health Dept.
Reg. I 1:01 Stello calls Henry Myers.
(Udall Incoming Log committee staff).
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1:12 SP calls VA Civil Defense.
SP Log 1:30 DOE advance party establishes DOE Logs command post at Capitol City Airport.
2:00 ?
Vic Stello tells Greg Hitz IE-Int.
that instruments could be TMI-147 showing the core is uncovered and NRC is concerned. Hitz relays to Unit 2.
2:15 ARMS helicopter arrives at DOE Logs site and begins tracking.
2:30 Battelle Northwest Laboratories DOE Logs (BNL) RAP arrives Capitol City Airport; sampling begins.
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l Date/ Time Activity Source Wednesday (cont'd) 2:30 PM Commissioner Gilinsky suggests IRC transcripts to Case that we assign someone to think about what to do with the radioactive water inside the containment (i.e., the recovery plans).
(01-222-6) 2:45 State liaison contacts Governor's Reg. I office in Connecticut.
2:45 Jim Stone of DOE-EOC asks B. Weiss IRC transcripts if we need additional assistance for fixed wing aircraft. Answer was no.
(01-078-3) 2:53 Case informs Denton of Gilinsky's re-IRC transcripts quest for considering arid forming a post accident recovery team. Denton has already discussed the idea with Stello and they concluded Vollmer would be best person to head it up - Plan is to have Vollmer put together team of 4 or 5 people to send to TM once the reactor is cold.
(01-222-6) 2:53 Case tells Denton the reason why IRC transcripts circulating pumps have not been 1
run is that B&W advised them not to because they're afraid they'll blow out the seals.
(01-222-6) 3:00 Proposed NRC Press release SP Log cleared with PA rad Health Dept.
3:07 Case advises Vollmer of plan for IRC transcripts recovery group and that Vollmer will probably be going up to the site in a day or so.
(01-223-6) 3:37 Region people call to discuss IRC transcripts political problems caused by the Regions inability (presumably prevented by HQ) to r?spond to news inquiries directly.
(01-080-3)
. t Date/ Time Activity Sot rce Wednesday (cont'd) 3:45 PM First formal preliminary PN 79-67 notification report distributed by NRC.
3:54 Joe Deal of 00E-E0C tells B. Weiss IRC transcripts that DOE has turned on its ARAC outfit at Livermore Laboratory.
(Computer system that predicts radiation levels based on meteor-ology and radiation source inputs).
Deal tells Weiss that the DOE helicopter is up and flying and offc's to give Weiss a telephone n'
for talking to the helicopter.
Weiss takes number but says were letting the Region handle contacts l
with the helicopter.
(01-848-19) 3:56 Mosely calls Grier to tell him IRC -
IRC transcripts HQ is having problems getting oper-ational information from site - Grier says problem is we're not set up to communicate directly between the control rooms - and have to send people over to the Unit 2 control room to get and bring back infor-mation. Grier says he will estab-lish a new procedure.
(01-126 & 127-4) 4:00 Telephone briefing for Senate OCA Subcommittee on Nuclear Regulation and Senator Heinz.
/4:00 Gilinsky requests Davis to assure IRC transcripts that measurement info NRC gets from DOE is furnished to the Pa.
State people - to assure that NRC-ARMS-RAT and State info are coordinated.
(01-225-6) 4:00 ?
Boyce Grier notifies Richard IE-Int.
Keimig he is to go to site as TMI-149 senior IE/NRC person on site.
4:13 Comm. Gilinsky spoke to Nat Conm. Gilinsky's Golkhaver, Office of Gov. of Pa.
Telephone Log O
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s Date/ Time Activity Source Wednesday (cont'd) 4: 14 PM Stello asks Eisenhut to contact IRC transcripts B&W concerning anomolous temper-ature reading and to come up with suggestions on ways for increasing the flow in the system to get rid of the steam bubble.
(01-225-6) 4:18 ARAC at Livermore Lab calls NRC IRC transcripts to transmit calculations done for J. Buffet - sending info by tele-fax.
(01-849-19)
- 4:30 Gossick, Stello & Davis call IRC transcripts Gilinsky and brief Lim on significant development with core. Stello tells him that
- 1) Core may not be covered,
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- 2) We don't have enough infor-mation to decide what,we would do (recommend), 3) Were rely-ing on information for too many different channels, 4) Express concern that utility think through what they're going to do before they do it.5) He spoke to Unit I shift supervisor and suggested that they ought to think if their instru-ments are properly recording, whether there'.s a possibility of a steam bubble and they ought to get B&W's judgements also.
- 6) Utility is absolutely in charge.
(Gilinsky Warns we have to be careful that utility doesn't start asking us what to do when.
(01-226-6) 4:34 Three-way telephone connection IRC transcripts established between TMI Unit 11 control room - Region 1 - and IRH at Hg. to permit Hg. conversa-tion directly with TMI control room.
(01-082-3) i 4:44 Eisenhut discusses anomolous temper-IRC transcripts ature with B&W.
(01-225-6) 4:47 D. Thompson calls Grier to confirm who IRC transcripts is senior NRC man at site, senior man for Met-Ed, senior NRC ops man at site. Senior NRC rean at site is Gallina, senior NRC ops man is J. Higgins.
Date/ Time Activity Source Wednesday (cont'd) 4:47 PM (cont'd).
Herbein is senior man for IRC transcripts Met-Ed.
Current plant super-intendents for Unit 1 and Unit 2 are at site. NRC is in con-tact with them.
(01-850-19) 5:00 Second press release issued.
PR 79-65 5:09 Case discusses plant status IRC transcripts and radiation level criteria for determining if evacuation required with Senator Hart. Also explains that licensee determines course of action for plant opera-tion under all circumstances - un-less it gets to a point that we think we know enough here that we ought to tell the.? to do some-thing.
(01-227-6),
s 5:15 NRC mobile lab arrives at site.
Reg. I 6:00 Fourth Reg. I vehicle leaves Reg. I for site.
6:37 00E informs HQ IRC that Ed IRC transcripts Patterson will be sent to TMI area as the DOE repre-sentative.
He will coordi-nate Brookhaven and ARM's activities.
NRC says this will help because were not getting all the information from Brookhaven, maybe be-cause its filtered through the State.
(01-470-11) 6:44 Ed Case tells Eddie
?
IRC transcripts that with respect to his discussion with Senator Hart about the possibility of overriding the licensee-that the licensee has taken a course of action that we're satisfied.
with - so the issue of over-riding the licensee is no longer before us.
(01-230-6)
. Date/ Time
' Activity Source Wednesday (cont'd) 7:08 PM IRC call to Abraham, PA.
IRC transcripts officer of Region 1.
Abraham advisedthatwe(NRC)should not participat? in any news conference by the company (licensee) - that NRC should stap in investigative mode.
(01-135-4) 7:55 Call to PA Rad Health Dept SP Log (ARMS data shows count is up, status of BNL monitoring activities).
6:15 PA Rad Health Depk acknowledges SP Log receipt of ARMS data and says they are keeping Governor informed.
8:17 Reg I notified of decision to Reg. I Log tend NRR team to site; arrival expected next AM.
8:30 Fourth vehicle arrives on site.
Reg. I 8:30 -
NRC, State, RAP Team brief Reg. I 9:45 LT. Governor Scranton.
9:00 Reg I notified that Salem Region I' Log providing equipment.
9:00 R. Keimig arrives on site as IE-Int.
senior IE/NRC person.
TMI-149 9:00 SP verifies (how?) that FAA SP Log has not been no'tified.
9:08 Site inspectors informed by Grier IRC transcript that licensing is sending team of people headed by Dick Vollmer to site tomorrow (3/29), and their object is not to inspect but to handle any licensing actions that come up.
(01-139-4) 9:08 Confirmation that NRC mobile lab is IRC transcript at site and set up to operate is noted.
(01-139-4)
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Date/ Time Activity Sourca Wedne: day (cont'd) 9:08 PM Grier ;,otes that communi-IRC transcripts cation is greatly improved.
(01-139-4) 10:00 -
Reg I participates in Lt.
Reg. I 11:00 Governor's press conference.
- 11:00 Commissioner Kennedy calls IRC.
IRC transcripts Gossick informed him that things took a turn for the better insofar as the reactor is concerned around 9:00 PM. The plant bumped the main circulating pumps and the steam binding >or air lock cleared up.
The plant is now coming down in an orderly fashion. The main wcrry now is cleaning up the water transferred from the containment go ghe aux. b1dg. pump that is responsible for the airborne re-leases (/1/3 mr/hr over Harrisburg).
(01-287-7)
/11:00 Gossick informs Kennedy that one IRC transcripts problem is that two NRC guys sent up to the site to pull together all this information got hauled off to brief the governor - and were not organized as well as we'd like to be in pulling together inputs from the ARMS airplane, the RAT team and our own team and the State people and getting the information down here.
(01-287-7)
Thursday, March 29 E
Team briefs Governor Thornburgh.
Reg I 12:10 Press release by NRC:
Plant IRC transcript temperatures & pressure con-tinue to drop. Releases from water in the auxiliary building.
12:15 Press Release PR #79-66 w
Da,te/ Time Activity Source Thursday,(cont'd) 1:00 AM SP notifies Defense Civil SP Log Preparedness Agency and reads press release.
2:00 SP telephones PA Emergency SP Log Management Agency, reads press release.
2:10 SP tries to telephone Health SP Log Center for Disease Control (Atlanta) (PA radiological Health says they will try again in morning).
2:40 Doc Collins tell's 0.C./P.A.
IRC transcript Region 2 that there is a prob-lem with the bubble in the primary system.
(02-102) 2:45 Discussion between Weiss and person IRC transcript or DOE ARMS team regarding saturation of instruments near plant. ARMS rarson (shipman) tells Weiss plane equipment was for background measure-ment - so it saturated. Now has a regular geiger counter, a portable air sampler, and a portable sodium iodide scentillator that they are going to take up as well as the reg-ular ARMS equipment.
(02-438-11)
Joe Fouchard & Dudley Thompson briefed IRC transcript 7:00 Dan Ford (UCS) and Bob Pollard (UCS) by telephone.
Pollard was on the TODAY Show at the moment, 8:00 Release of 1 Ci/sec reported. Noted IRC transcript that detectors in the monitoring air-craft are saturated, unable to measure the activity. Ed Case to ?
telling that NRR will send a temn' to site at 11:00 a.m..
8:00 Someone reports to Mosely that NRC IRC transcript has a total of 11 people in the vicinity of the site. This includes those at the site and those sleeping.
(02-401-10)
Date/ Time Activity Source Thursday,(cont'd) 8:30 AM Lee Gossick called Bob Minogue's IRC transcript office (reaching Ray Smith).
Gossick stated his intention to recommend to the Chairman that Minogue lead the NRC Incident Investigation Review Committee (IIRC) per Manual Chapter 0502, Part 3.
He estimated it would work for the month of May.
8:30 SP calls H. Calley, EPA, to SP Log read press release and suggests he call Gerusky chd offer assistant.
9:00 John Villforth (BRH-HEW) ? calls IRC transcripts Doc Collins for lengthy' discussion.
Concern expressed about possible need for evacuation because of mr/hr releases adding up to 1 R or more.
9:00 Two additional vehicles (6 Reg I people) dispatched to site.
9:30 Mark Nelson? of Lt. Gov. Scranton's IRC transcript office called back by Harold Denton. Denton told him there was fuel cladding damage, but not core or fuel melting.
Radioactivity is outgassing from spilled water - mostly Xe-133. Nelson asked if small i
children should be kept indoors because of possible iodine re-lease; Denton didn't think iodine should be the concern.
Nelson asked about the elderly; Denton said the stress on them or the sick would be worse than the small exposure.. (02-212-6) 9:30 Food and Drug Administration SP Log calls and offers to have Baltimore Field Office provide assistance in looking at food pathways.
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t Date/ Time Activity Source _
Thrusday (cont'd) 9:30 AM Commission briefed by Gossick, Eisenhut and Jordan at "H" Street.
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10:00 D. Thompson and E. Case to E.
IRC vanscripts Fay (OCA) about problems in diverting NRC people at TMI site to provide transportation for Senator Hart's party.
Also discussed need for Chmn. Hendire to request helicopter for Hart's entourage flight.
(02-213-6) 10:09 Weiss ask Lafleur of IP to have IRC transcripts someone come to IRC - to handle international cables - has one from Japan and expects more.
10:25 Issued.
PN-79-67A 10:30 Jerry Homan.. gives H. Denten a IRC transcript rundown on TMI operators quali-fications and experience, saying this group is probably an industry leader.
(02-214-6) 11:00 SP tries to contact NY Bureau SP Log of hadiological Health (call completed at 12:17 pm).
11:05 SP calls NJ Dept. of Health.
SP Log i
11:15 Comm. Gilinsky spoke to Lt. Gov.
Comm. Gilinsky's Scranton of Pa.
telephone log 11:30 Chairman Hendrie an'd NRC staff OCA brief members of Subcommittee on Energy and Environment, other Members of Congress, and 1
Congressional staff on status of incident.
11:45 SP calls Delaware Rad-Health SP Log
' Dept.
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18-t Date/ Time Activity Source Thurshy (cont'd) 12:00 (Approx)
NRR team (Vollmer +7) arrive on site; Strasma (Region III Public Affairs) on site.
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12:05 PM SP returns call to Gov. Ray's SP Log (Washington) assistant.
12:10 SP calls WV Rad Health SP Log contact.
12:15 SP calls Va. Radiological SP Log Health (call finally completed at 1:15).
12:30 Ed Case returns call to Gov.
IRC transcript Dixy Lee Ray to brief her on TMI status.
(02-218-6) 12:00 -
Vehicles 6 and 7 on site Reg I 1:00 (total IE personnel:
17).
1:22 Weiss informed by Mike? that plant IRC transcript says they are willing' to go into a 200 RAr area and pull a primary system water sample if NRC can get it analyzed - sample will be/10 curies per liter. Weiss tells him -
if the plant needs the sample -
promise them anything.
(02-459-11) 2:15 Congressional group (Hart, Reg I Udall, ".nz, et al.) arrive observation center; receive briefing.
2:40 SP telephones Fish and Wildlife SP Log Service.
3:00 Licensee pulls thermolumi-PN-79-67E nescent dosimeters from 17 fixed positions located within a 15 mile radius of site.
Dosimeters had been in place for three months and had been exposed for about 32 hours3.703704e-4 days <br />0.00889 hours <br />5.291005e-5 weeks <br />1.2176e-5 months <br /> after incident. Only two dosimeters showed exposures above normal levels.
3:01 3P briefs (by phone) Md.
SP Log Radiological Health on status of samples
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Date/ Time Activity Source Thursday (cont'd).
3:20 PM State liaison contact with Reg I Vermont.
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3:15 -
NRC representatives are called Reg 1 6:30 to State Capital to brief Governor and Lt. Governor prior to Governor's 5:00 PM press conference.
- :30 Senator Hart's airplane about 3
to land at the airport near the site.
(02-464-11) 3:35 In response to inquiry from SP Log Minnesota Rad. Health, SP gives status briefing.
4:50-Multiple attempts to reach Reg I 7:00 EPA:III concerning industrial awaste dumps; finally contacted at 7:00 p.m.
5:00 Caller tells John Davis? that Stern-IRC transcript glass and two others r'ecommend evacu-ation.
John and ? prepare wards to announce NRC see's no reason to evacu-ate.
(02-227-6) 5:30 Case and Mattson give status to IRC transcript Chairman Hendrie. Mattson de-scribes hourly monitoring of in core TC's, still seeing superheat temper-atures on some. Licensee is holding status quo because of bubble question and because reactor coolant is too hot for DHR.
(02-228-6) 5:30 Briefings provided by Met.
Reg I Log Edison to Senator Schweiker, Congressmen Gooding (York),
Mike McCormack; Waller (Lancaster),
Weidler (L.I., NY).
5:55 The Executive Management Team Reg I Log directs the licensee to stop.
dumping all water. RI notifies HQ that stopping the dumping will cause backing of water into the Turbine Building.
(Late entry - the licensee has been dumping water to the river --
the water is within TS limits WRT contamination).
t Date/ Time Activity Source Thursday (cont'd)_
6:00 PM PA Rad Health says NRC can Lo.g7.? ?
make decisions on rad. water dump without checking further with them.
6:00 NRC requests Met. Edison to PN-67B terminate release of slightly contaminated industrial waste.
Permission to resume release granted at 12:15 am and coordi-nated with State.
State press release issued.
6:00 Primary coolant sample IRC Transcript measured 1000 R/hr:from i
a 100 ml. sample.
6:06 Boyce Grier talking to Morris Howard about discharge of water to the river.
Boyce says he's talked to the plant manager and the discharge is stopped. Plant discharged 100,000 gallons.
Boyce doesn't know exactly where its coming fram - except that its from somewhere in the waste treatment system.- Will find out where it comes from - i.e., how it gets to the waste treatment system.
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(02-421-10) 6:10 Licensee notifies NRC that he is Reg. I Log stopping the discharge.
6:33 Thompson asks Sniezek to get some information for Commissioner Bradford on radiation level at Yorkhaven and surrounding communities.
(02-422-10) 6:35 PA Rad Health calls back and asks SP Log NRC to hold river dump because of Governor's concern. SP provides update on ARMS data.
7:05 Offer from DOE Emergency Assistance.
SF Log 8:00 - 8:30 Updated status reports to MD, SP Log WVA and US Bureau of Rad.
Health.
l t
_21 t
Date/ Time Activity Source Thursday (cont'd) 8:30 PM Call to Governor's aide to Reg I inform of core damage.
8:30 Referer.ce to call to State of PA.
IRC transcript (Dr. MacLeod, Secy. of Health) by Anthony Robbins of OHSA recommending evacuation to l\\ mile radius (@ 4:00 pm3/29/79).
(02-138) 10:00 Tell Stello it looks like 10% of the IRC transcript core is in the primary coolant.
10:05 PA Rad Health says "go" if NRC SP Log wants to have water dumped.
10:12 Industrial Waste Discharge Reg I Log verified to be off.
10:30 Case to Hendrie that calculation shows 10% of core inventory in the coolant, no discussion of evacuation, only of problem of dumping waste water from the Turbine Bldg.
(02-334-6) 11:00 Vic Stello ? and Karl Abraham? discuss status. S'omeone on site (Me't-Ed?)
says the fuel is damaged more than previously thought; cooldown will take much longer. They are expecting releases to continue much longer. Vic asks why since releases are from water on Aux. Bldg.
floor.
(02-239-6)
Friday, March 30 E
12:05 EMT asks IE/ site to relay to Reg I Log Met. Ed that NRC says OK to release industrial waste.
Notify NRC when release Commences.
2:06 Industrial Waste Tank over-Reg I Log flowing onto ground.
5:35 Fire in Unit One Aux. Building Reg I Log Basement - (picked up from intercom). Fire in ventilation system.
Date/ Time Activity Source Friday (cont'd)_
SP Log 8:20 Status repor' to FDA, Bureau SP Log of Radiological Health.
8:30 Status report to Md. Rad SP Log Health.
8:50 Call from FPA requesting SP Log status.
9:00 Control room personnel (Unit 1) 7.cg I hear announcement that evacuation in a 10-mile radius around plant has been recommended by NRC.
9:05 Onsite inspector calls Region Reg. I to verify that the above was true.
Were told recommendation was not official.
9:25 State notified of release; Reg I Log evacuation rumored; site does not plan to call for evacuation.
9:15-SP calls PA Civil Defense re SP tog 10:10 potential evacuation.
9:50 Issued.
PN 79-678 10:00 Some confusion exists because Reg I Log State evidently has recommended evacuation of Middletown (Doc.
Collins). Plant /NRC has not recommended evacuation.
10:25 Communication Lost with Unit 2 Reg I Log Control Room.
10:30-State has advised residents Reg I Log 10:45 within 10 miles to go inside and shut windows.
NRC position remainc:
No evacuation /
unnecessary to take any special precautions.
10:47 Conference call between Gossick Cmrs. Tel. Log
'and Commissioners:
decision to se'nd Denton to site.
t Date/ Time Activity Source Friday (cont'd) 11:00 AM Unit 1 Control Room becomes Reg I aware that an evacuation was suggested by Governor.
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11:40 Hendrie and Governor discuss Cmsr. Tel. Log evacuation.
11:45 Ralease at 11:09 for about 15 se s.
Reg I Log P,,g 12:03 Chairman of NRC recommends Reg I Log that Governor of PA evacuate
~5-mile radius.
12:07 EPA, Region III advised of Reg I Log evacuation recommendation.
12:30 The NRC evacuation recommenda-Reg I Log tion is changed or is clarified as follows: pregnant women and preschool children in the 5 mi. radius s!.ould be evacuated.
This recommendation to Gov. of PA - not public.
Dr. Langford of EPA is. notified of this change.
1 00 Another conversation with FDAA SP Log re Governor's recommendation for President to call National Security Council meeting at 1:30.
1:15 -
Calls to MD, Delaware, NY, NJ SP Log 1:30 VA, WV Rad Healta regarding Governor's recommendation.
1:25 Hendrie conference at White Cmsr. Tel. Log House followed by 1:30 p.m.
NSC meeting.
1:30 Another vehicle (2 HPs) departs Reg I for site.
2:00 Denton +12 arrive by heli-Mossburg I
copter at site:
Gossick Notes 2:20 NRR Operations Center Mossburg established at nearby residence; Gossick Notes
. notifications'.to President Carter and Governor Thornburgh.
Date/ Time Activity Source Friday (cont'd) 2:30 PM Director and Branch Chief plus Reg I 2 HPs dispatched by helicopter.
(About)
Wayne Kerr (OSP) +5 arrive at Unverified 3:30 site to assist IE Health Physics.
By this time, 83 NRC personnel are onsite and in vicinity (51 IE, 4 SP, 3 PA, 25 NRR).
6:30 Press release "no imminent Press Release danger of core melt; technical No. 79-67 experts (Denton, et al.) on site".
8:45 (Madden) acting as Administrative Reg I Log Officer reports the following:
Trailer, manned by NRR (Denton) and the White House Communications Group is now behind the Observation Center and wired for use.
Additional Trailer by 2145 will be wired with 6 telephones.
Boyce Grier is downtown in Htrrisburg at a Press Conference w/Stello, Denton, Governor
~
Thornburgh.
Air National Guard Unit at Harrisburg Int. Airport avail-able for assistance.
Saturday, March 31 E
1:25 Coordinating meeting held at SP Log Capital City Airport (EPA, 00E, PA Dept. of Environmental Resources,FDA,NRC).
)
3:50 Telephone call from Settis, SP Log Radiological Assistance Team at Command Post at Capital City Airport; analytical equipment in airport hangar.
6:00 Oak Ridge man believes he can Reg I Log use the Loose Parts Monitoring to tell the size of the bubble 4n the uoccol
' t Date/ Time Activity Source Saturday, March 31 6:25 AM CallfromPACivilDefenie; SP Log status update.
About 9:00 Public Affairs Center activated at site; limited operation until April 1.
About 8:20 Trailer moves just outside SP Log plant gate; NRR operations center in full force.
9:17 Call from HEW asking what their SP Log role would be if evacuation necessary, NRC says PA Civil Defense has lead; status update.
9:25 Call from Council on Environmental SP Log Quality (CEQ); status report 9:20 Call from NY Rad Health Bureau; SP Log status report.
10:00 Call from Defense Civil SP Log Preparedness Ager.cy; status report.,
12:00 PM Conversations with FDA6 Bureau SP Log -
of 12:30 Radiological Health re supplies of potassium iodine.
2:00 PA Rad Health Dept, agrees to SP Log refer all calls relating to health matters to NRC.
3:26 Commission meets in Bethesda Cmrs. Tel. Log at Operations Center.
4:25 Hendrie and Governor confer via Cmrs. Tel. Log telephone on status.
5:00 NRC informed that Governor, WV SP Log had activated State Radiological Assistance Team.
Sunday, April 1 i
10:45 AM NRC representative (Stello?) at PN-67G facility informed that sabotage attempt would be made during the nicht.
FBI, PA State Police and licensee notified.
t Date/ Time Activity Source Sunday,(cont'd)
SP calls DOE Command Center SP Log 1:30 AM (they do not know where EPA people are); also calls PA Rad. Health; EPA lab is next door but no one is there.
8:13 SP calls PA Rad Health (D0E SP Log will collect all data and transmit results to NRC).
Meeting scheduled at 8:30 to set up coordination.
9:36 Contact established by tubenau/Vaden SP Log at PA Rad. Health offices.
11:00 NRC Personnel on site (65 I&E; Reg I Log 27 NRR, 5 others).
NRC establishes 37 thermolumines-PN-67H cent dosimeter (TLD) stations at distances from 1 to 12 miles from plant.
All utilities with an operating PN-67H B&W reactor are sent'an NRC Bulletin to:
(1) provide information on TMI-2 incident, (2) require a prompt review of their plant conditions, (3) take action to prevent such an incident.
NRC inspectors are being sent to each licensed B&W reactor to provide in-craased inspection coverage.
2:15 -
President Carter is onsite in Unit Reg I Lc; 2:27 PM 2 Control Room.
8:40 NRC calls DOE / DOC to request Gossick Notes cleanup of AUX Building...
General Public Utilities requested help.
Monday April 2 S.i 3:35 Hg requests licensee to send Reg I Log sample of containment air 42330 sample) to Bettis.
^'
c a t Date/ Time Activity Source Monday (cont'd) 5:50 AM Phone link drops out/HQ will Reg I Log try to re-establish conference call.
6:25 Phone link re-established.
Reg I Log D
Midnight Denton briefs Governor of PA.
Gossick notes i
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