ML19340B721
| ML19340B721 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 10/28/1980 |
| From: | Snyder B Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Oconnell M AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8011110788 | |
| Download: ML19340B721 (3) | |
Text
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Docket No.60-320 NRC PDR,ts/ incoming Loc 314DR w/ incoming y w/ incoming MT 2 31980 TMIP0 r/f w/ incoming TMI Site r/f
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Mr. Mike O'Connell P.O. Bcx 831 Pismo Beach, California 93449
Dear Mr. O'Connell:
-i I am writing in response to your -letter to Mr. DeYoung requesting technical 1
answers to questions about Three Mile Island.
I regret that this answer to your letter has bcen delayed. 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.
Enclosed is a list of your questions along with their appropriate answers.
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 the Three Mile Island Station, but also at all nuclear power plants.
Sincerely, u
Bernard J. Snyder, Program Director Three Mile Island Program Office Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Enclosure:
Question List
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1.
What is the core temperature (if this is possible ta determine)?
Answer: The average incore thermocouple temperature is approximately 135 0F.
2.
What is the primary coolant temperature as it leaves the reactor vessel?
U Answer: Approximately 130 F.
3.
Given that the core was mishapened last March 28 (most notably the cente-of the core) due to the intense heat - are all the control rods fully inserter?
Answer: Yes, all the control rods were fully inserted when the reactor automatically shutdown on March 28, 1979.
4.
Is it possible that the core is still fissioning to some extent (due once again to the deformation of the core incurred last March 28)?
Answer: No. The boron in the reactor coolant is maintaining the reactor subcritical.
5.
How much boron is being added to the primary coolant (PPT or PPM)? And if this baron were not being added, is there a possibility that some fissioning would take place (assumine no fissioning is now present)?
Answer: The boron concentration in the primary coolant is being maintair.ed at approximately 3800 ppm.
6.
Is there contaminated water on the containment floor?
If so, how deep and what volume is it?
Answer:
Yes. There are approximately 600,000 gallons at a depth of approximately 7.5 feet.
7.
How much water (at what rate) is leaking from the primary cooling system?
Answer: The current leakage rate is less than 0.1 gallons per minute.
8.
Has the rate of leaking primary coolant increased or decreased over the past ten months?
Answer: T% leak rate has decreased as the system pressure decreased.
. 9.
What is J.e level of activity inside the containment at Three Mile Island?
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Answer:
Enclosed is a copy of the "Draf t Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement related to decontamination and disposat of radioactive wastes resulting from March 28, 1979, accident at Three Mile Island Nuclear Station, Unit 2."
The PEIS discusses the current status of the plant as well as the environmental issues and alternative methods associated with the performance of these cleanup activities.
- 10. What is the earliest date projected for:
a.
Entering the containment Answer: The initial entry into containment was made July 23, 1980.
b.
Cold shutdown without primary cooling Answer: Core cooling will be required until the fuel is removed from the core.
Also enclosed is a copy of " Answers to Frequently Asked Quec'. ions About Cleanup Activities at Three Mile Island, Unit 2."