ML19344A998
| ML19344A998 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 08/11/1980 |
| From: | Snyder B Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Staub M AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19331C972 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8008250322 | |
| Download: ML19344A998 (3) | |
Text
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AUG 111980 Mr. Michael S. Staub 253 Glenn Road Camp Hill, Pennsylvania 17011
Dear Mr. Staub:
Your letter to Commissioner Hendrie about the health effects associated with cleanup operations at Three Mile Island has been referred to me for response.
I regret that this answer has been delayed for so long. 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.
For more than four decades, the effect of radiation on men and animals has been thoroughly studied. Numerous major biological research programs (including studies of genetic effects) have been completed and others are in progress, all of which have been well documented. While the relationship between ionizing radiation dose and adverse biological effects among humans is not precisely known for all levels of radiation, the principal uncertainty exists at very low dose levels where natural sources of radiation and the variations in these sources are comparable to other doses. The most important biological effects that radia-tion can cause are cancer, hereditary diseases, miscarriages, and abnormalities that may occur to a fetus. These effects are identical to those that occur among humans from other causes.
It is this last point in combination with other com-plicating factors--such as magnitude and variations (1) in nonnal incidence of diseases, (2) in doses from natural radiation sources, (3) in radiation doses from man-made sources other than the nuclear industry, and (4) in exposures to nonnuclear cancer-producing agents--that is responsible for much of the uncer-tainty in the dose-risk relationship at low dose levels.
In lieu of precise knowledge of the relationship between low-level radiation and biological effects, radiation experts assume that ionizing radiation has an effect on the human body that remains directly proportional to the dose, even at very low levels, and that there is therefore no threshold below which radiation can be ignored. They therefore assume that any dose of radiation, no matter how low, may be harmful.
Several federal agencies, principally the Environmental Protection Agency, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and the Nuclear Regulatory Com-mission, are responsible for regulating exposures from radiation or radioactive ma terial.
In all cases, the staffs of these agencies set regulations to limit radiation exposures to those well below nationally and internationally accepted levels of radiation protection.
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Mr. Michael S. Staub I l
I With regard to your desire for the pemanent shutdown of Three Mile Island, the Commission has ordered that a public hearing be conducted to detemine whether TMI-1 should be operated and, if so, under what conditions the restart would take place.
Prior to start of the hearings, the NRC staff will conduct a review of technical information concerning the restart of Unit 1.
As part of this review, the NRC staff will conduct meetings with the licensee in the presence of the public, and the public will be given the opportunity to raise questions and to make statements. During the hearing, the technical issues that are appropriate to assure the public health and safety will also be addressed.
In addition, the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board has indicated that NRC should consider the psychological impact of future operation on the nearby communities. A copy of the Commission Order that outlines the issues to be considered is enclosed for your information.
As for Unit 2, the licensee has not yet submitted to the NRC a proposal for overall plant recovery, although the licensee is conducting feasibility studies.
It is not possible at this time to determine when such proposals for recovery may be submitted or how much time will be needed for the required reviews and approvals in connection with Unit 2's recovery.
I would note, however, that the licensee's authority to operate U_ nit 2, except for those actions necessary to keep the reactor shut down, was suspended by Order of July 20, 1979.
In its Statement of Policy and Notice of Intent to Prepare a Programmatic En-vironmental Impact Statement of November 21, 1979, the Commission stated that
.the staff would prepare a programmatic environmental impact statement on the decontamination and disposal of radioactive wastes resulting from the accident at Three Mile Island Unit 2.
The statement emphasizes the Commission's intention to coordinate its actions on this matter with the President's Council on Environ-mental Quality and to provide the opportunity for public comments. The program-matic environmental impact statement will focus on the environmental issues and alternative methods associated with the perfomance of these cleanup activities.
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 l
only at Three i4ile Island, but also at all nuclear power plants.
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Sincerely,
,4U4 c1. tuA Bernard J.
n er, Program Director Three Mile Island Program Office Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Enclosure:
Order and Notice of Hearing of August 9,1979 l
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3 79-0964 4/12/79 No.
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- Soiiciio, O Public Affairs O Secretary incoming-Michael Staub F rom-253 Glenn Rd.
Camn Hill. Pa-17011 i
To:
Chairman Hendria cate linda ted Subsect:
Thron Mile Tcland accident i
O prepare reniy fo, signature of:
Cha.rman O Commissioner t
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O Return o,isinai of.ncomin.itn,esponse I
i For direct repty
- XXD For appropriate action For information j
For recommendation Cpys to:
Chm, Cmrs, PE, 0GC, OCA, PA, SECY, n,,,4,.
i For the Commission:
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253 Glenn Road Camp Hill, Pa. 17011
Dear Sir:
"PLEASE CLOSE DOWN THREE MILE ISLAND NUCLEAR PLANT" On April 4,1979 HEW Secretary Joseph Califano said that radiation would continue in the vicinity of TMI nuclear plant on a low level, and that " levels of radiation may be incremented for years to come".
He added that it takes 20 to 30 years to get a sense of the impact of low level radiation, and the effects are subject to debate.
According to Dr. Gerry Stein of the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta & leading biochemists "Any amount of radiation you are exposed to, your health will be adversely affected".
The damage has been done to the people and children of the Harrisburg, York and Lancaster areas. I pray and urge you to do everything in your power to close down Three Mile Island.
Children and infants are 40 times more vulnerable to radiation than adults, and the susceptibility of the unborn is even higher.
My family and I insist that the " CLEANUP of Three Mile Island be done with foremost thought' for7hT~ heal'th and safety of the-community.
The people of the area will be subjected to ' low levels'of ra-diat. ion for years to come during the clean-up. Please do every-thine, in :/our power to close down the plant at Three Mile Island.
I am mads ac hell at Met Ed for lying to the public however you and the.uny people this incident has affected will be i,n our prayers.
I will b': watching to see the position you take on this issue.
Sincerely, f/h fhrVh Michael S. Staub 8008250
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