ML19344E305
| ML19344E305 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 07/15/1980 |
| From: | Reid R Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Brill R AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19344E306 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8008280362 | |
| Download: ML19344E305 (2) | |
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UNITED STATES
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N NUCLEAR REGULATORY ::OMMISSION g
E WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555
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IEX.Y I 5 1980 Docket No. 50-289 Mr. and Mrs. Richard A. Brill 60 Sunrise Blvd.
E-town, PA 17022
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Srill:
I am writing in response to your letter which advocated placing Three Mile Island Nuclear Station, Unit No.1, b ::k into service. You also commented on news reporting of the events regarding the Three Mile Island Station and on nuclear power in general.
As you may be aware, the NRC has ordered that a public hearing be conducted to determine whether the facility should be operated and, if so, under what conditions. The public hearing is scheduled to begin this fall.
During the hearing, the technical issues appropriate to assure public health and safety will be addressed. The NRC staff is currently involved in the on-going review of technical information concerning the restart of Unit 1.
Based upon the current status of the aroceedings, the development of a record on which the Commission can mace a decision regarding restart is not expected before the early part of 1981.
While the NRC is, of course, concerned about financial impacts on consumers and licensees, the NRC's primary responsibility is the assurance of public health and safety.
Infonnation about the accident made available to the public was confusing for a number of reasons. Some problems were attributable to the sources of infor-mation, some to the way in which information was made available to the press, and some to how the press reported the information it obtained. NRC's infor-mation was not always complete, nor in some instances, wholly accurate.
We recognize the importance of making complete and accurate information available to the public. Consequently, we have made specific plans for providing informa-tion to the public for such potentially serious accidents as occurred at Three Mile Island. These plans include making the availability of public information part of NRC's and the utilities' emergency response planning. Under this policy, the utilities must orovide offsite locations for newscenters. We also plan to appoint a senior NRL official responsible for coordinating NRC information activities during an emergency. By centralizing the gathering and dissemination of NRC's information, we will provide the public with relevant timely information.
i
! The former Atomic Energy Comission (AEC) had a Congressional mandate to develop and promote nuclear energy. When the AEC was abolished in 1974, the NRC was created by Congress for the sole purpose of regulating (COE) is now the commercial production of nuclear energy. The U. S. Department o." Energy responsible for the Federal Government's nuclear retearch and development activities. Consequently, comments about the 'uture of this energy source should be directed to that agency.
Your comments and interest in this matter are appreciated.
Sincerely, kV.
'O
(
9 Robert W. Reid, Chief Operating Reactors Branch f4 Division of Licensing i
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