ML19344E525
| ML19344E525 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 08/11/1980 |
| From: | Snyder B Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Carpenter M AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19344E526 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8009020172 | |
| Download: ML19344E525 (2) | |
Text
.
o UNITED STA1 ES g
~[
g NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
- E WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 g
f AUG 11 1980 j
Ms. Maryalice Carpenter 1673 North 7th Street Lebanon, Pennsylvania 17042
Dear Ms. Carpenter:
Your letter to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in Middletown urging the revocation of Metropolitan Edison Company's operating license was referred to me for response.
I regret that this answer has been delayed. The acci-dent 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.
The Commission has ordered that a public hearing be conducted to determine 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 ad-dressed.
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 infonnation.
As for Unit 2, the licensee has not yet sutmitted 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 Unit 2, except for those actions necessary to keep the reactor shut down, was suspended by Order of July 20, 1979.
You expressed a' concern about Metropolitan Edison's ability to handle cleanup operations at TMI. While it is outside the authority. of the NRC to physically manage decontamination operations at TMI-2, we intend to fully implement the regulatory process in determining the acceptability of those operations as conducted by the licensee. Presently,15 Commission professional representa-tives are at the TMI site. Their task is to review all proposed cleanup plans, E 009 0 2 0 / 78-M
Ms. Maryalice Carpenter including the review and approval of detailed operating procedures, and to maintain surveillance of those operations that NRC has authorized. No future actions can be taken at the site without the NRC's review and approval.
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, k\\lf Y
1 Bernard J. Snyder, Program Director Three Mile Island Program Office Office of Nuclear Reacter Regulation
Enclosure:
Order and Notice of Hearing of August 9,1979
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