ML19345C081
| ML19345C081 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 10/27/1980 |
| From: | Snyder B Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Aulthouse H AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19345C082 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8012030853 | |
| Download: ML19345C081 (2) | |
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UNITED STATES
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OCT 2 71980 Dccket No. 50-320 Mrs. Harry D. Aulthouse Box 316, RD #2 Columbia, PA 17512
Dear Mrs. Aulthouse:
I am writing in response to your letter of October 13, 1980 concerning the situation at Three Mile Island.
Your letter expresses a concern over what releases have occurred in the last several years and what "has been going into the Susquehanna River." The small dose of radiation that was received by people in the area during the early days of the accident came from radioactive gases that escaped from the auxiliary building. The average dose of radioactivd'y received by the population within 50 miles of TMI was approximately 4 illirems.
The maximum exposure to any individual was less than 100 mill. rems, which is less than the yearly dose each person receives as a result of natural background radiation. Doses at these levels result in less than one health effect over the lifetime of all people in this area. Natural background radiation received by people in the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, area is approximately 125 millirems per year. To put these doses into perspective, note that a traveler flying round trip by jet from New York to Los Angeles receives 5 millirems of cosmic rays.
With regard to your concern about the release of contaminated water, except for releases of liquids containing only low or nondetectable levels of radio-dCtiVity to the Susquehanna River, such releases are not currently permitted.
The Comission has authorized use of EPICOR-II. water treatment system for processing the waste water stored in tanks in the auxiliary building. We do not currently permit the discharge of water processed by the EPICOR-II system. The disposal of the water processed by EPICOR-II is addressed in the Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) on the decontamination and disposal of radioactive waste at Three Mile Island. Enclosed for your infonnation is a copy of the PEIS.
As.1 result of releases containing only low or nondetectable levels of radio-activity, the levels of radioactivity in the Susquehanna are indistinguishable from existing backgrc md levels at public water supply intakes from the river.
These levels have been confinned by independent measurements made by the NRC, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Comonwealth of Pennsylvania.
8012030753 F
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Mrs. Harry D. Aulthouse With respect to selection of alternative methods of energy production, the utility makes this selection based upon many factors. NRC considers these-alternative methods of energy production in its assessment of the environ-mental impact of each nuclear power plant as part of our overall review of each utility's application for a construction permit or an operating license.
We also have the principal regulatory responsibility for matters of radiological health and safety associated with the nuclear power plant. However, quer.tior, regarding the initial selection of the type of energy source or the possibil ty of conversion to coal should be directed to the licensee.
Sincerely, ernar
. Sny er Pr am r
TMI Program Offi e Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Enclosure:
Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement
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