ML20050B961
| ML20050B961 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 03/26/1982 |
| From: | Berkow H Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Benningfield C, Coble M, Davis F, Freeborn J, King C, Spagnola N AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8204070627 | |
| Download: ML20050B961 (3) | |
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March 26, 1982 Docket No. 50-289 l
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Ms. Charlotte P. Benningfielrt i
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Lebanon, KY 40033 l
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Dear Ms. Benningfield:
This is in response to your recent letter inquiring about the restart of
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TMI-1.
Unit 1 was down for refueling at the time of the accident at TMI-2 in
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late March 1979.
On July 2, 1979, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) ordered that the facility remain in cold shutdown until further order of the Commission, stating that "the Commission presently lacks the requisite reasonable assurance that the... Licensee's Three Mile Island Unit No. 1 l
Facility... can be operated without endangering the health and safety of the I
public." Further, the Commission stated that public hearings would be conducted to determine whether TMI-1 should be allowed to resume operation and, if so, under what conditions.
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i The Atomiu Safety and Licensing Board (ASLB) conducted the public hearing on k
the safety aspects of restarting TMI-1 and issued an initial decision, with 1
the final decision to be made by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission itself.
I The hearing, which commenced on October 15, 1980, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania,-
f involved a number of parties and produced a transcript covering 23,000 pages.
l A partial initial decision on management competence and operator training was
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issued on August 27, 1981; the Board concluded that, with the exception of a i
pending subissue on operator license examinations, the management competence j
issues were favorable to the eventual op.eration of TMI-1.
On December 14, f
1981, thb Board again made a r'uling favorable to restart on the basis of I
emergency planning, separation of Units 1 and 2, and plant design issues.
The Board has recommended that TMI-l be permitted to operate at power levels not to exceed 5% power pending the outcome of the subissue on operator licensing l
exams.
i l
On January 7,1982, the U. S. Court of Appeals ordered the Commission to perform an environmental assessment on the effects of TMI-l restart on the' psychological health of neighboring residents of TMI.
In addition, major' problems with steam generator tubes have been discovered which will add I
significant delay to when the plant can be ready to operate.
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9 8204070627 820326 PDR ADOCK 05000289 H
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The Commission will be reviewing the Board's initial decisions and will 'e b
making a determination in the near future as to whether TMI-1 should be allowed to operate.
The Commission is also reviewing its options under the recent Court of Appeals decision. The delay in the restart of TMI-l due to' this decision is unknown.
In any event, it appears that the restart of Unit 1, if permitted, will be delayed until at least July 1982 due to the steam generator problem.
The thoroughness with which these matters are being considered should reassure you that every effort is being made to protect the public health and safety in the event that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission decides to permit the restart of TMI-1.
Your comments and interest in this matter are appreciated.
Sincerely,
.wir 'r.c G191ed by Richard C. Brady erbert N. Berkow, Chief Management Analysis Branch Plar. :ing and Program Analysis Staff Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
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