ML20050C162
| ML20050C162 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 05000000, Crane |
| Issue date: | 03/22/1982 |
| From: | Palladino N NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Mcclure J SENATE, ENERGY & NATURAL RESOURCES |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20050C153 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8204080225 | |
| Download: ML20050C162 (2) | |
Text
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UNITED STATES
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION l!
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%*****s March 22, 1982 CHAIRMAN The Honorable James A. McClure, Chairman Committee on Enero" and Natural Resources United States Senas-Washington, D. C.
20510
Dear Mr. Chairman:
Last October the Nuclear Regulatory Commission provided testimony to you on nuclear accident cleanup insurance legislation (S-1606) introduced by Senator Heinz.
In that testimony we supported prompt steps to overcome the finan-cial problems which are hindering the cleanup of the Three Mile Island, Unit 2 (TMI-2) nuclear power plant.
It is now three years since the TMI-2 accident and the financial problems, if anything, appear further from solu-tion than they did last fall.
My fellow Commissioners and I therefore want to emphasize our belief that the cleanup of TMI-2 must be accelerated.
The potential for slow degrada-tion of containment integrity and equipment capability plus the increasing concern for an unexpected release of radio-active material argue that,'as a last resort, it is time for the Federal Government to take a more aggressive role.
A more detailed explanation of our concerns is enclosed.
Our purpcse in pointing this out to you is to ask that you support: (1) establishing some form of funding that will guarantee a rapid cleanup; and (2) DOE plans to take posses-sion and dispose of the entire damaged reactor core as soon as technically feasible.
We believe greater Federal participation in assuring finan-cial viability is a prerequisite to an acceptably rapid program.
If the owners of the damaged reactor go bankrupt; the cleanup will still have to be done and the entire job l
and associated costs may fall upon the Federal Government.
l That possibility has recently become more likely.
Restart of the undamaged Unit I reactor at Three Mile Island is the principal element in the owner.'s plan to finance the cleanup of Unit 2.
Serious new technical problems, however, now l
indicate a 6-12 month or longer delay before Unit 1 could be in a position to generate any revenue.
This setback adds a l
new degree of urgency to the increased Federal involvement we are recommending for clean up of THI-2.
8204080225 820322 PDR ADOCK 05000244 T
The Honorable James A. McClure 2
We support DOE's decision to accept and manage all the high-level waste, including taking possession of the entire core of the damaged reactor for research and eventual disposal.
For our part, we in the Nuclear Regulatory Commission are committed to a timely as well as thorough execution of our responsibility to regulate the cleanup of TMI-2 in the interests of public health and safety.
Commissioner Gilinsky adds that he agrees with the Commis-sion's statement regarding the pressing need to assure adequate financing for a prompt cleanup of TMI-2.
- However, he thinks the Commission should limit its advice to health and safety questions and leave it to the President and the Congress to strike a balance among the competing equities of the licensee, the affected States, and the Federal Govern-ment.
I would be pleased to meet with you to discuss this matter further.
Sincerely, s
Nunzio J. Palladino
Enclosure:
As stated cc:
The Honorable Henry M. Jackson
.