ML20062J625
| ML20062J625 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 10/16/1980 |
| From: | Snyder B Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Sandy J AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8011040108 | |
| Download: ML20062J625 (4) | |
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Docket No. 50-320 NRC PDR w/ incoming Local R w/ incoming w/ incoming NRR r/f TMIP0 r/f w/ incoming ggg g g TMI Site r/f w/ incoming JTCollins DBPinkman w/ incoming W0liu w/ incoming MDuncan w/ incoming Mrs. Jean Sandy HThompson w/ incoming 321 North 45th Street RBallard Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17111
Dear Mrs. Sandy:
Your letter to president Carter about the effects of radiation from the Three Mile Island nuclear station on fam animals and urging the facility's pema-nent shutdown was referred to me for response.
I regret that this answer has been delayed. The accident 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 Nuclear Regulatory Commission has received reports of a variety of animal health problems that have been attributed to the operation and/or accident at Three Mile Island. Examples of reported animal health problems include increases in livestock stillbirths, abortions, and symptoms of nutritional deficiency.
Members of HRC's Terrestrial Resources Section are currently preparing a report on possible health effects to fam animals in the vicinity of Three Mile Island.
We will send you a copy of the report when it is completed later this year.
With regard to your desire for the permanent shutdown of Three Mile Island, the Commission has ordered that a public hearing be conducted to detemine whether l
THI-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 re-view of technical infomation 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 addressed.
In addition, the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board has indicated that !!RC should I
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 en-closed for your infomation.
As for Unit 2, the licensee has not yet submitted 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 sutnitted 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.
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Mrs. Jean Sandy OCT 161980 The licensee has the primary responsibility to physically carry out decontami-nation operations. The NRC was created by Congress to regulate the commercial use of nuclear energy. Under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, NRC has the authority to revoke licenses, take possession of special nuclear ma-terial (uranium fuel), and license other organiza; ions if necessary. Should lietropolitan Edison be unable to carry out decontamination operations adequately, a number of options are possible, including NRC's licensing another organization to run the facility or NRC's operating the facility itself. presently,12 Com-mission professional representatives are at the Ti1I site. Their task is to review all proposed cleanup plans, 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, Bernard J. Snyder, Program Director
, Three fille Island program Office Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Enclosure:
Order and Notice of Hearing dated August 9, 1979 bec: Ronald Ballard, NRC l
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