ML20076H500

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Urges Restart Deferral Until Significant Issues Resolved
ML20076H500
Person / Time
Site: Three Mile Island Constellation icon.png
Issue date: 06/14/1983
From: Gage K
NATIONAL LAWYERS GUILD, HOUSTON CHAPTER
To: Gilinsky V, Palladino N, Roberts T
NRC COMMISSION (OCM)
References
NUDOCS 8306160594
Download: ML20076H500 (1)


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\UCear niorrnation anC leS0urce Service emyo 1346 Connecticut Avenue h"(I. 4th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20036 (202) 296-7552 June U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission '83 15l 4,b 1717 H Street, N.W. lath Floor

. Washington, D.C. 20555 7 Nunzio J. Palladino, Chairman N Victor Gilinsky, Co=missioner Thomas M. Roberts, Commissioner John F. Ahearne, Commissioner James Asselstine, Commissioner Gentlemen:

The Commission is reported to be under considerable pressure to restart the Three Mile Island I nuclear power plant. This pressure is unfortunate, as it may tend to obscure the painful lessons learned from the TMI 2 accident. The Nuclear Infor=ation and Resource Service urges the Commission not to reopen TMI 1 until l

all significant issues have been resolved.

i William Dircks' recent memo to you on the issue of GPU Nuclear canagement explicitly refrains from endorsing GPU's actions pending resolution of many issues: federal investigation of leak rates coverup, allegations of improper procedures involving recent TMI 2 cleanup activities, and two consultants' studies of reactor operations end inanagement were cited. The range of issues still to be resolved is broad -

cncompassing not only improper management but also plant structural integrity (the recent steam generator repair) - with potentially momentous impacts on plant operations. In all probability, it will take significant additional efforts to overcome these problems. Therefore, NIRS urges you to withhold your approval of a premature restart. Even under normal plant circumstances, systems fail and errors are made. The added level of uncertainty that now exists at TMI 1 can only mean that this plant is more than usually vulnerable to failure.

TMI 3 is inevitably a test case. It could highlight careful and responsible NRC regulation, and reassure the public that lessons have been learned and implemented with regard to both safe power plant operation and oversight. Or it could just as casily provide a tragic example of inadequate regulation and inability to learn from past mistakes.

While it is our understanding that the Commission is not legally required to further delay the restart of TMI 1, matters of this significance and complexity should transcend narrow legal boundaries. Many concerned citizens around the country are watching your actions now. They demand nothing less than your most prudent and principled action.

TMI should not be permitted to restart unless and until there is absolute assurance that this plant will be safely operated and maintained.

Sincerely, 0306160594 830614 PDR ADOCK 05000 Kit Gage

[l' G Reactor Safety Project