ML20148H496

Responds to 800218 Request for Revocation of Util Ol.Nrc Public Hearing Ordered Re Restart of Unit 1.Licensee Currently Conducting Feasibility Studies Re Plant Recovery Proposals for Unit 2

ML20148H496
Person / Time
Site:	Three Mile Island
Issue date:	11/05/1980
From:	Snyder B Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:	Haak D AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED
Shared Package
ML20148H500	List: ML20148H496 ML20148H507
References
NUDOCS 8011190157
Download: ML20148H496 (3)

Text

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i ~ I . .. . - Docket No. 50-320, 50-289 NRC POR w/ incoming Local POR w/ incoming w,i , g3 TERA w/ incoming I P0 /f w/1ncoming TMI Site r/f w/incomingG C

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-Mr. & Mrs. Dennis Haak' p:

• 1011 East Maple Street 4 --  %  !

Annville, Pennsylvania 17003 fi M -

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Dear Mr. & Mrs. Haak:

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Your-letter to the Nuclear Regulatory Comission in Middletown urging the revocation of Metropolitan Edison Company's operating license was referred to me for response. I regret that this answer has been delayed. The acci-dent 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, i

The Comission has ordered that a public hearing be conducted to determine whether TMI-1 should be operated and, if so, under what conditions the restart would take place. Prior to start of the hearings, the NRC staff conducted a review of technical-infonnation concerning the restart of Unit 1. As part of this review, the NRC staff conducted meetings with the licensee in the pres-ence of the public, and the public was given the opportunity to raise questions and to make statements. During the hearing, the technical issues that are aporopriate to assure the public health and sifety will also be addressed, In 1 addition, the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Ms indicated that NRC should  ;

consider the psychological impact of future operation on the nearby communities.

A copy of the Comission Order that outlines the issues to be considered is enclosed for your information. The hearing began October 15,1980, at. the ,

Nuclear Regulatory Comission Hearing Room, 25 North Court Street (ground floor),  ;

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. i 1

As for Unit 2 the licensee has not yet submitted to the NRC a proposal for '

overell plant reeovery, although the licensee is conducting feasibility studies.

It is not possible at this time to determine when such proposals for recovery may be subnitted 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 authetity to operate Unit 2 except for those actions necessary to keep the reactor shut down, was suspended by Order of July 20, 1979.

The' licensee has the primary responsibility to physically carry out decontamina-tion operations. The NRC was created by Congwess 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 material (uranium fuel), and license other organizations if necessary. Should Metropolitan Edison be unable to carry out decontamination operations adequately, a number of options are possible, including NRC's licensing another oroanization to run the facility or NRC's operating the facility itself. PresentTy, 12 Commission professional representatives are at the TMI site. Their task is to review all proposed cleanup plans, including the review and approval of detailed operating THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS 8011190 g POOR QUAUTY PAGES

Mr. & Mrs. Dennis Haak - 1 l

proceduees, and to maintain surveillance of those operations that NRC has I 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.

l Bernard J. Snyder, Program Director Three Mila Island Program Office Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Enclosure:

Order and Notice of Hearing dated August 9, 1979 1

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