ML20148H519

Responds to Ltr Commenting on Status of Facility & Cleanup Operations.Nrc Assessment of Decontamination at Facility Concludes That No Significant Environ Impact Would Result from Proposed Cleanup Operations

ML20148H519
Person / Time
Site:	Three Mile Island
Issue date:	11/05/1980
From:	Snyder B Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:	Barnum E AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED
References
NUDOCS 8011190181
Download: ML20148H519 (3)

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Docket No. 50-320 Mi e  !.

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A M ~9; Ms. Eileen Barnum

• vi A RDf2 Box 2533 " l Etters, Pennsylvania 17319 l 1

Dear Ms. Barnum:

Your letter to the Nuclear Regulatory Consission about cleanup operations at the Three Mile Island Nuclear Station was referred to me for response.

I regret that this answer has been delayed. The accident and its consequences 1 have created a substantial increase in the agency's workload, which has pre- l vented me from responding to you as promptly as I would have liked.

You expressed a concern about NRC's role in decontamination operations at l Three Mile Island Unit 2. The licensee has the primary responsibility to l physically carry out decontamination operations. The NRC was created by l Congress to regulate the' commercial use of nuclear energy. Under the Atomic l Energy Act of 1954, as amended, NRC has the authority to revoke licenses, i take possession of soecial nuclear material (uranita fuel), and license  ;

other organizations if necessary. Should Metropolitan Edison be unable to 1 carry out decontamination operations adequately, a number of options are l possible, including NRC's licensing another organization to run the facility l or NRC's operating the facility itself. Presently,12 Cosmission professional representatives are at the TM1 Site. Their task is to review all proposed cleanup plans, including the review and approval of detailed operating pro-l cedures, and to maintain surveillance of those operations that NRC has au- '

thorized. No future actions can be taken at the site without the NRC's review and approval.

With regard to your concerrrabout the purging of the radioactive krypton gas from the reactor building of TMI, Unit 2. Metropolitan Edison Company submitted to NRC a " Safety Analysis and Environmental Report" (November 13,1979) in which ,

it evaluated alternative methods for the disposal of the krypton gases, such )

as purging and cryogenic processing, and selective absorption. NRC also' eval-uated alternative methods for disposal of the krypton gas to determine what effect decontamination would have on workers, on the public health and safety, and on the environment. Based on its evaluation, NRC issued an environmental assessment (NUREG-0662 and two addenda) for public comments on March 26, 1980, and received approximately 800 comments. These coaments were considered in the staff's preparation of the " Final Environmental Assessment for Decontamination  ;

of the Three Mile Is' land Unit 2 Reactor Building Atsesphere" (NUREG-0662), Vols.

1 and 2, copies of which are enclosed for your information.

THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS gp pg 0@

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Ms. 'Eileen Barna L From this' process have emerged the following NRC staff conclusions:

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! -The potential physical health impact on the public of using an of l the proposed strategies for removing the krypton-85 is negligible..

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-The potential psychological impact is likely to grow the longer it a takes to reach a decision, get started, and complete the process.

-The purging method is the quickest and the safest for the workers on Three Mile Island to accomplish.

-Overall, no significant environmental impact would result from use of an of the alternatives discussed in the assessment.

On June 12, 1980, the Conslission issued an Order for Temporary Modification of License, authorizing controlled purging of the krypton-85 from the reactor building atmosphere. In a separate Memorandum and Order, also issued on June 12,1980, the Comission discussed rationale for its decision. Actual purging operations began on June 28, 1980, and were completed on July 11 -1980.

The doses resulting from the purge were well within those predicted in Section 7.1 of Volme 1 of NRC's final environmental assessment. Copies'of both Commission issuances are also enclosed.

Before the krypton gas was purged frces the reactor building, there were small releases. The sources of these releases, which were generally undetectable i offsite, were the offgassing of contaminated waste water stored in the auxiliary building, leakage of sampling systems, and natural radioactivity from the building construction materials. These releases were less than those released by similar plants during nomal operation and were within Environmental Pro- i tection Agency and NRC regulations and the facility's license requirements.

Current accuratr information on the status of the facility and on cleanup operations car ce obtained from either NRC or the Environmental Protection  !

Agency, both of which maintain offices in the Downtown Mall,100 Brown Street.

Middletown, Pennsylvania. NRC's office hours are 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Monday. Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, and 9:00 a.m. to noon on Saturday. The '

office is open until 8:00 p.m. each Wednesday to accomodate those who cannot i visit during the day. l With regard to your comments concerning the possible future operation of TMI-1,  !

the Constission has ordered that a public huaring be conducted to detemine .

whether the facility should be operated and, if so, under what conditions the i restart would take place. Prior to start of the hearings, the NRC staff conducted j a review of technical infomation concerning the restart of Unit 1. As part of this review, the NRC staff conducted meetings with the licensee in the presence  ;

of the public, and the public was given the opportunity to raise questions and to - I make stataments. i

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~ Ms. Eileen Barman  !

During the heaMng, the technical issues that are appropriate to assure  :

l the public health and safety will also be addressed. In addition, the Atomic Safety.and Licensing Board has indicated that NRC should consider j the psychological impact of future operations on the nearby connunities. l A copy of the Connission Order that outlines the issues to be considered  ;

is also enclosed for your infonnation. The hearing began on October 15, 1980,  !

at the Nuclear Regulatory Connission Headng Room, 25 North Court Street  !

(ground floor), HarMsburg, Pennsylvania.  !

Regarding your concern that the public is not being infonned of releases from the plant, the Department of Energy and Connonwealth of Pennsylvania are sponsoring a ca-mity Radiation Monitoring Program. This program is  :

designed.to provide independent vedfication of radiation levels in the TMI  !

area by trained local connunity people, and to increase public understanding  ;

of radiation and its effects. Approximately fifty individuals, selected by  !

local officials, participated in training classes conducted by members of  !

the Nuclear EngineeMng Department of the Pennsylvania State University.  !

About fifteen training sessions were conducted involving classroom instruc- l tions, laboratory training, and actual radiation monitoring in the field. .

The Connunity Monitoring Program was initiated on May 21 and the readings  :

are made twice a week. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources ,

is informed of the results.

l I appreciate your concerns and a%ure you that every effort is being made to i ensure the continued protection of the health and safety of the public, not L only at Three Mile Island, but also at all nuclear power plants. .;

Sincerely, Bernard J. Snyder, Program Dirtetor  ;

TMI Program Office  ;

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulatior. l

Enclosures:

1. NUREG-0662. Vols. 1 & 2 Distribution: '

2. Order for Temporary Modification Docket File 50-320 MDuncan of License dated June 12, 1980 NRC POR BSnyder  :

3. Memorandum and Order dated June 12 LPOR RWeller l 1980 TERA WTravers .

4. Order and Notice of Hearing NRR r/f  !

of August 9, 1980 TMIPO r/f )

TMI Site r/f JCollins  ;

DBrinkman  !

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