ML20209G710

Provides Summary of Interviews & Informal Surveys on 840830. NRC Samples Will Be Forwarded to Region I for Analysis & Results of Analysis Will Be Available to Participants

ML20209G710
Person / Time
Site:	Three Mile Island
Issue date:	09/12/1984
From:	Dan Collins NRC
To:	Traver W Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Shared Package
ML20209G708	List: ML20209G703 ML20209G710 ML20209G715 ML20209G740 ML20209G746
References
FOIA-85-428 NUDOCS 8509190666
Download: ML20209G710 (5)

Text

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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMisslON jkMJ.j WASHINGTON. D. C. 20555

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MEMORANDUM FOR: William D. Travers, Deputy Program Director '

TMI Program Office FROM: David J. Collins, Radiation Specialist TMI-2 Project Section

SUBJECT:

INTERVIEWS AND INFORMAL SURVEYS ON AUGUST 30, 1984 The following is a summary of activities from 3:00 - 10:00 PM on August 30, 1984.

The following people met at the Hattie Harris convenience store at Exit 16, Interstate 83 at 4:30 PM.

NRC: W. Travers EPA: W. Kirk L. Thonus T. Woolley D. Collins i Intervenors: M. Aamodt PA DER: M. Reilly N. Aamodt Newberry Township Rescue Squad: F. Sanders Identification of Areas and Surveys The above persons, with the exception F. Sanders and L. Thonus, visited three locations identified by the Aamodts and met the residents at each location  !

(who had submitted affidavits to the Aamodts). The residences are West -

Northwest from TMI at approximately 5.75, 7.25, and 9.75 miles.

At each location, informal radiation surveys were conducted of areas suggested by the residents. NRC and PA DER instruments (Eberline E-120 end-window GM tube) did not have ranges necessary to accurately measure the extremely low radiation levels found. These instruments can be read with a precision of only about .05 mR/hr (about 500 cpm) at the lower end of the lowest scale.

EPA's Ludlum micro-R instrument indicated 8 - 15 uR/hr at all three locations.

EPA's alpha scintillation instrument showed some non-reproducible fluctuations at the third location when placed on an unsealed wood railing. No determination could be made of the presence of activity above background levels at any location. ,

Informal soil and water samples were obtained at one location, as suggested by the residents, by NRC, EPA, DER and the residents. There were no instrument readings to indicate any significant activity.  ;

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William D. Travers September 12, 1984 EPA obtained a small soil sample at a second location. Since the size of the sample was limited by the nature of the area sampled, EPA agreed to forward the sample to NRC 'after gamma analysis. A portion was retained by the

_ residents.

Instrument Comparisons and Checks Mr. Sanders brought a survey meter (Victoreen Instrument Corp. CDV-700, Serial 12681, Model 6B, thin sidewall GM tube meter). Mrs. Aamodt stated that she had compared the readings of this instrument to the readings of her instrument during her earlier surveys. Mrs. Aamodt stated that she had used in her surveys, but did not have available at this time, a Solar Electronics Monitor 4, a thin-end window GM tube meter. ,

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Meter readings of the CDY-700-instrument were compared with radiation fields of standard sources at GPU Nuclear's Radiological Controls Instrument Calibration Facility on September 4, 1984 (see attachment). This comparison found that the meter responded very erratically and about 50% high on the X1 i scale (0 .5 mR/hr) . Large meter fluctuations were also present on the X10  ;

and X100 scales. Best estimates of the readings indicated that they were within +20% of the standard field at the low end of the scales. The readings were less erratic at the high end of the scales. The instrument responded to beta radiation, reading 0.3 mR/hr closed window and off-scale (above 50 mR/hr) when exposed to a uranium slab (244 mrad /hr). When exposed to a plutonium-239 source of 50,800 dpm alpha, no meter deflection was found. Instrument I personnel stated that the erratic readings on the XI scale may be due to a faulty cable. The instrument was returned to the Newberry Township Rescue Squad by T. Woolley on September 4,1984. A note was sent along with the instrument advising of the findings and recommending repair of the cable.

NRC samples will be forwarded to Region I for analysis and the results of all ,

analyses will be made available to all participants.

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O DkidJ.C'ollins h

'ation Specialist TMI-2 Project Section i

Attachment:

As stated ,

cc: B. Snyder P. Grant L. Thonus '

R. Cook W. Kirk, EPA T. Woolley, EPA M. Reilly, PA DER F. Sanders, Newberry Township M. Aamodt, Intervenor l N. Aamodt, Intervenor i

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o. FORM 17 CAllBRATION CERTIFICATE TEST EQUIPMENT INSTRUMENT INFORMATION instrument Due Date .

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Model CBV 74s-MSerial Number /2.4r41 External Probe (s) Serial Number Calibration Method INSTRUMENT CAllBRATION INFORMATION instrument Calibration instrument Response Rance Standard Value Before Calib. Atter Calib. omments 1_ X / 097 m ///4 . /[ p p .- p W p 2 ./91' 1 .36 3 .: So 1 . , .2 rv > , f~ Mi', ,A 4 /

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d AFFIRMATION RESPONSE SHFET T0: SAMUEL J. CHILK, SECRETARY OF THE COMMISSION FROM: COMMISSIONER ASSELSTINE

SUBJECT:

SECY-85 TMI-l -- AAMODT MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION AND REOPENING OF THE RECORD APPROVED in part DISAPPROVED in part ABSTAIN NOT PARTICIPATING REQUEST DISCUSSION

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COMMENTS:

As I said in my earlier views on this issue, I would do more than the Commission has done. I would not, however, reopen the TMI-l Restart proceeding to hear this, issue.

My separate views are attached.

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SECRETARIAT NOTE: PLEASE ALSO RESPOND TO AND/OR COMMENT ON OGC/0PE MEMORANDUM IF ONE HAS BEEN ISSUED ON THIS PAPER.,

NRC-SECY FORM DEC. 80 b3

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SEPARATE VIEWS OF COMMISSIONER ASSELSTINE

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I disagree with the Connission's decision to do nothing more on this issue. The Commission should hire an independent consultant who is expert in the fields of epidemiology and the health effects of ionizing radiation. That consultant should review the information submitted by the Aamodts as well as the various existing studies of the radiological i i

releases from the TMI accident and the impact of those releases on the .i i

people surrounding the plant. However, I do not believe that we should reopen the TMI-1 Restart proceeding to hear this issue. .

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