NUREG-0662, Responds to Ltr Re Release of Radioactive Matl & Urging Permanent Facility Shutdown.Public Hearing Ordered to Determine Whether Facility Should Be Operated & Under What Conditions Restart Would Take Place
| ML20062H812 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 08/14/1980 |
| From: | Snyder B NRC OFFICE OF POLICY EVALUATIONS (OPE) |
| To: | Wray C AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20062H815 | List: |
| References | |
| RTR-NUREG-0662, RTR-NUREG-662 NUDOCS 8009050386 | |
| Download: ML20062H812 (3) | |
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JCollins D8rinkman W0liu Mr. & Mrs. C. Wray 234 Haddon Avenue Collingswood, New Jersey 08108
Dear Mr. & Mrs. Wray:
1 Your letter to the Cassission concerning the release of radioactive material i
from the Three Mile Island nuclear station and urging the facility's pemanent shutdown has been referred to me for response. I regret that this answer has been delayed for so long.
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Except for releases to the Susquehanna River of liquids containing only low or nondetectable levels of radioactivity, the release of contaminated water is not currently pemitted. The Commission has authorized use of the EPICOR-II water treatment systes for processing the unste water stored in tanks in the auxiliary building. We do not currently pemit the discharge of water processed by the EPICOR-II system. The disposal of the water processed by EPICOR-II will be ad-dressed in the programmatic environmental impact statment (PEIS) being prepared on the decontamination and disposal of radioactive wastes at Three Mile Island.
Copies of the PEIS will be made available for public comment. Metropolitan Edi::en has not yet subnitted a proposal on the disposal method of the decon-taminated water.
As a result of releases containing only low or nondetectable levels of radio-activity, the levels of radioactivity in the Susquehanna are indistinguishable from existing background levels at public unter supply intakes from the river.
These levels have been confimed by independent measurements made by the NRC, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Caesonwealth of Pennsylvania.
With regard to your concern about the purging of the radioactive krypton gas from the reactor building of TMI Unit 2. Metropolitan Edison Campany submitted to NRC a
- Safety Analysis and Environmental Report" (November 13,1979) in which j
f t evaluated alternative methods for the disposal of the krypton gases. such as purging, cryogenic processing,-and selective absorption. NRC also evaluated alternative methods for disposal of the krypton gas.to determine what effect decontastnation would have on workers on public health and safety, and on the environment. Based os its evaluation. NRC issued an environmental assessment (NUREG-0662 and two addenda) for public casusent on March 26, 1980 and received approximately 800 comments. These casusents were considered in the staff's preparation of the ' Final Environmental Assessment for Decontamination of the Three Mile Island Unit 2 Reactor Building Atmosphere" (NUREG-0662), vols. I and
'2 copies of which are enclosed for your information.
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Fran this process have amarged the following NRC staff conclusions:
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- The potential physical health impact on the public of using Jan of l
l the proposed strategies for renoving the krypton-85 is negligible.
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- The potential psychological impact is likely to grow the longer it j
takes to reach a decision, get. started, and complete the process.
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- The purging method is the quickest and the safest for the workers l
i on Three Mile Island to accomplish, i
- Overall, no significant enviromental impact would result from use
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i of gy, of the alternatives discussed in the assessment.
j On June 12, 1980, the Commission issued an order for Taporary Modification of License, authorizing controlled purging of the krypton-85 from the reactor building atmosphere. In a separate Moorandum and Order, also issued on June 12, the Commission discussed' rationale for its decision. Actual venting opera-1 tions began on June 28, 1980, and were completed on July 11, 1980. Copies of both Commission issuances are also enclosed.
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i For more than four decades, the effect of radiation on men and animals has been j
thoroughly studied. Numerous major biological research programs (including studies of genetic effects) have been completed and others are in progress, all l
of which have been well documented. While the relationship between ionizing i
radiation dose and adverse biological effects among humans is not precisely i
kncwn for all levels of radiation, the principal uncertainty exists at very l
low dose levels where natural sources of radiation and the variations in these sources are comparable to other doses. The most important biological effects that radiation can cause are cancer, hereditary diseases, miscarriages. and i
abnormalities that may occur to a fetus. These effects are identical to those that occur among humans from other causer. It is this last point in combination with other compticating(2) in doses from natural radiation sources. (3) in factors--such as magnitude and variations (1) in normal 1
incidence of diseases.
radiation doses from man-made sources other than the nuclear industry, and (4) in exposures to noenuclear. cancer-producing agents-that is responsible for much of the uncertainty in the dose-risk relationship at low dose levels.
In lim of precise knowledge of the relationship between low-level radiation and biological effects, radiation esperts assene that ionizinq radiation has an effect on the human body tha't remains directly proportions' to the dose, even at very low levels, and that there is therefore no threshold below which radiation can'be ignored.
They therefore is3m3, that any. dose of radiation, s
no matter how low, may be hansful.
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Several federal agencies, principally the F.nvirossental Protection Agency.
the Occupational Safety ar.d Health Administration, and the Nuclear Regulatory h
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Mr. & Mrs. C..Wray Comission, are responsible for regulating exposures from radiation or radio-active material. In all cases, the staffs of these agencies set regulations to limit radiation exposures to those well below nationally and internationally accepted levels of radiation protection.
With regard to your coments concerning the possible future operation of TMI-1, the Comission has ordered that a public hearing be conducted to determine whether the facility 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 review of technical infomation concerning the restart of Unit 1.
As part of this review, the !GtC 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 thet NRC should 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 also enclosed for your information.
As for Unit 2. the licensee has not yet sutaitted to the NRC a proposal for over-all plant recovery, although the licensee is conducting feasibility studies. It is not possible at this time to detemine when such proposals for recovery may be submitted 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 reac-tor shut down, was suspended by Order of July 20, 1979.
We 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.
~ Sincerely.
,- Bernard J. Snyder. Program Director
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Three Mile Island Program Office
'. -Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
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Enclosures:
1.
InlREE-0662, vols. 1 & 2 i
2.
Order fbr Temporary Modification
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l ef License of June 12, 1980 I
3.
Memorandum and Order '
1 of June 12. 1980 4.
Order and Notice of Hearing of Aegust 9.1979 OFFfCE h.....
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NRC FORM 310 (9 74) NRCM 0240 DU.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICER 1979 209 369 n
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