Press Release-I-03-016, NRC Approves Relocation of Emergency Operations Facility for Three Mile Island 1 Nuclear Power Plant

Press Release-I-03-016: NRC Approves Relocation of Emergency Operations Facility for Three Mile Island 1 Nuclear Power Plant

ML030800050
Person / Time
Site:	Three Mile Island
Issue date:	03/20/2003
From:	Office of Public Affairs Region I
To:
Category:Press Release
References
Press Release-I-03-016
Download: ML030800050 (3)

Text

NRC NEWS U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS -- REGION I 475 Allendale Road King of Prussia, PA 19406 No. I-03-016 March 20, 2003 CONTACT: Diane Screnci, (610) 337-5330 E-mail: opa1@nrc.gov Neil A. Sheehan, (610) 337-5331 NRC APPROVES RELOCATION OF EMERGENCY OPERATIONS FACILITY FOR THREE MILE ISLAND 1 NUCLEAR POWER PLANT The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has approved a request to consolidate the Emergency Operations Facility (EOF) for the Three Mile Island 1 nuclear power plant with the EOF currently serving both the Limerick and Peach Bottom nuclear power plants. AmerGen Energy Company, LLC, which owns and operates Three Mile Island 1, submitted the request to the NRC last July.

Specifically, AmerGen asked for permission to shift the Three Mile Island 1 EOF from its current location about 12 miles from the Middletown, Pa., plant to an EOF in Coatesville, Pa. That facility, located about 50 miles from Three Mile Island 1, already serves Limerick and Peach Bottom.

Limerick and Peach Bottom are owned and operated by Exelon, which owns half of AmerGen. When used by Three Mile Island, the EOF would be staffed by employees from the companys corporate office in Kennett Square, Pa. Those individuals would receive training that is specific to Three Mile Island systems.

In accordance with NRC policy, any move of an EOF to a site more than 25 miles from a plant must be approved by the Commission.

After receiving the AmerGen request, the NRC sent an emergency preparedness specialist to visit the current and combined EOFs, discuss the issues involved in the proposed move and evaluate the facilities. The agency also requested additional information from the company, which it provided.

Based on the information gathered, the NRC has concluded that, with the EOF consolidation, there is reasonable assurance that public health and safety would be maintained in the event of an emergency at Three Mile Island 1. The agency has also concluded the consolidation would not reduce the effectiveness of the emergency response capabilities for any of the three plants using the EOF.

NRC staff will closely monitor the consolidation process and ensure through the agencys inspection program that communication and coordination between the company, the public and county, state and federal agencies are not adversely impacted.

Three Mile Island 1s Joint Public Information Center, where members of the media would be briefed in the event of an emergency at the plant, will remain at its current location in Harrisburg, Pa.