ML19224A845

Status Rept as of 2:05 PM,790330,re Uncontrolled Releases of Radioactivity Into Atmosphere from Primary Coolant Sys

ML19224A845
Person / Time
Site:	Crane
Issue date:	03/30/1979
From:	Kammerer C NRC OFFICE OF CONGRESSIONAL AFFAIRS (OCA)
To:
References
PR-790330, NUDOCS 7906060200
Download: ML19224A845 (1)

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There have been intermit. tent. uncontrolled releases o f radioactiv'ty i

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the atmosphere from the brimary' coolant system of Unit 2 of the Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

The licensee is attempting to stop the intermittent gaseous releases by transferring the ' radioactive coolant water into the primary centainm building.

The levels of radioactivity being measured have been as high as 20 to 25 millirem per hour in the immediate vicinity of the site at k

ground level.

Off-site levels were a few milliroentgen.

At about 11: 30 a.m. EST. the Chairman of the NRC has suggested to Governor Thornburg of the Corrinonwealth of Pennsylvania that pregnant wcmen and pre-schvol childien in an area within five miles of the plant site be evacuated.

Members of the flRC technical staff are at the site and 1

' efforts to reduce the temperatures of the reactor fuel are continuin These temperatures have been coming down slowly and the final depres 4

3 surization of the reactor vessel has been delayed.

There is evidence of i

severe damage te the nuclear fuel.

Samples of primary coolant containing

^j high-levels of radiofodine and instruments in the core indicate high t

i fuel temperatures in soma of the fuel bundles, and the presence of a i

j large oubble of non-condensible gases in the top of the reactor vessel.

Because of these non-condensible gases, the possiblity exists of l

interrupting coolant flow within the reactor when its pressure is f';rther decreased and the contained gases expand.

Several options to reach a final safe state for the fuel Sre under consideration.In the Ecantime, the reactor is being maintained in a stable condition.

3/30/79 2:05 p.m.

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