ML20136C831

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Requests That NRC Prepare Sequence of Events Leading to Concern That Hydrogen Bubble in Reactor Pressure Vessel May Have Been Combustible
ML20136C831
Person / Time
Site: Three Mile Island Constellation icon.png
Issue date: 07/18/1979
From: Johnson V
PRESIDENT'S COMMISSION ON THE ACCIDENT AT THREE MILE
To: Rehm T
NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO)
Shared Package
ML20136C828 List:
References
NUDOCS 7910170368
Download: ML20136C831 (2)


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President's Commission on the Accident at Three Mile Island //

. er 2100 M Street NW Wasnington, DC 20037 %6 Y July 18, 1979 1

Mr. Thomas Rehm l Assistant to the Executive i Director for Operations U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555

Dear Mr. Rehm:

As you know the staff of the President's Commission on the Accident at Three Mile Island is gathering facts related to the course of the accident in order to assist the Commission in the preparation of its report to the President.

A matter of considerable interest to us is that of the alleged hydrogen bubble in the reactor pressure vessel and the concern that oxygen might accumulate to the extent that an explosion would be possible. This concern is admitted now to have been unwarranted and we realize that incorrect information must have been given to the NRC, incorrect questions asked by or of the NRC, or there must have been confusion, misinterpretation or mis-application of correct information by someone. To the extent possible we wish to clarify the situation.

We request that the NRC prepare and transmit to us the NRC's sequence of events that led to this concern along with your inter-pretation and understanding of these events. By events in this case we mean the questions, discussions, telephone messages, infor-mation from experts, calculations, generally the flow of infor-mation that led to the erroneous conclusion that an explosion might occur. Indeed, where records do not exist, we expect to depend on the memory of the participants.

You may use the following paragraph as an example of the detail desired.

What information was given to the Commissioners on March,30 and 31 on the amount of hydrogen in the reactor vessel, the rate of accumulation of hydrogen and oxygen, the expected time it would reach flammability or deto-nation limits and the predicted effect of that explosion or 7 910] 7034og i

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detonation? Please advise who supplied what information and where it came from. We wish for the actual data used, the conclusions reached with the recommendations derived and given to the Commissioners.

We apologize in advance for insisting on a tight time schedule.

In order that this sequence of events be of greatest use to the President's Commission, we request that it be posted to us no later than the first week of August 1979.

You may assume that Mr. William Stratton as your contact in this matter.

Sincerely,

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Vincent L Johnson Director, Technical Staff 9

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