1 ,¢.~9r,;;(,\.«sewn ‘~,.€«;. +9 ’ . . WW’; ?‘ Er: fi»*V—~?Ei ES; _: , 4 ' '_ ‘ ‘:32’ «.c.:..\‘ .{‘,. $3.: .9, 5' ,_\, "3 W = 1" V‘.5.«‘::~,;»’ L1 if 3 '1; ‘L-.~:~~L ix ‘I'.:r ... . . 1:‘ * * ~: 3; T5}. 1. f; \::“*“"79;.(,g?" ! 5' (, ‘V; H he xi; ».,'i;’:* sg g X \ ’ I K . «s 5. \§z L: R‘ V14“ ‘MY V g.';‘\ ' E! K I . 1 e NOV 17 1989 . I’ u ~ . 4 ‘I § .1‘ 3. ; -. ‘\_ Exfixmm L ‘a.o ‘$334 X31: ;;...‘,,~’_,_‘,.§ Issue Brief ‘ijmjflflfiianlxxxllxk %E9'§‘F§'N & §,:';:,y;$gF muum I; CONGRESS {{ { H 86 L HI1|i\\'1«~’i1i NUCLEAR POWER: THE THREE MILE ISLAND ACCIDENT - INITIAL RESPONSES AND INVESTIGATION, MARCH-JULY 1979 (ARCHIVED--O9/27/79) ISSUE BRIEF NUMBER IB79035 AUTHOR: Donneliy, Warren H. Senior Specialist, Energy Kramer, Donna 5. Office of Senior Specialists THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS COHGBESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE MAJOB ISSUES SYSTEM DATE ORIGINATED ggggggzg DATE UPDATED ggggzgzg FOR ADDITIOBAL INFORMATION CALL 287-5700 0927 CRS- 1 IB79035 UPDATE-09/27/79 l§§Q§-Q§E£§l$L9! on mar. 28, 1979, an accident occurred at the Three Mile Island nuclear powerplant, near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, which became the most serious nuclear accident in the United States to date. It caused the governor to close nearby schools; advise pregnant women and pre-school age children within 5 miles of the site to leave; and people within a ten-mile radius to stay inside. Evacuation of from 200 to 300 thousand residents was planned but was not ordered. The accident caused public fear and confusion, some voluntary evacuation, and renewed controversy over nuclear power. No injuries or casualties to the public occurred, although there was some exposure of nearby residents to comparatively small amounts of radiation. Some workers received excessive exposures, although not enough to cause short-term injury. Detectable quantities of radioactive materials were found in the environment, but well below limits that would cause official concern and action. At its peak, the accident presented risk of a major release of intensely radioactive materials from the core of the damaged reactor. At this writing, the peak danger has passed and the damaged reactor core is in stable shut-down condition. A long and expensive decontamination remains to be done before the reactor can return to service, and it is not clear where the radioactive debris can be sent. The accident has triggered major .congressional and executive branch zvestigations regarding reasons for it, the government's response, the ruture of this plant, the risk that similar nuclear powerplants may present _and what to do about that risk, and the future of nuclear power in the United States. Many hearings have been held and more are likely. Legislation to strengthen regulation of nuclear powerplant safety is now before Congress. EAQ§§§QQ!2-A!2_2QLlQX-A§AL1§l§ w BACKGROUND Tgg_pgg§§p;§g§; The nuclear power reactor involved is Unit-2 of the Three Mile Island plant, which consists of two nuclear power units of 792 and 800 megawatts electrical generating capacity. The reactors are pressurized water reactor types and were supplied by the Babcocx and Wilcox Company. Commercial operation of the first unit began in September 197a and operation of the second began in may 1978. The Metropolitan Edison Co. operates the plants for a consortium of utilities owned by General Public Utilities Corp. The plant is located on a small island in the Susquehanna River at Goldsboro, Pennsylvania, about 10 miles southeast of Harrisburg. , Th§_§ggig§g§; «The accident began at fl:00 AM on Wednesday, bar. 28, 1979, "when the Unit-2 reactor (the newer one) was at about 98% power during routine on-line maintenance. at the time, Unit-1 was shut down for refueling. The _initial mishap set off a series of equipment failures and alleged mistakes in operator judgments that culminated inia real risk (of uncertain degree) of a ngerous exposure of the public to radiation. The risk came from the possibility -- which was emphasized in news media coverage ‘’ that some part of the reactor's entensely radioactive core might melt and escape from the ‘reactor and its containment into the environment. A related fear emphasized in the press but later discredited was that hydrogen, which had accumulated within the reactor, might explode and disperse some of the corew into the environment. cns- 2 1379035 UPDATE-O9/27/79‘ By April 3, the risks of a catastrophic release of radioactivity we lower. 0.3. officials stressed that while the situation seemed under control, extreme care would be needed to confine the released radioactive materials within the reactor and its containment. Harold B. Denton, Director of NRC's Office of nuclear Reactor Regulation, said there should be no rush to get the reactor totally shut down but, rather, the process should move slowly. The press also reported that officials conceded they may have taken a somewhat too alarmist view of the imminence of the threat of a gas explosion [Washington Post, Apr. 3, 1979: An]. §adi2a2tizit1_££2m_th§-a29iQ§nt-anQ-it§-sf£s9t§; The accident caused some releases of radioactive materials. During the first day, a plume of slightly radioactive material about half a mile wide moved north from the plant. ' There was daily aerial monitoring of the plume. News reports of radiation monitoring in Maryland, New Jersey, and New York indicated no unusual changes and the analyses of milk samples showed no increase in radioactivity over normal background. ° The technical staff of the NRC, the DHER, and EPA formed an Ad Hoc Population Dose Assessment Group to assess the health impact of these releases on some 2 million residents within 50 miles of the accident. Its preliminary assessment was that the offsite collective dose of 3,300 person-rem represented minimal risks (that is, a very small number) of additional health effects to the offsite population. The projected number of excess fatal cancers due to such exposure over the remaining lifetime of the population was reported as approximately one, in comparison with abo 325,000 fatal cancers normally to be expected. The projected total number or excess health effects, including all cases of cancer and genetic ill health to all future generations was estimated at approximately two. The group noted that a few scientists believe the risk factors may be as much as two to ten times greater than that commonly accepted, while there are other scientists who believe that estimates of the effects of exposure to low doses of radiation are two to ten times larger than they should be. The principal radioactive materials released were radioactive gases iof xenon and some iodine-131. Some information about exposure was obtained from DOE aerial monitoring and from dosimeters of the utility and the NBC. A single precise value for the collective dose to the population could not be assigned because of the limited number of dosimeters. w some iodine-131 was found in milk samples, but it was 300 times lower than the level at which FDA would recommend that cows be removed from contaminated pasture. No reactor-produced radioactivity was found in food samplesi collected by the FDA. §§§§EQ£-§§§§£Z-éEQ-!§£l!Q!-E£§Ql2$§-§§§iQ§EE§a The '°r5t thing that can happen inma nuclear power accident is for some of the core to melt and get out of the reactor and its containment so that dangerous amounts of intensely radioactive materials escape into the environment. Depending upon the form of the release and the weather, populations downwind might be exposed dangerous amounts of radiation and have to be evacuated, with the contaminated area made unfit for use for a long time. On the other hand, the effects might be limited to the immediate vicinity of the accident. The accident at Three Mile Island appears to be they result of an improbable sequence of events which nonetheless occurred. While it is not clear yet how close the accident came to a catastrophic core meltdown and release to the cns- 3 1379035 UPDATE-U9/27/79 environment, those who are critical of nuclear energy say that the risk was i mmediate and great and that disaster was barely averted. Those who favor nuclear power industry asserts that the risk was not that great and notes that the accident was contained with no casualties. For further information on nuclear safety, including the well-publicized Rasmussen report's analysis of the probability of a catastrophic nuclear core meltdown, see CBS issue brief IB77100: Nuclear Fission Technology (uon—breeder). 2£§!lQE§-BE2L§§£-§QE;Q§§E§-!l£Q-£§§$-9£-i§§£§§-22£§.!§l£Q9!E; FiVe major previous nuclear accidents have involved real or feared core meltdowns. These are: ~ A December 1952. An operator error caused partial core melting and heavy contamination at the Canadian HEX research reactor at Chalk River. October 1957. An operator error caused core overheating and fire in ma British plutonium production reactor at Windscale, England. At the height of the fire some 11 tons of uranium were burning. The accident caused contamination of an area of more than 500 square kilometers with radioactive iodine and for some days milk from dairy herds in this region was dumped into the river. There was no evacuation. November 1955. An operator error caused overheating and melting of some fuel in the Experimental Breeder Reactor—1 facility at the National Reactor “wsting Station in Idaho. There was no radiation release or exposure. October 1966. A partial core meltdown occurred in the Enrico Fermi-1 fast ‘breeder reactor in Detroit. There was no release of radioactive materials although critics of nuclear energy insist the accident came to the very edge of nuclear disaster. January 1969. A loss-of-coolant accident in the first Swiss power reactor, located in a large cave at Lucens, resulted in loss of the reactor.~ There were no casualties or noticeable external contamination. October 17, 1979. An accident while charging fuel into France's st. Laurent gas-cooled power reactor caused fire within the reactor and some melting of uranium. yharch 1975. A fire caused by technician carelessness cut off many control circuits for two nuclear power reactors of the TVA at Browns Ferry station in Alabama. The fire disrupted controls for the emergency core cooling system of Unit no. 1 and caused some concern of meltdown risk. However, this did not occur and there was no radioactive contamination. §9y§§pmggt_;§§p9g§§; Local, state, and Federal officials responded to the Three Mile Island accident, although there was confusion over respective responsibilities and authorities and it did not seen there was one official ‘with overall responsibility. The NRC sent key officials to the site to A force NRC regulations and to offer technical advice. NBC was represented at the site by Harold R. Denton, Director of the NRC's Office of Reactor Regulation, who also served as personal contact with President Carter. The Department of Energy and some of its contractors provided technical advice and assistance while the Department of Defense provided special communications and some air transport of lead shielding wand E special eguipment.A The President visited the site on Sunday, April 1, and afterwards cRs- 4 1379035 UPDATE-09/i27/79% asked residents to calmly and exactly carry out whatever instructions might be given if a precautionary evacuation were to be ordered. The confusi over immediate crisis management was reduced somewhat when the NRC announced on April 2 that it had an unequivocal understanding with the licensee that the NRC must be informed of and concur in advance to all actions that might change either the rate of release of radioactive gases or the way of cooling the reactor. For several days there was speculation that evacuation might be ordered if the accident got worse, or as a precaution, and there were frequent press reports of planning by city and county civil defense directors and other officials for evacuation of as many as 200,000-300,000 persons within 25 ‘miles of the plant. hany nearby residents left of their own accord. §éQl§£$QB-§i§§EE§-§EQ.§§E9§E£§-§E§2Q§§Q§; Radi3ti°D GXPOSUIG Can haVe short- and possibly long—term effects. For the short term, exposure of the whole body to large amounts of radiation, such as several hundred thousand millirems of radiation, can cause illness. Higher exposures can cause some deaths. Long-term exposure to lower levels of radiation is thought by some scientists to unacceptably increase risks of cancer in later life. Another concern, particularly for lower level exposures, is the risk of genetic damage to children yet to be conceived. Pregnant women and young children are also more susceptible to radiation injury than are adults. Federal regulations of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission set limits for radiation exposure to workers within nuclear powerplants and for the public within the boundaries of the nuclear powerplant's exclusion zone. Sta governments are responsible for protection of the public outside of the zone. Federal radiation standards are based upon guidelines published by the now defunct Federal Radiation Council. State standards can be based upon these as well as upon voluntary standards of scientific organizations such as the National Council on Radiation Protection and the International Committee on Radiation Protection. The two predominant ways people can be exposed to radioactive materials from a nuclear accident are (1) from exposure to an airborne plume of radioactive debris downwind of the accident with exposure of the whole body to gamma radiation from materials in the plume and possible inhalation of these materials; and (2) from ingestion of radioactive contaminants of water or foods such as milk or fresh vegetables. For the Three hile Island accident, environmental monitoring in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, and New Jersey has not’ shown unusual radioactivity beyond the immediate plant site. As for current standards of limits for radiation of the kind associated with the accident (ionizing radiation), in 1971 the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (HCRP) reaffirmed that the maximum texposure of sensitive human organs of any individual in the population should be limited to 0.5 BEE in any year in addition to exposure from natural and ~medical radiation. NCRP also adopted a recommendation that the corresponding per capita dose to the population be limited to a yearly average of 0.17 r , or 170 millirems. This general standard is recognized in the Untied States and abroad. For further information on radiation hazards, see CRS issue brief IB77062: Radiation Health and Safety, Issues of Congressional Interest. cns- 5 1379035 UPDATE-O9/27/79 §gg;q§ngy_plag§: Ever since the days of the Atomic Energy Commission, xclear regulations have required licensees of nuclear powerplants to have emergencY Plans. This requirement continues today in Title 10, Part 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Published federal guidance by NBC and EPA recommends that state and local governments formalize their emergency response plans in support of nuclear facilities to protect health and safety in the event of a significant release of radioactive material to the environment. Present federal guidances suggest the assumption of a spectrum of accidents in preparing emergency response plans. At the time of the Three hile Island accident, the NBC had not approved state and local emergency plans for this powerplant. IQ§.§AQl§.E§2Q££.9B_2E§l§§£.§E§£Q§£EI.Eléflfllafii 03 533- 30: 1979: the GAO released a review of emergency response planning and capabilities at licensed nuclear facilities and also facilities of the Departments of Defense and of Energy. It found that #3 states have sizable nuclear facilities, but that federal law does not require states to have peacetime nuclear emergency plans or to test them.. Of 41 states with some type of plan, 9 have tested their plans with full—scale drills, 16 have had partial drills, the rest have made no tests. The GAO said an untested plan probably would be ineffective and there is only limited assurance that persons.near nuclear facilities would be adequately protected in case of a serious accident. host of the GAO's recommendations were to the Departments of Defense and of Energy for their facilities. As for nuclear power facilities, the GAO report recommended that: * The Federal Emergency Management Agency should assume the responsibility far making policy and for coordinating radiological emergency response planning. * The NRC should require that people living near nuclear facilities be periodically provided with emergency information; * The NRC should license nuclear powerplants to begin operation only where state and local emergency response plans contain all the Commission's essential planning elements, establish an emergency planning zone of about 10, mile around all nuclear poverplants, and require licensees to modify their plans accordingly. l£§E£§B£§-§9!§£§9§-£Q£-li§2illEi§§; The PFiCe’ADd9F5°D amendment to the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 provides a system of no-fault insurance coverage for third-party liability from a nuclear accident.i Coverage for the Three Mile Island plant is provided by the American Nuclear Insurers-hAELU. The insurers opened a field office in Harrisburg on March 29 and began to reimburse nearby residents for out-of-pocket expenses caused by the accident. The total liability coverage available for this accident is $560 million, of which $140 million is from commercial insurance carried by the utility, $335 ‘million more can be raised by assessing owners of nuclear powerplants at $5 million per reactor, and the remaining $85 million can be provided from government indemnity, if needed. For further information on Price-Anderson ‘indemnification see CBS missue brief IB75013: Nuclear aurance/Indemnification. On Apr. 9, 1979, the NRC amended its indemnification regulations to increase from $140 million to $160 million the amount of public «liability primary insurance that nuclear power licensees are required to have. The increase reflected an increase in the underwriting, capacity of the two private insurance pools (NBC press release 79-70, Apr. 9, 1979). The CRS- 6 1379035 UPDATE-09/27/79 increase takes effect on Bay 1, 1979, and, so, would not apply to the Three flile Island accident. A As of June 1, 1979, American Nuclear Insurers, which provides third-party liability coverage to Metropolitan Edison, had paid $1.2 million to more than 3,000 families as reimbursement for emergency living expenses incurred by their evacuation. In addition, more than $40,000 was paid to persons who lost wages as a result of their evacuation from the five-mile area. Claims representatives remain in Harrisburg. §§g§§al_Q;§a§t§;_A§§;§tagg§; If a catastrophic release of radioactive materials were to occur with contamination of large areas and prolonged evacuation and relocation, it is probable that the state involved would seek federal assistance. Such assistance might be available under the Federal Disaster Assistance Act of 1974, P.L. 93-288. This Act authorizes the President to declare (1) an emergency or (2) a major disaster. The first opens the way for federal assistance to protect lives. The second would provide more federal benefits, especially for individuals affected and for replacement of public facilities. The Act specifies criteria for the President to use in declaring a disaster. All of these are linked to natural events, such as floods or earthquakes, except a final vaguen criteria of ‘other catastrophes.‘ Presidents have made little use of this last criteria. Administration of federal emergency and disaster assistance is the function of the Federal Disaster Assistance Administration, which appears to be in for a change. on mar. 31, 1979, the President made operational a new Federal Emergency management Agency (FEMA), by executive order no. 12127. FEhA was established by Reorganization Plan No. 7 of 1978, which took effe on Sept. 15, 1978. The President has indicated he plans to transfer FDAA -4 FEMA, but has not set a date. For further information on federal organization for disaster assistance, see issue brief IB77118: Emergency and Disaster Preparedness Reorganization. GLOSSARY , Coolant: The medium that brings heat out of a nuclear reactor to raise steam. For the Three hile Island reactor, the coolant was water. Qgggg The part of a nuclear power reactor that contains the nuclear fuel. For the TMI reactor, the fuel was an oxide of slightly enriched uranium. The core is the source of heat, received from fissioning uranium atoms, which is transformed into electricity. §!§£9§E§I-§9£§-§9Q$lQ9-§1§E§E_J§§Q§l£ “hen 3 nuclear P0391 C0fe is, Shut down, the radioactive debris‘ from the fission process within the fuel continues, for some time, to give off heat, which if not removed, could cause the fuel to melt. An emergency core cooling system provides cooling to take away this residual heat should other cooling systems fail. gu§l_glgmggt; The uranium fuel for a power reactor is fabricated into small pellets which are placed into long, slender tubes of zirconium. The tubes are then assembled into fuel emenents, which are placed in the core. geltgggggm If a power reactor core that has been in operation isi suddenly shut down and cooling systems fail, there is a possibility that some of the fuel would get so hot that it would melt. The molten fuel would release wthe intensely radioactive wastes within it. If the reactor yvessel should he breeched, possibly by corrosion of molten uranium, or possibly by exposions, then intensely radioactive wastes could escape into the reactor building with cas- 7 A 1379035 0PDATB—09/27/799 the risk that some might get out into the air and water to cause dangerous ' tposure of people nearby. A \ gilliggmg The millirem is a convenient unit of measure for exposure to radiation. The intensity of a radiation field is usually expressed as millirem per hour (mr/h), while total exposure (dose) is expressed in mr. gggssggiggg_ga§g;_§gag§9;_Jgg§L; A nuclear power reactor in which the primary coolant is Kept under pressure to xeepl it from boiling. The TMI reactor is of this type. 9 ,g;ima;y_g;g§g;t; The system of pipes, valves, and pumps that circulates cooling water through the core of a reactor and to a heat exchanger. gggg A larger unit of radiation exposure. One rem equals 1,000 mr. §g§QpQ§gy_g;;g§;§; The systems of pipes, valves, and pumps that taxes heat from the heat exchange of the primary system and produces steam to drive a turbine generator. CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS AND INVESTIGATIONS To date, nine subcommittees have held or plan to hold hearings into the accident. Two have characterized their activities as investigations. The ssubcommittees, dates of hearings and other actions, and witnesses follow: :’ The-§ena:e-Q9mn;2:se.2n_§nzir9n-e2r- and- Euhlis- aerial- §2h29m-;:2.2 22 §2.lea2-§292la:;9nl-§en.t92_§a£z-§ar2i-2hai£man; 03/29/79 -- Senator Hart led a Senate delegation to visit the accident site.h _ OJ/30/79 -- Senator hart held at press conference on the accident in Washington. 04/09/79 ——-Senator Hart introduced S.Bes. 134 to authorize funds for the Committee to make a special investigation into the accident [Congressional Record, daily edition, Apr. 9, 1979: S4201-4205]. a 04/10/79 -4 Hearings on safety procedures by the NBC in relation to the accident. A ' 04/21/79 -- Hearings on the accident. O4/30/79 —— Hearings on the accident and the NRC decision to temporarily close other Bahcock and Wilcox nuclear power reactors. 05/09/79 —- Appearing before‘ the National fPress Club, subcommittee chairman Hart called for a moratorium on the issuing of operating licenses ‘for any new nuclear plant until the state involved has prepared, a ncomprehensive emergency evacuation plan and had it approved by the NBC. He « zlined other steps to be taken or considered by the federal government that included: a system of NBC monitored radiation detection devices near every nuclear reactor in the 0.5.; continuous on-site inspection by thef EEC; moref ‘training’and revised licensing requirements for reactor voperators; remoteh monitoring of key instruments in each reactor; establishment of a specially trained and licensed “elite nuclear SHAT team" by the NBC to assume ‘control eof a reactor in an emergency; and a 1985 deadline for the Administration and cns- 8 11379035 UPDATE-09/27/79 the industry to come up with an acceptable plan for waste disposal. 05/10/79 - Hearings on the accident. 05/10/79 -—-The Committee ordered reported the NRC's authorization for FY80, S. 562, with an amendment to shut down all operating nuclear powerplants in any state that cannot -produce an NRC-approved emergency evacuation plan within six months, and to halt issuance of new operating licenses in such states, and an amendment to provide $001 thousand for the Committee's investigation of the accident. 9 $h2_§9ne:§-§9nm;::ee.2n- Qezernmenral- Affeiral- §2222mmi2229 92- E22291. 2gels:§-2;9li£e;§ti2n_enerzedsr2l-§§r!i§2§r_§enat2r £9hn-§l2nni-2hai;nan; 05/09-10/79 -- Hearings on the federal government's responsibility for radiation protection and on emergency planning for nuclear powerplant accidents. - $E§-§§B§E§-§2!!;EE§§.QE-L§2Q£-Q2Q-§E!§B_§§§9E£§§§4-.E2§Q!!;2E§§.9B §§Q-E. §EQ_§§l§2El§l§.§§§§Q£§£;-§§£éE2£_§Q!Q£Q_§§£E§QZi.§héi£E.£5 04/04/79 -— Held a hearing on the health implications of the accident. I£§-QQlBE-§E2£9Q$E- §2QQ;E£§§L_ §E2EQ!Qi£E§§- 92- §E§£QZl- §§§§E9£ EQEQE. §en2eQz.-2n§i£2§n; on/on/79 -- held a hearing on the cost of the clean up and pow T replacement caused by the accident. I2§-§9E§§-§Q!E£EE§§-9E-é£E§Q.§§£E$Q§§3 05/16-17/79 -- The Subcommittee on Military Installations and Facilities held hearings on the civil defense aspects of the accident. 05/23/79 -- Hearings continued. 06/14/79 —— Hearings continued. h1he-§2n§e-Q2nm;rteer2n_§9!ernm2ni-9n§£ari2n§..§222222iL:e2-9n §E!;£9B!§QE1 E22291-2nd-§§22r2l-§2§22rs§§l-$221-§2:§2rt.-sh2irman; O5/07/79 -- Hearing on NBC review of offsite emergency plans for nuclear powerplant accidents. $§§.§9E§§-§Q!fllEE§e 92 I2E§£lQ£_ QBQ- LB§El§£- 駧§;£§;- §E2EQEElE£§§ 99 9 §§§£Q1-§EQ_E2§.§2!l£22eE2ti !9££l§-§:-QQQll;-§Q§l£E92i 03/29/79 -- The HBC briefed the subcommittee on the accident in a public session. 04/04/79 - Hr. Udall announced he will call for a major inquiry into every phase of nuclear power generation to find out if the nation sho 3 remain committed to nuclear power. 05/04/79 ——-Hr. Udall announced an agenda for a comprehensive review of the nation's nuclear power and the creation of a task force of Committee nmembers to investigate the accident. The task force is to conduct interviews and meetings from may 7 through may 18. CRS- 9 IB79035 UPDATE—09/27/79 ur Udall also announced eight sets of hearings on nuclear power to be scheduled as follows: may 21, Zn--Three Bile Island and nuclear safety; June u,5——nuclear regulation, licensing, and siting; June 11,14--security in the in nuclear industry; June 25, 28--nuclear waste storage and regulation; July 9--the Price-Anderson Act and nuclear liability; July 12--nuclear economics; July 16——national and regional power needs; and July 18, 19--nuclear proliferation issues. 05/07/79 —— The task force, together with NBC commissioner Gilinsky, visited the Three mile Island nuclear powerplant and interviewed operating personnel there. Afterwards, Mr. Udall told reporters that nuclear power technology may be tso complex as to be beyond the ability of even well-intentioned people to control, and that the future of nuclear power hangs in doubt [The New York Times, may 8, 1979: A18). 05/09/79 - The Committee approved an amendment to the NBC's authorization for FY80 (H.B. 2608) to prohibit use of funds for issuance of construction permits for the period Oct. 1, 1979, to April 1, 1980, and an amendment to prohibit use of funds for issuance of an operating license unless the NRC has received and approved from the state involved an emergency evacuation plan. 05/21/79 - 05/24/79 - Hearings were held on nuclear safety and the accident. 06/00-05/79 -- Continued oversight hearings on nuclear regulation. 06/14/79 -- Continued oversight hearings on security in the domestic gnuclear industry. $Q§-§QE§§-QQ!El£E§§-9§-lQE§£§E§E§-§2Q-§9£§lQ2- §QEE§EE§l §BQE9§fllEE§§ On .§2§r92-enQ-292eri_Q9hn-2;-2;n9ell.-2hai;men; 04/27/79 -- A GAO investigation of the accident and its implications and a hearing on the Price-Anderson Act were announced by Chairman Dingel. The GAO investigation would go into whether safety concerns were compromised in order to bring the plant on line early so the utility could obtain certain tax advantages; the adequacy of the federal response and the NRC reaction to the accident; the thoroughness of reactor personnel training; the adequacy of regulatory standards; and the implications of the accident for other nuclear reactors. The cubsommittee will hold hearings: this summer on possible changes in the Price-Anderson Act and its $560 million liability limit [EEI Washington letter, Apr. 27, 1979: 4]. $E§-§9E§§-Q9E!l£E§§l9E-§§l§2§§- §EQ_ IEQQEQLQQZL- §22§9§!l£l§§ QB- EQQEQZ §§§§§£E§-§§Q-2£9QEEElQ2l.§2£§-§§§9£!§§£l-E£§2£!éQ3 00/03/79 - hr. uccormacx announced hearings for may 22, 23, and 24 on nuclear reactor safety, including implications of the accident, and hearings yon June 5, b, and 7 on low-level radiation, [Congressional Record, daily edition, Apr. 4, 1979: E1531). 05/22/79 - 05/20/79 -- Hearings were held on nuclear reactor safety systems. i 06/13-15/79 -— The Subcommittee on Energy Research and Production and on Natural Resources held joint hearings on low-level ionizing radiation with special emphasis on risk estimates for nuclear power. cns-10 11379035 UPDATE-0 9/27/79 PRESIDENT'S COMMISSION ON THE ACCIDENT AT THREE MILE ISLAND On Apr. 11, 1979, President Carter signed executive order 12130, to establish the President's Commission on the Accident at Three Mile Island. The 11-member commission on is headed by John Kemeny, President of Dartmouth College. Its purpose is to conduct a comprehensive study yand investigation of the accident. The Commission's study and investigation is to include: (a) a technical assessment of the events and their causes; this assessment shall include, but shall not be limited to, an evaluation of the acutal and potential impact of the events on the public health and safety and on the health and safety of the worker; (b) an analysis of the role of the managing utility; (c) an assessment of the emergency preparedness and response of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and other federal, state, and local authorities; (d) an evaluation of the Nuclear REgulatory Commission's licensing, inspection, operation, and enforcement procedures as applied to this facility; (e) an assessment of how the public's right to information concerning the events at Three Mile Island was served and other steps that should be taken during similar emergencies to provide the public with accurat comprehensible, and timely information; and (f) appropriate recommendations based upon the Commission findings. The Commission also is to prepare and transmit to the President a final report of its findings and recommendations at the end of six months. The Commission staff should consist of approximately 25 permanent positions. Its Director is Burce Lundin; Chief Counsel, Ronald Natalie; and Public Information Officer, Barbara Jorgenson. Their office is at 2100 H Street N.H., Washington D.C. 200037; telephone 653-7677. Funding for the study is $1.3 million of which $1 million already has been recieved from the Departments of Energy and Health, Education and Welfare. To ’date, ;the Commission has scheduled three hearings during hay and June. THE ACES REVIEW The NBC's Advisory Committee of Reactor Safeguards has begun a review of the accident. It made oral recommendations to the Commission on April 17 and repeated them in amplified form, at NBC request, in its interim reports no. 2 and 3 of May 16, 1979. In addition to comments on technical matters, in report no. 2 the ACBS recommended additional safety research as soon as spossible and further recommended that licensees nconsider madditional status ireconmendations for operator training and; qualification, evaluation monitoring of engineered safety features. Its third interim report included licensee reports, operating procedures, reliability of electric power supply, emergency planning, decontamination, safety review, NBC staff, and safety uresearcn. Also on may 16,. ACBS~ recommended that the NBC consider establishment of quantitative safety goals for overall safety of nuclear power reactors, and that such goals should be proposed for comment to the public and the Congress. It said: cns-11 1379035 UPDATE-09/2'7/79 Ultimately the Congress should be asked to express its views on the suitability of such goals and criteria in relation to other relevant aspects of our technological society, such as large dams, and manufacturing, storage, or disposal facilities for hazardous chemicals. NBC INVESTIGATIONS The NRC's Office of Inspection and Enforcement is investigating the accident and expects to report in August. 80 information will be issued beforehand unless it has immediate bearing on elements that the NRC has identified as contributing to the accident. The report will examine the first hours of the accident. It will not review subsequent NRC actions, actions of other federal and state agencies, or the regulatory process. In addition to a technical report, a separate report will discuss NRC's actions and reactions (Nucleonics week, may 3, 1979: 11). on may 14 the NBC named Washington attorney Mitchell Rogovin, of the law firm Rogovin, Stern and Huge, to head an independent~ investigation of the events surrounding the accident. The firm will be paid about $450,000 to probe the accident. It will have the services of NRC staff and subpoena power. The overall investigation is expected to cost about $2 million (The Washington Post, June 15, 1979: A10). OTHER INVESTIGATIONS other notable investigations of the accident include those of the Electric _ Power Research Institute, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and the Atomic Industrial Forum. The_g§QD invespigatign On Apr. 17, 1979, the 0ECD's Nuclear Energy Agency announced it was arranging for an in-depth examination of the lessons to be learned from the accident. This will include consideration of the sequence of events and of the design and operational implications for nuclear powerplants generally. Consideration will be given to measures necessary during an emergency and for protection of the public. on June 27 and 28, leading experts from the NBC met with senior nuclear safety officials and other member governments of the OECD-Nuclear Agency (HEA) to initiate an in—depth review of the lessons to be learned from TMI. What emerged was the need for further visible international cooperation on nuclear safety research. The Committee proposed that a special group be formed to develop proposals for consideration by the Committee. The §lectr;2.292er-3e§2ar9h Institute'§-Inzs§si9ati9nl In June 1979, EPBI established a Huclear Safety Analysis Center at the ' request of the U.S. electric power utility industry. NSAC is to make a ztailed technical analysis of the accident; to interpret the lessons; to develop strategies to minimize the possibility of a future accident; and to address generic questions of reactor safety. The Center also will make recommendations on changes in safety systems or modification of operating procedures. Dr. Edwin L. Zebrowski of EPBI was named director of the Center, which is located at EPBI in Palo Alto, California, 94303. CR5-12 IB79035 UPDATE—O9/27/79 A Policy Committee was formed to investigate the TMI accident. Under the chairmanship of Byron Lee Jr., of the Commonwealth Edison Company, this technically oriented, executive-level committee hopes to play a major role in the closely coordinated utility industry response to THI. T ISSUES FOR consnnss The accident, its effects, government reactions, and implications for the future use and regulation of nuclear power are all matters likely to receive intense congressional attention. The issues fall into short- and long-term categories as follows: (1) Why and how did the accident happen? (2) What were the risks to the public health and safety? (3) What was done to contain the accident and how seffective were the m easur es? (4) How well-defined is the responsibility for crisis management in such an accident, and how effective was coordination of the respective functions and responsibilities of the licensee and of federal, state, and locr“ authorities? (5) What are the immediate costs of the accident and who will pay for them, and what effect will the costs have upon the utility? : (6) What are the risks of similar accidents at nuclear powerplants from" the same manufacturer, and at nuclear powerplants of other design;( what regulatory and other steps may be needed to reduce risks? (7) what might be the nature and effectiveness of federal participation in evacuation and disaster planning? (8) How well did the Priceéhnderson indemnity provisions work for payment of claims? (9) How adequate was information provided to the media and to the public, ‘and what, if anything, should be done to eliminate conflicting reports regarding nuclear accidents? L9EQZE§£!-i§§B§§ (1) what radiation exposure did the public and workers receive? What ‘long-term effects can he expected? who visa responsible for maintaining radiation exposure records for those who were exposed? ’(2) What will be the future of the Unit-2 of the Three Mile Island plant? what effect will the accident have on operation of Unit-1? A (3) What effect will the accident have upon U.S. use of nuclear energy and whupon U.S. energy policies and plans? cns-13 1379035 UPDATE-09/27/79 (4) What will be done with the damaged fuel? In particular, should it be eprocessed to recover the enriched uranium and, if so, where and by whom? (5) If the plant is decontaminated, what will be NBC supervisory responsibility and that of other federal, state, and local agencies? What will be done with radioactive wastes from the decontamination? (6) How effectively did the NBC respond to the accident? (7) What regulatory changes may be indicated to reduce the risks of similar accidents? 7 L§§$§LAILQ! C mple§gg_lgg;§la§;9g; Completed legislation relating to the Three Mile Island accident includes: ~ POLO (S.J.ReS. Confers subpoena power upon the Presidential Commission appointed to investigate the Three Mile Island nuclear powerplant accident to require the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of evidence relating to the accident. Permits the issuance of an order for the inspection of they powerplant at Three Mile Island. Introduced May 17, 1979. Passed by Senate May 17. Passed by House may 22. Signed into law May 23. Lgg;§;§§ign_ig_p;9g;_§§; Legislation in progress relating to the accident includes: = The NRC's authorization for FY80 (S. 562 and H.R. 2608). The senate bill was reported from the Environment and Public works Committee on day 15 (S. Rept. 96-176) after amendment by Senator Hart to prohibit the NBC from issuing operating licenses for nuclear powerplants until it has approved state emergency plans and also to reguire~ shutdown of existing nuclear pwoerplants if their state emergency plans are not approved by the NBC within 6 months. The Committee included in its report a statement of principles proposed by its Nuclear Begualtions subcommittee which deal with remote anohitoring, the NRC's emergency response, resident NRC inspectors, training of reactor operators, and other matters. The House bill was reported from the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs on hay 15 (H.n Rept. 96-194, part I) after adoption of 10 amendments tor the Energy and Environment Subcommittee and 4 other amendments including one for a 6-month moratorium on issuance of new construction permits and one to prohibit issuance of an operating license until a state emergency evacuation plan has been approved by the NRC. on July 17, 1979, the Senate passed a Nuclear Regulatory Commission authorization for 1980 (S. 562) that included a provision for the shutdown of . operating nuclear plants on June 1, 1980, and a moratorium on new operating flicenses, if the plants do not have NBC-approved emergency response plans. xis provision, in the form of an amendment, was introduced by Senators Heinz land Simpson and modified by Senator Glenn. The Hart and Simpson amendment dealt both with* plants .in- states with approved emergency plans and those in states without acceptable plans. Under the amendment, existing plants in 12 states (Alabama, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, New Jersey, New York, South cRs—14 1379035 UPDATE-O9}27/79' Carolina, and Washington) NBC-approved emergency plans would be allowed to continue operation until June 1, 1980. Between now and 1980, the NBC wou ‘ promulgate new standards ny which plants would then be measured. Senator Glenn added to the amendment that the NRC should be required to use "compensatory measures‘ instead of shutting plants down in states that do not have approved emergency plans. These would include extra radiation monitors, emergency telephone hook-ups, and de-rating. As the measure was finally adopted, the issuance of new operating licenses would be frozen until ~a satisfactory state emergency plan is in effect. other nuclear amendments that were introduced but defeated were: (1) Hart amendment no. 335, to place a six-month moratorium on new commercial powerplant construction permits during the first six months of fiscal year 1980. 1 1 (2) McGovern amendment no. 334, to provide for a process of notification to states regarding the management and storage of radioactive materials. (3) Heinz amendment (unprinted) no. 367, to require resident inspectors to reside not more than three miles from a nuclear facility. H.R. 3283 (Atkinson) Prevents certain nuclear reactor repair costs and increased costs of substitute power from being passed through to an electric utility's consumers when the generation of electrical energy by any nuclear powerplant is suspended or terminated for a safety-related reason. Provides a federal fund for payment of these costs. Introduced Mar. 28, 1979; referred to Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce. H.B. 3387 (Bitter) Requires the NBC to prepare a ‘comparison of risxs prior to the promulgation of any rule or regulation. Introduced Apr. 2, 1979; referred to Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. H.R. 3415 (Hollenbecx et al.) Provides for immediate public notice in event of civilian nuclear reactor emergencies and for federal operation of reactors during such emergencies. Introduced Apr. 3, 1979; referred to the Committees on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, and Interior and Insular Affairs. H.R. 3u7b (Ertel) Improves communications and other operations during nuclear reactor emergencies. Referred to the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. H.B. 3581 (Okar) Suspends licensing of nuclear powerplants pending a study by the Office of Technology Assessment, and prohinits location of nuclear waste disposal sites in densely populated areas. ~Beferred to the Committees on Interior and ‘licenses for nuclear fission powerplants pending a “and operational nuclear fission powerplants by the United States cas-15 1379035 UPDATE-09/27/79 Insular Affairs, and Interstate and Foreign Commerce. (9 H.R. 3698 (Jeffords) Suspends the granting of construction licenses of powerplants in the United States pending action by the Congress report to the Congress of a National Nuclear Review Commission problems associated with the nuclear fuel cycle, with recommended following a on the solutions to those problems, and has other other purposes. Introduced Apr. 24, 1979; referred to more than one committee. H.B. 3699 (Bitter) Amends the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to prevent certain nuclear reactor repair costs and increased costs of substitute power from being passed through to an electric utility's consumers, provides federal loans for the payment of these costs in the case of previously licensed reactors, and requires electric utilities to obtain insurance to cover such costs in the case of new reactors. Introduced Apr. 24, 1979; referred to more than one committee. H.R. 3832 (Hughes) Provides for the cessation of licensing new nuclear powerplants or expansion of reactor site spent fuel storage facilities until the completion and consideration of the findings and recommendations of a specially (”\pointed Commission to review outstanding nuclear issues. Introduced may 1, \.;79; referred to more than one committee. 7 3.3. 3945 (narxey) Provides for a temporary suspension of the granting of future operating review of existing and Introduced may 4, potential safety defects associated with such plants. 1979; referred to more than one committee. H.R. 3988 (Weiss) Provides for a temporary suspension of the granting of future operating licenses for nuclear fission powerplants pending a review of existing and potential safety defects associated with such plants. Introduced May 7, 1979; referred to more than one committee. H.B. 4066 (Gonzalez) Provides for the suspension of the granting of operating) licenses for nuclear fission powerplants, provides for the orderly take-over of existing government, requires the President to order the ambassador to the United nations to seek fa ban on nuclear fission powerplants, and has other purposes.) Introduced May '14, 1979; referred to more than one committee. 9 K H.B. 4096 (Holtzman)‘ Amends the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to provide for inspectors to be present in control rooms of all nuclear powerplants; assists the states in preparing emergency plans in the event of nuclear accidents; requires nuclear powerplant operators to monitor radiation levels in the vicinity of the nuclear power fission. CRS-16 1379035 upnArn—o9/27/79 powerplants; requires such operators to develop procedures for responding to emergency situations and to distribute information to the public regardi. the manner of responding to such emergencies; and requires the Nuclear - Regulatory Commission to conduct inspections of all operating nuclear poverplants within 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act. Introduced May 15, 1979; referred to more than one Committee. H.R. 4174 (Dodd) Amends theAtomic Energy Act of 195M to improve the safe operation of nuclear powerplants, and has other purposes. Introduced Ray 22, 1979; referred to more than one committee. H.R. #268 (Goodling) Amends the Internal Revenue Code of 195% to allow a refundable tax credit for amounts paid for increases in electricity under automatic fuel adjustment clauses as a result of the shutdown of the nuclear plant at Three hile Island near niddletovn, Pennsylvania. Introduced May 31, 1979; referred to Committee on Ways and Means. H.R. 4343 (Goodling et al.) Amends the Internal Revenue Code of 195a to allow a refundable tax credit for amounts paid for increases in electricity under automatic fuel adjustment clauses as a result of the shutdown of the nuclear plant at Three Mile Island near niddletown, Pennsylvania. Introduced June 6, 1979; referred Committee on Ways and Means. ‘ H.Con.Res. 104 (Both) Establishes a Joint Housersenate Committee to investigate the Three Mile Island accident. Referred to the Committee on Rules. H.Res. 197 (weaver, et al.) Resolution directing the Nuclear Regulatory Commission chairman to submit to the House of Representatives all available information on the recent incident at the Three nile Island Ruclear Generating Plant and on the danger of similar accidents occurring at other nuclear generating plants. Referred to the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. H.Res. 201 (Weaver et al.) Requests the President to submit to the House all available information on the incident at the Three Mile Island plant. Referred to the House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. 1 H.Res. 206 (Fish) Expresses the sense of the House that the President should encourage the development of non-nuclear energy resources and should pursue t , conservation of domestic energy in all sectors of use. Referred to the committees on Interior and Insular Affairs, and Interstate and Foreign Commerce. H.Res. 222 (Gilman) CRS-17 IB79035 UPDATE-O9/21/79 Provides for prompt submission to Congress of information regarding xrtain occurrences affecting nuclear reactors, radioactive waste storage facilities, and the transportation of spent fuel from nuclear reactors. Referred to the Committees on Interior and Insular Affairs and Interstate and Foreign Commerce. 5. 562 (Hart) Authorizes appropriations to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in accordance with section 261 of the Atomic Energy Act of 195u, as amended, and section 305 of the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, as amended, and has other purposes. Introduced Mar. 7, 1979; referred to Committee on Environment and Public Works. Reported (S.Rept. 96-176) may 15, 1979, with amendment. Passed Senate, amended, July 17, 1979. Amendment, introduced by senators Hart and Simpson, and amended by Glenn, provides for shutdown of operating licenses, if the plant does not have NRC-approved emergency response plans. 3. 923 (Leahy, ncGovern, and Durkin) Establishes an Office of Nuclear Energy Public Counsel in the NRC to improve regulation of nuclear energy. Referred to the Committee on Governmental Affairs. S. 926 (McGovern) Provides for a temporary suspension of the granting of future operating licenses for nuclear fission poverplants pending a review of existing and potential safety defects associated with such plants. Introduced Apr. 9, ‘1979; referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. S.Con.Res. 19 (Schweiker) Establishes a Presidential Commission to investigate the Three mile Island accident. Introduced Apr. 5, 1979; referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. S.J.Res. 55 (Weicxer) Establishes Presidential Commission on Civilian Nuclear Power. Introduced Apr. 4, 1979; referred to the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs. S.Bes. 13a (Hart et al.) Authorizes additional funds for a special investigation by the Committee on Environment and Public Works into zthe Three Mile Island accident. Introduced Apr. ,9, 1979; referred ‘to the Committee on. Rules and ‘Administration. 5. 1082 (Gravel) Repeals limits placed on public compensation for personal and property damage caused by nuclear power accidents. Introduced day 7, 1979; referred to more than one committee. S- 1084 (Bibicoff) Amends Section 201 (a)(1) of the Energy Reorganization ‘Act of 1974b as cns-13 1379035 UPDATE-09/27/79 amended, 42 U.S.C. 5841 (a)(1). Introduced May 7, 1979; referred to Committee on Governmental Affairs. 5. 1178 (Kennedy et al.) Terminates the granting of construction permits for new nuclear fission powerplants in the United States pending a public reappraisal of the nuclear fuel cycle, and has other purposes. Introduced may 17, 1979; referred to Committee on Environment and Public Works. §§£Q§I§-A!Q-QQ!§§§§§;Q§AL-29§!§§!I§ Byrd, Robert. ‘Remarxs in the House. Supplemental Expenditures by the Committee on Environment and Public works. Congressional record [daily ed.] June 21, 1979: S8180. Edison Electric Institute. Letter from W. Reid Thompson, chairman, to President Carter reporting actions of the industry as a result of Three Mile Island and transmitting a resolution to reaffirm the Institute's faith in the safety of nuclear power. Congressional record [daily ed.] may 17, 1979: E2359. Hart, Gary. Remarks in the Senate. Discussed "setbacks" at the Three-Mile Island nuclear poverplant; urged NRC investigation and said he will introduce legislation reguirirng NRC to maintain continuous remote monitoring of nuclear powerplants; included articles. Congressional record [daily ed.]. Apr. 2, 1979: S3824-S3827. Hart, Gary. Remarks in the Senate. Important lessons of Three Mile Island. Congressional record [daily ed.] June 13, 1979: S7597-579603. » Nuclear Regulatory Commission Authorizations. (Debate) Congressional record [daily ed.] July 17, 1979: S9463-S9506. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Authorizations. (Debate) Congressional record [daily ed.] July 17, 1979: S9571-S9606. U.S. Congress. House. icommittee on Interior and Insular Affairs. Authorizing appropriations to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission; H.R. 2608. may 15, 1979. Washington, U.S. Govt. Print. Off., 1979. #5 p. (96th Congress, 1st session. House. Report no. 96-194, part 1) U.S. Congress. House. Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. Accident at Three Hile Island nuclear powerplant: oversight hearings. may 9, 10, 11, and 15, 1979. Washington, U.S. Govt. Print. Off., 1979. 267 p. (96th Congress, 1st session. ‘House. .Report no. 96-8, part 1) U.S. Congress. Senate. Committee on Environment and Public Works. Nuclear Regulatory Commission authorizations; S. 562. may 15, 1979. Washington, 0.5. Govt. Print. Off., 1979. 47 p. CBS-19 IB79035 UPDATE-09/27/79 (96th Congress, 1st session. Senate. Report no. 96-176) Heiss, Ted. Remarks in the House. Leads colloquy in the House on Three Mile Island. Urges careful review of nuclear power and safety. Additional statements by Dan Glickman, Hamilton Fish, Benjamin Gilman, Clarence Long, John F. Seiberling, Bob Carr, Howard wolpe, Hickey Edwards, Carl D. Pursell, Robert Whittaker, L.H. Fountain, Charles B. Rangel, Richard L. Ottinger, Henry J. Nowak, Ron Paul, Danold L. Ritter and Helvin Price. Congressional record [daily ed.) Apr. 3, 1979: H1908-H1918, H1822. ——-—- Remarks in the House. Comments on the Three mile Island accident and urges support of his bill to eliminate the $560 million indemnity limit on liability claims under the Price-Anderson Act. Congressional record [daily ed.) Apr. 3, 1979: H1915. Weicker, Lowell. Statement to the Senate. Introduces S.J. Res. 55 to establish a Presidential Commission on Civilian Nuclear Power. Congressional record [daily ed.) Apr. 4, 1979: $3918-S3919. 11/11/79 —- Due date for the report of President Carter's commission to investigate the nuclear powerplant accident at Three Mile Island. 08/20/79 ——-Public hearing scheduled by the President's Commission on the Accident at Three Mile Island. 08/01/79 -- Public hearing scheduled by the President's Commission. [07/17/79 -— Public hearing scheduled by the President's Commission. - The Senate passed a Nuclear Regulatory Commission authorization for 1980 that includes a provision for shutdown of operating nuclear plants on June 1, 1980, and a moratorium on new operating licenses if the plants do not have NRC-approved emergency plans. 07/08/79 —— Ralph Nader's group, Critical Mass, accused the .nuclear Regulatory Commission of a conflict of interest in.the way it measured radiation doses at Three Mile Island. OQ/18/79 - The House passed the NRC appropriations bill (H.R. 4388) after defeating Hr. Weaver's amendment to prohibit use of funds for licensing a nuclear powerplant in a state that lacks an emergency evacuation plan 'that has been tested and submitted to the NRC. 06/15/79 - The Subcommittee on Energy Research and Production and the Subcommittee on Natural Resources and the Environment, House Committee on Science and Technology, 06/14/79 06/13/79 06/11/79 06/05/79 06/04/79 06/01/79 CRS-20 IB79035 UPDATE+09/27/79 concluded joint hearings on low-level ionizing radiation with special emphasis on risk estimates for commercial nuclear power. The Subcommittee on Energy and the Environment, House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, continued oversight hearings on security in the domestic nuclear industry. Mr. Weaver introduced an amendment to the NRC appropriations bill (H.R. 4388) to condition operating licenses upon a state evacuation plan -- see 06/18/79 (Congressional Record, June 14, 1979: H4577). The NRC named Washington attorney Mitchell Rogovin to head an independent investigation of events surrounding the nuclear plant breakdown at Three Mile Island (The Washington Post, June 15, 1979: A10). The Subcommittee on Energy Research and Production and on natural Resources and the Environment, House Committee on Science and Technology, continued joint hearings on low—level ionizing radiation. The Subcommittee on military Installations and Facilities, House Armed Services Committee, continued hearings on the civil defense aspects of the Three Mile Island accident. The Subcomittees on Energy Research and Production and on Natural Resources and the Environment, House Committee on Science and Technology, held a joint hearing on low-level ionizing radiation. An industry task force of the Edison Electric Institute reported searching for ways to spread the risks or consequential damages arising from major nuclear accidents. The group is headed by vice chairman Gordon Corey of the Commonwealth Edison Co. (Electrical Week, June 11, 1979: 1). A The Subcommittee on Energy and the Environment, House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, continued oversight hearings on nuclear regulation. The Subcommittee on Energy.and the Environment, House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, continued oversight hearings on nuclear regulation. The BBC announced that dedicated telephone lines.have. been established between 68 of the 70 nuclear power reactors, 14 nuclear fuel facilities, and the NRC's operations center in Bethesda, Md. (NBC press release no. 79-96, June a, 1979). The President's Commission held a hearing on the accident. A CR5-21 1379035 UPDATE-09/27/79 05/31/79 - The President's Commission held a hearing on the 05/30/79 05/24/79 accident. H.R. Denton of the NRC said that federal officials had become somewhat complacent about reactor safety before the accident. As a result of the accident, the NBC is reassessing its role and has begun to study ways to improve training of reactor operators (The New York Times, June 1, 1979: A11). An international group of nuclear safety experts, gathered by the IAEA to advise it what it might do as a result of the Three Mile Island accident, agreed the agency should review such things as qualified personnel and Kinds of equipment that could be made available on short notice, and that the agency might establish a roster of experts to help in an emergency. The group also suggested the Agency could periodically review the experience of nuclear powerplant operators (Nucleonics Week, May 31, 1979: 3). The President's Commission held a hearing, with plant operators and officials testifying. The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works reported S.Bes. 171, to provide $401,692 for an investigation of the Three Mile Island accident (5. Rept. 96-194). The House Committee on Education and Labor, Subcommittee on Labor Standards, continued oversight hearings on occupational diseases, with emphasis on ionizing and non-ionizing radiation. The House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, Subcommittee on Energy and Environment, concluded oversight hearings on nuclear safety and Three mile Island. A The House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, continued hearings on low—level radiation. The House Committee on Science and Technology, Subcommittee on Energy Research and Production, continued hearings on nuclear reactor safety systems. Nuclear safety experts in the NBC knew the Babcock and Wilcox reactors had an important engineering flaw more than a year before that flaw played a critical part in the Three hile Island accident, according to a report obtained by the House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. According to Committee Chairman Udall, if the NRC had acted on the report and made formal warnings, “it is lixely that the Three Mile Island incident would have been a run—of—the—mill event“ (The New York Times, May 25, 1979: A10). 05/23/79 05/22/79 05/21/79 05/17/79 05/16/79 cns-22 1379035 UPDATE-09/27/79 President Carter signed into law P.L. 96-12, conferring certain powers on his Commission to investigate the Three Mile Island nuclear accident. The House Committee on Armed Services, Subcommittee on Military Installations and Facilities, continued hearings on the civil defense aspects of the Three Hile Island accident. The House Committee on Science and Technology, Subcommittee on Energy Research and Production, continued hearings on nuclear safety. The House Committee on Science and Technology, Subcommittee on Energy Research and Production, held a hearing on nuclear reactor safety systems. The HRC ordered preservation of all records of the Three Mile Island accident (Federal Register, v. nu, may 29, 1979: 30788). The House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, Subcommittee on Energy and the Environment, held an oversight hearing on nuclear safety and Three Mile Island. It received the report of its Task Force on the accident. The House passed S.J.Res. 80, to confer certain powers on the Presidential Commission to investigate Three Hile Island (Congressional Record, may 21, 1979: H3480-H3u81). NRC staff announced a 3-month freeze on issuing of operating licenses and construction permits for new nuclear powerplants while experts assess the implications of Three Mile Island (The New York Times, Hay 22, 1979: A1-A18). The President's Commission halted hearings at Three Mile Island because it had not yet received authority from Congress to subpoena witnesses and evidence. The Senate passed S.J.Res. 80 to confer subpoena power on the President's Commission to investigate Three Mile Island. The House Committee on Armed Services, Subcommittee on military Installations and Facilities, continued hearings to examine the civil defense aspects of the Three Mile Island nuclear accident. The House Committee on Small Business, Subcommittee on Energy, Environment, Safety and Research, and the Subcommittee on Antitrust and Restraint of Trade, held joint hearings on diesel fuel allocation and supply problems. The House Committee on Armed Services, Subcommittee 05/11/79 -- CRS—23 IB79035 UPDATE-O9/27/79 on Military Installations and Facilities, held a hearing on the civil defense aspects of Three Mile Island. The Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards submitted its second and third interim reports on the accident, including many recommendations and suggestions. The ACES recommended that the NBC consider establishment of quantitative safety goals for overall safety of nuclear power reactors, and that such goals be proposed for comment to both the public and the Congress. The NRC staff reported that operators of the Three mile Island nuclear powerplant inadvertently turned a minor accident into a major one because they could not tell what was really happening within the reactor. The staff said that the core could have escaped serious damage and listed at least six operator errors. It recommended improvements in instruments and control displays and equipment improvements. Its report must now be acted upon by the Commission [ The New York Times, may 12, 1979: 1, 10]. 05/09/79 - 05/10/79 - The Senate Committee on Governmental 05/07/79 -- 05/06/79 - 05/03/79 - Affairs, Subcommittee on Energy, Nuclear Proliferation and Federal Services, continued hearings on the federal government's responsibility for radiation protection- and on emergency planning to deal with nuclear powerplant accidents. Senator Hart, Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Subcommittee said, in a speech at the National Press Club, that there should be a moratorium on the issuing of operating licenses for any new nuclear powerplants until the state involved has prepared a comprehensive emergency plan and had it approved by the BBC. Senator Kennedy, during discussion with nuclear opponents, favored a nuclear construction moratorium. President Carter said it would be out of the question to shut down all operating nuclear powerplants, but he would like to minimize the need for their use. The NRC issued a formal order directing the shutdown of three Babcock and Wilcox nuclear power reactors still operating. The utilities had previously volunteered to shut them down for safety modifications and additional operator training. The reactors will be allowed to resume operation only when they have complied with a list of equipment and procedural modifications to the satisfaction of the NBC's staff. more than 65,000 people demonstrated peacefully «against nuclear power in Washington, D.C. Secretary of HEW Califano said that radiation exposure from the Three Mile Island accident was higher than originally estimated. As a result, the statistical 04/30/79 on/27/79 04/26/79 04/25/79 on/23/79 04/22/79 04/20/79 ens-24 IB79035 UpnATn—o9/27/79 probability indicated that at least one to ten cancer deaths caused by radiation could be expected among the two million people living within 50 miles of the plant [The New York Times, May 4, 1979: A1). The Senate Subcommittee on Nuclear Regulation heard testimony from Nuclear Regulatory Commission members. ‘ Agreement between the BBC and owners of four more Babcock and Wilcox nuclear reactors was reached whereby these units will be closed down sequentially until revisions are made. The action ended several days of discussion before the Commission, at which the staff had sought a shutdown order for all operating BER reactors. The NRC staff recommended that four plants built by Babcock and Wilcox shut down immediately. Ultimate decision was postponed. President Carter swore in the eleven members of his panel to investigate Three mile Island. The group is headed by John G. Kemeny, president Dartmouth College. of Governor Brown said the nation should give up on nuclear power as a future energy source rather than speed up the licensing procedures, as President Carter had urged. The HBC announced that the Three Mile Island Plant 2 should be in a stable shutdown in one week (may 2, 1979). Harold Denton of the NBC said he believed the accident was caused more by human than mechanical error. He enumerated four major mistakes. At least one violated NRC rules and all four involved poor judgement by the operators who were on duty. Senator Howard Baker, minority leader of the Senate, announced that he had undertaken his own personal inquiry into the future of nuclear power in the United States. The Atomic Industrial Forum created a special committee to coordinate the nuclear industry's activities in the aftermath of the Three hile Island accident. The president of Metropolitan Edison, Halter Creitz, said the firm was neither prepared for the harch 28th accident nor aware of its scope for two or three days. Temperatures in the Three nile Island reactor dropped below the boiling point for the first time since march 28. There was also a sharp 04/19/79 04/16/79 04/13/79 OQ/12/79 restored to operation after testing and maintenance. CBS-25 IB79035 UPDATE-O9/27/79 drop in iodine 131, emissions from the plant. The Electric Power Research Institute began an extensive study of what happened at Three Mile Island. The owners of Three Mile Island said if they were not granted at least a $33 million rate increase they would face bankruptcy. Technical advisers to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission called for design and operating changes in nuclear power reactors to reduce the chances of another incident occurring. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued new operating instructions to reactor operators calling for reassessment of certain operating procedures and ordered careful review of all plants to avoid future Three Mile Island incidents. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission decided to permit the continued operation of reactors made by the Babcock and Wilcox Company. The senior nuclear safety expert of the Tennessee Valley authority said that almost 11 months before the march 28 accident he warned the manufacture of the reactor (Babcock and fiilcox) that there was a possibility that a similar accident could occur. The ACES met in Washington, D.C., to discuss the Three mile Island accident and to examine the current status of the plant. The Hational Electricity Board of France said there was a malfunction in a French reactor similar to the one at Three Mile Island. There was no radiation contamination and no one was hurt. The NRC provided transcripts of secret Commission meetings, held on the first three days of the accident, to the House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs and to the senate Committees on Environment and Public works and on Governmental Affairs. Press reports of the transcripts indicated the commissioners feared a disaster in the first days, that they were operating almost totally in the blind, and that the Commission had difficulty in deciding whether or not to recommended evacuation to Governor Thornburgh [The New York Times, Apr. 13, 1979: A1, A11]. The NRC instructed licensees of 34 nuclear powerplants to beware of the kinds of mistakes and breakdowns that caused the accident at Three hile Island. The new NRC directive told licensees to study the “extreme seriousness land consequences" of that kind of mistake and to adopt, procedures to make sure that vital safety systems are The 04/11/79 04/10/79 on/09/79 __ CBS-26 1379035 UPDATE-09/21/79 directive also instructed licensees not to override automatic safety features before they understand fully what a problem is. President Carter appointed a commission to investigate the accident at Three Mile Island and to make recommendations to prevent any future accident [The New York Times, Apr. 12, 1979: A1, A20]. NBC spokesman Dr. Harold B. Denton said that, despite steady progress, it may be another week before the damaged nuclear reactor at Three Mile Island can be put into safe, cold-shutdown condition. The government of South Carolina refused passage of two trucks carrying nuclear waste from the accident to Barnwell, S.C., for storage [Washington Post, Apr. 12, 1979: A1, A9]. The Edison Electric Institute appointed an ad hoc committee to oversee the coordinate efforts of the industry to address the impacts of the accident, and invited representatives of public power systems to participate. The committee is chaired by Floyd H. Lewis of middle South Utilities, Inc. (Nuclear News,. day 1979: 50). President Carter said in a news conference that it is not possible to abandon nuclear power in the foreseeable future and that a bureaucratic nightmare or maze of red tape would not contribute to more safety of nuclear reactors. HRC Chairman Hendrie, at a hearing of the Subcommittee on Nuclear Regulations of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, said "we cannot have an acceptable nuclear power program in this country if there is any appreciable risk“ of other accidents like the one at Three nile Island. The Chairman and his fellow commissioners testified that there must be a searching review and evaluation of NBC policies and procedures. tfiepresentative Elizabeth Holtzman said she will propose legislation to improve the safety of 71 operating nuclear powerplants in the United States. Consumer advocate Ralph Nader endorsed the proposed legislation. Critical Bass Energy Project said that the legislation would also be introduced in a formal petition form to initiate a rulemaking .change in BBC regulations (Energy Users Report, Apr. 12, 1979: 5). NBC spokesman Dr. Denton declared that the crisis at Three Mile Island was over with regard to the status of the core. Governor Thornburgh rescinded his evacuation 04/08/79 -- cas-27 1379035 UPDATE-09/27/79 recommendation and said it was considered safe for pregnant women and preschool children to return to their homes within a 5-mile radius of the site. The Governor also declared that all schools not already reopened would do so, that state offices would return to normal business, and that local civil defense forces would step down from full alert status [The New York Times, Apr. 10, 1979: A1]. The NBC's Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards in a letter to NBC chairman Hendrie said that the accident indicated it would be very difficult for the operators at 03 of the nation's 72 reactors to understand and properly control similar accidents because it is possible that certain instruments would be misleading. Governor Thornburgh in a press conference said that he considered the uncertainties of the initial 56 hours after the accident began as the biggest single source of frustration to him [The New York Times, Apr. 10, 1979: A16]. Governor James R. Thompson of Illinois ordered a safety review of the state's nuclear powerplants. —— In Harrisburg, Pa., about 1,000 persons gathered at the 00/07/79 - 04/06/79 - oa/os/79 - State Capitol to denounce nuclear powerplants and to demand that the Three Mile Island facility remain permanently closed. The Washington Post reported that ERC sources had raised the possibility that violations of regulations at the Three hile Island powerplant were serious enough to cost metropolitan Edison Co. its nuclear license. The NRC announced that the nuclear power reactors made by Babcock 8 Wilcox, the manufacturer of the Three Mile Island reactor, would be permitted to continue full power operations [The new York Times, Apr. 7, 1979: A1]. President Carter, in his address on national energy policy, mentioned the Three Bile Island accident twice. ,He said the accident had demonstrated dramatically that the nation has other energy problems and that the accident ofiyiously *...causes all of us concern.“ He said he had directed the establishment of an independent Presidential commission of experts to investigate the cause of the accident and to make recommendations on how “...we can improve the safety of nuclear powerplants.“ There will be a full accounting. The Subcommittee on Energy of the Joint Economic Committee concluded hearings on the cost of cleanup and power replacement resulting from the Three Mile Island accident. The General Accounting Office transmitted its report 04/on/79 - 04/03/79 T resignation of Chairman Joseph H. Hendrie of the cns-23 IB7 9035 UPDATE"09/27/79 to Congress on emergency response planning and capabilities at nuclear facilities. hr. Udall, chairman of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs and of its Subcommittee on Energy and the Environment, announced plans for a sweeping inquiry into the role of nuclear power in the United States. The investigation would look into the Three aile Island accident and the response; conditions at other reactors in operation and under construction; general nuclear policy issues including proliferation risks, nuclear waste disposal, decommissioning, mill tailings, and possible subsidy of the Price-Anderson Act; and the overall costs and benefits of nuclear power. The Subcommittee on Health and Scientific Research of the Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources concluded hearings on the health implications of the Three Mile Island accident. NBC investigators reported that serious human, mechanical, and design errors, including an operator's improper closing of two key valves, had contributed to the Three mile Island accident [The New York Times, Apr. 5, 1979: A1]. Dr. Harold Denton, spokesman for the NRC, said the risk of a dangerous gas explosion within the damaged reactor had been eliminated. Governor Thornburg announced that extremely low levels of radioactive iodine had been found in milk samples from 22 dairies within 18 miles of the accident. He said that monitoring of milk, water, and other products would continue and that he was ‘concerned about sensational reports“ playing up dangers that did not exist. The General public Utilities Corp., which owns the hetorpolitan Edison Co., announced that it would stop nearly all of its construction projects to save cash to pay for damages to the Three Mile Island station. The units involved are a 1,100-megawatt nuclear powerplant in Lacey Township, new Jersey, and a 625-megawatt coal—fired plant in western Pennsylvania. In addition, the company is halting all but the most essential projects at existing plants and postponing all non-essential maintenance at operation power stations. The Union of Concerned Scientists called for the NRC, accusing him of being not fit to be the nation's chief nuclear regulator. At the UCS press conference, Senator McGovern said he would introduce legislation to halt all nuclear plant construction and licensing until a comprehensive, independent review of possible safety on/02/79 - CRS-29 IB79035 UPDATE-O9/27/79 defects in nuclear plants was conducted [The New York Times, Apr. a, 1979: A16]. NRC officials said that the hazards connected with the Three Mile Island accident were abating but that radiation levels in its containment vessel were giving federal authorities continued concern for public health. Robert Pollard, a former NRC reactor expert, now with the Union of Concerned Scientists, briefed several Congressman and their staffs on equipment failures and procedural problems reported at the Three Mile Island station before the accident occured. He said the group recommended the immediate shutdown of all Babcock and Wilcox plants unless the operators can provide convincing evidence that the general problems have been corrected. Senator Kennedy, speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations, called for a review of nuclear power's role in reducing United States dependence on oil imports from the Middle East and urged a fresh examination of the nuclear weapons risks arising out of the wide international use of atomic energy. He also urged tightened procedures for licensing nuclear powerplants. Rep. morris K. Udal, chairman of the House Subcommittee on Energy and the Environment, suggested on ABC's Issues and Answers that “once the dust settles" the NRC should study the safety record and performance of the eight other reactors made by the supplier of the Three Mile Island plant. “I am not prepared tommorrow morning to charge out and say all nuclear plants should be shut down,“ he said, “But I think I'd start out at these Babcock. and Wilcox plans and find out if the Three Mile Island story tells us they have the same problems and maybe close them down until modifications can be made.” Mr. Udall also said he was concerned about confusing information about the accident. According to press reports, NRC engineers believed that the status of the reactor is safe enough to permit a gradual cooldown process without risking potentially hazardous operations to speed up the cooling. Dr. Harold Denton said “the uranium oxide elements in the reactor core were being adequately cooled and that the temperatures of almost all fuel rods were below 400 degrees.“ He also indicated that a complete cooldown was still days away, but declined to give a precise estimate of how long it would take. The HBC dispatched special inspectors to each of the reactors manufactured by the Babcock and Wilcox Company to help the operators of the atomic plants on/o 1/19 cns-30 11379035 UPDATE—09/27/79 identify possible problems and provide immediate advice on how to avoid an accident. According to Press Secretary Jody Powell, President Carter ordered a federal inquiry into all aspects of the Pennsylvania accident. He stated that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission as well as the Department of Energy were among agencies involved in the Carter order for the Federal Study Group. senator Richard Schweixer (Republican of Pennsylvania) wrote President Carter that the recent events at Three Mile Island showed that “we have seriously underestimated both the safety problems associated with nuclear-power generation and our ability to cope with a nuclear emergency.” He called on. the President to create a Presidential commission to assess the full implications of the accident. The NRC's Office of Inspection and Enforcement sent a bulletin to all the reactor operators ordering an immediate inspection to determine whether any of the problems that have emerged at the Three Mile Island plan existed at the eight other facilities. This bulletin ordered the reactor operators to investigate seven different problems identified at the Pennsylvania reactor. A report is due in ten days. Governor James R. Thompson of Illinois ordered the Illinois Commission on Atomic Energy to conduct a technical review of the state's seven nuclear power reactors [The New York Times, Apr. 3, 1979: A1u]. Voluntary evacuation and absenteeism caused unexpected labor disruption in Harrisburg. Civil defense officials said that as many as half of the 200,000 people for whom they would be responsible in an evacuation might have already left [The new York Times, Apr. 3, 1979]. Ralph Nader in a press conference at Critical Mass urged evacuation of residents within a 30-mile radius of the accident. Senator Gary Hart spoke on CBS's "Face The nation.‘ He said that he would introduce legislation requiring the federal government to maintain a continuous monitoring of reactors and to assume full control immediately in the event of a crisis. The Senate Democratic leader Robert Byrd (West Virginia) said that “the Pennsylvania accident raised serious questions about the safety of nuclear power." He urged a shift toward greater reliance on coal and transferring research funds from nuclear energy to coal. President Carter toured the Three Mile Island nuclear O3/30/79 CBS-31 IB79035 UPDATE—09/2?/79 plant. Both the President and his nuclear safety advisers stressed that conditions were stable. The governments of France and West Germany sent scientific teams to Harrisburg to investigate the causes of the nuclear accident. Japan also stated that it was thinking of sending a delegation. At about 12:15 AM the NRC gave the licensee permission to resume releases of the slightly contaiminated industrial wastes to the Susquehanna River. This action was coordinated with the office of the Governor of Pennsylvania and a press release was issued by the state. At approximately 11:30 Ah the Chairman of the NBC, John Hendrie, suggested to the governor of Pennsylvania, Richard Thornburgh, that pregnant women and pre-school children in the area within five miles of the plant site be evacuated. An on-site state of emergency was called by Governor Thornburg after an uncontrolled release of radiation that initial readings showed to be as high as 1,200 millirems per hour were detected. The governor went on Civil Defense Radio and regular radio to warn persons from within a five to ten mile radius to stay indoors and to advise pregnant women and preschool children to evacuate the premises. President Carter was in touch with Governor Thornburgh and offered federal assistance if needed. He also offered the same assistance to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The President established an interagency task force in the National Security Council to deal with the problem (Federal Emergency management Agency). Dr. Harold R. Denton, director of the NRC's Office of Reactor Regulation, arrived at the site at 2:00 PM with 12 additional BBC staff. John Comey, spokesman for the Pennsylvania State Emergency Management Agency, said that his office chad received a report from the Three Mile Island Plant that there was “uncontrolled releases of radioactivity at the facility.“ “At this time,“ he continued, "we do not know the extent of that release nor do we know it was transient or continuing. The four affected counties have been notified (Dauphin, Cumberland, Lancaster, and York) informing them that they should advance their state of readiness for a potential evacuation should the situation warrant.“ -- Senator Gary Hart held a news conference in Washington on the Three Mile Island incident. O3/29/79 cns—32 1379035 UPDATE—O9/27/'79 Federal civil defense officials dispatched eight evacuation specialists to Three hile Island. Two of the evacuation specialists were assigned to each of the four counties surrounding the plant. Daniel Ford, Director of the Union of Concerned Scientists, a group critical of nuclear power, said “the accident at the Three Mile Plant is a problem that has been plaguing a number of other Babcock and Wilcox plants.“ (Babcocx and Wilcox is the manufacturer of the Three ails Island Plant as well as 13 other nuclear plants in the 0.8.) The Babcocx and Wilcox design, he continued, has had trouble in coping with internal pressures created in the nuclear reactor when the turbine is suddenly turned off (tripped). NRC officials reported that the failure at the Three Mile Island Plant was regarded as the most serious accident in the United States to date. Lt. Governor of Pennsylvania, William Scranton, called a press conference to demand an investigation into an apparent three-hour delay between the time of the incident and when state civil defense authorities were notified of it. Mayor Robert Reed of aiddletown, Pa., complained that he had not heard of the accident which had occured at approximated 4 AM until 8:15 Au. Dr. Ernest Sternglass of the University of Pittsburg said that pregnant women within two miles of the site probably should be evacuated. Dr. George Halt, a biologist and 1967 Nobel Prize Winner, said the harmful health effects of the nuclear accident would be long-range and probably would not show up for 30 to 40 years in increase cancer rates. A congressional delegation headed by Senator Hart visited the site to ascertain the potential harm to the public's health and safety. Senator Edward Kennedy, Chairman of the Energy Subcommittee of the Joint Economic Committee, asked Secretary of Energy James Schlesinger to reconsider his decision to submit a bill to speed up the licensing of nuclear powerplants. In a letter to the Secretary, Kennedy asked for five safety measures to be considered before a license would be issued. These were (1) require a final design before a construction permit is issued, (2) establish a deadline for the resolution of unresolved safety problems, (3) upgrade safety of existing power plants, (u) establish definitive siting criteria for population density, and (5) allow assumption by 03/28/79 CBS-33 IB79035 UPDATE-09/21/79 the HBC of direct responsibility for quality assurance activities. White House Press Secretary Jody Powell said that President Carter was concerned about the radiation leak at Harrisburg and was getting information on it from the National Security Council. Representative Morris Udall, Chairman of the Energy and Environment Subcommittee of the House Interior and Insular Affairs Committee, called for a briefing on the Three Mile Island incident by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Chairman Hendrie and other NBC officials said they were not yet sure how the accident involving the reactor's cooling system had occurred. Udall concluded by saying that the accident lends credence to the contentions of those who think the U.S. has rushed headlong into a dangerous technology without sufficient understanding of the pitfalls. The licensee released about 50,000 gallons of slightly contaminated industrial wastes. This release was terminated at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (HRC) request at approximately 6:00 PM because of concerns expressed by state representatives. Two aerial surveys were conducted during the evening. The first flight was made about 8:15 PM during which measurements were taken around the site within a radius of about eight miles. No defined plume of radioactivity were identified at various points. During the second flight at around 10:30 PM a plume was detected northwest of the plant with a width equal to and confirned within the boundaries of the river. At approximately 0:00 AM at 98% power, the secondary feed pumps of the Three Mile Island Unit tr 2 in niddletoun, Pennsylvania tripped due to a feedwater polishing system problem, thus beginning the accident. A Site Emergency was declared at 7:00 AM due to high activity noted in the reactor coolant system sample lines. At 7:30, a General Emergency was then declared due to the high radiation levels in the reactor building. At approximately 7:45 the licensee notified NBC Region I of the incident. .The Region I Response Center dispatched a team of five inspectors which arrived at the site at 10:05 An. An NBC investigator plus an additional inspector arrived at CRS-34 IB79035 UPDATE-09/27/79 the Three mile Island site at 11:00 AM. —— An HRC mobile laboratory arrived at the site at 7:15 Pm. —- An aircraft equipped for airborne radiation monitoring arrived at 2:15 PM and began tracking flights. é2D1$£QEAé-§§£§§§EE§ §9U3E§§ Books Morgan, K.Z. and Turner, J.E. (eds.). Principles of radiation protection. A textbook of health physics. New York: John Riley 8 Sons, Inc., 1967: 622 p. nunson, Richard. (ed.). Countdown to a nuclear moratorium. Washington, D.C.: The Environmental Action Foundation, 1976: 197 p. Patterson, Hater C. Nuclear power. Hiddlesex, England: Penguin Books, 1976: 30a p. Sagan, L.A. (ed). Human and ecological effects of nuclear powerplants. Springfield, Ill.: Charles C. Thomas. 197%, 536 p. ‘ Upton, Arthur C. Radiation injury: effects, principles and perspectives. Chicago,: The University of Chicago Press. 1969: 126 p. Qtner.£u2li§a:i2n§ Ad hoc population dose assessment group. Population dose and health impact of the accident at the Three-Mile Island nuclear station.i A preliminary assessment for the period March 28 through April 7, 1979. Washington, U.S. Govt. Print. Off., may 10, 1979. 77 p. Anti—nuclear forces pick up support in Senate, moratorium fails. Nucleonics week, July 19, 1979: 3. Bechtel puts ThI—2 restoration at four years and up to $400 million. Nucleonics week. July 19, 1979: 10. Carter, Jimmy Remarks on announcing the establishment and membership 9 of the President‘s Commission on the—Accident at Three nile Island, Apr. 11, 1979. Weekly compilation of presidential documents, 7. 15, Apr. 16, 1979: 657-662. ——~-- Remarks at a meeting with the President's Commission on the Accident at Three Mile Island, Apr. 25, 1979. Weekly compilation of presidential documents, 7. 15, Apr. 30, 1979: 690-693. ‘ --—-- Remarks to reporters following a visit to the Three mile Island nuclear facility. Apr. 1, 1979. Weekly compilation of presidential documents, V. 15, Apr. 9, 1979: 578-579. Cleary, Peter G., and Comey, David Dinsmore. nuclear cns-35 1379035 upnAT3—o9/22/79 powerplant evacuation plans. achicago: Citizens for a Better Environment, 1978: #7 p. (Rept. no. CBE7865) (” Emergency plans for nuclear poverplants. Nuclear Regulatory Commission regulatory guide. 1.101. Rev. 1, narch 1977: 14 p. Fifteen months until undamaged reactor at Three Mile Island can restart. Energy daily. July 13, 1979, v. 7, no. 133: 0 ' -Interests of nuclear agency conflicted, Nader complains. Washington Post. July 8, 1979: A16. ’ Lanouette, William J. No longer can the NBC say. .g. The bulletin of the atomic scientists. June 1979: 6-8. .dacLachlan, Ann. Senate ties reactor operation to approval of emergency plans. Energy daily. v. 7, no. 137: 1-2. darshall, Eliot. A preliminary report on Three uile Island. Science. v. 204, Apr; 20, 1979. 280-281. Marshall, Eliot and Luther J. Carter. The crisis at Three hile Island: nuclear risks are reconsidered. Science, v. 20¢, Apr. 13, 1979: 152-155. A two part discussion of the nuclear accident at Three mile Island near Harrisburg, Pa. dccullougn, James. Comments on the health effects of radiation from nuclear powerplants as compared with the effects of environmental radiation. CBS memorandum. Mar. 4,¢1976: 6 p. .moeller, D.w. and Selby, J.n. Planning for nuclear emergencies. Nuclear safety, January-February 1976: 1-13. moving the notorious T51-2 lov‘1evel~ravaste is no easy matter. Hucleonics weeks. July 19, 1979: 3. Nuclear industry adjusting its outlook and practices. Energy daily,‘ v. 7, no. 125. July 2, 1979: 1-2. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Hendrie says Unit 1yat TMI probably won't restart for 18-29 months. Hucleonics week. aJuly 16, 1979: 1-2. Nuclear Regulatory Commission invites public to submit _ information to assist in determination on Th: accident. NBC press release - 79-121. July 20, 1979: 8 p. 6 Patterson, Walter C. Harrisburg ist uberall. The bulletin of the atomic scientists. July 1979: 9+11. ’ Pelham, Ann. Congress to take a new, hard look at nuclear power.i Congressional Quarterly. Apr. 7, 1979, v. 37. No. 14: 621. 7 CBS-36 1379035 upnarz-09/27/797 Pollack, Richard. Investigation fever: a dozen different reviews of THI stumble along. Critical mass journal. may 1979. Vol. V. no. 2: 1, 7. Bepercussions from the 151-2 accident. Atoms in Japan. Hay 1979: Bichburg, Keith. Rehabilitation of Three aile Island plant put at $430 million. Washington post. July 17, 1979: A3. The ordeal at Three Mile Island. Nuclear News, Apr. 6, 1979: 1-5- The Three nile Island Dust-Up. Editorial. Washington Post. July 27, 1979: A18. Three mile Island syndrome: Impact of PA, PUC decision spreading to other states. Electrical week. July 2, 1979: 1-2. The West's major industrialized nations are split on what new safety measures should be taken in response to THI. Nucleonics weer. July 14, 1979: 5-6. State and local government radiological emergency—response plans in support of fixed nuclear facilities. Nuclear safety, January—Fenruary 1978: 15-18. 0.5. Comptroller General. Letter to Senator Richard S. Schseiker from the Comptroller General providing a prompt analysis of the NBC's program for licensing nuclear poverplant operators. 1b p. may 15, 1979. (Report no. EHD-79-67). U.S. Comptroller General. Report to the Congress. Areas around nuclear facilities should be better prepared for radiological emergencies. Bar. 30, 1979. 77 p. (Report EmD-79-110) Zehroski, Ed. What happened at Three-nile Island and its significance for nuclear energy. speech given at the American Nuclear Society Forum, June 4, 1979. 9 p. Qjififi f '4 ‘:"}‘,’ ;r;j:*-an?‘ ,...':;3 dz‘! ax‘ us.) i if 'L_-‘-'1! ‘P " I‘. ‘Q III 3 1' -at-nrv: ¢ n ‘in .1 ,_ n _l.-. ."»‘-,..;v ‘v i- . . J v: -we E” s is re. 5 E.» 2 xx i P V; _H v. _/3 1-;-3543.,-'~<\ 5-ir'~'«_ ,f 2‘ E‘-.1 5 '*>.—:.' If; zm-.r.;:., -. '1! I 71"?‘ J ’ '-‘.'..r- 3;'~?~’“~ :1 '-.- .' . " '4‘-.’-H'l.,.:7.