PRINTER'S NO. 1057
No. 48 Session of 1979
INTRODUCED BY DININNI, GEESEY, BRANDT, REED, PICCOLA, MANMILLER,
SCHEAFFER, MOWERY, DORR, LEHR, NOYE, S. HAYES, IRVIS,
MOEHLMANN, A. C. FOSTER, SELTZER, WENGER, COLE, MILLER,
ANDERSON, HONAMAN AND ARMSTRONG, APRIL 5, 1979
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, APRIL 5, 1979
In the House of Representatives, April 5, 1979
1 WHEREAS, On March 28, 1979, a nuclear accident occurred at
2 the Three Mile Island generating facility southeast of
3 Harrisburg resulting in damage to the reactor core and facility
4 equipment; and
5 WHEREAS, Unanticipated complications, including the
6 accumulation of hydrogen, delayed the implementation of
7 procedures to cool the reactor core; and
8 WHEREAS, The nuclear accident has created questions
9 concerning the need for additional safety precautions at the
10 Three Mile Island facility and other nuclear generating
11 stations; and
12 WHEREAS, Existing emergency preparedness and civil defense
13 programs, evacuation procedures and the use and coordination of
14 Federal, State and local resources and personnel including the
1 Pennsylvania National Guard should be thoroughly reviewed to
2 increase the effectiveness of emergency management; and
3 WHEREAS, The nuclear accident has created public concern
4 regarding the relationship between health and exposure to
5 radiation; and
6 WHEREAS, There are health and safety reasons to decontaminate
7 the stricken facility at Three Mile Island and to properly
8 dispose of contaminated water, nuclear waste, and irreparable
9 materiel; and
10 WHEREAS, It is necessary that a comprehensive inquiry be made
11 into the Three Mile Island accident to determine the need for
12 legislation and administrative initiatives in Pennsylvania and
13 at the Federal level; therefore, be it
14 RESOLVED, That the Speaker of the House of Representatives
15 appoint a select committee to examine matters related to the
16 nuclear accident at the Three Mile Island facility. Four
17 members, two of whom shall be from the Minority, shall be
18 appointed from each of the following standing committees: the
19 Agriculture Committee; the Business and Commerce Committee; the
20 Consumer Affairs Committee; the Health and Welfare Committee;
21 the Mines and Energy Management Committee; the Military and
22 Veteran's Affairs Committee and the State Government Committee.
23 Two additional members, not serving on the foregoing committees,
24 shall be appointed. The Speaker shall designate the Chairman,
25 who shall be from the Majority, two Vice Chairmen, one of whom,
26 shall be from the Minority and the Secretary. The Majority Vice
27 Chairman and the Secretary shall not be members of the foregoing
28 standing committees; and be it further
29 RESOLVED, That the committee shall conduct a comprehensive
30 inquiry into the nuclear accident at the Three Mile Island
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1 facility and into other related matters in order to review the
2 need for additional safety and regulatory procedures, to study
3 the effectiveness of existing civil defense, emergency
4 preparedness and evacuation procedures; to determine methods for
5 improving coordination between Federal, State and local units of
6 government in the event of nuclear accidents; to review the
7 potential for health and safety hazards; to examine the roll of
8 nuclear power in meeting the energy needs of the Commonwealth;
9 and be it further
10 RESOLVED, That the committee may hold hearings; take
11 testimony and make its inquiries at such places as it deems
12 necessary. The committee may coordinate its inquiry, with those
13 of any committee, agency, commission or department of the United
14 States government and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Each
15 member of the committee shall have the power to administer oaths
16 and affirmations to witnesses appearing before the committee;
17 and be it further
18 RESOLVED, That within 30 calendar days after the committee
19 has made its report, the chairman of the committee shall cause a
20 record of all expenses incurred by the committee, or the members
21 thereof, which are payable at Commonwealth expense, to be filed
22 with the Speaker of the House and the Speaker shall cause the
23 same to be entered in the journal thereof. No expenses incurred
24 by the committee or any member thereof shall be reimbursable by
25 the Chief Clerk unless such expense shall first have been
26 included as an expense item in the record heretofore required:
27 and be it further
28 RESOLVED, That the committee shall report its findings
29 together with its recommendations to the House of
30 Representatives not later than six months following the adoption
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1 of this resolution.
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