05000295/LER-1985-035, Special Rept Re Failure to Notify NRC of Quarterly Release of Radioactive Matl in Excess of 2.5 Ci Per Unit on 840513. Failure to Submit Rept Documented in LER 85-035-00 & Insp Repts

Special Rept Re Failure to Notify NRC of Quarterly Release of Radioactive Matl in Excess of 2.5 Ci Per Unit on 840513. Failure to Submit Rept Documented in LER 85-035-00 & Insp Repts

ML20209H733
Person / Time
Site:	Zion  File:ZionSolutions icon.png
Issue date:	11/07/1985
From:	Leblond P COMMONWEALTH EDISON CO.
To:	Harold Denton Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
0954O, 954O, NUDOCS 8511110206
Download: ML20209H733 (3)

LER-2085-035, Special Rept Re Failure to Notify NRC of Quarterly Release of Radioactive Matl in Excess of 2.5 Ci Per Unit on 840513. Failure to Submit Rept Documented in LER 85-035-00 & Insp Repts

Event date:
Report date:
2952085035R00 - NRC Website

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/ N Commonwealth Edison

/ _ ) one First National Plaza Chicago. Ittinois

• ] Address Reply to: Post Office Box 767

\N v v/ Chicago. Illinois 60690 November 7, 1985 Mr. Harold R. Denton, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555

Subject:

Zion. Nuclear Power Station Units 1 and 2. Special Report o., Quart _erly Release Rates. NRC Docket Nos.

50-295 and 50-304

Dear Mr. Denton:

Section 3.11.8 of the Zion Technical Specifications requires that a special report be sent to the Director, Directorate of Licensing whenever the release rate of radioactive materials exceeds 2.5 curies / unit. This limit was exceeded during the th.'rd quarter of 1984. Zion's failure to supply the report within the required 30 days has been documented in LER 50-295/85-035-00 and inspection reports 50-295/85-34 and 50-304/85-36. The report in question is enclosed with this letter.

If you have any further questions concerning this matter, please contact this office.

Very truly yours, Peter LeBlond Nuclear Licensing Administrator Attachment PL/dn cc: H.L. Thompson - Director, D.O.L.

Resident Inspector - Zion

/

46 8511110206 851107 PDR ADOCK 05000295 v S PDR

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r ATTACHMENT Special Report concerning the failure to notify the NRC Director of Licensing After a quarterly release in excess of 2.5 Curies per Unit.

Introduction:

Z1on Plant Technical Specification 3.11.C requires a special report to the Director, Directorate of Licensing within 30 days whenever the release rate of radioactive material exceeds 2.5 Curies per unit during any calendar quarter.

During the third quarter of 1984 this limit was exceeded and the required report was not.made within 30 days.

Circumstances On May 13, 1984, while Zion Electrical Maintenance personnel were performing Environmental Qualification (EQ) inspections on a motor operated valve in the containment spray system (2MOVCS0005), they shorted two leads which picked up an interlock to the eductor isolation valve (2M0VCS0009) and caused it to open. Thi.s caused caustic to drain from the spray additive tank through the containment spray pump casing drain, out to the floor drains, and into the radwaste system.

As a result, between 2,000 and 3,000 gallons of 30% by weight sodium hydroxide accidently entered into the radwaste processing system. The sodium hydroxide raised the pH of the liquid waste, which effectively performed a chemical cleaning on various piping in the radwaste system.- This cleaning

process released much of the radioactive contaminants which had previously l

plated out on the piping, and elevated the radioactivity levels of the liquid waste. The Radwaste System now contained a large volume of liquid waste (which came from a recent Unit 2 startup and other sources) with higher than normal levels of radioactivity.

During the months of May through August, the_ liquid waste was processed by recirculating the waste through demineralizers until the levels of

radioactivity were within 10CFR20 limits, but were still higher than the normal levels. The waste was then discharged within all specifications.

During an NRC inspection (reports 50-295/85034 and 50-304/85036) of Zion Station's Radiological Effluent Report in June 1985, it was discovered that 3,45 Curies per Unit was released for the third quarter of 1984, which requires a report to the Director of Licensing. It was also discovered that l this report was not made. This was a Severity Level IV Violation.

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Cause l

The circumstances as stated above, resulted in the large volume and abnormal level of radioactivity of the liquid waste discharged, and the release of 3.45 Curies per Unit during the third quarter of 1984. The Zion Chemistry Staff was not cognizant of the 2.5 Curies per quarter reporting requirements in Technical Specification 3.11.8.

Proposed Program of Action ,

l The Zion Chemistry Staff reviewed the liquid waste release rates for all quarters in 1984 and 1985. No other occurrences were noted. The release rates for the other quarters reviewed were much lower, and it is unlikely that this event will recur.

As a means to assure that this event does not recur, the Zion Chemistry Staff has created and is currently maintaining a log for following the release rates for each quarter. As a further measure, the Zion Chemistry Staff will conduct a review of Technical Specifications pertaining to plant chemistry, with the intent to prevent similar types of events. Completion of this review is expected by March 30, 1986.

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