IR 05000244/1978022
| ML17244A300 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Ginna  |
| Issue date: | 11/13/1978 |
| From: | Shanbaky M, Stohr J NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML17244A296 | List: |
| References | |
| 50-244-78-22, NUDOCS 7901030115 | |
| Download: ML17244A300 (16) | |
Text
U.S.
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT Region I
45.~58244
Docket No.
50-244 License No.
DPR-18 Pr iority Category C
Licensee:
Rochester Gas and Electric Com an RG&E)
89 East Avenue Rochester New Yo k 14 4 Facility Name:
Robert E.
Ginna Nuclear Power Plant (REG)
Inspection at:
R.
E. Ginna Site, Ontario, New York Inspection conducted:
October 23-25, 1978 Inspectors:
M.
M.
n
,
Ra iation Specialist l
I da e
s gne date signed Approved by:
J.
P.
to r, Chief, Environmental and Sp ial Projects Section, FF&MS Branch date signed date s>gned Ins ection Summar Ins ection on October 23-25, 1978 Re ort No. 50-244/78-22 Areas Ins ected:
Routine, unannounced inspection y a regional based inspector
~ o environmenta monitoring programs for operation, including;.
management controls
.for these programs; quality control of analytical measurements; implementation of environmental monitoring programs - radiological; implementation of environ-mental monitoring programs - biological/ecological; nonradioactive effluent release rates and limits; and a followup on previous environmental inspection findings.
The inspection involved 24 inspector-hours onsite by one regionally based inspector.
Results:
Of the six areas inspected, no items of noncompliance were found in f>ve areas.
One apparent item of noncompliance (Infraction - fa! lure to establish implement written approved operating procedures for the Ge(Li) system-graph 5.d) was identified in one area.
Region I Form 12 (Rev. April 77)
87SIO+QBQ((5
g j
~ ~
DETAILS 1.
Individual s Contacted
- B. A. Snow, Station Superintendent, REG
. *E. L. DeMeritt, Health Physics 8 Chemistry Supervisor, REG
- D. E. Filion, Radiochemist, REG B. guinn, Health Physicist, REG
'.
Sawyko, Biologist, RG8E R. Gasper, Health Physics Technician, REG G.
M. Genga, ECo-Research (SUNY Buffalo, N.Y.)
- denotes those present at the exit interview.
2.
Licensee Action on Previous Ins ection Findin s (Closed)
Noncompliance (77-10-01):
Failure to follow procedures.
The inspector reviewed the licensee procedures and guality Control (gC) records for counting instruments including the low background counter.
The licensee records showed that corrective actions in this area were completed as described-in the licensee's letter to the NRC dated July 15, 1977.
(Details 4).
(Closed)
Inspector followup item (78-19-02):
Computer based multi-'hannel analyzer problems.
The licensee stated that the previously identified multi-channel analyzer problems were caused by a program error in the system computer.
The licensee stated that the computer was reprogrammed and the counting problem was corrected.
The inspector verified, through discussion with the licensee and review of the system counting results, that the previously identified problems were corrected.
(Details 5.d)
3.
Mana ement Controls a.
Assi nment of Res onsibilit The inspector reviewed the organization and administration of the environmental monitoring programs with respect to changes made since the last inspection of this area.
The inspector determined, through discussion with the licensee and review
of the licensee's organization charts, that this area remained essentially as described in the NRC: IE Report No. 50-244/77-10.
One change was noted, in that, Mr. B.
Snow is now the REG Station Superintendent and replaced Mr. L. Lang who was promoted to a. Corporate position.
b.
Pro ram Review and Audits 4.
The inspector reviewed the program audits and noted that a
. documented audit. was performed by the RG&E guality Assurance staff during the period from July 28 to August 2, 1978.
This
, audit covered the Technical Specification (TS) requirements including the environmental monitoring programs.
The audit
.
results were reported.to the, licensee management on August 16, 1978.
The inspector noted that the audit identified no items of noncompliance with the TS environmental mqnitoring requiregents.
The inspector identified no items of noncompliance in this area.
Licensee Pro ram for ualit Control of Anal tical Measurements The inspector reviewed the licensee's program for guality Control (gC) of analytical measurements as related to the radiological analyses of environmental media.
The licensee stated that spiked water, milk and air particulate samples were provided by the En-viionmental Protection Agency (EPA).
All the samples were analyzed by gamma spectroscopy in addition to gross beta and gross alpha analyses for water samples.
The inspector reviewed the 1977 and 1978 EPA gC comparisons and noted disagreement between the licensee results and the EPA spiked samples for Cs-137.
All the other measurements were in agreement within +3 standard deviations.
The licensee stated that recently samples of milk, fish, water and crops were split with the State of New York, Department of En-viromental Conservation (DEC).
The inspector also noted that environmental air particulate samples were collected by REG and DEC from the same location near the plant (Station 7) and analyzed by gamma spectroscopic and gross beta analyse The inspector verified the licensee's corrective actions as related to a previously identified.item of noncompliance (244/77-10-01).
The inspector examined the new revision of the guality Control of Counting Systems (gC) procedure (HP-10. 1) and noted that this procedure was approved by the Station Superintendent and implemented on August 24, 1977.
The new procedure requires the background to be measured and recorded each day after the performance list is completed.
The inspector reviewed the licensee's guality Control Log Book for the period from September 1977, to September 1978, and noted that instrument background measurements were made and recorded as required.
With regard to the low background counter a draft operating and gC procedure (ES-8.1)
was prepared and was to be approved by PORC in.
the near future.
The licensee stated that the low background counter is not used for analyses required to verify any current regulatory requirement.
The inspector noted that the low background counter was only used during 1978 for gross beta analyses for environmental samples and the plant vent air particulates.
These analyses are not required by the REG Technical Specifications.
The inspector had no further questions in this area at this time.
5.
Im lementation of the'Environmental Monitorin Pro ram-
'~RRi A~RA The inspector reviewed the licensee's annual report on en-vironmental surveillance program for the period from January
to December 31, 1977.
The inspector discussed with the licensee delays in reporting to the NRC the required environmental data.
The inspector noted that on February 27, 1978, a letter from RG8E was submitted notifying the NRC of the three weeks delay in submitting the required report.
The licensee stated
. that a proposed change in the TS will be submitted to the NRC requesting the Annual Operating Report to be submitted to the NRC by the end of March.
The inspector had no further questions in this area at this tim 'Environmental Direct Radiation Environmental direct radiation is measured with thermolumine-scent dosimeters (TLDs) and film badges.
The inspector examined the'nvironmental TLDs and film badges at the environmental monitoring stations.
The inspector reviewed the direct radiation measurements for 1977 and noted discrepancies between the TLDs and film badges results.
The licensee stated that film badges are not sensitive enough to detect environmental ambient radiation.
The licensee stated that the new proposed Technical Specifications (TS) will eliminate the use of film badges for environmental gamma radiation monitoring.
The inspector discussed with the licensee the TLD calibration and gC procedures.
The licensee stated that previously the TLDs were calibrated after exposure to 500 mR.
Now the exposure used during TLD calibration is limited to about 250 mR.
The inspector discussed the use of a calibration. exposure similar to that aquired during the field cycle (j 20-30 mR/
quarter).
The licensee stated that such low exposure was previously used and resulted in a significant cal'ibration error.
The licensee stated that improvements in this area
'will be made upon issuance of the new Environmental Technical Specifications.
The inspector noted that the licensee has no specific NRC regulatory requirements in this area and had no further questions at this time.
Environmental Media The inspector noted that the environmental monitoring program was conducted in accordance with Regime 1 of the REG Technical Specifications, Section 4,10.
Regime 1 of Section 4.10 requires environmental samples to be collected at required frequencies (Section 4.'10.1).
The licensee stated that all the environmental samples required by Section 4.10 were collected and also analyzed.
The inspector reviewed the licensee's sampling and analytical results for the period from January 1977 to September 1978.
The inspector noted that the required environmental media, including filterable dust, precipitation, surface water, well water, food material, marine organisms and lake bottom were collected and analyzed.
The inspector discussed
with the licensee the status of the proposed upgraded Environ-mental Technical Specifications (ETS).
The licensee stated that the new proposed REG ETS were to be submitted to NRR in November 1978, however, due to delays encountered, a request for a two months extension will be submitted to NRR.
The inspector had no further questions in this area at this time.
Gamma'S'ectrosco ic'Anal ses The inspector reviewed the operations of the new Ge(Li) com-puter based multi-channel analyzer.
The inspector noted, through discussion with the licensee and review of the system analytical results, that the previously identified (78-19-02)
~
system problem was corrected.
As of July 1978, the new Ge(Li) counting system was used for counting environmental samples for gamma spectroscopic analyses.
Also, the new system was used for analyses required to verify compliance with the regulatory requirements (Section 3.9, TS)
including gaseous and liquid effluent limits.
The inspector noted that this system was used in counting the above mentioned samples without an approved (PORC} written operating procedure as required by Sections 6.8. 1 and 6.8.2 of the TS.
The inspector stated that Section 6.8. 1, TS requires that all applicable written procedures including those of Appendix "A" of Regulatory Guide 1.33, November 1972, be established, implemented and maintained.
Section G of Appendix "A" of this Regulatory Guide called for procedures for control of radioactivity to limit materials released to the environment including sampling and monitoring procedures for liquid and gaseous radioactive waste systems.
The inspector stated that failure to establish,
. approve and implement the required Ge(Li) system operating procedures was an item of noncompliance (78-22-01).
During a subsequent telephone discussion with the licensee on October 30, 1978, the licensee stated that a draft operating procedure for'he Ge(Li) system was prepared and would shortly be approved
r implementatio Im lementation'of the Environmental Nonitorin Pro ram - Biolo ical Ecol o ical The inspector reviewed, by discussions with the licensee and by selective review of the 1977 program results, the biological/
ecological studies conducted at the REG site.
The specific areas reviewed included:
the continuing REG impingement studies (species, numbers, weights, lengths, general condition, etc.); fish impinge-.
ment survival studies; entrainment studies (ichthyoplankton and macroinvertebrates);
benthic studies; fish population studies; lake ichthyoplankton studies; fish behavioral studies (TV monitoring of fish behavior in the discharge canal);
and velocity and temperature profiles in the discharge canal in relation to the spatial distribution of inhabiting fish.
The inspector also toured the REG site relative to the licensee's program to stabilize the construction spoils area west of the plant.
The inspector noted that the minor erosion problems observed during the previous inspection of this area were corrected.
The outfall from the construction spoils was riprapped and area appeared to be in a stable condition, however, erosion at the waterfront continued as a result of the lake tidal effect.
The
.
licensee has no specific NRC requirements in this area.
No items of noncompliance wer e identified in this area.
Nonradioactive Effluent'Release Rates and Limits The inspector reviewed through discussions with the licensee and by the review of laboratory records and reports, the licensee's mon-itoring of chemical and thermal discharges from the site.
The licensee stated that the chlorination frequency was significantly reduced.
The inspector reviewed the licensedscurrent chlorination regime and noted that the circulating water system was chlorinated once per day for five days every week at a chlorine injection dura-tions of 30 minutes.
A minor oil leak was observed by the inspector at the turbine building.
The inspector. noted that the leakage was contained and separated in the retention tank.
The inspector reviewed the licensee's analytical measurements for oil and grease in the discharge canal and note'd that all the measured values were below the required State of New York, DPDES Permit limit.
The licensee stated that this oil leak will be corrected during the next outage.
The inspector
also examined the chlorine monitoring instrumentation and reviewed, through discussions with the licensee, the operation of the chlori-nation system; the methods of chlorine analyses; pH analyses; oil and grease analyses; and heavy metal analyses.
The inspector identified no measured effluent parameters outside the limits of the licensee's NPDES Permit.
The licensee has no specific NRC requirements in this area.
No items of noncompliance were identified in this area.
8.
Mana ement Inter view On October 25, 1978, the inspector met with the licensee repre-sentatives indicated in Paragraph 1.
The inspector summarized the purposes and the scope of the inspection and the inspection findings.