IR 05000263/1974011
| ML20024G116 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Monticello  |
| Issue date: | 01/17/1975 |
| From: | Greger L, Pagliaro J NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III) |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20024G113 | List: |
| References | |
| 50-263-74-11, NUDOCS 9102070545 | |
| Download: ML20024G116 (9) | |
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U. S. ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION
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DIRECTORATE OF REGUI.ATORY OPERATIONS
REGION III
Report of Environmental Monitoring Inspection
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RO Inspection Report No. 050-263/74-11 Licensee:
Northern States Power Company
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414 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401 Monticello Nuclear Generating Station License No. DPR-22
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Monticello, Minnesota Category:
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Type of Licensee:
BWR-545 MWe (CE)
Type of Inspection:
Routine, Announced
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Dates of Inspection:
December 26-27, 1974 Dates of Previous Inspecti ni mber 3-6. 1974 (Operations)
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,if Principal Inspector:
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(Date)
Accompanying Inspector:
None Other Accompan g Per nn None
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Reviewed By:
. A. Pagliaro enior Environmental Scientist
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Environmental InTd Special Projects Section
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9102070545 750121 PDR ADOCK 05000263 O
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SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
Enforcement Action
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None Licensee * Action on Previously Identified Enforcement Items Two items of noncompliance with Section 4.8 of the Technical Specifications wereidenti{pedduringtheAugust 30-31, 1973, environmental monitoring inspection.- The corrective actions described in the licensee's reply
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dated November 5, 1973, were examined during this inspection.
The inspector has no further questions concerning these items; the items are closed.
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Unusual Occurrences None within the scop'e of this inspectibn.
Other Significant Findings A.
Current Findings This inspection examined the licensee's environmental radiological
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"End meteorologica1'monit'oring programs. A recent organizational
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change resulted in a shift in program management responsibilities.
These responsibilities are currently shared by the corporate Environmental-Governuental Activities Department and the Nucicar Support Services Deptrtment.
(Paragraph 2) No unresolved items were identifi'd d ring this inspection.
B.
Status of Previcosly Reported Unresolved Items No previously reported unresolved items within the scope of this inspection.
Management Interview A management interview was conducted with Messrs. Mayer and Clark on December 27, 1974, and subsequently w!th Mr. Ward by telephone on January 8, 1975. The following items were discussed with the licensee representatives.
1.
The inspector stated that the corrective actions regarding the previous noncompliance items had been examined and appeared adequate.
(Paragraph 6)
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RO Inspection Rpt No. 050-263/73-10.
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2.
The licensee stated that administrative procedures describing conduct of environmental activities,under the reorganfred management structure were under preparation.
(Paragraph 3)
3.
The licensee stated that sample collection and calibration procedures would be revised to reflect a change in the method of determining the. air particulate sample volume.
(Paragraph 4.a)
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The licensee agreed to evaluate the effectiveness of the carbon impregnated filters utilized for airborne radioiodine monitoring.
(Paragraph 4.b)
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5.
The licensee stated that the analytical laboratory would be requested to evaluate the significance of radionuclides reported in various environmental sampics.
(Paragraphs 5.b and 5.d)
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REPORT DETAILS a l
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Persons contacted
L. Mayer, Director, Nuclear Support Services
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E. Ward, Manager, Nuclear Environmental Services B. Ciark, Administrator, Radiation Environmental Monitoring j
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General The inspection consisted of an examination of. the licensee's l
environmental monitoring activities including sampling techniques i
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and procedures, sample collection equipment and locations, and monitoring results. Management control aspects including organi-
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rational structure, responsibilities and authorities, and admin-
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istrative control were also examined.
The inspection did not incJude an examination of the licensee's outside laboratory personnel, equipment, or procedures.
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Although the licensee does conduct non-radiological monitoring, the
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technical specifications do not contain non-radiological requirements; such specifications are expected to be issued later this year. The
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non-radiological portion of the licensee's environmental monitoring program will be examined in detail during an inspection conducted subsequent to issuance of the Appendix B Technical Specificationg,
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The aspects of the licensee's environmental monitoring program inspected were found to conform to AEC Regulatory Requirements.
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3.
procedural Controls The licensee's administrative and procedural controls for imple-mentation of the environmental monitoring program were examined.
This examination included a review of the assignment of responsibilities and authorities for program management.
The licensee has continued the arrangement with the Minnesota Department of Health whereby
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results of the Health Department's environmental radiological
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monitoring program are utilized by the licensee in satisfying the technical specification nonitoring requirements.
(An independent contractor is utilized to process environmental film badges.)
The licensee's organization for impicmentation of the environmental monitoring program has changed since the previous inspection.
The former Staff Department under the Vice president-Engineering.has been dissolved and the responsibilities for impicmentation of the environmental programs are currently shared between the newly
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created Environmental-Covernmental Activities Department and the t
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existing Nuclear Support Services Department.' The Environmental-Governmental Activities Department has the responsibility for radiological sample collections, operation and maintenance of the meteorological field equipment, and conduct of the non-radiological monitoring program. The Nuclear Support Services Department has the overall administrative responsibility for activities conducted under the
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Appenaix B Technical Specifications including management of the radiological contractors and audit of the Appendix B Technical Specification activities.
Administrative procedures delineating implementation of the environmental activities were under prepa-ration by the licensee. These procedures will be examined during a subsequent inspection.
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Analytical Capabilities The licensee's methodology and control of the sample collection, preparation, and analysis functions were examined. This examination included a review of sample collections, instrument calibrations, and physical plant facilities.
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a.
Air Sampler Operation The licensee altered his method for determinatien of sample volume since the preceding inspection. The method presently used entails measurement of air flows with a portable flowmeter at,the beginning and completion of the sample period.
Licensee w
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representatives stated that the air sampler collection procedure vould be modified to reficct the change and that a calibration procedure for the flovmeter would be instituted.
These items will be examined further during a subsequent inspection.
b.
Airborne Radiolodine Carbon impregnated filters, positioned in tandem with the particulate filters in the air sampler filter holders, are utilized for airborne radiciodine monitoring. The licensee agreed to evaluate the effectiveness of the carbon impregnated filters currently in use in comparison with commercially available charcoal cartridges. This item vill be examined further during a subsequent inspection.
c.
Trend Charts / Action Levels Action Icvels have been established for use by the analytical laboratory in flagging results which warrant special licensee attention. The licensee currently is utilizing a three signm (above preoperational icvels) action criterion.
According to the licensce, further refinement of the action criterion is-5-c l
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required to eliminate numerous unnecessary alarms.
The
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licensco's actions in this matter will be examined further during a subsequent inspection. Trend charts of environmental radionuclide concentrations have been developed by the licensee (encompassing operational and preoperational periods) and are utilized in evaluation of the sample analytical results'.
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Implomentation of Monitoring program The results of the licensee's radiological environmental monitoring program for the period from July 1973 through June 1974 were selectively examined for compliance with monitoring and reporting requirements and for corrective actions of identified deficiencies.
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a.
Environmental Monitoring Reports
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No unusual results or trends other than those identified in this report were noted in the inspector's review of the radiological environmental monitoring results.
It was noted
that some difficulty had been encountered in location of clam samples during the period reviewed.
A licensee representative stated that extensive searches had resulted in the location of clam samples the last two quarters of 1974 but that the continued monitoring of clams was under evaluation due to their scarcity, b..
Reactor Originated Nuclidas av
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It was noted that several nuclides possibly attributable to reactors (vice weapons fallout) were detected and reported for the period reviewed. These nuclides include CO-58, Co-60, Zn-65, Fe-59, Mn-54, and Cr-51 in various air particulate, precipitation, and aquatic insect samples.
The licensee stated that the analytical laboratory would be requested to respond to this question in light of the laboratory's statement in the 1973 Annual Report of Radiation Surveillance at the Monticello Nuclear Generating piant, that "with the exception of the TLD network, none of the media tested showed any clevation attributable to plant operation during the year of 1973." A licensee representative stated that the data reported may have resulted from a misinterpretation of the statistical significance of the analytical results.
It was noted that precipitation samples collected at a location greater than 30 miles from the Monticello site have been reported as containing detectable amounts of one or more of the nuclides referenced above. This item will be examined further during a subsequent inspection.
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Air Samplers
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It was noted that two individual air samplers experienced excessive downtimes during the period reviewed (Station No. 4-16 weeks, Station No. 8-9 weeks).
The inspector stated that inoperative samplers should be repaired or replaced as soon after discovery as feasible so as to minimize the downtime of
, the air monitoring equipment.
The licensee stated that the problem would be investigated and remedial action taken.
This item will be examined further during a subsequent inspection.
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Radiofodine Levels in Milk
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The licensee's monitoring reports for the July 1973 through t
June 1974 period report I-131 concentrations in excess of 2.4 pCi per liter in milk samples collected during the following
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months; 7/73, 8/73, 9/73, 11/73, 2/74 and 6/74 at various locations surrounding the site. The licensee stated that the 7/73, 8/71 and 9/73 results yere attributabic to an atmospheric
weapons test and that the 6/74 and all but one of the 2/74 results may have been caused by a typographical error during compilation of the report. The licensee stated that the
remaining samples would be investigated and that any erroneous results would be corrected in a subsequent report.
This item will be examined further during a subsequent inspection, uwv
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Action on Noncompliance items The August 30-31, 1973 inspection of the licensee's environmental i
monitoringprogramyevealedseveralomissionsofrequiredenvironmental sampling analyses.2 The corrective actions specified in the licennee's reply dated November 5, 1973, were examined during this inspection.
A system for administrative 1y following sample collections, receipt of the samples by the laboratory, and analytical results from the
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laboratory had been impicmented by the licensee as had a laboratory quality control program. Additionally a consultant has been retained
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to provide periodic independent evaluations of program administration, methods, and conclusions. The inspector has no further questions regarding the items <,f noncompliance; the items are closed.
The consultant has also been asked to evaluate the interlaboratory comparison program pursued by the licensee for the purpose of determining acceptance criteria. This item will be examined further during a subsequent inspection.
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RO Inspection Rpt No. 0$0-263/73-10.
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7.
Meteorological Program
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A meteorological tower complying with the instrument types and placement recommendations contained in Regulatory Guide 1.23 is currently operational.
Remote recording equipment is scheduled for installation in the plant control room early in 1975.
Installation of analog to digital conversion equipment, facilitating data reduction and compilation, is also scheduled for completion in 1975.
Instrument maintenance and accuracies, and data recording, readout and compilation functions will be examined further during a subsequent inspection.
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UNITED STATES
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ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION l.l
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DIRECTOR ATE OF' REGULATORY OPER ATIONS
REclON ess
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799 ROOstVELT ROAD m
i OLEN ELLYN. ILLINOla 6o137 (8183066 4440
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RO Inspection Report No.
nsn.9rMu 11 Transmittal Date
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January 21. 1975
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Distribution:
Distribution:
R0 Chief. FS&EB R0 Chief. FS&EB
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RO HQ (5)
R0:llQ (4)
DR Central Files LID /D for Fuels & Materials Regulatory Standards (3)
DR Central Files Licensing (13)
RO Files
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RO Files
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RO Inquiry Report No.
Transmittal Date
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Distribution:
Distribution:
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R0 Chief. FS&EB RO Chief FS&EB R0:llQ (5)
RO:HQ DR Central Files DR Central Files Regulatory Standards (3)
RO Filen Licensing (13)
R0 Files
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Incident Notification From:
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(Licensec & Docket No. (or License No.)
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Transmittal Date Distribution:
Distribution:
R0 Chief. FS&EB R0 Chief FS&EB
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R0:llQ (4)
R0:llQ (4)
Licensing (4)
L D/D for Fuels & Materials
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DR Central Files DR Central Files RO Files R0 Files O'
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