IR 05000271/1981011
| ML20033A623 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Vermont Yankee File:NorthStar Vermont Yankee icon.png |
| Issue date: | 09/03/1981 |
| From: | Bores R, Sakenas C NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20033A619 | List: |
| References | |
| 50-271-81-11, NUDOCS 8111250636 | |
| Download: ML20033A623 (5) | |
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I U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT Region I
. Report No. 50-271/81-11 Docket No. 50-271 License No. OPR-28 Priority'
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Category C
Licensee:
Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation
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1671 Worcester Road Framingham, Massachusetts 01701
Facility Name:
Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station (VYNPS)
i Inspection At:
Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station, Vernon, Vermont Inspection Conducted:
May 4-7, 1981 Inspectors:
O __S.
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f 2 2,pp C. Sakenas, Radiation Specialist date signed r
date signed j
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Approvedby:}v4:
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Bores, Chibf, Independent Measurements date signed
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and Environmental Protection'Section Inspection Summary:
Inspection on May 4-7, 1981 (Report No. 50-217/81-11)
Areas Inspected:
Routine, unannounced inspection of environmental monitoring programs for operations, including: management controls lof these programs; the licensee's program for quality control of analytical measurements; implementation of the environmental monitoring programs and non-radioactive effluent release rates and limits. The inspection involved 22 hours2.546296e-4 days <br />0.00611 hours <br />3.637566e-5 weeks <br />8.371e-6 months <br /> onsite by one NRC regionally based inspector.
Results: Of the four areas i spected, no items of noncompliance were found.
8111250636 810956 PDR ADOCK 05000271 G
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DETAILS 1.
Individuals Contacted (VYNPS)
- W.
Murphy, Plant Superintendent D.
Reid, Engineering Support Supervisor
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Leach, Health Physicist
- M.
Prystupa, Plant Chemist
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Ball, Environmental Coordinator
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Skibniowsky, Emergency Plan Coordinator
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Kenney, Engineer J.
O'Neil, Records Clerk, I&C L.
Savard, Chemistry Technician
- Denotes those present at exit interivew.
2.
Licensee Action on Previous Inspection Findings (Closed) Inspector Follow Item (78-25-01):
Evaluation of TLD program.
The inspector discussed the status of the TLD program with the licensee and noted recent anomalous readings. The licensee stated that studies to determine the TLD system performance were not performed. The inspector stated that this item would be changed to an unresolved item until these studies are completed (Details, 5).
(Closed) Inspector Follow Item (78-25-02):
Evaluation of gas meter calibration factors. The inspector discussed with the licensee results of the investigat:on of the gas meter calibration factors and noted that the licensee had modified the calibration procedure to correct for pressure differences.
This item is considered resolved (See Details, 4).
3.
Management Controls The inspector reviewed the assignment of responsibility and authority to conduct the radiological environmental monitoring program with respect to changes made since the last inspection (50-271/78-25).
The inspector determined through discussions with the licensee and procedure review that changes made in organization and procedures did not decrease management control of the program.
The inspector discussed with the licensee provisions for audit of the program on a routine basis.
The licensee stated that VYNPS part-icipates in an annual audit of the Yankee Atomic Electric Laboratory
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(YAEL), and periodically audits the sampling portion of the radiological
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environmental program..The inspector reviewed the results of.these-
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audits and noted that corrective actions were taken as required.
No items of noncompliance were identified in this area.
4.
Licensee Program for Quality Control of-Analytical Measurements
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The inspector discussed with the licensee the status of the licensee's quality control program for environmental radioanalytical measurements.
The licensee stated that the QC program for measurements performed by the YAEL includes analyses of EPA interlaboratory samples, YAEL prepared known spiked samples, and blind duplicate samples. The inspector reviewed selected quality control results for 1980 and noted that discrepancies were evaluated.and corrective actions were taken when appropriate..The inspector noted that blind duplicate samples were not submitted by Vermont Yankee personnel although reference _to such analyses was made in the Annual Radiological Environmental Surveillance Report. The licensee stated that programs for the other participating facilities provided the blind, duplicate samples.
The licensee stated that the quality control program for TLD. measure-ments included an annual participation in the US Department of Energy intercomparison program, and that these results were in good agreement.
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The inspector discussed with the licensee the calibration of air sampling and meteorological instrumentation, and verified through
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procedures and records review that calibrations for 1980 were performed at the stated frequencies. The inspector noted that a modification in the Air Sampler Gas Meter Calibration procedure to correct for barometric
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l pressure at the test location resulted in more accurate calibration
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factors for the gas meters.
The inspector stated that because of this j
modification item 78-25-02 is closed.
No items of noncompliance were identified in this area.
5.
Implementation of the Environmental Monitoring Program The inspector discussed with the licensee the status of the program and verified through records review that samples were collected, analyzed and reported for 1979 and 1980 in accordance with the Vermont Yankee Technical Specifications, except as noted by the licensee.
The inspector accompanied a licensee technician during collection of air particulate filters, charcoal filters, and TLDs.
Eight of nine air sampling stations were operating at the time of the inspection.
The one non-operating sampler appeared to have a defective pump, which was replaced at the time of discovery. The inspector discussed this event with the licensee as well as the seven event reports submitted to the NRC since the last inspection in this area which describes
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eleven similar occurrances with missed air samples.
The licensee stated that new pumps were recently purchased but due to inconsistent performance another type of pump is being considered for replacement.
The inspector stated that pending the outcome of this evaluation, compliance with section 3.9.D.2 of the Technical Specifications to monitor air continuously will remain unresolved (271/81-11-01).
In reviewing selected results of TLD measurements for 1979-1981, the inspector noted that the twa monthly readouts at a station did not always agree and were as far apart as 40-50%. The licensee stated that no criteria existed to reject results on this basis. The inspector indicated that, based on the licensee's method of reporting an average of the two readings, the calculated dose could be over or underestimated, based on which of the two readings were correct.
During a subsequent telephone conversation, the licensee indicated that some of the dis-crepancies may be due to surface contamination of the dosimeters from use in the reactor building, and that all dosimeters would be checked.
The inspector discussed with the licensee item 271/78-25-01 regarding performance criteria for environmental TLDs and the licensee indicated that these studies were not performed. The inspector stated that until a TLD evaluation program is completed, similar to that outlined in USNRC Regulatory Guide 4.13, compliance with Section 3.9.D.2 of the Technical Specifications will be considered unresolved (271/81-11-02).
The inspector discussed with the licensee the annual collection of meat, poultry, eggs, fruits and vegetables as required by Section 3.9.D.2 of the Technical Specifications. The licenseh indicated that these were not available in 1980.
The inspector stated that any attempts to obtain these samples should be documented, to demonstrate compliance with the requirements of the Technical Specifications.
The inspector stated that this area will be re-evaluated in a subsequent inspection (271/81-11-03).
The inspector had no further questions in this area.
G.
Nonradioactive Effluent Release Rates and Limits The inspector discussed with the licensee the implementation status of the Environmental Technical Specifications (ETS) issued February 22, 1980. The licensee stated that proposed modifications to the ETS were submitted to the NRC on April 29, 1980.
The inspector noted that the proposed modifications have incorporated only minor changes to the new ETS.
The inspector verified that samples were taken and analyzed in accord-ance with requirements through review of the annual reports submitted for 1979 and 1980.
No items of noncompliance were identified in this area.
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Unresolved Items
- Unresolvedit'msaremattersabout'whichmoreinformationisrequired e
in order to ascertain whether they are acceptable items,Litems of non-compliance, or_ deviations. Two unresolved-items were disclosed during
'this inspection. They are discusred in Detail ~5.
8.
Exit Interview The~. inspector met with the licensee representatives (denoted in Paragraph 1) at.the conclusion.of the. inspection on May 7, 1981. The inspector summarized the purpose and scope _of the inspection and findings.
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