IR 05000271/1982020
| ML20028B026 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Vermont Yankee File:NorthStar Vermont Yankee icon.png |
| Issue date: | 11/04/1982 |
| From: | Greenman E, Rowe C NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20028B022 | List: |
| References | |
| 50-271-82-20, NUDOCS 8211290380 | |
| Download: ML20028B026 (8) | |
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U. S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
REGION I
Report No. 50-271/82-20 Docket No. 50-271 License No. DPR-28 Priority Category C
Licensee: Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation 1671 Worcester Road Framingham, Massachusetts 01701 Facility Name: Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station Inspection At: Vernon, Vermont Inspection Conducted:
September 20-24, 1982 Inspectors:
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C. A. Rowe, Radiation Specialist date Approved By:
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E. G. Greenman,~ Acting Chief, date Facilities Radiation Protection Section, Technical Programs Branch l
Inspection Summary:
Inspection on September 20-24, 1982 (Report No. 50-271/82-20)
Areas Inspected:
Routine, unannounced safety inspection of licensee action on previous inspection findings, licensee's implementation of corrective actions for Radiation Protection Program deficiencies identified during the NRC Health l
Physics Appraisal and a review of licensee's Radiation Protection Program in-l cluding:
training, posting, labeling, and control of radioactive material,
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audits, radiological surveys, radiological procedures, exposure control, instru-
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ment calibration, radiation work permits, advance planning and preparation for outage, ard vendor warning letters. This inspection involved 25 inspector-hours on site by one NRC region based inspector.
Results: Violations:
None.
8211290300 821109 PDR ADOCK 05000g
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DETAILS 1.
Persons Contacted W. Anson, Supervisor, General Plant Training
- P.. Leach, Supervisor, Chemistry and Health Physics
- M. Lyster, Assistant Plant Manager
- D. Mohler, Plant Health Physicist
- D. Reed, Supervisor, Technical Services
D. Tolin, Whole Body Counter and Respiratory Systems Engineer
- Denotes those personnel attending exit interview on September 24, 1982.
The inspector also interviewed other licensee employees, including Health Physics and contractor personnel.
2.
Licensee Action on Previous Inspection Findings (Closed) Inspector Follow-up Item (81-00-01): Determine whether Byproduct License No. 44-13699-02 has been used and its provisions followed.
The inspector determined from discussions with licensee representatives and review of radioactive material transportation records that the license had not been used for the past five years.
The licensee submitted a request for renewal of the license to the NRC on August 30, 1982.
(Closed) Inspector Follow-up Item (81-16-01):
Review storage facilities for radioactive waste.
Enclosed storage space, in a detached building, is provided for radioactive waste pending completion of a new radioactive waste storage building.
(Closed) Violation (82-01-01):
Failure to label radioactive waste shipping box. The inspector verified that corrective actions were adequate and as described in the licensee's response to NRC dated April 22, 1982.
3.
Review of Licensee Response to the NRC's Health Physics Appraisal References:
NRC Health Physics Appraisal Report No. 50-271/80-14, dated April 7,
1982.
Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation's response, dated June 8,
1982.
The findings of the Health Physics Appraisal were identified as significant Appraisal Findings, denoted Appendix "A" items.
The evaluation of the licensee's response and corrective actions for Appendix A items are discussed below.
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Finding 1 Increased emphasis should be placed on whole body counter operator training and retraining.
The relationship of organ burdens to airborne exposures based on air sample analyses should be included in training.
Finding Review The review of this item indicated that the licensee had made calculations for the relationship of organ burdens to MPC-hours of exposure based upon models in ICRP-2. The calculations and relationships are included in Procedure No. OP-4533, " Airborne Radioactivity Determinations." The licensee is currently investigating the availability of courses that include instruction in the relationship of organ burdens to airborne exposure. The licensee indicated that training in an appropriate course would be provided to the whole body counter operator.
Finding 2 A formal internal dosimetry program for non gamma-emitting nuclides is needed.
Finding Review The review of this finding indicated that Procedure No. OP-0533, " Body Burden Counting", has been revised to include triteria for special bioassay determination for non gamma-emitting nuclides by commercial laboratories.
Finding 3 Supervisory review of respirator fit tests needs to be exercised to assure that assigned protection factors are appropriate.
Finding Review The review of this finding indicated that the Respiratory Systems Engineer t
reviews all respirator fit test results to assure that appropriate protection factors are assigned.
The inspector's review of respirator fit test records for 1981 and 1982 indicated that appropriate protection factors were assigned based on fit test results.
Finding 4 Respirator training involving an opportunity for hands-on experience is needed.
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Finding Review The review of this finding indicated that hands-on training is included as a part of the fit testing. The inspector observed respirator fit testing and noted that it included instruction in inspection, danning, and removal of the respirator and provided hands-on experi~ence to the worker.
Finding 5 A formal ALARA Program that conforms to Regulatory Guide 8.8 and Regulatory Guide 8.10 needs to be developed, documented and implemented; both plant and corporate personnel shocld be involved in this program.
Finding Review The review of this finding indicated that Yankee Atomic Electric Company had developed and implemented a guideline describing the corporate ALARA Program. The inspector reviewed Yankee Atomic Electric Company Guideline No. 4 that established a Radiation Protection Review Committee, and defined the purpose and objectives of the committee. The committee members include the Radiation Protection Managers of Yankee Atomic, Vermont Yankee, Maine Yankee, Seabrook, and. Yankee Nuclear Services Division.
7:w inspector reviewed the charter for the plant ALARA Committee and also reviewed minutes of the committee meetings for the calendar year 1982.
Finding 6 Professional level manning plus supporting personnel are needed to operate the ALARA Program.
Corporate level manpower commitment is needed.
Finding Review The review of this finding indicated that Procedure No. AP-0501, " Radiation Protection Standards", has been revised to define ALARA responsibilities.
The Radiation Protection Review Committee and plant ALARA Committee are described in the preceding Finding Review.
Corporate and plant manpower commitments appear adequate to efficiently operate the ALARA Program.
Finding 7 Procedural action levels in radiation work permits for ALARA review based on expected man-rem exposures are needed.
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5 Finding Review The review of this finding indicated that Procedure No. AP-0502, " Radiation Worker Permits" had been revised to include action levels for ALARA review that were consistent with Regulatory Guide 8.8.
4.
Training The inspector reviewed the licensee's radiation worker training program and discussed the program with members of the training staff.
Procedure APO-0823 specifies the training to be provided for station and contractor employees.
It prescribes the subjects covered, establishes training records to be maintained, and includes methods for verification of satisfactory completion of the course.
The inspector reviewed the lesson plans, training records, and examination results for approximately 50 station and contractor employees.
No violations were identified.
5.
Posting, Labeling, and Control The inspector reviewed the licensee's posting and control of radiation areas, high radiation areas, and the labeling of radioactive material during tours of the facilities.
i No violations were identified.
6.
Audits The inspector's review and follow-up discussions with licensee representa-tives indicated that a documented internal surveillance program was established by the Plant Health Physicist in June 1982, in the area of
radiation protection. The Yankee Atomic corporate office performs audits to evaluate the effectiveness of the radiation protection program.
The inspector reviewed an assessment of the effectiveness of the radiation
protection program that was performed in June 1982. The assessment
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included a review of procedures, records, and operational aspects of the plant radiation protection program. The inspector also reviewed surveillance reports for calendar year 1982 and determined that timely, corrective action had been taken to correct identified problems.
No violations were identified.
7.
Radiological Surveys l
The inspector selectively reviewed the records of radiation, contamination, l
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and airborne radioactivity surveys that were performed in calendar years 1981 and 1982 and discussed the survey results with licensee representatives.
The inspector also performed independent radiation surveys in the Reactor Building and verified that the areas surveyed were properly posted as required.
No violations were identified.
8.
Radiological Procedures The inspector reviewed changes made to the following radiological procedures and verified that the changes were properly made and were consistent with regulations, technical specifications and acceptable health physics practices:
Procedure AP-0501, " Radiation Protection Standards"
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Procedure AP-0502, " Radiation Work Permits"
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Procedure AP-0505, " Respiratory Protection"
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Procedure AP-507, " Primary Containment Entry"
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Procedure OP-4533, " Airborne Radioactivity Concentration Determinations" No violations were identified.
9.
Exposure Control The inspector selectively reviewed copies of daily computer printouts that listed dosimetry information incorporating thermoluminescent dosimeter and self-reader dosimeter results, and accumulated quarterly and yearly dose for all station and contractor employees. The inspector also reviewed completed Forms NRC-4, equivalent Forms NRC-5, and termination reports.
By review of records, observations, and discussion with licensee representa-tives, the inspector evaluated the licensee's program for air sampling, engineering controls, MPC-hour controls, and use of respirator.
No violations were identified.
10.
Instrument Calibrations The inspector toured the licensee's calibration facility located in the Reactor Building and discussed the calibration of survey instruments, and process and effluent monitors with licensee representatives.
The inspector selectively reviewed calibration records and observed calibration stickers on survey instrument during facility tours.
No violations were identifie.
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11. Radiation Work Permits The inspector reviewed active radiation work permits (RWP) and RWPs from the October-November 1981 outage to verify the appropriateness of the radiation protection requirements based upon work scope, location, and conditions. During tours of the plant, the inspector also observed the adherence of plant workers to the various RWP requirements as established.
No violations were identified.
12. Advance Planning and Preparation for Outage The inspector discussed the status of advanced planning for the refueling outage, scheduled to begin April 1982, with the Plant Health Physicist.
He indicated the following:
Plans to increase the present radiation protection staff by the
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addition of approximately 21 senior level technicians and 14 junior level technicians are being formulated.
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A member of the radiation protection staff will attend departmental outage planning meetings, in addition to those meetings held for planning specific tasks to be accomplished during the outage. The departmental outage planning meetings are scheduled to begin in October 1982.
The Plant Health Physicist is currently reviewing previous outage
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critiques to incorporate lessons learned into advance planning for the April 1983 outage.
13. Vendor Warning Letters The inspector verified that the licensee had received a copy of Scott Aviation's warning letter dated February 1982, concerning abnormal problems with cast aluminum regulator bodies for certain Air-Pak II SCBAs.
The licensee's Respiratory Systems Engineer stated that he had inventoried t
the Scott Air-Pak regulators and the licensee did not have any regulators of the type specified in the warning letter.
I The inspector also verified that the licensee had received a copy of l
Eberline's warning letter, dated May 30, 1982, concerning a potential defect with the Eberline Model PIC-6A survey instrument.
The Plant Health Physicist stated that the radiation protection staff had been informed of the potential defect, instrument modification kits had been obtained from iberline, and the modification was being accomplished
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in-house when instruments were returned for calibration or repair.
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14. Exit Interview The inspector met with licensee representatives (denoted in paragraph 1)
at the conclusion of the inspection on September 24, 1982. The inspector
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summarized the purpose, scope, and findings of the inspection.
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