IR 05000275/1997020
| ML16342D935 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Diablo Canyon  |
| Issue date: | 01/02/1998 |
| From: | NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV) |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML16342D934 | List: |
| References | |
| 50-275-97-20, 50-323-97-20, NUDOCS 9801070264 | |
| Download: ML16342D935 (28) | |
Text
U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION REGION I I/
Docket Nos.:
License Nos.:
Report No.:
Licensee:
Facility:
Location:
Dates:
Inspector:
Approved By:
Attachment:
50-275; 50-323 DPR-80; DPR-82 50-275/97-20; 50-323/97-20 Pacific Gas and Electric Company Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant, Units 1 and 2 7 1/2 miles NW of Avila Beach Avila Beach, California December 8-11, 1997 J. Blair Nicholas, Ph.D., Senior Radiation Specialist Plant Support Branch Blaine Murray, Chief, Plant Support Branch Division of Reactor Safety Supplemental Information 980i070264 980i02 PDR ADOCK 05000275 G
-2-Diablo Canyon Nuclear Station NRC Inspection Report 50-275/97-20 and 50-323/97-20 This routine, announced inspection reviewed the implementation of the radiological environmental monitoring and the meteorological monitoring programs.
Training and qualifications, quality assurance oversight, facilities and equipment, and annual reports were also reviewed.
Overall, good radiological environmental and meteorological monitoring programs were effectively implemented.
Environmental sampling locations were properly established and met station procedure requirements.
Environmental sampling equipment was properly calibrated and maintained.
Appropriate changes were made to the environmental sample locations described in station procedures as a result of the annual land use censuses.
Good radiological environmental monitoring program implementing procedures were maintained.
The meteorological instrumentation was properly calibrated and,maintained (Sections R1.1, R1.2, R2.1, R2.2, and R3.1).
The knowledge and performance of the environmental program's management and technical staff were excellent.
Trained, experienced, and qualified environmental technicians were effectively conducting the radiological environmental monitoring program (Sections R4 and R5).
Effective, comprehensive biennial audits of the radiological environmental monitoring and meteorological monitoring programs were performed.
Timely corrective actions were implemented.
Qualified auditors, who were assisted by experienced and knowledgeable technical specialists, performed the audits.
An appropriate assessment was conducted of the licensee's laboratory responsible for performing sample analyses (Section R7.1 and R 7.2).
-3-Diablo Canyon Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2, were at power operation during the inspection.
There were no events during this inspection that adversely affected the results of the inspection.
IV.
R1 Radiological Protection and Chemistry Controls R1.1 a 0 The radiological environmental monitoring program was reviewed to determine compliance with the requirements in the station procedures.
Selected environmental media sampling stations were inspected.
b.
The inspector accompanied and observed an environmental technician collect air particulate filters, iodine charcoal cartridges, milk, surface water, and drinking water samples for shipment and analyses.
Good sampling techniques were observed. The inspector observed an environmental technician prepare the samples for shipment to the corporate Technical and Ecological Services Laboratory for analyses.
The collection, processing, and analyses of the radiological environmental samples were performed in accordance with Technical Specification and station procedure requirements.
The inspector verified that the environmental sample locations were as described in the station procedures.
The 1995, 1996, and 1997 annual land use censuses were conducted, and the. land use census results were documented in the appropriate annual radiological environmental operating report.
Based on the annual land use censuses, appropriate changes were made to several environmental sample locations.
Licensee staffing was adequate and management controls were appropriate.
Environmental samples were analyzed by the corporate Technical and Ecological Services Laboratory.
Annual radiological environmental operating reports were written and submitted to the NRC as required.
The radiological environmental monitoring program was implemented in accordance with the requirements in the Technical Specifications and station procedures.
Summaries of the 1995 and 1996 environmental sample results showed that all sample analyses indicated no observed radiological impacts on the environment that could be attributed to station operation.
An assessment of the preoperational and operational environmental data showed no changes to the environmental radiation levels due to station operation Overall, a good radiological environmental monitoring program was effectively implemented in accordance with the Technical Specifications and station procedures.
All required environmental sampling and analysis activities were properly performed.
Environmental sampling locations met the radiological environmental monitoring program requirements and were properly maintained.
i
'n The meteorological monitoring program was reviewed to determine agreement with the recommendations in NRC Regulatory Guide 1.23 and compliance with the Updated Safety Analysis Report commitments and the Technical Specification requirements.
The inspector reviewed data collection and data displays at station facilities.
The inspector noted that both the primary and backup tower's instrumentation and configuration agreed with the guidance in Regulatory Guide 1.23.
Meteorological instrument redundancy was provided by the two tower system.
Backup power was provided by batteries at both towers.
The inspector verified that appropriate meteorological data was transmitted via the plant computer and displayed in the station's emergency facilities, including the control room and technical support center.
The meteorological data recovery rates during 1995, 1996, and 1997 were greater than 90 percent.
Specifically, the data recovery rate for 1995 was 97 percent, for 1996 was 95 percent, and for the first 11 months of 1997 was approximately 93 percent.
An effective meteorological monitoring program was implemented.
The performance of the meteorological monitoring program satisfied the Updated Safety Analysis Report commitments and the Technical Specification requirements and agreed with the guidance contained in Regulatory Guide 1.2 R2 Status of Radiological Protection and Chemistry Facilities and Equipment R2.1 Selected environmental sampling stations were inspected to verify that the stations were maintained and that all sampling equipment was operable and properly calibrated.
The offsite environmental facility, where environmental sampling equipment was stored, was inspected to verify that sufficient supplies, equipment, and spare calibrated air samplers were available to perform the required environmental sampling program.
The licensee's maintenance and calibration program for the air sampling equipment was reviewed.
b.
The following types of sampling sites were inspected:
air, broadleaf vegetation, thermoluminescent dosimeter, milk, drinking water, and surface water.
The inspector verified that all air samplers in the field were operational and properly calibrated.
A calibrated gas meter was installed in the air sample line of each air sampler to accurately measure the sample volume. A timing device was also used with each air sampler to monitor its time of operation and to account for any power outages during the sampling period.
The environmental technicians were responsible for the maintenance and calibration of the air samplers.
The inspector verified that the gas meters and air samplers were properly maintained and calibrated annually and function checked quarterly.
Detailed maintenance and calibration records were maintained.
A sufficient supply of spare calibrated gas meters and air samplers was maintained.
The inspector verified that the locations of the environmental media sampling stations met the Technical Specifications requirements.
All environmental samples were shipped to the licensee's corporate Technical and Ecological Services Laboratory for analyses.
The laboratory participated in an interlaboratory comparison program as required by the Technical Specifications.
The analytical results from the interlaboratory comparison program were reported in the annual environmental operating reports.
The 1995 and 1996 analytical performance results were within three standard deviations of the known certified results which documented an excellent performance.
The inspector visited the offsite environmental facility where environmental sampling equipment was stored and environmental samples were prepared for shipment to the corporate Technical and Ecological Services Laboratory for analyses.
The offsite environmental facility was stocked with the necessary equipment and sufficient supplies to perform the required sampling activities and sample shipment preparatio Sufficient supplies and spare environmental sampling equipment were available and properly maintained.
Environmental media sampling stations were properly maintained with operable and calibrated equipment.
The meteorological instrumentation at the two meteorological towers was inspected.
Instrument calibration procedures and records were reviewed to ensure that the meteorological instrumentation on the towers was operable and properly calibrated and maintained in accordance with the Technical Specifications and station procedures, the guidance in Regulatory Guide 1.23, and the Updated Safety Analysis Report.
The inspector toured the primary and backup meteorological towers with instrument and controls personnel responsible for maintaining the meteorological towers and calibrating the meteorological monitoring instrumentation.
The primary meteorological tower was equipped with instrumentation for wind speed, wind direction, and temperature measurement at the 10- and 76-meter levels, and the backup meteorological tower provided monitoring instrument channels at the 10- and 60-meter levels.
Daily channel checks were performed by the operations department personnel, and semiannual calibrations of the meteorological sensing and recording instrumentation were performed by the instrument and controls department personnel.
Maintenance and calibration records reviewed documented that the meteorological monitoring instruments, including sensing and data recording equipment, were properly tested, calibrated, and maintained.
The meteorological instrument calibrations were performed in accordance with station procedures.
The meteorological towers and monitoring instrumentation channels were operational, inspected, maintained, and properly calibrate R3 Procedures and Documentation R3.1 The inspector reviewed the radiological environmental monitoring program implementing procedures.
b.
The inspector verified that the changes made to the radiological environmental monitoring program, as described in the station procedures since the last inspection, did not result in a decrease of the effectiveness of the program.
The radiological environmental monitoring program implementing procedures described the responsibilities and requirements for collection, analyses, documentation, and shipment of environmental media samples.
The procedures contained sufficient detail for personnel to effectively implement the radiological environmental monitoring program.
The inspector determined that the requirements in the Technical Specifications were appropriately described in the station procedures.
Changes to the radiological environmental monitoring program were appropriately made in the radiological environmental monitoring program implementing procedures.
Good radiological environmental monitoring program implementing procedures were maintained.
R3.2 IR a 0 The 1995 and 1996 annual radiological environmental operating reports were reviewed to determine compliance with Technical Specifications and station procedure requirements.
The annual reports were reviewed relative to the radiological environmental monitoring program for data omissions, anomalous measurements, trends in the data, and interlaboratory analysis comparison Sample data in the 1995 and 1996 annual radiological environmental operating reports documented that the required sampling, analyses, and reporting requirements were met.
Program discrepancies and missed samples were properly reported.
The results of the corporate Technical and Ecological Services Laboratory's participation in an interlaboratory comparison program were reported as required.
The results of the annual land use censuses were documented as required.
The reports were submitted in a timely manner and contained the required information.
C.
Excellent annual radiological environmental operating reports were submitted in a timely manner and contained the required information.
R4 Staff Knowledge and Performance Radiation protection department and environmental personnel were observed and interviewed to determine their knowledge of the radiological environmental monitoring program sampling and analyses requirements and implementing procedures.
b.
The inspector observed that good radiological sample handling practices were used by the environmental technician to maintain sample integrity. Sample collection and sample preparation for shipment activities observed were conducted in accordance with approved procedures.
The inspector determined that radiation protection department's environmental personnel was familiar with the requirements of the radiological environmental monitoring program and maintained a high level of understanding and performance.
The knowledge and performance of personnel responsible for implementing the radiological environmental monitoring program were excellen R5 Staff Training and Qualification a 0 The training and qualification programs for the radiation protection department's technical staff responsible for implementing the radiological environmental monitoring program were reviewed.
b.
During the performance of the 1996 quality assurance audit of the radiological environmental monitoring program, the licensee noted that the radiation protection department's environmental technicians were trained and qualified to perform their assigned activities, but there was no objective evidence of a proceduralized environmental technician training program for personnel implementing the environmental monitoring program and collecting the environmental samples.
However, it was determined that the Technical and Ecological Services Laboratory had a procedurlized, documented training and qualification program for the Laboratory technical staff involved in performing radiological environmental monitoring program analysis activities.
As a result of the audit, Action Request A0419371 was generated to document the lack of a proceduralized, documented training program for the radiation protection department's environmental technical staff implementing the environmental monitoring program.
The inspector verified that in response to the Action Request that the licensee was revising their radiological environmental monitoring program procedures to require and implement a training and qualification program for the environmental technical staff as needed to meet the recommendations in Regulatory Guide 4.15.
The inspector also verified that the current environmental technicians were trained, experienced, and met the qualifications to independently perform environmental sampling activities and conduct the annual land use census.
I i n Trained, experienced, a: 'ualified environmental technicians were effectively conducting the radiological environmental monitoring program.
R6 Organization and Administration The organization, staffing, and assignment of the radiological environmental monitoring program responsibilities were reviewe The radiation protection department's environmental group was responsible for implementing the radiological environmental monitoring program.
The inspector reviewed the current organizational charts that identified the environmental program's positions and responsible staff.
The environmental group was organized within the radiation protection department in January 1997 to provide departmental ownership and to implement the radiological environmental monitoring program.
Since the previous NRC inspection, the same three environmental technicians in the environmental group have performed the required environmental sampling activities and the shipment of samples for analyses.
The corporate Technical and Ecological Services Laboratory was responsible for performing the required analyses and preparing the annual radiological environmental operating report.
Th'e radiation protection department's environmental group maintained a stable and experienced technical staff and provided good program ownership of the radiological environmental monitoring program.
R7 Quality Assurance Program R7.1 ar Quality assurance audit reports of the radiological environmental monitoring and meteorological monitoring programs were reviewed.
F'n Biennial quality assurance audits of the radiological environmental monitoring and meteorological monitoring programs were comprehensive and provided management with good oversight.
The audits adequately evaluated the radiological environmental monitoring program and meteorological monitoring program activities and were effective in identifying items for program improvement.
The audit teams consisted of licensee quality assurance auditors and technical specialists from other nuclear power plants.
The inspector determined that the quality assurance auditors and technical specialists had appropriate knowledge and experience to properly assess performance and implementation of the radiological environmental monitoring progra The licensee used the corporate Technical and Ecological Services Laboratory to perform the required radiochemistry analyses of environmental media samples.
The licensee's quality assurance audit of the radiological environmental monitoring program included an appropriate assessment of the laboratory's performance.
Effective, comprehensive audits were performed which effectively evaluated the performance and implementation of the radiological environmental monitoring and meteorological monitoring programs.
Qualified auditors, who were assisted by experienced and knowledgeable technical specialists, performed the audits.
An appropriate assessment was performed of the licensee's corporate Technical and Ecological Services Laboratory's performance.
Selected action requests were reviewed to evaluate the effectiveness of the licensee's controls in identifying, resolving, and preventing problems in the radiological environmental monitoring program and the meteorological monitoring program.
v i n Action Requests issued in 1996 and 1997 in the areas of the radiological environmental monitoring and meteorological monitoring programs revealed that licensee personnel used this reporting system as needed and had a proper threshold for identifying problems.
Action Requests were initiated for problems identified during quality assurance audits and the routine implementation of the radiological environmental monitoring and meteorological monitoring programs. The requests were effectively used to track and trend identified problems.
Responses to the action requests were timely and included proper corrective actions.
Qgg~lc~
Good performance was noted in identifying problems, performing evaluations, and implementing timely corrective action X1 Exit Meeting Summary The inspector presented the inspection results to members of licensee management at an exit meeting conducted on December 11, 1997.
The licensee acknowledged the findings presented.
No proprietary information was identifie (5 SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION C. Belmont, Director, Nuclear Quality Services C. Gillies, Director, Chemistry P. Goodyear, Technician, Instruments and Controls R. Gray, Director, Radiation Protection M. Hicks, Supervisor, Instruments and Controls S. Ketelsen, Supervisor, Regulatory Services R. Martin, NRC Interface, Regulatory Services R. Mayberry, Foreman, Instruments and Controls M. Mosher, Senior Engineer, Nuclear Quality Services D. Nugent, Senior Engineer Technician, Radiation Protection D. Royer, Radiation Protection Engineer, Radiation Protection O. Sabi, Senior Engineer Technician, Radiation Protection M. Somerville, Senior Engineer, Radiation Protection S. Stoffel, Senior Engineer Technician, Radiation Protection mc D. Proulx, Senior Resident Inspector IP 84750 Radioactive Waste Treatment and Effluent and Environmental Monitoring D
D Radiological Environmental Monitoring Program Group TY A AND A Nuclear Quality Audit Report 962610007,
"Radiological Environmental Monitoring Program," November 1 - December 5, 1996, Nuclear Quality Assessment Report 972470003,
"Radiological Environmental Monitoring Program," September 16 - October 3, 1997
-2-Administrative Procedure RP1.ID11, "Environmental Radiological Monitoring Procedure,"
Revision 2 Administrative Procedure CY2.ID1, "Radioactive Effluent Controls Program," Revision 2 Radiation Control Procedure RCP EM-1, "Radiological Environmental Biological Sampling,"
Revision
Radiation Control Procedure RCP EM-2, "Radiological Environmental Air Sampling,"
Revision 2 Radiation Control Procedure RCP EM-3, "Use of Panasonic Environmental Thermoluminescent Dosimeters," Revision 2 Surveillance Test Procedure l-40-M559.B, "Primary Meteorology Wind Direction, Wind Speed, and Air Temperature/Delta Temperature Calibration," Revision 10 Maintenance Procedure l-40-M569, "Backup Meteorology Wind Direction, Wind Speed, and Air Temperature/Delta Temperature Calibration," Revision 10 BEPQBXS Annual Radiological Environmental Operating Reports - 1995 and 1996 Annual Radioactive Effluent Release Reports - 1995 and 1996 Annual Land Use Census
- 1995, 1996, and 1997
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