IR 05000298/1999010

Insp Rept 50-298/99-10 on 990920-24.No Violations Noted. Major Areas Inspected:Radiological Environ & Meteorological Monitoring Programs & Program for Unrestricted Release of Matl from Radiological Controlled Area

ML20217G899
Person / Time
Site:	Cooper
Issue date:	10/14/1999
From:	NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV)
To:
Shared Package
ML20217G883	List: IR 05000298/1999010 ML20217G877
References
50-298-99-10, NUDOCS 9910220009
Download: ML20217G899 (9)

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ENCLOSURE U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

REGION IV

Docket No.: 50-298 License No.: DPR46 Report No.: 50-298/99-10 Licensee: Nebraska Public Power District Facility: Cooper Nuclear Station Location: P.O. Box 98 Brownville, Nebraska Dates: September 20-24,1999 Inspector: J. Blair Nicholas, Ph.D., Senior Radiation Specialist Plant Support Branch Approved By: Gail M. Good, Chief, Plant Support Isranch Division of Reactor Safety

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9910220009 991014 l PDR ADOCK 05000298 G PDR

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2-SUMMARY OF FINDINGS Cooper Nuclear Station NRC Inspection Report No. 50-298/99-10 This inspection focused on the licensee's radiological environmental and meteorological monitoring programs and the program for unrestricted release of material from the radiological contro"ed are Cornerstone: Public Radiation Safety

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Report Details 2 RADIATION SAFETY 2PS2 Radioactive Material Processina and Shiocina Inspection Scoce f71122.02)

The inspector observed the licensee survey materials for release from the radiological controlled area and reviewed the following items:

• Procedures, methods, and instruments used to survey, control, and release materials from the radiological controlled area j

• Calibration procedures and calibration records for instruments used to perform material release radiological surveys J l

. Detection sensitivities of radiation survey instruments used for contamination measurements prior to release of materials from the radiological controlled area, including screening levels for commonly found site-specific surface contamination radionuclides a Criteria used for the unrestricted release of material from the radiological controlled area Observations and Findinas There were no findings identifie i 2PS3 Radioloalcal Environmental Monitorina ) Insoection Scope (71122.03)

The inspector interviewed members of the licensee's staff responsible for implementing l the radiological environmental and meteorological monitoring programs, inspected selected environmental monitoring stations (airborne and thermoluminesent dosimeter stations) and the two meteorological towers, observed the collection and preparation for '

i shipment of airborne particulate and charcoal samples for analysis at an off-site contract laboratory, observed the meteorological instrument data displays in the emergency i E response facilities, and reviewed the following items:

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• Implementing procedures for the radiological environmental monitoring program as described in the Offsite Dose Assessment Manual

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• Number and location descriptions of the environmental sampling stations to determine that the environmental sampling program was representative of the station's effluent release pathways as specified in the Offsite Dose Assessment Manual

• Environmental sampling schedule, sample collection forms, and sample data receipt forms to determine any missed samples, inoperable samplers, and lost thermoluminescent dosimeters

• Environmental sample analytical results to determine proper analysis detection sensitivities and any positive sample analysis results

• 1997,1998, and 1999 annual land use census reports and any resulting changes to the radiological environmental monitoring program

• Calibration procedures, calibration records, and maintenance records for air sampling equipment

• Off site dose results calculated from liquid and gaseous effluent releases

• The contractor environmental laboratory's performance in the interlaboratory ,

comparison program j

• Calibration procedures and calibration records for meteorological monitoring instrumentation  ;

• Meteorological instrument operability, reliability, and annual meteorological data recovery

• 1997 and 1998 Annual Radiological Environmental Reports b. Observations and Findinas l During the Offsite Dose Assessment Manual review, the inspector noted that Table D4.1-1 was written in a format that was atypical, because the licensee's environmental monitoring program was developed and implemented prior to the issuance of Branch Technical Position, Revision 1, November 1979, which provided detailed guidance for environmental program development. Table D4.1-1 did not describe the sampling locations for the radiological environmental monitoring program as outlined in the Branch Technical Position. For example, the table did not identify and describe the indicator anc4 control sample locations for airborne particulate and radiciodine samples, river water samples, and thermoluminescent dosimeters. Specifically, the table did not indicate a control river water sample station upstream from the station; a control airborne monitoring station located 10-20 miles distant from the site in the least prevalent wind direction, when practical; and a control thermoluminescent dosimeter location. The insoector noted that the number of sampling locations for each sample media, as written in the table, did not contradict the current licensing requirements, but the licensee was an outlier with respect to other nuclear f acilities for not specifying

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-5-indicator and control environmental sample locations as described in the Branch Technical Positio Regarding the lack of a specified control river water sample location in Table D4.1-1, the licenseo demonstrated that river water was sampled from two locations, one sample upstream and one sample downstream from the station as recommended in the Branch Technical Position, even though these sample locations were not described in Table D4.1-1. Also, Table D4.1-1 did not indicate or describe the locations of the indicator and control locations for the thermoluminescent dosimeters as recommended in the Branch Technical Position. However, from review of the thermoluminescent dosimeter locations listed in the annual radiological environmental reports, the inspector noted that the licensee had established a control thermoluminescent dosimeter location 10.3 miles from the site in the 3* least affected wind direction secto The licensee stated that the environmental monitoring program had two historical airborne monitoring sample stations which would be used as control airborne sampling stations, if necessary. Sampling station No.10 was located 10 miles from the site in the 15" highest prevalent wind direction sector, and sampling station No. 9 was located miles from the site in the 11* highest prevalent wind direction sector. The licensee did not have documentation on file to justify the logic for locating the two possible control airborne sampling stations at their present locations or why it was not practical to place an airborne control station in a lesser prevalent wind direction sector. From discussions with the licensee's staff and review of historical air sampling data from the air sample stations, the inspector noted that the air sampling stations had never indicated plant related airborne radioactivity. The licensee acknowledged the inconsistency between the environmental monitoring program sampling location descriptions contained in the Offsite Dose Assessment Manual Table D4.1-1 and the recommended sampling location descriptions contained in the Branch Technical Position. On September 27, 1999, the issue was documented in Problem Identification Report 4-0443 There were no findings identifie OTHER ACTIVITIES 40A1 Identification and Resolution of Problems Insoection Scope (71122.03)

Tt . inspector reviewed the following items:

• Audits and self-assessments

• Audit scoping plan

• Audit checklist

• Vendor audit .

• Problem identification reports  !

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, b. Observatiors and Findinos There were no findings identifie A5 Manaaement Meetin2R

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Exit Meetina Summarv The inspector presented the inspection results to mernbers of licensee management at an exit meeting on September 23,1999.' The licensee acknowledged the findings presented. No proprietary information was identifie t c

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I , l h PARTIAL LIST OF PERSONS CONTACTED Licensee

! R. Bauer, Environmental Specialist, Environmental Protection i l

T. Chard, Manager, Radiation Protection l_ J. Geyer, Senior Health Physicist, Radiation Protection '

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G. Grotrian, Auditor, Quality Assurance

! H. Haaenkamp-Gibbs, Senior Environmental Specialist, Environmental Protection l A. Lantz, Nuclear Environmental / Safety Technician  !

l- J. Mcdonald, Plant Manager '

l . R. Mcdonald, Staff Health ohysicist, Radiation Protection i J. McMahan, Acting Manager, Work Control J. Peters, Licensing R. Raudio, Instrument & Control Engineer, Instrument & Control Engineering C. Stipp, Environmental / industrial Safety Coordinator j B. Toline, Audit Supervisor, Quality Assurance C. Weers, Radiological Support Supervisor, Radiation Protection NRC J. Clark, Senior Resident inspector M. Hay, Resident inspector ITEMS OPENED, CLOSED, AND DISCUSSED ,

l Opened None Close_d i

None Discussed None

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-2-LIST OF DOCUMENTS REVIEWED QUALITY ASSURANCE AUDIT

' Ouality Assurance Audit Report 98-07," Radiological Controls," April 7-21,1998 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS Cooper Nuclear Station 1998 Environmental Assessment Report Cooper Nuclear Station 1999 Environmental Assessment Draft Report RADIATION PROTECTION ASSESSMENT Cooper Nuclear Station 1998 Radiation Protection Self Assessment VENDOR AUDIT NUPIC Audit 9601047, Teledyne Brown Engineering Environmental Services, August 26-30,1996 METEOROLOGICAL MONITORING PROGRAM ASSESSMENTS Universe Technologies Assessment of the Meteorological Monitoring Program, July 1998 Science Applications international Corporation Assessment of the Meteorological Tower and Instrumentation, April 1999 )

CORPORATE ENVIRONMENTAL MANUAL PROCEDURES

"CNS Radiological Environmental Monitoring Program Administration," August 1999

" Sampling Manual for the CNS Radiological Environmental Monitoring Program," August 1999 i

" Action Levels for Environmental Samples," August 1999 ,

"CNS Environmental Air Pump Calibration and Maintenance," August 1999

" Annual Review of Broadleaf Vegetation Sample Locations," August 1999

" Annual CNS Land Use Census," August 1999

" Administering the CNS Meteorological Program," August 1999

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-3-INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL PROCEDURES Instrument and Control Procedure 14.3.3, " Meteorological Maintenance Procedure," Revision 4 Instrument and Control Procedure 14.3.4., " Translator Module Calibration," Revision 3 Instrument and Control Procedure 14.3.8, " Wind Speed and Wind Direction Transmitter Maintenance, " Revision 3 RADIATION PROTECTION PROCEDURES RP Procedure 9.RADOP.2, " Radiation Safety Standards and Limits," Revision 2 RP Procedure 9.RADOP.4," Radiation and Contamination Surveys," Revision 4 RP Procedure 9. INST.30, " National Nuclear Corporation Waste Curie Monitor System WCM-10," Revision 0 RP Procedure 9. INST.31, " National Nuclear Corporation Integral Tool Monitor ITM-2H,"

Revision 0 RP Procedure 9.lNST.32,"Tennelec LB-4100 Drawer Smear Counter," Revision 1 RP Procedure 9. INST.33, "Tennelec LB-510011 and APC 11 Operation," Revision 0 RP Procedure 9. INST.50," Portable Beta-Gamma GM Survey Meter Eberline Model E-140," l

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Revision 0 RP Procedure 9. INST.57, " Friskers," Revision 0 REPORTS Annual Radiological Environmental Reports - 1997 and 1998 j Annual Radioactive Effluent Release Reports - 1997 and 1998 )

MISCELLANEOUS DOCUMENTS 1

Offsite Dose Assessment Manual, dated August 26,1999 Annual land Use Census - 1997,1998, and 1999 Selected Problem identification Reports