IR 05000309/1987013

Dosimetry Insp Rept 50-309/87-13 on 870602-05.No Violations Noted.Major Areas Inspected:Organization,Records,Testing & Calibr of Pocket Ionization Dosimeters,Calibr Facility,Trld Calibr,Qc & Dose Assessment

ML20236A732
Person / Time
Site:	Maine Yankee
Issue date:	07/14/1987
From:	Shanbaky M, Sherbini S NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
To:
Shared Package
ML20236A703	List: IR 05000309/1987013 ML20236A701
References
50-309-87-13, NUDOCS 8707280198
Download: ML20236A732 (3)

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U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

REGION I

Report N /87-13 Docket N License N DPR-36 Priority --

Category C Licensee: Maine Yankee Atomic Power Company 83 Edison Drive Augusta, Maine 04336 Facility Name: Maine Ysnkee Atomic Power Station Inspection At: Wiscasset, Maine Inspection Conducted: June 2-5, 1987 Inspectors: _, M; if2 7 - IT -I 9 77 Dr. S. Sherbini, ~ Radiation Specialist date Approved by: .g#. m/h __7 [/Y k7 M. M. Shanbaky, Chief ( Facilities '

date Radiation Protection Section Inspection Summary: Inspection on June 2-5, 1987 (Report No. 50-309/87-13)

Areas Inspected: This inspection was a special, announced dosimetry inspection which included the following areas: Organization, records, testing and calibration of pocket ionization dosimeters, calibration facility, TLD calibration, quality control, and dose assessmen Results: No violations were identified as a result of this inspectio h[k k k 09

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DETAILS 1.0 Personnel Con,tacted Licensee Personnel

"E. Boulette, Assistant Plant Manager F. Cauldwell, Jr. , Dosimetry Supervisor, Environmental Laboratory

• P. Dostie, Lead Rad. Controls Specialist I

• J. Garrity, Plant Manager

• B. Marshall, Security Director '

• Pillsbury, Rad. Controls Section Head N. Stanford, Dosimetry Group Manager, Environmental Laboratory

• K. Stead, Dosimetry Records Supervisor NRC Personnel l

• Holden, Senior Resident Inspector R. Freudenberger, Resident Inspector

• Denotes attendance at the exit meetin .0 Findings Pocket ionization chamber personnel dosimeter is maintained on site by the Radiological Controls organization. TLD service is provided by the Yankee Atomic Environmental Laboratory (YAEL). The TLD dosimeters are calibrated and processed by YAEL in their facility in Framingham, Massachusetts. A review of the dosimetry program indicated that the program is generally adequate with the exception of the following areas of concer *

Calibration facilities for the pocket ionization chamber dosimeters (P00). The low range dosimeters are tested and calibrated by placing them on a' irradiation jig. This consists of a wooden board with holes in which the dosimeters are inserted. The holes form a circular arc around a center point at which the source is locata Although adequate in principle, this irradiation jig does not provide accurate positioning of the dosimeters with respect to the source, and may thus invalidate the NBS traceability for the dosimeter calibratio '

The high range PODS are irradiated in a well-type irradiator. Due tg the nature of the scatter environment within such calibrators, their proper use is as comparison chambers but not as NBS traceable calibratio In this mode, a calibrated detector is irradiated in the chamber and the readings of other detectors of the same model are compared with that reading. NBS traceability is generally not directly applicable to such calibrator _. _ . - .

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The inspector discussed these technical concerns with the license The licensee stated that the' design and.use of their current cali-bration facilities for the PODS will be reviewed to assess the uncertainties involved in their use and to ensure that the calibra-tions are properly traceable to NB The calibration forms used to record P0D test and calibration data may not be suited.for use in the licensee's current calibration procedure. The forms do not' provide appropriate spaces for recording important calibrat'on data. The licensee stated that these forms are old and that new forms are being developed to satisfy the current needs of the POD calibration procedur * The TLD quality assurance program conducted by the licensee was found l to be minimally adequate. The YAEL performs the dual function of.a

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dosimetry processor outside of the Maine Yankee organization, as well as a technical consultant for the site. This dual function has apparently resulted in the site relegating'all issues relating to TLD processing and dose assessment to YAEL. There is insufficient under-standing by site personnel of the basic program elements of the YAEL dosimetry operation. The inspector also noted a need for improve-ments in the site oversight of the YAEL dosimetry QA and operation A limited QA effort in the form of quarterly spike test is performed in which the site irradiates a set of TLDs and then evaluates the doses reported by YAEL. The inspector discussed these technical weaknesses with the licensee. The licensee stated that a more detailed understanding and closer review of the YAEL TLD operation is-needed, and that action will be taken to accomplish this goa *

A review of the YAEL TLD operation at Framingham'was conducted during this inspection. This brief review' indicated that the TLD operation is well controlled and is supervised by competent individual However, due to the short time devoted to this review, several program areas were not fully reviewed during this inspection. These areas will be the subject of a future inspection devoted to the YAEL dosimetry operatio .0 Exit Interview The inspector met with licensee representatives at the conclusion of the inspection on June 5, 198 The inspector summarized the purpose, scope and findings of the inspection.