IR 05000333/1994024

Corrected Safety Insp Rept 50-333/94-24 on 940912-16.No Violations Noted.Major Areas Inspected:Radiological Environmental Monitoring Program & Meteorological Monitoring Program

ML20149H432
Person / Time
Site:	FitzPatrick
Issue date:	09/27/1994
From:	Jang J, Struckmeyer R NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
To:
Shared Package
ML20149H416	List: IR 05000333/1994024 ML20149H413
References
50-333-94-24, NUDOCS 9411220196
Download: ML20149H432 (10)

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U. S. fiUCLEAR REGULATC9Y COMMISS10f1 REGI0f4 I Report ti /94-24 Docket ti License fi DPR-59 Licensee: flew York Power Authority Post Office Box 41 LvCominQ. flew York 13093 Facility flame: James A. FitzPatrick fluclear Power Plant Inspection At: lycomina. flew York. and the JAF Environmental Laborator , Fulton. New York Inspection Conducted: September 12 - 16. 1994 Inspector: Y I# 97 Richard K. Struckmeyp'/ date Sr. Radiation Specialist Effluents Radiation Protection Section (ERPS) l Facilities Radiological Safety and Safeguards Branch (FRSSB)

Approved by: MA '

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sonC.Jang, Chief,ERPS,/fSSB Date vision of Radiation Safetyand Safeguards l Areas inspected: Announced safety inspection of the Radiological

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Environmental Monitoring Program and Meteorological Monitoring Program including: management controls, quality assurance audits, calibration of measuring and test equipment (air samplers and meteorological instrumentation), and implementation of the above program Results: Within the areas inspected, the licensee implemented effective i

Radiological Environmental Mor.itoring and Meteorological Monitoring programs.

I The responsible individuals were knowledgeable with respect to the implementation of the above programs. tio safety concerns or violations of regulatory requirements were identifie PDR ADOCK 05000333 O PDR

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DETAILS , Individuals Contacted Licensee Personnel

• N. Avrakatos, Emergency Planning Coordinator

R. Barrett, General Manager, Operations

• M. Colomb, General Manager, Support Services l

• R. Converse, Senior Assessment Engineer l

• B. Gorman, Chemistry Environmental Supervisor i K. Hayes, Environmental Technician (Niagara Mohawk)

l S. Juravich, Procedures Coordinator, I&C M. Koeneke, Lab Manager (Ecological Analysts Science and Technology)

• D. Lindsey, General Manager, Maintenance J. McCarty, Senior Quality Assurance Engineer

• As McKeen, Chemistry General Supervisor

• E. Mulcahey, Senior Licensing Engineer M. Prarie, Assistant Emergency Planning Coordinator

• J. Sipp, Manager, Radiological Environmental Services

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E. Salvetti, Chief Journeyman J. Scott. Quality Assurance Auditor

• G. Tasick, Quality Assurance Manager B. Zacharek, Environmental Protection Coordinator, l

Radiological (Niagara Mohawk)

l l Nuclear Reaulatory Conimission (NRC) Personnel

W. Cook. Senior Resident Inspector

• J. Jang, Chief, Effluents Radiation Protection Section

• Denotes those present at the exit interview on September 16, 199 Other licensee employees were contacted and interviNed during this inspectio .0 Purpose The purpose of this routine inspection was to review the licensee's implementation of the Radiological Environmental Monitoring Program (REMP) and Meteorological Monitoring Program (MMP). Manaaement Controls The inspector reviewed the lir. :nsee's management controls for the REMP, including assignment of respoin,ibility, program audits, and corrective actions for licensee identified inadequacies and problem areas in the progra .1 Oraanization and Proaram Chanaes The inspector reviewed the organization and administration of the REM There have been no significant changes since the previous inspectio Sample collections are performed by personnel from the Niagra Mohawk

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Power Corporation (Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station) and from Ecological Analysts Science and Technology. The J.A.F. environmental laboratory performs the sample analyses. The program is administered by the Chemistry Environmental Supervisor, who reports to the Chemistry General Supervisor. This individual reports to the Manager, Radiological Environmental Services, who reports through the Operations General Manager to the site Resident Manage .2 Ouality Assurance LOA) Audits The inspector reviewed the following QA Audit Report as part of the evaluation of the implementation of the Technical Specification (TS)

requirement A,u'dit No. 94-05J: Radiological Environmental Monitoring Program and Regulatory Guide This audit was conducted by the Quality Assurance Department, during the period Febreary 28 to March 10, 1994. No items of safety significance were identified in this audit. The audit was of sufficient technical depth to properly assess the implementation of the REMP and MMP programs. The inspector noted that the audit documented one finding and two recommendations relevant to the REMP. A due date of October 24, 1994, was established for the required response to the finding. The status of this item will be reviewed during a subsequent NRC inspectio The inspector had no further questions in this are .0 Implementation of the Radioloaical Environmental Monitorina Proaram Direct Observation The inspector examined selected samplir.g stations, including air samplers for iodines and particulates, vegetation, water, sediment, and milk sampling locations, and thermoluminiscent dosimeter (TLD) station All air sampling equipment at the selected locations was operational at the time of the inspection. At dairy farms visited by the inspector, samples were available, but no' sample collection was observed. TLDs were placed at locations designated in the Offsite Dose Calculation Manual (ODCM).

Th'e licensee effectively accomplished a change from vendor- to licensee- !

operation of the environmental dosimetry program. Good procedures were in place for operation of the program, and proper calibrations and quality control checks were performe .2 Review of Annual Reports  !

The inspector reviewed the REMP Annual Report for 1993. This report provided a comprehensive summary of the results of the REMP around the J.A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant and met the TS and ODCM reporting l

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4 l requirements. The reports were complete and the reviewed data indicated no adverse radiological impact on public health or the environmen The inspector also reviewed selected data sheets pertaining to samples collected during 1994 to date. The review indicated that samples were analyzed as required. No unusual results were note .3 Review of REMP Procedures The inspector reviewed selected licensee environmental monitoring procedures, including those for sample tracking (" chain of custody").

Samples were properly handled and accounted for. Based on this review, the inspector determined that the licensee has good procedures for implementation of the REM Iheinspectoralsoreviewedproceduresforoperationofselected laboratory equipment, including the liquid scintillation counter and the

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low-background alpha-beta counte In conjunction with the procedures, the inspector also reviewed calibration data, control charts for efficiency and background, and system performance test dat Calibrations were performed as scheduled, and results were within the licensee's acceptance criteria. The inspector noted that the licensee employed an excellent self-absorption curve fitting technique for gross beta analysi .4 Intercomoarison of TLD Results The U.S. Nuclear Rcgulatory Commission (NRC) Direct Radiation Monitoring Network is operated by the NRC (Region I) to provide continuous measurements of the ambient radiation levels around nuclear power plants throughout the United States. Each site is monitored by arranging approximately 30 to 50 TLD stations in two concentric rings extending to about five miles from the power plant. The monitoring results are published in NUREG-0837 quarterl ;_ of the purposes of this program is to serve as a basis of comparison

, with similar programs conducted by individual utilities which operate nuclear power plant Five NRC TLDs are collocated with licensee TLDs at the FitzPatrick / Nine Mile Point site. The locations of these TLDs are as indicated in Table The licensee monitors the environmental radiation levels with sets of TLDs that are exchanged and read quarterly. The licensee's dosimeters are Panasonic Model 814, which contain one element of lithium borate activated with copper (Li,B0,:Cu), and three elements of calcium sulfate activated with thulium (CaSO.Tm). The NRC uses the Panasonic Model 801 dosimeter, which contains two elements of lithium borate activated with copper (Li,BO,:Cu), and two elements of calcium sulfate activated with thulium (CaSO,:Tm) . Both the licensee and the NRC use only the calcium sulfate elements for routine environmental monitorin _____________________w

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The licensee quarterly monitoring periods correlate well with the quarterly periods of the NRC. Table 2 lists the dates of TLD exchange for the NRC and for the licensee over the period for which the comparison was undertake During this inspection tha monitoring results of collocated TLDs were compared, and the results are listed in Table 3. The NRC " historical average" data are also provided as a basis for comparison of NRC results with those of the licensee. The historical averages shown here are the same as reported in NUREG-0837, Vol.14, No. 3, for these collocated stations. These reported values are the mean +/- 1 standard deviation for all quarters (starting in 1983) for which net data were availabl The relatively small standard deviations indicate that the NRC results ~

have remained consistent over the ten-year period. The licensee results are generally in agreement with those of the NRC. Differences of up to s'everal milliroentgen (mR) per quarter are not unexpected, and may be due to variations in calibration methods, transit times, exposures encountered during transit, et .5 Ouality Control Proaram for REMP The inspector reviewed the licensee's program for quality control of analytical measurements for radiological environmental samples. One aspect of quality control consists of participation in the EPA cross-check program. The data indicate, with few exceptions, agreement between the J. A.F. environmental laboratory and the EPA cross-check samples. Where discrepancies are found, reasons for the differences are investigated and resolved to the extent possibl The inspector had no further questions in this are .0 Meteoroloaical Monitorina Proaram The inspector examined the licensee's MMP through direct observation, discussions with personnel, and examination of procedures and records for calibration of equipment. The meteorological sensors, located on the primary, backup, and inland towers, are maintained and calibrated by Niagra Mohawk Power Corporation (Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station). The primary meteorological tower is equipped with wind speed, wind

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direction, and temperature sensors at the 30, 100, and 200-foot

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elevations. The inspector observed the sensors and their readouts in th.e equipment house at the base of the primary tower, as well as the i

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readouts in the J.A. FitzPatrick control room and Technical Support Center. The meteorological data are available in the control room and in the Technical Support Center via digital display from the system computer and via analog strip chart recorder Although the licensee's Technical Specifications contain no requirement for meteorolgical monitoring, the licensee performs routine maintenance and calibration of the meteorological strip chart recorders on a quarterly basi The inspector reviewed selected calibration records, I

with emphasis on the wind speed, wind direction, and temperature

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sensors. All reviawed calibration results were within the licensee's defined acceptance criteri The inspector noted that at the time of the inspection, two strip chart recorders in the Control Room apparently were not properly synchronized, in that the data (including the time) printed on the charts lagged behind the current data by as much as one to two hours. These recorders are used as a backup to the computer system that normally supplies meteorological data in both the Control Room and the Technical Support Center. The licensee corrected this problem before the conclusion of the inspectio The inspector had no further questions in this area at this tim .0 Ex'it interview i

The inspector met with the licensee representatives (denoted in Section 1.1 of this inspection report) at the conclusion of the inspection on September 16, 1994. The inspector summarized the purpose, scope, and findings of the inspection.

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Table 1 Collocated Environmental TLDs at J.A. FitzPatrick JA FitzPatrick IIRC N Distance * Azimuth ** l Loc. N Distance * Direction ***

3 D-2 .0 76 D-1 1 .1 230 G .0 196 F .2 168 E * Distance measured in miles

• • Azimuth measured in degrees NOTE: Distances and azimuths were measured independently and do not necessarily agree; however, collocation of these TLDs has been confirmed.

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l Table 3 l

Environmental TLD Monitoring Results (mR/ quarter)*

Comparison of NRC TLDs Collocated with J.A. FitzPatrick TLDs l

NRC no.: 3 4 12 24 25 Monitoring Period JAF no.: D-2 D-1 G F E 1993/1st Quarter NRC 1 .7 1 .7 1 .7 missing 1 .7 JAF 1 .6 1 .6 1 .2 1 .6 1 .6 2nd Quarter NRC 1 .6 1 .6 1 .6 1 .6 1 .6 JAF .6 1 .2 1 .5 1 .3 .6 3rd Quarter NRC 1 .6 1 .6 1 .6 1 .6 1 .6 JAF 1 .2 1 .2 1 .9 1 .6 1 .9 4th Quarter NRC 1 .7 damaged 1 .8 13.9 i .4 JAF 1 .5 1 .2 1 .5 1 .8 1 .4 1994/1st Quarter NRC 1 .6 1 .6 1 .6 .5 1 .6 JAF .6 .3 1 .6 .6 .3 2nd Quarter NRC 1 .5 1 .5 1 .5 damaged 1 .5 JAF 1 .6 1 .9 1 .3 1 .6 1 .6 NRC Historical Average NRC no.: 3 4 12 24 25 From 1983/1st Qtr to 1994/2nd Qtr average 1 .7 1 .1 1 .3 1 .7 1 .3

All results are in milliroentgens and are normalized to a 90-day quarter (NRC) or 91-day quarter (JAF).

All data are shown as Result 1 standard deviatio JAF data are from Teledyne system for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd quarters of 1993, and from Panasonic system for the remaining quarter _ _ _ _ - - - - - _ - _-. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ - _ _ _ _ _ _ - _ _ . _