IR 05000397/2005011
| ML052380243 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Columbia  |
| Issue date: | 08/25/2005 |
| From: | Shannon M Plant Support Branch Region IV |
| To: | Parrish J Energy Northwest |
| References | |
| IR-05-011 | |
| Download: ML052380243 (18) | |
Text
ust 25, 2005
SUBJECT:
COLUMBIA GENERATING STATION - NRC RADIATION SAFETY TEAM INSPECTION REPORT 05000397/2005011
Dear Mr. Parrish:
On July 28, 2005, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed an inspection at your Columbia Generating Station. The enclosed inspection report documents the inspection findings which were discussed with Mr. Dale Atkinson, Vice President, Nuclear Generation and other members of your staff.
The inspection examined activities conducted under your license as they relate to safety and compliance with the Commissions rules and regulations and with the conditions of your license.
The team reviewed selected procedures and records, observed activities, and interviewed personnel. Specifically, the team evaluated the inspection areas within the Radiation Protection Strategic Performance Area that are scheduled for review every two years. These areas are:
- Radiation Monitoring Instrumentation
- Radioactive Gaseous and Liquid Effluent Treatment and Monitoring Systems
- Radioactive Material Processing and Transportation
- Radiological Environmental Monitoring Program and Radioactive Material Control Program Based on the results of this inspection, no findings of significance were identified.
In accordance with 10 CFR 2.390 of the NRC's "Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter, its enclosure, and your response (if any) will be made available electronically for public inspection in the NRC Public Document Room or from the Publicly Available Records (PARS) component of NRCs document system (ADAMS). ADAMS is accessible from the NRC Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html (the Public Electronic Reading Room).
Sincerely,
//RA//
Michael P. Shannon, Chief Plant Support Branch Division of Reactor Safety
Energy Northwest -2-Docket: 50-397 License: NPF-21
Enclosure:
NRC Inspection Report 05000397/2005011
REGION IV==
Dockets: 50-397 Licenses: NPF-21 Report: 05000397/2005011 Licensee: Energy Northwest Facility: Columbia Generating Station Location: Richland, Washington Dates: July 26 - 28, 2005 Inspectors: Louis C. Carson II, Senior Health Physicist, Plant Support Branch Larry T. Ricketson, P.E., Senior Health Physicist, Plant Support Branch Daniel R. Carter, Health Physicist, Plant Support Branch Gilbert L. Guerra, Health Physicist, Plant Support Branch Donald L. Stearns, Health Physicist, Plant Support Branch Binesh K. Tharakan, Health Physicist, Plant Support Branch Approved By: Michael P. Shannon, Chief, Plant Support Branch Division of Reactor Safety Enclosure
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
Columbia Generating Station
NRC Inspection Report 05000397/2005011 IR 05000397/2005011; July 26-28, 2005; Columbia Generating Station; Radiation Safety Team The report covered a three-day period of inspection by a team of six region-based health physics inspectors. No findings of significance were identified. The NRC's program for overseeing the safe operation of commercial nuclear power reactors is described in NUREG-1649, Reactor Oversight Process, Revision 3, dated July 2000.
REPORT DETAILS
RADIATION SAFETY
Cornerstone: Occupational Radiation Safety [OS]
2OS3 Radiation Monitoring Instrumentation and Protective Equipment (71121.03)
a. Inspection Scope
This area was inspected to determine the accuracy and operability of radiation monitoring instruments that are used for the protection of occupational workers and the adequacy of the program to provide self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) to workers. The team used the requirements in 10 CFR Part 20 and the licensees procedures required by technical specifications as criteria for determining compliance. The team interviewed licensee personnel and reviewed:
- Calibration of area radiation monitors associated with transient high and very high radiation areas and post-accident monitors used for remote emergency assessment
- Calibration of portable radiation detection instrumentation, electronic alarming dosimetry, and continuous air monitors used for job coverage
- Calibration of whole body counting equipment and radiation detection instruments utilized for personnel and material release from the radiologically controlled area
- Self-assessments and audits
- Corrective action program reports since the last inspection
- Licensee action in cases of repetitive deficiencies or significant individual deficiencies
- Calibration expiration and source response check currency on radiation detection instruments staged for use
- The licensees capability for refilling and transporting SCBA air bottles to and from the control room and operations support center during emergency conditions, status of SCBA staged and ready for use in the plant and associated surveillance records, and personnel qualification and training
- Qualification documentation for onsite personnel designated to perform maintenance on the vendor-designated vital components, and the vital component maintenance records for SCBA units Either because the conditions did not exist or an event had not occurred, no opportunities were available to review the following item:
- Licensee Event Reports The inspector completed 9 of the required 9 samples.
b. Findings
No findings of significance were identified.
RADIATION SAFETY
Cornerstone: Public Radiation Safety [PS]
2PS1 Radioactive Gaseous And Liquid Effluent Treatment And Monitoring Systems (71122.01)
a. Inspection Scope
This area was inspected to ensure that the gaseous and liquid effluent processing systems are maintained so that radiological releases are properly mitigated, monitored, and evaluated with respect to public exposure. The team used the requirements in 10 CFR Part 20, 10 CFR Part 50 Appendices A and I, the Offsite Dose Calculation Manual, and the licensees procedures required by technical specifications as criteria for determining compliance. The team interviewed licensee personnel and reviewed the following items:
- The most current radiological effluent release reports, changes to radiation monitor setpoint calculation methodology, anomalous sampling results, effluent radiological occurrence performance indicator incidents, self-assessments, audits, and licensee event reports
- Gaseous and liquid release system component configurations
- Routine processing, sample collection, sample analysis; radioactive liquid and gaseous effluent release permits and dose projections to members of the public
- Changes made by the licensee to the Offsite Dose Calculation Manual, the liquid or gaseous radioactive waste system design, procedures, or operation since the last inspection
- Monthly, quarterly, and annual dose calculations
- Surveillance test results involving air cleaning systems and stack or vent flow rates
- Instrument calibrations of discharge effluent radiation monitors and flow measurement devices, effluent monitoring system modifications, effluent radiation monitor alarm setpoint values, and counting room instrumentation calibration and quality control
- Interlaboratory comparison program results
- Audits, self-assessments and corrective action reports performed since the last inspection Either because the conditions did not exist or an event had not occurred, no opportunities were available to review the following items:
- Changes to radiation monitor setpoint calculation methodology, anomalous sampling results, effluent radiological occurrence performance indicator incidents, and licensee event reports
- Release of radioactive liquid effluents
- Abnormal releases
- Licensee event reports and special reports since the last inspection The inspector completed 10 of the required 10 samples.
b. Findings
No findings of significance were identified.
2PS2 Radioactive Material Processing and Transportation (71122.02)
a. Inspection Scope
This area was inspected to verify that the licensees radioactive material processing and transportation program complies with the requirements of 10 CFR Parts 20, 61, and 71 and Department of Transportation regulations contained in 49 CFR Parts 171-180. The team interviewed licensee personnel and reviewed:
- The radioactive waste system description, recent radiological effluent release reports, and the scope of the licensees audit program
- Liquid and solid radioactive waste processing systems configurations, the status and control of any radioactive waste process equipment that is not operational or is abandoned in place, changes made to the radioactive waste processing systems since the last inspection, and current processes for transferring radioactive waste resin and sludge discharges
- Radio-chemical sample analysis results for radioactive waste streams and use of scaling factors and calculations to account for difficult-to-measure radionuclides
- Shipment packaging, surveying, labeling, marking, placarding, vehicle checking, driver instructing, and disposal manifesting
- Shipping records for non-excepted package shipments
- Audits, state agency reports, self-assessments and corrective action reports performed since the last inspection Either because the conditions did not exist or an event had not occurred, no opportunities were available to review the following items:
- Licensee event reports and special reports The inspector completed 6 of the required 6 samples.
b. Findings
No findings of significance were identified.
2PS3 Radiological Environmental Monitoring Program (REMP) And Radioactive Material Control Program (71122.03)
a. Inspection Scope
This area was inspected to ensure that the REMP verifies the impact of radioactive effluent releases to the environment and sufficiently validates the integrity of the radioactive gaseous and liquid effluent release program; and that the licensees surveys and controls are adequate to prevent the inadvertent release of licensed materials into the public domain. The team used the requirements in 10 CFR Part 20, Appendix I of 10 CFR Part 50, the Offsite Dose Calculation Manual, and the licensees procedures required by technical specifications as criteria for determining compliance. The team interviewed licensee personnel and reviewed:
- Annual environmental monitoring reports
- Selected air sampling and thermoluminescence dosimeter monitoring stations
- Operability, calibration, and maintenance of meteorological instruments
- Each event documented in the Annual Environmental Monitoring Report which involved a missed sample, inoperable sampler, lost thermoluminescence dosimeter, or anomalous measurement
- Significant changes made by the licensee to the Offsite Dose Calculation Manual as the result of changes to the land census or sampler station modifications since the last inspection
- Calibration and maintenance records for air samplers, composite water samplers, and environmental sample radiation measurement instrumentation, quality control program, interlaboratory comparison program results, and vendor audits
- Locations where the licensee monitors potentially contaminated material leaving the radiological controlled area and the methods used for control, survey, and release from these areas
- Type of radiation monitoring instrumentation used to monitor items released, survey and release criteria of potentially contaminated material, radiation detection sensitivities, procedural guidance, and material release records
- Audits, self-assessments, and corrective action reports performed since the last inspection Either because the conditions did not exist or an event had not occurred, no opportunities were available to review the following items:
- Collection and preparation of environmental samples
- Licensee event reports and special reports The inspector completed 10 of the required 10 samples.
b. Findings
No findings of significance were identified.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
4OA2 Problem Identification and Resolution
a. Inspection Scope
The team evaluated the effectiveness of the licensees problem identification and resolution process with respect to the following inspection areas:
- Radiation Monitoring Instrumentation (Section 2OS3)
- Radioactive Gaseous and Liquid Effluent Treatment and Monitoring Systems (Section 2PS1)
- Radioactive Material Processing and Transportation (Section 2PS2)
- Radiological Environmental Monitoring Program and Radioactive Material Control Program (Section 2PS3)
a. Findings and Observations
No findings of significance were identified.
4OA6 Management Meetings
Exit Meeting Summary
On July 28, 2005, the team presented the inspection results to Mr. D. Atkinson, Vice President, Nuclear Generation and other members of the staff who acknowledged the findings. The team confirmed that proprietary information was not provided or examined during the inspection.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
KEY POINTS OF CONTACT
Licensee
- J. Allen, Supervisor, Radiological Support
- D. Atkinson, Vice President, Nuclear Generation
- D. Bennett, Supervisor, Chemistry
- I. Borland, Manager, Radiological Services
- D. Coleman, Manager, Performance Assessment and Regulatory Programs
- D. Kania, Senior Radwaste and Transportation Specialist, Chemistry
- M. Laudisio, Radiological Operations Supervisor, Radiation Protection
- T. Lynch, Plant General Manager
- L. Schleder, Environmental Scientist II, Environmental Services
- R. Schott, Senior Radwaste and Transportation Specialist, Chemistry
- C. Sly, Licensing Engineer
- T. Southworth, Environmental Scientist II, Environmental Services
- K. Webb, Health Physicist, Radiation Protection
- J. Weers, Engineer, Systems Engineering
NRC Personnel
- Z. Dunham, Senior Resident Inspector
- R. Cohen, Resident Inspector
LIST OF ITEMS OPENED, CLOSED, AND DISCUSSED
Items Opened, Closed, and Discussed During this Inspection
Opened
None
Opened and Closed
None
Closed
None
Discussed
None Attachment