IR 05000528/1988026
| ML17304A421 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Palo Verde  |
| Issue date: | 08/18/1988 |
| From: | Tenbrook W, Yuhas G NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION V) |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML17304A418 | List: |
| References | |
| 50-528-88-26, 50-529-88-25, 50-530-88-24, NUDOCS 8809060351 | |
| Download: ML17304A421 (4) | |
Text
U.
S.
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
REGION V
q'5ej v~
Report Nos. 50"528/88-26, 50-529/88-25, 50-530/88-24 Docket Nos.
50-528, 50-529, 50-530 License Nos.
NPF-41, NPF-51,'PF-74 Licensee:
Arizona Nuclear Power Project P.
0.
Box 52034 Phoenix, Arizona 85072-2034 Facility Name:
Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, Units 1, 2 and
Inspection at:
Palo Verde Site, Wintersburg, Arizona Inspection Conducted:
August 1-5, 1988 Inspected by: WiT W.
K. TenBrook, Radiation Specialist Z IS'P Date Signed Approved by:
G.
P.
uh s, Chief Emergen Preparedness and Radiological Protection Branch D te Signed
~Summer:
Areas Ins ected:
Routine unannounced inspection of a follow-up item involving plant water chemical analysis and an item of noncompliance involving radiological effluent sampling and analysis.
Inspection procedures 92701 and 92702 were used.
Results:,.
Thai sensitl~vi'ty>of the licensee's reactor coolant system (RCS) water chemiatfys,:ai%1yse's.hasi'lijroved since the previous inspection, with additional improyembhtpwa'i'j'iinteffjfo y'Rcs chloride analysis.
corrective actions to prevenP.vi
)'ht$ojj';;jftradjological effluent technical specification lower limi@:0.'.
e.
'ct1Pa~>(L'Q)s)
were adequate and complete.
8809060351 880818 PDR ADOCK 05000528
DETAILS Persons Contacted Licensee
"J. Allen, Plant Manager, Unit 1
- B. Cederquist, Supervisor, Chemistry Standards
"P. Coffin, Compliance Liaison
"R. Ferro',
Chemistry Manager, Unit 2
"R. Goodwin, Acting Chemistry Manager, Unit 1 C. Gray, Lead Chemistry Technician, Unit 3
"E. Griswold, Acting Radiation Protection Manager, Unit 2 R. Johnson, Chemistry Evaluator, Chemistry Standards S. Karimi, Compliance Engineer
- J. Kester, Supervisor, Radwaste Support K. Kutner, Engineer, Radiation Protection Standards
"J.
Mann, Acting Manager, Chemistry and Radiation Protection
"K. Oberdorf, Radiation Protection Manager, Unit 1
- R. Rouse, Compliance Engineer
"J. Schlag, Supervisor, Radwaste Standards
"J. Scott, Chemistry Manager, Unit 3
"T. Shriver, Compliance Manager
"J. Sills, Supervisor, Radiation Protection Standards
"W. Sneed, Radiation Protection Manager, Unit 3 R. Sorensen, Lead Chemistry Technician, Unit 2
"L. Souza, Manager, guality Audits 8 Monitoring
"G. Sowers, Manager, Engineering'Evaluations D. Whitcomb, Senior Scientist, Chemistry Standards
"Denotes attendance at exit meeting August 5, 1988.
Follow-u of 0 en Items 92701 0 en Item 50-529/88-08-01 OPEN
This item concerned sensitivity limits for RCS water chemistry surveillances pursuant to technical specification 4.4.6, as reflected in "less than" levels for chloride and fluoride analyses recorded in daily logs.
The licensee had improved the specific ion electrode technique for fluoride analysis at Units 1 and 2.
RCS fluoridejduring power operation was consistently reported as
< 50 ppb using;=,the'. Specific 'ion electrode at Units 1 and 2.
These results were consistent'with "typical" fluoride values recommended in Electric Power Research=;Institute (EPRI) guidelines.
The improved fluoride analysis sensitivity provided a margin consistent with the industry norm between detected operating concentrations and action levels established to protect zircalloy fuel cladding during nucleate boiling.
EPRI guidance provides a "typical" RCS chloride concentration of < 50 ppb.
The approved licensee procedure provided a sensitivity limit of
< 50 ppb for the titration employed.
However, the Unit 2 staff preferred to report a more conservative sensitivity limit of < 100 ppb for routine work based on their particular experience with the technique.
Unit 3 employs ion chromatography for RCS chloride and fluoride analysis,
consistently reporting each analyte at
< 10 ppb.
Ion chromatographs had been procured for Units 1 and 2 for this application, but had not been delivered at the time of the inspection.
This item will remain open pending further improvement in the licensee's methods for RCS Chloride analyses at Units 1 and 2.
3.
Follow-u on Items of Noncom liance 92702 Enforcement Item 50-529/88-08-02 CLOSED
This item concerned a failure to achieve the procedural lower limit of detection (LLD) for noble gases for a waste gas decay tank grab sample.
The licensee submitted a
Response to the Notice of Violation within the required time.
The inspector reviewed action taken for each commitment described in the Response.
The chemistry standards group and radiation protection standards group had submitted changes to liquid sampling procedure 74ST-9ZZ02 and radiation monitoring system sampling procedure 75RP-9ZZ64 to reflect minimum sampling volumes required to meet LLDs for principle gamma emitters.
Minimum sample volumes and analysis parameters for gaseous grab samples and filter media were posted in counting laboratories.
The inspector verified that the minimum parameters chosen were adequate to meet the LLDs for principle gamma emitters specified in TS 4. 11-2.
Chemistry personnel at each unit had been counselled to maintain careful attention to detail in review of information in release permits and to ensure sensitive measurements of effluent samples.
Effluent release permit checklists had been modified to require specific checks of each significant sample analysis parameter and spectral data acquired, including LLDs.
The inspector did not observe any inadequate analytical data in selected release permits.
The licensee had taken effective action to ensure radionuclides in effluent are identified and quantified at the required sensitivity for dose and dose rate calculation and tracking.
This item is closed.
Exit Interview The inspector met with licensee the prel,iminary findings of the that th'".enforcement item would remain" bPen, pending further lic
'I management on August 5, 1988 to discuss inspection.
The licensee was informed be closed and the follow-up item would ensee action.