Information Notice 1979-09, Spill of Radioactively Contaminated Resin
| ML031180151 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Indian Point, 05000000 |
| Issue date: | 03/30/1979 |
| From: | NRC/IE |
| To: | |
| References | |
| IN-79-009, NUDOCS 7904300110 | |
| Download: ML031180151 (3) | |
UNITED STATES
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C.
20555
March 30, 1979
IE Information Notice No. 79-09
SPILL OF RADIOACTIVELY CONTAMINATED RESIN
Description of Circumstances
In May 1978, a spill of contaminated resin slurry occurred outside the
auxiliary building at the Crystal River Nuclear Power Plant, Unit No. 3.
A plant radioactive waste pump was being used to transfer resin from a
holdup tank inside the building, through a trailer-mounted control
station, into a shielded shipping cask.
The cask and trailer, owned and
operated by a contractor, were located outside of plant buildings
because of space limitations. All hoses in the transfer line were metal
braided and all piping was steel except for a polyvinylchloride (PVC)
tee inside the trailer, where flush water could be added after each
transfer.
Resin entered the cask through a fill cap where It was mixed
with a solidifying agent. An automatic isolation valve in the transfer
line was designed to close upon receipt of a high cask level signal from
level instrumentation on the fill cap.
The resin spill occurred when
this valve closed prematurely; the resultant pressure surge caused the
PVC tee inside the trailer to break. Resin flowed from the broken tee
into the trailer sump.
Bolted seams in the sump leaked, spilling resin
onto asphalt pavement under the trailer. Water from the spilled resin
slurry flowed into a nearby storm drain.
Factors contributing to the cause or consequences of the spill included:
use of a PVC pipe fitting in the resin transfer line, inadequate hydro- static test of the system before use, failure to leak test the trailer
sump, and insufficient precautions taken to mitigate the consequences of
a spill.
Technical Specifications require radioactive waste systems to be tested
and operated in accordance with procedures approved by licensee management.
It should be noted that this requirement applies to systems owned and/or
operated by contractors at licensed power reactors.
It is the responsibility of licensees to review equipment and procedures
used for the transfer of contaminated liquids, resins, and filter media
that differ from permanent systems described in the FSAR. Such equip- ment and procedures should include consideration of the following:
7904o0 0
10
IE Information Notice No. 79-09 March 30, 1979 1. Preoperational testing of systems, including interlocks and
automatic functions. These tests should assure the operability
of the systems (i.e., hydrostatic testing for transient loads, testing of sump integrity, testing of system interlocks, func- tional testing of level instrumentation, and verification of
proper valve line-ups).
2. Visual inspection of connections, temporary lines, and other
potential leak paths during transfer operations.
3. Means to promptly isolate leaks.
4.
Establishment of adequate communications.
5. Means to control releases (i.e., capping of uncontrolled drains, use of barriers or dikes, use of controlled sumps, and protection
from inclement weather).
No specific action or written response to this Information Notice is
required. If you desire additional information regarding this matter, please contact the Director of the appropriate NRC Regional Office.
Enclosure:
List of IE Information
Notices Issued in 1979
IE Information
March 30, 1979 Notice No. 79-09
LISTING OF IE INFORMATION NOTICES
ISSUED IN 1979 Information
Notice No.
79-01
79-02
79-03
79-04
79-05
79-06
79-07
79-08
79-09 Subject
Date
Issued
Bergen-Paterson Hydraulic
Shock and Sway Arrestor
Attempted Extortion -
Low Enriched Uranium
Limitorque Valve Geared
Limit Switch Lubricant
Degradation of
Engineered
Safety Features
Use of Improper Materials
in Safety-Related Components
Stress Analysis of
Safety-Related Piping
Rupture of Radwaste Tanks
Interconnection of
Contaminated Systems with
Service Air Systems Used
As the Source of Breathing
Air
Spill of Radioactively
Contaminated Resin
2/2/79
2/2/79
2/9/79 Issued To
All power reactor
facilities with an
All Fuel Facilities
All power reactor
facilities with an
2/16/79
All power reactor
facilities with an
3/21/79
All power reactor
facilities with an
3/23/79
All Holders of
3/26/79
All power reactor
facilities with an
3/28/79
All power reactor
facilities with an
OL and Pu Processing
fuel facilities
3/30/79
All power reactor
facilities with an