Information Notice 1980-22, Breakdowns in Contamination Control Programs
| ML031180359 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 05000000 |
| Issue date: | 05/28/1980 |
| From: | NRC/OI |
| To: | |
| References | |
| IN-80-022, NUDOCS 8005050059 | |
| Download: ML031180359 (3) | |
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Accessions No:
UNITED STATES
8005050059
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT
WASHINGTON, DC 20555
May 28, 1980
IE Information Notice No. 80-22
BREAKDOWNS IN CONTAMINATION CONTROL PROGRAMS
Description of Circumstances
Recent inspections at power reactors have revealed breakdowns in contamination
control programs resulting in releases of radioactive materials to the
unrestricted area and off-site environment by several different pathways.
The first pathway was via disposal of supposedly clean trash in the nearby
county sanitary landfill. High background radiation levels due to an onsite
buildup of radioactive waste precluded adequate radiation surveys of clean
trash prior to removal from the restricted area.
In addition, the surveys
were being conducted by improperly trained personnel.
The result was the
undetected disposal of radioactive material in the local sanitary landfill.
An NRC inspector observed the practice and confirmed his suspicions when he
detected levels of radiation 10 to 20 times normal background levels at the
landfill. Subsequent surveys by the licensee, the State, and the NRC revealed
several other areas in the landfill with higher than normal dose rates.
Excavation by the licensee revealed items with contamination levels up to 100
mrem/hr contact reading.
These items had been delivered with the clean trash
from the plant and buried at the landfill.
A second pathway was identified to be through the sale by the licensee of
scrap materials to salvage dealers in the surrounding area.
Several items
with contamination levels in excess of the licensee's unrestricted area release
limits were discovered to have been sold to these vendors.
Maximum dose rates
on these items did not exceed 1.0 mrem/hr.
This condition evidently also
resulted from the elevated background radiation levels within the plant and
the practice of permitting unqualified personnel to conduct radiation surveys.
A third pathway was found during a recent NRC inspection. An NRC inspector's
radiation survey revealed soil contamination on site extending beyond the
protected area fence.
Radiation levels as high as 1.5 mrem/hr were measured
on contact with the soil.
The contamination is believed to be atmospheric
fallout of particulate radioactivity which was exhausted from the plant stack
during containment purge following explosive plugging of steam generator
tubes.
The steam generator manways were not covered and the purge system was
not equipped with HEPA filters. The licensee's survey program did not include
routine, periodic site and perimeter surveys.
IE Information Notice No. 80-22 May 28, 1980 This IE Information Notice is provided as an early notification of a significant
matter that is still under review by the NRC staff.
It is expected that recipi- ents will review the information for possible applicability to their facilities.
No specific action or response is requested at this time.
If NRC evaluations so
indicate, further licensee actions may be required.
No written response to this IE Information Notice is required. If you have any
questions regarding this matter, please contact the Director of the appropriate
NRC Regional Office.
I . 1.
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IE Information
May 28, 1980
Notice No. 80-22 Enclosure
RECENTLY ISSUED
IE INFORMATION NOTICES
Information
Notice No.
Subject
Date
Issued
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80-21
80-20
80-19
80-18
80-17
80-16
80-15
80-14
Anchorage and Support of
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Loss of Decay Heat Removal
Capability at Davis-Besse
Unit 1 While in a Refueling
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NIOSH Recall of Recircu- lating-Mode (Closed-Circuit)
Self-Contained Breathing
Apparatus (Rebreathers)
Possible Weapons Smuggling
Pouch
Potential Hazards Associated
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On Radiographic Equipment
Shaft Seal Packing
Causes Binding In Main
Steam Swing Check And
Isolation Valves
Axial (Longitudinal)
Oriented Cracking In
Piping
Safety Suggestions From
Employees
5/16/80
All power reactor
facilities with an
5/8/80
5/6/80
5/5/80
5/5/80
4/29/80
All light water reactor
facilities holding
All holders of a power
reactor OL, Research
Reactor License, Fuel
Cycle Facility License
and Priority I Material
License
All power reactor
facilities with an OL,
fuel fabrication and
processing facilities
and Materials Priority I
licensees (processors
and distributors)
All radiography
Licenses
All power reactor
facilities in your
Region with an OL or CP
4/21/80
All Light Water Reactor
Facilities holding power
4/2/80
All power reactor
facilities with an