Information Notice 1988-71, Possible Environmental Effect of the Reentry of Cosmos 1900 and Request for Collection of Licensee Radioactivity Measurements Attributed to That Event

Possible Environmental Effect of the Reentry of Cosmos 1900 and Request for Collection of Licensee Radioactivity Measurements Attributed to That Event

ML031150135
Person / Time
Site:	Beaver Valley, Millstone, Hatch, Monticello, Calvert Cliffs, Dresden, Davis Besse, Peach Bottom, Browns Ferry, Salem, Oconee, Mcguire, Nine Mile Point, Palisades, Palo Verde, Perry, Indian Point, Fermi, Kewaunee, Catawba, Harris, Wolf Creek, Saint Lucie, Point Beach, Oyster Creek, Watts Bar, Hope Creek, Grand Gulf, Cooper, Sequoyah, Byron, Pilgrim, Arkansas Nuclear, Three Mile Island, Braidwood, Susquehanna, Summer, Prairie Island, Columbia, Seabrook, Brunswick, Surry, Limerick, North Anna, Turkey Point, River Bend, Vermont Yankee, Crystal River, Haddam Neck, Ginna, Diablo Canyon, Callaway, Vogtle, Waterford, Duane Arnold, Farley, Robinson, Clinton, South Texas, San Onofre, Cook, Comanche Peak, Yankee Rowe, Maine Yankee, Quad Cities, Humboldt Bay, La Crosse, Big Rock Point, Rancho Seco, Zion, Midland, Bellefonte, Fort Calhoun, FitzPatrick, McGuire, LaSalle, 05000000, Zimmer, Fort Saint Vrain, Shoreham, Satsop, Trojan, Atlantic Nuclear Power Plant
Issue date:	09/01/1988
From:	Rossi C Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:
References
IN-88-071, NUDOCS 8808260492
Download: ML031150135 (6)

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UNITED STATES

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555 September 1, 1988 ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECT OF THE

NRC INFORMATION NOTICE NO. .88-71: POSSIBLE OF COSMOS 1900 AND REQUEST FOR

REENTRY

COLLECTION OF LICENSEE RADIOACTIVITY

MEASUREMENTS ATTRIBUTED TO THAT EVENT

Addressees

permits for nuclear power

All holders of operating licenses or construction

1 material licensees.

reactors, fuel cycle licensees, and Priority

Purpose

to: 1) alert licensees to the anti- This information notice is being provided 1900, which is powered by a

cipated reentry of a U.S.S.R. satellite, COSMOS

reporting of any licensee environ- nuclear reactor; and 2) request voluntary caused by that event.

mental radioactivity measurement data probably

programs, all facilities with

In order to enhance Federal and State monitoring requested to consider the NRC

ongoing environmental monitoring programs are radioactivity measurements

request to report confirmed anomalous environmental released during the reentry

likely to have been caused by radioactive material in this information notice does

of COSMOS 1900. However, the request contained

not constitute an NRC requirement.

Description of Circumstances

announced that the Soviets had lost

On May 13, 1988, the Soviet News Agency Tass launched on December 12, 1987. Tass

radio contact with COSMOS 1900, a satellite plant which is believed to still

noted that COSMOS 1900 carries a nuclear power the satellite is continuing to

be operating. The Soviets, have indicated that is done to maintain the orbit, maintain its orientation. However, if nothing

the earth's atmosphere. Latest

the satellite will eventually decay and enter between mid-September and early

predictions are that the satellite will reenter however, and the reentry

October. This prediction is subject to uncertainties, satellite changes.

could occur sooner if the stability of the

a radioactive nuclear core is

The primary means of preventing the reentry of for decay. By radio com- to boost the reactor into a higher orbit to allow and moved to an orbit

mand from earth, the nuclear reactor would be ejected

8808260492lIC

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IN88-71 September 1, 1988 in excess of 800 kilometers. Since

system designed to automatically this method has apparently failed, separate the core from the satellite. there is a

reentry, there has been a separation, If upon

up completely like COSMOS 1402 it is expected that the'reactor

in 1983 and no debris would reach'the would burn

surface. There is, however, uncertainty earthls'

systems. If the satellite and about the condition of any of these

that debris may reach the earth's nuclear power plant remain intact, it is believed

which deposited a significant amount surface like the 1978 reentry of COSMOS 954 of radioactive debris on Canada.

Discussion:

This notice is primarily to alert

is highly unlikely that debris fromlicensees of the reentry of COSMOS 1900. It

However, there is some probability the reentry will impact any part of the U.S.

tected. In that case, in order that increased radiation levels

to may be de-'

Protection Agency (EPA) nationwide supplement and reinforce the U.S. Environmental

of their routine environmental monitoring surveillance program, NRC licensees, as part

provide the following information: program, are requested to voluntarily

'

Report to the NRC any anomalous

environmental radiation or radioactivity

measurement that can be reasonably

reentry of COSMOS 1900. The NRC assumed to have resulted from the

would

from the licensee's routine environmental like confirmed measurement results

-via-facsimfle-the-NRC-Operattons- monitoring program to be reported

301/951-0550) within 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br /> of r rn t492-8187;-vertfcatton -

entry has been measured. determining that material from the re- The reporting format is requested

to provide for:

o Sample date(s) and

approximate location(s)

o Medium or pathway

(e.g., air particulate, soil)

o Type of analysis (e.g.,

gross

o Statistical data (mean, range, beta, gamma spectrometry)

number of samples)

Any data provided by NRC licensees

sensitivity and broad scope of existing will be transmitted to EPA. Because

licensee environmental monitoring licensee programs, augmentation of the

programs is not being requested. of NRC

We appreciate your cooperation with

regarding this matter, please contactus in this, matter. If you have any questions

Regional Administrator of the appropriate the technical contact listed below

NRC regional office. or the

This request is covered by Office

3150-0011 which expires December of Management and Budget Clearance Number

is 4 man-hours per licensee response, 31, 1989. The estimated average

burden

searching data sources, gathering including assessment of the request,hours

reports. Comments on the accuracy and analyzing the data, and preparing the

of this estimate and suggestions

to reduce

IN 88-71 September 1, 1988 -the burden may be directed to the Office of Management and Budget, Room 3208, New Executive Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20503, and to the U.S. Nuclear

Regulatory Commission, Records and Reports Management Branch, Office of Ad- ministration and Resources Management, Washington, D.C. 20555.

haresE. Ross1, Director

Division of Operational Events Assessment

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Bernard H. Weiss, AEOD

(301) 492-7053 Attachment: List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

. tj f ..  ; I . i . I  : _- : :: .

Attachment

IN 88-71 September 1, 1988 Page I of I

LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED

NRC INFORMATION NOTICES

n_ *_ _

Notice No. Subject Let OTM

Issuance Issued to

88-70 Check Valve Inservice 8/29/88 All holders of OLs

Testing Program or CPs for nuclear

Deficiencies power reactors.

88-69 Movable Contact Finger 8/19/88 All holders of OLs

Binding in HFA Relays or CPsfor nuclear

Manufactured by General power reactors.

Electric (GE)

88-48, Licensee Report of Defective 8/24/88 All holders of OL0

Supplement I Refurbished Valves or CPs for nuclear

power reactors.

88-68 Setpoint Testing of Pres- 8/22/88 All holders of OLs

surizer Safety Valves with or CPs for nuclear

Filled Loop Seals Using power reactors.

Hydraulic Assist Devices

88-67 PWR Auxiliary Feedwater Pump 8/22/88 All holders of OLs

Turbine Overspeed Trip or CPs for nuclear

Failure power reactors.

88-66 Industrial Radiography 8/22/88 All NRCindustrial

Inspection and Enforcement radiography licensees.

88-65 Inadvertent Drainages of 8/18/88 All holders of OLs

Spent Fuel Pools or CPs for nuclear

power reactors and

fuel storage facilities.

88-64 Reporting Fires in. Nuclear 8/18/88 All holders of OLs

Process Systems at Nuclear or CPs for nuclear

Power Plants power reactors.

88-63 High Radiation Hazards 8/15/88 All holders of OLs

from Irradiated Incore or CPs for nuclear

- Detectors and Cables _ powetretors _ _

research reactors -_ _

and test reactors.

OL

• Operating License

CP* Construction Permit

UNITED STATES

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION FIST CLSS MAIL

POSTAGE b FEES PAID

WASHINGTON, D.C. 2055 USNHC

PERMrr tlo. 047 OFFICIAL BUSINESS

PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE, $300

IN 88-71 September 1, 1988 the burden may be directed to the Office of Management and Budget, Room 3208, New Executive Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20503, and to the U.S. Nuclear

Regulatory Commission, Records and Reports Management Branch, Office of Ad- ministration and Resources Management, Washington, D.C. 20555.

Charles E. Rossi, Director

Division of Operational Events Assessment

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Bernard H. Weiss, AEOD

(301) 492-7053 Attachment: List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

• SEE PREVIOUS PAGE FOR CONCURRENCE

• AEOD *OGCB:DOEA *OGC *C:OGCB:DOEA N :NMSS

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BWei ss VHodge STreby CHBerlinger joblom

8/26/88 8/24/88 8/24/88 8/24/88 8/;, /88 8/A7f88

IN 88- August xx, 1988 to reduce the burden may be directed to the Office of Management and Budget, Room 3208, New Executive Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20503, and to the

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Records and Reports Management Branch, Office of Administration and Resources Management, Washington, D.C. 20555.

Charles E. Rossi, Director

Division of Operational Events Assessment

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Bernard H. Weiss, AEOD

(301) 492-7053 Attachment: List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

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AEOD OGCB:DOEA C:OG :DOEA D:DOEA DD: IMNS:NMSS

BWeiss VHodge STreay CHBerlinger CERossi GSj oblom

p/7/88 8/'l /88 8/y / /88 8/3. //88 8/ /88 8/ /88