ML053060124
| ML053060124 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Indian Point  |
| Issue date: | 11/02/2005 |
| From: | Collins S Region 1 Administrator |
| To: | Tuffey J State of NY, Emergency Management Office |
| Shared Package | |
| ML052700367 | List: |
| References | |
| Download: ML053060124 (7) | |
Text
November 2, 2005 Mr. James W. Tuffey, Director New York State Emergency Management Office 1220 Washington Avenue Building 22, Suite 101 Albany, NY 12226-2251
SUBJECT:
RESPONSE TO YOUR LETTER REGARDING DISCOVERED CRACKS AT THE INDIAN POINT ENERGY CENTER
Dear Mr. Tuffey:
I am responding on behalf of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to your letter dated September 20, 2005, concerning the Indian Point Energy Center in Buchanan, New York.
In your letter, you expressed concerns about recently reported leakage from the spent fuel pool (SFP) at Indian Point Unit 2, and about how information regarding the issue was communicated with the State of New York and other local stakeholders.
On September 1, 2005, Entergy informed the NRC that workers had identified cracks in the wall of the Indian Point Unit 2 SFP, and observed a small amount of moisture along one of the cracks. The cracks were discovered as a result of an on-going excavation activity in the fuel handling building to install a higher capacity gantry crane, which is needed to load and transport fuel casks in support of Entergys Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI) project.
The NRC reviewed the conditions on site and then concluded that there were no near term safety issues. Specifically, an NRC structural specialist and a health physics inspector were sent to the Indian Point facility to assist the resident inspectors in monitoring the progress of Entergys investigation. Entergy sought to characterize the situation by conducting analysis of the water samples to determine the source of the moisture. Due to the small volume of water present in the vicinity of the cracks, Entergy had difficulty obtaining a sufficient amount of water to conduct a chemical and radiological analysis. Once sufficient water accumulated, Entergy was able to complete a radioisotopic analysis, and based on the sample results, Entergy concluded that the SFP was likely leaking.
On September 19, 2005, Entergy informed the NRC that, based on analysis, the characteristics of the water collected in the vicinity of the wall cracks were consistent with SFP water. The NRC decided on September 20, 2005, to initiate a special inspection because the exact nature and extent of the condition were not completely known. The NRC also initiated a communication plan that afternoon.
I appreciate the feedback you provided to a manager on my staff, who discussed this matter with you in detail on September 23, 2005. Since that time, we have made concerted efforts to ensure all stakeholders are apprised of important developments. On October 7, 2005, the inspection scope was expanded to assess information related to the discovery (on October 5) of tritium contamination in an on-site monitoring well (the updated special inspection charter is enclosed). The NRC will pay specific attention to issues related to the licensees efforts to determine the extent of tritium contamination, e.g., groundwater impacts, if any. The inspection will be thorough, prompt and public.
Mr. James W. Tuffey 2
Given the current state of knowledge, the leak does not pose immediate health or safety concerns for members of the public, or adverse environmental impacts. Nonetheless, the licensee is in the process of characterizing the tritium contamination to evaluate the extent of the tritium leak.
With regard to potential contamination, soil, rock, and debris associated with the excavation work in the vicinity of the SFP wall are being monitored for contamination. Material that had the potential to be contaminated, or was contaminated, has been segregated into special containers. Contaminated material will be disposed of as radioactive waste. When radioactive waste is removed from the site, such shipments are inspected on a sampling basis by our inspectors as part of the Reactor Oversight Process.
The NRC strives to provide accurate, timely, and complete information about the safety performance of licensees. In this instance, as information was being gathered by the licensee to determine the source of water, the NRC delayed communications until more factual and complete information could be provided to the public and elected officials. The difficulties encountered by the licensee in characterizing the source of water further delayed efforts to provide complete information. The NRC appreciates that the public is expecting the highest level of coordination between and among levels of government and their agencies on issues related to Indian Point. In that context, the NRC is committed to providing your organization and all other interested county, state, and congressional stakeholders with the most up-to-date and accurate information reasonably achievable, within the timeframes that are responsive to your and the other stakeholder needs. I also understand that this may result, at times, in the communication of information that is preliminary, and therefore, incomplete. However, in those cases, we will ensure that the appropriate context is provided. Our commitment to keep you fully informed is reflected in the periodic briefings we have been conducting with external stakeholders since early October.
As the special inspection progresses, the NRC will provide periodic updates to your office and other interested stakeholders. A web site on the NRC home page has also been developed to share information on the issue (http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/plant-specific-items/indian-point-issues.html). The NRC will conduct a public meeting to discuss the results of the special inspection and provide an opportunity for members of the public and elected officials to ask questions and offer comments. A copy of the special inspection report, which will be issued and made publically available within 45 days of inspection completion, will be provided to you.
I can assure you that the NRC will conduct a thorough evaluation of the circumstances surrounding the apparent spent fuel pool leak and tritium contamination issues, and will openly share the results. Consistent with this commitment, the NRC invited representatives of the State of New York to participate in the special inspection entrance meeting, and they have been invited to participate in the inspection. The NRC will intensify its efforts to provide accurate and timely information of this type to the public and elected officials. For the SFP and tritium issues, the NRC will provide additional specialized inspection for as long as needed.
Mr. James W. Tuffey 3
Please contact me if you have further questions regarding this issue.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Samuel J. Collins Regional Administrator
Attachment:
Special Inspection Charter - Indian Point Unit No. 2 (Updated)
Mr. James W. Tuffey 4
Distribution w/attachment:
(via E-mail)
S. Collins, RA M. Dapas, DRA S. Lee, RI OEDO R. Laufer, NRR J. Boska, PM, NRR P. Tam, PM (backup)
B. McDermott, DRP D. Jackson, DRP C. Long, DRP M. Cox, DRP, SRI - Indian Point 2 B. Wittick, DRP, RI - Indian Point 2 R. Martin, DRP, Resident OA Region I Docket Room (w/concurrences)
DOCUMENT NAME: C:\\My Files\\Copies\\Additional RevisionsTuffey Letter.wpd SISP Review Complete: rsb (Reviewers Initials)
After declaring this document An Official Agency Record it will be released to the Public.
To receive a copy of this document, indicate in the box: "C" = Copy without attachment/enclosure "E" = Copy with attachment/enclosure "N" = No copy OFFICE RI/DRP RI/DRP RI/DRS RI/ORA RI/DRA RI/RA NAME DJackson BHolian ABlough RBarkley MDapas SCollins DATE 10/31/05 10/31/05 11/01/05 10/28/05 11/01/05 11/02/05 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
- concurrence on previous page
October 7, 2005 MEMORANDUM TO:
John R. White, Manager Special Inspection James D. Noggle, Senior Inspector Special Inspection FROM:
A. Randolph Blough, Director
/RA/
Division of Reactor Safety
SUBJECT:
SPECIAL INSPECTION CHARTER - INDIAN POINT UNIT NO. 2 (UPDATED)
This memorandum updates my memorandum of September 20, 2005, instructing you to complete a special inspection at Indian Point 2.
Background:
Indian Point Unit 2 has been conducting excavation of the Fuel Storage Building (FSB) Loading Bay adjacent to the south wall of the Spent Fuel Pool (SFP) in preparation for installation of a gantry crane required to complete the Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation Project. In early September while removing material along the south wall of the SFP, several 1/64" wide cracks were found. Two of these cracks exhibited wetness along the seams. Collected leakage from these seams has been small; recently Entergy staff efforts to collect leakage have yielded less than a pint a day. Subsequently, Entergy initiated actions to assess this condition and informed the NRC.
The moisture collected from these cracks and immediately adjacent soil have been analyzed and found to have the radiological characteristics of spent fuel pool water. However, to date, the licensee has been unable to establish if the material is due a previous leak that was detected in the early 1990's and subsequently repaired, or is of more recent origin.
On October 5, 2005 Entergy reported that some tritium activity had been identified in one on-site ground monitoring well. Three other monitoring wells showed no detectable activity and other samples were being analyzed.
Information and observations to date continue to suggest that the condition does not currently pose any actual health and safety concern or adverse impact to the environment. On September 20, NRC Region I had deemed it prudent to conduct a special inspection since the nature and extent of the condition are not yet completely known, and in view of the technical complexity of the issue. This memorandum updates the charter to account for new information learned since then.
2 This Special Inspection was initiated in accordance with NRC Management Directive 8.3, NRC Incident Investigation Program. The purpose is to better understand the source of the radiological contamination, the cause, the extent of condition, and any potential impact on spent fuel pool integrity.
The inspection will be performed in accordance with the guidance of NRC Inspection Procedure 93812, Special Inspection, and the inspection report will be issued within 45 days following the exit meeting for the inspection.
Objectives of the Special Inspection:
The objectives of this Special Inspection are to evaluate the circumstances associated with the conditions described above. The objectives and inspection tasks are amplified in the attached charter. In the event that information is determined that the nature of these conditions are significantly different than currently understood, i.e., the circumstances and conditions may be beyond the scope of a Special Inspection, the Lead Inspector will immediately inform the Special Inspection Manager.
Team Composition:
The team will be:
Manager:
John R. White, Chief, Division of Reactor Safety Plant Support Branch 2 Lead Inspector :
James D. Noggle, Senior Health Physicist, DRS Members:
Suresh K. Chaudhary, Health Physicist, DNMS (part-time)
Mark Cox, Senior Resident Inspector, IP2 (part-time)
Chris Long, Resident Inspector, IP2 (part-time)
Robert Bores, Health Physicist, ORA (part-time)
James Kottan, Health Physicist, DNMS (part-time)
Dr. Richard Codell, Hydrologist, NMSS (part-time)
Schedule:
On-site inspection effort was conducted following identification of the cracks. The decision for a special inspection was made on September 20, 2005. The licensees excavation activities and response efforts will be monitored by resident inspectors and the Team Leader, and other regional inspectors, as appropriate. Additional on-site inspection effort will be conducted to complete the scope of the inspection.
Questions regarding the objectives of this Special Inspection may be directed to Mr. John R.
White, Chief, Division of Reactor Safety-Plant Support Branch 2 (610-337-5114).
Attachment:
Special Inspection Team Charter - Indian Point Unit 2
Special Inspection Charter Indian Point Unit 2 Spent Fuel Pool Leak The objectives of the inspection are to determine the facts and assess the conditions surrounding the Indian Point Unit 2 Spent Fuel Pool (SFP) leak identified in September 2005.
Specifically the inspection should:
1.
Develop a Sequence of Events associated with the Unit 2 spent fuel pool relative to its construction, previous history of leaks, pool modifications, and present leak identification and management activities.
2.
Assess the adequacy of Entergys determination of the source and cause of leakage, extent of condition review, operational experience usage, and corrective actions for the condition. Independently assess new information obtained during Entergys investigation, including the discovery of tritium contamination in an on-site monitoring well on October 5, 2005.
3.
Evaluate Entergys assessment of the risk significance of the condition, and evaluations of structural integrity and radiological impact.
4.
Evaluate current mitigation strategy for the SFP leak.
5.
Evaluate repair strategy and time line for the SFP leak.
- 6.
Evaluate the licensees plans, both near-term and long-term, for assessing SFP liner integrity, including any relevant design considerations.
7.
Review the effectiveness of Entergys efforts to monitor and control the water inventory used in the Unit 1 fuel and equipment storage pools.
8.
Identify any issues requiring additional review for generic applicability.
9.
Document the inspection findings and conclusions in a special inspection report in accordance with Inspection Procedure 93812 within 45 days of the exit meeting for the inspection. Periodic updates will be provided as the inspection is ongoing.