PNO-III-06-019, Kewaunee: Tritium Detected in Groundwater Beneath Plant Buildings
| ML062260097 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Kewaunee  |
| Issue date: | 08/14/2006 |
| From: | Stephen Burton, Louden P NRC/RGN-III |
| To: | |
| References | |
| FOIA/PA-2010-0209 PNO-III-06-019 | |
| Download: ML062260097 (1) | |
August 14, 2006 PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE -- PNO-III-06-019 This preliminary notification constitutes EARLY notice of events of POSSIBLE safety or public interest significance. The information is as initially received without verification or evaluation, and is basically all that is known by the Region III staff on this date.
Facility Licensee Emergency Classification Kewaunee Nuclear Power Plant Notification of Unusual Event Dominion Generation Co. Alert Kewaunee WI Site Area Emergency Docket: 50-305 General Emergency License: DPR-43 X Not Applicable
SUBJECT:
TRITIUM DETECTED IN GROUNDWATER BENEATH PLANT BUILDINGS DESCRIPTION:
On August 9, 2006, the plant staff detected measurable tritium (hydrogen-3) in small amounts of ground water found at several locations beneath the auxiliary and turbine buildings. The groundwater had infiltrated into narrow shafts beneath the two buildings which are used to measure possible settling of the structures.
Tritium measurements, detected in four shafts, ranged from 282 picoCuries per liter (near the lower level of detectability) to 103,000 picoCuries per liter. The shafts are not interconnected.
The levels measured do not meet the threshold for reporting to the NRC, but the licensee has informed local and state agencies of the situation. The licensee reported that no detectable levels of tritium have been found in environmental monitoring wells both on and off the plant site.
The licensee is investigating possible sources of the tritium and plans to evaluate the situation further. The onsite NRC resident inspectors and an NRC radiation specialist have reviewed the licensees analytical results and continue to monitor the licensees activities.
The information in this preliminary notification has been reviewed with licensee management.
The licensee issued a news release on August 11, 2006.
The licensee notified the NRC Operations Center of this situation at 3:40 p.m. CDT on August 10, 2006. This information is current as of 9 a.m. CDT on August 14, 2006.
CONTACTS:
Stephen Burton Patrick Louden 920-388-3156 630-829-9627