ML093080615

Email from J. White to D. Screnci, Subj: OC-Potential Tritium Release on 4/15

ML093080615
Person / Time
Site:	Oyster Creek
Issue date:	04/16/2009
From:	Jason White Division of Nuclear Materials Safety I
To:	Diane Screnci Office of Public Affairs
References
FOIA/PA-2009-0214
Download: ML093080615 (3)

Text

White, John From: John White Sent: Thursday, April 16, 2009 11:29 AM To: Diane Screnci

Subject:

RE: OC-Potential Tritium Release on 4/15 Sure, I will include From: Diane Screnci Sent: Thursday, April 16, 2009 11:27 AM To: John White

Subject:

RE: OC-Potential Tritium Release on 4/15 Can we add that this is not going to a drinking water source.

DIANE SCRENCI SR. PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER USNRC, RI 610/337-5330 From: John White Sent: Thursday, April 16, 2009 11:24 AM To: Neil Sheehan; Diane Screnci; Ronald Nimitz; Ronald Bellamy; Marc Ferdas; Nahcy McNamara; Doug Tifft Cc: Peter Wilson; Darrell Roberts

Subject:

FW: OC-Potential Tritium Release on 4/15 Attached is a draft Comm Plan for review and comment. I am not suggesting that we need one.. .just in case.

From: Ronald Bellamy Sent: Thursday, April 16, 2009 10:30 AM To: Ronald Nimitz; John White Cc: Neil Sheehan; Marc Ferdas

Subject:

FW: OC-Potential Tritium Release on 4/15 I have forwarded this to Ron Nimitz who will respond with the answers.

From: Marc Ferdas Sent: Thursday, April 16, 2009 10:04 AM To: Ronald Bellamy

Subject:

FW: OC-Potential Tritium Release on 4/15 Marc S. Ferdcas Senior Resident Inspector, Oyster Creek Marc. Ferdas(anrc.gov 609-693-0702 From: Neil Sheehan Sent: Thursday, April 16, 2009 9:19 AM To: Marc Ferdas

Subject:

Re: OC-Potential Tritium Release on 4/15 72

Marc, Ron called me about this last evening. I would want to know ifthis find meets the NEI reportability criteria and if so, how-'

Exelon plans to make this information public. I also would want to know ASAP how the water may have gotten in the vaul, and what the company intends to do to check on extent of condition. Also, any word on whether N.J. plans to make an announcement or post something pn its web site about this.

Thanks, Neil Neil Sheehan Public Affairs Officer Sent From NRC Blackberry From: Marc Ferdas To: Ronald Bellamy Cc: Neil Sheehan; Scott Barber; Nancy McNamara; Doug Tifft; John White; Ronald Nimitz; Diane Screnci; Jeffrey Kulp; Marc Ferdas Sent: Thu Apr 16 06:46:50 2009

Subject:

OC-Potential Tritium Release on 4/15 As of 8 pm on April 15, 2009.

ISSUE

SUMMARY

On April 15, 2009, Oyster Creek identified water containing tritium inside the Emergency Service Water (ESW) cable vault which is located in the vicinity of the intake structure. Chemistry samples of the water revealed tritium levels of 102,000 pCi/L. Exelon reported to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) of a potential release of tritium to soil to; and completed a 4-hr ENS notification to the NRC for a notification to another government agency.

BACKGROUND On April 13, Oyster Creek began maintenance activities which involved replacement of 4160V electrical cable for the '1-2' ESW pump. In preparation for the work inside the ESW cable vault, water found inside the vault was pumped into drums and sampled per station procedures. The water was sampled for gamma emitters, tritium, and pH. Chemistry samples on April 15 did not identify gamma emmitters, had a pH of 7.62, and a tritium concentration of 102,000 pCi/L. The amount of water in the vault and contained into drums is not known at this time. Exelon has stated to external stakeholders that no release is known to be occurring and no release is known to have occurred; and that source of the Tritium water is not currently known.

Exelon's reporting criteria to the New Jersey DEP for tritium is 2,000 pCi/L and where notified on April 15 of the sample results and a potential release of tritium to the soil. It was also iterated to the DEP that the water was contained in a concrete vault and is being pumped into drums. Exelon, also completed a 50.72 4-hr report to the NRC via the ENS due to notification to another government agency.

Exelon has initiated a prompt investigation and are making preperations to get independent analysis of the samples performed.

Shortly after making notification to the DEP the control room received a call from local law enforcement (Lacey Township Police).

EXELON'S ACTIONS

1. Notification to NJ DEP. -COMPLETE

2. Notification to NRC (50.72 Report)- COMPLETE 73

3 Perform a Prompt Investigation - INPROGRESS

4. Perform Confirmatory Sample Analysis - INPROGRESS

5. Issue Press Release - TBD NRC'S ACTIONS

1. Informed Branch Chief of Issue - COMPLETE

2. Inform Public Affairs, SLO & DRS of Issue - COMPLETE (via this email)

3. Monitor Exelon's Activities - INPROGRESS (Will Need DRS Support)

4. Update BC on status - INPROGRESS OBSERVATIONS None at this time.

REFERENCES Condition Report IR907846 NRC Event Number: 44993, "OFFSITE NOTIFICATION DUE TO POTENTIAL RELEASE OF TRITIUM" NUREG 1022, Rev2, "Event Reporting Guidelines 10CFR50.72 and 50.73" Marc S. Ferdias Senior Resident Inspector, Oyster Creek Marc. Ferdas(onrc.gov 609-693-0702 74 I ,