ML093420573

Email from J. White to R. Nimitz Et Al, Subj: Oc Status, 5/18

ML093420573
Person / Time
Site:	Oyster Creek
Issue date:	05/18/2009
From:	Jason White Division of Reactor Safety I
To:	Collins S, Dapas M, Nimitz R Division of Nuclear Materials Safety I
References
FOIA/PA-2009-0214
Download: ML093420573 (2)

Text

Feidas, Marc From: John White Sent: Monday, May 18, 2009 5:44 PM To: Ronald Nimitz; Sam Collins; Marc Dapas; Peter Wilson; Darrell Roberts Cc: Nancy McNamara; Diane Screnci; Neil Sheehan; Marc Ferdas; Jeffrey Kulp; Ronald Bellamy; Scott Barber;, David Lew; James Clifford; Stephen Campbell; Eugene Dacus; David Decker; Undine Shoop; Jenny Well; Kimberly Gruss; Thomas Hipschman

Subject:

Oyster Creek Status,5/1 8 (3:30 pm)

Attachments: Oyster Creek H-3 map.pdf This note provides updated information as of 5118. Participants included Exelon representatives responsible for the coordination of the licensee investigation efforts, and representatives of the New Jersey Department of Enviornmental Protection, Bureau of Nuclear Engineering. NRC Representatives were John White and Marc Ferdas.

1. Well samplina/analvsis The licensee continues to sample its wells in accordance with Its Adverse Condition Monitoring and Contingency Plan. Daily samples of the intake, discharge, and Route 9 bridge canal areas have not indicated any tritium concentration above minimum detectable activity.

The affected Monitoring Wells were last on 5/13. The analytical results are provided in the attached document (Oyster Creek H-3 map.pdf) along with previously reported data. While the general indication is that concentrations are declining, more data is required to be conclusive. Accordingly, the licensee will continue to monitor these locations to establish if natural attenuation is occuring, changes in conditions, and validation that the source of the contamination has been terminated, Samples are taken of the affected monitoring wells, i.e., the Series 50 wells (MW-50, 51, 52.. .etc.) on a weekly basis.

Exelon is in the process of collecting samples for this week.

The licensee's geo-hydrology contractor has provided its hydrogeological assessment to Exelon. Exelon intends to provide a copy to the NRC this week, for information. -. .,

The licensee is developing its plan for back filling the south trench excavation site. N The licensee has performed bounding dose calculations and identified dose to be a small fraction of 10 CFF?,

50 Appendix I ALARA criteria. ,, (-

2. Pipe inspection status The 1"CRD min flow line (CS-38) remains to be excavated and examined. Excavation is expected to 5 commence upon restoration of the south trench area. Exelon is expecting to have the CS-38 line excavated and examined before the end of the month.

3. CST (b)(5)

4. Root cause analysis/fipe failure analysis Exelon's root cause team has initiated its review and investigation of the circumstances surrounding the conditions that led to the ground water contamination, including, but not limited to: review of the licensee's

activities associated with buried pipe,.extent of condition, and radiological and environmental assessment of the conditions. The root cause assessment is expected to be complete about mid-June and is expected to include analysis of the corrosion mechanism and cause that led to the failure of the 8m and 10" carbon steel buried pipes associated with the CST system.

To date, Exelon has not identified any other source of the ground water contamination. Efforts are in progress to complete buried piping examination in the area, i.e., excavation of the CS-38 1"pipe (as previously discussed); and Exelon is continuing frequent evaluation of ground water monitoring locations to confirm that natural attenuation is occuring, as would be expected ifthe source of ground water contamination as terminated. Exelon is continuing data collection and assessment to support a conclusion in this matter.

5. Communications The licensee is continuing to maintain dialogue with various stakeholders, and is planning on providing an on-site tour to various local government officials on Friday (5/22). Details are being developed.

Region I has been addressing questions and interest expressed by some local media in the area.

5. NRC actipns NRC Region I staff specialists and residents continue to follow this issue closely. Region I's Annual Assessment Meeting for Oyster Creek is scheduled for 5/28; and the staff is prepared for questions in this area. NRC inspection is still on-going and will complete upon review and evaluation of the Exelon's Root Cause Assessment, which is expected to be available mid-June, 2009.

In view of the completion of CST examination activities, NRC and Exelon have agreed to reduce the frequency of periodic updates. The next update is expected to be Thursday at 3:30 pm. Subsequently, updates will be weekly, excepting any significant change in on-site conditions or findings.

6. New Jersey-Department of Environmental Protection.

Representatives from NJ-DEP participated in the call, and indicated no concern about the licensee's efforts; and had no questions for NRC.

NJDEP has posted its split sampling results from Oyster Creek on its website at http://www.state.nj.us/dep/rpp/bne/FinalOCH3.htm End of 5/18 update US Nuclear Regulatory Commission Region I 475 Allendale Road King of Prussia, PA 19406 Office: 610.337.5114, I- Mobile (b)(6) eMail: john.white@nrc.gov 2