ML093420577

Email from J. White to R. Nimitz, Subj FW: Oc Status, 5/21

ML093420577
Person / Time
Site:	Oyster Creek
Issue date:	05/26/2009
From:	Jason White NRC/NRR/DRA
To:	Nimitz R NRC Region 1
References
FOIA/PA-2009-0214
Download: ML093420577 (3)

Text

Nimitz, Ronald From: John White Sent: Tuesday, May 26. 2009 9:06 AM To: Ronald Nimitz

Subject:

FW: Oyster Creek Status,5/21 (3:30 pm) please check status From. Marc Ferdas Sent: Friday, May 22, 2009 11:01 AM To: Kimberly Hawkins CC: Darrell Roberts; John White; Peter Wilson

Subject:

RE: Oyster Creek Status,5/21 (3:30 pm)

(b)(5)

These are just my thoughts.

MarcS. Fe"de s Senior Resident Inspector, Oyster Creek Marc.Ferdas@nrc.gov 609-693-0702 From: Kimberly Hawkins Sent: Friday, May 22, 2009 8:14 AM To: Marc Ferdas Cc. Darrell Roberts; John White; Peter Wilson

Subject:

RE: Oyster Creek Status,5/21 (3:30 pm)

Marc, (b)(5)

Ki m From: Marc Ferdas g Sent: Thursday, May 21, 2009 4:40 PM To: John White; Ronald Nlmitz; Sam Collins; Marc Dapas; Peter Wilson; Darrell Roberts .

CC: Nancy McNamara; Diane Scrend; Neil Sheehan; Jeffrey Kulp; Ronald Bellamy; Scott Barber; David Lew; James Clifford; Stephen Campbell; Eugene Dacus; David Decker; Undine Shoop; Jenny Weil; Kimberly Hawkins; Thomas Hipschman

Subject:

Oyster Creek Status,5/21 (3:30 pm)

This note provides updated ihformation as of 5/21. Participants included Exelon representatives responsible for the coordination of the licensee investigation efforts, and representatives of the New Jersey Department of Enviommental Protection, Bureau of Nuclear Engineering. NRC Representatives were Marc Ferdas.

I

1. Well samplinglanalysis 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 sampled on 5/20. The analytical results are provided in the attached document 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.

The licensee will be installing an additional well on 5/26 which allow them to perform a "pump test". This will allow for a better understanding of the plumes movement.

The licensee's geo-hydrology contractor has provided its hydrogeological assessment to Exelon. The NRC is reviewing the information.

The licensee has performed bounding dose calculations and identified dose to be a small fraction (<1 %) of 10 CFR 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 commence upon restoration of the south trench area on 6/8. Exelon is expecting to have the CS-38 line excavated and examined by 6/15.

3. CST The CST diving work has been completed. (b)(5) and the aluminum i tank bottom has no less than nominal wall thickness based on assessment of 60 individual measurement locations. Demobilization from the diving and inspection effort is in process and expected to complete on 5/29. NRC Inspector, Hal Gray, was at the site on 5/19 to review the UT data and evaluate on-site efforts. The licensee will provide the NRC a copy of the CST final inspection report when it is completed.

4. Root cause analysis/pipe 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 (6/19) and is expected to include analysis of the corrosion mechanism and cause that led to the failure of the 8" 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 examinaton 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 if the 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 will be providing an on-site tour to various local government officials on Friday (5/22). The tour will involve a discussion of the tritium issue (event history, actions taken, health aspects) and a tour of the excavation area. The tour group consists of 11 people (2 Lacey Municipal Utilities Authority executives, 3 Ocean County Healt Dept executives, Mayor Lacey Township,Lacey Township Administrator, Lacey Toenship Committeeman, Lacey Township Board Member, 2

and NJ State Assemblyman (9th District) and staffer). The senior resident inspector is scheduled to participate in the tour.

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

6. NRC actions 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 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 to weekly. The next update is expected to be Friday May 29.

7. 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.ni.us/dep/rpp/bne/FinalOCH3.htm End of 5/21 update 3