ML100700556
| ML100700556 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Oconee  |
| Issue date: | 03/03/2010 |
| From: | Baxter D Duke Energy Carolinas |
| To: | Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| Download: ML100700556 (4) | |
Text
DAVE BAXTER Vice President
" Energy.
Oconee Nuclear Station Duke Energy ON01 VP /7800 Rochester Highway Seneca, SC 29672 864-873-4460 864-873-4208 fax dabaxter@dukeenergy. com March 3, 2010 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Attn: Document Control Desk Washington, D.C., 20555-001
Subject:
Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC Oconee Nuclear Station, Units 1, 2, and 3 Renewed Facility Operating License, DPR-38, DPR-47, and DPR-55 Docket Numbers 50-269, 50-270, and 50-287 30-Day Report Pursuant to the Ground Water Protection Initiative Concerning Oconee Nuclear Station Ground Water Monitoring Wells GM-7R and GM-7DR Duke.Energy Carolinas, LLC (Duke Energy) is submitting the attached 30-day report pursuant to NEI 07-07 [FINAL], "Industry Ground Water Protection Initiative," dated August, 2007. Samples obtained from ground water monitoring wells GM-7R and GM-7DR on January 26, 2010, contained tritium concentrations that triggered the communication protocol of NEI 07-07 on February 8, 2010.
There are no regulatory commitments contained in this letter. If you have any questions on this matter, please contact Bob Meixell, Oconee Regulatory Compliance, at (864) 873-3279.
Sincerely, Dave Baxter, Vice President Oconee Nuclear Station
Attachment:
30-Day Report per NEI 07-07 [FINAL], "Industry Ground Water Protection Initiative,"
Oconee Nuclear Station, Units 1, 2 and 3 www.duke-energy.com
ýJ pr_ 7
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission March 3, 2010 Page 2 bc w/attachment:
Mr. Luis Reyes USNRC - Region II Sam Nun Atlanta Federal Center Suite 23T85, 61 Forsyth St., SW Atlanta, GA 30303-8931 Mr. John Stang Project Manager Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Mail Stop 0-8 G9A Washington, DC 20555 Mr. Andy Sabisch NRC Senior Resident Inspector Oconee Nuclear Station Ms. Susan E. Jenkins Manager, Infectious and Radioactive Waste Management Bureau of Land and Waste Management Department of Health & Environmental Control 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201 Mr. Tom Knight Manager, Aboveground Storage Tank (AST)
Petroleum Restoration & Site Environmental Investigations Bureau of Land and Waste Management Department of Health & Environmental Control 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201 7
I ATTACHMENT 30-DAY REPORT PER NEI 07-07 [FINAL],
INDUSTRY GROUND WATER PROTECTION INITIATIVE, OCONEE NUCLEAR STATION, UNITS 1, 2 AND 3 This report is being submitted in support of NEI 07-07, Industry Ground Water Protection Initiative.
- a. This report was generated as a result of the ground water monitoring results for wells GM-7R and GM-7DR. These results triggered the communication protocol of NEI 07-07 on February 8, 2010.
ii.
Samples obtained from groundwater monitoring wells contained tritium in the following concentrations:
- a. GM-7R; 24,400 picocuries per liter (pCi/I)
- b. GM-7DR; 35,400 picocuries per liter (pCi/I) iii.
On February 8, 2010, Oconee was notified by the Duke Energy Environmental Lab that samples taken from ground water monitoring wells GM-7R and GM-7DR on January 26, 2010, contained tritium levels that triggered the NEI 07-07 ground water communication protocol. On February 9, 2010, Duke Energy verbally notified the NRC (NRC Event Notification 45690) and appropriate state and local agencies of the on-site environmental monitoring well sample results indicated in (ii) above.
Elevated tritium levels in ground water samples were identified in well GM-7R and adjacent well GM-7 in 2008. Duke Energy began investigation by pressure testing the Liquid Waste Discharge (LWD) piping. A portion of the LWD piping is located in the vicinity of the area showing elevated tritium concentrations. This piping was pressure tested from the Turbine Building to Keowee Hydro. This testing did not indicate any leakage present.
Remote video inspection of the Turbine Building Sump Monitor Tank discharge piping along the east side of the Turbine Building has been conducted. This piping is immediately up-gradient of GM-7 wells. As part of the investigation, Duke Energy has limited pumping Turbine Building Sump water into this yard drainage system.
A hydro-geologic model has been developed by an independent engineering firm with expertise in groundwater flow. Since December 2009, Duke Energy has installed 14 additional ground water monitoring wells and installation of additional wells is in progress.
The additional wells will be used, along with existing wells, to refine the model and define the horizontal and vertical extent of tritium observed in ground water.
2 ATTACHMENT 30-DAY REPORT PER NEI 07-07 [FINAL],
INDUSTRY GROUND WATER PROTECTION INITIATIVE, OCONEE NUCLEAR STATION, UNITS 1, 2 AND 3 iv.
The wells displaying tritium activity are ground water monitoring wells, and not drinking water wells. Samples from surrounding ground water monitoring wells indicate that tritium has not migrated to the site boundary. South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) sampling of residential wells around the Oconee Nuclear Station, and Duke Energy samples from surrounding monitoring wells indicate that tritium in ground water has not migrated off the plant site. Therefore there is no public exposure pathway and Duke Energy determined that there is no estimated annual dose to any member of the public associated with this event.
- v.
Since there is no estimated annual dose increase to a member of the public from this event, no corrective actions are necessary to reduce the projected annual dose to a member of the public to less than the limits of 10 CFR 50 Appendix I.