ML100770278

E-mail from J. Brand of USNRC to R. Nimitz of USNRC, Regarding TMI Second Containment Evacuation - Possible Media Attention

ML100770278
Person / Time
Site:	Three Mile Island
Issue date:	11/24/2009
From:	Javier Brand NRC Region 1
To:	Nimitz R NRC Region 1
References
FOIA/PA-2010-0118
Download: ML100770278 (2)

Text

Brand, Javier From: Brand, Javier Sent: Tuesday, November 24, 2009 8:16 AM To: Nimitz, Ronald

Subject:

RE: TMI - second containment evacuation- possible media attention Dough. We spoke with the licensee about the importance of them talking with the State (as a coutecy call) to make sure they know exactly what happened this morning so there is no confusion.

From: Nimitz, Ronald Sent: Tuesday, November 24, 2009 8:11 AM To: Tifft, Doug; White, John; Roberts, Darrell; Wilson, Peter Cc: McNamara, Nancy; Screnci, Diane; Sheehan, Neil; Brand, Javier; Spindler, David; Lew, David; Clifford, James; Barber, Scott; Bellamy, Ronald; Burket, Elise

Subject:

RE: TMI - second containment evacuation- possible media attention No..

Per licensee did not trip any requirement but after discussion incates will review possible courtesy call.

From: Tifft, Doug Sent: Tuesday, November 24, 2009 7:51 AM To: Nimitz, Ronald; White, John; Roberts, Darrell; Wilson, Peter Cc: McNamara, Nancy; Screnci, Diane; Sheehan, Neil; Brand, Javier; Spindler, David; Lew, David; Clifford, James; Barber, Scott; Bellamy, Ronald; Burket, Elise

Subject:

-RE: TMI - second containment evacuation- possible media attention Did the licensee notify PA?

-Doug From: Nimitz, Ronald Sent: Tuesday, November 24,2009 7:31 AM To: White, John; Roberts, Darrell; Wilson, Peter Cc: McNamara, Nancy; Tifft, Doug; Screnci, Diane; Sheehan, Neil; Brand, Javier; Spindler, David; Lew, David; Clifford, James; Barber, Scott; Bellamy, Ronald; Burket, Elise

Subject:

TMI - second containment evacuation- possible media attention As of 0700 AM discussions with licensee this morning.. .This is preliminary information with follow-up occurring >>>> Three AMS-4 (local air monitors) alarms in containment over past 12 hours1.388889e-4 days <br />0.00333 hours <br />1.984127e-5 weeks <br />4.566e-6 months <br /> with associated local evacuations.

ALARM 1.

At about 2045 yesterday (11/23), TMI experienced a local AMS-4 alarm at the exit of the construction opening on the 365 ft elevation of containment. The local area was evacuated and grab samples confirmed that no airborne radioactivity was present. The licensee believes the alarm was due to power cycling causing an alarm on the local air sampler. Personnel in the area evacuated and showed no external or internal contamination.

Air flow was into the building at about 109,000 cfm. The steam generator was in the process of being removed.

The generator is currently outside the opening in preparation for being lowered. The generator was smear checked with about 73 smears and all were clean. Dose rates on the generator maximum are about 575 millirem/hr on contact with a drain line and 60 millirem/hr at 30 centimeters. General contact does rates on the side of the generator are about 30 millirem/hr.

ALARM 2 and 3 At about 0430 this morning work was occurring involving vacuuming inside the B RCP cold leg (281 ft elevation containment) at about that time an AMS 4 alarmed above the area at the 365 ft elevation of the "B" d ring. This, '

area was evacuated and grab air samplers showed no radioactivity. Personnel evacuated form the area and 10

showed no personnel contamination (internal or external). Shortly there after a second AMS-4 alarmed about 30 feet from the area where the vacuuming was occurring on the 281 ft elevation of containment, . Work was secured in the area and this area was evacuated also. Again no air samples in the area or in containment showed any radioactivity event. This AMS-4 was seeing shine form the vacuum whose hose was reading up to 1000 millirem/hr. All personnel evacuated and cleared the personnel monitors.

Licensee has secured the potential airborne generating work and is reviewing the activity. The licensee was briefing (this morning) about 400- 500 workers to let them know what had occurred and what the radiological status was.

Discusiions with radiation protection personnel indicated no plateout of airborne radioactivity (smearable contamination). Air samples continue to show no abnormal radioactivity.

NRC review-The licensee is reviewing the cause of the alarms. There does not appear to have been any actual airborne radioactivity. The air samples pulled showed no airborne radioactivity. The AMS-4s have three types of alarms (power cycling, low alarm, high alarm). It appears the alarms may have been due to power cycling and elevated dose rates in the areas causing alarms. Notwithstanding, this has resulted in evacuations of the areas and potential worker concerns.

Review is still on-going associated with the previous airborne event/evacuation.

ADDITIONAL item..

Some workers working in the turbine building this past evening in a very a low dose area (no dose rates),

noted slight increases in their dosimeter readings. Integrated dose of 0.2 millirem, They contacted radiation protection personnel, and cleared the area, Subsequent review identified that one of the workers had earlier received a Tc-99 medical isotope. He failed to notify HP of this because he was unaware he had received this medical radioisotope. The licensee is followng-up.

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