ML101550563

Event Notification for Browns Ferry on Offsite Notification - Spill of Water Containing Tritium

ML101550563
Person / Time
Site:	Browns Ferry
Issue date:	01/10/2008
From:	Hunter M Tennessee Valley Authority
To:	NRC/RGN-II
References
Event 43891, FOIA/PA-2010-0209
Download: ML101550563 (1)

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Power Reactor lEvent Number: 43891 Facility: BROWNS FERRY Notification Date: 01/10/2008 Region: 2 State: AL Notification Time: 15:08 [ET]

Unit: [1] [2] [3] Event Date: 01/10/2008 RX Type: [1] GE-4,[2] GE-4,[3] GE-4 Event Time: 12:21 [CST]

NRC Notified By: MICHAEL D. HUNTER Last Update Date: 01/10/2008 HQ OPS Officer: KARL DIEDERICH Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY Person (Organization):

10 CFR Section: MALCOLM WIDMANN (R2) 50.72(b)(2)(xi) - OFFSITE NOTIFICATION SCRAM Initial [ Current Unit Code RX CRIT PWR Initial RX Mode PWR Current RX Mode 1 N Y 100f Power Operation 100f Power Operation 2 N Y 100J Power Operation [ 100l Power Operation 31 N I N 1 0[ Cold Shutdown 0[ Cold Shutdown Event Text OFFSITE NOTIFICATION - SPILL OF WATER CONTAINING TRITIUM "This is a voluntary notification for a spill of water containing tritium as specified in section 2.2.a.iii, of Nuclear Energy Institute document NEI 07- 07 entitled 'Industry Groundwater Protection Initiative.' On January 5, 2008 at 13:55, Browns Ferry Nuclear (BFN) Plant operations personnel received a high water level alarm on a sump located within the plant, at the Condensate Piping Tunnel. The high water level was corrected within 3 hours3.472222e-5 days <br />8.333333e-4 hours <br />4.960317e-6 weeks <br />1.1415e-6 months <br /> of the alarm. Investigation into this condition determined that the water came from an overflow of the Unit 3 Condensate Storage Tank into the tunnel as a result of failed tank level instrumentation. The water was immediately transferred to the plant radioactive waste system for processing. Laboratory analysis results received on January 9, 2008 indicated this water contained 2.2 E-03 uCi/ml tritium. Based on the tunnel construction, there is a potential for a small amount of this water to permeate into the ground. Subsequent to the spill, a sample obtained from the ground water sampling well adjacent to the tunnel showed no detectable level of tritium. BFN routinely monitors the ground water for radioactivity in accordance with the NEI Groundwater Protection Initiative. Tritium levels at BFN have never reached or exceeded the Environmental Protection Agency drinking water limit. This spill was contained within the plant structure and will not increase the dose to the public. As such, this event poses no threat to public health or safety.

"The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector.

"This event is reportable as a 4-hour Non-Emergency Notification report in accordance with 10CFR50.72(b)(2)(xi) Any event or situation, related to the heath and safety of the public or onsite personnel, or protection of the environment, for which a news release is planned or notification to other government agencies has been or will be made."