ML14170A515
| ML14170A515 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Harris, Brunswick, Robinson  |
| Issue date: | 10/19/1979 |
| From: | James O'Reilly NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION II) |
| To: | Jackie Jones CAROLINA POWER & LIGHT CO. |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7911080279 | |
| Download: ML14170A515 (9) | |
Text
- ~ ~
NR REG(,
q 90 UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION REGION II 101 MARIETTA ST., N.W., SUITE 3100 ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303 OCT 19 1979 In Reply Refer To:
RII:JPO 50-325, 50-324 50-400, 50-401 50-402, 50-403 50-261 Carolina Power and Light Company ATTN:
J. A. Jones Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer 411 Fayetteville Street Raleigh, North Carolina 27602 Gentlemen:
Enclosed is IE Circular No. 79-21, "Prevention of Unplanned Releases of Radioactivity," which provides information in inadvertent releases/on-site spills of radioactivity. Should you have any questions related to the enclosed suggested preventive measures, please contact this office.
Sincerely, James P. O'Reilly Director
Enclosures:
- 1.
- 2.
IE Circulars Issued in the Last Six Months 7901080
.. ~.OCT9 97 Carolina Power and Light Company
-2 cc w/encl:
A. C. Tollison, Jr.
Plant Manager Box 458 Southport, North Carolina 28461 R. Parsons, Site Manager Post Office Box 101 New Hill, North Carolina 27562 R. B. Starkey, Jr., Plant Manager Post Office Box 790 Hartsville, South Carolina 29550
Accession No.:
7908220128 SSINS:
6830 UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT WASHINGTON, D.C.
20555 October 19, 1979 IE Circular No. 79-21 PREVENTION OF UNPLANNED RELEASES OF RADIOACTIVITY Numerous incidents of unplanned releases of radioactivity have been reported to the NRC within the past few months. These incidents of leaks, overflows and spills have resulted in contamination of areas outside of plant buildings.
The attached table provides you with summary information on these events, their apparent causes, the radiological consequences and the corrective actions.
We believe that a number of these incidents could have been avoided and preven tive actions for these types of unplanned releases should be instituted by all reactor licensees. Based on the reported incidents, the following preventive measures can minimize the occurrence of such events.
- 1.
Review of procedures for transfer of radioactive liquids. Errors in written procedures have led to mistakes in valve line-ups and tank overflows. Written procedures, including check lists for valve line ups, should be developed and followed for operations which could cause spills of radioactivity. Management controls, including audits, should be employed to assure verbatim compliance with such procedures.
- 2.
Review of "as built" systems having the potential of inadvertent releases because of design or construction errors. Consider items such as:
- a.
Tank overflows should be routed to liquid radwaste tanks.
- b.
Storm drains should be located away from areas with a high potential for spills.
- c.
Consideration should be given to drip pans under equipment, such as pumps and valves, from which leakage is expected.
- d.
Cofferdams should be installed under doors to areas with a potential for radioactive spills.
- e.
Preoperational testing should verify that crossconnects do not exist that would permit radioactivity to flow from operating unit(s) to unit(s) under construction.
- 3.
Periodically functionally test and perform inspections to verify integrity of systems that could cause an inadvertent release. Excessive wear and corrosion degradation have occurred in valves, seals and piping systems to cause leaks. New permanent and temporary piping systems should be
IE Circular No. 79-21 October 19, 1979 Page 2 of 2 hydrostatically tested prior to first use. Underground piping should be periodically hydrostatically tested. Preventive maintenance programs should be implemented and identified problems, such as leaking equipment and plugged floor drains, should be promptly repaired.
No written response to this Circular is required. If you require additional information regarding this subject, contact the Director of the appropriate NRC Regional Office
Enclosure:
Recent Events of Radioactive Contamination
RECENT EVENTS OF RADIOACTIVE CONTAMINATION OUTSIDE BUILDINGS Plant Date Apparent cause Radiological Consequence Licensee Followup Action Turkey Point 3/4 6/11/79 Operator Error 900 gallons of water processed Total of 0.01 mCi of Co-58 Procedure reviewed by radwaste system overflowed Co-60 released to storm with operator.
from waste processing tank because drain of error in valve line-up. The Aux.
Bldg. floor drain backed up to the on-site storm drain. The drain system discharged to an on-site underground tile bed.
Palisades 6/9/79 Inadequate Procedures Contaminated secondary system Resins activity at 1 The monitoring procedure spent powdered resins were trans-pCi/cc; total release to determine the routing ferred to an outside storage bin about 10 pCi of Co-60 of the secondary spent without monitoring. Rain storm resins has been replaced caused resins to overflow the by a procedure requiring storage bin and be washed to Lake all spent secondary system Michigan via storm drain.
resins to be handled and shipped as solid waste..
Surry 2 5/21/ 79 Equipment Failure.
Core spray pump isolation 5 gallons spilled; 2 gallons Leak repaired Three 55 valve leaked during RWST outside of bldg.
gallon drums of con transfer to Spent Fuel Pit.
0.02 pCi/cc, Co-58 taminated dirt removed Water leaked to Safeguards 0.035 pCi/cc, H-3.
Bldg. floor. Floor drain plugged; resulted in water flow out of building.
Enclosure CE Circular No. 79-21 Page 1 of 3
Plant Date Apparent Cause Radiological Consequence Licensee Follow-up Action Oconee 3 5/16/79 Operational Error.
5/17/79 Normally closed valve left 2000 gallons overflowed; Procedure reviewed with open during pumping of fuel 200-300 gallons out of operating personnel.
Areas transfer canal water to BWST.
building.
outside of Aux. Bldg. decon Water overflowed the BWST to 3.1 x 10 pCi/cc, 1-131.
taminated.
Aux. Bldg. penetration room, down a stairway to area outside Aux. Bldg.
Farley 1/2 5/14/79 Design Error.
Decontamination drains 1860 gallons of contam-Review all drains from from Unit 1 routed to Unit iated water discharged Unit 1 and Unit 2. Six such 2 sump and released to to pond. Estimated max-drains were located and flush pond via tendon imum activity of 10 mCi -
plugged.
access area. Those drains Co-58. Pond mud activity should have been routed
< 500 pCi/Kg. No pond to Unit I floor drain water activity detected.
system.
Oyster Creek 4/17/79 Equipment Failure.
Leakage from a Drywell Water in pipe tunnel DEDT line repaired.
Equipment Drain Tank (DEDT)
@ 0.3 pCi/cc and soil Structure to enclose pipe line.
in vicinity of penetra-from Rx. Bldg. to main tion to the reactor pipe tunnel to con building were found to structed.
be contaminated.
Enclosure TE Circular No. 79-21 Page 2 of 3
Plant Date Apparent Cause
_Radiological Consequence Licensee Follow-up Action Brunswick 1 5/8-9/79 Operator Error and Equipment Failure.
Air mixing valve of RWCU Total release of 12 mCi Tank transfer procedure backwash tank left open of corrosion product.
reviewed.
Caution tag after liquid transfer.
on valve installed.
Dried tank residue released Loose access cover re to building ventilation paired.
system via loose access cover.
Hatch 1/2 3/20/79 Construction Error.
Buried temporary line for Highest on-site 5ground Temporary line broken N2 tank in yard for feed-water of 3 x 10 pCi/I -
inside turbine building water heaters was not capped H3 Highest qtr. avg. off-and capped.
after tank removal. Rx steam site outfall of subsu face released into ground from drainage was 1.8 x 10 buried line.
pCi/1.
North Anna 9/25/79 Construction Error Relief valve on the volume Airborne radioactivity Still under investigation control tank lifted thus trans-levels in the Auxiliary ferring reactor coolant to the Building reached 150 X high level waste drain tank and MPCs.
Auxiliary Building releasing dissolved noble gases was evacuated.
to the auxiliary building via the waste system vent. An incorrectly connected vent line allowed venting directly to the auxiliary building.
Enclosure IE Circular No. 79-21 Page 3 of 3
IE Circular No. 79-21 Enclosure October 19, 1979 Page 1 of 2 LISTING OF IE CIRCULARS ISSUED IN LAST SIX MONTHS Circular
- Subject, Date of Issued to No.
Issued 79-21 Prevention of Unplanned 10/19/79 All Power Reactor Releases of Radioactivity Operating facilities and all facilities having a CP 79-20 Failure of GTE Sylvania 9/24/79 All Power Reactor Relay, Type PM Bulletin 7305, Operating facilities Catalog 5U12-11-AC With A and all utilities 120V AC Coil having a CP 79-19 Loose Locking Devices 9/13/79 All Power Reactor on Ingersoll-Rand Pumps Operating facilities and all utilities having a CP 79-18 Proper Installation of 9/10/79 All Power Reactor Target Rock Safety-Relief Licensees with a CP Valves and/or OL 79-17 Contact Problem in SB-12 8/14/79 All Power Reactor Switches on General Electric Licensees with a CP Company Metalclad Circuit and/or OL Breakers 79-16 Excessive Radiation Exposures 8/16/79 All Radiography To Members Of The General Public Licensees And A Radiographer 79-15 Bursting of High Pressure Hose 8/22/79 All Research Reactors (Correc-and Malfunction of Relief tion)
Valve "O" Ring in Certain Self Contained Breathing Apparatus 79-15 Bursting of High Pressure Hose 8/8/79 All Materials Priority I, and Malfunction of Relief Fuel Cycle and Operating Valve "0" Ring in Certain Self-Power Reactor Licensees Contained Breathing Apparatus 79-14 Unauthorized Procurement and 7/13/79 All Medical Licensees Distribution of XE-133 except Teletheraphy Medical Licensees and to all Radiopharmaceu tical Suppliers
IE Circular No. 79-21 Enclosure October 19, 1979 Page 2 of 2 LISTING OF IE CIRCULARS ISSUED IN LAST SIX MONTHS Circular Subject Date of Issued to No.
Issue 79-13 Replacement of Diesel 7/13/79 All Power Reactor Fire Pump Starting Operating Facilities Contactors and all Utilities having a CP 79-12 Potential Disel Generator 6/28/79 All Power Reactors Turbocharger Problem Operating Facilities and all Utilities having a CP 79-11 Design/Construction 6/27/79 All Applicants Interface Problem for, and Holders of Power Reactor CPs 79-10 Pipefittings Manufactured 6/26/79 All Power Reactor from Unacceptable Material Licensees with a CP and/or OL 79-09 Occurrences of Split or 6/22/79 All Materials Punctured Regulator Diaphragms Priority I, Fuel In Certain Self Contained Cycle and Operating Breathing Apparatus Reactor Licensees 79-08 Attempted Extortion - Low 5/18/79 All Fuel Facilities Enriched Uranium Licensed by NRC 79-07 Unexpected Speed Increase 5/2/79 All Holders of of Reactor Recirculation BWR OL's or CP's MG Set Resulted in Reactor Power Increase 79-06 Failure to Use Syringe 4/19/79 All Holders of and Bottle Shields in Medical Licensees Nuclear Medicine except teletherapy licensees