ML17272A391

Forwards PNO-79-67V & W

ML17272A391
Person / Time
Site:	Columbia, Washington Public Power Supply System, Satsop
Issue date:	04/16/1979
From:	Engelken R NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION V)
To:	Strand N WASHINGTON PUBLIC POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM
Shared Package
ML17272A392	List: ML17272A391
References
NUDOCS 7904260314
Download: ML17272A391 (11)

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Wp0 Cy Q UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION REGION V SUITE 202, WALNUTCREEK PLAZA 1990 N. CALIFORNIA BOULEVARD WALNUTCREEK, CAI IFORNIA 94596 April 16, 1979 Docket Nos.

50-460, 50-397 50-508, 50-509, 50-513 Washington Public Power Supply System P. 0.

Box 968 3000 George Washington Way Richland, Washington 99352 Attention:

Mr. N. 0. Strand Managing Director Gentlemen:

In accordance with ouv letter dated April 1, 1979 transmitting Bulletin 79-05, we are enclosing Preliminary Notification 79-67V and 79-67M.

Sincer ly.

Enclosure PNO-79-67V and 79-67W zgu>'.,H.

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D v~ector cc w/enclosure:

M. E. Wither spoon.

WPPSS A.

D. Kohler, WPPSS J.

P.

Thomas, WPPSS W. J. Talbott.

WPPSS G.

C. Sorensen, WPPSS 9II4260~/ /.

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II~NEOIATE PRELIHIHARV NOTIFICATION

~l April 15, 1979 PRELIMIHARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCEPI'l0-79-'67V This reliminar notification constitutes sugar information 'of an event of safet or, ub'Jic interest si nificance.

The information presented is a svsnmr o

information. as of 7:00 a.m.

on A ril 15, 1979.

Facility:

Three Nile Island Unit 2 Hidd'letown, Pennsylvania (DNSO-320)

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NUCLEAR INCIOENT AT THREE MILE ISLANO I ~ 4'I It&EDIATE PRELIt<INARY NOTIFICATIOH Plant Status:

I As of 0600 on April 15, 1979, p~imary coolant temperature had stabilized at approximately 250 degrees F.

Four of the incore thermocouple readings rmain above 300.degrees F with the highest at 348 degrees F.

The hydrogen recombiner that failed on April 13 has been repaired. and is in the process of being restored to service.

The staff has completed a preliminary evaluation of TNI-2 fuel damage.

Examinations of data from core thermocouples, incore detectors and excore ion chambers, and analyses of'ore pararraters such as primary coolant pressure for the first fifteen hours of the transient show

~ several periods of significant core uncovery.

These were. time periods during which portions or the fuel elements were cooled by steam rather than pressurized water which is the normal cooling method.

It was during these periods of deficient cooling that extensive damage to the fuel elerrents occur~ed.

This damage occurred primarily by oxidation of the fuel cladding and other zirconium alloy components, which were embrittled and lost structural integrity in some regions of the core.

Estimates of the extent of damage were calculated from fission product and hydrogen releases inside the plant and radiochemical analysis of the reactor coolant water.

The analyses 4ndic'ate that significant cladding oxidation occurred in the upper. regions of the core and most fuel rods have sere damage.

The core geometry in the upper regions of the core, especia'lly near. the center, is believed to be severely distorted due to loss of fuel cladding integrity'n that region.

However, the lower and peripheral portions of the core are believed to have retained their basic structural integrity.

The highest fue1 temperature during the transient is estimated by these damage mechanism analyses to be well below the 5100 degrees F fuel melting point.

Previous results of radiochemical analyses of primary coolant samples support this 'conclusion of little or no fuel melting.

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April 16, 'l979

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Environmntal Status:

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Offsite radiation levels identified by HRC survey teams were consistent With normal background levels (0.02 mR/hr maximum).

The results were

,obtained from routine surveys performed on the east and west, sides of the Susquehanna River at distances up to five miles north and south of the site.

J

... By 9:30 a.m.

on April 14, 1979, 375 local residents were scanned with the whole body counter located in Hiddletown.

Scan results indicate no radiation levels above normal body levels.

P The following Aerial Measuring System surveys were conducted. on April 14,.

Hind speed was variable.

The principle. isotope is Xe-'1333m TTiime 1138 - 1221 Max. Radiation Level Sector Distance

.from Sita 0.04 mR/hr 270 1000 feet CONT IHUED IYAEOIATE PRELIHINARY NOTIFICATION

~ t,'r r.'P The,NRC took a 24-hour air sample.near the observation center starting at 1600 hours0.0185 days <br />0.444 hours <br />0.00265 weeks <br />6.088e-4 months <br /> on April >3;, 1979.

The results. indicated less than 3.0 picocuries per cubic meter of iodine-131.

.The 10 CFR 20 limit for iodine-'l31 is 100 picocuries per cubic meter.

Dose rates (47 locations) as measured by NRC thermoluminescent dosimeters for the past 24-hour period of April 14 are near expected natural background levels.

A pressurized primary coolarit'sample was taken April 13, 1979.

The six individuals involved received a total radiation dose of 800 mrem.

'he highest individual dose was'270 mrem.

Dur'ing the period of 1600 hours0.0185 days <br />0.444 hours <br />0.00265 weeks <br />6.088e-4 months <br /> on April 13 to 1600 hours0.0185 days <br />0.444 hours <br />0.00265 weeks <br />6.088e-4 months <br /> on April 14, DOE col'fected and analyzed the. following samples:

Number T e

I-'131 HDA

'4 Mater '

X 10 microcuries/cubic centimeter

-8 4 Yegetation

'.04 nanocuries/square meter

~ 4 Air'(3 ground level 3

N 10-"2 microcunes(cubic centimeter and 1 helicopter) 1 e

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Continued Page. 3 Revi sed April 15, 1979 PHO-79-67V The cause of this increase in radioactivity in certain environmental samples is not known but is under investigation. It is possible that, the increase is the result of the change-out of the charcoal fi1ters.

Contact:

GCGoger, IE x27246 DThompson, IE x28487 Distribution:

Transmitted H St Chairman Hendrie Conmi s.ioner Bradford Corrmissioner Kennedy Corrmissioner'hearne Corrmissioner Gilinstqy, Transmitted:

HHBB L. Y. Gossich.

EDD H. L. Ornstein, EDO

0. J. Fouchard, PA N. H. Hallerg NPA R.

G. Ryan.

OSP H. K. Shapar, ELD S. J. Chiltc, SECY C. C. Kmmerer, CA '

P.Bldg H. R. Denton, HRR R.

C.

DeYoUng, NRR R. J. Nattson, ERR V. Stello, HRR R. S. Boyd, NRR SS Bldg M. J. Dircks.

NMSS S. Levine, RES J-G. Davis, IE Region I Region II Region Y htAIL

. Curvnings.

OIA R. Hinogue, SD All water, 3 vegetation, and 1 ground level.air samples indicated less than HDA for I-131.

One vegetation (grass) simple indicated 0.16 nanocuries/square mter I-131.

Two ground level air samples (collected at the same location and time side-by-side on April 13 at ll:45 a m.) indicated I-131 levels of'.6 picocuries per cubic meter.

An air sample taken by helicopter 100 meters downwind of the auxiliary building stack (within the restricted area) indicated an I-131 activity

'of '}19 picocuries per'ubic meter.

The 10 CFR 20 limit is 9000 picocuries per cubic meter.

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IE (TM) Site (Provide copy to STATE)

Hhite House Situation Room FDAA

.'Provide copies to tho Administrator and PEPA BRP TState of PA}

DCPA HEM 0~cup}

Handcarry (FAA) the Operations Center) t IJ x P st x"

Il@EDIATE PRELIHINARY NOTIFICATION 4

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IMMEDIATE PRELIMINARY!NOTIFICATION

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The following Aerial Measuring System Mind speed variable 5-20 mph.'

Time Max. Radiation Level 1700-1815 0.013 mR/hr survey was conducted on April 15..

1 Sector Distance from Site l

120 1/4 mile (elevation 300 ft)--

CONTINUED It@"iEDIATE PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION 1

April 16, 1979 PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE PNO-79-67LJ This reliminar notification constitutes sumar information of an event o

sa e

or u

ic nterest si nificance.

T e nformation resente is a

suronar o

information as o

7:00 a.m.

on ril 16, 1979.

Facility-'hree Nile Island Unit 2 hei ddl etown, Pennsyl vania (DN 50-320) 1 e

Subject:

'UCLEAR,. INCIDENT AT THREE MILE ISLAND 4

P)ant Status:

The primary coolant temperature remains at approximately 250 degrees F.

Four of the incore thermocouple readings remain above 300 degrees F

with the highest at 344 degrees F.

The hydrogen recombiner that fangled on Apri1 13 has been repaired and is in service.

At 0800 on April 15, 1979, the hydrogen concentration was reported to be 1446Ã compared to the reading of 1448" reported at 2200.hrs.

on April 12, 1979 before the recombiner failed.

Environmental Status:

Offsite radiat.'on levels in'dentified by NRC survey teams were consistent with normal background levels (0.02 mR/hr. maximum).

The results were obtained from routine surveys performed on the east and west sides of the Susquehanna River at distances up to five miles north and s6uth of the site.

By 4:00 p.m. on April 15,

1979, 482 local residents had been scanned with the who'le body counter 'located in Middleton.

Scan results indicated no radiation levels, above normal body levels.

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Continued April 16, 1979 PNO-79-67W

. 1.2 x 10"7 1.4 x 10-7 2.5 x 10-7 2,7 x 10"7 l

3.8 x 10"7 2.1 x 10-7 4/ii 1920

- 4/13 (2315) 4/14 1030

- 4/14 (1915) 4/14 1915 4/15 (0525) 4/15 (0525) " 4/15 {0804) 4/15 (0805) - 4/15 (1802) 4/15'(1802) " 4/15 (2140)

Environmental samples obtained during this period have shown some increase in radioactivity.

While the exact source of the increased activity has not been determined, it may be related to changeout of filters in the Auxiliary Building and/or tripout of the Auxiliary Building ventilation fan.

Efforts are in progress to correlate work activities wi.th the increased Iodine concentrations.

On April 15 and 16,

DOE, NRC, and the licensee measured Iodine levels in the switchyard, 0,6 miles east of the reacto~ site.

Airplane over-flight occurring at the same time indicated a very narrow plume.

Recent measurements (0200 4/16) indicated 9.4 x 10-11 uc/cc for NRC

sample, 7.4 x 10"11 uc/cc for licensee sample.and 6.0 x 10 11 uc/cc for the DOE sample.

The HPC for'iodine-,131 in unrestricted areas is 1 x 10"10 uc/cc. All samples:were side by side samples.

The State of Pennsylvania has been informed of these results.

In addition, the State will be provided with the DOE samples for analysis.

Contact:

GCGower, IE x 27246; DThompaon, IE x 28487 CONTINUED IMHEDIATE PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION The NRC took an air sample near the observation center starting at 1200 on April 14 and ending at 1700 on April 15.

Analysis of this sample indicated that the concentration of iodine-131 during the

29. hour period averaged

4. 1 x 10 12 uc/cc.

DoSe rates (47 locations) as measured by NRC thermoluminescent dosimeters for the past 24-hour period of April 16 are near expected natural background levels.

i Iodine cartridge measurements (from the Unit 2 vent stack) indicate that increased iodine release rates began occurring on or around April 12.

Iodine concento.ations measured in the ventilation stack are:

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~Ai't i I 4/10 1608) - 4/11 {1800) 2 3 x 10-8

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Continued April 16, 1979 PN0-79-.67M

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Distribution:

Transmitted d

'onmissioner Kennedy Comissioner Gilinskp' Transmitted:

MNBB ~4

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L. V. Gossick, EDO H. L. Ornstein, EDO J, J.

Fouchard, PA

'N.

M. Hailer,.MPA R.

Ge

Ryan, OSP H. K. Shapar, ELD H St ~i~~(

Commissioner Bradford Coomissioner Ahearne P. Bldg /'M H.

R.

Oe~nton, IRR R.

C. DeYoung, NRR R. J. Hattson, NRR V. Stello, NRR R. S.

Boyd, NRR SS Bldg M. J.

Di c s, 'S S. Levine, RES IE (TMI) Site t,'Provide copy to STATE)

White House Situa4on Room FDAA (Provide cops~s to the Administrator EPA OOE/EOC PERA BRP (State of PA)

DCPA

'EM{Fick~p3 Handcarry

{FAA)

IMMEDIATE PRFL IMINARY NOTIFICATION S. J. Chil k, SECY C.

C. Kaaeerer, CA

{For Distribution)

J.

G. Davis, IE Region I Region II~

Region III Region IV Region Y ~s. -Q

{MAIL)

J~ Cuernings, OIA R. Ninogue, SD and the Operations Center)

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