ML17300A983

LER 87-016-00:on 870718,contents of Chemical Waste Neutralization Tank Released to Onsite Evaporation Pond Exceeding Tech Spec 3.11.1.1 Limit for Mo-99.Caused by Personnel Error.Briefing Session planned.W/870807 Ltr

ML17300A983
Person / Time
Site:	Palo Verde
Issue date:	08/07/1987
From:	Bradish T, Haynes J ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE CO. (FORMERLY ARIZONA NUCLEAR
To:	NRC OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATION & RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (ARM)
References
192-00251-JGH-T, 192-251-JGH-T, LER-87-016-01, LER-87-16-1, NUDOCS 8708180174
Download: ML17300A983 (6)

Text

<P, REGULAR INFORMATION DISTRIBUTIO YSTEM (RIDS)

'CCESSION NBR: 8708180174 DOC. DATE: 87/08/07 NOTARIZED: NO DOCKET FACIL: STN-50-52'9 Palo Verde Nuclear Stations ILI*TION Unit 2i Arizona Pub li 05000529

• UTH. NAME AUTHOR AFF BRADISHi T. R. Ar i zona Nuc l eaT PoUjer ProJect ( formerly Arizona Public SeT v HAYNES. J. G. AT izona Nuclear Power ProJect (formerly Arizona Public Serv RECIP. NAME RECIPIENT AFFILIATION t

SUBJECT:

LER 87-016-00: on 870718'ontents of chemical waste neutralization tank released to onsite evaporation pond exceeding Tech Spec 3. 11. 1. 1 limit for Mo-99. Caused bg personnel error. BT ief ing session p lanned. W/870807 ltr.

DISTRIBUTION CODE: IE22D COPIES RECEIVED: LTR ENCL SIZE:

TITLE: 50. 73 Licensee Event Report (LER)i Incident Rpti etc.

NOTES: StandaT dized plant. M. Davisi NRR: iCg. 05000529 RECIPIENT COPIES RECIPIENT COP IES ID CODE/NAME LTTR ENCL ID CODE/NAME LTTR ENCL PD5 LA 1 PD5 PD 1 1 LICITRAiE 1 1 DAVISI M 1 1 INTERNAL: ACRS MICHELSON 1 1 ACRS MOELLER 2 2 AEOD/DOA 1 1 AEOD/DSP/NAS 1 1 AEOD/DSP/RO*B 2 2 AEOD/DSP/TPAB 1 DEDRO 1 1 NRR/DEST/ADE 1 0 NRR/DEST/ADS 0 NRR/DEST/CEB 1 NRR/DEST/ELB 1 1 NRR/DEST/ ICSB 1 1 NRR/DEST/MEB 1 1 NRR/DEST/MTB 1 1 NRR/DEST/PSB 1 1 NRR/DEST/RSB 1 1 NRR/DEST/SGB 1 1 NRR/DLPG/HFB 1 1 NRR/DLPG/GAB 1 1 NRR/DOE*/EAB 1 1 NRR/DREP/RAB 1 1 - DRE PB 2 2 NRR/PMAS/ ILRB 1 1 G F 02 1 RES DEPY Gl 1 1 RES TELFORDi J 1 1 RES/DE/EIB 1 1 RQN5 FILE 01 1 1 EXTERNAL: EGSQ QROH, M 5 5 H ST LOBBY WARD 1 1 LPDR 1 1 NRC PDR 1 1 NSIC HARRISi J 1 1 NSIC MAYST G 1 1 NOTES:

TOTAL NUMBER OF COPIES REQUIRED: LTTR 46 ENCL 44

NRC Form 355 0 U.S. NUCLEAR REOULATORY COMMISSION (9O31 APPROVED OMS NO. 3150OIOC LICENSEE EVENT REPORT ILER) EXPIRES'l31lSS FACILITY NAME (11 DOCKET NUMSER (2) PA P 1 V 2 0 5 0 0 0 1 oF P 3 Chemical Waste Neutralization Tank Discharged to pnsite Evaporation Pond While Exceedin Tech S ec 3.11.1.1 Limit for Mo-99 EVENT DATE(5) LER NUMBER (5) REPORT DATE (7) OTHER FACILITIES INVOLVED D))

MONTH DAY YEAR YEAR SEOUCNTIAL ?(r~ REVISION MONTH DAY YEAR FACILITYNAMES DOCKET NUMSERIS)

NUMSER ?8 I(UMSER N/A 0 5 0 0 0 0 7 8 787 0 1 6 0 0 807 7 N A 0 5 0 0 0 THIS REPORT IS SUSMITTED PURSUANT 7 0 THE REOUIREMENTS OF 10 CFR (); (Chert( Onr Or mOre Ol thr followrnc) (11 OPERATINO MODE (Sl

] 20 c02(e) 20.e05(cl 50.73(e I (2) I tr) 73.71(e)

POWE R 20.e05 le I ll ) (I) SOM(el l1) 50.73(e)(2)(r) 73.71(c)

LEVEL 1 p p 20.405(e) II)(ll) 50.35(cll2) 50.73(e)(2)(rS) OTHER (Sorrily in Aottrrct Oo'ow rnrf ln Fret. NRC Form (Ly)ey.~7+ .X(p w jere?(Y 20.e05( ~) (I I (illI 50.73( ~ ) l2)(l) 50.73(el(2)(rill ((A) 3FSAI 20.405( ~ litl(wl 50.73(el(2) (Sl 50.73(e) (2) lrlSI(S) 20.e05( ~ l(1) lr) 50.73(el(2)(ill( 50,73(e) (2) In)

LICENSEE CONTACT FOR THIS LER (12)

NAME TELEPHONE NVMSER AREA CODE Thomas R. Bradish Com liance Su ervisor COMPLE'TE ONE LINE FOR EACH COMPONENT FAILURE DESCRISED IN THIS REPORT (13) 6 0239 3-3 531 CAUSE SYSTEM COMPONENT MANUFAC. MANUFAC. EPORTASLE TVRER COMPONENT TURER TO NPRDS Nk.%XSAM

) I4P'r 2<

@~&"+4k;:)P'.: m SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT EXPECTED Ite) MONTH DAY YEAR EXPECTED SUSMISSION DATE (15)

YES ilfyer, complete EXPECTED SVSlllSSiON DATE) NO AssTRAGT ILimrt to lrOO tprcrt, i.A, epproeimetely fifteen tincre tpecr typewrinrn linn) (15)

At approximately 0200 MST on July 18, 1987, Palo Verde Unit 2 was in Mode 1 (POWER OPERATION) at 100 percent power, when the ACTION requirement for Technical Specification 3.11.1.1 was not complied with. A Chemistry Technician had performed Surveillance Test 74ST-2ZZ02 for release of liquid effluents from the secondary plant in accordance with Technical Specification 3.11.1.1. The Technician reviewed and accepted the Surveillance Test and released the contents of the chemical waste neutralization tank to the onsite evaporation pond with an analytical lower limit of detectability (LLD) value greater than the limit of the Technical Specification.

The root cause of the event has been determined to be a cognitive personnel error in that the Technician did not recognize that the LLD value for Molybdenum 99 was greater than allowed by Technical Specification 3.11.1.1.

Additionally, the Technician did not follow established Department Instructions applicable to generation, review and approval of analytical data.

As corrective action, the Chemistry Technician received appropriate disciplinary action. As additional corrective action to prevent recurrence, briefing sessions will be conducted with all Chemistry Technicians by the respective Unit Chemistry Supervisors to discuss this event and re-emphasize the review and approval process for analytical data.

8708180174 870807529 PDR ADDCK 05000

/$ I 8

NRC eorm 355

0 NRC Foam 388A

/943 I 0 U.E. NUCLEAR REOULATOR Y COMM/88/DN LICENSEE EVENT REPORT (LER) TEXT CONTINUATION APPROVED OM8 NO 3ISOWI04 EXPIRES/ 8/31/88 FACILITY NAME (II DOCKET NUMEER l1)

LER NUMEER IEI ~ AOE I3I YEAR .'.% SEQUENT/AL,8 /

'+?R VOX/4 S/VM TR ~ +'/I/MSSA Palo Verde Unit 2 o 5 o o o 5 2 87 016 00 02 oF 0 3 TEXT //I//////P sauce /s newaf. Fw F////y///VRC foen 3RLA3/IITI At approximately 0200 MST on July 18, 1987, Palo Verde Unit 2 was in Mode 1 (POWER OPERATION) at 100 percent power, when the ACTION requirement for Technical Specification 3.11.1.1 (Secondary System Liquid Waste Discharges to Onsite Evaporation Ponds)(WH) was not complied with. A Chemistry Technician (utility non-licensed) had performed Surveillance Test 74ST-2ZZ02 (Chemical Waste Neutralization Tank Surveillance Test) for release of liquid effluents from the secondary plant in accordance with Technical Specification 3.11.1.1.

The Technician reviewed and accepted the Surveillance Test and released the contents of the chemical waste neutralization tank (WH) to the onsite evaporation pond with an analytical lower limit of detectability (LLD) value greater than the limit of the Technical Specification.

On July 20, 1987 the Chemistry Supervisor (utility non-licensed), during his review of the Surveillance Test, identified that the chemical waste neutralization tank was discharged to the onsite evaporation pond contrary to Technical Specification 3.11.1.1. A Chemistry Technician performed the release to the onsite evaporation pond when the analyzed LLD for Molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) did not meet the required LLD specification of /= 5E-7 micro-curies per cubic centimeter. The analyzed LLD value was /= 9E-7 micro-curies per cubic centimeter.

l The root cause of the event has been determined to be a cognitive personnel error in that the Technician did not recognize that the LLD value of the analysis for Mo-99 was greater than that allowed by Technical Specification 3.11.1.1. Additionally, the Technician did not follow established Department Instructions applicable to generation, review and approval of analytical data.

Analytical results generated by a Chemistry Technician are to be reviewed by a second Technician, as a minimum, prior to distribution or release of analytical data, and in the case of Surveillance Tests, a review by the Unit Chemistry Supervisor or his designee. The error was contrary to an approved procedure.

There were no errors in the procedure that contributed to the event. There were no unusual characteristics of the work location that contributed to the event.

As corrective action, the Chemistry Technician received appropriate disciplinary action. As additional corrective action to prevent recurrence, briefing sessions will be conducted with all Chemistry Technicians by the respective Unit Chemistry Supervisors to discuss this event and re-emphasize the review and approval process for analytical data.

4AC SOAM 3SSa l9 83i

NAC FoIM 344A ISA3 I V.S. NUCLEAR AEOVLATOAYCOMMISSION LICENSEE EVENT REPORT (LER) TEXT CONTINUATION APPAOVEO OMS NO 31M~I O4 EXPIAES. S/31IES FACILITY NAME III OOCKET NVMSEA I?l LER NVMSER (Sl ~ AOE ISI YEAR SSQVSNTIAL:.:~ ASVISION NVM SA ~ <i'VM fA Palo Verde Unit

'TEXT IIF nxvr tooco 2

A nquiwf. ooo aIAWonol HAC Form 34SA'ol I IT) 0 5 0 0 0 5 2 9 8 7 016 00 03o03 There were no structures, systems, or components inoperable prior to the event which contributed to the event. There were no operator actions that contributed to the event. There were no automatic or manual safety system responses.

The chemical waste neutralizating tank, capacity approximately 40,000 gallons, is discharged to the onsi.te evaporation pond via a retention basin which holds approximately 500,000 gallons. During this evolution the effluent becomes more dilute. Further dilution of the effluent occurs when it enters the onsite evaporation pond which covers approximately 250 acres. The half-life of Mo-99 is 66.02 hours2.314815e-5 days <br />5.555556e-4 hours <br />3.306878e-6 weeks <br />7.61e-7 months <br />, therefore after one half-life the activity of the effluent would be 4.5 E-7 micro-curies per cubic centimeter which is below the LLD.

Accordingly, no MEMBER OF'THE PUBLIC at t'e nearest exclusion area boundary would receive a total body annual exposure, from ground contamination, of greater than '.5 roentgen. Therefore, this event had no effect on the health and safety of the public.

There have not been any similar events previously reported.

4AC ~ 0AM 3444 IS Sl>

Arizona Nuclear Power Pro)ect P.O. SOX 52034 ~ PHOENIX. ARIZONA85072-2034 1 92-00251- JGH/TRB/ J EM August 7, 1987 Document Control Desk U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555

Subject:

Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station (PVNGS)

Unit 2 Docket No. 50-529 Licensee Event Report 87-016-00 File: 87-020-404

Dear Sirs:

Attached please find Licensee Event Report (LER) No. 87-016-00 prepared and submitted pursuant to 10CFR 50.73. In accordance with 10CFR 50.73(d), we are herewith forwarding a copy of the LER to the Regional Administrator of the Region V Office.

If you have any questions, please contact T. R. Bradish, Compliance Supervisor at (602) 393-3531.

Very truly yours, J. G. H/ynes Vice President Nuclear Production JGH/JEM/cld Attachment cc: 0. M. DeMichele (all w/a)

E. E. Van Brunt, Jr.

J. B. Martin R. P. Zimmerman R. C. Sorenson E. A. Licitra A. C. Gehr INPO Records Center