ML17348B443

LER 91-010-00:on 910123,TS 3/4.7.7 Violated by Inadequate Leak Testing of Fe-55 Source.Caused by Test Instruments Lack of Sensitivity.Proper Leak Tests Performed on Sealed Sources & Purchase/Test Procedures revised.W/920324 Ltr

ML17348B443
Person / Time
Site:	Turkey Point
Issue date:	03/24/1992
From:	Mowrey C, Plunkett T FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT CO.
To:	NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM)
References
L-92-087, L-92-87, LER-91-010, LER-91-10, NUDOCS 9203300323
Download: ML17348B443 (7)

Text

ACCELERATED DISTRIBUTION DEMONSTIMTION SYSIEM REGULBTuRY INFORMATION DZSTRIBUTZOISYSTEM (RIDE)

ACCESSION NBR:9203300323 DOC.DATE: 92/03/24 NOTARIZED: NO DOCKET EACIL.50-250 Turkey Point Plant, Unit 3, Florida Power and Light C 05000250 AUTH. NAME AUTHOR AFFILIATION MOWREY,C.L. Florida Power & Light Co.

PLUNKETT,T.F. Florida Power & Light Co.

RECIP.NAMF RECIPIENT'FFILIATION

SUBJECT:

LER 91-010-00:on 910123,TS 3/4.7.7 violated by inadequate leak testing of Fe-55 source. Caused by test of sensitivity. Proper leak tests performed on sealed instruments'ack sources & purchase/test procedures revised.W/920324 ltr.

DISTRIBUTION CODE: ZE22T COPIES RECEIVED:LTR ( ENCL TITLE: 50.73/50.9 Licensee Event Report (LER), Incident Rpt, etc.

NOTES:NRR RAGHAVAN,L j SIZE:

05000250 RECIPIENT COPIES RECIPIENT COPIES ID CODE/NAME LTTR ENCL ID CODE/NAME LTTR ENCL PD2-2 LA 1 1 PD2-2 PD 1 1 AULUCK,R 1 1 INTERNAL: ACNW 2 2 AEOD/DOA 1 1 AEOD/DSP/TPAB 1 1 AEOD/ROAB/DSP 2 2 NRR/DET/EMEB 7E 1 1 NRR/DLPQ/LHFB10 1 1 NRR/DLPQ/LPEB10 1 1 NRR/DOEA/OEAB 1 1 NRR/DREP/PRPB11 2 2 NRR/DST/SELB 8D 1 1 NRR/DST/SICB8H3 1 1 NRR/DSg AM B &D1 1 1 NRR/DST/SRXB 8E 1 1 REG jBXL~ 0+

RGN~FI=LE- -- 5X 1 1 RES/DSIR/EIB 1 1 1 1 EXTERNAL EG&G BRYCE F J ~ H 3 3 L ST LOBBY WARD 1 1 NRC PDR 1 1 NSIC MURPHYFG.A 1 1 NSIC POOREFW. 1 1 NUDOCS FULL TXT 1 1 NOTES: 1 1 NOTE TO ALL "RIDS" RECIPIENTS:

PLEASE HELP US TO REDUCE WASTE! CONTACI'HE DOCUMENT CONTROL DESK, ROOM Pl-37 (EXT. 20079) TO ELIMINATEYOUR NAME FROM DISTRIBUTION LISTS FOR DOCUMENTS YOU DON'T NEED!

FULL TEXT CONVERSION REQUIRED TOTAL NUMBER OF COPIES REQUIRED: LTTR 31 ENCL 31

P.O. Box 029100, Miami. FL, 33102.9100 FPL MAR 24lb92 L-92-087 10 CFR 50.73 U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Attn: Document Control Desk Washington, D. C. 20555 Gentlemen:

Re: Turkey Point Unit 3 Docket No. 50-250 Reportable Event: 91-010-00 Inade uate Leak Teatin of Iron-55 The attached Licensee Event Report 250-91-010-00 j.s being provided in accordance with 10 CFR 50.73 (a) (2) (i) .

If there are any questions please contact us.

Very truly yours,

~(pj+.D=P T. F. Plunkett Vice President Turkey Point Nuclear TFP/CLM/cm enclosures cc: Stewart D. Ebneter, Regional Administrator, Region II, USNRC, Senior Resident Inspector, USNRC, Turkey Point Plant 9203300323 '920324 PDR ADOCK 05000250 8 PDR an FPL Group company

LICENSEE EVENT REPORT (LER)

DOCKET NUHBER (2) PAGE <3)

FACILITY NAHE ) I)

TURKEY POINT UNITS 3 and 4 05000250 oF 3 TITLE ) 6)

Inadequate Leak Testing of Iron-55 Source EVeNT Dhve <5) LER NUHBER(6) RPT DATE )7) OTHER FACII ITIES INV l8)

HON DAY YR YR SEO 6 DAY YR FACILITY NAHES DOCKET 6 IS) 01 23 91 91 010 00 03 24 92 TURKEY POINT UNIT 6 05000251 OPERATING NODE )5)

PONER LEVEL (10) 50/100 10 CFR 50.73 a 2 i LICENSEE CONTACT FOR THIS LER (12)

Craig L. Mowrey, Licensing Engineer TELEPHONE NUHBER 305-246-6204 COHPLETE ONE LINE FOR EACH COHPONENT FAILURE DESCRIB D IN THIS REPORT 13 chUse SYSTEH COHPONENT HANUFACTURE R NPRDSP CAUSE SYSTEH HANUFACTURER NPRDSP COHPONENI SUPPLFHENTAL REPCRv exPecvED )16) No 8 -

Yes 0 EXPECTED SUBHISS ION DAY DATE )15)

)if Yes ~ cccplete EXPECTED SUBHISSION DATE)

ABSTRACT (16)

On February 28, 1992, during a review of industry information, Health Physics personnel identified a deficiency in the leakage testing of sealed sources. Leak testi.ng is required by Technical Specification (TS) 3/4.7.7. It was determined that the instrument used for leak testing of a metal alloy analyzer containing an Iron-55 sealed source did not have the required sensitivity to detect the low energy emissions produced by the Iron-55 source. Therefore TS 3/4.7.7 was violated as of January 23, 1991, when the six month surveillance interval was exceeded.

The cause of this event was the failure of the indi.viduals involved to recogn'ize the limitation of the leak test equipment. A contributing factor was failure to address sealed'ources that contain radioactive material other than alpha, beta, or gamma emitting radionuclides in the procedure for leak testing of radioactive sources.

The analyzer was impounded until proper leak tests were performed, which verified that the source was free of leakage. Health Physics reviewed the site source inventory and ensured that all other sealed sources on site are being adequately leak tested.* Other corrective actions include revisions to the procedures controlling purchase and leak testing of sealed. sources, and transfer of the alloy analyzer to Florida Power and Light Company's Purchasing Quality Control, Department, under the General License provisions of the Florida Administrative Code.

Since no contamination levels were found in excess of TS limits, there were no safety consequences as a result of this event.

LICENSEEOTENT REPORT (LER) TEXT ONTINUATION FACILITY NAME DOCKET NUMBER LER NOMBER PAGE NO.

TURKEY POINT UNIT 3 05000250 91-010-00 02 oF 03 IR%2PV DE CRZPTZON Since March 24, 1990, Turkey Point 'Nuclear Plant has been in possession of a Texas Nuclear (TN) metal alloy analyzer [EIIS component: AE] that contains an Iron-55 sealed source. Leak tests are required by Technical Specification (TS) 3/4.7.7 for sealed sources that are in use. The tests are required at six-month intervals.

The analyzer had been transferred back to TN for repair in July, 1990, and was properly tested for leakage at: TN on July 23, 1990.

Tests for leakage were done on several occasions at Turkey Point using survey instrumentation [EIIS component: RI] that was not capable of detecting the radiation emitted from Iron-55 at the sensitivity level required by TS 3/4.7.7 (0.005 microcuries). The leak tests did not,satS.sfy the TS requirements. Therefore, as of January 23, 1991, TS 3/4.7.7 was violated in that the analyzer was not properly tested for leakage every 'six months as required.

On February 24, 1992, during a review of industry information, Health Physics personnel learned of LER 400/91-020-00, in which Carolina Power 6 Light Company reported less than adequate testing of sealed sources, one of which was an Iron-55 source in a metal alloy analyzer.

The metal alloy analyzer was taken out of use and secured until proper leak tests were performed. The Iron-55 sealed source was found not to be leaking.

ZZ. EVENT CAUSE This event occurred because the individuals that directed and/or performed the leakage tests failed to recognize that the instruments used were not suitable for detecting leakage from the Iron-55 source.

A contributing factor was failure to address sealed sources that contain radioactive material other than alpha, beta, or gamma emitting radionuclides, in the, procedure for leak testing of radioactive sources.

IIZ. EVENT SAFETY ANALYSIS No contamination levels were found in excess of TS or 10CFR20 limits, which would have indicated sealed source leakage. On that basis, the health and safety of the public were not affected.

~ 0 LICENSEE EVENT REPORT (LER) TEXT CONTINUATION FACILITY NAME DOCKET NUMBER LER NUMBER PAGE NO.

TURKEY POINT UNIT 3 05000250 91-010-00 03 OF 03 XV. CORRECTIVE ACTXONS The alloy analyzer was secured until proper tests for leakage could be performed.

2. Texas Nuclear is specifically authorized in Condition 19 of Texas Department of Health, Radioactive Material License number L03524, to conduct leak tests of sealed radioactive sources. Transferable contamination samples (smears) of the source were taken and shipped to TN for analysis. The source was determined to be free from leakage.

3. The Health Physics Department reviewed the Turkey Point source inventory and verified that there are no other sealed sources on site that can not be adequately leak tested.

4. Procedure O-ADM-022, Procurement of Radioactive Sources, will be revised to include a requirement to verify that Turkey Point has instrumentation suitable for detecting transferable contamination or leakage from a sealed source, before approving procurement. This procedure revision will be completed by April 10, 1992.

5. Procedure O-HPS-92, Leak Testing of Radioactive Sources, will be revised to include a requirement to test sealed sources that contain other than alpha, beta,, or gamma emitting radioactive material, at the same frequency as is currently required for those that do contain alpha, beta, or gamma emitting radioactive material. This revision will be completed by April 10, 1992.

6. The metal alloy analyzer will be transferred to FPL Purchasing Quality Control, under the General License provisions of the Florida Administrative Code, Paragraph 10D-91.306, General Licenses Radioactive Material Other than Source Material.

This transfer will be completed by June 1, 1992.

V. ADDXTZONAL ZNPORMATXON No similar events have been reported.