ML18081B197
| ML18081B197 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Salem  |
| Issue date: | 03/07/1980 |
| From: | Grier B NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| To: | Schneider F Public Service Enterprise Group |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8003180053 | |
| Download: ML18081B197 (3) | |
Text
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION REGION I 631 PARK AVENUE KING OF PRUSSIA, PENNSYLVANIA 19406 Docket No. 50-272 Public Service Electric and Gas Company ATTN:
Mr. F. W. Schneider Vice President - Production 80 Park Place Newark, New Jersey.* 07101 Gentlemen:
March 7, 1980 The enclosed IE Information Notice No. 80-09, Possible Occupational Health Hazard Associated With Closed Cooling Systems for Operating Power Plants, is forwarded to you for information.
Na written response is required.
Should you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact this office.
Sincerely,
~~-
Boyce H. Grier Director
Enclosures:
- 1.
IE Information Notice No. 80-09
- 2.
List of Recently. Issued IE Information Notices CONTACT:
R. J. Bores (215-337-5260) cc w/encls:
F. P. Librizzi, General Manager - Electric Production E. N. Schwalje, Manager - Quality Assurance R~ L. Mittl, General Manager - Licensing and Environment H. J. Midura, Manager - Salem Generating Station 80 031 80053
Jl......
ENCLOSURE 1 UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT WASHINGTON, D.C.
20555 SSINS:
6870 Accession No.:
7912190681
. IE Information Nati ce No. 80-09 Date:
March 7, 1980 Page 1 of 1
.. POSSIBLE OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH HAZARD ASSOCIATED WITH CLOSED COOLING SYSTEMS FOR
- OPERATING POWER PLANTS As a result of information that the causative agent for meningoencephalitis, the amoeba Naeglaria fowleri, had been found in warm water ponds in Florida and Texas where two fatalities were reported, NRC initiated a study by Oak Ridge National Laboratory on the occurrence of Naeglaria in power plants with closed cycle cooling systems.
For seven power stations examined (6 fossil, 1 nuclear), this study confirmed the presence of pathogenic Naeglaria at three plants including the nuclear plant (Dresden).
Recently, Northern States Power Company (NSP), while monitoring the Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant closed cooling system for the amoeba, did identify the presence of Naeglaria. Although the Minnesota Department of Health does not consider the existence of the organism to be a public health threat, it was recognized as a possible occupational health hazard.
Plant perso,nne l were instructed to wear rubber gl aves when coming into contact with the circulating water and to wear re~pirators when working in the area of the cooling towers.
In November 1979, NSP conducted a special chlorination program at Prairie Island that was designed by Dr. Richard Tyndall of Oak Ridge to eradicate this organism.
Chlorine concentrations *in the circulating water system was raised to 2.0 mg/1 (measured as free chlorine) for a p*eriod of six hours to destroy both the amoebae and its encysted form.
This program also included dechlorination prior to discharge. and intensive monitoring to document chlorine concentrations, the impacts of chlorinated cooling tower dra*ft and sampling to determine the efficacy of the special ch l ori nation program. in destroying Naeglaria.
Preliminary results indicate that the program was successful in. reducing the number of organisms present by two to three. orders of* magnitude,.
It is recognized that there have been no reported cases of meningoencephalitis reported among power plant personnel to date; however, the seriousness of the disease (if contracted) and the confirmed presence of Naeglaria at four plants, leads us to inform all licensees with closed cycle cooling water systems of the potential occupational hazard and advise that they take appropriate action.
This Information Notice is provided as an early notification of a possibly significant matter. It is expected that recipients will review the informa-tion for possible applicablility to their facilities.
No specific action or response is requested at this time.
If further NRC eva1uations so indicate, an IE Circular, Bulletin or NRR Generic Letter will be issued to recommend or request specific licensee actions. If you have any questions regarding the matter, please contact the Director of the appropri.ate NRC Regional Office.
~ *-*
Information Notice No. 79-33 79;..34 79-35 79-36 79-37 80-01 80-02 80-03 80-04 80-05 80-06 80-07 80-08
.e
- ENCLOSURE 2 IE Information Notice No. 80-09 Date:
March 7, 1980 Page l of 1 RECENTLY ISSUED IE INFORMATION NOTICES Subject Date Issued to Issued Improper Closure of Primary 12/21/79 All Power Reactor Faci-
. Containment Access Hatches lities with an Operating License (OL) or Construe-tion Permit (CP)
Inadequate Design of Safety-12/31/79 All Power Reactor Faci-Related Heat Exchangers lities with an OL or CP Control of Maintenance 12/31/79 All Power Reactor Faci-and Essential Equipment lities with an OL or CP Computer Code Defect in 12/31/79 All Power Reactor Faci-Stress Analysis of Piping lities with an OL or CP Elbow Cracking in Low Presssure 12/31/79 All Power Reactor Faci-Turbine Discs lities with an OL orCP Fuel Handling Events 1/4/80 All Power Reactor Faci-lities with an OL or CP 8X8R.Water Rod Lawer 1/25/80 All BWR Facilities with End Plug Wear an OL or CP
.Main Turbine Electro-1/31/80 All Power Reactor Faci-hydraulic Control System lities with an OL or CP BWR Fuel Exposure in Excess 2/4/80 All BWR Facilities with of Limits an OL or CP Chloride Contamination of 2/8/80 A 11 *Power Reactor Faci-Safety Related Piping *and l ities with an OL or CP Components and applicants for a CP Notification of Signif-2/27/80 All Power Reactor Faci-icant Events lities with an OL and app l i carit for OL Pump Fatigue Cracki.ng 2/29/80 All Power Reactor Faci-lities with an OL or CP The States Company Sliding 3/7/80 All Power Reactor Faci-Link Electrical Terminal lities with an OL or CP Block