ML18081B198
| ML18081B198 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Salem  |
| Issue date: | 03/07/1980 |
| From: | Grier B NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| To: | Martin T Public Service Enterprise Group |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8003180055 | |
| Download: ML18081B198 (3) | |
Text
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION REGION I.
631 PARK AVENUE KING OF PRUSSIA, PENNSYLVANIA 19406 Docket No. 50-311 Public Service Electric and Gas Company ATTN:
Mr. T. J. Martin Vice President -
Engine~ring and Construction 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.
No written response is required.
Should you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact this office.
Sincerely,
~~
Enclosures:
- 1.
IE InfGrmation Notice No. 80-09 Boyce H. Grier Director
- 2.
List of Recently Issued IE Information Notites CONTACT:
R. J. Bores (215-337-5260) cc w/encls:
E. N. Schwalje, Manager - Quality Assurance
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I 80 031 800~S-
ENCLOSURE 1 UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT WASHINGTON, D.C.
20555 SSINS:
6870 Accession No.:
7912190681 IE Information Notice 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 irifo~matiori 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 personnel were instructed to wear rubber gloves when coming into contact with the circulating water and to wear respirators 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 period 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 draft and sampling to determine the efficacy of the special chlorination program. in destroying Naeglaria.
Preliminary results indicate that the program was s.uccessful 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 evaluations 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 appropriate 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 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 Construc-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 and Essential Equipment Computer Code Defect in Stress Analysis of Piping Elbow Cracking in Low Presssure Turbine Discs Fuel Handling Events 8X8R Wat.er Rod Lower End Plug Wear Main Turbine Electro-hydraul i.c Control System BWR Fuel Exposure in Excess o.f Limits Chloride Contamination of Safety Related Piping and Components Notification of Signif-icant Events Pump Fatigue Cracki.ng The States Company Sliding Link Electrical Terminal Block 12/31/79 All Power Reactor Faci-lities with an OL or CP 12/31/79 A 11 Power Reactor Faci-1 ities with an OL or CP 12/31/79 All Power Reactor Faci-lities with an OL or CP 1/4/80 All Power Reactor Faci-lities with an OL or CP 1/25/80 All BWR Facilities with an OL or CP 1/31/80 All Power Reactor Faci-1 ities with an OL or CP 2/4/80 All BWR Facilities with an OL or CP 2/8/80 All Power Reactor Faci-lities -with an OL or CP and applicants for a CP 2/27/80 All Power Reactor Faci-lities with an OL and appl icarit for OL 2/29/80 All Power Reactor Faci-lities with an OL or CP 3/7/80 All Power Reactor Faci-lities with an OL or CP