ML18139A392
| ML18139A392 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Surry, North Anna  |
| Issue date: | 05/28/1980 |
| From: | James O'Reilly NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION II) |
| To: | Ferguson J VIRGINIA POWER (VIRGINIA ELECTRIC & POWER CO.) |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8007020200 | |
| Download: ML18139A392 (5) | |
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UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION REGION II 101 MARIETTA ST., N.W., SUITE 3100 ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303 MAY 28 1980 REGULATnR ;
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Attn:
J. H. Ferguson Executive Vice President-Power P. 0. Box 26666 Richmond, Virginia 23261 Gentlemen:
The enclosed IE Information Notice is forwarded to you for infor-mation.
No written response to this Information Notice is required.
If you have any questions related to the subject, please contact this office.
Enclosures:
- 1.
IE Information Notice No. 80-22
- 2.
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List of Recently Issued IE Information Notices Sincerely,
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Director
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Virginia Electric and Power Company cc w/encl:
e W.R. Cartwright, Station Manager Post Office Box 402 Mineral, Virginia 23117 P. G. Perry Senior Resident Engineer Post Office Box 38 Mineral, Virginia 23117 J. L. Wilson, Manager Post Office Box 315 Surry, Virginia 23883 MAY 28 1980.
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT WASHINGTON, DC 20555 May 28, 1980 SSINS: 6870 Accessions No:
8005050059 IE Information Notice No. 80-22 BREAKDOWNS IN CONTAMINATION CONTROL PROGRAMS Description of Circumstances Recent inspections at power reactors have revealed breakdowns in contamination control programs resulting in releases of radioactive materials to 'the unrestricted area and off-site environment by several different pathways.
The first pathway was via disposal of supposedly clean trash in the nearby county sanitary landfill. High background radiation levels due to an onsite buildup of radioactive waste precluded adequate radiation surveys of clean trash prior to removal from the restricted area.
In addition, the surveys were being conducted by improperly trained personnel.
The result was the undetected disposal of radioactive material in the local sanitary landfill.
An NRC inspector observed the practice and confirmed his suspicions when he detected levels of radiation 10 to 20 times normal background levels at the landfill.
Subsequent surveys by the licensee, the State, and the NRC revealed several other areas in the landfill with higher than normal dose rates.
Excavation by the licensee revealed items with contamination levels up to 100 mrem/hr contact reading.
These items had been delivered with the clean trash from the plant and bu~ied at the landfill.
A second pathway was identified to be through the sale by the licensee of scrap materials to salvage dealers in the surrounding area.
Several items with contamination levels in excess of the licensee's unrestricted area release limits were discovered to have been sold to these vendors.
Maximum dose rates on these items did not exceed 1.0 mrem/hr.
This condition evidently also resulted from the elevated background radiation levels within the plant and the practice of permitting unqualified personnel to conduct radiation surveys.
A third pathway was found during a recent NRC inspection.
An NRC inspector's radiation survey revealed soil contamination on site extending beyond the protected area fence.
Radiation levels as high as 1.5 mrem/hr were measured on contact with the soil.
The contamination is believed to be atmospheric fallout of particulate radioactivity which was exhausted from the plant stack during containment purge fQllowing explosive plugging of steam generator tubes.
The steam generator manways were not covered and the purge system was not equipped with HEPA filters. The licensee's survey program did not include routine, periodic site and perimeter surveys.
e IE Information Notice No. 80-22 May 28, 1980 Page 2 of 2 This IE Information Notice is provided as an early notification of a significant matter that is still under review by the NRC staff. It is expected that recipi-ents will review the information for possible applicability to their facilities.
No specific action or response is requested at this time.
If NRC evaluations so indicate, further licensee actions may be required.
No written response to this IE Information Notice is required. If you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact the Director of the appropriate NRC Regional Office.
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e IE Information Notice No. 80-22 May 28, 1980 Information Notice No.
. 80-22 80-21 80-20 80-19 80-18 80-17 80-16 80-15 80-14 RECENTLY ISSUED IE INFORMATION NOTICES Subject Date Issued Breakdown in Contamination 5/28/80 Control Programs Anchorage and Support of 5/16/80 Safety-Related Electrical Equipment Loss of Decay Heat Removal 5/8/80 Capability at Davis-Besse Unit 1 While in a Refueling Mode NIOSH Recall of Recircu-5/6/80 lating-Mode (Closed-Circuit)
Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (Rebreathers)
Possible Weapons Smuggling 5/5/80 Pouch Potential Hazards Associated 5/5/80
.With Interchangable Parts On Radiographic Equipment Shaft Seal Packing 4/29/80 Causes Binding In Main Steam Swing Check And Isolation Valves Axial (Longitudinal) 4/21/80 Oriented Cracking In Piping Safety Suggestions From 4/2/80 Employees Enclosure Issued To All OLs and near-term CPs All power reactor facilities with an 01 or CP All light water reactor facilities holding power reactor 01s or CPs All holders of a power reactor OL, Research Reactor License, Fuel Cycle Facility License and Priority I Material License All power reactor facilities with an OL, fuel fabrication and processing facilities and Materials Priority I licensees (processors and distributors)
All radiography Licenses All power reactor facilities in your Region with an OL or CP All Light Water Reactor Facilities holding power reactor OLs or CPs All power reactor facilities with an 01 or CP