ML19210E187

Responds to NRC 790920 Ltr Re Violations Noted in IE Insp Rept 50-333/79-09.Corrective Actions:Technician Informed of Primary Duties & Personnel Following Improper Procedures Will Be Warned

ML19210E187
Person / Time
Site:	FitzPatrick
Issue date:	10/10/1979
From:	Leonard J POWER AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (NEW YORK
To:	Grier B NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
Shared Package
ML19210E183	List: ML19210E187
References
JAFP-79-552, NUDOCS 7911300671
Download: ML19210E187 (3)

Text

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s e9 POWER AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK JAMES A. FtrzPATRICK NUCLEAR POWER PLANT JOHN D. LEONA o,JR Resident Manage, S October 10, 1979 P.o. BOX 41 Lycoming, New York 13093 3is.32.3840 JAFP-79 552 Mr. Boyce H. Grier, Director United States Nucl. ear Regulatory Commission Region I 631 Park Avenue King of Prussia, PA 19406

Reference:

Docket No. 50-333 IE Inspection No. 79-09

Dear Mr. Grier:

With reference to the inspection conducted by Mr. T. Stet ca of your office 1

on June 25 through 29, 1979 at the James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant, and in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.201 of Part II of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations, we are submitting our response to Appendix A, Notice of Violation transmitted by your letter dated September 20, 1979 as received by

'6e undersigned on September 24, 1979.

APPENDIX A NOTICE OF VIOLATION Based on the results of the NRC inspection conducted on June 25-29, 1979, it appears that certain of your activities were not conducted in full compliance with conditions of your NRC Facility License No. DPR-59 as indicated below.

These items are infractions.

A. Technical Specifications 6.11 states in part;

" Procedures for personnel radiation protection shall be prepared and adhered to for all plant operations. These procedures shall be formulated to maintain radiation exposures received during operation and maintenance as far below the limits specified in 10 CFR 20 as practicable. The procedures shall include planning, preparation, and training for operation and nalnte-nance activities. They shall also include exposure allocation, radiation and contamination control techniques, and final debriefing."

Radiation protection Operating Procedures, Paragraph III.C.1., Count Rate Meter (also called "Frisker"), states in part; "A COUNT RATE METER... is used by personnel when they exit from contaminated areas to ensure that they are not carrying ccntamination with them...

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Page 2 Procedure for use of the count rate meter:

a) Approach the probe (detector) of the unit with the hands, but don't pick it up until the hands are moved slowly near the probe (as close to the probe as possible without touching it). If the alarm sounds, put on one of the pairs of gloves provided and continue with step b.

b) Once hands are shown to be free from contamination or gloves have been donned, pick up probe survey the rest of the body by passing the probe slowly over the body. Make a thorough survey of the bottoms of shoes.

Contrary to the above, at approximately 1530 hours0.0177 days <br />0.425 hours <br />0.00253 weeks <br />5.82165e-4 months <br /> on June 25, 1979, two personnel were observed to frisk only the bottom of their feet (in approxi-mately one second) without frisking their hands or the remainder of their bodies. Also contrary to the above, at approximately 1000 hours0.0116 days <br />0.278 hours <br />0.00165 weeks <br />3.805e-4 months <br /> on June 26, 1979, another person was observed to frisk only the bottom of his feet (in approximately one second) without frisking his hands or the remainder of his body. These instances occurred while exiting the contamination control point.

B. Technical Specification 6.11(A)1. states in part; "In lieu of the ' control device' or ' alarm signal' required by paragraph 20.203(c)(2) of 10 CFR 20, each High Radiation Area (i.e., >100 mrem /hr) in which the intensity of radiation is 1000 mrem /hr or less shall be barricaded and conspicuously posted as a high radiation area...."

Contrary to the above on June 26, 1979, at 0930 hours0.0108 days <br />0.258 hours <br />0.00154 weeks <br />3.53865e-4 months <br />, Reactor Water Cleanup (RWCU) Pump Room B, with area dose rates of 75 to 100 MR/HR was found to be unbarricaded and not conspicuously posted as a high radiation area. On June 26, 1979 at 0945 hours0.0109 days <br />0.263 hours <br />0.00156 weeks <br />3.595725e-4 months <br /> the East Pipe Tunnel, with area dose rates in the general tunnel area of 15-200 f m/HR, was found to be unbarricaded and not conspicuously posted as a high radiation area.

RESPONSE TO ITEM A Two count rate meters (friskers) are provided for personnel monitoring at the main access point to the restricted areas of the plant. In this area are located both the desk for issuing RWP's, TLD's and self-reading dosimeters and the Radiological and Environmental Services (RES) Technician's Office. Personnel crossing this access point may be observed from either work area. To enforce the proper use of the friskers two immediate corrective steps were taken:

1. An RES technician was stationed at the desk and informed that one of his primary duties was to correct personnel who were observed not following the step off pad procedure.

2. It was reiterated to the RES technicians that it was their responsi-bility to correct personnel on the spot who are observed not following the step off pad procedure in the plant as well as at the main access point.

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Page 3 These corrective steps have improved personnel monitoring habits as observed by plant supervisory personnel and as reported by the RES technicians.

To augment the effort to improve personnel moni.toring greater emphasis will be placed on the necessity of monitoring properly at access points during routine radiation protection training and retraining sessions. Furthermore, we plan to provide a restricted area access point RES technician in future outages where large numbers of trades and/or contractors (greater than 200) are required.

It should be noted, however, that daily clean area surveys taken during this outage indicated that measureable contamination of unrestricted areas especially in the immediate vicinity of the step off pad were well below the limits specificed in 10 CFR 20. Therefore, contamination control measures have been successfully enforced at the plant.

RESPONSE TO ITEM B oates and doors are used as barricades at most of the high radiation areas in the plant. They are equipped with warning strobe lights which are activated when not latched and with automatic closing devices.

RES technicians were immediately assigned upon notification of this infraction to perform two walkthrough inspections each shift particularly in areas where RWP's were issued for work. Their instructions included not only closing high radiation area gates and doors if found open, but to contact any individual responsible for the task and to refresh his knowledge of the responsibilities of a "Leadman" on a RWP. In addition the "Leadman's" supervisor was informed.

To strengthen our position in this matter, the necessity of assuring that high radiation areas be properly posted and barricaded or guarded at all times will be emphasi::ed more strongly in future radiation protection training and retraining sessions. For future outages with large numbers of trades and/or contractors we will increase our patrol frequency to aid in enforcing our procedures.

Full compliance of the above items will be acheived by January 1, 1980.

Very truly yours,

/ . . . =

a y' JOHN D. LEONARD, JR.',

/ RESIDENT MANAGER JDL:EAM:j lk ,e

/

/

CC: G. T. Berry, PASNY, NYO G. A. Wilverding, PASNY, NYO P. W. Lyon, PASNY, NY0 J. D. Leonard, Jr. , JAF R. J. Pasternak, JAF M. C. Cosgrove, JAF Document Control Center k g }7J 0