ML19224C961

Submits Written Record of 790419-0504 Actions Re TMI Event: Communicator for in-plant Health Physics Group & Later in-plant Health Physics Inspector

ML19224C961
Person / Time
Site:	Crane
Issue date:	05/15/1979
From:	Oberg C NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III)
To:	Grier B NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
References
TASK-TF, TASK-TMM NUDOCS 7907100341
Download: ML19224C961 (2)

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MEMORANDUM FOR:

B. H. Grier, Director, Region I T3RU:

($hA.B. Davis, Chief,FuelFacilityandMaterials Safety Branch, RIII FROM:

C. T. Oberg, Radiation Specialist

SUMMARY

REPJRT OF TMI ASSIGNMENT The subj ect individual arrived at TMI at 1100 hours0.0127 days <br />0.306 hours <br />0.00182 weeks <br />4.1855e-4 months <br /> on April 19, 1979, and proceeded with orientation and badging as required.

At 1500 hours0.0174 days <br />0.417 hours <br />0.00248 weeks <br />5.7075e-4 months <br />, departed site for =otel to change clothes, then returned to the site at 1600 hours0.0185 days <br />0.444 hours <br />0.00265 weeks <br />6.088e-4 months <br /> to start assigned 1600 to 2400 hour0.0278 days <br />0.667 hours <br />0.00397 weeks <br />9.132e-4 months <br /> shift.

This individual was initially assigned as "Ccc :unicator" for the In-Plant H.P. Group located in the NRC of fice, Unit II Turbine Building, during the 1600 to 2400 hour0.0278 days <br />0.667 hours <br />0.00397 weeks <br />9.132e-4 months <br /> shif t.

Duties were subsequently changed to In-Plant H.P. Inspector.

The actual on-site hours for this shift averaged between 1500 to 0100 hours0.00116 days <br />0.0278 hours <br />1.653439e-4 weeks <br />3.805e-5 months <br /> daily, including shift turnover time, from April 19, 1979, through 0130 hours0.0015 days <br />0.0361 hours <br />2.149471e-4 weeks <br />4.9465e-5 months <br /> on May 4,

1979, Initial duties as "Coc=unicator" were terminated on April 22, 1979, a which time the individual assumed duties as an In-Plant H.P. Inspector.

These duties were performed as necessary, requested, required and assigned to maintain the health and cafety of the public and the individuals under the licensee's cognizance. This included assurance of licensee compliance with existing Technical Specifications, routine and special procedures, and the Regulations as applicable to en-going operations.

In addition, surveillance of radiological work in progress was maintained and followed through independent inspection efforts, survey measurements, and direct cognizance.

The IE In-P. ant H.P. operation at the beginning of th*s time period was one of consultation, assistance, and QA/QC. With time, some steps were taken to initiate changes towards a core normal regulatory role.

The critical path of operation was towards cold shutt'own of the Unit II Reactor.

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3. H. Grier 15 Gis As an In-Plant H.P. Inspector, this individual observed that the licensee was not directly involved with assuring that their contracted H.P. personnel were performing adequately and with appropriate concern for health and safety.

It was not clear that some of these individuals were qualified to perform their assigned tasks.

Items identified to them, and occasionally to the licensee H.P. 's, would continue to go uncorrected or were repetitive.

The management control chain of cocmand and/or direction from the licensee through to these contracted personnel was not clearly definable.

Situations were encountered in which the licensee H.P. Dept. was to be involved in, or respond to, some task or procedure.

From the gyrationc experienced, NRC H.P. personnel determined that tne licensee H.P. personnel had not been informed of, or had not been updated on, the status of these situations.

Consequently, they were occasionally unable to respond adequately or to formulate the required response in a timely =anner.

In some cases, the licensee H.P.

personnel were apparently =ade aware of situations requiring their input or coverage only through NRC personnel.

With respect.to IZ/NRC operations, the NRC, In-Plant H.P. group was reactionary. More time was used than necessary to resolve small crisis type situations which should have been taken care of by the licensee (i.e.:

respi ator cleaning and inspection, breathing (service) air supply quality verification, calibration and operation of monitoring instrumentation on air handling / pit ' exhaust systems, extremity exposure information not available on computer output of personnel exposures, contract H.P. personnel quclifications and resume's.

tracking down inf ormation en solid rad. waste shipments, etc.).

The NRC assumed the operational scde of consultant to, and support for, the licensee, which was necessary during the first f ew weeks subsequent to the accident. However, this tended to =ake the licensee complacent such that it appeared they did not have to concern themselves with, cr provide control and. direction of, the radiological aspects of the situation; NRC personnel took the lead.

Possibly the greatest ccacern of the NRC, In-Plant H.P. Group was how to make the licensee aware of their shortcomings, align their operations and to make them responsive to the problem areas identified by NRC personnel for the on-going tasks.

256 3Ao

M Y 1 b l979

3. H. Grier.

There were a few other things of lesser concern which may Le worth mentioning. With respect to :>'. ant data which was required by NRC for followup purposes, there see: 2.d to be a break in comaunications such that data which was required was not always obtained yet in other cases, required data or requests for data and information, efforts appeared to be duplicated.

Another problem area was for those who arrived at the TMI site for the first time.

There was not sufficient overlap, nor time available for the new individual to adequately familiari::e himse.lf with the facilities and speratioc1; just step in and go.

This tended to slow the progress in.'. impair the activities of an individual for a few days.

A realignment of the NRC, In-Plant H.P. Group operational mode and efforts was initiated at the cad of April, 1979.

This plan, by which the NRC will assume a more normal regulatory position and the licensee will assume their proper role cf responsibility, should effectively redirect activities at the TMI site to a more suitable mode.

However, the transitional period prescribed for this realignment may extend beyond that which is anticipated.

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0 C. T. Obe g Radiation Spec.4alist cc:

C. J. Paperiello 256 350