ML19250B768
| ML19250B768 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | River Bend  |
| Issue date: | 10/19/1979 |
| From: | Seyfrit K NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV) |
| To: | Weigand J GULF STATES UTILITIES CO. |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7911050211 | |
| Download: ML19250B768 (1) | |
Text
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[E*f ogo, UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 3'
/
,n REGION IV 2
o 611 RYAN PLAZA DRIVE, SUITE 1000 7'
'[
ARLINGTON, TEXAS 76012 o
October 19, 1979 In Reply Refer Io:
RIV Dockt.: Nos.
50-458/IE Circular No. 79-21 50-459/IE Circular No. 79-21 Gelf States Utilities Attn:
Dr. J. G. Weigand General Manager, Nuclear Projects Post Office Box 2951 Beaumont, Texas 7-4 Gentlemen:
Enclosed is IE Circular No. 79-21, " Prevention of Unplanned Releases of Radioactivity," which provides information on inadvertent releases /on-site spills of radioactivity.
Should you have any questions related to the enclosed suggested preventive measures, please contact this office.
Sincerely, L:L; L.Nb i
un v
Karl V. Seyfrit Director
Enclosures:
1.
IE Circula. 79-21 2.
IE Circulars Issued in the Last Six Months 1270 '60 2tt g
rollo o s
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Accession No.: 7908220128 SSINS:
6830 UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT WASHINGTON, D.C.
20555 IE Circular No. 79-21 Date:
October 19, 1979 Page 1 of i PREVENTION OF UNPLANNED RELEASES OF RADI0 ACTIVITY Numerous incidents of unplanned releases of radioactivity have been reported to the NRC within the past few months. These incidents of leaks, overflows and spills have resulted in contamination of areas outside of plant buildings.
The attached table provides you with summary information on these events, their apparent causes, the radiological consequences and the corrective actions.
We believe that a number of these incidents could have been avoided and preven-tive actions for these types of unplanned releases should be instituted by all reactor licensees.
Based on the reported incidents, the following preventive measures can minimize the occurrence of such events.
1.
Review of procedures for transfer of radioactive liquids.
Errors in written procedures have led to mistakes in valve line-ups and tank overflows. Written procedures, including check lists for valve line-ups, should be developed and follcwed for operations which could cause spills of radioactivity. Mauginent controls, including audits, should be employed to assure verbatim compliance with such procedures.
2.
Review of "as-built" systems having the potential of inadvertent releases beca ase of design or construction errors.
Consider items such as:
a.
Tank overflows should be routed to lio.uid radwaste tanks.
b.
Storm drains should be located away from areas with a high potential for spills.
c.
Consideration should be given to drip pans under equipment, such as pumps and valves, from which leakage is expected.
d.
Cofferdams should be installed under doors to areas with a potential for radioactive spills.
Preoperational testing should verify that crossconnects do not exist e.
that would permit radioactivity to flow from operating unit (s) to unit (s) under construction.
1270 161
IE Circular No. 79-21 Dace: October 19, 1979 Page 2 of 2 3.
Periodically functionally test and perform inspections to verify integrity of systems that could cause an inadvertent release. E:ccessive wear and corrosion degradation have occurred in valves, seals and piping systems to cause leaks. New permanent and temporary piping systems should be hydrostatically tested prior to first use. Underground piping should be periodically hydrostatically tested. Preventive maintenar.ce programs should be implemented and identified problems, such as leaking equipment and plugged floor drains, should be promptly repaired.
No written response to this Circular is required.
If you require additional information regarding this subject, contact the Director of the appropriate NRC Regional Office
Enclosure:
Recent Events of Radioactive Contamination i270 '.62
_RECENT EVEttTS OF RADIOACTIVE CONTAMINATION OUTSIDE BUILDINGS Plant Date Apparent cause Radiological Consecuence Licensee Followup Action Turkey Point 3/4 6/11/79 Operator Error 900 gallons of water prov.: sed Total of 0.01 cCi of Co-58 Pro edure reviewed by radwaste system overflowed Co-60 released to storm with operator.
from vaste processing tank because drain of error in valve line-up. The Aux.
Bidg. floor drain backed up to the on site storn drain.
The drain system discharged to an on-site underground tile bed.
Palisades 6/9/79 Inadequate Procedures
-5 Contaminated secondary system Rosins activity at 10 The monitorine
- dure spent pondered resins were trans-pCi/cc; total release to determine the routing ferred to an outside storage bin about 10 pCi of Co-60 of.the secondary spent without monitorfrg.
Rain storm resins has been replaced caused resins to overflow the.
by a procedure requirin0 storage bin and be washed to Lake e.11 spent secendary systen Michigan via storm drain.
resins to be handled and shipped as solid wasto.
Surry 2 S/21/79 Equipment Failure.
N Core spray pump isolation 5 gallons spilied; 2 gallons Leak repaired Three 55-
]
valvo leaked during RWST cutside of bldg.
gallon drtars of con-transfer to Spent Fuel Pit.
0.02 pCf/cc, Co-58 taminated dirt removed Water ieaked to Safeguards 0.035 pCi/cc,11-3.
a Bldg. floor.
Floor drain u
plug 0ed; resulted in water flow out of building.
Cnclosure IE Circular No. 79-21 Pane 1 of 3
Plant Date Apparent Cause Radio 7onical Consequence Licensee Follev-up Aet....
Oconce 3 5/16/79 Operational Error.
5/17/79 flormally closed valve Icft 2000 gallons overflowed; Procedure reviewed with open during pumping of fue) 200-300 gallons out of operating personnel. Areas.
transfer canal water to SUST.
building.4 outside of Aux. Bldg. decon-
'.ter overflowed the BWST to 3.1 x 10 pCi ce, I-131.
taminated.
/
A t... Bldg. penetration rootn, down a stairway to area outside Aux. B1dg.
Farley 1/2 5/14/79 Design Error.
~
Decontamination drains 1860 gallons of contam-Review all drains from from Unit 1 touted to Unit inated water discharged Unit 1 and Unit 2.
Six such 2 sump and released to to pond.
Estimated max-drains were located and flush pond via tendon inum activity of 10 cCi - plugged.
access area.
Those drains Co-58.
Pond mud activity should have been routed
< 500 pCi/Kg. No pond to Unit 1 floor drain water activity detected.
system.
Oyster Creek 4/17/79 Equipment Failure.
Leakage from a Drywe:1 Water in pipe tunnel DEDT line repaired.
EquipmentOrainTank(DEDT) 0 0.3 pCi/cc and soil Structure to enclose pipe line.
in vicinity o' penetra-from Rx. Bldg. to nain tion to the reactor pipe tunnel to con-building were found to structed.
be contaminated.
3 rv N
O Enclosure IE C-lrcular No. 79-21 j
Page.? of 3 2
Plant Date Apparent Cause Radiolocical Consequence Licensee follow-un A: tion Drunswick 1 5/8-9/79 Operator Error and Eqalpcent failure.
Air mixing valve o'f RWCU Total release of 12 mci Tank transfer procedure backwas.5 tank left open of corrosion product.
revicwed.
Caution tag after liquid transfer.
on valve installed.
Dried tank residue released Loose access cover re-to building ventilation paired.
system via loose access cover.
liatch 1/2 3/20/79 Construction Error.
Buried temporary line for Highest on-site ground Temporary line broken g
N, tank in yard for feed-water of 3 x 10 pCi/1 -
inside turbine building water heaters was not capped H, i!!ghest qtr. avg. off-and capped, after tank removr,1.
Rx steam site outfal.1 of subsugface released into ground fron drainage was 1.8 x 10 buried line, pCi/1.
North Anna 9/25/79 Construction Error Relief valve on the volume Airborne radioactivity Still under investigation control tank lifted thus trans-levels in the Auxiliary ferring reactor coolant to the Building reached 150 X high level vaste drain tank and llPCs. Auxiliary Building releasing dissolved noble gases was evacuated.
to the auxiliary building via' the vaste system vent.
An incorrectly connected vent line allowed venting
'irectly to the auxiliary building, N
N i
C Enclosure I
,a IE Circular No. 79-21 Page 3 of 3 en i
i
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IE Circular No. 79-21 October 19, 1979 LISTING OF IE CIRCULARS ISSUED IN LAST SIX MONTHS Circular Subject Date of Issued To No.
Issue 79-07 Unexpected Speed Increase 5/2/79 All Holders of BWR Operating of Reactor Recirculation Licenses (OLs) or Construc-MG Set Resulted in Reactor tion Permits (cps)
Power Increase 75-08 Attempted Extortion - Low 5/18/79 All Fuel Facilities and Enriched Uranium Reactors Licensed by NRC 79-09 Occurrences of Split or 6/22/79 All Materials Priority I, Functured Regulator Fuel Cycle and Operating Diaphragms in Certain Reactor Licenses (OL)
Self Contained Breathing Apparatus 79-10 Pipefittings Manufactured 6/26/79 All Power Reactor Licensees from Unacceptable Material with a Construction Permit and/or Operating License (OL) 79-11 Design / Construction 6/27/79 All Holders of and Applicants Interface Problem for Power Reactor Construction Permits (CP) 79-12 Potential Diesel Generator 6/28/79 All Power Reactor Licensee with Turbocharger Problem a Construction Permit (CP) and/or Operating License (OL) 79-13 Replacement of Diesel 7/13/79 All Power Reactor Licensee Fire Pump Starting with a Construction Permit Contactors (CP) and/or Operating Licensee (OL) 79-14 Unauthorized Procurement 7/13/79 All Medical Licensees and Distribution of Except Teletheraphy XE-133 Medical Licensees and to all Radiopharmaceutical Suppliers Enclosure Page 1 of 2 1270 166
IE Circular No. 79-21 October 19, 1979 79-15 Bursting of High Pressure 8/8/79 All Materials Priority I, Hose and Malfunction of Fuel Cycle and Operating Relief Valve "0" Ring in Power Reactor Licensees Certain Self-contained Breathing Apparatus 79-16 Excessive Radiation 8/16/79 All Radiography Exposures to Members Licensees of the General Public and a Radiographer 79-17 Contact Problem in SB-12 8/14/79 All Power Reactor Switches on General Licensees with a Electric Company Construction Permit Metalclad Circuit (CP) and/or Operating Breakers License (OL) 79-18 Proper Installation of 9/10/79 All Holders of a Target Rock Safety-Relief Power Reactor Operating Valves License (OL) or Construction Permit (CP) 79-19 Loose Locking Devices on 9/13/79 All Power Reactor Ingersoll-Rand Pumps Licensees with a Construction Permit (CP) and/or Operating Licensee (OL) 79-20 Failure Of GTE Sylvania 9/24/79 All Power Reactor Relay, Tyre PM Bulletin Licensees with a 7305, Catalog SU12-11-AC Construction Permit (CP)
With A 120V AC Coil and/or Operating Licensee (OL)
Enclosure Page 2 of 2 1270 767