ML19254E974

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Forwards IE Circular 79-21, Prevention of Unplanned Releases of Radioactivity. No Action Required
ML19254E974
Person / Time
Site: Davis Besse Cleveland Electric icon.png
Issue date: 10/19/1979
From: James Keppler
NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III)
To: Crouse R
TOLEDO EDISON CO.
References
NUDOCS 7911050201
Download: ML19254E974 (1)


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UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

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GLEN ELLYN. ILLINOIS 60137 OCT 1 e 1979 Docket No. 50-346 Toledo Edison Company ATTN:

Mr. Richard P. Crouse Vice President Energy Supply Edison Plaza 300 Madison Avenue Toledo, OH 43652 Gentlemen:

Enclosed is IE Circular No. 79-21, " Prevention of Unplanned Releases of Radioactivity," which provides information on inadvertent releases /on-site cpills of radioactivity. Should you have any questions related to the enclosed suggested preventive measures, please contact this ofrice.

Sincerely, O

ames G. Keppler Director

Enclosures:

1.

IE Ciruelar No. 79-21 2.

List of IE Circulars Issued in the Last Six Months cc w/encls:

Mr. T. Mursay, Station Superintendent Central Files Director, NRR/DPM Director, NRR/ DOR PDR Local PDR NSIC TIC Harold W. Kohn, Power Sitiag Commission Heler. W. Evans, State of Ohio 1265 127 7011050

Accession No.: 7908220128 SSINS:

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UNITED STATES LUdu & g g NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 0FFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT WASHINGTON, D.C.

20555 October 19, 1979 IE Circular.No. 79-21 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 stamary 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 prev $n-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 followed for operations which could cause spills of radioactivity. Management 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 because of design or construction errors.

Consider items such as:

a.

Tank overflows should be routed to liquid radwaste tanks.

b.

Storm drains should be located away from areas with a high potential for spills.

Consideration should be given to drip pans under equipment, such c.

as pumps and valves, from which leakage is expected.

d.

Cofferdams should be installed under doors to areas with a potential for radioactive spills.

e.

Preoperational testing should verify 1.nat crossconnects do not exist that would permit radioactivity to flow from operating unit (s) to unit (s) under construction.

3.

Periodically functionally test and perform inspections to verify integrity of systems that could cause :m inadvertent release.

Excessive wear and corrosion degradation have occurred in valves, seals and piping systems to cause leaks.

New permanent and temporary piping systems should be r

1265 '28

IE Circular No. 79-21 October 19, 1979 Page 2 of 2 hydrostatically tested prior to first use.

Underground piping should be periodically hydrostatically tested.

Preventive Laintenance programs should be implemented and identified problems, such as leaking equipment and plugged floor drains, should be promptly repaired.

i No written response to this Circular is required.

If you require additional ihformation regarding this subject,. contact the Director of the appropriate NRC Regional Office

Enclosure:

Recent Events of Radioactive Contamination L

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RECENT EVENTS OF RADI0 ACTIVE CONTAMINATION OUTSIDE BUILDINGS Plant Date Apparent cause Radiological Consequence Licensee Followup Actio Turkey Point 3/4 6/11/79 Operator Error ca 900 gallons of water processed Total of 0.01 aCl of'Co-58 Procedure reviewed to by radwaste system overflowed Co-60 released to storm with operator.

a from waste processing tank because drain

5 of error in valve line-Up The Aux.

Bldg.11oor drain backed up to

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the on site store drain. 'The drain systec. discharged to an on-site underground tile bed.

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Palisades 6/9/79 Inadequate Procedures

-5 Contaminated secondary system Resins activity at 10 The monitoring procedure spent powdered esins were trans-pCi/cc; total release to determine.4ha,. routing ferred to an outside storage bin about 10 pCi of Co-60 of the secondary" spent without monitoring.

Rain storm resins has been replaced caused resins to overficw the by a procedure requiring storage bin and be washed to Lake all spent secondary systs Michigan via storm drain.

resins to be handled and shipped as solid wasta.

Surry 2 5/21/79 Equipment Failure.

Core spray pump isolation 5 gallons spilled; 2 gallons Leak repaired Three 55-valve leaked durirg RWST outside of bldg.

gallon drums of con-transfer to Spent Fuel Pit.

0.02 pCi/cc, Co-58 taminated dirt removed Water leaked to Safeguards 0.035 pCi/cc, H-3.

Bldg. floor.

Floor drain s'

plugged; resulted in water flow out of building.

Enclosure IE Circular No. 79-21 Page 1 of 3

Plant Date Apparent Cause Radiological Consequence Licensee Follow-up Action Oconee 3 5/16/79 Operational Error.

5/17/79 Normally closed valve left 2000 gallons overflowed; Procedure reviewed with -

open during pumping of fuel 200-300 gallons out of operating personnel. Areas transfer canal water to BWST.

building outside of Aux. Bldg. decon-q Water overflowed the BWST to 3.1 x 10 pCi/cc,1-131. taminated.

Aux. Bldg. penetration room, down a stairway to area outside

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Aux. Bldg.

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.w Farley 1/2 5/14/79 Design Error.

N Decontamination drains 1860 gallons of contam-Review all drains free from Unit I routed 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 mci - plugged.

access area. Those drains Co-58.

Pond mud activity should have been routed

< 500 pCi/Kg. No pond to Unit I floor drain water activity detected.

system.

Dyster Creek 4/17/79 Equipment Failure.

Leakage from a Dr>wil Water in pipe tunnel DEDT line repaired.

Equipment Drain Tank (DEDT) 0 0.3 pCi/cc and soil Structure to enclose pipe

line, in vicinity of penetra-frors Rx. Bldg. to main tion to the reactor pipe tunnel to con-building were found to structed.

be contaminated.

Enclosure IE Ch cular No. 79-21 Page 2 of 3 t

e Plant.

Date Apparent Cause Radiological Consequence Licensee Follow-up Action Brunswick 1 5/8-9/79 Operator Error and Equipment Failure.

Air mixing valve of RWCU Total release of 12 mci Tank transfer procedure

  • backwash tank lef t open of corrosion product.

reviewed. Caution tag after liquid transfer.

on valve installed.

Dried tank residue released Loose access cover re-N to building ventilation paired.

p' system via loose access cover.

tn Hatch 1/2 3/20/79 Construction Error.

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Buried temporary line for Highest on site gr und Temporary line broken 5

N tank in yard for feed-water of 3 x 10 pCi/1 -

inside turbine building 7

water heaters was not capped H, Highest qtr. avg. off-and capped.

after tank removal.

Rx steam site outfal.1 of subsuSf*c' released into ground from drainage was 2.8 x 10 buried line.

pCi/1.

North Anna 9/25/79 Construction Error vs 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 waste drain tank and MPCs. Auxiliary Building releasing dissolved nr,ble gases was evacuated, to the auxiliary building via the waste system vent.

An incorrectly connected vent line allowed venting directly to the auxiliary building.

I Enclosure IE Circular No. 79-21 Page 3 of.3 l

6 IE Circular No. 79-21 Enclosure October 19, 1979 Page 1 of 2 1.ISTING OF IE CIRCULARS ISSUED Ih LAST SIX MONTHS 4

Circular Subject Date of Issued to No.

Issue 79-07 Unexpected Speed Increase 5/2/79 All Holders of of Reactor Recirculation BWR OL's or CP's MG Set Resulted in Reactor Power Increase 79-08 Attempted Fxtor', ion - Low 5/18/79 All Fuel Facilities Enriched Uranium Licensed by NRC 79-09 Occurrences of Split or 6/22/79 All Materials Punctured Regulator Diaphragms Priority I, Fuel In Certain Self Contained Cycle and Operating Breathing Apparatus Reactor Licensees 79-10 Pipefittings Manufactured 6/26/79 All Power Reactor from Unacceptable Material Licensees with a CP and/or OL 79-11 Design / Construction 6/27/79 All Applicants Interface Problem for, and Holders of Power Reactor cps 79-12 Potential Diesel Generator 6/28/79 All Power Reactors Turbocharger Problem Operating Facilities and all Utilities having a CP 79-13 Replacement of Diesel 7/10/79 All Power Reactor Fire Pump Starting

, Operating Facilities Contactors and all Utilities having a CP 79-14 Unauthorized Procurement and 7/13/79 All Medical Licensees Distribution of XE-133 except Teletheraphy Medical Licensees and to all Radiopharmaceu-tical Suppliers 79-15 Bursting of High Pressure Hose 8/8/79 All Materials Priority I, andMalfunctionofjRelief Fuel Cycle and Operating Valve "0" Ring in Certain Self-Power Reactor Licensees Contained Breathing Apparatus 12C5 733

IE Circular No. 79-21 Enclosure October 19, 1979 Page 2 of 2 LISTING OF IE CIRCULARS ISSUED IN LAST SIX HONTHS Circular Subject Date of Issued to No.

Issued 79-16 Excessive Radiation Exposures 8/16/79 All Radiography To Members Of The General Public Licensees And A Radiographer 79-17 Contact Problem in SB-12 8/14/79 All Power Reactor Switches on General Electric Licensees with a CP Company Metalciad Circuit and/or OL Breakers 79-18 Proper Installation of 9/10/79 All Holders of a Target Rock Safety-Relief Power Reactor OL Valves or CP 79-19 Loose Locking Devices on 9/13/79 All Power Reactor Ingersoll-R.ud Pumps Operating facilities and all utilities having a CP 79-20 Failure Of GTE Sylvania Relay 9/24/79 All utilities having a Type PM Bulletin 7305, Catalog CP SU12-11-AC With A 120V AC Coil 6

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