ML19256C780
| ML19256C780 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | North Anna  |
| Issue date: | 02/28/1979 |
| From: | Liza Cunningham, Higgenbotham L NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| PNO-79-036, NUDOCS 7910120458 | |
| Download: ML19256C780 (2) | |
Text
PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION February 28, 1979 PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE -- PNO-79-36 This preliminary notification constitutes Er..LY notice of an event of POSSIBLE safety or public interest significance.
The information presented is as initially received without verification or evaluation and is basically all that is known by IE staff as of this date.
FACILITY: Virginia Electric and Power Company North Anna, Units Ncs. 1 and 2 Docket Nos. 50-338 and 50-339 Louisa County, Virginia
SUBJECT:
RELEASE TO UNRESTRICTED AREA On the evening of February 27, preoperational tests were being conducted on Unit 2 which involved discharging water from the Unit 2 volume control tank.
Unit 1, which is e jerating at power, was not involved in the test.
The Unit 2 containment sump was apparently receiving water from the tests; the water level in the sump was maintained by discharging to the storm sewer.
The storm sewer discharges to the effluco; canal and then to three large cooling lagoons in series. The third cooling lagoon discharges into Lake Louisa.
At approximately 4:00 a.m., February 28, the licensee analyzed water in the Unit 2 volume control tank. The water contained iodine-131 levels of 55 times MPC.
It appears that either the sampling system or nitrogen purge system which cross-connects to Unit 1, is the source of contamination.
Additional analyses indicate that the containment sump contains iodine-131 at 16 times MPC.
It appears that a maximum of 700 gallons of water were discharged from the containment sump to the effluent canal--a total of 7 millicuries.
There have been no personnel overexposures and no release to the environment that could adversely affect public health and safety.
Workers in the Unit 2 containment, an unrestricted area, were evacuated but have since returned to work.
The licensee is continuing to evaluate the situation.
Media interest is expected. A news release is being made by the licensee.
The NRC does not plan to issue a news release at this time.
The Commonwealth of Virginia and EPA hrve been informed. A Resident Inspector is onsite. A Radiation Specialist has been diverted from the Surry site to the North Anna site for detailed investigation.
Region II (Atlanta) received notification of this occurrence by telephone from the NRC Resident Inspector at 9:00 a.m. on February 28, 1979.
This information is current as of 12 noon on Febru ry 28, 1979.
1452 353 Continued
.7.910120$ Q O
Preliminary Notification - Continued PNO-79-36
Contact:
L. J. Cunningham IE,x28188; L. B. Higgenbotham IE, x28454 Di stri bution :
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Chairman Hendrie Commissioner Bradford S. J. Chilk, SECY Comissioner Kennedy Commissioner Ahearna C. C. Kammerer, CA Comissioner Gilinsky (For Distribution)
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J. G. Davis, IE L. V. Gossick, EDO ~
H. R. Denton, NRR Region L 4 ',AO H. L. Ornstein, EDO R. C. DeYoung, NRR J. J. Fouchard, PA R. J. Mattson, NRR N. M. Haller, MPA V. Stello, NRR (MAIL)
R. G. Ryan, OSP R. S. Boyd, NRR J. J. Cummings, 0IA H. K. Shapar, ELD (SS Bldg y!ti R. Minogue, SD W. J. Dircks, NMSS
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PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION 1452 354
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