ML19256E427
| ML19256E427 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Fermi  |
| Issue date: | 10/19/1979 |
| From: | James Keppler NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III) |
| To: | Hines E DETROIT EDISON CO. |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7911050189 | |
| Download: ML19256E427 (1) | |
Text
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UNITED STATES 8
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
^,,
3 b',,, ) e,E REGION lli o,
1' 799 ROOSEVELT ROAD GLEN ELLYN. ILLINOls 60137 o
Docket No. 50-3/.1 05 _ ~ b/9 OCT 191979 The Detroit Eda m.. Company s
ATTN:
Mr. Edward Hines, Assistant Vice President and Manager Quality Assurance 2000 Second Avenue Detroit, MI 48226 Gentlemen:
Enclosed is IE Circular No. 79-21, " Prevent. ion 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 con. tact this office.
Sincerely, O.
B *[/
. James G. Keppler /
Director
Enclosures:
1.
IE Ciruclar No. 79-21 2.
List of IE Circulars Issued in the Last Six Months cc w/ encl:
Central Files Director, NRR/DPM Director, NRR/ DOR PDR Local PDR NSIC TIC Ronald Callen, Michigan Public Service Commission Eugene B. Thomas, Jr.,
Attorney 1255 332 7911050 /
Accession No.:
7908220128 SSINS:
683?
UNITED STATES g
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~p" NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION oo, 0FFICE OF INSPECTIC:: AND ENFORCEMENT WASHINGTON, D.C.
20555 s
October 19, 1979 IE Circular.No. 79-21 PREVENTIO10F UNPLANNED RELEASES OF RADI0 ACTIVITY Numerous incidents of unplanned releases of radioactivity have been reported These incidents of leaks, overflows to the NRC within the past few months.
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 prevhn-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.
Review of procedures for transfer of radioactive liquids.
Errors in 1.
written procedures have led to mistakes in valve line-ups and tank overflows. Written procedures, including check lists for valve line-up3, should be developed and followed for operations which could cause spills of radioactivity. Nanagement controls, including audits, should be employed to assure verbatim compliance with such procedures.
Review of "as built" systems having the potential of inadvertent releases 2.
because of design or construction errors. Consider items such as:
Tank overflows should be routed to liquid radwaste tanks.
a.
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.
Cofferdams should be installed under doors to areas with a potential d.
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.
Periodically functionally test and perform inspections to verify integrity 3.
of systems that could cause an 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 f255 333
October 19, 1979 IE Circular No. 79-21 Page 2 of 2 Underground piping should be hydrostatically tested prior to first use. Preventive maintenance programs should periodically hydrostatically tested.
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 Even'.s of Radioactive Contamination e
O
Lf7 ne) l f
N7 Lf3
'11 s'NJ RECENT EVENTS OF RADIDACTIVE CONTAMINATION DUTSIDE BUILDINGS 4
Radiological Consequence Licensee Followup Action Plant Date Apparent cause Turkey Point 3/4 6/11/79 Operator Error 900 gallons of water processed Total of 0.01 oct of'Co-58 Procedure reviewed by radwaste system overflowed Co-60 released to storm with operator.
from waste processing tank because drain of error in valve line-bp. The Aux.
Bldg. floor drain backed up to the on-site store drain.
The drain
~
system discharged to an on-site underground tile bed.
Palisades 6/9/79 Inadequate Procedures
-5 Contaminated secondary system Resins activity at 10 The monitoring procedure spent powdered -esins were trans-pCl/cc; total release to determine.the.. routing ferred to an outside storage bin about 10 pCi of Co-60 of the secondary" spent resins has been replaced without monitoring.
Rain storm by a procedure requiring caused resins to overficw the all sper.t secondary systes storage bin and be washed to Lake resins to be handled and Michigan via stars drain.
shipped as solid waste.
Surri 2 5/21/79 Equipeent Failure.
Core spray pump isolation 5 gallons spilled; 2 gallons Leak repaired Three 55-valve leaked durirg RWST outside of bldg.
gallon dryps of con-transfer to Spent Fuel Pit.
0.02 pCi/cc, Co-58 taminated dirt remov6d' Water leaked to Safeguards 0.035 pCi/cc, H-3.
BIdg. floor.
Floor drain plugged; resulted in water d'
flow out of building.
Enclosure IE Circular No. 79-21 Page 1 of 3
Dm M
Plant Date Apparent Cause Radiological Consequence Licensee Follow-up Action
~
n Oconee 3 5/16/79 Operational Error.
m 5/17/19 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,4 outside olf Aux. Bldg. decon-Water overflowed the BWST to 3.1 x 10 pCi/cc,1-131. taminated.
Aux. Bldg. penetration room, down a stairway to area outside Aux. Bldg.
Farley 1/2 5/14/79 Design Error.
Decontamination drains 1860 gallons of contam-Review alti drains from from Unit I routed to Unit inated water discharged Unit I 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 aCi - plugged.
access area. Those drains Co-58.
Pond mud activity should have been routed
< 500 pCi/Kg. No pond to Unit 1 floor drals water activity detected.
systes.
Dyster Creek 4/17/79 Equipment Failure.
Leakage from a Drywell 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-fraa Rx. Bldg. to main tien to the reactor pipe tunnel to con-building were found to structed.
be contaminated.
l Enclosure IE Circulsr No. 79-21 Page 2 of" 3 s
1
k O
Plant.
Date Apparent Cause Radiolooical Consequance Licensee Follow-up Action Dn Brunswick 1 5/8-9/79 Operat.or Error and
~
Equipa::nt Faiiure.
Air mixing valve of RWCU Total release of 12 mci Tank transfer procedure
backwash tank lef t open of corrosion product.
reviewed. Caution tag on valve installed.
after liquid transfer.
Loose access cover re-Dried tank residue released paired.
to building ventilation
., ~
system via loose access cover.
Hatch 1/2 3/20/79 Construction Error..,
Buried temporary ifne for Highest on site gr und Temporary line broken 5
water of 3 x 10 pCi/1 -
inside turbine building N, tank in yard for feed-Highest qtr. avg. off-and capped.
H}te outfal.1 of subsugface water heaters was not capped after tank removal.
Rx steam s
released into ground from 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 waste drain tank and MPCs. Auxiliary Building releasing dissolved noble gases was evacuated.
^
l to the auxiliary building via the f
waste system vent.
An incorrectly connected vent line allowed venting I
directly to the auxiliary building.
Enclosure IE Circular No. 79-21 Page 3 of.3 s
l l
IE Circular No. 79-21 Enclosure October 19, 1979 Page 1 of 2 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 of Reactor Recirculation BWR OL's or CP's MG Set Resulted in Reactor Power Increase 79-08 Attempted Extortion - Low 5/18/79 All Fuel Facilities Enriched Uranium Licensed by HRC 79-09 Occurrences of Split or 6/22/79 All Materials Punctured Regulator Diaphragms Priority I, Fuel s
In Certain Self Contained Cycle and Operating Reactor Licensees Breathing Apparatus a
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 Burstit_ of High Pressure Hose 8/8/79 All Materials Priority I, andMalfunctionofjjRelief Fuel, Cycle and Operating Valve "0" Ring in yertain Self-Power Reactor Licensees Contained Breathidg Apparatus l255 338
IE Circular No. 79-21 Enclosure October 19, 1979 Page 2 of 2 LISTING OF IE CIRCULARS ISSUED IN LAST SIX MONTHS s
Circuit.r Subject Date of Issued to No.
Issued 79-16 Excessive Radiation Exposures 8/16/79 All Radiagraphy 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-Rand 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 1255 339 e
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