ML19276E731
| ML19276E731 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | La Crosse File:Dairyland Power Cooperative icon.png |
| Issue date: | 02/26/1979 |
| From: | Linder W DAIRYLAND POWER COOPERATIVE |
| To: | James Keppler NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19276E729 | List: |
| References | |
| LAC-6131, NUDOCS 7903200520 | |
| Download: ML19276E731 (4) | |
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r DAIRYLAND POn'ER COOPERATIVE Sa Grone, QYisconsin 54601 February 26, 1979 In reply, please
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refer to LAC-6131 DOCKET NO. 50-409 Mr. James G. Keppler Regional Director U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Directorate of Regulatory Operations Region III 799 Roosevelt Road Glen Ellyn, Illinois 60137
SUBJECT:
DAIRYLAND POWER COOPERATIVE LA CROSSE BOILING WATER REACTOR (LACBWR)
PROVISIONAL OPERATING LICENSE NO. DPR-45 IE INSPECTION REPORT NO. 050-409/78-17
Reference:
(1)
NRC Letter, Keppler to Madgett, dated January 29, 1979.
Dear Mr. Keppler:
In response to your letter (Reference 1) which forwarded a notice of an infraction as a result of the subject inspection, we are submittin3 the following information for your consideration:
ENFORCEMENT ITEM INFRACTION "10CFR 20.103 (b) requires that process or other engineevr'.ng controle be used, to the extent practicable, to limit concentratione of radioactive matcrial in air to tese than " airborne radioactivity area" levels.
When it is impracticable to apply process or other engineering controle to ao limit airborne concentratione of radio-active material, other precautionary procedures are required to be used to maintain intake of radioactive materiate by anuindividual within any period of seven consacutive days as far below that intake of radioactive material which vould result from inhalation of such material for 40 hours4.62963e-4 days <br />0.0111 hours <br />6.613757e-5 weeks <br />1.522e-5 months <br /> at thc uniform concentratione speci-fied in Appendix B, Table 1, Column 1 as is reasonably achievable.
Contrary to the above, in December 1977, too individuate vere exposed to concentrations of radioactive material in air above the " airborne radioactivity area" Levele white working in the raduaste build g
basement.
Procese or other engineering controle had not been used to maintain the airborne radioactivity levete belou those which delimit an " airborne radioactivity area. "
The individuate received 790320052o
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0 Mr. James G.
Keppler LAC-6131 Regional Director February 26, 1979 an intake greater than the intake of radioactive material uhich would result from inhalation of such material for 40 hours4.62963e-4 days <br />0.0111 hours <br />6.613757e-5 weeks <br />1.522e-5 months <br /> at the uniform concentration specified in Appendix B, Table 1, Column 1. "
DPC RESPONSE:
During the course of a follow-up investigation of the exposure incident for the purpose of responding to the notice of infraction (Reference 1), it was determined that the exposure to concentrations of radioactive material in air above the " airborne radioactivity area" level for two individuals working in the radwaste building basement occurred on December 19, 1977 rather than on December 16, 1977 when the work in this area had been initiated.
According to the individuals involved in the incident, decontamin-ation of the work area, consisting only of water spray and squee-gees, was performed by them prior to undertaking any work.
The requirements for decontamination and the specification for accept-able levels of contamination were set forth in the Special Work Permit governing the assigned work.
Following this decontamination effort, while the area was still generally damp, smear surveys were taken which indicated that the surface contamination levels were less than 10,000 dpm/ft2 The individuals worked in this area for the purpose of making preparations to form and pour concrete on another day.
Upon exit from the radwaste building, the individuals surveyed themselves with a hand-held frisker with satisfactory results, therefore, no personnel contamination problems actually occurred on Friday, 16 December 1977.
Early Monday, December 19, 1977, the individuals re-entered the radwaste building work area to construct plywood forms, remove asbestos and fiberglass piping insulation and to prepare concrete areas for pouring concrete shielding walls.
The area was dry and dust in various forms was created by the work.
Although the work continued under the requirements of the Special Work Permit issued previously and used on Friday, December 16, 1977, no surface or air surveys of the work area were undertaken on Monday prior to entry of the individuals.
The decontamination effort taken on Friday was believed to be sufficient to permit the work to continue.
Personnel contamination problems requiring assistance were exper-ienced at noon on Monday as the individuals exited the rad waste build-ing.
With the results of surface surveys indicating up to 20,000 dpm/ft2 in the rad waste building change room, it was concluded that contaminaticn was caused principally by the dismantling of a dewater-ing pump located in the area which is normally connected to the spent resin tank.
This contamination had apparently lodged in rough and LAC-6131 Mr. James G. Keppler Regional Director February 26, 1979 unsealed concrete floor areas and upon drying out with the creation of dust from concrete chipping, wood sawing, and insul-ation work, had become airborne.
The results of additional surveys later in the day in the immediate work area indicated much higher levels of contamination which re-quired extensive decontamination work to continue that evening and during the next day.
This later information also prompted the decision to perform whole body counts for the individuals in question.
This was done initially on Tuesday, December 20, 1977.
Due to instrumentation problems, the data was considered unreliable and recounts conducted on Wednesday, December 21, 1977, provided useable results.
This information indicated that the individuals were exposed to greater than 40 MPC-hours.
Immediate corrective action included the thorough decontamination of the rad waste building areas normally transited by personnel.
Additional whole body counts were accomplished for all individuals known to have been in the work area between December 16 and 21, 1977.
Survey results and information from evaluations of whole body counts indicate that the exposure problem was limited to two individuals.
The work area in the rad waste building was completely painted with epoxy paint to seal porous surfaces.
Three additional technical and professional personnel have been assigned to the Health and Safety Department since the incident to improve the capability to monitor work activities which involve a contamin-ation risk.
Supervisory personnel have been reminded of their responsibility to review planned work activities to ensure that radiological exposure and contamination problems are considered in advance of commencement of work.
The subject incider.t and the inspection report was re-viewed thoroughly by the Plant Superintendent with the Operations Review Committee.
The incident will be addressed in future Health and Safety training sessions.
With the completion of construction of the new Security-Administration Building in June, 1979, the whole body counting equipment will be moved to a more satisfactory location within that building.
Authorization for this re.sponse to be submitted beyond the twenty-day reporting period was granted to Mr. Richard Shimshak by Mr. Schumacher of your office on Wednesday, February 21, 1979.
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Mr. James G. Keppler LAC-6131 Regional Director February 26, 1979 If there are any questions concerning this report, please contact us.
Very truly yours, DAIRYLAND POWER COOPERATIVE fl4W O d Frank Linder, General Manager FL:RES:af
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