ML19281B183
| ML19281B183 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 07000984 |
| Issue date: | 03/28/1979 |
| From: | Engelken R NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION V) |
| To: | Selby J Battelle Memorial Institute, PACIFIC NORTHWEST NATION |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7905010225 | |
| Download: ML19281B183 (1) | |
Text
reA A UNITED STATES jf 4,4 NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISslON y q,,
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REGION V SUlTE 202, W ALNUT CREEK PLAZ A Os e,
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March 28,1979 Docket No.70-984 Battelle Memorial Institute Pacific Northwest Laboratories Battelle Blvd.
Richland, Washington 99352 Attention:
J. M. Selby, Manager Radiation Standards and Engineering Gentlemen:
The enclosed IE Information flotice flo. 79-08 is forwarded to you for information.
No specific action is requested and no written response is required.
If you dcsire additional information regarding this matter, please contact this office.
Sincerely, kl[IrnzCl R. H. Engelken Director
Enclosures:
IE Information flotice No. 79-08 List of IE Information Notices Issued in 1979 7 905010 27f
s UNITED STATES IlUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSI0ft OFFICE OF If1SPECTI0ft AND EllFORCEMEflT WASHINGTON, D.C.
20555 March 28, 1979 IE Information Notice No. 79-08 IfiTERCONNECTION OF CONTAMIllATED SYSTEMS WITH SERVICE AIR SYSTEM THE SOURCE OF BREATHING AIR Description of Circumstances:
This Information Notice describes an event which occurred at the Peach Bottom Nuclear Power station; however, the generic implications may be applicable to other power reactors and selected fuel cycle facilities.
On October 4,1978, the Philadelphia Electric Company (PECO) reported that, on two occasions at Unit 2, contamination had leaked from the radwaste system to a systen used to provide the plant source of breathing air. The leakage occurred through an interconnection of the radwaste system with the plant breathing air source.
PEC0 established that no personnel were subjected to contaminated breathing air as a result of this leakage.
One of the functions of the service air system at Peach Bottom is to provide a source of breathing air for personnel using supplied air respiratory protective equipment. By means of an interconnection to the radwaste system, the facility also uses the service air system to pro-vide a source of compressed air during the backwash cycle of the demineralizer filter element. The compressed air provides the motive force for reverse water flow through the filter element and was being used to perform this function when the two incidents occurred. Liquid from the radwaste system leaked past a check valve and a process valve.
PEC0 determined by analysis of liquid samples that contamination had leaked into the service air system. Valves in the leakage path were subsequently dismantled and examined. The examinations revealed the presence of dirt deposits in the check valve and air operated ball valve. PEC0 attributes the specific cause of the leakage to these dirt deposits which prevented the proper seating of the valves.
NRC contacts with other operating power reactors have indicated that other facilities also use service air as a source of breathing air.
In several cases, the service air system is physically interconnected to other systems which carry radioactive materfat and relies on valves or other barriers to prevent contamination of the plant source of breathing air.
7904300481
IE Information Notice No. 79-03 March 28, 1979 Page 2 of 2 NUREG-0041, " Manual of Respiratory Protection Against Airborne Radioactive Materials," which supplements the stipulations of Regulatory Guide 8.15, states in Section 9.8, "A separate breathing air supply and distribution system shall be used. The ordinary plant supply of compressed air in any building shall not be used for breathing purposes...unless it has been specifically modified and properly adapted for such use and specifi-cally approved for this purpose by the qualified person supervising the respiratory protective equipment program."
At those facilities where service air is used as a source of breathing air, certain precautions can be taken to minimize the potential of a problem similar to the one described.
By review of the service air system and as-built (or design) drawings, interconnections between con-taminated systems and the source of breathing air can be identified.
Where interconnections are identified, the design should assure that adequate senaration is provided.
In addition, operating procedures should provide for controls to prevent contamination of the breathing air source.
No specific action or written response to this Information Notice is required.
If you desire additional information regarding this matter, contact the Director of the appropriate NRC Regional Office.
IE Information Notice No. 79-08 March 28, 1979 s
LISTING OF IE INFORMATION NOTICES ISSUED IN 1979 Information Subject Date Issued To Notice No.
Issued 79-01 Bergen-Paterson Hydraulic 2/2/79 All power reactor Shock and Sway Arrestor facilities with an OL or a CP 79-02 Attempted Extortion -
2/2/79 All Fuel Facilities Low Enriched Uranium
'/9-03 Limitorque Valve Geared 2/9/79 All power reactor Limit Switch Lubricant facilities with an OL or a CP 79-04 Degradation of 2/16/79 All power reactor Engineered facilities with an Safety Features OL or a CP 79-05 Use of Improper Materials 3/21/79 All power reactor in Safety-Related Components facilities with an OL or CP 79-06 Stress Analysis of 3/23/79 All Holders of Safety-Related Piping Reactor OL or CP 79-07 Rupture of Radwaste Tanks 3/26/79 All power reactor facilities with an OL or CP 79-08 Interconnection of 3/28/79 All power reactor Contaminated Systems with facilities with an Service Air Systems Used OL and Pu Processing As the Source of Breathing fuel facilities Air Enclosure Page 1 of 1