ML19281B186
| ML19281B186 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 07000734 |
| Issue date: | 03/28/1979 |
| From: | Engelken R NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION V) |
| To: | Wellhouser H GENERAL ATOMICS (FORMERLY GA TECHNOLOGIES, INC./GENER |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7905010234 | |
| Download: ML19281B186 (1) | |
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W ALNUT CREEK, C ALIFORNI A 94596 March 28, 1979 Docket flo.70-734 General Atomic Company P. O. Box 81608 San Diego, California 92138 Attention:
H. N. Wellhouser, Manager Nuclear Material Control Division Gentlemen:
The enclosed IE Information flotice No. 79-08 is forwarded to you for informatiot..
No specific action is requested and no written response is required.
If you desire additional information regarding this matter, please contact this office.
Sincerely, R. H. Engelken Director
Enclosures:
IE Information Notice No. 79-08 List of IE Information Notices Issued in 1979 790501023 4
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSIO!!
0FFICE OF IriSPECTI0tl Arid EriFORCEMENT WASHINGTON, D.C.
20555 March 28, 1979 IE Information flotice No. 79-08 If4TERCONNECTION OF C0tlTAMIllATED SYSTEMS WITH SERVICE AI THE SOURCE OF BREATHIllG AIR Description of Circumstances:
This Information Notice describes an event which occurred at the Peach Bottom fluclear Power station; however, the generic implications nay be applicable to other power reactors and selected fuel cycle facilities.
On October 4,1978, the Philadelphia Electric Ccapany (PECO) reported that, on two occasions at Unit 2, contamination had leaked from the radwaste system to a system used to provide the plant source of breathing air. The leakage occurred through an interconnection of the radwaste PEC0 established that no system with the plant breathing air source.
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 PEC0 attributes the specific cause of the leakage to these dirt valve.
valves.
deposits which prevented the proper seating of the NRC contacts with other operating power reactors have indicated unat In other facilities also use service air as a source of breathing air.
interconnected to several cases, the service air system is physically relies on valves or other systems which carry radioactive material and other barriers to prevent contamination of the plant source of breathing air.
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1 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 separation 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 de: ire rdditional information regarding this matter, contact the Director ef the appropriate NRC Regional Office.
IE Information flotice No. 79-08 March 28, 1979 LISTIfiG 0F IE IllFORMATI0fl NOTICES ISSUED Ill 1979 Information Subject Date Issued To flotice fio.
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 79-03 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 11aterials 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