ML19305C174
| ML19305C174 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | River Bend  |
| Issue date: | 03/07/1980 |
| From: | Seyfrit K NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV) |
| To: | Weigand J GULF STATES UTILITIES CO. |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8003260115 | |
| Download: ML19305C174 (1) | |
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UNITED STATES g
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION g
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611 RYAN PLAZA DRIVE, SUITE 1000 D
%,.....,o AR LINGToN, TEXAS 76012 March 7, 1980 In Reply Refer To:
RIV Docket Nos. 50-458/IE Information Notice No. 80-09 50-459/IE Information Notice No. 80-09 Gulf States Utilities Attn:
Dr. J. G. Weigand, Vice President Operations and Technical Systems Post Office Box 2951 Beaumont, Texas 77704 Gentlemen:
The enclosed IE Information Notice is forwarded to you for information.
No written response to this Information Notice is required.
If you have any questions related to the subject, please contact this office.
Sincerely, bt 4
Karl V. Seyfri Director
Enclosures:
1.
IE Information Notice No. 80-09 2.
Liet of Recently Issued IE Information Notices l
l 8003 260 11 5
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SSINS:
6870 Accession No.:
UNITED STATES 7912190681 NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 0FFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT "
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WASHINGTON, D.C.
20555 eg g e, IE Information Notice No. 80-09 Date: March 7, 1980 Page 1 of 1 POSSIBLE OCCUPATI0 VAL HEALTH HAZARD ASSOCIATED WITH CLOSED COOLING SYSTEMS FOR OPERATING POWER PLANTS As a result of information that the causative agent for meningoencephalitis, the amoeba Naeglaria fowleri, had been found in warm water ponds in Florida and Texas where two fatalities were reported, NRC initiated a study by Oak Ridge National Laboratory on the occurrence of Naeglaria in power plants with closed cycle cooling systems.
For seven power stations examined (6 fossil, 1 nuclear), this study confirmed the presence of pathogenic Naeglaria at three i
plants including the nuclear plant (Dresden).
Recently, Northern States Power Company (NSP), while monitoring the Prairie l
Island Nuclear Generating Plant closed cooling system for the amoeba, did identify the presence of Naeglaria. Although the Minnesota Department of Health does not consider the existence of the organism to be a public health threat, it was recognized as a possible occupati3nal health hazard.
Plant personnel were instructed to wear rubber gloves when coming into contact with the circulating water and to wear respirators when working in the area of the cooling _ towers.
In November 1979, NSP conducted a special chlorination pregram at Prairie Island that was designed by Dr. Richard Tyndall of Oak Ridge to eradicate this organism.
Chlorine concentrations in the circulating water system was raised to 2.0 mg/l (measured as free chlorine) for a period of six hours to destroy both the amoebae and its encysted form. This program also included dechlorination prior to discharge and intensive monitoring to document chlorine concentraticus, the impacts of chlorinated cooling tower draft and sampling to determine the efficacy of the special chlorination program in destroying Naeglaria. Preliminary results indicate that the program was successful in reducing the number of organisms present by two to three orders or magnitude.
It is recognized that there have been no reported cases of meningoencephalitis reported among power plant personnel to date; however, the seriousness of the disease (if contracted) and the confirmed presence of Naeglaria at four plants, leads us to inform all licensees with closed cycle cooling water systems of the potential occupational hazard and advise that they take appropriate action.
No. written response to this IE Information Notice is required If you desire additional information regarding this matter, contact the Director of the appropriate NRC Regional Office.
l
o IE Information Notice No. 80-09 March 7, 1980 LISTING OF RECENTLY ISSUED IE INFORMATION NOTICES Information Subject Date Issued To Notice No.
Issued 80-01 Fuel Handling Events 1/4/80 All holders of power reactor Operating Licenses (OLs) and Construction Permits (cps) 80-02 8X8R Water Rod Lower 1/25/80 All BWR Facilities End Plug Wear holder of power reactor Operating Licenses (OLs) or Construction Permits (cps) 80-03 Nain Turbine Electro-1/31/80 All' holders of power Hydraulic Control System reactor Operating Licenses (OLs) and Construction Permits (cps) 80-04 BWR Fuel Exposure in 2/4/80 All BWR's holding a Excess of Limits power reactor Operating License (OL) or Construction Permit (CP) 80-05 Chloride Contamination 2/8/80 All licensees of nuclear of Safety Related Piping power reactor facilities and Components and applicants and holders of nuclear power reactor Construction Permit (CP) 80-06 Notification of Significant 2/27/80 All holders of Reactor Events Operating Licenses (0Ls) and to near term Operating Licenses (OL) applicants 80-07 Pump Shaft Fatigue Cracking 2/29/80 All Light Water Reactor Facilities holder power reactor Operating Licenses (OLs) and Construction Permits (cps) 80-08 The States Company Sliding 3/7/80 All power reactor Link Electrical Terminal facilities with an Operating License (OL) or a Construction Permit Enclosure