ML19308A869
| ML19308A869 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Oconee  |
| Issue date: | 03/24/1977 |
| From: | Dircks W NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Thurmond S SENATE |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19308A870 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7912120658 | |
| Download: ML19308A869 (5) | |
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The Honorable Strom Thurmond United States Senate Washington, D. C.
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Dear Senator Thurmond:
Your letter to Carlton C. Kammerer, dated February 18, 1977, has been referred to me for reply.
Enclosed with your letter was a letter from Mr. and Mrs. Herman F. Senter which expressed concern about the recent accidental " dumping" of contaminated water at the Oconee Nuclear Station and the way it was handled by Duke Power Company (DPC) and government regulatory personnel.
You requested to be advised as to what actions the NRC has taken or proposed to take.
Over the past several weeks we have received several inquiries such as yours about the release at Oconee, which happened on January 17, 1977. Accordingly, we have prepared, and have enclosed for your use, a summary of the event and a brief description of the NRC's actions in dealing with this matter. We believe this summary addresses most of the concerns expressed in your letter and in the letter from Mr. and Mrs. Senter.
We share your concern about monitoring practices and procedures.
You will note from the enclosure that while our investigation into this matter confirmed the release to have been insignificant with respect to public health, cert.ain licensee practices and response actions in dealing with the event indicate that it was avoidable, and that steps should have been taken by the plant staff to reduce the release promptly once it had been detected.
The investigation identified a need for corrective action to minimize the probability of recurrence and commitments for the immediate development and use of corrective procedures were obtained from DPC on February 1, 1977.
As with all events of this type, the NRC reviews and evaluates the details to determine appropriate enforcement action.
This evalua-tion is now in progress and we will provide you a copy of our findings when they are complete.
With respect to your comment about the loss of public confidence, we, too, are concerned about reports of this type from members of the wwarr u
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Honorable Strom Thurmnd public. Ma cre trying at overy or.cortunity to te sensitive to the f:.ars and anxiatics of t,2 nublic teth in our direct contacts aad in our corrascondance.
He are attcmoting to understand better the con-cerns ex:ress+.' and to r:sp.,nd !her.: ea can in tems r; ore understandable to the laran.
As noto1 in tre enclosure, an i;RC radiation saecialist and a public affairs officer met with a group of local citizeas in Cl cson on Februsry 16 to hear concerns aad ans. tar cut.stions aceut tia ral a sa at Ocone2.
W M11 eve this caeting '.cs mutually rnnoficial. e.ccarently, taa S. nters' letter to you was uritt:n b; fore this naeting was hold.
One aspsct of tha Scuters' letter is not diractly addressed in the eaclosur'.
T'.e L&r; "kl im Dat & Per.4er,.;i:S th2 cocNration of governw nt ing :ctors, tried to irida tha accident and,vihan dis-coverad, lied ai;out its possible consecuer.ces." Our exanination into this mat er has disclosed no evidence unich might susrort the 50nters' contentions.
Yc,ur interest in this natter it aporaciated.
Pleasa let ce kncu if I can be of further assis'ance.
Sinccrely,
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Enclosure:
Sumary of Insnection activitics t;/atts (3)
Distribution:
L. V. Gossick, ED0 IE Files B. C. Ruche, NRR ED0 Files E. Volgenau, IE IE Reading J. G. Davis, IE ED0 Reading.
ELD OCA (3)
ED0 OCA G. Roy, DF0:IE G. Gower, DF0:IE N. Moseley, Region II 3/ /77 3/ /77
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i Attachment Summary of Event and Inspection Activities Oconee Unplanned Release of Contaminated Water January 17, 1977 The Oconee Unit 1 Reactor was shut down on January 15, 1977, for repair of a steam generator tube leak.
This repair was necessary because small amounts of water containing radioactive materials consisting principally of Iodine 131, were leaking from the primary coolant system into the secondary coolant system and contaminatine the water in the secondary system.
During a test on the shut down rnit on the evening of January 17, 1977, contaminated secondary coolant leahed to a turbine building sump through a broken gasket.
The contents of the sump, which are not normally contaminated, were automatically pumped to a pond outside the plant.
The pond overflowed into the Keowee River.
Two inspectors from the fluclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Region II (Atlanta) were on site and began looking into this event on January 18, 1977.
Specific information on the released quantities was obtained and evaluated by radiation specialists in the Atlanta office.
The Keowee River is the source of potable water for the town of Clemson, South Carolina and the Clemson University and NRC wanted to be sure there was no danger to the public.
The evaluation revealed that even though the instantaneous i
release rate specified in the plant operating license had been exceeced briefly, the released contaminated water, when mixed with 3.5 billion gallons of water flowing into the Keowee River, resulted in an average Iodine 131 concentration in the river water very much lower (at least a factor of 10) than the average annual concentration permitted by rigorous NRC standards set for the protection of the public.
Based upon this i
evaluation, it did not appear that there was any significant public health hazard or need to alert the public.
As a precautionary measure, on January 19, the NRC Region II office notified the Department of Health and Environmental Control, State of South Carolina, and suggested they obtain water samples from the Keowee River.for analysis.
Duke Power Company also took water samples for the same purpose at several locations downstream from the release point.
On January 24, the State, having taken samples including samples near Clemson, South Carolina, reported to the Region II office that their water analyses had confirmed the initial evaluation.
peak contamination levels were reported by the State to be about a factor of 25 below the permissible average annual concentration.
Water sample resuits recorted by Duke Power Company were consistent with the results reported by the State._.
Having confirmed the initial evaluation (that the release would have an insignificant impact upon public health), there still appeared to be no need to alert the public.
The situation at the time, (1/2a/77) also did not indicate any neightened public concern to the point where a public announcement was needed to inform or clarify matters.
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2-s Even though the release was insicnificant from the public health perspec-tive, certain aspects of the licensee'c effluent control practicos were reviewed in depth by Region II radiation specialists.
This investigation, which was completed on January 28, indicated the need for corrective action to minimize recurrence.
Commitments for immediate corrective action were obtained frcm senior Duke Power Company (DPC) management and documented in a letter to LPC on February 1, 1977 (copy attached).
Information received from DPC and other State sources indicated increasing public concern about the release.
Accordingly, NRC issued a public announce-ment on February 2, 1977.
DPC also issued a press release on that date.
Copies of both press releases are attached.
On February 4,1977, at NRC's request, representatives of DPC met with the Region II staff in Atlanta.
During this meeting NRC representatives expressed concern about an apparent weakness in DPC's management system which allowed this release to occur.
Duka representatives were informed that in NRC's view the release was avoidable, and that the plant staff did not do all that it should have done to reduce the amount of radioac-tivity released to the environment.
Duke representatives were responsive.
They discussed action already taken and indicated a willingness to take further corrective action to prevent recurrence of such events.
Following the news releases on February 2, the NRC Office of Public Affairs reported extensive media coverage of the event in the Clemson area and nearby cities.
The DPC office in Clemson was picketed. About 200 citizens met with DPC official; on February 15, 1977.
Members of the NRC Region II staff attended this meeting along with representatives from the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the State of South Carolina.
During this meeting DPC stated that in order to relieve public concern about prompt reporting to the public of such events, DPC would henceforth make prompt public announcements whenever radioactive liquid release limits had been exceeded.
It has.been estimated that this event could result in no more than a 0.5 millirem thyroid dose to individuals drinking Clemson water.
For the purpose of perspective, 0.5 millirem may be compared to EPA's new Fuel Cycle Standard which limits individual thyroid doses to 75 millirems per year (40 CFR 190) and to the current Federal Radiation Council guidance value of 1,500 millirems per year to the thyroid.
Additional' perspective can be obtained by comparing 0.5 millirem to the whole cody dose of about 100 millirems per year caused by exposure to naturally occurring background radiation.
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3-Regardless of the low magnitude of the incremental dose _to members of the public, the NRC will require DPC to take effective action to mini-mize the possibility of additional unplanned releases in order to keep individual and general population doses as low as reasonably achievable.
As with all cases of this type, the NRC reviews the aspects of each event to determine appropriate enforcement action.
This evaluation effort is now in progress.
Evaluations of this type include consideration of the significance of the event and associated noncompliance with NRC require-ments, as well as the licensee's previous compliance history.
Sanctions available to the NRC include notices of violations, civil monetary penal-ties, and orders for modification, suspension or revocation of the license.
Copies of NRC inspection reports, enforcement correspondence, and DPC's responses are routinely made available for review by the public in the Oconee Public Library at Walhalla, South Carolina.
Attachments:
1.
Ltr to ll. O. Parker, DPC fm N. C. Moseley, MRC Region II, dtd 2/1/77 2.
NRC Press Release -
No. II-77-07 dtd 2/2/77, DPC to Limit Radioactive Discharges into Keowee River at Oconee 3.
DPC Press Release to K. Clark, NRC Region II, dtd 2/2/77 f
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pg 1 1977 In Reply Refer To:
IE:II:ADK 50-269/76-5 50-270/76-5 50-287/76-5 Duke Power Company 1
ATTN:
Mr. William O. Parker, Jr.
Vice President, Steam Production P.,0. Box 2178 422 South Church Street Charlotte, North Carolina 28242 Gentlemen:
This refers to the discussions held with Messrs. Thies and Tucker on February 1, 1977, regarding the secondary system leakage that occurred on January 17, 1977, resulting in a discharge of in excess of three Curies of I-131 to the Keowee River by way of the settling basins.
With regard to this occurrence, we understand that you have undertaken or will undertake the following actions:
Prepare and use as needed, a procedure to minimize radioactivity a.
discharges from the secondary system to turbine building sumps and subsequently to the environ =ent in the event of future pri=ary to secondary system leakage.
This procedure will include use of the condensate system filter demineralizers to reduce the activity levels and transfer of contaminated water to the liquid radioactive waste treatment system.
The procedure will be implemented on or before February 4, 1977.
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Prepare and use as needed, a procedure to minimize the volume of liquids released to 'the turbine building and Powdex sumps in the event they become highly contaminated.
The procedure will be implemented on or before February 4, 1977.
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Setup and maintain in operating order temporary pumps and hoses as necessary to provide a means of transferring contaminated water from the turbine building and Powdex sumps to the liquid radioactive waste system and incorporate the use of this equipment into h
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Duke Power Company,
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approptiate plant procedures. This equipment is to be made avail-able and ready for use on or before February 15, 1977, and further, this equipment will be maintained until permanent corrective actions have been implemented.
If our understanding of your planned actions as described above is not in accordance with the actual plans and actions being implemented, please contact this office immediately.
Very truly yours, A
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Norman C. Moseley, Director Region II r
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OFFICE OF PUBt.!C AFFAIRS. REG!ON 11 j
230 Peachtrea Strcot N.W., Suito 818, Atlanta, Geor;;ia 30303 1
No: II-77-07 POR DOEDIATE REI.?ASE e
Contact:
Ken Clcrk 07ednesday, February 2,1977)
Telephone: (404) 221-4503 NRC SAYS DUKE P07ER COMPANY WILL ACT TO LDIIT RADIOACTIVE DISCEARGES
' INTO KEOI.*EE RIVER AT OCONEE NUCLE.aR STATION NEAR SENECA, SOUTH CAROLD'a
'%e Nuc1 car Regulatory Cor.~iscien's Office of Inspection and Enforce: ant in lanta said today that Duke Power Cocpriny vill tcke action to i=:: rove n:anagenant of cyste=s centainin; rcdioactive liquids at Cconce Nuclear Stati:n near Seneca, South Carolina, so as to limit the discharga of radioactivity into the Kccvcc River to a =inimum.
URC Ecgionni Director N. C. Moseley said these actions are being td:en following unplanned release of radioactive Iodine-131 into the river in cd January which was in excess of NRC regulations governing plant operat!cnc.
' Waier sa=ples taken follo.dng the release by South Carolina hacith officials indicated that radioactivity in the river at the nearest drinking water statica posed no threat to public health and safety.
Occuce thit 1 experienced a secan generator tube leak on January 15.
During scata to deter =ine the location of the leck, a gasket failu-'
-at-ssd water to the turbina building which. drained to a su=p and subsequently to holding ponds which e=pty into the Keovce River.
Moseley said Duke officials have agreed to incorporate into plant operations the use of additions 1 equipnent and procedurcs to inprove the use of liquid radioactive vaste treawant systems and to inprove centrol of conenri nted water released to the rircr.
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C0PY For:
KEN CLARK February 2, 1977 From:
Corporate Communications Department Duke Power Company 422 South Church Street Charlotte, North Carolina 28242 FOR DD!EDIATE RELEASE SENECA, S. C.
-- Duke Power Company announced today that after' discussions with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, it was adding certain procedures and hardware to the operation of its Oconee Nuclear Station near here.
H. B. Tucker. Manager of Duke's Nuclear Divisi~on, said that the action was taken to prevent the inadvertent release of water containing some radioactivity such as occurred two weeks ago when some water from the turbine building sump at Oconee was pumped into outside holding basins and some of this water was permitted to enter the Keowee Hydro Station's tailrace for a short time. This release was diluted by the flow of water from operation of the Keowee Hydro-Station which was running for the production of electricity during the recent frigid weather.
Both the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Duke Power have agreed that the occurrence resulted in no effect whatsoever on public health and safety.
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RRF020207 Distribution: ABCD C0PY I
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