ML19318A701
| ML19318A701 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Brunswick  |
| Issue date: | 06/11/1980 |
| From: | Stello V NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE) |
| To: | Jackie Jones CAROLINA POWER & LIGHT CO. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19318A702 | List: |
| References | |
| EA-80-026, EA-80-26, NUDOCS 8006240047 | |
| Download: ML19318A701 (2) | |
Text
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION h*y,
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JU!i 11 ???Q Carolina Poser and Light Company Docket Nos.:
50-324 ATTN:
Mr. J. A. Jones, Senior Executive 50-325 Vice-President and Chief Operating EA-80-26 Officer 411 Fayetteville Street Raleigh, North Carolina 27602 Gentlemen:
On February 22, 1980, there was an unmonitored, uncontrolled release of airborne radioactive material to the environment from the Brunswick facility.
This release was due to improper operation of the auxiliary boiler with radio-active contamination present in the boiler mud tank.
The environmental consequences of the actual event were minor; however, your failure to recognize the potential safety significance of the situation and the inadequacy of your response to the event are matters of serious concern.
This matter was discussed with Mr. B. J. Furr by telephone on March 28, 1980, by Mr. James P. O'Reilly, Director of our Region II office.
The results of this conversa-tion and our understanding of your planned corrective actions were discussed in a letter to you from Mr. O'Reilly, dated March 28, 1980.
These initial corrective actions were confirmed by our onsite inspection personnel.
In addition, our recent inspection of your radiation protection program revealed several items of noncompliance, one of which was recurrent in nature.
Both of these tratters were discussed in a meeting held on April 15, 1980, in the Region II office in Atlanta, Georgia, between Mr. James P. O'Reilly, Director of Ragion II and his staff, and Mr. B. J. Furr and others of your staff.
The situation involving the release of radioactive material indicated a programmatic weakness in the operation of the Brunswick facility.
The con-tinued operatien of the auxiliary boiler in a contaminated mode for a period in excess of twenty-one (21) months demonstrated weaknesses in your ability to identify, evaluate, and correct, as needed, matters of potential safoty significance.
The failure to promptly determine the amount of radioactivity released to the atr.osphere from the auxiliary boiler tube leak and slowness in assessing tne environmental consequences of this release precluded the initia-tion of a timely response - a matter of serious concern had the significance of the event been core severe.
In addition, we are concerned that notification
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with regard to the airborne release was not made to the NRC until thirty-three (33) days after known radioactively contaminated steam was observed being j
released from the auxiliary boiler stack.
CERTIFIED PAIL RETURN RECEIPT REOUESTED 8 0062(ooe Q
a Carolina Po.er and Light Company JU'l 11 1930 In addition to the weaknesses demonstrated by your inadequate evaluation and response to the auxiliary boiler tube leak, our findings during recent inspections have further demonstrated shortcomings in your overall health physics program.
Our findings were confirmed by examples of failure to provide adequate personnel monitoring in high radiation areas, radiation areas not properly posted, containers of radioactive material not properly labeled, and workers not fully informed of radiation levels expected to be encountered.
Therefore, we propose to impose civil penalties for the items of noncompliance set forth in Appendix A to this letter in the cumulative amount of $24,000.
Appendix B of this letter is a Notice of Proposed Imposition of Civil Penalties.
You are required to respond to this letter; in preparing your response, you should follow the instructions in Appendices A and B.
In accordance with Section 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice," Part 2, Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations, a copy of this letter and the enclosures will be placed in the Commission's Public Document Room.
Sincerely, A
~h 77'~
f Victor Stello(Jr.
Director Office of Inspection and Enforcement
Enclosures:
1.
Appendix A - Notice of Violation 2.
Appendix B - Notice of Proposed Imposition of Civil Penalties cc w/ encl:
A. C. Tollison, Jr.
Plant Manager Box 458 Southport, NC 28461 I
.