ML19318C589
| ML19318C589 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Big Rock Point, Palisades File:Consumers Energy icon.png |
| Issue date: | 05/28/1980 |
| From: | James Keppler NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III) |
| To: | Dewitt R CONSUMERS ENERGY CO. (FORMERLY CONSUMERS POWER CO.) |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8007020051 | |
| Download: ML19318C589 (1) | |
Text
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UNITED STATES 8"
([',7, NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
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GLEf4 ELLYN,lLLINOIS 60137 Docket No. 50-155 IMAY 2 8 T380 Docket No. 50-255 Consumers Power Company ATTN:
Mr. R. B. DeWitt Vice President Nuclear Operations 212 West Michigan Avenue Jackson, MI 49201 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, n.,$p/hg A
James G. Keppler Director
Enclosure:
IE Information Notice No. 80-22 cc w/ encl:
Mr. D. P. Hoffman, Nuclear Licensing Administrator Mr. C. J. Hartman, Plant Superintendent Mr. J. G. Lewis, Manager Central Files Director, NRR/DPM Director, NRR/ DOR PDR Local PDR NSIC TIC daald Callen, Michigan Public
-Service Commission Myron M. Cherry, Chicago i
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r SSINS: 6870 Accessions No:
UNITED STATES 8005050059 NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT JJ WASHINGTON, DC 20555 May 28, 1980 IE Information Notice No. 80-22 BREAKDOWNS IN CONTAMINATION CONTROL PROGRAMS Description of Circumstances Recent inspections at power reactors have revealed breakdowns in contamination control programs resulting in releases of radioactive materials to the unrestricted area and off-site environment by several different pathways.
The first pathway was via disposal of supposedly clean trash in the nearby county sanitary landfill.
High background radiation levels due to an onsite buildup of radioactive waste precluded adequate radiation surveys of clean trash prior to removal from the restricted area.
In addition, the surveys were being conducted by improperly trained personnel.
The result was the undetected disposal of radioactive material in the local sanitary landfill.
An NRC inspector observed the practice and confirmed his suspicions when he detected levels of radiation 10 to 20 times norma' background levels at the landfill.
Subsequent surveys by the licensee, th State, and tne NRC revealed several other areas in the landfill with higher than normal dose rates.
Excavation by the licensee revealed items with centamination letals up to 100 mrem /hr contact reading.
These items had been delivered with tne clean trash from the plant and buried at the landfill.
A second pathway was identified to be through the sale by the licensee of scrap materials to salvage dealers in the surrounding area.
Several items with contamination levels in excess of the licensee's unrestricted area release limits were discovered to have been sold to these vendors.
Maximum dose rates on these items did not exceed 1.0 mrem /hr.
This condition evidently also resulted from the elevated background radiation levels within the plant and the practice of permitting unqualified personnel to conduct radiation surveys.
A third pathway was found during a recent NRC inspection.
An NRC inspector's radiation survey revealed soil contamination on site extending beyond the protected area fence.
Radiation levels as high as 1.5 mrem /hr were measured on contact with the soil.
The contamination is believed to be atmospheric fallout of particulate radioactivity which was exhausted from the plant stack during containment purge following explosiva plugging of steam generator tu6es. The steam generator manways were not covered and the purge system was not equipped with HEPA filters.
The licensee's survey program did not include routine, periodic site and perimeter surveys.
IE Information Notice No. 80-22 May 28, 1980 8
Page 2 of 2 This IE Information Notice is provided as an early notification of a significant matter that is still under review by the NRC staff.
It is expected that recipi-ents will review the information for possible applicability to their facilities.
No specific action or response is requested at this time.
If NRC evaluations so indicate, further licensee actions may be required.
No written response to this IE Information Notice is required.
If you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact the Director of the appropriate NRC Regional Office.
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IE Information Notice No. 80-22 Enclosure May 28, 1930 RECENTLY ISSUED IE INFORMATION NOTICES Information Subject Date Issued To Notice No, Issued 80-21 Anchorage and Support of 5/16/80 All power reactor Safety-Related Electrical facilities with an Equipment OL or CP 80-20 Loss of Decay Heat Removal 5/8/80 All light water reactor Capability at Davis-Besse facilities holding Unit 1 While in a Refueling power reactor OLs or cps Mode 80-19 NIOSH Recall of Recircu-5/6/80 All holders of a power lating-Mode (Closed-Circuit) reactor OL, Research Self-Contained Breathing Reactor License, Fuel Apparatus (Rebreathers)
Cycle Facility License and Priority I Material License 80-18 Possible Weapons Smuggling 5/5/80 All power reactor Pouch facilities with an OL, fuel fabrication anc processing facilities ar.d Materials Prierity I licensees (processars and distributors) 80-17 Potential Hazards Associated 5/5/80 All radiography With Interchangable Parts Licenses On Radiographic Equipment 80-16 Shaft Seal Packing 4/29/80 All power reactor Causes Binding In Main facilities in your Steam Swing Check And Region with an OL or CP Isolation Valves 80-15 Axial (Longitudinal) 4/21/80 All Light Water Reactor Oriented Cracking In Facilities holding power Piping reactor OLs or cps 8E 14 Safety Suggestions From 4/2/80 All power reactor Employees facilities with an OL or CP
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