ML19318C655
| ML19318C655 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Vermont Yankee File:NorthStar Vermont Yankee icon.png |
| Issue date: | 05/28/1980 |
| From: | Grier B NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| To: | Rich Smith VERMONT YANKEE NUCLEAR POWER CORP. |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8007020125 | |
| Download: ML19318C655 (1) | |
Text
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UNITED STATES 8
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION o
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REGION I 631 PARK AVENUE
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KING OP PRUS$1A, PENNSYLVANIA 19406 May 28, 1980 Docket No. 50-271 Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power unparation ATTN:
Mr. Robert L. Smith Lic.ensing Engineer 25 Research Drive Westborough, Massachusetts 01581 Gentlemen:
The enclosed IE Information Notice No. 80-22, " Breakdowns in Contamination Control Programs," is forwarded to you for information.
No written response is required.
If you desire additional information regarding this matter, please contact this office.
Sincerely, ur Boyce H. Grier
' Director
Enclosures:
1.
IE Information Notice No. 80-22 2.
List of Recently Issued IE Information Notices CONTACT:
P. J. Knapp (215-337-5243) cc w/encls:
Mr. Warren P. Murphy, Plant Superintendent Ms. J. Abbey Technical Secretary Mr.J.E. Griffin, President Mr. L. H. Heider, Vice President l
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I-Soo702012.$' O
l ENCLOSURE 1 SSINS: 6870 Accessions No:
UNITED STATES 8005050059 NUCLEAR REGULATORY C0694ISSION OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT WASHINGTON, DC 20555 IE Information Notice No. 80-22 Date:
May 28, 1980 Page 1 of 2 BP.EAKDOWNS 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 unre-stricted 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 radicactive 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 normal background levels at the landfill.
Subsequent surveys by the licensee, the State, and the NRC revealed several other areas in the landfill with higher than normal dose rates.
Excavation by the licensee revealed items with contamination levels up to 100 mres/hr contact reading.
These items had been delivered with the 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 matorials to salvage dealers in the surroundin Several items with contamination levels in excess of the licensee'g area.s unrestricted area release i
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
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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 explosive plugging of steam generator tubes.
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.
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IE Information Notice No. 80-22 Date:
May 28, 1980 Page 2 of 2 This TE 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 recipients 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 tt.is matter, please contact the Director of the appro-priate NRC Regional Offic's.
ENCLOSURE 2 IE Information Notice No. 80-22 j
Date:
May 28, 1980 Page 1 of 1 RECENTLY ISSUED IE INFORMATION NOTICES Information Subject Date Issued to Notice No.
Issued 80-14 Safety Suggestions from 4/2/80 All Power Reactor Facil-Employees ities with an (Operating License (OL) or Construction Permit (CP), Fuel Fabrica-tion and Processing Facili-ties and Materials Priority 1 Licensees i
80-15 Axial (Longitudinal) 4/21/80 All Power Reactor Facil-Orientad Cracking in ities with an OL or CP Piping 80-16 Shaft Seal Packing 5/5/80 All Power Reactor Facil-Causes Binding in Main ities with an OL or CP Steam Swing Check and Isolation Valves 80-17 Potential Hazards 5/5/80 All Radiographic Licensees Associated With Interchangeable Parts On Radiographic Equipment 80-18 Possible Weapons 5/5/80 All Power Reactor Faci-Smuggling Pouch lities with an OL, Fuel Fabrication and Processing Facilities and Materials Priority I Licensees 80-19 NIOSH Recall of Recir-5/6/80 All Power Reactors with an culation-Mode (Closed-OL, Research Reactors, Fuel Circuit) Self-Contained Facilities and Priority I Breathing Ap aratus Material Licensees (Rebreathers 80-20 Loss of Decay Heat Re-5/8/80 All Power Reactor Faci-moval Capability at lities with an OL or CP Davis-Besse Unit 1 While in Refueling Mode 80-21 Anchorage and Support 5/16/80 All Power Reactor Faci-of Safety-Related lities with an OL or CP Electrical Equipment
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