ML19318C758
| ML19318C758 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | South Texas  |
| Issue date: | 05/28/1980 |
| From: | Seyfrit K NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV) |
| To: | Eric Turner HOUSTON LIGHTING & POWER CO. |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8007020253 | |
| Download: ML19318C758 (1) | |
Text
___
- a a8%q'o UNITED STATES NSIC NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION w
CENTRAL FILES J '*M.
t REGloN IV c
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) e 611 RY AN PLAZA DRIVE, SUITE 1000 ejf ARLINGTON, TEXAS 76012 73% g*r j #g May 28, 1980 In Reply Refer To:
RIV Docket Nos. 50-498/IE Information Notice No. 80-22 50-499/IE Information Notice No. 80-22 Houston Lighting & Power Company ATTN: Mr. E. A. Turner, Vice President Power Plant Construction and Technical Services Post Office Box 1700 l
Houston, Texas 77001 Gentlemen:
The enclosed IE Information Notice is forwarded to you for.aformation.
No written response to this Information Notice is required.
If you have any questions related to the subject, please contact this office.
Sincerely,
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u Karl V. Seyfrit
'/i' Director
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Enclosures:
1.
IE Information Notice No. 80-22 2.
List of Recently Issued IE Information Notices v
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SSINS: 6870 Accessions No:
UNITED STATES 8005050059 NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION s
OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT
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D WASHINGTON, DC 20555 IE Information Notice No. 80-22 Date:
May 28, 1980 Page 1 of 2 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 1 county sanitary landfill. High background radiatian 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 normal' background levels at the landfill. Subsequent surveys by the licensee, the State, and the NRC revealed several other areas ia 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.
l 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 j
resulted from the elevated background radiation levels within the plant and 1
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
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during. containment _ purge following explosive plugging of steam generator tubes. 'Thefsteam' 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 May 28, 1980 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.
IE Information Notice No. 80-22 May 28, 1980 LISTING OF RECENTLY ISSUED IE INFORMATION NOTICES Information Subject Date Issued To Notice No. -
Issued 80-16 Shaft Seal Packing Causes 4/29/80 All power reactor Binding in Main Steam facilities in your Swing Check and Isolation Region with an OL or Valves CP 80-17 Potential Hazards Associated 5/5/80 All radiography With Interchangable Parts Licenses On Radiographic Equipment 80-18 Possible Weapons Smuggling 5/5/80 All power reactor Pouch facilities with an Operating License (OL), fuel fabrication and processing facilities and Materials Priority I licensees (processors and distributors) 80-19 NIOSH Recall of Ricircu-5/6/80 All holders of a lating-Mode (Closed Circuit) power reactor Operating Self-Contained Breathing License (OL), Research Apparatus (Rebreathers)
Reactor License, Fuel Cycle Facility License and Priority I Material License 80-20 Loss of Decay Heat Removai 5/8/80 All light water reactor Capability at Davis-Besse facilities holding Unit 1 While in a Refueling power reactor Operating Mode Licenses (OLs) or Constr"etion Permits (cps) 80-21 Anchorage and Support of 5/16/80 All power reactor-Safety-Related Electrical facilities with an Equipment OL or CP Enclosure
.