ML19320C915
| ML19320C915 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Berkeley Research Reactor |
| Issue date: | 06/24/1980 |
| From: | Engelken R NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION V) |
| To: | Schrock V CALIFORNIA, UNIV. OF, BERKELEY, CA |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8007180259 | |
| Download: ML19320C915 (1) | |
Text
T)(
p ung
[$
'4 9;
UNITED STATES
- g NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 3
'; j REGION V
$i g
1990 N. CALIFORNIA BOULEVARD
,d SUITE 202, WALNUT CREEK PLAZA WALNUT CREE K, CALIFORNIA 94596 June 24, 1980 Docket No. 50-224 University of California Department of Nuclear Engineering Berkeley, California 94720 Attn: Virgil Schrock Reactor Administrator Gentlemen:
The enclosed IE Circular No. 80-14 is forwarded to you for information.
If there are any questions related to your understanding of the suggested actions, please contact this office.
Sincerely, h
4%uv
,{^R.H.Engelken Director Er. closures:
1.
IE Circular No. 80-14 2.
List of IE Circulars Recently Issued b
s con so
- 6 w
+
cmr
SSINS.: 6830 UNITED STATES Accession No.:
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 8005050074 0FFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT WASHINGTON, D. C.
20555 June 24, 1980 IE Circular No. 80-14 RADI0 ACTIVE CONTAMINATION OF PLANT DEMINERALIZED WATER SYSTEM AND RESULTANT IllTERNAL CONTAMINAlION OF PERSONNEL This circular describes an event which occurred at a nuclear power facility; however, the generic implications may be applicable to research reactors, and
. fuel cycle facilities.
On March 17, 1980, a licensee informed the NRC resident inspector that portions of the plant demineralized water (DW) system were found to be radioactively contaminated.
A temporary hose used to add demineralized water to the spent fuel pool was the pathway for the cross-contamination.
After this fuel pool makeup was completed on March 14, the temporary DW iine (still connected to the DW header) was inadvertently left submerged in the fuel pool.
Since the DW header pressure at,the point of supply was relatively low (a DW booster pump had been secured;, a siphoning action occurred, resulting in radioactive contamination of portions of the DW header.
On March 17, 1980, while performing routine secondary system <:hemical analyses,
- ~
containedhighlevelsofboronandhadactivityof1.5x10ghechemistrylab the licensee discovered that the demineralized water tap in uCi/ml (mainly Cs-134, Cs-137, Co-58, Co-60 and Mn-54).
It was subsequently discovered that demineralized water from the chemistry laboratory supply tap had been used to i
make five (5) pots of coffee. The remaining coffee was confiscated and the i
twenty-three (23) individuals who had consumed this coffee were whole-body counted. All involved individuals showed no intake greater than an equivalent O.01 MPC-HRS. Analysis performed by the licensee's radiation consultant, based on the maximum concentration of radioactivity found in the coffee, indicated that the resultant 50-year dose commitment to an individual drinking eight ounces of this coffee would be less than 1 millirem.
Further licensee investigation revealed that the non-radiological chemistry DW supply tap was the only DW supply point outside the Auxiliary Building controlled area.- This DW supply tap was tagged prohibiting human consumption to-prevent a similar event.in the future.
It is reconmended that you review your facilities use of demineralized water (DW) via temporary connections and give attention to the following:
1.
Provisions'should be made to assure that radioactive materials are not
-inadvertently introduced into your facility's DW system via the improper use of temporary connections. A temporary cross connection between contaminated systems and the DW system without adequate physical controls
-to prevent cross-contamination should be prohibited.
4
IE Circular No. 80-14 June 24, 1980 Page 2 of 2 1
2.
In addition to some physical means cf preventing backflow into the DW system, appropriate administrative controls should be established to ensure that the DW supply valve is secured and temporary hosing is disconnected from the DW supply header after use.
4 3.
Use of plant-supplied DW for human consumption should be prohibited.
.The potable water system should be the only authorized source of water for human consumption.
4.
' Examine potable.and demineralized water systems to determine if pathways exist allowing or having the potential to allow contamination of these systems including temporary connections whereby siphons could cause situations described above.
No written response to this Circular is required. Your review of this matter I
to determine its _ applicability to your facility ant' any corrective and preven-tive actions taken or planned, as appropriate, will be reviewed during a subsequent NRL inspection.
If you desire additional information regarding this matter, contact the Director of the appropriate NRC Regional Office.
L i
t l
l L
IE Circular fio. 80-14 Enclosure June 24, 1980
)
RECEllTLY ISSUED IE CIRCULARS Circular Subject Date of Issued to flo.
Issue 80-13 Grid Strap Damage in 5/18/80 All holders of Reactor Westinghouse Fuel Assemblies OLs and cps 80-12 Valve-Shaft-To-Actuator Key 5/14/80 All holders of Reactor May Fall Out of Place When Ols and cps Mounted Below Horizontal Axis 80-11 Emergency Diesel Generator 5/13/80 All holders of a power Lube Oil Cooler Failures reactor OL or CP 2
80 10 Failure to Maintain 4/29/80 All holders of Reactor Environmental Qualification OLs and cps of Equipment 80-09 Problems With Plant Internal 4/28/80 All holders of a power Communications Systems reactor OL or CP 80-08 BWR Technical Specification 4/18/80 All General Electric Inconsistency - RPS Response BWR's holding a power Time reactor OL 80-07 Problems with HPCI Turbine 4/3/80 All holders of a power Oil System reactor OL or CP 80-06 Control and Accountability 4/14/80 Medical licensees in Systems for Implant Therapy Categories G and G1 Sources 80-05 Emergency Diesel-Generator 4/1/80 All holders of a power Lubricating Oil Addition and reactor OL or CP Onsite Supply 80-04 Securing of Threaded Locking 3/14/80 All holders of a power Devices on Safety-Related reactor OL or CP Equipment 80-03 Protection from Toxic Gas 3/6/80 All holders of a Hazards power reactor OL 80-02 fluclear Power Plant Staff 2/1/80 All holders of Reactor Work Hours Ols, including research and test reactors, and cps
'