ML19327A924
| ML19327A924 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Nine Mile Point  |
| Issue date: | 08/23/1989 |
| From: | NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19327A923 | List: |
| References | |
| FOIA-89-374 NUDOCS 8910200078 | |
| Download: ML19327A924 (2) | |
Text
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 4
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REGION I 475 ALLENDALE ROAD 8
KING OF PRUS$1A, PENNSYLVANIA 19406 TECHNICAL ISSUE
SUMMARY
Date: August 23, 1989 ISSUE:
HIGH LEVEL RADIATION / CONTAMINATION AREA BACKGROUND:
On August 21, a local television station reported that a 4,000 square foot area of the old radwaste Tiullding at Nine Mile Point I has been inaccessible to personnel for the last 11 years.
Radiation levels os high as 400 Rem per hour were caused by a spill in 1978.
The informa-tion, obtained by the TV station from a confidential INPO report, quoted INPO that, "
a strong potential (exists) for airborne contamination from deposits-built up on walls. "
One TV reporter complained, "And it is we, the ratepayers, who pay for the clean-up of the contaminated areas a
situation that one company man says is a careless, sloppy accident that chould never have happened."
FINDINGS / SIGNIFICANCE:
In 1978, there was a recirc pump failure requiring RCS loop draindown.
Due to insufficient 11guld radwaste storage, the loop water was dumped to the radwaste sub-basement.
The sub-basement contained 55-gallon drums of domineralizer filter sludge and resins.
Some of the
- drums, originally supported in a carriage resting on a monorail, were floated out of the carriage.
This and drum corrosion has resulted in eludge and resins spillage onto the sub-basement floor.
Unplanned high water level in this space has occurred several times since 1978.
The licensee hac maintained a water level in the radwaste building sub-basement to prevent airborne contamination.
In 1986, an internal survey of the sub-basement was done using a robotic mechanism._ It confirmed that the radioactive contents of the dumped and corroded barrels had spilled onto the floor.
Licensee surveys of the
.sub-basement and the radwaste building perimeter drain sump indicates the contamination is contained within the radwaste building basement.
LICENSEE /NRC ACTION:
The licensee has hired a contractor to clean-up the contaminated areas; and work continues.
Region I dispatched an Augmented Inspection Team (AIT), commencing at the site on 8/23/89, to review Niagara Mohawk's use of a sub-basement of the old radwaste building for storage of liquid and solid radwaste.
The team will also examine the on-site and off-site radiological impact of this contaminated room.
CONTACTS /
REFERENCES:
Rich Barkley (337-5065)
Jim Wiggins (337-5224)
PNO-I-89-72, Press Release No. I-89-163, R-I Duty Log - all dated 8/22 DM 2rt Chief, DRP Technica~1 dupp t Staff Distribution:
M. Johnson, EDO L. Whitney, ILRB Slosson, PM W.
Butler, NRR R.
Capra, NRR J.
Landis, R-II R.
Hague, R-III J.
Baird, R-IV A.
Chaffee, R-V M,.Knapp, DRSS B.
Boger, DRS J.
Strosnider, DRS R.
Gallo, DRS DRP Staff 8910200078 891018 b h PDR FOIA PDR SALANTB9-374
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89-31 NJNE' MILE POINT UNIT 1 CONTAfTNATIONOFSUB-BASEMENTBYLEAKINGDRUMS
-(AIT UPDATE)
AUGUST 21, 1989 ERDEIB RESIN STORAGE DRUMS SPILL RADI0 ACTIVE MATERIAL DUE TO THEIR BEING LEFT UNCOVERED.
-AIT FINDJEES o
SUB-BASEMENT WAS USED FOR OVERFLOW FROM DRAINING OPERATIONS SINCE PLANT WAS LICENSED. (NOT UNCOMMON FOR PLANTS OF THAT-VINTA6E DUE TO UNDER DESIGN OF 6AD WASTE SYSTEM).
o IN 1981 SIGNIFICANTLY MORE WATER WAS DUMPED INTO THE ROOM,
~
FOUR FEET OF WATER INSTEAD OF ONE FOOT.
o AT THAT TIME THE ROOM HELD DRLMS FULL 0F SPENT RESIN.
THE DRUMS WERE OPEN WAITING FOR THE RESINS TO DRY OUT.
0 THE WATER DISLODGED THE DRUMS SPILLING THE CONTENTS ONTO THE FLOOR.
O AIT DETERMINED THAT THERE IS NO RELEASE PATHWAY FOR LICUID OR SOLID RAD WASTE.
AIRBORNE RELEASE IS MONITORED VIA THE PLANT STACK.
o POSSIBLE ENFORCEMEN' m.10N BECAUSE THE LICENSEE DID NOT FILE A 50.59 ANALYSIS AND FSAR UPDATE.
CONTACT:
R. KARSCH AIT YES
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REFERENCE:
10 CFR 50.72 #16374 SIGEVENT ND__
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i August 23, 1989 Nucleav Regulatory Commission IREE00M 0F INFORMATION 11555 Rockville Pike ACT REQUEST Rockville, Md. 20852 fo/A-$f 3 W To Whom It May Concerns Q /,7/-/f Under the Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following documents:
- 1. A report from the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations about a spill of radioactive waste at the Nine Mile Point 1 nuclear powe r - pl ant in Scriba, N.Y.
- 2. A1] memos, correspondence, findings, reports, and other information concerning the spill, which occurred between 1978 and 1 981.
3.s Any information concerning other spills of radioaetive waste at Nine Mile Point 1. This should include licensee event
'c reports as well as other documents.
Because this information.is in the public interes t, please waive. all copying end search fees.
Thank you for your prompt attention t
Yours truly, pL t> b..,
Jonathan D. Salant y
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August 23, 1989 b
p Mr. Kenneth.M. Carr, Chairman U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1717 H Street, N.W.
L Washington, D.C. 20555 Dear Chairman Carre-
~ his letter will confirm the conversations between my office T
and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (N.R.C.)
L and Philadelphia today. The discussions related to the-1978in Washin spill of radioactive material at the Nine Mile Point plant in' the town of Scriba,. New York.
I nuclear l
office is already at the site, operating as an augm inspection team under the direct orders of N.R.C.
Administrator William T. Russell.
Region I L
several citizens from my districu have voiced concern over this " accident" and the condition of both Nine Mile Point plants I &
II. I have assured-them that the N.R.C. would conduct a thorouch investigation of the preolem, including a test of the waters in the af fected area, and that public~re a
possible. port would be made available as quickly as k
M re we would agree tha_t facts, not this time.pdG RussTil~1ndicaied to.iy ) staff rumcrs, are necessary at that Niagara Mohawk Pcwer Corporation and N.R.C.severar~prob regulations.
I would, therefore, respectfully requeet to review the findings of your staff after -they havethe opportunity returned from their inspection. The public's right to knew is of parar.ount importance in this matter.
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administrative assistant,should you or your staff n completion of your report. forward to meeting direct my-t
... upon the Best wishes.
Sincerely, ES T. WALSH
. ember of' Congreas JTW map-cc Mr. William T. Russell U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 475 Allendale Road King of Prussia, PA 19406 t
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