ML19338D940
| ML19338D940 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Prairie Island  |
| Issue date: | 08/12/1980 |
| From: | James Keppler NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III) |
| To: | Gilberts D NORTHERN STATES POWER CO. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19338D943 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8009240239 | |
| Download: ML19338D940 (4) | |
See also: IR 05000282/1980008
Text
{{#Wiki_filter:_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ - _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ [[( f[ UNITED STATES og NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
o REGION 111 n r y /[ 799 ROOSEVELT ROAD 6 g GLEN ELLYN, ILLINOIS 60137 % - AUG 1 2 1980, Docket No. 50-282 Docket No. 50-306 Northern States Power Company ATTN: Mr. Dennis E. Gilberts Vice President Power Production and System Operation 414 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, MN 55401 Gentlemen: Subject: Health Physics Appraisal The NRC has identified a need for licensees to strengthen the health physics programs at nuclear power plants and has undertaken a significant effort to ensure that action is taken in this regard. As a first step in this effort, the Office of Incpection and Enforcement is conducting special team appraisals of the health physics programs, including the health physics aspects of radioactive waste management and onsite emergency preparedness, at all operating power reactor sites. The ob- jectives of these appraisals are to evaluate the overall adequacy and effectiveness of the health physics program at each site and to identify areas of weakness that need to be strengthened. We will use the findings from these appraisals as a basis not only for requesting individual licensee action to correct deficiencies and effect improvements but also to improve NRC requirements and guidance. This effort was identified to you in a letter dated January 22, 1980, from Mr. Victor Stello, Jr., Director, NRC Office of Inspection and Enforcement. During the period May 5 to May 15, 1980, the NRC conducted the special appraisal of the health physics program at the Prairie Island Nuclear Power Station. Areas examined during this appraisal are described in the enclosed report (50-282/80-08; 50-306/80-09). Within these areas, the appraisal team reviewed selected procedures and representative records, observed work practices, interviewed persconel, and performed independent ' measurements. We request that you carefully review the findings of this report for consideration in improving your health physics program. Findings of this appraisal indicate that significant weaknesses exist in your offshift radiation protection coverage and radiation survey instrument f
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v _ . Northern States Power Company -2- AUG 1 2 000
use practices. These items are set forth in Appendix A, "Significant Appraisal Findings." Your past performance in personal exposure and radiological effluent controls has been acceptable but we believe that the identified weaknesses require correction to enable you to perform equally well in future normal and offnormal situations. Your present health physics program is considered adequate to support continued operation while achieving acceptable corrective action for the identified weaknesses. We recognize that an explicit regulatory requirement pertaining to each significant weakness identified in Appendix A may not currently exist. However, to determine whether adequate protection will be provided for the health and safety of workers and the public, you are requested to submit a written statement within twenty (20) days of your receipt of this letter, describing your corrective action for each significant weak- ness identified in Appendix A, including: (1) steps which have been taken; (2) steps which will be taken; and (3) a schedule for completion of action. This request'is made pursuant to Section 50.54(f) of Part 50, Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations. During this appraisal, it was also found that certain of your activities d' not appear to have been conducted in full compliance with NRC require- meats, as set forth in the Notice of Violation enclosed as Appendix B. The item of noncompliance in Appendix B has been categorized into the levels of severity as described in our Criteria for Enforcement Action dated December 13, 1974. Section 2.201 of Part 2, Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations, requires you to submit to this office, within twenty (20) days of your receipt of this notice, a written statement or explana- tion in reply, inclrding: (1) corrective steps which have been taken and the results achieved; (2) corrective steps which will be taken to avoid further items of noncompliance; and (3) the date when full com- pliance will be achieved. You should be aware that the next step in the NRC effort to strengthen health physics programs at nuclear power plants will be a requirement by the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) that each licensee develop, submit to the NRC for approval, and implement a Radiation Protection Plan. Each licensee will be expected to include in the Radiation Protection Plan sufficient measures to provide lasting corrective ection for significant weaknesses identified during the Guidance special appraisal of the current health physics program. for the development of this plan will incorporate pertinent findings from all special appraisals and will be issued by NRR in the fall of this year. . - -- .- _ .. . - - .
.. t AUG 12 080:
Northern States Power Company -3- In accordance with Section 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice," Part 2, Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations, a ecpy of this letter and the enclosures will be placed in the NRC's Public Document Room. If this material contains any information that you believe to be proprietary, it is necessary that you make a written application within 20 days to this office to withhold such information from public disclosure. Any such application must be accompanied by an affidavit, executed by the owner of the information, which identifies the document or part sought to be withheld and which contains a statement of reasons which addresses with specificity the items which will be considered by the Commission as listed in Subparagraph (B)(4) of Section 2.790. The information sought to be withheld shall be incorporated as far as possible into a separate part of the affidavit. If we do not hear from you in this regard within the specified period, this letter and the enclosures will be placed in the Public Document Room. We will gladly discuss any questions you have concerning this inspection. Sincerely, % a0 "y U~
James G. Keppler Director Enclosures: 1. Appendix A, Significant Appraisal Findings 2. Appendix B, Notice of Violation 3. IE Inspection Report No. 50-282/80-08 and No. 50-306/80-09 cc w/encls: Mr. F. P. Tierney, Jr. , Plant Manager Central Files Reproduction Unit NRC 20b PDR Local PDR ' NSIC TIC John W. Ferman, Ph.D. , Nuclear Engineer, MPCA 1 < E . -l
. Appendix A
S13NIFICANT APPRAISAL FINDINGS " Docket No. 50-282 Northern States Power Company Docket No. 50-306 Based on the Health Physics Appraisal conducted May 5-15, 1980, the (_ Section following items appear to require _ corrective actions. references are to the Details portion of the enclosed Inspection Report.) 1. Offshift radiation protection coverage requires upgrading to assure _that necessary measurements can be ma e and actions taken in accident d or other anomalous situations to evaluate radiological hazards and effect appropriate radiological precautions. The individuals provid- ing this coverage must not be assigned other duties which detract from their primary responsibility for radiation protection coverage. (Section 3.a) 2. Radiation survey instrument usage needs upgrading to assure that survey instruments are functional upon use and to assure that appropriate radiation dose rate information as available to per- sonnel in High Radiation Areas. (Sections 8.a and 9.a) E , ._c_____ _ . . _ . _ - _ . . _ _ _ _ . . . .. }}