ML19340A993
| ML19340A993 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Dresden, Byron, Braidwood, Quad Cities, Zion, LaSalle  |
| Issue date: | 10/19/1979 |
| From: | James Keppler NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III) |
| To: | Brian Lee COMMONWEALTH EDISON CO. |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8009240812 | |
| Download: ML19340A993 (1) | |
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007 l e 1973 4
Docket Nos. 50-10, 50-237, 50-249, 50-254, 50-265, 50-295, 50-304, 50-373, 50-374, 50-454, 50-455, 50-456 and 50-457 3
Commonwealth Edison Company ATTN:
Mr. Cordell Reed Manager of Nuclear Operations Post Office Box 767 Chicago, IL 60690 Gentlemen:
Enclosed is IE Circular No. 79-21, " Prevention of Unplanned Releases of Radioactivity," which provides information on inadvertent releases /on-site spills of radioactivity. Should you have any ques,tions related to the enclosed suggested preventive measures, please contact this office.
Sincerely, James G. Keppler Director
Enclosures:
1.
IE Ciruelar No. 79-21 2.
List of IE Circulars Issued in the Last Six Months cc w/ encl:
Mr. D. L. Peoples, Director Mr. Gunner Sorensen, Site of Nuclear Licensing Project Superintendent Mr. B. B. Stephenson, Mr. R. Cosaro, Project Station Superintendent Superintendent Mr. N. Kalivianakis, Central Files Station Superintendent Director, NRR/DPM
{bp Mr. N. Wandke, Station Director, NRR/ DOR Superintendent PDR Mr. L. J. Burke, Site Local PDR 800924 0M/g Project Superintendent NSIC Mr. T. E. Quaka, Quality TIC Assurance Supervisor Anthony Roissan, Esq., Attorney Mr. R. H. Holyoak, Station Mr. Dean Hansell, Office cf Superi tendent Assistant Atts.rney General
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i Accession No.:
7908220128 SSINS:
6830
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UNITED STATES
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 0FFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT WASHINGTON, D.C.
20555 October 19, 1979
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IE Circular,No. 79-21 l
PREVENTION OF UNPLANNED RELEASES OF RADI0 ACTIVITY k N rous incidents of unplanned releases of' radioactivity have been reported to the NRC within the past few months. These incidents of leaks, overflows and spills have resulted in contamination of areas outside of plant buildings.
The attached table provides you with summary information on these events, their apparent causes, the radiological consequences and the corrective acetons.
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We believe that a number of these incidents could have been avoided and previn-tive actir/.: for these types of unplanned releases should be instituted by all s
reactor licensees.
Based on the reported incidents, the following preventive measures can minimize the occurrence of such events.
1.
Review of procedures for transfer of radioactive liquids.
Errors in written procedures have led to mistakes in valve line-ups and tank overflows. Written procedures, including check lists for valve line-ups, should be developed and followed for operations which could cause spills of radioactivity.
Management controls, including audits, should be employed to assure verbatim compliance with such procedures.
i 2.
Review of "as built" systems having the potential of inadvertent releases because of design or construction errors. Consider items such as:
a.
Tank overflows should be routed to liquid radwaste tanks.
b.
Storm drains should be located away from areas with a high potential for spills.
3 c.
Consideration should be given to drip pans under equipment, such i
as pumps and valves, from which leakage is expected.
d.
Cofferdams should be installed under doors to areas with a potential for radioactive spills.
Preoperational testing should verify that crossconnects do not exist e.
that would pemit radioactivity to flow from operating unit (s) to unit (s) under construction.
3.
Periodically functionc119j test and perform inspections to verify integrity of systems that could cause an inadvertent release.
Excessive wear and corrosion degradation. have occurred in valves, seals and piping systems to cause leaks. New permanent and temporary piping systems should be f
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IE Circular No. 79-21 October 19, 1979 Page 2 of 2 hydrostatically tested prior to first use. Underground piping should be periodically hydrostatically tested.
Preventive maintenance programs should be implemented and identified problems, such as leaking equipment and plugged floor drains, should be promptly repaired.
N,o written response to this Circular is required.
If you require additional infomation regarding this subject,. contact the Director of the appropriate NRC Regional Office
Enclosure:
Recent Events of Radioactive Contamination G
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i RECENT EVENTS OF RADIDACTIVE CONTAMINATION OUTSIDE BUILDINGS Plant Date Apparent cause Radiological Consequence Licensee Followup Action Turkey Point 3/4 6/11/79 Operator Error 900 gallons of water processed Total of 0.01 mci of'Co-58 Procedure reviewed 1
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i by radwaste system overflowed Co-60 released to storm with operator.
from waste processing ta,nk because drain of error in valve line-bp. The Aux.
Bldg. floor drain backed up to the on-site stone drain. 'The drain system discharged to an on-site undergrouw! tile bed.
Palisades 6/9/79 Inadequate Procedures
-5 Contaminated secondary system Resins activity at 10 The monitoring procedure spent powdered esins were trans-pCi/cc; total release to determine..the, routing ferred to an outside storage bin about 10 pCi of Co-60 of the secondary" spent without monitoring.
Rain storm resins has been replaced caused resins to overficw the -
by a procedure requiring storage bin and be washed to Lake all spent secondary systes resins to be handled and Michigan via storm drain.
shipped as solid waste.
Surry 2 5/21/79 Equipment Failure.
Core spray pump isolation 5 gallons spilled; 2 gallons Leak repaired Three 55-valve leaked during RWST outside of bldg.
gallon drums of con-transfer to Spent Fuel Pit.
0.02 pCi/cc, Co-58 taminated dirt removed' Water leaked to Safeguards 0.035 pCi/cc. H-3.
Bldg. floor.
Floor drain plugged; resulted in water s
flow out of building.
Enclosure IE Circular No. 79-21 Page 1 of 3
i Plant Date Apparent Cause Radiological Consequence Licensee follow-up Action Oconec 3 S/16/79 Operational Error.
5/17/79 Normally closed valve left 2000 gallons overflowed; Procedure reviewed with.
open during pumping of fuel 200-300 gallons out of operating personnel. Areas transfer canal water to BWST.
buildingi4 outside of Aux. Bldg. decon-Water overflowed the BWST to 3.1 x 10 pCi/cc. 1-131. taminated.
Aux. Bldg. penetration room, down a stairway to area outside Aux. 81dg.
Fcr1cy 1/2 5/14/79 Design Error.
Decontamination drains 1860 gallons of contam-Review all drains from
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from Unit I routed to Unit inated water discharged Unit I and Unit 2.
Six such 2 sump and released to to pond.
Estimated max-drains were located and flush pond via tendon inum activity of 10 sci plugged.
access area. Those drains Co-58.
Pond mud activity should have been routed
< 500 pCi/Kg. No pond to Unit 1 floor drain water activity detected.
system.
Oyster Creek 4/17/79 Equipment failure.
Leakage from a Drywell Water in pipe tunnel DEDT line repaired.
Equipment Drain Tank (DEDT) 0 0.3 pCi/cc and soil Structure to enclose pipe v
line.
in vicinity of penetra-from Rx. Bldg. to main tion to the reactor pipe tunnel to con-building were found to structed.
be contaminated.
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Enclosure IE Circular No. 79-21 Page 2 of 3 s
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e r Pitnt Date Apparent Cause Radiological Consequence Licensee Follow-up Action Brurswick 1 5/8-9/79 Operator Error and Equipment failure.
Air mixing valve of RWCU Total release of 12 MCI Tank transfer procedure
backwash tank lef t open of corrosion product.
reviewed. Caution tag after liquid transfer.
on valve installed.
Dried tank residue released Loose access cover re-to building ventilation paired.
system via loose access cover.
s Hatch 1/2 3/20/79 Construction Error.,
Buried temporary line for Highest on site ground Temporary liae broken 5
tank in yard for feed-water of 3 x 10 pCi/l -
inside turbine building N,ter heaters was not capped Highest qtr. avg. off-and capped.
H}teoutfal.1ofsubsugface wa after tank removal.
Rx steam s
released into ground from drainage was 1.8 x 10 buried line.
pCi/1.
t North Anna 9/25/79 Construction Error Relief valve on the volume Airborne radioactivity Still under investigation control tank lifted thus trans-levels in the Auxiliary
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ferring reactor coolant to the Building reached 150 X high level waste drain tank and MPCs. Auxiliary Building releasing dissolved noble gases was evacuated.
h to the auxiliary building via the waste system vent.
An incorrectly
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connected vent line allowed venting I
i directly to the auxiliary building.
Enclosure IE Circular No. 79-21 PaDe 3 of.3 i
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t IE Circular No. 79-21 Enclosure October 19, 1979 Page 1 of 2 LISTING OF IE CIRCULARS ISSUED IN LAST SIX MONTHS 4
Circular Subject Date of Issued to No.
Issue 79-07 Unexpected Speed Increase 5/2/79 All Holders of of Reactor Recirculation BWR OL's or CP's MG Set Resulted in Reactor Power Increase 79-08 Attempted Extortion - Low 5/18/79 All Fuel Facilities Enriched Uranium Licensed by NRC i
79-09 Occurrences of Split or 6/22/79 All Materials l
Punctured Regulator Diaphragms Priority I, Fuel In Certain Self Contained Cycle and Operating Breathing Apparatus Reactor Licensees 79-10 Pipefittings Manufactured 6/26/79 All Power Reactor from Unacceptable Material Licensees with a CP and/or OL 79-11 Design / Construction 6/27/79 All Applicants Interface Problem for, and Holders of Power Reactor cps 79-12 Potential Diesel Generator 6/28/79 All Power Reactors Turbocharger Problem Operating Facilities and all Utilities having a CP 79-13 Replacement of Diesel 7/10/79 All Power P.eactor Fire Pump Starting Operating Facil ties Contactors and all Wilities having a CP 79-14 Unauthorized Procurement and 7/13/79 All Medical Licensees Distribution of XE-133 except Teletheraphy Medical Licensees and to all Radiopharmaceu-j tical Suppliers 79-15 Bursting of High Pressure Hose 8/8/79 All Materials Priority I, and Malfunction of Relief Fuel. Cycle and Operating Valve "0" Ring in ertain Self-Powe'r Reactor Licensees Contained Breathi Apparatus
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IE Circular No. 79-21 Enclosure October 19, 1979 Page 2 of 2 LISTING OF' IE CIRCULARS ISSUED IN LAST SIX MONTHS
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Circular Subject Date of Issue,d to No.
Issued 79-16 Excessive Radiation Exposures 8/16/79 All Radiography To Members Of The General ^Public Licensees And A Radiographer Contact Pr'blem'in'SB-12 8/14/79 All Power Reactor 79-17 o
Switches on General Electric Licensees with a CP Company Metalclad Circuit and/or OL Breakers 79-18 Proper Installation of 9/10/79 All Holders of a Target Rock Safety-Relief Power Reactor OL Valves or CP 79-19 Loose Locking Devices on 9/13/79 All Power Reactor Ingersoll-Rand Pumps Operating facilities and all utilities having a CP 79-20 Failure 0f GTE Sylvania Re1=y 9/24/79 All utilities having a Type PM Bulletin 7305, C:..og CP SU12-11-AC With A 120V AC Coil i
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