ML19343C238
| ML19343C238 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Haddam Neck File:Connecticut Yankee Atomic Power Co icon.png |
| Issue date: | 04/10/1978 |
| From: | Graves R CONNECTICUT YANKEE ATOMIC POWER CO. |
| To: | Grier B NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| References | |
| CYH-78-112, RO-ETS-NR-50-21, NUDOCS 8103040648 | |
| Download: ML19343C238 (2) | |
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CONNECTICUT YANKEE AT O MI C POWER COMPANY H ADDAM NECK PLANT
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$'(.h.5I RR ;1. DOX 127E. EAST H AMPTON CONN. 06424 i
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April 10, 1978 CYH 78-112 U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission +
i; Office of Inspection and Enforcement
~V Region 1 631 Park Avenue King of Prussia, Pennsylvania 19406
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C, Attn:
Mr. Boyce Grier, Director
Reference:
Facility Operating License No. OPR-61 Docket No. 50-213 ETS-NR/50-213/78-03
Dear Mr. Grier:
the At approximately 2145 hours0.0248 days <br />0.596 hours <br />0.00355 weeks <br />8.161725e-4 months <br /> on April 6, 1978 it was observed that discharge canal pH level had exceeded its Technical Specifications and NPDES allowable limits. A pH of 7 was maintained at the inletThe thoughout the time band in which the discharge was changing.
The discharge pH went above discharge canal pH went from 7 to 9.5.
below 8.5 at approximately 8.5 at approximately 2145 hours0.0248 days <br />0.596 hours <br />0.00355 weeks <br />8.161725e-4 months <br /> and returned t3 2245 hours0.026 days <br />0.624 hours <br />0.00371 weeks <br />8.542225e-4 months <br />, therefore, we exceeded our allowed Technical Specifications, Section 2.3.2.1 limit for one hour. The discharge pH reached a high of approximately 9.5 and remained at that level for approximately 30 minutes.
The cause of an increase in the discharge canal pH was determined to be the addition of caustic (50% by weight) to the vaste neutralization tank which was being released. The operator was transferring caustic from the The metering tank was caustic storage tank to the caustic metering tank.
left unattended, filled up and then overflowed into the water treatment The trenches dumped the overflow of caustic into the sumps trench area.
which then filled up and were automatically pumped over to the waste The treated liquid in the waste neutralization neutralization tank.
tank was being discharged when the sump pumps started pumping concentrated caustic into the tank. It is conservatively estimated that approximately 300 gallons of non-neutralized liquid was discharged to the canal.
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[/030fbf When the alarm (setpoint of pH=8.5) was sounded immediate corrective action was taken by operations by stopping the discharge to the canal.
The above mentioned incident constitu es a prompt report under Section 2.3.2.1 of our Environmental Technical Specifications, which allows us to run with a pH of 6.8 to 8.5.
Therefore, we exceeded a Limiting Condition For Operation for one hour. We also are in violation of our State of Connecticut NPDES permit, which under discharge serial #001 we are allowed to operate within the band of pH between 6.0 and 9.0.
The corrective action to be taken to prevent further such instances is to install a high Icvel alarm on the caustic metering tank.
By doing this the operator will know in a sufficient amount of time that the tank is approaching a full level, and will have time to stop the gravity flow from the caustic statage tank.
It should also be noted that there were no adverse environmental effects to the area. The NUSCO environmental r,roup has evaluated the incident and they determined that a pH of betwr.en 5.0 and 9.0 for a long period of time would not adversely effect the environment. Therefore the short period of elevated pH (9.5 for 1/'. hour) experienced will not have any adverse environmental impact.
This is a followup report of the telephone ccaversation between W. Lazarus and R. H. Graves on April 7, 1978.
Very truly yours, Nf g,t Richard H. Graves Station Siiperintendent JML:RHG/jhb cc:
Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Washington, D. C.
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