ML19350B139

Responds to NRC 810108 Ltr Re Violations Noted in IE Insp Rept 50-271/80-15.Corrective Actions:High Radiation Area Barricaded & Posted & Scram Discharge Headers Hydrolyzed to Reduce Dose Rates

ML19350B139
Person / Time
Site:	Vermont Yankee File:NorthStar Vermont Yankee icon.png
Issue date:	01/30/1981
From:	Conway W VERMONT YANKEE NUCLEAR POWER CORP.
To:	Brunner E NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
Shared Package
ML19350B136	List: ML19350B139
References
FVY-81-16, NUDOCS 8103190855
Download: ML19350B139 (2)

Text

1 l

. r l VERMONT Y AN KEE NUCLEAR POWER CORPORATION SEVENTY SEVEN GROVE STREET

, 2.C.2.11 RUTLAND, VERMONT 05701 Q FVY 81-16 REPLY TO:

ENGINEERING OFFICE TURNPlKE ROAD WESTBORO. M ASS AcHUSETTS 01581 TELEPHON E 6 t ?*38 4-90 f t January 30, 1981 United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission Region 1 631 Park Avenue King of Prussia, Pennsylvania 19406 Attention: Office of Inspection and Enforcement Mr. Eldon J. Brunner, Chief Reactor Operations and Nuclear Support Branch

References:

(a) License No. DPR-28 (Docket No. 50-271)

(b) USNRC Letter to VYNPC dated January 8, 1981 (Inspection Report 50-271/80-15)

Subject:

Response to I&E Inspection Report No. 80-15 This letter is written in response to Reference (b) which indi-cates that one of cur activities was not conducted in ful! compliance with Nuclear Regulatory requirements. This infraction was noted as a result of findings during an inspection on September 15, 1980 to October 17, 1980, at the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station in

• Tarnon, Vermont.

Information is submitted as follows in answer to the alleged in-fraction contained in the enclosure to your letter.

Item Technical Specification 6.5.B.1 requires, in part, that "...each high radiation area in which the in-tensity of radiation is 1000 mrem /hr or lees sb il be barricaded and conspicuously posted as a high radiation area...."

Contrary to the above, on October 8, 1980, the in-spector identified an area adjacent to the South bank of hydraulic control units on the Reactor Building 252 foot elevation with measured dose rates of 140 mrem /hr. The area was neither barricadad nor con-spicuously posted as a high radiation area.

81031go

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VERMONT YANKEE NUCLEAR POWER CORPORATIOR United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission January 30, 1981 Page 2 Response As was outlined in the inspection report, action was taken to immediately barricade and post the area, thus bringing us into full compliance. Subsequently, the scram discharge headers were hydrolazed to reduce dose rates to a few mR/hr on contact.

RWPs issued 10/1/80 through 10/7/80 were to enable plant personnel to perform modifications on the scram discharge headers. Control rod movements made during the period 10/1/80 to 10/8/80, in conjunction with re-fueling operations, caused an increase in the dose rate as observed by your inspector. It is our belief that this was an isolated event and one that vill not be repeated.

We are fully aware that it is our responsibility to be cognizant of high radiation areas throughout the plant. Health Physics per-sonnel were instructed to check radiation levels in the vicinity of the scram discharge headers subsequent to all scrams. They were also reinstructed to insure that high radiation areas are barricaded and conspicuously posted.

- We trust this information will be satisfactory. Should additional information'be required, please feel free to contact us.

Very truly yours, VERMONT YANKEE NUCLEAR POWER CORPORATION

%4Jw.Lb W h. 0 m:_&'

p William F. Conway 7 Vice President and Manager of Operations WFC/jh