ML19352A822
| ML19352A822 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Yankee Rowe |
| Issue date: | 04/09/1981 |
| From: | Moody D YANKEE ATOMIC ELECTRIC CO. |
| To: | Stello V NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I), NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19352A820 | List: |
| References | |
| FYR-81-60, NUDOCS 8106020184 | |
| Download: ML19352A822 (3) | |
Text
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YANKEE ATOMIC ELECTRIC COMPANY 2.C.2.11 jR 1671 wareester naad, Framingham, Massachusetts 01701 FYR 81'60
,~ TAN KEE
~_
-e April 9, 1981 United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission Region I 631 Park Avenue King of Prussia, Pennsylvania 19406 Attention:
Office of Inspection and Enforcement Mr. Victor Stello, Jr., Director Meferences:
(a)
- 1 cense No. DPR-3 (Docket No. 50-29)
(b)
I&E Lett ur to YAEC dated March 23, 1981 I&E Inspection Report 50-29/81-02
Dear Sir:
Subject:
Response to Inspection Reference is made to I&E Inspection No. 50-29/81-02, which was conducted by your Mr. T. Foley on January 1-31, 1981 at the Yankee Nuclear Power Station (Yankee Rowe) in Rowe, Massachusetts.
The report made subsequent to that inspection icentified one item which apparently was not conducted in full compliance with NRC requirements.
In accordance with Section 2.201 of the NRC's " Rules and Practices", Part 2, Title 10 Code of Federal Regulations, we hereby submit the following information.
Alleged Violation 10 CFR 20.103, " Exposure of individuals to cencentrations of radioactive materials in air in restricted areas" states in Paragraph (b), in pert, "The licensee shall, as a precautionary procedure, use process or other engineering controls, to the extent practicable, to limit concentrations of radioactive materials in air to levels below those which delimit an airborne radioactivity area as defined in 20.203(d)(1)(ii)...When it is impraticable to apply process or other engineering controls...other precautionary procedures, such as the provision of respiratory protective equipment, shall be used..."
Contrary to the above, on January 20, 1981, process or other engineering controls or other precautionary procedures were not utilized to limit concentrations of radioactive materials in air in the Primary Auxiliary Building atmosphere to levels below those which delimit an airborne radioactivity area.
Consequently, individuals who were in the area were exposed to air concentrations up to 2 x 10-7 microcuries (a sample that was taken approximately fifteen minutes after the incident occured) per cubic centimeter, and caueing internal deposition in one individual of four percent of the maximum permissible body burden for Cobalt-60.
810602oly
USNRC April 9, 1981 Paga 2 I
Response
On January 20, 1981 a pneumatic hydrostatic pressure test of welded sections of shutdown cooling system piping was in progress using nitrogen as the test medium. At 430 psig a check for leakage revealed that a test boundary isolation valve was leaking-by excessively and venting nitrogen through an 1
- open drain valve, which was open to prevent pressurization of the shutdown cooler. The test was secured, the area isolated, and Health Physics personnel initiated air and gas sampling. A very small amount of activity was released through the ventilation system to the primary vent stack which is monitored.
We would like to note that the Notice of Violation contains two errors. One is in the quotation of 10 CFR 20.103 where reference is made to "other precautionary procedures". The terms " increased surveillance", and
" limitations of working times..." wt re deleted. The other error which also occurs in the body of the report, is in the statement "... internal deposition
...of four percent of the maximum permissible body burden for Cobalt-60". The correct units would be organ burden.
In this case the organ of reference is the lungs. A more appropriate method of stating the exposure would be that the man received an estimated 25 mpc-hours.
1.
Corrective Steps Taken & Results Achieved:
A Plant. Operations Review Committee (PORC) meeting was convened on January 21, 1981 to review the incident and procedure OP-2000.51. The procedure was revised immediately prior to proceeding with the job. This revision included requirements for venting through contained systems in order to prcelude releases to the work area.
In addition, the decision was made to use water for the hydrostatic test instead of nitrogen in order to further reduce the likelihood of a contaminating event.
Subsequent to these changes there were no additional problems associated with the completion of the hydrostatic pressure test.
2.
Corrective Steps Which Will Be Taken To Avoid Further Violations:
Since the occurrance of this incident a procedure review has been in progress to identify procedures which have an inherent potential for
- release of radioactive material to work areas. Appropriate changes will be made to procedures to inaure proper engineering controls are used to prevent releases to work areas in the future.
l
USNRC April'9, 1981 Page 3-4 3
Date When Full Compliance Will Be Achieved:
Full compliance was achieved January 21, 1981.
Procedure reviews will be
-completed by May 1, 1981.
We trust this information is satisfactory, however, should you desire additional information please feel free to contact us.
Very truly yours, YANKEE ATOMIC ELECTRIC COMPANY D. E. Moody Manager of Operations j
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