ML20084Q964

Ro:On 700226,radwaste Pumped Out at Flow Rate Exceeding Tech Specs.Caused by Misinterpretation of Graph Portion of Waste Discharge Procedures.Procedure Reviewed W/Appropriate Personnel & Waste Discharge Monitors Revised

ML20084Q964
Person / Time
Site:	Nine Mile Point
Issue date:	03/06/1970
From:	Schneider F NIAGARA MOHAWK POWER CORP.
To:	Morris P US ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION (AEC)
References
00722, 722, NUDOCS 8306140717
Download: ML20084Q964 (2)

Text

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N1AGARA McH AwK POWE R CORPORATION

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• I ffarch 6, 1970 b d p. M l,q .- Q .; u P, l C Dr. Peter A. T! orris, Director [5 N! *

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Division of Ileactor Licensing l

United States Atomic Energy Comission b'ashi ng ton , D. C. 20545

Subject:

Provisional Operating License DPit-17 {

Docket 50-220 This is to notify you of a situation in which we exceeded the Technical Speci-fications for Nine !!ile Point.

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3 On February 26, 1970, a batch of radioactive waste was accidentally pumped out

- atpCi/m1 a flow rate grosswhich resulted beta in in an instantaneous concentration of 1.32 x 10-6 our effluent.  ;

This condition existed for approximately A' [ l, 115 hours0.00133 days <br />0.0319 hours <br />1.901455e-4 weeks <br />4.37575e-5 months <br />.

f 'this situation occuried because a mistake was made in interpreting the graph l wbich is part of the waste discharge procedures. In addition, the hi-hi olarm 1 on the waste discharge monitor was not noticed. This occurred because waste was being discharged on an almost continuous basis on February 26 and most of this waste exceeded the hi alarm point (1 x 10-7 pCi/ml). When the hi alarm is in and the annunciator is acknowledged, an increase to the hi-hi alarn (1 x 10-6 pCl/ml) does not give another audible annunciator alarm.

5 The fact that the waste discharge in excess of the Technical Specifications

• had taken place was detected on a routine audit of the waste records on March 4, 1970. This discharge resulted in a daily average activity of 2.01 x 10-7 pCi/ml in the effluent. The monthly average activity in the effluent was 3.06 x-10-8 pC1/ml, and the running 52-week average activity was 1.92 x 10-8 pCi/ml at the end of February 26.

. J.d Although no specific analysis was made on this tank, the specific analyses on p#; # typical waste samples have been running quite consistent. Based on these p,- 1

~* typical analyses, this discharge would consist of 5.4 x 10-7 uCi/ml Co-58, y

1.8 x 10-7 pC1/nl Co-60, 2.27'x 10-6 pCi/ml Cr-51, 8.4 x 10-7 pC1/ml Mn-54, p~ .3' '

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5.2 x 10-7 pCi/ml Fe-59. 'the . total activity (1.32 x 10-6 pCi/ml gross beta) does not exceed any of the MPC's for these nuclides. .,

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i OW COPY: SENT REGION ~J' ggg i o 1970

00722 721  !

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To prevent a reo';currence, s.o have all the Station Shif't c. v ie,.ul t he 1 aste discharge procedure wit h chaq e monitor: so thatSun t h, reit arr im ! are raaling a revision to the naste dis-hi-hi alnin sill give an additional audible -

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Very truly yours, st 1 .J. Schneider

\' ice President - Operations inj s I

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