ML20134N007

Forwards Insp Rept 50-263/96-10 on 961028-1101.No Violations Noted

ML20134N007
Person / Time
Site:	Monticello
Issue date:	11/18/1996
From:	Grant G NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III)
To:	Watzl E NORTHERN STATES POWER CO.
Shared Package
ML20134N009	List: IR 05000263/1996010 ML20134N007
References
NUDOCS 9611260123
Download: ML20134N007 (2)

See also: IR 05000263/1996010

Text

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November 18, 1996

Mr. E. Watzi

Vice President, Nuclear Generation

Northern States Power Company

414 Nicollet Mall

Minneapolis, MN 55401

SUBJECT: ,NRC RADIATION PROTECTION INSPECTION REPORT 50-263/96010(DRS)

Dear Mr. Watzt:

On November 1,1996, the NRC completed an o,,poction at your Monticello Nuclear

Generating Plant. The enclosed report presents the results of that inspection.

Areas examined during the inspection are identified in the report. Within these areas, the

inspection consisted of a selective examination of procedures and representative records,

observations, and interviews with personnel.

Our review indicated that performance remained strong in most areas within the radiation

protection program. However, three issues were identified during the inspection. First,

NRC guidance states that it is inappropriate to post an entire building as a " Radiation Area"

if most of the building does not meet the criteria for a radiation area and if discrete areas

within the building can reasonably be posted to alert individuals to radiation areas, these

discrete areas should be posted. Within your reactor and radwaste buildings, several

unposted discrete areas were identified as meeting the criteria for a radiation area. Your

staff has indicated that this current posting practice will be reviewed in the context of

NRC guidance. The second issue concerns the unconditional release of liquid bulk material

from your facility. The current practice at your facility is to use the sediment lower limits

of detection (LLD) when surveying liquids for unconditional release. This LLD is a fr, tor of

ten higher than the industry accepted liquid LLD. Although the unconditional refer.se of

licensed materialin liquid media from your facility has not been identified, this practice

could result in the inadvertent release of licensed material to the environment. The third

issue pertained to the use of smear counters at an operating voltage which is below the

vendor's technical recommendation. This practice could result in a non-conservative

assessment of radiological conditions within the plant.

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E. Watzt -2 November 18, 1996

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in accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules and Practice," a copy of this letter

will be place in the NRC Public Document Room (PDR).

i We will gladly discuss any questions you have concerning this inspection.

Sincerely,

Original Signed by Brent Clayton (for) ,

Geoffrey E. Grant, Director

Division of Reactor Safety

.

I

, Docket No. 50-263

i License No. DPR-22

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Enclosure: Inspection Report i

No. 50-263/96010(DRS)

cc w/ encl: Plant Manager, Monticello

John W. Ferman, Ph.D.

, Nuclear Engineer, MPCA <

{ State Liaison Officer, State

of Minnesota

l Distribution: l

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Docket File w/enci Rlli PRR w/enci Enf. Coordinator, Rlli w/enci

! PUBLIC IE-01 w/enct SRis, Monticello, CAA1 w/enci (E-mail)

OC/LFDCB w/ encl Prairie Island w/enci W. L. Axelson, Rlli w/ encl

DRP w/ encl LPM, NRR w/ encl A. B. Beach, Rlli w/enci '

DRS w/enci

DOCUMENT NAME: G:DRS\ MON 96010.DRS (SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCE)

To receive a copy of this document, Indicate in the box: "C" = Copy without attachment / enclosure "E" = Copy with attachment / enclosure

• N' = No copy

0FFICE RIII 6 RIII V RIII mo & RIII /Cc. l

NAME RGlinski:Jp7%, TKozakTE JJacobsdV W BClayton/GGrant

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DATE 11/11/96 11//f /96 11//s /96 v 11//8/96 ,

OFFICIAL RECORD COPY