ML20134N007
| 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: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9611260123 | |
| Download: ML20134N007 (2) | |
See also: IR 05000263/1996010
Text
OcA
3,.
$
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.
1
I
2G00O
gg
9611260123 961118
ADOCK 05000263
G
(4
'
1
J
~
(-
E. Watzt
-2
November 18, 1996
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
1
,
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:
1~
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
DATE
11/11/96
11//f /96
11//s /96 v
11//8/96
'
,
OFFICIAL RECORD COPY