ML20138E155

Informs That Some Licensees Experienced Problems W/Merlin Gerin Software.Licensees Instructed to Avoid Using ADS & Software Error Corrected Soon After Initial Licensee Rept of Difficulty

ML20138E155
Person / Time
Site:	Saint Lucie, LaSalle, Byron
Issue date:	07/07/1993
From:	Liza Cunningham Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:	Cooper R, Norelius C, Stohr J NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I), NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION II), NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III)
Shared Package
ML20136C539	List: IR 05000335/1994009 IR 05000335/1996002 L-96-227, Forwards LER 96-S01 Re Tampering W/Key Switches on Hot Shutdown Control Panels ML20136D672 ML20136D791 ML20136D826 ML20136E630 ML20136F193 ML20136F567 ML20136F575 ML20136F583 ML20136F604 ML20136G089 ML20136G294 ML20137D421 ML20137D508 ML20137D737 ML20137D744 ML20138D113 ML20138D124 ML20138D130 ML20138D136 ML20138D477 ML20138E021 ML20138E026 ML20138E036 ML20138E042 ML20138E053 ML20138E062 ML20138E089 ML20138E126 ML20138E155 ML20138E189 ML20138E195 ML20138E214 ML20138E235 ML20138E243 ML20138E263 ML20138E272 ML20138E292 ML20138E298 ML20138E316 ML20138E325 ML20138E335 ML20138E355 ML20138E360 ML20138E409 ML20138E415 ML20138E422 ML20138E459 ... further results
References
FOIA-96-485 NUDOCS 9307130155
Download: ML20138E155 (2)

Text

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JUI. 0 71993 MEMORANDUM FOR:

Richard W. Cooper, Director, DRSS, Region 1 J. Philip Stohr, Director, DRSS, Region II Charles E. Norelius, Director, DRSS, Region III L. Joseph Callan, Director, DRSS, Region IV Ross A. Scarano, Director, DRSS, Region V FROM:

LeMoine J. Cunningham, Chief Radiation Protection Branch Division of Radiation Safety and Safeguards Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

SUBJECT:

PROBLEMS WITH SOFTWARE USED WITH MERLIN GERIN INC. ELECTRONIC DOSIMETER CALIBRATORS Some licensees have experienced problems with the Merlin Gerin (MG) software as reported by Regions II and III (Inspection Reports 50-373/93008; 50-374/93008, 50-454/93003; 50-4: /93003, and 50-335/93013: ME&&). The problem is apparently limited.o the use of the "Automaric Dosimeter Setup" (ADS) feature of the MG calibrator and involves " insertion" of incorrect

" calibration factors" (i.e., the number of " pulses" to be read as a unit of dose) into each dosimeter. Use of an early version of the software by certain licensees apparently resulted in incorrect reading of personnel doses by the MG dosimeter readers as personnel exited a radiologically controlled area.

It appears that, in most cases, the errors would be conservative, i.e. the doses would be overestimated. However, the problem appears to be such that doses could also be underestimated.

8 Merlin Gerin representatives have stated that affected licensees were instructed to avoid using the ADS and that the software error was corrected soon after the initial licensee report of difficulty. According to MG, software revised to correct the problem has been supplied to affected licensees. However, an additional problem was found. The revised software was unable to correctly identify some dosimeters by type. Since different

" correction factors" (based on a comparison of the response of the electronic dosimeter to the plant's TLD response) may be used with each different type of dosimeter, this could result in incorrect dose readings. Consequently, MG has developed another version of its software, " version 1.4", to correct this problem. We have been informed that this software will be provided to all

\\h affected licensees following its evaluation at Quad Cities Station.

gh The affected power stations (as reported by MG June 17,1993) are Braidwood, Byron, Catawba, Davis-Besse, Dresden, Indian Point 2, Indian Point 3, LaSalle, i McGuire, North Anna, Oconee, Palisades, Perry, Prairie Island, Quad Cities, 0

St. Lucie, Surry, V. C. Summer, and Zion. Additional plants may, of course, purchase and use the MG equipment.

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' M' Addressees 2

It is suggested that during the next, appropriate, routine radiation protection inspection at each of the above facilities, your inspectors verify that the licensee has received information regarding the software problems and 1

.has made appropriate changes in its processing of MG dosimeters, including the use of the revised software.

The Radiation Protection Branch finds that the vendor's corrective actions, 1

including notifications to affected licensees, are adequate and does not plan any further generic action with respect to this matter.

If you have any questions concerning this matter please contact Mr. Jack Bell at (301) 504-1083 of my staff, or Mr. Patrick Louden at (708) 790-5637 in Region III.

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Original signed by LeMoine J. Cunningham LeMoine J. Cunningham, Chief Radiation Protection Branch Division of Radiation Safety and Safeguards Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation cc: J. Leon, Merlin Gerin, Inc.

DISTRIBUTION:

M 411a,-P1 37 PRPB R/F F. Congel L.Cunningham R. Erickson P. i4cKee R. Emch J. Wigginton P. Louden, RIII J. Bell J. Joyner, RI J. Reese, RV B. Murray,RIV W. Cline, RII B. Jorgensen, RIII L. Norrholm, 9D3 F. Combs, 6H3 PDR, LL6 ML Slosson, 12E4

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