ML20151U396
| ML20151U396 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Zion File:ZionSolutions icon.png |
| Issue date: | 02/24/1977 |
| From: | Gower G, Roy G, Thompson D NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| PNO-77-031, PNO-77-31, NUDOCS 9809100379 | |
| Download: ML20151U396 (2) | |
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I PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION I
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February 24, 1977 I
PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE-PNO-77-31 This preliminary notification constitutes EARLY notice of an event of POSSIBLE safety or public interest significance. The information j
presented is as initially received without verificat' ion or evaluation j
and is basically all that is known by IE staff on this date.
Facility: Commonwealth Edison Company, Zion 1 & 2 (DN 50-295 & 50-304), Zion, Illinois
Subject:
NEWS COVERAGE OF GASEOUS RELEASES AT ZION AND NRC RESPONSE Chicago area news media reported on 2/24/77 that the NRC had increased its inspection program covering gaseous radioactive effluents at the Zion Nuclear Power Station and the plant's capability to measure and I
monitor its releases. The increased inspection effort stems from
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Zion exceeding its Design Objective reporting level for nobic gases j
during the Fourth Quarter of 1975, First Quarter of 1976 and Third l
Quarter of 1976.
(The Design Objective releace rate, though not a Technical Specification operating limit, is a numerical guide for j
keeping releases "as-low-as reasonably achievable.") In late 1976 a j
i Region III inspection into the releases identified problems with the j
station's monitoring and measurements program for gaseous radioactive
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l effluents. The elevated releases were attributed to miscellaneous leakage from the reactor piping systems in the Auxiliary Building.
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A meeting with Region III, NRR and Commonwealth Edison personnel is I
scheduled for 2/28/77 to discuss the NRC's position with respect to o
meeting the Design Objective release rates as well as the Zion Sta-tion effluent monitoring program.
i The news media was notified of Region III's activities by a lecc1 cnvironmental group (People and Environmental Problems), which based I
its information on the NRC's Inspection Report issued 1/11/77.
i Inquiring reporters were told by Region III that the effluents did not i
pose a health or environmental hazard, but that the plant was designed
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to operate within its Design Objective.
During the three quarters involved, the station exceeded the Technical Specification operating O,
limit only once, for a few minutes, on August 14, 1976.
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s 9009100379 770224 PDR IhE PNO-77-031 PDR
's Page 2 February 24, 1977 Continued PNO-77-31 No press release is planned by Region III.
The State of Illinois has been informed of the Region III inspection findings and augmented inspection effort.
' This PN is being issued because of considerable local new media interest..
Contact:
GCGover, IE x27261 GWRoy, IE x27261 DThompson, IE x27541 Distribution:
Chairman Rowden Commissioner Kennedy S. J. Chilk, SECY Commissioner Gilinsky C. C. Kammerer, CA G. F. Murphy, JCAE L. V. Gossick, EDO K. R. Chapman, NMSS R. G. Ryan, OSP S. H. Hanauer, EDO E. Volgenau, OIE J. A. Harris, PA B. C. Rusche, NRR H. K. Shapar, ELD T. J. McTiernan, OIA Transmitted: PBldg/
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