ML20151U665

PNO-77-052:on 770406,while Draining Water from Rcs,Refueling Storage Tank Overflowed.Contaminated Water Ran Into Storn Sewer Which Empties Into Waste Perculation Basin on Site.Fpl Currently Investigating Means of Discharging Contents

ML20151U665
Person / Time
Site:	Saint Lucie
Issue date:	04/07/1977
From:	Gower G, Roy G, Thompson D NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE)
To:
References
PNO-77-052, PNO-77-52, NUDOCS 9809110115
Download: ML20151U665 (1)

Text

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! 'Q( p! ]'A . Le PRELIMINARY NOT2FICATION _

p. (EdN April 7, 1977 PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUsi1L OCCURRENCE--PNO-77-52 g  ?.

This preliminary notification constitutes EARLY notice of an event of POSSIBLE safety or public interest significance. The information presented is as initially received withouc verification or evaluation and is basically all that is known by IE staff on this date.

Facility: St. Lucie Unit 1 (DN 50-335) -

Florida Power and Light Company Subj ect: OVERFLOW OF REFUELING WATER STORAGE TANO On April 6, 1977, while draining water from the reactor coolant system, the Refueling Water Storage Tank (RWST) overflowed ~.- Contaminated water -

ran into a storm sewer which empties into a waste perculation basin on site. FP&L estimates that approximately 4,000 gallons of water overflowed from the tank. Water samples rollected from the top 40f'RWST' indicated "**

that principal isotopes were cobalt-58 and iodine-131. Total activity contained in the overflow was approximately 3.03 curies of Co-58 and 0.76 curie I-131. The basin presently contains approximately 3.5 million gallons of water. No plant technical specification of NRC regulation limits regarding radioactive effluent releases appear to have been violated.

Apparent cause of this incident was failure by an operator to respond to l the high level alarm from the RWST. The high level alarm had annunicated on the shift prior to the overflow but draining operations continued.

FP&L estimates that the actual overflow started at approximately 3:50 a.m.

and continued for approximately thirty-five minutes. - -

To prevent any unplanned release of contaminated water from the basin, j

FP&L has established administrative controls over water input to the basin. FP&L is currently investigating means of~ discharging the contents of the basin.

• FP&L has made a press release; there has been considerable local press

. interest.

A NRC Region II inspector is on site and received the original notifica-

'A tion of this occurrence. The inspector is following up the details and -

corrective actions.

t

Contact:

GCGower, IE x27261 GWRoy, IE x27261 DThompson, IE x27541 Distribution: TransmittedHStY,*)9 .

. Chairman Rowden -

C. C. Kammerer, CA G. F. Murphy, JCAE i- Commissioner Gilinsky S. J. Chilk, SECY H. H. Whiteside, SCNR i H. R. Myers, HCEE I

Transmitted: MNBB @ [ ; P Bldg Y, $ ; SS Bldg jlj[1; g' '.

L. V. Gossick, EDO B. C. Rusclie, NRR K. R. ChLpman, NMSS S. H. Hanater, EDO H. K. Shapar, ELD

.J. A. Harris, PA W. G. Mcdonald', MIPC Luge (mail); E. Volgenau IE I ". L R. G. Ryan, OSP T. J. McTiernan, OIA Region , T .' ' ' ? ;

" " " ' " " " ' " " " ^ * ' " ' ^ ' * ' ^ "

9809110115 770407 PDR I&E PNO-77-052 PfrR