ML20195G887

Forwards Synopsis of OI Rept 3-98-027,conducted to Investigate Circumstances Surrounding Issue Re Two Consecutive Contamination Alarms from Two Portal Monitors Located at Plant

ML20195G887
Person / Time
Site:	Zion  File:ZionSolutions icon.png
Issue date:	11/13/1998
From:	Caldwell J NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III)
To:	Kingsley O COMMONWEALTH EDISON CO.
References
EA-98-426, NUDOCS 9811230165
Download: ML20195G887 (5)

Text

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. , ja* nervy UNITED STATES

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g NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 801 WA L E ROAD LISLE, ILLINOIS 60532-4351

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November 13, 1998 l

EA 98-426

Mr. Oliver D. Kingsley

- President Nuclear Generation Group

' ATTN: Regulatory Services -

Executive Towers West lli 1400 Opus Place, Suite 500 Downers Grove, IL 60515

SUBJECT:

NRC OFFICE OF INVESTIGATIONS REPORT NO. 3-98-027

Dear Mr. King'sley:

This refers to information provided to the NRC on May 13,1998, by personnel at the

, Commonwealth Edison Company's (Comed) Zion Nuclear Station (Zion). Allegedly, eactier that  !

[ morning a contractor employee exited the Zion Station after receiving two consecutive - i contamination alarms from two portal monitors located in the Zion Station gatehouse and did y

not wait for assistance from the Radiation Protection Department. Zion Administrative Procedure (ZAP) 620-07, " Proper Operation and Response to Contamination Monitors,"

requires that after an individual receives two consecutive alarms from the same portal monitor at the gatehouse, the individual must contact the Radiation Protection Departnmnt for i i - assistance prior to exiting the plant. In this case the individual attempted to cc tact the i

Radiation Protection Department, but the individual did not wait for their assistance. 1 The NRC Office of Investigations (01) conducted an investigation into the circumstances surrounding this issue and concluded that, based on the individual's training and experience, the individual deliberately failed to wait for assistance from the Radiation Protection Department and left the Zion Station after he received two consecutive contamination alarms. A copy of the 01 report synopsis is enclosed.

Zion Technical Specification 6.2.1, through Regulatory Guide 1.33, requires that Comed prapare, implement and maintain radiation protection procedures. ZAP 620-07 is a procedure

implemented by Comed for radiation protection. The NRC staff reviewed the 01 report and ZAP 620-07. Paragraphs F.1, G.1.d and G.1.e of ZAP 620-07, along with the sign posted at the guardhouse portal monitors, require an individual to contact the Radiation Protection

Department for assistance after receiving two consecutive contamination alarms from the SAME' portal monitor at the Zion gatehouse. In this case, the individual received two consecutive alarm:a, but from different portal monitors. The individual first used Portal Monitor No. 4 and received a contamination signal. The individual then used Portal Monitor No. 3 to recheck himself and received a contamination alarm. After attempting to contact the Radiation f Protection Capartment, the individual resurveyed himself using Portal Monitor No. 3 and he did t not receive a contamination signal. As a result of the sequence of portal monitor use (Monitor ffgQi

' Reflects the same emphasis as shown in ZAP 620-07.

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O. Kingsley - No. 4, then Monitor No. 3, and finally Monitor No. 3) the individual did not receive consecutive contamination signals from the SAME portal monitor. Therefore, the individual was not required to obtain assistance from the Radiation Protection Department and could leave the Zion Station

~ without delay. Hence, the NRC staff concluded that this specific instance did not constitute a j violation of NRC requirements and this enforcement action (EA)is closed.

Additionally, the follow-up investigation by Comed determined that the individual did not spread contamination from the Zion Station and his assigned duties on the night of May 12-13,1998, did not require his presence in a radiologically controlled area (RCA).

However, the individual failed to use the SAME portal monitor to resurvey himself, as he used Portal Monitor No. 4 and then Portal Monitor No. 3, in that sequence. His failure to use the SAME portal monitor to resurvey himself caused Comed to be in violation of ZAP 620.07.

Sections F.1, G.1.d and G.1.e. of ZAP 620.07 require an individual use the SAME portal '

monitor for resurvey following a portal monitor signal for the presence of contamination. This failure constitutes a violation of minor significance and is not subject to formal enforcement action.

The NRC recognizes that Comed promptly identified, reported, investigated, and corrected g these issues. CcmEd is commended for these prompt actions.

Please contact Mr. Bruce Jorgensen of my staff at telephone number (630) 829-9615 if there are any questions or comm,ents.

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

! enclosure will be placed in the NRC's Public Document Room.

~ Sincerely, c

James L. Caldwell, Acting Regional Administrator Docket Nos. 50-295; 50-304

( License Nos. DPR-39; DPR-38

Enclosure:

Synopsis of 01 Report i-

o

~ O. Kingsley _

. cc w/ encl: ,

D. Helwig, Senior Vice President

- H. Stanley, PWR Vice President

- C. Crane, BWR Vice President R Krich, Regulatory Services Manager D. Greene, Licensing Director .

DCD - Licensing

- R. Starkey, Plant General Manager R. Godley, Regulatory Assurance Supervisor R. Hubbard M. Aguilar, Assistant Attorney General K. Nollenberger, County Administrator Mayor, City of Zion State Liaison Officer, Illinois State Liaison Officer, Wisconsin Chairman, Illinois Commerce Commission 4

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O. Kingsley -4 l l

DISTRIBUTION w/enci PUBLIC IE-01 Rlli PRR -

Docket File SECY.

CA-WTravers, EDO

. HThompson, DEDR LChandler, OGC JGoldberg, OGC S. Walss, NRR w/enci M. Masnik, NRR w/enci

, SAR, NRR (e-mail)

LPM, NRR w/enci J. L. Caldwell, Rlli w/enci C. D. Pederson, Rlli w/enci

, R. J. Caniano, Rlli w/enci i'

Enforcement Coordinators RI, Ril, Rlll and RIV .

L JGilliland, OPA HBell, OlG l GCaputo, Ol j TMartin, AEOD l

OE:ES L OE:EA (2)

. RAO:Rlli j SLO: Rill l PAO:Rlli L DNMS: Rill (3) l . TSS: Rill l ' IEO (e-mail) i DOCDESK (E-Mail)

Greens w/o enci RPaul, OI: Rill Rlli Allegation Coordinator i

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SYN 0PSIS This investigation was initiated on June 22, 1998, by the U.S. Nuclear '

Regulatory Commission (NRC), Office of Investigations (0I), Region III (RIII),

to determine if a contract employee had willfully violated Zion Nuclear ,

Generating Station (ZNGS) radiation protection procedure (s).

l Based on the evidence developed during this investigation, it is concluded i that the contract employee ^11berately violated ZNGS radiation protection  !

procedure No. ZAP 620 07, in snat he failed to receive the required assistance / clearance from radiation protection department personnel after receiving two consecutive portal monitor counts of contamination.

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! Case No. 3-1998-027 1