ML20202B803
| ML20202B803 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 11/25/1997 |
| From: | Ronald Bellamy, Todd Jackson NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20202B799 | List: |
| References | |
| REF-PROJ-M-32 M-32-97-001, M-32-97-1, NUDOCS 9712030180 | |
| Download: ML20202B803 (8) | |
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U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION REGION I t
Report No.:
97 001 l
Facility:
U.S. Department of Energy, West Valley Demonstration Project
- Western New York Nuclear Service Center Location:
West Valley, New York Dates:
Novembe 3 7,1997 l
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Monitor:
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Todd J. JacksoWBHV Health Physicist Approved by:
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N Ronald R. Bellamy, Ph.D., Chief Q Decommissioning & Lab Branch L
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i EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
U.S. Department of Energy NRC Monitoring Report 97-001 l
A routine monitoring visit was conducted November 3 7,1997, to observe site operations and current project status at the West Valley Demonstration Project.
Operational areas reviewed included vitrification operations and molter status, West Valley Nuclear Services (WVNS) organizational changes, activities of the Conduct of Operations Team, the recent DOE Technical Safety Appraisal, WVNS self.
assessments, main plant modifications, low level waste shipments, north plateau status, and the deer management program. The monitor also attended the meeting of the Citizens' Task Force on November 5,1997.
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REPORT DETAlLS
- 1. Project Status Overview The monitor observed activities in progress at the West Valley Demonstration Project (WVDP), held discussions with Department of Energy (DOE) and West Valley Nuclear Services (WVNS) personnel, and reviewed related documentation. This was a routine periodic initoring visit to observe site operations and current project status, j
l DOE and WVNS personnel presented status briefings on site activities, emphasizing the following areas of interest to the monitor:
WVNS organizational changes Status of site operations, focusing on vitrification operations and waste tank f arm i
activities and plans l
Recent recordable events Status of the DOE Technical Safety Appraisal Conduct of operations team status and performanco indicators WVNS self assessment and trending programs Main plant modifications and upgrades Low level waste shipping status North plateau status Melter noble metal buildup Citizens' task force meeting Deer. management program II. Status of Vitrification Operations The metter was operating during this monitoring visit. The 166* canister was filling, with 162 canisters transferred to the high-level waste (HLW) Interim Storage Facility.
As of November 7,1997, approximately 7.5 million curies of radioactive strontium and cesium had been transferred from tank 8D2 to the vitrification facility.
Increasing difficulties were described in efficiently recovering HLW from tank 8D2 for transfer to the vitrification f acility. Approximately 60% of the original HLW contained in tank 8D2 has been transferred, and the specific gravity and specific rctivity of the liquid being transferred are decreasing over time. WVNS staff described the ongoing work to improve waste mobilization effectiveness. Possibilities included possible installation of a high pressure water spray to better break up the tolids and better 5
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with problem solids. Mobilization pump sealleak reduction was being attempted, and future procurement of a replacement pump with different seal design was being planned.
Ill. Recent Recordable Safety Events WVNS personnel presented summaries of the nine recordable events that had occurred since the last monitoring visit in July 1997. Causes were discussed for those events in which investigations were completed, and included equipment f ailures, personnel error, and procedural noncompliance. Not all events were required by DOE procedures to be categorized as " reportable" events. However, these were reported for completeness by WVNS to assure they were fully investigated and information was gathered to prevent recurrence. The monitor discussed with DOE and WVNS personnel those events Involving personnel not following procedures, the root cause of past significant events. Staff was working to assve corrective actions were complete and effective. This operational data was added to the site trending program as data to show whether the overall trend was of incre 4 sing compliance with procedures at-West Valley. WVNS personnel believe that sit; procedure compliance is improving as the Conduct of Operations team efforts become more integrated into routine operations. This trend is being closely monitored by DOE and WVNS management (also see section V, below).
IV. Status of the DOE Technical Safety Appraisal in June 1997, a DOE team had conducted a comprehensive appraisal of 18 technical and safety program or discipline areas at the WWP. The appraisalidentified noteworthy practices, findings, observations, and concerns, and concluded that each area reviewed was being effectively implemented. WVNS was developing a comprehensive action plan to address the appraisal's findings, observations, and concerns. DOE plans to monitor the implementation of the identified corrective actions.
V. Conduct of Operations Team Status Since the previous monitoring visit the Co'1 duct of Operations (ConOps) Team approach to work activity and procedure reviews had been expanded to include the Radiation Protection and Analytical & Process Chemistry crganizations. " Observed evolutions" were stillincluded in the expanded program, which had also added
" compliance evaluations" to cover more than observations alone. Conduct of Operations refresher training had been completed for about 450 employees.
Although not applicable to the Radiological Controls and Analydcal & Process Chemistry organizations, SOP 00-02, " Preparing, Issuing, pd 1 Chanaim and Revising Developmental, Standard Operating Procedures, and Specialiistruc hit t 'cedures,"
Revision 13 had been issued. The procedure now establishes definig.a sr three levels of procedure compliance: strict compliance (procedure open at work location, no deviation permitted), complete compliance (procedure not required to be present or open at work location, all steps to be performed as written), and general compliance
3 (procedure not required to be present at work location, and not required to be performed in sequence as written). WVNS was classifying appropriate operating procedures in accordance with this system
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VI. Self Assessment and Trending Programs An upgraded self assessment program had been incorporated into the ConOps focus, with the intent of making self examinations by site organizations more in depth than the earlier efforts to observe performance of plant activities. Procedure WV 121, describing the Self Assessment program, had been revised to reflect the new program.
The ConOps Team was identifying performance indicators to be used to focus on performance improvement areas and to trend performance. A set of indicators had been established and issued for initial use and comment.
The Project Appraisals organization was developing trend reports for the operating organizations, which is expected to aid the self assessment process. Data was being obtained from audits, surveillances, self assessments, occurrence reports, radiological deficiency reports, critiques, and external reviews. Data for ConOps " observed evolutions" and line organization " compliance evaluations" was planned to soon be Irwfuded as well.
Vll. Main Plant Modifications and Upgrades Several projects were in progress to upgrade or replace aging main plant equipment.
Two new boilers willimprove the efficiency and reliability of the plant steam supply.
The ventilation exhaust cell blower was also modified by replacing the steam turbine drive with an electric motor.
Roof replacements were necessary to resoive increasing water leaks into structures.
Four roofs were replaced in 1997, and seven additional roofs were planned to be replaced in 1998.
The existing low level waste treatment facility (LLWTF) will be replaced by a new structure, expected to be operationalin February 1998. The monitor observed the b'ilding, which was in the final stages of construction. Process equipment to be housed within the structure will consist of skid-mounted modules and is expected to simplify water treatment and help to minimize generation of radioactive waste for disposal. Treatment operations will be brought under one roof, with groundwater from the north plateau being pumped to the new f acility for ion exchange treatment, thus minimizing handling of contaminated resins.
Vill. Low Level Waste Shipping The primary focus of efforts for handling low level radioactive waste at WVDP continues to be repackaging to achieve volume reduction of the existing waste being stored on the site. Some shipments of waste have occurred since the last monitoring visit, to assure procedures and experience are available if shipments for disposal become more necessary DOE and WVNS are maintaining all options for radwaste
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4 management in order to limit accumulation of additional volume in the limited on site capacity.
IX. North Plateau Status WVNS presented the results of some additional sampling and monitoring efforts to -
better characterize the boundaries of the Sr 90 plume in ground water of the site's North Plateau. Additional measurement locations were sampled in July and October 1997. Recent data suggests pumping has stabilized or decreased ground water concentrations since the third pumping well went into service in September 1996. In addition, construction improvements to the north parking lot had been undertaken to divert surf ac6 water runoff and minimize the locci water source that recharges the i
ground water under the plant. It is expected this will slow the plume movement and reduce the quantity of water that must be pumped and treated.
X. Molter Noble Metal Buildup WVNS and DOE are closely monitoring the accumulation of noble metalin the bottom of the metter used to vitrify high level waste. Ruthenium, present as a trace fission product in the waste matorial, accumulates in the metter essentially causing a short-circuit throuDh the glass matrix. As a result, electrical resistance through the glass decreases and requires increased current input to maintain glass temperature.
Eventually this problem could cause melter failure, or force shutdown because of power supply limitations. Based on the data collected so far it appears the melter will continue to operate satisf actorily through the expected end of the West Valley HLW solidification campaign. Careful monitoring of the metter performance will continue so that any changes which may alter this prediction will be immediately identified.
XI. Citizens Task force The monitor discussed Citizens' Task Force (CTF) activities with WVNS personnel and attended the CTF meeting on November 5,1997. The CTF continues to examins the details of issues at the West Valley site and the options for addressing these. At this meeting members expressed interest in beginning to discuss and formulate their recommendations.
Xll. Deer Management Program WVNS staff described the approach for sampling the on site deer population. The population of interest lives within the security fence on the site area currently controlled by DOE. The fence prevents the deer from freely moving off the property and the population has been increasing, becoming a nuisance at the site. Prior to determining how to release the deer, sampling was necessary to assure that the deer population had not become contaminated. Analytical results were pending at the time of this monitoring visit, it was planned to release the deer if possible, or to initiate a feeding program to enable the animals to eliminate unacceptable contamination prior to being released.
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5 Xill. Management Meetings The monitor presented the results of this visit to senior DOE and WVNS management and staff at the conclusion of tho visit en November 7,1997.
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PARTIAL LIST OF PERSONS CONTACTED j
Department of Enerav - West Vallev Demonstration Project Thomas Rowland, Director William Hamel, Operations and Engineering Team f.eader David Cook, General Engineer West Vallev Nuclear Services, Incorootsted Robert Campbell, President James Little, Executive Vice President Paul Valenti, Vitrification Operations Manager Richard Marcellin, Weste Tank Farm Operations Manager John Garcia, Radiation Protection Manager Robert Lawrence, Transition Projects Manager Stuart MacVeen, Site Operations Manager Robert Fussner, Vitrification Shift Operations Manager Dan Meess, Tank Farm and IRTS Engineering Manager Mae Wright, Operations Support Manager Paul Klanian, Weste Management Manager Bruce Covert, Operations Technical Support Mr. nager
,inthony Nagle, Environmental Affairs Jack Gerber, Project Appraisals Manager Beth Fallon, Environmental Engineer Robert Steiner, Environmental Engineer Steve Barnes, Vitrification Process and WQR Compliance Manager i
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