ML20217B049
| ML20217B049 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | West Valley Demonstration Project |
| Issue date: | 12/08/1978 |
| From: | Bidinger G, Higginbotham L NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| PNO-78-206, NUDOCS 9804220402 | |
| Download: ML20217B049 (1) | |
Text
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PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION
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. December 8, 1978 n
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h PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE--PNO-78-206 This 3reliminary notification constitutes EARLY notice of event of P_0SS13LE safety or public interest significance.
The information presented is as initially received without verification or evaluation and is basically all that is known by IE staff on this date.
Facility: NFS Reprocessing Plant West Valley, New York (DN 50-201).
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Subject:
LEAKING COLLECTION PAN UNDER HIGH LEVEL WASTE TANK On December 6, 1978, the licensee determined during tests with uncontaminated water that the collection pan under a filled high level waste (HLW) tank had a leak somewhere between 0" and 14" above the pan bottom. The pan was designed to serve as an intermediate barrier between the HLW in the tank and the concrete vault enclosing the HLW storage system.
The HLW tank has about 560,000 gallons of HLW; a spare HLW cank is available if the filled tank develops a leak.
No radio-activity was detected in the water, so there is no leakage from the high level waste tank.
The licensee is currently studying methods to fully define the pan leak path.
Wl eg Region I plans to monitor the licensee's actions closely and will conduct a special inspection at the licensee's plant next week.
Media interest is expected because of public attention to past operations and activities at the plant.
DOE held public meetings near NFS in March 1978. The condition of the HLW tanks was a major concern.
The State of New York has been informed. A press release is not planned by the licensee or NRC at this time.
NRC, Region I, (Philadelphia) received notification of this leakage problem'by telephone from the licensee at 2:30 p.m., December 7.
Contact:
GHBidinger, IE x28188 LBHigginbotham, IE x28098 Distribution _:
Transmitted H St / Ib Chairman Hendrie Commissioner Bradford S. J. Chilk, SECY Commissioner Kennedy Commissioner Ahearne C. C. Kamerer, CA Commissloner Gilinsky (ForDistribution)
Transmitted: MNBB P. Bldg J.G. Davis,4d/~,2.
lE Region 1 L. V. Gossick, EDO H. R. Denton, NRR S. H. Hanauer, ED0 R. C. DeYoung, NRR J. J. Fouchard, PA R. J. Mattson, NRR 7
(MAIL N. M. Haller, MPA 7 V. Stello, NRR J X )Cummings, 0IA 1;4 R. S. Boyd, NRR R. G. Ryan, OSP H. K. SN. par. ELD SSD1dgli'44--
R. Minogue, SD p p 1, -
W. J. Dircks, NMSS PRFIIMINARY NOTIFICATION' 9804220402 781208 N-78b06 PDR