ML20237H548

NPDES Noncompliance Notification:On 870701 Oil Spill Occurred.Caused by Personnel Error Associated W/Failure to Pump Down Full Dirty Oil Storage Tank.Individuals Involved Counseled & Supervisory Attention Increased

ML20237H548
Person / Time
Site:	Peach Bottom
Issue date:	08/31/1987
From:	Danni Smith PECO ENERGY CO., (FORMERLY PHILADELPHIA ELECTRIC
To:	Gutkowski J PENNSYLVANIA, COMMONWEALTH OF
References
NUDOCS 8709030317
Download: ML20237H548 (2)

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87X00024 l 1

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PHILADELPHIA ELECTRIC COMPANY PE ACH BOTTOM ATOMIC POWER STATION R D.1. BOX 208 )

D ELT A, PENNSYLV ANI A 173I4 l

August 31, 1987 Ms. Janice M. Gutkowski Water Quality Specialist DER - 1 Ararat Blvd.

Harrisburg, PA 17110

SUBJECT:

PBAPS Oil Spill on July 1, 1987 l-In response to your letter of July 27, 1987, the oil spill on July 1, 1987, was caused by an overflow of the dirty oil tank adjacent to the Auxiliary Boiler House. During the last week of June,1987 the Auxiliary Boiler firing Trench was cleaned of fuel oil drippings. This oil and water mixture passed into the Waste Oil Water Separator which permits water to go to the yard drain sumps and oil to the dirty oil storage tank. The dirty oil storage tank reached a high level condition on June 26, 1987. Due to a personnel error this tank was not pumped out. The oil in this tank the.n backed up through the separator into the Unit 2 yard drain sump. The Unit 2 yard drain sump pump switch was in the off position which permitted the oil in the sump to overflow through an installed pipe into the Unit 3 sump. Heavy rain in the area caused the sump levels in both yard drain sumps to increase to the point where the Unit 3 sump pump, which was in the automatic mode, started and pumped the oily water to the river via NPDES discharge point 003.

This sump discharges to the river through the connected storm drains. Heavy rains, and high winds allowed some of the spilled oil to leak past the oil boom located at discharge point 003. The root cause of this incident is the personnel error associated with the failure to pump down the full dirty oil storage tank. The individuals associated with this error have been counseled and have been informed of the seriousness of the error. Due to the increased level of supervisory attention to this event, it is not expected to recur.

When personnel first examined the boom, they observed approximately half of the oil was contained and the remainder went into the river. The oil spilled to the river was cleaned up the same af ternoon by a contractor. The boom is in place as a precautionary measure to prevent most spillages from migrating down the river. Several measures are in place to prevent a reoccurrence of the violation including: 1.) The Waste Oil Separator's alarm setpoint has been lowered six inches,2.) the sumps are cleaned at least once a week, 3.) the oil sumps are on a daily inspection . frequency by Operations.

8709030317 DR 870933 ,&

ADOCK 05000277 PDR N, %

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87X00024 Ms. Janice Gutkowski August 31, 1987 PBAPS Oil Spill on July 1, 1987 Page 2 of 2 We have reviewed the situation wito our environmental section in Philadelphia and we agree that no ground water contamination study is necessary concerning this incident. The oil from its source at the Auxiliary Boiler to the point of release to the river is completely contained within plant piping, tankage, or sumps. There is no direct communication with any ground water system. The only risk of environmental contamination occurs at the outf all of the storm drain and as indicated above, the spilled oil was completely cleaned from the river on July 1, 1987.

Sincerely, l

}0. M. Smith Manager DMS/DCS/ ADO:aa cc: Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation US Nucicar Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555 Administrator Region 1 Office of Inspection and Enforcement US Nuclear Regulatory Commission 631 Park Avenue King of Prussia, Pennsylvania 19406 f

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