ML20246A606
| ML20246A606 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | University of Buffalo |
| Issue date: | 08/23/1989 |
| From: | Danielle Sullivan BUFFALO MATERIALS RESEARCH CENTER |
| To: | NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM), NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I), Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8908230060 | |
| Download: ML20246A606 (4) | |
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DOCITT 50-57 LICENSE R-77 U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION DOCUMENT CONTROL DESK WASfIINGTON, D.C.
20555 ATTN:
DIRECTOR OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION REGION I USNRC Gentlemen:
Enclosed is a report regarding the " reportable occurrence" at the Buffalo Materials Research Center, of the State University of New York _at Buffalo on 8/3/B9.
This report augments telephone com-munications with the NRC on 8/3/89.
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REPORT OF REPORTABLE OCCURRENCE INTRODUCTION On August 3,1989 the BMRC reactor was operated for a period of approximately fourteen hours without operation of a required effluent monitor.
This constitutes a violation of Technical Specifications Section 3.3.2.5.
Upon discovery, the NRC was notified of the reportable occurrence via telephone.
This report is being submitted in compliance with Technical Specification Section 6.4 and 6.7.2, and documents the event and follow up ac-l tions of BMRC management.
A chronology of the events related to this event follows.
In addition, the immediate corrective ac-tions and preventative measures taken or under discussion to preclude recurrence are diccussed.
BACKGROUND The BMRC reactor has two independent air exhaust systems.
Each system includes two effluent monitors, a particulate and gaseous monitor.
The " Stack" exhaust system exhausts air from high level radioactive fume hoods and various reactor facilities where high levels of radioactivity are possible.
The " Building Air" system exhausts air from low level fume hoods and the oc-cupiable areas of the containment building.
Air is sampled after passing through a series of filters as it leaves the containment building.
Radioactive particulate collect on filter paper in the particulate monitor and are continuously monitored with a GM tube.
On 8/3/89, tue motor driving the building air sampling pump failed.
Without fan operation additional particulate would not accumulate on the filter paper and those already on the paper decay.
CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS At 1400 hr. on August 3,1989 an abnormally low containment
" Building Air" effluent monitor reading was observed by the on duty reactor operator.
The observation was made during this operator's first set of hourly logs.
The operator investigated the possible causes and at approximately 1410, found the Building Air monitor sampling blower inoperable.
He reported the low readings and inoperable blower to the Operation Manager.
At 1411 the operator was instructed by the Operations Manager to shutdown the reactor which was at 100% power.
During shutdown the fan motor was replaced and the monitoring system checked.
Upon examination of hourly logs taken on this monitoring sys-tem, it was determined that the logs for this instrument showed a
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precipitous drop between 0000 and 0100 hr..
The subsequent I
hourly log entries were also abnormally low and remained at this f
low level until the 1400 hr. discovery.
-Fourteen hours had elapsed before any action had been taken i
to investigate this situation.
Technical specifications allow reactor operation to continue for up to four hours without one of
.the'two gaseous effluent monitors operating.
This is permissible only if there are no unusual experiments being conducted in hoods and no isotope processing being conducted.
During the period in question there were no unusual experiments being conducted nor_were there any isotope processing activities.
In addition, all other effluent instruments including fixed area monitors lo-cated on each deck in the containment building, indicated normal levels.
Therefore, there is strong evidence to support the posi-tion that effluent releases above normal levels did not exist during this fourteen hour period.
RESPONSE
At approximately 1545 August 3,
- 1989, the Operating Com-mittee was informed of this occurrence.
After discussion, con-currence was received to restart the reactor.
At approximately 1615 the reactor was started.
Proper instrument response was observed before, during, and after startup.
FOLLOW UP ACTIONS This event is still under discussion by management.
and will be discussed in detail at the next Nuclear Safety Committee Meeting which is being scheduled for mid September.
The follow-ing corrective actions have been implemented or identified thus far.
1.
All reactor operators have been sharply reminded of the need to be attentive to the control console and ques-tion any abnormal readings.
2.
The format of Effluent log sheets will be revised.
Readings are logged in a columnar format with one twenty four hour period to a page.
Revisions include:
a.
A carry forward space for data from the previous page to be recorded at the top of the next page.
b.
" Threshold values" signaling the need for inves-tigation will be established.
The significance of this will be to alert operators to investigate if readings reach these threshold values. Due to changing plant conditions throughout the week, the threshold values will be determined each shift by the Shift Supervisor and recorded on the log
,s sheets.
Operatin previous shif t operations,g. history, experience,
- and'eurrent. plant conditions-will be considered in determining.- threshold values.
Disciplinary-action againr.t operators. who. are not ' properly
.. attentive to..their responsibilities are under discussion.
If there are any questions regarding-this report they should be directed.to me at 716-831-2826.
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Sincerely,
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Daniel W..Sullivan, Jr.
Director u
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