PNO-I-05-028, Connecticut Yankee Atomic Power Company, Haddam Neck Report of Spent Fuel Pool Leak
| ML053070584 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Haddam Neck File:Connecticut Yankee Atomic Power Co icon.png |
| Issue date: | 11/03/2005 |
| From: | Mark Miller NRC Region 1 |
| To: | |
| References | |
| 05000213051031 PNO-I-05-028 | |
| Download: ML053070584 (2) | |
DCS No.: 05000213051031 Date: November 3, 2005 PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE PNO-I-05-028 This preliminary notification constitutes EARLY notice of events of POSSIBLE safety or public interest significance. The information is as initially received without verification or evaluation, and is basically all that is known by the Region I staff on this date.
Facility Licensee Emergency Classification Connecticut Yankee Atomic Power Company Notification of Unusual Event Haddam Neck Plant Alert 362 Injun Hollow Road Site Area Emergency East Hampton, CT 06424-3099 General Emergency X Not Applicable Docket No.: 50-213 License No.: DPR-61
SUBJECT:
HADDAM NECK REPORT OF SPENT FUEL POOL LEAK On Monday, October 31, the licensee reported that they had found evidence of a former below-ground spent fuel pool leak on the east side wall of the spent fuel building, while conducting routine decommissioning excavations at the Haddam Neck site. The evidence of the leak consisted of hairline cracks in the spent fuel building wall and the accumulation of a white residue around the cracks. The licensee believes that the leak is not ongoing based on the absence of dampness around the cracks.
As part of the licensees previous characterization activities, soil core bores had been made around the entire spent fuel building. Elevated soil contamination had been identified in one small area on the east side of the spent fuel building. Four core samples of the east side of the spent fuel building wall were taken by the licensee which identified very low concentrations of Cs-137, Co-60, Sr-90, and tritium. The licensee has a system of down gradient wells on site to monitor groundwater, including shallow and bedrock wells in the vicinity of the spent fuel building. Recent groundwater monitoring surveillance results indicated low levels of tritium (4000 pCi/l) and Sr-90 (1.4 pCi/l) that were less than the EPA drinking water standard of 20,000 pCi/l and 8 pCi/l, respectively.
While water remains in the pool, fuel removal was completed in March 2005. Previous NRC inspections of the licensees spent fuel pool safety program identified no significant leakage from the spent fuel pool leak detection system. NRC RI plans to review the licensees sampling results and conduct independent measurements as part of its routine decommissioning inspection program scheduled to begin on November 7, 2005.
The licensee made the Offsite Notification per 10 CFR Part 50.72(b)(2)(xi). The licensee initially notified the State of Connecticut of this event as required by state regulations.
On November 3, NRC RI made additional notifications to the State Department of Environmental Protection, the First Selectman from Haddam and the Chair of the Citizens Decommissioning Advisory Committee. NRC Office of Congressional Affairs also informed staff of the U.S. Connecticut Congressional Delegation.
The Region I Office of Public Affairs is prepared to respond to media inquires.
This information presented herein has been discussed with the licensee and is current as of 3:00 p.m.,
November 3, 2005.
Contact:
Marie Miller (610) 337-5205 mtm1@nrc.gov DISTRIBUTIONS:
BY E-MAIL:
OWFN TWFN LST Chairman Diaz IRO PDR Comm. McGaffigan Jr. NMSS Comm. Merrifield OIG Comm. Lyons RES Comm. Jaczko OIP OCA OGC EDO OE NRR SECY Regional Offices BY FAX:
DOT:Trans INPO NSAC RI Resident Office Licensee: Joseph Bourassa, CYAPCo (Reactor Licensees)
DOCUMENT NAME: S:\PN\PN105028.wpd OFFICE RI/DNMS RI/DNMS RI/SAO RI/PAO NAME M Miller mtm1 G Pangburn S Minnick sam9 N Sheehan nas gcp DATE 11/03/05 11/03/05 11/03/05 11/03/05 Region I Form 83 (Rev. July 2, 2003)