PNO-I-88-022, on 880217,approx 2,400 Gallons of Slightly Contaminated Shower & Process Water Released to Restricted Area.Caused by 4-inch Plastic Pipe from Final Treatment Tank Breaking During Excavation to Obtain Fill Dirt

PNO-I-88-022:on 880217,approx 2,400 Gallons of Slightly Contaminated Shower & Process Water Released to Restricted Area.Caused by 4-inch Plastic Pipe from Final Treatment Tank Breaking During Excavation to Obtain Fill Dirt

ML20149M354
Person / Time
Site:	07000371
Issue date:	02/18/1988
From:	Pasciak W, Roth J NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
To:
References
PNO-I-88-022, PNO-I-88-22, NUDOCS 8802250505
Download: ML20149M354 (1)

9 i'

DCS No: 70-371880217

! Date: February 18, 1988

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PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE--PNO-I-88-22 7

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:

1 UNC - Naval Products Notification of Unusual Event -

Montville, Connecticut Alert l Docket No.70-371 Site Area Emergency General Emergency X Not Applicable

Subject:

RELEASE OF SLIGHTLY CONTAMINATED WATER TO THE ONSITE RESTRICTED AREA At about 11:30 a.m. on February 17, 1988, a 4 inch plastic pipe, from the final treatment tank inside the plant to a settling tank located outside the southeast corner of Building B, was broken during excavation to obtain fill dirt. The fill dirt was being used during construction of a new building at the site. Approximately 2400 gallons of slightly contaminated shower and process water were released to the restricted area inside the fence line. Gross alpha concentration of the water was 5.4 picocuries per milliliter, assumed to be uranium, which is about 18% of the 10 CFR 20, Appendix 8 Table II value for uranium contaminated water released to an unrestricted area.

Calculations indicate about 0.6 grams of uranium-235 was released.

Soil samples were immediately taken for analysis. The licensee plans to excavate the contaminated area (6 feet long x 3 feet wide) to a depth of about 3 feet and expects to remove about ten - 55 gallon drums of soil from the area. The broken radwaste line will be rerouted away from the construction area. No radioactive releases will be made through the line until replacement is complete. Replacement of the line and removal of contaminated soil is expected to be completed prior to February 22, 1988. Region I inspectors who were at the site performing a routine inspection at the time of the incident will obtain soil samples at the bottom of the excavation after soil removal has been completed and will return those soil samples to the Region I offices for analysic.

The State of Connecticut has been notified.

The NRC received initial notification of this incident from the inspectors at the site at 10:00 c.m. on February 18, 1988.

CONTACT: J. Roth W. Pasciak 346-5205 346-5281 Roth Pasciak Bellamy Congel Abraham Miller i

O i 8802250505 880218 og 3'O.

PDR I F4E PNO-I-88-022 PDR 9sp

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