PNO-I-89-081, on 890925,two Laborers Inadvertently Handled Core Debris That Could Have Resulted in Overexposure. Detailed Assessment Performed by Licensee to Establish Time Individuals Handled Source & Actual Doses Received

PNO-I-89-081:on 890925,two Laborers Inadvertently Handled Core Debris That Could Have Resulted in Overexposure. Detailed Assessment Performed by Licensee to Establish Time Individuals Handled Source & Actual Doses Received

ML20248G132
Person / Time
Site:	Three Mile Island
Issue date:	09/28/1989
From:	Cowgill C, Young F NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
To:
References
PNO-I-89-081, PNO-I-89-81, NUDOCS 8910100101
Download: ML20248G132 (2)

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DCS No: 50320890927

~ '

Date: September 28, 1989

' PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE--PNO-I-89-81

'Th,is 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:

GPU Nuclear Corporation Notification of Unusual Event 4

Three Mile Island, Unit 2 Alert Docket Number 50-320 Site Area Emergency General Emergency X Not Applicable

Subject:

POTENTIAL PERSONNEL OVEREXPOSURE i

On Wednesday, September 27, 1989, the licensee informed the NRC site staff of an l incident involving the inadvertent handling of core debris by two laborers that could have resulted in the individual's receiving a dose in excess of 10 CFR 20 limits.

- The incident occurred on Monday, September 25, 1989. Preliminary information indicates that while the individuals were performing decontamination operations in the Unit 2 Reactor Building, the workers unknowingly handled a piece of core debris, placing it .in a radioactive waste container. A subsequent radiation survey performed on the material

' indicated contact dose rates of 22 R/ min (gamma) and an (estimated) 193 Rad / min (Beta).

Upon determining that the material was highly radioactive, the material was placed in the reactor vessel using long handled tools.

The licensee is performing a detailed assessment to establish the amount of time the individuals handled the source and the actual doses received.

A Region I radiation specialist has been dispatched to the TMI site to closely follow

. licensee actions.

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has been informed.

The NRC will respond to press inquiries.

Media interest is expected. This PN is issued for information only and is current as of 8:00 a.m.., September 28, 1989.

CONTACT: F. Young C. Cowgill (717) 948-1167 (215) 337-5128 l

L 8910100101 890928 PDR ILE PNO-I-89-081 PNU o( f- Tj

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DCS No

-50320890927

. .- Date: September 28, 1989 PRELIMINARY' NOTIFICATION OF. EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE--PNO-I-89-81 DISTRIBUTION:

OWFN MNBB H-St. NL Mail: -ADM:DMB Chairman Carr AE00 RHS DOT:Trans only Comm. Roberts ARM .PDR

.Comm. Rogers NRC Ops.Ctr Comm. Curtiss ACRS EDO 'INPO----

CA- NMSS NSAC----

OGC NRR

.GPA OIA Regional Offices PA. OE .

RI Resident Office SLITF Licensee:

(Reactor Licensees)-

Region I Form 83 (Rev. April 1988)

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