RA-09-040, Follow-Up Report Regarding Elevated Tritium Levels Discovered On-Site NJDEP Communications Center Number: 09-04-15-1644-54

Follow-Up Report Regarding Elevated Tritium Levels Discovered On-Site NJDEP Communications Center Number: 09-04-15-1644-54

ML093080802
Person / Time
Site:	Oyster Creek
Issue date:	05/15/2009
From:	Rausch T Exelon Generation Co, Exelon Nuclear
To:	Hamilton J Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, NRC Region 1, State of NJ, Dept of Environmental Protection
References
FOIA/PA-2009-0214, RA-09-040
Download: ML093080802 (4)

Text

Oyster Creek Generating Station www~exeloncorp~cornN Exelkn. cla Route 9 South PO Box 388 Forked River. NJ 08731 May 15, 2009 RA-09-040 Mr. James Hamilton Administrator of Water Compliance and Enforcement Element New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection 401 East State Street, 4h Floor East P.O. Box 407 Trenton, NJ 08625-0407

Subject:

OYSTER CREEK NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION Follow-up report regarding elevated tritium levels discovered on-site NJDEP Communications Center Number: 09-04-15-1644-54 This written report is submitted as a follow up to a 15-minute NJDEP hotline notification made by Environmental Manager, Matt Nixon at 16:44 on April 15, 2008, for a positive confirmatory sample received at 16:40 on the same date, indicating elevated levels of tritium in water pumped from an electrical cable vault to storage drums at Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station (OCNGS). During the course of subsequent troubleshooting, the source of the tritium was found to be coming from two small leaks in 8-inch and 10-inch condensate piping. Repairs to the affected pipes were completed on May 2, 2009. The maximum possible hypothetical radiological dose resulting from this release has preliminarily been calculated at a small fraction of limitations specified in the OCNGS Offsite Dose Calculation Manual. Monitoring will continue in accordance with the station's monitoring well program.

The summary of the leak investigation, sample locations, date/time, gamma spectroscopy results, and tritium activity concentrations are maintained and available for review at OCNGS. In addition, results of formal radiological dose calculations will be reported in the annual effluents report for 2009 as required by 10 CFR 50.32a and 10 CFR 50 Appendix I.

If any further information or assistance is needed, please contact Jhansi Kandasamy, Chemistry Manager at 609-971-4754.

Sincerely,

~ePresident Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station cc: USNRC Region I Administrator USNRC Senior Project Manager - NRR USNRC Senior Resident Inspector, Oyster Creek

-U Outline and Guidance for Stand Alone Reports:

Beaver Valley, Liner through-wall penetration; Oyster Creek, CST associated leakage General Guidance:

Write the report for an audience that is diverse, i.e., NRC technical managers, members of the public (including government stakeholders), news media, and licensee representatives.

Consistently use active voice, past tense.

Be clear and concise. State what needs to be stated; but avoid reporting superfluous information or unimportant details.

Make the assumption that since this is an NRC inspection report, that all the activities, unless otherwise stated, were performed, observed, or conducted by the NRC inspector. Accordingly, be sparing in reporting, "The inspector (noted, observed, questioned, determined, found, reviewed, assessed, etc.", since the inspectors' involvement may be generally assumed. Such distinction may occasionallybe necessary to provide clarity, however, constant or repeated usage should be avoided.

Make sure all acronyms are identified either within the text, or in the attached Supplemental Information section.

Try to avoid technical jargon, however, if necessary, explain its meaning.

Keep sentences short and paragraphs in the range of four to six sentences. It makes the document easier to read and review.

Report Outline:

Cover Letter Conform to standard Baseline inspection guidance (MC0612), but include brief description of the inspection staff's overall conclusion of the effectiveness of the licensee's investigation, cause evaluation, and efforts to resolve and restore.

Table of Contents Conform to standard Baseline inspection guidance (MC0612)

Summary of Findings Conform to standard Baseline inspection guidance (MC0612), but include a summary of the inspection staff's overall assessment of licensee performance for each area examined.

REPORT DETAILS

4. OTHER ACTIVITIES

40A5 Other Activities

.1 Introduction

.1.1 Inspection Scope-Describe the scope of the inspection by describing the purpose as "to evaluate and assess the circumstances and issues associated with"... the respective OC/BV events. Explain that these events were evaluated with respect to MC0309 and met no deterministic criteria for the conduct of a reactive inspection, but that NRC is documenting its inspection of the circumstances surrounding this condition in a separate inspection report to integrate the characterization of facts and information, and assessment of the licensee's performance relative to applicable regulatory requirements and standards.

Identify the Inspection Procedures, e.g., 71153, Event Review, that were used, and what aspects were reviewed, for example: procedures, processes, corrective actions documents, design documents, work orders, radiological assessments, engineering calculations, and independent observations of licensed activities.

.1.2 Actual Consequences/Significance of the Condition- Describe as appropriate. As appropriate to the Inspection Area, discuss safety/risk significance of the as-found condition, and implications relative to aging management processes.

.2 Event Description Provide a brief description of the event, in chronological sequence. Include Operational Conditions that were affected. Avoid describing the condition with assessment type language. Provide only factual information.

.2.1 Licensee Response/Action Description

.2.2 NRC Response/Action Description

.3 Areas of Inspection

.3.1 Inspection Area-For each inspection area reviewed (e.g., Operational Considerations, Buried Pipe Program Activities, Liner Examination Activities, In-Service Inspection Activities, Ground Water Monitoring, Environmental Assessment, Component Repair and Replacement Activities, Non-Destructive Examination, Ageing Management Programs, License Renewal Considerations, Occupational Exposure Control Activities, Public Exposure Control Activities, etc., use the following format:

a. Inspection Scope- Conform to standard Baseline inspection guidance (MC0612).

b. Findings and Observations If no significant findings, state "No findings of significance were identified."

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Provide observations by briefly describing the area inspected. Include sufficient detail, including description of the regulatory standards and requirements that pertain, to understand the condition. Avoid reporting details or information that does not provide any significant or important contribution.

Provide an assessment of licensee performance relative to adherence to the regulatory standards and requirements, problem identification, root cause evaluation, extent of condition review, and corrective actions.

In the case of a finding, conform to standard Baseline inspection guidance (MC0612).

.4 Exit Meeting- Conform to standard Baseline inspection guidance (MC0612)

Attachment A:

Supplemental Information- Conform to standard Baseline inspection guidance (MC0612)

Attachment B:

As necessary, include drawings, photographs, to enhance understanding of the condition.

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