IR 05000054/1985004

Ack Receipt of Informing NRC of Steps Taken to Correct Violations Noted in Insp Repts 50-054/85-04 & 70-0687/85-07

ML20138K040
Person / Time
Site:	05000054, 07000687
Issue date:	12/13/1985
From:	Martin T NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
To:	Mcgovern J CINTICHEM, INC.
References
NUDOCS 8512180200
Download: ML20138K040 (2)

Text

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.1 DEC 131985 LDocket No. 50-54 70-687 Cintichem, Inc.

ATTN: Mr. James J. McGovern Plant Manager P.O.' Box 324-Tuxedo, New York 10987 Gentlemen:

Subject: Combined Inspection Nos. 50-54/85-04; 70-687/85-07

' This refers to your letter dated November 22, 1985, in response.to our letter dated October 22, 1985.

Thank you for informing us of the corrective and preventive actions documented in your letter. These actions will be examined during a future inspection of your licensed program.

Your cooperation with us is appreciated.

Sincerely, Origina1 Signed Dy ,

N Thomas T. Mar in, Director Division of Radiation Safety and Safeguards cc:

W. G. Ruzicka, Manager, Nuclear Operations D. D. Grogan, Manager, Radiochemical Production

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Medi-Physics, Inc. p.o. sox s,s. Tuxeoo. NEW YORK 10987 [914)351-2131 November 22, 1985 United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission Region I Attn.: Mr. Thomas Park Avenue King of Prussia, Pennsylvania 19406 Re: Inspections 50-54/85-04 70-687/85-07

Dear Mr. Martin:

This is in response to your letter of October 1985 regarding results of an NRC inspection on August 19-23, 1985. Listed below are actions taken on the apparent violations which were listed in Appendix A of the report.

A. " Contrary to.. 60 CFR 20.203(c)], on or about August 19 and 20, 1985, two high radiation areas in the pump room and at the I-125 loop glovehox were not posted as required, and, in the absence of the specified control devices, access to the high radiation area by two drums of radioactive waste on the upper level of the reactor building was not locked or attended to prevent unauthorized entry."

In response to these concerns we have removed the two waste drums, which had been on the upper level of the reactor building, to the wasta storage building. The area in which these drums are now~ 1ocated is '.ept locked

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and is appropriately posted. ,

The two areas mentioned in your report (pump room and I-125 loop glovebox) are now, as have always been, kept locked when high radiation levels are present. The areas are accessible only to Reactor Operators and Health Physics personnel, all of whom are cognizant of the variable radiation levels in these areas.

The radiation fields from the I-125 loop glovebox are variable due to the cycle of returning Xenon-125 to the box from the reactor. Regardless, we have placed a Caution high Radiation Area sign with a note explaining .

that ' dose rates may reach several hundred millirem per hour. We do not intend to remove the sign when dose rates are below 100 mR/hr. even though rates below this cutoff criteria represent the usual situation.;

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-2- November 22, 1985 At the time of the formal monthly August 1985 survey of the pump room, the cation and anion resin columns had recently been replaced. The radiation from these areas did not constitute a High Radiation Area at titat time. Appropriately, the Health Physics Technician removed the High Radiation postings. The NRC Inspector subsequently discovered levels above the 100 mR/hr point before the next monthly survey. This is the reason for the discrepancy.

We have reconsidered the advisability of removing the High Radiation Area posting in the resin column area since some portions of the area read above 100 mR/hr the majority of the time. Consequently, we are permanently installing a Caution High Radiation Area sign at the resin columns. The current monthly survey sheet will record the actual dose rate.

B. " Contrary to... bechnical Specifications Section 4.4(2) and 1.0],

during the period from the inception of the current Technical Specifications (July 1984) to August 23, 1985, the stack monitor did not receive monthly channel tests as required."

In order to more formalize the channel test requirement of the technical specifications, we are instituting a radiation source check of instrument response for each of the three stack monitor channels on a monthly basis.

Although we have always felt that the daily review and written record of instrument response to effluent radioactivity more than adequately fulfilled the requirement of a monthly check, we will add the formal check described above to our program effective immediately.

C. " Contrary to... E0 CFR 20.203(f)], on August 19,1985, two radioactive rod armatures on a bench top in the machine shop and a 55 gallon drum containing radioactive material on the upper floor of the hot lab facility were not labeled as required."

In reference to the above, we have reinstructed Reactor Operators not to leave radioactive traterial unattended without labeling. A memo to all Reactor Operators ha.; been issued explaining this concern.

In order to prevent a recurrence of a labeling violation of the type involving the 55 drum, we have reinstructed our Health Physics Technicians to ensure proper labeling of waste containers at the completion of hot cell work and other nonroutine jobs.

Should hou desire further information on these response items, please contact me.

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l el . Thelin l Radiation Safety Officer cc.: C'. J. Konnerth J. J. McGovern W. R. Ruzicka I