ML20147B053

Ack Receipt of Informing NRC of Steps Taken to Correct Violation Noted in Insp Rept 50-482/87-36.NRC Will Review Implementation of Corrective Actions During Future Insp to Determine Full Compliance Achieved & Maintained

ML20147B053
Person / Time
Site:	Wolf Creek
Issue date:	02/23/1988
From:	Callan L NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV)
To:	Withers B WOLF CREEK NUCLEAR OPERATING CORP.
References
NUDOCS 8803010431
Download: ML20147B053 (2)

See also: IR 05000482/1987036

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FEB 2 31988-

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In Reply Refer.To:

Docket: STN 50-482/87-36

Wolf Creek' Nuclear Operating Corporation

ATTN:

Bart D. Withers

President and Chief Executive Officer

P.O. Box 411

Burlington, Kansas 66839

Gentlemen:

Thank you for your letter of January 29, 1988, in response to our letter

and Notice of Vio'ation dated January 4,1988. We have reviewed your reply and

find it responsive to the concerns raised in our Notice of Violation. We will

review the implementation of your corrective actions during a future inspection

to determine that full compliance has been achieved ard will be maintained.

,

Sincerely.

Original Signed By

L. I. cscw

L. J. Cal'.en, st rector

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Division of Reactor Projects

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cc:

Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation

ATTN: Otto Maynard, Manager

of Licensing

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P.O. Box 411

Burlington, Kansas 66839

Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation

ATTN: Gary Boyer, Plant Manager

P.O. Box 411

Burlit:gton, Kansas 66839

Kansas Corporation Commission

ATTN:

Rob =rt D. Elliott, Chief Engineer

Fourth Floor, DocHrq 5 tate Office Building

Topeka, Kansas 66612-1571

Kansas Radiation Control Program Director

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R. D. Hartin, RA

Myron Karman, ELD, MNBB (I)

Resident Inspector

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NUCLEAR G DERATING CORPORATION

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CMf Executive omcor

January 29,e a

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VM 88-0031

U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Cor.aission

ATTN: Document Control Deek

Vashington, D. C.

2055

Reference:

Letter Dsted 1/4/88 from L. J. Callan, NRC, to

B. D. Vithers, VCN00

Subject:

Response to Violation 482/8736-01

Centelment

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Attached

is a detailed responce to violation 482/8736-01 which was

documented in the Reference.

Violation 482/8736-01 concerns unauthorized

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a

disposal of licensed catorial.

If you have any questions concerning this matter, please contact me or Mr.

O. L. Maynard of my staff.

Very truly yours,

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Bart D. Withers

President and

Chief Executive Officer

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BDV/11k

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Attachment

cc:

B. L. Bartlett (NRC), w/a

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R. D. Martin (NRC), w/a

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P. V. O'Connor (NRC), 2 w/a

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Attachment to VM 88-0031

Page 1 of 2

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January 29, 1988

Violation (432/8736-01):

Unauthorized Disposal of Licensed Katerial

Findinz:

10 CPR Part 20.301(a) cta as,

in part,

that no license shall dispose of

licensed material except to transfer to an authorized recipient as provided

in the regulations.

Contrary to the above,

on November 16,

1937,

the NRC inspector detecmined

that the licensee had disposed of two blue rags containing approximately

0.41 microcuries of licensed material in the Coffey County, Kansas landfill,

an unauthorized recipient.

Reason For Violation:

The root cause of the release of radioactive material from WCGS to the

Coffey County Landfill has been attributed to nonlicensed utility personnel

procedure,

error.

The release of materials from the RCA is governed by a

"Radiological Control and Unconditional Release of Tools and Equipment,"

which requires that no detectable loose or fixed

contamination

be

unconditionally released.

It is believed that the disposable cloths were inadvertently released from

the RCA due to the difficulty in detecting small radioactivity levels in

areas of the plant that are susceptible to background level changes as plant

conditions change.

It is believed the surveys conducted on the plastic

trashbag were completed in areas of the plant with background levels between

20 and 50 microrema por hour.

Corrective Steps Which Have Been Taken and Results Achieved:

All HP Technicians have been retrained on the proper use

of

the

unconditional release procedure and the survey instruments. in an effort to

prevent recurrence of these events,

the location used for unconditional

release surveys has been moved to an area with low,

stable backgound

radiatinq levels.

The Coffey County Landfill segregated the area where the trashbag was found

in cooperation with VCG3 management,

and further releases of trash from the

RCA to the landfill were temporarily halted pending the completion of an

investigation.

On November 17,

1987, additional surveys of the lanifill

were initiated '- determine the extent of the improper shipments.

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Attachment to VM 88-0031

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Page 2 of 2

January 29 , 1988

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The aran currently in use,as a lanifiti at the Coffey County Lsndfill

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approximately 350 feet by 120 feet.

The surface area of the land r'_ ll

currently in use was surveyed.

This area was then graded and divided into

10 feet by 10 feet sections.

Based on discussions with NRC pe ran ar.al

and

State officials,

a survey plan was developei.

An area approximately 210

feet by 120 feet was segregated for detailed surveying to a depth of 4

feet.

The remaining area of the landfill, approximately 140 feet by 120

feet, was spot surveyed to a depth of 4 feet.

The surveya of the landfill

were completed November 30, 1987.

Because additional materials from VCGS were located at the landfill during

the detailed surveys,

interviews with appropriate HP personnel were

conducted to determine the nature and extent of the probinm.

In addition,

the procedure governing the release of materials from the RCA has been

reviewed for adequacy and accountability.

The procedure has been revised

and a method for double verification has been addel.

Instead of a tag or sticker attached to each bag of trash,

the procedure

revision requires that each individual who performed the survey to label the

bag with their initials.

This is believed to be a more permanent tracking

system than a tag or stick.er which could inadvertently come off or out of a

bag.

Corrective Steps Vhich Will Be Taken To Avoid Further Violations:

Corrective steps which have been taken to avoid further violations are

discussed above and in Special Report 87-013

Date When Full Compliance Vill Be Achieved:

Full compliance has been achieved,

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