ML13242A159

Ltr 08/29/13 Addendum to the Results of Independent Samples Collected by the NRC at Palisades Nuclear Plant Storm Drain Outfall

ML13242A159
Person / Time
Site:	Palisades
Issue date:	08/29/2013
From:	Dickson B C NRC/RGN-III
To:	Vitale A Entergy Nuclear Operations
References
ARS1-13-01107
Download: ML13242A159 (16)

Text

UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION REGION III 2443 WARRENVILLE ROAD, SUITE 210 LISLE, IL 60532-4352 August 29, 2013

Mr. Anthony Vitale Vice President, Operations Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.

Palisades Nuclear Plant 27780 Blue Star Memorial Highway Covert, MI 49043-9530

SUBJECT:

ADDENDUM TO THE RESULTS OF INDEPENDENT SAMPLES COLLECTED BY THE NRC AT PALISADES NUCLEAR PLANT STORM DRAIN OUTFALL

Dear Mr. Vitale:

On May 30, 2013, the NRC collected independent sand samples in the vicinity of the pipe outlet of a storm drain system on the beach along Lake Michigan and inside of Entergy property. The samples were collected during the timeframe you were collecting samples and at the same locations that you obtained samples near the pipe outlet. On August 6, 2013, we provided you with the results of our analysis of the four sand samples we independently collected. The NRC recently learned that a report of the analyses, provided by our independent third party laboratory, did not document all of the gamma emitting radionuclides detected in the samples. As a result, the laboratory provided a revised Laboratory Analysis Report that identified an additional radionuclide, antimony 125 (Sb-125), attributed to activities at Palisades. We have determined that the presence of the additional radionuclide is a likely result of the recent leak from the safety injection refueling water tank that occurred on May 4, 2013. The concentration of Sb-125 was measured to be 56.323 pico Curies (pCi) per kilogram (kg) of sand. The presence and amount of this additional radionuclide does not change our original conclusions. Our original conclusions, reiterated below, were that the analytical results and radionuclide concentrations: were expected given the dose calculation/evaluations performed by the Palisades' staff and rainfall that occurred before the samples were collected; were low; compared to the EPA's safe drinking water standard; did not exceed any NRC limit or design objective; were too small to be expected to have any health impact to the individuals located at the pipe outlet and other members of the licensee's workforce or the public.

A. Vitale We understand that your staff is evaluating whether additional corrective actions will be taken due to the indication that licensed radioactive material may have been inadvertently released

into the environment. Please continue to keep the NRC Resident Inspectors and the NRC Regional Health Physics inspector, assigned to your site, informed of the results of this evaluation. As we indicated earlier, the NRC will assess the results of your evaluation of this information during a baseline inspection of this program later this year. The revised Laboratory Analysis Report from our independent laboratory is included as Enclosure 1. If you have any questions regarding this corresp ondence, please contact me at (630) 829-9827.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Billy C. Dickson, Chief Health Physics and Incident Response Branch Division of Reactor Safety

Docket No. 50-255 License No. DPR-20

Enclosure:

1. Revised American Radiation Services, LLC. Laboratory Results cc w/encl: Distribution via ListServŽ

A. Vitale We understand that your staff is evaluating whether additional corrective actions will be taken due to the indication that licensed radioactive material may have been inadvertently released

into the environment. Please continue to keep the NRC Resident Inspectors and the NRC Regional Health Physics inspector, assigned to your site, informed of the results of this evaluation. As we indicated earlier, the NRC will assess the results of your evaluation of this information during a baseline inspection of this program later this year. The revised Laboratory Analysis Report from our independent laboratory is included as Enclosure 1. If you have any questions regarding this corresp ondence, please contact me at (630) 829-9827.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Billy C. Dickson, Chief Health Physics and Incident Response Branch Division of Reactor Safety

Docket No. 50-255 License No. DPR-20

Enclosure:

1. Revised American Radiation Services, LLC. Laboratory Results cc w/encl: Distribution via ListServŽ DISTRIBUTION w/encl: Vivian Campbell RidsNrrPMPalisades Resource RidsNrrDorlLpl3-1 Resource RidsNrrDirsIrib Resource Cynthia Pederson Anne Boland Steven Orth Allan Barker Carole Ariano Linda Linn

DRPIII DRSIII Patricia Buckley Tammy Tomczak ROPreports.Resource@nrc.gov DOCUMENT NAME: Ltr 082913 Palisades Results of Independent Samples Addendum.docx Publicly Available Non-Publicly Available Sensitive Non-Sensitive To receive a copy of this document, indicate in the concurrence box "C" = Copy without attach/encl "E" = Copy with attach/encl "N" = No copy OFFICE RIII RIII RIII NAME BDickson for JCassidy JBenjamin BDickson:cs DATE 08/29/13 08/29/13 08/29/13 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY