ML061070594

NRC e-mail from Steven Orth to Anne Boland Braidwood Letter to Jim Caldwell

ML061070594
Person / Time
Site:	Braidwood
Issue date:	02/07/2006
From:	Steven Orth NRC/RGN-III
To:	Boland A, Buckley P, Pederson C NRC/RGN-II
References
FOIA/PA-2006-0115
Download: ML061070594 (4)

Text

Anne Boland -Fwd: EBraidwood letter to Jim Caldwell Page 1 From: Steven Orth LLF To: Anne Boland; Cynthia Pederson; Patricia Buckley Date: Tue, Feb 7, 2006 4:29 PM

Subject:

Fwd: Braidwood letter to Jim Caldwell Please see attached.CC: Geoffrey Grant; James Caldwell; Richard Skokowski QAW Anne Boland -Braidwood letter to Jim- Caldwell ---Page 1 From: <scott.butler~exeloncorp.com>

To: <sko~nrc.gov>

Date: Tue, Feb 7, 2006 3:48 PM Subjec-t:

Braidwood letter to Jim Caldwell<<<0001 0004.pdf>>

Steve -the actual letter to Jim Caldwell was mailed today. If you have any questions, please call me at (815) 417-2815 This e-mail and any of its attachments may contain Exelon Corporation proprietary information, which is privileged, confidential, or subject to copyright belonging to the Exelon Corporation family of Companies.

This e-mail is intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed.

If you are not the intended recipient of this e-mail, :,ou are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, copying, or action taken in relation-to the contents of and attachments to this e-mail is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful.

If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender immediately and permanently delete the original and any copy of this e-mail and any printout.

Thank You.

Exeklon SLY Ez~elon Generation Company, U.C www.exeloncorp.corn Brafdwood Stat-on r 35100 Scuth Rt 53, Sufte 84 Sracevifle.

IL 6o407-961g T. v5-417-200G February 7, 2006 EW060012 James L Caldwell F-egional Administrator LI.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission F.egion IlIl 2443 Warrenville Road Suite 210 Lsle, IL 60532-4351 Braidwood Station, Units 1 and 2 Facility Operating Ucense Nos. NPF-72 and NPF-77 NRC Docket Nos. STN 50-456 and STN 50-457

Subject:

Cessation of Radioactive Discharges to the Kankakee River Through Blowdown Line

References:

Letter to Illinois Environmental Protection Agency "Response to Violation Notice W-2005-00537,'

dated February 2, 2006 Letter from Illinois Environmental Protection Agency TViolation Notice: Exelon Generation

-Braidwood Station," dated December 16, 2005 On February 2, 2006, Braidwood Station submitted the response to the violations identified in the referenced letter from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) dated December 1'3, 2005. As part of the violation response, Braidwood Station provided the following to the Illincis EFPA.Liquid radioactive effluent releases into the Braidwood Station circulating water blowdown line' were suspended on November 23, 2005. This action was taken until additional information could be collected and testing conducted to ensure the integrity of the pipeline at all locations.

Braidwlod Station has not processed any liquid radioactive effluents through the circulating water blowdDwn pipeline since November 23, 2005.

As a result of suspending liquid radioactive effluent releases into the circulating water blowdown pipeline, temporary 20,000 gallon water storage tanks are being used to store liquid radioactive effluents onsite until new radioactive waste processing equipment is made operational.

Athough there have been no liquid radioactive effluent releases through the circulating water blowdown pipeline since November 23, 2005, because the vacuum breaker valves installed along the length of the blowdown pipeline have been a source of leaks and spills, a daily visual inspection of the blowdown pipeline is being conducted to verify no gross leakage. The blowdown line is still biing used for its primary purpose of maintaining proper lake chemistry by providing for turnover of the lake in conjunction with the circulating water make-up system.Liquid effluents will not be introduced into the current circulating water blowdown pipeline unless leakage from this pipeline and vacuum breaker valves can be prevented with a high level of confidence.

Exelon is currently exploring options for an alternate pipeline for discharge of liquid radioactive effluents that would maintain the current discharge point, but eliminate concerns with the existing circulating water blowdown pipeline and vacuum breaker valves.The above actions will remain in effect until further notice. Communications with the Illinois EPA arid the NRC will be performed prior to the discharge of any radioactivity through the blowdown line.Should you have any questions concerning this letter, please contact Mr. Dale Ambler, Regulatory Assurance Manager, at (815) 417-2800.Respectfully, Keith J. Polson Sihe Vice President Braidwood Station KJP/SB/vk cc: NRC Senior Resident Inspector

-Braidwood Station