ML093410658

Email from J. White to M. Dapas, Subj: FW: Updated OC-Potential Tritium Release on 4/15

ML093410658
Person / Time
Site:	Oyster Creek
Issue date:	04/16/2009
From:	Jason White NRC/RGN-I/DRS/PSB2
To:	Dapas M NRC Region 1
References
FOIA/PA-2009-0214
Download: ML093410658 (4)

Text

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V  % 4 White, John From: John White Sent: Thursday, April 16, 2009 5:48 PM To: Marc Dapas

Subject:

FW: Updated OC-Potential Tritium Release on 4/15 fyi From: John White Sent: Thursday, April 16, 2009 4:57 PM To: Darrell Roberts; Peter Wilson

Subject:

Updated OC-Potential Tritium Release on 4/15 From: Ronald Nimitz Sent: Thursday, April 16, 2009 11:53 AM To: Ronald Bellamy; John White Cc: Neil Sheehan; Marc Ferdas; Scott Barber; Nancy McNamara; Doug Tifft; Diane Scrend; Jeffrey Kulp

Subject:

RE: OC-Potentlal Tritium Release on 4/15 A preliminary call was held with Exelon chemistry and environmental personnel today at 10:45. Marc Ferdas sat in on call. Current/observations/activities:

1. Immediate Risk assessment.

Preliminary reviews and discussion has not identified any public or occupational exposure risk. Eady March 2009 sampling of 31 wells within the site has not identified any tritium greater than 200 pCi/I. In addition, grab sampling of discharge canal has not identified any tritium. The water contained in the cable vault, about 2000-3000 gallons (more accurate estimate underway) has been drummed and will be processed via radioactive waste processing system. There is no indication of an active leak. Groundwater flow in the upper aquifers is toward west (discharge canal). Onsite drinking water wells are in a deep aquifer and has shown no tritium.

These are being monitored. The licensee will be collecting additional discharge canal samples.

2. Likely source:

3. Licensee plans The licensee has three plans in development:

a Communication Plan.

This is being developed. There has been no decision to make a public notification at this time. As discussed earlier, the licensee did make a notification to the state of New Jersey and a follow-up to NRC. The State notification was based on a state regulation for reporting hazardous spills and was not made under the NEI Ground water guidance. The licensee believes at this time that excluding the required State notification, which is more restrictive then the NEI reporting criteria, it Is not apparent that a separate report per the NEI guidelines would be required..

b. Environmental Sampling Plan:

The licensee is establishing a proritized sampling plan to evaluate current environmental conditions. This will include aldi~tonaJ sampl~na of thi s rcanal. The licensee will provide for sample analysis by an offsite vendor laffg i Irecor inaccordance with the of r Act, exern ioas 84

c. Source Detection plan The licensee is putting a team together to investigate the source of the tritium.

4. NRC Plans:

DRS PS2 and EB2 is following as well as DRP onsite resident staff.

An update call will be held tomorrow.

A comm plan has been developed.

Upon cause of the condition being identified, NRC will evaluate the licensees performance to determine if a regulatory deficiency existed, and take appropriate actions in accordance with NRC policy.

From: Ronald Bellamy Sent: Thursday, April 16, 2009 10:30 AM To: Ronald Nimitz; John White Cc: Neil Sheehan; Marc Ferdas

Subject:

FW: OC-Potential Tritium Release on 4/15 I have forwarded this to Ron Nimitz who will respond with the'answers.

From: Marc Ferdas Sent: Thursday, April 16, 2009 10:04 AM To: Ronald Bellamy

Subject:

FW: OC-Potential Tritium Release on 4/15 Mcarc S. Ferdclas Senior Resident Inspector, Oyster Creek Marc. Ferdas(onrc..qov 609-693-0702 From: Neil Sheehan Sent: Thursday, April 16, 2009 9:19 AM To: Marc Ferdas

Subject:

Re: OC-Potential Tritium Release on 4/15

Marc, Ron called me about this last evening. I would want to know ifthis find meets the NEI reportability criteria and if so, how Exelon plans to make this information public. I also would want to know ASAP how the water may have gotten in the vaul4-and what the company intends to do to check on extent of condition. Also, any word on whether N.J. plans to make an announcement or post something pn its web site about this.

Thanks, Neil Neil Sheehan Public Affairs Officer Sent From NRC Blackberry From: Marc Ferdas To: Ronald Bellamy Cc: Neil Sheehan; Scott Barber; Nancy McNamara; Doug Tifft; John White; Ronald Nimitz; Diane Screnci; Jeffrey Kulp; 85

Marc Ferdas Sent: Thu Apr 16 06:46:50 2009

Subject:

OC-Potential Tritium Release on 4/15 As of 8 pm on April 15, 2009.

ISSUE

SUMMARY

On April 15, 2009, Oyster Creek identified water containing tritium inside the Emergency Service Water (ESW) cable vault which is located in the vicinity of the intake structure. Chemistry samples of the water revealed tritium levels of 102,000 pCi/L. Exelon reported to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) of a potential release of tritium to soil to; and completed a 4-hr ENS notification to the NRC for a notification to another government agency.

BACKGROUND On April 13, Oyster Creek began maintenance activities which involved replacement of 4160V electrical cable for the '1-2' ESW pump. In preparation for the work inside the ESW cable vault, water found inside the vault was pumped into drums and sampled per station procedures. The water was sampled for gamma emitters, tritium, and pH. Chemistry samples on April 15 did not identify gamma emmitters, had a pH of 7.62, and a tritium concentration of 102,000 pCi/L. The amount of water in the vault and contained into drums is not known at this time. Exelon has stated to external stakeholders that no release is known to be occurring and no release is known to have occurred; and that source of the Tritium water is not currently known.

Exelon's reporting criteria to the New Jersey DEP for tritium is 2,000 pCi/L and where notified on April 15 of the sample results and a potential release of tritium to the soil. It was also iterated to the DEP that the water was contained in a concrete vault and is being pumped into drums. Exelon, also completed a 50.72 4-hr report to the NRC via the ENS due to notification to another government agency.

Exelon has initiated a prompt investigation and are making preperations to get independent analysis of the samples performed.

Shortly after making notification to the DEP the control room received a call from local law enforcement (Lacey Township Police).

EXELON'S ACTIONS

1. Notification to NJ DEP. -COMPLETE

2. Notification to NRC (50.72 Report)- COMPLETE

3. Perform a Prompt Investigation - INPROGRESS

4. Perform Confirmatory Sample Analysis - INPROGRESS

5. Issue Press Release - TBD NRC'S ACTIONS

1. Informed Branch Chief of Issue - COMPLETE

2. Inform Public Affairs, SLO & DRS of Issue - COMPLETE (via this email)

3. Monitor Exelon's Activities - INPROGRESS (Will Need DRS Support)

4. Update BC on status - INPROGRESS OBSERVATIONS None at this time.

REFERENCES Condition Report IR907846 NRC Event Number: 44993, "OFFSITE NOTIFICATION DUE TO POTENTIAL RELEASE OF TRITIUM" NUREG 1022, Rev2, "Event Reporting Guidelines 10CFR50.72 and 50.73" Macwc S. Ferdclas Senior Resident Inspector, Oyster Creek 86

Marc.Ferdas(dnrc.,qov 609-693-0702 87