ML19260E015

Revised 79-041/03L-1:on 791102,radwaste Bldg Ventilation Monitoring Sys Found Not Yielding Accurate Effluent Data Since Oct 1979.Caused by Inadequate Design in Effluent Monitoring Sys.Mod Made for Calibr of Detectors

ML19260E015
Person / Time
Site:	Oyster Creek
Issue date:	02/07/1980
From:	Ross D JERSEY CENTRAL POWER & LIGHT CO.
To:	NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
Shared Package
ML19260E014	List: ML19260E013 ML19260E015
References
LER-79-041-03L, LER-79-41-3L, NUDOCS 8002120745
Download: ML19260E015 (4)

Text

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EVENT DESCRIPTION AND PROBABLE CONSECUENCES h '

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O12 i The new radwaste building ventilation monitoring system was not in ser-o a vice In'a manner which could yield accurate effluent d'ata from'th[J ir'ne t 1 l

o 4 radioactive materials were introduced into the building in October" 1978 ]

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to the present. Therefore, no effluent data for this release point was  ;

qg reported for this period in violation of T.S. 6.9.3c(1)a. The equipment j o17 as installed was mechanically functional; however, several modifications _  ;

l ola were necessary to facilitate detector calibration and data reduction.  ;

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The cause of this occurrence is attributed to inadequate design of the j i 3 l effluent monitoring system. Modifications have been made which enabled  ;

Filters are being

,,,,,[ calibration of the detectors for redection of data.  ;

removed and analyzed at the same frequency as for stack effluent path.  ;

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Madison Avenue at Punch Bowl Road Morristown, New Jersey 07960 -

(201)455-8200 OYSTER CREEK NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION

- Forked River, New Jersey 08731 Licensee Event Report Reportable Occurrence No. 50-219/79-41/3L-1

. Report Date , __

December 3, 1979 February 7, 1980 (Revision 1)

Occurrence Date November 2, 1979 Identification of Occurrence Failure to report effluent releases as per Technical Specifications, paragraph 6.9.3.c(1)a, parts 1, 2 and 3 Conditions Prior to Occurrence The plant was operating at steady state power. The major plant parameters at the time of the occurrence were: . . . . ..

Power: Reactor, 1768.4 MWt

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Generator, 602 MWe Flow: Recirculation, 14.5 x 104 gpm Feedwater, 6.6 x 106 lbm/hr.

Stack Gas Flow: 3.5 x 104 pC1/sec 1952-064 - -

Description of Occurrence The new radwaste building ventilation monitoring system was not in service in a manner which could yield accurate effluent data from the time radioactive mr.terials

-were introduced into the building in October 1978 to the present. Therefo:s, no effluent data for this release point was reported for this period.

The equipment, as installed, was mechanically functional; however, several modt----

fications were necessary to facilitate calibration of the detectors and proper reduction of the data. T5cse modifications consist of installation of valves for calibration of the gaseous detector and a total ficw monitor / recorder. for--.-

correlating sampled isotopes to total quantitles released.

It should be noted that for a short period of time, the Augmented Off Gas.Bu1] ding was operated under the same c.ondition for test.

Jersey Central Power & Ught Company is a Member of the General Pubic Utaties System

Reportable Occurrence No. 50-219/79-41/3L-1 Page 2 December 3, 1979 February 7,1980 (Revision 1)

Apparent Cause of Occurrence The cause of the occurrence was attributed to an inadequate design of the effluent monitoring system (lack of ability to calibrate the gaseous monitor) and the failure of plant management to recognize the reportability of the releases through.the radwaste ventilation system.

Analysis of Occurrence Although no complete data is available for this period, the expected total effluents released should be very low and only a small fraction of the isotopes released via the stack. The total ventilation flow passes through HEPA filters; therefore, essentially all of the particulate isotopes would be removed. Two rolls of filter paper were counted that would have run for approximately one month apiece. One had only background quantitles of Cobalt 60 and Maganese 54 on it. The other roll Indicated concentrations that were comparable with stack effluents.

Several lodine cartridges were installed on a nonscheduled basis. These were counted and the concentrations of lodine 131 found were about 0.1% of normal stack effluents. As the total flow of the ventilation system is approximately 35,000 CFM as compared with a stack flow of 163,000 CFM, the total radwaste release would only be about 0.025% of the stack release.

The sources for gaseous activity are very limited in the new radwaste building.

They are limited to any entrained gases in the liquid waste and decay of lodine to xenon in the various wastes. This would not reflect any noticeable increase over stack releases.

Even though the monitors were not calibrated to the degree to allow accurate release reporting. the equipment was functional and would have detected and alarmed excess release rates of gaseous, iodine, and particulate activity. Upon receiving the alarm, plant emergency procedures require the shutdown of the rad-waste ventilation system. Therefore, the safety significance of the lack of accurate calibration was minimal.

Calibration of the ventilation system was completed on January 18, 1980, and alarm points were adjusted where necessary on January 22, 1980.

Corrective Action Modifications to the system have been completed which enabled calibration of the detectors for reduction of data. Filters are being removed and analyzed at the same frequency as for stack effluent path. The same program will be performed for the Augmented Off Gas System prior to placing it in operation. Conservative estimates of the activity released during the period will be made using the recorder strip charts and calibration data.

1952 065

t Reportable Occurreace No. 50-219/79-41/3L-1 Page 3 December 3, 1979 February 7, 1980 (Revision 1)

Failure Data Not Applicable 1952 066