ML060970139

NRC Email from Richard Skokowski to Steven Orth Fwd: CRs Tritium Leak Vacuum Breakers

ML060970139
Person / Time
Site:	Braidwood
Issue date:	11/30/2005
From:	Richard Skokowski Division of Nuclear Materials Safety III
To:	Steven Orth Division of Nuclear Materials Safety III
References
FOIA/PA-2006-0115, FOIA/PA-2010-0209
Download: ML060970139 (14)

Text

Steven Orth - Fwd. CRs re: trtium leak frm vac brkrs Page1 From: Richard Skokowski / 1 /

To: Steven Orth Date: Wed, Nov 30, 2005 3:58 PM

Subject:

Fwd: CRs re: trtium leak frm vac brkrs

%I

\16

I Steyen pth - CRs re: trtium leak frm vac brkrs Paae 1U Ii From: "NXS@NRC.GOV" <nxs~nrc.gov>

To: 'RAS@NRC.GOV" <ras©nrc.gov>

Date: Wed, Nov 30, 2005 3:08 PM

Subject:

CRs re: trtium leak frm vac brkrs

v' Cionle another Novi Issuo tz0.Create another Issue from'0042811138' lrtinl Close w~indow/

• • AS REQUIRED, PRINT ISSUE REPORT AND PROVIDE TO YOUR SUPERVISOR**

Note: This is your only notice. You will not have -an opportunity to print this confirmation later.

Exelon Nuclear Issue - Statement of Confirmation Issue S: 0O428606 Originator: ALLAN AtHAEGER - SubmilDale: November30,2005 Basic Information -Ck xZr currvaer t, Iraidwond Alfected Facility: #-#"V1' .JXWfqd "Veem DsCv Date:. 1i30/2005 11:50 howz Discovered Codr6S 1102 Event Date: 11/30/2O05 11:50 Affected Unit: 00 Afeccted Sys:

Subject:

ELEV/tED TRlTIUM LEVELS IN 'ON-SITE MONITORING WELLS Required Information Condition

Description:

Elevated levels of tritium htave iocently been Identified in certain on-site groundwater sampling wells:

The oxact source has not been located nor has (tnsourco been dletennined to be activo or historical.

Immediate actions talken: An issue management leam has beon formed to address IIis'issue. Tl6 team vwill address characterization of tle exlent of the elevated Iitium levolsIncluding Ithe potontial for elevated levets off-sile; identificidion arid eliminalion of tile source if still active; reniedialioni of the affect ed areas; communications With government agencies and nrty polontially affecctel nmnibtrs of the public; nnd regulatory Interlace.

Recommendattion for acilon: Thn issues rtaffgtonmol leam will iiddrois the iminediate actions requioredl or tiis issue. A rool 6use should be iritiakid to document the immediate actions, as well its to capture thofcauso, tdditionil extent of condition Invesliga ions, anrd corrective nc ions to prevent recurrence. Also, thle stalion's documentalioni of previous lIaks in accoidan=6 with 10 CFR 50?5.(g) nedo(s to lIJ revieVicd.

SSupervisor Verbally John Moser Contacted Optional Additional Information Whlai activities, processes, or :nie elevaled levels o eie dib6%vered in monitoring weils that were reccnily installed to providre.

-roe lnvoivetl? enhanced b ground water monitoring capability, procedures wore Involved? ii9 aabliy Wily did tIhe &oridlilbn Unkitown. Il ls believed Ithe soutce may be from historiisal vacuum break:or teaks, but this needs utohi happen? confimied. -

Whiat are the consequences? Undesired clevaded irilium levels on site property. potential for Ihtese olevhled levels to have unlgrated off-sile.

Any procedural requirements None.

impacted?

Identily any adverse physical As described above.

conditions:

List of Ktnowiedgeable John Moser Individuals: Jim Gosnell Dale Ambler Is this a repeat or similar The discovery is part of an oxpanded sampling program as discussed above.

condition?

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Title:

Failed Circ Water Blowdown Vacuum Breaker Caused Unplanned Flooding Outside of the Power Blocl Event Date: 11106/2000 EventTime: 02:30 PM Discovery Date: 11/06/2000 Discovery Time: 03:00 PM Unit: 00 Unit Mode: 1  % Power: System: CW

,EPN: 'OCW1 35.OCWi 36 Location: OTHER OCCUREDIDISCOVERED WHILE PERFORMING:

ARV: WR#: WRTASK#:

SURV #: RWP # . QRI/RIN #f:

OOS # : PCE #: OTHER# Followup inspection OTHER DESCRIPTION Circ Water blowdown corridor-east of plant PROBLEM DESCRIPTION I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE ILLINOIS ENVIRONMENATAL PROTECTION AGENCY (BILL PAPADAKIS) ABOUT A REPORT OF WATER STANDING INTHE DITCH AT SMILEY ROAD. HE SAID THIS HAS BEEN THERE FOR A WHILE AND WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY RAIN UNTIL TODAY. HE ASKED IFI HAD ANY IDEA WHERE IT MIGHT-BE COMING FROM. I SAID I DIDNTKNOW BUT WOULD LOOK INTO IT AND GET BACK TO HIM. I NOTIFIED CAL WALRATH (2202) OF THE CALL AND SAID I WAS GOING OUT TO LOOK, AND THAT I SUSPECTED IT MAY BE A VACUUM BREAKER PROBLEM ON THE BLOWDOWN LINE, WHEN I APPROACHED THE VACUUM BREAKER (CONTAINING VALVES 0CW135 &0CW136), I NOTICED WATER POURING OUT FROM THE MANHOLE COVER. THE ENTIRE AREA WAS SATURATED. UPON ARRIVAL BACK AT THE PLANT- I UPDATED THE OCC WITH THE RESULTS. ARRANGEMENT BEGAN TO PUT TOGETHER THE APPROPRIATE WORK PACKAGES AND OPERATING BEGAN LOOKING INTO ISOLATION 'OF THE BLOWDOWN FLOW.

KNOWLEDGEABLE PERSONS: Louis Rhoden, Carl Dunn, Mark Trusheim, Bill Vandermyde IMMEDIATE ACTION TAKEN I NOTIFIED BILL POPADAKIS (IEPA) OF WHAT I HAD FOUND. I EXPLAINED THE SOURCE OF THE WATER AND.A DESCRIPTION OF THE.AREA. HE STATED THAT HE WOULD NOT NEED ANY WRITTEN FOLLOW UP AT THIS TIME AND SINCE THE WATERWAS CONTAINED IN THE DITCH. WE DID NOT NEED TO SAMPLE. THERE WERE NO NPDES PROBLEMS. I TOLD HIM I WOULD UPDATE HIM WEDNESDAY MORNING. OPERATiNG FOLLOWED UP BY SHUTTING DOWN BLOWDOWN FLOW.

AR # : WR #: WR TASK# :

TIFITRR # : 'PROCEDURE # ER #:

HOLD TAG # : REJECT TAG #:

ORIGINATOR: Joseph Tidmore EXT: 2299 DEPT: *CH ORIGINATED DATE: 11107/00

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ISteven Orth -Re: CW Blowdown vacuum breakers Pg1 From: Richard Skokowski To: Gregory Roach Date: Wed, Nov 30, 2005 4:18 PM

Subject:

Re: CW Blowdown vacuum breakers thanks

>>> Gregory Roach 11/30/05 4:17 PM >>>

Rick, A quick synopsis with a copy of 2000 root cause CAPR's and 2005 IR response to NRC inquiry to follow.

In 2000 the licensee experienced a failure of the #2 vacuum breaker(VB) in the CW blowdown system which resulted in flooding of the area in the vicinity of the VB. The licensee determined that the VB failed to due to fatigue failure (# of cycles over lifetime) of the valve float assembly. This was exacerbated by the lack of surge protection for the float assembly which seals the valve shut when the piping is full of water. A water hammer appears to have damaged the unprotected float preventing it from sealing shut, allowing an estimated 3 million gallons of water to escape. The CAPR's included installing a surge protection feature on the VB's and modifying the preventative maintenance program for the VB's.

In May 2005 the licensee identified a 20 dpm leak from the pilot valve of VB-1. Tritium contamination was limited to the VB-1 well which is in the vicinity of the switchyard with no tritium leaving the site boundaries.

The escape path for the water through the pilot valve is significantly smaller than that of the main valve, hence the much smaller release of water. Following NRC inquiry, the licensee responded that the elastomer components In the pilot valves are subjected to higher pressures and are subject to the corrosive effects of the raw water they are exposed to. The licensee's response to the NRC RIO inquiry stated that they were making additional modifications to their PM program and again increased the rate of visual inspections.

CAPR's and IRto follow.

Greg CC: Steven Orth

§Steven! Orth - Re: Tritium Contacts Pg ¶ From: Richard Skokowski To: Nirodh Shah Date: Wed, Nov 30, 2005 4:26 PM

Subject:

Re: Tritium Contacts Thanks

>>> Nirodh Shah 11/30/05 4:25 PM >>>

Rick, here are the people that Bwd contacted re: the tritium:

IEMA: Asst. Director Wright Cecil Settles (no title provided)

Mike Parker, Nuclear Facilities Mgr. (Cecil's boss)

Rich Allen, Environmental Manager Corinne Gordon, Illinois District Representative (i.e., State Congresswoman)

Tom Dahl, Illinois State Senator Mayor of Braidwood The licensee did not contact county officials or the mayor of Godley. The licensee was in the process of contacting the IEPA and should get the names to us by the morning.

thanks..N CC: Roland Lickus; Steven Orth