IR 05000364/1998020

Forwards Insp Repts 50-373/98-20 & 50-364/98-20 on 980812-13.No Violations Noted.Insp Was Conducted to Review Circumstances Surrounding 980723 Incident Involving Internal Transfer of Radioactive Samples within LaSalle Station

ML20151V165
Person / Time
Site:	Farley, LaSalle
Issue date:	09/08/1998
From:	Grant G NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III)
To:	Kingsley O COMMONWEALTH EDISON CO.
Shared Package
ML20151V169	List: IR 05000364/1998020 IR 05000373/1998020
References
50-373-98-20, 50-374-98-20, NUDOCS 9809140130
Download: ML20151V165 (3)

Text

September 8, 1998

SUBJECT:

NRC RADIATION PROTECTION INSPECTION REPORTS 50-373/98020(DRS);

50-374/98020(DRS)

Dear Mr. Kingsley:

On August 13,1998, the NRC completed a special inspection at the LaSalle Nuclear Generating Station, Units 1 and 2. The enclosed report summarizes the results of this

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inspection.

The inspe'etion was an examination of activities conducted under your license as they relate to i

' radiation safety and to compliance with the Commission's rules and regula_tions and with the i

conditions of your license. The inspection consisted of a selective examination of procedures

and representative records, observations and interviews with personnel. Specifically, the R

_ special inspection was conducted to review the circumstances surrounding a July 23,1998 incident, involving the intemal transfer of radioactive samples within the LaSalle Station. During

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the sample kansfer activities, tools were not used by fuel handlers to manipulate the i

1 samples and reduce extremity dose, as required by the as-low-as-is-reasonably-achievable i

(ALARA) plan, even though a radiation protection technician was present. When problems

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occurred during transfer, work continued despite severalinstances of high dose rate alarms on the electronic dcsimetry used by the workers.

Your staff identified the July 23,1998 incident, conducted a timely and thorough investigation of

' the matter and took appropriate corrective actions. Therefore, a Notice of Violation is not being issued for several exernples of a violation involving failure to follow procedures. No significant

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radiological consequences resulted from the incident; however, the judgement of the work crew l

involved in the sample transfer was poor because work was conducted outside the scope of the

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ALARA plan, and continued despite several emergent radiological problems. Although the -

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radiological work environment was continually monitored by a radiation protection technician

'and radiation protection job coverage was adequate to prevent an exposure in excess of

regulatory limits, the weaknesses in job planning and implementation placed the workers at

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l increased radiological risk.

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. In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790'of the NRC's " Rules of Practice, a copy of this letter and its

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enclosure will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room (PDR).

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1 We will gladly discuss any questions you have concerning this inspection.

Sincerely,

/s/ G. E. Grant Geoffrey E. Grant, Director

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Division of Reactor Projects Docket Nos.: 50-373; 50-374 License Nos.: NPF-11; NPF-18 Enclosure:

Inspection Reports 50-373/98020(DRS); 50-374/98020(DRS)

cc w/ encl:

M. Wallace, Senior Vice President D. Helwig, Senior Vice President

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G. Stanley, PWR Vice President J. Perry, BWR Vice President D. Farrar, Regulatory Services Manager 1. Johnson, Licensing Director DCD - Licensing F. Dacimo, Site Vice President T. O'Connor, Station Manager

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P. Bames, Regulatory Assurance Supervisor R. Hubbard

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N. Schloss, Economist

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Office of the Attomey General State Liaison Officer Chairman, Illinois Commerce Commission i

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