Information Notice 1986-41, Evaluation of Questionable Exposure Readings of Licensee Personnel Dosimeters

Evaluation of Questionable Exposure Readings of Licensee Personnel Dosimeters

ML031250043
Person / Time
Site:	Beaver Valley, Millstone, Hatch, Monticello, Calvert Cliffs, Dresden, Davis Besse, Peach Bottom, Browns Ferry, Salem, Oconee, Mcguire, Nine Mile Point, Palisades, Palo Verde, Perry, Indian Point, Fermi, Kewaunee, Catawba, Harris, Wolf Creek, Saint Lucie, Point Beach, Oyster Creek, Watts Bar, Hope Creek, Grand Gulf, Cooper, Sequoyah, Byron, Pilgrim, Arkansas Nuclear, Braidwood, Susquehanna, Summer, Prairie Island, Columbia, Seabrook, Brunswick, Surry, Limerick, North Anna, Turkey Point, River Bend, Vermont Yankee, Crystal River, Haddam Neck, Ginna, Diablo Canyon, Callaway, Vogtle, Waterford, Duane Arnold, Farley, Robinson, Clinton, South Texas, San Onofre, Cook, Comanche Peak, Yankee Rowe, Maine Yankee, Quad Cities, Humboldt Bay, La Crosse, Big Rock Point, Rancho Seco, Zion, Midland, Bellefonte, Fort Calhoun, FitzPatrick, McGuire, LaSalle, 05000000, Zimmer, Fort Saint Vrain, Shoreham, Satsop, Trojan, Atlantic Nuclear Power Plant, Skagit, Marble Hill, Crane
Issue date:	06/09/1986
From:	Partlow J NRC/IE
To:
References
IN-86-041, NUDOCS 8606040004
Download: ML031250043 (3)

SSINS No.: 6835 IN 86-41

UNITED STATES

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT

WASHINGTON, D.C.

20555

June 9, 1986

IE INFORMATION NOTICE NO. 86-41: EVALUATION OF QUESTIONABLE EXPOSURE READINGS

Addressees

All byproduct material licensees.

Purpose

This notice is (1) to alert licensees of cases reported to the NRC where

questionable exposure readings have been recorded for personnel dosimetry devices

used by licensee personnel and (2) to provide recipients with information on

evaluation methodology used by some licensees to evaluate and report such readings.

It is expected that recipients will review this notice for applicability to their

facilities.

However, suggestions contained in this information notice do not

constitute NRC requirements; therefore, no specific action or written response

is required.

Description of Circumstances

The NRC has encountered a number of cases in which byproduct material licensees

have received TLD or film badge reports showing a questionable high-exposure

reading.

Licensees' evaluations found such readings to be erroneous since the

exposure purportedly was recorded on the dosimeter while it was not being worn

by the individual.

The majority of these cases have involved dosimeters that

were inadvertently left in high-radiation areas or left for long periods of time

near byproduct material storage containers.

Notwithstanding the requirements

for proper use of personnel dosimeters, many licensees do not know how these

cases should be evaluated and reported to NRC.

Discussion:

Surveys are necessary to evaluate questionable exposure readings on licensee

personnel dosimeters.

Improper evaluation of such readings may lead to a

citation for violation of an NRC requirement and possible enforcement action.

Byproduct material licensees should be aware of their responsibilities with

respect to 10 CFR Part 20.101, which requires that licensees control radiation

exposure to individuals so that no individual receives an exposure in excess

of the radiation dose standards.

10 CFR 20.201 requires that licensees make or

cause to be made such surveys as may be necessary for the licensee to comply

with the radiation dose standards specified in 10 CFR 20.101 and that the surveys

are reasonable under the circumstances to evaluate the extent of. radiatzorf

hazards that may be present.

Al psedei ,tnXA

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lations, "survet " means sm

860604000ft

IN 86-41 June 9, 1986 evaluation of the radiation hazards incident to the production, use, release, disposal, or presence of radiation under a specific set of conditions.

In some

cases, the evaluation may be supported by a physical survey.

10 CFR 20.401 requires each licensee to maintain records showing the results of surveys

required by 10 CFR 20.201.

The information that has been documented by some licensees that meets NRC's

requirements for a reasonable evaluation of questionable exposure readings is

as follows:

o

Signed and dated statements from individuals present at the time of the

possible false exposure, including helpers or witnesses.

Such statements

have been written by the individuals independently and have included

all pertinent information known by them.

o

Documentation of the Radiation Safety Officer's evaluation and conclusions, including results of interviews of personnel involved, records of telephone

conversations, examination of equipment (when applicable), surveys, and

corrective action to prevent recurrence.

o

Estimation of the actual exposure by measurement, calculation, or other

appropriate methods.

In addition to the above, reviews of existing documentation have been made to

ensure that records are complete and up to date.

Such documents include utili- zation logs, dosimeter logs, exposure files, equipment maintenance checks, cali- brations, and training.

If a Radiation Safety Officer's evaluation of a high TLD or film badge reading

cannot conclusively prove that the reading was erroneous, a report is made

to the NRC in accordance with 10 CFR 20.403 or 20.405.

No written response to this information notice is required.

If you have any

questions regarding this matter, please contact the Regional Administrator

of the appropriate NRC regional office or this office.

James;G. Partlow, Director

Divishon of Inspection Programs

Office of Inspection and Enforcement

H. Karagiannis, IE

(301) 492-9655 Attachment:

Attachment 1

IN 86-41

June 9, 1986

LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED

IE INFORMATION NOTICES

Information

Date of

Notice No.

Subject

Issue

Issued to

86-32 Sup. 1

86-40

86-39

86-38

86-37

Request For Collection Of

Licensee Radioactivity

Measurements Attributed To

The Chernobyl Nuclear Plant

Accident

Degraded Ability To Isolate

The Reactor Coolant System

From Low-Pressure Coolant

Systems in BWRS

Failures Of RHR Pump Motors

And Pump Internals

Deficient Operator Actions

Following Dual Function Valve

Failures

Degradation Of Station

Batteries

Change In NRC Practice

Regarding Issuance Of

Confirming Letters To

Principal Contractors

Fire In Compressible Material

At Dresden Unit 3

Improper Assembly, Material

Selection, And Test Of Valves

And Their Actuators

Information For Licensee

Regarding The Chernobyl

Nuclear Plant Accident

6/6/86

6/5/86

5/20/86

5/20/86

5/16/86

5/16/86

5/15/86

5/13/86

5/6/86

All power reactor

facilities holding

an OL or CP

All power reactor

facilities holding

an OL or CP

All power reactor

facilities holding

an OL or CP

All power reactor

facilities holding

an OL or CP

All power reactor

facilities holding

an OL or CP

All power reactor

facilities holding

an OL or CP

All power reactor

facilities holding

an OL or CP

All power reactor

facilities holding

an OL or CP

Fuel cycle licensees

and Priority 1 material

licensees

86-36

86-35

86-34

86-33 OL = Operating License

CP = Construction Permit