ML060690186

Memorandum to S. Richards from L. Reyes Liquid Radioactive Release Lessons-Learned Task Force and Charter

ML060690186
Person / Time
Site:	Dresden, Indian Point, Byron, Braidwood
Issue date:	03/10/2006
From:	Reyes L NRC/EDO
To:	Richards S NRC/NRR/ADRO/DIRS
Dixon-Herrity, J, 415-1733
References
Download: ML060690186 (4)

Text

March 10, 2006 MEMORANDUM TO:

Stuart Richards, Deputy Director Division of Inspection and Regional Support Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation FROM:

Luis A. Reyes /RA/

Executive Director for Operations

SUBJECT:

LIQUID RADIOACTIVE RELEASE LESSONS-LEARNED TASK FORCE AND CHARTER The purpose of this memorandum is to assign you to lead an inter-office task force to assess the lessons-learned related to the inadvertent release of radioactive liquid to the environment at power reactor sites. Specifically, recently identified incidents at Braidwood, Indian Point, Byron, and Dresden have highlighted tritium contamination of groundwater as a result of unplanned releases due to equipment failure or structural degradation. Although the measured levels of tritium thus far do not appear to present a health hazard to the public, I believe it is necessary to do a broad review to determine whether this is a generic issue for NRC licensees and to recommend possible agency actions to be taken in this area.

The attached charter has been developed to define the objective, scope, expected product, schedule, staffing, and senior management interface. The scope of the task force effort will include the following areas: industry experience; health impacts; the regulatory framework; NRC inspection, enforcement and reporting aspects; industry actions; international perspectives; and communications with external stakeholders.

You will report to the Deputy Executive Director for Reactor and Preparedness Programs.

Personnel selected as team members are identified in the attachment. The task force will maintain the Deputy Executive Director and other senior managers informed of the progress of the task force. The task force will provide its observations, conclusions, and recommendations in the form of a written report consistent with the guidance provided in the attached charter.

Attachment:

As stated CONTACT:

J. Dixon-Herrity, OEDO (301) 415-1733

March 10, 2006 MEMORANDUM TO:

Stuart Richards, Deputy Director Division of Inspection and Regional Support Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation FROM:

Luis A. Reyes /RA/

Executive Director for Operations

SUBJECT:

LIQUID RADIOACTIVE RELEASE LESSONS-LEARNED TASK FORCE AND CHARTER The purpose of this memorandum is to assign you to lead an inter-office task force to assess the lessons-learned related to the inadvertent release of radioactive liquid to the environment at power reactor sites. Specifically, recently identified incidents at Braidwood, Indian Point, Byron, and Dresden have highlighted tritium contamination of groundwater as a result of unplanned releases due to equipment failure or structural degradation. Although the measured levels of tritium thus far do not appear to present a health hazard to the public, I believe it is necessary to do a broad review to determine whether this is a generic issue for NRC licensees and to recommend possible agency actions to be taken in this area.

The attached charter has been developed to define the objective, scope, expected product, schedule, staffing, and senior management interface. The scope of the task force effort will include the following areas: industry experience; health impacts; the regulatory framework; NRC inspection, enforcement and reporting aspects; industry actions; international perspectives; and communications with external stakeholders.

You will report to the Deputy Executive Director for Reactor and Preparedness Programs.

Personnel selected as team members are identified in the attachment. The task force will maintain the Deputy Executive Director and other senior managers informed of the progress of the task force. The task force will provide its observations, conclusions, and recommendations in the form of a written report consistent with the guidance provided in the attached charter.

Attachment:

As stated DISTRIBUTION:

SCollins, RI WTravers, RII JCaldwell, RIII BMallett, RIV JDyer, NRR JStrosnider, NMSS JDunnLee, OIP DMatthews, NRR CPaperiello, RES HBell, OIG EBrenner, OPA KCyr, OGC SRichards, NRR JDixon-Herrity, EDO TFrye, NRR SKlementowicz, NRR CLi, NRR JShepherd, NMSS TNicholson, RES SSakai, NRR RNimitz, RI GKuzo, RII SOrth, RIII MShannon, RIV ADAMS EDO r/f (Complete list to be added)

ML060690186 OFFICE: EDO/TRPS NRR:DIRS EDO/DEDR EDO NAME:

JDixon-Herrity:mlw SRichards WKane LReyes DATE:

03/10/06 03/10/06

/ /06 03/10/06

CHARTER FOR THE LIQUID RADIOACTIVE RELEASE LESSONS-LEARNED TASK FORCE Objective The objective of this Lessons-Learned Task Force is to conduct an evaluation of the NRCs regulatory processes related to the inadvertent unmonitored release of radioactive liquids to the environment (onsite or offsite) in order to identify and recommend areas for improvement applicable to the NRC and/or the industry.

Scope The task force should address the following areas:

a.

An historical review (1996 to present) of known inadvertent releases of significant quantities of radioactive liquid to the environment at power reactor sites, including power reactors in decommissioning.

b.

A general assessment of the public health impact of these releases based on existing related guidance and studies.

c.

The existing regulatory framework, including both the health physics aspects, the licensee reporting requirements (including making reports to state and local officials), and the regulatory requirements associated with the structures and systems from which the releases have originated.

d.

The NRC inspection program requirements, including enforcement. The review should consider these areas both after implementation of the Reactor Oversight Process (ROP), and prior to the ROP.

e.

Industry actions in response to these events, including the timing of remediation activities.

f.

Implications for decommissioning.

g.

International perspectives on this issue.

h.

Communications with external stakeholders, including state and local officials, and other federal agencies.

The scope of subjects considered by the task force should not necessarily be limited to those noted above. Should the task force decide to expand or otherwise revise the scope of the charter, the Deputy Executive Director for Reactor and Preparedness Programs should be informed of any significant changes to the charter or the topics of review. The task force may decide to recommend specific issues for consideration by the staff in the longer term.

This charter recognizes that the staff assigned to the Lessons-Learned Task Force will likely also be active participants in the agencys response to the recent events. The task force activities should not interfere with the agencys immediate response to these events.

Expected Product and Schedule The task force will provide its observations, conclusions, and recommendations in the form of a written report to the Deputy Executive Director for Reactor and Preparedness Programs. The task force review activities should be completed by August 31, 2006.

Staffing The task force will consist of the following members. All members will serve on a part-time basis (participation on the team can be via teleconference):

Team Leader:

Stuart Richards, NRR Assistant Team Leader:

Timothy Frye, NRR Team Members:

Stephen Klementowicz, NRR Stacie Sakai, NRR Chang Li, NRR James Shepherd, NMSS Thomas Nicholson, RES Ronald Nimitz, Region I George Kuzo, Region II Steven Orth, Region III Michael Shannon, Region IV State Representative (to be identified later)

Other staff members may be consulted on an as needed basis.

Senior Management Interface The task force will keep senior management informed on the status of the effort and provide early identification of significant findings. In addition, the task force will regularly interface with the cognizant OEDO staff to keep them abreast of progress.