IR 05000298/1999009
| ML20212F373 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Cooper  |
| Issue date: | 09/22/1999 |
| From: | NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV) |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20212F369 | List: |
| References | |
| 50-298-99-09, NUDOCS 9909280141 | |
| Download: ML20212F373 (6) | |
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ENCLOSURE U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
REGION IV
Docket No.: 50-298 License No.: DPR 46 Report No.: 50-298/99-09 Licensee: Nebraska Public Power District Facility: Cooper Nuclear Station Location: P.O. Box 98 Brownville, Nebraska Dates: August 23-26,1999 Inspector: Larry Ricketson, P. E., Senior Radiation Specialist Plant Support Branch Approved By: Gail M. Good, Chief, Plant Support Branch l Division of Reactor Safety i
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9909200141 990922 PDR ADOCK 05000298 0 PDR
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-2-SUMMARY OF FINDINGS Cooper Nuclear Station NRC Inspection Report No. 50-298/99-09 l
l This announced inspection focused on the licensee's radioactive material processing and i shipping programs and the occupational radiation safety performance indicator.
j inspection findings were assessed according to potential risk significance and were assigned l colors of GREEN, WHITE, YELLOW, or RED. GREEN findings are indicative of issues that, while not necessarily desirable, represent little risk to safety. WHITE findings would indicate issues with some increased risk to safety, which may require additional NRC inspection YELLOW findings would be indicative of more serious issues with higher potential risk to safe performance and would require the NRC to take additional actions. RED findings represent an unacceptable loss of margin to safety and would result in the NRC taking significant actions that could include ordering the plant shut down. No individual finding by itself would be indicative of either acceptable or unacceptaNe perfermance. The findings, considered in total with other inspection findings and performance indicators, will be used to determine overall plant performanc Cornerstone: Public Radiation Safety a
Green. The inspector identified a violation for failure to carry out a comprehensive system of planned and periodic audits of the radioactive material packaging and transportation programs in accordance with 10 CFR 71.137. The failure to review all aspects of the radioactive material processing and shipping program could cause programmatic problems to be missed which could ultimately result in unnecessary exposure to radiation workers and members of the public. This violation is being treated as a noncited violation (NCV), consistent with Appendix F of the NRC Enforcement Policy. This violation is in the licensee's corrective action program as Problem Identification Report (Serial Number) 4-03782 (Section 2PS2).
Cornerstone: Occupational Radiation Safety l
= No findings.
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L I-3- 4 l Report Details i
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i RADIATION SAFETY j
2PS2 Radioactive Material Processina and Shiopina I Inspection Scoce The inspector walked down accessible liquid-to-solid radwaste processing systems and l
' reviewed the following items:
Radioactive waste stream sample analysis result *
Scaling factors and calculations for difficult to-measure radionuclide *
Waste classification documentation
- Disposal manifests
- Shipping papers
- - hadiation surveys Because the licensee did not prepare or ship radioactive material dunng the inspection period, there were no personnel performance observation Observations and Findinas There were no findings identified and documented during this inspectio OTHER ACTIVITIES 40A1 Identification and Resolution of Problems Inspection Scope The inspector reviewed the following items:
Problem identification reports j
- Audits, surveillances, and self-assessments '
- - Audit scoping plan
Audit checklist Observations and Findinas The inspector identified one violation of low significance. The violation involved a failure to conduct required audits of the radioactive material packaging and transportation program.
l 10 CFR Part 71 establishes requirements for packaging, preparation for shipment, and l transportation of licensed material.10 CFR 71.101(b) requires each licensee to I establish, maintain, and execute a quality assurance program satisfying each of the ,
applicable criteria of 10 CFR 71.101 - 71.137.10 CFR 71.137 requires the licensee to
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-4-carry out a comprehensive system of planned and periodic audits, to verify compliance with all aspects of the quality assurance program, and to determine the effectiveness of the program. The audits must be performed in accordance with written procedures or checklists by appropriately trained personnel not having direct responsibilities in the areas being audited. Audited results must be documented and reviewed by management having responsibility in the area audited. Follow-up action, including reauditing of deficient areas, must be taken where indicate The quality assurance organization reviewed some aspects of solid radioactive waste
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management, waste classification and waste manifesting, but did not review 10 CFR l'
Part 71 requirements. The 1996 Radiation Protection Self-Assessment reviewed selected aspects of transportation activities, but this review was very limited. The
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inspector reviewed audit scoping documents and the audit checklist and noted that
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these documents contained no reference to either 10 CFR Part 71 or 49 CFR requirements. The failure to carry out a comprehensive system of planned and periodic audits of 10 CFR Part 71 requirements is a violation of 10 CFR 71.137. The failure to review all aspects of the radioactive material processing and shipping program could cause programmatic problems to be missed which could ultimately result in unnecessary exposure to radiation workers and members of the publi When asked for the most recent review of 10 CFR Part 71 requirements, the licensee was unable to provide documentation demonstrating an audit of these requirements was conducted. Therefore, the inspector could not determine how long the violation had existed.
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Using the Public Radiation Safety Significance Determination Process, the inspector determined that the violation was a green finding. This violation is being treated as a noncited violation (NCV), consistent with Appendix F of the NRC Enforcement Polic This violation is in the licensee's corrective action program as Problem Identification Report (Serial Number) 4-03782 (NCV 298/9909-01).
40A2 Performance Indicator Verification Inspection Scope (71151)
The inspector reviewed corrective action program records for high radiation area, very high radiation area, and unplanned exposure occurrences for the past 12 quarters to confirm that the occurrences were properly recorded as performance indicators. The inspector also reviewed radiological, controlled area exit transactions with exposures greater than 100 mrem and investigated selected examples to determine whether they were within the dose projections of the governing radiation work permits.
l Observations and findinas
There were no findings identified and documented during this inspectio r;:
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I, . A5 Manaaement Meetinas Exit Meetina Summarv
The inspector presented the inspection results to members of licensee management at L an exit . meeting on August 26,1999. The licensee acknowledged the findings l presented.' No proprietary information was identifie s t.
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.e PARTIAL LIST OF PERSONS CONTACTED
! Licensee R. Beilke, Licensing Engineer
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T. Chard, Manager, Radiation Protection
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J. Geyer, Senior Health Physicist, Radiation Protection j B. Houston, Operations Manager, Quality Assurance l D. Jones, Support Crew Leader, Radiation Protection J. Kuttler, Staff Health Physicist, Radiation Protection R. Mcdonald, Staff Health Physicist, Radiation Protection R. Sessoms, Senior Manager, Quality Assurance B. Toline, Audit Supervisor, Quality Assurance
- R. Uhri, Auditor, Quality Assurance
' O. Weers, Radiological Support Supervisor, Radiation Protection NRC M. Miller, Senior Resident inspector l
ITEMS OPENED, CLOSED, AND DISCUSSED Ooened None Opened and Closed
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- 50-298/9900-01 NCV Failure to carry out a comprehensive system of planned and l periodic audits of 10 CFR Part 71 requirements (Section 2PS2).
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Discussed None l
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