NRC Recognizes Improvements at Haddam Neck; Modifies Some Restrictions on Radiological Controls

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	NRC NEWS U. S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, REGION I 475 Allendale Road, King of Prussia, Pa. 19406
	CONTACT:	Diane Screnci (610)337-5330/ e-mail: dps@nrc.gov Neil A. Sheehan (610)337-5331/e-mail: nas@nrc.gov

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I-97-150

November 18, 1997

NRC RECOGNIZES IMPROVEMENTS AT HADDAM NECK;

MODIFIES SOME RESTRICTIONS ON RADIOLOGICAL CONTROLS

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has modified some of its restrictions on the conduct of radiological work at the Haddam Neck nuclear power plant in Haddam, Conn.

The changes are detailed in a letter issued yesterday (11/17) which supplements a confirmatory action letter (CAL) sent March 4 to Connecticut Yankee Atomic Power Co. In response to the March CAL, the utility committed to conduct only radiological work essential to the safe maintenance of the facility and outlined compensatory measures the company had agreed to implement. The supplementary letter issued yesterday modifies some of those restrictions because of improvements that have been made at Haddam Neck.

NRC inspections conducted since March show that--while some improvements are still in progress--the licensee has improved its program in several areas, including work planning, control of radioactive material and procedural adherence. Based on NRC review of Connecticut Yankee's accomplishments to date and on information provided by the licensee during an October 31 meeting, the NRC agreed that the licensee has made sufficient progress in radiation protection program improvement to conduct more significant radiological work.

The supplemental CAL allows Connecticut Yankee to remove an eight-foot section of piping associated with the reactor coolant system. The pipe will be sectioned for testing various vendor system decontamination processes to determine the best method for eventual decontamination of the entire reactor coolant system in preparation for decommissioning. The NRC has reviewed the utility's plans, procedures and preparations for this activity and will observe and inspect the utility's performance to determine the effectiveness of the program improvements.

In the letter sent the utility, NRC Region I Administrator Hubert J. Miller said, "It is important that your organization continue to aggressively pursue completion of the remaining elements of your Radiation Protection Improvement Plan. Our inspectors will continue to inspect your performance in this area to verify your efforts."

The full Confirmatory Action Letter may be viewed on the NRC's Internet web site.