Response below for Robinson

From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of 
Ramirez, James
Sent: Friday, November 11, 2011 12:10 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Powernet: RE: Powernet RCA Egress Benchmarking

DCPP is conducting benchmarking regarding RCA Egress processes:

1. Does your plant have any unmonitored (no RP presence) RCA egress points that 
are always opened?

Yes.  Based on our plant configuration and new rules we recently allowed  
Operations to have an RCA egress point - had to do with protecting the Inside 
AO (keeps him from having to turnover on station) Prior to implementing this we 
installed remote equipment such as a camera (we can use to record when/if we 
want) and an alarm module that gives us an alarm at our primary RCA boundary if 
an alarm occurs on a monitor at the Operations exit point.

2. Is your plant's normal RCA egress point staffed continuously by RP personnel 
24/7?

No we staff it continuously during day but we only have one shift tech so HP is 
not always present on backshift

3. What items, if any, does your Program allow a person to wear through the 
personnel contamination monitor and therefore be monitored for release, via the 
PCM? Examples include security key cards, TLDs, hard hat lights, items attached 
to lanyards (pens), items attached to belts (pagers, phones, knives).

All of the above referenced items are typically allowed to be worn through the 
monitor with the exception of the knife.

 4. What items, if any, does your Program allow a worker to self-survey from 
the RCA through a small article monitor (SAM) only (no frisk - no smear)?  
Examples include clip boards, pens, pocket contents.

Paperwork (procedures, forms, books), Clip Boards, Pens and Pencils, PPE (other 
than fall protection), Personal Clothing, Hand Carried Radios, contents of 
pockets (we have empty pocket requirement)

5. Does your Program require personal items monitored with a SAM to be put back 
on and then worn through the PCM as well?

No

6. If your Program allows workers to self-survey personal items, is the person 
permitted to repeat the survey on a single alarm or is there immediate RP 
intervention?

RP must respond to any SAM alarm - first alarm.  Radiation Workers are not 
allowed to remove any item that alarms SAM.

7. If an item alarms the SAM does your Program require multiple negative counts 
at a changed geometry before release?

RP personnel must get involved and use SAM as a tool in determining if any 
licensed radioactive material is present in item prior to allowing its release

8. If several items alarm the SAM in the aggregate, how does your Program allow 
for the release the non-contaminated items once the contaminated item is 
determined? Must the items pass the SAM as an aggregate? What if no 
contaminated item can be determined?

RP personnel must get involved and use SAM as a tool in determining if any 
licensed radioactive material is present in item prior to allowing its release. 
 Items that are a unit are expected to clear SAM as a unit.  For example,  If 
gloves are released they are released as a pair, not individual gloves.

9. What management level of authorization, if any, is required to release an 
item from the RCA?

Currently Sr. RP can release items without additional authorization, however we 
are in the process of reevaluating this as part of our goal of greatly reducing 
the number of items that require release.

James Ramirez
Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant
Operations Specialist Supervisor
Email: [email protected]
104/5/26B, 9 miles NW Avila Beach
Avila Beach, CA   93424
(805) 545-4946 (desk)
(805) 441-5444 (cell)
P Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail.



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