Sustained Performance in Radiation Protection at Vogtle

1. Sustained Performance in Radiation Protection at Vogtle Clark Bourne Plant Health Physicist – Vogtle (USA)

2. How did we get where we are? Often times, it felt like… B r u t e F o r c e ! Every 0.1 mrem counts! Passion! Never give up!!! I need more dose! I need more dose! Indira says, “No more dose for you, Buddy!” Tenacity! Teamwork! Knock on 1000 doors... maybe one will open!

3. Key Factors for Sustained Performance • Ownership & Accountability • Source Term Management • Technology

4. Key Factors for Sustained Performance 1) Ownership & Accountability • Management Commitment to be a top quartile performer • Non-outage exposure • Consistently trending down • “Every 0.1 mrem counts!” • Planning/Scheduling • Work Execution through Lessons Learned • Work Force Engagement • Focus on Excellence • Challenging/Aggressive Goal Setting • Constant vigilance on “What Could Go Wrong?” • Use of daily MELT • Use of Operational Risk Awareness process

5. Non-outage exposure Routine RWP Exposure Trends mrem

6. Key Factors for Sustained Performance 1) Ownership & Accountability (cont’d) • Outage exposure • Outage Scheduling • Incorporates Lessons Learned into schedule • HP takes the lead to include contingencies from industry Operating Experience and solicit support from appropriate groups • e.g., core barrel lifts, CRDM volumetric inspections, pzr weld overlays, radiography • Sensitivity and awareness that these events can happen to us! • Planners sensitive to plant conditions that impact dose • Contractor Incentives $$$ • Dose is 20% of their performance score

7. Key Factors for Sustained Performance 1) Ownership & Accountability (cont’d) • Outage exposure (cont’d) • Mock-up training / Dry Runs for risk significant evolutions • SG primary manways/diaphragms • Nozzle dams • HP surveys • SG channel heads • Under reactor head and reactor cavity • SG vacuum bag change-outs • Shielding installation • Core barrel lifts • Tri-nuke filter loading • RCS filter change-outs • Rx head EXCEL scaffolding • CETNAs • PZR SWOL

8. Key Factors for Sustained Performance 2) Source Term Reduction • Implemented EPRI Constant elevated pH program (7. 2) • Zinc addition on both units • AOA concerns on Unit 1 resulted in suspension of zinc for Cycle 13 • Approval to add Zn for full cycle received for both units • Shutdown Chemistry Controls • Repeatable performance each outage due to consistency and commitment to the process • Constant vigilance to “stay the course” • Use of macroporous resin in shutdown mixed bed demin • Ultrasonic Fuel Cleaning – 8 campaigns, 4 per unit • Use of tri-nuke filtration in Rx cavity and SFP • Use of 0.1 um filtration on RCS filter

9. Key Factors for Sustained Performance 2) Source Term Reduction (cont’d) • Shielding • Permanent shielding support frames for SG handhole platforms • Permanent reactor head shielding • Radwaste Processing Facility design • Design Changes to add several more permanent support frames in containment • Storage of temporary lead shielding in containment • Shielding is on Plant’s Major Issues List • Temporary Shielding usage improvements • Purchase of Radishield, head stand shielding for CRDM volumetric inspection, PZR SWOL applications

10. Key Factors for Sustained Performance 3) Technology • Examples of Integration of technology to support plant operations: • Identification of leakage inside bioshield at power via HP Robot • Midloop sight glass and reactor cavity level monitored in the control room and OCC via HP cameras • Core Barrel lifts directed through Central Monitoring Station • 15 area monitoring teledosimeters used to monitor lift • 10 camera views • SNC Task Manager in Central – direct communications with lift director in containment

11. Key Factors for Sustained Performance 3) Technology (cont’d) • Use of remote monitoring for high radiological risk tasks • Normal operations • Areas where Radiax antenna is available, have remote telemetry to Central Monitoring Station • Radwaste liner/filter surveys • Spent filter placement into liner • Resin sluice monitoring • Area monitoring for zinc injection trending outside containment • Localized setup available for other areas (video, audio and telemetry)

12. Key Factors for Sustained Performance 3) Technology (cont’d) • Use of remote monitoring for high radiological risk tasks • Outages • All personnel in containment wear teledose • Dose management effectiveness for high rad job coverage is quadrupled • Permanent design change to wire camera, audio, and telemetry from inside containment all the way to Central Monitoring Station • Added to system incrementally over past decade • Other groups use the tools

13. Key Factors for Sustained Performance 3) Technology (cont’d) • Use of video/DVD/still pictures to record jobs for training and event reconstruction • Acceptance of technology by HP techs and radworkers is the key to RMT success • RMT has changed the persona of the HP tech • Use of robotics • HP has a robot for inspections inside bioshield at power • Upper reactor head and under head inspections

14. Key Factors for Sustained Performance 3) Technology (cont’d) • Electronic Survey Mapping system • Radiological Survey Mapping System (RadIS) • Developed by SNC, Vogtle first to implement in 2000 • Over 100,000 surveys electronically generated/approved and submitted to document control (completely paperless) • iPIX photos available on maps showing 360º view of room • Link between Radis and telemetry software allows area monitoring data to be displayed directly on survey maps

15. Annual Site Exposure and Cycle Average (Rem/Unit) * - 2 outage year