Enter=

Entergy Operations, Inc. River Bend Station 5485 US. Highway 61 N St. Francisville, LA 70775 Tel 225-381-4374 Eric W. Olson Vice President, Operations

January 19, 2012

U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Document Control Desk Washington, DC 20555

RBG-47201 Subject: Special Report for Tritium Discovered Onsite River Bend Station - Unit 1 Docket No. 50-458 License No. NPF-47

Dear Sir or Madam: This special report is submitted in support of the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) Groundwater Protection Initiative. On December 20, 2011, a positive groundwater sample result in excess of the River Bend Station (RBS) Technical Requirements Manual reporting threshold and the NEI 07-07 voluntary reporting threshold of 30,000 picocuries/liter (pCi/I) for tritium in groundwater was confirmed from onsite monitoring well PZ-01. The concentration was determined to be 48,244 pCi/L (4.82E-05 uCi/ml) of tritium (H-3). Tritium was the only radioisotope detected in the sample. Though well PZ-01 is not a part of the RBS Radiological Environmental Monitoring Program, we decided to take a sample from it as part of the RBS NEI Groundwater Protection Initiative. This positive result came from the first sample taken from well PZ-01. No other wells on site, including wells surrounding PZ-01, contain detectable concentrations of tritium or gamma emitters. PZ-01 is in the Upland Terrace Aquifer, which is hydrologically connected to the Mississippi River Alluvial aquifer, and then to the Mississippi River itself. A multidisciplinary team has been assembled to perform a causal analysis of this situation to determine the source of the tritium. Once the source is determined, procedures or measures will be adopted to prevent recurrence of this or similar incidents as applicable. RBS is determining where to install additional groundwater wells to aid in identifying the source and improve monitoring capabilities.

Special Report for Tritium Discovered Onsite RBG-47201 Page 2 of 3 Scheduled inspections for River Bend Station's underground piping and tank initiative program are proceeding in 2012, but a reprioritization of inspection locations occurred as a result of the positive tritium sample result. If this situation is from an active leak, steps will be taken to stop the leak. Additional sampling of storm drains and surface water has been performed and no positive identification of tritium has been found. Well sampling for PZ-01 and surrounding wells has been increased from quarterly to monthly in order to more closely monitor the elevated tritium. Although likely insignificant, offsite impacts are also being reviewed. While the extent of the plume, if any, is still being determined, the site conceptual hydrology model indicates a down-gradient flow generally to the southwest from PZ-01 to the Mississippi River. RBS does not utilize ground water for drinking water use, and the nearest known drinking water user from the Mississippi River is over 80 river-miles downstream from River Bend Station. Due to the significant dilution volume of the Mississippi River, it is highly unlikely that the concentration of tritium detected in well PZ-01 will have any meaningful impact offsite. An RBS calculation estimated the annualized dose is a fraction of the 10 CFR 50 Appendix I dose limits. The calculation is available for NRC review. RBS will communicate the investigation results, sample activity results, and actions taken to resolve the cause of the leak with key stake-holders as this information becomes available. RBS will supplement this letter upon identification and/or repair of the source of the leak. Regulatory commitments contained in this letter are identified in the letter attachment. Should you have any questions regarding this letter, please contact Mr. Bob Heath, at (225) 381-5656.

EWO/JCR/JAC/wjf Attachment: List of Regulatory Commitments

Special Report for Tritium Discovered Onsite RBG-47201 Page 3 of 3

cc:

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Region IV 1600 E. Lamar Blvd. Arlington, TX 76011-4511 NRC Resident Inspector PO Box 1050 St. Francisville, LA 70775 Ms. Tracie Lowrey Public Utility Commission of Texas 1701 N. Congress Ave. Austin, TX 78711-3326 Mr. Alan Wang, Project Manager U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission MS 0-8B1 11555 Rockville Pike Rockville, MD 20852-2738 Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality Single Point of Contact P.O. Box 4312 Baton Rouge, LA 70821-4312

-:.- Special Report for Tritium Discovered Onsite Attachment to RBG-47201 Page 1 of 1 List of Regulatory Commitments The following table identifies those actions committed to by Entergy in this document. Any other statements in this submittal are provided for information purposes and are not considered to be regulatory commitments. TYPE (Check one) ONECONTINUING TIME COMPLIANCE
ACTION

COMMITMENT RBS will supplement this letter upon identification

and/or repair of the source of the leak.

SCHEDULED COMPLETION DATE (If

Required)

N/A