IR 05000018/1997001
| ML20198K277 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Vallecitos Nuclear Center, Vallecitos |
| Issue date: | 01/09/1998 |
| From: | NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV) |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20198K275 | List: |
| References | |
| 50-018-97-01, 50-070-97-01, 50-18-97-1, 50-183-97-01, 50-183-97-1, 50-70-97-1, NUDOCS 9801140356 | |
| Download: ML20198K277 (8) | |
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MCLOSURE :
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t U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION REGION IV :
Docket No.: 50-70; $018; $0183 l License No.: TR 1, DPR 1, DR 10 Report No.: 50 70/97 01; $018/97 01; 50183/97-01 L
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'censee: General Electric Company
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Facilities: General Electric Test Reactor (GETR)
Vallecitos Bolling Water Reactor (VBWR)
ESADA Vallecitos Experimental Superheat Reactor (EVESR)
Location: Vallecitos Nuclear Center Pleasanton, Cahfornia Dates: December 4,1997 Inspectors: J. V. Everett, Health Physicist M. T. Masnik, Project Manager :
. Accompanied By: C. A. Hooker, Fuel Facilities inmoector ;
D. Blair Spitzberg, Ph.D., Chief '
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Nuclear Materials inspection and Fuel Cycle Decommissioning Approved By: D. Blair Spitzberg, Ph.D., Chief Nuclear Materials Inspection and Fuel Cycle Decommissioning
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Attachment: SurplementalInformation
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Valle::itos Nuclear Center NRC Inspection Report 50 70/97-01; 5018/97 01; 50-183/g7-01 i The Vallecitos Nuclear Center consisted of one shutdown power reactor, two shutdown test
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reactors, one operating *st reactor, and numerous radioactive material activities conducted under an NRC_Special Nuclear Materials license and a state of California byproduct materials license. This inspection included review of the status of the General Electric Test Reactor (GETR), Vallecitos Bolling Water Reactor (VBWR) and ESADA Vallecitos Experimental Superheat Reactor (EVESR). The SAFSTOR condition of EVESR and VBWR were evaluated during a tour of the facilities. Both facilities showed normal degradation from the many years of being in SAFSTOR. Radiation levels appeared stable for all three facilities with no unusual or unexpected conditions foun DecommitMonina Performance hnd Status Review
. Three reactor facilities at the Vallecitos Nuclear Center were being maintt aed in a SAFSTOR condition. The facilities were kept locked. Annualinspections were conducted of the general conditions of the facilities. Radiation levels were low and had been fairly constant over the past several years. No significant problems were noted concerning the facilities (Section 1).
. The design basis for the three facilities and the basis for compliance with 10 CFR 50.82 requirements was discussed with management. An unresolved item is opened in this inspection concerning how the historical documentation for the three facilities complies with the current regulatory requirements for decommissioning (Section 1).
CdMWeather Preoarations
. Special freeze protection considerations for the three shutdown reactors were not determined necessary based on the mild climate and the lack of water in systems exposed to the outside and susceptible to freezing (Section 2).
flecuoational Radiation Exoosure
.- Radiological conditions at the three shutdown reactors appeared stable with little change ,
noted over the past several years. A warning system was in place to alert the security staff if new wa'er in-leakage problems developed in the reactor facilities (Section 3).
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Report Details Summary of Plant Status
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The Vallecitos Nuclear Center consisted of one shutdown power reactor, two shutdown test reactors, one operating test reactor, and numerous radioactive material activities conducted under an NRC Special Nuclear Materials license and a state of Cahfornia ', lens .
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The General Electric Te" Reactor (GETR) suspended operations in October 1977. All reactor fuel, failed capsules, fuel experiments, and target capsules were removed from the facility, All fuel was transferred to the Department of Energy by October 1982. The reactor had been used i to conduct experiments for General Electric's boiling water reactor program and to produce
- radioisotopes for medical use. The facihty was kept closed and locked. Annual facility entries were completed by the licensee to conduct radiological surveys and verify that general facility -
conditions had not changed. Annual reports have been provided to the NR The ESADA Vallecitos Experimental Superheat Reactor (EVESR) suspended operations February 1,1967. EVESR was a light water moderated, steam cooled, superheat reactor using slightly enriched uranium dioxide as a fuel. The purpose of EVESR was to provide information ;
on the suitability of various types of experimental superheat fuel elements. EVESR achieved initial criticality on November 25,1963 and oporated at a maximum power level of 17 megawatts ,
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thermal. After shutdown in 1967, all fuel and special nuclear material was removed from the facihty and shipped offsite. All wcter was drained from the reactor systems and ta.nks. All non-essential piping systems extern.nl to containment and the cooling tower were remove Containme vas kept closed and locked. Annual facility entries were completed by the ,
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licensea to perform radiolo0 ical surveys and verify that general facility conditions had not changed. Annual reports have been provided to the NR The Vallecitos Boiling Water Reactor (VBWR) discontinued operation December 9,1963. The fuel and much of the equipment used in operating the reactor were removed. All fuel was shipped offsite. Annual facility entries have been completed by the licensee to perform radiological surveys and verify that general facihty conditions had not changed. Annual reports have been provided to the NR Decommissioning Performance and Status Review (71801) Ingoectior Scooe The current status of the three shutdown reactors was evaluated to determine whether <
compliance with license conditions was being maintained and whether any
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decommissioning activities had been undertaken within the past year. Facility tours were i completed at two of the reactors to evaluate structural conditions, housekeeping and fire loading, t-
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i Ohnervations and Findinas The three shutdown reactors at the Vallecitos Nuclear Center were being maintained in a SAFSTOR condition. However, the licensing basis for maintaining the facilities in !
SAFSTOR was not clearly determined during this inspection. No Post Shutdown !
Decommissioning Activities Report or exemption from the regulation of 10 CFR 50.82 '
had been submitted by i ' licensee. It was not clear what historical documentation constituted the decommissioning plans and design basis documents for the three reactors. The issue of determining the design basis documents for the faci!ities and the regulatory basis for the current SAFSTOR status of the facilities including compliance -
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with 10 CFR 50.82 raqu;rements for decommissioning will be tracked as an unresolved item pending review by the project office (URI 5018/970101).
The license for the three shutdown reactors required submittal of an annual report to the >
NRC concerning any changes made to the facilifes during the past year and the .
radiological conditions of the facilities. The annual reports for the years 1094,1995, and i 1996 were reviewed for each facilit [
The VBWR facility had been shutdown for approximately 33 years. Conditions inside VBWR remained essentially unchanged for the 3 years reviewed. No changes to the i
facility structures were identified in the annual report. Radiation levels, including contamination levels and airborne levels, varied slightly from year to year; however, levels were relatively constant.
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The EVESR facility had been shutdown for approximately 30 years. Conditions at EVESR remained essentially unchanged throughout the 3 year period reviewed. No structural changes to the facility were identified. Radiation levels were relatively constant ov.sr the 3 year perio The GETR facility had been shutdown for approximately 20 years. Conditions at GETR remained essentially unchanged during the 3 year period reviewed. Radiologicallevels were relatively constant with no unusual conditions note Plant tours were conducted at VBWR and EVESR as part of the ar"1ualinspectio ,
Radiation levels were low in the facilities. Structurally, the facilities were sound; however, cracking of concrete on a structural post was noted in VBWR. Some level of deterioration was observed during the tours, in particular, the lower level of EVESR had rust and corrosion from the in-leakage of water hto the facility which occurred in 199 ^
To correct the problem, in 1994 the licensee installed a system to monitor the sump water levelin the reactor facilities. The system provided an alarm to site security if water in leakage occurred in the facilities. During the tour of the VBWR, the inspector noted several areas where asbestos had deteriorated significantly from the piping and had fallen on the floor or through the grating. Lead bncks were also observed at several locations in both facilities. Fire loading was not significant and housekeeping reflected
- the years of inactivity in the facilities. Accest control to the facilities was maintained by keeping the facilities locke ,
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r 1.3 Conclusion
Three reactor facilities at the Vallecitos Nuclear Center were being maintained in a SAFSTOR condition. hie facihties were kept locked. Annualinspections were conducted of the general conditions of the facilities. Radiation levels were low and had ;
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been fairly constant over the past several years. No significant problems were noted'
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concerning the facilitie The design basis for the three facilities and the basis for compliance with 10 CFR 50.82 requirements was discussed with management. An unresolved item is opened in this inspection concerning how the historical documentation for the three facilities complies with the current regulatory requirements for decommissioning. This item will be referred
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to the program office for revie Cold Weather Preparations ,
2.1 insoection Scong Cold weather preparations were discussed with the licensee tc determine if special protection wac necessary for equipment and system .2 Qhteryations and Findinas The Vallecitos Nuclear Center is located near Pleasanton, Califomia. Weather conditions for this area are typically mild with long, hard freezes considered very unlikel There was very little water associated with the three iacilities, other than for VBWR, which had water in the reactor vessel. No special considerations for freeze protection had been identified by the licensee. The inspector found the licensee's review appropriat .3 Conclualoo Special freeze protection considerations for the three shutdown reactors were determined to be unnecessary based on the mild climate and the lack of water in systems exposed to the outside and susceptible to freezin Occupational Radiation Exposure (83750)
3.1 insoectioILStone The radiological conditions of the facilities were reviewed to determine if any unusual radiologicallevels or trends were occurring. Since the occupational exposure program for the shutdown facilities was part of the site wide radir. logical protection program, which is reviewed by the NRC during the SNM 960 license inspections, no additional review of the radiological protection program was conducted. Provisions for identifying potential problems was also discussed with the license , , . , - , ..- ,, -
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3.2 - Observations angindinos -l The radiological ccnditions were monitored by the licensee during the tours of V3WR l and EVESR. All radiation levels were low, typically less than 10 mR/hr. A review of the ;
annual reports confirmed that radiation levels nad been low and relatively consistent over
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the past 3 years. Radiation levels in VBWR have typically been below 3 mR/hr in general areas that were easily accessible. At EVESR, typical radiation levels were less then 1 mR/hr on all Isvels. At GETR, area radiation levels in the facility were less than t 10 mR/hr.
. Conclusion Radiological conditions at the three shutdown reactors appeared stable with little change -
noted over the past several year ,
4 Exit Meeting
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The inspectors presented the inspection results to members of the licensee management at the exit meeting on December 4,1997. The licensee did not identify as proprietary any information provided to, or reviewed by, the inspectors.
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. ATTACHMENT
/ PARTIAL' LIST OF PERS0NS CONT'ACTED
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' Licensee .
F. Arit, Facility Manager C. Bassett, Regulatory Compliance Manager , '
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B. Murray, Licensing Engineer
' G. Stimmell, Vallecitos and Morris Operations Manager -
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INSPECTION PROCEDURES USED ,
71714 Cold Weather Preparations 71801 Decommissioning Performance and Status Review s 83750 Occupational Radiation Exposure ITEMS OPENED, CLOSED, AND DISCUSSED Ouened 50-18/9701-01 URI Design Basis and Regulatory Basis for Current SAFSTOR Status C10And '
None Discussed None
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LIST OF ACRONYMS EVESR ESADA Vallecitor ' Experimental Superheat Reactor G General Electric GETR General Electric Test Reactor mR/hr - milliroentgen / hour NRC Nuclear Regulatcry Commission SNM Special Nuclear Material VBWR- Vallecitos Boiling Water Reactor