Information Notice 2007-20, Use of Blank Ammunition

From kanterella
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Use of Blank Ammunition
ML070120205
Person / Time
Issue date: 06/11/2007
From: Michael Case, Pierson R
NRC/NMSS/FCSS, NRC/NRR/ADRA/DPR
To:
References
IN-07-020
Download: ML070120205 (3)


UNITED STATES

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION

OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY AND SAFEGUARDS

WASHINGTON, DC 20555-0001 June 11, 2007 NRC INFORMATION NOTICE 2007-20: USE OF BLANK AMMUNITION

ADDRESSEES

All power reactors, Category I fuel cycle facilities, independent spent fuel storage installations, conversion facility, and gaseous diffusion plants.

PURPOSE

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing this information notice (IN) to inform

addressees of operating experience concerning blank rifle ammunition. It is expected that

recipients review the information for applicability to their facilities or operations and consider

actions, as appropriate, to avoid similar problems. However, suggestions contained in this IN

are not NRC requirements; therefore, no specific action or written response is required.

DESCRIPTION OF CIRCUMSTANCES

In November 2006, at an NRC-licensed facility, a licensee discovered blank ammunition that did

not meet the manufacturers specifications. This blank ammunition could have resulted in

serious injury or death. Two blank .223 caliber, ammunition cartridges were found to have

copper-jacketed lead bullets inversely mounted in the blanks casings. The licensee also

identified a blank cartridge weighing 10 grams due to additional gun powder, which exceeded

the manufacturers designated weight of approximately seven grams. The licensee uses blank

ammunition in their exercise simulation system (ESS) training weapons. Firing an ESS training

weapon with blank ammunition that does not meet the manufacturers specifications could result

in serious injury or even death.

The licensee discovered the condition while conducting a visual inspection and weight

measurement of an initial random sample, and then an expanded random sample, of blank

ammunition. The licensee began the practice of visually inspecting and weighing random

samples of blank ammunition to check for quality following recent demands for ammunition by

the military, which has caused a shortage of ammunition available to non-military organizations.

To help fill the demand for blank ammunition, manufacturers have released what is labeled as

PD rounds which identifies the ammunition as Bulk. Bulk or PD ammunition may not meet

military specifications and typically will not be purchased by the military. PD ammunition, which

manufacturers consider safe for use, is sometimes the only ammunition available to non-military

organizations.

DISCUSSION

There is no NRC requirement for licensees to conduct quality assurance verifications of blank or

live ammunition prior to use. However, such verifications would allow licensees to identify

instances of ammunition that does not meet manufacturer specifications. In addition, other

licensees have adopted a safety practice that prior to using blank ammunition, the training

exercise controller and the exercise participant verify that exercise participants are not in

possession of live ammunition.

CONTACT

S

This information notice requires no specific action or written response. Please direct any

questions about this matter to the technical contact listed below.

/RA/ /RA by TQuay for/

Robert C. Pierson, Director Michael J. Case, Director

Division of Fuel Cycle Safety Division of Policy and Rulemaking

and Safeguards Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Office of Nuclear Material Safety

and Safeguards

Technical Contact:

Joseph Willis, NSIR

301-415-6869 E-mail: jxw3@nrc.gov

Note: NRC generic communications may be found on the NRC public Web site, http://www.nrc.gov, under the Electronic Reading Room in Document Collections.

DISCUSSION

There is no NRC requirement for licensees to conduct quality assurance verifications of blank or

live ammunition prior to use. However, such verifications would allow licensees to identify

instances of ammunition that does not meet manufacturer specifications. In addition, other

licensees have adopted a safety practice that prior to using blank ammunition, the training

exercise controller and the exercise participant verify that exercise participants are not in

possession of live ammunition.

CONTACT

S

This information notice requires no specific action or written response. Please direct any

questions about this matter to the technical contact listed below.

/RA/ /RA by TQuay for/

Robert C. Pierson, Director Michael J. Case, Director

Division of Fuel Cycle Safety Division of Policy and Rulemaking

and Safeguards Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Office of Nuclear Material Safety

and Safeguards

Technical Contact:

Joseph Willis, NSIR

301-415-6869 E-mail: jxw3@nrc.gov

Note: NRC generic communications may be found on the NRC public Web site, http://www.nrc.gov, under the Electronic Reading Room in Document Collections.

Distribution: IN Reading File

ADAMS Accession Number: ML070120205 OFFICE NSIR:RSOB TECH EDITOR BC:NSIR:RSOB D:DSO PGCB:DPR

NAME JWillis HChang BWestreich DDorman DBeaulieu

DATE 3/26/07 4/2/2007 3/26/07 5/23/07 5/23/07 OFFICE PGCB:DPR FSME:MSSA NMSS:FCSS BC:PGCB:DPR D:DPR

NAME CHawes AMcIntosh RPierson MMurphy TQuay for MCase

DATE 5/29/07 5/30/07 06/06/07 06/11/07 06/11/07 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY