ML071360348
| ML071360348 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 05000157, 05000097 |
| Issue date: | 06/05/2007 |
| From: | Mcconnell K NRC/FSME/DWMEP/DURLD/RDB |
| To: | Fay C Cornell Univ |
| Hickman J (301) 415-3017 | |
| References | |
| TAC J00202, TAC J00208 | |
| Download: ML071360348 (8) | |
Text
June 5, 2007 Charles R. Fay Office of the Vice Provost for Research 222 Day Hall Ithaca, NY 14853
SUBJECT:
TERMINATION OF FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE NOS. R-80 AND R-89 FOR THE CORNELL UNIVERSITY WARD CENTER FOR NUCLEAR STUDIES REACTOR FACILITIES (TAC NOS. J00202 AND J00208)
Dear Mr. Fay:
Cornell University (Cornell) submitted the Decommissioning Plan for the Ward Center for Nuclear Studies (Ward Center) on August 22, 2003, as supplemented on May 13, September 27, October 26 and December 13, 2005, and February 13, 2006. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approved the Cornell decommissioning plan by Amendment No. 8, dated June 6, 2006, and by Amendment No. 14, dated June 15, 2006, for the Cornell TRIGA reactor and Cornell Zero Power Reactor (ZPR) facility respectively.
Cornell submitted the Final Status Survey (FSS) Plan for the Ward Center on October 10, 2006.
The NRC approved the FSS Plan by letter dated October 26, 2006, noting that the survey plan was consistent with the guidance in NUREG-1757, Consolidated Decommissioning Guidance and the MARSSIM [Multi-Agency Radiation Survey and Site Investigation Manual] methodology.
Cornell submitted the FSS report for the former Ward Center on January 19, 2007. The NRC approved the FSS report by letter dated February 8, 2007, noting that the survey data was in accordance with the Decommissioning Plan and the FSS Plan. The report documented that compliance with the criteria in the NRC approved decommissioning plan had been demonstrated.
On April 27, 2007, NRC Region I issued inspection reports 05000097/2006001 and 05000157/2006001 for the research reactors at the Ward Center. The inspector interviewed licensee staff, observed work in progress, and reviewed selected documents related to the licensees FSS measurements. The inspector concluded that measurements, sampling, and analyses performed were consistent with criteria specified in the FSS Plan. The inspector also made confirmatory measurements throughout the facility and obtained six split samples (three exterior soil samples and three slag/gravel samples from beneath the former location of the reactor pool) which were submitted to the NRCs analytical contractor. The confirmatory measurements and confirmatory sample results did not identify radioactive material in excess of the criteria specified in the FSS Plan.
The NRC has reviewed Cornells request dated February 28, 2007, to terminate Facility Operating License No. R-80 for the Cornell TRIGA reactor and Facility Operating License No.
R-89 for the Cornell ZPR facility. Pursuant to 10 CFR 50.82(b)(6), the NRC Staff has concluded that the terminal radiation survey (Final Status Survey) and associated
C. R. Fay 2 documentation demonstrate that the decommissioning is finished and the facility and site meet the criteria for license termination in accordance with the NRC approved Decommissioning Plan.
Therefore, on the basis of decommissioning activities carried out by Cornell, the NRCs review of your Final Status Survey Report, the results of NRC inspections conducted at your facilities, and the results of NRC confirmatory surveys, the NRC concludes that decommissioning is finished and the facilities and site are suitable to be released for unrestricted use. Facility Operating License Nos. R-80 and R-89 are hereby terminated.
In connection with the license termination, we are enclosing two copies of Amendment No. 14 to Indemnity Agreement No. E-4. Please sign and return one copy to this office.
Also enclosed is a copy of the Notice of License Termination, which is being sent to the Office of the Federal Register for publication.
In accordance with 10 CFR 2.390 of the NRC's "Rules of General Applicability," a copy of this letter and the referenced correspondence will be available electronically in the NRC Public Document Room or from the Publically Available Records (PARS) component of the NRC's document system (ADAMS) at the referenced ML numbers. ADAMS is accessible from the NRC Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html.
If you have any questions concerning this matter, please contact John Hickman at (301) 415-3017.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Keith I. McConnell, Deputy Director Decommissioning and Uranium Recovery Licensing Directorate Division of Waste Management and Environmental Protection Office of Federal and State Materials and Environmental Management Programs Docket No.: 50-097, 50-157
Enclosures:
- 1. Amendment No. 14 to Indemnity Agreement No. E-4
- 2. Federal Register Notice cc: Docket Service List
C. R. Fay 2 documentation demonstrate that the decommissioning is finished and the facility and site meet the criteria for license termination in accordance with the NRC approved Decommissioning Plan.
Therefore, on the basis of decommissioning activities carried out by Cornell, the NRCs review of your Final Status Survey Report, the results of NRC inspections conducted at your facilities, and the results of NRC confirmatory surveys, the NRC concludes that decommissioning is finished and the facilities and site are suitable to be released for unrestricted use. Facility Operating License Nos. R-80 and R-89 are hereby terminated.
In connection with the license termination, we are enclosing two copies of Amendment No. 14 to Indemnity Agreement No. E-4. Please sign and return one copy to this office.
Also enclosed is a copy of the Notice of License Termination, which is being sent to the Office of the Federal Register for publication.
In accordance with 10 CFR 2.390 of the NRC's "Rules of General Applicability," a copy of this letter and the referenced correspondence will be available electronically in the NRC Public Document Room or from the Publically Available Records (PARS) component of the NRC's document system (ADAMS) at the referenced ML numbers. ADAMS is accessible from the NRC Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html.
If you have any questions concerning this matter, please contact John Hickman of at (301) 415-3017.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Keith I. McConnell, Deputy Director Decommissioning and Uranium Recovery Licensing Directorate Division of Waste Management and Environmental Protection Office of Federal and State Materials and Environmental Management Programs Docket No.: 50-097, 50-157
Enclosures:
- 1. Amendment No. 14 to Indemnity Agreement No. E-4
- 2. Federal Register Notice cc: Docket Service List DISTRIBUTION RidsOgcMailCenter RidsAcrsAcnwMailCenter RidsRgn1MailCenter KMcConnell JHickman RidsFsmeOd ML071360348 OFFICE RDB/PM DURLD/LA SPB DPR/PFP OGC DD/DURLD NAME JHickman TMixon BWatson RCarlson JHull KMcConnell DATE 5 / 17 / 2007 5 / 17 / 2007 5 / 30 / 2007 5 / 17 / 2007 5 / 30 / 2007 6/5 / 2007 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
Docket Nos. 50-97 50-157 AMENDMENT TO INDEMNITY AGREEMENT NO. E-4 AMENDMENT NO.14 Effective , 2007, Indemnity Agreement No. E-4, between Cornell University, and the Atomic Energy Commission, dated July 5, 1962, as amended, is hereby terminated.
FOR THE UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
/RA/
Robert D. Carlson, Chief Financial, Policy, and Rulemaking Branch Division of Policy and Rulemaking Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Accepted ,2007 By Cornell University
7590-01 UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION NOTICE OF LICENSE TERMINATIONS FOR CORNELL UNIVERSITY ZERO POWER REACTOR (ZPR)
DOCKET NO.50-097 AND CORNELL UNIVERSITY TRIGA REACTOR DOCKET NO. 50-157 The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is noticing the termination of Facility Operating License No. R-89 for the Zero Power Reactor (ZPR) and Facility Operating License No. R-80 for the TRIGA Reactor.
The NRC has terminated the license of the decommissioned ZPR and TRIGA reactor, at the Ward Center for Nuclear Studies (Ward Center) on the Cornell University campus in Cornell, New York, and has released the site for unrestricted use. The licensee requested termination of the license in a letter to NRC dated February 28, 2007. The Ward Center TRIGA Reactor and ZPR provided training for Nuclear Engineering students and various services for researchers in all departments of the College of Engineering, the College of Arts and Sciences (departments of Physics, Chemistry, Biology) and the College of Veterinary Medicine. The University permanently ceased operation of the ZPR on September 6, 1996. Cornell University stopped routine operation of the Ward Center TRIGA Reactor on June 30, 2002.
Cornell submitted the Decommissioning Plan for the Ward Center on August 22, 2003, as supplemented on May 13, September 27, October 26 and December 13, 2005, and February 13, 2006. The NRC approved the Cornell decommissioning plan by Amendment No.
8, dated June 6, 2006, and by Amendment No. 14, dated June 15, 2006, for the Cornell TRIGA reactor and Cornell ZPR facility respectively.
Cornell submitted the Final Status Survey (FSS) Plan for the Ward Center on October 10, 2006. The NRC approved the FSS Plan by letter dated October 26, 2006, noting that the survey plan was consistent with the guidance in NUREG-1757, Consolidated Decommissioning Guidance and the MARSSIM [Multi-Agency Radiation Survey and Site Investigation Manual]
methodology.
Cornell submitted the FSS report for the former Ward Center on January 19, 2007. The NRC approved the FSS report by letter dated February 8, 2007, noting that the survey data was in accordance with the Decommissioning Plan and the FSS Plan. The report documented that compliance with the criteria in the NRC-approved decommissioning plan for both reactors had been demonstrated.
On April 27, 2007, NRC Region I issued inspection reports 05000097/2006001 and 05000157/2006001 for the research reactors at the Ward Center. The inspector interviewed licensee staff, observed work in progress, and reviewed selected documents related to the licensees FSS measurements. The inspector concluded that measurements, sampling, and analyses performed were consistent with criteria specified in the FSS Plan. The inspector also made confirmatory measurements throughout the facility and obtained six split samples (three exterior soil samples and three slag/gravel samples from beneath the reactor pool) which were submitted to the NRCs analytical contractor. The confirmatory measurements and confirmatory sample results did not identify radioactive material in excess of the criteria specified in the FSS Plan.
Pursuant to 10 CFR 50.82(b)(6), the NRC staff has concluded that both reactors have been decommissioned in accordance with the approved decommissioning plans and that the terminal radiation surveys and associated documentation demonstrate that the facilities and site
may be released in accordance with the criteria in the NRC-approved decommissioning plans.
Further, on the basis of the decommissioning activities carried out by Cornell, the NRCs review of the licensees final status survey report, the results of NRC inspections conducted at the Ward Center, and the results of NRC confirmatory surveys, the NRC has concluded that the decommissioning process is complete and the facilities and sites may be released for unrestricted use. Therefore Facility Operating License Nos. R-89 and R-80 are terminated.
For further details with respect to the proposed action, see the licensee's letter dated February 28, 2007. The above referenced documents may be examined, and/or copied for a fee, at the NRCs Public Document Room (PDR) at One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike (first floor), Rockville, Maryland. Publicly available records will be accessible electronically from the Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Public Electronic Reading Room on the Internet at the NRC Web site, http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. Persons who do not have access to ADAMS or who have problems in accessing the documents in ADAMS should call the NRC PDR reference staff at 1-800-397-4209 or 301-415-4737 or e-mail pdr@nrc.gov.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 5th day of June 2007.
FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
/RA/
Keith I. McConnell, Deputy Director Decommissioning and Uranium Recovery Licensing Directorate Division of Waste Management and Environmental Protection Office of Federal and State Materials and Environmental Management Programs
Cornell University Docket No.50-097, 50-157 Service List cc:
Dr. Joseph Burns, Vice Provost for Mr. Robert Dansereau Physical Sciences and Engineering New York State Department of Health Cornell University Bureau of Environmental Radiation Protection 314 Day Hall Radioactive Materials Section - Room 530 Ithaca, NY 14853-2801 547 River Street Troy, NY 12180-2216 Charles R. Fay Director of the Ward Center for Nuclear Ms. Barbara Youngberg Studies New York State Department of Environmental Office of the Vice Provost for Research Conservation 222 Day Hall Solid & Hazardous Materials Division Ithaca, NY 14853 Hazardous Waste & Radiation Management Section Mr. Thomas McGiff, RSO 625 Broadway 125 Humphreys Service Building Albany, NY 12233-7258 Ithaca, NY 14853 Mr. John P. Spath Steve Beyers, P.E. New York State Energy Research and Cornell Decommission Project Manager Development Authority Cornell University Environmental 17 Columbia Circle Compliance Offices Albany, NY 12203-6399 129 Humphreys Service Building Ithaca, NY 14853 Test, Research, and Training Reactor Newsletter c/o Dr. William Vernetson Director of Nuclear Facilities Department of Nuclear Engineering Sciences University of Florida 202 Nuclear Sciences Center Gainesville, FL 32611