ML13011A414
| ML13011A414 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | University of California-Davis |
| Issue date: | 01/15/2013 |
| From: | Alexander Adams Research and Test Reactors Licensing Branch |
| To: | |
| Adams, Alexander 301-415-1127 | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML13015A003 | List: |
| References | |
| Download: ML13011A414 (5) | |
Text
January 15, 2013 LICENSEE:
University of California - Davis FACILITY:
McClellan Nuclear Research Center
SUBJECT:
SUMMARY
OF DECEMBER 18, 2012, MEETING WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA - DAVIS ON RADIOISOTOPE PRODUCTION On December 18, 2012, a Category 1 public meeting was held between the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff and representatives of the University of California - Davis (UC Davis, the licensee) at NRC Headquarters, One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland. The meeting announcement and the licensees presentation slides discussed at the meeting are available in the Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) at Accession Nos. ML12332A029 and ML12348A155.
The meeting continued the discussion started between the licensee and NRC staff during a public meeting on November 28, 2011 (ADAMS Accession No. ML113480205), and continued during a public meeting on May 10, 2012 (ADAMS Accession No. ML121360548). The licensee discussed expanding their focus on radioisotope research and production using accelerator and reactor technologies. The licensee has established the UC Davis Radioisotope Science Facility (RSF) in a building adjacent to the McClellan Nuclear Research Center (MNRC). Before the McClellan Air Force Base closed, the building was used by the U.S. Air Force for x-ray and neutron radiography of aircraft. The licensee plans to establish radioisotope research and teaching laboratories and facilities for the processing of iodine-125 (I-125) in the RSF.
The licensee has produced I-125 in the past. However, that effort was abandoned due to long-term performance issues with seals in the irradiation facility. The licensee is in the process of developing an improved irradiation target and processing facility. The licensee plans to irradiate enriched xenon-124 (Xe-124) gas in canisters in the reactor which produces Xe-125 which decays into I-125. It is anticipated that the irradiation will produce approximately 6,000 curies of Xe-125. The target will then be placed in a shielded cask and transferred from the MNRC to the RSF. After a period of decay in the RSF, the I-125 will be recovered. The remaining gas and canister will be returned to the MNRC for re-irradiation (the gas irradiation canisters are designed to be reusable). It is anticipated that 20 curies of I-125 will be produced per irradiation. Details of the design of the irradiation canisters, the iodine production process, the overall facility design and accident analyses were discussed during the meeting and are shown on the licensees presentation slides.
The reactor license contains a condition that allows the licensee to use byproduct material produced by operation of the reactor. To accomplish what the licensee proposes, the reactor license would need to be amended to add the RSF and area between the buildings to the reactor license. Also, the licensee would need to show that the production of I-125 can be conducted safely.
University of California - Davis The licensee discussed the potential design of the irradiation canisters. The canisters are a significant part of the system of barriers that contains the gas target. The canisters are being designed to be reused. There was a discussion of the anticipated lifetime of the canisters and the durability of seals in the canisters to radiation damage over its lifetime.
In previous meetings, the NRC staff identified the transfer of canisters between buildings as a potential issue. The licensee discussed details of the system they are developing to transfer canisters between the MNRC and RSF. The NRC staff discussed some of the review areas they would focus on for the transfer system such as details of the design and testing. The licensee inquired into the applicability of interim staff guidance recently issued by NRC for the licensing of production facilities to their potential license amendment. The NRC staff informed the licensee that this guidance was not directly applicable to the activities proposed by the licensee.
It was suggested that the licensee arrange a meeting with the NRC staff when they have further developed their safety case for the proposed amendment. Staff from the State of California Radiologic Health Branch of the California Department of Health Services participated in the meeting by telephone. The NRC staff will continue to inform the State of California about the status of the licensees proposals to help assure that proper jurisdiction for the licensing of the nuclear materials is observed. Public Meeting Feedback forms were not received. Please direct any inquiries to Al Adams at 301-415-1127 or Alexander.Adams@nrc.gov.
/RA/
Alexander Adams, Jr., Senior Project Manager Research and Test Reactors Licensing Branch Division of Policy and Rulemaking Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket 50-607
Enclosure:
List of Attendees cc: See next page
PKG: ML13015A003, Notice ML12332A029, Summary ML13011A414, Slides ML12348A155 NRC-001 Office PRLB:PM PRLB:LA PRLB:BC(A)
PRLB:PM Name AAdams GLappert PIsaac AAdams Date 1/15/2013 1/15/2013 1/15/2013 1/15/2013
Enclosure LIST OF ATTENDEES MEETING BETWEEN NRC STAFF AND UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA - DAVIS RADIOISOTOPE PRODUCTION DECEMBER 18, 2012 DOCKET 50-607 Nuclear Regulatory Commission A. Adams, NRR/DPR/PRLB P. Isaac, NRR/DPR/PRLB P. Torres, NRR/DPR/PRLB B. White, NMSS/DSFST/LB University of California - Davis B. Klein M. Lagunas-Solar W. Steingass W. Frey B. Mechiz Morgan Lewis J. Accomando D. Silverman State of California - Radiologic Health Branch J. Thomas S. Hsu H. Alsworth
Enclosure University of California-Davis Docket No. 50-607 cc:
Mr. David Reap, Radiation Safety Officer 5335 Price Avenue, Bldg. 258 McClellan AFB, CA 95652-2504 Mr. Walter Steingass, Reactor Supervisior 5335 Price Avenue, Bldg. 258 McClellan AFB, CA 95652-2504 California Energy Commission 1516 Ninth Street, MS-34 Sacramento, CA 95814 Test, Research, and Training Reactor Newsletter University of Florida 202 Nuclear Sciences Center Gainesville, FL 32611 Radiological Health Branch State Department of Health Services P.O. Box 9442732, MS 7610 Sacramento, CA 94234-7320 Dr. Barry M. Klein, Reactor Director 5335 Price Avenue, Bldg. 258 McClellan AFB, CA 95652-2504