ML16313A158

Aerotest Operations, Inc., Response to NRC Generic Letter 2016-01 in Regard to Monitoring of Neutron-Absorbing Materials in Spent Fuel Pools

ML16313A158
Person / Time
Site:	Aerotest
Issue date:	11/01/2016
From:	Warren S L Aerotest
To:	Traiforos S Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
GL-16-001
Download: ML16313A158 (2)

Text

AEROTEST OPERATIONS, INC. 3455 FOSTORIA WAY

• SAN RAMON. CA 94583 * (925) 866-1212

• FAX (925) 866-1716 Mr. Spyros Traiforos Program Manager Attn: Document Control Desk November 1, 2016 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555-000 l RE: Docket 50-228

Dear Mr. Traiforos:

The following is in response to the NRC Generic Letter 2016-0 l, regarding monitoring of neutron-absorbing materials in spent fuel pools. The NRC requested answers from power reactor facilities to three questions.

Question 1: Are neutron-absorbing materials used in a reactor pool, fuel storage pool, or other wet locations designed for the storage of reactor or spent fuel? Answer 1: No neutron-absorbing materials are currently used in the ARRR reactor pool. We have no separate fuel storage pool or other wet location designed for the storage of reactor or spent fuel. All fuel has been removed from the reactor core assembly and placed is subcritical storage racks (designed to be less than 0.9 kcff) which do not use any neutron-absorbing material.

The TR!GA fuel rods in each racR are made subcritical by the spacing as directed by Atomics. The boron carbide control rods which were present in the core are not in use but suspended in the pool outside of the core frame assembly.

The control rod drives are detached from the control rods and have been removed from the pool. Question 2: If neutron-absorbing materials arc used, is their use 1 credited in the licensing or design basis (i.e.,

safety analysis) for the storage of reactor fuel or spent fuel in a reactor pool, fuel storage pool, or other wet locations, as applicable?

Answer 2: No neutron absorbing materials are being used. Question 3: If neutron-absorbing materials are credited in the facility licensing or design basis for the storage of reactor or spent fuel in a reactor pool, fuel storage pool, or other wet locations, as applicable, then provide a description of, and technical basis for, any surveillance or monitoring programs used to confirm continued acceptable performance of the neutron-absorbing materials over time. A subsidiary of Autoliv ASP, INC.

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'"=f-, '20 Traiforos, NRC 10-31-2016 Page 2 Answer 3: No neutron-absorbing materials are used for storage of fuel, only for in-core use when the core was sLill assembled.

We did not have a surveillance program for the control rods. We removed them individually on 5-1-13 and inspecled each one in Lurn. There was a minor amount of corrosion on the aluminum cladding but they were in very good condition for their 43th year in the pool. We did take photographs at the time for future reference.

I declare under penalty of perjury Lhat the foregoing is true and correct. Executed on November I, 2016. _j(,__f\Q.,u,,_

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Sandra L. Warren j General Manager Aerotest Operations, Inc. A subsidiary of Autoliv ASP, INC.