ML19067A245

Redacted Request for Transfer of Pube Source - LAR Dated 02/27/2019

ML19067A245
Person / Time
Site:	07000157, University of Texas at Austin
Issue date:	02/27/2019
From:	Whaley P University of Texas at Austin
To:	Geoffrey Wertz Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Wertz G, NRR/DLP/PRLB, 415-0893
References
Download: ML19067A245 (3)

Text

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN NUCLEAR ENGINEERING TEACHING LABORATORY TRIGA RESEARCH REACTOR LICENSE NO. R-129 DOCKET NO. 50-602 LICENSE AMENDMENT REQUEST FOR POSSESSION LIMIT CHANGE OF LICENSE R-126 FEBRUARY 27, 2019 REDACTED VERSION*

SECURITY-RELATED INFORMATION REMOVED

• REDACTED TEXT AND FIGURES BLACKED OUR OR DENOTED BY BRACKETS

COUEGE OF ENGINEERING THE UNIVERSI1Y OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN Depart~ntofMechanical Engineering* 1 University Station C2200 *Austin, Texas 78712-0292 Te!ephone(512)471-1131 FAX (512) 471-8727 02/27/2019 ATTN: Document Control Desk Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555-0001 Geoffrey Wertz, P.E.

Research and Test Reactors Branch

SUBJECT:

Docket No. 50-602, Request for Transfer of PuBe Sources (Currently on, Docket 70-157, License SNM-180) to License R-129 REFERENCE (Letter of February 18, 2019) Docket No. 50-602, Request for Possession Limit Change of License R-129 Sir:

A license amendment request was submitted on February 18, 2019 for a change in possession limits of uranium-235 in the form of foils; we are supplementing the previous request with a request that an additional change be added as described. In addition, we are withdrawing the

. request for adding the words "contained in TRIGA fuel" from item (2)(c) of the February 18 2019 letter.

We are requesting that a possession limit (147 grams of plutonium in plutonium-beryllium neutron sources, used in calibrating portable and installed neutron detectors of the nuclear research reactor) be placed in facility operating li_cense R-129 (Dock_et 50-602) to support the transfer of sources from license SNM-180 (Docket 70-157) to R-129.

This proposed revision is the addition of a line item allowing the receipt, possession and use of 147 grams of plutonium in the form of sealed plutonium-beryllium neutron sources. In the section that begins:

(2) Pursuant to the Act and 10 CFR Part 70 ...

The proposed change is the addition of item (d) reading as follows:

(d) to receive, possess, use, but not separate 147 grams of plutonium in the form of sealed plutonium-beryllium neutron sources.

The security classification/categorization of 10 CfR Part 73 (Category I, Special nuclear material of low strategic significance) is unchanged. With the change in the possession limit requested on February 18 2019 and this request for a possession limit on plutonium-beryllium sources, the possession limits for combined quantity of contained U-235, U-233 and plutonium remains well below !he thresh?ld for a_ special nuclear material of moderate significance. 11-!J2D Therefore, the Physical Security Plan 1s not affected by these changes. / 7

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The Radiologicc;1I Protection Program and the Emergency Plan are not affected by the changes (the change in the possession limit requested on February 18 2019 and this request for a possession limit on plutonium-beryllium sources). These changes (the February 18 2019 change and the request for authorization to possess plutonium-beryllium neutron sources as described) do not require a revision to the Safety Analysis Report or the Technical Specifications. No facility changes (physical or procedural) are required for uranium-235 possession limit and/or the plutoniurr,-beryllium neutron source possession limit.

The plutonium-beryllium neutron sources are used to support operation of the TRIGA II reactor in calibration of neutron detectors (used by installed area monitors and in portable survey*

instrumentation). The area monitors provide neutron dose rate-information during reactor operations to control personnel exposure. The portable neutron detectors are used for routine surveys required by the Radiation Protection Program, testing experiment shielding configurations, and dose assessment in emergency response. Storage and handling of the PuBe sources is managed by the NETL Radioactive Material Control Procedure implementing the approved Radiation Protection Plan. ,

Possession of these sources is currently authorized in a special nuclear materials license (SNM-180). A plan for Department of Energy disposition of other material on the SNM license is in progress, and the SNM license will be terminated when the remaining material is removed and the authorization for possession of the PuBe sources is moved to the reactor license.

There are currently Pu Be sources of various sizes at the facility, allowing calibration over a broad range of instruments with varying sensitivity/detection ranges. The capability to receive sources will allow the facility to acquire different source strengths as may be required if the complement of instruments to be calibrated changes.

Therefore, the proposed amendments for the 9hange in possession limit requested February 18 2019 and the addition of sealed plutonium-beryllium neutron sources does not significantly change the SNM possession limits, and there is reasonable assurance that the health and*

safety of the public will not be endangered by this proposed amendment.

If there a're any questions, please feel free to contact P. M. Whaley at whaley@mail.utexas.edu or 512 232 5'374.

\

Sincerely,

~7 P. M. Whaley I declare under penalty of perjury that ,the foregoing is true and correct.

W. S. Charlton