ML19309H008
| ML19309H008 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Berkeley Research Reactor |
| Issue date: | 04/14/1980 |
| From: | Harold Denton Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19309H000 | List: |
| References | |
| DD-80-15, NUDOCS 8005080148 | |
| Download: ML19309H008 (3) | |
Text
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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA DD-80-15 h
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
-0FFICE OF-NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION 8005080 %
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HAROLD R. DENTON, DIRECTOR In the Matter of l
THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
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Docket No. 50-224 AT BERKELEY
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DIRECTOR'S DECISION UNDER 10 CFR 2.206 By petition dated December 11, 1979, the Friends of the Earth (F0E) requested, pursuant to 10 CFR 2.206 of the Comission's regulations, that the Nuclear Regula-tory Commission:
(1) suspend all activities under Docket No. 50-224 at Etcheverry Hall, University of California at Berkeley (UCB), (2) order thb removal of all' radicactive materials from the site, (3) permanently revoke the operating license-l under Docket No. 50-224, and (4) hold public hearings before iny reactor operation f
is resumed. ' Receipt of the petition was acknowledged by letter dated January 10, 1980.
j The bases for the F0E's requested action were contentions that the seismic design of the reactor at UCB was inadequate based on current seismological data and analysis, the potential threat to public health and safety is greater than pre-l viously analyzed and that current evacuation plans are inadequate.
l After consideration of the information presented by F0E, I have determined, l
for the reasons set forth below and in the attached documents, that the requests for action should be denied.
In the January 13, 1965 original Hazards Analysis (Enclosure 1) under dita Evaluation (page 3), the staff documented its evaluation of the affects of the loss of core cooling by a rupture of the -reactor pool along with the rupture of a.large number of fuel elements by mechanical damage and also the failure of the walls and 4
. _. l ceiling of the reactor room.
The staff concluded that the exposure to the public i
is within 10 CFR Part 100 guidelines and therefore acceptable. More recently, on September 28, 1979, the NRC issued a Safety Evaluation and Environmental Impact Appraisal supporting knendment No. 2 (Enclosure 2). This amendment authorizes co,ntinuing operation of the UCB TRIGA Mark III nuclear research reactor. This Safety Evaluation documents the staff's analysis of the design basis accident; a major seismic event leading to a complete loss of cooling water, core disruption and breach of the building walls (see pages 3 and 4 of Enclosure 2).
The staff concluded that the radiological consequences in the near vicinity of the reactor building are of the order of the limits of 10 CFR Part 20 (Normal Operational Limits) and are only a small fraction of the limits of 10 CFR Part 100 (Accident Analysis Linits for 5.iting Reactors).
In the Emergency Planning section of the Safety Evaluation (see pages 5 and 6 of Enclosure 2), the review and acceptance of the UCB plan currently in effect is documented.
However, the Commission is currently upgrading the requirements for t
Emergency Planning by amending 10 CFR Part 50, Sections 50.33, 50.47, and 50.54 and Appendix E as a result of our review of the Three Mile Island accident. When this rulemaking process is completed, the licensees of all reactors will be required to revise their Emergency Plans accordingly.
In conclusion, my review of the allegations contained in your petition dated December 11, 1979, finds that since (1) the current design basis accident for UCB i
assumes a complete loss of cooling water, core disruption and breach of the building walls and results in acceptable radiological consequences and (2) the current approved Emergency Plan for UCB meets our requirements, the University of California TRIGA
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i Mark III reactor does not pose any undue threat to the public health and safety.
I Therefore, I find under 10 CFR Part 2, Section 2.206 tnat no proceeding on the issues raised in your petition will be instituted in whole or in part.
A copy of this decision will be placed in the Commission's Public Document Ro'om at 1717 H Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20555. A copy of this decision l
will also be filed with the Secretary for review by the Commission in accordance with 10 CFR 2.206(c) of the regulations of the Commission.
As provided in 10 CFR 2.206(c), this decision will constitute the final action of the Commission j
twenty (20) days after the date of issuance, unless the Commission on its own motion institutes the review of this decision within that time.
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FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION l
l Harold R. Denton, Director
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Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Dated at Bethesda, Maryland this 14th day of April,1980
Enclosures:
1.
Hazards Analysis 2.
Safety Evaluation and Environnental Impact Appraisal i
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