ML19320B783
| ML19320B783 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | National Bureau of Standards Reactor |
| Issue date: | 06/30/1980 |
| From: | Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19320B773 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8007150037 | |
| Download: ML19320B783 (2) | |
Text
.
p/
UNITED STATES b
^ ';
U NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 3i g
wasmucToN o.C.20555
'o E
\\-
/
SAFETY EVALUATION BY THE OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION SUPPORTING AMENDMENT NO. 3 TO FACILITY LICENSE NO. TR-5 NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS DOCKET NO. 50-184 INTRODUCTION By letter dated March 24, 1980, the National Bureau of Standards (NBS or the lice isee) requested an amendment to the Appendix A, Technical Specifications, appended to Facility License No. TR-5.
The proposed amendment would also provide for the additional use of dispersed fabrication fuel for the fuel plates to be used in the NBS reactor, as well as existing alloy fuels.
DISCUSSION The National Bureau of Standards Reactor (NBSR) (License TR-5, 10 mw power) wishes to utilize dispersed fabrication fuels in addition to alloy fuels for the reactor fuel plates. Section 6.3 of NBSR, the current Technical Specifi-cations, refers to the exclusive use of aluminum alloys for fuel plate construction. This precludes the use of the more current fuel technology associated with dispersed fuel fabrication techniques.
In order to be able to use dispersed fabrication fuels, NBS requests that the werd " alloy" be deleted from section 6.3 of the Technical Specifications.
EVALUATION Various past analyses performed by staff of NRC, Oak Ridge and Brookhaven National Laboratories, indicate the proposed change to dispersed fabrication fuels-should not affect safety considerations in the reactor complex.
The reports referenced by NBS have been evaluated by NRC staff and were found to be supportive of the NBS stipulations.
21 Based upgn maintaining the current NBSR fision density limit of 2.4 x 10 fiss./cm as an operating limit and a maximum loading limit of 360 gas of a-235 per element, the change to dispersed fabrication fuels for the NBSR is acceptable.
In this regard, NBSR Technical Specification Section 6.3 will be changed to read, "... uranium-aluminum alloy, uranium-aluminum oxide or uranium-aluminide..." This differs from the request which was to just delete the word " alloy" from Section 6.3.
18007150o37
2 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATION We have determined that the amendment does not authorize a change in effluent types or total amounts nor an increase in power level and will not result in any significant envircnmental impact.
Having made this determination, we have further concluded that the amendment involves an action which is insignificant from the standpoint of environmental impact and, pursuant to 10 CFR $51.5(d)(4),
that an environmental impact statement or negative declaration and environ-mental impact appraisal need not be prepared in connection with the issuance of this amendment.
CONCLUSION We have concluded, based on the considerations discussed above, that:
(1) because the amendment does not involve a significant increase in the probability or consequences of accidents previously considered and does not involve a significant decrease in a safety margin, the amendment does not involve a significant hazards consideration, (2) there is reasonable assurance that the health and safety of the public will not be endangered by operation in the proposed manner, and (3) such activities will be conducted ir, com-pliance with ths Commission's regulations and the issuance of this amendment will not be inimical to the :ommon defense and security or to the health and safety of the public.
Date: June 30, 1980 4
e e
e e,
n,-,-