ML19347A813
| ML19347A813 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | North Carolina State University |
| Issue date: | 09/17/1980 |
| From: | John Miller Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19347A811 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8009300301 | |
| Download: ML19347A813 (2) | |
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SAFETY EVALUATION BY THE OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION
-SUPPORTING AMENDMENT NO. 6 TO LICENSE NO. R-120 1
NORlH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY AT RALEIGH DOCKET NO. 50-297 Introduction By letter dated January 4,1980, North Carolina State University (NCSU) requested a change in facility license No. R-120 for its PULSTAR research reactor. The proposed change would modify the quantity and form of special nuclear material (SNM) authorized for possession in connection with operatio: of the facility.
Discussion The proposed change would increase the possession limits of SNM under operating license R-120. Specifically, the licensee has requested that t.'e following items be added:
a) 567 grams of contained U-235, enriched to over 96% in four unirradiated fuel assemblies b) one sci PuBe neutron source, serial number M-701 The current authorization of 435 kilograms of uranium in license R-120 provides for the low enrichment fuel for the PULSTAR reactor, plus small quantities of highly enriched uranium contained in various neutron detectors. As noted in the licensee's request, the highly enriched uranium which they would now like to add to their R-120 license is possessed currently under license R-63.
- However, the reactor (R-3) licensed by R-63 is in a status of " Possess but not operate",
NCSU is planning to dismantle and decommission that reactor, and they have already shipped all of its irradiated fuel to the Department of Energy fcr reprocessing.
The four fuel assemblies noted in the licensee's request have been retained temp-orarily while shipping plans are being developed to dispose of them also.
In the meantime, the licensee does not intend to use these four fuel assemblies in any way in connection with operation of the PULSTAR reactor, and in fact their end-fittings do not permit insertion into the PULSTAR core grid plate.
80093003ol
. Evaluation The two reactors at Raleigh are housed in the same building and have been operated by the same personnel, and all aspects of both licenses have been jointly administered.
Therefore, although the reactor-related SNM was auth-orized under more than one license, that material is controlled by the one group of personnel. These considerations also apply to the plutonium-bery-liium neutron start-up sources.
The licensee has requested modification of the authorizing documents pertaining to special nuclear material which is already in their possession, but not to increase the total quantity authorized.
Furthermore, the four fuel assemblies of highly enriched uranium have never been irradiated, but have been stored as spares for the R-3 reactor which is now inoperable.
These four unused fuel assemblies will remain in approved storage until they are shipped off-site.
Therefore, since this amendment would not change any operational procedures or limits, it is administrative in nature.
Environmental Considerations We have determiard that the amendment does not authorize a change in effluent type or total quantities, nor an increase in power level, and will not result in any sigrificant environmental impact. Having made this determination, we have concluded further that the amendment involves an action which is insign-ificant from the standpoint of environmental impact, and pursuant to 10 CFR 551.5(d)(4), that an environmental impact statement or negative declaration and environmental impact appraisal need not be prepared in connection with the issuance of this amendment.
Conclusion We nave 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 sign-ificant 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 in compliance with the Commission's regulations _and the issuance of this amendment will not be inimical to the common defense and security or to the health and safety of the public.
th Dated at Bethesda, Maryland, this 17 day of September 1980.
Sincerely, i
s James R. Miller, Chief Standardization and Special Projects Branch Division of Licensing