ML19351G529
| ML19351G529 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Wood River Junction |
| Issue date: | 01/26/1981 |
| From: | Crow W, Stevenson R NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19351G525 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8102240134 | |
| Download: ML19351G529 (2) | |
Text
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l?[?u f (~tC%'o UNITED STATES v.v s E
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION h
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555
.....*#g JAN 2 61981 DOCKET N0.: 70-820 APPLICANT:
United Nuclear Corporation (UNC)
UNC Recovery Systems Division FACILITY:
Fuel Recovery Plant Wood River Junction, Rhode Island
SUBJECT:
REVIEW 0F AMENDMENT APPLICATION DATED OCTOBER 20, 1980, AS REVISED DECEMBER 12, 1980, QUALITY ASSURANCE PROGRAM FOR LSA MATERIALS, JOB 07000820A105 Backaround The subject application is concerned primarily with the quality assurance program for preparation and packaging for shipment of low specific activity (LSA) radio-active materials arising during deconmissioning of the Wood River Junction site.
The licensed waste disposal site at Beatty, Nevada had encountered leaking packages of lagoon wastes from the UNC site which were therefore returned for correction about October 1,1980. The burial site operator requested that UNC obtain regula-tory approval of upgraded waste shipping controls designed to prevent recurrence of the problems encountered. UNC provided a general commitment to meet all app-licable requirenients for the waste shipments in a proposed amendment to Section 700-Transportation, given with the October 20, 1980 application. The October 20 submittal also included UNC's interpretation of Section 303.3.2 ("Outside Storage")
of their license, SNM-777, that outside storage of packaged lagoon materials is acceptable provided that a) it is within the outer perimeter fence, b) it meets the surface density cr'iteria, and c) all applicable safeguards requirements are met.
The October 20, 1980 application also included the resse for Mr. Peter Dessaules, who was taking the position of Manager, Operations.
The December 12, 1980 application provided a much more detailed conmitment to quality assurance for the waste shipments than given October 20 and is considered to supersede the broad conmitment in the propo. sed revision of Section 700.
Discussion The quantities and concentrations of fissile materials in the packaged lagoon wastes are low and the surface density criteria in Section 300 of SNM-777 allow conservatively for moderation. Thus, there are no criticality safety concerns with the outside storage. However, the outer perimeter fence does not prevent access by members of the public and hence our acceptance of UNC's interpretation of Section 303.3.2 must be conditioned to storage within a fenced enclosure accessible only to UNC employees.
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JAN 2 b 1901
.. The quality assurance program (QAP-004) submitted December 12, 1980, is designed to ensure container quality, although there are also references in paragraphs 11 and 15.2, to controls on the processes for preparing the waste materials.
Since shipments to waste disposal sites should meet the required absence of free liquid, it is reconmended that the UNC quality assurance program be supplemented with the following four-part condition:
- 29. a. UNC shall detennine criteria for processed lagoon solids to ensure freedom from free liquid following the mechan-ical and thermal effects of shipment to the burial site,
- b. UNC shall establish procedures and controls to ensure that packaged lagoon solids meet the criteria.
- c. UNC shall assign individuals responsible to confirm con-formance to a. and b., above.
- d. Notwithstanding paragraph 16.3 of QAP-004, bypassing of required inspections, tests and othe-critical operations shall require approval of the Manager, Quality Assuran:e.
Paragraph d. of' Condition 29 was added to require specific consideration by the Manager, Quality Assurance, of exceptions to quality requirer.ients. The condition addresses only the lagoon waste shipments; the wastes from decomnis-sioning of the recovery process equipnent are required to be dry by the de-tailed procedures already written by UNC, and monitoring of such shipments (to Barnwell) has revealed no free liquid.
The quality assurance plan (QAP-004) ano proposed license condition No. 29 were discussed with Mr. W. Kinney, Region I principal inspector of the Wood River Junction plant on January 21, 1981. Mr. Kinney saw no objection to issuance of an authorizing amendment for QAP-004 including the license -
condition. The clarifying proviso on UNC's interpretation of Section 303.3.2 was discussed with Mr. Kinney on January 22, 1981.
Conclusion and Recommendation Subject to the license condition presented in the Discussion, foregoing, the i
quality assurance program for waste shipments is acceptable and approval of the l
amendment application is recommended.
The aut.horizing amendment should note our agreement with UNC's interpretation of Section 303.3.2 in the licesse, as given in the October 20, 1980 letter, but with the clarifying proviso so that the storage be in a fenced enclosure accessible only to UNC employees.
'd he Robert L. Stevenson Uranium Process Licensing Section Uranium Fuel Licensing Branch Division of Fuel Cycle and Material Safety g /l 1,
I i ' M'd Approved by:
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W. T. Crow, Section Leader
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