ML20002B510
| ML20002B510 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | MIT Nuclear Research Reactor |
| Issue date: | 11/21/1980 |
| From: | Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20002B504 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8012110734 | |
| Download: ML20002B510 (3) | |
Text
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
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- l SAFETY EVALUATION SY THE OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATICN SUPPCRTING AMENCMENT NO.17 TO FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE h0. R-37 MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY MIT RESEARCH REACTCR DOCKET NO. 50-20 Introduction By letter dated March 13, 1980, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) requested an amendment to Facility Operating License No. R-37 wnicn wculd authori:e the receipt and possession of byproduct materials that have been previously activated in reactors other than the MIT Research Reactor, for use in the hot cells that were recently installed in the containment building.
Descriction MIT has constructed hot cells for the chemical and physical examination of (among other uses) irradiated material. The current license for byproduct material is contained within Facility Operating License No. R-37 and amencments.
The current license permits tyyproduct utilization to that whicn ",. may be produced by operation of the reactor".
MIT wishes to broaden the existing Facility Operating License to also include the receipt, examination and testing of non-fissionable byproduct materials I
activated in offsite reactor facilities. Utilization of this source of by-product material would be limited to the MIT hot cells.
Byproduct materials that are so utilized will be limited to atcmic numbers 3 through 83 and to solid form only. Additional qualifications are:
1.
Total inventory of materials from other scurces would not exceed 1,000,000 l
cu ri es.
2.
Inventary for any one sa@le or specimen would be limited to 10,000 curies.
(Definition of "samle" or " specimen": that amount that is contained in any single canister or container that will be subsequently utili:ed in the hot cells) 3.
Eacn samle or soecimen would be limited to a radiation flux of 1000 racs/hr.,
i at one meter from an unshielded source.
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Safety ivaluation 1.
Starace of Inventory S:: rage for the ;y;rccuct material invent:ry is in~;ne f r= cf varicus existing s rage f acilities lcca:ec =t:nin :ne c ntainrent coaclex. These inciuce :ne fuel s:Orage Occi for.atertign, cerrosien resistant cantainers, fuel s:Orage neles no icnger Seing usec, snielcec casks and adcitional miscellaneous s: rage facilities fer Icw level sa:cles.
Transfer of :ne racicactive materiais can De accccclishec ni:n existing ecui:aen.
2.
- ic Cell Safety Syste=s 70 ensure act cell integrity and safety Of cut-cf-celi :ers nnel, s ecial ventilaticn, instrumentation anc fire reventica systems nave teen inclucec.
3.
Ventilatien The cells are Re:: at a negative :rassure (r.agn:: ace ;reater than 0.l* W.C.)
wi:n a ficw of abcut ICO CFM per cell :c :ne centainaen: builcing <entilatica systes. Botn inle: anc outlet air passes nrougn 2" rougnine filters. The outle; air is then cuctec to a fire-resistant 6" HE? filter, a :lewer, and finally in:: :ne tuilding exnaus: a:strea: f r = :ne racia::en acnt: Ors, nelca:
- 1enu= and filters.
The het cell blewer is electrically intericcked.ith the builcing exnaus: c snut off wnen the main ventilation is Off (the saae as ciner auxiliary : lowers).
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When the containrent cell bicwers er damcers are shu cown the het cell vent-ilaticn system is autecatical'y shut cff. Visual alar:s 1cca:ec in :ne nc t
cell area aler: :ne ccera:Or :na: all activities in :ne hc cell are to :e t ermi na:ec.
In accitien, Oceration of :ne net cell ventila:icn system is sucject c :ne :ericci: ins:ecticn anc a:;r: val of :ne Industrial Hygiene Gr:u: Of :ne MIT Envirencental Mecical Service.
a.
Inst rurentation l
Instrumentati n is rovided for measuring radiaticn levels and f:r acnt : ring
- erati n of :ne ventilaticn systecu A ce:ect:r ca:atle Of gamma reasurements u: :: 1000 r/hr is installec :: cnecx :te dose ra es fcr sarcles intr:cacec in:: a nct cell. Reac::r area acnt::rs :revice :acxu: reacings. One of :ne reac: r ficcr acni:crs (SAR paragrapn 12.3.2.c.1},
nica alar:s in :ne c:ntrol race anc a: :ne ce:ect:r site, ill indica e the general ractatien !avel external
- the a : cell. The Reac:Or Raciaticn Pr :ecticn Office aisc ::ncu::s ;ericcic su rveys.
Ventilaticn is monitored y means :f a ranceeter en eacn cell, and ;r:cecures s ecify the int:r: cifferential ;rassura ecuirec fer celi use. A iccal alar: actifies One nct call c:erater if the cifferential ;ressure is ::: 1:w.
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5.
Fire Prevention The potential for fire is minimized by limiting the amount of flammable materials, such as paper, which are used in reducing contamination.
Decontamination of the het cell interiors is done witn ncn-flamable detergents, except that small counts of solvents such as acetone may be neeced to clean the manipulators. Rags and similar materials are stored in metal containers witn self-closing lics.
In event a fire should occur, hcwever, the cell exnaust system will auto-matically shutdown, the rate of rise fire detector and alarm (set at 125'F) will alert the staff, and a Halen fire extinguishing system will automatically Operate if the temperature rises to 135*F. As a bacx up to the Halen fire bottles wnicn are located within the het cells can extinguishing system, CO2 te manually operated.
6.
Environmental Considerations We have determined that this amendment will not result in any significant environmental impact and that it does not constitute a major Comission act:on significantly afftcting the quality of the human environment. We have also determined that this action is not cne of those covered by 10 CFR 51.5(a) or (b). Having made these determinations, we have further concluded that, pursuant to 10 CFR 51.5(d)(4), an environmental impact statement or environmental impact appraisal and negative declaration need not be prepared in connection with issuance of this amendment.
Conclusion i
With the limitaticns included on the characteristics and quantities of activation products permitted in the hot cells, the safety features provided in the het cells, the interlocking of the containment and hot cell ventilation systems, the visual and audible alarms and the operational procedures, the utilization of byproduct mater als in the hat cells can be conducted with reascnable assurance (1) of the i
I s Wcy of personnel and the contiguous poculation and (2) that the conduct of the l
cperations will be performed within the requirements of License No. R-37.
We have concluded, based on the consideratins discussed above, that:
(1) because the amendment dces not involve a significant increase in the probability or con-l sequences of accidents previcusly considered, and does not involve significant decrease in a safety margin, the amendment does not involve a significant nazards consideraticn, (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 cc@liance with the Comission's regulations and tne issuance of this amencment will not be inimical to the comon defense and security or to the health and safety of the public.
Dated: November 21, 1980