ML20005B155

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Suggests That Kerr-McGee Be Given License Condition to Allow for Discovery of Small Quantities of Highly Enriched U Per Apr 1981 Discovery & Continuing Problem Re Decommissioning Activities
ML20005B155
Person / Time
Site: 07000925
Issue date: 05/04/1981
From: Altman W
NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE)
To: Crow W
NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS)
Shared Package
ML20005B149 List:
References
NUDOCS 8107060374
Download: ML20005B155 (1)


Text

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MAY 0 41981 MEMORANDUM FOR:

W. Crow, Section Leader, Uranium Processing Section Uranium Fuel Licensing Branch, FCMS, NMSS FROM:

W. D. Altman, Chief, Material Control & Accounting Section Safeguards Branch, Division of SRSI:IE 92f

SUBJECT:

KERR-MCGEE, DOCKET N0. 70-M 93, CITATIONS 92r The Kerr-McGee uranium fabrication facility, Docket No. 70-M9&,- has had a continuing problem of finding small quantities of high enriched uranium during decommissioning activities. This has occurred at least four times, the latest discovery was made during April 1981. The present Kerr-McGee license limits their authorized possession to low enriched uranium. Hence the licensee has been cited in the past whenever high enriched uranium was discovered during cleanout of process equipment.

In this case, the problem was addressed by blending the HEU with uranium of a lower enrichment.

I understand from Mr. Finley in Region III that the licensee was given verbal, nnt written, permission by FCMS to address the problem in this manner.

It would be helpful to our field inspectors to have something in writing from FCMS that they could refer to as the legal justification for not citing a licensee for possession of unauthorized materials in such a situation. Jim Blaylock of my staff discussed this matter with M*. Nixon of your staff on April 24.

We suggest that Kerr-McGee be given some latitude in their decommissioning activities,perhaps a license condition to alloN for the discovery of small quantities of HEU in the future, fh ms W. D. Altman Chief Material Control and Accounting Section Division of SRSI:IE CONTACT:

J. Blaylock 49-24762 cc: Al Finley, RIII a107060374 810 PDR ADOCK 0700 5

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  • It0P:WTC Jt!N 9 1961 70-925 SNM-928, Amendment No. 5 Kerr-McGee Corporation ATTN:

W. J. Shelley, Vice President Nuclear Licensing and Regulation Kerr-McGee Center Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73125 Gentlemen:

In accordance with your application dated April 20, 1981, and pursuant to Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 70, Materials License No. Sid-928 is hereby amended to change Conditions 6, 7 and 8 and te add Condition No.17 to read as follows:

Condition No. 6.

By-Product, Source or Special Nuclear Material a.

Uranium enriched in the U-235 isotope not to exceed 5 weight percent (w/o).

b.

Uranium enriched to any U-235 isotopic content.

Condition No. 7.

Fom a.

Any b.

In the form of contaminated equipment.

Condition No. 8.

Maximum amount the 'icensee may possess at any one time under this license.

a.

L'p to 2 kilograms U-235 b.

Interim possession subject to Condition No.17, provided the maximum limit authorized by Condition 8.a. is not violated.

Condition No'.17.

If during the decontamination o' the facilities and equipment at the Cimarron Plant, uranium solutions or compounde are generated that have U-235 isotopic content grecter than 5 w/o, prompt action shall be taken to degrade these materials to below 5 w/o U-235.

All other conditions of this license shall remain the same.

FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION R. G. PageV Chief Uranium Fuel Licensing Branch Division cf Fuel Cycle and

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