ML20011E778
| ML20011E778 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 05000054, 07000687 |
| Issue date: | 02/13/1990 |
| From: | Thompson H NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | CINTICHEM, INC. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20011E777 | List: |
| References | |
| EA-90-033, EA-90-33, NUDOCS 9002220447 | |
| Download: ML20011E778 (7) | |
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UNITED' STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Cintichem, Incorporated Docket Nos.- 50-54<
P. O. Box 816
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Tuxedo,-New York.70-687 10987 License Nos. R-81 SNM-639
'i EA 90-033 c,
a ORDER MODIFYING LICENSE (EFFECTIVEIMMEDIATELY) 4 I
Cintichem, Incorporated (the " Licensee") is-the holder.of License Nos. R-81 and h
SNM-639.- License No. R-81 and License No. SNM-639 authorize the Licensee to produce and process radioisotopes. License No. R-81 was issued by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission-(the "Connission" or "NRC") on September 7,1961, was most recently amended on March 14, 1989, and.is due to expire;on June 30,.2000.
License'No. SNM-639 was most recently renewed by the llRC on October 19, 1984, was most recently amended on May 17, 1989, and'is currently under timely renewal.
Other activities involving radioactive byproduct material are conducted.at l
- this site under the authority of the State of New York.
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On. February 9,1990, the Licensee reported to the NRC Region I office the L
identification of an unnonitored release of radioactively contaminated water from the facility's reactor building to an onsite retention pond.
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2 The rapid and unexpect'ed: buildup of radioactivity in the retention pond, combined with the increase in the pond level due to rainfall the night of February 9 and the morning of February 10, indicates a significant potential for radioactive releases in excess of regulatory limits. An NRC inspection team was dispatched to the facility, and arrived at the facility -
on the evening of February 9,1990.
Subsequently, the team was informed that the uncontrolled release of radioactivity to the pond apparently resulted from a failure of part of the concrete wall of the gamma pit.
(Thegammapit'
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-is a water-filled pool which is used for the temporary storage of radioactive material.)
Subsequently, on February 12, the Licensee informed the NRC inspection team that another concrete vessel on site, namely, the holdup tank (which is located in the reactor building and which is used to allow the decay of short-lived isotopes in the reactor coolant), also apparently had developed a leak.
The foregoing relates to matters subject to the NRC's jurisdiction.
III The concurrent identification, within a very short time period, of the failure of two concrete vessels, resulting-in the uncontrolled release of radiuactively
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contaminated water to the site environs, demonstrates that the Licensee cannot presently provide reasonable assurance that continued operation under its
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licenses will be'in compliance with Commission requirements. Therefore, l
continued' operation of the facility without additional action is inconsistent with the Commission's requirements.
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In view of the potential risks to the public from uncontrolled releases of radioactively contaminated materials from the facility, I have' determined.
L pursusnt' to 10 CFR 2.204, that public health, safety and interest requires
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' that this Order be made imondiately effective.
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IV Accardingly, pursuant to Sections 57,104,1161b.,161c..1611., and 161o.,
182, and.186 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, and the Commission's regulations in 10 CFR 2.204 and 10 CFR Parts 50 and 70, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, THAT LICENSE H0S. R-81 AND Snit-639 ARE MODIFIED, EFFECTIVELY IMMEDIATELY,-
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AS FOLLOWS:
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The reactor remain shut down until such time as the Licensee:.
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Submits to the NRC, for its review and approval, a plan to:
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}c a.- l Promptly identify, by inspection, existing locations:of. leaks
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'Promptly repair all existing leaks, and assure their Leffectiveness; c.
Establish-and implement a monitoring program to assure the t
- prompt identification of future leaks of radioactively 1
contaminated material from the facility; 2.
-Implement the plan; and' i
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Notify the NRC, in writing under oath or affirmation, that the plan has been completed, and the Regional Administrator,.~ Region I, E
~ authorizes restart of the. reactor.
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Following authorization for restart pursuant to paragraph A.3-above, the Licensee shall implement the monitoring' program approved pursuant-A
. to paragraph A.I.c.
C.
Within 90 days of the date of this Order, the Licensee shall submit to the Regional Administrator, Region I, for review and approval, a detailed p_lan' for identification of the root causes of the undetected and 0
. uncontrolled: leaks of radioactive material, as well as any structural deterioration of the structures. systems, and components. The plan shall-include a schedule with_ appropriate milestones.
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D.'
iUponcompletionoftheplansetforthinSectionIV.C.:areportshall'be submitted to the Regional Administrator, Region.I,.which describes the r
results obtained, and corrective actions taken or planned (with 1
i milestones) to' address the identified problems.
1 The Regional Administrator, Region I may in writing relax or terminate all-J s
' portions of the Order for good cause shown.
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The Licensee, or any person who is adversely affected by this Order, may.
request'a hearing.within 30 days of the date of this Order.
A request for hearing should be clearly marked as a " Request for Hearing" and shall be submitted to the Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Comission, Washington, D.C.
20S55, Attention:
Chief, Docketing and Service Section. Copies of the.
. hearing request also shall be sent to the Director, Office of Enforcement, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Comission, Washington, D.C. 20555, to the Assistant l-General Counsel for Hearings and Enforcement.at the same address, and to the-
. Regional Administrator, Region I, 475 Allendale Road, King of Prussia, ll
~ Pennsylvania 19406.
If a person other than the licensee requests a hearing, o
L that person shall set forth with particularity the manner in which his interest p
is' adversely affected by this Order and shall address the criteria set forth L
'n'10CFR2.714(d).
In the absence of any request for a hearing within the i
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specified time, this Order shall be final without further Order or proceedings.
cA REQUEST FOR HEARING SHALL NOT STAY THE IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS'0RDER.
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- If-a hearing:is requested, by the' Licensee or a person' whose interest 1s adversely affected, the Commission will issue an Order designating the time and place of any. hearing.
If a hearing is held, the issue to be considered L
at.such hearing shall be whether this Order should be sustained.
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FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMISSION.
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Hugh '.. Thompson, r.
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Dep y Executive ireh r for Nuclear Materials Safety, Safeguards, F
and Operations Support L+
Dated.at Rockville, Maryland t
this y day of February 1990 l--
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