ML20012E038

Provides Summary of Assessment for Processing Criticality Licensing Submittals.More Definitive Procedures for Assuring Thorough Review of criticality-related License Amends Prior to Submission Will Be Established

ML20012E038
Person / Time
Site:	07000036
Issue date:	03/26/1990
From:	Rode J ABB COMBUSTION ENGINEERING NUCLEAR FUEL (FORMERLY
To:	Haughney C NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS)
References
NUDOCS 9003290250
Download: ML20012E038 (2)

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March 26, 1990 Docket No. 70-36 License No. SNM Mr. Charles J. Haughney, Chief Fuel Cycle Safety Branch Division of Industrial and Medical Nuclear Safety Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555

SUBJECT:

ASSESSMENT OF HEMATITE LICENSING SUBMITTALS REF:

Letter, J. A. Rode (CE) to Glen L. Sjoblom (NRC), February 12, 1990

Dear Mr. Haughney:

On February.12, 1990, Combustion Engineering committed to performing an assessment. of the process for preparing criticality related license amendments.

A team coordinated by W. C. Coppersmith, Director of Measurement and Performance, has now completed,this assessment.

My' condensation of the conclusions of this team can be summarized as follows:

1. A more exhaustive review of all credible abnormal conditions is required as a part of the CE review process.

2. A more thorough exposition of the safety evaluations of all credible abnormal conditions is required for all license amendments related to criticality.

3. The criticality analyst responsible for preparation of the criticality review must be involved in the design process and thoroughly familiar with-the operations planned for the facility.

4. -Improved communications between CE and NRC licensing (with particular emphasis prior to license submissions) is essential to assure the license amendment. submission conforms to the NRC licensing requirements.

.As the first step in implementing corrective actions, CE is actively recruiting to fill a criticality analyst position.

The criticality analyst will be stationed at Hematite.

This process has been underway for a month, but has as yet been unsuccessful.

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Highway P (314) 296 5640 Post Offico Box 107 (314) 937 4691 PDR ADOCK 07000036

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Mr. Charles J. Haughney Page 2 March 26, 1990 As a temporary fix, R. J. Klotz will devote at least one week a month to licensing and audit functions at Hematite until a qualified resident analyst has been added to the Hematite staff or until a satisfactory candidate has been appropriately trained and qualified to fill this position.

It is our intent to establish more definitive procedures for assuring a thorough review of criticality-related license amendments prior to submission.

This will take a bit more time.

I would be pleased to discuss our plans further if you feel it appropriate.

In any case, it is my intent to keep you informed of further actions and plans to improve the quality of our license amendment submissions.

Respectfully submitted, James A. Rode Plant Manager JAR / ear /17031 cc:

G. H. Bidinger, NRC

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