ML20027C162
| ML20027C162 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 07001100 |
| Issue date: | 09/10/1982 |
| From: | Pianki F ABB COMBUSTION ENGINEERING NUCLEAR FUEL (FORMERLY |
| To: | Starostecki R NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20027C157 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8210130504 | |
| Download: ML20027C162 (2) | |
Text
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C-E Power Systems Tel. 203/688-1911 Co mbustion Engineenng. Inc.
Telex: 99297 e
1000 Prospect Hill Road Windsor, Connecticut 06095 H SYSTEMS POWER License SNM-1067 September 10, 1982 00cket 70-1100 U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Region I 631 Park Avenue King of Prussia, PA 19406 Attention: Mr. Richard W. Starostecki, Director Division of Project & Resident Programs
Reference:
Letter from R. W. Starostecki, NRC, to H. V. Lichtenberger, C-E, dated August 18, 1982; Inspection No. 70-1100/82-06
Dear Mr. Starostecki:
This is in reply to the above referenced letter in which you reported two items of non-compliance which were determined during your inspector's visit to our facility on July 26-30, 1982.
Appendix A - Item A Condition 9 of your facility license No. SNM-1067 which incorporates Section 15.7 " Ventilation" of your approved license application, dated September 11, 1978, requires, in part, that the face velocity of ventilated hoods shall be 100 feet per minute minimum or the hood will not be used to handle radioactive material.
Contrary to the above, on July 28, 1982, the face velocity of a hood located in the Warm Metallography Laboratory ranged from 50 to 150 feet per minute, a hood located in the Chemistry Laboratory ranged from 80 to 120 feet minute, and, the Batch Make-up Hood located in the Pellet Shop ranged from 0 to 120 feet per minute with the door opened. This was less than the required 100 feet per min-ute minimum and the hoods were not identified as being out of service or were being used to handle radioactive material.
Response - (Hoods located in the Warm Metallography Laboratory and in the Chem-istry Laboratory).
The adjustable windows for both hoods have been set at a maximum opening that ensures a face velocity of 100 Lfpm minimum across the entire face of the hood opening. All nuclear laboratory health physics technicians have been reinstructed in the proper method of measuring hood face velocities to ensure that no recur-rence of the situation arises in the future.
It is prudent to point out however, that the face velocities in the breathing zone areas were at all times above the 100 Lfpm minimum; only the area near the floor of the hoods showed velocities be-low 100 Lfpm. The hoods are in full compliance at this time.
8210130504 820929 PDR ADOCK 07001100 C
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Response - (Batch Make-up Hood in the Pellet Shop).
The batch make-up hood has two openings. One opening at the hood face allows the operator to have his hands inside the hood to perform required operations; a second opening is created when a door in the hood is opened to allow removal of a UO2 pow-der can from inside the hood.
During routine operation within the hood, when the door is closed (which is most of the time), air velocity across the hood face is well above the minimum Lfpm requirement. When the door to the hood is opened, the air velocity at the hood face remains above the minimum requirement, but the air velocity at the door opening is below the minimum requirement.
Since the main work area is at the hood face (where air velocity is well above minimum requirements), and since the hood door is open a minimum amount of time, and BZ data have never indicated a prob-lem, we feel that personnel have been well protected at all times at this particular operation.
However, we have initiated work to install a new ductwork system over the hood door opening so that minimum air velocity reovirements will be met whenever the door in the hood is opened to remove a can of UO2 powder. We expect to have the new equipment installed by November 1, 1982. Until the new equipment is installed, we will intensify our, personnel BZ sampling at the batch make-up operation to make certain that we do not have any difficulties.
Appendix A - Item B Condition 9 of your facility license No. SNM-1067 which incorporates Section 15.3.5 of your approved license application, dated November 14, 1980 states, in part, that a maximum removable alpha level of 100 dpm/100 cm2 is permitted in clean areas.
t Contrary to the above, on July g7,1982, the maximum removable alpha level exceeded 100 dpm/100 cm2 (432 dpm/100 cm ) in a clean area located outside a door located in the northwest wall of the restricted area.
Response
When U02 residue powder is to be shipped to our Hematite Plant, an empty powder drum is obtained and inserted through an opening in the north wall of our facility. Cans within the drum are removed, filled with residue powder and replaced within the drum.
The drum is then sealed and removed from the wall opening and a beta-ganna survey of the drum is taken. The survey procedure requires the health physics technician to reach through a. door that separates the inside contaminated area from the outside un-contaminated area.
During the course of this survey, the health physics technician inadvertently stepped on the sill plate which, when checked, was found to be contam-inated. The sill plate was decontaminated immediately, rechecked and found to be cl ean. To prevent this problem from recurring, the procedure has been changed and now requires the health physics technician to leave the contaminated area inside the building and go outside the building to survey the drum before it is released for shipment back to Hematite.
Very truly yo 7
d s
F. J.
anki, General Manager Nuclear Fuel Manufacturing FJP/ssb _
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