ML20027D550
| ML20027D550 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 12/16/1981 |
| From: | Trager E NRC OFFICE FOR ANALYSIS & EVALUATION OF OPERATIONAL DATA (AEOD) |
| To: | Heltemes C NRC OFFICE FOR ANALYSIS & EVALUATION OF OPERATIONAL DATA (AEOD) |
| References | |
| TASK-AE, TASK-N108 AEOD-N108, NUDOCS 8211080027 | |
| Download: ML20027D550 (3) | |
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UNITED STATES 4
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k NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION AE0D/N108 g
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555
,8 This is an internal, pre-g%
decisional document not DEC 161981 necessarily representing a position of AE0D or NRC.
MEMORANDUM FOR:
C. J. Heltemes, Jr., Deputy Director Office for Analysis and Evaluation of Operational Data THROUGH:
Kathleen Black, Chief Nonreactor Assessment Staff Office for Analysis and Evaluation of Operational Data FROM:
Eugene A. Trager, Jr.
Nonreactor Assessment Staff, AE0D
SUBJECT:
NOTES ON AE00 REVIEW 0F EMISSIONS FROM TRITIUM MANUFACTURING AND DISTRIBUTION LICENSEES Introduction In " Items of Interest" for the week ending May 1,1981, SP reported that New York State had signed a consent order for Self-Powered Lighting, Ltd.
(SPL), a NYS licensed manufacturer of tritium exit signs and other light sources. The order reduced SPL's tritium oxide release limit from 100 to 25 curies per year.
The nonreactor group began a review of this item because of problems associated with tritium release from the American Atomics Corporation of Tuscon, Arizona in 1979 (Abnormal Occurrence No. AS79-1, NUREG-0090, Vol. 2, No. 2).
The review was to determine whether the NYS order was the response to what might be a generic problem, i.e., one which should be considered t
for NRC licensees.
Background
On June 28, 1979, Tne New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) requested NRC technical assistance in reviewing the Environmental Impact Statement of a New York licensee, Self-Powered Lighting, Ltd. (SPL).
l SPL is a manufacturer and distributor of self-luminous products (e.g., exit signs) which contain tritium. An NMSS contractor, Mound Laboratory (Monsanto),
prepared an evaluation of the SPL EIS which was provided by SP to the NYSDEC.
On February 24, 1981, New York State adjourned a hearing on the issuance (renewal) of NYSDEC permit for SPL. A transcript of the hearing was sent by NYS to SP who forwarded it to NMSS.
NYSDEC noted that the maximum credible accident scenario for SPL might result in the release cf 50,000 Ci of tritium i
and a subsequent fallout in the form of snow (" snow-out").
NYSDEC suggested 8211080027 811216 PDR MISC PDR N
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s-DEC 161981 C. J. Heltemes, Jr. that this might be a generic issue applicable to any user of large amounts of tritium in a cold climate; SP asked NMSS whether the phenomenon could occur at New England Nuclear (Boston site). On May 14, SP, with input from NMSS, responded to NYSDEC that the " snow-out" phenomenon was possible, albeit unlikely, and recommended.(1) provision of fire s'prinkler protection in tritium stcrage areas, and (2) implementation of a licensee radiological plan in the event of a large radiological release.
Discussion It was not possible to obtain from NRC files a copy of the Mound Laboratory report on the evaluation of the SPL EIS. The NMSS file containing reports produced under the Mound contract could not be located and SP files did not contain a copy.
However, nothing in the available records or in discussions with SP and NMSS personnel concerning this matter indicated that the report identified any particular hazard or problem with the SPL proposal.
In any case, the " snow-out" phenomenon was apparently brought out in the NYSDEC hearing and not earlier in the Mound report. Attached are copies of available correspondence concerning NRC technical assistance provided to the NYSDEC.
SP (K. Schneider and J. Lubenau) recall that the Mound report did indicate that SPL tritium effluents could and should be reduced and that is what NRC recommended in a transmittal letter to NYSDEC (we have not been able to find the letter).
Although SPL had reduced its tritium emissions significantly, when SPL was faced with the reduction in emissions mandated by NYSDEC, SPL decided to import tritium that was already packaged (i.e., SPL would not be handling unpackaged tritium).
With regard to the two large NRC licensees who manufacture and distribute tritium or tritium containing devices (New England Nuclear of Boston, MA and Safety Light of Bloomsburg; PA) there are two relevant licensing review activities currently underway:
1.
Impact of Normal Operations NMSS (FC) has a ($300K) contract with ORAU (Oak Ridge Associated Universities) to evaluate the environmental impact of ten of the largest materials licensees. The evaluations should be completed by the end of this month.
It is anticipated that the studies of Safety Light and New England Nuclear will confirm that these facilities have a negligible impact on the environment.
2.
Impact of Accidents These licensees have. submitted Radiological Contingency Plans as required by order dated February 2,1981. Review of the plans will include fire protection systems and assessment of radiological hazards following large releases.
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DEC 161981 C. J. Hel temes, Jr.
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Conclusion The NYSDEC ordered a reduction in SPL's tritium emission limits because it was felt that the reduction could be achieved by SPL. This was in accordance with the principal of keeping radioactive effluents ALARA.
NMSS licensing has underway ~ studies of effluent releases at the two large tritium manufacturers licensed by NRC.
In light of these studies, and in light of the basis for the action by New York to reduce the allowable tritium releases by Self-Powered Lighting, AE0D finds that no recommendations are necessary con-cerning lessons to be fed back to licensees.
This report completes AE0D's current evaluation of tritium emissions.
Eugene A. Trager, Jr.
Nonreactor Assessment Staff Office for Analysis and Evaluation of Operational Data c
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