ML20040C533
ML20040C533 | |
Person / Time | |
---|---|
Site: | University of Lowell |
Issue date: | 01/15/1982 |
From: | John Miller, Joshua Wilson Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
To: | |
Shared Package | |
ML20040C530 | List: |
References | |
NUDOCS 8201280124 | |
Download: ML20040C533 (3) | |
Text
_ _ _ _
(
Q.
m SAFETY EVALUATION BY THE OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION SUPPORTING AMEHft1ENT NO. 5 TO FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE NO. R-125 UNIVERSITY OF LOWELL DOCKET I40. 50-223 Introduction By letter dated October 20, 1981, as supplenented by letter telecopied Novenber 2,1981, the University of Lowell (the licensee) applied for an anendeent to Facility Operating License Nc. R-125 for their pool-type reactor. The licensee has requested that they be allowed to receive, possess, use and transfer byproduct materials, activated in other reactors, in the fom of Cobalt-60 in quantities up to 1.500,000 curies. Because this naterial is to be stored and used in the sane pool as the reactor, it is being placed under the Part 50 reactor license.
The Appendix A Technical Specifications for the University of Lowell research reactor have been amended to:
Drohibit the irradiation of explosive material; prohibit operation of the reactor when any portion of the cobalt source is in the same end of the pool as the reactor; and to specify nonitoring, limits and corrective action associated with possession and use of the cobalt source.
The NRC Licensing Project Manager for the University of Lowell Research Reactor is Mr. Janes H. Wilson. Mr. Wilson may be contacted by calling (301) 492-9797 or by writing the U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Connission, Division of Licensing, Washington, D.C.
20555.
l Evaluation l
The University of Lowell is transferring 1,500,000 Curies of Cobalt-60, l
i from the Amy's P,adiation Laboratory at Natuick Massachusetts to their reactor facility. This cobalt source was previously controlled by NRC Byproduct Material License No. 20-00 315-003, and will be. stored and
.used in the opposite end of the same pool as the University's 1 f1W(t) pool-type researc.h reactor.
8201280124 820115 goaaoocx05000g
.......................1 s,e m ocu >
i 4RC FORM 318 (10-M) NRCM 024o OFFICIAL RECORD COPY usamm--
5
(~
\\
.. The Appendix A Technical Specification has been amended by adding Section 3.6.9, which prohibits the operation of the reactor when any part of the Cobalt source is in thh same end of the reactor pool as the reactor core.
This will preclude the possibility of interference, either instrumental or procedural, betaeen the reactor and the cobalt source.
Section 3.6.4 of the technical specifications has been cmended to prohibit irradiation of any explosive material in the reactor ptpl or experimental facilities. This will prevent danage to the source, experirental facilities, reactor pool or reactor due to accidental explosion of explosive naterials.
The sealed strips of the cobalt source are double encapsulated and each strip has been leak tested prior to shipment from the Natwick Radiation Laboratory. To ensure continued integrity of the source cladding, Section 4.5.2 of the technical specifications has been amended to require weekly ronitoring of the reactor pool water for Cobalt-50, with analysis capable of detecting lx10 nicrocuries per n111111ter of water.
If a sample analysis reveals a significant increase of activity in the water, with respect to previous samples, or a contamination level greater than lx10 nicrocuries per nilliliter of water, the licensees are required to take pronpt action to prevent further contanination of the pool water and to notify the NRC.
(It should be noted that this monitoring frequency, level of detection, and action level are at least as stringent as those required by the NRC Part 30 license for the sane source while at Natwick).
Weekly monitnring of reactor pool reactor for conductivity is alresdy required by Section 4.5.1 of the technical specifications, therefore water purity will continue to be insured.
Because the location for storage and use of'the Cobalt-60 source was designed for operation of a 5 MW(t) core, shielding for the sCurce will be more than adequate for the pool, garna cave and experimental facilities.
The licensee is required to ' develop and inplement procedures describing:
inventory and records log naintenance; training and certification of source operators: health physics procedures associated with the source; experimental program (s); and movement, storage and monitoring of the source.
emcc >
SURNAZEh omy wac ronu sis oo-sa nacu cao OFFIClAL RECORD COPY usam
-.us.
{
Environnental Consideration Uc have detemined that the amendment does not authorize a change in effluent types or total amounts nor an increase in power level and will not result in any significant environnental inpact. Having made this determination, we have further concluded that the amendnent involves an action which is significant from the standpoint of environnental impact and, pursuant to 10 CFR 551.5(d)(4),
tha' an environnental impact statement or negative declaration and environnental impast appraisal need not be prepared in connection with the issuance of this amendment.
Conclusion We have concluded, based on the considerations discussed above, that:
(1) because the anendnent does not involve a significant increase in the probability or consequences of accidents previously considered and does not involve'a significant hazards consideration, (2) there is reasonable assurance that the health and safety of the public will not be endangered by operation in the proposed manner, and (3) such activities will be conducted in compliance with the Commission's regulations and the issuance of this amendnent will not be inimical to the common defense and security or to the health and safety of the public.
(NLIGINAL SIGIGlD BY t James H. Wilson, Project Manager Standardization & Special Projects Branch Division of Licensing ORIGINAL SIGIED BY t James R. Miller, Chief Standardization & Special Projects Branch Division of Licensing Dated: January 15, 1982 e
l
~
l DL: SSP
- SSPB NMB' "sisi"E c " ?PTseFsW" "3Nin"eF
.................i.".".'
".. ". ".. '. ". ".... '. ". ". ' ~
! sua m e>
.1../.. 3].8..2...........1../..f../.8. 2.......... 9..../..,1\\../.8. 2...'
emy
%nc ronu ais psomscu eno OFFICIAL RECORD COPY usam
,_u m