ML20042A491

Annual Status Rept,1981

ML20042A491
Person / Time
Site:	Plum Brook
Issue date:	02/17/1982
From:	NATIONAL AERONAUTICS & SPACE ADMINISTRATION
To:
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ML20042A487	List: ML20042A491
References
NUDOCS 8203230488
Download: ML20042A491 (6)

Text

r Afi!JUAL STATUS REPORT Reporting Period: January 1, 1981 - December 31, 1981 flASA, Plum Brook Reactor flASA, Plum Brook flockup Reactor License flo. TR-3 License flo. R-93 Docket flo. 50-30 Docket No. 50-185 February 17, 1982 f1ASA, Lewis Research Center Plum Brook Station Sandusky, Ohio PDR ADOCK8203230488 820311 05000030 R

PDR s

r ANNUAL STATUS REPORT FOR THE flASA, PLUM BROOK REACTOR A!!D PLUM BROOK MOCK-UP REACTOR 1.

==

Introduction:==

The following Annual Status Report for the period January 1, 1981 through December 31, 1981 has been prepared pursuant to Section IV.5.15 of the Dis-mantling Plan, Plum Brook Reactor Dianantling, dated February 1980, which supported the NASA request for issuance of USNRC Dismantling Order.

2.

Status of Reactor Dismantling:

By letters 6ated March 17, 1980 and enclosures, as revised by letters dated November 7,1980 and February 23, 1981, NASA requested USNBC authorization to dismantle the Plum Brook Reactor and Plum Brook Mock-Up Reactor, to dis-pose of radiological component parts and terminate Licenses TR-3 and R-93.

In addition, NASA requested authorization to decontaminate the Hot Laboratory and Radiochemistry Laboratory located at the same site.

USNRC authorization to decontaminate these laboratories was issued on May 28, 1980 by Amendment No. 2 to Byproduct Materials License No.34-067'6-03.

USNRC authorization to dismantle the two reactor facilities was issued by way of Dismantling Order dated May 26, 1981. NASA dismantling plans approved under this Order have replaced the previous Technical Specificatiens for each facility in their entirety.

At the time NASA requested a Dismantling Order, and during the USNBC review of the documentation supporting the request, funt'ng of the reactor dismantling project was anticipated and an active dismantling effort was planned, llowever, because of initiated and continuing federal budget restrictions, NASA has found it necessary to defer its funding of this project. As a result, no dismantling activities permitted under the Dismantling Order were performed during this reporting period. It is not known when NASA funding will pennit execution of the dismantling activities according to submitted plans. Until such time, the facilities continue to be kept in a safe protective storage mode.

3.

Organizationai Changes:

Because of continuing project funding deferral, the Reactor Decommissioning Project Of ice was disbanded effective September 21, 1981. At the same time, Mr. Donald E. Benedict, Manager of the Project Office, elected to retire from federal service.

It is the intent of NASA to re-establish such Project Office, in accordance with dismantling plans, when funding is adequate to support sig-nificant dismantling activities.

Until such time, Mr. Earl C. Boitel, Jr., fonner Deputy Ihnager of the Reactor Decommissioning Project Office, will serve as the ?!ASA point of contact for infonnation relating to the dismantling project. In addition, Mr. Boitel continues in his assignment as Manager, Plum Brook Reactor Facility (PBRF), responsible for maintaining the safe protective storage mode of the reactors. Daily security, surveillance, and maintenance activities continue to be peformed by an on-site service contractor. Assigned as first alternate to this position remains Mr. Ervin J. Mindennan and as second alternate, Mr.

Thomas L. Junod. Mr. Junod nlso continues his duties as Radiation Safety Officer. Mr. Raphael J. Koch continues as Manager of the Plum Brook Station where the reactors are located.

In accordance with dismantling plans, PBRF safety review and approval respon-sibility and authority was transferred from the !!ASA Area 8 Srfet,y Conmittee, Mr. John W. Gibb, Chairman, to the PDRF Dismantling Safety Committee, Mr.

Richard M. Schuh, Chairman, effective upon receipt of the USNBC Dismantling Order.

4.

Condition of Systems and Components:

The condition of all systems and components vital to the maintenance of safe protective storage has been carefully reviewed. As reported in previous years, the Containment Vessel Cathodic Protection System remains energized, but is pro-viding less than the recommended level of cathodic protection for a portion of the Containment Vessel wall. Since NASA plans to dismantle the PERF no renova-tion of this system is intended.

5.

Assecament of Security and Surveillance Measures:

Security inspections are conducted at the PBRE once each shift, i.e.,

three times per day, and each of the major buildings is inspected by a guard once each day.

In addition, other security checks Nch as checks of fences and locks are being conducted monthly. Surveillance of operating s' stems and com-

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ponents, absolute filters, and radiological surveys is being performed as specified in the PBRF Procedures Manual. In addition, surveillance inspections are being perfonned for some nonoperating systems and components to assure that the safe protective conditions are maintained.

All of the security and surveillance inspections are accomplished with the use of Inspection and Test Report (ITR) checksheets to insure that they are com-pleted properly and in a timely manner. Completed ITRs are reviewed and ap-proved by the Manager, FBRF and/or the Radiation Safety Officer and filed as part of the PBRF Vital Records. Any ITRs requiring corrective action are reviewed as well by Plum Brock Station Management. Equipment Maintenance Records (EMRs) are utilized to document maintenance on vital components, equipment, systems and facilities which are not otherwise covered under the routine ITH system.

The security and surveillance program in effect at the PBRF in more than adequate to maintain the facilities in a safe protective storage mode.

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f 6.

Facility Changes:

Durirg this reporting period there was only one major change to the Facility as follcus:

Facility Change !!o.

Completed Descrip_ tion 81-01 11-18-81 Modified 480-volt, 3-phase electrical power service to the FBRF site by providing an alter-nate supply from existing Station source.

Re-sults in utility cost savings.

Includes capabil-ity for switching to original full-load capacity to support disnantling activities.

7 Facility and Environmental Radiological Surveys:

The off-site environmental monitoring program, which was re-instituted on April 1, 1980 in anticipation of the PERF dismantling, was terminated on July 31, 1981. This monitoring program will be re-initiated at least one year prior to beginning major dismantling activities.

Subsequent to July 31, 1981 the monitoring program in effect during the safe storage (standby) mode was re-instituted. The 1981 data obtained includes direct radiation, surface contamination, and airborn.e, waterborne, stream silt, precipitation / fallout, and vegetation radioactivity. These param'ters do not vary significantly in any respect from data obtained during the standby period (1973 through 1980).

Shortly after receipt of the USNRC Dismantling Order, !!ASA purchased more sensitive radiation survey instrumentation to permit measuring the more restrictive (uR/hr) limitations on release of facilities and equipment to unrestricted status. These instruments are operating satisfactorily.

8.

Significant Maintenance Performed:

Significant maintenance tasks performed during this reporting period under the Equipment Maintenance Record program described in Section 5, included the following tasks:

a.

Repair and installation of sump liquid level sensors.

b.

Replacement of deteriorated wooden weather barriers over Primary Pump House roof plugs with urethane foam coverint;.

c.

Painting of roof of Compressor Building..

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9 Other:

a.

TR-3 License Changu - In past years it was reported that USEPA requested the use of the Assembly, Test and Storage Building ( ATS),

the Reactor Office Building (ROB), the ATS Water Storage Tank and associated grounds area.

NASA then proceeded to request USNBC authorization to isolate these facilities from the PBRF site.

This authorization was issued on December 27, 1976 by Amendment No.

6 to License TR-3.

In 1979, USEPA decided to forego plans to utilize these facilities.

In 1980 the NASA Energy Project Office proposed to establish a Wind Turbine Structures Laboratory (WTSL) in the ATS Building for structural testing of wind turbine blades. The WTSL was to be a centralized, unique national test facility for conducting tests supporting develop-ment and manufacturing of small and large wind turbines as an alternate energy source. In May of 1981, however, budgetary restraints caused cancellation of NASA plans for the ATS Building to be used as a WTSL.

Currently pending in a request by the Garrett Corporation for use of the ATS Building. Under a contract with the Department of Energy, the Garrett Corporation is presently manufacturing gas centrifuges in the Space Power Facility (SPF) located at the NASA, Plum Brook Station.

The Garrett Corporation has asked NASA to lease the ATS Building to their company, in addition to the SPF, to be used in a phase of their gas cen-trifuge manufacturing program. The Garrett request for use of the ATS BuildinC is presently under consideration by NASA.

Construction, relocation and radiological survey work that was required to isolate the ATS Building from the PBRF was completed during the Sep-tember-November 1980 time period.

Representatives of Region III, Office of Inspection and Enforcement, USNRC, inspected the site on December 15, 1980 and surveys and sampling confirmed the absence of reactor-originated radioactivity in the affected area.

Isolation of the ATS Building and surrounding facilities and land area was ultimately completed on Fcbruary 6, 1981. Consequently, this area is now outside the PERF site fence and is no longer maintained in accordance with PBRF requirements.

b.

Radiological Contingency Plan - By NRC Order dated February 11, 1981, pertaining to Byproduct Material Licence No. 34-06706-03, NASA was required to prepare and submit a radiological contingency plan for the PBRF. NASA responded by letter dated March 25, 1981 requesting relief l

l from subject Order on the grounds that such a plan was inappropriate for l

the FBRF, a non-operating facility awaiting dismantling and tennination of licenses. Moreover, the majority of PBRF byproduct materials are i

canentially non-dispercible, as the isotopes are contained and confined l

as parts of solid metal matrices constituting the core components and l

can be considered to fall within the "Special Fonn" definition of 10 CFR71.4(o).

By letter dated April 10, 1981, USNRC, Division of Fuel Cycle and Material Safety, concurred with the NASA positien and indicated that Section V(2) of the Order had, in effect, been met and no further action was required.

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c.

Disposal of Excess Plum Brook Station Property - The Perkins School System has completed all work associated with the relocation of the Station Connunications Center and the associated Station perimeter fence.

(PBRF alarms continue to be monitored at this Center.) Con-sequently, the transfer of the 45 acre site of land and existing buildings from NASA to the Perkins School System pending completion of the required relocation work was accomplished in the Spring of 1981.

Due to Federal budgetary cutbacks, the USEPA Noise Enforcement Program was canceled effective October 1, 1981.

Consequently, all USEPA Noise Enforcement operations and employees located at the Plum Brook Station have been terminated. Further, the transfer of the 604 acre plot of land which was to be transferred by GSA from NASA to USEPA has been canceled.

The General Services Administration is now investigating other possible uses or methods of disposing of this acreage.

If subsequent disposition of this land in made to another federal agency, the existing Station peri-meter fenceline will remain intact.

If, however, this acreage is disposed of to other than a federal agency, the Station western fenceline will be relocated to the easternmost portion of the excessed parcel. The nearest point of property affected is approximately 5,000 feet fran the fenced site of the PBRF.

In either case, NASA will continue to control access to the total Station, inspect, maintain and provide security surveillance for the existing or revised Plum Brook Station perimeter fenceline. Condi-tions at the PERF site will be unaffected, d.

Audits - The annual audit of the Plum Brook Reactor Facility by the Lewis Research Center Audit Team; Dr. J. M. Earls, Chairman; was conducted on April 9, 1981. No items of noncompliance with either license conditions or facility procedures were identified.

e.

Unusual Occurrences - There were no unusual occurrences at the PERF during this reporting period, f.

Battelle Memorial Institute (BMI) Northwest Study - BMI Northuest, under contract with USNRC, is preparing a study to provide information on the available technology, safety considerations, and range of costs for decom-missioning research and test reactor facilities at the end of their oper-ating lifetimes. BMI Northwest has decided to use the TRIGA facility at Oregon State University as the reference research reactor and the FBRF as the reference test reactor in their study.

In early 1981, NASA agreed to sup-port this activity as in the national interest. A representative of BMI Northwest visited the PBRF site in early February 1981, inspected the facilities, and obtained available data.

It is NASA's understanding that the results of this study will be available for public distribution in mid-1()82..

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