ML20043F362
| ML20043F362 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | University of Missouri-Columbia |
| Issue date: | 06/06/1990 |
| From: | Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20043F357 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9006140426 | |
| Download: ML20043F362 (2) | |
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SAFETY EVALUATION BY THE OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION SUPPORTING AMENDMENT NO. 19 TO FACILITY LICENSE NO. R-103 UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-COLUMBIA DOCKET NO. 50-186
1.0 INTRODUCTION
By letter dated December 26, 1989, as supplemented on February 23, 1930, the University of Missouri at Columbia requested a change to Facility License No. R-103 for the University of Missouri at Columbia Research keactor (MURR).
The requested change would temporarily increase the license possession limit for uranium-235, 2.0 EVALUATION The current uranium-235 (U-235) possession limit for the MURR is 45 kilograms (kg). There were two fuel shipping casks with the capability to transport MURR spent fuel, the MH-1A and the GE-700. The Department of Energy sought to license the MH-1A cask but abandoned the effort in 1988 in light of continuing uncertainties concerning the licensability of the cask. Within the last several months, the General Electric Company has decided for economic reasons to remove the GE-700 cask from service. This means that MURR must retain spent fuel on site until a suitable shipping cask can be found. MURR is preparing an application to have the BMI~1 cas k certified for shipment of MURR fuel.
The date of the approval is uncertain at this time. Resolution of the problem may
-l take until 1991.
MURR has requested an increased possession limit of 60 kg.
This will be the maximum U-235 allowed under the reactor license through May 31, 1991 assuming continued unavailability of a suitable shipping cask. This possession limit was derived by considering projected operating schedules, anticipated experi-mental usage, operating experience with the fuel cycle, the need for excess reactivity, and Technical Specification constrains on fission density. MURR's
'l practice-is to keep the amount of U-235 on site to a minimum and to maximize fuel depletion. The staff agrees with the licensee's estimates.
This change to the license will not require changes in the " Physical Security Plan for the University of Missouri Research Reactor Facility." The licensee calculates and the-staff agrees that the fuel will remain self protecting-('/100 R/hr at 3 feet) for the term of this amendment.
Storage of spent fuel e;
will be in existing or new storage racks that meet the requirements of the Technical Specifications. The fuel will be stored in a geometry such that the calculated K-effective is less than 0.8 under all conditions of moderation and permits sufficient material convection cooling.
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This increase is temporary in nature and will be in effect until May 31, 1991.
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If spent fuel is shipsed before May 31 1991, MURR will apply for a license amendmenttoreturntiepossessionlimItto45kg.
If unavailability of ship-ping casks continue MURR will perform a new analysis and apply for a new f
license amendment. While this temporary rossession increase is in effect, MURR will provide information on the status of the establishment of shtsping capa-bility and other activities relevant to the amendment as part of t1eir required
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annual report to ths; NRC.
The license condition on )ossession of U-235 is clarified with the addition of a clause to the license tist limits unirradiated fuel to 5.0 kg of the total possession limit. This is consistent with the Commission Order dated September 27 uranium (HEUl 1985 which limits the aniount of unirr6diated high enriched fuel that may be on site and the licensee's physical security plan. Orders were issued to all non-power reactors with HEU to reduce unirradiated HEU inventories as part of the overall offect to reduce the amount of HEU at non-power reactors.
There are no specific accidents in this type of research reactor associated g
with the storag'e of spent fuel in accordance with the Technical Specifications, The maximum hypothetical accident of complete fission product release of four a
fuel plates is not affected by increasing the amount of stored fuel.
Because the fuel will be stored in accordance with the Technical Specifications.
r accidents previously evaluated are not changed and no new or different kind of accident is created. Therefore, staff concludes that the temporary increase in the possession limit of U-235 is acceptable, p
3.0 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATION
This amenament involves changes in the installation or use of facility compo-nents located within the restricted area as defined in 10 CFR Part 20 and changes in inspection and surveillance requirements. The staff has determined that the amendment involves no significant increase in the amounts, and no sig-nificant change in the types, of any effluents that may be released offsite, and there is no significant increase in individual or cumulativt occupational radiation exposure. Accordingly, this amendment meets the eligibility criteria for cate pursuant to 10 CFR 51.22(b)goricalexclusionsetforthin10CFR51.22(c)(g).
, no Environmental Impact Statement or Environmental A:.sessment need m
t be prepared in connection wit 1 the issuance of this amendma t.
4.0 CONCLUSION
The staff has concluded, based on the considerations discussed above, that:
(1) because tho amendment does not involve a significant increase in the probability or consequences of accidents previously evaluated, or create the possibility of a new or different kind of accident from any accident previously
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evaluated, and does not involve a significant reduction in a margin of safety, the amendment does not involve a significant hazards consideration (2)there isreasonableassurancethatthehealthandsafetyofthepublicwl11notbe endangered by the proposed activities,s regu(3) such activities will be conduc-and ted in compliance with the Comission lattoos and the issuance of this amendment will not be inimical to the common defense and security or the health
=_r and safety of the public.
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Principal Contributor: Alexander Adams, Jr.
Dated: June 6,1990
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