ML20050C007
| ML20050C007 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 07000025 |
| Issue date: | 03/03/1982 |
| From: | Decker T NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20050C005 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8204080003 | |
| Download: ML20050C007 (4) | |
Text
.
Docket No:
70-25 Licensee:
Rockwell International Corporation Energy Systens Group Canoga Park, California
SUBJECT:
REVIEW 0F RADIOLOGICAL CONTINGENCY PLAN DATED AUGUST 28, 1981, AS REVISED BY REVISION DATED MARCH 3,1982, IN COMPLIANCE WITH NRC ORDER DATED FEBRUARY 11, 1981:
SAFETY EVALUATION REPORT I.
Background
The Energy Systems Group, Rockwell International Cor cration, with facilities located in Canoga Park and in the Simi Hills of Ventura County, California, is authorized to possess, and use up to 1,500 kg of U-235 (any enrichment or form), 3.5 kg total plutonium (any form), 5 kg of U-233 (any form), and 1.0 kg plutonium (principally Pu-239), and 0.5 kg plutonium (principally Pu-238 ) in sealed sources. The license authorizes the development and testing of both irradiated and un-irradiated nuclear fuels, the development and production of test and research reactor fuel elements, and related research and development projects. The current license was renewed on September 15,1977, and is due to expire on September 30, 1982. On February 11, 1981, the NRC issued an Order to Rockwell International Corporation to submit, within 180 days of the effective date of the Order, a Radiological Contingency Plan in accordance with a standard format and content (Enclosure 1 to the Jrder) or, alternatively, to reduce their possession limits below those in Enclosure 2 to the Order. The licensee responded as indicated in the subject heading.
II.
Discussion Licensed activities are performed at Energy System Group's (ESG) Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFL) located in the Simi Hills about 29 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles, and at ESG's headquarters located in Canoga Park, California, about 25 miles northwest of the Los Angeles Civic Center.
4 8204000000 820325 PDR ADOCK 07000025 C
.. The Headquarters facilities consist of a fuel fabrication facility and several laboratories in which research studies in physics and chemistry are performed and small quantities of fuel materials are chemically analyzed. The site includes approximately 71.6 acres located in the relatively urban surroundings of the San Fernando Valley. The area immediately surrounding the site is composed of widely varying land zoning divisions which include industrial, commercial, agricultural, and multiple and single residential classifications. The Santa Susana licensed facility consists of the ESG Hot Laboratory used for hot-cell examination of irradiated nuclear fuels and reactor components, and the plutonium facility, which is used for the fabrication of depleted uranium carbide fuel pellets. For the present and foreseeable future, there are no plans for plutonium work activities.
The Santa Susana Field Laboratory is located on a plateau atop the Simi Hills and is relatively isolated from the surrounding communities.
The Radiological Contingency Plan submitted on August 28, 1981, and revised on March 3,1982, is adequate to demonstrate that the licensee has accomplished the purpose and intent of radiological contingency planning, viz, assuring (1) that the facility is properly configured to limit releases of radioactive materials and radiation exposures in the event of an accident, (2) that a capability exists for measuring and assessing the significance of accidental releases of radioactive materials, (3) that appropriate emergency equipment and procedures are provided 'onsite to protect workers against radiation hazards that might be encountered following an accident, (4) that notifications are promptly made offsite to Federal, State, and local government agencies and (5) that necessary recovery actions are taken in a timely fashion to return his plant to a safe condition following an accident. The infonnation presented is adequate to demonstrate that preplanning to prevent, control, or mitigate the release of licensed material in the event of an accident is appropriate for the licensed facility.
Licensed facilities are provided with systems to detect accidental releases of radioactive materials and provide alann signals to assure corrective responses.
Fume hoods, glove boxes, or hot cells are l
provided for all operations involving radioactive material or nuclear fuels which under normal working conditions could generate radioactive material concentrations in excess of occupational standards. Ventilation
)
systems required for purposes of controlling potential accident con-sequences offsite are provided with audible alanas if blower shutdown is necessary to limit offsite exposures. Dual ventilation systems, including backflow dampers and redundant blowers, are provided where appropriate.
Where operation!. that may produce sparks are perfonned, water scrubbers or fiberglass prefilters are provided to assure that any material that collects in the filter plenums will not ignite.
Offgas cooling is provided for protection of final filters from heat and combustion products. Important structures are equipped with automatic fire suppression and/or detection systems.
Where criticality safety is based on limited water moderation or reflection, alternate systems, such as nitrogen atmosphere, are used.
Accidental criticality detectors and alanns are located throughout the facility.
1
. The description of the radiological contingency planning organization is sufficient to demonstrate the preplanning necessary for appropriate emergency response.
The responsibilities of various supporting organi-zations are established as well as a description of the arrangements made for offsite assistance. General plans for recovery and reentry are acceptable.
III.
Conclusions and Recommendations The Rockwell International Corporation, Energy System Group's license should be amended to incorporate the Radiological Contingency Plan dated August 28, 1981, as revised on March 3, 1982, as a condition of the license.
The proposed amendment should have no adverse affect on the public health and safety or on the quality of the environment and should improve the licensee's ability to protect against, respond to, and mitigate the consequences of an accident involving radioactive material s.
T. R. Decker Environmental Radiation and Emergency Support Section Uranium Fuel Licensing Branch Division of Fuel Cycle and 4,
/
Material Safety, NMSS g
Approve by: /
s F. D. Fisher, Section Leader l
Within ninety (90) days of the date of this amendment, the licensee shall implement, maintain, and execute the response measures of his Radiological Contingency Plan submitted to the Commission on August 28, 1981, and revised on March 3,1982.
The licensee shall also prepare and maintain implementing procedures for his Radiological Contingency Plan as necessary to implement the Plan. This Radiological Contingency Plan and associated implementing procedures supersede the energency planning require :ats of 10 CFR 70.22(1) ase they refer to onsite planning and notification. The licensee shall make no change in his Radiological Contingency Plan that would decrease the response effectiveness of the Plan without prior Commission approval as evidenced by a license amend-ment.
The licensee may make changes to his Radiological Contingency Plan without prior Commission approval if the changes do not decrease the response effectiveness of the Plan.
The licensee shall maintain records of changes that are made to the Plan without prior approval for a period of two years from the date of the change and shall furnish the Chief, Uranium Fuel Licensing Branch, Division of Fuel Cycle and Material Safety, NMSS, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C. 20555, and the appropriate NRC Regional Office specified in Appendix D of 10 CFR Part 20, a report containing a description of each change within six months after the change is made.
_ _ _ _ _ -