ML20052A999
| ML20052A999 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 07001216 |
| Issue date: | 05/15/1970 |
| From: | Langford G NAVY, DEPT. OF |
| To: | US ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION (AEC) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20049A233 | List:
|
| References | |
| FOIA-81-428 1860, 703-16, NUDOCS 8204290540 | |
| Download: ML20052A999 (2) | |
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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY NAVAL UNDERSEA RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER g(g Ej SAN DIEGO. CALIFORNI A 92132 m nsp v nsrsn vo:
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((h;Ir 10330 Scr: 703-16 MAY 151970 l
From: Commander, Naval Undersea Research and Development Center l
To:
Chief, Division of Materials Licensing, U. S. Atomic Energy Commission, Washington, D. C. 20545 Via:
Commander, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Code 042, P.O. Box 610, Falls Church, Virginia 22046 Subj:
Special Nuclear Material License SNM-1154; request for amendment of Ref:
(a) NUC ltr 703/ALS:1vp 10330 Ser 70-92 dtd 15 Dec 1969 Enc 1:
(1) Test Program Environmental Tests of Solid Solution Cermet Fuel for Radioisotopic IIcat Sources 1.
The Naval Undersea Research and Development Center is currently conducting, under SNM-1154, marine environment tests of plutonium-238 radioisotopic heat sources microsphere fuel forms.
By reference (a), the Center indicated that future tests or other fuel forms may be scheduled and that additional infomation concerning these tests would be submitted.
Accordingly, enclosure (1), is submitted as information concerning a planned program for marine environment tests of solid solution cemet fucis containing plutonium-238, 2.
An amendment to SNM-1154 is requested, to authorize the possession and use o f quantities of plutonium-238 up to 100 grams in the manner described in enclosure (1).
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Fib Cf, TEST PROGRAM 1
ENVIRONMENTAL TESTS OF SOLID SOLUTION CERMET FUEL FOR RADI0ISTOPIC SOURCES 1.
General Information:
Under the Sponsorship of the Space Electric Power Office, AEC, the Naval Undersea Research and Development Center is planning a test progrmn to measure the effects of the ocean environment on the Physical and chemical characteristics of solid solution cermet fuels (gC) used as radioisotopic heat sources. These fuels are in the form of Pu02 - Th02 sintered and hot-pressed discs, clad with molybdenum, n ey were prepared by the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory. A sketch of a typical disc is shown in Figure 1.
Preliminary tests have been conducted by LASL on physical and chemical characteristics of the discs. Sea water tests indicated a solubility of 3.5 microcuries of Pu-238 in a three-conth period. Each full size SSC contains a total of 100 grams of Pu-238.
It is planned' that this program will extend over a period of two years, starting early in FY 1971.
A general objective of the program is to evaluate the consequences of the entry into the ocean environment of a radioisotope thermoelectric generator fueled with solid solution cermets. The ocean tests introduce temperature, tidal current, and biotic effects not available in the laboratory.
2.
Test Site
Description:
The program will be carried out at the Marine Environment Test Station, located on the protected (mainland) side of San Clemente Island, California.
The island, itself, is located approximately 60 miles from the nearest mainland.
Figure 2 shows the location of San Clemente Island with respect to the Los Angeles area and the other channel islands. Also shown on Figure 2 is the north end of the island where all of the facilities to be used by this project are loc ated.
San Cicmente Island is under the sole jurisdiction of the Naval Undersea Research and Development Center.
Entry to the island is restricted to personnel authorized by the Navy.
The emplacement area will be the shallow water ju'st off shore of the Marine Environment Test Station site, at North Light !! arbor. Th e waters contiguous to the North Light !! arbor are not normally used for projects other than those conducted at the Shrine Environment Test Station. The Test Area is shown in Figure 3.
3.
Test Program: The test progran involves immersion of six scaled down SSC Samples placed in ocean bottom material (sand, mud, organic material) in an exposure chamber which will be implanted on the ocean bottom at about a S0 foot depth of water. A sketch of the exposure chamber is shown in Figure 4 At 3 month intervals, a sample will be removed, given n' microscopic inspection and shipped back to LASL.
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Special discs will be fabricated for the test program. These will be about one-half the size of those shown in Figure 1 and will contain about 10%
of the quantity of Pu-238-(10 grams).
No water will be circulated through the exposure chambers during the y
test. The chambers will be vented to the ocean to permit convection interchange of sea water and biotic material between the chamber and the ocean.
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Rad-Safety Mea'sures: Upon receipt of the test sampics a complete monitoring survey will be made, including neutron and gamma dose rates, y
surface and removabic. alpha activity and air sampling.
Appropriate protective clothing, including gloves and coveralls, will be worn during sample handling. All personnel will be monitored foralpha contamination during and after sample. handling.
Film badges, including beta-gamma and neutron monitoring film, will be worn by all personnel in the experimental area.
Each time the exposure chamber is removed from the water, contamination control measures will be employed. The work area will be papered, the chamber will be monitored by wipes and by direct monitoring methods, samples.
of the sludge and water will be corlected for plutonium-23S analysis and an area survey will be made upon completion." Discs will be removed from the exp osure w
chamber by handling tongs, and 'immedi'ately placed in a covered container
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for transport to the examination area. Radiation and contamination control measures will be utilized during examination of the discs. The examination will be confined to a glove box, the work area will be protect ed with a removable covering - air monitoring for alpha activity will be con ducted i
and a thorough contamination survey will be done upon completion.
Upon completion of an examination, the disc will be packaged in accordance with Department of Transportation requirements and shipped to LASL.
Health physics personnel (the Radiological Safety Officer) will be present for monitoring services during removal of the exposu re chamber from the water, recovery and examination of samples and re-emplacement of the exposure chamber.
Alpha monitoring instrumentation available on-site at San C1cmente Island will include a Technical Associated Juno, an Eberline PACIS and an Eberline PAC 3G.
Sample preparation and counting facilities are available at the NUC San Diego. site.
Urine sampling and analysis will be performed if, based on survey results, the internal uptake of plutonium is deemed possible. Analysis of urine, sea water and bottom material for plutonium will in general, b c by wet ashing as necessary, chemical separation and concentration, planchet m ounting and counting 2n a gas flow counter.
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Upon completion of the test program the contents of the exposure chamber will be evaluated for plutonium contamination and disposed of through a 1icensed waste disposal contractor if concentrations in excess of thesc l isted in Column 2, Table II, Appendix B. - 10CFR20 are found.
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