ML20054C518
| ML20054C518 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 07001201 |
| Issue date: | 03/24/1982 |
| From: | Long J NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20054C514 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8204210234 | |
| Download: ML20054C518 (3) | |
Text
'
Enclosure l
DOCKET N0. 70-1201 LICENSEE: Babcock & Wilcox Commercial Nuclear Fuel Plant Lynchburg, Virginia
SUBJECT:
REVIEW OF RADIOLOGICAL CONTINGENCY PLAN
===1.
Background===
Babcock & Wilcox's Commercial Nuclear Fuel Plant (B&W-CNFP) is authorized by NRC License NO. SNM-ll68 to possess and use 20,000 kg of uranium-235 in uranium enriched not more than 4.05% as uranium oxide powder or pellets,10,000 kg natural cr depleted uranium as uranium oxide in powder or pellets, 3 million pounds natural uranima as uranium hexafluoride for storage only, and small quantities of other nuclides.
The licensee fabricates low-enriched uranium fuel for light water reactors. The current license was issued on July 29,1976, and is in process of timely renewal.
~
On February 11, 1981, the NRC issued an Order to B&W-CNFP 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 Order).
On August 28, 1981, the licensee submitted a Radiological Contingency Plan in accordance with the provisions of the February 11 Order. NRC staff identified a number of deficiencies in the licensee's plan and, by letter dated December 16, 1981, requested the licensee to provide the needed information.
In respon,se, the licensee sent the Commission a completely rewritten plan on February 9,1982. Minor deficiencies in this plan were called to the licensee's attention by telefax on March 2,1982.
The licensee provided the additional requested information on March 15, 1982, again in the form of a rewritten Plan.
II.
Discussion The Radiological Contingency Plan submitted on March 15, 1982, is adequate to demonstrate that the licensee has accomplished the purposes of onsite radiological contingency planning. The licensee has denonstrated (1) that its plant is properly con-figured 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 i
8204210234 820324 PDR ADOCK 07001201 C
pon
l appropriate energency equipment and procedures are provided onsite to protect workers against radiation hazards that might be encountered following an accident, (4) that notifi-cations 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 the plant to a safe condition following an accident.
The B&W-CNFP plant is located on a 525-acre tract surrounded by a sparsely populated area. The plant activities consist of mechanical operations on dry solids.
No chemical operations or continuous-flow liquid processes are carried out. Uranium hexafluoride is possessed for storage only.
Before release to the environment, potentially contaminated air is prefiltered, then passed through two HEPA filters, and sampled continuously. Any initiating event that could lead to a large release through the stacks would be immediately known through the concomitant effects on plant operation.
Health physics monitoring and assessment capability is greatly augmented by the expertise at B&W's two other significant j
nuclear operations on the same tract, the Lynchburg Research l
Center and the Naval Nuclear Fuel Division. These large operations can also provide extensive support in other emergency response activities, such as first aid, fire fighting, and security force augmentation.
No hazard is presented to the B&W-CNFP from these other B&W operations except for a criticality event, which would have the sane response (but with lesser personnel hazard) as a criticality event at the CHFP.
III.
Conclusion and Recommendation The B&W-CNFP facility license shculd be amended to incorporate the Radiological Contingency Plan submitted on March 15, 1982, 1
l i
m +
as a condition of the license. The proposed amendment should have no adverse effect on the public health and safety or on the quality of the environment and should improve B&W-CNFP's ability to protect against, respond to, and mitigate the consequences of an accident involving radioactive materials.
b J. T. Long Environmental Radiation and Bhergency Support Section Uranium Fuel Licensing Branch Division of Fuel Cycle and Material Safety, NMSS Approved F. D. Fisher,' Section Leader O
- -