ML20055F038
| ML20055F038 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 06/12/1984 |
| From: | Dircks W NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Palladino NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20055F036 | List: |
| References | |
| FOIA-90-29 NUDOCS 9007130217 | |
| Download: ML20055F038 (2) | |
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MEMORANDUM f0R Chairman Pa11adino EDO r/f BClausser i
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W1111am J. Dircks JR0' Executive Director for Operations
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LICEN$1NG 0F DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY CE$1UW137
$tALt0 $0VRCES MANUFACTURED AT THE WASTC ENCAP$ULATION AND $f0 RAGE FACILITY (WESF),
HANFORD. WASHINGTON i
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l In your memorandum dated June 1,1984, you asked for the status and schedule for review of the Department of Enerity (DOE) cesium-137 sealed sources-manufactured at the Weste Encapsulat' on and Storate Facility (WESF). Hanford, l
Wa sht r.gton. These sealed sources are identified c:! WisF capsules.
Approximately 60,000 curies of cesium 137 is ' contained in a Wi$F capsule _as cesium chloride. A capsule consists of an inner container and an outer container made from 316L stainless steel.
A completed capsule is 20.775 inches in length I
and 2.625 inches in diameter.
The sealed source and device certification system adopted by the staff is an administrative memnism to eltminste duplicative reviews.
Manufacturers provide i
technical informM.n about their. products which the staff entlytes for safety.
The safety analysts and technical specifications are documented in a Certificate l
of Registration, which is incorporated in a catalogue used by NRC and Agreerent state staffs in the review of license applications. The certification or catalogu ing procedure has worked well, particularly when large numbers of persons wish i
to be licensed to use a particular. sealed source and device. _ The applicant needs only to specify the manufacturer and ms> del of the source and device and does not need to provide further information concerning them.
There is a close coupling between the safety provided by a sealed source-and the i
device in which it is used. Prior to issuance of a Certificate of R*0istratica for a sealed source, the staff needs to know something about how it'will he used and the forces to which it will be subjected. We de not have this knowlege for l
the use of WE$F capsules. We understand that plans include the use of the RESF capsules in a new generation of irradiators, fiand fnilities or mobile, veter or l
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dry storage for treatment of bulk agricultural products and other meterie?s.
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d However we de not have detailed information which would permit us to evaluate the W$h capsule in contest of the fact 11ttes th which the capsules might be.
used.
Furthermore, the high curie content of the WE5F capsules combined with the solubility and dispertibility of the cesium chloride. raise a number of safety questions that need to be enemined in terms of how the capsules w111 be used in a facility. -These considerations are outlined in the enclosed letter dated April 3, 1984, to 00E.
The staff has indicated that, although it is not presently prepared to certify the WESF capsule, it is prepared to review any application for en irradiator which would use WSF capsules so that safety.related questions could be addressed in context of the facility in which the capsules would be used.
The State of Colorado has received an application from 10 TECH of Denver for en irradiator which would contain it m1111on curies of cesium-137. The NRC has received an application from Radiation Start 11sers,-Inc. of Menlo Park, California, for 30 million curies of cesium-137 which would be used in its irradiators located in Schaumberg,lorado for the 10TICH 1rradiator and NR Illinois, and Columbus, Ohio. Review of these applications is underway by both Co Sterilizers irradiators.
A proposed draft response to Senater McClure is attached.
i 1Si ned1 Jack p t
go, William J. Dircks Executive Director for Operations
Enclosures:
1 1.
Ltr dtd 4/3/84 to DOE 2.
Proposed Draft Response to Senator McClure cc:
Comissioner Gilinsky Comissioner Roberts Comissioner Asselstine Comissioner Bernthal SECY sc PE cA
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