ML20059M065
| ML20059M065 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 07000600 |
| Issue date: | 11/15/1993 |
| From: | NRC |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20059M042 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9311180138 | |
| Download: ML20059M065 (4) | |
Text
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
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NOV 151933 DOCKET:
70-600 LICENSEE:
Seattle University Seattle, Washington 1
SUBJECT:
SAFETY EVALUATION REPORT: APPLICATION DATED NOVEMBER 24, 1992 AND SUPPLEMENTS DATED FEBRUARY 24, 1993 AND JUNE 1,
- 1993, LICENSE RENEWAL P
BACKGROUND Special Nuclear Material (SNM) License SNM-589 was first issued to Seattle University (50) in 1961, and was last renewed in December 1987. The license was scheduled to expire on December 31, 1992, however, on November 24, 1992, SU submitted an application for renewal, and in accordance with the timely renewal provisions of 10 CFR 70.33(b),
the license remains in effect.
On February 24, 1993, 50 submitted a letter expressing their intent to transfer their four Plutonium-Beryllium (Pu-Be) sources to the los Alamos National Laboratory's Pu-Be Source Recovery Program.
By letter dated June 2, 1993, SU submitted a revised renewal application (dated June 1,1993) requesting a change in the authorized use to possession only of the uranium fuel slugs.
DISCUSSION Scope of Review The review for the renewai of SU's license included the application dated November 24, 1992, supplemental information dated February 24, 1993, and the revised application dated June 1,1993. The licensee's compliance history during the past 5 years was also reviewed.
Possession 1imits The maximum amount of SNM SU is requesting to possess and storgSis 2190 kilograms 2
of u anium enriched to 0.947 percent in the uranium isotope U.
The SNM is in l
the form of 900 aluminum clad, hollow, uranium fuel slugs for use in ' the subtritical reactor.
By letter dated February 24, 1993, SU expressed their intent to transfer their four Pu-Be neutron sealed sources to the los Alamos National Laboratory, Pu-Be Neutron Source Recovery Program. The actual transfer of the sources took place on April 1, 1993 Authorized Activities The uranium fuel elements are stored in the Nuclear Facility, Room 105 of the
'f Bannan Building on the 50 campus.
The staff recommends the following revised license condition:
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9.
Authorized Place of Storage:
The nuclear materials shall be stored at the t
location specified in the application dated November 24, 1992 and revised application dated June 1, 1993.
The uranium fuel slugs were used as fuel for the subcritical assembly.
The I
subcritical assembly was used as an instructional tool in the nuclear physics courses of fered by the Physics Department. To operate the subcritical assembly, a single Pu-Be neutron source was needed. Accordingly, the staff recommends the following revised license condition:
10.
Authorized Use:
For possession only in accordance with the statements, representations, and conditions specified in the licensee's application dated November 24, 1992, and revised application dated June 1, 1993.
j Organization i
The principal position with safety-related responsibilities is the Radiation Safety Officer (RS0).
The RSO is responsible for establishing and maintaining safe working conditions for all university personnel and for compliance with all l
pertinent Federal and State regulations. Additionally, the RSO is the individual with primary responsibility for working with SU's safety and security staff in the case of threats to or intrusion into the Nuclear Facility. The RSO has the 1
authority to halt any operation whit..i he believes threatens the health or safety of personnel or the public.
i The RSO reports to the Dean of the School of Science and Engineering. The Dean l
is kept informed of any matters related to radiation safety and security of' the g
nuclear facility.
Technical Qualifications l
The application specifies the minimum educational and experience requirements for the RSO. These qualifications are deemed adequate for the position. The RSO's
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resume shows that his qualifications of education and experience are more than sufficient to meet the minimum requirements.
Radiation Safety Control i
The uranium fuel will be stored at the Nuclear Facility, Room 105 of the Bannan Building. The Nuclear Facility consists of a main room on the first floor and j
a basement room.
All entry points into the Nuclear Facility are posted as a radiation area and indicates the presence of radioactive materials. Unauthorized access to this area is controlled with secured doors and intrusion alarms.
Radiation surveys in the Nuclear Facility are performed semi-annually with a G-M survey meter.
The meter is calibrated annually with a Cesium-137 source.
The i
most recent radiation survey of the Nuclear Facility was conducted prior to the Pu-Be sources being transferred to Los Alamos and indicated maximum dose rates i
of 0;24 mR/hr on the_ first floor and 1.6 mR/hr in the basement level. Average l
dose rate for the first floor and basement level were 0.04 mR/hr and 0.15 mR/hr, respectively. The maximum reading in the basement was taken against the side of the tank containing the Pu-Be sources.
Future dose rate measurements from the j
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I basement level should be lower due to the transfer of the sources.
Since SU has not committed to performing a source check of the survey meter prior to use, the staff recommends the following condition:
l 11.
Prior to each use, the licensee shall source check survey meters to verify j
.t proper operation.
Occupational exposure is controlled by controlling access to storage areas of licensed material, requiring all persons working in the reactor pit to wear lead-i impregnated aprons, and limiting the time any individual spends in the Nuclear l
Facility to the minimum required to accomplish the task.
When necessary, f
personnel exposures are monitored using film badges. These badges are. sensitive to x-rays, gamma rays, neutrons, and beta radiation.
Exposed badges are processed by an outside vendor, with a report of the results sent to the RSO.
Since 1974, with the exception of two badges, all have been less than 10 mrem.
l The two exceptions were significantly below 10 CfR Part 20 limits.
Since SU has no plans for reactivating the reactor, they have expressed an intent to return the uranium fuel to the U.S. Department of Energy.
Therefore, in i
consideration of potential decontamination and decommissioning activities, the staff recommends the continuance of the following condition which specifies criteria for the release of equipment and materials:
j 12.
Upon termination of operations or prior to release of equipment for unrestricted use, the facility and equipment shall be decontaminated in accordance with the enclosed Annex, " Guidelines for Decontamination of Facilities and Equipment Prior to Release for Unrestricted Use or i
Termination of Licenses for Byproduct, Source, or Special Nuclear j
i Material," April 1993.
i Nuclear Criticality Safety The combination of U-235 and one Pu source is subcritical for all foreseeable l
water-fuel mixtures. This was independently confirmed in the attachment to the staff's Safety Evaluation Report dated August 17, 1982.
There is currently an exemption from the criticality alarm system as required by 10 CfR 70.24, and because the subcritical assembly cannot be made critical, 50 has requested a continuing exemption. Accordingly, the staff recommends the continuance of the following condition.
13.
The license is hereby exempted from the requirements of 10 CFR 70.24, insofar as the section applies to the material held under this license.
j Environment al Protection j
The use of radioactive materials for research and development and for educational purposes is categorically excluded from an environmental review in accordance with 10 CFR 51.22(c)(14)(v), and therefore, neither an Environmental Assessment nor an Environmental Impact Statement is warranted for this action.
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4 Emergency Planning The licensee has established procedures that are to be followed in the event of emergencies or accidents involving potential or actual radiation hazards. The procedures address such events as fires, unauthorized entry, and injury.
Decommissionino Based on staff review, SU is not required to have a decommissioning funding plan in accordance with 10 CFR 70.25 because the material is not unsealed special nuclear material.
Compliance History t
The licensee's inspection and enforcement record since the last renewal was reviewed.
Only one inspection has been performed during the period of this review.
The date of the inspection was August 6, 1992, and no violations were i
observed.
j The proposed renewal of the license was discussed with Region V staff, and there i
was no objection to the i ssuance of the license as described in the SU 3
application and the proposed additional conditions.
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS Upon completion of the safety review of the licensee's application, the staff has I
concluded that the activities to be authorized by the renewal of SNM-589 to SU, l
will not constitute an undue risk to the health and safety of the public 4
Based on the discussion above, it is recommended that the license be renewed for a 5-year period in accordance with the application, supplement, and subject to the recommended conditions.
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Principal Cont ributor c
Elaine M. Keegan 1
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