ML20062J119

Provides Background Info Re Director'S Decision Under 10CFR2.206 Denying Committee to Bridge the Gap Petition to Shutdown Research Reactor.Nrc Did Not Exempt Univ from Code Requirements.W/O Encl Decision

ML20062J119
Person / Time
Site:	05000142
Issue date:	08/29/1980
From:	Tedesco R Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:	Harold Denton Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
NUDOCS 8009170192
Download: ML20062J119 (3)

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FE7: Rchert L. Tef:sco, l.ssistant Director E. Case fcr Licensing R. -ac hmann Civision of Licensing J. Klinger SC3 JECT: EACKGo.0VND FOR PETITION TO SPUTDC'4N THE t..IVEMSITY CF CALIFCFNIA RESEAOCH REACTCR FILED CY THE C's:.'ITTEE TO ERIDGE THE GAP Enclesed is a co@leted action fcr a " Director's Cecision under 10 CFR 2.2C6" ccreerning a petition by a grcup called, "Comittee to Cridge the Gap", to shutdcwa the ICGu Artsnaut type research reactcr at the University of Califcenia at Les Angeles.

The principal contention by the petitioner is that NRC exegted 'JCLA frc complying .;ith 10 CFR 20 Appendix S fcr emissicns of Arpn 41. In sumary the evsnts that have occurred since UCLA began opcraticos i.re as fcilcas:

1960 - The UCLA reacter began cpcraticn 1965-1973 - Classrocci and laboratory buildings were constructed arcund the reacter coplex, taking the reacter facilities an inte;ral part of the new complex. Besides being in essence surrounded by buildin~:s, .

the reactor neu has four ficces of classrecms abcvc it separated by tuo (equivalent) flocrs of courtyard. The ventilatica syste n:u discharges from the rcof of '.he cverhead classroc structure. This

.oint of release is, however, c1cse to another roof-located ventilation intake system. ,

1971 - The Techical specifications (Tech Specs) in Arendment No. 9 i stipulated that the roof located reactcr stack wculd have a discharge rate of 14,000 CFM, an acceleratcr nozzle, and, as the roof was an ut; restricted area, Argon-41 stack emissions would be kept below'.".PC.

Oct. 1974 - NRC (then, AEC) issued a riotice of violation to UCLA based on the fact that:

a) the stack did not have the required accelerator nozzle b) the stack ranitcring instruments had not been calibrated as frequently as prescribed.

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me anou un e m maru orso tu.s. covtRNutNT PRINTINc OFFICE: 1979 239-369 ,

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!iev.1974 - UCLA respcr.ded -

a)' replaced the acceleratcr which decreased the discharge rate to 11,500 CFM.

b) Found an error of a factcr cf 10-30 in calibraticn cf the g2sc=s effluent r..onitcr which rade previces ic.: readings cxceed the alleuable discharge concentrations delineated in the Tech Specs.

Feb.1975 - ::oC reinspected UCLA facility with the icilc ing fic. dings:

a) Stack noz:le decreased the discharge rate frc:a 14,C00 to 11,500 CFf4 b) ??ot noted previously but identified at that time that the stack elevaticn is at 103 f t rather than the 125 ft stipulated in the Tech Specs c) UCLA's gasecus emissicns s.are icw by a facter of 10 frc= these specified in the Tech Specs l

< arch 1975 - UCLA's response to these viciations ucre censidered to l ba ir: adequate by IaE and an enforccment ccnference ,,as ccnvened.

• arch 1975 - Folic <,ing the enfcccerent ccaftrence UCLA and ::?C acrced to the reocval of the nozzle to restore the discharge rata to 14,000 CF:4 and a significant decrease of reactor operating hcors to assure that averace annual discharge caissions of Argon-41 meet 10 CFR 20 Appendix B.

l'ay 1975 - UCLA applied for an amend;. ant that:

a) Li.T.ited access to the roof to r.aintenance and reactor perscnnel -

only by keying the door and controlling the keys, thereby restricting the area. ,

b) Removed the accelerator and restcred the stack ec.issiens rate to 14,000 CFM ,

c) Proposd to utilize an emissions reduction factor of 460 based upon reactor operating hcurs, meteorclogy and the adjacent tuilding occupancy f actor. This was based upcn a safety analysis shcwing that exposures to individuals in unrestricted areas would cocply with 10 CFR 20.106(b)(2).

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Feb.1976 - Folicwing a review and receipt of additional infcr.13tica frc. UCLA, fiRC issued Anentent Nc.10 approving the aicve chaMes to the Tech S;ecs. In addition, NRC required a two jear envircn. tr.tal study ccrsisting cf therrcluzinescer.: c'esirsters (TLO's) to le piaced thrcufcut the environs potentially affected by stack ec.issicas of Argca 41.

This was cogleted in 1978. The study indicated that Argen-41 releases were tetween 15 and IC? cf allowable whcie bcdy expcsure of SC3 trer/yr. Fcr example the TLD piaced cn a scre n atop the crissicn stack r.o::le registered at *1 crer/yr.

Oct.1979 - The Co mittee to Bridge the Gap (CBG) petiticned NRC to shutdcun the UCLA reacter. NRR, IaE and OELD staff were assigned to the respcnse.

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?' arch 1950 - UCLA applied for a 20 year license rereual Apr 19E0 - The renewal application was prenoticed in the Federal Register.

?'ay 1950 - CSG petitioned to Intervene in the UCLA licer.se rentwal stating rany of the same contentions as in the previcus petiticn.

June, July 1980 - GELD concluded that CBG meets the interests and standing requirements of 10 CFR 2.714. .

August 1930 - The NRC staff completed the respcase to the Oct.1979 CBG petiticn to shutde.sn the UCLA F.esearch Reactor and reccrrended a denial cf that petition. This directive plus the CBG petition tre enciesed.

Surrary of staff analysis 1 - NRC did not exempt UCLA from complying with any 10 CFR regulaticns.

2 - Since Arundrent 10 was issued in 1976, UCLA has been opcrating within their current Technical Specifications in regard to the CBG contentions 3 - From operating records and the TLD data of UCLA discharges, it is not likely that radicactive raterial discharged frc. the stack wculd result in expcsure of an individual to concentrations exceeding the limits specified in 10 CFR 20 Appendix B Table II.

Robert L. Tedesco, Assistant Director ~

SEE JREVIOUS YELLOW FO)L CONCURRENCg for Licensing ,

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