ML20065D830

Requests Exemption from 10CFR70.24 Re Criticality Monitoring Requirements

ML20065D830
Person / Time
Site:	Wolf Creek
Issue date:	03/30/1994
From:	Hagan R WOLF CREEK NUCLEAR OPERATING CORP.
To:	NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM)
References
NA-94-0029, NA-94-29, NUDOCS 9404070245
Download: ML20065D830 (3)

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45 W$LFCREEK n-O' 1 NUCLEAR OPERATING CORPORATION I

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RobeN C Hagan q f We Fies6 dent Nuclear Assurance f

Marchl30,1994s=

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_ NA :.94-0029 s

_U.,S; Nuclear' Regulatory Commission.

ATTN:

Document. Control Desk N'

Nail Station.Pl-137 N

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20555 W

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Subject:

' Docket No. 50-4823 Request.for Exemption From q[

10 CFR'.70.24 Criticality Monitoring Requirementa~

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-Gentlemen:

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a This: letter' submits-an exemption request, pursuant.to the" provisions.;of s

10 CFR 50.12, tha_t applies in wholesto the requirements;offl0;CFR 70.24; 10' CFR s70.24 (requires,~. in part,:.a criticality alarm : system in Jeach ! area?

in which special nuclear material nis t handled, used;or:storedb and;the"

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performance 'of drills to.f amiliarize personnel' with. the evacuation xplan.

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g The. attachment' to this. letter contains itheL exemption request" with ;ani P

evaluation that justifies. that. Wolf Creek C Generating ' S tation t s 6 f uel:-

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handling system,. operating procedures,f and 'storagej racks Ear'5; designed $

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.such that sub-criticality will :be ; maintained 1under normal ;and accident" conditions while moving;or storing new or: spent fuelt

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If you ; have, any questions' concerning this > matter,f pleaseicontact /meiatl

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,b (316) 364-8831,- extension 4553,.or Mr.;Kevin1J.SMolesyat extension-4565'.?

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Very truly.yours,.

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. L. -. J. ' Callan (NRC)i w/a _

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- W. LD.' Reckley ' (NRC), ' w/a 7

L A.'Yandell(NRC), w/a-9404070245 940330 PDR ADOCK 05000482

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' r.0L Box 411/ Budingtori, KS 66839 I Phone: (316) 364-8831 '

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' Attachment'to NA' 94-0029

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1 EXEMPIION REQUEST proposed Exemptian

- g This proposed exemption request applies in'whole'to 10 CFR 70.24 which

. requires a monitoring system ' that will energize clearly audible ' alarms-b if accidental criticality' occurs in each area in which special nuclear material is handled,' used or stored.

Also, 10 CFR 70.24 requires that emergency. procedures be. maintained for each area in: which - licensed '

special nuclear material is. handled, used,.or. stored to ensure that allt personnel withdraw to an area of safety upon the sounding of the-alarm; These procedures must D include the conduct of ' drills, to ' f amiliarize personnel with the evacuation

plan, designation of. l responsible individuals for determining the cause of the alarm, and placement' of C

radiation survey instruments in accessible locations for use in such an

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y emergency.

J special Justifying Circumstanegg NRC. Regulations. provide for specific exemptions in 10 CFR 50.12 (a)','

I 10 CFR 70.14 (a), and 10 CFR 70.24(d) as follows:-

10 CFR 50.12 (a) (2) (ii)

Application

.of the.

regulation in' the particular circumstances'would not serve the-underlying -purpose-of the rule L 'or. is :- not -

necessary to " achieve the underlying: purpose.

of the rule.

10 CFR 50.12 (a) (1)

The requirements of-the regulations' 'are 10 CFR 70.14 (a) authorized by law,lwill not present an. undue risk to the 1 public._ health,- and.. safety,. are -

consistent with che. common' defense - and -

security,.and are' otherwise in-the public-interest'.

'10 CFR 70.24 (d)

Any ' licensee '.. who 1 believes that' good cause.

exists why ' he.'should: bei granted an exemption in whole or in part from the requirements of.-

this 'section may apply to j the Commission) for :

such exemption.

Special circumstances are - present in that : maintaining-the Teritical'ity -

alarm monitors and conducting drills. is' not necessary" to ' achieve'lthe.

underlying purpose of the rule.

.Also, the exemption. is. authorized L by.

law, will not present an undue risk to the public health'and safety and is consistent with the common j defense and - security... The'-- purpose ;of annunciating an ". accidental criticality and1 conducting ; drills : is ! to :

protect personnel.from accidental exposure to radiation'inlthe events off' inadvertent criticality,

'Since the geometric spacing of ' the l newt and p

spent fuel will maintain '.sub-criticality under normal and accident-conditions, inadvertent criticality : is prevented and~ such J accidentalE personnel exposures are.also prevented.

In addition','since~a. potential; for criticality does not exist,.a request.for. exemption is appropriate-in ' accordance with Regulatory position C.1 of Regulatory Guide - 8.12,.

" Criticality Accident ' Alarm Systems.

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,3 94-0029 g a M [f 5 ?AttachmentLto NA

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Evaluation.

The Wolf. Creek Generating Station spent. fuel storage' facility is located

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within1 the nfuel buildingoand has a' total capeity., off1340 -fuel:

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-' assemblies with a minimum-center to center spacing of 12,92' inches. The

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storage

facility, which-contains spent' fueli Lstorage 7 racks, - is constructed of' reinforced concrete with a stainless steel.liningiandlis an integral part of the fuel building.

The facility provides a. cooling:

and, shielding medium for the spent - fuel- (boratied water) andaan'efficientl Wi 1

method for safe and reliable ~ fuel handling operations'within the. spent fuel pool.

It also provides protection for spentjfuel assemblies.underf

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. conditions such as tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes,.and flooding.

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. Updated Safety Analysis Report - (USAR). Section'. 9.1.2 states. thatf, with?

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the spent fuel assemblies placed at their prescribed locations in ? the L-

1. u storage racks, and with unborated water as a moderator in the spent fuel:

storage facility,. the separation of 12.92 inches is sufficient tof maintain a subcritical array with an effective' multiplication.. factor; of less than 0.95.

Also,-the spent fuel storage racks are constructed so as to preclude insertion of spent fuel assemblies into 1 other than'

l prescribed storage locations.

If a fuel assembly is accidentally

-y lowered or' dropped onto the top of the racks or into the. annular space

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between the.

spent fuel racks and the storage facility ' wall,

,- f suberiticality is maintained in all cases with ant ' effective.

1 multiplication factor of less than 0.95.

Therefore, the design.ofLthe?

spent fuel storage racks, handling equipment, and-administrativ.e l

O controls are. such that suberiticality will be maintained ~ vnder v normal?

. and accident conditions.

N The new fuel storage facility, which contains new fuel. storage racks, is-d located in the fuel building and is a separate and protected areac The facility provides the option for onsite dry storage ~ of' 66 newifuel;

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assemblies in the racks in a lattice ' array. with,a minimum center to center distance of 21 inches in both horizontal directio'ns; 1The.

facility is enclosed by a reinforced concrete structure Swithi.'an'

'I associated steel plate top containing hinged openings-coveringjeach fuel.

assembly.

It is protected from the effects of natural 4 phenomena, including earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods,.and external M

missiles.

Drainage is also provided to prevent accumulation ' of water within the facility.

The criticality analysis described in Section 9.1.1 = of the.USAR states.

that spacing between new fuel assemblies in the istorage racks 'is 2

sufficient to maintain the array in a-suberitical' condition, even then rully. loaded.

Also, assuming that the : pit. was floodedI by T N M ad?

water, 'the array would have an effective multiplication-fact T o,, %

than 0.95~(0.98. assuming possible' sources of moderation, such~as. aqueous:

-E foam or mist).

.Also,-sthe.l probability ' of', a ' dropped? mass? accidentJ f :;

g occurring is remote since ' the storage racks are protected l from dropped-j objects by ' au steal protective cover and safe: handling ' feature's ? are 1 y

-incorporated into the new fuel assembly handling tools.

Therefore,?ther design of the new fuel storage rack, the. fuel handling equipmentk andl

'l the 1 administrative ' controls

.is. such that. suberiticality Lwill' be 0

maintained under normal and accident conditions.

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