ML20100G617

Informs of Recent Communications W/Doe Re Shipment of UCLA Reactor Fuel to Idaho Falls,Id.Jb Whitsett to Aftergood & to Nc Ostrander Encl.Related Correspondence

ML20100G617
Person / Time
Site:	05000142
Issue date:	11/18/1984
From:	Aftergood S COMMITTEE TO BRIDGE THE GAP
To:	Bright G, Frye J, Luebke E Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel
References
CON-#484-490 OL, NUDOCS 8412070334
Download: ML20100G617 (4)

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- COMMITTEE TO BRIDGE THE GAP 1637 BUTLER AVENUE #203 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90025 (213) 478 0829 000KET[I November 18,UI9bh ,

John H. Frye, li t , Chai rman Administrative Judge Dr. Emmet h g, Lybg :22 AdminiskratiVeJudge Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Atomic Safety and LicensinJ Board U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission U.S.NQcledlP,5hulat'oryCommission f

Washington, D.C. 20555 WashinpolipQ.f 20555 Glenn 0. Bright Adminis t rativc Judge Atomic Safety and Licensing Board U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Comission -. -

Washington, D.C. 20555 in the M.1tter of THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA (UCLA Research Reactor)

Docket No. 50-142 oL (Proposed Renewal of Facility License)

Dear Administ rative Judges:

This is to notify you of our recent com,unications wi th the Department of Energy regarding the shipment of UC LA 's re.1c tor fuel to IJoho Falls.

We informed you on October 31, 1984 that DOE had approved receipt of UCLA's reactor fuel, that a May deadline for receipt af fuel had been set, and that a ship..:ent date prior to May had already been scheduled.

In a letter postmarked Noveinber I, 1934, and apprent ly '

wri tten in response to our let ter, Mr. Cormier wrote to sav, o.:ang other things, that Idaho Chemical Processing Plant (ICPP) "does not want responsibility for storing the fuel" prior to May 1985 end has

" declined to accept the fuel as soon as we would like to ship it."

Our inquiries indicate that this is not correct.

As stated in the attached letter of November 14, 1934 DOE regards May 1935 as a "no-later-than" date for completion of the fuel t ransfer. In a telephone conversation on November 16, Mr. Don Deming of DOE told me that they want the fuel "as soon as possible" but in any event prior to May. Thei r concern is that if i t were to arrive af ter May, they would have to store it for a period of years until the next production run, and that is something they very much want to avoid. And in fact, he said, arrangements for fuel

(. p 8412070334 841118 PDR ADOCK 05000142 PDR 33 Q

-John H. F rye , t il , Chai rman Glenn O. Bright Dr. Emmeth A. Luebke November 18, 1984 page 2 transfer are proceeding apace, and they expect to recuive fuel wall in advance of the May deadline.

Though there had been sem internal " concerns" at ICPP earlier this year, apparently securi ty-relat ed, thi s mat ter had

" peaked" in mid-Septernber and had been " completely resolved" snor tly thereafter, By mid-October, a date for fuel shipment had aircady been scheduled. Far f rem wishing to postpone the shipment , Deming said, UCLA "could ship it today, as far as we're concerned."

He reiterated that shipment is anticipcted well in advance of Maf, though of course the precise date is classified.

On a related mat ter, we note that Mr. Cormier wri tes in his letter postmarked November I , t ha t "For p rac t i ca l reasons , t he dismantlement of the core cannot begin until the fuel is off the site." Mr. Corraier is explicitly contradicted here by the sworn statement of UCLA's Dr. Walter Vegst in his applicalion to terminate UCLA's operating license, dated July 26,19%. To wit, " Phases I fremovcl of f uel_7 and 2 / dis nantler.ent of the cere_7 can, anu probably will be done concurrently once the fuel is moved into the radioactive fuel storage pi ts."

CBG remins concerned about the veraci ty oi~ thue and a number of other representations made by counsel for oppnsing parties.

Because the license renewal proceedings have been suspended pending the Board's ruling on UCLA's request to wi t hd raw i ts ap;>1iet ion and terminate that proceeding, and because no 50.82 proceeding ha, of fIcially cornmenced (and none may if the Board accepts withoraal of the renewal application), CBG holds in abeyance motions regarding representations made by counsel for opposing parties. These obviously will not be relevant if the renewal application is wi thdrawn and the renewal proceedings terminated, and a 50.82 proceeding thus nade unnecessary. Should the suspension be lifted, however, CitG wiiI make the necessary motions to insure the integrity of the renewed proceedings.

Yours sincerely,

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nwn .mvm Steven Af tergood Lxecutive Di rector enclosures cc w/ enclosures:

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, f, 1, Department of Energy 1I Idaho Operations Office q "g 550 Second Street Idaho Falls, Idaho 83401 November 14, 1984 ,

Mr. Steven Aftergood ~

Executive Director Committee to Bridge the Gap 1637 Butler Avenue, #203 Los Angeles, California 90025

SUBJECT:

UCLA Argonaut Fuel

REFERENCE:

(1) Letter Aftergood to Whitsett, Subject, UCLA Fuel Shipments to ICPP, dated November 4,1984 (2) Letter Whitsett to Ostrander, subject UCLA Argonaut Fuel, datd September 18, 1984 (enclosed)

Dear Mr. Aftergood:

In regard to your concern for the shipping of the subject fuel (Reference 1),

we approved the receir.t of this fuel for ICPP disposition (Reference 2) and established a contact at ICPP for coordinating the transfer with UCLA. The May 1985 date was mentioned in Reference 2 as a no-later-than receiving date that was desired to permit including this fuel in our next production run, thereby minimizing fuel handling and storage at ICPP, and expediting the return of the uranium to the fuel cycle. Arrangements for receipt of the fuel, including obtaining a suitable shipping cask and completing safety analyses, are proceeding as expected and may actually be completed several months in advance of May 1985.

The date of shipment is classified but can be made available to you following the fuel transfer to ICPP if you are still interested.

We hope this has answered your concerns and that you will be encouraged by the fact that the UCLA fuel will be transferred in a professional and secure manner with due regard for the safety of the public and the people who will be handling the cask.

Very truly yours,

(( , dfik John B. Whitsett, Dire tor MFuelProcessingandWste Operations Division Enclosure cc: w/o enclosure R. K. Heusser, DOE-HQ D. G. McIntosh, DOE-SAN G. F. Offutt, WINCO N. C. ., strander, UCLA

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[ s ,- Dap;rtm:nt of Encrijy 3-L/ 5 - Idaho Operations Office d'

s 4" # [ 550 Second Street idaho Falls. Idaho 83401 September 18, 1984 Mr. 'Neill C. Ostrander, Manager Nuclear Energy Latioratogy University of Californi'a Los Angeles, California 90024

SUBJECT:

UClA Argonaut Fuel REFEREriCE: Letter, N. C. Ostrander to J. B. Whitsett, same subject, dated July 26, 1984

Dear Mr. Ostrander:

The subject fuel, as described in the reference letter, is processable at the Idaho Chemical Processing Plant. We will be glad to receive your fuel for disposition and would hope the transfer can be completed before May 1985 so that it can be included in the ICPP production run.

Please contact Mr. Gary Offutt, Technical Staff Manager, Production Department, (208-526-3014 or FTS 583-3014) of Westinghouse Idaho Nuclear Company, Inc. (WINCO) for coordination of the shipment. He will need specific information on the cask you use to insure compatibility with our equipment and perhaps additional fuel information to complete the safety considerations. If " canning" is needed WINCO may require that they be permitted to audit the operation. Mr. Offutt will prnvide the coordination of the receiving details of the transfer at ICPP.

If you need any further help please call Don D. Deming (208-526-0227 or FTS 583-0227) of my staff.

Very truly yours, t 0i J C

John B. Whitsett, Director fuel Processing and Waste Operations Division cc: Barry A. Smith, DOE-HQ Gary F. Offutt, WINC0 Daniel G. McIntosh, DOE-SR

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