ML20128Q415

Responds to Which Requested Info Re Transport of Used SG for Plant & Whether Discarded SG from Nuclear Power Plants May Be Shipped W/O Package Certification Issued by NRC

ML20128Q415
Person / Time
Site:	Ginna
Issue date:	10/03/1996
From:	Shirley Ann Jackson, The Chairman NRC COMMISSION (OCM)
To:	Leventhal NUCLEAR CONTROL INSTITUTE
Shared Package
ML20128Q421	List: ML20128Q415 ML20128Q440
References
NUDOCS 9610210057
Download: ML20128Q415 (2)

Text

F' W %P, j[$oceoy% UNITED STATES

$ e" 4 NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION E S WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555 4 001 5 ;j k.....,/ October 3, 1996 CHAIRMAN Mr. Paul Leventhal, President Nuclear Control Institute 1000 Connecticut Ave. NW Suite 804

. Washington, D.C. 20036

Dear Mr. Leventhal:

1 I am responding to your letter of August 23, 1996, in which you requested information regarding the transport of used steam generators from the Ginna plant and, specifically, whether discarded steam generators from the nation's nuclear power plants may now be shipped without a package certification issued i by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. In fact, Department of Transportation 1 and NRC regulations for the transportation of radioactive materials were  ;

recently revised (see 60 FR 50292 and 60 FR 50248), to be compatible with j those of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA Safety Series No. 6, 1985 edition). The revisions, which generally became effective April 1, 1996,  !

have changed the regulatory framework under which steam generators are l shipped.

When NRC licensees have shipped steam generators in the past, they have been required to obtain an NRC certificate for the steam generitor package. In prior NRC certifications, licensees typically proposed to Gil the steam generators with low-density concrete, although there was no specific regulatory requiremer t to do so. Under the new D0T and NRC regulations, NRC certification is generally not required for packages containing low-specific activity material and surface contaminated objects (SCOs). Therefore, if licensees are able to ship steam generators as St03, NRC certification will not be required.

The new DOT and NRC regulattons require that SCO pacxages are to be evaluated against DOT requirements. In particular, D0T regulations require that SCOs be packaged for transport in Industrial Packaging. If it can be reasonably demonstrated that ~the SCO itself as prepared for transport (e.g., a steam generator with weld-sealed enclosures) provides equivalent safety to an Industrial Package, the shipper may request an e/emption from 00T. Under DOT

. regulations (49 CFR Part 107), applications foc exemption from DOT

! requirements are noticed in the Federal Reaister for public comment. NRC will

' continue oversight of licensee steam generator transportation since steam

generator shipments by licensees are subject to NRC inspection for compliance

. with the DOT regulations, pursuant to 10 CFR 71.5.

i y0V L

210002 9610210057 961003

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C 1

With respect to the Ginna steam generators, it is our understanding that Rochester Gas and Electric (RG&E) Corporation, the licensee for Ginna Station, has not yet made final plans for shipment of the two original steam generators, which are currently being stored on site. Nevertheless, we expect that RG&E will attempt to qualify the steam generators as SCOs for shipment under D0T regulations without filling them with low-density concrete.

Further, it appears that RG&E could, under 00T regulations, request a D0T exemption, provided RG&E can meet DOT criteria.

Since neither the previous nor the revised transportation regulations specifically address shipment of large components, including steam generators, the NRC, in coordination with DOT, is planninj to issue guidance to clarify the application of the revised DOT and NRC transportation requirements to the shipment of discarded steam generators. Further, NRC and DOT are also conducting a joint study of large-component transportation issues.

I hope this information will clarify the regulatory requirements governing the possible shipment of the Ginna steam generators. If you have any further questions, please contact me.

Sincerely, Shirley Ann Jackson