ML20132F969

Responds to e-mail Questions Re Handling of Finished Aircraft Engine Parts Containing nickel-thoria Alloy.Response Encl

ML20132F969
Person / Time
Issue date:	12/17/1996
From:	Lohaus P NRC OFFICE OF STATE PROGRAMS (OSP)
To:	Godwin A ARIZONA, STATE OF
Shared Package
ML20132F972	List: ML20132F969 ML20132G001
References
NUDOCS 9612260145
Download: ML20132F969 (7)

Text

_ _ _ _ . _._.. _ . _ _ _ . _ . _ . _ _ _ . . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

j .- . DEC 17199S:

i

Aubrey V. Godwin, Director i Arizona Radiation Regulatory Agency-i 4814 South 40th Street l- Phoenix, Arizons 85040

Dear Mr. Godwin:

Y l am responding to your e-mail questions on the handling of finished aircraft engine parts containing nickel-thoria alloy.~- Your e-mail stated that your investigation of the material indicates that it is exempt pursuant to 10 CFR 40.13 (c)(8). Our response assumes that:

(1) the thorium is dispersed in the nickel-thoria alloy in the form of finely divided thoria (thorium dioxide); and (2)'the thorium content in the nickel-thoria alloy does not exceed 4 per cent by weight. . ,-

, , . . ~

A review of the original notice (32 FR 15872) put$lished on November 18,1967 and effective on December 18,1967 regardinig this' exemption, indicates that there are no -

restrictions on the receipt, possession, use or transfer of this material (see Enclosure 1).

This exemption remains in effect and includes the receipt of aircraft engines by the rework

^

company, and transfer to the recycler for molting and/or other modifications. As noted, in the document referenced above, an analysis of'the potential health hazards showed that it -

is highly unlikely that the small, number of workers carrying out such operations will be exposed to radiation in excess of the limits recommended (at that time) by the International Commission on Radiological Protection for individuals in the general public when averaged'over a period of 1 year.

Responses to your specific questions are provided in Enclosure 2.

Sincerely, OdginalSigned By:

PAULH.LOHAUS Paul H. Lohaus, Deputy Director Office of State Programs

Enclosures:

As stated Distribution:

DlR RF (6S-199) BMorris, RES RBangart DCool, IMNS/NMSS PLohaus FCameron, OGC l

HNewsome, OGC SDroggitis Arizona File LBolling /

DCD (SP03) . PDR . YES_X_ NO DOCUMENT NAME: G:\ LAB \THALLOY.#3 'See previous concurrence.

,. . . c . c.,, . r-c.,, . ,u n ,pl

,u.,,oi r - n. ,

0FFICE OSP I OSP:DD' D:IMNS l OGC l RES l OSR1pM L NAME LBolling:kk PHLohaus DCool FCameron BMorris RLBith(aM"'

DATE 11/08/96* 11/12/96* 10/17/96* 11/20/96* 11/18/96* 12/. '/ /96 q OSP FILE CODE: SP-AG-2 l M~ 9612260145 961217 PDR STPRG ESGAZ 49 '

,_ . a r

& ;f a $

I pmig y *g UNITED STATES

)

• , NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

, e wAsmwarow, o.c. sones 4aos

%.....# December 17, 1996 Aubrey V. Godwin, Director Arizona Radiation Regulatory Agency 4814 South 40th Street Phoenix, Arizona 85040

Dear Mr. Godwin:

I am responding to your e-mail questions on the handling of finished aircraft engine parts  ;

containing nickel-thoria alloy. Your e-mail stated that your investigation of the material j indicates that it is exempt pursuant to 10 CFR 40.13 (c)(8). Our response assumes that:  !

! (1) the thorium is dispersed in the nickel alloy in the form of finely divided thoria (thorium dioxide); and (2) the thorium content in the nickel-thoria alloy does not exceed 4 per cent by weight.

1 A review of the original notice (32 FR 15872) published on November 18,1967 and l effective on December 18,1967 regarding this exemption, indicates that there are no 4

restrictions on the receipt, possession, use or transfer of this material (see Enclosure 1).

This exemption remains in effect and includes the receipt of aircraft engines by the rework company, and transfer to the recycler for melting and/or other modifications. As noted, in the document referenced above, an analysis of the potential health hazards showed that it is highly unlikely that the small number of workers carrying out such operations will be exposed to radiation in excess of the limits recommended (at that time) by the International Commission on Radiological Protection for individuals in the general public when averaged over a period of 1 year.

Responses to your specific questions are provided in Enclosure 2.

S' erely, 1 6

Paul H. Lohaus, Deputy Director Office of State Programs l

Enclosures:

As stated

,\ . . :

4 .

PART 40 o STATEMENTS CF CONSIDERATION estues lessites a* mest 8er e ahorar stades sendemed whether 184s emenp. wd notemuse that j heemse pened. ge d

an saleresses pureens wese teetted to men eeund ultimatasy result bs enstaan.

motion by earneut of matenale esse la e.ne g.,gegmiQ.

hpursues g,,, asmus emstrusuen schaut wrtsaan samments and ausses. - _ - et meesear remetere, es a am seau bied iB I

teams ser consideretten in eennesuen wee the prosesed asaandment withis De egett et essarest atekel therta pans e'.s e anens,idedpuhd n g [mm bahng beerparated as scrap to the melt. **8 #*

en afar puhusauen of me nouse W kg of anon sentandng aishet.af dene.

4 4

rule matlag ta the PhoenAL' east thenues aanperstees won to he ens *

,en,,saph een, p re,m,ete.r, ,,,, * ,,,,,m,*'ta,5j j ovos. After ====namatten of the at h matermis used h sometrisating Gde perlege saapung h harem.

saanebents resolved and other fastere h* mantear reaster planta, eash heurtune the thettua lovW h such '"

j estved, the Commisalen has adopted me gened result se addatlanal regeertive So. peculause Mt 8ere bekw ** 8 j geopened amendment. De test of es des predeels ha the reactor coolant and ed dren tens k Mme b sRest Mambag

amendement est forth below as teostanal tenar h the atmosphere surround

• sentrquh to provet mo therte .

with the test of the presemed amead. the senator pleas and h eesharged es g,,

1 j mEmbt pubhahed en Doesaker 38. 1906. weeges Ament the hformaaten esame.

thod a,an,swe,ed wede 8

) ainee the amendosal to telended to ered was es esperansatal condense pre.

gag g,, ,888 g

j prevede rebet frem, rather than to asa. etded by the petitlemer en the removal of eenstere a pese. restnet6eas under Meinnataans eur. eens an sing dehns metal pressedng. The Cementeden wB

! sentar la efect. 34 grul homene assouve The potationer has regened the neules deternalned nosessur. =r.a.lso .a ae.s.tygi,N

steout the susteenarr 3D=dar seuse. et a interatory eagerement est faussed 80s en me amenit W thertum and Wher

Asserenstr. pursuant to the Atende ammerulal melt practises der aerop and stamar mMansk aus4 red as Grees een.

! Seersy Act of 1964. as ==a-d and Gesing agent adetions. Then madte en"h8aante la materhls med for "

a the Admannstraute Freesdun Act of se Th 4 1968, as amended. the feuewsag amend.

have shown that essentanilr an of the ,,,gg gg g gg,,

g,ru,staan of mi,ss,ien,t, roaster,s,g g, ~ *ese l,aea,*

merm hereduced into stalances steel and i spent of it CFR part et le puhushed as hisemal malthy furmesse to sugaratog aante and ter earring neder uns.

t a h* sub)ert to eseAennes to be wtth the alag. ine seestsener mise has so.

j The asmenement puhhahed below dtf.

egestive isen puhusauen h the Puessat the rueults of a full manas melt of dare frees me prosesed rule puhushed

Seemrom y aDer I to whten a intse eman. k the Ptemaat Rasarres tag FJt. essa) '

i tear et stabel.therta serap was added. at the feuestas etapetta:

a These rundte anse have atswu est more 1. The seampusa has been restrteted than Se percent et the therts was re.

4 to thertuen eraft engine anotained in ear Annahed air.

I moved in the elas and the thertum een. sentasmans nichel.

1 sent h the Mahme alerteGqry eDoy I talerta ausy: . That; to) The I

{ thoria se essereed in was e.ses,itetanta.ur.,below a me s to the Medte snear e-.of mar h es f=m of an.the anckel theres

! 32 N'18872 ir evaded u, ens pushehes 11/18g ag'eauen materhl sentenhaMon.

i staterfuse disside4 ased (b) es monum ENeeme 12/ On es hesis sentent h me alekW.therts auer des

'q data.the twi ofa== surseur eveDahk bas eeneluded that act enesed 4 percent by weight.

Esempnen of Corteln Airereft Sagine the thads (thertues soside) esvered by S. The asesM8en to in the font of a Pode Comeining DNsitel.Thode Alley Tg*g*egYe,,, ges 3 amo e I!8( as propened On August 1.10ss, the Atomic Diersr alchel base eBore. Therefore, me Com. Die shange as besng made at this une in 3 Ceanalanaen puhushed in me Fassaat mieden eenendere it imhkeir that entry, the saempuen for thertuen tn togeten.

Rassetas (30 FJt. 00433 a proposed ever of thertuna dertad melung of enseal merim and magneeliami thertum auers assendament of i 4013(sH4). le CPR serap, generated ta the ses of minhal. presentJr amsded in g eg.gg<gnqi, i Part 40. whleh would have seempted thorns annere in jet altereft eastne parts. 3. The esemption ademed permits the

! Anashed products er parts fahrtssted of, wul aestaminate avalear remeter eaa. Sanduct of acurgues er sentaaruns any thertum.netW aller strissuen malenale to a level whteh Satshed aircraft engl esuch partsassentalaans repair W in width the thorium sentent in the aDer would herence remeter plant sa me. suckel the6s tuer, and the handling and does not esseed 4 percent Dr weight.The estivttr leve;s. It is hetetL however, that preessais>2 of snekel. theria scrap by scrap aouse of procesod rule ma3Ang was pub. the Ana en Feeneral of thorium in the dealere and pretessors. An arnaltats of me llahed in response to a peuuen Sted br metal greeensing art erecur apphahble Potenual healta naastles ahews the st se

, H I du Pont de asemeurs and Co.,Inc., only to theMist espersed in Siegeg. saghly unlSely that the smau austher of Wilmantien. Del., seguenans an esemp. ther6s 6Dere in the foren of Snely evidag wwhus ansTrisig out auch operauens in.

1 teen fresa Sier'telng reeutrements Ser earts (theMumi seside) and the esemp. selflag 38ckel tatoria suers wig he es.

' mashe.ihertum euere anstaanha op to Glen has been lasted asserengir to sediatsen er aarborne unneentra.

i a percent theMues er weight. Iseteresteg gof raeoscuve materialla essens of paraens were invited to sistadt written samments or stagestions for semelderg. Smals ressenseended er the Anternauenal Cumlesien en madnaangasal Proseeuen tasa in eennacuan wim the proposed

amendment wiuun as dare atter puhuss. for heelduale when a,oraeed . hori meageneral owned of a puhuc pear tien af the nouse of pnpened rule mahang .

L thePaeonaLRasseren.

Subesguent to padspeatism of to get.

1 pened desespeens for samment. Se Osm.

i a

e

esses escase sagensterr amenenty eser semessene meterani er teenat espeement.

4 to eastems fes d

e tese,es enemass.a les Atmans base 1

ENCLOSURE 1 1 - .m _

._ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ ___ r.______ _ ___ _ _ _._ _ _

i . : ..

j g . " .. . ,

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. , PART 40 o STATEMENTS OF CONSIDERATION

1. 5 *

! d. Presset esbottagraph (0) of 9 40.18 mal beense 9er Ole apart of meh 34PA 196e6 j set has been redesignated outparagraph segaterweght. pubstehes 13/11100 48 t, the ensamte would: Effecuve 13/11/W I

3. Pnsent paragraph (d) ef I 4023 has s. Reelse 4 40.13(eHSI(11) to 8 h toen redesignated paragraph tel and a tete. foradatered pettve the wordsprante"la

• casuom-ames. asloweemens Amensaiens the soist.

• new paragraph td> has been added to I 40.33 se provide a general usernae for the as legend pseutred to be impnmd en ges pert 30 9ssemenm W Osaddermion.

each esenM countemelght estalatas seport to sountrtes er destinataens other upmaha,the words "DepleWd 989e88*3 l than meet asted in 140.00 Southern i b. Delete he essettag Wh 3 PR 8313 Rhe$ eels and Cuba, of thorium een. $ 40.18(aHSHul) that the SetSteNelEht pungiehes e/1800 i

tanned e ankhed aircraft engine parts gesmas er seer severtas meet met h so- gg ,, g gfggfyg eestaintag nickel.therna ausy, provided mesed er Westfated*

that; tal The thertum is dispersed in the s. Add a asw I 40.18(eH5H818 te fe" On hha'10.1988.the Commlepen miekel.therts alley in 9 e fores of Snely each essenyt agentepulsht to be m the Pessman Remuss (M j evided therts (thertum esalde): and er marked durably and testMy A 19611) ementeeme W tes st) the monum sentent as the alekel. with the identtaastion of the manutse* segulauen of Seune RAnte.

i morts muer does not enesed 4 percent terer, and the statement: Daststhertes genta 34 CPR Part et, to enempt Dem t

by welght. Allesatsene Pnhibited"; been, slag scentressante Psamman=*tric

' 1 M foregoing 6. Add a ase sta sergale eestainans met mere thas 3 par.

emmission son.revidons d.suen ereSec.t pre. further

== = abaB

--.=i met ===a to aut,,,,,,,

40.18(eHS) be deemed(iv esse paese amendment, including addauenal teHS) A b.ytmenied weght sourse astertal.

- =e= d a l saformauen and data resetved after the the ehemleal, phFeisal, er metaUurgical setmas written esamente and engges.'

' acuse of proposed rule maktas was pub. Deatmet er pressestag of esempt sous. goe jer seenderetten k esmacetten hohed en August 7.1933. temenghts seer man manir w mm. wlm en propeesd amanheat witia sad esty tes) days after puMisauen of the the Commieslen has found that the re.

I'" d$ .33 ( sees me aos mettee la WW PWeene SeeWma. AfWr

!i

!YNeNuhNfd$ '

part senta!ning ntetel.thorta afloy, pur.

hg"EM*',"fb* ens" es

,m,,,me l suant to the esemption in 4 40.18tel(8) gauena fW esagdermalen 2 annaestion a

pubilshed belos. Involve untsnportant cuanuues of cource material within the wtg gne proposed asneedsment within etrty (30) days after pubheation of the 6, h hd W Ge, ,.gg' W t

mesnmg of section 32 of the Atomic mouce h uw Fteenat, Aseneren. $le 3888 1 Energy Act of IDH. as amended, which esammu ougsmung shaages were re.

j are not of algnificance le the assumon enved. The test of the amendmente est 11me,O,,sm,a,deelen,,has

,y ,, ,fam,ed gg , t, hat so.

defenat and security, and that such ac* out below te idemueal with the test of g,,, g, g,,,,, ,,,,,, g ,,,,,g,,3,,,

d tenues een be conducted without un. te propoed amendmenu F"h*' e estamht act more han p 3,gg 3g33 3 M"1 by weight sowas maternal an.

las has leo o esport of thorium In Ardshed aircraft le on in a j eastne parts. pursuant to the general U* for wealum h counterweights that the g g, g3  ;

sense in i 40.23rd) published belos, will ptma or other soverms set be removed hneed. wNeh w penetrated and, although prehlbiting e are em met W sigmacense ud security, ed "g"g) g g ,' * ' I" "#** * "I

• the phrencal '$* that such eeuvlties saa he sandwted esempt t any unreasonaMe beened to Afe The Caymisalon eendders that An* ununterweights. Perinit the repair er Inhed aircraft engine parla sentaining Q th" provtaleas ef l 180.1B(sH4) suckel.thoria aDoy are not products in* restorsuno et saly platmg er other es'* et it CPR Part 100. "Esempuses sad tended for use by the general pubile ering of eeunterweights, The present Comunwed Regulatory Authertty in within the purgtes of i1H 16(that of kmttauen la the esempuen to asunter*

weights en whkh the plaung er sev. Agreement States Dader Secueo 374."

30 CFA Part 1H. "Emesptions and Cen. ghe trapefer af passensten er esatto! by t&nued Rerulatory Authority in Agree. artna has met been removed er pene* -

trated le no lenger monomery, ames til es manufacturer, preseener, et producer ment States Under escuan 314'*. Accord. g steeselectrie carande disertbuted for I tagly, the transfer of peeseeston er uporgenes to dag wgug thousands of gas ander Se sempuse would be sub.

sentrol of eveh Annahed alteraft engine eeunterweights la que over me past parts in agreement States ' by tfw eaanu. arveral years ladleates that presset maa* Jeet to the Commuesion's liesnelas and efecturias tenhalques provide adequate regulatory roeutremenu even af the prod.

facturer, processor of producer would act to manufactured pursuant to an met be regulated by the Coasteaton. protocuen agatast taldatles et arasuusa, Agressment State Beenee. By the teruns Pursuar.t to the Atemte Energy Act of and (3) estvlues wheeh would tavolve of the esempuen, the Casandenen would

IDH. as annended.*and the Adardnistra. aroceestas of ternalum are espressly pro

• habited, eseept for preseases wtuch de esereise such regulatory authority by

ttve Precedure Act of IH4, as manended. esempung, under new I do.18(eH3 Hill.

i the fouestna amendments of le CPR not hveive espesure hasards engelS*

i enntly diferent from these levolved at any pereen (taeloding a manufacturer.

Part 60 are pubushed as a document sub. t. er producer la na Agnement Jeet to ametfuauon, to be efecuve thirty headling an endemaged sounterweight, te g pseenslectric eerendel to the I

130) days after puhuesuen an the Pao. the h m somsiders that the Pre

• entent that such persee trameters 36e.

I east Rassres. vaalene to the unendments adoeussely ameneet,$c seranse asetatalad met mere eentrol the low sadlause espesures the&

. May reeUR ime Gaearded enunter* maa 3 percept Dy weight asures malertal.

wesha. .Pu.rsuant te the Ateede bergy Att 1

34 FR 14067 pet.ense sisiso Sanoe the Genewing anneadinesta

. .m amended.and memas us and 8

seuen ima, ruhee han empsee esa of tsue s of the United plates onde.

Stterwe sis /GS he feuerlag amedmet u 4tue 10, l restateuses under regulaueno eur" Chhapter 1. Code of Federal Regulatleas.

j t#aaiem Ceamaned sa e renur um 91u la.ufect. they vul beoene uw estemary Wee

• so. day mouse. Part 40 are pu Co##9*r*Pel9MS Aseerdlagly, pumeant to the Ateente seet es enesc.W as a deessment auen esseum thirty csc) eDb-

! On July 18,1988 dare Weer puhusmusa h the Feuemat man in uw pas theatceammledes hwrgy Aes of 1964. as ammeed, and A m a ne tupub.

i Beasona r.R. meumw me and mz w mue a et me

.' 33107) peepened amendmeans to its ms, Datted States Code, the i

j enuea le CFR Part "uemens e Seurw 40, pertanning amendmetta nantertnif Code to the esemp of pederal to Tsue so. gs. 40 Regulatlea 36 M N

,mm,g,f, ras requir eng g are published as a escument subleet to puhtishes 7/3Cf70

, e,,M,undngato,g at seuem,,,,h. -me+ uen sawun egen puhummen ta a

testaDed in alteraft, roebeta, projectnes, an.cweaneno i saw Psamat Resaarea 4

and missues, or stored er handled b eeanocuen wie instaDauen er reumevnt j af such eeusterwelshta and the gen.

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~

Response To Questions On Nickel-Thoria Alloy l

1. Can the aircraft reworking company remove the parts from an aircraft engine and then sell it to a recycler?

Answer - Yes, this activity is authorized under the current regulation, 10 CFR Part 40, Section 40.13(c)(8).

2. Can the recycler melt or otherwise modify the engine part?

Answer - Yes, this activity is also authorized under the current regulation, 10 CFR Part 40, Section 40.13(c)(8).

3. Has an assessment been made of the public exposure if these parts are melted and their products enter the public steel supply?

l 4

Answer - We are not aware of any studies which specifically address

public exposure to nickel-thoria alloy which has been melted and incorporated into products entering the public steel supply.

4. If an enforcement action should be taken, should it be against the aircraft reworker, the scrap yard, or who ever melts the parts? Should we establish a program to detect any possible diversion to melting companies?

Answer - Given the information you have provided, we are not aware of any basis for enforcement action. There are no requirements which dictate that you establish a program to detect the transfer of material containing nickel-thoria alloy to metal melting companies.

ENCLOSURE 2

I

)

i Aubrey V. Godwin, Director '

i l Arizona Radiation Regulatory Agency I 4814 South 40th Street l Phoenix, Arizona 85040 l

i

Dear Mr. Godwin:

i l l l am respondmg to your e-mail questions on the handling of finished aircraft engine parts

( containing nickel-thoria alloy in accordance with the exemption in 10 CFR 40.13(c)(8) on unimportant quantities of source material.

I A review of the original notice (32 FR 15872) published on November 18,1967 and effective on December 18,1967, indicates that there are no restrictions on the receipt, possession, use or tmosfer of this material (see Enclosure 1). This exemption remains in effect and includes t'.o receipt of aircraft engines by the rework company, and transfer to the recycler for molting and/or other modifications. As noted,in the document referenced above, an analysis of the potential health hazards showed that it is highly unlikely that the small number of workers carrying out such operations will be exposed to radiation in excess of the limits recommended (at that time) by the International Commission on Radiological Protection for individuals in the general public when averaged over a period of 1 year.

Responses to your specific questions are provided in Enclosure 2.

Sincerely, Paul H. Lohaus, Deputy Director Office of State Programs

Enclosures:

As stated Distribution:

DlR RF (6S-199) BMorris, RES R8angart DCool, IMNS/NMSS PLohaus FCameron, OGC SDroggitis  !

L8ciling l Ariam ite s . l DCD NP03)

PDR YES_X_ NO 1

DOCUMENT NAME: G:\ LAB \THALLOY #2A , n 72 somehn a sepy at nede - eneseem in the eph1T = copy without estechenenueneesedre -tt' . copy with seischenentlenosoewe "es* = Nocopy i

l OFFICE M OSP l OS WL D:IMNS l N OGC l RES l OSP:D l 1 NAME d H ol1ing:kk PHLoM '

DCool FCamerond BMorris RLBangart  ;

DATE 11/ f /96 11/4 2/96 11/ /96 11/10/96 11/ /96 11/ /96 i OSP FILE C0)E: SP-AG-2 I

\

d WM))}

~ ,-

t 49 y \ UNITED STATES j

t NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20006 0001

~%...../

Aubrey V. Godwin, Director Arizona Radiation Regulatory Agency 4814 South 40th Street Phoenix, Arizona 85040

Dear Mr. Godwin:

I am responding to your e-mail questions on the handling of finished aircraft engine parts containing nickel-thoria alloy,in-accordancamith the exemptiorrirr10tFR-40-13(c)(8) on f **b unimpc-ter.t uentities-of-sourcseatorial.

sesdocates thsNt '/ovecwd/

is wear parsaw fo to uA 5/dd sfo.ta (c )(8 #d'

) . Ya*"h '& #/ **Our erspense. ustonses //d (o) yhe '

A review of the original notice (32 1$8N) pNshM November 18,1967 and effective on December 18,1967, indicates that there are no restrictions on the receipt,

\ I possession, use or transfer of this material (see Enclosure 1). This exemption remains in effect and includes the receipt of aircraft engines by the rework company, and transfer to the recycler for melting and/or other modifications. As noted, in the document referenced above, an analysis of the potential health hazards showed that it is highly unlikely that the small number of workers carrying out such operations will be exposed to radiation in excess of the limits recommended (at that time) by the International Commission on Radiological Protection for individuals in the general public when averaged over a period of 1 year.

Responses to your specific questions are provided in Enclosure 2.

l Sincerely, Paul H. Lohaus, Deputy Director Office of State Programs

Enclosures:

As stated <

^

is dispersed in the nnKel- thoris adoy tn ne Arm of Aney Johded thori (thorium diodde))

ud (2.) the ihorivrn an knf in the rue){el-/ hor,e

+/loy doe 6 nof waed y p cd y weyht,