ML20132H054
| ML20132H054 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant |
| Issue date: | 12/20/1996 |
| From: | Woolley R UNITED STATES ENRICHMENT CORP. (USEC) |
| To: | Pierson R NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| References | |
| GDP-96-0202, GDP-96-202, NUDOCS 9612270123 | |
| Download: ML20132H054 (2) | |
Text
70 - 7" United St:ts Enrichment Corporition
[
2 DemocrIcy Cent:r 6903 Rockledge Drive Bethesda.MD 20817 Tel: (301)564-3200 Fax:(301) 564-3201 December 20,1996 Mr. Robert C. Pierson SERIAL: GDP 96-0202 Chief, Special Projects Branch Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards, NMSS United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PGDP)
Docket Nos. 70-7001 Compliance Plan Issue 3, Action 10, Autoclave Containment Valve Pressure Decay Testing
Dear Mr. Pierson:
The purpose of this letter is to document a December 16,1996 telephone conversation between Mr. Dan Martin (NRC) and Mr. Mark Smith (USEC) regarding the Plan for Achieving Compliance with NRC Regulations at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plants (Compliance Plan) Issue 3, Action 10, dealing with the modifications to allow a pressure decay test to be performed separately for the inner and outer autoclave containment isolation valves.
Issue 3, Action 10 of the Compliance Plan states, in part:
Modifications to allow a pressure decay test to be performed separately for the inner and outer containment valves, and assurance that back pressure does not mask leaks, for all autoclaves in C-333A, C-337A and C-360 will be complete by December 31,1996.
To satisfy Issue 3, Action 10, USEC intends to perform the modifications on operable autoclaves.
Modifications required to accomplish the above Compliance Plan Action for autoclaves that are o
currently inoperable are being formally tracked and will be completed prior to returning inoperable autoclaves to an operable status.
. The Justification for Continued Operation (JCO) of the Compliance Plan associated with Issue 3, gg Action 10, states that until the capability to perform a pressure decay test separately for the innet and hNo. outer containment valves, and assuring that backpressure does not mask leaks, is provided fo pk autoclaves, the following surveillance tests will be performed: (1) quarterly channel functional tests J
&O to verify containment valve closure and (2) quarterly overall autoclave containment pressure decay g
or leak rate. The JCO concludes that this testing provides justification that the plant can continue to gg operate safely until the autoclave upgrades are installed as discussed in the Plan of Action and 8<
Schedule.
With respect to Issue 3, continuing to operate safely as specified in the JCO, has been N
interpreted to apply to operable autoclaves, since only operable autoclaves would be utilized fo i
cylinder feeding, transfer or sampling activities.
y4 g
4 Cuticil. LA Offices in Livermore.Cahfomia Paducah, Kentucky Portsmouth. Ohio Washington, DC Nr (M[
/w ess/FCE8/TBA33 9
/
p
I
~. -
Mr. Robert C. Pierson -
3 December 20,1996 '
GDP 96-0202 Page 2 i
Therefore, ' completing 'the modifications to allow separate testing of the inner and outer.
containment valves on currently operable autoclaves and formally tracking the modifications to ensure that the modifications are complete prior to returning inoperable autoclaves to an operable status, satisfies that portion of Compliance Plan Issue 3, Action.10 associated with these' modifications. As a result, no changes to the Compliance Plan are required.
Should you have any questions or require additional information, please contact me at 4
(301) 564-3413 or Mark Smith at (301) 564-3244.
Sincerely, G.D.' RoJth&(
Robert L. Woolley I
Nuclear Regulatory Assurance and Policy Manager cc:
NRC Region III Office NRC Resident inspector - PGDP NRC Resident Inspector - PORTS '
DOE Regulatory Oversight Manager i
I I
' l O