ML20137Z381

Forwards Pellet Press Decontamination & Surveillance Rept. Results of Survey Indicate Surface Contamination & Radiation Levels Below Acceptable Levels,Consequently Pellet Press Will Be Released to Western Zirconium on 851216

ML20137Z381
Person / Time
Site:	Westinghouse
Issue date:	11/15/1985
From:	Reitler E WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY, DIV OF CBS CORP.
To:	Crow W NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS)
References
26085, REE-EKR-85-095, REE-EKR-85-95, NUDOCS 8512110288
Download: ML20137Z381 (3)

Text

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s Electric Corporation 85 NOV 26 All:27 a mn Columbia SouttiCarofria29250 i803)776 2610 Novenber 15, 1985 U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ATTN: Mr. W. T. Crow, Section Leader Uranium Process Licensing Branch Uranium Fuel Licensing Branch Division of Fuel Cycle and Material Safety Washington, DC 20555 SLBJECT: Pellet Press Decontamination and Surveillance Report, License SNM-1107, Docket 70-1151 Gentlemen:

Westinghouse Electric Corporation hereby submits the attached Pellet Press Decontamination and Surveillance Report in accordance with the requirements of Subparagraph 4.1 of StN-1107.

The report describes the decontamination technique and surveillance of the disassembled pellet press which was formerly used to compress pellets for use in nuclear fuel assemblies.

The pellet press was completely disassenbled, decontaminated and subjected to 100% alpha and beta-gama surveys.

The results of this surveillance are given in the enclosure to this letter.

Survey results indicate that surface contamination levels and radiation levels are well below acceptable levels as defined in the NRC document entitled " Guidelines for Decontamination of Facilities and Equipment Prior to Release for Byproduct, Source, or Special Nuclear Material," July 1982.

Consequently, Westinghouse plans to release the pellet press to Western Zirconium for unrestricted use on or after December 16, 1985.

(Note:

If tRC concurrence could be given prior to this date, we would appreciate it.)

If you have any questions regarding this matter, please write tc me at the above address or telephone me on (803) 776-2610.

Sincerely, G

w WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORPORATION DocKLTta 6

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E. K. Reitler, Manager 9-m 8

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0 ENCLOSURE TO TRANSMITTAL OF N0/ EMBER 15,1985 StM-1107, DOCKET 70-1151 PELLET PRESS DECONTAMINATION AND SURVEILLANCE IDENTIFICATION A pellet press used to form low-enriched (approximately three percent) uranium pellets for nuclear fuel fabrication.

DECONTAMINATION TECHNIQT The pellet press was conpletely disassembled before extensive decontamination treatment was performed at the Westinghouse Colurtia Plant and Nuclear Services Integration Division in Spartanburg, S.C.

At the Spartanburg decontamination facility, all contaminated paint was removed and the press was subjected to various cleaning techniques using a 5,000 psi water lance, 2,000 psi freon ince, ultrasonic freon bath, steam cleaning, and a wet glass bead blast system. Additionally, all bolt holes and other " inaccessible" surfaces were cleaned with wire brushes and blasted with high pressure water or freon in order to reduce the uranium contamination on all surfaces to levels As-Low-As-Reasonably-Achievable.

Following this treatment, the parts were dried and surveyed to determine decontamination effectiveness.

NOTE:

The vari-speed drive unit with motor and compensator motor has been replaced with a new unit.

SURVEILLANCE PRTEDURE Each part was thoroughly surveyed for total direct alpha and beta-gamma on all outer surfaces, front, back, edges, and the openings of any crevices, in compliance with Subparagraph 4.1 of SIN-1107.

Removable contamination surveys were performed on all surfaces (including the " inaccessible" surfaces) with Whatman 41 filter paper and Q-tips where necessary.

For total direct alpha surveys, the following instruments were used:

Eberline PAC 4G with an AC-21 alpha probe and Eberline RM-19 with an AC-3 alpha probe.

For total direct beta-ganina surveys, an Eberline E-120 with an HP-210 probe was used.

Surveys were performed by slowly scanning all surfaces at a scanning speed of approximately 1 cm/sec.

Instruments were calibrated with appropriate alpha and beta check sources and checked periodically during the surveillance to assure operability.

SWVEILLANCE FINDINGS For each piece of equipment, the following information was recorded:

(1) average alpha results (dpm/100 cm2), (2) maximum alpha results (dpm/100 c8), (3) average beta-gamma results (dpm/100 cm2), and (4) maximum beta-gamma results (dpm/100 cS). Summary of data is presented below:

bs Total Alphet Average: 1,000 dpm/100 cm2 Maximum: 1,500 dpm/100 cm2 Removable alpha contamination:

Average:

50 dpm/100 cm2 Maximum:

100 dpm/100 cm2 Removable beta-gamma contamination:

Average:

200 dpm/100 cm2 Maximum:

400 dpm/100 cm2 The average and maximum radiation levels were 0.1 mr/hr and 0.2 mr/hr l

respectively.

Detailed survey data is available consisting of survey results, date of survey, signature of surveyor and a certification that the surveillance was performed in accordance with the above procedure.

This information will be retained indefinitely for your review.

For both alpha and beta-gamma, survey results are well below the limits specified in the " Guidelines for Decontamination of Facilities and r

Equipment Prior to Release for Unrestricted Use or Termination of Licenses l

for Byproduct, Source, or Special MJClear Material."

Consequently, we feel that the pellet press decontamination meets the As-Low-As-Reasonably-Achievable philosophy.

The off-site shipment of the pellet press shall meet all applicable federal and state regulations.

CONCLUSI0f6 In conclusion, comprehensive decontamination techniques were used to decontaminate a fully disassembled pellet press for the purpose of releasing the equipment for unrestricted use. The decontamination methods were effective for removing surface contamination on both "assessible" and "inassessible" surfaces.

Note:

" Accessible" and " inaccessible" refer to the ability to perform direct alpha readings (these surfaces were available for removable surveys).

The surveillance techniques used also demonstrated that the " inaccessible" surfaces were cleaned with the same efficiency as the " inaccessible" surf aces.

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