ML20147D947
| ML20147D947 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | University of Virginia |
| Issue date: | 12/11/1978 |
| From: | Williamson T VIRGINIA, UNIV. OF, CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA |
| To: | Reid R Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7812200232 | |
| Download: ML20147D947 (2) | |
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IJNIVERSITY ol~ VIRGINI A U-SCl{O01. OF E NGINi:r nlNG AND APPLIED S C ll: N C f' b,pb;vm% ". 4
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22001 O t.P A R T M I N T OF N U C t. I' A R ENGINrrHING AND I NGIN LEHlNG PHYSICS T e l. E P H O N E:
804-924 7136 HeACTON F AC ll.l T Y December 11, 1978 Ditector of Reactor hicensing-U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission IVa sh i ng t on, D. C.
20555 Attention:
Mr. Robe rt 11. Reid, Chief Operating Reactor Branch #4 Re:
Docket No. 50-6f License No. R-66
Dear Sir:
This letter requests approval of an amendmont for Fac ility Ope rat ing License R-66, Docket No. 50-62 to revise section 3.5 and 4.6 of the Technical Specifications which address the reactor confinement systems.
Speci fi ca l l y, apptoval on amendment to allow operat ion of the reactor when the Emergency ILxit Manhole llatch is closed is requested to improve the reactor security.
Presently Technical Speci fication 3. 5, includes a requirement that the reactor not be operated unless a witch which scrams the reactor upon closing of t he Emergency Exit Manhole llatch is operable.
Section 4.6 includes a requirement that the switch be tested monthly to assure that it is ope rable.
It is recommended that these specific requirements be delot'ed.
All other parts of Technical Specification sections 3.5 and 4.6 would remain as presently written.
The recommended amendment is considered warranted to increase the reactor security.
As a result of the present requirements, the exit man-hole hatch must be open at all times the reactor is operating.
This allows easy access to the react or room from out side the reactor building.
The stated objective of Technical Specification 3.5 is to prevent exposure to the public resulting from the release of airborne radioactivity in the reactor room from exceeding the limits of 10 CFR 20 for unrestricted areas.
This objective is not affected by the requested change since the manhole hatch, which is a steel grate, does not serve as a part of the sys tem for confining radioactivity.
The water in the escape manhole acts as t he con finement seal and is not affected by the recommended change.
The original purpose of the scram switch on the escape manhole hatch was to insure that a method of casy escape was available during a reactor emergency.
This objective does not require that the grate actually be open.
If the recommendhd amendment is approved the reactor procedures and startup 7 812 20 02 3 L p
.,~/k Letter to Director of Reactor Licensing Page 2 Decembe r 11, 1978 list will be changed to ensure that the hatch is unlocked and therefore can be easily opened from the inside without the use of a key.
A method of latching the hatch to preclude it from being opened from the outside will be used to ensure that the hatch is an effective security barrier.
The proposed aniendment has been reviewed and approved by tne University of Virginia Reactor Safety Committee, Your early action on the amendment to the Technical Specification requested by this letter and to the amendment to change the frequency of inspections of control rods requested in our letter to the Division of Reactor Licensing dated July 14, 1978 is requested.
These changes are considered necessary to support our plans for 24 hour2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br /> per day reactor operation which is expected to start in December 1978.
In addition, we would like to withdraw our request for approval of an ammendment to the Technical Specifications for the UVAR and CAVALIER reactors concerning the release of fission products from fuel elements which was included in our lette r to the Division of Reactor Licensing dated July 14, 1978.
These items will be reviewed as a part of the revision to the UVAR Technical Specifications. pres en tly being pe rfo med and changes reques ted if neces sa ry.
h'c are presently working on the response to the item's concerning renewal of our Faci 1ity Operat ing License No. R-66 as reques ted in your le t t e r of Octobe r 16, 1978. As agiced in a telephone discussion between bir. Steve Ramos and hir. Bryce Sh river on November 30, 1978 this response will be submitted by January 19, 1979.
A pa rtial response to spec,i fic items will be submitted before that date if possibic.
The information contained in this letter is considered to be exempt from public disclosure since it relates to reactor security.
S in'c e rel y,
j cLO T.G. Williamson, Di rect o r Reactor Facility
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Fir. Steve Ramos Signed and notarized 12/14/78 h! r. J. P. Fa rra r Ef r. B.L. Shriver Sworn to and sub:cribed b fcre me thisMb Region II n
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Wilnus tny L:nd cd u, 2 J, Notary Public J g v r y' c.
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