ML20148F443
| ML20148F443 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 07000008 |
| Issue date: | 08/17/1978 |
| From: | Toy H Battelle Memorial Institute, COLUMBUS LABORATORIES |
| To: | Kratzke R NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7811090012 | |
| Download: ML20148F443 (2) | |
Text
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.3 Mr.' Robert Kratzke U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission g,;,egriu. M...
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Mail Stop SS-396 Washington, D.C.
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Dear Mr. Kratzke:
Docket 70-8 Thic letter is a request for NRC authorization for a temporary departure from normal operating procedures at Batte11e's Columbus Hot Cell Laboratory.
Normal and routine operations associated with the fuel storage pool within the' Hot Cell Laboratory are conducted at a radioactivity level of not more than 1E-3 pCi/ml
' alpha. Within the past two months we have noted an increase in the beta-gamma concentrations.
Comparison of the beta-gamma concentrations with operations and activities during this period show the increased levels to be a direct result of additional fuel loadings handled and the installation of a new storage rack into the pool.
These operations have apparently disturbed accumulated sediment at the bottom of the pool.
. Currently, the pool water is being collected and analyzed at 3-to 4-day intervals.
The beta-gamma concentrations have stabilized at approximately 30 percent of our normal operating limit of 1E-3 pCi/ml for beta-gamma.
However, during late August and September, we will be installing an impact limiter on the bottom of the pool.
We anticipate that operations associated with the installation of the impact limiter will further disturb accumulated sediment in the pool with a corresponding increase in beta-gamma concentration.
In order to assure compliance, we are requesting temporary authorization to conduct pool operations.at an upper. limit of IE-2 pCi/ml. beta-gamma concentration during pool cleaning and installation of the impact limiter. A temporary authorization to operate at the upper limit of IE-2 beta-gamma through December 31, 1978, would allow adequate time for pool cleaning, installation of the impacter, and safe settlement of the pool water.
During this period of departure from normal operat.. a coalitions, the fol1owing health physics monitoring and surveillance procedures would be conducted:
(1) Work requests (authorization to perform operations having radiological safety implications) will be utilized during the course of pool nodification. Work requests arc designed te assure,that personnel performing the task are-f h / 2,.
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CT Mr. Robert Kratzke 2
August 17, 1978 T.
made fully aware of the specific radiological safety considerations.
The request must be approved by the Laboratory Supervisor and the Health Physics Group.
(2) Pool water samples will be collected and analyzed weekly.
(3) The resin bags of ion columns will be replaced when readings of 300 mr/hr at one foot are reached.
(4) It is anticipated that increased personnel doses should not occur in the immediate vicinity of the pool area during inste".lation of the impact limiter.
Any increased doses are likely to occur during change-out of the ion exchange resin bags and the monitoring associated with the change-out.
Steps to minimize doses during this operation would include the following:
A remote monitoring device would be e
installed to reduce residence time within ths resin column area.
We are improving the system of changing e
the prefilters located upstream of the resin columns in order to reduce the time required to change the prefilters.
This action will be taken since it is anticipated that the prefilters will collect radioactive particulate material at an increased rata during the period of the installation of the impact limiter.
l A pool underwater vacuum system will be l
e installed to assist in the collection of the
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disturbed radioactive particulate sediment.
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We maintain that the above health physics monitoring and surveillance procedures will assure safe radiological operations during pool modifications at a radio-l activity level in the pool of not more than 1E-2 pCi/mi beta-gamma.
The requested l
I authorization for a departure from normal operating procedures to conduct pool modifications at the beta-gamma level of 1E-2 pCi/ml would extend through December 31, 1978.
This time frame would provide the required time for the pool modifi-cations and safe settlement of the pool water.
Should you require additional information in order to authorize this
- equest, please call on us.
Very truly yours,
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.,.&.:9 G Harley L.' Toy NRC Licensing Coordinator HLT:1ba
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