ML20148G291
| ML20148G291 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant, Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant |
| Issue date: | 05/30/1997 |
| From: | Rifakes G UNITED STATES ENRICHMENT CORP. (USEC) |
| To: | Paperiello C NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM), NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19317C331 | List: |
| References | |
| GDP-97-0088, GDP-97-88, NUDOCS 9706050264 | |
| Download: ML20148G291 (5) | |
Text
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United Stitis l
Enrichm",nt Corporltion l
2 Democracy Center 6903 Rockledge Drive Bethesda, MD 20817 Tel: (301)564-3200 l
Fax:(301) 564-3201 j
l GEORGE P. RlFAKES Dir: (301) 564-3301 EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, OPERATIONS Fax: (301) 571-3208 l
l May 30,1997 I
i Dr. Carl J. Paperiello SERIAL: GDP 97-0088 Director, Oflice of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Attention: Document Control Desk U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PGDP)
Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PORTS)
Docket Nos. 70-7001 and 70-7002 Submittal of NRC Form 327, "Special Nuclear Material (SNM) and Source Material (SM) Physical Inventory Summary Report" l
INFORMATION TRANSMITTED HEREWITH IS PROTECTED FROM PUBLIC DISCLOSURE AS CONFIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL OR FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND/OR TRADE SECRETS PURSUANT TO 10 CFR 2.790 AND 9.17(a)(4)
Dear Dr. Paperiello:
1 In accordance with the requirements of 10 CFR 74.17(a), the United States Enriclunent Corporation I
(USEC)is submitting to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) the enclosed Form 327 documents for the Paducah,. Kentucky and Portsmouth, Ohio Gaseous Diffusion Plants (PGDP an l
respectively). These documents contain confidential commercial or financial information or trade secrets that are exempt from public disclosure pursuant to Section 1314 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, and 10 CFR 2.790 and/or 9.17(a)(4). USEC hereby requests that the enclosed Form 327 i
l documents be withheld from public disclosure.
The enclosed USEC affidavit provides the information required by 10 CFR 2.790(b)(4) for the 9706050264 970530-PDR ADOCK 07007001 r
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h Ga0003 Offices in Livermore. California Paducah, Kentucky Portsmouth. Ohio Washington, DC
Dr. Carl J.' Paperiello May 30,1997 GDP 97-0088 Page 2 Please note that, with regards to the inventory for PORTS:
e The inventory was taken at 1400 hours0.0162 days <br />0.389 hours <br />0.00231 weeks <br />5.327e-4 months <br /> on April 2,1997, and covers the period February 1,1997 through April 2,1997. It was postponed for two days at the end of March due to operational disturbances (failure of process cells) in the cascade system which precluded obtaining an accurate physical inventory on that particular day.
j e The resulting Inventory Differences (ids) for uranium element and 2"U isotope were in excess of control limits, which prompted the initiation of an investigation. The following are key conclusions from the investigation:
No unauthorized activity has been identified.
Accounting records of cascade feeds and withdrawals were examined for accuracy and compared with Operations production records. No record-keeping errors were discovered.
Physicalinventory data were reviewed for completeness and accuracy. The review identified two process systems which were not inventoried on April 2,1997. These systems are surge and holding drums which contained gaseous UF. at the time ofinventory. Additional data collected from samples taken after the inventory verified that only minor, relatively insignificant quantities of uranium were present in these systems at the time ofinventory. No other physical inventory errors or omissions were identified.
The cascade process system currently has many cells shut down, increasing the potential for UF freeze out within process piping. This occurs when gas-phase UF solidifies due to 6
6 reduced temperatures in the system. Solid UF material is not reflected in the gas-phase 6
inventory data, and cannot be accurately measured. The material returns to the process system upon application of heat which occurs when process cells are restarted.
Non-Destructive Assay (NDA) measurements have been performed throughout the cascade process equipment. A substantial number oflocalized, solid uranium deposits have been identified. Continuing Cascade Operations activities will reduce these deposits and bring the material back into inventory. These activities include restoration of shut-down cells, gas phase treatments and removal / decontamination of failed components.
i Similar problems were not experienced with the PGDP inventory.
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l Dr., Carl J: Paperiello I
May 30,1997
, GDP 97-0088 Page 3 i
l There are no new commitments made in this letter. Should you have any questions or comments on l
the enclosed information, please call me at (301) 564-3301 or Mark Lombard at (301) 564-3248.
Sincerely,
- $7A
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George P. Rifakes Executive Vice President, Operations
Enclosures:
As stated cc:
NRC Region III Oflice NRC Resident Inspector - PORTS NRC Resident Inspector - PGDP l
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i AFFIDAVIT OF GEORGE P. RIFAKES SUPPORTING APPLICATION TO WITHIlOLD FROM PUBLIC DISCLOSURE FORM 327 DOCUMENTS FOR THE PADUCAH AND PORTSMOUTH GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANTS 1, George P. Rifakes, Executive Vice President, Operations, United States Enrichment Corporation (USEC),
having been duly sworn do hereby affirm and state:
1.
I am an officer of USEC and have been authorized by USEC to (a) review the information owned by USEC which is referenced herein relating to the Pr.ducah and Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plants and which USEC seeks to have withheld from public disclosure pursuant to section 147 of the Atomic Energy Act (AEA), as amended,42 U.S.C. j 2167, and 10 CFR 2.790(a)(3),2.790(a)(4), 2.790(d)(1) and 9.17(a)(4), and (b) apply for j
the withholding of such information from public disclosure by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) on behalf of USEC.
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2.
Pursuant to 10 CFR 74.17(a), USEC has prepared a Form 327, Special Nuclear Material (SNM) and i
Source Material (SM) Physical Inventory Summary Report for each of the Paducah and Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plants which describes the amount of nuclear material possessed by USEC at each plant. 10 CFR 2.790(d)(1) states that correspondence and reports to or from the NRC containing information concerning an applicant's material control and accounting program for special nuclear material not otherwise designated as i
1 Safeguards Information or classified as National Security Information or Restricted Data are deemed to be i
confidential commercial or financial infonnation exempt from public disclosure. Accordingly, USEC requests that the Paducah and Portsmouth Form 327 documents be withheld from public disclosure pursuant to section 147 of l
the AEA,42 U.S.C. 6 2167, and 10 CFR 2.790(a)(3),2.790(a)(4),2.790(d)(1) and 9.17(a)(4).
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3.
- George P. Rifakes, having been duly sworn, hereby confirms that I am Executive Vice President, 1
Operations, of'USEC, that I am authorized on behalf of USEC to review the information attached hereto and to sign and file with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission this affidavit and the attact ments hereto, and that the statements
. made and matters set forth herein are true and correct to the best of my kn >wledge or belief, f
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/ George P. Rifakes 1
i Subscribed to before me on this 30 day of
,1997 4
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