ML20149G767
| ML20149G767 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 07001201 |
| Issue date: | 07/16/1997 |
| From: | Weber M NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20149G751 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9707240054 | |
| Download: ML20149G767 (2) | |
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4 UNITED STATES j
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION t
WASHINGTON. D.C. 20S55-0001
...../
July 16, 1997 DOCKET:
70-1201 LICENSEE:
Framatome Cogema Fuels (FCF)
Lynchburg. Virginia
SUBJECT:
SAFEGUARDS EVALUATION REPORT:
SUBMITTAL DATED JULY 2 AND 13, 1997. REQUEST FOR DELAYING RECEIPT MEASUREMENTS AND DISTRIBUTION OF DOE /NRC FORM 741 BACKGROUNJ By letters dated July 2 and 13, 1997. Framatome Cogema Fuels (FCF) requested an additional delay of 60 days, beyond the 60 days previously granted and the 30 days normally allowed, for completing receipt measurements (measured values of U and U-235 quantities) and distributing related Nuclear Material Transaction Report DOE /NRC Form 741 with regard to 21 remaining unirradiated VVER fuel assemblies received from Germany during the period of April 10-17.
1997.
This amendment request, which relieves FCF from requirements in 10 CFR 74.15 and normal practices in Sections 1.5.4 and 6.2 of their FNMC Plan for completing receipt measurements and distributing Form 741s. was processed following the provisions of 10 CFR 70.34.
DISCUSSION FCF is completing its downloading project which involves a contract to receive unirradiated VVER-type fuel assemblies from Germany, remove the fuel pellets from these assemblies, and deliver the uranium pellets to another facility for additional processing.
During the perio'1 of A)ril 10-17. 1997. FCF received 91 assemblies of 2.4 percent enrichment and t1e remaining 74 assemblies of 2.0 percent enrichment.
In addition, one additional assembly was returned to FCF after it had been inadvertently shipped to Germany.
Nominal cuantity is 120 kgs of uranium per assembly.
Process improvements implementec as part of corrective actions associated with the inadvertent shipment of a VVER assembly to Germany, along with the large volume of all assemblies on site and time-consuming process operations, prevented FCF from completing all confirmatory measurements for those assemblies within the 30-day timeframe from the date of receipt. Consequently, a 60-day extension of the 30-day requirement for completion of receipt measurements and distribution of related DOE /NRC Form 741 was granted by NRC on June 24. 1997.
FCF has now processed the majority of the VVER assemblies.
However design and/or as-built tolerance for pellet to cladding clearance in the last 74 assemblies is more restrictive than the previous assemblies.
Down-loading production rates averaged 5 assemblies per day for the previous lot. This lot, however sometimes requires alternate, more aggressive methods to remove the pellets.
In most cases, the pellets are broken wedged into the cladding and result in a greater production of dust than previously experienced.
Airborne rates began to exceed the FCF action limit on a regular basis.
9707240054 970716 PDR ADOCK 07001201 C
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.Subssquently, the )revious production rate of 5 assemblies per day has been reduced to-1 assem]ly per day. The first extension request was based on the previous production rates.
1 Twenty-one assemblies remain in channels awaiting pellet removal.
The i
enrichment for 20.of these assemblies is'2.0 percent.
The remaining assembly enrichment is 0.71 percent.
FCF has requested an additional 60 days for receipt measurements in conjunction with assembly downloading. This additional period should be adequate to com lete the pellet removal, obtain required analyses, and issue the final' Form 41s as required.
The additional' period does not significantly decrease the effectiveness of the MC&A pr ram in light of the operational difficulties FCF has experier.ced in
_ download ng the assemblies.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW i
The staff has determined that the requested time extension will not adversely affect public health and safety, the common defense and security, or the environment, and is otherwise in the public interest. The provisions in 10 CFR 51.22(c)(12) cite an exclusion for safeguards plans and material I
accountability.
Therefore, neither an environmental assessment nor an l
environmental impact statement is warranted for this action.
CONCLUSION The staff concludes that granting the licensee's time extension request for completing receipt measurements and distributing DOE /NRC Form 741s of the 21 remaining fuel assemblies is justified and warranted, and that it will not reduce the effectiveness of the 1.icensee's safeguards program.
Thus, a temporary (one-time) Safeguards License Condition SG-1.3 is being issued which allows for the limited extension of time.
The Operations Branch (FCOB) inspection staff has no objection to this proposed action.
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Princioal Contributor Kimberly J. Hardin N
p s 'pt Thomas Pham I
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