ML20150B164

Discusses Categorical Exclusion for 880516 Amend Request. Use of New Dry Conversion Process Will Have Insignificant Environ Impact & Public Health & Safety Will Not Be Endangered

ML20150B164
Person / Time
Site:	07001113
Issue date:	06/27/1988
From:	Rouse L NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS)
To:	GENERAL ELECTRIC CO.
Shared Package
ML20150B077	List: ML20150B075 ML20150B082 ML20150B153 ML20150B164
References
NUDOCS 8807110324
Download: ML20150B164 (2)

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'RR 2 7 1980 IMUF:MH DOCKET N0: 70-1113 LICENSEE: General Electric Company (GE)

Wilmington, North Carolina

SUBJECT:

CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION FOR AMENDMENT REQUEST DATED MAY 16, 1988 By letter dated May 16, 1988, GE requested an amendment to license No. SNM-1097 to allow conversion of UFg by the use of a new dry conversion process. GE is currently authorized to ran a dry conversion process. This new process will be less complex. GE will not be able to run both dry processes concurrently so there will not be an effluent increase. In addition, GE has requested other minor changes that will have no effect on the public health and safety or the environment.

The new dry conversion process utilizes the existing UF vaporization equiptent to heat the UF g as feed material. Oncevaporized,theUFggas flows via pumping to a steam hydrolysis reactor where it is contacted witn dry superheated steam to form anhydrous U0,F, powder and HF gas. Separation of the powder and gas is performed using porous metal filters. The UO F powder 4- accumulates in a surge hopper located beneath the filter and the HF 2ga,s is drawn to a secondary filter under vacuum and then routed to the existing HF recovery process. The U0,F is then fed to the defluorinator feed preparation unit to further prepare the 2powder for defluorination in the existing unit.

Since existino space will be utilized, there will be no construction impact on the environment.

The dry conversion is expected to have positive impacts in comparison to the existing ADV process. . There should be a reduction ir, chemical usage, reduced sludge generation for disposal, reduced liquid waste generation, and less uranium sludge requiring recycle. These reductions will have a positive impact by reducing effluents. The type of effluents will remain unchanged.

The types of accidents previously conceived for this facility have not changed with the addition of this new line nor would the consequences from any accident be increased. Free hydrogen is not generated in the reaction, so the potential for a hydrogen explosion is reduced.

Because a different conversion process is already authorized and both conversion processes cannot be run concurrently there will not be any added occupational radiation exposure. The types of material are the same and the system operates with a negative pressure and ventilated hoods are provided at access points, i

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,. 2 'JUN 2 71988 The use of the new dry conversion process will have an insignificant environmental impact and the public health and safety will not be endangered.

Accordingly, the staff concluded that the following conditions have been met..

.1. There is no significant change in the types or significant increase in the dmounts of effluents that mdy be released offsite,

2. There is no significant increase in individual or cumulative occupational radiation exposure,

3. There is no significant construction impact, and

4. There is no significant increase in the potential for or con 2equences from radiological accidents.

Therefore, in accordance with 10 CFR 51.22(c)(11), neither an Environmental

. Assessment nor an Environmental Impact Statement is warranted for this proposed action.

FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION b By:

Leland C. Rouse, Chief Fuel Cycle Safety Branch Division of Industrial and Medical Nuclear Safety, NMSS n, n . s 0FC:lHUF:

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DATE:6/a'7/88 6/0/88 6/d /88 6/4t/88 6/L7/88 0FFICIAL RECORD COPY

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