ML20154N978
| ML20154N978 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Framatome ANP Richland |
| Issue date: | 02/12/1986 |
| From: | Malody C SIEMENS POWER CORP. (FORMERLY SIEMENS NUCLEAR POWER |
| To: | Crow W NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20154N981 | List: |
| References | |
| 26462, NUDOCS 8603200091 | |
| Download: ML20154N978 (3) | |
Text
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RETURN TO W6-SS PDK 70-l25l
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ERON NUCLEAR COMPANYINC.
2101 HORN RAPtOS ROAD. Po box 130. RICHLANo.WA 99352
'[.7 1509)3158100 TELEX.152878
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U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
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Washington, D. C.
20555 W ctrax S
0 License No. SNM-1227 Docket No. 70-1257
Dear Mr. Crow:
Exxon Nuclear Company, Inc. hereby requests an amendment to License No.
SNM-1227 to change license conditions with respect to plutonium so that they more properly reflect actual plant status with respect to current and future plutonium operations.
The manufacture of mixed oxide fuel assemblies was halted in 1975 followed by subsequent elimination of plutonium inventories in 1980 until only that plutonium associated with the processing equipment as contamination remained.
In 1985 the processing equipment and facility were decontaminated and the equipment disposed of to a low level waste site.
Those wastes resulting from the decontamination effort which are too high in plutonium concentration to be disposed of under current regulations will continue to be stored until an approved disposal method is established.
A report dated November 25, 1985 of our final survey of the facility following the decontam-ination effort has been previously forwarded to your office.
Appropriate pages in our Special Nuclear Materials license have been modified to reflect current and future plutonium operations and are enclosed for your review and approval.
In summary any reference to plutonium has been eliminated from license conditions with the exception of Section 1.2 Posses-sion Limits, Section 1.4 Restrictions and Exclusions and Appendix I Special Conditions.
Appendix I describes the plutonium waste storage and surveil-lance mode.
In the case where a package leak is detected it allows for repackaging.
Criticality Considerations Due to the small quantity and low concentration of plutonium criticality is not a consideration.
Battelle Northwest has established the plutonium content of each waste drum using NDT techniques and the total quantity is less than 250 grams.
Individ-ual quantities will be assigned to each drum following the receipt 8603200091 860212 I
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Mr. W. T. Crow February 12, 1986 Page 2 of their final test report.
It appears that a few of the waste drums may be within normal disposal limits and will be sent to low level radioactive waste disposal.
Radiological Considerations The waste is stored in plastic-lined 55 gallon metal drums with gasketed lids and are free of external contamination.
The drums are stored within the Mixed Oxide and Speciality Fuels Building on the second level of the old Plutonium Storage Vault which is a non-contaminated area not normally occupied by personnel. Ventila-tion air enters the storage vault at the top, flows downward and is grill at floor level.
Air sampling and exhausted through a monitoring will be continuous in the lower level near the exhaust air grill and the air sample analyzed weekly. Smear surveys and inspection of the waste drums will be done semiannually.
The air monitor will provide timely detection of a significant release of contamination.
It is not believed that waste drum leakage will develop; however, the period of waste drum storage is unknown.
Federal regulations are deficient in that they do not provide for disposal of this type of waste leaving the licensee no recourse other than long term storage.
If leakage does develop the problem will be handled as appropriate at the time.
One solution which would be considered would be to overpack the 55 gallon waste drum with a larger container. Any work necessary with the waste will be guided by the Exxon Nuclear Radiation Work Permit system.
Environmental Considerations The air exhausted from the vault area is immediately HEPA filtered and is HEPA filtered again before being exhausted via the stack.
Two stages of HEPA filtration are considered adequate protection of the environment and population.
ALARA Some gamma radiation is emitted through the sides of the waste drums and may increase with time as amount of Americium-241 continues to increase.
The first floor of the vault area is used for storage and is not normally occupied.
The concrete storage vault walls will provide adequate shielding for occupied areas.
Restriction of the smear survey schedule to semiannual will maintain personnel exposurea to an acceptable level.
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Mr. W. T. Crow February 12, 1986 Page 3 Enclosed is a check for $150 to cover the initial cost of the amendment.
Sincerely,
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C. W. Malody, Manag Corporate Licensing CWM:jrs Enclosure As Stated