ML20198Q775

Informs That NRC Has No Objection to Proposed Elimination of Regulatory Commitments on CAAS Upgrade

ML20198Q775
Person / Time
Site:	07007001
Issue date:	01/05/1999
From:	Pierson R NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS)
To:	Toelle S UNITED STATES ENRICHMENT CORP. (USEC)
References
TAC-L32103, NUDOCS 9901070406
Download: ML20198Q775 (2)

Text

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January 5, 1999 Mr. Stsv:n A. To:lla, Managar Nucitar R:gulatory Assurancs and Policy

' y.S. En'richment Corporation 2 Democracy Center 6903 Rockledge Drive Bethesda, MD 20817

SUBJECT:

REQUEST TO DELETE PADUCAH REGULATORY COMMITMENTS: l CRITICALITY ACCIDENT ALARM SYSTEM AUDIBILITY UPGRADES (TAC NO. L32103)

Dear Mr. Toelle:

Your December 15,1998, letter requests the U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's consent to delete four regulatory commitments associated with the upgrade of the criticality accident alarm system (CAAS) to resolve audibility issues. Two of these commitments are part of open regulatory commitments to the U. S. Department of Energy at the time of transition, and the ,

other two commitments are part of corrective actions to two CAAS-related events. These I commitments include the installation of evacuation horns in certain areas of CAAS clustered  !

buildings and the installation of air accimulators and air distribution piping that will be dedicated i to supply compressed air to CAAS horns. U. S. Enrichment Corporation (USEC) believes these commitments are redundant to actions contained in Compliance Plan issues 46 and 50.

I We reviewed your letter and the applicable Compliance Plan issues. We have no objection to  !

the proposed elimination of the regulatory commitments on the CAAS upgrade. The  !

commitments in the Justification for Continued Operation and the Plan of Action and Schedule  !

of the Compliance Plan issues 46 and 50 would address the required actions to be taken by USEC. 1 If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Yen-Ju Chen, acting Project Mar,ager of l Paducah, at (301) 415-5615.

Sincerely, Ofi0 i mt! W % I Robert C. Pierson, Chief Special Projects Branch Dit ion of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards, NMSS i Docket No. 70-7001 '

Certificate GDP-1 /

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, Mr. St:v:n A. Toella, Manag:r Nucl:ar Rngulatory Assuranca and Policy U.S. Er#ichment Corporation 2' Democracy Center 6903 Rochledge Drive Bethesda, MD 20817 UBJECT: REQUEST TO Dcl ETE REGULATORY COMMITMENTS: CRITICALITY ACCIDENT ALARM SYSTEM AUDIBILITY UPGRADES (TAC NO. L32103)

Dear Mr. oelle:

Your Decembe 15,1998, letter requests the U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's consent to delete four reg tory commitments associated with the upgrade of the criticality accident alarm system (CAA to resolve audibility issues. Two of these commitments are part of open regulatory commitmen to the U. S. Department of Energy at the time of transition, and the other two commitments a part of corrective actions to two CAAS-related events. These commitments include the ins llation of evacuation horns in certain areas of CAAS clustered buildings and the installation o 'r accumulators and air distribution piping that will be dedicated to supply compressed air to CAA orns. U. S. Enrichment Corporation (USEC) believes these commitments are redundant to actio contained in Compliance Plan issues 46 and 50.

We reviewed your letter and the applicable ompliance Plan issues. We have no objection to the proposed elimination of the regulatory co itments on the CAAS upgrade. The commitments in the Justification for Continued eration and the Plan of Action and Schedule of the Compliance Plan issues 46 and 50 would a ess the required actions to be taken by USEC.

If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Yen-Ju Chen, cting Project Manager of Paducah, at (301) #15-5615.

Sincerely, OdgMel M %

Robert C. Pierson, Chief \

Special Projects Branch Division of Fual Cycle Safety and Safeguards, NMSS Docket No. 70-7001 Certificate GDP-1 cc: Randall DeVault, DOE s Howard Pulley, PGDP

\'S oistribution: (Control No. 520s)

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. January 5, 1999 MEMORANDUM TO: Robert C. Pierson, Chief Special Projects Branch

. FCSS/NMSS THRU: Melanie A. Galloway Chief, Enrichment Section OMj sigod Special Projects Branch FCSS/NMSS FROM: Jack R. Davis Enrichment Section I Special Projects Brar>::h ypd 990g gy FCSS/NiviSS 1

SUBJECT:

NOVEMBER 4,1990, AVLIS MEETING

SUMMARY

A publicly noticed meeting between the U. S. Enrichment Corporation (USEC) and the U. S.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) was held on November 4,1998. The purpose of the meeting was to tour the Atomic Vapor Laser Isotope Separation (AVLIS) demonstration pilot located at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and to discuss the technical merits of a Monte Carlo computer code software validation report supporting this project. NRC has previously raised concerns over the acceptability of the report for the proposed area of applicability and adequacy of documented evidence to support the conclusions reached.

l Specific items of concern that were discussed included: (1) adequacy of experimental evidence to support process conditions occurring in the intermediate neutron energy spectrum; (2) l adequacy of bias and margin of safety for the extension of enrichment values in the range of I 5-10 weight percent; (3) lack of multiple parameter interdependence and perturbation review for AVLIS-specific nuclear characteristics; and (4) adequacy of available cross-sections for high temperature metal gas systems. NRC expects to issue a formal request for additional information to address these concerns.

Other meeting topics focused on gaining additional background on process specifics, methods I of operation and control, current schedules, and technical problems.

Docket No. 70-3089

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cc: Robert Woolley, tJSEC /D Ronald P. Koopman, LLNL DISTRIBUTION:

Docket File 70-3089 NRC File Center PUBLIC FCSS r/f DPersinko ,

MHorn CCox YFaraz NMSS r/f SPB r/f i l 'See previous concurrence i OFC *SPB SPB L SPB , C SPB SPB NAME JDavis:ij JMuszkiewM d y DATE 12/4/98 12/b8 / /h9ff / /99 / /99 C = COVER E = COVER & ENCLOSURE ' N a NO COPY g:\sumrpt OFFICIAL RECORD COPY U i t [ d <. ,.l.

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MEMORANDUM TO: Robert C. Pierson, Chief Special Projects Branch j U: Meianie A. Galloway, Chief l- Enrichment Section FROM: Jack R. Davis, Criticality Safety .

i Enrichment Section

! SJBJECT: NOVEMBER 4,1998, AVLIS MEETING

SUMMARY

A publicly noticed meet between the United States Enrichment Corporation (USEC) and the

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory mmission (NRC) was held on November 4,1998. The purpose of

!- the meeting was to tour the omic Vapor Laser Isotope Separation (AVLIS) demonstration pilot located at the Lawrence Liver re National Laboratory (LLNL) and to discuss the technical l - merits of a Monte Carlo comput code software validation report supporting this project. _ The NRC has previously raised concer over the acceptability of the report for the proposed area of applicability and adequacy of docu ented evidence to support the conclusions reached.

i Specific items of concern that were discu ed included: (1) adequacy of experimental evidence

to support process conditions occurring in t intermediate neutron energy spectrum; (2)

- adequacy of bias and margin of safety for the ension of enrichment values in the range of 5 -

! 10 weight percent; (3) lack of multiple paramete terdependence and perturbation review for - .

[ AVLIS-specific nuclear characteristics; and (4) ad acy of available cross-sections for high

!: temperature metal gas systems. The NRC expects issue a formal request for additional information to address these concerns.

l - Other meeting topics focused on gaining additional backgr nd on process specifics, methods of operation and control, current schedules, and technical pr lems.

l Docket No. 070-03089 l

cc:, Robert Woolley, USEC Ronald P. Koopman, LLNL l DISTRIBUTION Docket File 070-03089 FCSS r/f APersinko, SPB Public~ YFaraz, SPB MHorn, SPB

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