ML20199J025
| ML20199J025 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 11/24/1997 |
| From: | Haughney C NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| To: | Weiss S NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned) |
| References | |
| RTR-NUREG-GENERA TAC-M99896, NUDOCS 9711280026 | |
| Download: ML20199J025 (2) | |
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$*t UNiTF.D STATES ij j
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 2
WASHINGTON, D.C. 30666-0001
- l November 24, 1997 i
MEMORANDUM TO: Seymour H. Weiss, Directer Non-Power Reactors and Dece..imissioning Project Directorate Division of Reactor Program Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Management FROM:
Charles J. Haughney, Actin 0 Director
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Spent Fuel Project Office l
Office of Nuclear Material Safety V
and Safeguerds
SUBJECT:
REVIEW OF NUREG REPORT ON QUFSTIONS ON DECOMMISSIONING OF PCWER REACTORS (TAC NO. M99896)
As requested in your Movember 14,1997, memorandum, Spent Fuel Proget Office (SFPO) staff reviewed Sections V and Vil regarding spe.:t fuel and transportation, respectively, in the draft NUREG report on " Frequently Asked Questions on Decommissioning of Power Reactors."
The staff found that several of the answers to spent fuel related ques'Jons were not complete or need additionalinformation. Several examples follow:
What would happen of there was a loss of coolant in a spent fuel pool when it was fully loaded? This question was not answered.
What is a dry storage cask, and how does it keep the fuel from melting or from causing a nuclear reaction (criticality)? The response states that spent fuel will be received that has been cooling for at least five years. The requiremen;is that the cpent fuel must cool for at least one year.
How long may the licensee keep the spent fuelin an onsite ISFSI? The response states that the spent fuel can be stored onsite for at least 30 years. The initial license for 3
storage time is 20 years and can be renewed for an additional 20 years.
The staff also found that the answere to transportation related question do not provide a clear
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understanding cf the transportation regulations associated with a decommissioned reactor facility. The answers to the questions attempt to describe the complex transportation regulations in far too general terms. This section attempts to provide information on low level radioactive waste, spent fuel, transportation packaging, radiological control, and risk qr
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l assessment in less than four pages. The staff identified a nurr.ber of areas requiring additional work. Several examples follow:
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There are several questions that address routs used for transportation of radioactive g
material. The answers to these questions could lead the reader to wrong the conclusions. For example, the questions on routing do not clearly state what materials are being discussed, spent fuel or low level radioactive waste. Different transportation regulations would apply depending on the type of material that is being transported.
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i The same information is provided in the two questions: "Are there safety criteria for spent fuel shipping casks and how are the casks tested?" and "Are there safety criteric for shipping containers for low-level waste and how are the shipping containers tested prior to shipment?" The criteria for these contents are vastly different.
The question "How safe are spent fuel cask shipments? What would happen if the train or truck carrying spent fuel cask was in an accident?" provides information regarding an accident demonstration, not a test, that NRC did not endorse and is often considered mis!eading.
SFPO staff does not concur with the NUREG as presented. A great dea! of additional work must be done in the transportation section to provide accurate and complete information to the public. Please contact Mr. Earl Easton of my staff at 415-8520 to schedule this effort.
DISTRIBUTION:
NRC f/c SFPO r/f PUBLIC-NMSS r/f SShankman ELeeds MRaddatz JCook MMasnik, NRR LMinns, NRR WReckley, NRR
- See previous concurrence.
SFPO M
,9I OFC SFPO C
SFPO C
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NAME TMatula*
EEaston*
CHaughney DATE 11/24/97 11/24/97 11/N/97 C = COVER E = COVER & ENCLOSURE N = NO COPY l
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