ML20204C506

Discusses Licensing of Alchemie,Inc Facilities,Per ACRS Meeting 342 on 881006-07

ML20204C506
Person / Time
Issue date:	10/13/1988
From:	Kerr W Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards
To:	Zech L NRC COMMISSION (OCM)
Shared Package
ML20204C413	List: ML20204C409 ML20204C478 ML20204C506
References
ACRS-R-1323, ACRS-R-1325, NUDOCS 8810200483
Download: ML20204C506 (7)

Text

,,

bN i

e ne f neeg'o UNITED STATES g

~' g

!" 3 NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMIS$10N l

{

ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON REACTOR SAFEQUARDS o,

W ASHING TON, O. C. 20H6 October 13, 1988 The Honorable Lando W. Zech, Jr.

Chaiman U.S. Nuclear Reguletory Comission 1

Washington, D.C. 20555

SUBJECT:

LICENS1tm 0F ALL CHEH1 CAL ISOTOPE ENRICHttENT, INC. FACILITIES During the 342nd meeting of the Advisory Comittee on Reactor Safe.

I guards, October 6-7, 19E8, we discussed the applications of All Chemical Isotcpe Enrichrent, Inc. (ALChemIE) to modify and operate a facility for the separation of st6ble isotopes at Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and to i

construct a similar facility at Oliver Springs, Tennessee, near Oak Ridge.

During the meeting, we had discussions with representatives of the NRC staff the Appticant, and the Department of Energy. We also had thebenefitofthedocumentsreferenced, f

The Applicant plans to un centrifugal enrichment machines purchased from the Departnent of Energy.

These machines were designed and built for the enrichrent of uranium in a demonstratinn program, and offered for sale when the project was abandoned.

The prcpesed use is for the comercial enrict.eent of a wice variety of stable isotepes, in larger l

quantities than have heretofore been available.

Most of these machines, because of their prier use, are slightly contem-i

'r.ated with uranium, in the centrifuges and in the piping.

The amounts total a few tens cf kilogram.

The average enrichment of the uraniun 235 h very slightly over the natural concentration of uranium 235 in natural uranium, again because of the earlier use.

I There are two principal licensing issues.

One involves the potential t

release of the uranium contaminant, either through leaching into the process stream or through an accident, with consequent health effects to the exposed population.

The other involves safeguards, because these i

machines were designed to separate uranium isotopes, ed therefore,

(

regardless of their intended use have that capability.

The NRC staff has concluded that the potential for release of uranium is

{

small, both because of the adherer.ce of the contaminant to the surfaces it new covers and because of the small quantities involved.

It has estirated that, even in the cvent of a substantial accident, the public expcsure would be negligible. We concur in this finding, i

f l

l 8810200483 681011 PDR ACRS R-1323 PDC

The Honorable Lando W. Zech, Jr. October 13, 1988 l

The sefeguards issues have to do with protecting the machines and

[

inspecting the product.

It is proposed to deal with these issues i

through a conventional 3rogram of personnel clearances, area controls, i

and random unannounced 1nspections.

The NRC staff has expressed satis-faction with the proposed program, and we have no reason to disagree.

Subject to implementation of the planned controls, we support issuance i

of the preposed licenses.

Sincerely, i

William Kerr Chairman

References:

1.

U.S.

huclear Regulatory Comission, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Safety Evaluation Report Related to the ConstructionMcdtficatIonandLicensingoftheALChemlEFacility-1 CF0F, Octeber 1988 2.

U.S.

Nuclear Regulatory Comission, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Saftguards Safety Evaluation Report Related to the 1.pplication for Construction Permit for ALChem!E Facility 2, Oliver Springs, October 1988 3.

Security Plan for All Chemical 110 tope Enrichment, Inc., ALChemIE Facility 1 - CPDF, Revision 3. August 1988 (Proprietary) 4.

Security Plan for All Chemical Isotope Enrichment, Inc., ALChem!E Facility 2. Revision 3. August 1988(Proprietary)

.