ML20205F163
| ML20205F163 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 05000083 |
| Issue date: | 10/23/1985 |
| From: | Vernetson W FLORIDA, UNIV. OF, GAINESVILLE, FL |
| To: | NRC OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY (SECY) |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8511050017 | |
| Download: ML20205F163 (3) | |
Text
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NUCLEAR FACILITIES DIVISION Cf..VERNETSON, AE ACTOR MANAGER l
NUCLEAR REACTO,R BUILDtNG UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA GA6Mi$VILLE. FLORIDA 32611 PHONE (304) 3921429 TELEX $4130 erares October 23, 1985 Secretary of the Commission U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C.
20555 Re: University of Florida Training Reactor Facility License: R-56 Docket No. 50-83
Dear Sir:
4 In response to the Order to Show Cause dated September 27, 1985, we re-spectfully request that authority be granted to possess unirradiated high en-riched uranium fuel on site in a quantity greater than that necessary to re-place one failed fuel element (bundle). Specifically, we are requesting that we be allowed to possess two full unirradiated replacement bundles of high en-riched fuel plus two plates as supported by the following facts.
1 Our current core loading consists of 21 irradiated fuel elements (bundles) and is currently unloaded (to allow repair work to proceed in the core area). Within the next month, we will be visually in-specting all elements to determine whether to replace one or more bundles or at least some plates in the 11-plate fuel bundles. Since the fuel inspection scheduled for late November may indicate some bundles needing replacement, we would like to reserve the option of using all of our unirradieted fuel if the need is demonstrated.
Since we will know a definite result from full fuel inspection by late November, this should present no real delay in meeting the 120 day limit delineated in the Order. Prior to shutdown in early Sep-tember, we were getting close to needing to add unirradiated fuel to g
our core with preliminary calculations indicating that we could add a full 11 plate fuel bundle and maintain tech spec limits on shut-down margin and excess reactivity.
2.
Until the fuel is able to be reloaded following completion of repair work (estimated to be early to mid December), we cannot be certain of being able to load a 22nd fuel bundle in the UFTR cere but we would like to reserve this option while being allowed to keep an-other unirradiated fuel element to count as the one replacement ele-ment allowed under Section III, Faragraph (1) of the Order to Show Cause.
3.
Certain laboratory experiments in non-destructive assay of fuel ma-terials may utilize one or two plates of high enriched uranium under
[O'$3 the control of our license. Therefore, we require 2 plates for ex-perimental purposes.
4.
The Department of Energy has indicated that significant delays may be encountered in efforts to ship unirradiated fuel to a Department of Energy Secure facility within 120 days as directed in Paragraph (1) of Section III of the Order to Show Cause.
8511050017 851023 PDR ADOCK 05000083
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lg As allowed in Section IV of the Order to Show cause, we are asking that the~ items numbered (1) through (4) above be considered in relaxing the Order to allow the University of Florida Training Reactor R-56 license to possess two full unirradiated fuel elements (bundles) plus two plates until repair work and fuel reload tests can demonstrate whether or not one or both of the full unirradiated bundles are needed. This demonstration is expected to be complete before December 31, 1985. After this demonstration, we are asking that the R-56 licensee be allowed to possess one (1) full unirradiated element (bundle) plus two plates as explained above.
We would further request a relaxation of the 120 day time limit for ship-ping unneeded unirradiated fuel since we may not be able to meet this deadline and assure sufficient fuel for our reactor. This arrangement is considered preferable compared to shipping fuel to a Secure facility and then possibly back to the University of Florida within a month of the transfer.
Thank you for your consideration of this response.
Sincerely, William G. Vernetson Acting Director of Nuclear Facilities WGV/ps cc:
A. Alsobrook W. Chen M.J. Ohanian G.S. Roessler l
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CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL TICKET William Vernetson SECY NUMBER:
85-913 LOGGING DATE 10/29/85 0FFICE OF THE SECRETARY Davis f/approp action ACTION OFFICE:
ED0 Cys: Denton Taylor AUTHOR:
Willieam Vernetson GCunningham/SBurns Region II AFFILIATION:
University of Florida Pat Anderson PDR LETTER DATE:
10/23/85 FILE' CODE -
ADDRESSEE:
SECY
SUBJECT:
Response to 9/27/85 order to show cause re HEU fuel fm non-power reactors ACTION:
Appropriate DISTRIBUTION:
SPECIAL HANDLING:
None SIGNATURE DATE:
FOR THE COPNISSION Champ ar.
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