ML20206C063

Responds to Re Enrichment of Naturally Occurring Radionuclides in Proposed Alchemie Facilities.Company Advised That Facilities Subj to State of Tn Regulations

ML20206C063
Person / Time
Site:	05000000, 05000603, 05000604
Issue date:	11/07/1988
From:	Rouse L NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS)
To:	Mobley M TENNESSEE, STATE OF
References
NUDOCS 8811160083
Download: ML20206C063 (4)

Text

r-NOV 01 1938 Docket Nos. 50-603 50-604 Mr. Michael H. Hobley, Director Division of Radiological Health Tennessee Department of Health and Environment T.E.R.R.A. Building 150 Ninth Avenue North Nashville, TN 37219-5404

Dear Hr. Hobley:

This is in response to your letter of September 29, 1988, to Mr. Hugh Thompson, Director, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, which concerned enrichment of naturally occurring radionuclides in the proposed A1 Chem!E facilities.

Your letter expresses concern about the potential radiological hazards of enriching naturally occurring radionuclides, including the wide range of chemical elements that might be involved, and the need for A1ChemIE to coordinate with the Tennestae Department of Health and Environment en these matters. On this last point, we did advise A1 Chem!E that they were subject to regulation by the State of Tennessee with regard to radiological hazards of naturally occurring radionuclides, and that they should keep your office inforced with regard to their actions. We are pleased to have your confirmatien that they are following through with this.

With regard to the possibility of creating a radiological hazard by the enrichment of naturally occurring radioisotepes, we did corcent on the subject in the Environmental Assessment Related to the Construction and Operation of the A1 Chem!E Facility 1 CPDF. However, we could have addressed it more extensively, and we have done so in the Safety Evaluation Reports (copies enclosed), showing that we have no basis at present to expect any radiological hazard to be generated at either of A1ChemIE's two proposed facilities due to enriching isotopes in the list of candidate chemical compounds identified by AlchemIE.

This list is limited to compounds physically and chemically compatible with the enrichment rachinery, and is believed to be a comprehensive list of chemicals likely to be processed by A1ChemIE.

t As you point out, the technology has potential broad applications, even though there are limitations on the characteristics of the feed materials which can be used. We have mentioned in the Safety Evaluation Reports that A1 Chem 1E recognizes that the State of Tennessee has jurisdiction with regard to radiological protection from naturally occurring radionuclides and that before ene!ching any naturally occurring radionuclides which might create a radiological hazard, they should censult with the Tennessee Department of Health and Environment.

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PDR ADOCK 05000603

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Michael H. Mobley 2

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We trust that the discussions here and in the enclosed Safety Evaluation Reports i

adequately address your concerns.

If you wish, we will be glad to discuss this f

further.

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Sincerely, t

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$E?N4::Inu un Leland C. Rouse, Chief Fuel Cycle Safety Branch Division of Industrial and Medical Nuclear Safety, NMSS l

Enclosures:

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w/o enclosures:

Enclosures were sent by October 25, 1988 letter to All Chemical Isotope Enrichment

Inc, cc:

All Chemical Isotope Enrichment, Inc.

ATTil: Mr. John H. Smelser, Jr.

Chief Executive Officer Pine Ridge Office Dark Suite 202-B 1

702 Illinois Avenue Oak Ridge T.'l 37830 Tennessee Department of Public Health ATTN:

Director, Bureau of Environmental Health Services Cordell Hull Building Nashville. Tennessee 37219 Mr. Way q X. Scharber DirectbP of Environment Tennssee Department of Health and Environment 1st Floor Terra Building 150 9th Avenue North Nashville, Tennessee 37203 Michael D. Pearigen. Esq.

Deputy Attorney General Tennessee Attorney General's Office 450 Jares Robertson Parkway Nashville, TN 37219-5025 Ms. Carol White faderal Affairs Coordinator State of Tennessee 309 John Severe Office Bu.iding 500 Charlotte Avenue 14shv111e, TN 37219 l

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The Honorable Roy F. Pruett Mayor Post Office Box 1 Oak Ridge. TN 37831 Mr. Jeffrey Iroughton City Manager Post Office Sox 1 Oak Ridge. TN 37831 Mr. Willfas D. Harris Fire Chief Post Office Box 1 Cak Ridge. TN 37830 Ms. Virginia Dale Chair Environmental Quality Advisory Board Post 0 ce Box 1 Oak Rt i TN 37831 The Honorable Kenneth E. Yager Roane County Executive Roane County Courthouse P. O. Box 643 Kingston, TN 37763 The Honorable David O. Bolling County Executiv.e, Anderson County Courthouse Mein Street l

Clinton, TN 37716 The Honorable Stanley Justice Nayor Post Office Box 303 Oliver Springs. TM 37840 l

Mr. Howard Elliot City Administrator Post Office Box 301 t

Oliver Springs TN 37840 i

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