ML20206Q340
| ML20206Q340 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Pennsylvania State University |
| Issue date: | 05/15/1986 |
| From: | Berkow H Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Hosler C PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIV., UNIVERSITY PARK, PA |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8609040366 | |
| Download: ML20206Q340 (1) | |
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,a si o4D Docket No.: 50-005 Dr. Charles L. Hosler Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate School Pennsylvania State University 207 Old Main Bu,ilding University Park, Pennsylvania 16802
Dear Dr. Hosler:
SUBJECT:
AMENDMENT N0. 24 TO FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE NO. R-2 The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued Amendment No. 24 to Facility Operating License No. R-2 fer the Pennsylvania State University nuclear reactor in response to the application dated April 10, 1986. This amendment deletes the authorization to possess reactor fuel elements containing high-enriched uranium, and adds an authorization to possess and use an additional start-up neutron source.
A copy of the amendment and the related Safety Evaluation are enclosed.
Sincerely, original signed by Herbert N. Berkow, Director Standardization and Special Projects Directorate Division of PWR Licensing-B
Enclosure:
DISTRIBUTION:
- 1. Amendment No. 24 Docket File RCarter BGrimes
- 2. Safety Evaluation NRC PDR DTondi JPartlow Local PDR HBerkow TBarnhart(4) cc w/ enclosures: DCS OELD WJones See next page NSIC FMiraglia ACRS (10)
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Docket No.: 50-005 Dr. Charles L. Hosler Vice President"for Research and Dean of the Graduate School Pennsylvania State University 207 Old Main Building University Park, Pennsylvania 16802
Dear Dr. Hosler:
SUBJECT:
AMENDMENT N0. 24 T0 FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE N0. R-2 The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued Amendment No. 24 to Facility Operating License No. R-2 for the Pennsylvania State University nuclear reactor in response to the application dated April 10, 1986. This amendment deletes the authorization to possess reactor fuel elements containing high-enriched uranium, and adds an authorization to possess and use an additional start-up neutron source.
A copy of the amendment and the related Safety Evaluation are enclosed.
. Sincerely, the J ov Herbert N. Berkow, Director Standardization and Special Projects Directorate Division of PWR Licensing-B
Enclosure:
- 1. Amendment No. 24
- 2. Safety Evaluation cc w/ enclosures:
See next page l
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Pennsylvania State University Docket No. 50-5 4
cc: Governor's Office of State Planning and Development
- ATTN
- Coordinator, Pennsylvania State Clearinghouse i
Post Office Box 1323 Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120 Dr. S. Levine, Director i
Breazeale Nuclear Reactor
, College of Engineering Pennsylvania State University i
207 Old Main Building University Park, Pennsylvania 16802 l Attorney General
- Department of Justice Capitol Annex Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120
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PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY DOCKET NO.50-005 AMENDMENT TO FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE Amendment No. 24 License No. R-2
- 1. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) has found that:
A. The application for amendment to Facility Operating License No.
R-2, filed by the Pennsylvania State University (the licensee),
dated April 10, 1986, complies with the standards and requirements of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (the Act), and the Commission's regulations as set forth in 10 CFR Chapter I:
B. The facility will operate in conformity with the amended license, the provisions of the Act, and the rules and regulations of the Commission; C. There is reasonable assurance: (i) that the activities authorized by this. amendment can be conducted without endangering the health and safety of the public, and (ii) that such activities will be conducted in compliance with the Commission's regulations; D. The issuance of this amendment will not be inimical to the common defense and security or to the health and safety of the public; E. The issuance of this amendment is in accordance with 10 CFR Part 51 of the Commission's regulations and all applicable requirements have been satisfied; and F. Publication of notice of this amendment is not required since it does not involve a significant hazards consideration nor amendment of a license of the type described in 10 CFR Section 2.106(a)(2).
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- 2. Accordingly, the license is amended by changes to paragraphs 2.8.(2) and 2.B.(3) of Facility Operating License No. R-02 to read as follows:
(2) Pursuant to the Act and 10 CFR Part 70, " Domestic Licensing of Special Nuclear Material," to receive, possess and use in connection with operation of the reactor, up to nine (9) kilograms of contained uranium - 235 enriched to less than 20%.
(3) Pursuant to the Act and 10 CFR Part 30, " Rules of General Applicability to Domestic Licensing of Byproduct Materials," to receive, possess, and use in connection with operation of the reactor: (1) two sealed 50 curie antimony-berylium neutron sources, either or both of which may be used for reactor start-up, (2) a sealed 0.235 milligram californium-252 neutron source, and (3) a sealed 3 cucie americium 241-berylium neutron source, and to possess, but not to separate, such by product material as may be produced by operation of the reactor.
- 3. This license amendment is effective as of its date of issuance, o FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
. W H rbert N. Berkow, Director Standardization and Special Projects Directorate
. Division of PWR Licensing-B Date of Issuance: May 12, 1986 1
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SAFETY EVALUATION BY THE OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION SUPPORTING AMENDMENT NO. 24 TO FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE N0. R-2 PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY PENN STATE BREAZEALE REACTOR DOCKET N0.50-005
1.0 INTRODUCTION
In a letter dated April 10, 1986, Pennsylvania State University requested an amendment to Operating License No. R-2 for its TRIGA non-power research reactor. The amendment would make changes in license conditions relating to the authorization for special nuclear a
material, and to the authorization for neutron sources to be used in connection with operation of the reactor.
2.0 REQUESTED CHANGES AND EVALUATION The requested changes, paraphrased, are as follows:
" Delete the authorization to possess reactor fuel containing high
. enriched uranium, and add an authorization to possess and use an Am-Be neutron source.
The Penn State research reactor, built initially in the 1950s, was fueled entirely with plate-type (MTR-type) fuel elements containing uranium highly enriched (HEU) in the uranium-235 isotope. After several years of operation, the reactor was modified, converted to the use of uranium-zirconium hydride (TRIGA) fuel with the uranuim-235 enriched to less than 20%, and the authorized power level was increased. At that time and in subsequent years the licensee properly disposed of most of the plate-type fuel, but retained some elements for possible future experiments. The reactor operating license continued to authorize their possession. Eventually, in accordance with NRC policy and with assistance from the Department of Energy, the last of these HEU elements was disposed of in early 1986. The change in the license condition is required to conform with the present situation at Penn State with respect to HEU fuel, and will lead to no increase in radiological hazard to the public. The staff, therefore, concludes that this change is acceptable.
The safety of operating a nuclear reactor is generally increased by using a neutron source for start-up from low power.
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For several years Penn State has used either antimony-berylium or californium-spontaneous fission neutron sources for this purpose. As a result of the recent decommissioning of a TRIGA reactor very similar to the one at Penn State, an americium-berylium neutron source became available, and Penn State proposes to acauire it to use as a reactor start-up source. This source has been licensed for use in a 1 MW TRIGA reactor for at least twenty years, and other reactors licensed by NRC also use very similar americium sources produced by the same vendor. Penn State has considered the operating conditions under which the source would be used, and has estimated that the maximum power production in the source due to reactor neutron irradiation would be less than 10 watts. Because this power would only be produced while the reactor is at full power, and the source would be immersed in the pool water, dissipation of the source power is readily assured. The staff concurs in this analysis and conclusion. Furthermore, the many years of fully satisfactory operation of this same source, and others, at similar operating conditions supports the staff conclusion that the possession and use of this source by Penn State University presents no new significant radiological hazard to the public, and is therefore acceptable.
3.0 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATION
S e
This amendment involves changes in the installation or use of facility components located within the restricted area, as defined in 10 CFR Part 20, and changes in inspection and surveillance requirements. The staff has determined that: (1) the amendment involves no significant hazards considerations (as discussed below), (2) there is no significant change in
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the types or significant increase in the amounts of any effluents that may be released offsite, and (3) there is no significant increase in individual or cumulative occupational radiation exposure. ' Accordingly, this amendment meets the eligibility criteria for categorical exclusion set forth in 10 CFR 51.22(c)(9). Pursuant to 10 CFR 51.22(b), no environmental impact statement or environmental assessment need be prepared in connection with the issuance of this amendment.
4.0 CONCLUSION
The staff has concluded, based on the considerations discussed above, that: (1) because the amendment does not involve a significant increase in the probability or consequences of accidents previously evaluated, or create the possibility of a new or different kind of accident from any accident previously evaluated; or involve a significant reduction in a margin of safety, this amendment involves no significant hazards considerations, (2) there is reasonable assurance that the health and safety of the public will not be endangered by the proposed activities, and (3) such activities will be conducted in compliance with the Commission's regulations and the issuance of this amendment will not be inimical to the common defense and security or the health and safety of the public.
Principal Contributor:
Robert E. Carter Dated: May 12, 1986