ML20210E999

SER Accepting Amend 57 to License SNM-696 for General Atomics

ML20210E999
Person / Time
Site:	07000734
Issue date:	07/23/1999
From:	Emeigh C NRC
To:
Shared Package
ML20210E989	List: ML20210E987 ML20210E992 ML20210E999
References
NUDOCS 9907290111
Download: ML20210E999 (4)

Text

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' ii-NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 0

's,, . . . . 4 DOCKET NO: 70-734 LICENSEE: General Atomics (GA)

San Diego, C6rnia

SUBJECT:

SAFETY EVALUATION REPORT: BUILDINGS 35-1,36,45 AND

" TEST TOWER LAND"- RELEASE TO UNRESTRICTED USE BACKGROl)N_D in accordance with their application dated March 9,1999, and supplemental information dated June 23,1999, GA requested their license be amended to remove authorized activities at Buildings 35-1,36,45, and " Test Tower Land" from the license and to release these facilities for unrestricted use. In point of fact, only one of these facilities (Building 351) was previously used to conduct licensed activities. The others (Building 36,45, " Test Tower Land") have no history of radioactive materials ever being used at those locations, except the temporary storage of a

. radiation detector containing special nuclear material. Radioactive materials were used in the Test Tower, Building 35, located on the Test Tower Land area, but the building has been remediated and no contamination was spread to the land outside the building as confirmed by the surveys. The request for unrestricted use is supported by final survey reports entitled:

" Final Radiological Surveys Performed at General Atomics' Building 35-1," dated March 5, 1999;" Final Radiological Surveys Performed at General Atomics' Building 36," dated February 26,1999; " Final Radiological Surveys Perforrred et General Atomics' Building 45,"

dated February 26,1999; " Final Radiological Surveys Performed at General Atomics' Test Tower Land," dated February 26,1999.

Notwithstanding the fact that Building 35-1 is the only building in the current action with a history of radioactive material use, albeit minimal, the license provided final site surveys to cover all of the buildings and the Test Tower Land taat are part of this licensing action.

DISCUSSION GA has completed the surveys of Building 35-1,36,45, and " Test Tower Land." They submitted four final reports to support their request for unrestricted release and removal from their materials license. The survey methodology and decontamination procedures and technique,s were the same ilgorous procedures as used in the Group 6, Group 7, Group 8, Group 9 laboratories and Building 30, phases I and 11 which have been previously released.

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I Building 35-1 This building was used for shipping and receiving radioactive materials; packages were opened on receipt in Room 116A in a hood with a HFPA filter. This room was dismantled and shipped off as either radioactive or non-radioactive waste. Room 116A no longer exists. Other rooms ,

within the building were not used for the handling of radioactive materials. The referenced survey report shows that the building meets the approved guidelines for release to unrestricted use. The NRC regionalinspectors agree with that conclusion.

Building 36 This building has no history of radioactive materials use. Nevertheless, GA performed a final site survey to provide assurance that no radioactive contamination was present. The referenced survey report shows the result of that survey and concludes the ouilding meets the approved guidelines for releaso for unrestricted use. The NRC regional inspectors agree with that conclusion.

Building 45 This building has no history of radioactive materials use. Nevertheless, GA performed a final site survey to provide assurance that no radioactive contamination was present. The referenced survey report shows the result of that survey and concludes the building meets the approved guidelines for release for unrestricted use. The NRC regional inspectors agree with that conclusion.

Test Tower Land This area was included in the surveys conducted during the remediation of the Test Tower Facility, Building 35, which was located on the Test Tower Land. Those surveys determined '

that re contamination had spread outside Building 35 on to the Test Tower Land area.

Nevertheless, GA performed a survey on the area. The conclusion of that survey is that the measurements and soil samples demonstrate that the area designated as " Test Tower Land" meets the approved guidelines for release for unrestricted use. The NRC regionalinspectors agree with that conclusion.

The licenseo has implemented a program for the conduct and documentation of final surveys that follows the guidance contained in Draft NUREG/CR-5849, " Manual for Conducting Radiological Surveys in Support of License Termination."

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3 ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW l

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! Basou on the information submitted by GA, the staff has determined that the changes to the license are related to decreased operations at the facility resulting from the proposed overall decommissioning of the site. Accordingly, the staff has determined that the criteria in 10 CFR 51.22(c)(11) for categorically excluding an action from an environmental review have been met.

l Therefore, neither an Environmental Assessment nor Environmental Impact Statement is l necessary for this action.

CONCLUSION The staff concludes that GA's request to reduce licensed activities meets regulatory requirements and that there is reasonable assurance that the proposed action will not adversely impact upon the health and safety of the public or the environment.

The Region IV Principal Inspector has no objection to this proposed action.

Princioal Contributor Charles E. Gaskin g , f, b 7 /1.s lM l

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4 Dr. Keith E. Asmussen 2 All other conditions of this license shall remain the same.

Enclosed are copies of the Materials License SNM-696 and the Safety Evaluation Report, which includes the Categorical Exclusion determination.

I Sincerely, ptigirial signed by:

C. Emeigh for Theodore S. Sherr, Chief Licensing and International Safeguards Branch Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards, NMSS Docket 70-734 License SNM-696 Amendment 57

Enclosures:

1. Materials License SNM-696

2. Safety Evaluation Report DISTRIBUTION:(Control No. 790S) (COMPLETED)

Docket 70-734 PUBLIC NRC File Center Region IV NMSS r/f FCSS r/f FLIB r/f PTing, FCOB SHO WBritz, RIV Bailey, CA PMDA TPham Madams HAstwood j OFC LIB LIB b LIB e LIB LIB y C NAME CMm PShea /)Lb r

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v DATE 07///99 07/Q99 07N/99 07//0/99 07/399 ,

C = COVER E = COVER & ENCLOSURE N = NO COPY OFFICIAL RECORD COPY