ML20212D760
| ML20212D760 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 05000054 |
| Issue date: | 12/30/1986 |
| From: | Dosa J Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Somerville S CINTICHEM, INC. |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8701050017 | |
| Download: ML20212D760 (5) | |
Text
December 30, 1986 Docket No. 50-54 Mr. Stuart J. Somerville Cintichem, Incorporated Sterling Forest Research Center Post Office Box 324 Tuxedo, New York 10987
Dear Mr. Somerville:
SUBJECT:
REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION We are continuing our review of your application dated September 18, 1986, for a unique purpose exemption pursuant to 10 CFR 50.64(c)(1) for your reactor facility. During this review, several questions have arisen for which we require additional information in order for us to complete our evaluation. You are requested to provide written responses to the enclosed questions no later than sixty days from the date of this letter.
Following receipt of this infomation we will continue our review.
If you have any questions concerning this request, please contact me at (301) 492-8529.
The reporting and/or recordkeeping requirements contained in this letter affect fewer than ten respondents; therefore, OMB clearance is not required under P.L.96-511.
Sincerely, Original signed by John Dosa, Project Manager Standardization and Special Projects Directorate Division of PWR Licensing-B Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation i
Enclosure:
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December 30, 1986 Docket No. 50-54 1
Mr. Stuart J. Somerville Cintichem, Incorporated Sterling Forest Research Center Post Office Box 324 Tuxedo, New York 10987
Dear Mr. Somerville:
SUBJECT:
REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION We are continuing our review of your application dated September 18, 1986, for a unique purpose exemption pursuant to 10 CFR 50.64(c)(1) for your reactor facility. During this review, several questions have arisen for which we require additional information in order for us to complete our evaluation. You are requested to provide written responses to the enclosed questions no later than sixty days from the date of this letter.
Following receipt of this information we will continue our review.
If you have any questions concerning this request, please contact me at (301) 492-8529.
The reporting and/or recordkeeping requirements contained in this letter affect fewer than ten respondents; therefore, OMB clearance is not required under P.L.96-511.
Sincerely, M
A John Dosa, Project Manager Standardization and Special Projects Directorate Division of PWR Licensing-B Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Enclosure:
As stated cc w/ enclosure:
See next page
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Cintichem, Inc.
Docket No. 50-54 g
cc: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation ATTN: Director, Office of Environmental Analysis j
Albany, New York 12201 Mr. William G. Ruzicka Manager of Nuclear Operations Union Carbide Nuclear Center Union Carbide Subsidiary B, Inc.
P. O. Box 324 Tuxedo, New York 10987 Attorney General Department of Law State Capitol Albany, New York 12224 Director, Technical Development Programs State of New York Energy Office Agency Building 2 Empire State Plaza Albany, New York 12223
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ENCLOSURE Cintichem Docket No. 50-54 Unique Purpose Exemption Request Request for Additional Information i
Unique purpose is defined in 10 CFR 50.2 as a project, program, or commercial activity which cannot reasonably be accomplished without the use of HEU fuel, and may include:
(1) A s commercial activity (typically long-term) pecific experiment, program, or that significantly serves the U.S.
national interest and cannot be accomplished without the use of HEU fuel; (2) Reactor physics or reactor development based explicitly on the use of HEU fuel; (3) Research projects based on neutron flux levels or spectra attainable only with HEU fuel; or (4) A reactor core of special design that could not perform its intended function Lithout using HEU fuel.
1.
Provide an explanation of why Cintichem's production of medical radioisotopes is in the national interest and justify why the projected impacts of conversion to LEU fuel would be contrary to that national interest.
If appropriate, provide statements from cognizant agencies and institutions (i.e., FDA, NIH, etc.) to support your justification.
2.
Indicate which isotopes currently produced with your HEU-fueled core could not be produced if your reactor converted to an LEU-fueled core.
3.
Justify your conclusion that an approximately 10% reduction in thermal neutron flux would compromise your production of radioisotopes to such an extent that it would be adverse to the national interest.
Indicate whether (and provide the basis for) a 10% reduction in thermal flux would prevent you from meeting your customers' curie requirements for medical isotopes. Also indicate what percentage of the reactor's capacity is used for the production of medical isotopes.
If there is a 10% reduction in thermal flux and the production of these radioisotopes is in the national interest, could not Cintichem meet the medical radioisotope customers' needs by dedicating a larger percentage of the reactor's capacity to the production of these radioisotopes and a lesser percentage to other irradiation work? Provide a basis for your answer.
4.
Explain how changed control rod worths resulting from a conversion to an LEU core would change your operating margins and detrimentally affect your duty cycle. Explain why you believe this is a basis for a unique purpose exemption.
5.
Explain how and to what extent the use of an LEU-fueled core would change the waste characteristics of your processed uranium targets.
If this change would preclude your use of Class B low level waste disposal areas, discuss alternatives, including your use of Class C disposal areas.
l 6.
Explain the relevance of Section D of your September 18, 1986 submittal to your unique purpose request. Explain how and to what extent your safety margins would be reduced and also explain how this would affect your radioisotope production program.
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'O s 7.
Explain why your need to requalify your products is a basis for a unique purpose exemption.
8.
Explain how the use of an LEU-fueled core would lower the qpality of your neutron transmutation doped silicon and why this is a relevant basis for unique purpose exemption consideration.
9.
Provide a more detailed and quantitative analysis of your market consideration arguments. Please remember that the Commission's position on HEU/ LEU conversions is that economic benefit is not a basis for a unique purpose exemption.
Note that all information determined to be proprietary and marked as such will not be placed in the Public Document Room.
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