ML20217G166

Forwards Summary of Primary Activities Performed by Tank Waste Remediation Sys (Twrs) Section During Sept 1999

ML20217G166
Person / Time
Site:	07003091
Issue date:	10/12/1999
From:	Struckmeyer R NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS)
To:	Pierson R NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS)
References
NUDOCS 9910210204
Download: ML20217G166 (9)

Text

'

October 12, 1999

. . ' ~ MEMORANDUM TO: Robart C. Pisrson, Chiaf

,; Sp cirl Projtets Branch Division of Fusi Cycle Safety and Safeguards, NMSS

~

THRU: Michael Tokar, Chief TWRS Section

. Special Projects Branch l Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards, NMSS FROM: Richard K. Struckmeyer TWRS Section Special Projects Branch Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards, NMSS

SUBJECT:

MONTHLY ACTIVITIES REFORT - SEPTEMBER 1999 Attached is a summary of the primary activities performed by the Tank Waste Remediation System (TWRS) Section during September 1999.

The highlights to note are: ,

i

1. The staff has completed finalizing the Standard Review Plan (SRP) for the TWRS-

Privatization Facility; addressing "public" Department of Energy Regulatory Unit (DOE RU) ,

and BNFL Inc. comments on the draft SRP and ensuring consistency between the SRP

- and current draft 10 CFR Part 70 requirements. The document will be provided for FCSS review.

2. The Executive Director for Operations signed and forwarded to the Commission on September 21,1999, a memorandum describing the current status of the planned staff

~ lnteractions with DOE regarding modification of the DOE /NRC Memorandum of Understanding on TWRS-P and associated potential interactions with Congressional staff.

Revised input from the Office of Congressional Affairs had been incorporated into the memorandum. This memorandum is in response to the Staff Requirements Memorandum  !

on SECY 99-107 that requires the staff to keep the Commission fully and currently '

informed on these matters and to provide periodic status reports.

3. Two Headquarters TWRS staff members, the TWRS Senior Site Representative, and the Special Projects Branch Chief attended a Topical Meeting at Richland, Washington, on i Explosive Hazards (melter off gas) Part ll on September 28,1999. The main topics discussed were hydrogen generation and mitigation.

Attachment:

September 1999, Monthly Activities Report !% % hh fpk DISTRIBUTION:

Docket 70-3091 N R C N N InTe1 PUBLIC NMSS r/f FCSS r/f f /

SPB r/f -- . TWRS staff DOCUMENT NAME: G:\SPB\RKS\TWRS-Sept.wpd (*See previous concurrence)

OFC SPB' E SPB E NAME' *RStuckmeyer:al DHoadley DATE 10/ 8/99 10/12/99

. C = COVER E = COVER & ENCLOSURE N = NO COPY 9910210204 991012

@U ' OFFICIAL RECORD COPY PDR ADOCK 07003091

,C pog u  ;

.. MEMORANDUM TO: Rob:rt C. Pi:rson,' Chief

, Sp cial Projncts Branch Division of Fus! Cycis Safety and Safeguards, NMSS -

' x.

-THRU: Michael Tokar, Chief k((

TWRS Section Special Projects Branch 0

/duJ - -

Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards, NMSS y/

i

/

FROM: Richard K. Struckmeyer TWRS Section i Special Projects Branch Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards, NMSS

SUBJECT:

MONTHLY ACTIVITIES REPORT - SEPT BER 1999 Attached is a summary of the primary activities performed by t Tank Waste Remediation System (TWRS) Section during September 1999.

The highlights to note are:

1. The staff has completed finalizing the Standard view Plan.(SRP) for the TWRS-Privatization Facility; addressing "public" Depa ent of Energy Regulatory Unit (DOE RU) and BNFL inc. comments on the draft SRP a d ensuring consistency between the SRP t

and current draft 10 CFR Part 70 requirem ts. The document will be provided for FCSS review.

2. The Executive Director for Operations igned and forwarded to the Commission on September 21,1999, a memorandu describing the current status of the planned staff interactions with DOE regarding m ~ ification of the DOE /NRC Memorandum of Understanding on TWRS-P and sociated potential interactions with Congressional staff.

! Revised input from the Office of ongressional Affairs had been incorporated into the ,

L memorandum. This memora um is in response to the Staff Requirements Memorandum )

on SECY-99-107 that requir the staff to keep tu Commission fully and currently 1 informed on these matters nd to provide periodic status reports. l l i

3. Two Headquarters TW S staff members, the TWRS Senior Site Representative, and the  ;

Special Projects Branc Chief attended a Topical Meeting at Richland, Washington, on l Explosive Hazards (m Iter off gas) Part ll on September 28,1999. The main topics

. discussed were hydrogen generation and mitigation.

L

Attachment:

September 1999, Monthly Activities Report l DISTRIBUTION:

1 Docket 70-3091 NRC File Center PUBLIC NMSS r/f FCSS r/f L

SPB r/f TWRS staff DOCUMENT NAME: G:\SPB\RKS\TWRS-Sept.wpd ' (*See previous concurrence)

OFC SPB E SRBa N kB NAME *RStuckmeyer:al DHo h b #br DATE 10 /8/99 10/ /99 10/ /99 l C = COVER - E m COVER & ENCLOSURE N = NO COPY l OFFICIAL RECORD COPY 1

. MEMORANDUM TO: Rob:rt C. Pierson, Chief

. Special Projects Branch Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards, NMSS THRU: Michael Tokar, Chief TWRS Section Special Projects Branch Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards, NMSS FROM: Richard K. Struckmeyer TWRS Section Special Projects Branch Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards, NMSS l

SUBJECT:

MONTHLY ACTIVITIES REPORT - SEPTEMBER 1999 l

Attached is a summary of the primary activities performed by the Tank Waste Remediation System (TWRS) Section during September 1999.

The highlights to note are:

1. The staff has completed finalizing the Standard Review Plan (SRP) for the TWRS-Privatization Facility; addressing "public" Department of Energy Regulatory Unit (DOE RU) and BNFL Inc. comments on the draft SRP and ensuring consistency between the SRP and current draft 10 CFR Part 70 requirements. The document will be provided for FCSS review.

2. The Executive Director for Operations signed and forwarded to the Commission on September 21,1999, a memorandum describing the current status of the planned staff interactions with DOE regarding modification of the DCFJNRC Memorandum of Understanding on TWRS-P and associated potential interactions with Congressional staff.

Revised input from the Office of Congressional Affairs had been incorporated into the memorandum. This memorandum is in response to the Staff Requirements Memorandum on SECY-99-107 that requires the staff to keep the Commission fully and currently informed on these matters and to provide periodic status reports.

3. Two Headquarters TWRS staff members, the TWRS Senior Site Representative, and the Special Projects Branch Chief attended a Topical Meeting at Richland, Washington, on Explosive Hazards (melter off gas) Part 11 on September 28,1999. The main topics discussed were hydrogen generation and mitigation.

Attachment:

September 1999, Monthly Activities Report DISTRIBUTION:

Docket 70-3091 NRC File Center PUBLIC NMSS r/f FCSS r/f SPB r/f TWRS staff DOCUMENT NAME: G:\SPB\RKS\TWRS~ Sept.wpd (*See previous concurrence)

OFC SPB E SPB E SPB NAME *RStuckmeyer:al DHoadley MTokar DATE 10 /8 /99 10/12/99 10/ /99 C = COVER E = COVER & ENCLOSURE N = NO COPY OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

)

. MEMORANDUM TO: Robert C. Pierson, Chi f Sp:cial Proj: cts Branch .

1 Division of Futi Cycle Safety / p' ' r and Safeguards, NMSS 0 (f./g f THRU: Michael Tokar, Chief TWRS Section Special Projects Branch Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards, NMSS FROM: Richard K. Struckmeyer TWRS Section l Special Projects Branch l Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards, NMSS

SUBJECT:

MONTHLY ACTIVITIES REPORT- PTEMBER 1999 I Attached is a summary of the primary activities performed the Tank Waste Remediation System (TWRS) Section during September 1999.

The highlights to note are:

1. The staff has completed finalizing the SRP f r the TWRS-P Facility; addressing "public" l (DOE RU and BNFL Inc.) comments on th draft SRP and ensuring consistency between the SRP and current draft 10 CFR Part 7 requirements. The document will be provided for FCSS review.

2. The EDO signed and forwarded to Commission on September 21,1999, a memo describing the current status of t planned staff interactions with DOE regarding modificaMon of the DOE /NRC MOU on TWRS and associated potentialinteractions with Congressional staff. Revised input from OCA had been incorporated into the memorandum. This memorandum is in response to the SRM on SECY-99-107 that requires the staff to keep the Commission fully and currently informed on these matters and to provide periodic status reports.

3. Two HQ TWRS staff members, the TWRS senior site representative, and the SPB Chief attended a Topical Meeting at Richland, WA on Explosive Hazards (melter off gas) Part il on September 28,1999. The main topics discussed were hydrogen generation and mitigation.

Attachment:

Septe .'.*.>er 1999, Monthly Activities Report DlSTRIBUTION:

Docket 70-3091 NRC File Center PUBLIC NMSS r/f FCSS r/f SPB r/f TWRS staff DOCUMENT NAME: G:\SPB\RKS\TWRS-SEPT.wpd OFC SPB E SPB SPB NAME RStuckker:al DHoadley MTokar DATE 10 / Of /99 10/ /99 10/ /99 C = COVER E = COVER & ENCLOSURE N = NO COPY OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

_**h ,t g t UNITED STATES

, 4o j 2

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20066-0001 s*****/ October 12, 1999 MEMORANDUM TO: Robert C. Pierson, Chief l Special Projects Branch '

l Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards, NMSS

.THRU: Michael Tokar, Chief TWRS Section f

Special Projects Branch Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards, NMSS FROM:

Richard K. Struckmeyer. /,/j[h/[

TWRS Section Special Projects Branch Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards, NMSG

SUBJECT:

MONTHLY ACTIVITIES REPORT - SEPTEMBER 1S99 Attached is a summary of the primary activities performed by the Tank Waste Remediation System (TWRS) Section during September 1999.

The highlights to note are:

1. The staff has completed finalizing the Standard Review Plan (SRP) for the TWRS-Privatization Facility; addressing "public" Department of Energy Regulatory Unit (DOE RU) and BNFL inc. comments on the draft SRP and ensuring consistency between the SRP anq current draft 10 CFR Part 70 requirements. The document will be provided for FCSS review.

l

2. The Executive Director for Operations signed and forwarded to the Commission on September 21,1999, a memorandum describing the current status of the planned staff interactions with DOE regarding modification of the DOE /NRC Memorandum of Understanding on TWRS-P and associated potential interactions with Congressional staff. j Revised input from the Office of Congressional Affairs had been incorporated into tha l memorandum. This memorandum is in response to the Staff Requirements Memorandum on SECY-99-107 that requires the staff to keep the Commission fully and currently ,

informed on these matters and to provide periodic status reports. 1 l'

3. Two Headquarters TWRS staff members, the TWRS Senior Site Representative, and the

-Special Projects Branch Chief attended a Topical Meeting at Richland, Washington, on Explosive Hazards (melter off gas) Part 11 on September 28,1999. The main topics  !

discussed were hydrogen generation and mitigation.

Attachment:

September 1999, Monthly Activities Report )

l

1 September 1999. Monthlv Activities RepoA TWRS Section Activities The Executive Director for Operations signed and forwarded to the Commission on September 21,1999, a memorandum describing the current status of the planned staff interactions with the

- Department of Energy (DOE) regarding modification of the DOE /NRC Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Tank Waste Remediation System-Privatization (TWRS-P) and associated potentialinteractions with Congressional staff. Revised input from the Office of Congressional Affairs had been incorporated into the memorandum. This memorandum is in response to the Staff Requirements Memorandum on SECY-99-107 that requires the staff to keep the Commission fully and currently informed on these matters and to provide periodic i status reports.

The staff has accepted by letter dated September 20,,1999, the final report by the Center for l Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses (CNWRA) entitled " Process Hazards and Safety issues for l TWRS-P, Vol. II: Auxiliary Support Systems and Process Control Systems," dated August 1999,  ;

with the stipulation that four editorial comments will be corrected with revised pages. The corrections are to be provided by October 15,1999. This report and the Vol. I companion  :

report will be used by the NRC staff in its review of the hazards and safety issues for the l TWRS-P facility and the two volume set will be provided to the DOE-Regulatory Unit (RU) for j their use in evaluating the BNFL Inc. (contractor) safety and hazard analysis reports. l The staff received a draft final report, "Hanford Tank Waste Remediation System Pretreatment Chemistry and Technology," for review from the CNWRA. The final report will be used by the staff as technicalinformation in support of future reviews of the DOE contractor's safety submittals and will also be provided to the DOE RU for their use in evaluating hazards and safetyhsues for the TWRS-P project.

The staff continues to update the status of unresolved issues, identified during prior reviews of Contractor submittals, using the customized software.

1 TWRS Staff participated in document reviews and teleconferences leading up to the Topical Meeting on Explosion Hazards ll. In addition to hydrogen, the Contractor has analyzed potential explosive events due to water / steam, organic materials, resin degradation, ammonia / ammonium nitrate, and sugar. The Contractor has concluded that hydrogen explosions and resin reactions are potential SL-1 events, requiring reliability controls to achieve a failure rate less than 1E-6/yr. Staff reviews raised a number of questions, which have been provided to DOE. A key question concerns the lack of consideration of off-normal / accident conditions and frequencies. Several staff members attended the Topical Meeting at the end of the month. In this meeting, the Contractor appears to have backed away from their original approach of passive ventilation, and is pursuing an active ventilation system with redundant fanc, hig" efficiency particulate air filters, and power supplies. This is more consistent with commerciel nuclear industry and NRC experience.

Staff members contributed to the writing of the Standard Review Plan (SRP) for the mixed oxide (MOX) fuel fabrication facility. Draft input was provided to SRP coordinators of Chapter 3,

-Integrated Safety Analysis," Chapter 6, " Chemical Safety," Chapter 11, " Management Measures," Chapter 12, " Plant Systems," and related appendixes. A staff member also designed and developed a custom application software for the management of MOX meetings and other stakeholder involvemont. The Enrichment Section Chief and three Special Projects ATTACHMENT

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. September Monthly Activities Report 2 Branch (SPB) staff members, including one from TWRS, visited the French regulators and toured LaHague and Melox the week of September 20,1999.

1 A member of the TWRS Section has initiated a review of proposed changes to the Quality 1 Assurance Programs at the Paducah and Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plants.

8 The staff has completed finalizing the SRP for the TWRS-P Faciuty; addressing "public" (DOE

.RU and BNFL inc. ) comments on the draft SRP and ensuring consistency between the SRP and the current draft 10 CFR Part 70 requirements. The document will be provided for Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards manageinent review.

. The staff is preparing a point paper on materials and corrosion effects upon the TWRS-P facility. This paper presents and analyzes information on corrosion and erosion phenomena that might occu; due to the TWRS-P process environment.

MEETINGS.

The TWRS Senior Site Representative attended a meeting September 1,1999, between BNFL inc. and the RU to diset,ss alternative approaches to evaluating accidents from beyond design basis earthquakes.

. The TWRS Senior Site Representative and three Headquarters (HQ) staff members (via phone)

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. participated in the Pre-Topical Meeting on September 8,1999, for " Explosive Hazards 2" in 1 anticipation of the Topical Meeting to be held on September 28,1999.

The TWRS Senior Site Representative attended a design review rueeting on low activity waste

'(LAW) cesium and technetium ion exchange on September 14,1999.

The TWRS Senior Site Representative attended a working level meeting on radiation protection

. issues on September 15,1999. The RU lead individual for radiation' protection developed draft responses to NRC on each of the comments NRC transmitted to the RU by letter dated -

' August 13,1999.

The TWRS Senior Site Representative attene!ed a design review meeting concerning the

, Balance of Facility Site Plan on September 22,1999.

The TWRS Senior Site Representative attended a design review meeting on Safety I instrumentation System Guidelines on September 27,1999. )

. The TWRS Senior Site Representative attended a meeting on September 27,1999, between I

- BNFL inc and the RU to discuss an August 16,1999, BNFL Inc. document dealing with interim criticality assessment.

The TWRS Senior Site Representative attended two BNFL inc. design review meetings at Richland. Wat.hington, on Pretreatment Phase 2 Layout and Safety instrument Systems on September 27,1999.

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i- . September Monthly Activities Report . 3

.Two TWRS staff members attended a meeting of BNFL Inc., Duratek, and the RU on Melter .

L" Design / Hazards at Richland, Washington, on September 27,1999.  !

l

Two HQ TWRS staff members, the TWRS Senior Site Representative, and the SPB Chief i i

attended a Topical Meeting at Richland, Washington, on Explosive Hazards (melter off gas)

Part ll on September 28,1999. The main topics discussed were hydrogen g;neration and i

. mitigation. '

1 The TWRS Senior Site Representative attended a BNFL Inc. design review meeting at Richland, l Washington, on high level waste (HLW) and LAW vitrification off gas on September 2C,1999.

l l- A HQ staff member attended a BNFL Inc. design Review meeting at Richland, Washington, on i electrical single-line diagrams and data sheets on September 29,1999.

. The TWRS Senior Site Representative attended a BNFL Inc. design review meeting at Richland, j

' Washington, on HLW Phase ll Layouts on September 29,1999. i l

i ' A HQ TWRS staff member attended a BNFL inc. special meeting at Richland, Washington, on

' Fire Hazards Evaluation on September 29,1999.

The TWRS Senior Site Representative attended a management workshop between BNFL Inc.

and the RU at Richland, Washington, on September 30,1999. Three topics were discussed.

The first had to do with the content of Level I and Level ll meetings, the second had to do with

lesues associated with the Quality Assurance Program implementation Plan and the last had to do with Authorization Basis change problems.

-- A TWRS staff member attended a design review meeting on September 28,1999, concerning u volume and instrument diagrams (V&lDs) for heating, ventilation and air conditioning.

The SPB Chief and a TWRS staff member attended a design review meeting on September 28,

- 1999, concerning electrical issues.

i PERSONNEL L Nick Baker successfully completed his qualification board on September 1,1999.

Alex Murray, Rex Wescott, Lydia Chang, Rich Struckmeyer and Nick Baker attended the

- Process Safety Institute course " Hazard Analysis for DOE Safety Analysis Reports and Quantitative Risk Analysis" conducted at the Professional Development Center fro..,

f September 13- 16,1999.

Larry Berg; Lydia Chang and Albert Wong attended a nuclear chemistry class (Chemistry 529) at Hanford, Washington, at the WSU-TriCity campus from September 20-24,1999.

[ Several staff members of the TWRS Section attended the " Risk Communication Seminar" presented by Dr. V. Covello of the Center for Risk Communication at HQ on September 29, 1999.

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. September Monthly Activities Report 4 l l

. Albert Wong attended a training session on " Handling Allegations" at HQ on September 28,1999. j

. Stephen Koenick left the TWRS Section as of September 25,1999, and joined NRR.

Jack Spraul formally announced that he plans to retire from the NRC effective December 31,1999.

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