ML20217R002
| ML20217R002 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant |
| Issue date: | 05/06/1998 |
| From: | Mark Lombard UNITED STATES ENRICHMENT CORP. (USEC) |
| To: | Yawar Faraz NRC |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9805130076 | |
| Download: ML20217R002 (5) | |
Text
7-f%Y-06-1998 14:48 USEC IO1 564 3210
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CSEC A Global Energy Company t) D l
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6903 Rockledge Drive Bethesia, MD 20817-1818 Telephone 301 564-3200 Fax 301564 3201 http://www.uscc.com Fax Memorandum l
l Date:
hiav 6.1998 Time:
2:10sm To:
Yawar_Fmaz Fax:
301.415 5390 Phone:
Mark L mbard Fax:
301 564-3210 From:
Q l
Phone:
301 5(4.3248 I
t Number of Pages (including cover sheet): 5 i
Subject:
A draft of the letter ragarding the request for authorization to proceed with HEU cylinder valve replacement is attached for your information. The formal letter will be issued as soon as concurrences are obtained, probably early tomorrow moming.
Please callif you have any questions / comments. Thank you for your help.
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IMPORTAMT: This facewnile is intended only forthe use of the individual or entny to which t is addressed. It may contaM informabon that is prmie0ed. cortfldentie( or othe# wise protoded from dieciosure unoer app 6 Cable lew. If the reader of this transmission is not the intended reopent or th6 employee or 80ent respuble for delivering the transmission to the intended recipent. you are hereby notifed that any disseridnadon. distribuuon, r.opyIng or use of this transmission or its contents bs stiidly prtd:#:mt if you have rocstved this l
transmission in error, please rat / us t3; :' yseig 3011564200 and renmng the ong#nsi to us et the scove accrets.
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MAY-06-1998 14:48 USEC 301 564 3210 P.02 05 Bg g
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May 7,1998 DOE 98-0017 Mr. Randall M. DeVault Regulatory Oversight Manager Office of Assistant Manager for Enrichment Facilities U. S. Department of Energy i
Post Office Esox 2001 l
Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-8651 Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PORTS)
Docket No. 70-7002 Authorization to Proceed with Temporary Conversion of X-705 South Annex to DOE Regulation and Initiate Highly Enriched Uranium Cylinder Valve Replacement Activities
Dear Mr. DeVault:
The Department of Energy (DOE) approved the process for temporary conversion of the X-705 facility from Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to l'OE regulation in Reference 1. The United States Enrichment Corporation (USEC) submitted a certificate amendment request (CAR) to the NRC regarding the temporary conversion of the X-705 South Aru.ex for the completion of highly enriched uranium (HEU) cylinder valve replacement activities in Reference 2. Also in Reference 2, USEC requested the DOE approval to commence the HEU cylinder valve replacement activity.
The NRC approved USEC's CAR on April 20,1998 in Reference 3, which provided NRC approval of the temporary conversion process and the HEU cylinder valve replacement activity. In response to an i
Operational Readiness Assessment that was performed by USEC and transmitted to the DOE in Reference 4, the DOE performed an inspection of the HEU cylinder valva replacement activity and fo: warded the DOE findings to USEC in Reference 5. USEC responded to the DOE findings in Reference 6.
Although this was not a specific prior commitment to the DOE, USEC has completed a security sweep of the X-705 South Annex to provide assurance that the results of the current sweep agree with the results of the previous sweep of this area with no significant differences and to establish a baseline for the security sweep that will be done after the HEU cylinder valve replacements are completed.
Verbal discussions with DOE indicate that the resolutions proposed by USEC in Reference 6 are acceptable to DOE, and that 'here are no other barriers to proceeding with the temporary conversion of the X-705 South Annex to DOE regulation and initiating the HEU cylint r valve replacement activity.
'Iherefore, USEC is requesting DOE authorization (and by copy of this letter, NRC authorization) to
f1AY-06-1998 14:49 USEC 301 564 3210 P.03'05 Mr. Randall'M. DeVault May 7,1998 DOE 98-0017, Page 2 proceed with temporary conversion of the X-705 South Annex to DOE regulation, and to initiate the HEU cylinder valve replacement activity in the X-705 South Annex, on May 11,1998. It is then anticipated that the X-705 South Annex would be ready for conversion back to NRC regulation on or before July 1.
1998 (no planned expeditious handling (PEH) activities are currently scheduled until July 1998). If all required activities are completed such that the X-705 South Annex will be ready for conversion back to NRC regulation prior to July 1,1998, USEC will notify the DOE and NRC in writing.
As outlined above, DOE, NRC, and USEC have been working closely over the last several months to complete all required action:: such that the subject activities could begin. It was not until recently that USEC was confident that thae actions were completed to the satisfaction of the DOE. Therefore, in order for USEC to complete the activities by July 1,1998, with allowir.g some time for contingencies, there is now not enough time left to provide notification to the DOE at least 10 working days prior to the proposed initiation of the activity, USEC requests that the DOE waive the 10 day requirement due to the continuous discussiuis that have transpired between the D OE :md USEC, and the fact that the discussions with the DOE indicate all required actions have been successfully completed.
New commitments made in this submittal are provided in Enclosure 1. If you have any questions, please contact Mark Lombard at (301) 564-3248.
Sincerely, Steven A.Toelle Nuclear Regulatory Assurance and Policy Manager
Enclosure:
As St.ited cc: DOE Site Safety Representative, PORTS Mr. Carl J. Paperiello, NRC i
i 1
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f%Y-06-1998 14:49 USEC 301 564 3210 P. 015 i
Mr. Ibmdall M. DeVault E
May 7,1998 DOE 98-0017, Page 3 REFERENCES
- 1. Letter from Randall M. DeVault (DOE) to Steven A. Toelle (USEC), "Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant - Docket No. 70-7002 - Temporary Conversion of X-705 Regulatory Oversight," August 21, 1997.
- 2. Letter from James H. Miller (USEC) to Carl J. Paperiello (NRC), " Certificate Amendment Request -
Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU) Cylinder Valve Replacement," Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant, Docket No. 70-7002, ODP 98-0009, February 3,1998.
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- 3. Letter from Carl J. Paperiello (NRC) to James H. Miller (USEC), "Portsmouth Certificate Amendment Request - Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU) Cylinder Valve Replacement (TAC No.
L32056)," April 20,1998.
- 4. Letter from Steven A. Toelle (USEC) to Randall M. DeVault (DOE), " Completion of Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU) Cylinder Valve Replacement Operational Readiness Assessment (ORA)."
Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant, Docket No. 70-7002, GDP 98-0014, April 9,1998.
- 5. Letter from Randall M. DeVault (DOE) to Steven A. Toelle (USEC), " Highly Enriched Uranium Cylinder Valve Replacement Operational Readiness Assessment," April 23,1998.
- 6. Letter from Steven A. Toelle (USEC) to Randall M. DeVault (DOE), " Response to Highly Enriched Uranium Cylinder Valve Replacement Operational Readiness Assessment Findings," Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant, Docket No. 70 7002, GDP 98-0022, April 29,1998.
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f1AY-06-1998 14:49 USEC 301 564 3210 P.05 05 DOE 98-0017 Page1of1 NEW COMMITMENTS MADE IN THIS SUBMITTAL
- 1. If approvals can be obtained, the temporary conversion of the X-705 South Annex from NRC to DOE reguation will begin on May 11,1998.
- 2. The IEU cylinder valve replacement activities will be completed and the X-705 South Annex will be ready for conversion back to NRC regulation on or before July 1,1998.