ML20235Z497

Safety Evaluation Supporting Amend 16 to License SNM-1097

ML20235Z497
Person / Time
Site:	07001113
Issue date:	03/10/1989
From:	Bidinger G, Mccaughey D NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS)
To:
Shared Package
ML20235Z482	List: ML20235Z479 ML20235Z492 ML20235Z497 ML20236B596
References
NUDOCS 8903150485
Download: ML20235Z497 (2)

Text

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. 1 NR '10 1989 '

w DOCKET NO: 70-1113 y; . LICENSEE: General Electric Company,(GE)

Nuclear Fuel'and Components Manufacturing facility

SUBJECT:

SAFETY EVALUATION REPORT, LICENSE AMENDMENT APPLICATION' DATED.

FEBRUARY 16,'1989, RE CHANGE'IN POSSESSION LIMITS Background >

'In a. letter dated October'20, 1988, from the NMSS Division of Safeguards and Transportation (enclosure) to GE, it was explained that the current authorized possession limit for uranium places GE in the Category II classification for material control & accounting (MC&A) purposes. To remain in the MC&A Category III classification, GE submitted an amendment application requesting a change in the possession limits.

Discussion The current license. allows GE' to possess 500 kg of U-235 in uranium enriched to

<15% in the U-235 isotope. ~The amendment application' requests:that the posses-

-sion limit authorize 500 kg of U-235 in uranium enriched from 6% to <10% in the U-235 isotope and an additional possession limit of 9.649 kg of U-235 in uranium enriched from 10% to <15% in the- U-235 isotope. The staff has determined that the present radiological and nuclear criticality safety programs are adequate to support.these' changes. Therefore, it is recommended that Conditions 6, 7,.and 8 be revised as follows.

6.A. Uranium enriched to 7.A. Uranium compounds 8.A. 50,000 kgs U-235

<6% U-235

'6.B. Uraaium enriched in 7.B. Any 8.B. O.35 kg:U-235 U-235 6.C. Uranium enriched'from 7.C. Uranium compounds 8.C. 500 kg U-235 6% to <10% U-235 6.0. Uranium enriched from 7.D. Uranium compounds 8.D. 9.649 kg U-235 10% to <15% U-235 6.E. Plutonium 7.E. Sealed neutron sources 8.E. 20 g Pu-6.F Plutonium 7.F. Analytical samples 8.F. 0.002 g Pu 6.G. Plutonium 7.G. In nuclear fuel rods 8.G. <10E-6 g Pu/g

- U-235 8903150485 890310 PDR ADOCK 07001113 C PDC

, MARi10 1989.

General Electric Company '2 Conclusion / Recommendation The staff finds that the proposed changes to the possession limits will have no adverse effect on the public health and safety or on the environment. Approval of the amendment application is recommended. This action will be taken for'the l- convenience of the Commission to permit GE to remain in the MC&A Category III l- classification.

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

l Original Signed By-l David A. McCaughey l

Uranium Fuel Section Fuel Cycle Safety Branch l' Division of Industrial and-I Medical Nuclear Safety,'NMSS Original Signed By'.

Approved by:

i L ' George H. Bidinger, Section Leader

Enclosure:

As stated 1

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Nuclear Fuel Components Manufacturing AT1N: Mr. T. Preston Winslow, Manager )

Licensing and Nuclear Materials  :

Management-  ;

P. O. Box 780

'Wilmington, North Carolina 28402

Dear Mr. Winslow:

As previously discussed with you during a recent site visit by Philip Ting of my staff, it has come to our attention that your authorized possession limit for uranium enriched up to 14.99% in U-235 (item 6.C of your SNM-1097 License) p(MC&A) purposes.uts you in the Category II classification for material control and accou That is, you are authorized to possess and use special nuclear i material (SNM) of moderate strategic significance in a quantity exceeding one effective kilogram. This, in turn, subjects you to the MC&A requirements contained in 10 CFR 70.51, 70.57 and 70.58 rather than the Categor ments of 10 CFR 74.31 [See 10 CFR 70.51(e) 70.57(b) and 70.58(a)]y III require- .

do not actually possess.any uranium enriched between 10% and 20%, there is noSince you urgent of 70.51,.70.57 need to subject and 70.58. you to the prescriptive, and more stringent, requirements However, as the regulations currently read, it will i be necessary to subject General Electric-NFCM to the appropriate MC&A require-ments in Part 70 unless you lower your possession limit (for uranium enriched up to 14.99%) to a value no greater than 9649 grams U-235 (i.e. 9999 grams less the 350 grams allowed by item 6.B of your License). Another alternative

.would be to keep your existing 500 kg U-235 limit, but lower the maximum  !'

enrichment (for item 6.C) to 9.99%.

For the definitions of "SWI of low strategic significance" and "SNM of moderate strategicsignificance",see10CFR74.4or10CFR73.2(x)and(y). It should  !

1 also be noted that. unlike the MC&A regulations, the level of physical protection (Category I, II or III) required by Part 73 regulations is dependent upon the i quantity to be possessed. and type of SNM actually possessed, rather than that which is authorized gory III physical security Therefore, this issue status. . does not affect your existing Cate-We would appreciate a written response to this letter within 30 days indicating which alternative you prefer'.- If you indicate a willingness to lower'your possession limit, and/or enrichment level, we will initiate the appropriate l

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.;, k .GE ELECTRIC COMPANY-a 2-license modification through the Fuel Cycle Safety Branch. If you have any additional questions in this matter, please contact either Philip Ting or Donald Joy on (301)492-0648 or (301)492-0352, respectively. .

Sincerely, C. N. (Mike) ith, Chief Licensing Branch Division of Safeguards and Transportation, NMSS 1

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