ML20245F694

Responds to Re Concerns Related to Burial of Toxic Matl,Reprocessing of Nuclear Fuel Rods & Shutdown & Cleanup of Hot Lab.Currently Authorized Activities at Hot Cell Subj to Frequent NRC Safety Insps

ML20245F694
Person / Time
Site:	07000025
Issue date:	08/04/1989
From:	Bernero R NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS)
To:	Plotkin S SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FEDERATION OF SCIENTISTS
Shared Package
ML20245F696	List: ML20245F694 ML20245F699
References
NUDOCS 8908150040
Download: ML20245F694 (2)

Text

~ ~

So0tidnlalNornialederation of Sci 7ntists

. 3348 Colbert' Avenue, Suite 200-Los Angeles, CA 90066

Dear Dr. Plotkin:

Your July 6,1989, letter to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) about

" Relicensing the Rocketdyne Hot Lab" has. been referred to me for response.

Your letter expressed concerns about the burial of toxic material, the reprocessing of nuclear fuel rods, and the shutdown and cleanup of the' Hot Lab.

The first issue concerned a report on the burial of toxic material on the Santa Susana site over the years. Since you did not identify the report, we cannot comment on your specific concerns. You should recognize that the NRC has regulatory jurisdiction over the use of radioactive material in the few buildings outside the U.S. Department of Energy (D0E) controlled area of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory. The DOE-controlled area is inside the dashed lines (designated " GOVT") on the enclosed drawing. We have no knowledge or record that Rocketdyne has buried NRC licensed material onsite.

Your second concern was the reprocessing of nuclear fuel rods. Rocketdyne's activities in the Hot Cell Facility are now limited to the decladding and examination of nuclear fuel rods. After decladding, the fuel is returned to a facility on the portion of the site that is controlled by the D0E. To date, such activities have involved fuel supplied by DOE. Rocketdyne is not now, nor has it ever been, authorized under NRC license to separate the uranium and plutonium, as suggested by your reference to nuclear fuel rod reprocessing.

With respect to shutdwn and cleanup rather than relicensing, you should note that Rockwell International has applied for renewal of the NRC license to use special nuclear traterial in the currently licensed facilities at the Santa Susana Field Laborator As part of the renewal process, my staff will conduct environmental ona safety reviews of the proposed activities. Based on the results of these reviews, the staff will take appropriate action on the license renewal application.

I trust that this letter will clarify the situation and allay your concerns

'ebout Rockwell International's activities, which are subject to NRC licensing and regulation, at the Santa Susana Field Laboratory. The currently authorized i activities at the Hot Cell have been subjected to frequent NRC safety inspections, and no unresolved issues affecting the environment have been identified.

Sincerely, giGW) Sobert M. Bernuo Robert M. Bernero, Director Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards No

Enclosure:

As stated

$ Distribution w/ encl. w/ incoming ED0-4615 b

o+

IMNS Central Files NMSS R/F IMSB R/F NMSS Dir Off R/F DMorris, ED0 NMSS R/F NRC File Center CEstep

" IMUF R/F EDO R/F CJenkins SECY GSjoblom LCRouse GBidinger

$d Docket 70-25 PDR MHorn Region V CHooker, RV oo VTharpe RFish, RV 8@ *see prior concurrence To o c- RV:

0FC:JMUF:f p,._.....__.*.....x

• IMUF: IMSh y DD/IMNS: D/IMNS: D/NMSS-D/NMSS.

- h

$;@o .....___.f ..*..__... *_........___*.... .......

NAME:GB1dinger:VLTharpe:RFish:LCRouse:GSjoblom:RECunningham: gar tto:RBernero:

l bATEbihh89 hhhhhb9 hfh5fb9 hh)b9h bhh)hb)b9 hh b9 ffh bh

{ j OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

• r I

I

= . VI , ,

y

. e

,'l,j '

I l 'd A.- 2.}l &

I) j

~ .,) hd l4' -qu%! s

^g1 -

g. .

1. ,, ;

3

,t N at 3

2 i

'cl ~ ,

e !, , ,.

~

g '

Md S)sd I 6 b I f ..

B'NIb.

pphyN,.}U,y '*

lil ,

y

' b;hj? 'I& ' \ $

b.':N$f~~'c? ~\ .

h,9l, .*ikilN ym

~it M N

9 l,! 5 E

\l"W=gk,if'lzw,,;'h,J

_1, Ifs, - r P ~ '#

w .,

! cx ,

8 ilm v5' ' 1sys

,a -

' *e-N, 0 E i "-

Ng

,,y 5 a

• ~s

% _! sf g

,p 7W 3C ra71l si P 3

',M4)gs rad 1 m -

',g t . 5 ; -r e ._

3 ST" g

, ~r 3

- .3.. .t.!.a)(d&$N

,n

. 3'. m >

If '/ L CL 4%

Si 1

'h E  !

j\

,o a ,,n .

. r ,3 ), s <

• N h =  !'

\

l: r j

- - _ - - _ _ _ _ - _ - _ - _