ML20247F508
| ML20247F508 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant |
| Issue date: | 05/08/1998 |
| From: | Pierson R NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| To: | John Miller UNITED STATES ENRICHMENT CORP. (USEC) |
| References | |
| TAC-L32067, NUDOCS 9805190354 | |
| Download: ML20247F508 (3) | |
Text
- dj May 8, 1998
- Mr. James H. Miller.
Vice Presidertt, Production U. S. Enrichment Corporation.
2 Democracy Center 6903 Rockledge Drive '
Bethesda, MD 20817
SUBJECT:
CRITICALITY ACCIDENT ALARM SYSTEM MONITORING EXCLUSION REQUEST - PADUCAH GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANT (TAC NO. L32067)
Dear Mr. Miller:
This refers to your letters dated April 9,1996 and August 15,1996, for the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PGDP),' requesting exclusions of areas within the USEC leased areas from Criticality Accident Alarm System (CAAS) monitoring, and your letter dated April 7,1997,-responding to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Request for Additional i
Information dated February 28,1997.
Our review of your requests and response has identified additional information that is needed before final action can be taken. The additional information specified in the Enclosure should be provided before June 1,1998. Please reference the above TAC No, in
' future correspondence related to this request.
If you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact Yawar Faraz at (301) 415-8113 or Merri Horn at (301) 415-8126.
Sincerely, MMk Robert C. Pierson, Chief E
Special Projects Branch Division of Fuel Cycle Safety 1
and Safeguards, NMSS I
Docket 70-7001 f
6.Ngs.A 1
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Certificate GDP-1 I
Enclosure:
As stated' h[1]
cc: Mr. Randall DeVault, DOE-OR Mr. Steven Toelle, USEC
- Mr. Steven Polston, PGDP 1
- DISTRIBUTION: w/enct (Control No. 400S)
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Docket 70-7001 NRC File Center '
PUBLIC KO'Brien, Rill NMSS r/f FCSS r/f l
SPBr/f PHiland, Rill WSchwink, FCOB MWeber, FCLB G ACAAS1.RAI
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Request for AdditionalInformation Application Dated August 15,1996 Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant The Nuclear Criticality Safety Evaluation (NCSE) of the Building C-710 Drain System (NCSA l
Number 1493-25) identifies four classes of objects which might be major sources of l
inadvertent introduction of uranium-bearing materialinto the drain system: cylinders, U-tubes, i
straight tubes, and cold traps. Limits are placed on the number of these which are permitted to be processed. The limits are 120 cylinders / month,250 U-tubes / week,16 straight tubes / week, and 30 cold traps / month. These limits are required to be stated on appropriately located signs. Concerning the operations involving these objects and the associated safety j
practices, the following information is requested:
- 1. Please identify the document /s in which the administrative limits mentioned above are reflected (NCSA/E, Procedure, etc.). Is a count kept of how many of each of these objects has been processed each month?
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- 2. Where is this information kept? Is it available to personnel involved in processing and cleaning these objects?
- 3. What is the normal monthly number of each of the above four classes of objects processed in Building C-7107 What is the maximum historical number that has been processed in a month?
- 4. What happens if, due to operations, the number of objects to be processed exceeds the permitted monthly limit? Are the objects kept in Building C-710 awaiting processing?
- 5. What personnel are permitted to handle the above four classes of objects? Is there documentary evidence that these personnel are trained, qualified, and fully aware of the above safety limits and their significance as a criticality safety concern?
- 6. What abnormal events could occur that would cause the number of uranium bearing objects being processed to increase? For example, would a cessation of operations cause a backlog that would have to be worked off at a near maximal rate? Are there operational situations in the cascade such that an abnormally large number of these sources would need to be processed? What is the maximum credible number of each of the four types of uranium-containing objects that might become available to be processed in any one month?
- 7. How are personnel designated to actually perform the monthly sampling of the C-712 acid neutralization pit? Is it normally the same person each month? What are the qualifications of the personnel eligible to be assigned this task?
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- 8. What is the functional title of the supervisor responsible for assuring that the monthly sampling and measurement of C-712 is performed and that results are within limits and
- normal? What means are used by this supervisor.to assure that he/she would be aware if the sampling and measurement were not done? What would assure that this oversight function l
- would be performed even if the usual supervisor were on extended vacation?-
- 9. Are the results of the monthly sampling of C-712 documented and retained? Are these
. documented results verified by the OA function, the NCS function, or some other function independent of the organization responsible for Building C-710.and C 712 operations? -
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- 10. It is stated that two methods are used to measure the uranium content of certain samples l
.from C-712, gamma spectroscopy and " analysis". Does the latter refer to wet analytical chemistry?. Are these two measurements'made by two different persons and in an
-independent manner? Is this a written NCS requirement? How can compliance with this be l
verified?.-
- 11. Is Building C-710 and the area immediately adjacent to it above ground covered by a Criticality Accident Alarm System (CAAS)? That is, if an inadvertent nuclear criticality event of a strength exceeding that specified in the regulations were to occur within building C-710, would a CAAS alarm sound, audible in the building? ~
- 12. How many cold traps are typically processed in Building C-710 per month? is there a L
criticality safety requirement (in NCSE 1493-02?) limiting the number of cold traps processed in C-710 per month? ' Section 4.2.7 of the NCSE of NCSA number 1493-25 Rev. 2 considers a i
scenario where the contents of 30 cold traps per month at 3.81 Kg U are erroneously disposed of down the drains, but this value of 30 is not stated to be an NCS administrative control.
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