ML20247F546
| ML20247F546 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant |
| Issue date: | 05/07/1998 |
| From: | Toelle S UNITED STATES ENRICHMENT CORP. (USEC) |
| To: | Devault R ENERGY, DEPT. OF |
| References | |
| DOE-98-0017, DOE-98-17, NUDOCS 9805190381 | |
| Download: ML20247F546 (4) | |
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[LSEC A Gobal Energy Company May 7,1998 DOE 98-0017 n
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Mr. Randall M. DeVault i
Regulatory Oversight Manager Office of Assistant Manager for Enrichment Facilities U. S. Department of Energy Post Office Box 2001 Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-8651 Portsmouth Gaucous 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 DOE 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 Annex for the completion of highly enriched uranium (HEU) cylinder valve redacement activities in Reference 2. Also in Reference 2, USEC requested the DOE approval to commence the HEU cylin' der valve replacement activity.
The NRC approved USEC5 CAR on April 20,1998 in Reference 3, which provided NRC approval of the temporary conversion process ami the HEU cylinder valve replacement activity. In response to an 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 valve replacement activity and forwarded 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 resoludons proposed by USEC in Reference 6 are acceptable to DOE, and that there are no other barriers to proceeding with the temporary conversion of the X-705 South Annex to DOE regulation and initiating the HEU cylinder valve replacement activity.
Therefore, USEC is requesting DOE authorization (and by copy of this letter, NRC authorization) to 6903 Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD 20817 1818
- i Telephone 301-564-3200 Fax 301-564-3201 http://www.usec.com
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9805190381 980507 PDR ADOCK 07007002 C
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
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cylinder valve aplacement activity in the X-705 South Annex, on May 11,1998. It is then anticipated that the X-705 South Annex would be mady for conversion back to NRC regulation on July 1,1998 (no i
planned expeditious handling (PEH) activities are currently scheduled until July 1998). In accordance with the DOE and NRC approved revision to PORTS Compliance Plan Issue A.4, USEC will notify the i
NRC in writing once the X-705 South Annex is ready for conversion back to NRC regulation.
As outlined above, DOE, NRC and USEC have been workmg closely over the last several months to t
complete all required actions such that the subject activities could begin. It was not until recently that USEC was confident that these actions were completed to the satisfactbn of the DOE. Therefore, in order for USEC to complete the activities by July 1,1998, with allowing 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 discussions that have transpired between the DOE and 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.
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Sincerely,
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- s. A.
tL Steven A. Toelle Nuclear Regulatory Assurance and Policy Manager
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Enclosure:
As Stated cc: DOE Site Safety Representative, PORTS Mr. Carl J. Paperiello, NRC 3
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Mr. Randall M. DeVault May 7,1998 DOE 98-0017, Page 3 REFERENCES t
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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 AmWment Reque.4 -
Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU) Cylinder Valve Replacement," Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant, Docket No. 70-7002, GDP 98-0009, February 3,1998,
- 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.
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- 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),"
A Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant, Docket No. 70-7002, GDP 98-0014, April 9,1998.
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Cylinder Valve Replacement Operational Readiness Assessment," April 23,1998.
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- 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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l DOE 98-0017 i
Page1of1 NEW COMMITMENTS MADE IN THIS SUBMITTAL i
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- 1. If approvals can be obtained, the temporary conversion of the X-705 South Annex from NRC to DOE regulations will begin on May 11,1998.
- 2. The HEU cylinder valve replacement activities will be completed and the X-705 South Annex will be ready for conversion back to NRC regulation on July 1,1998.
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