ML21062A149

Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc. - Licensee Performance Review of Licensed Activities (Nuclear Regulatory Commission Inspection Report 70-143/2021-005)

ML21062A149
Person / Time
Site:	Erwin
Issue date:	03/03/2021
From:	Ladonna Suggs NRC/RGN-II/DFFI
To:	Stewart J Nuclear Fuel Services
References
IR 2021005
Download: ML21062A149 (5)

Text

March 3, 2021 Mr. John Stewart, President Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc.

P.O. Box 337, MS 123 Erwin, TN 37650

SUBJECT:

NUCLEAR FUEL SERVICES, INC., LICENSEE PERFORMANCE REVIEW OF LICENSED ACTIVITIES (NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION INSPECTION REPORT 70-143/2021-005)

Dear Mr. Stewart:

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff in the Region II office, the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, and the Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response completed a periodic review of Nuclear Fuel Services (NFS) performance in conducting NRC-licensed activities. The performance review covered licensed activities from January 1, 2019, through December 31, 2020. The performance of NFS was evaluated in the areas of Safety Operations, Safeguards, Radiological Controls, Facility Support, and Other Areas in accordance with Inspection Manual Chapter (IMC) 2604, Licensee Performance Review.

Overall, the staff determined that NFS has continued to conduct activities safely and securely, and in a manner that protects public health and the environment. Based on our review of activities, no area needing improvement was identified in the aforementioned performance areas. Therefore, the NRC plans to conduct the core inspection program for a Category I Fuel Facility as described in NRC IMC 2600, Appendix B, NRC Core Inspection Requirements Table 1, for the next performance assessment period (January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2022).

The results of our review will be discussed with you at a public meeting on April 27, 2021, which will be conducted via an online webinar. During the business portion of the meeting, NFS management will have an opportunity to respond to the performance results presented by the NRC.

In accordance with 10 CFR 2.390 of the NRC's "Rules of Practice and Procedure," a copy of this letter will be available electronically for public inspection in the NRC Public Document Room or from the Publicly Available Records (PARS) component of NRC's document system (ADAMS).

J. Stewart 2 ADAMS is accessible from the NRC Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html (the Public Electronic Reading Room).

Please refer questions and comments regarding your performance review to Dr. Robert E.

Williams, Jr., Chief, Projects Branch 1, by telephone at 404-997-4664.

Sincerely,

/RA/

LaDonna Suggs, Director Division of Fuel Facility Inspection Docket No.70-143 License No. SNM-124

Enclosure:

Licensee Performance Review cc: w/ encl: Distribution via LISTSERV

ML21062A149 SUNSI REVIEW COMPLETE FORM 665 ATTACHED OFFICE RII:DFFI RII:DFFI NMSS:DFM NMSS:DFM NMSS:DFM NMSS:DFM RII:DFFI NAME R. Williams J. Shehee J. Rubenstone J. Zimmerman L. Cuadrado A. Koch L. Suggs DATE 2/23/2021 2/24/2021 2/19/2021 2/22/2021 2/24/2021 2/28/2021 3/3/2021 LICENSEE PERFORMANCE REVIEW FOR NUCLEAR FUELS SERVICES, INC.

ASSESSMENT PERIOD: JANUARY 1, 2019 TO DECEMBER 31, 2020 The following is a summary of the enforcement actions considered for the performance review of Nuclear Fuels Services, Inc. Facility in the conduct of NRC-licensed activities.

PERFORMANCE AREA: SAFETY OPERATIONS This area is comprised of plant operations (including maintenance and surveillance), nuclear criticality safety, and fire protection.

Program Areas Needing Improvement During the Licensee Performance Review (LPR) assessment period, the enforcement items listed below were issued in the area of Safety Operations. However, no specific Area Needing Improvement was identified in Safety Operations.

• One Severity Level IV cited violation for failure to comply with procedural requirements for operations in Area 200. (ML20301A802)

• One Severity Level IV non-cited violation for failure to maintain administrative items relied on for safety (IROFS). (ML20301A802)

Recommended NRC Inspection Effort

• Maintain the core inspection effort in Safety Operations.

PERFORMANCE AREA: SAFEGUARDS This area is comprised of material control and accounting (MC&A), physical protection of special nuclear material, and information security.

Program Areas Needing Improvement

• Two Severity Level IV non-cited violations of NRC requirements occurred (ML20357B074). However, no specific Area Needing Improvement was identified in Safeguards.

Recommended NRC Inspection Effort

• Maintain the core inspection effort in Safeguards.

PERFORMANCE AREA: RADIOLOGICAL CONTROLS This area is comprised of radiation protection, environmental protection, waste management, and transportation.

Program Areas Needing Improvement

• No specific Area Needing Improvement was identified in Radiological Controls.

Recommended NRC Inspection Effort

• Maintain the core inspection effort in Radiological Controls.

Enclosure

PERFORMANCE AREA: FACILITY SUPPORT This area is comprised of emergency preparedness and plant modifications.

Program Areas Needing Improvement

• No specific Area Needing Improvement was identified in Facility Support.

Recommended NRC Inspection Effort

• Maintain the core inspection effort in Facility Support.

PERFORMANCE AREA: OTHER AREAS This area is comprised of special issues.

Program Areas Needing Improvement

• No specific Area Needing Improvement was identified in Other Areas.

Recommended NRC Inspection Effort

• Maintain the core inspection effort.

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