ML24116A292
| ML24116A292 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Framatome ANP Richland |
| Issue date: | 04/29/2024 |
| From: | Eric Michel NRC/RGN-II/DFFI |
| To: | Stephens L Framatome |
| References | |
| IR 2024001 | |
| Download: ML24116A292 (12) | |
Text
Lance Stephens Site Manager Framatome Inc.
2101 Horn Rapids Road Richland, WA 99354
SUBJECT:
FRAMATOME-RICHLAND - CORE INSPECTION REPORT 07001257/2024001
Dear Lance Stephens:
This letter refers to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) inspection activities conducted from January 1 to March 31, 2024, for the Framatome-Richland fuel facility. On March 7th, the results of the inspections were discussed with you and other members of your staff. The results of the inspections are documented in the enclosed report.
No violations of more than minor significance were identified during this inspection.
This letter, its enclosure, and your response (if any) will be made available for public inspection and copying at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html and at the NRC Public Document Room in accordance with Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations 2.390, Public Inspections, Exemptions, Requests for Withholding.
Sincerely, Eric C. Michel, Chief Projects Branch 2 Division of Fuel Facility Inspection Docket No. 07001257 License No. SNM-1227
Enclosure:
As stated cc w/ encl: Distribution via LISTSERVApril 29, 2024 Signed by Michel, Eric on 04/29/24
ML24116A292 X Non-Sensitive X Publicly Available X SUNSI Review Sensitive Non-Publicly Available
OFFICE RII/DFFI R/II/DFFI R/II/DFFI R/II/DFFI
NAME T. Shewmaker J. Grice C. Taylor E. Michel DATE 4/26/2024 4/26/2024 4/26/2024 4/29/2024 U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Inspection Report
Docket Number: 07001257
License Number: SNM-1227
Report Number: 07001257/2024001
Enterprise Identifier: I-2024-001-0065
Licensee: Framatome Inc.
Facility: Framatome-Richland
Location: Richland, WA
Inspection Dates: March 04 through March 07, 2024
Inspectors: J. Grice, Fuel Facilities Project Inspector T. Shewmaker, Fuel Facilities Project Inspector
Approved By: Eric C. Michel, Chief Projects Branch 2 Division of Fuel Facility Inspection
Enclosure
SUMMARY
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) continued monitoring the licensees performance by conducting a core inspection at Framatome-Richland, in accordance with the fuel cycle facility inspection program. This is the NRCs program for overseeing the safe operation of licensed fuel cycle facilities. Refer to https://www.nrc.gov/materials/fuel-cycle-fac.html for more information.
List of Violations
No violations of more than minor significance were identified.
Additional Tracking Items
None.
2 PLANT STATUS
The Framatome facility converts uranium hexafluoride (UF6) into uranium dioxide (UO2) for the fabrication of low-enriched fuel assemblies used in commercial light water reactors. During the inspection period, normal production activities were ongoing.
INSPECTION SCOPES
Inspections were conducted using the appropriate portions of the inspection procedures (IPs) in effect at the beginning of the inspection unless otherwise noted. Currently approved IPs with their attached revision histories are located on the public website at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/insp-manual/inspection-procedure/index.html. Inspections were declared complete when the IP requirements most appropriate to the inspection activity were met consistent with Inspection Manual Chapter (IMC) 2600, Fuel Cycle Facility Operational Safety and Safeguards Inspection Program. The inspectors reviewed selected procedures and records, observed activities, and interviewed personnel to assess licensee performance and compliance with Commission rules and regulations, license conditions, site procedures, and standards.
SAFETY OPERATIONS
88020 - Operational Safety
The inspectors evaluated selected aspects of the licensees Operational Safety program to verify compliance with selected portions of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 70 (10 CFR 70) including Sections 70.24, 70.61, 70.62, and Chapter 11, Management Measures, of the facilitys license application, and applicable licensee procedures.
Identification of Safety Controls and Related Programs (IP Section 02.01)
The inspectors selected specific process areas for inspection based on the safety basis information of the facility, the risk and safety significance of the process areas, the description of plant changes submitted to the NRC, and past plant performance documentation. For the process areas of interest, the inspectors selected a sample of accident sequences in nuclear criticality safety (NCS) and chemical safety based on the information provided in the integrated safety analysis (ISA) summary. The inspectors conducted a general plant tour of each major plant operating area. The process areas and accident sequences selected for review are listed below:
- Ammonia Recovery Facility (ARF) o 163-206 o 163-207 o 163-208 o 163-210
- Product Development Test Facility (PDTF) o 545-1.1
- UO2 Building - Pelleting (Areas 370, 380, 390) o 370-1.4 o 380-3.4 o 390-1.6
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- UO2 Building - Powder (Area 400) o 400-1.1 o 400-2.1
Review of Safety Controls and Related Programs (IP Section 02.02)
The inspectors reviewed information related to administrative, engineered, and passive safety controls or items relied on for safety (IROFS) for the accident sequences selected above, including the identification of the licensees assumptions and bounding cases as they apply to each of the selected accident sequences, safety controls, or IROFS.
This review was performed to verify that the controls or IROFS were available and reliable to perform their intended safety functions and that the design basis assumptions were reflected in the actual conditions in the field. The specific safety controls selected for review are listed below:
- IROFS 2329, the high energy particulate air filter (HEPA) system is equipped with a differential pressure monitor and audible/visual alarms (EA)
- IROFS 2330, operator valves response for standard operating procedure (SOP), administrative control (AC)
- IROFS 2331, valves equipped with a limit switch and interlock to turn off power to pump when the valve is not indicated as closed, active engineering control (AEC)
- IROFS 5904, moderation control for bundles outside of test equipment, Passive Engineered Control (PEC)
- IROFS 1609, agreement between additive scale and specification sheet required for label printing (EA)
- IROFS 1611, lubricant transfer container can hold no more than known quantity (PEC)
- IROFS 1614, moderation control accomplished by pipe and roof integrity which is expected to prevent intrusion of liquid moderator (PEC)
- IROFS 2803, moderation control against entry of significant water (PEC)
- IROFS 5702, geometry control of known depth (PEC)
- IROFS 5703, moderation control of free-draining water (PEC)
4 Implementation of Safety Controls (IP Section 02.03)
For the selected safety controls listed above, the inspectors reviewed management measures to verify proper implementation in accordance with 10 CFR 70 and applicable sections of the license application. This review was performed to verify that selected safety controls or IROFS were present, available, and reliable to perform their safety function and that the design basis assumptions were reflected in the actual conditions in the field. The inspectors conducted the following activities to verify the implementation of selected safety controls:
- performed walk-downs of the Uranium Oxide (UO2) Building, ARF, and PDTF to verify implementation of IROFS listed in Section 2
- interviewed operators and engineers regarding initial and refresher IROFS training
- observed gamma monitor calibration check that supports IROFS in ARF
- reviewed drawings and walked down IROFS that are PEC in Section 02.02
- reviewed condition report (CR) 2024-0330 and interviewed staff regarding a hydrogen fluoride leak in the tank farm
Safety Control Support Programs (IP Section 02.04)
The inspectors assessed additional management measures that support the availability and reliability of the selected safety controls to verify these were implemented in accordance with 10 CFR 70 and applicable sections of the license application. Specifically, the inspectors conducted the following:
- reviewed training documents, including the most recent annual training audit, and interviewed ceramic operators and an ARF engineer on their initial and refresher training for IROFS as well as their willingness to raise safety issues to management
- reviewed Work Orders (WO) for the implementation of IROFS 1609 (WO13628108, WO13630027, and WO13602814)
- reviewed WO for preventative maintenance for IROFS 2322, 2239, and 2331 (WO 13619426, WO 13632634, WO 13632635, and WO 13632638)
- reviewed a sample of CRs associated with IROFS related to the focus areas as well as two CRs associated with a loss of power to the site (CR 2024-0084 and CR 2024-0176)
- interviewed engineering staff regarding the loss of power (CR 2024-0084 and CR 2024-0176)
- reviewed November and December 2023 NCS audit reports
- reviewed the May and December 2023 Chemical Safety Biannual Audits
- reviewed organizational charts for any program organizational changes
- attended the plan-of-the-day and daily production meetings
- observed the calibration of a gamma probe as part of a justification of continued operation (2024-002) for IROFS 2302, after a sampler was found not functional;
5 the inspectors observed other IROFS in the area that maintained a likelihood of highly unlikely for the accident sequence
INSPECTION RESULTS
No issues were identified.
EXIT MEETINGS AND DEBRIEFS
The inspectors verified no proprietary information was retained or documented in this report.
On March 7, 2024, the inspectors presented the NRC Inspection results to Lance Stephens and other members of the licensee staff.
6 DOCUMENTS REVIEWED
Inspection Type Designation Description or Title Revision or Procedure Date 88020 Corrective Action Reviewed the Various Various Documents following Condition Reports:
CR-2024-0084 CR-2024-0176 CR-2023-2663 CR-2024-0330 CR-2022-3161 Drawings CSA-611163 Ion Exchange System P&ID Rev. 3 CSA-611163 Industrial Waste System IX Regeneration Rev. 4 CSA-613637, Line 1 Pellet Press System Soft Boatloader Hood Assembly Rev. 4 Sheet 1 CSA-613637, Line 1 Pellet Press System Soft Boatloader Frame Assembly Rev. 2 Sheet 5 CSA-617169 Line 6 Pellet Grinding and Inspection Main Layout Rev. 4 LSD-617EM Bleu Pelletizing Glebar Pellet Grinder, copy of Vendor Rev. 0 Drawing Engineering E04-NCSA-163 Criticality Safety - NCSA, Industrial Waste Water Treatment Rev. 37 Evaluations Facilities E04-NCSA-545 Criticality Safety - NCSA, Product Development Test Facility Rev. 3 (PDTF)
E15-01-2.14 Integrated Safety Analysis - ISA Summaries Part 2 - Chapter Rev. 22 14 - ARF and Industrial Waste Water Treatment System E15-01-2.19 Integrated Safety Analysis - ISA Summaries, Part 2 - Chapter Rev. 14 19 - Product Development Test Facility FRM-E12-01-007-Justification of Continued Operation (JCO) Under 2//12/2024 A Compensatory Safety Measures (E12-01-007), JCO# 2024-002 Miscellaneous Curricula GEN-Portfolio Snapshot for User 47599 MECH-AR-T-PHTF-GEN
7 Inspection Type Designation Description or Title Revision or Procedure Date Curricula HRR-Portfolio Snapshot for User 47504 CMO-ARF IROFS Report IROFS 5903 - Batch Control: Standard Operating procedure for bundle receipt allows only one enriched assembly to be received and stored in the PDTF IROFS Report IROFS 5904 - Moderation Control: Bundles are free-draining when outside the test equipment IROFS Report IROFS 59021 - Batch Control: Standard Operating Procedure for bundle transfer allows on enriched assembly to be shipped from the UO2 building at on time IROFS Report IROFS 2331 Valves HV7623 and FCV-682-3 Report IROFS Report IROFS 2330 - Closure of ball valves HV-25 and HV-7826 are closed after completion of metals wash IROFS Report IROFS 2322 - The main room is equipped with carbon dioxide monitor and audible/visual alarm system IROFS Report IROFS 2329 - The HEPA filter system is equipped with a differential pressure monitor and suitable audible/visual alarms OJT-HRR-CER-OJT Checklist for Ceramics - Pellet Pressing Basic - UO2 Rev. 4 000200 Procedures E04-NCSS-G07 Criticality Safety - NCSS, Building and Facilities NCS Rev. 13 Design, Requirements Including Initial Conditions and Bounding Assumptions CSA-613637 Line 1 Pellet Press System Soft Boatloader Hood Assembly Rev. 4 CSA-613637 Line 1 Pellet Press System Soft Boatloader Frame Assembly Rev. 2 EO4-NCSS-G01 Criticality Safety - NCSS, NCS Guide Rules and Generic Rev. 25 Program Requirements ISA Summary Integrated Safety Analysis Summary Rev. 30 MCP-30437 RTF - General Instructions Procedure for Implementing Rev. 12 Safety Requirements MCP-30545 RTF-General Instruction Procedure for Test Assembly Rev. 7 Movement, Modification, and Tracking NCSP-360-003 ALS Transfer Container 2008 SNM-1227 License Application
8 Inspection Type Designation Description or Title Revision or Procedure Date SOP - 40408 Bundle Assembly General Packing Procedure Rev. 16 SOP-40020 Radiation Protection-Air Sampling, In Plant Air Sampling Rev. 20 Section 7.3 SOP-40185 General Instructions - Radiation Protection, Waste Water Rev. 9 Treatment Facilities SOP-40233 Blending Powder Additives into UO2 Powder Drums Rev. 18 SOP-40253 Chemical Operations - Ammonia Recovery Facility, Ammonia Rev. 24 Recovery Procedures SOP-40256 Chemical Operations - Ammonia Recovery Facility, ARF Ion Rev. 19 Exchange system SOP-40257 Chemical Operations - Ammonia Recovery Facility, ARF Ion Rev. 6 Exchange Feed Tank System SOP-40277 Chemical Operations - ADU Conversion, Ammonium Rev. 12 Section 4 Diuranate Precipitation and Dryer Operation SOP-40281 Chemical Operations - ADU Conversion, K-32 Process Off Rev. 11 Section 4 Gas (POG) Ventilation System SOP-40323 Ceramic Operations - General Instructions, Enrichment and Rev. 24 Material Control, Ceramic Operations SOP-40345 Ceramic Operations - Pellet Packaging and Storage Outgas Rev. 8 Pellet Storage SOP-40486 General Instructions - Safety Instructions, Richland Rev. 40 Operations General Rules SOP-40486 General Instructions - Safety Instructions, Richland Rev. 40 Operations General Rules, Section 14.8 SOP-40531, Cermic Operations - BLEU, Blending Powder Additives into Rev. 13 Section 3 45-gallon Powder Drums in Line 6 (Room 151)
Self-Assessments E23-03-2023 Chemical Safety Biannual Audit 2023, Part I 5/4/2023 E23-04-2023 Chemical Safety and Biannual Audit 2023, Part II 10/31/2023 Work Orders WO 13619426 S163P004 Pump 711 HV-6823 and HV-7823 6MO EL 9/17/23 WO 13632634 S163P001-0001 CO2 Monitor Alarm 6MO IN 12/8/23 WO 13632635 S163P001-0002 CO2 Monitor Alarm 6MO IN 12/8/23 WO 13632638 S163P002 Differential Pressure Test 6MO EL 12/8/23 WO13602814 C360I004 SCL ALS LUB ADU TMBLR 1Y CAL IN 5/13/2023 WO13628108 C360P002-0001 ALS Comp Ovrchk 6MO OPCH 11/9/2023
9 Inspection Type Designation Description or Title Revision or Procedure Date WO13630027 C360P007 Line 6 Powder Lube Blend 6MO OPCR 10/24/2023
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