Regulatory Guide 3.70

Use of Fixed Neutron Absorbers at Fuels and Materials Facilities.

ML12220A069
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Issue date:	08/31/1997
From:	Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research
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References
DG-3011 RG-3.070
Download: ML12220A069 (4)

U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION August 1997 REGULATORY GUIDE

OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REGULATORY RESEARCH

REGULATORY GUIDE 3.70

(Draft issued as DG-3011)

USE OF FIXED NEUTRON ABSORBERS AT

FUELS AND MATERIALS FACILITIES

A. INTRODUCTION

was prepared by Subcommittee ANS-8, Fissionable Materials Outside Reactors, of the American Nuclear In 10 CFR Part 70, "Domestic Licensing of Special Society Standards Committee. ANSI/ANS-8.21-1995 Nuclear Material," Section 70.22, "Contents of Ap- was approved by the American National Standards plications," requires that applications for a specific Committee N16, Nuclear Criticality Safety, and by the license to own, acquire, deliver, receive, possess, use, American National Standards Institute (ANSI) in 1995.

or initially transfer special nuclear material contain proposed procedures to avoid criticality accidents. This ANSI/ANS-8.21-1995 provides guidance for regulatory guide provides guidance for complying with using fixed neutron absorbers as an integral part of op- this portion of the Commission's regulations by de- erations to prevent criticality accidents in operations in- scribing procedures for preventing criticality accidents volving handling, processing, storing, and transporting by using fixed neutron absorbers in operations involv- special nuclear materials at fuels and materials facili- ing handling, processing, storing, and transporting spe- ties. The design, safety evaluations, and verification and inspection requirements for the use of fixed neutron cial nuclear material at fuels and materials facilities.

absorbers for criticality safety control are specified in The information collections contained in this regu- the standard.

latory guide are covered by the requirements of 10 CFR

The methods described in this guide were applied Part 70, which were approved by the Office of Manage- to a number of specific cases during reviews and ment and Budget, approval number 3150-0009. The selected licensing actions. These methods reflect the NRC may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not latest general NRC approach to criticality safety in op- required to respond to, a collection of information un- erations involving the use of fixed neutron absorbers at less it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

fuels and materials facilities.

C. REGULATORY POSITION

ANSI/ANS-8.21-1995, "Use of Fixed Neutron ANSI/ANS-8.21-1995, "Use of Fixed Neutron

1 Absorbers in Nuclear Facilities Outside Reactors," Absorbers in Nuclear Facilities Outside Reactors," pro- vides procedures acceptable to the NRC staff for the use

1Copies may be obtained from the American Nuclear Society, 555 N.

Kensington Avenue, La Grange Park, Illinois 60525. of fixed neutron absorbers in handling, processing, USNRC REGULATORY GUIDES The guides are issued in the following ten broad divisions:

Regulatory Guides are issued to describe and make available to the public such informa- tion as methods acceptable to the NRC staff for implementing specific parts of the Corn- 1. Power Reactors 6. Products mission's regulations, techniques used by the staff in evaluating specific problems or pos- 2. Research and Test Reactors 7. Transportation tutated accidents, and data needed by the NRC staff in its review of applications for per- 3. Fuels and Materials Facilities 8. Occupational Health mits and licenses. Regulatory guides are not substitutes for regulations, and compliance 4. Environmental and Siting - 9. Antitrust and Financial Review with them is not required. Methods and solutions different from those set out in the guides 5. Materials and Plant Protection 10. General will be acceptable if they provide a basis for the findings requisite to the issuance or con- tinuance of a permit or license by the Commission.

Single copies of regulatory guides may be obtained free of charge bywriting the Printing.

This guide was issued after consideration of comments received from the public. Corn- Graphics and Distribution Branch, Office of Administration, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Com- ments and suggestions for improvements inthese guides are encouraged atall times, and mission, Washington, DC 20555-0001; or by fax at (301)415-5272.

guides will be revised, as appropriate, to accommodate comments and to reflect new in- formation or experience. Issued guides may also be purchased from the National Technical Information Service on Written comments may be submitted to the Rules Review and Directives Branch, DFIPS, a standing order basis. Details on this service may be obtained by writing NTIS, 5285 Port ADM, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001. Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161.

storing, and transporting special nuclear material at Section 6 of ANSI/ANS-8.21-1995 lists addition- fuels and materials facilities to avoid criticality acci- al documents referred to in the standard. The specific dents. Use of ANSI/ANS-8.21-1995, however, is not a applicability and acceptability of three of these listed substitute for the licensee's preparation of and NRC's documents has been addressed in the latest version of approval of detailed nuclear criticality safety analyses the regulatory guides identified below.

for specific operations.

Standard Regulatory Guide ANSI/ANS-8.1-1983 3.4 Nuclear Criticality Safety in Operations with Fissionable Materials at Fuels and Materials Facilities ANSI/ANS-8.5-1986 3.1 Use of Borosilicate-Glass Raschig Rings as a Neutron Absorber in Solutions of Fissile Material ANSI/ANS-8.17-1984 3.58 Criticality Safety for Handling, Storing, and Transporting LWR

Fuel at Fuels and Materials Facilities

D. IMPLEMENTATION

Except in those cases in which the applicant pro- poses an acceptable alternative method for complying with specified portions of the NRC's regulations, the The purpose of this section is to provide informa- methods in this guide will be used in the evaluation of tion to applicants and licensees regarding the NRC submittals in connection with license applications sub- staff's plans for using this regulatory guide. mitted under 10 CFR Part 70.

3.70-2

REGULATORY ANALYSIS

This regulatory guide endorses ANSI/ fixed neutron absorbers, (2) more established methods ANS-8.21-1995, "Use of Fixed Neutron Absorbers in for specifying technical specifications, (3) guidance on Nuclear Facilities Outside Reactors." Issuing this regu- design, evaluation, verification, and inspection of fixed latory guide is consistent with the NRC policy of evalu- neutron absorbers, and (4) less chance for unwarranted ating the latest national consensus standards in terms of criticality accidents.

their suitability for endorsement by regulatory guide. ANSI/ANS-8.21-1995, "Use of Fixed Neutron The methods described in this guide were applied to a Absorbers in Nuclear Facilities Outside Reactors," pro- number of specific cases during reviews and selected li- vides more specific guidance on establishing and using censing actions. These methods reflect the latest gener- fixed neutron absorbers. It does not provide any new al NRC approach to criticality safety in operations in- methodology for establishing the use of fixed neutron volving the use of fixed neutron absorbers at fuels and absorbers than is presently required in 10 CFR Part 70.

materials facilities. Thus, the incremental cost should be negligible (or at The value to NRC operations and industry is that most marginal) if an applicant or licensee follows the there would be (1) a systematic method for specifying guidance in ANSI/ANS-8.21-1995 as opposed to not and reviewing technical specifications on allowable following this standard.

3.70-3

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