ML053340397

Summary of Meeting Between Marad and NRC Staffs Re Decommissioning of N.S. Savannah

ML053340397
Person / Time
Site:	NS Savannah
Issue date:	12/09/2005
From:	Alexander Adams NRC/NRR/ADRA/DPR/PRTA
To:
Adams A, NRC/NRR/DPR/PRT, 415-1127
References
Download: ML053340397 (25)

Text

December 9, 2005 LICENSEE: U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD)

FACILITY: N.S. Savannah

SUMMARY

OF MEETING BETWEEN MARAD AND NRC STAFFS On November 2, 2005, representatives of the NRC staff met at NRC Headquarters with representatives of the MARAD, the licensee for the N.S. Savannah. Representatives of the licensees contractors also attended the meeting. Attachment one is a list of meeting attendees.

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss potential plans for decommissioning the N.S.

Savannah. The N.S. Savannah was the only U.S. operational nuclear-powered commercial cargo/passenger vessel. The ship was taken out of service in 1970. Some initial decommissioning work was performed in the 1970s which included removing fuel and resins from the ship and draining coolant from the primary system. The fuel was returned to the Atomic Energy Commission. The N.S. Savannah is currently located in the James River, Virginia at the James River Reserve Fleet.

Unique aspects of the N.S. Savannah design (e.g., the shipboard reactor can be moved to another location for decommissioning, the compact reactor compartment limits the extent of the ship that will be impacted by decommissioning activities and the site is the ship) will affect decommissioning activities.

Topics discussed at the meeting were: reactor pressure vessel characterization, N.S. Savannah technical staff, the radiation safety officer, technical specifications, upcoming requests for proposal, and drydocking the Savannah in 2006. Attachment two is a listing of the discussion topics with additional detail. Attachment three is a overview of the N.S. Savannah technical staff. Attachment four is an excerpt from the pressure vessel characterization study.

In the area of pressure vessel characterization, the licensee reported that calculations based on measurements made on the pressure vessel indicate that the pressure vessel is Class A waste.

This is a change from earlier calculations that did not include the data from the measurements.

The NRC staff pointed out that it would be the licensees of the potential waste disposal sites and their regulators who would review and make a determination on MARADs waste classification calculations.

The licensee discussed a potential license amendment to change the organizational structure to reflect the change in the ships status from possession only to decommissioning. This license amendment may be submitted in 2006.

The licensee discussed the continued use of a Radiation Safety Officer under contract to MARAD. The NRC staff had no objections to the licensees plan.

The license for the Savannah has a condition that prohibits decommissioning without approval of the NRC. The removal of this restriction and the modification of the facility technical specifications from possession only to active decommissioning was discussed. The licensee is developing decommissioning technical specifications for submission to NRC.

The licensee discussed the planned drydocking of the ship in 2006 and the possible removal of the buffer seal charge pumps. After some discussion, it was determined that it would be best to conduct this activity after the license condition that prohibits decommissioning is removed from the license.

The licensee will keep the NRC informed of its plans as they are developed.

/RA/

Alexander Adams, Jr., Senior Project Manager Research and Test Reactors Branch Division of Policy and Rulemaking Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-238 Attachments: As stated cc w/attachments: Please see next page

Contact:

Alexander Adams 301-415-1127

The licensee discussed the continued use of a Radiation Safety Officer under contract to MARAD. The NRC staff had no objections to the licensees plan.

The license for the Savannah has a condition that prohibits decommissioning without approval of the NRC. The removal of this restriction and the modification of the facility technical specifications from possession only to active decommissioning was discussed. The licensee is developing decommissioning technical specifications for submission to NRC.

The licensee discussed the planned drydocking of the ship in 2006 and the possible removal of the buffer seal charge pumps. After some discussion, it was determined that it would be best to conduct this activity after the license condition that prohibits decommissioning is removed from the license.

The licensee will keep the NRC informed of its plans as they are developed.

/RA/

Alexander Adams, Jr., Senior Project Manager Research and Test Reactors Branch Division of Policy and Rulemaking Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-238 Attachments: As stated cc w/attachments: Please see next page

Contact:

Alexander Adams 301-415-1127 DISTRIBUTION:

PUBLIC DPR/PRT r/f AAdams CLyon DHughes OGC EHylton MMendonca WSchuster KWitt BThomas CBassett TDragoun PYoung MVoth WEresian PIsaac GHill (2) PDoyle ACCESSION NO.: ML053340397 TEMPLATE #: NRC-001 OFFICE PRT:PM PRT:LA PRT:BC NAME AAdams EHylton BThomas DATE 12/5/2005 12/5/2005 12/7/2005 C = COVER E = COVER & ENCLOSURE N = NO COPY OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

N.S. Savannah Docket No. 50-238 cc:

Mr. David S. Breeden, Jr.

Chief, Safety Office Humphreys Engineer Center Support Activity Casey Building, Room 112 7701 Telegraph Road Alexandria, VA 22315-6034 Mr. Michael F. Bagley Fleet Superintendent James River Reserve Fleet Drawer C Fort Eustis, VA 23604 Mr. Robert Rohr Fleet Operations and Maintenance Officer James River Reserve Fleet Drawer C Fort Eustis, VA 23604 Test, Research, and Training Reactor Newsletter University of Florida 202 Nuclear Sciences Center Gainesville, FL 32611

Discussion Topics for November 2, 2005 Meeting Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Maritime Administration Regarding Nuclear Ship SAVANNAH Decommissioning License NS-1, Docket 50-238

• Reactor Pressure Vessel characterization & classification and implications on decomm location & time frame

• See Excerpt from Project Report.

• 2004 Characterization and Historical Assessment found RPV to be Class B.

• 2005, RPV was direct sampled, reanalyzed, and found to be Class A.

• MARAD will meet with UT and SC next week to discuss disposal sites.

• Pending resolution, MARAD cannot determine decommissioning site.

1. SAVANNAH Technical Staff implementation and organizational license amendment

• See handout.

• MARAD is developing a license amendment to implement the change.

• RSO - contract vs. "direct" employee

1. Resolved. MARAD will continue to provide RSO via inter-agency agreement and subcontract to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

• Tech Spec / QA Plan / UFSAR requirements vs. Saxton experience

2. MARAD and contractor have a number of questions regarding form and content for developing new and updated documents.

• Plans for upcoming Request For Proposals (Engineering & Management Oversight Services)

3. Acquisition website: <voa.marad.dot.gov>

4. Draft RFP released for comment in September 2005; Comments have been reviewed and acquisition strategy/plans are being updated accordingly.

• 06 drydock and possibilities for on-dock removal of buffer seal charge pumps

1. Planned routine maintenance drydocking and topside preservation package for May -

June 2006

2. Buffer Seal Charge Pumps are accessible from outside the hull and significant advantages are offered for removal while on drydock.

Attachment 2

Overview - SAVANNAH Technical Staff (STS)

The SAVANNAH Technical Staff (STS) is a staff organization within the Office of Ship Operations dedicated to managing the radiological decommissioning of the nuclear facilities housed onboard the N.S. SAVANNAH. The STS was re-established in May 2005 as a consequence of Congressional appropriations action to commence the radiological decommissioning program. The current-day STS follows historic MARAD management practices and organizations that supported the N.S.

SAVANNAH during her development and operations from 1956 to 1976.

Functions The SAVANNAH Technical Staff assumed responsibility for all activities associated with the N.S. SAVANNAH. These activities can be broadly grouped into three categories:

1. Routine Radiological Monitoring, Surveillance and Ship Husbanding.

2. Radiological Decommissioning.

3. Historic Preservation.

Organization The SAVANNAH Technical Staff is under the supervision and direction of the Manager, N.S. SAVANNAH Programs, who also functions as the Director, STS.

The Manager, N.S. SAVANNAH Programs serves on the immediate staff of, and is supervised by, the Director, Office of Ship Operations (MAR-610).

The Manager, N.S. SAVANNAH Programs also serves as the Senior Technical Advisor, N.S. SAVANNAH. This designated official is responsible for all matters pertaining to the ships nuclear reactor and related systems, and manages all licensing activities and matters before the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

The STS includes three full time employees other than the Director. These include:

1. Decommissioning Program Manager

2. Facility Site Manager / Nuclear Engineering

3. Documentation and Administrative Manager In addition, the STS includes a Radiological Safety Officer (RSO), provided under interagency agreement and subcontract by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE). The ACOE provides routine radiological monitoring and surveillance of the SAVANNAH at the James River Reserve Fleet.

The STS is designed on the Integrated Procurement Team concept, and includes a dedicated Contracting Officer, Contracting Specialist, and Attorney-Advisor.

Attachment 3 SAVANNAH Technical Staff Overview (contd)

Relationship with other Organizational Units within the Maritime Administration On an as-needed and required basis, collateral support to the STS is provided from within other functional areas of MARAD, including but not necessarily limited to the following disciplines:

o Acquisitions (MAR-380) o Quality Assurance (MAR-610.3) o Environmental Consulting and Oversight (MAR-820) o Legal (MAR-220) o Non-nuclear Engineering (MAR-760) o Financial Management (MAR-320/600/613) o Ship Custody & Husbanding (MRG-7100/7700)

The Director, STS provides technical direction and oversight to other participating organizational units within MARAD with respect to the radiological decommissioning program.

Partnering Organizations MARAD has established agreements with several external organizations to provide depth and experience to the STS. Among these are:

• The United States Merchant Marine Academy, Engineering Department

• The Volpe Center of the DOT Research and Innovative Technologies Administration MARAD is developing an inter-agency agreement with the Department of Energys Argonne National Laboratory to provide decommissioning-specific technical expertise and advice. MARAD has a standing agreement with DOEs Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility to provide on-site radiological support to the SAVANNAH while she remains at the James River Reserve Fleet.

Points of Contact Senior Technical Advisor / Manager, N.S. SAVANNAH Programs:

Erhard W. Koehler (202) 366-2631; erhard.koehler@dot.gov Decommissioning Program Manager John C. Wiegand (202) 366-2627; john.c.wiegand@dot.gov Facility Site Manager / Nuclear Engineering Greg Thornton (415) 740-4220; greg.thornton@dot.gov