ML20127E064

SER Approving Renewal of License SNM-0844

ML20127E064
Person / Time
Site:	07000893
Issue date:	09/04/1992
From:	Datta A NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS)
To:
Shared Package
ML20127D973	List: ML20127D969 ML20127E050 ML20127E064
References
NUDOCS 9209150280
Download: ML20127E064 (4)

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'F WAsWNoToN, UA 20W k, ..../ SEP 4 1992 DOCKET NO: 70-893 LICENSEE: Florida Institute of Technology -  ;

Melbourne, Florida l StlBJECT: SAFETY EVALUATION REPORT, APPLICATION DATED april 14, 1992, KE LICENSE RENEWAL l MIBDDKUM By application dated April 14, 1992, Florida Institute of Technology (FIT) requested that Materials License No. SNM-844 be renewed. The license authorized the possession and use of 460 grams of U-235 at less than 20 percent enrichment in a subcritical assembly core and 15 grams of plutonium in a Pu-Be sealed neutron source. '

License No. $NM-844 was first issue,d in 1954 for the purpose of using the licensed materials in teaching and research. It has been renewed several times, including the last renewal on May 1, 1987. By letter dated November 7, 1990, FIT informed the NRC inat it intends to return the materials to the Department of Energy (DOE) and has contacted officials at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory to arrange for the return. By letter dated February 12, 1991 FIT requested an amendment of the license to authorize " possession only" of the materials. Accordingly, the Itcense was amended on May 13, 1991, to restrict the use of the materials to " possession, storage, packaging, and transfer as authorized pursuant to the requirements of 10 CFR 70.42." Also, with the materials being securely stored according to the terms of the license, the licensee was exempted from the requirements of 10 CFR Section 70.25(c) for the submission of financial assurance for decommissioning.

DLVM 11M Facility Mantqemmi

-The facility is under the general direction of Mr. Lynn E. Weaver, President of FIT. The responsibility for radiation safety is assigned to Dr. Gary 11.

Wells, and Dr. Rong-sheng Jin supervises the use of the licensed materials, which is restricted as stated above. The staff has reviewed the qualifications and experience of.both Dr. Wells and Dr. Jin and finds them qualified to carry out their responsibilities.

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Florida Institute of Technology Z Maximum Possession No material has been transferred since the last amendment of the license on May 13, 1991. The maximum possession limits proposed for the renewed license are therefore unchanged from those of the last review, as listed belcw:

6.A Uranium enriched 7.A Suberitical 8.A 460 grams in the U-235 isotope to assembly core U-235 less-than 20 percent

-U-235 6.B Plutonium 7.B Pu-Bo sealed 6.B 15 grams Pu neutre, source ,

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! Storace Conditions FIT states that the subcritical assembly core continues to be stored in a sealed 50-gallon drum and the Pu-Be' source, in another steel drum. Both the containers are designed to preclude, accidental nuclear criticality. Leak i tests performed on the Pa-Be source at 6~ month intervals have in the past been p negative. The staff judges the storage conditions satisfactory.

a.uihpfheLVie FIT continues in its intention to return the materials to DOE and decommission the facility thereafter. Therefore, the staff recommends that License Condition 17-be deleted and License Condition 9 amended to read as follows:

Condition 9. Authorized use: Possession, storage, packaging, and transfer as authorized pursuant to the requirements of 10 CFR Section 70.42, in accordance with the statements representations, and conditions specified in the licenste's application dated April 14, 1992.

Other Conditions The, authorized place of use is noom B-2 o.' the Crhwford Science Building

- located at the Melbourne, lorida, campus-of the Florida Institute of

' Technology.

The licensee shall comply with the leak test conditions'for the Pu-Be source given in " License Condition for Leak Testing Sealed Plutonium Sources," dated August 1987.

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Florida Institute of Technology 1 The storage condition of the suberitical assembly core makes a nuclear criticality accident extremely unlikely. Therefore, the staff recornmends that ,

the licensee should continue to be exempted from the requirements of 10 CFR Section 70.24 for providing criticality nionitors. ,

The licensee shall not store or use any other special nuclear materials in Room B-2 of the Crawford Science Building, unless authorized in writing by the U. S., Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Radiation protection instrumentation shall be calibrated at least annually and r

after any electronic component replacement or rept.ir in accordance with the instrument. manufacturer's instructions using National Bureau of Standards reference sources. To assure proper instrument operation, daily ch. 11 be made whenever the instruments are-in use. Records of instrument I calibration.shall be maintained for 5 years.

-The release of facilities or equipment'for unrestricted use shall be in accordance with " Guidelines for Decontamination of Facilities and Equipment Prior to Release for Unrestricted llse or Termination of Licenses for Byproduct, Source, or Special Nuclear Material," dated August 1987. ,

Como11ance History A review of the inspection and enforcement record of the licensee shows that there have l'een few violations of requirements and that the violations were minor in nature. No personnel overexposure has been reported. Overall, the licensee's comphance history and exposure experience is good.

{ny.ir_Qnmental Imp x t.

The licensee does not intend to make any modification of the existing conditions of storage of the materials untti they are ready to be packaged and shipped out of the facility. There is ne significant increase in the potential for or consequences from radiological accidents. Therefore, in accordance with.10 CFR Section Sl.22(c)(14)(v),-neither an Enviror, mental Assessment nor an Environmental Impact Statement is warranted for this proposed action.

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- C0f4CLUS1014. bid REC 011E@Al10B Based on the facts stated above ar,". with the approval of the fiRC Region II Inspector, the staff finds that the license can be renewed without undue risk to the public.or danger to life or property. Approval of the request for renewal is recommended.

Of(PMI %W BT Amar Datta

, Uranium fuel Section l

Fuel Cycle Safety Dranch Division of Industrial and l Medical Nuclear Safety, fiMSS NitWW %W &y-Approved by:

Michael Tokar, Section Leader 0FC IfWik- 1UF:.<1- IMUF-4fg NAME A7ab:m'h: VThah: MTokah: _

DATE 9_/g/92: _ 9/J/92: _

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OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

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