NRC Generic Letter 1991-10

NRC Generic Letter 1991-010: Explosives Searches at Protected Area Portals

ML031140265
Person / Time
Issue date:	07/08/1991
From:	Burnett R F Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards
To:
References
GL-91-010, NUDOCS 9107150190
Download: ML031140265 (4)

%WI UNITED STATESNUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSIONWASHINGTON. D. C. 20555*

• July 8, 1991TO ALL FUEL CYCLE FACILITY LICENSEES WHO POSSESS, USE, IMPORT, OR EXPORTFORMULA QUANTITIES OF STRATEGIC SPECIAL NUCLEAR MATERIALGentlemen:SUBJECT: EXPLOSIVES SEARCHES AT PROTECTED AREA PORTALS(GENERIC LETTER 91-10)This generic letter is being issued to advise you of the results of a recentlycompleted study conducted by Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) for the NuclearRegulatory Commission (NRC). The classified study is entitled "Personnel andPackage Screening Using a Walk-Through Type Explosives Detector."Under 10 CFR 73.46, licensees are required to conduct explosives searches ofpersonnel and hand-carried packages prior to entry into the protected area.It is common practice for personnel to bring hand-carried packages intowalk-through or portal explosives detectors. This enables a licensee to meetthe personnel and package explosives search requirements concurrently. Thisprocedure is acceptable to the NRC in meeting the explosives search requirementsof paragraph 73.46. Packages of a questionable nature are typically searchedwith a hand-held explosives detector or via a "hands-on" search.Results of the SNL study indicate an improved search methodology can beachieved by directing personnel passing into an explosives detection portal tohold hand-carried packages (1) in front of them, (2) a few inches from thebody, (3) at waist level, and (4) opened.Furthermore, for the specific portal explosives detection equipment installedat fuel cycle facilities using or possessing a formula quantity of strategicspecial nuclear material, improved equipment performance over that acceptableto the NRC may be achieved by operating the equipment in the "high sensitivity"mode as opposed to the "fast" mode (current practice). Alternatively, supple-mental monitoring of the detector output voltage signal during the "fast" modealso has the potential for achieving improved equipment performance.

Addressees

may wish to review their procedures for conducting protected areaexplosives searches in view of this guidance.No specific actions or written responses are required by this genericletter. If you have any questions about this matter, please contactP. Dwyer, (301) 492-0478.Sincerely,Robert F. Burnett, DirectorDivision of Safeguardsand Transportation, NMSS Jr Iff ' bJUN a 5191MEMORANDUM FOR: Robert F. Burnett, DirectorDivision of Safeguardsand Transportation, NMSSFROM: Theodore S. Sherr, ChiefDomestic Safeguards BranchDivision of Safeguardsand Transportation, NMSSSUBJECT: EXPLOSIVES SEARCHES AT PROTECTED AREA PORTALSEnclosed for your signature is a generic letter on the subject matter to betransmitted to Category I fuel fabrication licensees. No specific action isrequired on the part of licensees in response to this letter. The guidanceprovided is not enforceable. Its implementation (at licensees' discretion) mayincrease the time to explosives search individuals to varying degrees.A copy of the generic letter, in draft form, was provided to RSGB/NRR.Phil McKee stated RSGB would handle the issue separately from SGTR and wouldmost likely issue an information notice on the subject. We believe that theissuance of a generic letter is consistent with the safety significance of theissue. Further, it is consistent with our past practice.O"tig Signed bYTheodore S. Sherr, ChiefDomestic Safeguards BranchDivision of Safeguardsand Transportation, NMSSEnclosure:As statedDISTRIBUTION:SGDB r/f & c/fPDwyerPTingTSherrDKasun*SEE PREVIOUS CONCURREI ASGDB

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41%4 .1LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUEDGENERIC LETTERSDate ofGenericLetter Ho.88-20SUPP. 491-0991-0891-0791-0691-0591-0491-0391-02Subject IssuanceINDIVIDUAL PLANT EXAMINATION 06/28/91OF EXTERNAL EVENTS (IPEEE)FOR SEVERE ACCIDENT VULNERA-BILITIES -10 CFR 50.54 (f)MODIFICATION OF SURVEILLANCE 06/27/91INTERVAL FOR THE ELECTRICALPROTECTIVE ASSEMBLIES IN POWERSUPPLIES FOR THE REACTORPROTECTION SYSTEMREMOVAL OF COMPONENT LISTS 05/06/91FROM TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS61-23 'REACTOR COOLANT PUMP 05/02/91SEAL FAILURES" AND ITSPOTENTIAL IMPACT ON STATIONBLACKOUTRESOLUTION OF GENERIC ISSUE 04/29/91A-30, "ADEQUACY OF SAFETY-RELATED DC POWER SUPPLIEDPURSUANT TO 10 CFR 50.54(f)LICENSEE COMMERCIAL-GRADE 04/09/91PROCUREMENT AND DEDICATIONPROGRAMSCHANGES IN TECHNICAL SPECIFI- 04/02/91CATION SURVEILLANCE INTERVALSTO ACCOMMODATE A 24-MONTH FUELCYCLEREPORTING OF SAFEGUARDS 03/06/91EVENTSREPORTING MISHAPS INVOLVING 12/28/90LLIW FORMS PREPARED FORDISPOSALIssued ToALL HOLDERS OFOLs AND CPs FORNUCLEAR POWERREACTORSALL HOLDERS OFOLs FOR BWRsALL HOLDERS OF OLsOR CPs FOR NUCLEARPOWER REACTORSALL POWER REACTORLICENSEES ANDHOLDERS OF CPsALL HOLDERS OF OLsIALL HOLDERS OF OLsAND CPs FOR NUCLEARPOWER REACTORSALL HOLDERS OF OLsOR CPs FOR NUCLEARPOWER REACTORSALL HOLDERS OF'OLsOR CPs FOR NUCLEARPOWER REACTORS ANDALL OTHER LICENSEDACTIVITIES INVOLVINGA FORMULA QUANTITYOF SPECIAL NUCLEARMATERIAL (SNM)ALL OPERATORS OFLOW-LEVEL RADIO-ACT4.VE WASTE (LLW)DISPOSAL SITES,WASTE PROCESSORS,& ALL HOLDERS OFLICENSES FOR NUCLEARFUELS, NUCLEARMATERIALS & NUCLEARPOWER REACTORS