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 STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY

COMMISSION

WASHINGTON.

D. C. 20555*

• July 8, 1991 TO ALL FUEL CYCLE FACILITY LICENSEES

WHO POSSESS, USE, IMPORT, OR EXPORT FORMULA QUANTITIES

OF STRATEGIC

SPECIAL NUCLEAR MATERIAL Gentlemen:

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 recently completed study conducted by Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The classified study is entitled "Personnel and Package Screening Using a Walk-Through Type Explosives Detector." Under 10 CFR 73.46, licensees are required to conduct explosives searches of personnel and hand-carried packages prior to entry into the protected area.It is common practice for personnel to bring hand-carried packages into walk-through or portal explosives detectors.

This enables a licensee to meet the personnel and package explosives search requirements concurrently.

This procedure is acceptable to the NRC in meeting the explosives search requirements of paragraph

73.46. Packages of a questionable nature are typically searched with a hand-held explosives detector or via a "hands-on" search.Results of the SNL study indicate an improved search methodology can be achieved by directing personnel passing into an explosives detection portal to hold hand-carried packages (1) in front of them, (2) a few inches from the body, (3) at waist level, and (4) opened.Furthermore, for the specific portal explosives detection equipment installed at fuel cycle facilities using or possessing a formula quantity of strategic special nuclear material, improved equipment performance over that acceptable to 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" mode also has the potential for achieving improved equipment performance.

Addressees

may wish to review their procedures for conducting protected area explosives searches in view of this guidance.No specific actions or written responses are required by this generic letter. If you have any questions about this matter, please contact P. Dwyer, (301) 492-0478.Sincerely, Robert F. Burnett, Director Division of Safeguards and Transportation, NMSS Jr Iff ' b JUN a 5191 MEMORANDUM

FOR: Robert F. Burnett, Director Division of Safeguards and Transportation, NMSS FROM: Theodore S. Sherr, Chief Domestic Safeguards Branch Division of Safeguards and Transportation, NMSS SUBJECT: EXPLOSIVES

SEARCHES AT PROTECTED

AREA PORTALS Enclosed for your signature is a generic letter on the subject matter to be transmitted to Category I fuel fabrication licensees.

No specific action is required on the part of licensees in response to this letter. The guidance provided is not enforceable.

Its implementation (at licensees'

discretion)

may increase 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 would most likely issue an information notice on the subject. We believe that the issuance of a generic letter is consistent with the safety significance of the issue. Further, it is consistent with our past practice.O"tig Signed bY Theodore S. Sherr, Chief Domestic Safeguards Branch Division of Safeguards and Transportation, NMSS Enclosure:

As stated DISTRIBUTION:

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41%4 .1 LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED GENERIC LETTERS Date of Generic Letter Ho.88-20 SUPP. 4 91-09 91-08 91-07 91-06 91-05 91-04 91-03 91-02 Subject Issuance INDIVIDUAL

PLANT EXAMINATION

06/28/91 OF EXTERNAL EVENTS (IPEEE)FOR SEVERE ACCIDENT VULNERA-BILITIES -10 CFR 50.54 (f)MODIFICATION

OF SURVEILLANCE

06/27/91 INTERVAL FOR THE ELECTRICAL

PROTECTIVE

ASSEMBLIES

IN POWER SUPPLIES FOR THE REACTOR PROTECTION

SYSTEM REMOVAL OF COMPONENT

LISTS 05/06/91 FROM TECHNICAL

SPECIFICATIONS

61-23 'REACTOR COOLANT PUMP 05/02/91 SEAL FAILURES" AND ITS POTENTIAL

IMPACT ON STATION BLACKOUT RESOLUTION

OF GENERIC ISSUE 04/29/91 A-30, "ADEQUACY

OF SAFETY-RELATED DC POWER SUPPLIED PURSUANT TO 10 CFR 50.54(f)LICENSEE COMMERCIAL-GRADE

04/09/91 PROCUREMENT

AND DEDICATION

PROGRAMS CHANGES IN TECHNICAL

SPECIFI- 04/02/91 CATION SURVEILLANCE

INTERVALS TO ACCOMMODATE

A 24-MONTH FUEL CYCLE REPORTING

OF SAFEGUARDS

03/06/91 EVENTS REPORTING

MISHAPS INVOLVING

12/28/90 LLIW FORMS PREPARED FOR DISPOSAL Issued To ALL HOLDERS OF OLs AND CPs FOR NUCLEAR POWER REACTORS ALL HOLDERS OF OLs FOR BWRs ALL HOLDERS OF OLs OR CPs FOR NUCLEAR POWER REACTORS ALL POWER REACTOR LICENSEES

AND HOLDERS OF CPs ALL HOLDERS OF OLs I ALL HOLDERS OF OLs AND CPs FOR NUCLEAR POWER REACTORS ALL HOLDERS OF OLs OR CPs FOR NUCLEAR POWER REACTORS ALL HOLDERS OF'OLs OR CPs FOR NUCLEAR POWER REACTORS AND ALL OTHER LICENSED ACTIVITIES

INVOLVING A FORMULA QUANTITY OF SPECIAL NUCLEAR MATERIAL (SNM)ALL OPERATORS

OF LOW-LEVEL

RADIO-ACT4.VE WASTE (LLW)DISPOSAL SITES, WASTE PROCESSORS,& ALL HOLDERS OF LICENSES FOR NUCLEAR FUELS, NUCLEAR MATERIALS

& NUCLEAR POWER REACTORS