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 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

AREA PORTALS

SUBJECT: EXPLOSIVES SEARCHES AT PROTECTED

your signature is a generic letter on the subject matter to be Enclosed for to Category I fuel fabrication licensees. No specific action is guidance transmitted in response to this letter. The required on the part of licensees implementation (at licensees' discretion) may provided is not enforceable. Itssearch individuals to varying degrees.

increase the time to explosives draft form, was provided to RSGB/NRR.

A copy of the generic letter, in the issue separately from SGTR and would Phil McKee stated RSGB would handle that the likely issue an information notice on the subject. We believe of the most of a generic letter is consistent with the safety significance issuance with our past practice.

issue. Further, it is consistent O"tig Signed bY

Theodore S. Sherr, Chief Domestic Safeguards Branch Division of Safeguards and Transportation, NMSS

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4 .1 LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED GENERIC LETTERS

Generic Date of Letter Ho. Subject Issuance Issued To

88-20 INDIVIDUAL PLANT EXAMINATION 06/28/91 SUPP. 4 ALL HOLDERS OF

OF EXTERNAL EVENTS (IPEEE) OLs AND CPs FOR

FOR SEVERE ACCIDENT VULNERA- NUCLEAR POWER

BILITIES - 10 CFR 50.54 (f) REACTORS

91-09 MODIFICATION OF SURVEILLANCE 06/27/91 ALL HOLDERS OF

INTERVAL FOR THE ELECTRICAL OLs FOR BWRs PROTECTIVE ASSEMBLIES IN POWER

SUPPLIES FOR THE REACTOR

PROTECTION SYSTEM

91-08 REMOVAL OF COMPONENT LISTS 05/06/91 FROM TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS ALL HOLDERS OF OLs OR CPs FOR NUCLEAR

POWER REACTORS

91-07 61-23 'REACTOR COOLANT PUMP 05/02/91 ALL POWER REACTOR

SEAL FAILURES" AND ITS LICENSEES AND

POTENTIAL IMPACT ON STATION HOLDERS OF CPs BLACKOUT

91-06 RESOLUTION OF GENERIC ISSUE 04/29/91 ALL HOLDERS OF OLs A-30, "ADEQUACY OF SAFETY-

RELATED DC POWER SUPPLIED I

PURSUANT TO 10 CFR 50.54(f)

91-05 LICENSEE COMMERCIAL-GRADE 04/09/91 ALL HOLDERS OF OLs PROCUREMENT AND DEDICATION AND CPs FOR NUCLEAR

PROGRAMS POWER REACTORS

91-04 CHANGES IN TECHNICAL SPECIFI- 04/02/91 ALL HOLDERS OF OLs CATION SURVEILLANCE INTERVALS OR CPs FOR NUCLEAR

TO ACCOMMODATE A 24-MONTH FUEL POWER REACTORS

CYCLE

91-03 REPORTING OF SAFEGUARDS 03/06/91 ALL HOLDERS OF'OLs EVENTS OR CPs FOR NUCLEAR

POWER REACTORS AND

ALL OTHER LICENSED

ACTIVITIES INVOLVING

A FORMULA QUANTITY

OF SPECIAL NUCLEAR

MATERIAL (SNM)

91-02 REPORTING MISHAPS INVOLVING 12/28/90 ALL OPERATORS OF

LLIW FORMS PREPARED FOR LOW-LEVEL RADIO-

DISPOSAL ACT4.VE WASTE (LLW)

DISPOSAL SITES,

WASTE PROCESSORS,

& ALL HOLDERS OF

LICENSES FOR NUCLEAR

FUELS, NUCLEAR

MATERIALS & NUCLEAR

POWER REACTORS