ML24074A363

Global Nuclear Fuels - Americas - NRC Inspection Report 07001113-2024006

ML24074A363
Person / Time
Site:	07001113
Issue date:	03/15/2024
From:	Williamson R NRC/RGN-II/DFFI/FFB1
To:	Huth R Global Nuclear Fuel
References
IR 2024006
Download: ML24074A363 (8)

Text

Ryan Huth Facility Manager Global Nuclear Fuels - Americas, LLC P. O. Box 780, Mail Code J20 Wilmington, NC 28402

SUBJECT:

GLOBAL NUCLEAR FUELS - AMERICAS - NRC INSPECTION REPORT 07001113/2024006

Dear Ryan Huth:

On February 22, 2024, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed an inspection at Global Laser Enrichment (GLE) with Stephen Long and other members of the GLE staff. The results of this inspection are documented in the enclosed report.

No violations of more than minor significance were identified during this inspection.

This letter, its enclosure, and your response (if any) will be made available for public inspection and copying at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html and at the NRC Public Document Room in accordance with Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations 2.390, Public Inspections, Exemptions, Requests for Withholding.

Sincerely, Robert E. Williams, Chief Projects Branch 1 Division of Fuel Facility Inspection Docket No. 07001113 License No. SNM-1097

Enclosure:

As stated cc w/ encl: Distribution via LISTSERVMarch 15, 2024 Signed by Williams, Robert on 03/15/24

ML24074A363 SUNSI Review Non-Sensitive Publicly Available Sensitive Non-Publicly Available OFFICE RII:DRS RII:DRS RII:DFFI NAME L. Pitts J. Grice R. Williams DATE 3/14/2024 3/14/2024 3/15/2024

U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Inspection Report

Docket Number: 07001113

License Number: SNM-1097

Report Number: 07001113/2024006

Licensee: Global Nuclear Fuels - Americas, LLC

Facility: Global Nuclear Fuels - Americas

Location: Wilmington, NC

Inspection Dates: February 20, 2024 to February 22, 2024

Inspectors: J. Grice, Fuel Facilities Inspector L. Pitts, Senior Fuel Facility Projects Inspector

Approved By: Robert E. Williams, Jr., Chief Projects Branch 1 Division of Fuel Facility Inspection

Enclosure

SUMMARY

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) conducted readiness review inspections in the area of operational safety for operation of the Global Laser Enrichment Separator and Gas Handling System.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) continued monitoring the licensees performance by conducting an NRC inspection at Global Nuclear Fuels - Americas, in accordance with the fuel cycle facility inspection program. This is the NRCs program for overseeing the safe operation of licensed fuel cycle facilities. Refer to https://www.nrc.gov/materials/fuel-cycle-fac.html for more information.

List of Violations

No violations of more than minor significance were identified.

Additional Tracking Items

None.

2 INSPECTION SCOPES

Inspections were conducted using the appropriate portions of the inspection procedures (IPs) in effect at the beginning of the inspection unless otherwise noted. Currently approved IPs with their attached revision histories are located on the public website at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/insp-manual/inspection-procedure/index.html. Inspections were declared complete when the IP requirements most appropriate to the inspection activity were met consistent with Inspection Manual Chapter (IMC) 2600, Fuel Cycle Facility Operational Safety and Safeguards Inspection Program. The inspectors reviewed selected procedures and records, observed activities, and interviewed personnel to assess licensee performance and compliance with Commission rules and regulations, license conditions, site procedures, and standards.

SAFETY OPERATIONS

88020 - Operational Safety

The inspectors evaluated selected aspects of the licensees Operational Safety program to verify compliance with selected portions of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 70 (10 CFR 70), including 70.61, 70.62, and applicable licensee procedures.

Operational Safety

Identification of Safety Controls and Related Programs (IP Section 02.01)

The inspectors reviewed all the accident sequences and items relied on for safety (IROFS) associated with the Global Laser Enrichment Separator and Gas Handling System (GHS), based on the information provided in the integrated safety analysis (ISA) summary. The inspectors conducted a general plant tour of each major plant operating area. The accident sequences selected for review are listed below:

• TL-R Uranium Hexafluoride (UF6) Release to GHS Room - GHS Breach due to Crane Activities

• TL-R UF6 Release to GHS Room - GHS Failure by Uncontrolled Heating

• TL-R UF6 Release to GHS Room - UF6 Reservoir Failure by High Pressure

• TL-R UF6 Release to GHS Room - Failure by High Pressure

• TL-F UF6 Release to GHS Room - GHS Breach due to Missile Impact

• TL-F UF6 Release to GHS Room - Failure by High Pressure

• TL-C Criticality in the GHS due to High Enrichment in the UF6 Feed

• TL-C Criticality in the GHS due to Loss of Mass Control - UF6 Overfill of the UF6 Reservoir

• TL-C Criticality in the GHS due to Internal/External Moderation Leak

Review of Safety Controls and Related Programs (IP Section 02.02)

The inspectors reviewed information related to administrative, engineered, and passive safety controls or IROFS for the accident sequences selected above, including the identification of the licensees assumptions and bounding cases as they apply to each of the selected accident sequences, safety controls, or IROFS. This

3 review was performed to verify that the controls or IROFS were available and reliable to perform their intended safety functions and that the design basis assumptions were reflected in the actual conditions in the field. The specific safety controls selected for review are listed below:

• TL-CS Mass Control 1: Engineering Process Scale Delta Weight Measurement - Administrative Control (AC)

• TL-CS Mass Control 2: Operations Accountability Scale Delta Weight -

AC

• TL-HF-04a - Sense and Flee - Hydrogen Fluoride (HF) - AC

• TL-HF-04c - Sense and Flee - Fire - AC

• TL-HF Crane Lift Control Process - AC

• TL-HF Combustible Control - AC

• TL-HF Plug Removal Process - AC

• TL-HF Radiant Shield - Passive Engineering Control (PEC)

• TL-HF 12B Cylinder Storage Requirements - AC

• TL-HF Pressurized Gas Cylinder Handling and Storage - AC

• TL-HF-117 - UF6 Reservoir Pressure Relief System - PEC

• TL-HF-119 - Pressure Relief System - PEC

• TL-HF-1122 - Pressure Relief System - PEC

• TL-RC Laser Room Blast Protection - PEC

Implementation of Safety Controls (IP Section 02.03)

For the safety controls listed above, the inspectors reviewed management measures to verify proper implementation in accordance with 10 CFR 70 and applicable sections of the license application. This review was performed to verify that selected safety controls or IROFS were present, available, and reliable to perform their safety function and that the design basis assumptions were reflected in the actual conditions in the field. The inspectors conducted the following activities to verify the implementation of selected safety controls:

• performed walkdowns to verify implementation of the IROFS that are listed in the section 02.02 above

• interviewed licensee staff regarding performance of IROFS TL-CS-01 and TL-CS-02

• interviewed licensee staff assigned to perform inspections to verify they were knowledgeable of the requirements associated with their assigned inspections

Safety Control Support Programs (IP Section 02.04)

The inspectors assessed additional management measures that support the availability and reliability of the selected safety controls to verify these were implemented in accordance with 10 CFR 70 and applicable sections of the license application.

• reviewed the corrective actions developed to address the issues identified in GLE's internal operational readiness review for the Separator and Gas Handling System (CAP - GLE 2024003)

4 INSPECTION RESULTS

No issues were identified.

EXIT MEETINGS AND DEBRIEFS

The inspectors verified no proprietary information was retained or documented in this report.

• On February 22, 2024, the inspectors presented the NRC inspection results to Stephen Long and other members of the GLE staff.

5 DOCUMENTS REVIEWED

Inspection Type Designation Description or Title Revision or Procedure Date 88020 Drawings P&IDs for VSM and GHS Engineering CSA 5200.00 Criticality Safety Analysis - Test Loop Gas Handling SystemRev. 5 Evaluations PHA-5200 All GLE Process Hazard Analysis Test Loop Operations Rev. 10 Nodes QRA-5201.00 GLE Test Loop Quantitative Risk Analysis Rev. 12 QRA-5250.00 GLE Test Loop Quantitative Risk Analysis Vertical Separator Rev. 0 Module / Gas Handling System Miscellaneous FM 5200.00.05 Critical Lift Checklist LS 5240.00.02 Bulk Loading / Unloading Log Sheet Rev. 2 Procedures VSM / GHS IROFS Implementation Matrix GLEP-00010-R-Training Attendance Sheet for VSM/GHS IROFS Training F02 OP 5200.00 Test Loop Operating Procedure Rev.43 OP 5250.00 VSM / GHS Operating Procedure Rev. 0 TCC 5200.17 VSM / GHS Operator Training Checkout Card Rev. 0 TCC-5200.17 Completed Checkout Card TM-IROFS-VSM / GHS IROFS Training Material Rev. 0 5200.00 TM-IROFS-Test Loop IROFS Training Material Rev. 4 5200.00 TR 5250.00 Vertical Separator Module / Gas Handling System Technical Rev. 0 Report

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