ML20148K849

Repts on Review of 780821 Lic Amend Appl by Rockwell Intl to Use Up to 350g Contained U235 as Clad Fuel to Test New Nine Clad Scanner. Recommends Issuance of Amend

ML20148K849
Person / Time
Site:	07000025
Issue date:	09/25/1978
From:	Ketzlach N NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS)
To:	NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS)
References
NUDOCS 7811200016
Download: ML20148K849 (3)

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UNITE D STAi cS y

[. o NUCLEAR REGULA~ DRY COMMISSION

[,) g E W ASHIN'. e ON. D. C. 20555 7.

% ,,. } SEP 2 51978 DOCKET NO.: 70-25 APPLICANT: Energy Systems Group Rockwell International Corporation l FACILITY: Canoga Park - Chatsworth, CA I

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SUBJECT:

REVIEW 0F LICENSE AMENDMENT APPLICATION DATED AUGUST 21, 1978 REVIEWER: N. Ketzlach I. Background The Energy Systems Group (ESG), Rockwell International, by application dated August requested autherization for the use of up tg 21,197l3eV as clad fuei for non-destructive modification, 350 grams contained demonstration and testing purposes t.nywhere in the United States.

The immediate need for this amendmant is for the check out of a new "mine-clad scanner" being developad and fabricated by Automation Industries located approximately 0.8 km (0.5 miles) from the ESG Canoga Park Facility. Although the scanner is to be used in the quality assurance testing of ATR fuel plates manufactured in the Canoga Park Facility, it is desirable to check out the scanner at the Automation Industries plant to assure acceptable equipment performance before delivery. Enriched uranium plates are necessary to check out the scanner. The Automation Industries Facility has neither an existing NRC nor a State of California license that would authorize the performance of the requested activity.

II. Discussion A. Nuclear Criticality Safety 235U The request for possession of a maximum of 350 grams contained at the Automation Industries Facility presents no potential for nuclear criticality. More than twice this quantity is the minimum critical mass under optimum conditions of water moderation and reflection (ANSI N16.1 - 1975, "American National Standard for Nuclear Criticality Safety in Operations w'th Fissionable Materials i

Outside Reactors"). The ESG is responsible to provide assurance there will be no co-mingling with other special nuclear materials235 U which would cause the total mass to exceed 350 grams contained

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- 1 2-l B. Radiation Safety The material, while at the Automation Industries Facility, will be under the custody of and subject to control by an ESG employee approved by its Director of the Health, Safety and Radiation Services Department. The selected individual will be cognizant of and will assure compliance with the radiation protection requirements of 10 CFR 20 and the radiation safety plans applicable to unrestricted areas.

The temporary job site is in effect an extension of the areas l

under the ESG control.

C. Effluent Control No significant environmental effect should result from the operations permitted by approval of the license amendment application. .

! D. General The subject of the amendment application was discussed with J. O. Lubenau of the Office of State Programs (SP) on August 18, 1978. He suggested wording for the amendment, when issued, and that SP be placed on the distribution -list for the amendment and its associated SER. SP will contact the State of California, -

regarding this amendment application, after the issuance of the amendment.

The amendment application dated August 21, 1978 was discussed with W. J. Cooley, Region V (I&E) Fuel Facilities Inspector of the ESG 1 Facility, on September 5,1978. He saw no safety or environmental problem associated with the authorization for the ESG to use limited quantities of 235U for the specified purposes at temporary job sites of the licensee.

III. Conclusion Authorization to the ESG of Rockwell International for the use of

! limited quantities of 235U as clad fuel at temporary job sites of the licensee and. subject to radiation safety control by a qualified ESG employee provides adequate protection for the health and safety of operating l

personnel, the public and the environment.

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3-1 Issuance of the license amendment is recommended subject to the condition that it applies only to locations where the NRC maintains jurisdiction for regulating the use of license material. l

%LbW Norman Ketzlach Fuel Processing and Fabrication Branch-Division of Fuel Cycle and Material Safety approved by: (h W. T. Crow

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