ML20138C583

Responds to 850927 Order to Show Cause Re Removal of Spare Highly Enriched U to Locked Storage Environ.Reactor Scheduled to Be Decommissioned.Less than 20 G Spare Fuel Solution Exists Outside Reactor Core

ML20138C583
Person / Time
Site:	05000433
Issue date:	10/07/1985
From:	Kroes R CALIFORNIA, UNIV. OF, SANTA BARBARA, CA
To:	NRC OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY (SECY)
References
NUDOCS 8510220466
Download: ML20138C583 (5)

Text

• .

A UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA. SANTA BARBARA ,

emumm.

BEREELEY

• DAVIS

• IRVINE

• LOS ANCELES

• RIVER $IDE

• SAN DIECO

• SAN FRANCISCO SANTA BARBARA

• SANTA CRL'E l

DAvto PIERPONT GARDNER Prses&nt qf tat Uniterrity OFFICE OFTHE CHANCELIDR SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA 931Q6 RosERT A. HUTrtNaAcx Chancebr at Santa Barbara October 7, 1985 Secretary of the Commission U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555 Re: Docket No. 50-433

Dear Sir:

This is in reply to the Order to Show Cause dated September 27, 1985, regarding removal of spare HEU to a more secure storage environment.

The UCSB L-77 nuclear training reactor is scheduled to be decommissioned in the next few months. In any event, there is less than twenty (20) grams of spare fuel solution outside the reactor core. Therefore, we request that the spare fuel solution be kept within the locked storage cabinet in the facility until the cntire HEU fuel inventory is returned to DOE as part of the decommissioning process. '

Sincerely, ,

Robert J. Kroes Vice Chancellor Administrative Services Enclosure 8510220466 851007 gDR ADOCK 0500 3 E DO --- 0 01 10 3

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION In the matter of Docket No. 50-433 l UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA BARBARA  ;

(Research Reactor) i ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE I.

The University of California, Santa Barbara ("the licensee") is the holder of Facility Operating License No. R-I24 issued by the Nuclear Regulatory Commis-  !

sion ("the Commission"). The license authorizes the operation of a research reactor at Santa Barbara, California. 1 II.

Recognizing that many nonpower reactor fac'ilities 2 have on hand unirradi-ated high enriched uranium (HEU) fuel that is not needed for current operations, f the Commission believes that prudence dictates the taking of reasonable steps

.to decrease the potential for any adverse consequences from possession of HEU

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in excess of operational needs by suspending the right to possess HEU invento-ries in excess of quantities sufficient for the maintenance of normal operations or for the replacement of depleted fuel and failed elements. Therefore, the Commission has found it desirable to protect the public health and safety and

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common defense and security by requiring all excess HEU fuel to be removed to a secure facility away from the reactor site. I

' Includes research, test and critical experiment facilities.

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III.

Accordingly, pursuant to Sections 104, 161b, and 1611 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, and Section 2.202 of 10 CFR Part 2 and Section 50.54(h) of 10 CFR Part 50, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the licensee shall show,cause why the licensee's authority to possess HEU fuei should not be suspended in accor-dance with the following provisions:

(1) The licensee shall within 120 days from the effective date of this Order move to a secure facility all unirradiated high enriched ura-nium fuel presently on-site except for that needed to replace one failed element for each different type element in the core. There-after, the licensee may possess unirradiated high enriched uranium fuel on-site only in that quantity necessary to replace one failed element for each different type element in the core. For purposes of-this condition, a secure facility is a Department of Energy facility or a U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission licensed fuel cycle facility that is protecting formula quantities of strategic special nuclear material.

(2) Facilities that require replacement elements for refueling may also maintain an inventory of not.more than the amount of fuel depleted in a 90-day period of normal operation.

(3) The Commission may relax the above requirements in writing for good cause shown.

IV.

Within 30 days of the date of this Order, the licensee may show cause why the provisions specified in Section III should not be ordered, by filing a I

written answer under oath or affirmation that sets forth the matters of fact

and law on which the licensee relies. The licensee may answer this Order, as provided in 10 CFR 2.202(d), by consenting to the entry of an order in sub-stantially the forrr proposed in this Order to Show Cause. Upon the licensee's consent to the provisions set forth in Section III of thi.s Order or failure to 2

I answer or request a hearing on this Order within the specified time period, the provisions set forth in Section III shall become effective without further I order. If the licensee files an answer opposing the Order proposed in Section III or if a hearing is requested, the provisions set forth in Section III shall l become effective on the date specified in an order issued following further proceedings on this Order. ,

The licensee or any other person whose interest is adversely affected by f this Order may request a hearing on this Order. Any answer to this Order or i request for hearing shall be sent within 30 days of the date of this Order to f the Secretary of the Commission, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, L DC 20555. A copy shall also be sent to the Executive Legal Director at the j same accress.

If 'a hearing is to be held, the Commission will issue an order designating l the time and place of any such hearing. If a hearing is held, the issue for l hearing shall be whether the provisions set forth in Section III of this Order i should be sustained. ,

1 FOR THE COMMISSION ~

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!. 1 4 C. ICLE  !

W Secretary i of the Ocnnission I-

Dated at Hashington, DC this 27th day of Septerber, 1983 i

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EDO PRINCIPAL CORRFSPONDENCE CONTROL FROM: DUE: EDO CONTROL: 001103 DOC DT: 10/07/85 ROBERT J. KROES FINAL REPLY:

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA BARBARA TO:

SECRETARY OF COMM. ,

FOR SIGNATURE OF: ** GREEN ** SECY NO:

DESC: ROUTINO:

RESPONSE TO 9/27/85 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE RE DENTON REDUCTION OF HEU AT NON-POWER REACTORS TAYLOR JMARTIN DATE: 10/18/85 GCUNNINGHAN/BtlRNS ASSIGNED TO: NMSS CONTACT: DAVIS dDR _

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS:

FOR APPROPRIATE ACTION CODRDINATE WITH ELD (STEVE BURNS).

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