ML20237H185
| ML20237H185 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Framatome ANP Richland |
| Issue date: | 08/19/1987 |
| From: | Bernero R NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| To: | SIEMENS POWER CORP. (FORMERLY SIEMENS NUCLEAR POWER |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20237H176 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8708240386 | |
| Download: ML20237H185 (6) | |
Text
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s UNITED STATES DUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION In the matter of )
ADVANCED NUCLEAR FUELS CORPORATION Docket 70-1257 2101 Horn Rapids Road ) License SNM-1227 Richland, WA 99352-0180 )
ORDER MODIFYING LICENSE EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY I
Advanced Nuclear Fuels Corporation is the holder of Nuclear Regulatory '
Commission (NRC) License No. SNM-1227 that authorizes it to possess and use special nuclear material for, among other things, the heating, emptying, filling, or shipping of uranium hexafluoride (UF ) in 48- and 30-inch diameter cylinders.
6 The license was most recently renewed on October 26, :081, expired on October 31, 1986, and is presently under timely renewal.
II On July 24, 1987, the U.S. Department of Energy, Oak Ridoe Operations Office Safety Division (DOE), notified the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) of parallel cracks that were observed in and around the threads of 1-inch valves used in 30- and 48-inch diameter uranium hexafluoride cylinders. The cracks were observed in the valve threads of valves in lots 17 and 20 manufactured by Superior Valve Company. NRC licensees were notified by phone,to look for defects in valves in these lots. On July 29, 1987, after further investigation, DOE again notified and reported to NRC that Superior valves in lots 16 through 22 inclusive could be suspect for thread cracking. The affected lots were later confimed to be lots 16 through 22 inclusive. DOE is in the process of 8708240386 870819 ADOCK 0700 7
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.e determining the reasons for the cracking and recommended that cylinders fitted with 1-inch valves in lots 16 through 22 not be filled, errptied, heated, or shipped until a determination of their safety is made. NRC does not have objections to the use of 30- and 48-inch cylinders refitted with valves not in the affected lots but cautions that valves be-thoroughly inspected before refitting and that valve changes be made using approved procedures.
Superior Valve Company fabricated about 4,500 valves in lots 16 through 22.
Of these, about 60 percent were designated for DOE use, and about 40 percent of the valves were procured by the private sector. The valves, fabricated from aluminum-silicon-bronze alloy, have been in use for many years by industry for thi:; application without incident. The defect observed by DOE is a parallel cracking of the 1-inch valve thread used to fit the valve to the cylinder.
Valves in the affected lots, lots 16 through 22, can.be identified by a lot number stamped in the body of the valve. Further identification of the valve and its applications may De found in ORO 651 Rev 4, " URANIUM HEXAFLUORIDE:
Handling Procedures and Container Criteria."
Failure of a valve with a defect as noted above could cause a UF6 release if sheared from a cylinder during installation, removal, handling of the valve during operation, or accidental impact on the valve. Such a release could cause injury from the toxic fumes of the reaction products uranyl fluoride and hydro-fluoric acid.
For the reasons given above, to avoid unnecessary health and safety risks, I have determined that valves identified as potentially defective should be j
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1 removed from service and other valves manufactured by Superior Valve should be inspected before further use.
Furthermore, I have determined in the i
interest of public health and safety, these measures should be y made im effective.
I III Accordingly, pursuant to Sections 161b,1611, and 161o of the Atomic E nergy Act of 1954, as amended, and the Commission's regulations in 10 CFR
, 40, !
and 70 IT IS HEREBY ORDEPED, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, THAT l IS MODIFIED AS FOLLOWS:
1.
Advanced Nuclear Fuels Corporation shall not fill, heat, empty, f or deliver to a carrier for transport 48-inch and 30-inch uranium hexafluoride cylinders fitted with Superior Valve Company 1-inch valves manufactured in Superior Valve Company lots numbered 16 i through 22. i 2.
All 1-inch valves in your warehouse stock manufactured by Superior Valve Company shall be visually inspected.
The valves shall be 1 visually reinspected prior to fitting to a cylinder. 4 Defects noted during these inspections shall be reported to the Administrator of the appropriate NRC Regional office.
The Director, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards , may relax or rescind any of the above conditions upon a showing by the licensee of goo{ .
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TheiIfcensee, or any other person who has an interest adversely affected by this Order, may request a hearing within 20 days of the date of its issuance.
IP a person other than ,the licensee requests a hearing, that person shall set
' ;. . forth with particularity the manner in which the petitioner's interest is adversely affteted by this Order and should address the criteria set forth in 10CFR2.714(d). dny request for a hearing shall be filed with Mr. Richard E.
Cunningham, Director, Division of Industrial and Medical Nuclear Safety, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C. 20555, with a copy to the Assistant General Counsel for Enforcement, Office of the General Counsel, at the s'ame address. Any request for a hearing shall not stay the immediate effective-ness of this Order. If a hearing is requested, the Comission will issue an Order de,signating the time and place.for the hearing, s
In the event a hearing is requested, the issue to be considered at such a i hearijiqshallbewhetherthisOrdershouldbesustained.
e FOR THE U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATGFY COMMISSION i
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F Robert M. Bernero, Acting Director h, Office of Nuclear Material Safety
- p. and Safeguards N Dated at Silver Spring, MD
,, this 19th day of August 1987.
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