ML20237C393

Informs That Staff Has No Objections to Waste Classification of Components That Saxton Nuclear Experimental Corp Intends to Ship for Disposal as Radwaste,Per Request

ML20237C393
Person / Time
Site:	Saxton File:GPU Nuclear icon.png
Issue date:	08/19/1998
From:	Jim Hickey NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS)
To:	Weiss S NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned)
References
TAC-M79553, NUDOCS 9808210130
Download: ML20237C393 (3)

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UNITED STATES

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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION i f WASHINGTON, D.C. 20066 4 001

%..... August 19, 1998 MEMORANDUM TO: Seymour H. Weiss, Director i Non-Power Reactors and Decommissioning Project Directorate )

Division of Reactor Program Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation -

i FROM: John W. N. Hickey, Chief / r Low-Level Waste and commiss ning

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Projects Branch i Division of Waste Management Office of Nuclear Material Safety 1 and Safeguards

SUBJECT:

SAXTON'S RESPONSE TO NRC REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL j INFORMATION REGARDING THE SHIPPING OF FACILITY COMPONENTS FOR DISPOSAL AS RADIOACTIVE WASTE l (TAC NO. M79553) O I

Pursuant to your request, the Low-Level Waste and Decommissioning Projects Branch (LLDP) staff has reviewed the Saxton Nuclear Experimental Corporation (SNEC) Facility's response, dated July 7,1998, to NRC request for additional information, dated May 11,1998. Based on this review, LLDP staff has no objections to the waste classification of components that SNEC intends to ship for disposal as radioactive waste.

One of the main concerns of the LLDP staff was the waste classification of the large components, at the SNEC Facility in Saxton', Pennsylvania, that are intended to be shipped for disposal at a low-level waste disposal facility. SNEC proposed to ship the reactor vessels (RVs) with the internals intact, and to classify the waste by averaging the pressure vessel and the internals together. SNEC had performed analyses that classified the intemals separately, as documented in a report entitled, "The Saxton Facility Reactor Vessel, intemais, Ex-Vessel Lead, Structural Steel and Reactor Compartment Concrete Shield Wall Radionuclides Inventory," dated 3 December 1995. The lower core guide blocks (guide blocks) are GTCC wastes if classified I individually. SNEC stated that because the guide blocks are permanently bolted to the lower ]

core plate (plate), the guide blocks and the plate can be blended as one unit, and that this unit is within the Class C waste limit. SNEC stated that, to the best of its knowledge, the guide blocks in the RV are the only possible GTCC wastes at the facility.

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Pictures and diagrams, in the attachment of SNEC's May 11,1998, letter, showed the bolted connection between the guide blocks and the plate. SNEC stated that the guide blocks are securely and permanently attached to the plate with stainless steel fasteners that are crimped in place to prevent loosening. In addition, SNEC proposed a disposal plan for the RV that would enhance the connection between the guide blocks and the plate. The interior of the RV would be filled with low-density cellular concrete that would serve to further fix all RV internal components in place. LLDP staff examined the pictures and diagrams of the guide blocks, the plate, and the bolts, and determined that the guide blocks and the plate are permanently

Contact:

Sherry Wu, NMSS/DWM/LLDP (301) 415-6619 ,

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August 19, 1998 Seymour H. Weiss 2 connected. LLDP staff does not object to the blending of the guide blocks and the plate for )

waste classification purposes. Thus, each individualinternal component within the RV would '

meet the Class C limit.

Another concern of the LLDP staff was whether the neutron activation analyses is acceptable for the purposes of waste classification. SNEC based its waste classification on activation analysis results from the ORIGEN code. The ORIGEN code is a validated, accepted, state-of-the-art activation analysis code widely used by the scientific community. LLDP staff has determined that this approach is acceptable. In addition, SNEC has committed to using the guidance for i averaging concentrations in homogeneous waste types in the " Branch Technical Position on Concentration Averaging and Encapsulation," January 17,1995, for selected piping sections that are sent directly to a disposal facility. I i

LLDP staff has concluded that the waste classification system, for components that SNEC l Intends to ship for disposal as radioactive waste, can be utilized without undue risk to workers, the public, or the environment, and that the classification meets the requirements described in 10 CFR 61.55 and is consistent with the " Branch Technical Position on Concentration Averaging .

and Encapsulation." If you have any questions, please contact Sherry Wu of my staff at I (301) 415-6619. I Docket No: 50-146 TICKET: LLDP-8110 DISTRIBUTION: Central File PUBLIC NMSS r/f LLDP r/f RJohnson AAdams DOCUMENT NAME: S:\DWM\LLDP\SCW\WASTECLS. SAX OFC LLDP LLDP A / LicRI NAME SWu/F TCJo h Jhkey DATE 8/5/98 8/ tW98 8k/98 C = COVER E = COVER & ENCLOSURE N = NO COPY OFFICIAL RECORD COPY ACNW: YES NO Category: Proprietary _,. or CF Only __

IG: YES NO LSS: YES NO Delete file after distribution: Yes No l

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