ML24291A100

Urenco USA, Integrated Inspection Report 07003103/2024003

ML24291A100
Person / Time
Site:	07003103
Issue date:	10/17/2024
From:	Bradley Davis NRC/RGN-II/DFRSS
To:	Lorskulsint P Louisiana Energy Services, URENCO USA
References
EN57246 IR 2024003
Download: ML24291A100 (1)

Text

EN57246 Paul Lorskulsint Chief Nuclear Officer Louisiana Energy Services (LES) dba Urenco USA (UUSA)

Urenco USA P.O. Box 1789 Eunice, NM 88231

SUBJECT:

URENCO USA - INTEGRATED INSPECTION REPORT 07003103/2024003

Dear Paul Lorskulsint:

This letter refers to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) inspection oversight activities conducted from July 1 to September 30, 2024, for the URENCO USA facility in Eunice, NM.

During this calendar quarter, the NRC did not conduct inspection activities at the site because there were no routine inspections scheduled.

Although there were no inspections conducted in this quarter, inspectors continued to conduct reviews of licensee submitted reports (e.g., for reportable events) and communicated with your staff to discuss the status of plant operations. The inspectors received Event Notification (EN) 57246 and verified there were no immediate safety concerns. The inspectors will further evaluate the event and your actions through future routine inspections as documented in the enclosure.

No violations of more than minor significance were identified during this period This letter 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, Bradley J. Davis, Chief Fuels Oversight Branch 1 Division of Fuels, Radiological Safety, and Security Docket No. 07003103 License No. SNM-2010

Enclosure:

As stated cc w/ encl: Distribution via LISTSERVOctober 17, 2024 Signed by Davis, Bradley on 10/17/24

ML24291A100

SUNSI Review X Non-Sensitive X Publicly Available X Sensitive Non-Publicly Available

OFFICE RII/DFRSS RII/DFRSS NAME T. Shewmaker B. Davis DATE 10/17/24 10/17/24

U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Inspection Report

Docket Number: 07003103

License Number: SNM-2010

Report Number: 07003103/2024003

Licensee: Louisiana Energy Services (LES) dba Urenco USA (UUSA)

Facility: URENCO USA

Location: Eunice, NM

Inspection Dates: July 1 to September 30, 2024

Inspectors: T. Sippel, Sr. Fuel Facility Project Inspector

Approved By: Bradley J. Davis, Chief Fuels Oversight Branch 1 Division of Fuels, Radiological Safety, and Security

Enclosure

SUMMARY

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) continued monitoring the licensees performance through routine communications and review of documents submitted by UUSA, 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

Type Issue Number Title Report Section Status WER 07003103/2024-003-00 ALERT - Seismic Activity NA Open Felt On-Site (EN57246)

2 PLANT STATUS

The UUSA Facility in Eunice, New Mexico enriches uranium hexafluoride (UF6) using gas centrifuge technology. During the inspection period, normal production activities were ongoing.

ITEMS OPENED

WER ALERT - Seismic Activity Felt On-Site (EN57246) NA (Open) WER 07003103/2024-003-00

Description:

An earthquake was felt on-site at the UUSA facility in Eunice, NM on Friday, July 26, at approximately 8:28am (MDT). It was a 5.1 magnitude quake that occurred about 140 miles away at a depth of about 2 miles. When an earthquake is felt on-site, URENCO's procedures require them to activate their emergency response center, declare an Alert, and notify the NRC. Accordingly, the licensee declared an Alert at approximately 8:44am (MDT) and made the required notifications per their emergency response procedures.

The licensee suspended UF6 handling operations, evacuated personnel from UF6 handling areas and performed personnel accountability. Once it had been deemed safe to re-enter, the licensee performed their required post-earthquake walkdowns to look for equipment and building damage and for other evidence of releases. No evidence of building damage or releases were found, there were no power losses on-site and no missing or injured staff.

Three centrifuges were taken out of service due to the seismic event, but no breeches or releases were identified. Based on the results of these walkdowns, the licensee terminated the Alert at 2:30pm (MDT) on July 26, 2024. After cooling down the autoclaves, structural walkdowns of the autoclaves are planned to occur.

The licensee provided their 60-day follow-up report to the NRC on September 6, 2024, as "60 Day Report for EN 57246 July 2024 Seismic Event" (ML24253A121). WER 07003103/2024-003-00, "ALERT - Seismic Activity Felt On-Site (EN57246)," will remain open until NRC inspectors review the licensee's 60-day report, and other documentation of the event.

EXIT MEETINGS AND DEBRIEFS

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

No exit meetings were held, because there were no on-site inspection activities performed in this quarter.

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