ML20004E418
| ML20004E418 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | North Carolina State University |
| Issue date: | 06/01/1981 |
| From: | Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20004E413 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8106120159 | |
| Download: ML20004E418 (2) | |
Text
-
[puw g
y
- k UNITED STATES g
NUC'. EAR REGULATORY COMMISSION g.
,y WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555
\\,
/
SAFETY EVALUATION BY THE OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION SUPPORTING ORDER AUTHORIZING DISMANTLING OF FACILITY AND DISPOSITION OF COMPONENT PARTS NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITl DOCKET NO. 50-111 l
Introduction By application dated June 5,1980, as revised by letters dated February 19 and l
March 27,1981, the North Carolina State University at Raleigh (the licensee) requested authori;:ation to oismantle the 10 Kw Research and Training Reactor (the facility) and dispose of its component parts in accordance with a proposed dismantling plan.
Discussion This 10 Kw reactor is a graphite reflected, tank-type reactor which used 18 plate, MTR-type fuel assemblies. The reactor operated from 1960 to 1973 for a l
total of 52.5 megawatt hours. All irradiated fuel assemblies have been shipped to I
the U. S. Department of Energy Savannah River Plant for reprocessin.g. The l
four -emaining unirradiated fuel assemblies and a remaining neutron source have been moved to the licensee's PULSTAR reactor facility for dry storage in accordance with Amendment No. 6 to License No. R-120 dated September 17,1980.
In addition to removal of all fuel and radiation sources fmm the reactor,' all l
reactor systems have been drained and are dry.
Evaluation University personnel completed radiation measurements of core components (. fuel removed).
In June 1978, the maximisn radiation from core components was found to be 61 mR/hr on contact.
In June 1976, radiation measurements were taken at l
the beam ports nearest the core. The maximum exposure rate was found to be 20 mR/hr. Swipe tests in the beam ports indicated removable contamination to be 2
less than 120 dpm per 100 cm.
The activated core components will be disposed of as radioactive material.
Also, the bottom section of the reactor tank and some concrete from the biological shield may have to be disposed of as radioactive material because of activation.
All dismantling work will be supervised by the licensee's Nuclear Reactor Pro-gram. Qualified health physics personnel from the adjacent PULSTAR reactor facility will be responsiblejor_ health physics control oLdismantling _ opera-tions. The low levels of radiation involved conbined with good health physics practices will assure that exposures to personnel are as low as reasonably achievable and well within 10 CFR Part 20 requirements.
~
8106120 M y
,w.--.---
_,,,-wg,-p, - _,..p,,__
7,,p_,,__,m
.,--,9,,
w
,.m_,.
I l- -
SE Airborne contamination during dismantling operations will be monitored and controls established by the University's Nuclear Reactor Program to assure that potential exposure to personnel and the public complies with 10 CFR Part 20 requiremants.
During our review of the licensee's June 5,1980 proposed criteria for i
release of the facility to unrestricted access, we determined that the cri-teria must be revised to be acceptable. By letter dated March 6,1981, we infonned the licensee of release criteria that would be acceptable in the i
dismantling of the facility. By letter dated March 27, 1981, the licensee agreed to our revised release criteria. The criterit will assure that poten-i tial exposure to radiation from the dismantled facilitj will be a small fraction of natural background exposure, i
Conclusion We have conclLded, based on the considerations discussed above, that dis-mantling the North Carolina State 10 Kw Research and Training Reactor and
~;
disposing of component parts as described in the dismantling plan will not be inimical to the common defense and security or to the health and safety of the public.
Dated: June 1, 1981 I
l 9
I
~,
- -. - ~.., _ _, -.,. _,.. _. _ _.