ML25198A178
| ML25198A178 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 07007004 |
| Issue date: | 07/22/2025 |
| From: | Bradley Davis NRC/RGN-II/DFRSS/FOB1 |
| To: | Snider M American Centrifuge Operating |
| References | |
| IR 2025002 | |
| Download: ML25198A178 (1) | |
Text
Matt Snider General Manager American Centrifuge Operating, LLC (ACO)
P.O. Box 628 Mail Stop 7560 Piketon, OH 45661
SUBJECT:
AMERICAN CENTRIFUGE PLANT (ACP) CORE INSPECTION REPORT 07007004/2025002
Dear Matt Snider:
This letter refers to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) inspection activities conducted from April 1, 2025, to June 30, 2025, at American Centrifuge Plant (ACP). On May 15, 2025, the NRC inspectors discussed the results of the inspection activities with you and other members of your staff. The results of this inspection are documented in the enclosed report.
No violations of more than minor significance were identified during this inspection.
This letter, its enclosure, 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 Projects Branch 1 Division of Fuels, Radiological Safety, and Security Docket No. 07007004 License No. SNM-2011
Enclosure:
As stated cc w/ encl: Distribution via LISTSERV July 22, 2025 Signed by Davis, Bradley on 07/22/25
SUNSI Review X
Non-Sensitive
Sensitive X
Publicly Available
Non-Publicly Available OFFICE RII/DFRSS RII/DFRSS NAME L. Pitts B. Davis DATE 7/22/2025 7/22/2025
Enclosure U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Inspection Report Docket Number:
07007004 License Number:
SNM-2011 Report Number:
07007004/2025002 Enterprise Identifier:
I-2025-002-0062 Licensee:
American Centrifuge Operating, LLC (ACO)
Facility:
American Centrifuge Plant (ACP)
Location:
Piketon, OH Inspection Dates:
May 12, 2025, to May 15, 2025 Inspectors:
L. Pitts, Sr. Fuel Facility Project Inspector Approved By:
Bradley J. Davis, Chief Projects Branch 1 Division of Fuels, Radiological Safety, and Security
2
SUMMARY
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) continued monitoring the licensees performance by conducting a core inspection at American Centrifuge Plant (ACP), 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 None.
3 INSPECTION SCOPES Inspections were conducted using the appropriate portions of the inspection procedures (IPs) in effect at the beginning of the inspection unless otherwise noted. Currently approved IPs with their attached revision histories are located on the public website at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/insp-manual/inspection-procedure/index.html. Inspections were declared complete when the IP requirements most appropriate to the inspection activity were met consistent with Inspection Manual Chapter (IMC) 2600, Fuel Cycle Facility Operational Safety and Safeguards Inspection Program. The inspectors reviewed selected procedures and records, observed activities, and interviewed personnel to assess licensee performance and compliance with Commission rules and regulations, license conditions, site procedures, and standards.
SAFETY OPERATIONS 88020 - Operational Safety The inspectors evaluated selected aspects of the licensees Operational Safety program to verify compliance with selected portions of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) 70, including 70.24, 70.61, and 70.62, as well as Chapter 11, Management Measures, of the facilitys license application, and applicable licensee procedures.
Identification of Safety Controls and Related Programs (IP Section 02.01)
The inspectors selected specific process areas for inspection based on the safety basis information of the facility, the risk/safety significance of the process areas, the description of plant changes submitted to the NRC, and past plant performance documentation. For the process areas of interest, the inspectors selected a sample of accident sequences in radiation safety, fire safety, and chemical safety based on the information provided in the integrated safety analysis (ISA) summary. The inspectors conducted a general plant tour of each major plant operating area. The accident sequences selected for review are listed below:
a.
HD1-1, Small fire in Process Building b.
HD1-2, Large fire in the Process Building results in a release of UF6 from damaged process equipment, centrifuges, cylinders, cold traps, chemical traps or headers c.
HD1-6, Large fire in the Process Building due to ongoing construction activities results in a release of UF6 from damaged process equipment, centrifuges, cylinders, cold traps, chemical traps or headers d.
HD6-1, Forest or brushfire impacts Process Building/Interplant Transfer Corridor/ Recycle/Assembly Building/CTTF leading to a fire within and a release of UF6 from damaged process equipment, centrifuges, cylinders, cold traps, chemical traps or headers, Large fire in the Feed Area results in a release of UF6 e.
HD6-3, Fire from vehicle parked or traveling adjacent to the Process Building/Interplant Transfer Corridor/Recycle/Assembly Building/CTTF spreads to become a fire within and a release of UF6 from damaged process equipment, centrifuges, cylinders, cold traps, chemical traps or headers
4 f.
HD6-10, Errant vehicle impacts Process Building breaking through wall(s) and damaging a number of centrifuges (cracks in casing) and associated process headers resulting in a release of UF6 g.
HD7-1, Earthquake strikes site and Process Building/Interplant Transfer Corridor/ Recycle/Assembly Building/CTTF h.
HD7-4, High winds (e.g. microbursts, large storms) strike site and Process Building damaging the facility and the process equipment, centrifuges, cylinders, cold traps, chemical traps or headers resulting in a release of UF6 i.
HD7-4a, High winds (e.g., microbursts, large storms) strike site and the Interplant Transfer Corridor/ Recycle/Assembly Building/CTTF damaging the facility and centrifuges, chemical traps, or other contaminated item on a centrifuge transporter cart or forklift or located in the CTTF resulting in a release of contamination j.
HD7-5, Lightning strikes the Process Building and/or Interplant Transfer Corridor and/or Recycle/Assembly Building and/or CTTF breaching the facility shell and damaging, as appropriate for a given facility, the process equipment, centrifuges, cylinders, cold traps, chemical traps or headers k.
HD7-6, Flooding of Process Building/Interplant Transfer Corridor/Recycle/Assembly Building/CTTF with subsequent damage, as appropriate for a given facility, to the process equipment, centrifuges, cylinders, cold traps, chemical traps or headers and release of UF6 l.
HD7-7, Heavy rains result in shallow flooding of Process Building/Interplant Transfer Corridor/Recycle/Assembly Building/CTTF with subsequent damage, as appropriate for a given facility, to the process equipment, centrifuges, cylinders, cold traps, chemical traps or headers and release of UF6 Review of Safety Controls and Related Programs (IP Section 02.02)
The inspectors reviewed information related to initial conditions (IC), and administrative, engineered, and passive safety controls or items relied on for safety (IROFS) for the accident sequences selected above, including the identification of the licensees assumptions and bounding cases as they apply to each of the selected accident sequences, safety controls, or IROFS. This review was performed to verify that the controls or IROFS were available and reliable to perform their intended safety functions and that the design basis assumptions were reflected in the actual conditions in the field. The specific safety controls selected for review are listed below:
a.
IROFS 7.3.1.1, Buildings and Equipment Constructed of Noncombustible Materials, IC b.
IROFS 7.3.1.2, Combustible Material Control Program - Inside Buildings, Administrative Control (AC) c.
IROFS 7.3.1.3 Limitations on Fossil Fueled Vehicles Used in ACP Buildings, IC d.
IROFS 7.3.2.1 Fire Suppression Systems, Active Engineered Control (AEC) e.
IROFS 7.3.3.2, Vehicle Access Control, IC f.
IROFS 7.3.7.1, Structures Designed for 1,000-Year Return Period Seismic Event, IC g.
IROFS 7.3.7.3, Structures Designed for a 100 mph or 20,000-Year Return High Straight-Line Wind Event, IC h.
IROFS 7.3.7.4, Structures Located Well Above 10,000-Year Return Period Flood Level, IC
5 i.
IROFS 7.3.7.5, Building Finished Floor Elevation Above Storm Drainage Swales, IC j.
IROFS 7.3.7.6, Metal Structure and Support Structure Provides Grounding, IC k.
IROFS 7.3.7.7, Structures Qualified for a 90 mph or 3,000-Year Return High Straight-Line Wind Event, IC Implementation of Safety Controls (IP Section 02.03)
For the selected safety controls listed above, the inspectors reviewed management measures, to verify proper implementation in accordance with 10 CFR 70 and applicable sections of the license application. This review was performed to verify that selected safety controls or IROFS were present, available, and reliable to perform their safety function and that the design basis assumptions were reflected in the actual conditions in the field. The inspectors conducted the following activities to verify the implementation of selected safety controls:
1.
performed walkdowns of the processing building to verify the implementation of the related IROFS a.
7.3.1.1 Buildings and Equipment Constructed of Noncombustible Materials b.
7.3.1.2 Combustible Material Control Program - Inside Buildings c.
7.3.1.3 Limitations on Fossil Fueled Vehicles Used in ACP Buildings d.
7.3.2.1 Fire Suppression Systems 2.
reviewed procedures that implement the IROFS in the X-3001 Process Building.
3.
observed fire safety technicians performance of the X-3001 monthly IROFS surveillance to verify the High-Pressure Water System pressures 4.
observed performance of IROFS surveillance IS-H-001 to verify no readily combustible materials were included in completed plant modifications 5.
reviewed the following IROFS Boundary Definition documents:
a.
BDD-H-001 for IROFS 7.3.1.1 Buildings and Equipment Constructed of Noncombustible Materials b.
BDD-H-002 for IROFS 7.3.1.2 Combustible Material Control Program -
Inside Buildings c.
BDD-H-003 for IROFS 7.3.1.3 Limitations on Fossil Fueled Vehicles Used in ACP Buildings d.
BDD-H-005 for IROFS 7.3.1.5 Non-Flammable Refrigerant e.
BDD-H-006 for IROFS 7.3.2.1 Fire Suppression Systems f.
BDD-H-007 for IROFS 7.3.2.2 Fire Department Response g.
BDD-H-008 for IROFS 7.3.3.2 Vehicle Access Control h.
BDD-H-010 for IROFS 7.3.7.1 Structures Designed for 1,000-Year Return Period Seismic Event i.
BDD-H-012 for IROFS 7.3.7.3 Structures Designed for a 100 mph or 20,000-Year Return High j.
BDD-H-013 for IROFS 7.3.7.4 Structures Located Well Above 10,000-Year Return Period Flood k.
BDD-H-014 for IROFS 7.3.7.5 Building Finished Floor Elevation Above Storm Drainage Swales l.
BDD-H-015 for IROFS 7.3.7.6 Metal Structure and Support Structure Provides Grounding
6
- m. BDD-H-016 for IROFS 7.3.7.7 Structures Qualified for a 90 mph or 3,000-Year Return High n.
BDD-H-102-2 for Administrative IROFS 7.3.6.2.3 6.
interviewed two Fire Safety Technicians regarding testing frequencies for fire safety IROFS 7.
observed IROFS signage for fire safety IROFS 8.
observed operators performing MC&A activities associated with ACP2-NM-104, for removal of a full tails cylinder 9.
interviewed the Recycle and Assembly Manager regarding performance of management assessments
- 10. interviewed the Fire Safety and Emergency Management Manager regarding acceptance criteria for fire safety IROFS surveillances Safety Control Support Programs (IP Section 02.04)
The inspectors assessed additional management measures that support the availability and reliability of the selected safety controls to verify these were implemented in accordance with 10 CFR 70 and applicable sections of the license application. Specifically, the inspectors reviewed the following:
1.
preventative maintenance work orders for active engineered IROFS in the Process Area 2.
PM-2200001090, PM for Cold Trap Tails 3.
PM-2300000028, PM for Cold Trap Tails 4.
PM-2300000468, PM for the Nitrogen System 5.
PM-2400000572, PM for Cold Trap Product, Cold Box #3 6.
ACP-2023-A05, Independent Audit of Chemical Process Safety Program 7.
ACP-MA-2025-03, Management Assessment of the Work Control Process 8.
ACP-MA-2024-27, Maintenance and Test Equipment Management Assessment 9.
ACP-MA-2024-07, Management Assessment of Radioactive Material Control
- 10. ACP-MA-2024-20, Management Assessment of the Change Evaluation Program
- 11. ACP-MA-2024-22, Management Assessment for Oversight of Fire Provided Services
- 12. ACP-MA-2024-25, Management Assessment of Conduct of Operations
- 13. corrective action program entries made on 2025 for IROFS INSPECTION RESULTS No issues were identified.
EXIT MEETINGS AND DEBRIEFS The inspectors verified that no proprietary information was retained or documented in this report.
On May 15, 2025, the inspectors presented the core inspection results to Matt Snider and other members of the licensee staff.
7 DOCUMENTS REVIEWED Inspection Procedure Type Designation Description or Title Revision or Date 88020 Corrective Action Documents Resulting from Inspection CN#12614 NRC concern with lack of failure criteria for Fire Safety IROFS Surveillances 05/14/2025 88020 Procedures ACD2-FO-003 Vehicle Control Within ACP Facilities Rev. 6 88020 Procedures ACD3-FO-002 Operability Determinations and IROFS System, Structure, and Component Tracking Rev. 3 88020 Procedures ACD4-OP-073 Nitrogen System Operations Rev. 12 88020 Procedures ACP2-EG-017 IROFS Surveillance Program Rev. 6 88020 Procedures ACP3-FO-004 Initial Operability of IROFS for HALEU Operation Rev. 0 88020 Procedures ACP3-ST-001 HALEU Nitrogen System IROFS Surveillance Testing Rev. 7 88020 Procedures ACP3-ST-003 HALEU Vent Monitor Plant Air Fail-Safe Isolation Valve Surveillance Testing Rev. 0