ML20217R076

Reg Guide 3.70, Use of Fixed Neutron Absorbers at Fuels & Matls Facilities

ML20217R076
Person / Time
Issue date:	08/31/1997
From:	NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REGULATORY RESEARCH (RES)
To:
References
TASK-*****, TASK-RE REGGD-03.070, REGGD-3.070, NUDOCS 9709040171
Download: ML20217R076 (4)

Text

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l rag U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION August 1997 O h*****

OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REGULATORY RESEARCH REGULATORY GUIDE l

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REGULATORY GUIDE 3.70 (Draft issued as DG-3011)

USE OF FIXED NEUTRON ABSORBERS AT FUELS AND MATERIALS FACILITIES l

A. INTRODUCTION was prepared by L bcommittee ANS-8, Fissionable I

in 10 CFR Part 70," Domestic Licensing of Special hiaterials Outside Reactors, of the American Nuclear Nuclear hiateiial," Section 70.22, " Contents of Ap-Socie:j Standards Committee. ANSI /ANS-8.21-1995 plications," requires that applications for a specific was approved by the American National Standards license to own, acquire, deliver, receive, possess, use, Committee N16, Nuclear Criticality Safety, and by the or initially transfer special nuclear material contain American National Standards Institute ( ANSI) in 1995.

proposed procedures to avoid criticality accidents. This ANSl/ANS-8.21-1995 provides guidance for regulatory guide provides guidance for complying with using fixed neutron absorbers as an integral part of op-this portion of the Commission's regulations by de-erations to prevent eriticality accidents in operations in-scribing procedures for preventing criticality accidents v lying handling, processing, storing, and transporting p by using fixed neutron absorbers in operations involv-5pecial nuclear materials at fuels and materials facili.

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ing handling, processing, storing, and transporting spe-ties. The design, safety evaluations, and verification cial nuclear material at fuels and materials facilities.

and inspection requirements for the use of fixed neutron absorbers for criticality safety control are specified in The information collections contained in this regu-the standard.

latory guide are covered by the requirement,s of 10 CFR Part 70, which were approved by the Office of hianage-The methods described in this guide were applied ment and Budget, approval number 3150-0009. The to a number of specific cases during reviews and NRC may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not selected licensing actions. These methods reflect the required to respond to, a collection of information un-latest general NRC approach to criticality safety in op.

less it displays a currently valid Oh1B control number, erations involving the use of fixed neutron absorbers at fuels and materials facilities.

B. DISCUSSION C. REGULATORY POSITION

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ANSI /ANS-8.21-1995, "Use of Fixed Neutron ANSI /ANS-8.21-1995, "Use of Fixed Neutron Absorbers in Nuclear Facilities Outside Reactors,"1 Absorbers in Nuclear Facilities Outside Reactors," pro- -

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vides procedures acceptable to the NRC staff for the use

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storing, and transporting special nuclear meterial at Section 6 of ANSl/ANS-8.21-1995 lists addition-fuels and materials f acilities to avoid criticality acci-al documents referred to in the standard. The specific dents. Use of ANSl/ANS-8.21-1995 however,is not a applicability and acceptability of three of these listed substitute for the licensee's preparation of and NitC's docuinents has been addressed in the latest version of approval of detailed nuclear criticality safety analyses the regulatory guides identified below, for specific operations.

Standard Regulatory Guide l

ANSI /ANS-8.1-1983 3.4 Nuclear Criticality Safety in Operations with Fissionable hiattrials at Fuels and hinterials Facilities ANSI /ANS-8.5-1986 3.1 Use of Borosilicate-Glass Raschig Itings as a Neutron Absorber l

in Solutions of Fissile hiaterial

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ANSI /ANS-8.17-1984 3.58 Criticality Safety for llandling, Storing, and Transporting LWR Fuel at Fuels and hiaterials Facilities D. Ih1Pl.Eh1ENTATION Except in those cases in which the applicant pro-poses an acceptable alternative method for complying with specified portions of the NRC's regulations, the The purpose of this section is to provide informa-methods in this guide will be used in the evaluation of tion to applicants and licensees regarding the NitC submittals in connection with license applications sub-staff's plans for using this regulatory guide.

mitted under 10 CFR Part 70.

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REGULATORY ANAIXSIS l []

This regulatory guide endorses ANSI /

fixed neutron absorbers, (2) more established methods

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ANS-8.21-1995,"Use of Fixed Neutron Absorbers in for specifying technical specifications, (3) guidance on Nuclear Facilities Outside Reactors." issuing this regu-design, evaluation, verification, and inspection of fixed latory guide is consistent with the NRC policy of evalu-neutron absorbers, and (4)less chance for unwananted ating the latest national consensus standards in terms of criticality accidents.

their suitability for endorsement by regulatory guide.

ANSI /ANS-8.21-1995, "Use of Fixed Neutron The methods described in this guide were applied to a Absorbers in Nuclear Facilities Outside Reactors," pro-number of specific cases during reviews and selected li' vides more specific guidance on establishing and using censing actions. These methods seflect the latest gener-fixed neutron absorbers, it does not provide any new al NRC approach to criticality safety in operations in-rnethodology for establishing the use of fixed neutron volving the use of fixed neutron absorbers at fuels and absorbers than is presently required in 10 CFR Part 70.

materials facilities.

Thus, the incremental cost should be negligible (or at The value to NRC operations and industry is that most marginal)if an applicant or licensee follows the there would be (1) a systematic method for specifying guidance in ANSI /ANS-8.21-1995 as opposed to not and reviewing technical specifications on allowable following this standard.

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