ML16321A404

Washington State University Response to Generic Letter 2016-01: Monitoring of Neutron-Absorbing Materials in Spent Fuel Pools

ML16321A404
Person / Time
Site:	Washington State University
Issue date:	11/07/2016
From:	Wall D Washington State Univ
To:	Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
GL-16-001
Download: ML16321A404 (2)

Text

.J WASHINGTON STATE ra lJNIVERSITY November 7, 2016 Re: Response to NRC Generic Letter 2016-01 Document Control Desk U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C 20555-0001 Nuclear Radiation Center This letter is submitted by Washington State University (Facility License Number R-76) in response to NRC Generic Letter 2016-01:

Monitoring of Neutron-Absorbing Materials in Spent Fuel Pools. The referenced letter requests that non-power reactor licensees provide information in response to the following questions:

(1): * :Are.

used.

pop!,

pool, or other wet >::*.,' locations;designed for the 'storage.of reactor or.spent fuel?

.. ; '

',. ' \ .*. r. ' .,. ..

• 1;:.. * ,,., , :-,.-* ***1**.1,.:**

• ** *:*.*

• • ,:. (2): .. * ".. !f in.' the iicensir1g a*r-design : ' bas.is (i.e., criticality safety analysis) storage ofreacfor fuel or spe'nt fuei' in a reactor pool, fuel storage pool, or ottie'r wet; locations,'

' '* (3) *If neutron-absorbing materials

• are credi.ted in the facility' licensing or design basis for the storage of reactor or spent fuel in a reactor, pool, fuel storage pool, or other wet . locations, as applicable, then provide a description of, and technical basis for, any surveillance or monitoring programs used to confirm continued acceptable performance oft.he neutrnn-absorbing materials over time. Washington State University's Response Question (1) :. , .... Used reactor fuel is held in fuel storage racks which are in a section of the reactor pool which has been des;ignated.as a storage area.

storage racks sit at approximately 9 -12 feetfromthe reactor .. There are no neutro.n-absorbfng

'materials.

used in the reactor pool . . , ... r .. * : * . 'i * '*, . * -. :fuel storage area.

racks is sufficient to mafntain an adequate margin of safety to protect against c.riticality in the s'torage

• criticaiitf anaiysis is

• documented in Appendix B of.th.e yY?U was submitted to the U.S. i,O :NRC in 2008. please refer t.o /\DAMS reference

. fa() ,, * ,

... , '*'. . : , !lftJS .' ' :: ,_.. 5,09.-335-8641

• Fax: 509-335-4433

• . . . " ' '* : .' :, f" JJ fl{(...

Questions 2 and 3 are not applicable as Washington State University does not use absorbing materials as part of fuel storage.

I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.

Executed on 7 November, 2016 Donald Wall, Ph.D. Director