ml12129a474 - general electric hitachi laser-baseduranium enrichment facility safety evaluation...

7/31/2019 ML12129A474 - General Electric Hitachi Laser-BasedUranium Enrichment Facility Safety Evaluation Report

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General Electric Hitachi Laser-Based

Uranium Enrichment Facility SafetyEvaluation Report

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Tim Johnson, NRC Licensing ProjectManager

Nick Baker, Project Manager

May 10, 2012


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Objectives

Provide Brief Summary of Safety Evaluation Report

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Discuss future project milestones

Answer public questions


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Project Background

GEH is proposing to enrich uranium using alaser-based process at its site in Wilmington,NC

Enriched uranium is needed for fuel for

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Environmental report submitted in January2009

License application submitted in June 2009

NRC safety and environmental reviewscompleted in February 2012


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Licensing Process

NRC is an independent agency responsible for

ensuring protection of public and worker health and

safety in the use of radioactive materials

NRC is not a promoter of this project

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Enrichment facility construction cannot begin until a

license for construction and operation is issued

A hearing is required for uranium enrichment

facilities


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NRC Review Process Utilized safety, environmental, and security

review staff as well as contractors

Followed a standard review plan, NUREG-

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of a License Application for a Fuel CycleFacililty


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NRC Review Process

Followed Environmental Review

Guidance for Licensing ActionsAssociated with NMSS Programs,

-

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Issued requests for additional

information and conducted conferencecalls and meetings


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NRC Review Process

GLE revised license applicationaccordingly

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NRC documented the review in theSafety Evaluation Report and Final

Environmental Impact Statement


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NRC Safety Evaluation Report (SER)

NRC conducted safety reviews in the followingareas:

General Information Organization and Administration

Integrated Safety Analysis

Radiation Protection

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Nuclear Criticality Safety Chemical Safety

Fire Safety

Environmental Protection

Decommissioning Management Measures


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NRC Safety Evaluation Report (SER)

Materials Control and Accounting

Physical Protection Transportation Security

Human Factors Engineering

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NRCs Safety Evaluation Report documentsthe results of the safety review of the above

areas


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General Information

General facility function and site information

Financial qualifications

Foreign ownership and control

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Liability insurance Classified information protection


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Organization and Administration

Organization and administration capable of

performing safety functions

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Management and staff will have proper

training and qualifications


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Integrated Safety Analysis (ISA)

Performed by GLE

ISA Summary reviewed by NRC staffduring safety review

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radiological and chemical risks from

potential accidents

Identifies measures to prevent ormitigate potential accidents


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ISA Process

Key elements:

Performance requirements Evaluation of potential accident

sequences and consequences

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Identification of Items Relied on for Safety(IROFS)

Management measures

Plant change process


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IROFS Must be in place for higher-risk accident

sequences

Prevent or mitigate the consequences of such

accidents

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, , ,

components, and personnel actions

Management measures in place to ensure

availability and reliability

GLE adequately provided information about

IROFS


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ISA Summary Review

NRC staff reviewed the GLE ISA

Summary and supporting documentation

Staff visited GLE site to review detailed

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ISA Summary

Sufficient information was provided about

the site, facility processes, hazards, andtypes of accident sequences


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ISA Summary Review Accident sequences addressing radiological,

chemical, criticality, and fires, as well as effectsof natural phenomena, were adequately

addressed

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GLE identified suitable IROFS and management

measures to ensure the IROFS would be

available and reliable to perform their functionswhen needed


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Radiation Protection

GLE has an adequate program for

protecting workers and members of thepublic from exposure to radiation

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, ,

and monitoring

Program ensures that worker and public

doses are a low as is reasonablyachievable


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Criticality Safety

Facility design includes active, passive, and

administrative features to prevent criticality GLE has an adequate program for protecting

a ainst criticalit

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Program includes qualified staff to develop,implement, and maintain the program and

procedures

Program meets regulatory requirements


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Chemical Safety GLE adequately described and assessed

chemical accident sequences andconsequences

GLE performed hazard analyses that identified

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and evaluated chemical processes and potentialaccidents

GLE established safety controls for potential

accidents that meet regulatory requirements


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Fire Safety GLE has a program in place that provides

reasonable assurance the facility isprotected against fire hazards

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and administrative controls to minimize

risk of fire and explosions

Program includes IROFS and defense-in-depth protection


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Emergency Management

GLE provided an adequate Emergency Plan

(EP) for the facility

GLE commits to maintaining and executing the

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hazards if they occur

EP requirements are implemented through

approved written procedures and in coordination

with local response organizations


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Environmental Protection

GLE has an adequate program for

protecting the environment Program includes environment and

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Program includes controls to maintain

effluent releases as low as is reasonably

achievable


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Decommissioning

GLE proposed an adequate decommissioning

funding plan (DFP) DFP provides a reasonable cost estimate for

decommissioning

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DFP addresses costs for decontaminating thefacility and for waste management, including the

dispositioning of depleted uranium tails

GLE is proposing to use a surety bond for itsfinancial assurance mechanism


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Management Measures

GLE provided adequate information about

measures that will be applied to theproject, including

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Maintenance program

Training program

Process for development, approval, andimplementation of procedures


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Security

GLE provided adequate programs for

Physical security of the facility

Protection of classified information

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material

Transportation of enriched materials


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Human Factors Engineering

GLE provided information on its technical

approach for considering human factors inthe plant design and operation

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The approach is integrated into the ISA

process to ensure that IROFS will be

available and reliable when needed


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Electrical and Instrumentation

and Controls

GLE provided information on the electrical

system and on instrumentation andcontrols

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to operate

GLE is not using digital instrumentation

and controls for its safety systems


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Final Environmental Impact

Statement

Jennifer Davis

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Future Project Milestones

Mandatory hearings July 2012

Licensing board decision August 2012 If board makes positive

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,

Construction begins 2014

Operations begin 2015

Full production 2018


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SER and FEIS Availability

SER is available at:

http://pbadupws.nrc.gov/docs/ML1206/ML12060A007.pdf

FEIS, Volumes 1 and 2, are available at:


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and


NRC has GLE project web site at:

http://www.nrc.gov/materials/fuel-cycle-fac/laser.html


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NRC Licensing Process

NRC Contacts:

Tim Johnson, Licensing Project Manager;

301-492-3121; [email protected]

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Jennifer Davis, Environmental Project

Manager; 301-415-3835;

[email protected]


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Summary

Provided Brief Summary of Safety Evaluation

Report

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Environmental Impact Statement

Discussed future project milestones

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