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3, May 28, 1999

Dr. D. Clark Gibbs, Regulatory Official jA pd[Office of Rad,ological, Nuclear and -

;

Process Safety Regulation 'U. S. Department of EnergyRichland Operations OfficeMail Stop A4-70P. O. Box 550Richland,WA 99352

SUBJECT: TRANSMITTAL OF POINT PAPER ON PROCESS 8AFETY AT A TANKWASTE FGMEDIATION SYSTEM-PRIVATIZED FACILITY

*Dear Dr. Gibbs:

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission TWRS staff members are generating " Point Papers" onsafety and regulatory issues associated with the proposed Tank Waste Remediation System-Privatized (TWRS-P) facilities at Hanford. Enclosed for ycur information and use is a copy of apoint paper entitled, " Process Safety of Proposed Tank Waste Remediation Systems(TWRS)." This paper analyzes a generic TWRS-P facility as well as the conceptual designapproaches proposed by the U. S. Department of Energy Contractors from the perspective ofchemical and process safety contributions to the potential risks. Information taken frompublically available documents was utilized in the analyses, which indicate that reasonableassurances of safety are achievable vis conservative application of safety systems, structures,and components. Several examples are presented for'a generic facility approach.

If there are any questions, please contact Alex Murray of my staff on (301) 415-7854 or me on(301)415-7192.

Sincerely,

Robert C. Pierson, ChiefSpecial Projects. BranchDivision of Fuel Cycle Safetyand Safeguards

Office of Nuclear Material Safetyand Safeguards Cl

Enclosure: As stated

$jDistribution:Docket 70-3091 Central File Public SPB r/f FCSS r/f ;.'

NMSS r/f MBaker LChang MSrinivasan (

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DATE 05/ 27/99 05/ 27/99 05/ 2.7 /99 05/ 2. T/99C = COVER E = COVER & ENCLOSURE N = NO COPY

OFFICIAL RECORD COPY ,<

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Dr. D. Clark Gibbs, Regulatory OfficialOffice of Radiological, Nuclear and

Process Safety RegulationsU. S. Des artment of Energy

Richland Operations Office |Mail Stop A4-70 I

P. O. Box 550 IRichland, WA 99352 |

l

SUBJECT: TRANSMITTAL OF POINT PAPER ON PROCESS SAFETY AT A TANKWASTE REMEDIATION SYSTEM-PRIVATIZED FACILITY

Dear Dr. Gibbs:

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission TWRS staff members are generating " Point Papers" onsafety and regulatory issues associated with the proposed Tank Waste Remediation System-Privatized (TWRS-P) facilities at Hanford. Enclosed for your information and use is a copy of apoint paper entitled, " Process Safety of Proposed Tank Waste Rernediation Systems(TWRS)." This paper analyzes a generic TWRS-P facility as well as the conceptual designapproaches proposed by theU. S. Department of Energy Contractors from the perspective of chemical and process safety

contributions to the potential risks using publically available documents, the Contractor designsat the end of Part A, and Part A contract maxima for radionuclide inventories. The analysesindicate adequate assurances of safety are achievable by a reasonably conservativeapplication of safety systems, structures, and components. Several examples are presentedfor a generic facility approach.

I

If there are any questions, please contact Alex Murray of my staff on (301) 415-7854 or me on(301) 415-7192.

Sincerely,'

Robert C. Pierson, Chief.Special Projects BranchDivision of Fuel Cycle Safetyand Safeguards

Office of Nuclear Material Safetyand Safeguards

Enclosure: As stated

Distribution:Docket 70-3091 Central File Public SPB r/f FCSS r/f

NMSS r/f MBaker LChang MSrinivasan

G:\SPBtGibbsLtr.wpd

OFC SPB b EPS h, h SPB SPB

AMuhl'' AMohe MTokar RPierson'

NAME

DATE 05/M /99 05/M /99 05/ /99 05/ /99

C = COVER E = COVER & ENCLOSURE N = NO COPYOFFICIAL RECORD COPY

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-|- j NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSIONt WASHINGTON, D.C. 20565 0001,

-. o** May 28, 1999-

Dr. D. Clark Gibbs, Regulatory OfficialOffice of Radiological, Nuclear and

Process Safety RegulationU. S. Department of EnergyRichland Operations OffeeMail Stop A4-70P. O. Box 550Richland, WA 99352

SUBJECT: TRANSMITTAL OF POINT PAPER ON PROCESS SAFETY AT A TANKWASTE REMEDIATION SYSTEM-PRIVATIZED FACILITY

|

Dear Dr. Gibbs:

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission TWRS staff members are generating " Point Papers" onsafety and regulatory issues associated with the proposed Tank Waste Remediation System-Privatized (TWRS-P) fac.ilities at Hanford. Enclosed for your information and use is a copy of apoint papet entitled, " Process Safety of Proposed Tank Waste Remediation Systems |(TWRS)." This paper analyzes a generic TWRS-P facility as well as the conceptual design j

approaches proposed by the U. S. Department of Energy Contractors from the perspective of !ichemical and process safety contributions to the potential risks.~ Information taken from

publically available documents was utilized in the analyses, which indicate that reasonableassurances of safety are achievable via conservative application of safety systems, structures,and components. Several examples are presented for a generic facility approach.

If there are any questions, please contact Alex Murray of my staff on (301) 415-7854 or me on'

.(301) 415-7192.'

Sincerely,

_ek ke

Robert C. Pierson,Special Projects BranchDivision of Fuel Cycle Safety

iand SafeguardsOffre of Nuctaar Material Safety

ano Safeguards

Enclosure: As stated |

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