RW Monitor
7/11/2014
ON THE INTERNATIONAL FRONT
Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) had to stop the cooling of a spent fuel pool in Unit 5 at the Fukushima Daiichi power station after a seawater leak was discovered in a pipe, the company announced this week. The leak has since been repaired partially, with some work still to be done. “After investigation on July 6, the company found seawater leaking from a hole approximately 3mm in diameter, on a valve that is used to control amount of water flow,” TEPCO said in a release. “The leak was stopped after the suspension of the system, and the hole was immediately repaired inserting a hardener. The company said it is planning to restart the SW cooling system after further repair is done.” Unit 5 achieved safe shutdown during the disaster at the site enabling the fuel inside to remain undamaged. The spent fuel pool will be maintained through the use of the Residual Heat Removal (RHR) System, which is normally used to cool the reactor, TEPCO said.
IN NRC
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has extended the deadline to submit public comments for the Low-Level Radioactive Waste Program’s Strategic Assessment. The NRC is soliciting public comment on its Strategic Assessment to address developments in the national program for LLRW disposal as well as changes in the regulatory environment since it originally formed its assessment, according to a notice this week. The original 2007 Strategic Assessment included 20 activities with various priority levels that would respond to changes in the regulatory environment, including updating guidance for LLRW storage, and evaluating the disposal of depleted uranium and the measures needed to ensure its safe disposal. The deadline had originally been scheduled for July 14, but it has been extended until Sept. 15, in order to “allow more time for members of the public to develop and submit their comments,” the NRC said.
IN THE INDUSTRY
The National Nuclear Security Administration recognized two companies this week for their efforts to eliminate the use of highly enriched uranium in the production of medical isotopes. The NNSA recognized United Pharmacy Partners, LLC., (UPPI) and Lantheus Medical Imaging, Inc., (LMI) for their efforts to increase the use of non-HEU-based molybdenum-99. “Increasing the distribution and use of non-HEU-based Mo-99 is a significant milestone for public health and a critical step toward ending the use of weapons-useable HEU in medical isotope production around the globe,” NNSA Deputy Administrator for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation Anne Harrington said in a statement. “NNSA’s efforts, and those of our partners, not only support global nuclear nonproliferation objectives, but are critical to ensuring a reliable global supply of Mo-99.”
The team consisting of B&W, Battelle, and the U.K. firm Cavendish Nuclear looking to bid on the new contract to manage Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd.’s Chalk River laboratories will be known as Innovation Canada Alliance, the team announced at a small event in Pembroke, Ontario last week. The Canadian government’s procurement for a contract to manage Atomic Energy of Canada Limited’s nuclear laboratories is still in the Request for Response Evaluation phase. Companies have until Aug. 6 to respond to the RFRE. The scope of work for the new contract will include all AECL-owned sites, including the Chalk River Laboratories, the Whiteshell Laboratories, the three prototype reactor sites and the Laprade heavy water storage site. The winning contractors would operate the site in the Government-owned Contractor-operated (GoCo) model.
