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-- __--------- —--_- __ _ ____- _ __ _ - _ _ .__----___ / �' r . . . �.� �/ (.g 6 1 seeks to estimate the probability and nature of accidents "beyond the design basis." It is not accurate 2 to say that these kinds of events are not credibie. That is an outdated concept. Because it is not 3 possible to require all plants to be retrofitted for"Beyond the Design" accident possibilities, a 4 compromise has been reached. The second question that was asked was "how old does spent fuel � 5 have to be after discharge from the reactor before it can be safely placed in a pool that will be drained 6 of water. The Brookhaven laboratories have concluded that after 17 months fuel rods will not burn in 7 the event of complete water loss; however, the analysis does not consider the question of partial 8 water loss although that was identified in 1979 as a more severe case. That issue has not been 9 addressed properly. 10 11 Chair Gordon asked about the more dense nature of the racking. She asked about the buffering 12 between the assemblies. She also asked about the 9 inches in the fuel pool vs. the 8.5 in,ches in the 13 reactor. 14 15 Dr. Thompson stated that with 20-inch spacing an open style rack could be used. If it is compacted 16 further to increase capacity, then criticality becomes a concern and neutron-absorbing materials must 17 be placed between the fuel assemblies. The neutron absorbing materials creates the possibility of a 18 �re hazard; the open style rack would not create a fire hazard in the event of water loss because air 19 circulation would occur. The further compactions from 10 '/Z inches to 9 inches creates a further 20 problem, namely, a potential for criticality if fuel outside the intended boundary of enrichment and 21 burn-up is placed in pool C. A licensing board should address the probability of that event. 22 23 Commissioner Jacobs asked if the compaction of the spent rods was a function of improved 24 technology or reduced storage capacity. 25 26 Dr. Thompson stated that historically the compaction has been because of reduced storage capacity 27 because there is no place to put the fuel. The licensing hearings that have permitted re-racking have � 28 done so because it has been the judgement of the licensing boards that this was an acceptable risk. �/ 29 Dr. Thompson said that there are site specific issues, which need to be addressed, as well as the � 30 partial water drainage question. 31 � 32 Commissioner Halkiotis asked if it was standard procedure that a nuclear utility has refused to 33 cooperate by sharing information or allowing access to facilities and documents. 34 35 Dr. Thompson stated that the licensee has no legal obligation to permit people to visit its facility or to 36 provide any other assistance. There is documentation in the public domain at public document rooms 37 in Washington and around each site. When he was first contracted by Orange County he was lead to 3"8 believe that CP&L was being highly cooperative. However, in fact, CP&L was not cooperative with its 39 documents. 40 41 Citizen Question: Does the NRC consider transportation as a factor in "No Significant Hazard" 42 determinations? 43 44 Dr. Thompson stated that he did not know if that was a factor in the staff's preliminary determination in 45 this case. He also stated that the issue of pool fires has been used as a basis for prior intervention, 46 although he has not followed all of these cases. He mentioned that as a result of his testimony in 47 1979 in Germany the compact pool storage option was denied and cast storage was required. He 48 has been involved in pool issues finrice since that time; however, his testimony was not admitted. 49 50 Commissioner Brown asked CP&L how the fuel rods would be brought to this area. She also asked - 51 what other strategies exist for keeping these rods indefinitely at the other facilities. j 52 �_ 53 Jim Scarola stated that there has been an extensive licensing process involved in moving fuel to this 54 facility. The process is by rail at the current time. They are shipped dry, in casts that are designed for