ML020520684
| ML020520684 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 05000131 |
| Issue date: | 02/28/2002 |
| From: | Alexander Adams NRC/NRR/DRIP/RORP |
| To: | |
| Adams A, NRC/NRR/DRIP/RORP, 415-1127 | |
| References | |
| Download: ML020520684 (7) | |
Text
February 28, 2002 LICENSEE:
Department of Veterans Affairs, Nebraska - Western Iowa Health Care System (VA)
FACILITY:
Alan J. Blotcky Reactor Facility (AJBRF)
SUBJECT:
SUMMARY
OF MEETING BETWEEN VA AND NRC STAFFS On November 28, 2001, representatives of the NRC staff met at NRC Headquarters with representatives of the VA, the licensee for the AJBRF. Representatives of the licensees contractors also attended the meeting. Enclosed is a list of meeting attendees.
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss decommissioning of the AJBRF. Topics were the timetable for decommissioning, decommissioning planning activities, site characterization, and development of a decommissioning plan (DP).
The licensee stated that a decision had been made to decommission the AJBRF. The NRC would be formally informed of the decision in the near future. (Subsequent to the meeting, the licensee formally informed the NRC of the decision to shut down and decommission the AJBRF in a letter dated December 6, 2001).
What actions that the licensee could take without an approved DP were discussed. Some acceptable activities include general housekeeping such as disposal of loose items and characterization (as long as decommissioning was not needed to perform the characterization).
The most significant action to be taken prior to decommissioning is the removal of fuel from the site. The licensee was early in its planning for fuel shipment. The licensee had never shipped fuel before. Some of the tasks to be performed to ship fuel, such as development and approval of procedures for fuel movement, shipping cask loading and shipping, and quality assurance requirements for shipping, were discussed. The licensee should inform the Spent Fuel Project Office in the Office of Nuclear Materials Safety and Safeguards of their intentions to ship fuel.
The licensee discussed its plans to start a historical site assessment and characterization studies this spring. The licensee plans to submit their DP in the fall of 2002. The fact that some characterization studies (such as the radiological condition of the reactor pool and soil surrounding the pool) would have to occur after decommissioning activities were in progress was discussed. The licensee asked about the boundary of the reactor facility for decommissioning purposes. The staff believes that the boundary of the facility is clearly indicated in the AJBRF Safety Analysis Report. The licensee asked about decommissioning financial assurance. The licensee has met the decommissioning financial assurance regulations with a statement of intent because the licensee is part of the Federal government.
An updated decommissioning cost estimate should be included in the licensees DP.
Contact:
301-415-1127 The important of close communication between the NRC and licensee staffs was stressed. The licensee stated that they would provide a communication plan to the NRC (this was included with the licensees letter of December 6, 2001).
/RA/
Alexander Adams, Jr., Senior Project Manager Research and Test Reactors Section Operating Reactor Improvements Program Division of Regulatory Improvement Programs Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-131
Enclosure:
List of Meeting Attendees cc w/enclosure: Please see next page
Veterans Administration Docket No. 50-131 Medical Center cc:
Mr. Gary N. Nugent, Chief Executive Officer Veterans Affairs Medical Center 4101 Woolworth Avenue Omaha, NE 68105 Mayor City of Omaha Omaha, NE 68102 Mr. John P. Claassen Reactor Manager/Supervisor Omaha Veterans Administration Medical Center 4101 Woolworth Avenue Omaha, NE 68105 Test, Research, and Training Reactor Newsletter University of Florida 202 Nuclear Sciences Center Gainesville, FL 32611 Julia Schmitt, Program Manager Department of Health and Human Services P.O. Box 95007 Lincoln, NE 68509-5007 M. Brenda Hebert (12C1)
Department of Veterans Affairs 810 Vermont Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20420
LIST OF MEETING ATTENDEES MEETING BETWEEN THE NRC STAFF AND VETERANS ADMINISTRATION November 28, 2001 NAME TITLE PHONE ORGANIZATION Alexander Adams NRC PM 301-415-1127 NRC John P. Claassen Reactor Manager,VA 402-346-8800 X3002 VA M. Brenda Hebert Management Analyst 202-273-8257 VA Tom Combs NRC/OCA 301-415-1698 NRC Lorenzo Downing Consultant 703-918-3137 PWC David Sancic Consultant 973-615-2347 PWC Doug Dembling VA Congressional Affairs 202-273-5615 VA Len Sistek Staff Dir. OI 202-225-9756 HVAC Lynell Klassen, MD ACOS/Research 402-346-8800 X3540 VAMC John Bradley CFO 202-273-8226 VA Donald R. Neely Consultant 480-802-8448 Price Waterhbouse Patrick M. Madden Section Chief 301-415-1188 NRR Yutaka Miyawaki NRC Foreign Assignee
Enclosure February 28, 2002 The important of close communication between the NRC and licensee staffs was stressed. The licensee stated that they would provide a communication plan to the NRC (this was included with the licensees letter of December 6, 2001).
/RA/
Alexander Adams, Jr., Senior Project Manager Research and Test Reactors Section Operating Reactor Improvements Program Division of Regulatory Improvement Programs Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-131
Enclosure:
List of Meeting Attendees cc w/enclosure: Please see next page DISTRIBUTION:
PUBLIC RORP r/f FGillespie TDragoun MMendonca AAdams PMadden WBeckner OGC EHylton SHolmes CBassett DMatthews WEresian PIsaac PDoyle GHill (2)
ACCESSION NO.: ML020520684 TEMPLATE #: NRC-001 OFFICE RORP:LA RORP:PM RORP:SC NAME LBerry:rdr AAdams PMadden DATE 02/ 22 /2002 02/ 28 /2002 02/ 28 /2002 C = COVER E = COVER AND ENCLOSURE N = NO COPY OFFICIAL RECORD COPY