ML11133A290

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Annual Statement of Non-Availability of Federal Government Funding for Conversion from HEU to Leu for Ntr
ML11133A290
Person / Time
Site: Vallecitos Nuclear Center
Issue date: 05/10/2011
From: Don Krause
GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas
To:
Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
Download: ML11133A290 (2)


Text

GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy HITACHI Donald R. Krouse Manager, Regulatory Compliance and EHS Vallecitos Nuclear Center 6705 Vallecitos Rd Sunol, CA 94586 USA 10 May 2011 T925 862 4360 F 925 304-7435 DonaldKrause@ge.com Director of the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission One White Flint North 11555 Rockville Pike Rockville, MD 20852-2738 Attn: Document Control Desk Ltr. No. DRK-2011-21

Subject:

Annual Statement Of Non-Availability Of Federal Government Funding For Conversion From HEU To LEU For NTR, License R-33, Docket 50-73

Reference:

1) 10 CFR 50.64 Limitations on the use of highly enriched uranium (HEU) in domestic non-power reactors 21 License R-33, Docket 50-73

Enclosure:

Letter from Frank Schwartz of DOE to Donald Krause, April 26th, 2011 (PS-FCRDP 001, Vallecitos Notification Letter)

GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas, LLC., (GEH) operates the Nuclear Test Reactor (NTR) at the Vallecitos Nuclear Center in Sunol, California under the provisions of License No. R-33 issued by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The NTR operates utilizing fully enriched U-Al alloy fuel at a maximum power of 100 kW.

In accordance with 10 CFR 50.64 (Ref 1), GE Vallecitos Nuclear Center is submitting the enclosed letter to demonstrate that funding is not currently available for conversion of the fuel for the Nuclear Test Reactor, License R-33, Docket 50-73.

If you have any questions, please contact me at 925-862-4360.

Sincerely Yours, Digitally signed by Donald R.

SK rause Date: 2011.05.10 10:13:45

-07'00' Donald R. Krause Manager, Regulatory Compliance & EHS, Radiation Safety Officer Encl ec: William Kennedy, NRC GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy

Department of Energy Idaho Operations Office 1955 Fremont Avenue Idaho Falls, ID 83401 April 26, 2011 Mr. Donald R. Krause Manager, Regulatory Compliance & EHS GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy Vallecitos Nuclear Center 6705 Vallecitos Road Sunol, CA 94586

SUBJECT:

Notification that No Federal Funding is Available to Support the Nuclear Test Reactor at the Vallecitos Nuclear Center in Converting from Highly-Enriched Uranium Fuel to Low-Enriched Uranium (PS-FCRDP- 11-001)

REFERENCE:

GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy Letter, Donald R. Krause to James R. Wade,

Subject:

Funding HEU/LEU Fuel Conversion, dated March 28, 2011

Dear Mr. Krause:

The Nuclear Test Reactor (NTR) at the Vallecitos Nuclear Center applied for a unique purpose exemption as defined in 10 CFR Part 50.2. This application is still under review by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). In accordance with 10 CFR Part 50.64, Limitations on the Use of Highly Enriched Uranium in Domestic Non-Power Reactors, NTR is required to send a letter annually to the NRC documenting if Federal funds are available to convert to low-enriched uranium (LEU) fuel.

In accordance with 10 CFR Part 50.64, you are hereby notified that Department of Energy funding will not be available in FY 2011 for your conversion to LEU fuel. In addition, NTR's current compact core cannot be converted to LEU fuel with any of the currently approved fuel loading densities.

You will be notified in the event these circumstances change. If you have any questions, please contact me at (208) 526-6390.

Sincerely, Frank G. Schwartz, S Fuel Cycle R&D Programs Office of Nuclear Energy cc: Parrish A. Staples, NA-212 Christopher C. Landers, NA-212 Tracey L. Bishop, DOE-HQ, NE-32