ML12121A556

Annual Statement of non-availability of Federal Government Funding for Conversion from HEU to Leu

ML12121A556
Person / Time
Site:	Vallecitos Nuclear Center
Issue date:	04/26/2012
From:	Don Krause GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas
To:	Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
DRK-2012-08
Download: ML12121A556 (2)

Text

GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy ITACHI Donald R. Krause Regulatory Compliance Program Manager Vallecitos Nuclear Center 6705 Vallecitos Rd Sunol, CA 94586 26 April 2012 USA T 925 862 4360 F 925 304-7435 Donald.Krause@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-2012-08

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

2) License R-33, Docket 50-73

Enclosure:

Letter from Frank Schwartz of DOE to Donald Krause, March 27, 2012 (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.

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

Sincerely Yours, Donald R. Krause

-- 2012.04.26 16:05:14

-07'00' Donald R. Krause Regulatory Compliance Program Manager Radiation Safety Officer Encl.

ec: Xiaosong Yin, NRC

~c~O

Enclosure Department of Energy

• Idaho Operations Office W7' 1955 Fremont Avenue Idaho Falls, ID 83401 "S

March 27, 2012 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-12-001)

REFERENCE:

GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy Letter, Donald R. Krause to Frank G. Schwartz,

Subject:

Funding HEU/LEU Fuel Conversion, dated March 19, 2012

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 Ietter 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 2012 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.

Frankc G Schwartz, Supervisor Fuel Cycl R&D Progrm Office of Nuclear Energy cc: Parrish A. Staples, NA-212 Christopher C. Landers, NA-212 Tracey L. Bishop, DOE-HQ, NE-32 Tansel Selekler, DOE-HQ, NE-32