ML17075A156

Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Non-Power Reactor Closeout of Generic Letter 2016-01, Monitoring of Neutron Absorbing Materials in Spent Fuel Pools, for Massachusetts Institute of Technology Reactor, Docket No.50-020 (CAC No. A1101

ML17075A156
Person / Time
Site:	MIT Nuclear Research Reactor
Issue date:	04/17/2017
From:	Alexander Adams NRC/NRR/DPR/PRLB
To:	Queirolo A Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Boyle P, NRR/DPR/PRLB, 301-415-3936
References
CAC A11010, GL-16-001
Download: ML17075A156 (3)

Text

April 17, 2017 Mr. Alberto Queirolo, Director of Reactor Operations Massachusetts Institute of Technology Nuclear Reactor Laboratory Research Reactor 138 Albany Street, MS NW12-116A Cambridge, MA 02139

SUBJECT:

MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY - NON-POWER REACTOR CLOSEOUT OF GENERIC LETTER 2016-01, MONITORING OF NEUTRON-ABSORBING MATERIALS IN SPENT FUEL POOLS, FOR THE MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY REACTOR, DOCKET NO.50-020 (CAC NO. A11010)

On April 7, 2016, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued Generic Letter (GL) 2016-01, Monitoring of Neutron-Absorbing Materials in Spent Fuel Pools (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML16097A169), to address the degradation of neutron-absorbing materials (NAM) in wet storage systems for reactor fuel at power and non-power reactors.

For the non-power reactors, GL 2016-01 requested that licensees provide facility-specific information related to the use of NAM. This information was needed by the NRC staff to verify continued compliance through licensee implementation of effective methods for monitoring of reactor fuel in wet storage so as to detect and mitigate any degradation or deformation of NAM when credited in the facility licensing or design basis for criticality control of fuel in wet storage.

Unique to three NRC-licensed research reactors is the use cadmium (Cd) plates as NAM in the facilitys wet fuel storage. On November 2, 2016, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology submitted a response to GL 2016-01 (ADAMS Accession No. ML16312A049). The NRC staff conducted a review of your response to GL 2016-01 and noted that your facility uses Cd metal as NAM.

The NRC staff development of GL 2016-01 did not assess or otherwise consider the use, degradation, or deformation of Cd NAM. After reviewing your response to GL 2016-01, the NRC staff reviewed the use of Cd plates in research reactor applications. The NRC staff determined that the use of Cd NAM is not known to exhibit the same or a similar susceptibility to the degradation or deformation described in GL 2016-01 for NAM utilizing variations of boron-

10. The NRC staffs conclusion is supported in part by nearly 60 years of operational experience. The degradation or deformation of Cd plate NAM has not been observed at any of the three research reactor facilities where Cd is used in wet fuel storage applications.

Furthermore, based upon the information reviewed, the NRC staff would not anticipate the onset of degradation or deformation given the physical and chemical properties of Cd and the environment in which the Cd NAM is used.

A. Queirolo Based upon the information you submitted in response to GL 2016-01 and the results of the NRC staff review, the NRC staff has determined that the submission addresses the information requested in GL 2016-01. No further information or action is requested regarding this matter.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Alexander Adams Jr., Chief Research and Test Reactors Licensing Branch Division of Policy and Rulemaking Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation cc: See next page

Massachusetts Institute of Technology Docket No.50-020 cc:

City Manager City Hall Cambridge, MA 02139 Department of Environmental Protection One Winter Street Boston, MA 02108 Mr. Jack Priest, Director Radiation Control Program Department of Public Health 529 Main Street Schrafft Center, Suite 1M2A Charlestown, MA 02129 Mr. John Giarrusso, Chief Planning and Preparedness Division Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency 400 Worcester Road Framingham, MA 01702-5399 Test, Research and Training Reactor Newsletter P.O. Box 118300 University of Florida Gainesville, FL 32611-8300 Ms. Sarah M. Don, Reactor Superintendent Massachusetts Institute of Technology Nuclear Reactor Laboratory Research Reactor 138 Albany Street, MS NW12-116B Cambridge, MA 02139

ML17075A156; *concurred via email OFFICE NRR/DPR/PRLB/PM* NRR/DPR/PRLB/LA* NRR/DPR/PGCB/BC* NRR/DPR/PRLB/BC NAME PBoyle NParker SStuchell AAdams DATE 4/11/17 4/7/17 4/11/17 4/17/17