ML17177A189
| ML17177A189 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | MIT Nuclear Research Reactor |
| Issue date: | 07/05/2017 |
| From: | Patrick Boyle NRC/NRR/DPR/PRLB |
| To: | Queirolo A Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) |
| Boyle P | |
| References | |
| TAC MF5003 | |
| Download: ML17177A189 (7) | |
Text
July 5, 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 - REGULATORY AUDIT FOR NUCLEAR SAFETY SYSTEM UPGRADE LICENSE AMENDMENT REQUEST (TAC NO. MF5003)
Dear Mr. Queirolo:
By letter dated September 30, 2014, as supplemented by letter dated May 12, 2016 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System Accession Nos. ML14282A039 and ML16139A786, respectively), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT, the licensee) submitted an application to amend the MIT license (application) as part of the upgrade of the Nuclear Safety System (NSS) for the MIT Reactor (MITR).
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff will conduct an onsite regulatory audit to review the MITR NSS upgrade application on July 24-26, 2017. The intent of the audit is to gain understanding of your application and status of your facility. In addition, the regulatory audit will identify information that will be required to be docketed in order to support the basis of the licensing decision and will allow the NRC staff to more efficiently gain insights on the MITR NSS custom built components. The NRC staff has provided a copy of the audit plan as an enclosure to this letter.
At the completion of the regulatory audit, a regulatory audit summary will be prepared and provided to MIT. MIT will have the opportunity to supplement the application to provide additional information or the option to withdraw the application.
We appreciate your support in providing space, the requested documentation and access to the necessary personnel and other materials that will assist in an efficiently conducted audit.
Should you have any questions on this matter, please contact me at 301-415-3936 or by e-mail at Patrick.Boyle@nrc.gov.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Patrick G. Boyle, Project Manager Research and Test Reactors Licensing Branch Division of Policy and Rulemaking Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-83
Enclosure:
As stated cc: w/enclosure: See next page
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Docket No. 50-83 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
ML17177A189; *concurred via e-mail NRR-106 OFFICE NRR/PRLB/PM*
NRR/PRLB/LA*
NRR/PRLB/BC NRR/PRLB/PM NAME PBoyle NParker AAdams PBoyle DATE 06/28/2017 6/28/2017 06/28/2017 07/05/2017
Enclosure NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION INSTRUMENTATION AND CONTROL BRANCH REGULATORY AUDIT PLAN FOR MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY NUCLEAR SAFETY SYSTEM REPLACEMENT JULY 24-26, 2017, CAMBRIDGE, MA
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Background===
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff is currently engaged in a review of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT, the licensee) request to upgrade the reactor's Nuclear Safety System (NSS), portion of the Reactor Protection System. By letter dated September 30, 2014, as supplemented by letter dated May 12, 2016 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession Nos. ML14282A039 and ML16139A786, respectively), MIT submitted this request. The proposed upgrade of the NSS will replace the current six channels (three for reactor period and three for reactor power level, any one of which will trip the reactor). This regulatory audit is intended to assist NRC staff in confirming information submitted as part of the licensing amendment request.
Regulatory Audit Bases The purpose of this audit is to determine if the development processes used, and the outputs of those processes have resulted in NSS components for use at MIT reactor (MITR) that will meet applicable regulatory requirements, and address applicable criteria in Section 7.4, Reactor Protection System, of draft NUREG-1537 Part 2. This audit will provide information necessary to complete the NRC staffs evaluation of the proposed NSS. In addition, the regulatory audit will identify information that will be required to be docketed in order to support the basis of the licensing decision and will allow NRC staff to more efficiently gain insights on the software development programs and processes.
To support this audit, NRC staff will visit MIT facility in Cambridge, MA.
Regulatory Audit Scope As part of the audit, the NRC staff will review non-docketed procedures and records related to the design and development processes followed by MIT to develop its NSS components, as well as interview key MIT personnel. The NRC staff will be evaluating whether the results of these actions substantiate that processes described in the license amendment are being followed.
Information Necessary for the Regulatory Audit MIT should be prepared to have the following information and personnel available to discuss:
NSS components developed by MIT - discuss the design and/or modifications made by MIT to the NSS components (e.g., signal distribution module, scram logic cards, etc.)
MIT development process - in order to gain an overview of the NSS logic and hardware development processes, NRC staff would like to review documentation from functional requirements through testing.
NSS Software Quality - for this section of the audit, NRC staff will review the quality assurance process used during the NSS development process.
Secure Development Environment - for this section of the audit, NRC staff will conduct interviews with personnel and observations of the development environment.
Cyber Security - NRC contractor will review information necessary for addressing system and services controls as set forth in the licensees NRC-approved Cyber Security Plan.
NRC staff will use the open items list (ADAMS Accession No. ML17170A271) during the audit to discuss and close relevant items identified for discussion during the audit.
Team Assignments / Resource Estimates The NRC staff performing this audit will be:
Rossnyev Alvarado (Audit Leader)
Duane Hardesty (Technical Reviewer)
Norbert Carte (Technical Reviewer)
Michael Waters (Training) {tentative}
NRC Cybersecurity Contractor (Technical Reviewer)
Michael Muhlheim (Observer, Oak Ridge National Laboratory)
Logistics The audit will take place at MIT. The audit will start on the afternoon of July 24, 2017 (Monday) and conclude at noon on July 26, 2017 (Wednesday).
Deliverables At the completion of the regulatory audit, NRC staff will prepare a regulatory audit report, which will be issued 30 days after the audit.
Audit Schedule Monday, July 24, 2017 1:00 PM Arrive at MIT 1:30 PM Entrance meeting, introductions, and project status 2:30 PM Audit 5:00 PM End for the day Tuesday, July 25, 2017 8:00 AM Meeting between staff and MIT to discuss logistics for the day 8:15 AM Resume Audit 12:00 PM Break for lunch 1:00 PM Resume Audit 5:00 PM End for the day Wednesday, July 26, 2017 8:00 AM Resume Audit 11:30 AM Internal NRC Staff Meeting 12:00 PM Exit Meeting - Summary of audit, general overview of observations, and discussion of open items 12:30 PM Conclude Audit