ML18347B385

Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute - Acceptance of Requested Licensing Action Regarding License Amendment for Changing the Required Qualifications of Reactor Facility Director for the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute .

ML18347B385
Person / Time
Site:	Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute
Issue date:	12/14/2018
From:	Cindy Montgomery NRC/NRR/DLP/PLPB
To:	Gilstad J US Dept of Defense, Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute
Montgomery C, NRR/DLP, 415-3398
References
EPID L-2018-LLA-0286
Download: ML18347B385 (4)

Text

December 14, 2018 Captain John Gilstad, Director Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute National Naval Medical Center 8901 Wisconsin Avenue Bethesda, Maryland 20889-5603

SUBJECT:

ARMED FORCES RADIOBIOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE - ACCEPTANCE OF REQUESTED LICENSING ACTION REGARDING LICENSE AMENDMENT FOR CHANGING THE REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS OF REACTOR FACILITY DIRECTOR FOR THE ARMED FORCES RADIOBIOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE REACTOR FACILITY (EPID NO. L-2018-LLA-0286)

Dear Captain Gilstad:

By letter dated November 8, 2018 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System Accession No. ML18318A306), Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute (AFRRI) submitted a license amendment request (LAR) for the AFRRI reactor facility. AFRRI requested the amendment to revise its technical specifications to make two changes: (1) to allow it to change the qualifications of the reactor facility director, and (2) to change the frequency of reviews and audits of the Operator Requalification Program, Emergency Plan, and Physical Security Plan. AFRRI stated that the amendment is necessary to correct problems that resulted in the issuance of a Notice of Violation on July 5, 2018, as well as to ensure more safe and efficient reactor operation.

The purpose of this letter is to provide the results of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staffs acceptance review of this LAR. The NRC staff performed this acceptance review to determine if there is sufficient technical information in scope and depth to allow the NRC staff to complete its detailed technical review. The acceptance review is also intended to identify whether the application has any readily apparent information insufficiencies in its characterization of the regulatory requirements or the licensing basis of the facility.

Consistent with Section 50.90, Application for amendment of license, construction permit, or early site permit, of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), whenever a holder of a license desires to amend the license, an application for an amendment must be filed with the Commission, as specified in 10 CFR 50.4, Written communications, fully describing the changes desired, and following as far as applicable, the form prescribed for original applications. Section 50.34, Contents of applications; technical information, of 10 CFR addresses the content of technical information required. This section stipulates that the submittal address the design and operating characteristics, unusual or novel design features, and principal safety considerations.

The NRC staff has reviewed AFRRIs application and concluded that it does provide technical information in sufficient detail to enable the NRC staff to complete its detailed technical review

J. Gilstad and make an independent assessment regarding the acceptability of the proposed amendment in terms of regulatory requirements and the protection of public health and safety and the environment. Given the lesser scope and depth of the acceptance review as compared to the detailed technical review, there may be instances in which issues that impact the NRC staffs ability to complete the detailed technical review are identified despite completion of an adequate acceptance review. If additional information is needed, you will be advised by separate correspondence.

If you have any questions regarding this review, please contact me at 301-415-3398, or by electronic mail at Cindy.Montgomery@nrc.gov.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Cindy Montgomery, Project Manager Research and Test Reactors Licensing Branch Division of Licensing Projects Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-170 License No. R-84 cc: See next page

Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute Docket No. 50-170 cc:

Director, Maryland Office of Planning 301 West Preston Street Baltimore, MD 21201 Montgomery County Executive 101 Monroe Street, 2nd Floor Rockville, MD 20850 Environmental Program Manager III Radiological Health Program Air & Radiation Management Adm.

Maryland Department of the Environment 1800 Washington Blvd., Suite 750 Baltimore, MD 21230-1724 Director Air & Radiation Management Adm.

Maryland Department of the Environment 1800 Washington Blvd., Suite 710 Baltimore, MD 21230 Test, Research and Training Reactor Newsletter P.O. Box 118300 University of Florida Gainesville, FL 32611 Manager Nuclear Programs Maryland Department of Natural Resources Tawes B-3 Annapolis, MD 21401 Mr. Walter Dale Tomlinson Interim Reactor Facility Director Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute 4555 South Palmer Road, Building 42 Bethesda, MD 20889-5648

ML18347B385 *concurred via email OFFICE NRR/DLP/PRLB/PM* NRR/DLP/PRLB/LA* NRR/DLP/PRLB/BC NRR/DLP/PRLB/PM NAME CMontgomery NParker AAdams (WKennedy for) CMontgomery DATE 12/12/2018 12/13/2018 12/14/2018 12/14/2018