ML20024D955
| ML20024D955 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Clinch River |
| Issue date: | 05/09/1983 |
| From: | Brewer S ENERGY, DEPT. OF |
| To: | Palladino N NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20024D953 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8308080591 | |
| Download: ML20024D955 (2) | |
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Department of Energy Washington, D.C. 20585
- AY 9 1983 Honorable Nunzio J. Palladino Chairman U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C.
20555
Dear Mr. Chairman:
One of the important objectives of the U.S. Liquid Metal Fast Breeder Reactor (LMFBR) program is the demonstration of licensability.
Through the years, the Department of Energy (00E) has conducted a program to design, construct, and operate LMFBR plants in increasingly larger sizes.
An important element on each of these projects has been the discussion of safety and licensing criteria with the technical staff of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
In looking to the future, I believe that availability of staff to provide continued dialogue with DOE's LMFBR program and U.S. industry is essential.
The purpose of this letter is to provide an estimate of the LMFBR safety and licensing review needs over the next several years.
A key element in DOE's overall LMFBR strategy is the completion of the Clinch River Breeder Reactor Plant (CRBRP) project.
With the construction permit process proceeding well, the next step for the CRBRP project is the operating license proceeding.
Due to the advanced stagc of the CRBRP design, preparation of portions of the Final Safety Analysis Report (FSAR) will begin in 1984. We plan to complete, by the end of 1983, a schedule for FSAR section preparation.
Currently, it is anticipated that final portions of the FSAR will be completed and subraitted in early 1987.
During this period, it is also desirable from our point of view to have NRC review staff available for discussion of selected technical issues as they arise.
In addition, DOE, the utilities, and U.S. industry are working to develop a strong design and licensing base upon which a near-commercial prototype LMFBR could be built.
This involves generic safety criteria work by DOE, a specific project-oriented effort by the Consolidated Management Office, which represents utilities in a cooperative Electric Power Research Institute /D0E program, and proprietary work by the individual vendors.
All of these efforts recognize the need to begin working with NRC on licensing criteria in the near future.
I anticipate that one or more efforts will be initiated in early Fiscal Year (FY) 1984 to begin serious discussions of near-commercial prototype licensing criteria.
If plans for a near-commercial prototype proceed satisfactorily, a formal licensing submittal could be made by early FY 1985.
Finally, the overall LMFBR program would benefit from the preparation of regulatory guides and standard review plans for commercial breeder reactor 8308080591 830720 PDR ADOCK 05000537 A
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plants.. Preparation of these documents seems to be the logical follow-on to the review of the licensing criteria and design for a near-commercial scale breeder reactor plant.
I hope that this information is of assistance to you in planning future resource needs for your LMFBR technical review staff.
I would again like to express the importance of the maintenance of a strong LMFBR review capability at NRC to the overall DOE effort for developing the LMFBR.
Sincerely, Shelby T. Brewer Assistant Secretary 4
for Nuclear Energy l
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