ML20031F402
| ML20031F402 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Clinch River |
| Issue date: | 09/24/1981 |
| From: | Palladino N NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Kristin Davis ENERGY, DEPT. OF |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8110190760 | |
| Download: ML20031F402 (1) | |
Text
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UNITED STATES g
E NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION o
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 g
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CHAIRMAN
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1 SEP3 01981* 5 The Honorable W. Kenneth Davis EU, Deputy Secretary 4
U.S. Department of Energy
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Washington, DC 20585
Dear Mr. Davis:
The NRC has recently taken several steps in connection with the anticipated resumption of the review of the Clinch River Breeder Reactor plant, We believe that these steps are responsive to the points raised in your August 13, 1981 letter.
We have assessed the resources needed to complete the construction pennit review by the sunener of 1984, a date whicA we understand is consistent with your overall schedule. We are submitting a supplemental budget request for FY 1982 which, together with our FY 1983 request, is intended to provide the needed resources.
As you forecast in your letter, we, too, are concerned with the lack of a knowledgeable, experienced ::taff. We are exploring several variations of management for our review. We expect it will be most useful to secure DOE laboratory assistance both in the fonn of contract work and personnel -- consistent, of course, with the avoidance of any conflicts which could prejudice the independence of the NRC reviews. When we have l
a better estimate of our needs, we may need your direct assistance to l
facilitate arrangements.
We have established a project office to manage the Agency's review of license applications. The Project Manager is Mr. Paul Check. Mr. Check l
will have a dedicated staff and will report directly to Mr. Harold Denton, Director of the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation. To assure top level management attention to this project I have directed Mr. William J.
Dircks, the Agency's Executive Director for Operations, to track progress on the project and to report periodically on that program to the Commission.
Mr. Check has already started his review of the project and is in the l
process of establishing a list of issues that will be used in the license review. He will be in contact with your project office to arrange a meeting on these issues as soon as your department formally requests the resumption of the licensing proceeding.
Sincerely,
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Nunzio J. Palladino l $U MM ofi&TL PDR l
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'k THE SECRETARY OF ENERGY 7' [
3 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20585 Wl t T%
August 13, 1981 n
Dr. J. N. Palladino U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Comission Washington, D.C.
20555
Dear Dr. Palladino:
The Clinch River Breeder Reactor Plant (CRBRP) project is a key step in the dwelopment of the Liquid Metal Fast Breeder Reactor (LMFBR) and is a vital element in fulfilling the Department of Energy's nuclear mission. The extremely high priority attached to this project by the Administration was recently confirmed and endorsed by the Congress in the Omnibus Reconciliation Act. Congress has stated its intent that the CRBRP should be constnJcted in a timely and expeditious mariner as set forth in the existing project arrange-ments.
In light of this clear mandate to proceed, I am focusing on what is needed to accelerate the first major project milestone, namely commencing site preparation.
An essential step in proceeding with CRBRP is to reestablish interaction
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between the Project Office and the NRC staff on the review of project safety documentation.
The Project Office is prepared to respond to all the safety issues summarized by NRL in a letter dated November 9,1978.
If NRC requires additional information or wishes to ide.1tify further residual issues, it is crucial for us to know at the earliest possible date.
I know that forming a knowledgeable, experienced staff will be a challenge in light of the urgent priority of licensing light water reactors.
If there is anything we can do to help in that regard please do not he:.itate to ask. We stand ready to provide extensive briefings for NRC staff and to loan e:, pert laboratory personr.e1.
I hope you can designate an NRC representative as soon as possible who can interact with the Department of Energy to plan for an efficient safety riview of the project.
l Thank you very much for your attention to this matter.
We can work together i
responding to the Administration and Co.1gressional mandate to complete con-struction of the Clinch River Reactor. '
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l Sincerely,
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W. Kenneth Davis s
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