ML20081B124

Notifies Commission That Funds for Actual Conversion of Wsu Reactor from HEU to LEU Will Not Be Available During FY95

ML20081B124
Person / Time
Site:	Washington State University
Issue date:	03/09/1995
From:	Tripard G WASHINGTON STATE UNIV., PULLMAN, WA
To:	NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM)
References
NUDOCS 9503160048
Download: ML20081B124 (1)

Text

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{ Washington StateUniversity ,U Nuclear Radiahon Center - ' Puuman, WA 99164-1300 *

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509-335 8641-FAX 509-335 4433

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Thursday, March 9,1995 . t Document Control Desk j U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1 Washington,DC 20555 i Ref: Docket 50-27 -

Dear Sir:

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In accordance with the requirements of 10 CFR 50.64(C)(2), Washington State University hereby  !

                      - officially notifies the Commission that funds for the actual conversion of the WSU reactor fmm -                >

HEU to LEU will not be available during fiscal year 1995. However, Washington State ,

                     - University has received a grant (No. DE-FG02-92ER75748) fmm the DOE which provides                               !
                       $106,094.00 for the first year (August 16,1992 through August 14,1993) of a two year project to                  j accomplish the safety analysis phase of the conversion. We have partially completed the pmcess                   i of doing the neutronics calculations necessary to write the Safety Analysis Report for the low                   -

enriched uranium replacement fuel. The DOE has requested Washington State University to apply for several no fund extensions to the first year grant. Dr. Larry Barker of DOE assured us that the DOE plans to fund the second year of I our proposed study for the safety analysis report (SAR) when DOE funds become available. ' Harry Young at the DOE called me yesterday to inform us that DOE still does not have the funds j

                     . available to complete the SAR study or to make the conversion. Confirmation of this information
                      - is available from John Kotek at the DOE, telephone: (301) 903-3023.                                             1 i

I think that their are other serious problems, currently unresolved, associated with the conversion  ! of our reactor. The State ofIdaho is fighting the acceptance of more spent fuel. We are not sure the <ailable fuel shipping cask will handle the four-rod fuel clusters that we use. , Washington State University will notify the Commission should circumstances change and will submit the required certification letter for fiscal year 1996 by May 27,19% or the required conversion proposal. ' Sincerely.

                                   }uf1                                                                                                 t Gerald E.Tripard                                                                                                 i
                     . Director
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