ML20101H496

Submits Proposal Describing Current Efforts Re Converting or State Univ Triga Reactor from HEU Fuel to LEU Fuel

ML20101H496
Person / Time
Site:	Oregon State University
Issue date:	03/25/1996
From:	Dodd B Oregon State University, CORVALLIS, OR
To:	NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM)
References
NUDOCS 9603290298
Download: ML20101H496 (3)

Text

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RADIATION CENTER Onecos Smc Univrasily 100 Radiation Center. Corvallis, oregon 973313903 Telephone 541737-2341 F4x 541-737-0480 March 25,1996 U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Document Control Desk Washington, D. C. 20555

Reference:

Oregon State University TRIGA Reactor (OSTR)

Docket No. 50-243, License No. R-106 USNRC Regulation 10 CFR 50.64(c)(2)

Subject:

Proposal submitted in response to the Commission's regulations requiring conversion of the OSTR from high enriched uranium (HEU) fuel to low enriched uranium (LEU) fuel.

Gentlemen:

In accordance with the Commission's regulation contained in 10 CFR 50.64(c)(2), Oregon State University (OSU) hereby submits a proposal describing our current efforts relative to converting the OSTR from HEU fuel to LEU fuel. As described in previous correspondence, OSU received funding for the preparation of an application for authorization to convert to LEU starting on June 15,1992. The original contract was funded until December 14, 1993, but this was latet extended through June 14,1994.

As a direct result of our analysis, a number of difficulties were discovered with respect to the suitability of the potential replacement fuel. After several discussions with the fuel manufacturer, the USNRC and the USDOE a solution to the tecimical and regulatory difficultics was found. Therefore, on May 6,1994, OSU submitted a proposal to the USDOE for funding to continue the work towards the preparation of the safety analysis for conversion of the OSTR to LEU. No official response to this proposal was ever received. However, etch year since then we have been informed that there is insufficient funding to continue the effort towards refueling our TRIGA reactor. (See attached letter for this year's notification.)

In conclusion, the status of the conversion effort of the OSTR is that the analytical work is more than half completed, but that all progress has currently ceased due to the unavailability of funding. Therefore, it is our proposal to take no further action regarding the OSTR fuel conversion at this time.

290017 9603290298 960325 3 DR ADOCK 0500 i

. l U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Page 2 March 25,1996 If there are questions regarding our current activities under the Commission's regulations in 10 CFR 50.64, please let me know.

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ours sinc rely,  ;

j' JP l Brian Dodd, Ph.D.

Director >

dd/nrc/heu-leuJet  !

Attachment cc: Al Adams, Senior Project Manager, Non-Power Reactors and Decommissioning Projects

. Directorate, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, M.S. 0-11-B-20, Washington, D.C. ,

20555  !

Regional Administrator, USNRC, Region IV, 611 Ryan Plaza Drive, Suite 400, Arlington, TX 76011-8064 Isamu Aoki, U.S. Department of Energy, Idaho Operations Office,785 DOE Place MS 1220, Idaho Falls, ID 83401-1563 Oregon Department of Energy,625 Marion Street, NE, Salem, Oregon 97310, ATIN:

David Stewart-Smith George H. Keller, Vice Provost for Research & International Programs, Oregon State l University S. E. Binney, Chairman, Reactor Operations Committee a J. F. Higginbotham, Reactor Administrator A. D. Hall, Reactor Supervisor D. S. Pratt, Senior Health Physicist a

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3 *8#8 Department of Energy ee Germantown, MD 208741290 ,f *"8 %,4

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Dr. Brian Dodd Radiation Center Oregon State University Corvallis, Oregon 97331

Dear Dr. Dodd:

j In accordance with 10 CRF Part 50.64, " Limitations on the Use of Highly i Enriched Uranium in Domestic Non-Power Reactors," you are hereby notified that  !

Federal funding for conversion ofyour reactor to low enrichment uranium fuel will not be available during Fiscal Year 1996.

You will be notified in the event these circumstances change.

Sincerely, s-l Ob' k.b 1

Dr. Norton Haberman i Senior Technical Advisor Office ofNuclear Energy, Science and Technology l

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