ML20121A272

Request to Extend the Due Date for Submitting the GEH Morris Operation License Renewal Application

ML20121A272
Person / Time
Site:	07200001
Issue date:	04/30/2020
From:	Murray S GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas
To:	Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards
References
M200070
Download: ML20121A272 (2)

Text

HITACHI M200070 April30, 2020 Director, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 Attn: Document Control Desk GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy Scott P. Murray Manager, Facility Licensing 3901 Castle Hayne Road P.O. Box 780, MIC K-84 Wilmington, NC 28402 USA (910) 819-5950 scott.murray@ge.com

Subject:

Request to Extend the Due Date for Submitting the GEH Morris Operation License Renewal Application

Reference:

1) NRC License SNM-2500, Docket 72-01

Dear Sir or Madam:

The GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy L.LC. (GEH) facility in Morris, Ill hereby requests an extension of the due date for submitting a renewal application for the SNM-2500 license (Reference 1 ).

The existing SNM-2500 license expires on May 31, 2022. Pursuant to 10 CFR 72.42(c), the renewal application scheduling requirement is not less than 2 years prior to expiration of the existing license or by May 31, 2020. The purpose of this correspondence is to request a onetime 60-day extension for submitting the renewal application. If this request is granted, GEH will submit the renewal application on or before July 31, 2020.

The reason for requesting this exemption is because key technical staff working to complete the majority of the reviews and updates to license renewal documents, including the Morris Operation Consolidated Safety Analysis Report (CSAR), are affected by a combination of state issued restrictions from the current COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) and GEH 's worker protection protocols associated the COVID-19 pandemic. These restrictions have caused reduced staffing, impacted work schedules and limited facility and information access necessary to prepare the renewal application by the prescribed date.

NRC regulation 10 CFR 72.7, "Specific Exemptions," allows the NRC, upon application of any interested person or upon its own initiative, to grant such exemptions from the requirements of Part 72 as it determines are authorized by law and will not endanger life or property or the common defense and security and are otherwise in the public interest. The subject requirement in 10 CFR 72.42 concerns a license renewal scheduling requirement. NRC regulations specifically provide for exemptions in certain circumstances, and no other statutory provision would prevent the issuance of a temporary exemption from the prescribed date.

There is no undue risk to public health and safety from granting the requested temporary exemption and is otherwise in the public interest because it will allow a complete and accurate set of renewal information to be provided. The requested exemption also does not involve changes to security at the facility. Therefore, there is no impact on common defense and security from granting the requested temporary exemption.

M 200070 4/30/20 Page 2 of 2 Pursuant to 10 CFR 51.22(b), no environmental assessment or environmental impact statement need be prepared in connection with the approval of this request. The request is categorically excluded under 10 CFR 51.22 (c)(25)(vi) G, and there are no extraordinary circumstances present that would preclude reliance on this exclusion. Approval of the requested exemption involves no significant hazards consideration; no significant change in the types or significant increase in the amounts of any effluents that may be released offsite; no significant increase in individual or cumulative public or occupational radiation exposure; no significant construction impact; and no significant increase in the potential for or consequences from radiological accidents. As such, there are no extraordinary circumstances present that would preclude reliance on this categorical exclusion.

GEH will work as aggressively as possible to submit the renewal application as soon as possible but may not be able to meet the prescribed date given current circumstances.

We appreciate NRC's consideration of this request. Please feel free to contact me on (910) 819-5950 if you have any questions or would like to discuss this matter further.

Sincerely,

!~!!!27 Facility Licensing Cc:

J. McKirgan, NRC/DFM/STLB K. Banovac, NRC/DFM/STLB SPM 20-019