ML20199M344
| ML20199M344 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 05200049 |
| Issue date: | 08/14/2020 |
| From: | Harris A NRC/NSIR/DPCP/RSB |
| To: | Harrell B US Dept of Homeland Security, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) |
| Petrucelli, J. 301-287-3805 | |
| References | |
| Download: ML20199M344 (3) | |
Text
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 August 14, 2020 Mr. Brian Harrell, Assistant Director for Infrastructure Security Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)
U. S. Department of Homeland Security 1310 North Courthouse Road Arlington, VA 22202
SUBJECT:
OKLO AURORA MICRO REACTOR COMBINED LICENSE APPLICATION
Dear Mr. Harrell:
By letter dated June 5, 2020, (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System Accession No. ML20149K616), the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) accepted the Oklo Power LLC (Oklo) Aurora Micro Reactor application for docketing. The applicant proposes to locate the reactor in Idaho at the Idaho National Laboratory. The NRC staff plans to complete the review of the Aurora design in a two-step process. In step 1, the NRC staff plans to engage Oklo in public meetings, conduct regulatory audits, and issue requests for additional information to efficiently align on four key safety and design aspects of the Aurora licensing basis. These areas include a review of: (1) the maximum credible accident analyses; (2) the classification of systems, structures, and components; (3) the applicability of certain NRC regulations; and (4) the Quality Assurance Program. After gaining alignment on the key aspects in step 1, NRC staff will have defined the scope of the full, detailed technical review and will develop a schedule to efficiently perform its review in Step 2. The NRCs step 2 review will include: (1) a review of information to support emergency planning, security systems, and site characterization; (2) the adequacy and completeness of technical specifications and pre-operational and start-up testing; and (3) the use of non-licensed personnel to start up and operate the reactor.
As part of its review, the NRC must, among other matters prior to issuing a license for a utilization facility, determine the suitability of the site for the proposed facility. This includes a review by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to identify the potential vulnerabilities of the proposed facility location to a terrorist attack. Under the NRC-DHS Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), a period of 180 working days is typically established for this consultation, which begins on the date of DHS receipt of the application materials. The Oklo application will be provided to DHS separately from this letter in a secure manner. The NRC notes that the application materials to be transmitted to DHS are unclassified but do contain sensitive proprietary commercial, security-related, and export-controlled information, and should be handled accordingly. Preliminary copies of the public application were provided to your office via an e-mail on June 25, 2020. The NRC will provide any additional information that is deemed relevant to your consultation as it is received from the Oklo applicant.
During a teleconference, on June 25, 2020, between the DHS and the NRC, DHS staff expressed some concern regarding the on-going COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) and
B. Harrell the potential need to travel in support of this consultation. If the COVID-19 PHE were to adversely affect tasks necessary to accomplish the consultation in accordance with its schedule, please contact the NRC to establish a new agreed upon schedule.
Should you or your staff have any questions, I can be reached by phone at (301) 415-1955 or by email at Anthony.Bowers@nrc.gov.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Anthony R. Bowers, Chief U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response Division of Physical and Cyber Security Policy Reactor Security Branch
ML20199M344 *via-email OFFICE NSIR/DPCP/RSB NSIR/DPCP/RSB/BC NAME JPetrucelli* ABowers*
DATE 08/13/20 08/13/20