ML20240A043

University of Massachusetts Lowell, Status of the Regulatory Audit and Update Regarding the Renewal of Facility Operating License No. R-125

ML20240A043
Person / Time
Site:	University of Lowell
Issue date:	09/01/2020
From:	Edward Helvenston NRC/NRR/DANU/UNPL
To:	Prosanta Chowdhury Univ of Massachusetts - Lowell
Helvenston E, NRR/DANU/UNPL,301-415-4067
References
Download: ML20240A043 (4)

Text

P. Chowdhury September 1, 2020 Dr. Partha Chowdhury, Director Nuclear Radiation Laboratory University of Massachusetts-Lowell One University Avenue Lowell, MA 01854

SUBJECT:

UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL - STATUS OF THE REGULATORY AUDIT AND UPDATE REGARDING THE RENEWAL OF FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE NO. R-125 (EPID NO. L-2015-RNW-0001)

Dear Dr. Chowdhury:

The University of Massachusetts Lowell (UML) holds U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Facility Operating License No. R-125 for the operation of the UML Research Reactor (UMLRR). By application dated October 20, 2015 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML16042A015), as supplemented, UML applied for renewal of the UMLRR operating license.

By letter dated February 4, 2020 (ADAMS Accession No. ML20021A315), the NRC staff informed UML that it would conduct a regulatory audit beginning February 10, 2020, and continuing as necessary, and provided UML with an audit plan. The NRC staff began the regulatory audit to address open items remaining following its review of request for additional information (RAI) responses and other supplemental information submitted by UML in 2019 and 2020.

During the audit, UML stated that it would submit additional information supplementing its renewal application (including a follow-up technical specification submittal and other information) on the UML docket to address information needs identified by the NRC staff, to help eliminate the need for further RAIs. During a teleconference on July 14, 2020, UML stated that based on its operational status during the audit (due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 public health emergency (COVID-19 PHE)), it expected to need until at least July 31, 2020, to provide all the additional information on the docket. UML stated that its timeframe for submitting the information would continue to depend on its future operating status and staff availability, but that it would keep the NRC staff informed of any updates. By letter dated July 16, 2020 (ADAMS Accession No. ML20196L976), the NRC staff provided UML with an update on the audit and renewal status, and stated that based on UML providing the information by July 31, 2020, it expected to complete its review and make a final determination on the renewal request by November 30, 2020.

By letter dated August 24, 2020 (ADAMS Accession No. ML20237F457), UML stated that due to continued constraints on UML staff and operations related to the COVID-19 PHE, it expected to submit the additional information related to the audit by September 30, 2020.

The NRC staff plans to keep the audit open at this time, to facilitate discussion of any questions that may arise as UML continues to prepare its supplemental information for submittal. As discussed in the NRC staffs letter dated February 4, 2020, the NRC staff will issue a regulatory

P. Chowdhury audit summary following the completion of the audit. The summary will include a description of any information identified during the audit that will need to be docketed (if not already docketed) to supplement the application.

Based on UML submitting the information discussed above by September 30, 2020, the NRC staff is providing a revised date of January 31, 2021, by which it expects to complete its review and make a final determination on the renewal request. However, this date could still change due to several factors including a need for further RAIs, unanticipated changes to the scope of the review, unsolicited supplements to the application for the renewal, and others. If the forecasted date changes, the NRC staff will notify you in writing of the new date and an explanation of the reason for the change.

If you have any questions, please contact me at 301-415-4067, or by electronic mail at Edward.Helvenston@nrc.gov.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Edward M. Helvenston, Project Manager Non-Power Production and Utilization Facility Licensing Branch Division of Advanced Reactors and Non-Power Production and Utilization Facilities Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-223 License No. R-125 cc: See next page

University of Massachusetts - Lowell Docket No. 50-223 cc:

Mayor of Lowell City Hall Lowell, MA 01852 Mr. Leo Bobek Reactor Supervisor University of Massachusetts - Lowell One University Avenue Lowell, MA 01854 Department of Environmental Protection One Winter Street Boston, MA 02108 Jack Priest, Director Radiation Control Program Department of Public Health Schrafft Center, Suite 1M2A 529 Main Street Charlestown, MA 02129 Ms. Samantha Phillips, Director Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency 400 Worcester Road Framingham, MA 01702-5399 Test, Research and Training Reactor Newsletter Attention: Ms. Amber Johnson Department of Materials Science and Engineering University of Maryland 4418 Stadium Drive College Park, MD 20742-2115

ML20240A043 *concurred via email NRR-106 OFFICE NRR/DANU/UNPL/PM* NRR/DANU/UNPL/LA* NRR/DANU/UNPL/BC* NRR/DANU/UNPL/PM*

NAME EHelvenston NParker GCasto EHelvenston DATE 8/31/2020 8/28/2020 9/1/2020 9/1/2020