ML20281A446
| ML20281A446 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 99902088 |
| Issue date: | 10/14/2020 |
| From: | Edward Helvenston NRC/NRR/DANU/UNPL |
| To: | |
| Helvenston E | |
| References | |
| Download: ML20281A446 (7) | |
Text
October 14, 2020 APPLICANT: Abilene Christian University
SUBJECT:
SUMMARY
OF SEPTEMBER 29, 2020, MEETING WITH ABILENE CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY (EPID NO. L-2020-LRM-0081)
On September 29, 2020, a Category 1 public meeting was held between the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff and representatives of Abilene Christian University (ACU) via teleconference. The purpose of this meeting was to discuss licensing topics regarding ACUs proposed molten salt research reactor (MSRR) project. This was the first public meeting related to the proposed ACU MSRR. The meeting notice and agenda, dated September 16, 2020, are available in the Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) at Accession No. ML20260H340. ACUs presentation used in the meeting is also available in ADAMS at Accession No. ML20280A315. A list of meeting attendees is provided as an enclosure to this summary.
ACU began the meeting by providing an overview of its academic and research programs, including its Nuclear Energy eXperimental Testing (NEXT) Lab. ACU provided a brief summary of research projects at ACU NEXT Lab, which it stated would lead the MSRR project. ACU then discussed the Nuclear Energy eXperimental Testing Research Alliance (NEXTRA) between ACU and three other universities: the University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University, and the Georgia Institute of Technology. ACU stated that these universities would be collaborating with it on the MSRR project. ACU also introduced key individuals, including staff at ACU and collaborating universities, involved in the project.
Following the introductions, ACU discussed its proposed licensing pathway and schedule for its MSRR project. ACU stated that its MSRR would be licensed under Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Part 50, Domestic Licensing of Production and Utilization Facilities, as a research reactor and utilization facility under Section 104(c) of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, and pursuant to 10 CFR 50.21, Class 104 licenses; for medical therapy and research and development facilities, paragraph (c). ACU stated that it planned to submit separate construction permit (CP) and operating license applications for its MSRR. ACU estimated that it would submit a CP application in late 2021, and stated that the CP application package would include a preliminary safety analysis report, preliminary emergency plan, and environmental report. ACU stated that it planned to submit a quality assurance program (QAP) description for NRC review ahead of its CP submittal, and that it may also send other information or documents for NRC review prior to its CP submittal. ACU also briefly discussed regulations and guidance it would consider in the preparation of a CP application.
ACU stated that it has not yet selected a site for the MSRR, but that it is considering multiple sites on or near the ACU campus in Abilene, Texas, including in a Science and Engineering Research Center building that is planned for construction at ACU. ACU stated that it may plan to begin construction of a multi-purpose building that would later house the MSRR, before a CP is issued for the MSRR, pursuant to 10 CFR 50.10, License required; limited work authorization, paragraph (a)(2)(x).
ACU stated that, at the time its CP application is submitted, research and development (R&D) will be planned or underway to confirm the adequacy of the design of certain MSRR structures, systems, and components. ACU stated that its CP application would contain required information related to R&D, but that it was still developing a list of necessary R&D for the MSRR as of the date of the meeting.
ACU stated that it has begun coordination with local authorities, including the city of Abilene, Texas, regarding its proposed MSRR project.
In the last portion of its presentation, ACU provided a technical summary of its proposed MSRR.
ACU discussed the information provided on its presentation slides, and stated that its MSRR would operate with forced flow of a liquid fuel-salt mixture, use high-assay low-enriched uranium fuel, and be graphite moderated. Additionally, ACU briefly discussed fuel qualification for the MSRR, which it stated was being done in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). ACU stated that DOE would provide the fuel and salt, but the exact form in which it would be provided (e.g., pre-mixed or separate) was not yet certain. ACU stated that it intends for the initial fuel loading to last the lifetime of the reactor. ACU stated that fission gasses would be released from the fuel (into an off-gas handling system), but that it did not expect to otherwise need to remove impurities from the fuel during the lifetime of the reactor. ACU stated that it was still considering various materials for reactor structural components and secondary coolant, but that stainless steel and a molten salt similar to that used in the primary (fueled) salt loop, respectively, were likely choices.
At the end of the meeting, ACU and the NRC staff discussed and agreed that additional pre-application meetings, including detailed meetings related to various technical areas of the proposed MSRR project, would be beneficial for both ACU and the NRC staff. ACU and the NRC staff agreed to follow-up regarding planning additional meetings. ACU also stated that it may be interested in requesting a pre-application readiness assessment prior to its submission of a CP application. The NRC staff encouraged ACU to keep it informed of any updates on its project plans or schedule, including its plans and schedule for any items it may send for NRC review ahead of a CP application (e.g., QAP description).
Please direct any inquiries to me at 301-415-4067, or by electronic mail at Edward.Helvenston@nrc.gov.
/RA/
Edward 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 Project/Docket No. 99902088
Enclosure:
As stated cc: See next page
Abilene Christian University Docket No. 99902088 cc:
Dr. Rusty Towell Director of NEXT Lab Abilene Christian University ACU Box 27963 Abilene, TX 79699 Phil Schubert, Ed.D.
President Abilene Christian University Office of the President 206 Hardin Administration Building ACU Box 29100 Abilene, TX 79699-9100 Test, Research and Training Reactor Newsletter Attention: Ms. Amber Johnson Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering University of Maryland 4418 Stadium Drive College Park, MD 20742-2115
ML20260H340 Mtg. Notice ML20280A315 Mtg. Slides ML20281A446 Mtg. Summary
- concurred via email NRC-001 OFFICE NRR/DANU/PM*
NRR/DANU/LA*
NRR/DANU/BC*
NRR/DANU/PM*
NAME EHelvenston NParker GCasto EHelvenston DATE 10/13/2020 10/13/2020 10/14/2020 10/14/2020
Enclosure LIST OF ATTENDEES SEPTEMBER 29, 2020, MEETING WITH ABILENE CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY 1:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M.
Name Organization Rossnyev Alvarado U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Joseph Anderson U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Suzanne Ani U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Steve Bajorek U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Michael Balazik U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Dan Barss U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Hayden Brundage U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Tyson Campbell U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Greg Casto U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Alex Chereskin U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Peyton Doub U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Marilyn Diaz Maldonado U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Kenneth Erwin U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Kayla Gamin U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Molly-Kate Gavello U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Joseph Giacinto U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Valerie Gray U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission James Hammelman U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Duane Hardesty U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Michelle Hart U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Michelle Hayes U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Edward Helvenston U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Timothy Hooker U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chris Hoxie U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Kerri Kavanagh U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission William Kennedy U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission John Lehning U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Timothy Lupold U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Steve Lynch U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Jeremy Munson U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Daniel Mussatti U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Mathew Panicker U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Benjamin Parks U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Tom Pham U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Beth Reed U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Wendy Reed U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Jeffrey Rikhoff U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Kevin Roach U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission David Roth U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission James Rubenstone U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Michael Salay U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Jason Schaperow U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Eric Schrader U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Jennifer Scro U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Karen Sida U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Brian Smith U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Todd Smith U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Joseph Staudenmeier U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Dinesh Taneja U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Linh Tran U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Boyce Travis U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Christopher Van Wert U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Pat Vokoun U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Susan Vrahoretis U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Geoffrey Wertz U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Bernie White U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Alexus Willis U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Kent Wood U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Irene Wu U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Andrew Yeshnik U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Mitzi Young U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Alexander Adams Abilene Christian University Ralph Butler Abilene Christian University Rosario Gibbs Abilene Christian University Tim Head Abilene Christian University Tim Kennedy Abilene Christian University Rusty Kruzelock Abilene Christian University Kim Pamplin Abilene Christian University Jordan Robison Abilene Christian University Jonathan Scherr Abilene Christian University Lester Towell Abilene Christian University Rusty Towell Abilene Christian University Steve Vanderslice Abilene Christian University Jessica Yerger Abilene Christian University Belinda Harmon Abilene Christian University (Board of Trustees)
James Porter Abilene Christian University (Board of Trustees)
David Halbert Abilene Christian University (NEXT Lab Advisor)
Andrew Harmon Abilene Christian University (NEXT Lab Advisor)
Charles Ivey Abilene Christian University (NEXT Lab Advisor)
Steve Biegalski Georgia Institute of Technology Bojan Petrovic Georgia Institute of Technology Doug Robison Natura Resources Mark Kimber Texas A&M University Paval Tsvetkov Texas A&M University Kevin Clarno University of Texas at Austin Derek Haas University of Texas at Austin Don Williams XL Engineering Yassin Hassan Member of the Public