ML20317A093

Summary of November 3, 2020, Closed Meeting with Abilene Christian University

ML20317A093
Person / Time
Site:	99902088
Issue date:	11/20/2020
From:	Edward Helvenston NRC/NRR/DANU/UNPL
To:
Helvenston E, NRR/DANU/UNPL,301-415-4067
References
EPID L-2020-LRM-0081
Download: ML20317A093 (5)

Text

November 20, 2020 APPLICANT: Abilene Christian University

SUMMARY

OF NOVEMBER 3, 2020, CLOSED MEETING WITH ABILENE CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY (EPID NOS. L-2020-LRM-0081 AND L-2020-NFN-0000)

On November 3, 2020, a closed meeting was held between the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff and representatives of Abilene Christian University (ACU) via webinar.

The purpose of this meeting was to discuss security-related information regarding ACUs proposed molten salt research reactor (MSRR) project. The meeting notice and agenda, dated October 23, 2020, are available in the Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) at Accession No. ML20297A428. The ACU and NRC staff presentations used in the meeting are also available in ADAMS at Accession No. ML20309A797. A list of meeting attendees is provided as an enclosure to this summary.

ACU began the meeting by briefly summarizing its proposed MSRR project, including special nuclear material (SNM) that it may receive (from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)) and possess in conjunction with the project, and its licensing approach. ACU also provided an overview of the staffing and capabilities of the ACU campus and Abilene, Texas, police departments (the proposed MSRR would be located in Abilene, Texas, on or near the ACU campus). The NRC staff then presented information including Safeguards Information (SGI) protection program requirements and guidance and discussed the submission process. The NRC staff also discussed security-related regulations that could apply to ACU and presented additional potential security measures that could apply. These potential security measures would be site-specific and risk-informed based on the type and quantity of SNM that will be stored or used at ACU.

The NRC staff noted that, in addition to the regulations presented on the NRC staffs slides, ACU should consult Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 37, Physical Protection of Category 1 and Category 2 Quantities of Radioactive Material, to determine if regulations in that part would apply to the proposed MSRR. The NRC staff and ACU discussed that a U.S.

Department of Homeland Security vulnerability assessment related to the proposed MSRR would likely need to be conducted in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding between the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Department of Homeland Security Regarding Consultation Concerning Potential Vulnerabilities of the Location of Proposed New Utilization Facilities (ADAMS Accession No. ML113550508). In response to a question from ACU regarding additional security measures that may be required by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA; part of DOE) beyond NRC requirements, the NRC staff stated that ACU should consider contacting NNSA directly about these measures.

ACU stated that, before its submittal of a construction permit (CP) application for its proposed MSRR, it plans to submit an SGI protection program for NRC review. The NRC staff encouraged ACU to keep it up to date on the planned submittal date for this program.

Additionally, ACU stated that, once the NRC staff completes its review of ACUs SGI protection program, ACU plans to submit nominations for reviewing officials (for determining trustworthiness and reliability for access to SGI and access to the facility and SNM) to the NRC; the NRC staff encouraged ACU to plan on having at least two NRC-approved reviewing officials in place. The NRC staff and ACU also discussed the possibility of a follow-up closed meeting for additional discussion of security-related topics after the NRC staff completes its review of ACUs SGI protection program. ACU stated that it currently plans to submit a preliminary physical security plan (PSP) to the NRC ahead of its CP application, possibly as a white paper to facilitate future discussions with the NRC staff. ACU stated that it plans to submit a finalized version of a PSP with its operating license application.

Please direct any inquiries to me at 301-415-4067, or by electronic mail at Edward.Helvenston@nrc.gov.

/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 Project/Docket No. 99902088

Enclosure:

As stated cc: See next page

Abilene Christian University Project/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

ML20297A428 Mtg. Notice ML20309A797 Mtg. Slides (pkg)

ML20309A799 (ACU)

ML20309A798 (NRC)

ML20317A093 Mtg. Summary

• via e-mail NRC-001 OFFICE NRR/DANU/UNPL/PM* NRR/DANU/UNPL/LA* NRR/DANU/UNPL/BC* NRR/DANU/UNPL/PM*

NAME EHelvenston NParker GCasto EHelvenston DATE 11/16/2020 11/16/2020 11/20/2020 11/20/2020

Enclosure LIST OF ATTENDEES NOVEMBER 3, 2020, CLOSED MEETING WITH ABILENE CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY 2:00 P.M. - 3:30 P.M.

Name Organization Greg Casto U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Molly-Kate Gavello U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Edward Helvenston U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Gerard Jackson U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Steve Lynch U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Elizabeth Reed U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Bernard Stapleton U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Charles Teal U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Alexander Adams Abilene Christian University Tim Head Abilene Christian University Tony Hill Abilene Christian University Rusty Towell Abilene Christian University Steve Vanderslice Abilene Christian University Jimmy Ellison Abilene Christian University (Police Department)

William Charlton University of Texas at Austin Lawrence Hall University of Texas at Austin Tracy Tipping University of Texas at Austin Paul Whaley University of Texas at Austin