ML20330A282
| ML20330A282 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 99902088 |
| Issue date: | 11/30/2020 |
| From: | Edward Helvenston NRC/NRR/DANU/UNPL |
| To: | |
| References | |
| EPID L-2020-LRM-0081, EPID L-2020-NFN-0000 | |
| Download: ML20330A282 (5) | |
Text
November 30, 2020 APPLICANT: Abilene Christian University
SUBJECT:
SUMMARY
OF NOVEMBER 19, 2020, MEETING WITH ABILENE CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY (EPID NOS. L-2020-LRM-0081 AND L-2020-NFN-0000)
On November 19, 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 webinar. The purpose of this meeting was to discuss licensing topics regarding ACUs proposed molten salt research reactor (MSRR) project. This was the third public meeting related to the proposed ACU MSRR. The meeting notice and agenda, dated October 23, 2020, are available in the Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) at Accession No. ML20297A431. ACUs presentation used in the meeting is also available in ADAMS at Accession No. ML20329A336. A list of meeting attendees is provided as an enclosure to this summary.
During the previous public meeting held on September 29, 2020 (ADAMS Accession No. ML20281A446), ACU stated that it planned to submit a quality assurance program (QAP) description for NRC review ahead of its construction permit (CP) submittal. ACU requested this follow-up meeting to discuss the basis, scope, and submission of the QAP description.
ACU began the November 19, 2020, meeting by describing its definitions of the terms quality, quality assurance, and safety-related structures, systems, and components (SSCs). ACU then described the basis of its QAP, which includes the guidance in American National Standards Institute/American Nuclear Society (ANSI/ANS)-15.8, Quality Assurance Program Requirements for Research Reactors, endorsed by NRC Regulatory Guide 2.5, Quality Assurance Program Requirements for Research and Test Reactors (ADAMS Accession No. ML093520099). ACU stated its QAP is implemented using a graded approach with three categories of SSCs: safety-related, augmented quality, and non-safety related. ACU discussed its quality assurance manual (QAM) used to implement its QAP. ACUs discussion of its QAM included the QAM purpose, and items specified within the QAM, such as quality assurance policy, quality system implementation, organizational structure, staff roles, technical activities, and the corrective action program. ACU stated that its QAM includes topics covered by the recommendations in both Section 2, Design, Construction, and Modifications, and Section 3, Facility Operations, of ANSI/ANS-15.8, but that the information and QAM summaries in its proposed QAP description are only intended to describe how its QAP meets ANSI/ANS-15.8, Section 2.
ACU described the ANSI/ANS-15.8, Section 2, recommendations and the corresponding section(s) within its QAM. ACU discussed the Quality Procedures (QPs) and Work Instructions (WIs) described in the QAM that had been identified for preparation. ACU also displayed the status of its QAM, QPs, and WIs, and those not yet drafted were designated by a yellow highlight in the presentation.
ACU discussed its intent to submit the QAP description in early 2021 for NRC review and approval before the submission of its CP application. ACU discussed pre-CP submittal activities that will be conducted under the QAP such as research and development (R&D), design work, and other activities; ACU stated that activities including R&D and operating license (OL) application preparation would continue to be conducted under the scope of the QAP until ACUs submission of an OL application. The NRC staff asked if ACU planned to maintain the QAP during future MSRR operation or only throughout the CP and OL application preparation stages; ACU stated that continued use of the QAP (or a modified version of it) during operation will be decided on before the submission of an OL application. The NRC staff encouraged ACU to clearly describe the pre-operational activities within the scope of its QAP in its QAP description.
ACU stated that it intended to follow the NRCs topical report process to submit its QAP description to the NRC. The NRC staff noted that while the topical report process would result in a regulatory determination that could be referenced in the CP application to prevent a need for re-review of information that has not been changed, the NRC staff would be interested in any changes to the QAP description between its approval and ACUs submission of a CP application.
ACU and the NRC staff agreed that additional pre-application meetings to discuss topics related to the proposed MSRR project would be beneficial for both ACU and the NRC staff.
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
ML20297A431 Mtg. Notice ML20329A336 Mtg. Slides ML20330A282 mtg. Summary NRC-001 OFFICE NRR/DANU/PM NRR/DANU/LA NRR/DANU/BC NRR/DANU/PM NAME EHelvenston NParker GCasto EHelvenston DATE 11/30/2020 11/30/2020 11/30/2020 11/30/2020
Enclosure LIST OF ATTENDEES NOVEMBER 19, 2020, MEETING WITH ABILENE CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY 11:00 A.M. - 12:30 P.M.
Name Organization Michael Balazik U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Patrick Boyle U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Tison Campbell U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Greg Casto U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Molly-Kate Gavello U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Duane Hardesty U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Edward Helvenston U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Steven Lynch U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Joseph McManus U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Dong Park U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Kevin Roach U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Brian Smith U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Paulette Torres U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Linh Tran U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Mitzi Young U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Alexander Adams Abilene Christian University Rosario Gibbs Abilene Christian University Andrew Harmon Abilene Christian University Tim Head Abilene Christian University Tony Hill Abilene Christian University Russel Kruzelock Abilene Christian University Tom Moreno Abilene Christian University Jonathan Scherr Abilene Christian University Rusty Towell Abilene Christian University Steve Vanderslice Abilene Christian University Kevin Clarno University of Texas at Austin