ML20349A330
| ML20349A330 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 12/21/2020 |
| From: | Jordan Hoellman NRC/NRR/DANU/UARL |
| To: | John Segala NRC/NRR/DANU/UARP |
| Hoellman J,NRR/DANU/UARP,4155481 | |
| References | |
| Download: ML20349A330 (9) | |
Text
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 December 21, 2020 MEMORANDUM TO:
John P. Segala, Chief Advanced Reactor Policy Branch Division of Advanced Reactors and Non-Power Production and Utilization Facilities Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation FROM:
Jordan P. Hoellman, Project Manager /RA/
Advanced Reactor Policy Branch Division of Advanced Reactors and Non-Power Production and Utilization Facilities Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
SUBJECT:
SUMMARY
OF NOVEMBER 5, 2020, ADVANCED REACTOR STAKEHOLDER PUBLIC MEETING On November 5, 2020, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) held a Category 2 public meeting with industry stakeholders, including the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) and the U.S. Nuclear Industry Council (USNIC), to discuss ongoing initiatives related to the development and licensing of non-light-water reactors (non-LWRs or advanced reactors). The staff has posted the meeting notice in the NRCs Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) at Accession No. ML20309A954 and the presentation slides at Accession No. ML20309A878. Enclosure 1 lists the meeting attendees who participated remotely.
The NRC staff provided an overview of the Advanced Reactor Integrated Schedule of Activities on the NRCs public website at https://www.nrc.gov/reactors/new-reactors/advanced/details.html#advSumISRA. The staff specifically noted the activities that have recently been completed or that have been added since the October 1, 2020, advanced reactors stakeholder meeting.
The NRC staff provided an overview of its recent draft white paper, Preapplication Engagement to Optimize Application Reviews (ADAMS Accession No. ML20281A761). The purpose of the draft white paper is (1) to provide information to advanced reactor developers on the benefits of robust preapplication engagement in optimizing application reviews, (2) to encourage preapplication interactions to provide stability and predictability in the licensing process, and (3) to propose a set of preapplication activities that, if fully executed, would enable the staff to offer more predictable and shorter schedules, among other benefits. The staff applied a graded approach to identify key safety and environmental licensing areas for preapplication
Enclosure:
List of Attendees CONTACT: Jordan Hoellman, NRR/DANU 301-415-5481
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engagement. NEI noted that there is a shared responsibility between the NRC and applicant for maintaining the review schedule and asked questions related to how environmental issues could be resolved prior to the application since the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is processed based. The staff discussed that while issues may not be resolved in preapplication space, preapplication engagement on environmental issues would allow the staff to assess the proposed sites for uniquenesses that could have impacts to the schedule and would allow the NRC to interact with other agencies to determine what may be needed in advance of the application submittal. USNIC noted contingencies related to information transfer and NRC reviewer turnover between preapplication engagements and application submittal that should be considered.
The NRC staff summarized the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) letter, Observations and Lessons-Learned from ACRS Licensing Reviews Relevant to Future Advanced Reactor Applications (ADAMS Accession No. ML20267A655). The five conclusions and recommendations in the letter included:
- 1.
A cross-cutting approach should be adopted by the staff and ACRS for conducting effective safety reviews of future applications, focused by initial chapter-by-chapter reviews that identify open items and significant cross-cutting design issues;
- 2.
To avoid significant delays late in the review process, critical topical reports should be submitted and reviewed early, particularly methodology reports that underpin the design bases and accident analyses for advanced reactors;
- 3.
Staff should ensure that the completeness of proposed new reactor designs is sufficient to demonstrate that all structures, systems, and components (SSCs) important-to-safety are appropriately identified and to support requested exemptions and waivers from the General Design Criteria;
- 4.
The time period of transient and accident analyses should be continued to the extent necessary to ensure that applicants demonstrate an effective and reliable means to place the plant in a safe, stable condition, with no ongoing degradation; and
- 5.
The staff should develop guidance for the application of critical deterministic safety examinations, hazards analyses, and risk-informed methods, as well as the need for additional demonstration testing, which could include a prototype.
These complementary tools would provide a more effective licensing framework for advanced reactor design applications and their review.
The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) noted that the staff needs to seriously consider the ACRS letter and take a comprehensive look at accident analyses for all future licensing application reviews and in the development of Part 53. NEI noted that the industry-led Technology-Inclusive Content of Application Project (TICAP) goes a long way to address some of the ACRS recommendations and cautioned that a prototype licensing process for non-LWRs should not be the default staff position because data is available to support uncertainties.
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The NRC staff provided an overview of SECY-20-0093, Policy and Licensing Considerations Related to Micro-Reactors (ADAMS Accession No. ML20254A363), which (1) informs the Commission of licensing topics related to nuclear micro-reactors that may necessitate departures from current regulations, related guidance, and past precedents; (2) identifies potential policy issues related to licensing micro-reactors; and (3) describes the staffs approach to facilitate licensing submittals for near-term and future deployment and operation of micro-reactors. The topics addressed in SECY-20-0093 include security requirements; emergency preparedness; staffing, training, and qualification requirements; autonomous and remote operations; regulatory oversight; aircraft impact assessment; annual fee structure; manufacturing licenses and transportation; population-related siting considerations; and environmental considerations. The staff noted that they will continue to engage stakeholders on specific topics identified in SECY-20-0093 and that micro-reactor attributes will be considered in the development of technology-inclusive guidance and Part 53. Related to security requirements, UCS noted that security for non-power reactors may not be adequate since some non-power reactors are located in high population areas. NEI noted that they appreciate the staffs consideration of NEIs white paper (ADAMS Accession No. ML19319C449), dated November 13, 2019.
The NRC staff discussed its plans to develop a report to Congress to complete a rulemaking to establish a technology-inclusive regulatory framework for advanced reactors (i.e. Part 53) and to enhance NRC expertise related to advanced reactor technologies, required by Section 103(e) of the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act (NEIMA). The staff discussed the evaluations required by NEIMA and its plans to develop the report with inputs from the Part 53 rulemaking plan (SECY-20-0032), associated staff requirements memorandum (SRM), and 30-day letter, as well as inputs from our activities under implementation action plan (IAP) Strategy 1, Staff Development and Knowledge Management, and Strategy 2, Analytical Tools. The staff will continue to have extensive stakeholder interactions in dedicated public meetings on Part 53, as well as regular engagement with the ACRS, and these discussions will inform the development of the report. As part of these interactions, the staff will release preliminary proposed rule language for public discussion. USNIC noted that the staff is making good progress on Part 53 and that discussions will continue at dedicated Part 53 public meetings.
The NRC staff provided an update on its activities related to the NRCs review and endorsement of American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC)Section III, Division 5, High Temperature Reactors. The staff noted that they are currently receiving the final contractor reports that provide expert recommendation on the technical adequacy of ASME Section III, Division 5 and are drafting the NUREG and draft regulatory guide (RG) endorsing ASME Section III, Division 5. The staff expects the NUREG and draft RG to be published for public comment by April 2021.
The NRC staff discussed considerations for streamlining NRC endorsement of ASME Section III, Division 1 to reduce regulatory burden and to increase latitude and flexibility to new reactor applicants. The staff discussed the current practice and streamlining considerations that the staff is internally brainstorming. The staff noted that they would engage with stakeholders further on this topic. Stakeholders expressed interest in international harmonization of codes and standards. The staff noted that they understood the comment and importance of internationally recognized codes and standards.
The NRC staff provided an update on Price-Anderson Act and financial protection considerations for advanced reactors in support of the staffs periodic report to Congress required by December 31, 2021. The staff noted that significant discussions on financial
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protection requirements were held during the November 2, 2017, periodic advanced reactor stakeholders meeting (ADAMS Accession No. ML17319A210), and that the staff is currently preparing the report to Congress and related Commission paper with plans to complete in 2021.
The staff noted that Commission Policy is that advanced reactors will provide the same degree of protection as current reactors, with expectations of enhanced margins of safety and that no immediate actions are called for to address the possibility that reduced risks posed by advanced reactors might warrant changes to the current insurance and liability requirements established by the Price-Anderson Act. No opposing views were provided by stakeholders.
The meeting ended with an open discussion. The NRC requested feedback about how these meetings can be more engaging and how to increase participation by prospective applicants.
The next advanced reactors stakeholder meeting would be scheduled in January 2021.
- via e-mail NRC-001 OFFICE NRR/DANU/UARP/PM*
NRR/DANU/UARP/BC*
NRR/DANU/UARP/PM*
NAME JHoellman JSegala JHoellman DATE 12/21/2020 12/21/2020 12/21/2020
Enclosure PUBLIC MEETING U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Thursday, November 5, 2020 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
List of Attendees* (on phone)
Blank Fields = Indecipherable Information Name Organization Amy Cubbage U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
John Segala NRC Jordan Hoellman NRC Hanh Phan NRC Jo Jacobs NRC Bill Reckley NRC Jason Schaperow NRC Eric Oesterle NRC Ben Beasley NRC Martin Stutzke NRC Juan Uribe NRC Tim Lupold NRC Anthony Rossi NRC Adrian Muniz NRC Mo Shams NRC Fred Miller NRC Mai Henderson NRC Shawn Harwell NRC John Tappert NRC Donna Williams NRC Peyton Doub NRC Emil Tabakov NRC Robert Weisman NRC Tom Boyce NRC Marcia Carpentier NRC Nathan Sanfilippo NRC Salman Haq NRC Shakur Walker NRC Dan Barnhurst NRC Samuel Cuadrado de Jesus NRC Megan Wright NRC James Rubenstone NRC
2 Kenneth Armstrong NRC Pete Lee NRC Ian Tseng NRC Brian Thomas NRC Weijun Wang NRC Lucieann Vechioli NRC Eric Bowman NRC Michael Snodderly NRC Steven Vitto NRC Patricia Vokoun NRC Robert Taylor NRC Ian Jung NRC Eric Schrader NRC Sunwoo Park NRC David Desaulniers NRC Dan Barss NRC Jessie Quichocho NRC Richard Rivera NRC Russell Felts NRC Angela Buford NRC Maxine Segarnick NRC Dayna Dority NRC John Nakoski NRC Antonio Barrett NRC Jack Cushing NRC Brian Smith NRC Wendy Reed NRC Jan Mazza NRC Kamal Manoly NRC Maryam Khan NRC Michael Spencer NRC Chris Van Wert NRC Laura Willingham NRC Monika Coflin NRC Damaris Marcano NRC Joe Ashcraft NRC Jesse Seymour NRC Arlon Costa NRC Ricardo Torres NRC Steve Bajorek NRC Bruce Musico NRC Brian Green NRC Julie Ezell NRC
3 Stu Magruder NRC Jeff Schmidt NRC Mallecia Sutton NRC Andrew Carrera NRC Ken Erwin NRC Tamara Bloomer NRC Christian Cowdrey NRC Michelle Hart NRC Nanette Valliere NRC James Hammelman NRC Stephen Philpott NRC Donald Palmrose NRC Lucas Kyriazidis NRC Boyce Travis NRC Kati Austgen Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI)
Marc Nichol NEI Everett Redmond NEI Cyril Draffin U.S. Nuclear Industry Council (USNIC)
Ed Lyman Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS)
Curt Horomanski Steven Kraft Francis Akstulewicz A to Z Reactor Consulting Services Farshid Shahrokhi Framatomme Jana Bergman Steve Schlithelm BWXT Travis Chapman Christopher Courtenay Steve Nesbit Drew Peebles Kairos Power Peter Hastings Kairos Power Razvi Junaid Dr. Deb Luchsinger Tom Bergman Brian Glowacki Daniel Carleton Hayden Brundage Niko McMurray ClearPath Clint Medlock Southern Nuclear Jason Redd Southern Nuclear George Wadkins GE Power Martin Owens GE Power Jerud Ross Moore Oklo
4 Alex Renner Oklo Ashley Meredith Pete Gaillard TerraPower Alexus Willis Richard Paese Westinghouse Robert Schaaf Lee Grzeck Marty ONeill Dan Stout Dimitri William Horak Rebecca Norris Kurt Harris Steve Burns Lane Howard Sophie Holiday Alfred Hathaway Robert Krsek Mike Keller Jean Trefethen Ed Pheil Benjamin Carmichael Billy Blaney William Freebairn Tammy Morin Weiju Ren Oak Ridge National Laboratory Tanju Sofu Argonne National Laboratory Judi Greenwald Staci Wheeler Keith Consani Matt G
- Attendance list based on Microsoft Teams Participant list. List does not include 35 individuals that connected via phone.