ML21007A172

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

ML21007A172
Person / Time
Site:	University of Lowell
Issue date:	01/11/2021
From:	Edward Helvenston NRC/NRR/DANU/UNPL
To:	Prosanta Chowdhury Univ of Massachusetts - Lowell
Helvenston E, NRC/NRR/DANU/UNPL
References
EPID L-2015-RNW-0001, EPID L-2020-NFR-0008
Download: ML21007A172 (4)

Text

P. Chowdhury .

January 11, 2021 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 NOS. L-2015-RNW-0001, L-2020-NFR-0008)

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. By letter dated September 1, 2020 (ADAMS Accession No. ML20240A043), the NRC staff stated that based on UML submitting information addressing information needs identified during the audit by September 30, 2020, the NRC staff expected to complete its review and make a final determination on the renewal request by January 31, 2021.

During a teleconference on December 16, 2020, as documented in the NRC staffs interim audit report dated December 17, 2020 (ADAMS Accession No. ML20303A305), the NRC staff held an interim exit briefing with UML to discuss activities performed during the audit up to that date, and to discuss follow-up audit questions related to the supplemental information UML had provided by letter dated September 30, 2020 (ADAMS Accession No. ML20274A248). The NRC staff and UML agreed that the audit would continue by teleconference, as necessary, to address the follow-up audit questions (or other items, if necessary). UML stated it would provide further supplemental information, as necessary, on the docket to address information needs identified by the NRC staff. UML stated that following any necessary additional discussion of the resolution of the audit questions, it would provide the NRC staff with an estimated date for submission of any further supplemental information required for the NRC staff to complete its review. The NRC staff stated that, based on this submission date, it would provide an updated date by which it expected to complete its review and make a final determination on the license renewal application.

P. Chowdhury 2 By letter dated January 5, 2021 (ADAMS Accession No. ML21005A23), UML stated that it expected to submit the additional information related to the audit by January 31, 2021. The NRC staff plans to continue 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 letters dated February 4, and December 17, 2020, the NRC staff will issue a final regulatory audit report following the completion of the audit.

Based on UML submitting the information discussed above by January 31, 2021, the NRC staff is providing a revised date of May 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 requests for additional information, 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, Signed by Helvenston, Edward on 01/11/21 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

ML21007A172 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 1/11/2021 1/11/2021 1/11/2021 1/11/2021