ML21084A123
| ML21084A123 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | PROJ0769 |
| Issue date: | 04/02/2021 |
| From: | Michael Dudek NRC/NRR/DNRL/NRLB |
| To: | Fosaaen C NuScale |
| Chowdhury P - DNRL/NRLB | |
| References | |
| ML21006A176 | |
| Download: ML21084A123 (3) | |
Text
April 2, 2021 Ms. Carrie A. Fosaaen Director, Regulatory Affairs NuScale Power, LLC 1100 Circle Boulevard, Suite 200 Corvallis, OR 97330
SUBJECT:
REVIEW SCHEDULE FOR THE NUSCALE POWER, LLC, TOPICAL REPORT METHODOLOGY FOR ESTABLISHING THE TECHNICAL BASIS FOR PLUME EXPOSURE EMERGENCY PLANNING ZONES, TR-0915-17772, REVISION 2 (PROJ0769)
Dear Ms. Fosaaen:
By letter dated August 4, 2020, NuScale Power, LLC, (NuScale) submitted Topical Report TR-0915-17772, Methodology for Establishing the Technical Basis for Plume Exposure Emergency Planning Zones, Revision 2 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML20217L422) for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staffs review. By way of this Licensing Topical Report (LTR), NuScale is seeking NRC staffs approval of the use of a methodology for establishing the technical basis for plume exposure emergency planning zones (EPZ).
The purpose of this letter is to provide you a revised schedule for the NRC staffs review of your LTR, as well as a new estimated level of effort for the staff to complete its detailed technical review. If the NRC staff needs additional information to complete its review, you will receive requests for additional information (RAI) by separate correspondence.
On December 1, 2020, the NRC staff shared with NuScale a proprietary version of their concerns on Revision 2 of the LTR and provided clarification via a teleconference. The technical review of the LTR was paused until NuScale responded to the NRC staff concerns.
On January 12, 2021, the NRC staff held a public meeting and discussed in detail their concerns on Revision 2 of the LTR (meeting summary and slides are in ADAMS Package Accession No. ML21006A176). At this meeting, the NRC staff also shared several observations regarding the methodologys applicability for non-light-water reactors (non-LWRs).
NuScale indicated they understood the concerns and observations, and would engage with the NRC staff for further discussion. However, on February 19, 2021, NuScale requested via an email (ADAMS Accession No. ML21053A266) that the NRC staff should resume its technical review and issue RAIs. NuScale additionally stated that they would revise the LTR once the scope of the staffs RAIs were received and understood. On March 1, 2021, the NRC staff resumed their technical review of the LTR.
C. Fosaaen The NRC staff also notes that in Revision 2, NuScale has changed the title of the LTR to Methodology for Establishing the Technical Basis for Plume Exposure Emergency Planning Zones, from Methodology for Establishing the Technical Basis for Plume Exposure Emergency Planning Zones at NuScale Small Modular Reactor Plant Sites in Revision 0 (ADAMS Accession No. ML15356A842) and Revision 1 (ADAMS Accession No. ML18071A354). In the Executive Summary of the LTR, Revision 2, NuScale stated, in part, that the methodology is intended for use by all advanced nuclear reactor designs. The staff believes reviewing the LTRs applicability for advanced reactors, particularly non-LWRs, will require additional time and resources. The NRC staff estimates that the detailed review of your LTR now requires an additional 3,000 staff-hours, including project management time, for which NuScale will be billed. This estimate is based on the need for additional RAIs, with a 30-day NuScale response time, as well as approximately three meetings between the NRC staff and NuScale staff to discuss the LTR review, one regulatory audit, and presentations to the NRCs Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards. This estimate could change as the NRC staff conducts the detailed review or if additional rounds of RAIs are needed.
The NRC staff expects that the new estimate for the staffs detailed review of your LTR will take 8 additional months to issue the SER with no open items (i.e., by December 31, 2021).
NuScale was informed of the above proposed schedule and resources in a phone call on April 1, 2021.
If you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact Alina Schiller, Project Manager, at (301) 415-8177 or alina.schiller@nrc.gov.
Sincerely, Michael I. Dudek, Chief New Reactor Licensing Branch Division of New and Renewed Licenses Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Project No.: PROJ0769 cc: NuScale DC ListServ Michael I.
Dudek Digitally signed by Michael I. Dudek Date: 2021.04.02 14:17:22 -04'00'
- via email NRR-106 OFFICE DNRL/NRLB:PM* DNRL/NRLB:LA* DNRL/NRLB:PM* DNRL/NRLB:BC NAME PChowdhury SGreen PChowdhury MDudek DATE 03/25/2021 03/25/2021 04/02/2021 04/02/2021