ML21288A545
| ML21288A545 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 99902094 |
| Issue date: | 10/26/2021 |
| From: | William Kennedy NRC/NRR/DANU |
| To: | Hannon B Public Commenter |
| Muniz A | |
| References | |
| LTR-21-0281 | |
| Download: ML21288A545 (3) | |
Text
Dr. Bruce Hannon 1208 Union St.
Champaign, IL 61821
SUBJECT:
RESPONSE TO LETTERS OPPOSING UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN TEST REACTOR FACILITY PROJECT
Dear Dr. Hannon:
Thank you for your letter dated August 23, 2021 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML21266A390) and subsequent electronic mail on October 13, 2021 (ADAMS Accession No. ML21287A622), regarding the test reactor facility proposed by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). The electronic mail was addressed to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chairman and was forwarded to me for a response. As you noted, UIUC informed the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff by letter dated May 19, 2021 (ADAMS Accession No. ML21153A059), of its intent to submit an application for a construction permit for a test reactor facility to be located on the UIUC campus.
In your letters, you and the co-signers expressed opposition to and identified concerns about locating a reactor on the UIUC campus. The NRC licenses and regulates the Nation's civilian use of radioactive materials to provide reasonable assurance of adequate protection of public health and safety, to promote the common defense and security, and consistent with environmental and other statutes. A potential UIUC nuclear reactor facility would fall within the NRCs licensing and regulatory authority. If UIUC submits a construction permit application, the NRC staff would review the application to ensure that it complies with the applicable regulations in Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Part 50, Domestic Licensing of Production and Utilization Facilities. Guidance for the NRC staffs review of a testing facility or test reactor application is in NUREG-1537, Part 2, Guidelines for Preparing and Reviewing Applications for the Licensing of Non-Power Reactors: Standard Review Plan and Acceptance Criteria, dated February 1996 (ADAMS Accession No. ML042430048). NUREG-1537 includes guidance on Geography and Demography, and Nearby Industrial, Transportation, and Military Facilities, which pertain to siting a non-power reactor. As part of the review of a reactor operating license application, the NRC also reviews an applicants physical security plan for the protection of special nuclear material against theft or diversion or acts of radiological sabotage in accordance with 10 CFR Part 73, Physical Protection of Plants and Materials.
You also express opposition to the U.S. Department of Energys (DOE) funding of the UIUC project. The NRC does not take part in DOEs decisions related to funding projects involving nuclear technology. As an independent safety and security regulator, the NRC does not promote the use of nuclear technology and cannot issue a license unless it determines, among other things, that there is reasonable assurance that a proposed facilitycan be constructed and will be operated at the proposed location without undue riskto public health and safety and that issuance of the license will not be inimical to the common defense and security. Those determinations will be made based on whether information in an application satisfies NRC regulations and applicable statutory requirements.
October 26, 2021
B. Hannon The NRC considers public involvement in the agency's activities to be a cornerstone of openness and transparency in the fulfillment of its mission. Our regulatory process provides a variety of opportunities for members of the public to be heard and involved in the licensing process. For example, we announce upcoming public meetings on NRCs web site to enable interested members of the public to participate. If an application for a UIUC reactor facility application is accepted for NRC review, we provide opportunities for public involvement in hearings in accordance with NRCs regulations in 10 CFR Part 2, Agency Rules of Practice and Procedure. Our regulation, 10 CFR 50.58, Hearings and report of the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards, also requires the Commission to hold a hearing on a construction permit application after publication of at least 30-days notice in the Federal Register. Documents related to UIUCs interactions with the NRC are available to the public in ADAMS (https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html) and can be located using the ADAMS Advanced Search feature and selecting Docket Number under Property and is equal to under Operator, and entering 99902094 under Value.
If you have any questions about this matter, please contact Adrian Muniz at (301) 415-4093 or by e-mail at Adrian.Muniz@nrc.gov.
Sincerely, William Kennedy, Acting Chief Advanced Reactor Licensing Branch Division of Advanced Reactors and Non-Power Production and Utilization Facilities Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Project No.: 99902094 Signed by Kennedy, William on 10/26/21
ML21288A545 NRR-106 OFFICE NRR/DANU/UARL/PM NRR/DORL/LPL3/LA OGC NLO NRR/DANU/UARL/BC(A)
NAME AMuniz SLent MYoung WKennedy DATE 10/15/2021 10/18/2021 10/26/2021 10/26/2021