ML21315A005

GEH - Description of Process for Decommissioning the Vallecitos Nuclear Center Shutdown Reactors

ML21315A005
Person / Time
Site:	Vallecitos Nuclear Center, Vallecitos
Issue date:	11/11/2021
From:	Feyrer M GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas
To:	Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards
References
M210146
Download: ML21315A005 (3)

Text

GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy Matt J. Feyrer Site Manager, Vallecitos Nuclear Center 6705 Vallecitos Rd Sunol, CA 94586 USA M210146 T 925 918 6018 November 11, 2021 Matt.feyrer@ge.com U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Attn: Document Control Desk Washington, D. C. 20555-001

Subject:

GEH Description of Process for Decommissioning the Vallecitos Nuclear Center Shutdown Reactors

References:

1) NRC License DPR-1, Vallecitos Boiling Water Reactor (VBWR),

Docket 05000018

2) NRC License DR-10, Empire State Atomic Development Associates Vallecitos Experimental Steam Reactor (EVESR), Docket 05000183

3) NRC License TR-1, General Electric Test Reactor (GETR), Docket 05000070

4) Letter GEH, Request to Withdraw VNC Exemption Request for Shutdown Reactor Alternate Decommissioning Schedules, 8/25/2021 (ML21237A064)

5) Letter, J.D. Parrot (NRC) to S.P. Murray, GE Hitachi, Vallecitos Nuclear Center Shutdown Reactors - Acceptance of Request to Withdraw Exemption Request for Alternate Decommissioning Schedule, 10/12/2021 (ML21258A042)

6) MSTEAMS meeting between GEH and NRC to discuss decommissioning planning of the VBWR, EVESR, and GETR, 10/14/2021 Attached is the GE Hitachi Energy, LLC (GEH) description of the process to be used for the continued decommissioning of the shutdown VBWR, EVESR, and GETR facilities. This description was requested by the NRC (ref. 5) on October 12, 2021 and discussed between the NRC and GEH staff (ref. 6) on October 14, 2021.

If you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact me at (925) 918-6018.

Sincerely, Digitally signed by Matt Feyrer DN: cn=Matt Feyrer gn=Matt Matt Feyrer c=US United States l=US United States o=Vallecitos Nuclear Center ou=VNC e=matt.feyrer@ge.com Feyrer Reason: Document Approver Location:

Date: 2021-11-11 06:09-08:00 Matt Feyrer, Site Manager Vallecitos Nuclear Center : Description of Vallecitos Process for Decommissioning Shutdown Reactor Facilities cc: NRC Region IV Administrator S. Anderson, NRC RIV J.D. Parrott, NMSS/DUWP/RDB MJF 21-009

US NRC November 11, 2021 M210146 Page 1 of 2 ATTACHMENT 1 Description of Vallecitos Process for Decommissioning Shutdown Reactor Facilities In letter J.D. Parrot (NRC) to S.P. Murray, GE Hitachi, Vallecitos Nuclear Center Shutdown Reactors - Acceptance of Request to Withdraw Exemption Request for Alternate Decommissioning Schedule, 10/12/2021, (ADAMS ML21258A042), the NRC informed GEH that the requirements of 10 CFR 50.82(a)(6), 10 CFR 50.82(a)(7), 10 CFR 50.82(a)(8)(v)-(vi),

and 10 CFR 50.82(a)(9) must be implemented as part of the decommissioning process for the EVESR and VBWR facilities and that the requirements of 10 CFR 50.82(b)(1), and §§ 82(b)(4) and (5) must be implemented for the GETR. Further, the NRC suggests that GEH submit a limited PSDAR (LPSDAR) as described in § 82(a)(4) for the VBWR and EVESR reactor facilities to demonstrate compliance with 10 CFR 50.82(a)(6) and § 82(a)(7). In closing, the NRC requested a description of the plans GEH will take to ensure ongoing compliance with these decommissioning regulations.

The GE Hitachi (GEH) Decommissioning Group (D&D) has assessed the task of decommissioning the VBWR, EVESR, and GETR facilities at the Vallecitos Nuclear Center (VNC) and composed a high-level schedule as follows.

Projected Milestone / Compliance Completion Date 09/01/2022 LPSDAR / 10 CFR 50.82(a)(6) & (7) 09/08/2023 VBWR License Termination Application & LTP / 10 CFR 50.82(a)(9) 10/11/2023 GETR License Termination Application & DP / 10 CFR 50.82(b)(1), (4) & (5) 09/09/2025 VBWR Decommissioned (license terminated) / 10 CFR 50.82(a)(3) 04/15/2028 EVESR License Termination Application & LTP / 10 CFR 50.82(a)(9) 04/15/2030 EVESR Decommissioned (license terminated) / 10 CFR 50.82(a)(3) 04/15/2030 GETR Decommissioned (license terminated)

Compliance with 10 CFR 50.82(a)(8)(v)-(vi) will be addressed in the GEH response to NRC letter, Request for Additional Information for Financial Assurance of Decommissioning Funds, October 21, 2021 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System [ADAMS]

Accession No. ML21285A179).

GE Hitachi internal decommissioning division will project manage and source technical services as needed to perform on-site and electronic data collection that will be used to develop detailed decommissioning plans and activities. It is currently planned that the produced LTPs for VBWR

& EVESR and the DP for GETR, will be submitted in conjunction with each license termination application.

US NRC November 11, 2021 M210146 Page 2 of 2 Activities to be performed under 10 CFR 50.59:

While 10 CFR 50.59 will be applied (within licensing) to all significant decommissioning activities performed in the VBWR and EVESR, GEH plans to mirror 10 CFR 50.59 through its Change Authorization process to decommissioning activities in GETR that do not involve major dismantlement. Major dismantlement activities, along with the continued use of 10 CFR 50.59 will be further addressed in the GETR decommissioning plan. By applying the Change Authorization process uniformly, GEH will ensure thorough evaluations are performed and documented for all three facilities and compliance with 10 CFR 82(a)(6) is applied across the entire site.

GEH D&D is planning to inspect and assay the internals of the VBWR vessel. Radioactive content of the vessel will be characterized, and waste class derivations determined in 2022. A strategy to remove the vessel will then be developed pursuant to 10 CFR 50.59 using the VNC Change Authorization process with the objective being to remove the vessel in 2023.

Following removal of the VBWR vessel (and ostensibly the lead portion of the bioshield), GEH plans to submit a license amendment pursuant to 10 CFR 50.90 to transfer the VBWR residual activity and facilities (reactor building) to the EVESR license to expedite and thereby ensure termination of the VBWR NRC license no later than September 9, 2025.