ML21322A228
| ML21322A228 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 10/31/2021 |
| From: | Steven Lynch Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | |
| Montgomery C | |
| References | |
| Download: ML21322A228 (10) | |
Text
2021 Annual Meeting of the National Organization of Test, Research, and Training Reactors Update on Licensing New Radioisotope Production Technologies Steven Lynch, Senior Project Manager Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission October 2021
Supporting 99Mo Production
- NRC staff committed to efficient reviews of applications and inspections in accordance with the provisions of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR)
- Licensing and oversight activities support U.S. national security interests and nuclear nonproliferation policy objectives of establishing a domestically-available and reliable supply of 99Mo without the use of highly-enriched uranium
- Applications include initial license and license amendment requests for facilities proposing to manufacture, irradiate, and process low enriched uranium and molybdenum targets
- Oversight activities focused on preparation for construction inspection 2
Regulated Production Processes
- Target manufacturing
Preparation of low enriched uranium (LEU) targets for irradiation
- Target irradiation
Nuclear reactors
Subcritical operating assemblies
Accelerators
- Target processing
Hot cell separation of 99Mo from irradiated LEU targets
- Medical uses of byproduct material
Generators for extracting technetium-99m from 99Mo 3
Similarities to Existing Facilities
- Safety considerations comparable to non-power reactors:
Fission heat removal Decay heat generation Fission gas release
- and fuel cycle facilities:
Target manufacturing Radiation protection Material processing Fission product buildup Accident scenarios Criticality control Chemical hazards 4
SHINE Operating License Application Review 99Mo produced by fissioning of low enriched uranium (LEU) solution using eight accelerator-driven subcritical operating assemblies 99Mo recovered by processing irradiated solution in three hot cells Facility to be located in Janesville, Wisconsin Operating license application submitted in July 2019 and accepted for review in October 2019 5
- NWMI proposes to manufacture and process LEU targets for 99Mo production
Target manufacturing
LEU targets irradiated at existing research reactors, including Oregon State University
Irradiated targets returned to NWMI for processing Northwest Medical Isotopes 6
Oregon State University TRIGA Reactor Source: OSTR Webpage
Prospective Applicants
- Niowave
Accelerator-driven subcritical operating assembly, target processing facility, and target fabrication facility
Currently conducting proof-of-concept technology demonstrations under an NRC materials license
- Eden Radioisotopes
2-megawatt thermal reactor with hot cell and target fabrication facilities to produce medical radioisotopes
Construction permit in development
- Atomic Alchemy
Four non-power, pool type reactors and processing facility
Topical reports under review, construction permit in development 7
Licensing Accomplishments
- Issued two construction permits
SHINE Medical Technologies (February 2016)
Northwest Medical Isotopes (May 2018)
Reviews completed in under two years from time of application docketing
- Published guidance in 2018 for medical use applicants and licensees possessing the NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes RadioGenix system
Supported first commercial domestic production of 99Mo since Cintichem ceased operations in 1989
- Issued license amendment to OSU in 2016 for demonstration of 99Mo production in small nuclear reactor with experimental uranium targets
- Issued materials license to Niowave in 2015
License amendments issued increased LEU possession limit and supported irradiation of natural uranium targets using superconducting linacs for proof of concept 8
Construction Inspection NRC staff developed IMC 2550 in 2015 for construction inspection of new non-power facilities, consisting of three inspection procedures:
IP 69020 for safety-related structures, systems, and components (SSCs)
IP 69021 for quality assurance program
IP 69022 for programmatic inspections Inspections commensurate with risk of facility, focusing on most safety-significant SSCs Formal construction activities began in October 2019 with the initial pouring of subgrade concrete. SHINE is moving toward completion of its weather-tight building in March 2021 9
SHINE Construction Site in February 2020
Impact of Medical Radioisotope Facility Reviews
- Experience gained from reviews supporting a more responsive and efficient technology-inclusive regulatory framework at the NRC
- Considering initial licensing of technologies beyond light water and non-power reactors
- Review of construction permit applications setting example for future advanced reactor reviews
- Success made possible through technical and licensing expertise provided by inter-office working group
- Updates on medical radioisotope facility activities available through NRC public website: