ML22003A168
| ML22003A168 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 01/11/2022 |
| From: | Bo Pham Division of Operating Reactor Licensing |
| To: | Ashkeboussi N Nuclear Energy Institute |
| Wentzel M | |
| References | |
| Download: ML22003A168 (4) | |
Text
January 11, 2022 Mr. Nima Ashkeboussi Senior Director, Fuel Cycle and Radiation Safety Programs Nuclear Energy Institute 1201 F Street NW, Ste. 1100 Washington, DC 20004
SUBJECT:
SCHEDULING EXPECTATIONS REGARDING THE LICENSING OF ACCIDENT TOLERANT, INCREASED ENRICHMENT, AND HIGHER BURNUP FUELS
Dear Mr. Ashkeboussi:
Consistent with the approach described in Version 1.2 of the Accident Tolerant Fuel (ATF)
Project Plan (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML21243A298), the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff has been actively involved in preparations intended to support the effective and efficient licensing of ATF-concept, higher burnup, and increased enrichment fuels. Based on interactions with the Nuclear Energy Institute and representatives from industry, the NRC staff understands that the industrys current goal is to begin the deployment of higher burnup and increased enrichment fuels by the mid-2020s.
The NRC has a variety of regulatory approaches available to vendors and power plant licensees seeking to obtain the approval for the use of nuclear fuel in a reactor. The NRC staff understands that the industrys preferred licensing approach will be for vendors to seek approval of a fuel technology through the NRCs topical report review process, first, followed by one or more site-specific licensing actions supporting the adoption of that technology at a given site.
The NRC staff supports the use of this approach as it leverages a process already in place that has been proven to increase the efficiency of the NRCs overall licensing process, while reducing resources needed to conduct site-specific reviews. The NRC is already engaged in the review of some of these topical reports and presubmittal interactions for future intended submittals.
The NRC staff does not yet have enough information to reliably commit to completing its review of a topical report or site-specific licensing action within a specific timeframe. However, the NRC staff has developed the enclosed generic schedule based on available information and recent similar reviews to help establish nominal expectations for the length of review time that will be required to support the industrys stated goal of deployment of ATF-concept, higher burnup, and increased enrichment fuels by the mid-2020s. The schedule is based on the following assumptions:
Only one licensee will submit a license amendment request per fuel vendor as a pilot plant for that approach.
Both the topical report and the related license amendment request are sufficiently supported and any novel technical issues have been adequately addressed.
N. Ashkeboussi Vendors and licensees provide timely responses to any staff requests for additional information.
The Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards will review both the topical report and license amendment request.
Any requests for exemption from the NRCs regulations can be reviewed in parallel with the corresponding license amendment request.
The required approvals for the manufacturing and transport of the fuel, as discussed in the NRC staffs August 26, 2019 letter (ADAMS Accession No. ML19235A265), have been obtained.
As discussed throughout the ATF Project Plan (ADAMS Accession No. ML21243A298), the NRC staff considers early engagement as critical for an effective and efficient review of these regulatory actions. The NRC staff continues to strongly encourage licensees and vendors to request pre-application meetings with the NRC staff to: (1) discuss technical and regulatory issues, (2) identify key technical and regulatory features, and (3) establish the schedule for submitting applications. Such additional details will greatly assist the NRC staff in planning for future licensing activities and provide added confidence that industry goals can be achieved.
We would appreciate any feedback on the enclosed schedule, as well as any insight you may have on industrys plan to adopt these fuels. Please do not hesitate to contact Michael Wentzel of my staff, at 301-415-6459 or Michael.Wentzel@nrc.gov, if you have any questions.
Sincerely, Digitally signed by Bo Bo M. M. Pham Date: 2022.01.11 Pham 12:55:21 -05'00' Bo M. Pham, Director Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Enclosure:
As stated cc:
- 1. Listserv
- 2. NextEra Energy
- 3. Entergy Services, LLC
Nominal Schedule for Reviewing Requests to Adopt ATF-Concept, Higher Burnup, and Increased Enrichment Fuels 2022 2023 2024 Task Duration Start Finish Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Vendor Topical Report 16 mos 7/2022 10/2023 Site-Specific License Amendment 15 mos 11/2023 12/2024 Exemption (If Applicable) 15 mos 11/2023 12/2024 NRC staff review ACRS review Enclosure
ML22003A168 *by e-mail OFFICE NRR/DORL/LPLII-2/PM NRR/DORL/LPLII-2/LA NRR/DORL/LPLII-2/BC NAME MWentzel RButler DWrona DATE 1/4/2022 1/4/2022 1/4/2022 OFFICE NRR/DSS/D NRR/DORL/D NAME JDonoghue BPham DATE 1/7/2022 1/11/2022