ML22140A306
| ML22140A306 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 03/08/2022 |
| From: | Joshua Borromeo NRC/NRR/DANU/UNPL |
| To: | Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| Download: ML22140A306 (8) | |
Text
NRC Approach to Considering the National Institute of Standards and Technology Request to Restart the National Bureau of Standards Reactor Josh Borromeo, Branch Chief Non-Power Production and Utilization Facility Licensing
=
Background===
oftheEvent
- On February 3, 2021, during a startup and approach to full power, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
National Bureau of Standards Reactor (NBSR) experienced a reactor scram due to indications of high exhaust stack radiation.
- NIST indicated that, before startup, a fuel element in the NBSR core was unlatched, which led to the element becoming unseated and damaged during startup and the release of radioactivity.
- This event resulted in the exceedance of the NBSR fuel cladding safety limit.
- Since the event, the reactor has remained in a stable shutdown condition.
Regulatory Basis
- The NBSR is required by the NRCs regulations and its technical specifications to remain shut down until the NRC authorizes the NBSR to restart:
- In accordance with Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) 50.36(c)(1)(i)(A),
if any safety limit is exceeded, operation must not be resumed until authorized by the Commission.
- The NBSR technical specifications state that if the safety limit is exceeded, the reactor shall be shut down and reactor operations shall not be resumed until authorized by the NRC.
NIST Requestto Restart theNBSR
- NIST submitted the following documents in support of a request to restart the NBSR:
- NIST root cause analysis, associated corrective actions, and restart request
- NIST license amendment request to update the fuel latching requirements in the technical specifications
Restart Decision
- The NRCs decision on the NIST request to restart the NBSR will be based on the following:
- ensuring that the event and the reasons that it occurred are fully understood
- confirming that NIST has adequately identified and addressed the impacts to the NBSR
- ensuring that NIST has made corrections to prevent this event and similar types of events from happening again
- The restart decision will be informed by several NRC activities, including a technical review, inspections, and enforcement actions.
- While the NRC is prioritizing the review, the agency will not authorize restart until it has determined that restart will be protective of public health and safety.
KeyAreasof Consideration fortheRestart Decision Restart Authorization Licensing Enforcement Technical Legal Communi cation Oversight
RestartDecisionProcessOverview License Review Technical Review Special Inspection Team Technical Evaluation Report Special Inspection Report Begin Enforcem ent Process Issue Enforcem ent Actions Root Cause &
Corrective Actions Restart D ecision N IST Restart Request D evelop and Perform Supplem ental Inspection Plans Tem porary Post-Restart Inspection Plan Post-Restart Inspection Activities to M onitor Perform ance Revised Corrective Actions License Review Enforcem ent Inspection
Key Documents Supporting theRestart Decision
- NRC inspection reports from the special inspection and supplemental inspections
- NRC technical evaluation report documenting the review of design-basis and licensing-basis impacts of the event
- will also incorporate information, as appropriate, from the NRCs separate review of the NIST license amendment request on the fuel latching requirements in the NBSR technical specifications and inspection reports
- outcomes from enforcement actions