ML22153A519

Kansas State Univ, Response to Request for Extension of Time to Respond to RAI Regarding Lic Amend Request

ML22153A519
Person / Time
Site:	Kansas State University
Issue date:	06/27/2022
From:	Edward Helvenston NRC/NRR/DANU/UNPL
To:	Cebula A Kansas State University
Helvenston E
References
EPID L-2019-LLA-0092, Log # 5113
Download: ML22153A519 (4)

Text

June 27, 2022 Dr. Alan Cebula Nuclear Reactor Facility Manager Kansas State University 112 Ward Hall Manhattan, KS 66506-5204

SUBJECT:

KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY - RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR AN EXTENSION OF TIME TO RESPOND TO A REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING LICENSE AMENDMENT REQUEST FOR THE USE OF 12 PERCENT BY WEIGHT URANIUM FUEL ELEMENTS (EPID NO. L-2019-LLA-0092)

Dear Dr. Cebula:

By letter dated April 9, 2012 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System Accession No. ML12109A063), as supplemented by letters dated April 28, 2014; October 5, 2016; May 2, 2017; September 23, 2017; and November 30, 2018 (ML16200A317, ML16291A498, ML17139C979, ML17319A305, and ML18347A209, respectively), Kansas State University (KSU) applied for an amendment to Facility Operating License No. R-88 for the KSU Nuclear Reactor Facility. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commissions (NRCs) approval of the license amendment request (LAR) would allow KSU to add up to four fuel elements that are 12 percent by weight uranium, to its reactor core.

On June 5, 2019 (ML19128A342), the NRC staff sent KSU a letter enclosing a request for additional information (RAI) identifying additional information needed for the NRC staff to continue its review of KSUs LAR. The NRC staffs June 5, 2019, letter requested that KSU provide responses to the RAIs by October 7, 2019. Additionally, based on this RAI response date, the NRC staff provided KSU with an estimated LAR review completion date of December 31, 2020.

By letters dated October 7, 2019; January 7, 2020; March 9, 2020; June 5, 2020; September 8, 2020; December 8, 2020; March 8, 2021; and June 9, 2021 (ML19295D727, ML20013F680, ML20083G194, ML20171A392, ML20269A247, ML20366A046, ML21105A485, and ML21188A209, respectively), KSU requested extensions to respond to the NRC staffs June 5, 2019, RAI. The NRC staff granted KSUs extension requests by letters dated October 24, 2019; January 13, 2020; March 30, 2020; June 23, 2020; October 5, 2020; January 26, 2021; April 15, 2021; and July 8, 2021 (ML19290H593, ML20008D352, ML20070H674, ML20167A306, ML20253A235, ML21013A540, ML21070A010, and ML21166A333, respectively). In its letter dated July 8, 2021, the NRC staff accepted KSUs June 9, 2021, extension request such that the new RAI response date would be June 9, 2022.

By letter dated May 27, 2022 (ML22172A010), KSU requested a further extension until February 9, 2023, to respond to the RAI dated June 5, 2019. KSU stated that due to delays in funding for external assistance with neutronics benchmarking, the completion of neutronics

A. Cebula analyses supporting the LAR was delayed. KSU stated that the additional time is needed to allow the neutronics model to be completed and input into its thermal-hydraulic analysis, such that it can provide complete responses to the RAI.

Additionally, in its letter dated May 27, 2022, KSU confirmed that the administrative operating restrictions (discussed in its letter dated October 7, 2019, and acknowledged in the NRC staffs letter dated October 24, 2019) continue to remain in place, and KSU will provide advance notification to the NRC if KSU plans to change the restrictions prior to completion of the LAR review.

During a teleconference held on April 19, 2022, KSU and the NRC staff discussed KSUs progress in performing analyses supporting the LAR and its response to the RAI dated June 5, 2019. The NRC staff encourages KSU to continue to keep the NRC staff updated on its progress in responding to the RAI. The NRC staff also encourages KSU to contact the NRC staff to discuss any questions related to the RAI. Additionally, the NRC staff could plan to conduct a regulatory audit related to the LAR before and/or after KSU submits its RAI response, to support efficient completion of the LAR review.

The NRC staff accepts KSUs extension request dated May 27, 2022. Based on the new RAI response date of February 9, 2023, the NRC staff is providing a revised date of April 30, 2024, by which it expects to complete its review and make a final determination on the LAR. This date could change due to several factors including a need for further RAIs, unanticipated changes to the scope of the review, unsolicited supplements to the application for amendment, and others.

If the forecasted date changes, the NRC staff will notify you in writing of the new date and an explanation of the reason for the change.

If you have any questions or need additional time to respond to the NRC staffs original request dated June 5, 2019, please contact me at 301-415-4067, or via e-mail at Edward.Helvenston@nrc.gov.

Sincerely, Signed by Helvenston, Edward on 06/27/22 Edward M. Helvenston, Project Manager Non-Power Production and Utilization Facility Licensing Branch Division of Advanced Reactors and Non-Power Production and Utilization Facilities Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-188 License No. R-88 cc: See next page

Kansas State University Docket No. 50-188 cc:

Office of the Governor State of Kansas 300 SW 10th Avenue, Suite 212 S Topeka, KS 66612-1590 Kim Steves Radiation Control Section Kansas Department of Health and Environment 1000 SW Jackson, Suite 330 Topeka, KS 66612-1365 Mayor of Manhattan City Hall 1101 Poyntz Avenue Manhattan, KS 66502 Robert Seymour, Reactor Supervisor Kansas State University 117 Ward Hall Manhattan, KS 66506 Test, Research and Training Reactor Newsletter Attention: Ms. Amber Johnson Department of Materials Science and Engineering University of Maryland 4418 Stadium Drive College Park, MD 20742-21155

ML22153A519 NRR-106 OFFICE NRR/DANU: PM NRR/DANU: LA NRR/DANU: BC NRR/DANU: PM NAME EHelvenston CSmith JBorromeo EHelvenston DATE 06/06/2022 06/09/2022 06/14/2022 06/27/2022