ML22169A009

NPS Scoping Comments on Kairos Test Reactor

ML22169A009
Person / Time
Site:	Hermes File:Kairos Power icon.png
Issue date:	04/12/2022
From:	Kirby K US Dept of Interior, National Park Service
To:	Tami Dozier Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards
Dozier T
References
Download: ML22169A009 (3)

Text

United States Department of the Interior

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Manhattan Project National Historical Park 12795 West Alameda Parkway P.O. Box 25287 Denver, Colorado 80225-0287 IN REPLY REFER TO:

April 12, 2022

Memorandum

To: Tamsen Dozier, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

From: Kris Kirby, Superintendent, Manhattan Project National Historical Park

Subject:

NPS Scoping Comments on Kairos Test Reactor

The National Park Service (NPS) appreciates the opportunity to review and comment on the U.S.

Nuclear Regulatory Commissions (NRC) scoping process to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)to evaluate the environmental impacts for a construction permit (CP) requested by Kairos Power, LLC (Kairos). The Hermes test reactor (aka a testing facility), is in very close proximity to the K-25 site, which is part of the Manhattan Project National Historical Parks (Manhattan Project NHP) Oak Ridge unit (see attached map). Manhattan Project NHP is jointly operated and administered by the Department of Energy (DOE) and the NPS. DOE is the administrator and owner of the K-25 site. The NPS is responsible for interpretation at the site and in advising DOE to ensure that safe public access is available for the parks visitors once the site is open to the public. In view of this, the NPS offers the following comments:

• The K-25 site is scheduled to be open to the public within the next 5 years. This will allow open access to the area 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br /> a day, 7 days a week, and will not be staffed most of the time. We request this be taken into consideration when planning security and public safety for the project.

• There may be some opportunities to include interpretation material at or in proximity to the proposed Kairos facility that illustrates the history of nuclear science and technology and demonstrates linkages to the work done at K-25 during World War II. The NPS would be interested in collaborating with Kairos and/or the NRC on these efforts. The NPS is also currently working with Roane County, Tennessee to develop interpretation and recreation programs based at and near the waterways near the K-25 site.

• DOE is still in the process of developing plans in the area, and public access locations to the K-25 NPS site have not yet been determined. At this point, it is uncertain how close the public will be able to get to the Kairos facility. Adding to the uncertainty is the planned nearby Oak Ridge airport, which has the possibility of impacting public access to the NPS site and other planned developments. We are monitoring these developments and will take them into consideration in relationship to the Kairos project when planning for public access at the K-25 site.

We look forward to learning more about this project and will continue to provide comments as requested. If you have questions, you may contact Manhattan Project NHP Oak Ridge Site Manager, Niki Nicholas at niki_nicholas@nps.gov.

Kris Kirby Superintendent

Attachment

cc:

Niki Nicholas, Superintendent, Big South Fork River & Recreation Area and Obed Wild

& Scenic River; Oak Ridge Site Manager, Manhattan Project NHP Dusty Pate, Regional Energy & Minerals Specialist, NPS Southeast Regional Office Ben West, Planning & Compliance Program Manager, NPS Southeast Regional Office