ML22221A199

GEH LRA Audit Ntr (R-33) Technical Specifications - Nedo 32765, Rev 4

ML22221A199
Person / Time
Site:	Vallecitos Nuclear Center
Issue date:	08/10/2022
From:	Duane Hardesty NRC/NRR/DANU/UNPL
To:	Martinez C GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy
Hardesty D
Shared Package
ML22221A200	List: ML22221A195 ML22221A199
References
EPID L-2020-RNW-0038
Download: ML22221A199 (6)

Text

August 10, 2022 Mr. Carlos Martinez, Site Manager GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy Vallecitos Nuclear Center 6705 Vallecitos Road Sunol, CA 94586

SUBJECT:

GE-HITACHI NUCLEAR ENERGY AMERICAS LLC - REGULATORY AUDIT REGARDING THE NUCLEAR TEST REACTOR TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS IN THE LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATION (EPID L-2020-RNW-0038)

Dear Mr. Martinez:

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff has prepared an audit plan related to the review of the Nuclear Test Reactor (NTR) Technical Specifications (TSs) for the GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas, LLC license renewal application. The enclosed audit plan provides the regulatory basis for the audit, describes the scope of the audit, identifies the audit team, and provides a listing of audit questions.

The audit will be conducted virtually and is intended to close gaps identified during the technical review. As such, the audit will be held on August 15, 2022, from 12:00pm to 3:30pm and on August 16, 2022, from 12:00pm to 3:30pm eastern time. If additional audit sessions are required, they will be scheduled in advance to support the continued review of the operating license application.

Following completion of the audit, the NRC staff will provide an audit report. The summary will include a description of any information identified during the audit that will need to be docketed to supplement the application and allow the NRC staff to continue its review.

C. Martinez If you have any questions, please contact me at (301) 415-3724 or by electronic mail at

[Duane.Hardesty@nrc.gov].

Sincerely, Signed by Hardesty, Duane on 08/10/22 Duane A. Hardesty, Senior 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.50-073 License No. R-33

Enclosure:

As stated Cc: See next page

GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLC Docket No.50-073 cc:

Commissioner Jeffrey Smyly, Manager California Energy Commission Regulatory Compliance 1516 Ninth Street, MS-34 GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy Sacramento, CA 95814 Vallecitos Nuclear Center 6705 Vallecitos Road California Department of Health Sunol, CA 94586 ATTN: Chief Radiologic Health Branch Thomas McConnell, Manager P.O. Box 997414, MS 7610 Nuclear Test Reactor Sacramento, CA 95899-7414 GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy Vallecitos Nuclear Center 6705 Vallecitos Road Test, Research and Training Sunol, CA 94586 Reactor Newsletter Attention: Amber Johnson Scott Murray, Manager Dept of Materials Science and Engineering Facility Licensing University of Maryland GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy 4418 Stadium Drive 3901 Castle Hayne Road College Park, MD 20742-2115 Wilmington, NC 28401 David Heckman, Vallecitos Reg Affairs & Licensing Lead GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy Vallecitos Nuclear Center 6705 Vallecitos Road Sunol, CA 94586

ML22221A199 NRR-106 OFFICE NRR/DANU/UNPL/PM NRR/DANU/UNPL/BC NRR/DANU/UNPL/PM NAME DHardesty JBorromeo DHardesty DATE 8/10/2022 8/10/2022 8/10/2022 OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION REGULATORY AUDIT PLAN REGARDING LICENSE RENEWAL FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE NO. R-33 GE-HITACHI NUCLEAR ENERGY AMERICAS LLC NUCLEAR TEST REACTOR DOCKET NO.50-073

Background

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff is continuing its review of the GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas, LLC (GEH) Nuclear Test Reactor (NTR) license renewal application (LRA) dated November 19, 2020 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML21053A071), as supplemented by letter(s) dated September 10, 2021, September 22, 2021, December 16, 2021, April 4, 2022, and April 22, 2022 (ML21211A617, ML21265A247, ML22014A420, ML22132A272, and ML22112A236 respectively). This regulatory audit is intended to close technical gaps identified during the review of review of Chapter 14, as well as promote clarity of the GEH NTR Technical Specifications (TSs).

Regulatory Bases for the Audit The proposed GEH NTR TSs are being reviewed in accordance with the applicable regulatory requirements of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 50, Domestic Licensing of Production and Utilization Facilities, and applicable guidance provided in NUREG-1537, Guidelines for Preparing and Reviewing Applications for the Licensing of Non-Power Reactors, Part 1, Format and Content, and Part 2, Standard Review Plan and Acceptance Criteria (ML042430055 and ML042430048, respectively).

Regulatory Scope for the Audit The scope of this audit addresses GEHs proposed TSs for the NTR. The audit may also address TS and final safety analysis report (FSAR) revisions and additional information provided for other systems. Therefore, any additional information identified from the audit that is needed to address a regulatory finding may also be documented in the audit report.

Information Needed for the Audit NTR staff should be prepared to support the NRC staff with the most recent proposed SAR, proposed TSs, and any supporting operating procedures, reports, calculations, and computer code verification to support the analysis documented in the bases for TSs, or rationale for any required plans and procedures.

Enclosure

Audit Team The NRC staff performing this audit will be:

Duane Hardesty (Audit Leader and Technical Reviewer)

Linh Tran (Technical Reviewer)

Geoff Wertz, (Technical Reviewer)

Audit Team Logistics The virtual audit will be held on August 15, 2022, from 12:00pm to 3:30pm and on August 16, 2022, from 12:00pm to 3:30pm eastern time. This audit session will address the topics and questions on the proposed NTR TS (Accession No. ML22221A195). The audit period may be reduced or extended, dependent on the NRC staff and licensee progress in addressing audit questions. If new technical items are identified, additional audit sessions may be planned to support the understanding of information necessary to facilitate the continued review of the operating license application.

Deliverables At the completion of the regulatory audit the NRC staff will prepare a regulatory audit summary.

The regulatory audit summary will include the documents reviewed, the audit activities, and any requests for additional information that were discussed or that will be issued based on the audit, as applicable.