ML22304A184
| ML22304A184 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | North Carolina State University |
| Issue date: | 10/31/2022 |
| From: | Edward Helvenston NRC/NRR/DANU |
| To: | Hawari A North Carolina State University |
| References | |
| L-2022-NFA-0004 | |
| Download: ML22304A184 (5) | |
Text
From: Edward Helvenston Sent: Monday, October 31, 2022 1:01 PM To: Ayman I. Hawari Cc: Justin Hudson; Josh Borromeo; Duane Hardesty; Gerald Wicks; Colby Sorrell
Subject:
Audit Plan Related to the NRC Staff Review of the North Carolina State University License Request Regarding Fueled Experiments for the PULSTAR Research Reactor (EPID No. L-2022-NFA-0004)
Attachments: Audit Plan.pdf
Dear Dr. Hawari:
By letter dated April 18, 2022 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS)
ML22108A168) and supplemented on July 11, 2022 (ADAMS ML22193A167), North Carolina State University (NCSU) submitted an amendment to Facility Operating License No. R-120 for the North Carolina State University PULSTAR Research Reactor. The license amendment request (LAR) proposes to amend NCSUs license conditions (LCs) and technical specifications (TSs) to allow it to increase the quantity of uranium-235 (U-235) in fueled experiments; to allow it to perform fueled experiments with other fissionable material in addition to U-235; and to allow it to perform vented fueled experiments.
The amendment would also make other changes related to fueled experiments, including revising the TS definition of fueled experiment, increasing the license possession limits for fissile materials to be used in fueled experiments, as well as some administrative changes to the TSs. NCSU stated that the amendment would allow the LCs and TSs to accommodate its planned experimental needs.
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff (NRC) is reviewing the LAR and has determined that a regulatory audit is necessary to complete its review.
Attached, please find an audit plan containing information regarding this audit including the bases, scope, NRC staff audit team members, and deliverables.
If you have any questions, please contact Justin Hudson at (301) 287-0538 or by electronic mail at Justin.Hudson@nrc.gov, or me at (301) 415-4067 or by electronic mail at Edward.Helvenston@nrc.gov.
Sincerely, Ed Helvenston, U.S. NRC Non-Power Production and Utilization Facility Licensing Branch (UNPL)
Division of Advanced Reactors and Non-Power Production and Utilization Facilities (DANU)
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR)
(301) 415-4067
Hearing Identifier: NRR_DRMA Email Number: 1819 Mail Envelope Properties (BY5PR09MB59564AB85904A4DEC958F9EBE0379)
Subject:
Audit Plan Related to the NRC Staff Review of the North Carolina State University License Request Regarding Fueled Experiments for the PULSTAR Research Reactor (EPID No. L-2022-NFA-0004)
Sent Date: 10/31/2022 1:00:42 PM Received Date: 10/31/2022 1:00:00 PM From: Edward Helvenston Created By: Edward.Helvenston@nrc.gov Recipients:
"Justin Hudson" <Justin.Hudson@nrc.gov>
Tracking Status: None "Josh Borromeo" <Joshua.Borromeo@nrc.gov>
Tracking Status: None "Duane Hardesty" <Duane.Hardesty@nrc.gov>
Tracking Status: None "Gerald Wicks" <wicks@ncsu.edu>
Tracking Status: None "Colby Sorrell" <ncsorrel@ncsu.edu>
Tracking Status: None "Ayman I. Hawari" <aihawari@ncsu.edu>
Tracking Status: None Post Office: BY5PR09MB5956.namprd09.prod.outlook.com Files Size Date & Time MESSAGE 1944 10/31/2022 1:00:00 PM Audit Plan.pdf 176089 Options Priority: Normal Return Notification: No Reply Requested: No Sensitivity: Normal Expiration Date:
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY - REGULATORY AUDIT RE: LICENSE AMENDMENT REQUEST REGARDING FUELED EXPERIMENTS FOR THE PULSTAR RESEARCH REACTOR (EPID NO. L-2022-NFA-0004)
LICENSEE INFORMATION Licensee: North Carolina State University Facility: PULSTAR Reactor License No.: Facility Operating License No. R-120 Docket No.: 50-297
Background
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff is continuing its review of the North Carolina State University (NCSU) PULSTAR Research Reactor license amendment request (LAR) dated April 18, 2022 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML22108A166), as supplemented by letter dated July 11, 2022 (ADAMS Accession No. ML22193A167). This regulatory audit is intended to assist the NRC staff in its review of the LAR.
Regulatory Bases for the Audit The purpose of this audit is to determine if NCSUs LAR related to fueled experiments meets all the applicable regulatory requirements of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) and addresses 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, (ADAMS Accession Nos.: ML042430055 and ML042430048, respectively).
Regulatory Scope for the Audit This audit will focus on information provided by NCSU in the online reference portal, during virtual meetings, and/or during a site visit. This audit will provide the NRC staff with information related to the NRC staffs evaluation of the LAR and allow the NRC staff to effectively gain insights on the LAR. The regulatory audit may identify additional information that will be required to be docketed to support the basis of the NRC staffs licensing decision on the LAR.
Further details related to the audit, including information subject to this audit, specific objectives, and specific topics or questions to be discussed will be identified in subsequent correspondence, such as email, and dates will be proposed for the discussion of the information.
Information Needed for the Audit NCSU should be prepared to provide documents, calculations, and other material, as applicable, supporting the analyses and justifications for the LAR. NCSU should also be prepared to discuss the proposed technical specifications (TSs) and their bases with the NRC staff. The NRC staff may request that NCSU provide bounding dose calculations for routine and accident doses that are based on the maximum fueled experiment(s) allowed within the proposed TSs (e.g., based on the proposed TS-maximum fission rate). This will allow the NRC staff to determine the acceptability of the proposed changes.
The NRC staff may request that NCSU make these materials available in an online reference portal (if used) and/or during a potential site visit.
During a site visit, in addition to making documents available for review and discussion, NCSU should be prepared to support the NRC staff with a comprehensive tour of the facility, as necessary.
Audit Team The NRC staff performing this audit will be:
- Justin Hudson (Project Manager, Audit Leader, and Technical Reviewer)
- Duane Hardesty (Project Manager, and Technical Reviewer)
- Edward Helvenston (Project Manager, and Technical Reviewer)
- Joshua Borromeo (Branch Chief)
- Holly Cruz (Project Manager, and Technical Reviewer)
Audit Team Logistics Entrance Meeting Early November, 2022 Exit Meeting To be determined, within approximately 4 months of entrance meeting Audit meetings will take place in a virtual format, using Microsoft Teams or other similar platforms. Audit meetings will be scheduled on an as needed basis after the entrance meeting.
In addition, to support this audit, the NRC staff may visit the PULSTAR facility in Raleigh, NC.
Mutually agreeable dates will be established for meetings and/or a site visit, and discussion or review topics provided to NCSU in advance. The audit will begin in early November, 2022, and will continue for approximately 4 months, with activities occurring intermittently during that period. As necessary, informal interim reports on the status of topics being addressed by the audit will be provided to NCSU.
The audit period may be reduced or extended, dependent on the NRC staff and NCSU progress in addressing the audit questions. Additional audit activities may be planned as necessary to support the NRC staffs understanding of information needed to complete the review of the license amendment.
To improve the efficiency of the audit, NCSU and NRC staff discussed the use of an online reference portal, established by NCSU, that would allow NRC staff limited read-only access to the technical information provided by NCSU. Use of the online reference portal is acceptable provided that NCSU establishes measures to limit access to specific NRC staff (e.g., based on NRC email addresses or the use of passwords which will only be assigned to NRC staff directly involved in the audit on a need-to-know basis), and to make the documents view-only (i.e.,
prevent NRC staff from saving, copying, downloading, or printing any documents). The conditions associated with the online reference portal must be maintained throughout the audit process, if a portal is used. The NRC staff who should initially be granted access to the portal, if used, are those listed in the Team Assignments section above. As needed, the NRC audit project manager may provide NCSU with the names of additional NRC staff who are added to the audit team and should subsequently be granted access.
Deliverables At the completion of the audit, the audit team will issue an audit summary within 90 days after the exit meeting but will strive for a shorter duration. The audit summary will be declared and entered as an official agency record in ADAMS and be made available for public viewing.
Please contact Justin Hudson at 301-287-0538 or by email at Justin.Hudson@nrc.gov, or Ed Helvenston at 301-415-4047 or by email at Edward.Helvenston@nrc.gov with any questions related to the conduct of the audit.