ML23019A020
| ML23019A020 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Triso-X |
| Issue date: | 01/19/2023 |
| From: | Matt Bartlett, Caverly J NRC/NMSS/DFM/FFLB, NRC/NMSS/DREFS/ERMB |
| To: | |
| References | |
| Download: ML23019A020 (1) | |
Text
1 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Environmental Scoping Meeting for an Application for a Special Nuclear Material License for TRISO-X Proposed Fuel Fabrication Facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee January 25, 2023 Jill Caverly, Sr Environmental Project Manager Matt Bartlett, Sr Safety Project Manager
2 Public Meeting Objectives
- Describe the Nuclear Regulatory Commissions (NRC)
Mission
- Describe the NRCs Review Process
- NRCs Environmental and Safety Review Process
- Describe the scoping process
- Explain how you can provide comments during the scoping period
- Receive comments on appropriate scope and content of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
3 NRC Regulates Mission:
To license and regulate the Nation's civilian use of radioactive materials to protect public health and safety, promote the common defense and security, and protect the environment.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission and its Mission
4 The NRCs Role
- Determine if the TRISO-X application meets NRC regulations for safety and safeguards, and protection of the environment.
- Determine if a special nuclear material license can be issued for TRISO-X fuel fabrication facility.
- Evaluate the environmental impacts of the activities associated with the fuel fabrication facility and provide that information to the decision maker.
5 TRISO-X, LLCs Request TRISO-X, LLC (TRISO-X) is requesting a license to possess and use special nuclear material for the manufacture of high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) (i.e., <20%
U-235) fuel at a fuel fabrication facility (FFF).
TRISO-X is requesting a 40-year license term under 10 CFR Part 70.
The TRISO-X FFF would be located at the Horizon Center Industrial Park on property abutting portions of Renovare Boulevard, within the western limits of the City of Oak Ridge and in the northeastern portion of Roane County, Tennessee.
The site is situated in an area dedicated and zoned for industrial development, on an approximately 110-acre greenfield site Proposed location of the TRISO-X FFF
6 TRISO-X LLCs PROPOSED FUEL FABRICATION FACILITY TRISO-X FFF would manufacture coated particle fuel for the next generation of commercial nuclear reactors TRISO-X FFF Modular design of the process may allow for additional manufacturing capabilities for a variety of fuel designs and reactors (e.g.,
pebble bed high temperature gas cooled, prismatic gas-cooled, molten salt-cooled, accident tolerant fuel, nuclear thermal propulsion, and others).
The site includes four buildings including: nuclear manufacturing, administrative offices, raw material preparation, and security.
Operations are supported by shipping and receiving, laboratory, quality control, research and development, uranium and chemical recovery, and waste disposal processes.
Source: TRISO-X LLC
7 NRC License Application Review Process Adjudicatory Hearings, if needed ASLB*: Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel NRC Begins Safety Review NRC Begins Environmental Review NRC Issues Safety Evaluation Report NRC Issues Environmental Impact Statement NRC Adjudicatory Hearings* (ASLB**)
NRC Makes a Regulatory Decision Applicant Submits License Application NRC Decides Whether to Accept Application for Detailed Review NRC Dockets License Application NRC Adjudicatory Decision Issued, if needed
8 TRISO-X Fuel Fabrication Process
- Process: Manufacture triple-carbon encapsulated uranium micro-spheres
- Product: Combine uranium coated particles into fuel pebbles
- Distribution: Package for shipment to advance reactors.
Enlarged Actual Size Cutaway Final Pebble
9 Example Areas Important to Safety
- Radiation Protection: Minimize internal exposure to uranium (e.g., glove boxes, scrubbers)
- Chemical Safety: Control hazardous chemicals (e.g., nitric acid, ammonia)
- Criticality: Ensure double contingency to prevent a criticality (e.g., limit mass and geometry)
- Fire/Explosion: Implement fire protections (e.g., monitoring, alarms, limit combustibles)
Glove Box
10 NRC Licensing Process Acceptance Develop request for additional information Draft the safety and safeguards evaluation report Hold meetings, audits, and site visits with the applicant Final reviews for approval Regulatory finding (if approved, issue a license)
Submittal of Application Completed In process Future September 23, 2022 November 25, 2022 Sep. 2022 -
Oct. 2023 2023-2024 Fall of 2024 Spring of 2025 Develop the final safety and safeguards evaluation report June 2025
11 NRC Environmental Review Process You are here Draft EIS stages Final EIS stages Public participation
12 Evaluate environmental impacts of the proposed action per National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
NRC is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
- NRC regulations in 10 CFR Part 51
- Environmental Review Guidance (NUREG-1748), Environmental Review Guidance for Licensing Actions Associated with NMSS Programs EIS provides decision makers and the public with a detailed and thorough evaluation of significant environmental impacts Collect public comments on the scope of the environmental review that the NRC is conducting Your input to the NEPA process for the EIS is vital - your comments will be used in developing the appropriate scope and content of the EIS.
Environmental Review
13 Information Gathering EIS CISF License Application Staffs Site Audit Public Comments State, Local &
Other Agencies Tribes Federal Agencies
14 Resource Areas Air Quality Scenic and Visual Public and Occupational Health Ecology Land Use Socioeconomics Environmental Justice Water Resources (Surface and Groundwater)
Geology and Soils Transportation Waste Management Noise Historic and Cultural
15 Anticipated Environmental Review Schedule Published Federal Register notice December 16, 2022 Scoping period: December 16, 2022 to February 16, 2023 Expect to publish draft EIS in early 2024 There will be at least a 45-day comment period on the Draft EIS Expect to publish Final EIS in 2025 NRCs NEPA Process Notice of Intent to Conduct Scoping and Prepare EIS Scoping Process Notice of Availability of Draft EIS Public Comments on Draft EIS Notice of Availability of Final EIS
16 Why is NRC requesting comments?
The scoping process is intended to:
- Determine the scope of the EIS
- Identify the significant issues pertinent to the environmental review
- Identify and eliminate issues that are not significant
- Identify other environmental reviews and consultation requirements related to the proposed action
17 Scoping Comments Include:
- Local issues
- Site specific characteristics
- Local ecology and habitats
- Local sources of information
- Historic properties that may be affected
- Specific issues or alternatives that might be include and/or eliminated
18 How to Provide Scoping Comments Present oral or written comments at this meeting Federal Rulemaking Website: http://www.regulations.gov search for Docket ID NRC-2022-0201 Mail comments to:
Office of Administration, Mail Stop: TWFN-7-A60M, ATTN: Program Management, Announcements and Editing U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001,
- Please note Docket ID NRC-2022-0201 in the subject line**
Email comments to: TRISOX-EIS@nrc.gov Scoping comment period ends February 16, 2023.
19 For Additional Information:
Federal Rulemaking Website: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2022-0201.
- NRCs Public Document Room (PDR): One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852 (Tel: 800-397-4209; Fax: 301-415-3548; pdr.resource@nrc.gov)
- NRCs Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS): http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html, using the TRISO-X-specific NRC docket number 70-7027 or 07007027 NRC Public Web Site for TRISO-Xs application:
https://www.nrc.gov/info-finder/fc/triso-x
20 NRC TEAM Contacts Environmental Review Project Managers
Jill Caverly: 301-415-7674; Jill.Caverly@nrc.gov
Marla Morales: 301-415-0715; Marla.Morales@nrc.gov Licensing and Safety Review Project Managers
Matt Bartlett: 301-415-7154; Matthew.Bartlett@nrc.gov
Jonathan Rowley: 3014-415-4053; Jonathan.Rowley@nrc.gov Media Inquiries - NRC Office of Public Affairs
OPA.Resource@nrc.gov