ML23062A505

TRISO-X Fuel Fabrication Facility Scoping Meetings and Audit Summary - January 2023

ML23062A505
Person / Time
Site:	Triso-X
Issue date:	03/03/2023
From:	Caverly J Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards
To:
References
Download: ML23062A505 (1)

Text

UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001

SUMMARY

OF THE U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISION ENVIRONMENTAL SCOPING MEETING, OUTREACH MEETINGS AND AUDIT FOR AN APPLICATION FOR A SPECIAL NUCLEAR MATERIAL LICENSE FOR THE TRISO-X PROPOSED FUEL FABRICATION FACILITY I. INTRODUCTION Staff from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), Office Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS) performed scoping activities in support of its review of an application from TRISO-X, LLC (TRISO-X) for a special nuclear material application for a nuclear fuel fabrication facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The staff toured the site on January 25, 2023. Staff also met with the public and local governments while near the site. A virtual audit was held the following week. A summary of the staffs activities follows.

II. MEETINGS WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS During the week of January 23, 2023, the NRC staff from the Division of Rulemaking, Environmental and Financial Support (REFS), the Division of Fuel Management (DFM), and Region II supported outreach and scoping meetings with local governments and the public to exchange information on the TRISO-X Fuel Fabrication Facility application. The NRC staff supported the meetings included:

• John Moses, NRC/NMSS/REFS

• Jill Caverly, NRC/NMSS/REFS

• Marla Morales, NRC/NMSS/REFS

• Antoinette Walker-Smith, NRC/NMSS/REFS

• Robert Sun, NRC/NMSS/REFS

• Isaac Johnston, NRC/NMSS/REFS

• John Pelchat, NRC/Region II/DFFI

• Matt Bartlett, NRC/NMSS/DFM

• Jonathan Rowley, NRC/NMSS/DFM

• Emery Hartz, Numark (NRC/NMSS/REFS Contractor)

• Jason Lancaster, Numark (NRC/ NMSS/REFS Contractor)

• Jim Douglass, Numark (NRC/NMSS/REFS Contractor)

• Andrew Marchese, Numark (NRC/NMSS/REFS Contractor)

The following is a summary of the government-to-government meetings. The purpose of the interaction with local officials was an exchange of information. The staff opened each meeting with a summary of the application and an overview of NRCs regulatory responsibilities and review process. The general interest from most of the governmental organizations included security, emergency response, emissions, and waste generation.

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ROANE COUNTY COMMISSION Monday, January 23, 2023, at 2:00pm in-person Attendees:

• Wade Creswell, County Executive

• Charlotte Cunningham, Roane County Commissioner

• Brad Goss, Roane County Commissioner

• Ben Gann, Roane County Commissioner

• Lance Duff, Roane County Commissioner

• Chris Lehman, Roane County Commissioner

• Tim Suter, Director of Emergency Services The safety team led the in-person discussion and responded to questions. The Roane County representatives were generally supportive of the project. The Commission questions were centered on the amount and type of waste, type of effluents, emergency planning, and security.

The staff explained that it will evaluate the frequency of shipments, emergency planning, and security during the evaluation. The NRC staff asked about plans to build a regional airport in the vicinity of the TRISO-X facility. The officials stated they continue to find a location for airport in the area, but there are several issues that need to be worked out. It is a goal for the county, but whether the project moves forward is uncertain.

TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION (TDEC)

January 24, 2023, 9:00 am via TEAMS Attendees:

• Roger Parson, Licensing Manager

• Mariza Gonzalez, Environmental Manager

• Roger Fenner, Radiation Health Manager Staff from Environmental Review Materials Branch (ERMB) and the DFM met with the TDEC in a virtual meeting. The staff answered clarifying questions including the potential for effluent releases, and security measures. There was additional discussion about the greenway on the north side of the property and potential for a regional airport.

TENNESSEE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (TEMA)

January 24, 2025, 11:00 am in-person Attendees:

• Matt Heckard, Assistant Director TEMA

• Roger Thompson, DOE Program Manager

• David West, DOE Program Coordinator

• David Tindall, DOE Project Manager ERMB and DFM staff met with TEMA in-person. TEMA engaged staff in a discussion on various Emergency Planning topics (natural hazards; funding for first responder training, funding for equipment/ training/ staff). TEMA also noted that the TRISO-X facility would be critical infrastructure. Staff will request the applicant take measures to share the emergency plans with TEMA for early planning. The question from TEMA regarding financial support for emergency services will also be shared with the applicant.

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ANDERSON COUNTY MAYOR AND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS January 24, 2023, 2:00pm Attendees:

• Terry Frank, Anderson County Mayor

• Catherine Denenberg, Anderson County Commissioner

• Stephen Verran, Anderson County Commissioner

• Tracy Wandell, Anderson County Commissioner

• Denise Palmer, Anderson County Commissioner

• Michael Foster, Anderson County Commissioner

• Robert Smallridge, Anderson County Commissioner

• Anthony Allen, Anderson County Commissioner

• Phil Yager, Anderson County Commissioner

• Josh Anderson, Anderson County Commission Chairman

• Karen Ooten, Anderson County Emergency Management Agency The NRC staff provided a brief overview of the project and the NRCs role in the licensing of the proposed fuel fabrication facility. The Anderson County officials asked questions about waste generated by the project, the need for emergency coordination, frequency of shipments to and from the facility, types of shipping containers used, and the coordination of the facility owners for emergency preparedness and response.

GOVERNMENT-TO-GOVERNMENT OPEN HOUSE January 25, 2023, 12:30 pm Attendees:

• Ellen Smith, City of Oak Ridge Council Member

• Jack Suggs, City of Oak Ridge

• Travis Solomon, City of Oak Ridge - Fire Chief

• Jody Durham, City of Oak Ridge - Deputy Fire Chief

• Mark Watson, City of Oak Ridge - City Manager

• Amy Fitzgerald, City of Oak Ridge - Government Affairs

• James Dodson, City of Oak Ridge - Mayor Pro Tem The City of Oak Ridge officials expressed support for the facility and seek to ensure that the safety and environmental review process proceeds effectively and expeditiously. A number of topics were discussed including questions about the chemistry of the TRISO-X carbon compounds, waste storage, fire protection standards, whether shipments are regulated by the NRC or other agencies, re-use of shipping casks, whether the NRC or the applicant prepares an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), potential siting of a regional airport, Navy Nuclear Security Agency facilities, and emergency operation centers. Oak Ridge officials also provided helpful feedback on the process for the public meeting (e.g., invite on-site participants to speak first then shift to virtual participants, move on to the next caller in case participants experience difficulty with online tools, etc.), based on the recent Kairos public meeting on the draft EIS. Oak Ridge officials demonstrated a deep knowledge of nuclear production, security, emergency preparedness, and other topics associated with the civilian use of nuclear materials.

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III. PUBLIC ENVIRONMENTAL SCOPING MEETING - DOUBLETREE HOTEL OAK RIDGE, TENNESSEE January 25, 2023 Scoping Open House Staff held a public open house on Wednesday evening January 25, 2023, one hour before the scoping meeting. Approximately 30 to 35 members of the public, local government, TRISO-X, and media attended the one-hour open house. The NRC staff provided a 1-page information brochure for the project & process. Technical staff and project managers were available to answer questions and talk informally. The applicant also staffed a table with hand-outs and answered questions about the project. Several members of the public expressed concerns about a greenway/bike path located at the north side of the property and maintaining the vegetation and canopy.

Scoping Public Meeting On January 25, 2023, at 7:00pm, the NRC staff initiated the public scoping meeting.

Approximately 45 members of the public attended in-person and 11 attended online or by telephone. Local officials raised points about the impacts of shipments on transportation infrastructure (e.g., possible changes to roadway medians for vehicle turning into / out of the facility), while expressing their support. Members of the public expressed strong support for the agency and its responsibilities to review the safety, security, and environmental impact of the proposed facility and strong support for the facility. A member of the public, expressing support for the facility and the agency's review process, remarked that they formerly prepared EISs and asked whether we could complete the EIS faster. Six people made comments in-person, one person added a comment to the record through the court reporter after the meeting and one person made a comment over the phone.

IV. TRISO-X ENVIRONMENTAL AUDIT - VIRTUAL January 31, and February 1, 2 and 6, 2023 On the afternoons of January 31, 2023, and February 1, 2 and 6, 2023, the NRC staff met virtually with the TRISO-X review team to discuss information needs. The topics covered all resource areas within the environmental review. Specific topics included local permit requirements, timing of a transportation report and pre-construction timeline. TRISO-X explained its current timeline and potential implementation of removal of trees and the related bat habitat. The NRC staff received clarification on the proposed facility details including: 1) there will be no interaction with groundwater from the proposed facility, 2) there is no surface water needed in the production process, and 3) all waste will be collected, sorted and disposed of in suitable disposal facilities. The staff also received clarification on the permits required for the project from State and Federal agencies.

The staffs next steps will be to develop requests for additional information (RAI) as they complete the environmental impacts evaluation and develop a draft EIS. The staff will request a 30-day response to RAIs to maintain the current schedule. Staff noted that any delays in response may impact the current review schedule.

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