ML23065A334

Abilene Christian University - December 9, 2022, Public Meeting Summary Regarding Discussion on Technical Focus Areas

ML23065A334
Person / Time
Site:	Abilene Christian University
Issue date:	05/01/2023
From:	Rivera R NRC/NRR/DANU/UAL1
To:	Michael Wentzel NRC/NRR/DANU/UAL1
Rivera R
References
EPID L-2022-NFW-0002
Download: ML23065A334 (4)

Text

W. Kenned UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 MEMORANDUM TO: Michael Wentzel, Branch Chief Advanced Reactor Licensing Branch 2 Division of Advanced Reactors and Non-Power Production and Utilization Facilities Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation FROM: Richard Rivera, Project Manager Advanced Reactor Licensing Branch 1 Division of Advanced Reactors and Non-Power Production and Utilization Facilities Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

SUMMARY

OF THE DECEMBER 9, 2022, PUBLIC MEETING BETWEEN THE U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION STAFF AND ABILENE CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY TO DISCUSS TECHNICAL FOCUS AREAS FOR THE MOLTEN SALT RESEARCH REACTOR CONSTRUCTION PERMIT APPLICATION (EPID L-2022-NFW-0002)

On December 9, 2022, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff held a hybrid observation public meeting with representatives from Abilene Christian University (ACU). The purpose of the meeting was to discuss several technical items that were identified during the acceptance review of the molten salt research reactor (MSRR) construction permit (CP) application. The meeting notice can be found in the NRCs Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML22325A209. The enclosure to this document provides the list of meeting attendees.

The meeting began with the NRC staff providing detailed information to explain each of the technical focus areas that were described in the acceptance letter, dated November 18, 2022 (ADAMS Accession No. ML22313A097), for the MSRR construction permit application. The list of areas discussed is as follows:

Research and development programs necessary to confirm the adequacy of the MSRR design.

Properties of graphite used in MSRR components.

Potential corrosion and degradation mechanisms of metallic MSRR components.

Use of effluent tanks in the fuel handling enclosure and how this may affect the proposed maximum hypothetical accident.

Management and disposal of transuranic-contaminated low-level waste generated by the MSRR.May 1, 2023 Signed by Rivera, Richard on 05/01/23

M. Wentzel

The NRCs intent on providing specific details for each of the technical focus areas was to allow ACU to understand the basis for the NRC identifying each of these focus areas and their significance for the timely review of the MSRR CP application. During the meeting, there were clarifying discussions between both parties on each of these focus areas to provide understanding on the specific items that need to be addressed and potential resolution paths.

The NRC staff emphasized the importance of addressing these items in a timely manner as they could potentially impact the review schedule, depending on how ACU intends to address each of the focus areas. ACU stated that it would like to engage with the NRC staff in the near future to continue the discussion on some of the focus areas, as well as to discuss any proposed mechanisms to address them in a timely manner.

During the meeting, the NRC staff also discussed the assumptions it used for the review schedule it provided to ACU by letter dated December 16, 2022 (ADAMS Accession No. ML22341A615). The assumptions discussed were as follows:

The review schedule is based, in part, on ACUs commitment to provide its responses to Requests for Additional Information (RAIs) within 30 days after the issuance of the RAIs, as well as ACUs ability to provide support and respond to questions in a timely and organized manner during technical audits.

The review schedule accounts for audits as well as the issuance of one round of RAIs.

Delays in the NRC staffs receipt of necessary information could result in changes to the review schedule.

There were two members of the public that provided questions and comments. One member of the public asked how seismic activity is addressed as there were recent earthquakes in Texas.

The NRC staff stated that seismic activity will be evaluated as part of its safety review of Chapter 2 of the MSRR Preliminary Safety Analysis Report. Another member of the public asked multiple questions regarding the fuel and specifics on how radioactive waste and fuel waste is handled and stored. The NRC staff stated that its safety and environmental reviews will include an evaluation of ACUs management of radioactive waste. The NRC staff noted that specific questions on how used fuel would be stored after MSRR decommissioning and specifics on the contract ACU enters with the Department of Energy to obtain the fuel may be addressed to the Department of Energy.

CONTACT: Richard Rivera, NRR/DANU/UARL1 (301) 415-7190

Docket No.: 50-610

Enclosure:

List of Attendees

ML23065A334 NRC-001 OFFICE NRR/DANU/UAL1/PM NRR/DANU/UAL2/BC NRR/DANU/UAL1/PM NAME RRivera MWentzel RRivera DATE 3/8/2023 4/12/2023 5/1/2023 List of Attendees

Name Organization Richard Rivera U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)

Zackary Stone NRC Courtney Banks NRC Donald Palmrose NRC Ethan Licon NRC Alexander Chereskin NRC Richard Harper NRC Julie Ezell NRC Patricia Vokoun NRC John Moses NRC Caroline Carusone NRC Joseph Giacinto NRC Kyle Song NRC Michael Wentzel NRC Chris Van Wert NRC Scott Tonsfeldt NRC Michelle Hayes NRC Kenneth Erwin NRC Ryann Bass NRC Rusty Towell Abilene Christian University (ACU)

Lester Towell ACU Kim Pamplin ACU Jonathan Scherr ACU Steven Biegalski Georgia Institute of Technology Derek A. Hass University of Texas at Austin Mark L. Kimber Texas A&M University Pavel Tsvetkov Texas A&M University Sean M. McDeavitt Texas A&M University Allen Dean Jorgenson Member of the Public Sheila Towell Member of the Public Karen Hadden Member of the Public Tyler Gates Member of the Public John Peter Bekker Member of the Public Delia Perez-Nunez Member of the Public Majeda Abu-Alghanam Member of the Public Christopher P. Chwasz Member of the Public John Pavlica Member of the Public William Jackson Reed Member of the Public Jake Shoemate Member of the Public Vicente Rojas Aguirre Member of the Public

Enclosure