ML23191A864
| ML23191A864 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 99902094 |
| Issue date: | 07/10/2023 |
| From: | Patrick Boyle NRC/NRR/DANU |
| To: | Brooks C University of Illinois |
| References | |
| Download: ML23191A864 (5) | |
Text
From:
Patrick Boyle Sent:
Monday, July 10, 2023 2:42 PM To:
csbrooks@illinois.edu; trgunloh@illinois.edu; lfoyto@illinois.edu Cc:
Edward Helvenston; Josh Borromeo; Paulette Torres; Patrick Boyle
Subject:
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign - Audit Plan for the Fuel Qualification Methodology Topical Report Attachments:
Audit Plan - UIUC FQM TR.pdf
Dear Dr. Brooks,
By letter dated February 7, 2023, (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) package Accession No. ML23038A240), the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), submitted to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), a Topical Report (TR) describing the High Temperature Gas-cooled Research Reactor (HTGR) Fuel Qualification Methodology. By email dated March 31, 2023 (ML23088A117), the NRC provided the TR completeness determination (ML23088A125) that the material present is sufficient to begin our review.
Upon initial technical review of the TR, the NRC staff has determined that a regulatory audit would assist in the detailed review of the fuel qualification methodology and the resolution of technical questions resulting from that review. The NRC staff will conduct the audit to seek clarification, gain understanding, and verify information related to the proposed HTGR fuel qualification methodology. The NRC staff will coordinate with UIUC to kick off the audit in July 2023, in accordance with the attached audit plan.
If you have any questions, please contact Edward Helvenston at (301) 415-4067 or via email at Edward.Helvenston@nrc.gov or Patrick Boyle at (301) 415-3936 or via email at Patrick.Boyle@nrc.gov.
Sincerely, Patrick G. Boyle Project Manager (non-power)
NRR/DANU/UNPL Office: O-06B55, Mail Stop: O-06A51M Phone: 301-415-3936 Docket No. 99902094 EPID: L-2022-NFN-0005
Hearing Identifier:
NRR_DRMA Email Number:
2156 Mail Envelope Properties (SA1PR09MB8654E603B009CEE955128301F030A)
Subject:
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign - Audit Plan for the Fuel Qualification Methodology Topical Report Sent Date:
7/10/2023 2:42:12 PM Received Date:
7/10/2023 2:42:16 PM From:
Patrick Boyle Created By:
Patrick.Boyle@nrc.gov Recipients:
"Edward Helvenston" <Edward.Helvenston@nrc.gov>
Tracking Status: None "Josh Borromeo" <Joshua.Borromeo@nrc.gov>
Tracking Status: None "Paulette Torres" <Paulette.Torres@nrc.gov>
Tracking Status: None "Patrick Boyle" <Patrick.Boyle@nrc.gov>
Tracking Status: None "csbrooks@illinois.edu" <csbrooks@illinois.edu>
Tracking Status: None "trgunloh@illinois.edu" <trgunloh@illinois.edu>
Tracking Status: None "lfoyto@illinois.edu" <lfoyto@illinois.edu>
Tracking Status: None Post Office:
SA1PR09MB8654.namprd09.prod.outlook.com Files Size Date & Time MESSAGE 1532 7/10/2023 2:42:16 PM Audit Plan - UIUC FQM TR.pdf 289456 Options Priority:
Normal Return Notification:
No Reply Requested:
No Sensitivity:
Normal Expiration Date:
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS URBANA-CHAMPAIGN - AUDIT PLAN FOR TOPICAL REPORT FOR UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS URBANA-CHAMPAIGN HIGH-TEMPERATURE GAS-COOLED RESEARCH REACTOR: FUEL QUALIFICATION METHODOLOGY (EPID: L2022-NFN-0005)
SPONSOR INFORMATION Sponsor:
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Sponsor Address:
Department of Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering Talbot Laboratory, Room 111C, MC-234 104 South Wright St., Urbana, IL 61801 Plant Name:
UIUC Micro Modular Reactor Project No(s):
99902094
Background:
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) plans to construct a Micro Modular Reactor (MMR),
designed by Ultra Safe Nuclear Company (USNC), and is engaged in pre-application discussions with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff regarding the planned high temperature gas cooled MMR reactor design. As part of pre-application activities, UIUC has submitted various topical reports and white papers. On February 7, 2023, UIUC submitted to the NRC staff, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign High Temperature Gas-cooled Research Reactor: Fuel Qualification Methodology (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) package Accession No. ML23038A240). The topical report describes the methodology UIUC plans to use to qualify fully encapsulated ceramic matrix (FCM) fuel for use in the planned MMR at UIUC.
Purpose:
The purpose of the audit is to allow the NRC staff to (1) efficiently gain an understanding of the detailed information supporting the topical report (TR); (2) verify information; and/or (3) identify information that will require docketing to support the development of the safety evaluation report.
Regulatory Audit Basis:
The basis for the audit is the regulations in Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR),
Part 50, Domestic Licensing of Production and Utilization Facilities, Section 50.34, Contents of applications; technical information, which indicate the information that is required to be included in a preliminary safety analysis report or final safety analysis report supporting a construction permit or operating license application, respectively. The subject TR provides a methodology that will be used to qualify FCM fuel which will serve as the primary heat-producing SSC important to safety in the MMR at UIUC. UIUC may reference approved topical reports to support future licensing applications related to the planned MMR.
Regulatory Audit Scope The regulatory audit will follow guidance in NRR Office Instruction LIC-111, Regulatory Audits (ML19226A274). This audit will focus on information provided by UIUC in an online reference portal and during virtual meetings. This audit will provide the NRC staff with information related to the NRC staffs evaluation of the TR. Specific audit discussion topics associated with this audit may be provided in subsequent correspondence, such as an email.
Information and Other Material Necessary for the Regulatory Audit UIUC should be prepared to provide supporting information, references, data, etc. to support explanations and/or answers associated with any questions provided. Specific questions and discussion topics to support this audit will be communicated to ACU via e-mail and will be entered as a public record in ADAMS, as appropriate.
Team Members Daniel Beacon Technical Reviewer Kyle Song Technical Reviewer Edward Helvenston Project Manager Patrick Boyle Project Manager Additional audit team members may be added by the project manager and communicated to UIUC as needed.
Logistics Entrance Meeting July 2023 Exit Meeting TBD Audit meetings will take place in a virtual format, using Microsoft Teams, or via other, similar platform. Audit meetings will be scheduled on an as needed basis after the entrance meeting and, as appropriate, once the NRC staff has had the opportunity to read any documents placed in the online reference portal. The audit will begin in July 2023, and continue as necessary, with activities occurring intermittently during the audit period.
The audit period may be reduced or extended, dependent on the NRC staff and UIUC progress in addressing the audit topics. Additional audit activities may be planned as necessary to support the NRC staffs understanding of information needed to complete the review of the topical report.
To improve the efficiency of the audit, UIUC and the NRC staff discussed the use of an online reference portal, established by UIUC, that would allow the NRC staff limited read-only access to the material and other technical information placed in the online reference portal. The use of the online reference portal is acceptable provided that UIUC establishes measures to limit access to specific NRC staff (e.g., based on NRC e-mail addresses or the use of passwords which will only be assigned to the NRC staff directly involved in the audit on a need-to-know basis), and to make the documents read-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. The NRC staff who should initially be granted access to the portal are those listed in the Team Members section above. As needed, the NRC Project Manager may provide UIUC with the names of additional NRC staff members who are added to the audit team and should be granted access.
Special Requests The NRC staff requests that UIUC ensure that their technical staff are available to answer questions during the audit.
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 added to and declared as an official agency record in ADAMS and be made available for public viewing.
References Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
Please contact Edward Helvenston at (301) 415-4067 or via email at Edward.Helvenston@nrc.gov or Patrick Boyle (301) 415-3936 or via email at Patrick.Boyle@nrc.gov with any questions related to the conduct of the audit.