ML23194A064
| ML23194A064 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 05000610 |
| Issue date: | 07/13/2023 |
| From: | Edward Helvenston NRC/NRR/DANU |
| To: | Towell R Abilene Christian University (ACU) |
| References | |
| Download: ML23194A064 (5) | |
Text
From: Edward Helvenston Sent: Thursday, July 13, 2023 8:42 AM To: Rusty Towell; Lester Towell; Benjamin Beasley; Tim Head; Jordan Robison; Alexander Adams Cc: Richard Rivera; Zackary Stone (He/Him/His); Michael Wentzel; Beth Reed; Charles Teal
Subject:
Abilene Christian University - Audit Plan for Pre-Submittal Audit Related to Physical Security for the Molten Salt Research Reactor Attachments: ACU security audit plan.pdf
Dear Dr. Towell,
By letter dated August 12, 2022 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS)
Accession No. ML22227A202), as supplemented by letter dated October 14, 2022 (ML22293B816), ACU submitted to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) an application for a construction permit (CP) for its planned MSRR, including a preliminary safety analysis report (PSAR). The MSRR would be located in the Science and Engineering Research Center (SERC) building on the ACU campus. By letter dated November 18, 2022 (ML22313A097), the NRC issued a letter accepting ACUs CP application for docketing and initiated the detailed technical review of the CP application. The PSAR states that ACU will submit an operating license (OL) application for the MSRR at a future date, and that an OL application would include a description of the security plan for the facility.
ACU requested an audit to provide the NRC staff an opportunity to assess ACUs preliminary plans and SERC building features for MSRR security, and ACUs preparations and readiness to submit a physical security plan (PSP) with an MSRR operating license application. The NRC staff will coordinate with ACU to conduct this audit beginning July 26, 2023, in accordance with the attached audit plan.
If you have any questions, please contact Richard Rivera at (301) 415-7190 or via email at Richard.Rivera@nrc.gov, Edward Helvenston at (301) 415-4067 or via email at Edward.Helvenston@nrc.gov, or Zackary Stone at (301) 415-0615 or via email at Zackary.Stone@nrc.gov.
Thank you, 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)
O-6B22 (301) 415-4067
Hearing Identifier: NRR_DRMA Email Number: 2163 Mail Envelope Properties (BY5PR09MB59567B4667BD4BE59CF6E307E037A)
Subject:
Abilene Christian University - Audit Plan for Pre-Submittal Audit Related to Physical Security for the Molten Salt Research Reactor Sent Date: 7/13/2023 8:41:59 AM Received Date: 7/13/2023 8:41:00 AM From: Edward Helvenston Created By: Edward.Helvenston@nrc.gov Recipients:
"Richard Rivera" <richard.rivera@nrc.gov>
Tracking Status: None "Zackary Stone (He/Him/His)" <Zackary.Stone@nrc.gov>
Tracking Status: None "Michael Wentzel" <Michael.Wentzel@nrc.gov>
Tracking Status: None "Beth Reed" <Elizabeth.Reed@nrc.gov>
Tracking Status: None "Charles Teal" <Charles.Teal@nrc.gov>
Tracking Status: None "Rusty Towell" <rxt01a@acu.edu>
Tracking Status: None "Lester Towell" <ldt20a@acu.edu>
Tracking Status: None "Benjamin Beasley" <bgb23b@acu.edu>
Tracking Status: None "Tim Head" <tlh07b@acu.edu>
Tracking Status: None "Jordan Robison" <jcr20b@acu.edu>
Tracking Status: None "Alexander Adams" <axa20j@acu.edu>
Tracking Status: None Post Office: BY5PR09MB5956.namprd09.prod.outlook.com Files Size Date & Time MESSAGE 1938 7/13/2023 8:41:00 AM ACU security audit plan.pdf 142302 Options Priority: Normal Return Notification: No Reply Requested: No Sensitivity: Normal Expiration Date:
ABILENE CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY - AUDIT PLAN FOR PRE-SUBMITTAL AUDIT RELATED TO PHYSICAL SECURITY FOR THE MOLTEN SALT RESEARCH REACTOR (EPID: L-2023-NFN-0008)
APPLICANT INFORMATION Applicant: Abilene Christian University (ACU)
Applicant Address: NEXT Lab, Abilene Christian University, ACU Box 28208 Abilene, TX 79699-8208 Plant Name: ACU Molten Salt Research Reactor (MSRR)
Docket No.: 50-610
Background:
By letter dated August 12, 2022 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML22227A202), as supplemented by letter dated October 14, 2022 (ML22293B816), ACU submitted to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) an application for a construction permit (CP) for its planned MSRR, including a preliminary safety analysis report (PSAR). The MSRR would be located in the Science and Engineering Research Center (SERC) building on the ACU campus. By letter dated November 18, 2022 (ML22313A097), the NRC issued a letter accepting ACUs CP application for docketing and initiated the detailed technical review of the CP application. The PSAR states that ACU will submit an operating license (OL) application for the MSRR at a future date, and that an OL application would include a description of the security plan for the facility.
Purpose:
ACU requested this audit to provide the NRC staff an opportunity to assess ACUs preliminary plans and SERC building features for MSRR security, and ACUs preparations and readiness to submit a physical security plan (PSP) with an MSRR operating license application. The audit will allow the NRC staff to (1) identify any potential security measures or information that may be missing from ACUs preliminary assessment of security needs, (2) identify technical or regulatory issues that may complicate the acceptance or technical reviews of an OL application including a PSP, and (3) become familiar with the planned MSRR design and operations, SERC facility, and potential content of an OL application and PSP, particularly in areas relevant to security. The NRC staff will summarize its observations related to items (1) and (2) in an audit report to be provided to ACU, as discussed below.
Regulatory Audit Basis:
The basis for the audit is the regulations in 10 CFR Part 73, Physical Protection of Plants and Materials, particularly 10 CFR 73.67, Licensee fixed site and in-transit requirements for the physical protection of special nuclear material of moderate and low strategic significance.
Regulatory Audit Scope This audit will focus primarily on information provided by ACU in interactions and observed by the NRC staff during a visit by the NRC staff to the ACU campus in Abilene, Texas. This audit will provide the NRC staff with information related to the NRC staffs evaluation of a PSP submitted as part of a MSRR OL application. Specific audit discussion topics associated with this audit may be provided in subsequent correspondence.
Information and Other Material Necessary for the Regulatory Audit During the site visit, ACU should be prepared to discuss its plans regarding security programs and features at the proposed MSRR facility, and to provide any related documents, reports, calculations, and other material, as applicable. ACU should also be prepared to discuss and provide any relevant documents regarding aspects of the MSRR and its design that could be important in determining the necessary security features for the facility.
In addition to making personnel available for discussion and documents available for review as appropriate, ACU should also be prepared to support the NRC staff with a comprehensive tour of the SERC or other ACU facilities, as necessary.
The NRC staff may provide to ACU specific audit topics or questions relevant to the evaluation of necessary security features for the MSRR and the staffs review of a PSP as part of an operating license application, as appropriate.
Audit Team Ed Helvenston Project Manager Beth Reed Security Specialist Additional audit team members may be added as needed.
Logistics Entrance Meeting July 26, 2023 (during site visit)
Exit Meeting TBD, within approximately one month of entrance meeting The audit will take place in meetings on July 26, 2023, at the ACU campus in Abilene, Texas.
Subsequent meetings, if necessary, may be held in a virtual format, using Microsoft Teams, or via another, similar platform. Any audit meetings after the onsite audit will be scheduled on an as needed basis.
The audit period may be reduced or extended, dependent on the NRC staff and ACU progress in addressing the audit topics.
Special Requests The NRC staff requests that ACU ensure that their technical staff are available to answer questions during the audit. The NRC staff expects that the onsite audit may involve discussions and documents including safeguards information (SGI), and therefore the NRC staff also requests that ACU make provisions for such discussions and document reviews, as appropriate.
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, as appropriate.