ML23208A206
| ML23208A206 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Vallecitos Nuclear Center |
| Issue date: | 07/31/2023 |
| From: | Geoffrey Wertz Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | |
| References | |
| Download: ML23208A206 (4) | |
Text
July 31, 2023 LICENSEE: GENERAL ELECTRIC-HITACHI NUCLEAR ENERGY AMERICAS, LLC FACILITY:
GENERAL ELECTRIC-HITACHI NUCLEAR TEST REACTOR
SUBJECT:
SUMMARY
OF JUNE 1, 2023, MEETING WITH GE-HITACHI On June 1, 2023, an Observation public meeting was held between the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff and representatives of the General Electric-Hitachi (GEH) Energy Americas, LLC, Nuclear Test Reactor (NTR) facility. The meeting was conducted via teleconference webinar to discuss the planned closure of the NTR, and transfer of ownership of the NTR facility to NorthStar Group Services, Inc. Details of this can be in the GEH-issued press release issued May 9, 2023: https://www.ge.com/news/press-releases/ge-hitachi-announces-intent-to-transfer-ownership-of-vallecitos-nuclear-center A portion of the meeting was closed to the public to discuss security related information related to the closure and transfer of the NTR facility. The meeting notice and agenda can be found at Accession No. ML23138A183. A presentation was not provided by GEH staff. A list of the meeting attendees is in the enclosure to this summary. Only one member of the public was attended.
During the public meeting, GEH restated their plan to close the NTR facility at the end of calendar year 2023, and subsequently transfer ownership to NorthStar Group Services. NRC staff commented that the NTR license renewal was in final review and should finish in late June.
At which time, a member of the public inquired if the license renewal work would cease given the planned closure of the NTR. The NRC responded that GEH had not provided any instruction to the NRC staff to discontinue the license renewal, and thus the review would continue. The member of the public asked GEH staff if they planned to discontinue the NTR license renewal, and GEH staff answered with no additional comments and the NRC response was correct.
During the closed portion of the public meeting, GEH staff discussed aspects of the proposed possession-only license amendment for the NTR. GEH staff noted that the NTR is one of four NRC-licensed facilities at the Vallecitos Nuclear Center (VNC) site1, and discussed how the transfer may affect the VNC Physical Security Plan and VNC Emergency Plan. NRC staff provided feedback and suggested additional public meetings could be conducted, with a more specific focus area, in order to ensure that the appropriate NRC personnel are in attendance.
1 The VNC hosts four co-located reactors on the site. The NTR, License No. R-33, is the only operating reactor on the VNC site, while two power reactors: the Vallecitos Boiling Water Reactor (VBWR), License No. DPR-1; and the Empire State Atomic Development Agency Vallecitos Experimental Superheat Reactor (EVESR), License No. DR-10, are being decommissioned.
The GE Test Reactor (GETR), License No. TR-10, is currently in a SAFSTOR [Safe Storage condition].
GEH also has a Materials license, SNM-960.
Please direct any inquiries to me at 301-415-0893, or by email at Geoffrey.Wertz@nrc.gov.
/RA/
Geoffrey A. Wertz, Project Manager Non-Power Production and Utilization Facility Licensing Branch Division of Advanced Reactors and Non-Power Production and Utilization Facilities Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-73 License No. R-33
Enclosure:
As stated cc: GovDelivery Subscribers
Public Meeting Notice ML23138A183 Public Meeting Summary ML23208A206 NRC-001 OFFICE NRR/DANU/PM*
NRR/DANU/BC*
NRR/DANU/PM*
NAME GWertz JBorromeo GWertz DATE 7/27/23 7/27/23 7/31/23
Enclosure LIST OF ATTENDEES JUNE 1, 2023, MEETING WITH THE GE-HITACHI 1:00 P.M. - 2:00 P.M.
Name Organization Bobbie Lockwood GE Vernova Carlos Martinez GE Vernova Thomas J. McConnell GE Vernova Scott P. Murray GE Vernova Russell E. Stachowski GE Vernova John Zino F.
GE Vernova Duane Hardesty U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Geoffrey Wertz U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Travis Jones U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Rebecca Ober U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Jeremy Wachutka U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Linh Tran U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Jack Parrott U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Anita Ghosh Naber U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Beth Reed U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Alan J. Kuperman, Ph.D.*
Associate Professor, LBJ School of Public Affairs Coordinator, Nuclear Proliferation Prevention Project, University of Texas at Austin
- attended open meeting only