ML23244A222
| ML23244A222 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 99902071 |
| Issue date: | 09/01/2023 |
| From: | NRC/NRR/DANU/UAL2 |
| To: | |
| References | |
| Download: ML23244A222 (1) | |
Text
1 ADAMS Accession No. ML23244A222 PRE-APPLICATION READINESS ASSESSMENT PLAN OF X-ENERGY LICENSING TOPICAL REPORT XE-100 TRAINING PROGRAMS METHODOLOGY, CONTROL ROOM OPERATOR LICENSING, AND ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS TOPICAL REPORT Docket No. 99902071 LOCATION Virtual staff review of licensing topical report (LTR) through the X-energy electronic reading room (eRR).
PURPOSE X ENERGY, LLC. (X-energy) has requested to engage with the staff of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in a pre-application engagement Readiness Assessment activity for the draft X-energy LTR Xe-100 Training Programs Methodology, Control Room Operator Licensing, and Eligibility Requirements Topical Report, before the LTR is submitted for a formal NRC review.
The Readiness Assessment engagement will allow the NRC staff to:
identify information gaps between the draft LTR and the technical content that is expected to be submitted to the NRC, identify major technical or policy issues that may adversely impact the technical review of the LTR, and become familiar with the LTR, particularly in areas where X-energy is proposing new concepts or regulatory exemptions.
The observations from the Readiness Assessment, will inform X-energy in finalizing the LTR and assist the NRC staff in planning resources in preparation for the submittal and formal acceptance review.
BACKGROUND The NRC staff is currently engaged in pre-application activities for the X-energy Xe-100, including the review of LTRs describing the design approaches and methodologies for the Xe-100, in advance of a license application in accordance with Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 50, Domestic Licensing of Production and Utilization Facilities. The Xe-100 is a 200 MWt pebble bed high temperature gas reactor.
On June 2, 2022, X-energy submitted white paper Xe-100 Licensing White Paper: Training Programs, Control Room, (ADAMS Accession No. ML22294A104) which describes the approach X-energy is taking to develop the training programs for Xe-100 plant staff, the approach to qualifying Control Room Operators, and the approach to establishing eligibility requirements for Control Room Operators. On November 18, 2022, the NRC staff provided feedback on the white paper (ADAMS Accession No. ML22294A116).
2 ADAMS Accession No. ML23244A222 On April 17, 2023, the NRC staff held a closed meeting to discuss X-energys approach for developing exemptions to 10 CFR Part 55 operator licensing. During the meeting, X-energy reviewed the NRC staff comments on the white paper and presented a revised approach for control room qualifications. X-energy indicated during the meeting their intent to submit the subject LTR in the second quarter of 2023.
SCOPE OF THE PREAPPLICATION ENGAGEMENT The Readiness Assessment will cover only the draft X-energy LTR Xe-100 Training Programs Methodology, Control Room Operator Licensing, and Eligibility Requirements Topical Report.
INFORMATION AND OTHER MATERIAL NECESSARY FOR THE PREAPPLICATION ENGAGEMENT The staff has discussed with X-energy the logistics for the Readiness Assessment engagement, including the specific staff participation. X-energy will provide the staff with the draft LTR in a X-energy eRR at least one week in advance of the Readiness Assessment meeting. In addition, the staff will conduct the Readiness Assessment based on the NRC-NRR Office Instruction LIC-116, Revision 0, Preapplication Readiness Assessment, (ADAMS Accession No. ML20104B698) and as outlined in Appendix A - Pre-Application Engagement Guidance - to the NRCs Draft Interim Staff Guidance, Review of Risk-Informed, Technology-Inclusive Advanced Reactor ApplicationsRoadmap, DANU-ISG-2022-01 (ADAMS Accession No. ML22048B546). Specifically, the staff will review the LTR for aspects of the proposed submittal that may be inconsistent with applicable review guidance and regulations (other than where the application indicates it is proposing an alternative to an approach contemplated by review guidance.
PRE-APPLICATION ENGAGEMENT TEAM The NRC staff Readiness Assessment engagement team will include technical staff from the Division of Reactor Oversight (DRO) and the Division of Advanced Reactor and Non-Power Production and Utilization Facilities (DANU).
LOGISTICS The Readiness Assessment engagement will be conducted from September 11, 2023, until September 19, 2023, finalizing with a closed meeting in-person or virtually. The draft LTR will be provided for staff review in the X-energy eRR from September 11, 2023, until the Readiness Assessment feedback meeting. The staff will provide its draft feedback by September 20 to support discussions during the feedback meeting. The feedback meeting is being planned for the end of September 2023 and will be a closed meeting, where NRC staff will discuss its preliminary feedback on the readiness of the LTR.
PRE-APPLICATION ENGAGEMENT OBSERVATIONS The staff will complete its engagement activities and will provide the final feedback to X-energy in an email within two weeks of the feedback meeting. The NRC staff will send the Readiness Assessment engagements observations, including any identified technical concerns or major information gaps, to X-energy in publicly available assessment. The staffs expectation is that X-energy will consider the observations from the Readiness Assessment engagement
3 ADAMS Accession No. ML23244A222 activities while finalizing the application and may reevaluate the application submission date based on its evaluation of the time to address the staffs observations.