ML23279A132

GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy - Vallecitos Nuclear Center, Getr Decommissioning Plan (License Number TR-1, Docket Number 50-70)

ML23279A132
Person / Time
Site:	Vallecitos Nuclear Center, Vallecitos
Issue date:	11/13/2023
From:	Shaun Anderson Reactor Decommissioning Branch
To:	Murray S GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy
References
Download: ML23279A132 (1)

Text

November 7, 2023 Scott P. Murray, Manager Facility Licensing GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy 3901 Castle Hayne Road P.O. Box 780 Wilmington, NC 28402

SUBJECT:

DECOMMISSIONING THE VALLECITOS NUCLEAR CENTER SHUTDOWN REACTORS - GE TEST REACTOR DECOMMISSIONING PLAN

Dear Scott P. Murray:

By letter from GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) dated September 26, 2023, (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System

[ADAMS] Accession No. ML23269A106), GEH indicated that the Decommissioning Plan (DP) submittal for the GE Test Reactor (GETR) would be delayed from the projected date of October 11, 2023. This projected DP submittal date was originally proposed in the GEH letter to the NRC dated November 11, 2021 (ML21315A005), in response to an NRC letter dated October 12, 2021 (ML21258A042), accepting the withdraw of the GEH request for an alternate decommissioning schedule for the shutdown reactors at the Vallecitos Nuclear Center (VNC).

At the time that the NRC issued its letter dated October 12, 2021, GEH indicated that they intended to continue active licenses for the Nuclear Test Reactor (NTR) and the NRC Special Nuclear Materials (SNM) license; therefore, the decommissioning of those facilities at the VNC was not contemplated for several more years. Due to the differences in the timeline for decommissioning the active NRC licenses versus those for the shutdown reactors at the VNC, NRC suggested a timeline for the GETR DP submittal to demonstrate that decommissioning would occur in a timely manner in alignment with the other shutdown reactors.

However, by letter dated September 1, 2023 (ML23244A247), GEH and NorthStar Vallecitos, LLC (NorthStar Vallecitos), requested the direct transfer of all the NRC licenses at the VNC, including the license for the NTR and the SNM license (to NorthStar Vallecitos) for the decommissioning of all the VNC licensed facilities. Therefore, GEH submitted the letter dated September 26, 2023, requesting a delay to the GETR DP submittal until after the NRC renders a decision on the direct license transfer application.

NRC recognizes the efficiencies gained by delaying submission of the GETR DP until after a decision on the license transfer. However, notwithstanding this extension of time to submit the GETR DP, the licensee would be required to complete the decommissioning of the EVESR, GETR, and VBWR consistent with the applicable timing requirements in 10 CFR 50.82(a)(3) and 10 CFR 50.82(b)(4)(i). Therefore, the GETR DP should be submitted no later than six months after the NRC renders its decision on the license transfer application. Any additional delay in submittal beyond that time frame would render the licensee out of compliance with the NRC regulations at 10 CFR 50.82(b)(1).

S. Murray If you have any questions, please contact Jack Parrott or Chris Allen of my staff at Jack.Parrott@nrc.gov or William.Allen@nrc.gov respectively.

Sincerely, Signed by Anderson, Shaun on 11/07/23 Shaun M. Anderson, Chief Reactor Decommissioning Branch Division of Decommissioning, Uranium Recovery and Waste Programs Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Docket Nos. 50-18, 50-70, and 50-183 Cc: Vallecitos ListServ

ML23279A132; Ltr ML23279A132 OFFICE NMSS/DUWP/RDB NMSS/DFM/STLB NMSS/DUWP/RDB NAME JParrott JP WAllen WA SAnderson SA DATE Oct 6, 2023 Nov 3, 2023 Nov 7, 2023