ML23311A344

Summary of September 12 2023 Meeting with the National Organization of Test, Research, and Training Reactors

ML23311A344
Person / Time
Issue date:	11/02/2023
From:	Cindy Montgomery Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
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Download: ML23311A344 (1)

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November 2, 2023 ORGANIZATION: National Organization of Test, Research, and Training Reactors

SUMMARY

OF SEPTEMBER 12, 2023, MEETING WITH THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF TEST, RESEARCH, AND TRAINING REACTORS On September 12, 2023, an observation public meeting was held between the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff and representatives of the National Organization of Test, Research, and Training Reactors (TRTR). The purpose of this meeting was to discuss rulemaking, licensing, oversight, and upcoming meetings related to the TRTR community. The latest meeting notice and agenda, dated September 12, 2023, are available in the Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) No. ML23255A134. A list of attendees is enclosed. The following is a description of the topics covered by the NRC staff and the TRTR community.

The NRC staff discussed the progress of the revision of NUREG-1478, Operator Licensing Examiner Standards for Research and Test Reactors, Revision 3. The NRC staff informed the TRTR that the draft revision of the NUREG-1478 is anticipated to be ready to publish for public comment at the end of calendar year 2023.

The NRC staff gave an update on the Commission direction to submit options regarding the enhanced security of special nuclear material (SNM), due by September 25, 2023, to the Executive Director for Operations (EDO). This SECY Paper provides options on the physical protection requirements for Category I, Category II, and Category III quantities of SNM, as well as alternate nuclear material and spent nuclear fuel.

The NRC staff provided an overview of the Enhanced Weapons and Event Notification rule, which was published on March 14, 2023, and became effective April 13, 2023. Compliance with the new rule is required beginning January 8, 2024. Concurrent with the final rule publication, the NRC issued three Regulatory Guides (RG): RG 5.62, Revision 2, Physical Security Event Notifications, Reports and Records; RG 5.87, Suspicious Activity Reports, and RG 5.86, Enhanced Weapons Authority, Preemption Authority, and Firearms Background Checks. The NRC held three public workshops in May 2023, two of which were related to event notification and suspicious activity reporting; the third was not applicable to research and test reactors as it focused on the enhanced weapons aspect of the new regulation. As a result of the workshops and stakeholder input, the NRC revised the guidance documents to provide additional examples and to provide clarification to potential inconsistencies. The RGs have been updated and are in concurrence, anticipated to be available for public comment by the end of November 2023.

The NRC staff informed the TRTR community that new revisions to NRC Forms 396 and 398 were released in July of 2023. The new forms are required for all new submittals of applications for reactor operator and senior reactor operator licenses after the release date. NRC Forms 396 and 398 submitted prior to the release date, but are still in process, do not need to be updated to the new forms.

The NRC staff discussed the progress with timely issuance and upload of the operator licensing examinations into ADAMS and the significant reduction in the backlog of licensed operator certificates. NRC management expressed their appreciation of TRTRs recognition, engagement and involvement with the operator licensing processes.

The NRC staff discussed that inspections are being scheduled to coincide with planned operations, fuel movement, or other significant activities while still maintaining the frequency within the current inspection procedures. NRC staff noted that licensees should not change their operating plans to accommodate the staff inspections, but to communicate their plans with their inspector. The staff highlighted some areas on which they will be focusing, including safety committee recommendations.

The NRC staff noted an increase in the communitys focus on procedures, which is important when facilities are adding new staff.

Please direct any inquiries to me at 301-415-3398, or Cindy.Montgomery@nrc.gov.

Cynthia K. Digitally signed by Cynthia K.

Montgomery Montgomery Date: 2023.11.08 18:20:11 -05'00' Cindy K. Montgomery, 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

Enclosure:

List of Attendees cc GovDelivery NPUFs Licensees

ML23311A344 NRC-001 OFFICE NRR/DANU/UNPL/PM NRR/DANU/UNPO/BC NRR/DANU/UNPO/BC NRR/DANU/UNPL/PM NAME CMontgomery JBorromeo TTate CMontgomery DATE 10/11/2023 11/2/2023 11/2/2023 11/2/2023 LIST OF ATTENDEES SEPTEMBER 12, 2023, MEETING WITH THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF TEST, RESEARCH, AND TRAINING REACTORS Name Organization Alan Cebula Kansas State University Alan David Jacobson University of Maryland Amber Johnson University of Maryland Steven Reese Oregon State University Cameron Goodwin Rhode Island Atomic Energy Commission Robert Agasie Wisconsin Maria Garcia Heras Tecnatom, Argentina Mike Montecalvo Terra Power Jere Jenkins Texas A&M Hillary Lane Nuclear Engineering Institute Luke Gilde University of Maryland Thomas Newton National Institute of Standards and Technology Thomas Eiden Atomic Alchemy Jordan Hagaman Kairos Power John Foster MIT Corey Hines Washington State University Michael Ellett Kairos Power David Clovis Sandia Jonathan T. Wallick U.S. Geological Survey Paul (Mike) Whaley University of Texas at Austin Susan White MIT Siaka Yusuf DOW Chemical Auden Oliveri Reed College Robert Schickler Oregon State University Lee Maccarone Sandia National Laboratory Margaret Ellenson Kairos Power Dagistan Sahin NIST Liatris Parker-Reece Missouri University of Science and Technology Ryan Lighty Morgan Lewis Bruce Montgomery Edward Lau NEI Russell Gibson MIT Robert Williams Missouri University Columbia Kevin Roche Nuclear Regulatory Commission Nia Jones Nuclear Regulatory Commission Andrew Waugh Nuclear Regulatory Commission Bradley Stamler Nuclear Regulatory Commission Joshua Borromeo Nuclear Regulatory Commission Craig Bassett Nuclear Regulatory Commission 2

Travis Tate Nuclear Regulatory Commission Duane Hardesty Nuclear Regulatory Commission Dan Hoang Nuclear Regulatory Commission Jonathan Grieves Nuclear Regulatory Commission Kelly Sullivan Nuclear Regulatory Commission Michael Balazik Nuclear Regulatory Commission Linh Tran Nuclear Regulatory Commission Amy Beasten Nuclear Regulatory Commission Beth Reed Nuclear Regulatory Commission Cindy Montgomery Nuclear Regulatory Commission Edward Helvenston Nuclear Regulatory Commission Geoff Wertz Nuclear Regulatory Commission Holly Cruz Nuclear Regulatory Commission Justin Hudson Nuclear Regulatory Commission Michele DeSouza Nuclear Regulatory Commission Travis Tate Nuclear Regulatory Commission 2