ML24030A495
| ML24030A495 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 03/12/2024 |
| From: | NRC/NRR/DANU/UNPL |
| To: | |
| References | |
| Download: ML24030A495 (8) | |
Text
RIC 2024 Hybrid U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 36th Annual Regulatory Information Conference MARCH 12-14, 2024 Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center Rockville, Maryland
- nrcric2024 www.nrc.gov ADAPTING TO A CHANGING LANDSCAPE
RIC 2024 Hybrid U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 36th Annual Regulatory Information Conference MARCH 12-14, 2024
- nrcric2024 www.nrc.gov ADAPTING TO A CHANGING LANDSCAPE NIST Introduction/General Information
- The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Bureau of Standards Reactor (NBSR), located in a containment-type building at the NIST Center for Neutron Research (NCNR), is a heavy-water-moderated and cooled, enriched-fuel, tank-type reactor designed to operate at 20 megawatts of power. It is used for a broad range of research, including thermal and cold neutron research and neutron activation activity research.
- On February 3, 2021, the NBSR scrammed in response to a higher-than-normal radiation level in air leaving the reactor building.
- It was later determined that the temperature of one of the fuel elements exceeded a safety limit, due to the element shifting out of position and blocking coolant flow, as it was not properly latched during a refueling outage. NIST technical specifications state that if a safety limit is exceeded, [t]he reactor shall be shutdown and reactor operations shall not be resumed until authorized by the NRC.
Significant Regulatory Activities in the Licensing and Oversight of Nonpower Production and Utilization Facilities
RIC 2024 Hybrid U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 36th Annual Regulatory Information Conference MARCH 12-14, 2024
- nrcric2024 www.nrc.gov ADAPTING TO A CHANGING LANDSCAPE 3 Feb.
2021 NBSR scrammed 9 Feb.
2021 NRC Special Inspection Team (SIT) begins Feb.-
May 2021 Written reports on event, exceeding safety limit, and findings of inadequacies 1 Oct.
2021 Root causes, planned corrective actions, and request for permission to restart 23 Dec.
2021 License amendment request (LAR) submitted by NIST to require both rotation and visual latch checks in technical specifications 16 Mar.
2022 SIT report issued; escalated enforcement; NIST enters alternative dispute resolution 21 July 2022 LAR approved 1 Aug.
2022 NRC issues confirmatory order and supplemental inspection plan 19 Oct.
2022 LAR submitted to revise the final safety analysis report relating to a small quantity of debris remaining in the primary coolant system following cleanup efforts 1 Feb.
2023 LAR approved and a new LAR submitted, relating to fuel management schemes and analysis methods 2 Mar.
2023 LAR approved 9 Mar.
2023 NRC authorizes the restart of the NBSR NBSR Timeline of Regulatory Events Significant Regulatory Activities in the Licensing and Oversight of Nonpower Production and Utilization Facilities
RIC 2024 Hybrid U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 36th Annual Regulatory Information Conference MARCH 12-14, 2024
- nrcric2024 www.nrc.gov ADAPTING TO A CHANGING LANDSCAPE Damaged fuel element as found in the NBSR A bottom view of the damaged fuel rod before its removal from the core on August 5, 2021 Significant Regulatory Activities in the Licensing and Oversight of Nonpower Production and Utilization Facilities
RIC 2024 Hybrid U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 36th Annual Regulatory Information Conference MARCH 12-14, 2024
- nrcric2024 www.nrc.gov ADAPTING TO A CHANGING LANDSCAPE On March 9, 2023, the NRC authorized restart of the NBSR. The NRC based its decision on a finding of reasonable assurance that the facility will be operated in a safe manner and within its licensing basis. The NBSR is gradually returning to full power, and the NRC is continuing its enhanced oversight of the facility in accordance with the supplemental inspection plan and confirmatory order, which contain items still to be completed over the next 3 years.
Significant Regulatory Activities in the Licensing and Oversight of Nonpower Production and Utilization Facilities
RIC 2024 Hybrid U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 36th Annual Regulatory Information Conference MARCH 12-14, 2024
- nrcric2024 www.nrc.gov ADAPTING TO A CHANGING LANDSCAPE SHINE Regulatory Activity
- SHINE plans to produce molybdenum-99, the parent isotope of technetium-99m, which is used for diagnostic imaging.
- The NRC issued a construction permit on February 29, 2016, that authorizes SHINE to construct its Medical Isotope Production Facility in Janesville, Wisconsin.
- The facility consists of both a utilization facility (eight irradiation units) and a production facility containing hotcells used for isotope separation from the irradiated special nuclear material target.
- SHINE started construction of the facility in October 2019.
- Since the start of construction, the NRC has conducted three onsite inspections, during which no findings were made and no violations were identified.
- On December 15, 2022, the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards issued a report to the Commission Chair recommending approval of the issuance of the SHINE operating license.
- On February 28, 2023, the NRC issued a safety evaluation for the review of SHINEs operating license application.
Significant Regulatory Activities in the Licensing and Oversight of Nonpower Production and Utilization Facilities
RIC 2024 Hybrid U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 36th Annual Regulatory Information Conference MARCH 12-14, 2024
- nrcric2024 www.nrc.gov ADAPTING TO A CHANGING LANDSCAPE Kairos Hermes 1 Regulatory Activity
- Kairos Hermes 1 is a 35-megawatt thermal test reactor with a 4-year lifetime and no electricity generation; its primary purpose is to test and demonstrate key technologies and design features for the Kairos Power-fluoride salt-cooled high temperature reactor (KP-FHR).
- Hermes 1 is located on a site previously owned by the U.S. Department of Energy in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
- Kairos applied for a class 104c license for utilization facility useful in the conduct of research and development activities; under 10 CFR Part 50, the Hermes reactor meets the definition of a testing facility.
Significant Regulatory Activities in the Licensing and Oversight of Nonpower Production and Utilization Facilities
RIC 2024 Hybrid U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 36th Annual Regulatory Information Conference MARCH 12-14, 2024
- nrcric2024 www.nrc.gov ADAPTING TO A CHANGING LANDSCAPE 2016 Kairos was founded with headquarters in Alameda, California Sep. 2021 Kairos applied for a 10 CFR Part 50 construction permit for a test reactor facility Nov. 2021 Application accepted Feb. 2022 Feb. 2023 Audits Nov. 2022 NRC Completes Safety Evaluation Mar. -
May 2023 Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards briefings Jun. 2023 Final safety evaluation completed Aug. 2023 SECY paper for hearing Oct. 2023 Mandatory Commission hearing Dec. 2023 Construction permit issued by the NRC Kairos Hermes Timeline of Regulatory Events Significant Regulatory Activities in the Licensing and Oversight of Nonpower Production and Utilization Facilities