ML24031A123

GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas, LLC – Regulatory Audit Summary Report Request for Possession-Only License Amendment to Renewed Facility Operating License No. R-33

ML24031A123
Person / Time
Site:	Vallecitos Nuclear Center
Issue date:	02/01/2024
From:	Geoffrey Wertz NRC/NRR/DANU/UNPL
To:	Martinez C GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas
Geoffrey Wertz, NRR/DANU
References
EPID L-2023-LLA-0139
Download: ML24031A123 (5)

Text

Mr. Carlos Martinez, Site Manager GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Vallecitos Nuclear Center 6705 Vallecitos Road Sunol, CA 94586

SUBJECT:

GE-HITACHI NUCLEAR ENERGY AMERICAS, LLC - REGULATORY AUDIT

SUMMARY

REPORT RE: REQUEST FOR POSSESSION-ONLY LICENSE AMENDMENT TO RENEWED FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE NO. R-33 (EPID L-2023-LLA-0139)

Dear Mr. Martinez:

By letter dated October 6, 2023 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System Accession No. ML23279A110), GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas, LLC (GEH) submitted a request for an amendment to Facility Operating License No. R-33 for the Nuclear Test Reactor (NTR). The license amendment request proposes a possession-only license for the NTR, and states that GEH commits to permanently cease operations on or before December 31, 2023.

Enclosed is a report on the regulatory audit conducted by staff of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) from October 19, 2023, to February 1, 2024, in connection with its review of the application. The audit report does not make any licensing conclusions or findings, but it is part of the administrative record of the NRC staffs review of the application and may provide information supporting the NRC staffs safety evaluation. The audit followed the plan provided by letter dated October 25, 2023 (ML23298A154), unless otherwise noted in the enclosed report.

We appreciate your support in providing the requested documentation and access to the necessary personnel and other materials that assisted in an efficiently conducted audit.

February 1, 2024 If you have any questions, please contact me at (301) 415-0893, or by email at Geoffrey.Wertz@nrc.gov.

Sincerely, Geoffrey 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.50-073 License No. R-33

Enclosure:

As stated cc: GovDelivery Subscribers Signed by Wertz, Geoffrey on 02/01/24

ML24031A123 NRR-106 OFFICE NRR/DANU/PM NRR/DANU/LA NRR/DANU/(A) BC NRR/DANU/PM NAME GWertz NParker HCruz GWertz DATE 1/31/2024 1/31/2024 1/31/2024 2/1/2024 OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION

REGULATORY AUDIT REPORT

SUMMARY

REGARDING REQUEST FOR POSSESSION-ONLY LICENSE AMENDMENT TO

RENEWED FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE NO. R-33

GE-HITACHI NUCLEAR ENERGY AMERICAS LLC

NUCLEAR TEST REACTOR

DOCKET NO.50-073

Location: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Headquarters: Rockville, MD (Virtual)

Dates: October 25, 2023 - February 1, 2024

NRC Audit Team Members: Geoffrey Wertz, Audit Leader and Technical Reviewer Linh Tran, Technical Reviewer Paulette Torres, Technical Reviewer Jeremy Smith, Technical Reviewer Micheal Balazik, Technical Reviewer Andrew Miller, Technical Reviewer Jack Parrott, Technical Reviewer

Licensee Representatives: Jeff Smyly, GE-Hitachi Vallecitos Thomas McConnell, GE-Hitachi Vallecitos David Heckman, contractor for GE-Hitachi Vallecitos

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Background===

By letter dated October 6, 2023 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System Accession No. ML23279A110), GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas, LLC (GEH) submitted a request for an amendment to Facility Operating License No. R-33 for the Nuclear Test Reactor (NTR). The licensee proposed a possession-only license for the NTR and stated in supplemental information, by letter dated January 26, 2024 (ML24026A196), that the NTR permanently ceased operations on December 21, 2023.

This report summarizes the regulatory audit conducted by staff of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) from October 19, 2023, to February 1, 2024, in connection with its review of the application. This audit report does not make any licensing conclusions or findings, but is part of the administrative record of the NRC staffs review of the GEH application and may provide information supporting the NRC staffs safety evaluation. The audit followed the plan provided by letter dated October 25, 2023 (ML23298A154).

Audit Activities

The NRC staff conducted the audit through virtual video-teleconferences. The NRC audit team opened the audit with an entrance meeting conducted on October 25, 2023. The licensee

Enclosure

provided requested information using an internet portal (BOX) which allowed only the NRC audit team members to view the information.

Request for Additional Information

During the regulatory audit, the NRC staff identified the need for a request for additional information, issued via letter dated November 1, 2023 (ML23305A051), and which the licensee provided its responses by letter dated December 15, 2023 (ML23349A047).

Requests for Supplemental Information

The NRC audit team identified supplemental information that would need to be submitted on the docket as part of the license amendment request to demonstrate compliance with the regulatory requirements. This information included an updated version of the technical specifications (TSs), along with the support justifications for the proposed TS changes (this document is known as the Roadmap), and the Certified Fuel Handler Training Program.

The licensee provided the requested information by letter dated January 26, 2024, GEH Response to NRC Request for Additional Information (ML24026A196).

Open Items

There are no remaining open items for this audit.

Exit Briefing

On February 1, 2024, the audit team leader (Geoffrey Wertz) held an exit briefing with the licensees representatives (David Heckman), and other NRC and GEH staff. No disagreements were noted by the licensee.

Deviations from the Audit Plan

No deviations from the audit plan were identified.