ML24229A195

Notice of Significant Licensing Action - Abilene Christian University (Acu) Construction Permit Issuance

ML24229A195
Person / Time
Site:	Abilene Christian University
Issue date:	09/03/2024
From:	Rivera R NRC/NRR/DANU/UAL2
To:
Rivera R
References
EPID L-2022-NFW-0002
Download: ML24229A195 (1)

Text

OFFICIAL USE ONLY - SENSITIVE INTERNAL INFORMATION OFFICIAL USE ONLY - SENSITIVE INTERNAL INFORMATION September 3, 2024 OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION NOTIFICATION OF SIGNIFICANT LICENSING ACTION APPLICANT: Abilene Christian University Molten Salt Research Reactor Docket No. 50-610

SUBJECT:

ISSUANCE OF A CONSTRUCTION PERMIT FOR THE ABILENE CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY MOLTEN SALT RESEARCH REACTOR (EPID L-2022-NFW-0002)

This notification is to inform the Commission that a construction permit (CP) will be issued on or about September 16, 2024, to Abilene Christian University (ACU) for its proposed 1 megawatt-thermal molten salt research reactor (MSRR). The purpose of the MSRR is to conduct research on molten salt systems in addition to educating and training operators, engineers, and scientists to contribute to the advancement and deployment of molten salt reactors and their applications. This action is being taken in response to ACUs CP application dated August 12, 2022 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System Accession No. ML22227A201), as supplemented by letters dated October 14, 2022 (ML22293B816),

August 17, 2023 (ML23230A392), November 14, 2023 (ML23319A095), January 23, 2024 (ML24024A009), March 28, 2024 (ML24094A332), April 18, 2024 (ML24109A203),

April 30, 2024 (ML24121A272), June 12, 2024 (ML24164A236), and July 30, 2024 (ML24219A258). The application requests that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issue to ACU a CP to construct the MSRR within an existing academic building, the Gayle and Max Dillard Science and Engineering Research Center, that was recently constructed on the ACU campus in Abilene, Texas. Once issued, the CP would constitute an authorization to ACU to proceed with the construction of the MSRR but would not constitute an approval of the safety of any design feature or specification and ACU has not requested such approval for any part of the MSRR design. Instead, such approval would be made following the NRC staffs evaluation of the final design of the MSRR, as described in a final safety analysis report as part of an operating license application for the MSRR.

The staff accepted the CP application for docketing by letter dated November 18, 2022 (ML22313A097), and the application was assigned docket number 50-610. A notice of docketing of the application was published in the Federal Register on November 28, 2022 CONTACT: Richard Rivera, NRR/DANU/UAL2 (301) 415-7190

OFFICIAL USE ONLY - SENSITIVE INTERNAL INFORMATION OFFICIAL USE ONLY - SENSITIVE INTERNAL INFORMATION (87 FR 73051). A notice of a 60-day opportunity to request a hearing and petition for leave to intervene regarding the application was published in the Federal Register on January 31, 2023 (88 FR 6319). No requests or petitions were filed in response to this notice.

The NRC staff performed an environmental review for the CP application, and its evaluation and conclusions are documented in an environmental assessment titled Environmental Assessment for the Construction Permit Application for the Abilene Christian University Molten Salt Research Reactor, dated March 2024 (ML23300A053). The NRC staff also performed a safety review for the CP application, and its evaluation and conclusions are documented in a safety evaluation that will be issued with the CP. The staff determined that subject to conditions related to ACUs (1) implementation of a quality assurance program for the design and construction of the MSRR and (2) development and implementation of a Degradation Management Program to ensure proper management of potential degradation mechanisms for MSRR components, the preliminary design and analysis of the MSRR, as described in the CP application, is sufficient and meets the applicable regulatory requirements and guidance for the issuance of a CP in accordance with Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 50, Domestic Licensing of Production and Utilization Facilities. Further technical or design information required to complete the safety analysis in support of the operation of the MSRR can reasonably be left for later consideration in an operating license application.

NOTE: Information to be added after the CP is issued.

Date CP issued: September 16, 2024 Date received by ACU: September 16, 2024

ML24229A195 ADM-12 OFFICE NRR/DANU/UAL2:PM NRR/DANU/UAL2:LA OGC/NLO NRR/DANU/UAL2:BC (A)

NAME RRivera CSmith JWachutka SPhilpott DATE 8/16/2024 8/19/2024 8/21/2024 8/23/2024 OFFICE NRR/DANU:DD NRR:D NAME JBowen AVeil DATE 8/30/2024 9/3/2024