ML24302A213
| ML24302A213 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 10/28/2024 |
| From: | NRC/OCM, NRC/SECY |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML24263A246 | List: |
| References | |
| M241030 | |
| Download: ML24302A213 (7) | |
Text
Licensee Perspectives for Support of Advanced Reactors Robert Freeman Chief Growth Officer, Fuel, North America October 30, 2024
2 Current State
- Licensed in 1969, supply BWR and PWR Light water reactor fuel to approx 30% of the US market, and limited quantities to Taiwan and Japan
- Very strong, and experienced regulatory staff
- Early adopter of the performace based regulation approach and Integrated Safety Analysis method in the early 2000s.
- 16 years of positive license performance reviews (LPRs) with no areas needing improvement.
- Last level IV finding was 8 years ago.
- Good standing with the State and local regulators
- Very positive community relationships with Richland city, Benton County, and the Tri cities Economic Development Council.
- Proud of our environmentally responsible site, with all effluents either recovered, sold to other markets or managed to municpal levels of discharge.
- Since purchase in 2001 from Siemens Power Company, Framatome has invested significantly year over year to modernize equipment and facilities.
3 On Going and Planned Activities
- License Amendment Request (LAR) submitted in Sept 2024 to allow a zone of 10%
enriched fuel to create TRISO fuel in a joint effort with USNC.
- LAR in Acceptance period - no specific feedback has been received.
- Initial timeline of < 1 year review is positive
- Additional License Amendment Request will be submitted in November to raise overall site enrichment limit to 6.5%
- Change will allow our facilities to handle and process higher enrichment levels for new and exisiting customers expecting to begin in 2027.
- Pre-application communication with the NRC has been extensive.
- Design and construct a Category II fuel operation that can handle 19.75 % enrichment
- Dept of Energy Awardee
- Security requirements are being discussed and will require pre-submittal interaction with the NRC.
- We intend to build the new systems by scaling existing systems (i.e., same protection approach and level).
4 4
Category III NRC License Special Nuclear Material below 10% Enrichment Category II NRC License Special Nuclear Material below 20% Enrichment A
C F
B D
E
5 Considerations
- Licensing of advanced reactor fuel operations at existing experienced licensed sites should be different than new sites, as mature programs have significant value.
- Security requirements for a Category II operation should not be significantly more than those for a Category III.
oFramatome requests that material form and 50 years of experience with Cat III security be considered strongly when adding requirements.
- Apply proliferation concerns from a Cat III (5-10%) to a Cat II (20%) instead of from a Cat I (93% to a 20%).
Regarding licensing application completeness for new systems and processes, consider a pragmatic approach to submittals vs 100% design complete.
The site operates with certain standards and programs which are independent of enrichment, such as moderator exclusion and material separation, etc which could be reviewed and verified prior to startup.
In recent years Part 50 has utilized on site audits to improve efficency in reviews.
Improves communication
Thank you
Any reproduction, alteration, transmission to any third party or publication in whole or in part of this document and/or its content is prohibited unless Framatome has provided its prior and written consent.
This document and any information it contains shall not be used for any other purpose than the one for which they were provided.
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