ML25162A200
| ML25162A200 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | National Bureau of Standards Reactor |
| Issue date: | 06/05/2025 |
| From: | Strader R US Dept of Commerce, National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) |
| To: | Jeremy Bowen Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| Download: ML25162A200 (1) | |
Text
June 5, 2025 ATTN: Jeremy Bowen U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555-0001 Dear Mr. Bowen
Subject:
Request for Exemption from 10 CFR 55.53(e) Requirements for the NIST TR-5 Test Reactor In accordance with 10 CFR 55.11, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) requests an exemption from the requirements of 10 CFR 55.53(e), as they apply to research and test reactors, for licensed senior operators Mr. Jeffrey Burmeister (SOP-505789) and Mr. Andrew Vodopija (SOP-505791). The requested exemption will extend from the date of acceptance to the beginning of the next requalification cycle, January 1st, 2026.
I.
Applicable Regulatory Requirement and Background 10 CFR 55.53(e), as it applies to research and test reactors, states:
If a licensee has not been actively performing the functions of an operator or senior operator, the licensee may not resume activities authorized by a license issued under this part except as permitted by paragraph (f) of this section. To maintain active status, the licensee shall actively perform the functions of an operator or senior operator on a minimum of seven 8-hour or five 12-hour shifts per calendar quarter. For non-power reactors, the licensee shall actively perform the functions of an operator or senior operator for a minimum of four hours per calendar quarter.
The NIST TR-5 Test Reactor has been in an extended outage since a core off-load in August 2024, precluding normal licensed operations. The operations group has been performing a variety of maintenance work in attempts to clean the reactor vessel of debris remaining from the February 3rd, 2021, safety limit violation. While these maintenance activities require operators to regularly engage in operation of facility equipment, operations staff have been unable to perform licensed duties as defined by the TR-5 technical specifications.
To bring all of operations back into a proficient and active license status, NIST has prepared a training plan that will be submitted to the NRC under 10 CFR 55.59(b). The on-the-job training section of this plan will require an active licensee to provide instruction and oversight to the upcoming reactor core refueling and subsequent training startups and surveillances. Granting these exemptions will provide NIST with two active senior operator licenses to provide this instruction.
These two operators will also provide the required six hours of instruction required by N~SI I NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
10 CFR 55.53(f)(2).
II.
Exemption Justification 10 CFR 55.11 states:
The Commission may, upon application by an interested person, or upon its own initiative, grant such exemptions from the requirements of the regulations in this part as it determines are authorized by law and will not endanger life or property and are otherwise in the public interest.
This exemption will not endanger life or property as both operators are NISTs two most recently licensed individuals. An examination was administered by the NRC in April 2024 where both demonstrated their capability to safely execute licensed duties. In addition, these operators have also participated in regular operation of facility equipment to support maintenance activities as well as participated in the regular lectures and trainings required by the NIST requalification plan, further demonstrating their continued proficiency.
This exemption is an interest to the public as NIST is a world leader in cold neutron science. The facility has been effectively shut down since February 2021 while making necessary improvements to both safety and culture causing a backlog of requested experiments. Granting of this exemption will provide NIST with a pathway to qualify operators and provide proper staffing to support full power operation.
If you have any questions concerning this submittal, please contact Mr. Randy Strader at 301-975-2380 or at rls7@nist.gov.
Sincerely, 6/5/2025 X
Randolph Strader Randolph Strader Acting Chief, Reactor Operations and Engineeri...
Signed by: RANDOLPH STRADER Thomas Newton Chief, Reactor Operations and Engineering NIST Center for Neutron Research I declare under penalty of perjury that the following is true and correct.
Executed on June 5, 2025 Enclosures cc: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ATTN: Brian Lin
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ATTN: Amy Beasten U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ATTN: Michele DeSouza U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ATTN: Justin Hudson