ML25213A176
| ML25213A176 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | National Bureau of Standards Reactor |
| Issue date: | 08/06/2025 |
| From: | Jon Greives NRC/NRR/DANU |
| To: | Adams J US Dept of Commerce, National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) |
| Brown T | |
| References | |
| Download: ML25213A176 (1) | |
Text
Dr. James Adams, Director National Institute of Standards and Technology NIST Center for Neutron Research U.S. Department of Commerce 100 Bureau Drive, Mail Stop 8461 Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8461
SUBJECT:
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY - APPROVAL OF ADDITIONAL TRAINING FROM THE REQUIREMENTS OF 10 CFR PART 55, OPERATORS LICENSES
Dear Dr. Adams:
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has approved the written justification for additional training at the National Bureau of Standards Reactor (NBSR). As provided in Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Part 55, Operators Licenses, paragraph 55.53(h), each operator and senior operator licensee shall complete a requalification program as described by 10 CFR 55.59, Requalification. The National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) informed the NRC staff its facility has been in an extended shutdown condition and as a result their licensed operators are unable to meet the requirements of 10 CFR 55.59(a). This letter is in response to NISTs request dated June 18, 2025 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System Accession No. ML25177D077), and supplemented on July 11, 2025 (ML25205A080), that summarizes the proposed training plan for reactor restart after an extended shutdown period.
10 CFR 55.59, Requalification A licensees requirements for requalification include 10 CFR 55.59(a), which states that each licensee shall (1) successfully complete a requalification program developed by the facility licensee that has been approved by the Commission, and (2) pass a comprehensive requalification written examination and an annual operating test. The required content of requalification programs is provided in 10 CFR 55.59(c)(1)-(6), with a special allowance in 10 CFR 55.59(c)(7) acknowledging that to accommodate specialized modes of operation and differences in control, equipment, and operator skills and knowledge, the requalification program for each licensed operator and senior operator of a research reactor or test reactor facility must conform generally but need not be identical to the requalification program outlined in 10 CFR 55.59(c)(1)-(6), but with significant deviations permitted only if supported by written justification and approved by the Commission. Topics and activities addressed by 10 CFR 55.59(c) include in 10 CFR 55.59(c)(3)(i) on-the-job training involving manipulating the plant controls for startups and shutdowns as applicable to the plant design.
August 6, 2025
J. Adams 10 CFR 55.59(b), Additional Training The Commissions regulation at 10 CFR 55.59(b) provides the regulatory process to follow when a licensee has not met the requalification program requirements, and 10 CFR 55.59(b) states:
Additional training. If the requirements of paragraphs (a) (1) and (2) of this section are not met, the Commission may require the licensee to complete additional training and to submit evidence to the Commission of successful completion of this training before returning to licensed duties.
The NRC staff assessed NBSR submittal documents and finds that its proposed path forward as outlined and discussed is acceptable. The proposed additional training provides the necessary timeline, details lectures, preliminary assessments, coordinates milestones, and an overall evaluation process for returning licensed operators to an active requalification status. Upon successful completion of the training the NBSR agrees to inform the NRC staff before returning to licensed duties. Any changes or deviations from the proposed additional training will be communicated to the NRC staff and dispositioned for compliance and/or possible issues.
If you have any questions, please contact Tony Brown at (301) 415-7499, or via email at Tony.Brown@nrc.gov.
Sincerely, Jonathan Greives, Acting Director Division of Advanced Reactors and Non-Power Production and Utilization Facilities, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-184 License No. TR-5
Enclosure:
Exemption cc: GovDelivery Subscribers Signed by Greives, Jon on 08/06/25
ML25213A176 NRR-048 OFFICE NRR/DANU/UNPL/PM NRR/DANU/UNPL/LA NRR/DANU/UNPL/BC NRR/DANU/UNPO/BC NAME JHudson NParker JRady TBrown DATE 8/5/2025 8/5/2025 8/6/2025 8/6/2025 OFFICE NRR/DANU/D (A)
NAME JGreives DATE 8/6/2025