ML25356A535
| ML25356A535 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | National Bureau of Standards Reactor |
| Issue date: | 01/20/2026 |
| From: | Jon Greives NRC/NRR/DANU |
| To: | Adams J US Dept of Commerce, National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) |
| Hudson J | |
| References | |
| Download: ML25356A535 (0) | |
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 AN EXTENSION TO AN EXEMPTION FROM THE REQUIREMENTS OF 10 CFR PART 55, OPERATORS LICENSES
Dear Dr. Adams:
This letter is in response to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) application dated November 20, 2025 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System Accession No. ML25346A056), which requested an extension to an exemption granted by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) on August 27, 2025 (ML25212A210).
Specifically, the NRC granted an exemption from Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) 55.53(e) for two licensed senior reactor operators (SROs) at the National Bureau of Standards Reactor (NBSR), in order to provide instruction and oversight to the upcoming reactor core refueling and subsequent training startups and surveillances.
10 CFR 55.53(e) Exemption The exemption was granted from the below listed regulation for the following SROs:
Name License No.
Jeffrey Burmeister SOP-505789 Andrew Vodopija SOP-505791 Exempted regulation:
Paragraph 55.53(e) of 10 CFR, which requires a licensee to actively perform the functions of an operator or senior operator. To maintain active status, the licensee at a test or research reactor shall actively perform the functions of an operator or senior operator for a minimum of four hours per calendar quarter. If an active status is not maintained, the licensee may not resume activities authorized by a license issued under 10 CFR Part 55, Operators' Licenses, except as permitted by 10 CFR 55.53(f).
In its exemption extension request, NIST stated that as a result of the federal government shutdown, progress toward restarting licensed activities and completing associated requalification activities at the NBSR has been unavoidably slowed. NIST stated that an extension to the exemption would allow the named SROs adequate time to resume reactor January 16, 2026
J. Adams operations and complete the planned operator training and requalification activities and would ensure a stable and fully compliant operator staffing posture. NIST also stated in its exemption extension request that all conditions associated with the previously approved exemption will remain unchanged and that both named SROs continue to remain engaged in required training and facility activities, consistent with NISTs requalification program. Accordingly, NIST requested that the expiration date for the exemption be extended from January 1, 2026 to April 1, 2026.
The NRC staff has reviewed the exemption, as proposed to be extended. For the same reasons as provided in granting the exemption on August 27, 2025, the NRC staff has determined that pursuant to 10 CFR 55.11, Specific exemptions, the exemption, as proposed to be extended, is authorized by law, will not endanger life or property, is otherwise in the publics interest, and is subject to a categorical exclusion to 10 CFR 51.22(b) under 10 CFR 51.22(c)(25), and thus no environmental impact statement or environmental assessment need be prepared in connection with the granting of the exemption, as proposed to be extended. Therefore, the NRC hereby extends, with respect to the two SROs named in the exemption request, the exemption from the NRCs active performance requirement at 10 CFR 55.53(e).
The exemption, as extended, is effective immediately and expires April 1, 2026.
If you have any questions, please contact Justin Hudson at (301) 287-0538, or via email at Justin.Hudson@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 cc: GovDelivery Subscribers Signed by Greives, Jon on 01/16/26
ML25356A535 NRR-048 OFFICE NRR/DANU/UNPL/PM NRR/DANU/UNPL/LA OGC (NLO)
NRR/DANU/UNPO/BC NAME JHudson NParker JWachutka TBrown DATE 12/23/2025 1/6/2026 1/14/2026 1/15/2026 OFFICE NRR/DANU/UNPL/BC NRR/DANU/D NAME JRady JGreives DATE 1/15/2026 1/16/2026