ML16272A434

Proposed Changes to Texas A&M University AGN-201M Technical Specification Page 15 Associated with License Amendment Request Dated November 11, 2015, for the AGN-201M Reactor

ML16272A434
Person / Time
Site:	Texas A&M University
Issue date:	09/27/2016
From:	Mcdeavitt S Texas A&M Univ
To:	Alexander Adams, Patrick Boyle Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
Download: ML16272A434 (5)

Text

Nuclear Science Center1095 Nuclear Science Road, 3575 TAMUCollege Station, TX 77843-3575Tel. (979) 845-7551NUCLEAR SCIENCE CENTER Dr. Sean M. McDeavitt Director, TEES Nuclear Science Center Texas A&M University Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station 1095 Nuclear Science Road, 3575 TAMU College Station, TX 77843-3575

September 27, 2016 2016-0048 Docket Number 50-59 / License No. R-23

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ATTN: Document Control Desk Washington DC 20555

Ref: 10 CFR 50.90

SUBJECT:

Changes to the Texas A&M University AGN-201M Technical Specification Page 15 Associated with License Amendment Request Dated November 11, 2015, for the AGN-201M Reactor, Facility License R-23, Docket Number 50-59 (ADAMS Accession No. ML15315A027)

Attn: Mr. Alexander Adams Jr., Chief, Research and Test Reactors Branch Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Mr. Patrick M. Boyle, Project Manager, Research and Test Reactors Branch Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

The purpose of this letter is to submit proposed changes to the Texas A&M University (TAMU) AGN-201M Technical Specifications (TSs) page 15. In the TAMU supplement dated June 3, 2016 (ADAMS Accession No. ML16169A346) to the noted November 11, 2015 amendment request, we proposed to delete Section 5.2 of the AGN-201M TS in its entirety. Upon further review, we have chosen not to delete or modify Section 5.2 of the AGN-201M TSs. Firther, TAMU will seek to modify TS Section 5.2 as part of the pending application for the unrestricted release of the current AGN site in the Zachry Engineering Center. Therefore, enclosed is the revised proposed change to TS page 15 of the AGN-201M TSs.

In addition, in the June 3, 2016 supplement, TAMU requested implementation of the proposed license and TS changes to be based on specific events taking place. Upon review, TAMU finds that the normal Nuclear Regulatory Commission practice of making the proposed TS changes effective as of the date of issuance of the license amendment and implementation within 30 days is appropriate and acceptable for the proposed license and TS changes.

The proposed TS change does not change the initial "no significant hazards determination" stated in the November 11, 2015, application. Should you have any questions regarding the information provided in this submittal, please contact me or Mr. Jerry Newhouse at (979) 845-

7551 or via email at mcdeavitt@tamu.edu or newhouse@tamu.edu.

Oath of Affirmation I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct to the best of my knowledge.

Sincerely, Sean M. McDeavitt, PhD Director, TEES Nuclear Science Center Submitted with Level 2 Delegation Authorization from Dr. Yassin Hassan by letter dated February 8, 2016 (ADAMS Accession No. ML16043A048)

Enclosure:

AGN-201 M TS Page 15 cc: next page 2 Nuclear Science Center 1095 Nuclear Science Road, 3575 TAMU College Station, TX 77843-3575 Tel. (979) 845-7551 Nuclear Science Center1095 Nuclear Science Road, 3575 TAMUCollege Station, TX 77843-3575Tel. (979) 845-7551 3 cc: Mr. William Dean, Office Director United States Nuclear Reactor Commission Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Mr. Michael Young, President Texas A&M University 1246 TAMU College Station, TX 77843-1246

Dr. M. Katherine Banks, Vice Chancellor and Dean Dwight Look College of Engineering 3126 TAMU College Station, TX 77843-3126

Dr. Yassin Hassan, Department Head Nuclear Engineering Texas A&M University Nuclear Engineering Department 3133 TAMU College Station, TX 77843-3133

Dr. John Hardy Reactor Safety Board Chairman Texas A&M University 3255 TAMU College Station, TX 77843-3255

Dr. Latha Vasudevan Radiological Safety Officer Texas A&M University Environmental Health and Safety 1111 Research Parkway College Station, TX 77843-4472

Mr. Jerry Newhouse, NSC Assistant Director Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station 3575 TAMU College Station, TX 77843-3575 Mr. Scott Miller, NSC Manager of Reactor Operations Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station 3575 TAMU College Station, TX 77843-3575 Mr. Jeremy Osborn AGN-201M Reactor Supervisor Texas A&M University Nuclear Engineering Department 3133 TAMU College Station, TX 77843-3133

15ENCLOSURE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY FACILITY LICENSE R-23, DOCKET NO. 50-59 AMENDED FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE AGN-201M REACTOR PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE TE CHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

15c. The core, reflector, and lead shielding are enclosed in and supported by a fluid-tight steel reactor tank. An upper or "thermal column tank" may serve as a shield tank when filled with water or a thermal column when filled with graphite.

d. The 6 1/2 foot diameter, fluid-tight shield tank is filled with water constituting a 55 cm thick fast neutron shield. The fast neutron shield is formed by filling the tank with approximately 1000 gallons of water. The complete reactor shield shall limit doses to personnel in unrestricted areas to levels less than permitted by 10 CFR 20 under operating conditions.

e. Two safety rods and one control rod (identical in size) contain less than 15 grams of U-235 each in the same form as the core material. These rods are lifted into the core by electromagnets, driven by reversible DC motors through lead screw assemblies. Deenergizing the magnets causes a spring-driven, gravity-assisted scram. The fourth rod or fine control rod (approximately one-half the diameter of the other rods) is driven directly by a lead screw. This rod may contain fueled or unfueled polyethylene.

5.2 Fuel Storage Fuel, including fueled experiments and fuel devices not in the reactor, shall be stored in locked rooms in the nuclear engineering department laboratories. The storage array shall be such that K eff is no greater than 0.8 for all conditions of moderation and reflection.

5.3 Reactor Room, Reactor Control Room, Accelerator Room The AGN-201M reactor and associated components shall be housed in the following locations approved by the AGN-201M License:

Zachry Engineering Center

o Reactor Room o Control Room o Accelerator Room Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station Nuclear Science Center facility o Accelerator Building o Cargo Container

6.0 ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROLS

6.1 Organization

The administrative organization for control of the reactor facility and its operation shall be as set forth in Figure 1 attached hereto. The authorities and responsibilities set forth below are designed to comply with the intent and requirements for administrative controls of the reactor facility as set forth by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.