ML19038A468

Summary of Meeting to Discuss Draft Advanced Manufacturing Technologies Action Plan

ML19038A468
Person / Time
Issue date:	02/13/2019
From:	Joseph Holonich NRC/NRR/DLP/PLPB
To:	Dennis Morey NRC/NRR/DLP/PLPB
Holonich J, NRR/DLP/PLPB, 415-7297
References
Download: ML19038A468 (4)

Text

February 13, 2019 MEMORANDUM TO: Dennis C. Morey, Chief Licensing Processes Branch Division of Licensing Projects Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation FROM:

Joseph J. Holonich, Senior Project Manager /RA/

Licensing Processes Branch Division of Licensing Projects Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

SUMMARY

OF FEBRUARY 7, 2019, MEETING TO DISCUSS THE DRAFT ADVANCED MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGIES ACTION PLAN On February 7, 2019, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff held a Category 2 meeting with representatives from industry. The purpose of the meeting was to (1) have the NRC staff present its draft action plan for Advanced Manufacturing Technologies (AMTs), (2) solicit feedback from stakeholders on the AMT action plan, and (3) gain insight into licensees plans to use AMTs. All information related to the meeting and discussed in this summary can be found in the Agencywide Documents Access and Management System Accession Package No. ML18204A032.

The NRC staff opened the meeting by explaining that through the AMT action plan it was looking to seek out and implement innovative ways to efficiently and effectively disposition proposals from licensees involving AMTs to enable their use. Continuing, the NRC staff explained that it knew there was work under way and being contemplated by the industry. In addition, the NRC staff explained that the action plan would address AMTs within the existing regulatory framework and there was no expectation to develop any new regulatory processes.

Because of this, the NRC staff said that it was focused on modifying or supplementing current regulatory guidance documents, if necessary.

Elaborating, the NRC staff reported that it intended for the AMT action plan to be adaptable over time. The goal provided by the NRC staff was to engage industry and understand its plans for AMTs and to be able to react. The purpose of the AMT action plan being to proactively position the NRC for an efficient, effective, and transparent regulatory review of expected licensee use of AMTs. The NRC staff emphasized that it saw the current regulatory framework as sufficient to incorporate AMTs. Finally, the NRC staff explained that the AMT action plan was internally focused on agency activities.

CONTACT:

Joseph J. Holonich, NRR/DLP 301-415-7297

Following the NRC staff presentation on the draft AMT action plan, open discussions were held.

A representative from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) asked if the NRC staff was considering ways to gain insight into work being done by other organizations. The DOE representative suggested that rotations or temporary duty assignments could be a good mechanism to aid the NRC staff in its development of the AMT action plan.

The NRC staff responded that, going forward with its development of a knowledge management plan and external interaction plan, it would certainly keep in mind such opportunities. In addition, the NRC staff said that it was interested in work in other areas but would need to focus its efforts on the AMTs that would be used first by licensees.

It was noted by the NRC staff that the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research was preparing addenda to the Memoranda of Understanding between NRC and DOE and the Electric Power Research Institute on exchanges of research information. NRC staff training opportunities could be addressed in the addendum for the NRC/DOE memorandum.

During the discussion regarding exchange of information, a representative of General Electric Hitachi (GE Hitachi) reported that it was working with DOE on a number or areas related to AMT. The GE Hitachi representative asked if the NRC staff was interested in receiving information from that effort. The NRC staff said it would be. An action from the meeting was for GE Hitachi to identify the reports it had completed and provide the list to NRC. The NRC staff would then request any reports from the list that the NRC staff would find useful.

In response to a question from industry about the NRC sharing technical documents produced during the execution of the AMT action plan, the NRC staff responded that it did not intend to make them public. However, the NRC staff committed to look at the background information and reconsider if it would make the information public. The NRC staff stated that it wanted to engage with stakeholders and make as much public as possible. This was an action from the meeting.

A question from the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) representative in the meeting related to whether the NRC staff would consider information outside the nuclear industry. The NRC staff said that it would consider any information that was applicable to a given AMT application. The basis for determining applicability would need to be understood. Further, the NRC staff stated that there was nothing special that differentiated nuclear and nonnuclear technologies in some circumstances.

The NRC staff continued by stating that it was very interested in operating experience (OE) outside the nuclear industry due to the limited information available. Cautioning, the NRC said that to consider nonnuclear information, things like fabrication techniques and environment would have to be consistent with those in the nuclear industry.

Another issue that was discussed in the meeting and covered in the draft AMT action plan was the use of Section 50.59 of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR 50.59) to field AMT components. The discussion was on the use of a candidate component that could be covered by 10 CFR 50.59. The NRC asked industry to help identify a component that they are considering implementing under 10 CFR 50.59.

Industry noted that the 10 CFR 50.59 process belongs to licensees and was concerned that the NRCs interest in this area with respect to AMTs indicated that the NRC was going to add steps to the process. The NRC staff explained that NRC resident and regional inspectors review

licensees use of the 10 CFR 50.59 process and that the NRCs interest in the 10 CFR 50.59 process with respect to AMTs was to assist regional inspectors in their review of the use of the process After the industry discussion and questions, the NRC staff asked if it was possible for licensees to share their plans on what AMT they might be considering using and when. The NEI representative said that NEI was working with its members to prepare a report on AMTs. The report was based on a survey of which techniques were being considered by the industry and the timeframes.

NEI said that the report was scheduled to be issued in March. However, the NEI representative said that he would look into whether some information could be released earlier. This was an action from the meeting.

Also, a representative from Westinghouse Electric Company reported that a presentation had been made to the NRC staff in August 2018. The Westinghouse representative committed to check on whether the slides from that presentation were in ADAMS. If they were not, he committed to look into providing the slides. This was an action from the meeting.

The following actions were identified during the meeting:

1) the NRC staff will look at the background information and determine if it can make the information public;

2) GE Hitachi will identify the reports it had completed and provide the list to NRC;

3) NEI will consider whether some information related to its report on AMT can be released earlier; and

4) Westinghouse will determine if the slides from the August 2018 presentation have been provided and if not, will consider providing them.

ML19038A468-Summary; ML19035A043-Package

• concurrence via email NRC-001 OFFICE DLP/PLPB/PM*

DMLR/MPHB/BC*

DLP/PLPB/PM DLP/PLPB/PM NAME JHolonich DAlley DMorey JHolonich DATE 02/11/2019 02/11/2019 02/13/2019 02/13/2019