ML092810190

Pennsylvania State University - Issuance of Renewed Facility License No. R-2 for the Penn State Breazeale Reactor

ML092810190
Person / Time
Site:	Pennsylvania State University
Issue date:	11/20/2009
From:	Kennedy W B Division of Policy and Rulemaking
To:	Ulnu K Pennsylvania State Univ
Kennedy W, NRR/ADRA/DPR/PRT, 415-2784
References
TAC MC9534
Download: ML092810190 (7)

Text

November 20, 2009

Dr. Kenan Unlu, Director Radiation Science and Engineering Center Breazeale Nuclear Reactor University Park, PA 16802-2301

SUBJECT:

PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY, ISSUANCE OF RENEWED FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE NO. R-2 FOR THE PENN STATE BREAZEALE REACTOR (TAC NO. MC9534)

Dear Dr. Unlu:

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has issued renewed Facility Operating License No. R-2 for the Pennsylvania State University Penn State Breazeale Reactor in response to the application for license renewal dated December 6, 2005, as supplemented by letters dated October 31, 2008, and April 2, June 11, September 1, and October 21, 2009. The renewed license is effective as of the date of this letter and shall expire at midnight, 20 years from the date of issuance, unless sooner terminated. Enclosed with the renewed license is a copy of the Notice of Issuance of Renewed Facility Operating License No. R-2 that is being sent to the Office of the Federal Register for publication and a copy of the safety evaluation report associated with the license renewal. The NRC sent the Notice of Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact associated with the license renewal to you under separate cover dated November 4, 2009. If you have any questions regarding this action, please contact me at 301-415-2784 or by electronic mail at William.Kennedy@nrc.gov. Sincerely,

/RA/ William B. Kennedy, Project Manager Research and Test Reactors Branch A Division of Policy and Rulemaking Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No.50-005

Enclosures:

1. Renewed Facility Operating License No. R-2 2. Safety Evaluation Report

3. Notice of Issuance of Renewed Facility Operating License No. R-2 cc: See next page Pennsylvania State University Docket No.50-005 cc: Mr. Eric J. Boeldt, Manager of Radiation Protection The Pennsylvania State University 304 Old Main University Park, PA 16802-1504 Dr. Eva J. Pell Vice President and Dean of the Graduate School The Pennsylvania State University 304 Old Main University Park, PA 16802-1504 Director, Bureau of Radiation Protection Department of Environmental Protection P.O. Box 8469 Harrisburg, PA 17105-8469 Test, Research, and Training Reactor Newsletter University of Florida 202 Nuclear Sciences Center Gainesville, FL 32611

November 20, 2009 Dr. Kenan Unlu, Director Radiation Science and Engineering Center Breazeale Nuclear Reactor University Park, PA 16802-2301

SUBJECT:

PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY, ISSUANCE OF RENEWED FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE NO. R-2 FOR THE PENN STATE BREAZEALE REACTOR (TAC NO. MC9534)

Dear Dr. Unlu:

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has issued renewed Facility Operating License No. R-2 for the Pennsylvania State University Penn State Breazeale Reactor in response to the application for license renewal dated December 6, 2005, as supplemented by letters dated October 31, 2008, and April 2, June 11, September 1, and October 21, 2009. The renewed license is effective as of the date of this letter and shall expire at midnight, 20 years from the date of issuance, unless sooner terminated. Enclosed with the renewed license is a copy of the Notice of Issuance of Renewed Facility Operating License No. R-2 that is being sent to the Office of the Federal Register for publication and a copy of the safety evaluation report associated with the license renewal. The NRC sent the Notice of Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact associated with the license renewal to you under separate cover dated November 4, 2009. If you have any questions regarding this action, please contact me at 301-415-2784 or by electronic mail at William.Kennedy@nrc.gov. Sincerely, William B. Kennedy, Project Manager Research and Test Reactors Branch A Division of Policy and Rulemaking Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No.50-005

Enclosures:

1. Renewed Facility Operating License No. R-2 2. Safety Evaluation Report 3. Notice of Issuance of Renewed Facility Operating License No. R-2 cc: See next page DISTRIBUTION

PUBLIC RidsNrrDpr RidsNrrDprPrta RidsNrrDprPrtb PRTA Reading File SCollins RI GHill(2) RidsOgcRp Resource RidsAdro WKennedy, NRR GLappert, NRR RidsNrrDprPfpb ACCESSION NO. PKG: ML093170015, LTR: ML092810190, TS: ML092810275, SE: ML092930497, FRN: ML092810258 *Input provided (ML092960630) Office PRTA:PM PRTA:LA PFPB:BC PRTA:BC OGC DPR:D NRR:D PRTA:PM Name WKennedy GLappert RCarlson* KBrock BMizuno NLO w/ comments TMcGinty ELeeds WKennedy Date 10/22/2009 10/23/2009 10/27/2009 10/28/2009 11/09/2009 11/16/2009 11/19/2009 11/20/2009 Official Record Copy

UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY DOCKET NO.50-005 PENN STATE BREAZEALE REACTOR RENEWED FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE License No. R-2

1. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) has found that: A. The application for renewal of Facility Operating License No. R-2 filed by the Pennsylvania State University (the licensee) dated December 6, 2005, as supplemented by letters dated October 31, 2008, and April 2, June 11, September 1, and October 21, 2009, (the application), complies with the standards and requirements of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (the Act), and the Commission's rules and regulations set forth in Title 10, Chapter 1, of the Code of Federal Regulations

B. Construction of the Penn State Breazeale Reactor (the facility) was completed in substantial conformity with Construction Permit No. CPRR-71 dated October 2, 1962, the provisions of the Act, and the rules and regulations of the Commission; C. The facility will operate in conformity with the application, the provisions of the Act, and the rules and regulations of the Commission; D. There is reasonable assurance that (i) the activities authorized by this renewed license can be conducted at the designated location without endangering the health and safety of the public, and (ii) that such activities will be conducted in compliance with the rules and regulations of the Commission; E. The licensee is technically and financially qualified to engage in the activities authorized by this license in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commission;

F. The licensee is a nonprofit educational institution and will use the facility for the conduct of educational activities, and has satisfied the applicable provisions of 10 CFR Part 140, "Financial Protection Requirements and Indemnity Agreements," of the Commission's regulations; G. The issuance of this renewed license will not be inimical to the common defense and security or to the health and safety of the public; H. The issuance of this renewed license is in accordance with 10 CFR Part 51, "Environmental Protection Regulations for Domestic Licensing and Related Regulatory Functions," of the Commission's regulations and all applicable requirements; and I. The receipt, possession and use of byproduct and special nuclear materials as authorized by this renewed license will be in accordance with the Commission's regulations in 10 CFR Part 30 and 10 CFR Part 70. 2. Facility Operating License No. R-2 is hereby renewed in its entirety to read as follows: A. This renewed license applies to the TRIGA Mark III nuclear reactor (the reactor) that is owned by Pennsylvania State University (PSU or the licensee), located at University Park, Pennsylvania, and described in the licensee's application, as supplemented. B. Subject to the conditions and requirements incorporated herein, the Commission hereby licenses Pennsylvania State University: 1. Pursuant to subsection 104c of the Act, and Title 10, Part 50, "Domestic Licensing of Production and Utilization Facilities," of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR Part 50), to possess, use, and operate the reactor as a utilization facility at the designated location in accordance with the procedures and limitations described in the application and this renewed license. 2. Pursuant to the Act and 10 CFR Part 70, "Domestic Licensing of Special Nuclear Material," to receive, possess, and use in connection with operation of the reactor: a. up to 9.0 kilograms of contained uranium-235 enriched to less than 20% in the form of fuel elements and up to 50 grams of contained uranium-235 of any enrichment in forms such as fission detectors or fission foils; and b. to possess and use, but not to separate such special nuclear material as may be produced by operation of the reactor. 3. Pursuant to the Act and 10 CFR Part 30, "Rules of General Applicability to Domestic Licensing of Byproduct Material," to receive, possess, and use in connection with operation of the reactor: (1) two sealed 50-curie antimony-beryllium neutron sources, either or both of which may be used for reactor start-up, (2) a sealed 0.235 milligram californium-252 neutron source, and (3) a sealed 3-curie americium-beryllium neutron source. 4. Pursuant to the Act and 10 CFR Part 30 to possess, use, and transfer but not to separate, except for byproduct material produced in non-fueled experiments, such byproduct material as may be produced by operation of the reactor. C. This renewed license shall be deemed to contain and is subject to the conditions specified in Parts 20, 30, 50, 51, 55, 70, and 73 of the Commission's regulations; is subject to all applicable provisions of the Act and rules, regulations, and orders of the Commission now or hereafter in effect; and is subject to the additional conditions specified below: Maximum Power Level

1. The licensee is authorized to operate the reactor at a steady-state power level of 1.0 megawatt (thermal). The maximum power level shall not exceed 1.1 megawatts (thermal) when operated in the manual control mode, the automatic control mode, or the square wave mode. In pulsing mode, reactivity insertions shall not exceed 2.45%k/k. Technical Specifications

2. The technical specifications contained in Appendix A are hereby incorporated in the license. The licensee shall operate the reactor in accordance with the technical specifications. Additional Conditions

3. The licensee shall fully implement and maintain in effect all provisions of the Commission-approved physical security plan, including amendments and changes made pursuant to the authority of 10 CFR 50.90 and 10 CFR 50.54(p). The approved physical security plan consists of a Pennsylvania State University document, withheld from public disclosure pursuant to 10 CFR 73.21, entitled, "The Physical Security Plan for the Pennsylvania State University Breazeale Reactor," dated June 11, 1990, as revised.

D. This renewed license is effective as of the date of issuance and shall expire at midnight twenty years from the date of issuance. FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

/RA/ Eric J. Leeds, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Attachment:

Appendix A, Technical Specifications

Date of Issuance: November 19, 2009