ML22299A135
| ML22299A135 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 07007030 |
| Issue date: | 10/26/2022 |
| From: | Osiris Siurano-Perez NRC/NMSS/DFM/FFLB |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML22299A134 | List: |
| References | |
| Download: ML22299A135 (1) | |
Text
SUMMARY
OF TELEPHONE CONFERENCE CALL University of Tennessee Status of Plans for New Special Nuclear Material License Application Submittal Date and Time: September 28, 2022, 10:00 - 11:00 AM Call
Participants:
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
O. Siurano-Pérez, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS)
University of Tennessee (UTenn):
Dr. W. Hines, Nuclear Engineering Department Head
Background
By letter dated May 23, 2018 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System
[ADAMS] Accession No. ML18164A030), the UTenn notified the NRC of its intent to submit an application for a new license to possess and use special nuclear material (SNM) in the Engineering Services Building at its Knoxville, TN, campus. At the time, the buildings construction was yet to be started and expected to be completed by August 2021. The UTenn intends to use up to 2000 lbs. of 9.75 percent enriched uranium in an accelerator-driven subcritical Fast Neutron Source. The design will use a deuterium-deuterium neutron generator to drive a subcritical thermal/fast coupled pile. The fuel will be in metallic rods clad with Aluminum. The facility will operate at a Keff of 0.95 and produce negligible heat not requiring heat removal under any conditions.
Summary of teleconference On September 28, 2022, NRC staff from the NMSS, Division of Fuel Management, Fuel Facility Licensing Branch, conducted a teleconference with Dr. Wesley Hines, Nuclear Engineering Department Head, to discuss the current status of UTenns plans for submitting their application for a new license to possess and use SNM. The call also served to reestablish communications and introduce the new NRC licensing project manager (PM) for UTenn after the retirement of the previous PM earlier this year.
During the call, Dr. Hines stated that UTenn is still moving forward with their project and that they are planning to submit a license application by summer of 2024. Dr. Hines also shared a presentation providing general information and technical data on UTenns project for which Enclosure 1
the SNM would be used (ML22299A137). Following the discussions on the status of the project, Dr. Hines and the NRC PM shared contact information. Dr. Hines contact information is as follows:
Dr. Wesley Hines Nuclear Engineering Department Head Office Telephone: 865-974-6561 Address: Nuclear Engineering Department 421K Zeanah Engineering Building 863 Neyland Drive Knoxville, TN 37996 Email: jhines2@utk.edu The NRC PM offered assistance to Dr. Hines to coordinate a public meeting with the NRC staff to further, and publicly, discuss the status of UTenns plans and provide an update on the projects development since it was last discussed between the parties in 2018.
No regulatory decisions were made during this call. The teleconference was adjourned at around 10:55 AM.
Action Items
- 1. For UTenn
- a. Contact the NRC in the near future to set up a public meeting to discuss the status of UTenns project and current and future plans.
- 2. For the NRC
- a. Near term
- i. None
- b. Long Term
- i. Coordinate and set up public meeting with UTenn - when requested.
ii. Coordinate pre-application meetings - if requested.
iii. Conduct acceptance and technical review of the UTenn application following its receipt - planned for summer of 2024.
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