ML15084A612

University of Maryland - Request for Additional Information Financial Qualification for License Renewal for the Maryland University Training Reactor

ML15084A612
Person / Time
Site:	University of Maryland
Issue date:	04/01/2015
From:	Montgomery C K Research and Test Reactors Licensing Branch
To:	Koeth T W Univ of Maryland - College Park
Allen E S
References
TAC ME1592
Download: ML15084A612 (6)

Text

April 1, 2015

Dr. Timothy W. Koeth, Director

Nuclear Reactor and Radiation Facilities Chemical and Nuclear Engineering Building 090 University of Maryland College Park, MD 20742

SUBJECT:

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND - REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING FINANCIAL QUALIFICATION FOR LICENSE RENEWAL FOR THE MARYLAND UNIVERSITY TRAINING REACTOR (TAC NO. ME1592)

Dear Dr. Koeth:

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is continuing its review of your application for the renewal of Facility Operating License No. R-70, for the Maryland University Training Reactor (MUTR), dated May 12, 2000 (a redacted version of the application is available on the NRC's public Web site at www.nrc.gov under Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML052910399), as supplemented.

The license renewal review includes an NRC staff review of the MUTR Financial Qualifications dated November 26, 2014, for compliance with the regulations contained in Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 50.33(f)(2), "Contents of applications; general information". We completed our review of your Financial Qualifications and identified additional information or clarification that arose during our review. Provide responses to the enclosed request for additional information within 30 days from the date of this letter.

In accordance with Title 10 CFR 50.30(b), "Filing of application for licenses; oath or affirmation,"

you must execute your response in a signed, original document under oath or affirmation. Your response must be submitted in accordance with 10 CFR 50.4, "Written communications."

Information included in your response that is considered sensitive or proprietary, that you seek to have withheld from the public, must be marked in accordance with 10 CFR 2.390, "Public inspections, exemptions, requests for withholding." Any information related to security should be submitted in accordance with 10 CFR 73.21, "Protection of Safeguards Information:

Performance Requirements." Following receipt of the additional information, we will continue our evaluation of your renewal request.

T. Koeth If you have any questions, or need additional time to respond to this request, contact Eben Allen at (301) 415-4246 or by electronic mail at: Eben.Allen@nrc.gov.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Cindy K. Montgomery, Project Manager Research and Test Reactors Licensing Branch Division of Policy and Rulemaking Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Docket No. 50-166

Enclosure:

Request for Additional Information

cc: See next page University of Maryland Training Reactor Docket No. 50-166 cc:

Director, Dept. of Natural Resources

Power Plant Siting Program Energy & Coastal Zone Administration Tawes State Office Building Annapolis, MD 21401

Mr. Roland G. Fletcher, Program Manager IV

Radiological Health Program

Maryland Department of Environment 1800 Washington Blvd., Suite 750 Baltimore, MD 21230-1718

Mr. Vincent G. Adams Facility Coordinator Chemical and Nuclear Engineering Building 090 University of Maryland

College Park, MD 20742

Mary J. Dorman Radiation Safety Officer Department of Environmental Safety 3115 Chesapeake Building 338 University of Maryland

College Park, MD 20742

Professor Robert Briber Department of Materials Science and Engineering University of Maryland

College Park, MD 20742-2115

Test, Research, and Training Reactor Newsletter University of Florida 202 Nuclear Sciences Center Gainesville, FL 32611

ML15084A612; *concurred via e-mail NRR-106

Enclosure OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR THE RENEWAL OF FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE NO. R-70 THE MARYLAND UNIVERSITY TRAINING REACTOR DOCKET NO. 50-166 Regulatory Basis Pursuant to Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) 50.33(f), each application shall state Except for an electric utility applicant for a license to operate a utilization facility of the type described in § 50.21(b) or § 50.22, information sufficient to demonstrate to the Commission the financial qualification of the applicant to carry out, in accordance with regulations in this chapter, the activities for which the permit or license is sought... Pursuant to 10 CFR 50.33(f)(2), applicants to renew or extend the term of an operating license for a non-power reactor shall include financial information that is required for an initial license. In addition to 10 CFR 50.33(f)(2), 10 CFR 50.33(f)(5) states, The Commission may request an established entity or newly-formed entity to submit additional or more detailed information respecting its financial arrangements and status of funds if the Commission considers this information appropriate. This may include information regarding a licensee's ability to continue the conduct of the activities authorized by the license and to decommission the facility. Section 15.2 of NUREG-1537, "Financial Ability To Operate a Non-Power Reactor," states, in part: The applicant should discuss the sources of funding for operating costs, the amount of funding that is committed, and the amount that is potentially available; the applicant should confirm committed sources and discuss conditions under which potential sources of funding would become committed and how the facility can be safely operated if some potential sources of funding are not realized.

Background NUREG -1537, Part 2, "Guidelines for Preparing and Reviewing Applications for the Licensing of Non-Power Reactors: Standard Review Plan and Acceptance Criteria," Chapter 15 explains the process by which the staff determines if licensees meet the requirements in

10 CFR 50.33(f). In its submittal for license renewal dated November 25, 2014, University of Maryland Training Reactor (MUTR) provided sources of funding to cover operation costs for its reactor. However, the licensee did not provide information to address how the facility can be safely operated if some potential sources of funding are not available.

Request for Additional Information

1. How would the MUTR ensure safe operation of the facility as a result of any shortfalls in potential sources of funding?