ML19030A581

Letter Requesting Reimbursement of Fees Paid

ML19030A581
Person / Time
Site:	Aerotest
Issue date:	01/22/2019
From:	Slaughter D Aerotest
To:	Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
Download: ML19030A581 (4)

Text

AEROTEST OPERATIONS, INC.

• FAX (925) 866-1716 3455 FOSTORIA WAY* SAN RAMON, CA 94583 * (925) 866-1212 January 22, 2019 ATTENTION: Docum ent Control Desk NR<S'.s_Cliief Ffnaneia[Officer=:

U.S. Nuclea r Regulatory Commission White Flint North 11555 Rockville Pike Rockville, MD 20852-2738 AEROT EST RADIO GRAPH Y AND RESEA RCH REACT OR DOCKE T NO. 50-228/LICENSE NO. R-98.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

t Operations Inc., For Let me introduce myself as David M. Slaughter, PhD, the President of Aerotes the University of Utah's decades, I have had past successful experiences with NRC teams in relation to nuclear engineering research reactor as the former director of the C.E.N.T.E.R. and professor guiding review of other reactors/directors candidates, as well as a reviewer participant on visiting teams for formal of the performance of across the country. My long history in nuclear engineering research, knowledge well to later own Aerotest research reactors, and education and training of staff and students prepared me Operations Inc.

reactor license. In the As you know, it is necessarily a complex (and costly process) to transfer an existing I purchas ed 100 percent of case of ARRR(R-98), it was even more so which began in 2012. In July 2017, prior experience, I planned the stock in the company that possessed a part 50 license, R-98. Based on my activity . Yet NRC-re lated activities for what should have been a 6-to-9 month effort to perform a restart g NRC staff have dragged on beyond 17 months with no end in sight. Some processes requirin er 201.8 letter declarin g the intent to involvement still remain unresolved at the writing of the Decemb to expensive delays. It is decommission the license. These circumstances have contributed significantly NRC or have been created not clear to me if such delays are the outcome of systemic processes within the by individual personnel or likely a combination of both.

obligations, in the same vein While I believe a licensee should be held responsible for failings of our own respon sible-f or their actions I strongly believe NRC staff should be held respon sible-e ven financially particularly when services or lack of actions that cause or contribute to an egregious failure of progress, provided and cost reimbursement to the NRC are required by law.

to 2018 in the amount of I request reimbur sement of only some of the costs paid to the NRC from 2005 performed in a satisfactory

$2,482 ,682.31 -for itemized fees, inspection services, and more that were not that represents only a manner. Paymen ts made to the NRC are summarized in the attached spreadsheet fraction of the total payments made during this time period.

Aerotest Operations and the NRC have documented evidence of the catastrophic failure of the safety culture. What ultimately protected the public and environment was an inherently well-engineered UZrHx fuel. Due to their ineffective interactions and bloated :financial charges, the NRC staff caused a "chilling-effect" on the circumstances surrounding this reactor, which are stunning and sad given that many of the processes associated with this facility required direct NRC staff oversight. NRC documen ts-ed correspondence, NRC inspection reports, and meeting minutes of ARRR safeguard committe e--provid an altered picture from the reality of the reactor's actual condition and operating circumstance.

I would like to be part of the greater dialogue to promote safe practices and effective unfettered a

communication between the nuclear reactor licensee and NRC staff. These improvements will result in safer environment for radiation workers and the public. I trust that the proposed open discussions will be without fear of retaliation, intimidation, or harassment concerning the licensee's past compliance and concerns with the ignorance (or, worse, arrogance) of the NRC staff in their obligation to regulatory oversight. The nuclear safety culture for the ARRR reactor or any other licensed facility must consist of core values and behaviors resulting from collective commitments by the licensee, safety committee, and the NRC staff that should result in the protection of people and the environment.

it Expertise employed by the licensee must act with the operational knowledge of the reactor and the fuel utilizes. The administrative and operating staff must be fully invested in compliance with good safety practices well beyond the minimal regulatory obligations. The existing ARRR staff failed to meet the required standard. The safeguards committee included skilled members outside operating staff who are familiar with the NRC regulations, operation,. and radiation protection programs. However, the safeguards committee chap:er was antiquated and open to interpretation, which limited the committe e's effectiveness.

Due to the ch~rter's perceived limited scope, relevant information and/or reviews were not provided or l

performed. Likewise, members of the NRC staff should have the expertise to understand the operationa principles of the facilities and the basis of the regulations to develop reasonable compliance solutions that meet the intent, performing their required tasks in a professional, cost-effective, and timely manner. The NRC staff failed to meet the required standard.

During the upcoming months, I will be submitting a license amendment for possession-only status and preparing the decommissioning plan for the ARRR (R-98). I will also document the issues that are present along with a root-cause analysis for the failure of the ARRR restart activity.

Should you have any questions or require additional information regarding this submission, please contact.

me at 801-631-5919 and dmsraven@gmail.com. I declare under penalty of perjury that the statements above are correct and truthful.

tspectfu lly,

~M-~

President and Reactor Administrator General Manager and Manager cc. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Office of the Inspector General Mail Stop 05-El3 11555 Rockville Pike Rockville, MD 20852

1:54PM AEROTEST OPERATIONS, INC.

12/18/18 Accrual Basis Custom Transaction Detail Report All Transactions Project Total

~

Check Date 03/08/2005 10123 Num

-Name NRC Part 50 Routine Memo Amount 13,188.00 100.00 lndemity 100.00 Annual Inspection 13,188.00 Safety Renewal Restart Other Managemen1 Transfer Check 03/24/2005 10211 NRC Indemnity Fee (Aprtl 051hr Aprtl 08) 8,792.00 10302 NRC PM 8,792.00 Check 04/26/2005 Annual Permit Fee (License No. R-98) 59,500.00 59,500.00 Check 08/08/2005 10618 NRC 12,953.00 10619 NRC PM 12,953.00 Check 08/08/2005 8,792.00 8,792.00 Check 10/20/2005 10867 NRC Routine Reactive Inspections 13,090.00 NRC PM 13,090.00 Check 10/20/2005 10868 20,213.00 NRC PM 20,213.00 Check 02/07/2006 11207 NRC Indemnity Fee (4-16-08 lhru 4-15-07) 100.00 100.00 Check 03/07/2006 11287 17,466.00 11448 NRC PM 17,466.00 Check 04/21/2008 FY Annual Fee 80,100.00 80,100.00 Check 08/10/2008 11731 NRC 13,633.00 11745 NRC PM 13,633.00 Check , 08/10/2006 1,407.00 NRC PM 1,407.00 Check 10/23/2006 11967 7,985.60 NRC Review of Part 50 7,985.60 Check 01/26/2007 12264 13,229.00 13,229.00 Check 01/26/2007 12274 NRC Part 60 Routine (9/17/06-12/23/06) 869.00 7,985.00 NRC Review of Part 60 $866/PM $7985 8,854.00 Check 01/26/2007 12266 Check 02/06/2007 NRC Part 50*Routlne o.oo NRC Indemnity Fee(4-16-07 lhru 4-15-08) 100.00 100.00 Check 03/29/2007 12439 3,342.00 NRC PM 3,342.00 Check 04/20/2007 12534 27.00 NRC Docke1 No. 50-228 27.00 Check 06/06/2007 12671 27.00 NRC Dockal No. 50-228 27.00 Check 07117/2007 12804 9,765.00 NRC PM 9,765.00 Check 07/26/2007 12852 76,300.00 76,300.00 Check 06/16/2007 12915 NRC FY 2007 ANNUAL FEE 16,507.00 NRC PM 16,507.00 Check 10/18/2007 13121 16,445.00 16,445.00 Check 10/1812007 13122 NRC Routine Inspections 6,424.00 U.S.NUCL.EPM 6,424.00 Check 02/04/2008 13472 U.S.NUCLE Indemnity Fee-License R-96 100.00 100.00 Check 04/10/2008 13665 8,772.00 NRC PM 8,772.00 Check 04/18/2008 13716 5,392.00 U.S.NUCL.1:PM 6,392.00 Check 07/22/2008 13977 25,800.00 25,800.00 Check 08/08/2008 14035 NRC Routine Inspection Annual Fee 76,500.00 76,500.00 Check 06/25/2008 14084 NRC 6,129.00 NRC Review of Part 50 6,129.00 Check 10/1712008 14248 68,473.00 NRC PM 68,473.00 Check 02/09/2009 14592 100.00 100.00 Check 03/10/2009 14665 . U.S.NUCLE indemnity Fee 74,018.00 14769 U.S.NUCLE PM 74,018.00 Check 04/16/2009 102,388.00 14999 NRC PM 102,388.00 Check 07/23/2009 87,600.00 67,600.00 Check 08/10/2009 15073 U.S.NUCLE FY 2009 License R-98 Renewal 17,136.00 17,136.00 Check 10/21/2009 15246 U.S.NUCL.E Review of part 50 257.00 476.00 U.S.NUCLE Review of Part 60 $257/PM $476 733.00 Check 10/27/2009 15251 1,028.00 9,355.00 NRC Review of Part 50 $1028/PM $9354 10,383.00 Check 02/0812010 15526 17,912.00 6,452.00 U.S.NUCL.1: Review pf Part 50 $17912/PM $6450.70 24,364.00 Check 04/27/2010 15708 Indemnity Fee 100.08 100.08 Check 05/12/2010 15771 NRC 18,504.00 18,504.00 Check 07/30/2010 15954 U.S.NUCL.1: Routine/Reactive lnspectlons(3/26-7/03/10) 11,950.00 28,039.00 U.S.NUCL.1: Review of Part 50$11950/PM $28038. 70 39,989.00 Check 07130/2010 15955 81,700.00 81,700.00 Check 08/24/2010 15954 U.S.NUCLE FY 2010 Annual Fee 12,917.00 1,550.00 U.S.NUCL.E Review of Part 50 $1150 / PM $12817.20 14,467.00 Check 10/25/2010 16090 129.50 4,144.00 15,151.50 10,360.00 518.00 Check 03/10/2011 16346 u.s.NUCLE Inspection Report 26 hrs /Transfer 18 hrs 100.00 100,00 Check 04/13/2011 16390 U.S.NUCL.E Indemnity Fee 518.00 NRC Ucense Transfer Fee 518.00 Check 05/31/2011 16467 17,096.59 NRC PM 17,096.59 Check 08/12/2011 16566 86,300.00 86,300.00 Check 09/16/2011 16620 U.S.NUCLE Annual License Fee(10-01-2010-9-30-2011)

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1:54PM AEROTEST OPERATIONS, INC.

12/18/18 Accrual Basls Custom Transaction Detail Report All Transactions Amount lndemity Annual Inspection Safety Renewal Restart Other Management Transfer Date Num Name Memo

~ 16,756.18 259.00 U.S.NUCLE Inspection 58 hrs/over head 64.08 hrs 32,037.18 15,022.00 Check 11/21/2011 16710 Check 03/16/2012 16869 U.S.NUCLE Indemnity Fee 100.00 100.00 U.S.NUCLE Review of Part 50. PM 25,025.91 25,025.91 Check 03/16/2012 16875 86,030.49 18,563.00 61,971.00 5,498.49 Check 05/03/2012 16947 NRC Inspection 68 hrs/safety 214 hrs/PM 16 hrs 19,110.00 103,467.00 29,620.50 11,739.00 Check 08/24/2012 17119 NRC lnspecllon 56 hrs/safety 234.5 hrsnranafer 43/pm 105.5 hrs 163,936.50 08/29/2012 17132 NRC Annual Fee License R-98 34,700.00 34,700.00 Check Check 08/29/2012 17140 U.S.NUCLE Annual Fee R-98 34,700.00 34,700.00 45,372.00 45,181.50 19,686.00 47,995.25 Check 11/14/2012 17238 NRC Safety 165.50 hrs/Transfer 175.75 hrs/Inspection 166 hrs 156,234.75 6,198.36 6,198.36 Check 01/14/2013 17335 U.S.NUCLE Cynthia Montgomery 13,152.00 40,278.00 35,757.00 65,897,00 Check 02/27/2013 17399 NRC Safety 48 hrs/Transfer 240 hrs~nspectlon 48 hrs 155,084.00 7.00 7.00 Check 03/04/2013 17408 NRC Late Fee 31,510.00 33,154.00 34,661.00 Check 04/25/2013 17489 NRC Safety Rlvlew 115 hrs/Transfer 126.5 hrs/PM 121 hrs 99,325.00 Check 05/02/2013 17495 NRC BDN-NN-13-0018 100.00 100.00 72,610.00 24,660.00 20,070.50 27,879.50 Check 08/05/2013 17636 NRC Safety 90hrs/Transler 73.25 hrs/ PM 101.75 hrs 09/06/2013 17673 NRC Annual Fees 81,600.00 81,600.00 Check 28,288.00 17,076.00 22,440.00 Check 11/06/2013 17767 U.S.NUCLE Safety Rlevew 104 hrs/Transfer 82.50 hrs/PM 56.25 67,804.00 Check 03/10/2014 17935 U.S.NUCLE BDN NN-14-0019 100.00 100.00 3,643.95 2,176.00 10.00 1,457.95 Check 03/10/2014 17936 U.S.NUCLE Safety Review 8 hrs/PM 5.36hrs 8,296.00 8,296.00 Check 04/22/2014 18009 NRC PM Changes 30 hrs 14,592.80 43,316.00 Check 08/18/2014 18168 NRC Indirect Transfer 126 hrs/PM 53.65 hrs 57,908.80 09/24/2014 NRC Annual Fees 84,500.00 84,500.00 Check 18=

8,987.55 66,439.50 Check 11/18/2014 18296 NRC Transfer 244.25 hrs/PM 33 hours3.819444e-4 days <br />0.00917 hours <br />5.456349e-5 weeks <br />1.25565e-5 months <br /> 75,427.05 25,458.75 17,856.00 7,602.75 Check 02/06/2015 18434 NRC 2014201/0500028 64 hrs and PM Charges 27.5 hrs Check 03/30/2015 18513 U.S.NUCLE Rel: 050-00228 D 100.00 100.00 18757 NRC Docket #05000228 (Pertod 7/01/2015-09/30/2015) 83,500.00 83,500.00 Check 09/23/2015 Check 03/23/2016 19033 U.S.NUCLE BIii No, NN-16-0016 100.00 100.00 268,00 7.00 20,106.58 Check 05/26/2016 19118 U.S.NUCLE NRC Fees 20,381.58 30,680.64 Check 08/10/2016 19236 NRC Proof of Flnenclal protectlonrrransfer 1OB hrs 30,680.64 09/06/2016 19267 NRC ANNUAL FEE 81,500.00 81,500.00 Check 62,965.33 Check 11/04/2016 19357 NRC Proof o!Flnancial protection/Transfer 221.75 hours8.680556e-4 days <br />0.0208 hours <br />1.240079e-4 weeks <br />2.85375e-5 months <br /> 62,965.33 850.65 14,177.50 Check 02/17/2017 19516 NRC QTR. 9/18/16thru 12/24/16 (Part 170) 15,028.15 530,00 667.80 10,600.00 Check 04/19/2017 19612 NRC SRI Allocation Costs 11,797.80 05/19/2017 19656 NRC BIii No, NN-17-0014 100.00 100.00 Check 10.00 10.00 Check 07/24/2017 19758 U.S.NUCLE Fingerprinting Backgrnd Check for DMS 8,480.00 950,03 7,353.75 Check 07/26/2017 19772 U.S.NUCLE LFB 17-4184 16,783.78 09/01/2017 LFB-17-5273 U.S.NUCLE 6/1/17-9/30/17 81,400.00 81,400.00 Bill 861.25 603.54 9,197.75 Bill 10/25/2017 LFB 18-0411 U.S.NUCLE 6/25/17-9/30/17 10,662.54 1,183.50 1,426.78 526,00 Bill 01/23/2018 05000228 U.S.NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMM. 3,136.28 18,541.50 8,988.03 Bill 04/26/2018 05000228 U.S.NUCLE 12/24/17-3/31/16 27,529.53 10.00 10.00 Bill 06/12/2018 Criminal Check U.S.NUCLE finger prtntlng 56,479.25 7,627.00 5,851.75 11,515.46 Bill 07/19/2018 LFB 18-4924 U.S.NUCLE Docket# 05000228 81,473.46 10.00 10.00 Bill 08/28/2018 U.S.NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMM.

U.S.NUCLE Per Small Business Form 526 850.00 850.00 Bill 08/28/2018 LFB 18-5687 1,908.63 845.80 589.16 Bill 10/25/2018 LFB19-0384 NRC LFB19-0384 Docket #05000228 Small Business Fees 3,343.59 1,030,750.00 279,554.91 349,473.75 78,981.88 8,472.80 5,905.75 729,543.22 512,361.80 2,996,344.19 1,300.08 Total Page 2 or 2