ML22140A306
| ML22140A306 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 03/08/2022 |
| From: | Joshua Borromeo NRC/NRR/DANU/UNPL |
| To: | Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| Download: ML22140A306 (8) | |
Text
NRC Approach to Considering the National Institute of Standards and Technology Request to Restart the National Bureau of Standards Reactor Josh Borromeo, Branch Chief Non-Power Production and Utilization Facility Licensing
- On February 3, 2021, during a startup and approach to full power, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
National Bureau of Standards Reactor (NBSR) experienced a reactor scram due to indications of high exhaust stack radiation.
- NIST indicated that, before startup, a fuel element in the NBSR core was unlatched, Background which led to the element becoming unseated and damaged during startup and the release of of the Event radioactivity.
- This event resulted in the exceedance of the NBSR fuel cladding safety limit.
- Since the event, the reactor has remained in a stable shutdown condition.
- The NBSR is required by the NRCs regulations and its technical specifications to remain shut down until the NRC authorizes the NBSR to restart:
- In accordance with Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) 50.36(c)(1)(i)(A),
Regulatory if any safety limit is exceeded, operation must not be resumed until authorized by Basis the Commission.
- The NBSR technical specifications state that if the safety limit is exceeded, the reactor shall be shut down and reactor operations shall not be resumed until authorized by the NRC.
Request to
- NIST root cause analysis, associated Restart corrective actions, and restart request the NBSR
- NIST license amendment request to update the fuel latching requirements in the technical specifications
- The NRCs decision on the NIST request to restart the NBSR will be based on the following:
- ensuring that the event and the reasons that it occurred are fully understood
- confirming that NIST has adequately identified and addressed the impacts to the NBSR
- ensuring that NIST has made corrections to Restart prevent this event and similar types of events from happening again Decision
- The restart decision will be informed by several NRC activities, including a technical review, inspections, and enforcement actions.
- While the NRC is prioritizing the review, the agency will not authorize restart until it has determined that restart will be protective of public health and safety.
Licensing Key Areas of Oversight Enforcement Consideration for the Restart Restart Authorization Decision Communi Technical cation Legal
Restart Decision Process Overview N IST Technical Restart Technical Evaluation Request Review Report RootC ause &
License C orrective Restart Review A ctions D ecision Revised C orrective License A ctions Review Tem porary Post-Special D evelop and Restart Special Perform Inspection Inspection Plan Inspection Supplem ental Inspection Team Report Inspection Plans Post-Restart Inspection A ctivities to M onitor Perform ance Begin Enforcem ent Issue Enforcem ent Enforcem ent A ctions Process
- NRC inspection reports from the special inspection and supplemental inspections Key Documents
- NRC technical evaluation report documenting the review of design-basis and licensing-basis Supporting impacts of the event the Restart
- will also incorporate information, as appropriate, from the NRCs separate review Decision of the NIST license amendment request on the fuel latching requirements in the NBSR technical specifications and inspection reports
- outcomes from enforcement actions