ML23069A098

NRC Confirmation Aco License Authorizes Possession and Use of a Small Quantity of UF6 for Mass Spectrometer Testing

ML23069A098
Person / Time
Site:	07007004
Issue date:	03/20/2023
From:	Soto S NRC/NMSS/DFM/FFLB
To:	Karen Fitch American Centrifuge Operating
References
EPID L-2023-LLL-0005
Download: ML23069A098 (1)

Text

. Fitch UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 March 20, 2023 Kelly L. Fitch, Regulatory Manager American Centrifuge Operating, LLC P.O. Box 628 Mail Stop 7560 3930 U.S. 23 South Piketon, OH 45661

SUBJECT:

NRC CONFIRMATION THAT AMERICAN CENTRIFUGE OPERATINGS LICENSE AUTHORIZES POSSESSION AND USE OF A SMALL QUANTITY OF UF6 FOR MASS SPECTROMETER TESTING (EPID L-2023-LLL-0005)

Dear Kelly Fitch:

By letter dated February 9, 2023, the (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System {ADAMS} Accession No. ML23047A106), American Centrifuge Operating (ACO), a wholly owned subsidiary of Centrus Energy Corp., requested clarification from the U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) if ACO can possess and use a small quantity of source material in the form of uranium hexafluoride (UF6) to test a new mass spectrometer prior to the completion of its operational readiness and management measures verification review for its high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) production program. According to ACO, the test will be performed using the UF6 while the mass spectrometer is physically disconnected from the HALEU cascade. This request was made in the context of Condition 11 of ACOs Materials License SNM-2011 for the American Centrifuge Plant, which states:

Introduction of UF6 into any module of the ACP, including the HALEU Demonstration cascade, shall not occur until the Commission completes an operational readiness and management measures verification review to verify that management measures that ensure compliance with the performance requirements of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), Section 70.61 have been implemented and confirms that the facility has been constructed and will be operated safely and in accordance with the requirements of the license. The licensee shall provide the Commission with 120 days advance notice of its plan to introduce UF6 in any module of the ACP, including the HALEU Demonstration cascade.

The NRC staff has completed its review of ACOs February 9, 2023, letter request and has determined that performing the test while the mass spectrometer is disconnected from the HALEU cascade is not considered as introduction of UF6 in any module of the ACP. As such, ACO is authorized to take possession of and use source material in the form of UF6 as described in its approved license application for the American Centrifuge Plant (ACP).

In accordance with 10 CFR Section 2.390, Public inspections, exemptions, requests for withholding, of the NRCs Agency Rules of Practice and Procedure, a copy of this letter will be available electronically for public inspection in the NRC Public Document Room or from the Publicly Available Records component of the NRCs ADAMS. ADAMS is accessible from the NRC website at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html (the Public Electronic Reading Room).

If you have any questions regarding this action, please contact Mr. Yawar Faraz by telephone at 301-415-7220 or by email to Yawar.Faraz@nrc.gov.

Sincerely, Signed by Soto Lugo, Soly on 03/20/23 Soly Soto-Lugo, Acting Chief Fuel Facility Licensing Branch Division of Fuel Management Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Docket No. 07007004 License No. SNM-2011 cc: S. Harlow, DOE NE-HQ centrus_acp@listmgr.nrc.gov

Ltr ML23069A098 OGC/GCRPS OFFICE NMSS/DFM/FFLB NSIR/DSO/SOSB NMSS/REFS

/HLWFCNS/NLO NAME YFaraz YF JCurry JC PJehle PJ SSoto SS DATE Mar 13, 2023 Mar 17, 2023 Mar 17, 2023 Mar 20, 2023