ML23261A587

American Centrifuge Operating, LLC - American Centrifuge Plant Docket No. 70-7004 Cat II Authorization

ML23261A587
Person / Time
Site:	07007004
Issue date:	09/21/2023
From:	Laura Dudes Region 2 Administrator
To:	Snider M American Centrifuge Operating
References
Download: ML23261A587 (4)

Text

September 21, 2023 Mathew Snider General Manager/Operations Manager American Centrifuge Operating, LLC 3930 U.S. Route 23 South P.O. Box 628 Mail Stop 7560 Piketon, OH 45661

SUBJECT:

AMERICAN CENTRIFUGE OPERATING, LLC - AMERICAN CENTRIFUGE PLANT - DOCKET NO. 70-7004, AUTHORIZATION TO COMMENCE ENRICHMENT OPERATIONS IN THE HIGH-ASSAY LOW-ENRICHED URANIUM DEMONSTRATION CASCADE MODULE TO PRODUCE CATEGORY II QUANTITIES OF SPECIAL NUCLEAR MATERIAL

Dear Mathew Snider:

This letter confirms the Nuclear Regulatory Commissions (NRCs) authorization to commence enrichment operations in the High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) Demonstration Cascade module to produce category II quantities of special nuclear material (SNM) at the American Centrifuge Plant (ACP) located in Piketon, Ohio. This authorization is pursuant to the provisions of Part 70, Paragraph 70.32(k) and 10 CFR 40.41(g) of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) that states, No person may commence operation of a uranium enrichment facility until the Commission verifies through inspection that the facility has been constructed in accordance with the requirements of the license. Additionally, license condition 11 of the American Centrifuge Operating, LLC., American Centrifuge Plant Materials License (SNM-2011) requires, in part, that 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. This review is to verify that management measures that ensure compliance with the performance requirements of 10 CFR Section 70.61 have been implemented and confirms that the facility has been constructed and will be operated safely in accordance with the requirements of the license.

This NRC authorization is based on the results of construction, quality assurance, and operational readiness inspections of various aspects of the HALEU Demonstration Cascade as described in the inspection reports listed in the Enclosure. The NRC staff determined that the systems, structures, and components designed to support safe operation of the HALEU Demonstration Cascade were constructed in accordance with license requirements.

Specifically, the inspections provided: (1) reasonable assurance that the design, construction, and implementation of items relied on for safety (IROFS) will protect against natural phenomena and the consequences of potential accidents, (2) verification that the Quality Assurance Program was adequately implemented during construction, and (3) verification that the construction of the IROFS was completed in accordance with the documents comprising the license and the Integrated Safety Analysis Summary.

M. Snider 2 The publicly available inspection reports and report cover letters for non-public reports that describe the construction, quality assurance, and operational readiness inspections of the HALEU Demonstration Cascade are accessible through the NRCs public electronic reading room, Agencywide Document Access and Management System (ADAMS), at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.htm via the accession numbers listed in the Enclosure.

Please note that this authorization only applies to the possession and use of source, byproduct and special nuclear material at the HALEU Demonstration Cascade as approved by the NRC.

In accordance with 10 CFR 2.390 of the NRC's "Rules of Practice," this document may be accessed through ADAMS on the internet at www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.htm.

Should you have any questions concerning this letter, please contact Mr. Leonard Pitts at 404-997-4708.

Sincerely, Signed by Dudes, Laura on 09/21/23 Laura A. Dudes Regional Administrator Docket No. 07007004 License No. SNM-2011

Enclosure:

As stated cc w/ encl: Distribution via LISTSERV

M. Snider 2

SUBJECT:

AMERICAN CENTRIFUGE OPERATING, LLC - AMERICAN CENTRIFUGE PLANT - DOCKET NO. 70-7004, AUTHORIZATION TO COMMENCE ENRICHMENT OPERATIONS IN THE HIGH-ASSAY LOW-ENRICHED URANIUM DEMONSTRATION CASCADE MODULE TO PRODUCE CATEGORY II QUANTITIES OF SPECIAL NUCLEAR MATERIAL Distribution:

Y. Faraz, NMSS J. Tobin, NMSS S. Lav, NMSS A. Masters, RII R. Williams, RII R. Mathis, RII J. Rivera-Ortiz, RII L. Pitts, RII T. Vukovinsky, RII K. Womack, RII T. Sippel, RII R2EICS PUBLIC ADAMS ACCESSION NUMBER: ML23261A587 SUNSI x Non-Sensitive x Publicly Available x

Review Sensitive Non-Publicly Available OFFICE RII;DFFI RII:DFFI RII:DFFI RII:ORA NAME L. Pitts R. Mathis A. Masters L. Dudes DATE 09/18/2023 09/19/2023 9/19/2023 9/21/2023 OFFICAL RECORD COPY

Construction, Quality Assurance, and Operational Readiness Inspection Reports for the American Centrifuge Plant - HALEU Demonstration Cascade Inspection Program Areas Inspected Public Report ADAMS Report or Report Accession Number Cover Letter* Number 2021-006 Construction and Quality Assurance Public Report ML21130A343 2021-009 Operational Safety, Public Report ML22026A367 Radiation Protection, Nuclear Criticality Safety, Permanent Plant Modifications, Fire Protection, and Effluent Control and Environmental Protection 2023-007 Operational Safety, Public Report ML23128A350 Radiation Protection, Nuclear Criticality Safety, Permanent Plant Modification, and Fire Protection 2023-405* Material Control and Accounting Cover Letter ML23128A357 2023-406* Physical Security Cover Letter ML23152A276 2023-407* Physical Security Cover Letter ML23248A544 2023-408* Material Control and Accounting Cover Letter ML23256A229

• Inspection reports containing Security Related Information and will not be made publicly available in accordance with 10 CFR 2.390 (d)(1). The ADAMS Accession Number for the associated public cover letter is provided.

Enclosure