ML14115A169

Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute (Afrri) - Request for Additional Information for the for the License Renewal Review of the Afrri Reactor Facility(Tac No. ME1587)

ML14115A169
Person / Time
Site:	Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute
Issue date:	05/16/2014
From:	Montgomery C K Research and Test Reactors Licensing Branch
To:	Huff L A US Dept of Defense, Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute
Montgomery C K
References
TAC ME1587
Download: ML14115A169 (5)

Text

May 16, 2014

Colonel L. Andrew Huff, Director Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute 8901 Wisconsin Avenue Bethesda, MD 20889-5603

SUBJECT:

ARMED FORCES RADIOBIOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE (AFRRI) - REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THE RENEWAL OF FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE NO. R-84 FOR THE AFRRI TRIGA REACTOR FACILITY (TAC NO. ME1587)

Dear Colonel Huff:

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is continuing its review of the AFRRI application for the renewal of Facility Operating License No. R-84 dated June 24, 2004, and July 31, 2004, as supplemented, for the AFRRI TRIGA reactor facility. During our review, questions have arisen, which we require additional information and clarification. Please provide responses to the enclosed request for additional information no later than 30 days from the receipt of this letter.

In accordance with Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Section 50.30(b), your response must be executed in a signed original under oath or affirmation. You must submit your response in accordance with 10 CFR 50.4, "Written communications." Information included in your response that is considered sens itive 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."

If you have any questions regarding this review, please contact me at 301-415-3398 or by electronic mail at Cindy.Montgomery@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. 50-170

Enclosure:

Request for Additional Information cc: See next page

ML14115A169 NRR-106 OFFICE NRR/DPR/PRLB/PMNRR/DPR/PRLB/LA NRR/DPR/PRLB/BC NRR/DPR/PRLB/PMNAME CMontgomery PBlechman AAdams CMontgomery DATE 05/07/2014 05/07/2014 05/08/2014 05/16/2014 Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute Docket No. 50-170 cc:

Director, Maryland Office of Planning

301 West Preston Street Baltimore, MD 21201

Montgomery County Executive 101 Monroe Street, 2 nd Floor Rockville, MD 20850

Mr. Stephen I. Miller Reactor Facility Director Armed Force Radiobiology Research Institute 8901 Wisconsin Avenue Bethesda, MD 20889-5603 Environmental Program Manager III

Radiological Health Program Air & Radiation Management Adm.

Maryland Dept of the Environment

1800 Washington Blvd.,Suite 750 Baltimore, MD 21230-1724

Manager Nuclear Programs

Maryland Department of Natural Resources Tawes B-3 Annapolis, MD 21401

Director Air & Radiation Management Adm.

Maryland Dept. of the Environment 1800 Washington Blvd., Suite 710 Baltimore, MD 21230

Test, Research, and Training

Reactor Newsletter University of Florida 202 Nuclear Sciences Center

Gainesville, FL 32611 Enclosure REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR THE LICENSE RENEWAL FOR THE ARMED FORCES RADIOBIOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE TRIGA REACTOR FACILITY LICENSE NO. R-84; DOCKET NO. 50-170

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is continuing its review of the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute (AFRRI) application for the renewal of Facility Operating License No. R-84 dated June 24, 2004 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession Nos. ML041800067), and July 31, 2014 (ADAMS Accession Nos. ML041800068 and ML101650415), as supplemented, for the AFRRI TRIGA reactor facility.

During our review, questions have arisen, which we require additional information and clarification.

Questions 1 and 2 relate to your letter dated August 27, 2013 (ADAMS Accession No. ML13254A064), "Submittal of Revised Technical Specifications." Question 3 relates to the Reactor Operator Requalification Program, dated July 31, 2004 (ADAMS Accession No. ML041800071), that you submitted with the request for license renewal.

1. a. In the proposed Technical Specification (TS) 3.3., "Coolant Systems," Specification b., it states that "[t]he reactor shall not be operated if the conductivity of the water is greater than 2 micromhos/cm (or less that 0.5 x 10 6 ohms-cm resistance) at the output of the purification system, averaged over one week." Demonstrate with calculations and analysis that this value of conductivity will limit the potential of Hydrogen (pH) of the water at the output of the purification system to the range 5.5 and 7.5 at all times or, submit a modification to the TS, and a surveillance

that will ensure the pH remains within that interval.

b. In the proposed TS 3.3., "Coolant Systems," Specification c., it states that "[t]he reactor shall not be operated if the conductivity of the bulk water is greater than 5 micromhos/cm (or less than 0.2 x 10 6 ohms-cm resistance), averaged over one week-." Demonstrate with calculations and analysis that this value of conductivity will limit the pH of the bulk water to between 5.5 and 7.5 at all times or, submit a modification to the TS, and a surveillance that will ensure the pH remains within that interval.

2. In the proposed TS 6.1.3.2., "Operations," item b., it states in part, that "[a]n SRO [Senior Reactor Operator] shall be present at the reactor during the following operations:

1. All fuel or control rod relocations within the reactor core region; 2. Initial reactor startup and approach to power; However, initial reactor startup is not defined. In the previous TS, submitted November 28, 2011 (ADAMS Accession No. ML11341A133), TS 1.10. "Initial Reactor Startup," was defined. Justify why a definition for initial reactor startup is not needed or resubmit the technical specifications with the definition.

3. The Reactor Operator Requalification Program, Section C., "Periodic Evaluation," submitted with the license renewal package states that "[t]he operating test shall be administered annually, not to exceed 15 months, to each licensed operator except the RFD [reactor facility director]." It also states "[a] written examination shall be administered once near the end of each 24-month requalification cycle to each licensed operator except the RFD." Furthermore, the plan states, "[a]s the senior supervisor in charge, the RFD shall not be required to take written examinations or operating tests."

Contrary to the requirement in the regulations, these sentences exempt the RFD indefinitely from the requirements of taking a written examination and operating test.

Please propose changes to the Reactor Operator Requalification Program to ensure that no one individual is permanently exempt from meeting the requirements of 10 CFR 55.59, "Requalification;" (e.g., through t he addition of a requirement that exam preparation is rotated among the senior reactor operators).