ML092160399

Request for Amendment to U-235 Possession Limits for the Texas A&M University System, Texas Engineering Experiment Station, Nuclear Science Center Reactor

ML092160399
Person / Time
Site:	05000128
Issue date:	07/22/2009
From:	Remlinger J A Texas A&M Univ
To:	Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
2009-0027
Download: ML092160399 (2)

Text

TEXAS ENGINEERING EXPERIMENT STATION TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY 3575 TAMU COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS 77843-3575 NUCLEAR SCIENCE CENTER 979/845-7551 FAX 979/862-2667 July 22, 2009 2009-0027 Document Control Desk U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555-0001

Subject:

Request for Amendment to U-235 Possession Limits for the Texas A&M University System, Texas Engineering Experiment Station, Nuclear Science Center Reactor (NSCR, License No. R-83, Docket 50-128)To Whom It May Concern: Texas A&M University System, Texas Engineering Experiment Station (TEES), NuclearCenter (NSC, Licens'e'NbR-83)

'operates a LEU 1MW TRIGA reactor. The NSC facility operating license'is currently under timely reriewal.

The purpose of this letter is to'request an amendment to our current operating license withregards to our possession limit for Uranium-23.5 .used in, support 6f our operations and' its associated facilities.'

-Part II. B.(4) of the license is'written as follows:'B.(4) Pursuant t A te t d 10 CFR,' Chapter. I, Pat 70, "Domestic Licensing of Special Nuclear Material" to r-eceby,-possess apnd use up to 20 grams each of thle following isotopes:

-.'Uranium-233, plutonium-236,.plutonium-238, plutonium-239, plutonium-240, plutou-241,plutoniiiiui-242 and uranium-235.

in the form 6f detectorfs,, fission plates, foils and solutiionsfor" supp'6tt of operation of the reactor and associated facilities; Due to the expansion 0t6fe refxas A&M University System nuclear research programs utilizing special nuclear materials (SNM) and the need'for NSC to procure additional fission detectors for support of reactor opertion, inicre'ased.

amounts of possession and use, of SNM are required.

In particulai, an increase in thle possession Uram"um-235 is necessary.

Currently, if the purchase ofain6ther fission detecior equired for continued reactor operation, the NSC would mostlikely exce-dst currentppbssessioii limit for U-235. The NSC proposes an amendment to RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FOR MANKIND http://nsc.tamu.edu C)LW-Document Control Desk July 22, 2009 Page our Facility License (R-83) with the following change to B.(4). This amendment would increase the possession limit for U-235 from 20 grams to 40 grams. The proposed change to B.(4) is: B.(4) Pursuant to the Act and 10 CFR, Chapter I, Part 70, "Domestic Licensing of Special Nuclear Material" to receive, possess and use up to 40 grams of Uranium-235 and up to 20 grams each of the following isotopes: Uranium-233, plutonium-236, plutonium-238, plutonium-239, plutonium-240, plutonium-241, and plutonium-242, in the form of detectors, fission plates, foils and solutions for support of operation of the reactor and associated facilities; An increase in possession limit from 20 grams to 40 grams of U-235 does not change the classification category of the facility as described in 1OCFR73, and does not represent an increased risk to public or facility safety.Your prompt attention to this request is appreciated.

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Latha Vasudevan at 979-845-7551.

iSince ly, J s A.mlinge C , Associate Direct/Xc: 211 /Central File William Schuster, NRC Project Manager