ML23249A095

Abilene Christian University - Update to Construction Permit Application Technical Review Schedule

ML23249A095
Person / Time
Site:	Abilene Christian University
Issue date:	09/14/2023
From:	Rivera R NRC/NRR/DANU/UAL2
To:	Towell R Abilene Christian University (ACU)
References
EPID L-2022-NFW-0002
Download: ML23249A095 (3)

Text

Dr. Rusty Towell Director of NEXT Lab Abilene Christian University ACU Box 27963 Abilene, TX 79699

SUBJECT:

ABILENE CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY - UPDATE TO THE CONSTRUCTION PERMIT APPLICATION TECHNICAL REVIEW SCHEDULE (EPID L-2022-NFW-0002)

Dear Dr. Towell:

The purpose of this letter is to inform Abilene Christian University (ACU) of the potential for a schedule change for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staffs review of the construction permit application for ACUs proposed Molten Salt Research Reactor (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML22227A201). By letter dated December 16, 2022 (ML22341A615), the NRC staff previously communicated that it planned to complete its review of the construction permit application by May 2024, assuming the completion of interim milestones identified in the letter, the first of which was the completion of the draft safety evaluation by August 2023.

The NRC staff remains engaged with ACU in regulatory audits supporting the NRC staffs review of the construction permit application. Over the last few months, the NRC staff and ACU have continued to work constructively to address many of the technical topics within the scope of audits; however, additional time is needed for ACU to provide necessary information to the NRC staff, for the NRC staff and ACU to bring resolution to the remaining topics, and for the NRC staff to review forthcoming preliminary safety analysis report (PSAR) changes that are necessary for the NRC staff to make its regulatory findings. As such, the draft safety evaluation was not completed in August 2023, as previously planned.

Because the timeline for the resolution of the remaining technical topics and the corresponding PSAR changes remains uncertain, the NRC staff will need to reassess the application review schedule communicated in the letter dated December 16, 2022, once the necessary information is provided by ACU. The NRC staff remains committed to working with ACU to drive the remaining technical topics to resolution in an expeditious manner. The NRC staff will work with ACU to provide a revised schedule and level of effort, as appropriate, for the completion of its safety and environmental reviews once the timeline for the resolution of the remaining technical topics and the corresponding PSAR changes becomes clear. Any revised schedule will take into account ACUs construction and operation schedule, while balancing the time needed for the NRC staff to perform its review of the application.

September 14, 2023

R. Towell If you have any questions, please contact me at (301) 415-7190, or via email at Richard.Rivera@nrc.gov.

Sincerely, Richard Rivera, Project Manager Advanced Reactor Licensing Branch 2 Division of Advanced Reactors and Non-Power Production and Utilization Facilities Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No.: 50-610 cc: Abilene Christian University MSRR via GovDelivery Signed by Rivera, Richard on 09/14/23

R. Towell

SUBJECT:

ABILENE CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY - UPDATE TO THE CONSTRUCTION PERMIT APPLICATION TECHNICAL REVIEW SCHEDULE (EPID L-2022-NFW-0002) DATED: SEPTEMBER 14, 2023 DISTRIBUTION:

PUBLIC RidsNrrDanuUal2 Resource RidsNrrDanu RidsOpaMail Resource RidsOcaMailCenter Resource RRivera, NRR BTravis, NRR KSong, NRR EHelvenston, NRR ZStone, NRR PVokoun, NMSS JGiacinto, NMSS MWentzel, NRR GOberson, NRR CSmith, NRR ADAMS Accession Number: ML23249A095 NRR-106 OFFICE NRR/DANU/UAL2/PM NRR/DANU/UAL2/LA NMSS/REFS/ERNRB/PM NMSS/REFS/ERNRB/BC NAME RRivera CSmith PVokoun KErwin DATE 9/7/2023 9/12/2023 9/13/2023 9/14/2023 OFFICE NRR/DANU/UTB1/BC NRR/DANU/UAL2/BC NRR/DANU/UAL2/PM NAME GOberson MWentzel RRivera DATE 9/14/2023 9/14/2023 9/14/2023 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY