IR 05000027/1980003
| ML20003B988 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Washington State University |
| Issue date: | 12/18/1980 |
| From: | Book H, Curtis J, Wenslawski F NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION V) |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20003B983 | List: |
| References | |
| 50-027-80-03, 50-27-80-3, NUDOCS 8102260341 | |
| Download: ML20003B988 (5) | |
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C. S. SUCL"aR REGU!ATORY CC"".ISSION I
0F7IC2 0F INSPECTION AND ENFORCE!ENT
REGION V
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. Report No.
50-027/80-03
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. Docket No.50-027 License No.
R-76 Safeguards Group
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Licensee:
Washinoton State University Pullman, Washington 99163-Facility Na=e: Research Reactor, Nuclear Radiation Center
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Inspection at: Washinaton State University i
Inspection condue d:
October 22-24. 1980 i /. [ b d/
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Inspectors:
. R. Curtis, Radiation Specialist
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Approved by:
F.. llenslawski, Chief, Rea~ctor Radiation Safety Section -
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-H. E. Book, Chief, Fuel Facility and Materials Date' signed Safety-Branch Su= mary:
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Inspection on October 22-24, 1980 (Report No. 50-027/80-03)
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~ Areas-Inspected:
Routine-unannounced inspection of the radiation protection,
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. environmental protection,= emergency response planning programs and followup Lof licensee response to IE Bulletins, Circulars and Information Notices. The J.
inspection included.a tour of the facility, examination of, radiological
.- monitoring, materialLtransfer, waste release, routine ~ survey ~ and personnel radiation. protection:and audit committee members. The inspection involved.
18. hours'onsite by one NRC inspector.:
I-L esults: 10ne item 'of-noncompliance, related to timely submittal of personnel R
~ monitoring summaries, was : identified. The summary reports were compiled and submitted prior to. the close of-the inspection and.no additional corrective
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i caction.'was required.
.RV. Form 219L.(2).
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DETAILS 1.
Persons Contacted
- W. E. Uilson, Associate Director, WSU Muclear Radiation Center
- R. Brown, Radiation Safety Officer Washington State University (USU)
- J. Heidiger, Reactor Supervisor
- J. Sheppard, Chairman Reactor Safeauards Committee V. P. Sikorsky, Reactor Operator Other members of the reactor staff
- Indicates presence at the exit interview.
2.
Review of Licensee Resoonse to IE Bulletins,etc The licensee nad received and resoonded to IE Bulletin 79-19,
"Packagina of Low-level Radioactive Waste for Transoort and Burial".
Low-level solid waste generateo at tne f acility is collected and co-mingled with the radioactive wastes collected from other programs conducted under the universities state license by the University Radiological Safety Officer. The waste from the reactor constitutes
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a small fraction of the annual total. The wastes are compacted, packaged and transferred to a disposal contractor under the university state license.
The licensee had received IE Circular 80-14, Radioactive Contamination of Plant Demineralized Water System..., and had reviewed their plant systems for cross connections or possible siphon points.
No corrective actions were warranted.
No itens of noncompliance or deviations.were jdentif.ied...
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3.
General Operations - Tour The inspector toured the facility and observed the conduct of a daily routine radiation survey performed by a reactor staff member.
Confirmatory measurements of radiatian levels were made by the inspector during the tour. General radiation levels measured at approximately three feet above the floor were 0.1 to 1.7 nrem/hr with levels in posted areas on the reactor bridge and in a source storage area in the range of 2.2 to 20 mrem /hr. The survey was made with a XETEX Model 305B survey neter, serial 48172, latest calibration 9-4-80, due for recalibration 12-4-80.
Posting, labeling, radiological safety and material control procedures and practices
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were observed and discussed. They were found to be proper and consistent with present standards and the level of exposure hazard presented.
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The routine daily radiation survey, performed by the staff member was part of the sarvey activity prescribed by the WSU Reactor Standard Procedure *S, " Standard Procedure for Health Physics Su rveys". Many of the routine reactor operations, maintenance and radiation r>rotection activities are prescribed in WSU Standard Operating Proc?dures.
All reactor orocedures are reviewed periodically by the Reactor Supervisor, changes are reviewed and authorized by the Reactors Safeguards Comittee.
No items of noncomoliance or deviations were identified.
4.
Orcanizational Chances Mr. S. Hawley, previous Reactor Supervisor left the Nuclear Radiation Center to accept employment at Battelle Northwest Laboratories in September 1980.
The Reactor Spervisor position has been filled by Mr. J. Heidicer, who has been on the reactor facility staff as operator and senior operator since 1978.
5.
Examination of Records A variety of records and forms used routinely for radiation surveys, sample monitoring and release, personnei exposure and area radiation level determination, and reactor operation logs were examined.
Results of measurements and compilations were consistent with expected values; facility personnel exposures are icw (0 to 100 milliren per year), liquid and gar 7ouseffguentsamplesindicate release levels in the range cf 10 to 10' nicrocuries per cubic centineter.
These results were consistent with previously reported values in the licensee's annual report and in quarterly summaries submitted by the U.S.U. Radiation Safety Officer, who reviews the records to assess radiological conditions as part of the Reactor Safeguards Ccmmittee's surveillance of reactor operations.
No items of noncompliance or deviations were identified.
6.
Emercency Resocm e Plannina The li"~ _< s plans and current guidance for emergency response is contained in their Standard Procedure #6, " Standard Procedure in the Event of an Emergency Situtation." The licensee management representative indicated that a new emergency plan had been written and submitted in conformance with the guidance and format of the ANS-15 Energency Planning Standard and the staff was working on a reiteration of this clan in response to changesi indicated in the recently announced 10 CFR 50 Appendix E reouirements.
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r Evacuation Alarms are checked on a routine quarterly schedule.
Periodically, electronic transients and power failures have l
triggered alams during off hours and precipitated responce by l
the camous police, who as part of their response plan, contact l
persons on the facilities Emergency Call List. These events have been considered as aoprooriate tests of the emergency
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l response plan.
No items of noncomoliance or deviations were identified.
l 7.
Radioactive Waste-Effluents Small quantities of solid waste are generated at the reactor facility in the form of plastic gloves, absorbent paper and towels and plastic vials, etc, used durino irradiated sample l.
handling manioulations. These wastes are collected and incorporated
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into the universities waste collection, compaction and disposal program, conducted under a State of Washington license. The volume and specific activity content of strictly " reactor produced" waste is not comnilea, but estimates by the WSL Radiation Safety Officer, who oversees tne university's waste disposal program, estimated the annual volume to be two to five 55 gallon drums per year and the activity in the millicuries range.
Liquid wastes are generated in certain laboratories in the Nuclear Radiation Center building which also houses the reactor facility.
Hot sink drains in these laboratories and drains in the reactor facility are routed to a holdup and dilution tank system.
The liouid wastes collectM in these tank? are held for batch type release; they are sampled prior Le relene to the sanitary sewer system. The Reactor Supervisor authorizes the actual release af ter evaluating the samnle_9nalysis. Concentrations reported have been in the 0.1-to 10 X.0 nicro-curies per cubic centimeter range.
Argon-41 releases in tha c%eous effluent are monitored continuously during reactor operation. The quantity of Argon-41 released per operating day is calculated based on the integrated count from the stack gas monitor and monthly release summaries are made for reporting purposes.
The' average concentrations reported in recent summaries are consistent with previous levels reported and are well within the limitations of'the facility technical specifications.
No item of noncompliance or deviations were identified.
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Environmental Monitoring The licensee is maintaining its environmental monitoring program in the form of an array of TLD dosimeters from "close-in" to 15 miles away, and analsysis of monthly water samples from water bodies in the vic'nity of the Washington State University's Pullman campus.
Recent results and those reported in the 1979-80 annual report are consistent and show no impact from reactor operations.
No iterrs of noncompliance or deviations were identified.
9.
Exit Interview An exit interview was held with licensee representatives denoted by an asterisk in paragraoh one, at the conclusion of the inspection.
The scope and findings of the inspection were discussed. The licensee representatives were aavised that the failure to submit the 1978-1979 personnel monitoring reports in a timely manner might consitute a citable item of nonce 1pliance.
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