IR 05000097/1999201
| ML20210L063 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 05000157, 05000097 |
| Issue date: | 08/04/1999 |
| From: | NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned) |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20210L061 | List: |
| References | |
| 50-097-99-201, 50-157-99-201, NUDOCS 9908090029 | |
| Download: ML20210L063 (10) | |
Text
. .
. .
, . . ,
.
'
U. S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Docket Nos: 50 97 50-157 License Nos: .R 89 R-80 Report Nos: 50 97/1999201
<
50-157/1999201 Licensee: Cornell University Facility: Ward Center for Nuclear Sciences Location: lthaca, New York Dates: April 26 - 30,1999 Inspector: Thomas F. Dragoun Approved by: Ledyard B. Marsh, Director Events Assessment, Generic Communications and Non-Power Reactors Branch Division of Regulatory improvement Programs Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
~
9900090029 990004 PDR ADOCK 05000097 G PDR
.
. . .
.
.
. . .. ..
_
m l
.
'
<
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This routine, announced inspection included onsite review of selected aspects of the operations program, organizational structure, review and audit program, radiation protection program, operator requalification program, maintenance program, surveillance program, experimental program, procedural control program, safeguards program, and security program since the last NRC inspection. Improvement was noted in coordination between DEHS staff and reactor staff, and the process for approval of experiments.
i
,
.
'
Report Details Summary of Plant Status During the inspection the reactor was operated periodically to support tours by physics students, classroom demonstrations, and irradiation project . ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONS 3 Scope (IP 69001) I The inspector reviewed selected aspects of:
- organization and staffing changes
- personnel qualifications e management responsibilities Observations and Findinos The Associate Director is due to retire on June 30,1999. This reduces the number of licensed reactor operators to two SROs. There are two candidates in training I with intentions to hire students to become licensed operators. The training manual / study guide for initial qualification was organized and comprehensiv Records indicated that facility manning satisfied 10 CFR 50.54k and licensee administrative requirements during operation TS amendment #11 changed the administration of the f acility to make the teaching ;
and research capabilities more available to other departments. This amendment has been implemented. Review of records verified that management responsibilities {
were administered by qualified personnel as required by Technical Specifications and applicable procedure Conclusions The organizational structure and functions were consistent with Technical Specification requirement j OPERATIONS Scoce (IP 69001)
The inspector reviewed selected aspects of:
e operational logs and records e staffing fo. operations e selected operational, startup, or shutdown activities i
r
.
l
.
-2- Observations and Findinos .
The console log was clear and provided an indication of operational activities. This '
included documentation of events, and resolution or tracking of events. The log indicated that shift staffing including the Responsible Person on Duty as required by Technical Specifications. Logs and strip chart records also showed that operational
conditions and parameters were consistent with license and Technical Specification requirements. Observation of operational activities further confirmed that these ]
conditions and requirements were satisfie Conclusions I
The operations program satisfied Technical Specification requirement . REVIEW and AUDIT Scoce (IP 69001)
The inspector reviewed selected aspects of:
e safety committee membership e safety committee audits and oversight e responses to safety reviews and audits ) Observations and Findinos Records showed that safety committee meetings were conducted with a quorum present at the Technical Specification required frequency. Topics of these meetings were consistent with Technical Specification requirements to provide guidance, direction, and oversight, and to ensure acceptable use of the reacto The audit records showed that audits had been completed in those areas outlined in i the Technical Specifications and at the required frequency. The safety committee !
personnel qualifications satisfied Technical Specification requirement I Conclusions ;
The oversight and audit program satisfied Technical Specification requirement l
- -. - . . -
.
.
3-4. RADIATION PROTECTION a. Scoce (lP 69001)
The inspector reviewed selected aspects of:
e DEHS staffing e routine radiation surveys e laboratory analysis of samples e personnel and area dosimetry e control of liquid effluents
- notices to workers e restricted area postings e ALARA program e audits e oversight b. Observations and Findinas The radiation protection program had not changed sicce the last inspectio However, the Radiation Safety Manual was extensively revised. The RSO stated that the manual applies to the reactor program as well as the byproduct users on campus. The campus program was enhanced in certain areas using lessons learned from the reactor program. The radiation safety subcommittee reviewed several aspects of the radiation protection program annually in accordance with 10 CFR 20.1101(c). Specific findings from the review can be challenged by the RSO prior to presentation to the full committe NRC Form 3, Notice to Employees," was posted in accordance with 10 CFR 19.11. Caution signs, postings and controls to radiation areat were as required in 10 CFR Part 20, Subpart J. Licensee personnel observed the indicated precautions for access to radiation area Use of dosimeters were in accordance with radiation protection requirements. The licensee used a National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP)-
accredited vendor to process dosimetry. Exposure records showed that occupational doses and doses to the public were well below 10 CFR Part 20 limitation Rout le radiation surveys conducted by the HP staff and the reactor staff were acceptable in assessing and recording the radiological conditions in the facilit Survey and analytical techniques used generally accepted practices and were detailed. Coordination and cooperation between the DEHS and the reactor staff has improved. Records indicated that special surveys of experimental samples were conducted by DEHS during reactor operations,
.
-
-4-c. Conclusions The radiation protection program satisfied NRC requirement . OPERATOR REQUALIFICATION a. Scone (IP 69001)
The inspector reviewed selected aspects of:
e operator license status e operator training records e operator examination records .
e r.eactivity manipulation records i b. Observations and Findinas l Operator licenses were current. Records showed that operator training was consistent with the Requalification Program requirements. Records showed that written and operating examinations of the operators were acceptably implemente Logs confirmed that operators maintained active duty status as required, c. Conclusions Operator requalification was conducted as required by the Requalification Progra . MAINTENANCE a. Scope (IP 69001)
The inspector reviewed selected aspects of:
o maintenance procedures j e equipment maintenance records ;
b. Observations and Findinas i
Logs indicated that corrective maintenance activities and problems were addressed in a timely manner. Maintenance activities were completed by the staff. The maintenance records procedure (OP 305) was revised in September 1997 to add a ;
requirement to record the results of 10 CFR 50.59 reviews.
_ ._
.
j .
. c. Conclusions The maintenance program satisfied NRC requirement . SURVEILLANCE a. Scoce (IP 69001)
The inspector reviewed selected aspects of:
e surveillance and calibration procedures e surveillance schedules and results b. Observations and Findinas Surveillance and calibrations were completed on schedule and in accordance with licensee procedures. All the recorded results were within the TS and procedurally prescribed parameters. The records and logs reviewed were complete and were being maintained as require c. Conclusions The surveillance program satisfied Technical Specification requirement . EXPERIMENTS a. Scoce (69001)
The inspector reviewed selected aspects of:
o experimental program requirements e procedures e logs and records e experimental administrative controls and precautions b. Observations and Findinos l l
The administrative reorganization that made the reactor facilities available for use campus wide brought about changes in the experiment approval process. Other changes included information on disposal of experiment-generated waste and DEHS gre e e.oncurrence for all experiments, in addition, all existing experiments and !
l
- .< experimenters will be re-certified to ensure that limitations are properly
'
sd. A review of experiment approvals demonstrated acceptsble attention l t c, y ments including estimates of reactivity wort '
m
L'
.
.-
-6- Conclusions
, The program for experiments satisfied Technical Specification 6.4 and procedural
[ requirement . PROCEDURES Scone (IP 69001)
l The inspector reviewed selected aspects of:
o records for changes and temporary changes e procedural implementation Observations and Findinos Administrative controls of changes and temporary changes to piocedures, and associated review and approval processes were as required. Personnel conducted activities in accordance with applicable procedures. All procedures were clear, had consistent format, and were periodically update Conclusions The procedural control and implementation program satisfied Technical Specification requirement >
10. SAFEGUARDS Scope (IP 85102)
The inspector reviewed selected aspects of:
e assignment of responsibility for special nuclear material e accountability records and reports e nuclear material inventory and locations QJ;Lservations and Findinos i
The * ssociate Director administered a SNM control and accountability program that prov : led the quantity, identity, and current location of all SNM within the facilit The annualinventory of material was completed as required. The possession and use of SNM was limited to the locations and purposes authorized under the licens The material control and accountability forms (DOE /NRC Forms 741 and 742C)
were prepared and transmitted as require I
P
'
l
.
-7- Conclusions Special Nuclear Materiais were acceptably controlled and inventorie . SECURITY FOR SNM OF LOW STRATEGIC SIGNIFICANCE l Scooe (IP 81431)
i The inspector' reviewed selected aspects of:
e implementation of the physical protection plan l e records and reports e physical barriers and access controls a written security procedures e training .
i Observations and Findinas
!
Physical protection systems (barriers and alarms) and equipment were as required l by the Physical Protection Plan. Access control was as reouired. Implementing
.
procedures were consistent with the Physical Protection Plan. Records of off-hours checks were complete. Acceptable security response and training were
-
demonstrated through alarm response and drill response in accordance with procedures. The inspector noted that initial training and in-service training of the campus police was exceptionally thorough. Use of new security technology was discussed with the staff. The Director indicated that the feasibility of this technology may be assessed from a cost-effective perspective, Conclusions l Security activities and systems satisfied Physical Protection Plan requirement . Exit Meetina Summarv
'
The inspector presented the inspection results to members of licensee management at the conclusion of the inspection on April 30,1999. The licensee acknowledged the findings presented.
L m
I )
l l
- PARTIAL LIST OF PERSONS CONTACTED 1
!
.
Licensee H. Aderhold, Associate Director, WCNS l
L. Bullerwell, Radiological Safety Specialist Prof. K. Cady, Chairman, Ward Center Safety Committee P. Craven, Senior Reactor Operator S. Lassell, Reactor Supervisor
'
T. McGiff, University Radiation Safety Officer Sgt. P. Mospan, Campus Police Prof. K. Onl0, Director, WCNS INSPECTION PROCEDURES USED IP 69001 CLASS 11 NON POWER REACTORS ;
l lP 81431 FIXED SITE PHYSICAL PROTECTION OF SNM OF LOW STRATEGIC SIGNIFICANCE IP 85102 MATERIAL CONTROL AND ACCOUNTING ITEMS OPENED, CLOSED, AND DISCUSSED OPENED: None CLOSED: None
,
LIST OF ACRONYMS USED CFR Code of Federal Regulations NRC , Nuclear Regulatory Commission DEHS Department of Environmental Health and Safety RSO Radiation Safety Officer SNM Special Nuclear Material SRO Senior Reactor Operator TS Technical Specifications WCNS Ward Center for Nuclear Sciences l
,
f l
l