IR 05000128/1988001
| ML20151T947 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 05000128 |
| Issue date: | 04/15/1988 |
| From: | Chaney H NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV) |
| To: | NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20151T944 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8804290207 | |
| Download: ML20151T947 (17) | |
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METINGSUMMARY Licensee: Texas A&M University Facility: Nuclear Science Center License No.: R-83 Docket No.: 50-128 r
Subject: ENFORCEMENT CONFERENCE, NRC INSPECTION REPORT 50-128/88-01 On April 5, 1988, representatives of Texas A&M University and the Texas Engineering Experiment Station Nuclear Science Center (NSC) met with Region IV personnel in Arlington, Texas to discuss the circumstances surrounding five apparent violations and four significant findings identified in NRC Inspection ,
Report 50-128/88-01 and the licensee's position regarding these apparent violations. The NRC concerns regarding the lack of an effective raciiation protection program at the NSC were also discussed. The attendance list is attached as Appendix A to this summar The licensee aodressed the apparent violations and NRC concerns identified in the inspection report. The licensee also discussed their response to Confirmatory Action Letter 88-03 and provided an evaluation report on the possible overexposure of an experimenter at the NSC during the fourth quarter of 198 The licensee also made a presentation, at which time they took exception to three apparent violations. Copies of the visual presentation are attached as Appendix B to this summary. The licensee provided the following comments concerning the three violations: , Apparent Violation (1?8/8801-01): The licensee's evaluation report indicated that no regulatory exposure limits were exceede . . Apparent Violation (128/8801-03J: The licensee stated that even though ,
the high radiation controls in effect during the experimenter's purported overexposure were not optimal, they met the regulatory requirement ,
However, the licensee is taking action to review all L procedures / experiments for possible upgrading of high radiation area control . Apparent Violation (128/8801-05): The licensee stated that they believe adequato surveys were performe '
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8804290207 880421 PDR
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-2-The licensee addressed specific actions to be taken to improve: control over experiments, standard operating procedures, audits, personnel neutron dosimetry, portable gamma and neutroa dose rate survey instrumentation, administrative responsibilities, experimenter / health physics interface, and ;
a qualifications and training.
4 i The NRC acknowledged the licensee's presentation and stated that the Region IV ;
recommendation concerning enforcement action for the apparent violations would '
be forwarded to the NRC Of fice of- Enforcement for their concurrtnce. After '
review by that office, the licensee will be notified in writing of the NRC's proposed enforcement actio ,
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O Ob H.'O. 'Chan'ey, Radfation Sp(cialist Date
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Facilities Radiologicai PrAtection !
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Ib Section i Attachment: Appendix A - Attendance List 9 Appendix B - TAMV Presentation
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s APPENDIX A ATTENDANCE LIST
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Attenda'nce at the Texas A&M University - NRC meeting on April 5, 1988, at the !
- NRC Region IV offic ,
Texas A&M University ;
Herbert H. Richardson, Deputy Chancellor, Director TEES ,.
John'W. Poston, Professor and Interim Department Head of Nuclear Engineering Feenan D. Jennings, Director, Office of University Research Chair, Reactor Safety Board .
Donald E. Feltz, Director Nuclear Science Center -
Jon Reuscher,-Director Nuclear Research Reactor Programs i
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Milton E. McLain, Director, Office of Radiation Safety John Simek, Assistant Radiation Safety Officer i Chris Meyer, Senior Health Physicist, NSC l NRC Region I L. J Callan, Director, Division of. Reactor Projects l Richard L, Bangart, Director, Division of Radiation Safety and Safeguards '
Ramon E. Hall, Deputy Director, Division of Radiation Safety and Safeguards :
Lawrence A..Yandell, Chief, Radiological Protection and Safeguards Branch .
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E. J. Holler, Chief, Reactor Projects Section C r Blaine Murray, Chief, Fecilities Radiological Protection Section i John Pellet Chief, Operator Licensing Section J H. L. Scott, Acting Enforcement-Officer :
H. D, Chaney, Radiation Specialist Facilities Radiological Prote:; tion Section !
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PRESENTATION FOR THE U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION, REGION IV TEXAS ENGINEERING EXPERIMENT STATION TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY COLLEGE STATION, TX
APRIL 5,1988
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e RADIATION PROTECTION (RP): PERSONNEL MONITORING AND EXPOSURE CONTROL (Apparent Violation 128/8801-01)
NRC CONCERN-FAILURE TO RESTRICT PERSONNEL EXPOSURES TO LESS THAN 3 REM PER QUARTER
- TAMU PERCEPTION
- REPORT ON SITUATION ISSUED ON MARCH 31,1988
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NOT AN OVER-EXPOSURE
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MISINTERPRETATIONS OF LEVELS IN INSPECTION REPORT
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STEPS TAKEN TO ENSURE NO ADDITIONAL' EXPOSURES
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GENERAL AGREEMENT WITH THE ASSESSMENT - LACK OF ALARA
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REVIEW
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RADIATION PROTECTION (RP): PERSONNEL MONITORING AND EXPOSURE CONTROL (Apparent Violation 128/8801-02)
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NRC CONCERN - FAILURE TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE PERSONNEL MONITORING DEVICES
TAMU PERCEPTION
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CORRECT ASSESSMENT
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OVERSIGHT BY RP STAFF
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EXACT LOCATION OF HIGHEST RATE VARIABLE BUT DOSIMETER LOCATION APPROPRIATE
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RADIATION PROTECTION (RP): ,
f. PERSONNEL MONITORING AND EXPOSURE CONTROL (Apparent Violation 128/8801-02)
CORRECTIVE ACTIONS
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EVALUATION OF AVAILABLE NEUTRON MONITORING DEVICES
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WORK WITH DOSIMETRY VENDOR TO DEVELOP APPROPRIATE DEVICE PACKAGE
TAMU C'OMMITMENT
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ALREADY UNDERWAY
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IMPLEMENT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE I
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RADIATION PROTECTION (RP): PERSONNEL MONITORING AND EXPOSURE CONTROL (Apparent Violation 128/8801-03)
NRC CONCERN-FAILURE TO PROVIDE POSITIVE ACCESS CONTROL OVER HIGH RADIATION AREAS
TAMU PERCEPTION
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EXISTING PROCEDURE DESIGNED TO CONTROL ACCESS
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FENCES ERECTED AROUND THE EXPERIMENT
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EXPERIMENTER RESPONSIBLE FOR AREA ONCE OPERATIONS BEGIN
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NOT OPTIMUM CONTROL
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NOT A VIOLATION
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RADIATION PROTECTION (RP):
l'. PERSONNEL MONITORING AND EXPOSURE CONTROL (Apparent Violation 128/8801-03)
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CORRECTIVE ACTIONS
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REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF
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EXPERIMENT IlY RSIl
- PREVENT ACCESS TO BEAM
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IlEAM STOP ALIGNMENT
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REVIEW AND REVISE PROCEDURES FOR ALL SUCH EXPERIMENTS i
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COMMITMENT r
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RADIATION PROTECTION (RP):
l RADIOLOGICAL SURVEYS (Apparent Violation 128/8801-05)
NRC CONCERN-FAILURE TO PERFORM ADFQUATE SURVEYS
TAM.U PERCEPTION
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RESULTS FOR UNATTENUATED IlEAM ONLY
- BORATED PARAFFIN IILOCKS REDUCE IlEAM INTENSITY WELL WITHIN INSTRUMENT CAPAllILITY
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DID NOT ALLOW WORK W/O APPROPRIATE ' ASSESSMENTS i
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DO NOT AGREE WITH ASSESSMENT
CORRECTIVE ACTIONS
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PREVIOUS COMMITMENTS l
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RADIATION PROTECTION (RP): ENVIRONMENTAL AND RADIOACTIVE EFFLUENTS RELEASES (Open Item 128/8801-04)
NRC CONCERN - FAILURE TO PERFORM SAFETY ANALYSIS OF A DESIGN CHANGE
TAMU PERCEPTION
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RECOGNIZES FAILURE TO PERFORM REVIEW
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MANAGEMENT DECISION DUE TO APPROVAL OF SIMILAR SAMPLING TAP ON ANOTIIER TANK
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VALVE REMOVED AND PIPE CAPPED IN RESPONSE TO CONCERNS OF THE INSPECTOR :
CORRECTIVE ACTIONS
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DISCONTINUE USE
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SEEK RSB REVIEW AND APPROVAL
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RADIATION PROTECTION (RP): RP ORGANIZATION AND CONTRO (Open Item 128/8801-06) !
NRC CONCERN-FAILURE TO FOLLOW HP INSTRUCTIONS
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BEAM REDUCTION TECHNIQUES
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PASSAGE THROUGH BEAM
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INTIMIDATION OF HP PERSONNEL
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TAMU PERCEPTION
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REASONABLY ACCURATE i
DESCRIPTION OF EXPERIMENT
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NEVER OBSERVED IN BEAM W/0 i REDUCTION DEVICES IN PLACE
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MIS-COMMUNICATION OF ORAL INSTRUCTIONS
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NO INTIMIDATION OF HP STAFF
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RADIATION PROTECTION (RP): RP ORGANIZATION AND CONTROLS (Open Item 128/8801-06)
CORRECTIVE ACTIONS
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REVIEW QUALIFICATIONS AND l
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TRAINING OF INDIVIDUALS I
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REVIEW EXPERIMENTER / HEALTH PHYSICS INTERFACE
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REVIEW EXISTING PROCEDURES -
MAKE APPROPRIATE CHANGES -
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REVIEW NEED FOR PROGRAM TO l
REINFORCE ADMINISTRATIVE i
RESPONSIBILITIES
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REFER TO APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF UNIVERSITY MANAGEMENT FOR ACTION,IF ACESSARY e
TAMU COMMITMENT l
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i RADIATION PROTECTION (RP): RP INSTRUMENTATION
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(Open Item 128/8801-07)
NRC CONCERN -SUITAllILITY OF DOSE RATE MEASURING INSTRUMENTATION
TAMU PERCEPTION
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INSTRUMENT READS IIIGH NOT LOW
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UPPER LIMIT OF CALIllRATION DOES NOT EQUAL LIMIT OF UPPER RANGE OF USE
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RADIATION PROTECTION (RP): RP INSTRUMENTATION (Open Item 128/8801-07)
-CORRECTIVE ACTIONS
- PURCHASF, ADDITIONAL NEUTRON SURVEY INSTRUMENT
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UTILIZE REGIONAL CALIBRATION LABORATORY (ARKANSAS)
TAMU COMMITMENT
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P.O. BY M AY 1,1988
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CALIBRATE W/ PuBe SOURCES WIIEN RECEIVED
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CALIBRATE AT RCL WITII APPROPRIATE NEUTRON SOURCE
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RADIATION PROTECTION (RP):
d. RP INSTRUMENTATION (Open Item 128/8801-08)
- NRC CONCERN
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HAND AND FOOT MONITOR IN MHA
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HIGH BACKGROUND
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DEBRIS BUILDUP
TAMU PERCEPTION l
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LOCATION OF MHA FORCES TIIE MONITOR LOCATION
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REACTOR STATUS AND WORK IN AREA INFLUENCES MONITOR BACKGROUND r
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RADIATION PROTECTION (RP):
. RP INSTRUMENTATION (Open Item 128/8801-08)
CORRECTIVE ACTIONS
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REVIEW SOP'S REGARDING USE OF MONITOR
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REVIEW CONTAMINATION CONTROL PHILOSOPHY FOR CONFINEMENT BUILDING
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REVIEW PROCEDURES REGARDING MAINTENANCE OF THE MONITOR
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PURCHASE ADDITIONAL MONITORS AND EQUIPMENT AS NECESSARY l
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TAMU COMMITMENT
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RADIATION PROTECTION (RP):
l'. PERSONNEL MONITORING AND FXPOSURE CONTROL (Open Item 128/8801-09)
NRC CONCERN - RADIATION EXPOSURE CONTROL ASPECTS OF DIVING ACTIVITIES IN THE REACTOR POOL
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TAMU PERCEPTION
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AGREE WTTH THE ASSESSMENT
CORRECTIVE ACTIONS
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DEVELOP PROCEDURES FOR THIS ACTIVITY
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REVIEW DOSIMETRY OPTIONS OBTAIN PROPER INSTRUMENTATION FOR USE IN POOL
COMMITMENT
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