IR 05000129/1975001
| ML20093P007 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 05000129, 07001766 |
| Issue date: | 06/20/1975 |
| From: | Kenna W, Little W NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION II) |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML17264B177 | List: |
| References | |
| FOIA-94-441 50-129-75-01, 50-129-75-1, 70-1766-75-02, 70-1766-75-2, NUDOCS 9510300082 | |
| Download: ML20093P007 (6) | |
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10 CFR 2.790 INFORMATION UNITED STATES
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION REGloN ll 230 PEACHTREE STR EET N. W.
SulTE 618 ATt. ANT A. G EOR GI A 30303 tw
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IE Inspection Report Nos. 50-129/75-1 and 70-1766/75-2 Licensee:
University of West Virginia College of Engineering Morgantown, West Virginia Facility Name: University of West Virginia Docket No. :
50-129 License No.:
R-58 Category:
G Group:
V Location: Morgantown. West Virginia Type of License:
Research, 75 watts (license for possession o ly)
Type of Inspection: Routine, Announced, Nuclear materials safeguards Date of Inspection: May 16, 1975
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Date of Previous Inspection:
Initial safeguards inspection Inspector-in-Charge:
J. H. Joyner, Reactor Technologist Materials and Plant Protection Branch Accompanying Inspector:
E. W. McPeek, Physical Security Inspector Materials and Plant Protection Branch Other Accompanying Personnel: None
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Principal Inspectori Lha W. S. Little, Reactor ljtspector Date Facilities Operations Branch db !7J Reviewed by:.
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UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION e
REGloN ll 230 PE ACHTREE STR EET N. W.
SUITE 8 8 8 ATLANTA. G EO RGI A 30303 (%
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IE Inspection Report Nos. 50-129/75-1 and 70-1766/75-2 Licensee:
University of West Virginia College of Engineering Morgantown, West Virginia Facility Name:
University of West Virginia Docket No.:
70-1766 License No.:
SNM-1512 Priority:
IV Group:
V Location: Morgantown, West Virginia Type of License:
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Type of Inspection:
Routine, Announced, Nuclear materials safeguards Date of Inspection: May 16, 1975 Date of Previous Inspection:
Initial safeguards inspection Inspector-in-Charge:
J. H. Joyner, Reactor Technologist Materials and Plant Protection Branch Accompanying Inspector:
E. W. McPeek, Physical Security inspector Materials and Plant Protection Branch Other Accompanyin -Personnel: None d/w/h '
Reviewed by:
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W. B. K(nna, Chief D'a t e'
Materials and Plant Protection Branch g/
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10 CFR 2.790 RM ATIO
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DETAILS Prepared by:
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JfH. Joyffdr,/ Reactor Techn61ogist Ifatt Materials (hd Plant Protection Branch
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Dates of Inspection: May 16,,1975
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Reviewed by:
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' IVW; B. K6nna, Chief Gate Materials and Plant Protection Branch
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1.
Individuals Contacted S. R. Amtcy - Radiation Safety Officer M. D. Allan - Radiological Health Technician G. L. Blackshaw - Reactor Supervisor 2.
The inspection was conducted to determine the University of West Virginia's (WVU) confonnance to materials safeguards requirements contained. in Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 70, "Special Nuelear Material,"
and specific requirements contained in NRC License Nos. R-58 and SNM-1512.
The licensee's material safeguards controls were reviewed by conduct of a physical inventory, audit of records, observations by the inspectors and interviews with appropriate personnel.
In accordance with 10 CFR 70.51(c),
since the licensee is authorized to possess less than one effective kilogram, written material control and accounting procedures are not required.
3.
Inventory The AGN-211 reactor facility is located in a basement room of the Physics Building. WVU is licensed to possess, but not to use, up to j
900 grams of U-235 in connection with the AGN-211. The uranium fuel, i
enriched to 19.84% U-235, is contained in 42 fuel elements. The uranium, as UO, is homogeneously mixed with polyethylene and clad hortyelementsareinthereactorcoreandtwoelements in aluminum.
are stored ja a wooden box located adjacent to the reactor tank.
The 42 elements contain about 800 grams of U-235, within the license possession Ifmit. Also stored in the room containing the reactor was l
a fission detector containing 1.7 milligrams of U-235.
The license governing the fission detector allows possession of only 1.5 milligrams
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of U-235.
The licensee will request an amendment to the license.
However, the licensee was cited for failure to comply with 10 CFR 70.3,
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which requires that the licensee possess only SNM authorized by the license. The fuel is possessed under License No. R-58 and the fission
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detector is held under License No. SNM-1512.
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l The remaining SNM possessed by the WVU consists of two plutonium-j beryllium neutron sources held under License No. SNM-1512. The i
sources, one of I curie and one of 4 curies, contain about 79 grams
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of plutonium, within the license possession limit of 92 grams.
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SUMHARY OF FINDINGS
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Enforcement Items
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A.
Infraction
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Contrary to 10 CFR 70.51(d), the licensee has not performed annual physical inventories of special nuclear material (SNM) in his possession.
This infraction had the potential for causing or contributing to an
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occurrence related to common defense and security.
B.
Deficiency Contrary to 10 CFR 70.3, the licensee has exceeded the U-235 possession limit specified in License No. SNM-1512.
This item is a deficiency.
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11.
Management Interview A discussion was held at the conclusion of the inspection with Dr. S. R. Amtey, Radiation Safety Officer for the University of West Virginia (WVU). The following items were discussed:
A.
Suggestions were made relative to records of the inventory, including identification of location of each item. All licensed materials were accounted for during the inspection.
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B.
Review and audit of material transfer documents revealed i
that there have apparently been nb shipments or receipts j
since 1962. The ten-day acknowledgment requirement was discussed since most of the transfer documents were not j
acknowledged and the receipt date was not filled in.
i C.
Audit of material status reports submitted by the licensee i
revealed that they had not been signed by a corporate officer, as.<4uired by instructions for completing the status report.
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D.
The inspectors suggested that the licensee request an increase
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in the SNM-1512 possession limit to cover the 1.7 milligrams j
of U-235 in.a fission chamber. The authorized possession limit is 1.5 milligrams of U-235.
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10 CFR 2.790 INF.ORMATION WITHQui *PLCitic APPGot AL Of atGION ff
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IE Inspection Rpt. Nos. 50-12'9/75-1 and 70-1766/75-2-2-4.
Inventory Verification g:,
The AGN-211 reactor consists of a shielded, water-filled tank i
containing the core. The fuel elements in the core were counted i
by the inspectors. Two fuel elements had previously been removed from the core and stored in a locked wooden box.
The elements were removed from the box and the serial numbers recorded.
The fission detector was removed from its storage box and the serial
number recorded.
The two plutonium-beryllium neutron sources are stored in a Research Building laboratory.
The one-curie source was located in a small paraffin-filled drum. The source serial number was verified and a neutron detection instrument used to confirm the presence of the source. The four-curie source was stored in a locked metal container.
The professor responsible for the source
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could not be located and the source presence could not be verified.
Discussion with the licensee revealed that the inventory had not been verified in several years. This is contrary to the annual inventory requirement of 10 CFR 70.51(d). The inspectors discussed the preparation of inventory records with the Itcensee.
WVU was cited for noncompliance with paragraph 70.51(d).
5.
Internal Control
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The licensee has maintained copies of transfer documents as the principal records of the type and quantity of material in the
inventory. All fuel received for the AGN-211 was either in the
reactor core or in the locked box nearby. The room was locked with a unique lock (not part of the WVU lock system) and the key
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controlled.
The laboratory containing the plutonium sources was locked and access to the key restricted. The container for the four-curie source was locked and access to the key controlled.
6.
Reactor Thermal Output
4 The AGN-211 has not been operated in several years.
The current license does not permit operation of the reactor.
The reactor is rated at 75 watts.
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7.
Nuclear Material Depletion The low power level of the reactor reduces fuel depletion to a J
neg11ble level. Since the reactor has not been operated for i
considerable time, there is no' fuel depletion to report.
8.
Records and Reports
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This was the initial SNM accountability inspection of WVU. SNM Jg.f 7g.g,j/ ):-
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IE Inspection Rpt. Nos. 50-129/75-1
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and 70-1766/75-2-3-was initially received in $39.
Receipts and shipments were
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verified by examination o~f transfer documents on file.
The most
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recent transfer of SNM occurred in 1962.
Receipt dates were not i
filled in on some forms and other receipt documents were not acknowledged.
The ten-day acknowledgment requirement was discussed with the license, primarily for future reference. Plans are underway to transfer the AGN-211 and fuel to another university as soon as
Licensing's approval is obtained.
Review and audit of 1973 and 1974 material status reports revealed
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l that they had been signed by the Reactor Supervisor rather than the corporate officer required by the instructions for completing j
the form. The licensee agreed to take corrective action.
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