IR 05000166/2026201
| ML26022A312 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | University of Maryland |
| Issue date: | 01/28/2026 |
| From: | Tony Brown NRC/NRR/DANU |
| To: | Andrea Johnson Univ of Maryland - College Park |
| References | |
| IR 2026201 | |
| Download: ML26022A312 (0) | |
Text
SUBJECT:
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND - U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION ROUTINE INSPECTION REPORT NO. 05000166/2026201
Dear Ms. Johnson:
From January 5 - 8, 2026, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff conducted an inspection at the Maryland University Training Reactor facility. The inspection results were discussed with you and members of your staff on January 8, 2026. The enclosed report documents the inspection results.
The inspection examined activities conducted under your license as they relate to safety and compliance with the Commissions rules and regulations and with the conditions of your license.
The inspector reviewed selected procedures and records, observed various activities, and interviewed personnel. Based on the results of this inspection, no findings of significance were identified. No response to this letter is required.
In accordance with Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations Section 2.390, Public inspections, exemptions, requests for withholding, a copy of this letter, its enclosure, and your response (if any) will be available electronically for public inspection in the NRC Public Document Room or from the Publicly Available Records component of NRCs document system (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS)). ADAMS is accessible from the NRC website at https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html (the Public Electronic Reading Room).
January 28, 2026 Should you have any questions concerning this inspection, please contact Necota Staples at
[(301) 415-5963], or email at [Necota.Staples@nrc.gov].
Sincerely, Tony Brown, Chief Non-Power Production and Utilization Facility Oversight Branch Division of Advanced Reactors and Non-Power Production and Utilization Facilities Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-166 License No. R-70 Enclosure:
As stated cc w/enclosure: GovDelivery Subscribers Signed by Brown, Tony on 01/28/26
ML26022A312 NRC-002 OFFICE NRR/DANU/UNPO NRR/DANU/UNPO/LA NRR/DANU/UNPO/BC NAME NStaples NParker TBrown DATE 1/27/26 1/27/26 1/28/26
Enclosure U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION Docket No.:
50-166 License No.:
R-70 Report No.:
05000166/2026201 Licensee:
University of Maryland Facility:
Maryland University Training Reactor Location:
College Park, MD Dates:
January 5 - 8, 2026 Inspector:
Necota Staples Approved by:
Tony Brown, Chief Non-Power Production and Utilization Facility Oversight Branch Division of Advanced Reactors and Non-Power Production and Utilization Facilities Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
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SUMMARY The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) continued monitoring the licensees performance by conducting an inspection at Maryland University Training Reactor (MUTR), in accordance with the research and test reactor inspection program. This is the NRCs program for overseeing the safe operation of licensed research and test reactors. Refer to https://www.nrc.gov/reactors/non-power.html for more information.
List of Violations No violations of more than minor significance were identified.
Additional Tracking Items None.
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REPORT DETAILS Facility Status The MUTR 250-kilowatt TRIGA research reactor continued to operate in support of teaching, classroom experiments/demonstrations, surveillances, and operator training. During this inspection, the reactor was started up, operated, and shutdown to support these ongoing activities.
Inspection Scopes Inspections were conducted using the appropriate portions of the inspection procedures (IPs) in effect at the beginning of the inspection unless otherwise noted. Currently approved IPs with their attached revision histories are located on the public website at https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/insp-manual/inspection-procedure/index.html.
Inspections were declared complete when the IP requirements most appropriate to the inspection activity were met consistent with Inspection Manual Chapter 2545, Research and Test Reactor Inspection Program. The inspector reviewed selected procedures and records, observed activities, and interviewed personnel to assess licensee performance and compliance with Commission rules and regulations, license conditions, site procedures, and standards.
69001 - Class II Non-Power Reactors This inspection included a review of selected aspects of the research and test reactor, since the last inspection, to verify activities were conducted safely and in accordance with regulatory requirements and licensee commitments.
Experiments (IP Section 02.06)
This inspection included a review of selected experiments and procedures to verify licensee experiments were reviewed, approved, and conducted in accordance with technical specification requirements, licensee procedures, and the requirements of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Section 50.59, Changes, tests and experiments. Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
MUTR annual reports for 2023 and 2024
MUTR approved experiments list
XP601 experimental procedures, Revision (Rev). 2.1, XP601: Neutron Imaging, dated February 14, 2023
XP602 experimental procedures, Rev. 2.2, XP602: Rabbit Operations, dated March 31, 2025
XP602 experimental protocol, Rev 2.2, XP602: B-10 Enriched Boron Nitride Irradiation, dated October 6, 2025
XP602-3: Rabbit Irradiation Review Form, dated November 12, 2025
Beam Port and Through Tube Flux Measurements, dated October 6, 2025
Experimental Protocol, Beam Port and Through Tube External Dose Measurements, dated April 22, 2025
experimental proposal, Test of Gadolinium Containing Semiconductors as Neutron Detectors, dated February 13, 2024
MP300 Rev. 14.2, 10 CFR 50.59 Screening: B-10 Enriched Boron Nitride Irradiation
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MP300 Rev. 14.1, 10 CFR 50.59 Screening: Neutron Detection with Gadolinium Containing Semiconductors Health Physics (IP Section 02.07)
This inspection included a review of the licensees health physics program to verify that the provisions of 10 CFR Part 19, Notices, Instructions and Reports to Workers: Inspection and Investigations, and 10 CFR Part 20, Standards for Protection against Radiation, technical specifications, and the licensees procedural requirements were met. The inspection included a review of: licensees dose limits; required radiation surveys, sampling, and monitoring; calibration of radiological instruments; the personnel dosimetry program; effluent releases; posting requirements; training requirements; the implementation of as low as is reasonably achievable principles; and the radiation protection programs review and approval requirements.
Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
radiation safety manual
radiological surveys for 2023 through the present
calibration records for 2023 through the present
MUTR annual reports for 2023 and 2024
personnel dosimetry records for November 2023 through the present
environmental dosimeter data for November 2023 through the present
corrective action reports Emergency Planning (IP Section 02.10)
This inspection included a review of the licensees emergency procedures, exercises and drills, training, and equipment to verify compliance with the licensees emergency plan and applicable regulatory requirements. Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
summaries of drills and tabletop exercises for 2023 through 2025
emergency preparedness plan for the MUTR
emergency procedure (EP) 400, Emergency Response Guide
EP 404, Radiation Emergencies
surveillance procedure 211, Emergency Box Inventory List 86740 - Inspection of Transportation Activities This inspection included a review of the licensees transportation activities to verify they have established and are maintaining an effective management-controlled program, to ensure radiological and nuclear safety in the receipt, packaging, and delivery of licensed radioactive materials. Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
radioactive material shipping papers and related records
MUTR annual reports for 2023 and 2024 Inspection Results No violations of more than minor significance were identified.
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Exit Meeting and Debriefs The inspector verified no proprietary information was retained or documented in this report.
- On January 8, 2026, the inspector presented the NRC inspection results to Ms. Amber Johnson and other members of the licensee staff.
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Documents Reviewed Inspection Procedure Type Designation Description or Title Revision or Date 69001.10 Emergency Procedures 400 Emergency Response Guide 69001.10 Emergency Procedures 404 Radiation Emergencies 69001.10 Surveillance Procedure 211 Emergency Box Inventory List 69001.06 Experimental Procedures XP 601 XP601 Neutron Imaging dated 2/14/23 Rev. 2.1 69001.06 Experimental Procedures XP 602 XP602 Rabbit Operations dated 3/31/25 Rev. 2.2 69001.06 Experimental Protocol XP 602 XP602 B-10 Enriched Boron Nitride Irradiation Review Form 10/06/25 Rev. 2.1