IR 05000170/2024201

Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute – U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Safety Inspection Report 05000170/2024201

ML24222A722
Person / Time
Site:	Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute
Issue date:	08/26/2024
From:	Travis Tate NRC/NRR/DANU/UNPO
To:	Smolinski A US Dept of Defense, Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute
Waugh A
References
IR 2024201
Download: ML24222A722 (1)

Text

SUBJECT:

ARMED FORCES RADIOBIOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE - U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION SAFETY INSPECTION REPORT NO. 05000170/2024201

Dear Mr. Smolinski:

From July 15-18, 2024, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff conducted an inspection at the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute reactor facility. The enclosed report presents the results of that inspection, which were discussed on July 18, 2024, with you and members of your staff.

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 the NRCs document system (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS)). ADAMS is accessible from the NRC website at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html (the Public Electronic Reading Room).August 26, 2024 If you have any questions concerning this inspection, please contact Andrew Waugh at (301) 415-0230, or by email at Andrew.Waugh@nrc.gov.

Sincerely, Travis L. Tate, 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. 50-170 License No. R-84 Enclosure:

As stated cc w/enclosure: GovDelivery Subscribers Signed by Tate, Travis on 08/26/24

ML24222A722 NRC-002 OFFICE NRR/DANU/UNPO NRR/DANU/UNPO/LA NRR/DANU/UNPO/BC NAME AWaugh NParker TTate DATE 8/12/2024 8/14/2024 8/26/2024

U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION

Docket No.: 50-170

License No.: R-84

Report No.: 05000170/2024201

Licensee: Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute

Facility: Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute TRIGA Reactor

Location: Bethesda, MD

Dates: July15-18, 2024

Inspector: Andrew Waugh Juan Arellano Jared Nadel (RTR Inspector in Training)

Approved by: Travis L. Tate, 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

Enclosure EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute TRIGA Reactor Inspection Report No. 05000170/2024201

The primary focus of this routine announced inspection was the onsite review of selected aspects of the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institutes (AFRRI, the licensees) Class II research reactor facility safety program, including: (1) procedures; (2) experiments; (3) health physics (HP); (4) design changes; (5) committees, audits and reviews; and (6) transportation activities. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff determined that the licensees program was acceptably directed toward the protection of public health and safety, and in compliance with NRC requirements.

Procedures

• The inspectors determined that procedures were controlled, maintained current, and implemented in compliance with technical specifications (TSs) and procedural requirements.

Experiments

• The inspectors determined that experiments were reviewed, approved, and conducted in accordance with TS, procedural, and regulatory requirements.

Health Physics

• The inspectors determined that the licensees HP program was conducted in accordance with TS, procedural, and regulatory requirements.

Design Changes

• The inspectors determined that design changes were conducted in accordance with TS, procedural, and regulatory requirements.

Committees, Audits and Reviews

• The inspectors determined that the licensees oversight programs were conducted in accordance with TS and procedural requirements.

Transportation Activities

• The inspectors determined that no radioactive material was shipped under the reactor license since the last inspection.

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REPORT DETAILS

Summary of Facility Status

The AFRRI 1.1-megawatt Training, Research, Isotopes, General Atomics (TRIGA) Mark F research reactor, located on the campus of the National Naval Medical Center, continued to be operated in support of the licensees mission of research, experiments, education, reactor operator training, and periodic equipment surveillance. During this inspection, the reactor was started up, operated, and shut down to support these ongoing activities.

1. Procedures

a. Inspection Scope (Inspection Procedure [IP] 69001, Section 02.03)

The inspectors reviewed various procedures and observed their implementation including a reactor startup, reactor operations at power, reactor shutdown, exposure room entry, and irradiation experiments. The inspectors also reviewed the following to ensure that the requirements of administrative procedures and TS 6.3 were met:

• 2022 and 2023 annual operating reports

• procedure 001, Reactor Startup Checklist, dated 25 April, 2023

• procedure 002, Reactor Operation, dated 10 January, 2023

• procedure 010, Conduct of Experiments, dated 12 July 2022

• procedure 011, Reactor Exposure Room Entry, dated 12 July 2022

• procedure 200, Fuel Movement and Inspection, dated 20 June 2022

• procedure 553, Writing and Modifying Procedures, dated 6 February, 2023

• procedure 556, Corrective Action Process, dated 6 February, 2023

• procedure 559, Screening and Evaluation Process, dated 12 April, 2023

• various procedure change forms dated 2022-present

• Reactor and Radiation Facilities Safety Subcommittee (RRFSS) meeting minutes dated 2022-present

b. Observations and Findings

The inspectors found that the licensee maintained written procedures covering the areas specified in TS 6.3. The inspectors found that the procedures in use by the licensee were current, reviewed and approved as required by TS 6.3, able to be implemented as intended, and adhered to by reactor personnel.

c. Conclusion

The inspectors determined that procedures were controlled, maintained current, and implemented in compliance with TS and procedural requirements.

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2. Experiments

a. Inspection Scope (IP 69001, Section 02.06)

The inspectors observed irradiation experiments and reviewed the following to ensure that experiments were reviewed and conducted as required by TS 3.6 and 6.4:

• 2022 and 2023 annual operating reports

• procedure 010, Conduct of Experiments, dated 12 July 2022

• procedure 011, Reactor Exposure Room Entry, dated 12 July 2022

• RRFSS meeting minutes dated 2022-present

• RRFSS annual TS audits for 2022 and 2023

• various reactor utilization request forms dated 2022-present

b. Observations and Findings

The inspectors found that experiments were reviewed and approved as required by TS 6.4 and Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) 50.59, Changes, tests and experiments. The inspectors also found that experiments were conducted in accordance with the licensees procedures and TS 3.6.

c. Conclusion

The inspectors determined that experiments were reviewed, approved, and conducted in accordance with TS, procedural, and regulatory requirements.

3. Health Physics

a. Inspection Scope (IP 69001, Section 02.07)

The inspectors toured the facility, observed exposure room entries and closeouts, observed contamination surveys, observed radiation surveys, and observed radiological signs and postings. The inspectors also reviewed the following to ensure the licensees implementation of the HP program adheres to the requirements of 10 CFR Part 19, Notices, Instructions and Reports to Workers: Inspection and Investigations, 10 CFR Part 20, Standards for Protection against Radiation, and TS 3.5 and 4.5:

• 2022 and 2023 annual operating reports

• various quarterly gaseous effluent reports dated 2022-present

• select calibration records for various radiation monitoring equipment, dated 2022-present

• general employee radiation training and safety culture review dated 2022-present

• reactor prep area training dated 2022-present

• AFFRI Discharge for 10 July 2024

• operational procedure 300, Reactor ALARA Program, dated December 21, 2021

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• AFFRI Instruction 6055.8I, dated February 22, 2021

• health physics procedure 3-2.c, Reactor Facility Health Physics, dated January 25, 2022

• health physics procedure 2-1.d, Environmental Dosimetry Program, dated March 22, 2022

• health physics procedure 2-5.f, Environmental Radioactive Releases, dated January 11, 2022

• select radiation surveys and swipes dated 2022-present

b. Observations and Findings

The inspectors found the use of dosimetry, radiation monitoring equipment, placement of radiological postings, posting of notices, use of protective clothing, and the handling and storing of radioactive material or contaminated equipment was in accordance with regulations and the licensees HP program. The inspectors found that radiological effluent releases and radiation survey, sampling, and monitoring met regulatory requirements. The inspectors also found that training was conducted for radiation workers and as low as reasonably achievable principles were implemented as required by regulations.

c. Conclusion

The inspectors determined that the licensees HP program was conducted in accordance with TS, procedural, and regulatory requirements.

4. Design Changes

a. Inspection Scope (IP 69001, Section 02.08)

The inspectors reviewed the following to ensure that modifications to the facility were made in accordance with the requirements of 10 CFR 50.59 and TS 6.2:

• 2022 and 2023 annual operating reports

• RRFSS meeting minutes, dated 2022-present

• procedure 559, Screening and Evaluation Process, dated 12 April, 2023

• various procedure change forms dated 2022-present

• various facility modification worksheets dated 2022-present

• various facility change 50.59 screen forms dated 2022-present

• various facility change 50.59 evaluation forms dated 2022-present

b. Observations and Findings

The inspectors found that design changes were reviewed and approved as required by 10 CFR 50.59. The inspectors also found that modifications to equipment and related procedures and drawings were performed according to regulatory, TS, and procedural requirements.

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c. Conclusion

The inspectors determined that design changes were conducted in accordance with TS, procedural, and regulatory requirements.

5. Committees, Audits and Reviews

a. Inspection Scope (IP 69001, Section 02.09)

The inspectors reviewed the following to ensure that committees, audits and reviews were conducted as required by the licensees procedures and TS 6.2:

• RRFSS membership, dated 2022-present

• RRFSS meeting minutes, dated 2022-present

• RRFSS annual TS audits for 2022 and 2023

• 2022 and 2023 annual operating reports

b. Observations and Findings

The inspectors found that the licensees RRFSS met and provided reviews as required by the TS. The inspectors also found that problems identified from the licensees required reviews and audits were resolved in accordance with the licensees procedures and TS.

c. Conclusion

The inspectors determined that the licensees oversight programs were conducted in accordance with TS and procedural requirements.

6. Transportation Activities

a. Inspection Scope (IP 86740)

The inspectors reviewed the following to ensure the licensees program for transporting radioactive materials met NRC and Department of Transportation requirements:

• select radioactive shipment records 2022-present

• HP procedure 6, Transport of Radioactive and Hazardous Material, revision 1

b. Observations and Findings

The inspectors found that the licensee did not ship any radioactive material from the reactor facility since the last inspection of this area. The inspectors verified that if the licensee needed to ship radioactive material, it would be transferred to AFRRIs broad scope license and shipped or disposed of under that license.

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c. Conclusion

The inspectors determined that no radioactive material was shipped under the reactor license since the last inspection.

7. Exit Interview

The inspection scope and results were summarized on July 18, 2024, with members of licensee management and staff. The inspectors described the areas inspected and discussed the inspection results. The licensee acknowledged the results of the inspection.

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PARTIAL LIST OF PERSONS CONTACTED

Licensee

G. Burke AFRRI Director (Captain, U.S. Navy)

A. Cook Head of Radiation Sciences Department Reactor Facility Director B. Knibbe Senior Reactor Operator M. Brener Senior Reactor Operator J. Vincent Radiation Safety Officer (Major, U.S. Navy)

C. Benton Assistant Radiation Safety Officer

INSPECTION PROCEDURES USED

IP 69001 Class II Research and Test Reactors IP 86740 Inspection of Transportation Activities

ITEMS OPENED, CLOSED, AND DISCUSSED

Opened

None

Closed

None

Discussed

None

Attachment