IR 05000184/1987003
| ML20236M572 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | National Bureau of Standards Reactor |
| Issue date: | 11/03/1987 |
| From: | Craig Gordon, Lazarus W NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20236M558 | List: |
| References | |
| 50-184-87-03, 50-184-87-3, NUDOCS 8711130186 | |
| Download: ML20236M572 (5) | |
Text
_ _ - - _ _ _ _ _ _ _ - _ _
,
.
i
<;
<
.
,
L U. S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
,1
REGION I
.>
.i f-
' Report No~ 50-184/87-03
.
!
Docket No. 50-184_
License No. TR-5 Priority C Category G
Licensee:
U.S. Department of Commerce National Bureau of Standards Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899
i Facility Name:
National Bureau of Standards Inspectiori At: Gaithersburg, Maryland Inspection Cunducted:
September 8-11, 1987
Inspectors:
d.4 aroset Al%-)
C. Z. GhDdon, Emergency date Preparedness Specialist Approved by:
?
/Auh
//
'
W. J./1/azardD, Chief date Emerdtincy Preparedness Section Inspection Summary:
Inspection on September 8-11, 1987.
(Report No.
50-184/87-03)-
Areas Inspected:
Routine, announced emergency preparedness inspection conducted by one NRC Region I based inspector of the facility organization.
- operations, notifications, communications, equipment, and training.
Resalts:
No violations were identified. The Emergency Plan and Procedures are being implemented in a manner to adequately protect public health and safety.
8711130186 871105 PDR ADOCK 05000184 G
,
_ _ _ - _ _.. _ _ _ _ _ _ _. _ ___.;. _ - _ _ _
_.
_
_.
_ _ _.
. _ - _ _ _. -
_ - _ _ _ _ _ _
. _ _ _
. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ - _
___
l
!
!
'
f
!
"
t I
DETAILS 1.0 Persons Contacted R. Carter, Chief, RRD R. Conway, Instrumentation Supervisor R. Franzen, Public Information Officer T. Hobbs, Chief, Health Physics
- L. Lindstrom, Senior Operator W. Rabbitt, Chief, Facilities Services Division l
!
- T. Raby, Deputy Chief, RRD J. Ridgley, Chief, Fire Department T. Shackelford, Captain, Security Force L. Slayback, Health Physicist l
- J. Torrence, Deputy Chief, RRD i
- J. Wang, Supervisory Health Physicist l
- Denotes attendance at the exit meeting.
l 1.
NationalBureauofStandardsReactorEmergencyPlan(NBSR{,
i The inspector reviewed the NBSR Emergency Plan for the Gaithersburg, Maryland site. The Deputy Chief, Reactor Radiation Division is j
responsible for updating and implementing the Plan and administering l
emergency preparedness functions. The Plan was submitted to the NRC in
September 1982, in response te changes in Emergency Planning requirements
]
for test and research reactors.
The Plan was prepared in accordance with American National Standards ANSI /ANS 15.16, Draft II, dated November 1981 and the criteria of NUREG-0849," Standard Review Plan for the Review and Evaluation of Emergency Plans for Research and Test Reactors".
The Plan appears to meet the NUREG guidance with regard to information on organization, radiological contingency measures, emergency classification system, designated equipment and facilities, and training.
Emergency action levels describe different accidents for each classification in the areas of fuel damage, radiological effluents, natural phenomena, fire and security threat. Protective and corrective responsu are described in general terms for the Unusual Event, Alert, and Site Area Emergency classifications. A Safety Evaluation Report (Supplement 1 to NUREG-1007) was issued in March 1984 which provides the NRR review of-
' basic Plan elements and a basis for acceptability of the NBSR Emergency Plan.
2.
Facilities and Equipment i
The inspector toured the Control Room and Emergency Support Center which are designated as facilities for emergency response.
Assembly and alternate assembly areas were also observed.
Some radiation detection equipment is designated specifically for emergency purposes.
Supplemental equipment is available through the health physics group.
Inventories of emergency equipment are performed on a regular basis and the inspectors observed protective clothing, supplies for contamination
_
- _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ -
__
,
.
.
_
-
i
..
'
'
- -
.
'
control, respiratory protection equipment, radiation detection devices, and other safety equipment used for emergency response and determined that sufficient equipment is available and that inventories are up.to I
date. : Based-upon review of the equipment' list and, implementing rocedures, however..it was unclear which: type of.self-reading dosimeters p(fourdifferent ranges available) or survey. instruments would be used e
for each type of emergency. The inspector expressed a concern that=
implementing' procedures could be more specific in identifying which
. detection instruments are expected for use in each type of emergency.and i
equipment lists revised as necessary (50-184/87-03-02).
,
Emergency Action Levels for each emergency classification are related to
!
. site. boundary radiation levels after an evaluation of effluents is
,
performd.' For dose assessment and classification purposes, radiation monitor:RD 4-1 must be used in the emergency ventilation mode using
readings up to 75 x 10. cpm.
gnspectionofthemonitorindicatedthat.
-the. full range of.RD 4-1 is 10 cpm therefore precluding the ability to.
classify an errergency at the Alert or Site Area Emergency (without operation of the, exhaust dilution fan).
Further review of the licensee's Safety Evaluation Committee meetings minutes of June 26, 1985 also identified the same concern with RD 4-1.
Licensee representatives. stated'
that arrangements were being made to replace the monitor with one having a wider range of detection, thereby. allowing operations staff to make an
!
appropriateclassification(50-184/87-03-03).
j 3.
Notifications 'and Communications The communications network used for emergency notification by the j
'
licensee consists of commercial telephone located throughout the reactor building (Bldg 235). An incident may be reported at any time (24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br />)
by a caller dialing telephone extension 2222 and being connected to the physical security group at the NBS emergency desk.
Portable radios to supplement commercial phones are available at the Emergency Control
, Station and health physics department. The on-duty Reactor Supervisor
<
-becomes the Emergency Director and assumes the lead role for overall direction and control of the emergency.
This includes interfaces with NBS support groups, the health physics department and upper-level-licensee management.
Primary telephones are located in the control room for making initial notifications to the emergency organization and outside support groups. NRC notification at the Unusal Event and Alert
classifications appear adequate.
For the Site Area Emergency, Procedure'
i
'E.I. 3.4.3. indicates that NRC Notification may take up to four (4) hours i
and the inspector noted that the licensee more closely follow the I
requirements of 10 CFR 50.72 for immediate NRC notification in serious j
(
emergency situations'(50-184/87-03-01).
The telephone nu'nbers and call L
lists were reviewed and found to be accurate for NRC, Maryland State Police (Rockville), and Montgomery County Civil Defense.
Primary and backup power to communications systems is ensured through the internal NBS telephone network and redundancy build into external commercial lines.
,
- _ _ _ _ _ - _ _ _ - _ _ - _ _ - _ _ _ _. _
_
.
.
4.
Coordination with Offsite Groups The inspector reviewed E. I. Figure 6.2 "NBSR Emergency Support Organization" and contacted representatives of offsite support groups including the NBS Fire Protection Service, Physical Security, Self Protection Coordinator, Reactor Health Physics, and Public Information to determine the group's understanding of their role and responsibilities in response to emergency incidents in the reactor building. Medical support of contaminated / injured individuals is provided by the U.S. Naval Hospital located in Bethesda, Md.
Ambulance services are available through the site Fire Protection
!
Service. Although Letters of Agreement are not established with site support groups, formal arrangements are in place and identified through the Facilities Self-Protection Plan, Gaithersburg Site which covers protective actions and instructions relating to the following categories of emergencies:
fire or explosion, natural disaster, bomb threat, civil disturbance, and civil defense. Page 6 of the Plan provides information which applies during radiological emergencies.
Repr m ntatives of each group expressed a clear understanding of what support would be provided
,
to reactor building personnel during emergencies and the Chief, I
!
Facilities Services Division stated that arrangements are in place for local governmental groups (Montgomery County, Maryland) to coordinate and assist with most emergencies on the NBS site.
Support group individuals stated that they have recently attended Building 235 familiarization
,
tours and were briefed in the basic radiological hazards associated with l
reactor operation.
A limited amount of specialized emergency response l
training is given by the health physics staff to support groups.
Discussions with the fire chief indicated that firefighters are trained I
as emergency medical technicians (EMT) and in SCBA use. A concern was l
raised with regard to the department's response to fires in Building 235.
Firefighters must wait until arrival at the building and check the
'
l annunciator panel inside the main entrance to determine the general area of the fire.
Licensee personnel explained that a direct signal relay to the fire station which identifies the affected areas was being considered for installation (50-184/87-03-04).
5.
Drills and Exercises Reactor Operations staff are designated for Emergency Director positions and receive specialized emergency training by the health physics staff and Deputy Chief, RRD.
Emergency preparedness training is presented so that key response personnel receive walkthrough and classroom instruction to demonstrate emergency response proficiency.
Lesson plans include information on the EPZ, facilities, emergency equipment, and radiation exposure limits.
Classroom instruction, conducted annually, cover a detailed review of emergency implementing procedures.
Individual evacuation, medical security, and fire drills were held in 1985 and 1986 and were successful in meeting designated objectives.
Environmental monitoring drills have been performed by the health physics staff but the frequency of such drills has not been specified.
--
_ __
_ _ _
_
_
.
,-
l'
A comprehensive emergency exercise which simultaneously tests the major
'
-
portions of the Emergency Plan is performed biennially.
Scenarios are prepared by RRD members.
Discussions with support representatives (fire, public information) indicated that not all groups had the opportunity to participate in an integrated exercise (50-184/87-03-05).
Drill and exercises are critiqued and results documented and discussed with the Safety. Evaluation Committee. The inspector reviewed results of critiques and determined that findings were not always resolved or reflected in changes to emergency procedures (50-184-87-03-06).
RRD staff members stated that a comprehensive exercise was planned for October 1987 and was expected to involve support groups.
7.0 Exit Meeting The inspector met with the licensee representatives listed in Section 1 of this report at the end of the inspection and summarized the observations made during the inspection.
The licensee was informed that previously identified items were adequately addressed and no violations were observed.
Licensee management acknowledged the findings and indicated that appropriate action would be considered.
At no time during this inspection did the inspector provide any written information to the licensee.