IR 05000184/2022202

National Institute of Standards and Technology – U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 4th 2022 Quarter Supplemental Inspection Report 05000184/2022202

ML23026A074
Person / Time
Site:	National Bureau of Standards Reactor
Issue date:	03/07/2023
From:	Mohamed Shams NRC/NRR/DANU/UNPO
To:	Dimeo R US Dept of Commerce, National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST)
References
IR 2022202
Download: ML23026A074 (24)

Text

SUBJECT:

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY - U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 4TH 2022 QUARTER SUPPLEMENTAL INSPECTION REPORT NO. 05000184/2022202

Dear Dr. Dimeo:

From August 15, 2022 - December 31, 2022, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)

staff conducted supplemental inspection activities at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Center for Neutron Research facility in accordance with the NIST Supplemental Inspection Plan dated August 1, 2022 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML22206A008). The NRC is implementing the supplemental inspection plan in response to the February 3, 2021, event (EN 55094), and subsequent notification (EN 55120), the request to restart reactor operations submitted by NIST on October 1, 2021 (ML21274A018), the violations identified in the NRC special inspection report dated March 16, 2022 (ML22066B312), the NRCs technical review of the facility licensing basis, and the confirmatory order (CO) dated August 1, 2022 (ML22202A423). The supplemental inspections covered in this report reviewed and assessed the licensees implementation of corrective actions, including all corrective actions identified to inform the NRCs decision on the request to restart. NIST is required to receive authorization from the NRC to restart the reactor in accordance with Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR)

Section 50.36(c)(1) because the technical specification fuel temperature safety limit was exceeded during the event.

The supplemental inspection plan consists of activities specified in Inspection Manual Chapter 2545, Research and Test Reactor Inspection Program, additional inspection activities necessary to determine that adequate corrective actions have been implemented, and inspection activities to support confirmation that the licensee has met the requirements of the CO. The NRC conducted supplemental inspections identified in this report using the following procedures:

Inspection Procedures (IP) 69003, Class I Research and Test Reactor Operator Licenses, Requalification, and Medical Examinations IP 69006, Class I Research and Test Reactors Organization and Operations and Maintenance ActivitiesMarch 7, 2023 IP 69007, Class I Research and Test Reactor Review and Audit and Design Change Functions IP 69008, Class I Research and Test Reactor Procedures IP 69009, Class I Research and Test Reactor Fuel Movement IP 69010, Class I Research and Test Reactor Surveillance IP 69011, Class I Research and Test Reactor Emergency Preparedness IP 69012, Class I Research and Test Reactors Radiation Protection IP 92701, Follow-up IP 92702, Follow-up on Traditional Enforcement Actions Including Violations, Deviations, Confirmatory Action Letters, and Orders, and IP 81606, Material Control and Accounting - Non-Power Reactors The NRC will continue to conduct supplemental inspections, in accordance with the plan, to provide increased post-restart oversight until reasonable assurance of the safety of the NIST test reactor operations can be achieved through routine inspections, in accordance with Inspection Manual Chapter 2545.

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 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 10 CFR 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 NRCs document system ADAMS. ADAMS is accessible from the NRC website at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html (the Public Electronic Reading Room).

Sincerely, Mohamed K. Shams, Director Division of Advanced Reactors and Non-Power Production and Utilization Facilities Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-184 License No. TR-5 Enclosure:

Supplemental Inspection Report No. 05000184/2022202 cc w/enclosure: See next page Signed by Shams, Mohamed on 03/07/23

National Institute of Standards and Technology Docket No. 50-184

cc:

Environmental Program Manager III Radiological Health Program Air & Radiation Management Adm.

Maryland Dept of the Environment 1800 Washington Blvd, Suite 750 Baltimore, MD 21230-1724

Director, Department of State Planning 301 West Preston Street Baltimore, MD 21201

Director, Air and Radiation Management Adm.

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President Montgomery County Council 100 Maryland Avenue Rockville, MD 20850

Test, Research and Training Reactor Newsletter Attention: Amber Johnson Dept of Materials Science and Engineering University of Maryland 4418 Stadium Drive College Park, MD 20742-2115

Dr. Thomas H. Newton, Deputy Director National Institute of Standards and Technology NIST Center for Neutron Research U.S. Department of Commerce 100 Bureau Drive, Mail Stop 6100 Gaithersburg, MD 20899-6100