IR 05000186/2025202
| ML25246A282 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | University of Missouri-Columbia |
| Issue date: | 09/03/2025 |
| From: | Tony Brown NRC/NRR/DANU/UNPO |
| To: | Sanford M The Curators of the University of Missouri |
| Waugh A | |
| References | |
| IR 2025202 | |
| Download: ML25246A282 (10) | |
Text
SUBJECT:
THE CURATORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI - U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION SAFETY INSPECTION REPORT NO. 05000186/2025202
Dear Mr. Sanford:
From August 25-29, 2025, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff conducted an inspection at the Missouri University Research Reactor Facility. The inspection results were discussed with you and members of your staff on August 29, 2025. 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 http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html (the Public Electronic Reading Room).
September 3, 2025 If you have any questions concerning this inspection, please contact Andrew Waugh at (301) 415-0230, or via email to Andrew.Waugh@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. 50-186 License No. R-103 Enclosure:
As stated cc w/enclosure: GovDelivery Subscribers Signed by Brown, Tony on 09/03/25
ML25246A282 NRC-002 OFFICE NRR/DANU/UNPO NRR/DANU/UNPO/LA NRR/DANU/UNPO/BC NAME AWaugh NParker TBrown DATE 9/3/2025 9/3/2025 9/3/2025
Enclosure U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION Docket No.:
50-186 License No.:
R-103 Report No.:
05000186/2025202 Licensee:
The Curators of the University of Missouri Facility:
Missouri University Research Reactor Location:
Columbia, Missouri Dates:
August 25-29, 2025 Inspector:
Andrew Waugh 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 the Missouri University Research Reactor (MURR),
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 MURR continued to operate in support of isotope production, reactor operator training, and various types of research. During the inspection, the reactor resumed operation following the weekly maintenance shutdown to support laboratory experiments and product irradiation.
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.
69003 - Class I Research and Test Reactor Operator Licenses, Requalification, and Medical Examinations This inspection included a review of select documents and training records to verify the licensees operator requalification and training activities were conducted in accordance with the licensees approved requalification plan and Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Part 55, Operators Licenses. Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
select on-the-Job training requirements/checklist, dated 2024-present
select annual operating test records, dated 2024-present
select crew review sheets, dated 2024-present 69005 - Class I Research and Test Reactor Experiments This inspection included a review of select experiments and procedures to verify licensee experiments were reviewed, approved, and conducted in accordance with technical specification (TS) requirements, licensee procedures, and the requirements of 10 CFR 50.59, Changes, tests and experiments. Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
inspector observed the loading of experiments into the flux trap and movement of irradiated experiments
select flux trap loading sheets
select run time sheets
select MURR online ordering system entries
select reactor safety subcommittee meeting minutes, dated 2024-present
select reactor utilization requests, dated 2024-present
select pneumatic tube irradiation sheets, dated 2024-present
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69006 - Class I Research and Test Reactor Organization and Operations and Maintenance Activities This inspection included a review of the licensees organizational and shift staffing records to verify compliance with TS requirements and licensee commitments. This inspection also included a review of the licensees logs and records to verify that operational and maintenance activities were conducted and controlled in accordance with regulatory and TS requirements.
Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
inspector observed reactor startup and completion of a long form startup checksheet
inspector observed a reactor routine patrol
select reactor console logs, dated 2024-present
unscheduled shutdown reports, dated 2024-present During this inspection the inspector interviewed various reactor operations and facility operations staff to assess the licensees safety culture. The staff that were interviewed felt comfortable raising safety concerns to their management and were aware of other methods available for raising concerns. The inspector identified two areas for improvement in MURRs safety culture. One is to close out issues that are raised in a timelier manner and the other is to better communicate the resolution of issues back down to the staff.
69008 - Class I Research and Test Reactor Procedures This inspection included a review of select licensee procedures to verify: administrative controls were in accordance with the TSs, license requirements, and licensee commitments; the procedures in use were current and reviewed and approved, as required; procedures could be implemented as intended; and reactor personnel were observing administrative controls and TS requirements relative to procedural adherence. Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
select crew review sheets, dated 2024-present 69009 - Class I Research and Test Reactor Fuel Movement This inspection included a review of the licensees fuel handling logs and records to verify compliance with TS and procedural requirements. Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
inspector observed fuel movements and loading
fuel element inspection forms, dated 2024-present
select fuel location maps, dated 2024-present
select fuel movement sheets, dated 2024-present
end-of-life fuel element inspection records, dated 2024-present
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69010 - Class I Research and Test Reactor Surveillance This inspection included a review of the licensees surveillance program to verify compliance with TS requirements and licensee commitments. This inspection also included a review of the licensees limiting conditions for operations to verify that operating conditions were maintained in accordance with the TS requirements. Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
observed reactor startup and measurement of control rod worth
select nuclear data logs, dated 2024-present
select process data logs, dated 2024-present
select completed CP-10, "Rod Drop Times," dated 2024-present
select completed CP-45, "Measure Control Blade Worth," dated 2024-present Inspection Results No violations of more than minor significance were identified.
Exit Meeting and Debriefs The inspector verified that no proprietary information was retained or documented in this report.
- On August 29, 2025, the inspector presented the NRC inspection results to members of licensee management and staff
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Documents Reviewed Inspection Procedure Type Designation Description or Title Revision or Date Procedure AP-RO-105 MURR Operator Requalification Process May 9, 2023 69004 Miscellaneous N/A MURR Operator Requalification Program January 7, 1997 EX-RO-105 Operating Procedure August 18, 2025 EX-RO-110 Pneumatic Tube System April 24, 2024 69005 Procedure AP-RO-135 Reactor Utilization Requests December 28, 2021 FM-57 Long Form Startup Checksheet Rev. 37 OA-21 MURR Maintenance Guidelines May 19, 2021 AP-RO-015 Work Management Procedure May 1, 2025 AP-RO-110 Conduct of Operations March 7, 2025 OP-RO-210 Reactor Startup - Normal October 21, 2024 69006 Procedure GS-RA-100 MURR Equipment Tagout August 19, 2024 AP-DC-100 Controlled Document Process March 17, 2025 AP-DC-105 Periodic Document Review December 28, 2021 AP-RO-002 Deviation from a Facility Controlled Procedure October 27, 2021 AP-RO-038 Regulatory Reporting June 18, 2025 OP-RO-220 Reactor Shutdown or Power Reduction January 25, 2024 EP-RO-004 Fire August 7, 2025 69008 Procedure EP-RO-007 Severe Natural Phenomenon May 6, 2025
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RP-RO-100 Fuel Movement May 7, 2025 69009 Procedure OP-RO-250 In-Pool Fuel Handling April 24, 2024 RP-RO-200 Measure a Differential Worth of a Shim Blade, RTP-11 (D)
June 27, 2025 CP-10 Rod Drop Times February 15, 2021 CP-41 Regulating Blade and Shim Blade Withdrawal and Insertion Speeds; Maximum Reactivity Insertion Rates March 12, 2024 69010 Procedure CP-45 Measure Control Blade Worth September 23, 2024