IR 05000188/2025201
| ML25125A324 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Kansas State University |
| Issue date: | 05/06/2025 |
| From: | Tony Brown NRC/NRR/DANU/UNPO |
| To: | Cebula A Kansas State University |
| Arellano J | |
| References | |
| IR 2025201 | |
| Download: ML25125A324 (1) | |
Text
SUBJECT:
KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY - U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION SAFETY INSPECTION REPORT NO. 05000188/2025201
Dear Dr. Cebula:
From March 25-27, 2025, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff conducted an inspection at the Kansas State Nuclear Reactor Facility. The enclosed report presents the results of that inspection, which were discussed on March 27, 2025, 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 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).
May 6, 2025 If you have any questions concerning this inspection, please contact Juan Arellano at (301) 415-0477, or via email to Juan.Arellano@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. 50-188 License No. R-88 Enclosure:
As stated cc w/enclosure: GovDelivery Subscribers Signed by Brown, Tony on 05/06/25
ML25125A324 NRC-002 OFFICE NRR/DANU/UNPO NRR/DANU/UNPO/LA NRR/DANU/UNPO/BC NAME JArellano NParker TBrown DATE 5/5/2025 5/6/2025 5/6/2025
Enclosure U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION Docket No.:
50-188 License No.:
R-88 Report No.:
05000188/2025201 Licensee:
Kansas State University Facility:
Kansas State Nuclear Reactor Facility Location:
Manhattan, Kansas Dates:
March 25-27, 2025 Inspector:
Juan Arellano 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 Kansas State University (KSU, the licensees)
Class II research reactor facility 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 KSU, 1,250-kilowatt Training, Research, Isotopes, General Atomics (TRIGA) Mark II research reactor is used in support of the Universitys academic program in nuclear engineering laboratory instruction and research. The reactor has not operated since the fourth quarter of 2021 due to a fuel maintenance issue.
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.
Procedures (IP Section 02.03)
This inspection included a review of select licensee procedures to verify: administrative controls were in accordance with the technical specifications (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:
startup, steady state, and shutdown procedures
operational limits and special administrative controls logbook
Reactor Safeguards Committee (RSC) meeting minutes, dated 2023-present Experiments (IP Section 02.06)
This inspection included a review of select experiments and procedures to verify licensee experiments were reviewed, approved, and conducted in accordance with TS requirements, licensee procedures, and the requirements of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Section 50.59, Changes, tests and experiments. However, due to the reactor not being operated, the facility performed zero experiments since the last inspection. Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
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select experiment procedures
KSU TRIGA Mark II reactor facility operations manual
byproduct log
experimental facilities 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, TSs, 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 (ALARA) principles; and the radiation protection programs review and approval requirements. Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
select personnel dosimetry records from 2023-present
continuous air monitor annual calibration reports performed from 2023 - present
exhaust plenum monitor annual calibration reports performed from 2023 - present
area radiation monitors annual calibrations performed from 2023 - present
pocket dosimeter annual calibrations performed from 2023-present
survey meter annual calibrations performed from 2023 - present
monthly contamination surveys and swipes performed from 2023 - present
semiannual environmental surveys performed from 2023 - present
liquid effluent discharge records from 2023 - present
2023 annual operating report
2024 annual operating report
select radiation training records from 2023 - present Design Changes (IP Section 02.08)
This inspection included a review of design changes to determine whether they were reviewed, approved, and implemented in accordance with 10 CFR 50.59, the TSs, and the licensees administrative procedures. The inspector verified that modified equipment would continue to meet regulatory and procedural requirements and licensee commitments. Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
10 CFR 50.59 screening forms, dated 2023 - present
10 CFR 50.59 evaluation forms, dated 2023 - present
RSC meeting minutes from 2023 - present
10 CFR 50.59 procedures Committees, Audits and Reviews (IP Section 02.09)
This inspection included a review of the licensees committees, audits and reviews to verify the safety review committee and audits were conducted in accordance with the TSs and that issues identified from reviews were resolved in accordance with TS requirements and the licensees procedures. Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
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RSC meeting minutes from 2023 - present
fuel cleaner update email chain to the RSC
reactor operator exemption request email chain to the RSC
memorandum to the President of the University on new RSC members
semi-annual audit report of reactor operations and radiation protection program performed from 2023 - present
KSU TRIGA Mark II reactor facility administrative plan
appointment of RSC general memorandum 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. The inspector noted that no radioactive material transportation took place since the last inspection. Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
liquid effluent and solid waste binder
transportation procedures Inspection Results No violations of more than minor significance were identified.
Exit Meeting and Debriefs The inspector verified no proprietary information was retained or documented in this report.
- On March 27, 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 Number 3 Annual Remote Area Monitor March 14, 2008 Number 9 Entrance to the Reactor Bay March 14, 2008 Number 12 Instrument Checkout September 12, 2018 Number 14 Pocket Dosimeter Calibration March 14, 2008 Number 15 Steady State Operation September 12, 2018 SOM 1 Operational Limits and Special Administrative Controls May 2004 SOM 2 Routine Approval and Communications for Operations August 13, 2007 69001.03 Procedure SOM 5 Configuration Management:
Equipment Changes August 2, 2017 Manual N/A 250-KW TRIGA Mark II Pulsing Reactor Mechanical Maintenance and Operating Manual August 1, 1962 Experiment 1 Isotope Production June 28, 2013 Experiment 4 Reactivity Coefficient Determinations July 11, 1996 69001.06 Experiment Experiment 6 Control Rod Calibrations March 11, 2014 69001.07 Health Physics Radiation Safety Plan Radiation Protection Program KSU Nuclear Reactor Facility Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Department Kansas State University August 23, 2011 Evaluation Procedure 30 - Fuel Element Cleaning and Inspection November 29, 2023 Cooling Tower Drain Plugs May 23, 2024 69001.08 Design Change Screening New Console Tower Cabinet Move to Control Room September 19, 2024
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Reactor Bay Roof Replacement November 19, 2024 Primary Cooling Loop Pressure Gauges and Instrument Fittings November 26, 2024 Secondary Cooling Tower Replacement December 18, 2024 Secondary Cooling Valve Actuators Change March 13, 2025 Meeting Minutes May 10, 2023 Meeting Minutes July 24, 2023 Meeting Minutes November 29, 2023 Meeting Minutes December 19, 2023 Meeting Minutes September 27, 2024 Email Poll November 20, 2024 Email Poll December 3, 2024 Meeting Minutes March 6, 2025 69001.09 RSC N/A Email Poll March 13, 2025 86740 Procedure SOR 5 Removal of Materials from the Reactor Bay January 25, 2011