IR 05000225/1993001

Insp Repts 50-225/93-01 & 70-0920/93-01 on 931102-01.No Violations Noted.Major Areas Inspected:Accounting & Physical Security,Facility Operation,Measurement & Controls,Shipping & Receiving & Storage & Internal Controls

ML20058E504
Person / Time
Site:	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 07000920
Issue date:	11/24/1993
From:	Albert R, Mccabe E, Ratta A NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
To:
Shared Package
ML20058E471	List: IR 05000225/1993001 ML20058E468
References
50-225-93-01, 50-225-93-1, 70-0920-93-01, 70-920-93-1, NUDOCS 9312070035
Download: ML20058E504 (11)

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U. S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

REGION I

i Report Nos.: 50-225/93-01 20-920/93-01

Docket Nos.: 51125

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License Nos.:

CX-22 SNM-910

Licensee:

Rensselaer Polytechnic Instilutc l

Troy. New York

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Facility Name:

Critical Facility

i Inspection At:

Troy. New York and Schenectady. New York j

Inspection Conducted:

November 2 - 4.1993 f

Inspectors:

1. -23 -F3 A. Della Ratta, Physidal Security Inspector Date i

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4m%iYf, O Llf

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R. Ji Albert (/ Physical Security Inspector Date

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Approved By:

E. C. McCabe, Chief, Safeguards Section Date

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Division of Radiation Safety and Safeguards j

t SCOPE Routine, announced nuclear material control and accounting and physical security, including l'

facility operation; measurement and controls; shipping and receiving; storage and internal controls; inventory; records and reports; and physical protection measures for special nuclear material of low strategic significance.

• RESULTS

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The licensce's programs were directed toward the protection of the public health and safety.

No safety concerns or violations of regulatory requirements were identified.

9312070035 931126

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DETAIIE r

1.0 Individuals Contacted

M. Podowski, Department Head, Department of Nuclear Engineering

D. Harris, Director, Reactor Critical Facility

J. Helm, Consultant (SNM)

i S. Bucher, Facility Supervisor, Nuclear Engineer M. Galayda, Senior Reactor Operator - Trainee

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B. Drobnicki, Director of Public Safety l

R. Ryan, Director, Office of Radiation and Nuclear Safety

F. Mastrianni, Assistant to Director, Office of Radiation and Nuclear Safety.

f Attended the exit interview.

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v Other personnel were also contacted or interviewed.

2.0 Material Control and Accountine 2.1 Facility Operation The inspection included interviews with personnel and a review of the

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licensee's Special Nuclear Materials Procedure Manual, which is incorporated into the " Radiation Safety Regulations and Procedures." Custody of all special

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nuclear material (SNM) and the management of the nuclear material control j

and accountability program are the responsibility of the Director, Office of l

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Radiation and Nuclear Safety.

2.2 hkas:rement and Continis-l There was no burnup reported by the licensee for the Critical Facility due to

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the low opera ng power level and the limited frequency of use.

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2.3 Shippine and Receivine The inspectors determined through a review of records that the licensee maintained procedures to assure that all nuclear material shipped or received was accurately accounted for.

2.4 Storace and Internal Control

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The inspectors reviewed the licensee's SNM file system, which indicates the j

quantity and location of all SNM at the two facilities. A comparison of the SNM records was performed by the inspectors, as described in paragraph 2.5.

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2.5 Inventory The licensee terminated License No. SNM-910 on November 30,1992, and transferred the remaining balance of SNM to its New York State License

No.1035. This inspection included an inventory verification on November 3, 1993, of the material currently held under New York State License No.1035 at the RPI Campus. The licensee's most recent physical inventory listing was

used as the basis for the verification. Selected items on the listing were located and identified by serial number or other identifying markings.

The inventory verification at the Critical Facility was performed by the inspectors on November 3,1993. The Critical Facility inventory consisted of

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195 fuel rods in the storage vault and 402 fuel rods in the core. The core map l

was visually compared to the fuel rods in the core.

l During the previous inspection conducted in April 1991, the licensee informed the inspectors that a box was found in a radioactive material storage room with a label indicating that it contained 15 grams of uranium-235 embedded in glass fibers. At that time the licensee was in the process of conducting a non-i destructive assay of the material to determine the quantity of uranium-235, to

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be added to its SNM inventory.

During this inspection, the inspectors determined through a review of records i

that the non-destructive assay results amounted to 0.411 grams of uranium-235 that was added to the licensee's SNM inventory. This SNM was subsequently shipped for burial per DOE /NRC Form-741 No. ZSX-VAQ-3 on June 24, 1992.

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2.6 Records and Reports

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The inspectors reviewed the licensee's records, reports, an source data.

Material status reports (DOFJNRC Form-742), submitted during the period of April 1,1991 through September 30,1993, were reviewed for compliance with 10 CFR 70.53.

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Izak test records for four sealed sources were reviewed for completeness and

timeliness.

The licensee's authorized possession limits were compared to the actual

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holdings.

Exhibit I through IV-A, attached to this report, summarize the licensee's l

material activity for the period April 1,1991, through September 30,1993.

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There were no deficiencies identified in the licensee's Material Control and Accoundng Program.

3.0 Fixed Site Physical Protection of Special Nuclear Material of Low Stratenic

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Significance The licensee's program for the physical protection of SNM of low strategic significance was reviewed by the inspectors for conformance to the NRC-approved physical security plan, by examining physical barriers and access controls,

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procedures, key control, and by observation of a licensee test of alarm system features. Implementation of the physical security plan was found to meet the general

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performance requirements and objectives of the governing regulations of the NRC-approved physical security plan.

The inspectors also reviewed the licensee's protection of special nuclear material of low strategic significance at the RPI-Campus, Troy, New York, for conformance to the requirements of 10 CFR 70.67(f), by examining barriers, access controls and alarm system features. The licensee was found to meet the general performance requirements and objectives of the regulations.

Observations The inspectors observed waist high weeds and brush growing within the security zone of the critical facility that were in need of cutting. The inspectors also noted during a review of maintenance records that it took more than a week to replace a burnt out spotlight used to illuminate the security zone during the hours of darkness. These matters were discussed with the licensee's management during the exit meeting and they stated that these matters had already been brought to their attention and are currently under review for resolution. These matters will be reviewed during a subsequent inspection.

4.0 Exit Intertim The inspectors met with licensee management denoted in Section 1.0 at the conclusion of this inspection on November 4,1993. The scope and findings of the inspection

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j were discussed at that time. The licensee acknowledged the inspection finding,

t EXHIBIT I Rensselaer Polytechnic Inwitute Docket No.70-920 License No. SNM-910

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i Material Balance for Period: April 1.1991 - Seotember 30.1993 Reporting Identification Symbol: 73X Reporting Unit: Grams

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URANIUM-233 Linmium U-233 Beginning Inventory:

(April 1,1991)

125 120 Receipts:

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_Q Material to Account for:

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Removals:

Shipments:

120 116 Internal Transfer (11/30/92):

3 Inventory Difference: (Rounding)

1 Ending Inventory:

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(September 30,1993)'

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Material Accounted for:

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.1 8 The licensee terminated License No. SNM-910 on November 30,1992, and transfened the balance of 3 grams U-233 to its New York State License Number 1035.

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EXHIBIT I-A l

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Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute l

New York State License Number 1035

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Material Balance for Period: Antil 1.1991 - Seotember 30.1993 i

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Reportine Identification Symbol: ZSX Reportine Unit: Grams URANIUM-233 i

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Uranium U-233

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Beginning Inventory:

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Receipts: (Internal Transfer

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11/30/92)

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Material to Account for:

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Removals:

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Ending Inventory:

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(September 30,1993)'

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8= 1 Fission Chamber

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3 ZR Clad S-3 Rods

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• Less than one gram i

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f EXHIBIT II i

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

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Docket No.70-920 License No. SNM-910 l

Docket No. 50-225 License No. CX-22

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Material Balance for Period: April 1.1991 - September 30.1993

Reporting identification Symbol: ZSX Reporting Unit: Grams Enriched Uramum j

Uranium U-235 l

Beginning Inventory:

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(April 1,1991)

434,887 21,169 l

t Receipts:

127.392 4.733 i

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Material to Account for:

562.279

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Removals:

Shipments:

127,728 4,980

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Internal Transfer (11/30/92):

66 Inventory Difference (Rounding)

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Ending Inventory:

(September 30,1993)'

434.480 20.855

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Material Accounted for:

562.279 25.902-

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i 8 The licensee terminated License No. SNM-910 on November 30,1992, and transferred the j

balance of 66 grams U-235 to its New York State License Number 1035. The ending inventory at September 30,1993, is applicable to the licensee's License Number CX-22 and

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consists of the following material:

597 Stainless Steel Rods, and 7 steel tubes containing a total of 178 fuel pellets 434.480 M

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EXHIBIT II-A Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

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New York State License Number 1035

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l hiaterial Balance for Period: April 1.1991 - September 30.1993

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Reporting Identi6 cation Symbol: ZSX Reporting Unit: Grams

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Enriched Uranium

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Uranium U-235 Beginning Inventory:

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(April 1,1991)

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Receipts: (Internal Transfer R

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$

Removals:

0

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Ending Inventory:

(Septemler 30,1993)'

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Material Accounted for:

$

= 8 Specimens

57 33 Fission Chambers

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EXHIBIT III

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Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

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s Docket No.70-920 License No. SNM-910

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Material Balance for Period: April 1.1991 - September 30.1993

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Reporting Identification Symbol: ZSX Reporting Unit: Grams

PLUTONIUM-238 Plutonium Eu-238 Beginning Inventory:

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0.30 0.20

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Receipts:

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_Q

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Material to Account for:

0.30 0.20 Removals: Internal Transfer

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11/30/928 0.30 0.20 Ending Inventory:

(September 30,1993)

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_Q Material Accounted for:

QJJ 0.20

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' The licensee terminated License No. SNM-910 on November 30,1992, and transferred this rnaterial to its New York State License Number 1035.

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EXHIBIT III-A Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

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New York State License Number 1035

Material Balance for Period: April 1.1991 - September 30.1993 l

Reporting Identification Symbol: ZSX Renorting Unit: Grams PLUTONIUM-238 l

Plutonium Pu-238 Beginning Inventory:

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(April 1,1991)

0

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Receipts: (Internal Transfer OlQ OlQ 11/30/92)

Material to Account for:

0.30 0.20

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Removals:

0 Ending Inventory:

(September 30,1993)'

DJQ 010

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Material Accounted for:

G 0.20

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' Source, Serial No. MRC-41

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EXHIBIT IV -

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Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

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Docket No.70-920 License No. SNM-910

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Docket No. 50-225 License No. CX-22

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i Material Balance for Period: Aoril 1.1991 - September.30.1993 l

Renoning Identification Symbol: ZSX Reporting Unit: Grams

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PlVf0NIUh1 Plutonium Pu-239. 240 Beginning Inventory:

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(April 1,1991)

493 465

Receipts:

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4 Material to Account for:

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Removals:

Shipments:

250 236 Internal Transfer (11/30/92):

162 153 Inventory Difference (Rounding):

2 Ending Inventory:

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(September 30,1993)'

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E Material Accounted for:

8 The licensee terminated License No. SNM-910 on November 30,1992, and transferred the l

balance of 153 grams Pu-239,240 to its New York State License Number 1035. The ending inventory at September 30,1993, is applicable to the licensee's License Number CX-22 and consists of the following material:

1 PuBe source No. M-734

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EXHIBIT IV-A Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute New York State License Number 1035 Material Balance for Period: April 1.1991 - Scotember 30.1993 Reportine Identification Symbol: ZSX Reoorting Unit: Grams PLUTONIUM Plutonium Pu-239. 240 Beginning Inventory:

(April 1,1991)

0 Receipts: (Internal Transfer Jf2

.153 11/30/91)

Material to Account for:

J,f]2 W

Removals:

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Ending Inventory:

(September 30,1993)'

162 153 Material Accounted for:

J,f]2 W

' 1 PuBe Source No. MRC 330

47 1 PuBe Source No. M-89

14 1 PuBe Source No. M-963-S-

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1 Accident Dosimeter

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