IR 05000238/1996001
| ML20135C628 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | NS Savannah |
| Issue date: | 11/29/1996 |
| From: | NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION II) |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20135C624 | List: |
| References | |
| 50-238-96-01, 50-238-96-1, NUDOCS 9612090018 | |
| Download: ML20135C628 (4) | |
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U. S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
REGION II
Docket No.: 050 00238 License No.: NS 1 Report No.: 50 238/96 01 Licensee: U.S. Maritime Administration Washington, Location: N.S. Savannah James River Reserve Fleet :
Fort Eustis, Virginia !
l Date: October 31, 1996 I Inspector: Bryan A. Parker, Radiation Specialist Approved by: Edward J. McAlpine, Chief Fuel Facilities Branch Division of Nuclear Materials Safety 9612090018 961129 PDR G ADOCK 05000238 pg
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY U.S. Maritime Administration NRC Inspection Report No. 50-238/96 01 This routine, announced inspection was conducted to followup an unresolved item (URI) identified in NRC Inspection Report No. 50 238/94 03. The URI involved the installation and management of a monitoring system onboard the N.S. Savannah utilizing thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs). The Savannah is a decommissioned nuclear vessel currently moored at Fort Eustis, Virginia, as part of the James River Reserve Fleet (JRRF). The inspection included discussions with cognizant licensee representatives, reviews of documents, and direct observations of activities associated with the monitoring progra In general, the inspector found the licensee's TLD monitoring program to be well implemented and maintained. Licensee's staff was knowledgeable and conscientious. Overall, the licensee's program was functioning satisfactorily. No violations or concerns were noted during the inspectio LIST OF PERSONS CONTACTED Licensee
- H. Bagley, JRRF Fleet Engineer
- J. Davis, Health Physics Consultant D. Harris, Electrician
- Z. Levine, Senior Technical Advisor, MARAD P. Smith, JRRF Fleet Superintendent
- Attended October 31, 1996, Exit Meeting Enclosure 1
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REPORT DETAILS 01. Review of Unresolved Item
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NRC Inspection Re) ort No. 50 238/94 03 identified an unresolved item
(URI) to review t1e installation of thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs)
onboard the N.S. Savannah and verify that the locations are appropriate to satisfy the requirements of the Technical Specifications (TS).
. TS 3.7.2.4 requires that TLDs be placed at strategic locations throughout the vessel to monitor the radiation from reactor generated
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material The inspector reviewed and discussed the TLD monitoring program with licensee representatives. The inspector noted that, in approximately August 1994, the licensee had installed TLDs in 33 locations on multiple decks throughout the vcssel. The inspector toured the vessel and verified the locations of each of the TLDs. In addition, the inspector observed the control TLD in the JRRF Fleet Superintendent's office. The inspector found the TLDs to be " strategically" located in the vessel as required, meaning that they were located in suitable locations to monitor reactor generated materials in areas periodically accessed by JRRF personnel and other authorized visitor The TLDs were exchanged semi annually, usually each June and Decembe The licensee provided an annual report to the NRC each March that, among other pertinent data on the ship's condition, included a summary of the TLD readings from the previous year. From review of the 1995 TLD results in the March 1996 annual report, the ins)ector noted that the control TLDs were exposed to a total of 63 milliroentgen (mR) for the year. This corresponded to a background radiation level of 7.2 microRoentgen per hour (uR/hr). The average of the 33 TLDs onboard the vessel was 59 mR for the year. Only four of the 33 TLDs had exposures higher than the control TLD at 66, 89, 123, and 137 mR, respectively. The two highest TLDs were located nearer to the reactor com)artment than many of the other TLDs, which accounted for the above-bac(ground reading However, these two readings corresponded to radiation levels of only 14 - 16 uR/hr, which in many parts of the country is " normal" backround. Overall, exce)t in the four instances noted above, the TLDs read slightly below bac(ground, most likely due to the shielding of cosmic and/or terrestrial radiation provided to the ship's interior by the water and the ship itself. No concerns were noted regarding the licensee's TLD program, including the locations of the TLDs or the results of the monitorin No violations or deviations were identifie Enclosure 1 l
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EXIT MEETING SUMMARY The inspector presented the inspection results to licensee representatives at the conclusion of the inspection on October 31, 1996. The insactor informed those licensee representatives present that no violations of NRC requirements or other concerns were identified. Licensee representat'-es did not identify any documents or processes as proprietary in nature, and no dissenting comments were received from the license Enclosure 1