IR 05000602/2025201
| ML25090A151 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | University of Texas at Austin (R-129) |
| Issue date: | 03/31/2025 |
| From: | Tony Brown NRC/NRR/DANU/UNPO |
| To: | Charlton W University of Texas at Austin |
| Waugh A | |
| References | |
| IR 2025201 | |
| Download: ML25090A151 (1) | |
Text
SUBJECT:
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN - U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION SAFETY INSPECTION REPORT NO. 05000602/2025201
Dear Dr. Charlton:
From February 24-27, 2025, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff conducted an inspection at the University of Texas at Austin, Nuclear Engineering Teaching Laboratory.
The inspection results were discussed with you and members of your staff on February 27, 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 https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html (the Public Electronic Reading Room).
March 31, 2025 If you have any questions concerning this inspection, please contact Andrew Waugh at (301) 415-0230, or by 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. 50-602 License No. R-129 Enclosure:
As stated cc w/enclosure: GovDelivery Subscribers Signed by Brown, Tony on 03/31/25
ML25090A151 NRC-002 OFFICE NRR/DANU/UNPO NRR/DANU/UNPO/LA NRR/DANU/UNPO/BC NAME AWaugh NParker TBrown DATE 3/31/2025 3/31/2025 3/31/2025
Enclosure U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION Docket No.:
50-602 License No.:
R-129 Report No.:
05000602/2025201 Licensee:
The University of Texas at Austin Facility:
Nuclear Engineering Teaching Laboratory Location:
Austin, TX Dates:
February 24-27, 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 University of Texas at Austins (UTA) Nuclear Engineering Teaching Laboratory (NETL), 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 UTAs 1.1-megawatt Training, Research, Isotopes, General Atomics Mark II research reactor continued routine operations. During the inspection, the reactor was started up, operated, and shut down to support laboratory experiments and operator training.
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 select 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:
the inspector observed reactor startup checks, startup, operations, shutdown, and shutdown checks
the inspector observed a weekly reactor water systems surveillance
reactor oversight committee (ROC) meeting minutes, dated 2023-present
select reactor log entries, 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) 50.59, Changes, tests and experiments. Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
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select experiment authorization forms, dated 2023-present
select operation request forms, dated 2023-present
50.59 screening forms, dated 2023-present
50.59 evaluation forms, dated 2023-present
select reactor log entries, dated 2023-present 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:
the inspector observed radiation surveys and contamination surveys
the inspector observed a surveillance of radiation monitoring systems
2023 health physics audit
NETL response to calendar year 2023 health physics audit
2023 and 2024 NETL radiation protection program audits
2023 and 2024 NETL ALARA program reviews
select personnel and area dosimetry records, dated 2023-present
select area radiation surveys and contamination surveys, dated 2023-present
2023 annual operating report
effluent release records, dated 2023-present
select calibration records, dated 2023-present
select radiation training records, dated 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:
50.59 screening forms, dated 2023-present
50.59 evaluation forms, dated 2023-present
ROC meeting minutes, dated 2023-present
2023 annual operating report During the special inspection conducted from November 7 - December 8, 2022, and documented in inspection report No. 05000602/2022201 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System Accession No. ML22347A311), a Severity Level IV violation of NRC requirements was identified. By letter dated March 7, 2023 (ML23067A196), the licensee
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provided a written response to the violation. The violation involved the licensee failing to have the ROC review facility changes as required by TS 6.2.3.
During this inspection the inspector reviewed the licensees corrective actions and discussed their response to the violation. The inspector found that the licensee has implemented all proposed corrective actions, the corrective measures are still in place at the facility, and that the actions are adequate to prevent recurrence of the event. Because adequate corrective actions are in place the inspector has closed violation No.05000602/2022201-2.
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 independent audits were conducted in accordance with the TS 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:
ROC meeting minutes, dated 2023-present
NETL requalification program audit memo, dated October 31, 2023
emergency plan, physical security plan, and implementing procedures audit memos, dated June 2, 2023, and August 9, 2024
audit of selected operation and maintenance logs for calendar year 2023 memo, dated December 11, 2023 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. Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
select shipping contamination and radiation surveys, dated 2023-present
select shipping records, dated 2023-present
HAZMAT training records, dated 2023-present 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 February 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 ADMN-1 NETL Procedure Control December 4, 2023 OPER-1 Startup - Shutdown Checks April 3, 2002 OPER-2 Reactor Startup, Operating and Shutdown April 18, 2019 MAIN-4 Area Radiation Monitor Systems May 24, 2021 SURV-3 Excess Reactivity and Shutdown Margin May 24, 2021 69001.03 Procedure SURV-4 Reactor Water Systems Surveillance September 1990 69001.06 Procedure ADMN-6 Authorization of Experiments September 1991 ADMN-4 Radiation Protection Program January 16, 2013 HP-2 Radiation Monitoring - Facility January 16, 2013 HP-3 NETL ALARA Program January 16, 2013 69001.07 Procedure HP-4 Radiation Protection Training January 16, 2013 69001.08 Procedure ADMN-1 NETL Procedure Control December 4, 2023 69001.09 Procedure ADMN-5 Protection Programs September 1991 86740 Procedure HP-6 Radioactive Material Control January 16, 2013