IR 05000602/2025202
| ML25356A504 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | University of Texas at Austin |
| Issue date: | 01/06/2026 |
| From: | Tony Brown NRC/NRR/DANU/UNPO |
| To: | Charlton W University of Texas at Austin |
| Waugh A | |
| References | |
| IR 2025202 | |
| Download: ML25356A504 (0) | |
Text
SUBJECT:
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN - U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION SAFETY INSPECTION REPORT NO. 05000602/2025202
Dear Dr. Charlton:
From December 15-22, 2025, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff conducted an inspection at the University of Texas at Austin, Nuclear Engineering Teaching Laboratory.
The enclosed report documents the inspection results, which were discussed on December 22, 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 http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html (the Public Electronic Reading Room).
January 6, 2026 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 01/06/26
ML25356A504 NRC-002 OFFICE NRR/DANU/UNPO NRR/DANU/UNPO/LA NRR/DANU/UNPO/BC NAME AWaugh NParker TBrown DATE 12/22/25 1/5/26 1/6/26
Enclosure U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION Docket No.:
50-602 License No.:
R-129 Report No.:
05000602/2025202 Licensee:
The University of Texas at Austin Facility:
Nuclear Engineering Teaching Laboratory Location:
Austin, TX Dates:
December 15-22, 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
- 2 -
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, 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.
- 3 -
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 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.
Organization and Staffing (IP Section 02.01)
This inspection included a review of the licensees organizational changes and shift staffing records to verify compliance with technical specification (TS) requirements and licensee commitments. Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
select reactor logbook entries, dated 2024-present
memos with changes in facility management, dated 2024-present Operations Logs and Records (IP Section 02.02)
This inspection included a review of the licensees operation logs and records to verify they were maintained and that significant issues were reported and resolved as required by the TS and the licensees administrative procedures. Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
the inspector observed the completion of reactor startup and shutdown checks
the inspector observed reactor startup, operations, and shutdown
select reactor startup and shutdown check sheets, dated 2024-present
select reactor logbook entries, dated 2024-present
- 4 -
Requalification Training (IP Section 02.04)
This inspection included a review of selected documents pertaining to operator requalification training to verify requirements of the licensees approved requalification plan and Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 55, Operators Licenses were met. Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
select training records for licensed individuals, dated 2024-present
select exam records, dated 2024-present
select medical records for licensed individuals, dated 2024-present
select reactor logbook entries, dated 2024-present Surveillance and Limiting Conditions for Operation (IP Section 02.05)
This inspection included a review of surveillances listed in the TS to verify requirements were met. Limiting conditions for operation were also reviewed to verify that operating conditions were maintained in accordance with the licensees procedural requirements. Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
select reactor startup and shutdown check sheets, dated 2024-present
select monthly water system checklists, dated 2024-present
select monthly air confinement system checklists, dated 2024-present
select weekly water system checklists, dated 2024-present
select interlock and scram checks, dated 2024-present
control rod drive inspections, dated 2024-present
fuel temperature calibration records, dated 2024-present
surveillances for excess reactivity and shutdown margin, dated 2024-present Emergency Planning (IP Section 02.10)
This inspection included a review of the licensees emergency procedures, exercises and drills, training, and equipment to verify compliance with the licensees emergency plan and applicable regulatory requirements. Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
emergency equipment inventories, dated 2024-present
select emergency call lists
emergency drill records, dated 2024-present Maintenance Logs and Records (IP Section 02.11)
This inspection included a review of the licensees maintenance logs and records to verify that operational and maintenance activities were conducted and maintained in accordance with regulatory and TS requirements. Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
select maintenance log records, dated 2024-present
scram log entries, dated 2024-present
select reactor logbook entries, dated 2024-present
- 5 -
Fuel Handling Logs and Records (IP Section 02.12)
This inspection included a review of the licensees fuel handling logs and records to verify TS and procedural requirements were met. Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
reactor core maps, dated 2024-present
fuel movement records, dated 2024-present
B159.xls file
select reactor logbook entries, dated 2024-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 December 22, 2025, the inspector presented the NRC inspection results to members of licensee management and staff.
- 6 -
Documents Reviewed Inspection Procedure Type Designation Description or Title Revision or Date OPER-1 Startup - Shutdown Checks April 3, 2002 69001.02 Procedure OPER-2 Reactor Startup, Operating and Shutdown April 18, 2019 Operator Requalification Program January 17, 2019 69001.04 Miscellaneous audit of the requalification program December 4, 2025 SURV-2 Reactor Power Calibration August 29, 2018 SURV-3 Excess Reactivity and Shutdown Margin May 24, 2021 69001.05 Procedure SURV-6 Control Rod Calibration March 2, 2009 PLAN-0 Call and Notification November 9, 2000 Procedure PLAN-E Emergency Response November 1, 2006 69001.10 Miscellaneous Emergency Response Plan April 2019 FUEL-1 Movement of Fuel February 14, 2005 69001.12 Procedure MAIN-5 Fuel Inspection and Measurement November 1, 2022