ML030910141

Transmittal of 2002 Annual Facility Technical Report for Buffalo Materials Research Center at State University of New York at Buffalo

ML030910141
Person / Time
Site:	University of Buffalo
Issue date:	03/27/2003
From:	Vasbinder D University of Buffalo
To:	Document Control Desk, NRC/FSME
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Download: ML030910141 (13)

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University at Buffalo The State University of New York Occupational and Enviromental Safety Services March 27, 2003 Docket 50-57 License R-77 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ATTN: Document Control Desk Washington D.C. 20555

Dear Sir or Madam:

Enclosed please find two copies of the 2002 Annual Facility Technical Report for the Buffalo Materials Research Center at the State University of New York at Buffalo. This report is submitted pursuant to Facility Technical Specification Requirement 15.1.

If you have any questions or wish further information, please contact me at (716) 829-3301.

Sincerely, David R. Vasbinder Director, Buffalo Materials Research Center Cc:

Daniel Hughes, Project Manager USNRC Tom Dragoun, USNRC Inspector Joseph Raab, Director Occupational and Environmental Safety Roger McGill, Chairman Reactor Decommissioning Safety Committee Mike Dupre, Associate Vice President for University Facilities Mark Pierro, Radiation Safety Officer Jeff Slawson, Radiation Safety Manager Mark Adams, Operations Manager 220 Winspear Ave, Buffalo, NY 14215-1034 Tel (716) 829-3301 Fax (716) 829-2704

University at Buffalo The State University of New York Occupational and Enviromental Safety Services ANNUAL TECHNICAL REPORT STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT BUFFALO BUFFALO MATERIALS RESEARCH CENTER License R-77 Docket 50-57 Calendar Year 2002 Submitted by:

David R. Vasbinder Director March 27, 2003 Buffalo Materials Research Center 2002 ARR~afty1,&Ir Ave, Buffalo, NY 14215-1034 Page Tel (716) 829-3301 Fax (716) 829-2704

TABLE OF CONTENTS Pag

1. Introduction....................................................................

3

2. Major Maintenance..................................

................ 3

3. 10 CFR 50.59 Reviews or Changes.........................

................ 3

4. Radioactive Effluents..................................................

3

5. Environmental Radiation Surveys......................

4

6. Radiation Exposures..................................................

5

7. Radiation and Contamination Surveys................

.................. 5

8. Miscellaneous.................................................................

6 Table 1 - Waste Tank Release to Sanitary Sewer...........

................ 7 Table 2 - Waste Tank Release to Sanitary Sewer.............

................ 8 Table 3 - 2002 Yearly Releases to the Sanitary Sewer.........

............ 9 Table 4 - 2002 Airborne Releases............................................... 10 Table 5 - 2002 Cumulative Summary of Environmental Radiation Dose Equivalent.

11 Table 6 - 2002 Whole Body Dose Equivalent Summary........

.......... 12 Table 7 - 2002 Extremity Dose Equivalent Summary.........

............ 12 Buffalo Materials Research Center 2002 Annual Report Page 2

1. INTRODUCTION This report is submitted to the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) pursuant to section 15.1 of Appendix A, of the Technical Specifications (License R-77) for the Buffalo Materials Research Center (BMRC) located at the State University of New York at Buffalo. It summarizes changes to the facility, major maintenance activities, surveillance tests and inspections, radiation surveys, and radioactive effluents for the 2002 calendar year. The facility remained in Possession Only License status throughout the year. All required surveillance was completed.

2. MAJOR MAINTENANCE Maintenance activities undertaken during 2002 included:

• The flow gauge on the Underground Waste System was replaced with a new flow gauge and totalizer (2/22/02).

• Twin air compressors were installed in the Control Air System, replacing the old system compressors (5/21/02).

• A new transfer pump for the 1000 Gallon Radioactive Storage Tank was installed, replacing an older pump (7/8/02).

• The manual release valve on the inner Gamma Deck airlock door was replaced (7/26/02).

• The pneumatic actuator for the Building Exhaust fume hoods was replaced (7/26/02).

• The airlock gasket for the Control Deck outer door was replaced (9/12/02).

3. 10CFR 50.59 CHANGES There were no 50.59 reviews performed during the 2002 calendar year.

4. RADIOACTIVE EFFLUENTS 4.1 Controlled Discharges to the Sanitary Sewer There were two controlled discharges to the sanitary sewer in 2002. The total volume of water released was 61,300 liters, containing a total of approximately 0.011 millicuries of radioactivity. The first release was from the 10,000 gallon above ground waste storage Buffalo Materials Research Center 2002 Annual Report Page 3

tank (referred to as 10K Tank) and the second release was from the old underground waste storage tank (Tank #1). Tables 1 and 2 contain the discharge information specific to the releases including comparisons to the monthly average concentration in 10 CFR Part 20, Appendix B, Table 3 "Releases to Sewers" and the sum of the fractions. Table 3 summarizes the total discharge for the year.

4.2 Airborne Releases The only airborne radioactive release during 2002, other than natural background resulting from radon and its daughter products, was the result of determining the sensitivity of the building air effluent monitor. The sensitivity determination, performed annually, is based on the injection of a known quantity of Kr-85 gas. The monitor sensitivity, calculated in units of [tCi/cc/cpm, is used to determine the concentration of an airborne release from the counts per minute recorded on the building air effluent monitor chart recorders.

The building air sensitivity determination was performed in November 2002. The sensitivity was in agreement with previous annual determinations. Table 4 shows the amounts of Kr-85 released from the test and a comparison to the yearly limits specified in the BMRC Technical Specifications.

5. ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOLOGICAL SURVEYS 5.1 Routine Surveys The direct radiation levels outside the BMRC reactor building are routinely monitored adjacent to the "truck door" access area and on the roof of the liquid waste holding tank vault.

Landauer Luxel dosimeters are used to monitor integrated radiation levels in eight areas around the facility. These dosimeters are replaced with a new badge every month and the previous month's sent to the dosimetry vendor for processing. The vendor is NVLAP certified. The minimum photon sensitivity for the dosimeter is 1 mrem. Table 5 lists the cumulative summary of the environmental radiation dose equivalent around the facility.

The maximum cumulative annual deep dose equivalent reading was 8 mrem on the dosimeter (# 2116) located on the roof of the vault containing the above ground waste holding tank.

The Luxel technology allows for a minimum sensitivity of 1 mrem per monitoring period, as compared to a minimum sensitivity of 10 mrem for the dosimeters used for personnel monitoring.

Semi-annual "tell-tale" samples are drawn and analyzed from the sampling well tubes adjacent to the underground liquid waste holding tanks (Tank #1). These analyses detected no radioactivity in excess of background levels.

Buffalo Materials Research Center 2002 Annual Report Page 4

6. RADIATION EXPOSURES 6.1 External Dosimetry Dosimetry records were maintained for a total of nine staff members and authorized facility entrants. Film dosimeters provide X, beta, and gamma exposure monitoring.

Thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD) rings are used to measure extremity dose for selected personnel. Also, a TLD for neutron detection is available when necessary. All dosimeters are processed by ICN, a NVLAP certified vendor. These dosimeters are replaced on a bi-monthly basis.

The film dosimeters have a minimum sensitivity of 10 mrem for both beta and photon radiation. A separate neutron sensitive dosimeter (with a minimum sensitivity of 20 mrem per monitoring period) is available and is worn by personnel during manipulations involving the reactor fuel or plutonium - beryllium (PuBe) sources.

During 2002 no monitored individual received a measurable whole body deep dose equivalent. The maximum extremity shallow dose equivalent to an individual was 0.044 rem. Both individuals who received measurable extremity dose performed radiation survey meter, area, and effluent monitor calibrations.

University Police Department officers perform routine security tours of the building. The patrol officers wear a University Police dosimeter pack when they perform these walkthroughs. These dosimeters did not record any dose equivalent during 2002.

Four visitor dosimeter packs are also available. These dosimeters are issued to visitors who may need to enter into areas requiring exposure monitoring. None of these visitor dosimeters recorded any measurable dose equivalent in 2002.

Tables 6 and 7 provide summaries of personnel whole body and extremity dose for calendar year 2002.

7. RADIATION AND CONTAMINATION SURVEYS 7.1 Exit Monitoring Exit monitoring is required as part of each egress from the reactor containment building and other radioactive materials areas within the BMRC. These surveys occasionally detect radioactive contamination, allowing rapid correction of contamination problems.

7.2 Routine Surveys Buffalo Materials Research Center 2002 Annual Report Page 5

The BMRC staff performs monthly radiation and contamination surveys of the BMRC building. BMRC contamination action levels are 30 dpm/100 cm2 beta for personal items, 200 dpm/100 cm2 beta, otherwise. In calendar year 2002, no contamination was detected in excess of action levels by these surveys on items, surfaces, or areas not labeled or restricted as contaminated.

8. MISCELLANEOUS

• Facility Organizational changes - The Director of BMRC, David Vasbinder, reports to the Director of Occupational and Environmental Safety Services within the University. Mr. Joseph Raab was hired as the new Director of Occupational and Environmental Safety Services in April of 2002.

• In June, two employees successfully completed the NRC administered licensing examination as Senior Reactor Operators - Limited to Fuel Handling.

• Security Events-- During 2002, the NRC and FBI issued notices to facilities concerning potential security threats that indicated the need for increased facility security awareness. BMRC and University Police personnel worked closely in reviewing these notices and instituting appropriate security measures.

• The NRC issued several requests for information pertaining to security at licensed nuclear facilities. BMRC personnel and the University Police worked together to respond to these requests for information and to correspondingly implement an increased level of security at the facility when required. Specific actions taken by the University of Buffalo to increase security and to respond to these requests were shared with the Reactor Decommissioning Safety Committee. These measures are not specifically identified in this report for security reasons.

• In September, in response to Homeland Security Threat Level Indicator being raised to Level Orange, the NRC notified licensees that they were requiring licensees to upgrade to NRC Security Level 4. Buffalo Materials Research Center upgraded security awareness consistent with the guidance for Level 4.

• The Reactor Decommissioning Safety Committee convened twice during calendar year 2002. The second meeting was conducted through a conference call of the Committee members specifically to discuss a Risk Assessment being conducted for the facility. This meets the minimum annual requirement in Facility Technical Specifications for committee meetings.

Buffalo Materials Research Center 2002 Annual Report Page 6

University at Buffalo Buffalo Materials Research Center Table 1 -- Waste Tank Release to Sanitary Sewer Release Number:

From:

Month:

2002-01 10K Tank January Amount Released:

Date of Release:

8850 gal.

3.36E+07 ml 1/11/02 l

Monthly Percent Nuclide Tank Limit Release of Monthly l

(ItCi/ml)

(gCi/ml)

([iCi/ml)

Limit Unidentified 3.17E-07 2E-08 1.2E-09 1 6.1E+O0 Beta l

TOTAL 3.17E-07 gCi/ml Total of Limit Released:

Total of Activity Released:

Year to Date Activity Released 6.1 %

10.66 GCi 10.66 GCi Buffalo Materials Research Center 2002 Annual Report Page 7

University at Buffalo Buffalo Materials Research Center Table 2 -- Waste Tank Release to Sanitary Sewer Release Number:

From:

Month:

2002-02 Tank #1 April Amount Released:

Date of Release:

7300 gal.

2.77E+07 ml 4/12/02 Monthly Percent Nuclide Tank Limit Release of Monthly l

(Ci/ml)

(pCi/ml)

(gCi/ml)

Limit Unidentified l 2.1 IE-10 2E-08 6.8E-13 3.4E-03 B eta I __

I __

TOTAL 1.11E-10 [Ci/ml Total of Limit Released:

Total of Activity Released:

Year to Date Activity Released 0.0%

0.01 RCi 10.67 gCi Buffalo Materials Research Center 2002 Annual Report Page 8

University at Buffalo Buffalo Materials Research Center Table 3 -- 2002 Yearly Releases to the Sanitary Sewer Quantity Average Annual Nuclide Released Concentration l

(Ci)

(pCi/ml)

Unidentified l

1.07E-05 l

1.53E-09 B eta j _

_ j TOTAL 0.011 mCi Buffalo Materials Research Center 2002 Annual Report Page 9

University at Buffalo Buffalo Materials Research Center Table 4 -- 2002 Airborne Releases Quantity Annual Annual Percent Nuclide System Released Concentration Limit of l

(gCi)

(gCi/ml)

(gci"ml)

Limit Kr-85 I

Building Air l

1.2 1l.E-14 l

7E-7 2.1E-6 Buffalo Matenals Research Center 2002 Annual Report Page 10

University at Buffalo Buffalo Materials Research Center Table 5 -- 2002 Cumulative Summary of Environmental Radiation Dose Equivalent (mrem)

Monthly Monitoring Period o

0 January M

M M

M M

M M

M February M

M M

M M

M M

M March M

M M

M M

M M

M April M

M M

M M

M M

6 May M

M M

M M

M M

2 June M

M M

M M

M M

M July M

M M

M M

M M

M August M

M M

M M

M M

M September 2

M M

M M

M M

M October M

M M

M M

M M

M November M

M M

M M

M M

M December M

M M

M M

M M

M Cumulative Total 2

M M

M M

M M

8 M = Minimal (less than 1 mrem).

Buffalo Materials Research Center 2002 Annual Report Page I 1

University at Buffalo Buffalo Materials Research Center Table 6 -- 2002 Whole Body Deep Dose Equivalent Summary Deep Dose Equivalent BMRC University Visitor Fuel (rem)

Staff Police Handler Dosimeter None 8

1 4

1 Measurable 0.OO1 to.O10 0

0 0

0 O.Oll toO.100 0

0 0

0

>0.100 0

0 0

0 Table 7 -- 2002 Extremity Shallow Dose Equivalent Summary Extremity Shallow Dose BMRC (rem)

Staff None 6

Measurable I

0.O10 to O.100 2

> 0.100 0

Buffalo Materials Research Center 2002 Annual Report Page 12