ML031840066
| ML031840066 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | MIT Nuclear Research Reactor (R-037) |
| Issue date: | 07/03/2003 |
| From: | Matthews D Division of Regulatory Improvement Programs |
| To: | Bernard J Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) |
| Adams A, NRC/N RR/DRIP/RNRP, 415-1127 | |
| References | |
| NRR-03-001 | |
| Download: ML031840066 (5) | |
Text
SAFEGUARDS INFORMATION SAFEGUARDS INFORMATION July 3, 2003 CAL No. NRR-03-001 Dr. John A. Bernard, Director Nuclear Reactor Laboratory Massachusetts Institute of Technology 138 Albany Street Cambridge, MA 02139-4296
SUBJECT:
CONFIRMATORY ACTION LETTER
Dear Dr. Bernard:
On June 30, 2003, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Nuclear Reactor Laboratory (NRL) reported an event to NRC where a reactor operator was asleep at the reactor console for a period of less than thirty minutes during the morning of June 29, 2003. From our preliminary review of this event, we are concerned with the operator at the console falling asleep because reactor operators are an important part of the multiple aspects of defense-in-depth that protects public health and safety. We are also concerned that the reactor operator outside the containment building could not enter the containment and thus would not have been able to respond to what could have been a potential reactor event.
Pursuant to your letter of July 1, 2003, and a telephone conversation between yourself and Alexander Adams, Jr., U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) project manager for the MIT NRL on July 1, 2003, it is our understanding that you have taken the following actions:
1.
The reactor operator who fell asleep at the controls of the MIT research reactor will not operate the MIT Research Reactor without a second licensed operator being present in the control room. This restriction will remain in effect until the NRC can evaluate the MIT ten-day written report on this event, conduct an inspection, and NRC approves removal of the restriction.
When attachment is removed, this letter is unrestricted WARNING: Violation of Section 147 of the Atomic Energy Act, Safeguards Information is subject to Civil and Criminal Penalties
SAFEGUARDS INFORMATION SAFEGUARDS INFORMATION Dr. J. A. Bernard 2.
When a reactor operator is alone at the controls of the MIT research reactor, positive contact will be made with the operator at the controls approximately every half hour.
The attachment to this letter, which contains Safeguards Information, contains an additional action that you have taken.
Pursuant to Section 182 of the Atomic Energy Act, 42 U.S.C. 2232, you are required to notify me immediately if your understanding differs from that set forth above.
We conclude that the above actions adequately address our concerns until NRC can complete our review of the event and your long-term corrective actions.
Issuance of this Confirmatory Action Letter does not preclude issuance of an order formalizing the above commitments or requiring other actions on the part of the licensee; nor does it preclude the NRC from taking enforcement action for violations of NRC requirements that may have prompted the issuance of this letter. In addition, failure to take the actions addressed in this Confirmatory Action Letter may result in enforcement action.
In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRCs Rules of Practice, a copy of this letter will be made available electronically for public inspection in the NRC Public Document Room or from the NRCs document system (ADAMS), accessible from the NRC Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. The attachment to this letter contains Safeguards Information and will not be placed in the NRC Public Document Room or in ADAMS. If you have any questions please contact Alexander Adams at 301-415-1127.
Sincerely,
/RA/
David B. Matthews, Director Division of Regulatory Improvement Programs Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-20 License No. R-37 cc wo/attachment: Please see next page When attachment is removed, this letter is unrestricted
SAFEGUARDS INFORMATION SAFEGUARDS INFORMATION Massachusetts Institute of Docket No. 50-20 Technology cc:
City Manager City Hall Cambridge, MA 02139 Department of Environmental Quality Engineering 100 Cambridge Street Boston, MA 02202 Test, Research, and Training Reactor Newsletter University of Florida 202 Nuclear Sciences Center Gainesville, FL 32611 When attachment is removed, this letter is unrestricted
ML031840066 Template No.: NRR-106 OFFICE RNRP:LA RNRP:PM RNRP:SC RNRP:PD NAME
- EHylton:rdr
- AAdams
- PMadden
- JLyons DATE 07/ 02 /2003 07/ 02 /2003 07/ 02 /2003 07/ 02 /2003 OFFICE DRIP:D NRR:DIPM ADIP NRR:D NAME
- DMatthews BRogers RBorchardt SCollins DATE 07/ 02 /2003 07/ 03 /2003 07/ 03 /2003 07/ 03 /2003 C= COVER E = COVER & ENCLOSURE N = NO COPY
SAFEGUARDS INFORMATION SAFEGUARDS INFORMATION When attachment is removed, this letter is unrestricted