ML080230720

NRC Special Inspection Report No. 50-020-07-203 and Notice of Violation EA-06-113

ML080230720
Person / Time
Site:	MIT Nuclear Research Reactor
Issue date:	01/15/2008
From:	Bernard J, Diberardinis L, Mcwilliams F, Moncton D Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
To:	Michael Case NRC/NRR/ADRA/DPR
References
EA-06-113, IR-07-203
Download: ML080230720 (2)

Text

MIT NUCLEAR REACTOR LABORATORY AN MIT INTERDEPARTMENTAL CENTER John A. Bernard Mail Stop: NW12-208a Phone: 617 253-4202 Director of Reactor Operations 138 Albany Street Fax: 617 253-7300 Cambridge, MA 02139 Email: bemardj@mit.edu January 15, 2008 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555 Attn: Michael J. Case, Director Division of Policy and Relicensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Re: NRC Special Inspection Report No. 50-020/2007-203 and Notice of Violation EA-06-113; Docket No. 50-20; License No. R-37 Dear Mr. Case The Massachusetts Institute of Technology hereby submits the following response to the above referenced report and notice of violation.

One additional item of information has become available since the NRC prepared its report, and we note it here. The ring badge that was reported missing was located and sent to the vendor. Its reading is 210 mrem for the period 1 July 2,007 to 15 August 2007.

The report noted two violations of NRC requirements. Corrective actions have been identified and implemented as follows:

a) NOV #1 - Surveys:

i) Silicon procedures were revised to include requirements for periodic monitoring of work area dose rates. (Action completed 18 November 2007.)

ii) Area monitors dedicated to the silicon project have been purchased andwill be installed. These will provide silicon workers continuous indication of work area dose rates and also provide alarms at specific levels. (Action to be completed by 15 February 2008.)

iii) A two person rule has been adopted for all silicon work pending the installation of the area monitors noted above. One role of the second person is to monitor background dose. (Action completed 26 November 2007.)

iv) All silicon workers have participated or will participate in mandatory retraining and hands-on practicum sessions that include the performance of surveys.

(Action completed for all workers except individual involved in the abnormal exposure by 29 November 2007. Action for the latter individual to be completed prior to resuming duties with anticipated completion date of 15 January 2008.)

• 'Ieeý on

Nuclear Regulatory Commission January 8, 2008 Page 2 b) NOV #2 -Extremity Monitoring i) All personnel who are issued dosimetry for the MIT Research Reactor (MITR) have been retrained on the proper use of extremity dosimeters. (Action completed 29 November 2007.)

The NRC report dated 19 December 2007, listed a number of individual and programmatic factors that contributedto the cause of this abnormal exposure. MIT's internal review of the exposure identified these same factors, and we have developed corrective actions.

These were reviewed by our Committee on Reactor Safeguards at its most recent regularly scheduled meeting (14 December 2007). We have either implemented these corrective actions or have established a schedule for so doing. Details of these changes to our program, as well as those taken in response to the NOVs, will be available for NRC to review during your next inspection.

Please contact John A. Bernard, Director of Reactor Operations, should you require any further information.

• Sincerely, Frederick McWilliams John A. Bernard Reactor Deputy Director Director of Reactor Operations Office of Environment, Health & Safety MIT Nuclear Reactor Laboratory Louis DiBerardinis David E. Moncton Director Director Office of Environment, Health & Safety MIT Nuclear Reactor Laboratory JAB/koc cc: USNRC Johnny H. Eads, Branch Chief Research and Test Reactor Branch B Division of Policy and Rulemaking Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation USNRC Senior Reactor Inspector Research and Test Reactors Section New, Research and Test Reactors Program Division of Regulatory Improvement Programs Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation USNRC Senior Project Manager Same as above.