ML19260A900
| ML19260A900 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Wood River Junction |
| Issue date: | 09/21/1979 |
| From: | Clemons P, Stohr J NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19260A885 | List: |
| References | |
| 70-0820-79-18, 70-820-79-18, NUDOCS 7912060110 | |
| Download: ML19260A900 (6) | |
Text
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U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT Region I Report No. 70-820/79-18 Docket No.70-820 License No. SNM-777 Priority 1
Category JR Licensee:
United Nuclear Corporation Fuel Recovery Operation Wood River Junction, Rhode Island Facility Name:
UNC Fuel Recovery Operation Inspection at:
Wood River Junction, Rhode Island Inspection conducted: September 5-7, 1 Inspectors:
4 9
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9 r- -
P. E/Clemons, Radiation Specialist da'te s'igned date signeJ date signed Approved by:
h 4t 9/h //>'9 J. P. Itohr, Chief, Radiation ' Support Section da'te signed FF&MS Branch Insoection Summary:
Inspection on September 5-7, 1979 (Report No. 79-18)
Areas Inspected:
Routine, unannounced inspection by a regional based inspector of the Radiation Protection Program including previous inspection findings, annual report, dosimetry, bioassay, ventilation, smaar surveys, external radiation surveys, posting, air samples, receiving radioactive material, operating procedures, training, well samples and lagoon samples. Upon arrival, area where work was being conducted were examined to review radiation control procedures and practices. The inspection involved 19 inspector-hours on site by one NRC regional based inspector.
Results:
Of the 13 areas inspected, no items of noncompliance were identified in 11 Two apparent items of noncompliance were identified in 2 areas (deficiency -
areas.
failure to post room - paragraph 3; deficiency - failure to perform survey at stated frequency - paragraph 4).
1510 050 Region I Form 12 (Rev. April 77)
$&0b
DETAILS 1.
Persons Contacted Principal Licensee Employees Mr. J. Dunning, Manager, Operations
- Mr. R. Gregg, Manager, Quality Assurance
- Mr. K. Helgeson, Managcr, Nuclear and Industrial Safety (Acting)
- Mr. D. Schultz, Manager, Compliance The inspector also interviewed other employees during the course of the inspection.
They included the Chemist, Health Physics Technician, and Security personnel.
- denotes those present at the exit interview.
2.
. Licensee Action on Previous Inspection Findings (Closed) Noncompliance (820/79-06-01) Failure to follow procedures.
The inspector was informed that personnel have been reinstructed in Special Work Permit (SWP) requirements ar.d the inspector observed that the SWP procedure had been revised.
He also observed that personnel were given annual retraining July 1979.
(Closed) Noncompliance (820/79-06-02) Failed to maintain required face velocities in Fume Hoods.
The inspector observri that face velocities are maintained as required, and he also noted the increased frequency of the velocity checks.
(Closed) Noncompliance (820/79-06-03) /2iled to perform beta surveys.
The inspector noted that the licensee is now performing beta contamina-tion surveys.
3.
Posting On Thursday, September 6, 1979, the inspector was informed by a licensee representative that they had only one source, a cobalt-60 source, that was used for the calibration of portable survey instruments and the criticality alarms.
The inspector was informed that the source was located in its container in a room in the Health Physics Laboratory.
The inspector asked to see the source and he noted that the door leading into the room where the source was stored, was not posted.
The inspector was informed that the source strength was apprc.v.imately 1.5 millicuries at this time.
1510 051
3 10 CFR 20.203(e) states, "Each area or room in which licensed material is used or stored and which contains any radioactive material (cf.ner than natural uranium or thorium) in an amount exceeding 10 times the quantity of such material specified in Appendix C of this part shall be conspicuously postcd with a sign or signs bearing the radiation caution symbol and the words:
Caution Radioactive Material (s)"
The inspector determined that Appendix C of 10 CFR 20 permitted up to 10 microcuries of cobalt-60 in an area or room without the area being posted.
The inspector noted that failure to post the room containing the cobalt-60 source represents noncompliance with the regulations.
(79-18-01)
Other areas were posted as required by 10 CFR 19 and 10 CFR 20.
4.
Surveys Condition 9 of Special Nuclear Material License No. 777 states, "For use in accordan a with the specifications in Sections 100, 200, 300, 400 and 800 (excluding Figure 800-I) of the licensee's applications and supplements..."
Subsection 205 of Section 200 states, " United Nuclear Corporation policy requires that supervision at all levels assure themselves:
that all pertinent regulations, controls, and procedures relative to nuclear criticality safety or radiological safety are followed by supervision and all operating personnel.
Operating procedures are issued by Quality Assurance, and provide detailed instructions for equipment operation and material handling including specific safety requirements.
The Standard Operating Procedure Manual is the basic control document."
As the inspector reviewed the Health Physics Manual, Standard Operating Procedure I-Z, he noted that Section 4.4.5 stated, "NIS conducts semi-weekly surveys for beta gamma radiation..." The inspector asked to see the semi-weekly beta gamma survey records.
He was told by a licensee representative that beta gamma surveys are performed monthly as opposed to semi-weekly.
1510 052
4 The inspector noted that failure to perform semi-weekly beta gamma radiation surveys in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures constituted noncompliance with a license condition.
(79-18-02)
Subsection 401.1 of Section 400 defines surface contamination limits for restricted areas and unrestricted areas.
The licensee performs weekly smear surveys in the restricted areas and daily smear surveys in unrestricted areas.
The inspector reviewed smear survey data for the period January-July 1979 to determine if the limits specified werv being observed.
No items of noncompliance were observed.
5.
Annual Report 10 CFR 20.407 requires that a personnel monitoring report, covering the preceding calendar year.
The inspector reviewed the licensee's personnel monitoring report that had been submitted on February 15, 1979 to the Director of Management and Program Analysis.
The report indicated that 203 individuals were monitored during 1978, and the maximum exposure recorded was 230 millirem for the year.
No items of noncompliance were identified.
6.
Dosimetry The inspector reviewed dosimetry data for the period January-July 1979 to determine if the licensee was in compliance with 10 CFR 20.101.
The inspector noted that approximately 20 operators are monitored, the individuals most closely associated with operations involving license material.
The maximum whole body exposure reported to date was 44 millirem for one individual.
No items of noncompliance were identified.
7.
Bioassay Subsection 402.2 of Section 400 of the licensee's application states that the minimum bioassay frequency, for individuals assigned to contaminated or restricted areas, is every three months.
The inspector reviewed bioassay data for the period January-June 1979.
The data incicated that 23 employees assigned to the restricted area submit urine samples weekly.
The data did not indicate any problem with exposure control.
1510 053
5 8.
Ventilation Subsection 404.2 of Section 400 of the licensee's application states,
" Air flow shall be from areas of lower to areas of higher contamination."
The licensee has a requirement to perform velometer measurements weekly.
The inspector reviewed data fcr the period March-July 1979, that indicated that face velocity determinations are being done daily.
On September 7, 1979, with the assistance of a licensee representative, and using the licensee's velometer, measurements were made at various locations in the restricted area to determine that the face velocities were as statad in Subsection 404.2.
No items of noncompliance were identified.
9.
Training The licensee is committed to retraining of employees as stated in Subsection 208.3 of Section 200 of the licensee's application.
Subsec-tion 208.3 states, "The training and personnel safety program is continnd with on-the-job-training supplemented by regularly scheduled meetings...
Standard Operationg Procedure I-Z, the Health Physics Manual, Section 2.3 states, " Annual retraining sessions will be conducted by NIS."
The inspector selected the names of all operators routinely assigned to the restricted areas to determine if they had received annual retraining in health physics.
The inspector reviewed documentation which indicated that all of the operators received annual retraining during July 1979.
No items of nonocmpliance were identified.
10.
Air Samples The inspector reviewed air sample data for samp es collected in the Process Area for the period January-June 1979 to determine if the licensee was in compliance with the regulatory requirements.
No items of noncompliance were identified.
11.
Receipt of Radioactive Material 1510 054
6 10 CFR 20.205(b)(1) requires that each licensee upon receipt of a package of radioactive material must monitor the external surfaces of the package for contamination.
The inspector reviewed the incoming shipment records for approximately 20 shipments received during the period April-August 1979.
The records indicated that all packages had been monitored as required.
No items of noncompliance were identified.
12.
Lagoon and Plant Well Samples Condition 23 of Amendment No. 6 to SNM-777 requires that representative water samples from the lagoon and :torage tank be collected and analyzed on a monthly basis for radioactivity and various elements.
In addition, monthly samples from the plant well are also required to be analyzed for pH, nitrate, and fluoride.
The inspector reviewed data for the period February-June 1979, to determine if the licensee was in compliance with the license conditions.
No items of noncompliance were identified.
13.
Annual Audit Subsection 207.3 of Section 200 states, "An annual audit shall be conducted by a technically competent person (s) not directly a part of the plant organization.
The results of this audit shall be reported to the General Manager and the Manager NIS, and shall include reviews of both the radiological and criticality safety programs."
The inspector reviewed a report of an audit conducted in December 1978 by two individuals not directly a part of the plant organization.
No items of noncompliance were identified.
14.
Exit Interview The inspector met with licensee representatives (denoted in paragraph
- 1) at the conclusion of the inspection on September 7,1979.The inspector summarized the purpose and the scope of the inspection and the findings as presented in this report.
1510 055