ML19260C543
| ML19260C543 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | MIT Nuclear Research Reactor |
| Issue date: | 12/27/1979 |
| From: | Lisa Clark MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, CAMBRIDGE |
| To: | Grier B NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8001070391 | |
| Download: ML19260C543 (3) | |
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>wv :, a.m-c:. e, Dece=ber 27, 1979 Mr. Boyce H. Grier, Director Region #1 U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 631 Park Avenue King of Prussia, Penn.
19406
Subject:
Loss of Licensed Material
Dear Sir:
Massachusetts Institute of Technology submits hereby the thirty-day report required by 10CFR20.402 for the purpose of informing the Nuclear Regulatory Commission regarding the loss of 0.0017 grams of uranium - 235 contained in a fission counter. The loss was originally reported to NRC Region #1 by telephone on Dece=ber 4, 1979 pursuant to 10CFR70.52(a).
The infor=ation provided below is keyed to paragraphs (1) - (6) of 10CFR20.402(b):
1.
The licensed material was 0.0018 grams of uranium enriched to 932 in the isotope U-235(0.0017 grams).
It was in the form of U 0 plated 3g on an aluminum cylinder in a Westinghouse Electric Corp. fisEicn counter, Model WL7186, Serial No. 623 502.
It was about 4 ft. long, 1/8 in. diameter, except that the diameter was about 1 in. at the connector.
2.
The counter was procured in June 1964 (Form AEC-383, 5:0!132 - 5:0183 -
160) and was one of several purchased for operation, teaching or research use at the reactor. At the time of the October 31, 1978 physic._ inventory,. - _ _.
the counter was determined to be in a hood in the base =ent of the containment building; it and two large fission counters were being stored there as a result of becoming slightly contaminated while being checkec'. out in one of the instru=ent ports of the reactor.
In February 1979 the hood was cleaned out in preparation for other use.
The large counters were set aside, but other items, apparently including the s=all counter, were disposed of as radioactive vaste. The counter was first missed last month while taking the October 31, 1979 physical inventory.
It was subsequently determined to be missing and was reported after searching other storage areas and after contacting all potential users of fission Q
counters.
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1696 198
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$r. Boyce H. Grier, Director Region #1 U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Comnicsion (2) 3.
The probable disposition of the material was burial as radioactive waste. On March 20, 1979, the Nuclear Reactor Laboratory transferred 199 cubic feet of waste, in the form of 25 drums and 7 boxes, to a licensee for burial at the Barnwell, So. Carolina, site. As =entioned above, the hood had been cleaned out in February.
Personnel responsible for preparing the shipment report that there was little residual waste when the pickup was made, and so it is believed that the counter went out at that time.
4.
Radiation due to the counter would have been comparable to levels, or probably less than levels, due to other waste materials in the shipment.
Since it was disposed of in accordance with approved procedures for waste, there is no hazard to persons in unrestricted areas.
5.
All areas where the counter might have been stored or used were thoroughly searched, and all persons who might have had knewledge of potential storage, use or disposition were interrogated without success.
In view of the small quantity involved and its probable disposition as waste, we believe that no further action is warranted. The loss will be reported on the Dece=ber 31, 1979 " Material Status Report", Form NRC-742, as an Accidental Loss, Line 75.
6.
Procedures at M.I.T. provide for graded ievels of SNM accountability and security, depending upon the type and quantity of material involved.
Fission counters in use here contain only s=all amounts of U-235, not more than two grams, and they are generally used and stored within the restricted area.
If installed on the reactor, they will require special handling and shielding upon removal, due to induced radioactivity and conta=ination, hence storage of the subject counter in the hood.
No violations of procedures were involved. However, they are being re emphasized to reactor operations, =aintenance and radiation protection petto cel and to other users of SNM at M.I.T.
Just prior to discovering the loss, a fornal prec9 dure for the preventive maintenance servicing of ion chambers and fission cha=bers, Procedure No. 7.5.1, had been adopted.
It provides docu=entation of information concerning each chamber removed and its replacement, including data on make and serial number. This will constitute an additional record of chambers that are within the restricted area but outside of their normal places of storage. Together with existing procedures this will help to prevent si=ilar losses in the future.
1696 199
3 Mr. Boyce I Grier, Director Region #1 U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Coc::nission (3)
Please contact me if additional information should be required.
Sincerely, bMk Yw
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u Lincoln Clark, Jr.
LC/cre cc:
MITR Safeguard Coc::nittee MITR Operations MITR Electronics MITR RPO C. Berney H. Bondar G. L. Brownell S-H. Chen W. Milne C. G. Shull
!EC - OIE NRC - CMIPC 1696 200