ML19345A773
| ML19345A773 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 07000882 |
| Issue date: | 08/27/1980 |
| From: | Cohen I, Joyner J, Zibulsky H NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19345A765 | List: |
| References | |
| 70-0882-80-01, 70-882-80-1, NUDOCS 8011250121 | |
| Download: ML19345A773 (4) | |
Text
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U. S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT REGION I Report No.
70-PA?/RO-01 Docket No.
70-RR2 License No.
SNM-870 Safeguards Group 5
Licensee:
Colombia University in the City of New York 110 Low Memorial Library New York, New York 10027 Facility Name:
Columbia University Inspection At:
520 West 120th Street, New York, N.Y.
Inspection Conducted:
August 6, 1980 Date of Last Material Control and Accour~ ing Inspection Visit: December 1, 1978 Type of Inspection:
Announced Material Control & Accounting Inspectors:
b k /%U P-2 7-Fo I. Cohen, Chemisk date (b-5 baLQ Q%%
? - 2 7-Fu H. Zibulsky, C3emtst u date date Approved by:
Lv:u o e po/
P-2 7-#0 I. H. Joyner, Chief Nuclear Material date d
Control Supportuie'ction, Safeguards Branch Inspection Summary:
Areas Inspected:
Followup Physical Inventory, Records and Reports, license possession limits, and followup on apparent loss of U-233.
The inspection involved 10 inspector-hours on site by two NRC inspectors and was begun during regular hours.
Resul ts :
The licensee was found to be in compliance with NRC requirements in the areas examined during the inspection except for the following item:
1.
Material Status Reports were not submitted at the required six-nonth intervals (In f ractien).
Region I Form 166 8 011050 lT (August 1979) i
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I I
DETAILS 1.
Persons Contacted
- P.
D. Carter, Executive Vice President for Administration
- H. A. Jacobson, Associate General Counsel
- P. M. Lorio. Health Physics Officer
- Denotes those attending the exit interview.
2.
Licensee Action on Previous inspection Findings (Closed) Noncomoliance (78-01-01):
Failure to use a 9 gram plutonium beryl-lium source in its authorized location.
The source was observed to be in the authorized location and it was noted that the container was labeled "For Use in the Engineering Terrace Only".
(0 pen) Noncompliance (78-01-02):
Failure to submit an annual statement of source material inventory.
Subsequent to Inspection No. 78-01, the licens-ee submitted a statement of the possessed normal uranium to Region I.
The licensee was advised that a statement of their physical inventory of uranium and thorium should be forwarded to the Department of Energy as required by 10 CFR 40.64(b) and that the statement should include the number of years that these materials were possessed.
(Closed) Unresolved Item (78-01-03):
Records of certain leak tests could not be located by the licensee.
The inspector observed records of the leak tests performed of the plutonium beryllium sources.
(Closed) Noncompliance (78-01-04):
Failure to verify the integrity of U-233 plated foils.
After a search and an investigation the licensee was unable to locate the 58.4 grams of U-233 which they believed was located in storage at the University's Merningside Campus.
The licensee now believes that the U-233, which was plated on foils, was forwarded to a i
burial site along with other radioactive waste.
The licensee was advised that in addition to their verbal report to the inspectors of the apparent loss of the U-233 plated foile, that they were required to issue a report to the NRC in writing, as required by 10 CFR 70.52(a).
The licensee was also advised to indicate in their report the probable disposition of the material and to include with their report any documentation supporting their position.
3.
Physical Inventon The licensee is required by 10 CFR 70.51(d) to perform physical inventories i
l of special nuclear material (SNM) at frequencies not to exceed twelve months.
l The inspector observed records which showed that a physical inventory was performed on July 10, 1980._ The licensee indicated that this inventory 1
L
3 was taken by a team.
The inspectors selected certain items from the inven-tory listing for visual inspection and these were readily located by the licensee.
The inspector noted that the plutonium beryllium neutron sources were stored in locked rooms or in locked howitzers. Other materials con-taining SNM were located in a locked safe.
The licensee's SNM inventory exceeded the authorized possession limits as shown in License No. SNM-870, Amendment No. 3, dated July 31, 1978.
This matter is discussed paragraph 5.
4.
Records and Reports The licensee was in the process of preparing material status reports for subnission as required by 10 CFR 70.53.
Since the last reports submitted by the licensee covered the period April 1,1978 through September 30, 1978 the licensee intended to submit reports covering the period October 1, 1978 through March 31, 1980.
The licensee was advised to prepare reports for each of the six-month periods for which reports had not been submitted.
Failure to submit the reports requireo 3y 10 CFR 70.53 for the period October 1,1978-March 31,1980, constitutes an item of noncompliance,infrac-tion level (80-01-01).
The licensee was advised that a material status report for their depleted uranium was not required.
The licensee was fur-ther advised that the material status report must be signed by an authorized representative, but that the signer need not be a University Vice President, as is done now.
The licensee had also prepared a material status report for SNf1 which they owned but which was located at General Atomics Company, San Diego, California.
The licensee was advised that it was General Atomics' responsibility to prepare the report which should then be forwarded to Columbia University for signature acknowledging financial responsibility and then forwarded to 00E.
The licensee was also shown how to correct other minor errors on the plutonium and enriched uranium reports.
5.
Authorized Possession Limits The licensee indicated that a representative of NRC's flaterial Licensing Branch was planning to visit the university on August 13, 1980 to discuss licensing matters.
The inspector indicated changes and additions of pos-session limits and concerns to the licensee which should be discussed at the visit as follows:
a)
The quantity of U-235 should be amended to show the addition of U-235 recently located during the search for the U-233 foils, b)
The plutonium limit will require amendment if review reveals that total plutonium and isotope totals have been reversed on the status report.
4 c)
Determine whether the flew York City * ' ense for normal' uranium is acceptable.
d)
Resolve the need for a license for thorium.
Subsequent to the inspection, the inspector contacted the representative from the Materials Licensing Branch and discussed these matters. Since action was initiated to amend the license when it was discovered that possession limits had been exceeded, no item of noncompliance was cited.
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMisslON n-d O
REGION I U*
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10 OCT 1980 a
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,d Docket No.70-882 tn.
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c:0 Columbia University in Sc' si i
the City of New York E2 ATTN:
Dr. William J. McGill T?
32 President 3
New York, New York 10027 Gentlemen:
/
Subject:
Combined Inspections 70-882/78-01, 80-01 This refers to your letters dated J':ne 27, July 18. August 13 and September 19, 1980, in response to our letters dated February 6,1979., June 13,1980 and August 29. 1980.
Thank you for informing us of the corrective and preventive actions documented in your letters.
These actions will be examined during a subsequent inspection of your licensed program.
In regard to your report of an apparent loss as required by 10 CFR 70.52(a), we have no further questions.
You are reminded that Material Status Reports must be foraarded to U.S. Energy Research and Development Administration, P.O. Box E. Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830 as required by 10 CFR 70.53.
Also, it is not necessary to forward copies of these reports to this office.
Your cooperation with us is hepreciated.
Sincerely, C
Walter G. Martin, Chief Safeguards Branch cc:
Dr. W. W. Havens, Jr., Director of Nuclear Engineering Mr. Paul D. Carter Executive Vice President for Administration Mr. John M. Harding, General Counsel
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F Columbia University in the City of New York New York. N. Y. 10027 ME ALTH PMv 5CS C"F#CE 269 Earneermg 'erra:e September 19, 1980 Mr. Walter G. Martin, Chief Safeguards Branch U.S.N.R.C.
Region 1 631 Park Avenue King of Prussia Pennsylvania, 19406 Re:
Inspection No. 70-882/80-01
Dear Mr. Martin:
This letter is submitted, pursuant to Section 2, 201 of the NRC's Rules of Practice, in response to your letter of August 29, 1980 in which you gave notice of an inspection of the NRC's rules pertaining to submission of Material Status Reports.
The corrective steps which have and will be taken in the future are set forth in my letter of June 27, 1980 to Mr. Boyce H. Grier, Director of NRC Region 1.
Columbia Univer-sity expects to be in full compliance with the material status report-ing requirements specified in 10CFR 70.53(a) by the end of the first week of October 1980, when all such reports will be mailed to you for filing.
Sincerely,
&p,.
.P.
///.cky Philip
. Lorio Health Physics Officer PML: jet fy e
I
Columbia University in the City of New ' ork New York, N.Y.
10027 EAEOUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Low Memorial Library FOR AQMINISTRATION July 18, 1980 Mr. Boyce H. Grier Director United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission Region 1 631 Park Avenue King of Prussia, Pennsylvania 19406 Insoection 70-882/78-01
Dear Mr. Grier:
Columbia University's Health Physics Officer, Mr. Philip M. Lorio, has already responded by letter dated June 27, 1980 to the particular items raised in your letter to Dr. William J. McGill, who recently retired as the University's President.
In addition, the University's Associate General Counsel, Mr. Howard A. Jacobson, has recently spoken by telephone to Mr. Walter G. Martin of your office about this matter.
On behalf of the University, I wish to express our concern and embarrassment, and to apologize, about the University's delay in responding to the NRC's communications concerning Inspection 70-882/78-01 and about our apparent failure to re-spond adequately to the matters originally raised in those communications.
Columbia believes that communications from the NRC and similar agencies that call for a response, particularly communi-cations like those involved in this matter, should be given the highest priority and be answered in a timely and responsive fashion.
I have issued direct instructions to Mr. Lorio that that must be the practice of his office in the future and have reprimanded him for his failure to respond in a timely and adequate fashion to the NRC's communications about this matter.
This entire matter, including the University's current practices and procedures to deal with the specific matters raised by the NRC, is being reviewed by the University's Radiation Safety Committee, chaired by Dr. Harald H.
- Rossi, Professor of Radiology.
Any Committee recommendations for modifications in these practicas and procedures will be imple-mented.
b Joh b 6
Inspection 70-882/78-01 Page 2 In the interest of expediting responses from the University, we have already suggested that communications from the NRC should be addressed to Mr. Lorio, with copies to Mr. John Mason Harding, the University's General Counsel and to me.
Despite that, please feel free to communicate directly with me, or Mr. Harding or Mr. Jacobson in the future about this or any similar NRC matter concerning the University.
S incerely, N
a T
Paul D. Carter
\\
cc:
Mr. J. Mason Harding Mr. Howard Jacobson Dr. Harald H. Rossi
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Columbia University in the City of New York New York, N. Y. 10027 1
MC ALTH Phys *CS O*PICE 289 Eng<neering Ter a:e August 13, 1980 i
Mr. Boyce H. Grier l
Director l
Region I l
US NRC l
Office of Inspection and Enforcement j
631 Park Avenue i
King of Prussia, PA 19406 l
l Re:
Inspection 70882/78-01
Dear Mr. Grier:
In accordance with 10CFR70, Section 70.52 (a), and item 3 of my letter dated June 27, 1980, I respectfully submit the following details on the lost 58.4 grams V - 233 foils contained in 60 grams of uranium.
This source was last used in January of 1971 during an experiment at our 570MeV proton accelerator.
Since this was'the last run of this machine prior to a major modification, which was anticipated to last for several years, we ran five separate experiments simultaneously.
l At the termination of this run all the experimenters broke down their experiments and beam tube connections in order to clear the experi-i mental area for the upcoming major modification of the accelerator.
Although there was a great deal of activity (not radioactive) on the floor there didn't seem to be any confusion.
One experimenter was using the U -233 fails in a chamber. in order to study binary and tertiary fission events.
He also had a pair of sim-ilar dumy chambers for comparison.
During the process of packaging the equipment for return to the campus, it appears that the dumy l
chambers were packaged and returned instead of the chambers contain-l ing the U - 233 foils.
Since U - 233 is primarily an alpha emitter,.
l but also has some low-energy gama rays associated with its decay, there were no expected levels on the outside of the package. These chambers were returned to the campus and kept in the dead stroage.
Soon after that run the government ~ contract for this research was terminated and these chambers were kept in dead storage.
It was assumed for many years that the U - 233 foils were in these chambers, until a physical inspection by Mr. J. Joyner in 1979, when the. loss was discovered.
Imediately after this last experiment the cyclotron was dismantled..
During the dismantling all materials in the cyclotron building were C
O A
F carefully surveyed and all materials that were radioactive, like chambers, structural materials, nuts, bolts, gaskets, etc., were placed in a large metal container ( the old vacuum chamber of the cyclotron) and were sent to the West Valley burial site disposal.
A new chamber was then installed in the cyclotron.
The only remain-ing radioactivity at the Nevis Cyclotron Laboratory was the pole tips, coil tanks and some of the internal shielding blocks which were to be reused.
Some reusable equipment like power supplies and pumps that had some induced activity were stored in the 200 meter experimental tunnel.
Several elaborate searches of both Nevis, Pupin and Engineering Terrace leads to the conclusion that these chambers were disposed to the West Valley burial site with the remnants of the machine.
This shipment was made by the Moore Flesher Transportation Company and paid for on Pay Order #3581 dated Novemer 1971.
If you have any questions regarding this matter, please. feel free to contact me.
Sincerely, 2 1, M
t
.%ag Philip M. Lorio Health Physics Officer p
cc: Howard A. Jacobsor.
Columbia University in the City of New York New York, N. Y. 10027
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v I
June 27e 1980 l
Mr. Boyce H. Grier Director United States Nuclear Regulattry Commission Region 1 631 Park Avenue King of Prussia, PA 19406
Dear Mr. Grier:
Subj ect:
Inspection 70882/78-01 Your letter dated June 13, 1980 to Columbia University's PresidentW illiam J. McGill with regard to my letter of May 5, 1980 has been referred to me.
I have already discussed this matter at length with Mr. James H. Joyner of your staff.
I wish to bring to your attention the following regarding the items identified in the enclosure to your letter:
Item #1 In addition to returning the 9 gram Pu-Be source to the designated license location in the Engineering Terrace on December 4, 1978, the storage container was thereafter labeled "FOR USE IN THE ENGINEERING TERRACE ONLY".
In addition to labeling the source as described above the attention of our staff has been particularly drawn to Section II (G) (2) of the Radiation Safety Code of Columbia University, which states "An authorized possessor shall not, without approval by the Health Physics Office, lend or transfer radioactive material to any person within a licensed installation.
Approval for such a loan or transfer shall be sought by sub-mitting Radiation Safety Form #16 Authorization for Intramural Transfer."
Item #2 Attached is a copy of the itemized source material inventory.
I have posted an office procedure including automatic reminders to the staff so that future inventory reports will be submitted on a timely basis.
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Subject:
Inspection 70882/78-01 Item #3 The U-233 plated foils were used in an experiment at our Nevis Cyclotron laboratory.
These foils were mounted in a chamber for this experiment.
Similar chambers were used during this experiment containing similar foils but not plated with U-233.
At the conclusion of the experiment in 1971, the chamber and foils.were packaged by the researcher at Nevis and returned to the University's Morningside campus for storage.
At the time of the NRC inspection in 1978 the stored chambers were opened to assay for the U-233 foils.
The foils were determined to be non-radioactive.
We believe that after the termination of the experiment, the dummy chamber was assumed to contain the U-233 foils and returned for storage.
Immediately following the NRC inspection in 1978 I conducted an extensive search and investigation at both Nevis and Morningside Campus in an attempt to locate the missing U-233 foils or ascertain what occurred to them. As part of that investigation, I contacted the researcher who had used the foils at Nevis, Dr. John Felvinci (who had since left the University), but he was unable
~
to shed any light on this matter.
He had believed that the foils with U-233 had been returned for storage.
I am now making a renewed effort to find the missing foils.
In order to prevent this problem in the future, a representative of the Health Physics Office will be in attendance at any location when materials under this license are being prepared for shipment.
Since my staff is directly involved in operations dealing with material under this license, it is recommended that all correspondence be directed to me, with copies sent to Mr. Paul Carter, the University's Executive Vice Presicent for Admini-stration at 313 Low Library and Mr. John Mason Harding, the University's General Counsel at 110 Low Library.
~
erel yoursy l-Philip M. Lorio Hetlth Physics Officer cc:
Mr. Paul D. Carter Mr. John Mason Harding Enclosure l
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