ML20011B165
| ML20011B165 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | University of Wisconsin |
| Issue date: | 11/24/1981 |
| From: | Deyoung R NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE) |
| To: | Shain I WISCONSIN, UNIV. OF, MADISON, WI |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20011B166 | List: |
| References | |
| EA-82-011, EA-82-11, NUDOCS 8112040324 | |
| Download: ML20011B165 (2) | |
Text
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/22M NOV 44 1981 IEHQ FII6 COPY -
m ADM m '" Q Docket No. 50-156
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V License No. R-74 WJ_ C Ol'II 7l,
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Dr. Irving Shain u.s.,g"y,m@ J s.?'
Chancellor Madison, WI 53706 L,.
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Gentlemen:
A This refers to the special safety inspection conducted by Messrs. K. R.
Ridgeway and R. C. Janke of our staff on September 18, 1981, of activities at the University of Wisconsin Nuclear Reactor authorized by NRC Operating License No. R-74.
The results of this inspection were discussed on October 13, 1981, during a telephone enforcement conference between Dr. Max Carbon and Mr. A. B. Davis of the NRC.
The inspection showed that failure to follow " Standard Operating Instructions, UWNR 001," which addresses relief of one operator by another, resulted in the research reactor being operated at full power without an operator present at the controls. We recognize that because the period involved was brief and when considering the operating characteristics of the University of Wisconsin's reactor the safety significance of the incident is limited.
However, except for the fortunate coincidence that the absence of the operator was quickly noticed by the Reactor Director, a licensed senior operator, the reactor controls could have been unattended for an extended period.
Even the possi-bility of that happening is unacceptable.
To emphasize the importance of this matter and to assure proper management control of your program, we propose to impose a civil penalty in the amount of Five Hundred Dollars for the violation set forth in the Appendix to this letter.
This item has been categorized as a Severity Level III violation in accordance with the Interim Enforcement Policy published in the Federal Register 45 FR 66754 (October 7, 1980).
The base value for a Severity Level III viola-tion is $8,000.
However, in view of the fact that the University of Wisconsin identified the problem and made a prompt notification to the NRC, and of other circumstances connected with this event we are reducing the amount of the civil penalty to $500.
You are required to respond to the Notice of Violation and in preparing your response you should follow the instructions in the Appendix.
You should give particular attention to those actions desig'ed to assure continuing compliance with NRC requirements.
In particular, desciibe what additional management CERTIFIED MAIL RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED 8112040324 81112 PDR ADOCK 050001 0
P
r University of Wisconsin controls will be implemented to assure relief of reactor operators is in com-pliance with your Standard Operating Instructions UWNR 001.
Your reply to this letter and the results of future inspections will be considered in determining
.whether further enforcement action is appropriate.
In accordance with Section 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice," Part 2, Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations, a copy of this letter and the enclosure will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room.
-The responses directed by this letter and the enclosed Appendix are not subject to the clearance procedures of the Office of Management and Budget as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, PL 96-511.
Sincerely,
" Original Signed Fay R. C. DeYoung" Richard C. DeYoung, Director Office of Inspection and Enforcement
Enclosure:
Appendix - Notice of Violation and Proposed Imposition of a Civil Penalty Distribution PDR Central Files NSIC CP Book LPDR APuglise, CON L-316 ACRS EI Reading File SECY ED0 Reading File CA VStello, DED/ROGR Department of Health & Social Services RCDeYoung, IE ATTN:
Mr. Lawrence J. McDonnell, Chief HDenton, NRR Radiation Protection Section JSniezek, IE P. O. Box 309 RWessman, IE Madison, WI 53701 TBrockett, IE Fingram, PA JMurray, ELD JLieberman, ELD DFredlund, ELD JCrooks, AE0D JJCummings, OIA Directors, EI Staff RI, RII, RIII, RIV, RV IE Files p
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D:IE TB6 ckett.
RWessman-JMurray
.DTho3pson RCDeYoung 5520 0
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