ML20054C595
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U. S. ATOMIC ENERGY CCMMISSION
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REGION I DIVISION OF COMPLIANCE January 26, 1966 CO REPORT NO. 47/66-1
Title:
U. S. ARMY MATERIALS RESEARCH AGENCY - WATERTCWN ARSENAL LICENSE NO.
R-65 Date of Visit:
January.7, 1966
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.c r By Sohn R. Se -, Reactor Inspector
SUMMARY
The Watertown Arsenal reactor airlocks have mechanical inter-locks.
Dr. Robert Cochran is still a censultant en operation.
The experimental program using reactor beams is increasing.
No violations of 10 CFR 20 were observed in a health physics review.
The civilian administration is attempting to increase Arsenal health physics service in spite of an anncunced Army cut-back.
During a recent pcwer failure, the reactor scrammed and emergency battery pcwered lighting in the containment building came on.
No items of ncaccmpliance and no safety problems were noted.
1 DETAILS I.
Scoce of Visit An unannounced visit was made to the Watertcwn Arsenal reactor of the U. S. Army Materials Research Agency at Watertcwn, Massachusetts, by Mr. John R. Sears, Reactor Inspector, Region I, Division of Compliance, on January 7, 1966.
The visit included (continued) i 8204210369 811005 PDR FOIA KADAT-281-311 PDR
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l Scoce of visit (continued) a tcur of the facility, examination of operating and health physics records and discussions with the folicwing personnel:
Mr. John O'Connor, Reactor Director Mr. Richard Stanten, Reactor Engineer Dr. Homer Priest, Chairman, Reactor Safeguards Ccmmittee Dr. John Antal, Reactor Safeguards Committee Mr. Joseph Vella, Reactor Cperator II.
Results of visit A.
Airlocks There are two personnel airlocks in the Watertown Arsenal containment building.
In the original design *, each had been equipped with both mechanical and electrical inter-locks.. The electrical interlock worked off limit switches which prevented energizing of the drive motor to open one door when the other door was open.
The electric motor drive had taken too long a time to open the door, and the electric drive and intericcks have now been disconnected.
There is a simple mechanical inter 1cck between the two doors in an airlock.
Defeat of this interlock requires the removaltf one element of a mechanical linkage.
Each dcor is equipped with an inflatable gasket.
Mr.
O'Cennor stated that the pneumatic centrols are such that, even if both gaskets were to leak, pressure sensing switches would insure a continuous supply of compressed air to keep the gaskets inflated.
The inspector observed that the supply line to the door gaskets is equipped with a manual valve.
Mr.
O'Connor stated that the purpose of the valve is to permit (continued)
- Not defined in the Hazards Summary Report or the appliciticn.
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. Results of Visit (continued) isolation of one door frcm the air system while replacing a gasket.
He stated that he would remove the handle frem the valves as a precautionary measure against inadvertent starving of a gasket of air.
B.
Administration Mr. O'Connor stated that Dr. Rcbert Ccchran is still a consultant for the reactor and that his last visit was after the fall American Nuclear Society meeting in Washington, D.C.
The inspector reviewed the minutes of the Reactor Safeguards Committee meetings.
The Committee deferred final approval for installation and approval of a methane cooled ex-periment until it made a visual inspection of the completed hardware.
The inspector Observed that the ccntrol recm operator's manual now has curves of rod calibration, Xenon buildup and decay, and temperature ccefficient to assist in predicting the critical red configuration.
Mr. O'Connor stated that operation of their preventive maintenance program via the visirecord Chart, over a pericd of years, had produced its principal benefit in that experience new permits them to increase the time between checking some components.
He said that they had recently replaced their startup chamber simply because it had been in operation for five years, although there had been no history of trouble with the system.
C.
Tour of Facility The inspector observed that a universal, triple axis spectrometer is being installed at a horizontal beam hole.
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, Results of Visit (continued)
A helium cryostat is installed en the reactor top as the refrigerator for the methane cooled beam experiment.
This system is being checked out, cut of pile, before La-stallation of those components which will be located in the pool adj acent to the reacter.
The inspector observed that a scintillation detector has been installed at the entrance to the heat exchanger recm.
This senses N-16 and reads cut en a recorder in the control room.
Mr. O'Connor stated that there has been no problem with fuel, control rods and their drives, or instrumentation since the last inspection visit.
D.
Pcwer Cutace Mr. O'Connor stated thac during a recent pcwer cutage, the reactor scrammed due to the pcwer failure to the rod drive motors.
The reactor building is furnished with emergency lighting, in accordance with Massachusetts State law.
These lights are battery pcwered and ccme en during a power failure.
The batteries are on a constant trickle charge.
Mr. O'Connor showed the inspector an M-G set which will be driven by the emergency gas generator located in the adjacent building.
The M-G set will furnish power for nuclear instrumentation.
He said that he has a work order in to the Arsenal maintenance people to complete the installation of this system.
E.
Health Physics Owing to the unanncunced nature of this visit, Mr.
Charles Dady, Health Physicist, was not available for inter-view.
The inspector reviewed records of personnel exposures and gaseous and liquid discharges.
No violations of 10 CFR 20 were observed.
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~~' Results of Visit (continued) lo F.
Exit Interview Mr. O'Connor stated that his civilian management has developed a table of organization for health physics services with two more vacancies on the health physics technician level, which they are presently trying to fill.
An Army cut-back on personnel had been announced for July 1966, but they are proceeding with recruitment nevertheless.
Mr. O'Connor stated that it is his understanding that the volume of work in the rest of the Arsenal will not be decreased, and if the proposed cut-back is effected, he will attempt to keep Mr. Dady on staff at his present rating by a redefinition of his job description and title.
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