ML20056G649
| ML20056G649 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 07000008 |
| Issue date: | 08/30/1993 |
| From: | France G, Mccann G NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III) |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20056G644 | List: |
| References | |
| 70-0008-93-01, 70-8-93-1, NUDOCS 9309070013 | |
| Download: ML20056G649 (6) | |
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NUCLEAR REGULATCRY COMMISSION REGION III Report No. 070-00008/93001(DRSS)
Docket No. 070-00008 License NO.
SNM-7 Licensee: Battelle Memorial Institute 505 King Avenue Columbus, OH 43201 Facility Name: Battelle Columbes Operations Inspection At: West Jefferson and Columbus, Ohio Sites Inspection Conducted: July 27 through 29, 1993 b
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O 93 Inspector:
George M. France, III Ddte '
l Fuel Facilities Inspector Approved By:
N kr.
of Y1 GeortfeM.AcCanri, Chief Date/
/
Fuel Facilities and Decommissioning Section Inspection Summary i
Inspection on July 27-29. 1993. (Report No. 070-00008/93001)DRSS))
Areas Inspected: This was an unannounced inspection of facility requirements specified in NRC regulations, license and license conditions, including a review of the following activities: Management Organization and Controls (IP 88005); Radiation Protection (IP 83822); Operations Review (IP 88020); and Haintenance and Surveillance Testing (IP 88025).
Results: Within the scope of the inspection, no violations were identified.
The licensee is currently remedi:+ing several former research and manufacturing buildings.
Review of records and physical decontamination processes indicates that the licensee's remediation efforts are adequate.
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o DETAILS 1.
Persons Contacted Employees listed below are either assigned to the Battelle Columbus Laboratories Decommissioning Project (BCLDP) or provide administrative, technical, or regulatory services to the project:
- K. Brog, Manager, Decontamination & Decommissioning (D/D)
Operations Group
- S. Brown, Quality Manager, D & D Operations.
- E. Castleberry, Manager, Decontamination Operations
- D. Clum, Radiological Safety Officer L. Davis, Health Physics Lead Technician J. Eide, Site Shipping Officer
- G. Fess,'NRC Licensing Coordinator
- C. Hall, Manager, Radiological Field Operations
- J. Hallgren, Supervisor, Health Physics Support
- S. Helgerman, Advisor, Environmental, Safety and Health
- C. Jensen, Manager, Radiological Technical Support
- H. Kitchen, ESTD Safety Advisor M. Kitts, Waste Management Specialist K. Lawson, Manager, Waste Management
- T. Walker, Radiation Protection Oversight Coordinator
- B. Patel, DOE Affiliate, Technical Manager, MACTEC
- Denotes attendance at the exit meeting held on July 29, 1993, at 2:00 p.m.
2.
Licensed Procram In 1943, Battelle Memorial Institute (BMI) performed atomic energy research and development, while under contract with the Manhattan Engineer District. These programs continued under the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), and the Department of Energy (00E). Other nuclear programs were operated under Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Special Nuclear Materials License No. SNM-7. Work conducted under SNM-7 included evaluations of power and research reactor fuels, post-irradiation examination of fissile, control rod, structural components, operation of a critical assembly laboratory, and operation of a research reactor..In addition to the special nuclear materials activities, the licensee also has authority to perform industrial radiography, and byproduct material research relating to agriculture and animal research.
These programs were conducted in 15 buildings and associated grounds located at the King Avenue Site in Columbus, Ohio, and the West
. Jefferson Site in West Jefferson, Ohio.
In 1986, BMI discontinued its nuclear research and began remediation of its facilities, such that, they would be available for unrestricted use.
Since the majority of special nuclear materials used were obtained from 2
the DOE, they have assumed primary responsibility for decontamination and decommissioning of the BMI facilities. Accordingly, the activities performed under NRC License No. SNM-7 are also factored into the D & D operation. Decontamination plans for areas that were operated under SNM-7 will be in compliance with NRC regulations.
Once the buildings have been remediated a byproduct material license will be issued to cover the industrial radiography and byproduct materials research activities. However, Battelle has stated that decommissioning does not constitute a declaration to terminate license number SNM-7.
Battelle plans to continue to operate under the license conditions and to request renewal at the appropriate time.
3.
Radiation Protection (IP 83822)
The inspector reviewed the licensee's internal and external exposure control programs including the required records, reports, and notifications, a.
Internal Exoosure Approximately 100 licensee and 100 contractor personnel are assigned to the Battelle Columbus Laboratories Decommissioning Project (BCLDP). Review of bioassay records found exposure to mixed fission products and isotopes of uranium, cesium and manganese for BCLDP workers to be below the maximum permissible body burden (MPBB).
Further review of worker bioassay records disclosed that the 40 MPC-hour intake limit for uranium and plutonium had not been exceeded.
b.
External Exoosure Review of personnel monitoring records found no personnel exposure in excess of the quarterly dose limit (expressed as 1.25 rem in 10 CRF Part 20, S 20.101). The highest potential for external exposure exists around the industrial radiography installation and the hot cells. To assure that exposures are maintained below ALARA, the licensee has designated and limited personnel traffic by using temporary barriers.
c.
Radioloaical Surveys According to SNM-7, License Condition No. 27., the licensee is required to perform quarterly surveys for external contamination at the Battelle Retired Research Reactor.
Records of quarterly surveys conducted for the second and third quarter 1993 operating period disclosed that there have been no significant contamination or exposure problems.
No violations or deviations were identified.
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4.
Maintenance and Surveillance Testina (IP 88025)
Under the BCLDP the licensee maintains equipment that is essential to the decommissioning project. Maintenance is scheduled according to j
vendor requirements, or an approved maintenance procedure.
j The inspector verified that the licensee performed daily pre-operational inspections on the fuel basin crane. Periodic inspections are conducted by Ohio Crane, an offsite vendor.
Inspections of the emergency generator and in-place testing (00P tests) of hot cell filters were conducted according to surveillance and maintenance procedure SM-0P-001, Revision 2.
l No violations or deviations were identified.
5.
Operations Review (IP 88020)
The licensee plans to decommission contaminated areas in 15 buildings.
Nine buildings are located at the King Avenue site and 6 are located at the West Jefferson site. The inspector performed a walk-through inspection of some of the buildings located at both sites and observed the following:
t Kino Avenue Site Building 2 (Metal working Building) - This building is contaminated with uranium, thorium, and their daughter products.
The inspector toured several rooms where remediation was nearly i
complete. Review of survey records showed the average background levels for remediated areas to be 7 counts per minute (cpm) i (alpha) and about 172 (cpm (beta).
Building 3 (Materials Building) - This building has general uranium and thorium contamination _throughout the building. About 30 % of the building has been remediated.
West Jefferson Site Building JN-1 (Hot Cells) - The'JN-1 building has extensive contamination from transuranics, fission products, activation products, uranium and decay products, and cobalt-60 throughout the hot cell. A formal radiological survey has not been performed in the hot cells.
Building-JN-3 (Reactor Building) - Building JN-3 contains a partially. decommissioned research reactor. Surface contamination and drain lines are contaminated with activation products, mixed fission products, and transuranics.
In preparation to i
decontaminate equipment stored in JN-3, a temporary room composed of_ thick plastic walls, two by four wooden framing and a ventilation system has been constructed.
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Personnel leaving or entering the radiation areas are surveyed by i
portal monitors, equipped with up to 11 detectors or measuring zones.
Calibration data sheets disclosed the detector efficiency, i
calibration source, physical condition of the instrument and the date the next calibration was due. A review of this data indicated that the licensee calibrated and maintained 6 portal monitors according to procedure HP-AP-29, " Control of Measuring and Test Equipment and Instruments." No problems were noted.
No violations or deviations were identified.
6.
Trainina The licensee has a program in place to instruct visitors who frequent radiation areas. The inspector reviewed the general radiation work permit (RWP) and a 12 minute film that described radiation monitoring requirements and emergency alarms and responses. While general i
employees receive 4 hours4.62963e-5 days <br />0.00111 hours <br />6.613757e-6 weeks <br />1.522e-6 months <br /> of training, radiation workers receive 12 hours1.388889e-4 days <br />0.00333 hours <br />1.984127e-5 weeks <br />4.566e-6 months <br /> of training, and a radiation safety study guide.
Radiation workers are also required to pass a written exam. The inspector concluded that the licensee's program satisfies the requirements of 10 i
i CFR Part S 19.12 Instruction to Workers.
7.
Manaaement Oraanization and Controls The licensee's Health Physics organization performs management oversight and control of activities involving radiation protection in two distinct programs, the BCLDP project and the programs licensed under SNM-7.
Radiation protection oversight for these distinctive programs is provided by the Battelle Radiation Safety Officer, while the daily safety requirement of these programs is divided between two Health Physics sections. Additionally, the licensee performs oversight audits of packages and shipments of radioactive material, a.
Oraanization Radiation Protection is provided by two Health Physics sections.
Radiological Field Operations provides operational health and safety support, while dosimetry, ALARA programs, and technical support is provided by the Radiological Technical Support Section.
The Battelle Radiation Safety Officer provides oversight in BCLDP project matters concerning license conditions.
b.
Audits The inspector verified that the licensee has a program in place to perform Quality Assurance audits of its transportation activities.
A review of the licensees audit program disclosed that audits were conducted in compliance with 10 CFR Part S 71, Subpart H., Quality Assurance Requirements. The audit performed in 1992 disclosed that the licensee was properly handling, storing, packaging and shipping radioactive materials.
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Exit Meetina The inspector met with the individuals denoted in Section 1 of this report at the conclusion of the onsite inspection, which was held on July 29, 1993, at 2:00 p.m.
The inspector discussed observations and summarized the scope and findings of the inspection in this report.
During the course of the inspection and during the exit meeting, the licensee did not identify any documents or inspection statements or references to specific processes as proprietary.
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