ML20057B850
| ML20057B850 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 09/14/1993 |
| From: | Bangart R NRC OFFICE OF STATE PROGRAMS (OSP) |
| To: | Taylor J NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9309240065 | |
| Download: ML20057B850 (4) | |
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UNITED STATES
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
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WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 v
j September 14, 1993 MEMORANDUM FOR: James M. Taylor Executive Director for Operations FROM:
Richard L. Bangart, Director Office of State Programs
SUBJECT:
IOWA AGREEMENT PROGRAM PROGRESS REPORT SECY-92-360, issued on October 22, 1992, identified for the Commission the troubled State of Iowa's Agreement State radiation control program. On an approximately monthly schedule, we have updated you on the progress of the Iowa Department of Public Health's (IDPH) efforts to reestablish an adequate program. This is the seventh such update.
In November 1992, a project plan was drawn up to assist the State in accomplishing program adequacy. Significant training and assistance efforts were subsequently devoted to the Iowa program (approximately 1 FTE over the
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past 12 months) by Region III staff. A follow-up review of the program in February 1993 identified continuing progress by IDPH to correct the serious management and programmatic deficiencies which were identified during earlier reviews.
Since the February 1993 review, additional progress in procedure development, j
inspection training, tracking and technical support has been made.
Setbacks i
resulting from the loss of technical personnel have also occurred and are discussed below.
STAFFIFG Currently, the technical program is fully staffed at a level greater than the NRC-recommended level. The technical staff includes one experienced full-time health physicist, two full-time junior grade inspector / reviewers, one part-time reviewer and several cross-trained personnel in other programs.
l Since the February 1993 review, two of the three full-time inspector / reviewers in the program have resigned. Both of these positions were promptly filled with junior grade personnel who now need to go through an extensive training process. This lack of staffing stability remains a concern. The success of a small radiation control program is dependent upon the program's ability to attract and retain qualified staff. The program has lost a significant training investment in the past several months due to personnel turnover.
This issue will be revisited in the Dectmber 1993 review.
210095 9309240065 930914
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j James M. Taylor 2
September 14, 1993 INSPECTION PROGRAM The experienced health physicist is capable of inspecting most licensed l
programs. Additional training accompaniments are planned by the Regional State Agreements Officer (RSA0) for evaluation of the health physicist's complex license inspection skills. One of the junior grade inspectors has experience as a nuclear medicine technologist and should be able to perform independent inspections of medical programs within a short period of time.
The other inspector has a doctorate in physics but little health physics experience. She is currently attending the Oak Ridge five-week health physics course.
The program does not have any overdue inspections at this time under Office of State Programs criteria of 50% over the inspection interval. Without additional changes in technical staff, the health physicist, complimented by the other inspectors, should be able to adequately inspect all IDPH-licensed radioactive material programs independently by the time of the next review.
A qualification journal has yet to be fully developed. A consultant to IDPH is currently developing a journal which should be of great assistance to the new inspectors and to IDPH management for overseeing and directing personnel development.
LICENSING PROGRAM Licensing in the IDPH program is performed by two staff members, the health physicist and the part-time reviewer. The licensing backlog is not significant at this time. The license documents generally appear to be in accordance with licensing protocols.
Formal training classes were conducted by Region III for several months covering a variety of program areas. Although this formal training has been completed, technical assistance for complex licensing and inspection cases continues to be provided by the RSA0 and Region III licensing staff, as needed.
The IDPH program is currently capabic of licensing all radioactive material programs in the State. Additional effort is needed, however, in the quality control of documents sent to licensees. The RSA0 continues to review all licensing (and inspection) correspondence in an effort to assist the program with this deficiency.
James M. Taylor 3
September 14, 1993 MANAGEMENT IDPH management has shown a desire to retain the radioactive materials program. A reorganization has allowed the Bureau Chief additional time to spend in the program, including the preparation of rules needed for compatibility with the NRC's revised 10 CFR Part 20.
In response to an NRC suggestion, a comprehensive operating plan was developed by IDPH to assist the program with resource and staff management.
Loss of personnel over the past few months has been partially mitigated by prompt hiring of replacement personnel, something not possible in previous years.
CONCLUSION The Iowa program is on a steady course toward adequacy and compatibility. The retention of adequate staffing remains a critical factor for this small program. At this time, staffing is adequate, but the loss of even one key technical person in the program may place the program back in a less than adequate state.
As the main focus of the Iowa program is now one of gaining experience, we request that these monthly reports be discontinued.
We will provide a report to you of our findings during the December 1993 review, and will otherwise keep your office informed of any significant developments in the State which' could jeopardize an adequacy finding. Unless advised otherwise, we will follow this revised approach.
h /A f w kM Richard L. Bangart, Directo Office of 5? ate Programs cc:
H. L. Thompson, Jr., DEDS J. Martin, RIII H. Miller, RIII C. Norelius, RIII C. Paperiello, NMSS R. Bernero, NMSS J. Surmeier, OSP C. Maupin, OSP 1
James M. Taylor 3
MANAGEMENT
'e IDPH management has shown a desire to retain the radioactive materials program.
A reorganization has allowed the Bureau Chief additional time to spend in the program, including the preparation of rules needed for compatibility with the NRC's revised 10 CFR Part 20.
In response to an NRC suggestion, a comprehensive operating plan was developed by IDPH to assist the program with resource and staff management.
Loss of personnel over the past feu months has been partially mitigated by i
prompt hiring of replacement persor.nel, something not possible in previous years.
CONCLUSION The Iowa program is on a steady course toward adequacy and compatibility.
The retention of adequate staffing remains a critical factor for this small program.
At this time, staffing is adequate, but the loss of even one key technical person in the program may place the program back in a less than adequate state.
As the main focus of the Iowa program is now one of gaining experience, we request that these monthly reports be discontinued.
We will provide a report to you of our findings during the December 1993 review, and will otherwise keep your office informed of any significant developments in the State which csuld jeopardize an adequacy finding. Unless advised otherwise, we will follow this revised approach.
Origina! Signed By RICHARD L. BANGART Richard L. Bangart, Director Office of State Programs cc:
H. L. Thompson, Jr., DEDS J. Martin, RIII H. Miller, RIII C. Norelius, RIII C. Paperiello, NMSS R. Bernero, NMSS J. Surmeier, OSP C. Maupin, OSP Qistribution:
DIR RF SSchwartz SA RF JSurmeier EDO RF CMaupin HLThompson JLynch, RSA0, RIII i
- See previous concurrence.
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