ML20058H460

Forwards Insp Rept 50-123/93-04 on 931103-05 & Notice of Violation.During 931026 Startup,Licensed Operator Did Not Appear to Have Adequate Questioning Attitude or Exhibit Appropriate Attention to Detail

ML20058H460
Person / Time
Site:	University of Missouri-Rolla
Issue date:	12/06/1993
From:	Axelson W NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III)
To:	James Park MISSOURI, UNIV. OF, ROLLA, MO
Shared Package
ML20058H464	List: IR 05000123/1993004 ML20058H460 ML20058H482
References
NUDOCS 9312130085
Download: ML20058H460 (2)

See also: IR 05000123/1993004

Text

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DEC 01933

Docket No. 50-123

License No. R-79

University of Missouri-Rolla i

ATTN: Dr. John Park l

Chancellor

Rolla, Mo 65401-0249

.

Dear Dr. Park:

. SUBJECT: REACTIVE TEAM INSPECTION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-ROLLA  ;

RESEARCH REACTOR

This refers to the reactive safety inspection conducted by Mr. T. Reidinger of

this office, Mr. M. Mendonca of the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation and

Ms. S. Hill of the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory on November 3-5, ,

'

1993. The inspection included a review of the event in which the reactor was

operated with inoperable reactor period instrumentation on October 26, 1993 at

the Research Reactor Facility. At the conclusion of the inspection, the ,

findings were discussed with those members of your staff identified in the  ;

enclosed report.  ;

Areas examined during the inspection are identified in the report. Within

these areas, the inspection consisted of a selective examination of procedures

and representative records, interviews with personnel, and observation of  !

activities in progress.

This event has raised significant licensee management and NRC concerns

regarding the inattentiveness exhibited by the licensed reactor operator,  !

particularly while supervising students, during the reactor startup and i

subsequent reactor power changes made on October 26, 1993.  ;

Reactor console operators have many responsibilities that include .aut are not

limited to, (1) adhering to the applicable technical specifications, plant -

operating procedures, and NRC regulations; (2) reviewing operating data, in 1

order to ensure safe operation of the reactor; and (3) having the ability to  !

manually initiate the applicable safety features during various transient and ,

accident conditions. In order for the reactor console operator to be able to 5

carry out these and other responsibilities in a timely manner, the operators' i

attention must be given to the condition of the reactor at all times. The <

operators must be alert to ensure that the reactor is operating safely and j

must be capable of taking action to avoid conditions that may be unsafe. l

Research reactors are designed from a " defense in depth" perspective, and the 1

NRC considers well trained licensed operators as having a significant role in l

the defense in depth approach for safe reactor operations.

'

During the October 26, 1993 startup, the licensed operator did not appear to j

have an adequate questioning attitude or exhibit the appropriate attention to i

detail. This was particularly disturbing since the reactor startup was j

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considered an element of the educational program for future Nuclear i

professionals. j

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During the inspection and subsequent correspondence to the NRC your reactor J

management staff committed to take strong corrective measures designed to J

address this event and committed to conduct an active ongoing assessment of j

corrective actions to. identify other areas for improvement as needed. We 1

encourage you to support these activities and to express clear management .I

expectations to your operating staff concerning the need for operators to be I

alert to all available reactor indications during performance of their duties. 1

Based on the results of this inspection, certain of your activities,  ;

concerning the use of procedures, appeared to be in violation of NRC

'

requirements as specified in the enclosed Notice of Violation (Notice). ,

Although Section 2.201 provides for a written statement of explanation to this  !

office within 20 days of your receipt of this Notice, we note that this j

violation had been corrected and those actions, including your root cause  ;

'

analysis, were reviewed during this inspection. Therefore, no response with

respect to this matter is required.  :

!

In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the Commi.ssion's regulations, a copy of l

this letter and the enclosed inspection report will be placed in the NRC  :

Public Document Room.  :

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We will gladly discuss any questions you have concerning this inspection.  ;

Sincerely,  !

. l

DRIG!NAL SIGNED BY W. L nEtsr ,

W. L. Axelson, Director

Division of Radiation Safety  !

and Safeguards l

Enclosures:

1. Notice of Violation i

2. Inspection Report [

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No. 50-123/93004(DRSS)

cc w/ enclosures- 'I

4 Dr. Lee W. Saperstein, Dean, School l

of Mines and Metallurgy  !

Dr. William Vernetson, Director

of Nuclear Facilities  ;

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