ML20058H460
| 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: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9312130085 | |
| Download: ML20058H460 (2) | |
See also: IR 05000123/1993004
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QC3
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01933
Docket No. 50-123
License No. R-79
University of Missouri-Rolla
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ATTN: Dr. John Park
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Chancellor
Rolla, Mo 65401-0249
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Dear Dr. Park:
SUBJECT:
REACTIVE TEAM INSPECTION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-ROLLA
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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,
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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
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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
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and representative records, interviews with personnel, and observation of
activities in progress.
This event has raised significant licensee management and NRC concerns
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regarding the inattentiveness exhibited by the licensed reactor operator,
particularly while supervising students, during the reactor startup and
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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
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operating procedures, and NRC regulations; (2) reviewing operating data, in
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order to ensure safe operation of the reactor; and (3) having the ability to
manually initiate the applicable safety features during various transient and
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accident conditions.
In order for the reactor console operator to be able to
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carry out these and other responsibilities in a timely manner, the operators'
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attention must be given to the condition of the reactor at all times. The
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operators must be alert to ensure that the reactor is operating safely and
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must be capable of taking action to avoid conditions that may be unsafe.
Research reactors are designed from a " defense in depth" perspective, and the
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NRC considers well trained licensed operators as having a significant role in
the defense in depth approach for safe reactor operations.
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During the October 26, 1993 startup, the licensed operator did not appear to
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have an adequate questioning attitude or exhibit the appropriate attention to
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detail.
This was particularly disturbing since the reactor startup was
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considered an element of the educational program for future Nuclear
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professionals.
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During the inspection and subsequent correspondence to the NRC your reactor
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management staff committed to take strong corrective measures designed to
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address this event and committed to conduct an active ongoing assessment of
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corrective actions to. identify other areas for improvement as needed. We
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encourage you to support these activities and to express clear management
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expectations to your operating staff concerning the need for operators to be
alert to all available reactor indications during performance of their duties.
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Based on the results of this inspection, certain of your activities,
concerning the use of procedures, appeared to be in violation of NRC
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requirements as specified in the enclosed Notice of Violation (Notice).
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Although Section 2.201 provides for a written statement of explanation to this
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office within 20 days of your receipt of this Notice, we note that this
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violation had been corrected and those actions, including your root cause
analysis, were reviewed during this inspection. Therefore, no response with
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respect to this matter is required.
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In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the Commi.ssion's regulations, a copy of
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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,
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DRIG!NAL SIGNED BY W. L nEtsr
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W. L. Axelson, Director
Division of Radiation Safety
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and Safeguards
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Enclosures:
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2.
Inspection Report
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No. 50-123/93004(DRSS)
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cc w/ enclosures-
Dr. Lee W. Saperstein, Dean, School
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of Mines and Metallurgy
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Dr. William Vernetson, Director
of Nuclear Facilities
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