ML20065D007
| ML20065D007 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 05000192 |
| Issue date: | 09/10/1990 |
| From: | Bauer T, Wehring B TEXAS, UNIV. OF, AUSTIN, TX |
| To: | Beach B NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV) |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9009240002 | |
| Download: ML20065D007 (3) | |
Text
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DI.PARTMI.NT Or MLCHANICAL ENGINEl: RING h I
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' Chhf) THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSrlN
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NadearEnginaring Tsubingl.aleratory ' low 0Burncr%d Asain, Texas 78758't312)4715787 vuy September 10, 1090 Mr. Bill Beach ih Director, Division of Radiation Safety and Safeguards b"'I EP I 31990 /yd S
Region IV 611 Ryan Plaza Dr., Suite 1000 Arlington, TX 76011 l_.
Re:
August 6,1990 f
Dear Mr. Beach:
The following information is being ; avided in response to Region IV inspection docket 50 19 i90 01.
l Routine surveys at the Taylor llall (docket f0e192) reactor facility include weekly equipment checks of area radiation monitors (4 locations) and an air particulate monitor (1 location).
Reasons for Violation:
i Routine records did not document adequately, periodic surveys of areas by rode checks or knowledge of personnel of the radiation levels.
Prics o cessation of reactor operation addition;l records w:re available as part cf the startup checklist, llowever, the routine checks excluding the reactor operation checklist have not changed subsequent to the cessation of reactor operation.
A low source check at approximately 0.1 mrem /hr. at each of the four fixed locations sets a limit on tne area radiation levcis at fm.
points in the facility.
These four points located in the vicinisy of ta reactor pool set limits on the radiation levels m 4 points in an area ch about 2000 square feet.
The leve?s are less.than 0.1 mremfhr as J
demonstrated by weekly check records.
A sim9ar check of the air particulate monitor fixes the ambient u;r particulate activity, Are:
contamination swipes are done on a project by project basis.
Since the Taylor llall facility has not operated the r: actor s'ince April 30, 1988, the project activities in the facility average approximately one each ten to fourteen days.
9009240002 900910 IlO gon AcocKosoogg2 gO7 JC -90.233 y
..c, 2-At this frequency, the equipment check records and less periodic swipe measurements were considered adequate to demonstrate the generally accessible areas of the facility did not have radiation levels in excess of 2 mrem /hr.
Only the area above the reactor '%1 (5 mrem /hr) exceeds the 2 mrem /hr level.
The room arch is posteo as a radiation area.
Access is limited to only staff personnel that have knowledge of the location and tyoes of hazards in the facility.
Less frequent radiation measurements done by.the radiation safety
-office provide both background at the facility boundary and confirmation that area surface contamination within the facility are-acceptable.
These contamination levels although measurable at some locations would be acceptable in non radiation areas (typically less than 100 dpm/100cm2h The reporting in proper units for survey records are available in the files but not done on each record.
Corrective Actions Taken:
At the. time of the inspection, the licensee verbally committed to a change in operating procedures for radiation surveys.
This was done prior to any knowledge regarding a violation of 10CFR 20.201 which requires subjective judgement on the frequency, type and number of accesses to the area.
A survey'by the H.P. of the facility staff at least once each two weeks, will document and post area radiation levels i
and surface contamination on a simple schematic floor plan.
The survey maps will provide c,rrent data including the correct unit references without any reference or dependence on the Safety Office records.
A request-has been made for the Safety Office to document-the correct units on each record document for the docket 50-192 and docket 50 602 facilities.
The number of personnel with access to the area has been immediately limited to only-those with direct knowledge of the status of the facility.
Routine work with radioactive materials has been moved from the area and made subject to the procedures of the TDil-6-485 ' license and docket 50 602 requirements.
These procedures meet and in most cases exceed previous docket 50-192 requirements.
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1 Corrective Steps to Avoid Future Violations :
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i The additional measurement and documentation for radiation levels-in the' docket 50-192 facility are being implemented in a manner j
similar but not completely identical to those being applied at the l
docket 50 602 facility.
The future of radiation measurements at Taylor Hall for the docket f
50-192 facility is considered to be of limited duration.
The licensee-plans to continue the present measurement procedures until facility decommissioning is initiated.
The dismantling process will j
- reevaluate the monitoring requirements.
Plans are to begin this work within one year.
i Date Of Full Compliance:
j The licensee may not agree completely witn all aspects of the violation but did not disagree that better procedures were desirable.
i Full compliance was implemented prior to Aug. 31, '990 by st9tting a routine survey including measurement and documeetation at an i
i interval of at least once every other week, Sincerely,
[.:-e 2. 1 % Thomas L. Bauer Assistant Director, NETL t
Approval:
Btud kl. Yek Bernard W. Wehring I
Director, NETL TLB/ekt cc:
W.' H. Bryant Bureau of Radiation Control A. Mitchell u