ML20115G580

Intervenor Exhibit I-GANE-52,consisting of Re NRC Concerns About Gtrr Operation Requiring Comprehensive Assessment of Activities at Neely Nuclear Research Ctr

ML20115G580
Person / Time
Site:	Neely Research Reactor
Issue date:	05/30/1996
From:	Crecine J Neely Research Reactor, ATLANTA, GA
To:
References
REN-I-GANE-052, REN-I-GANE-52, NUDOCS 9607190207
Download: ML20115G580 (3)

Text

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. f hhh[ Offee of the Pr;sdent Georgia instituta of Techn:l:gy Atlanta, Georgia 30332 USNRC S i

=. 9 04)894-5051 j

'96 JUL 10 A10:07 August 19, 1988

! l 0FFICE OF SEf RETARY DOCKETING & CERylCE l BRANCH l Dr. J. Nelson Grace, Regional Administrator i' U.S. Nuclear Rugulatory Commission Region II 101 Marietta Street Atlanta, Georgia 30323

Dear Dr. Grace:

Concerns expressed by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission about the GTRR operation required comprehensive ass 9ssments of all activities at the Neely Nuclear Research Centet. These assessments produced an action plan which was discussed with the NRC personnel on February 23, 1988, and May 13, 1988.

I am pleased to inform you that the following milestones have been accomplished.

1. Training of four additional operators is virtually complete. What remains is " hands on" experience of trainees in the operation of the GTRR. This training can only be accomplished when the GTRR is returned to operation. Retraining of licensed operators has been completed.

2. A new team of radiation protection specialists is now in place headed by Dr. Betty K. Revsin. The team includes, in addition to Dr. Revsin, Mr. Eichard Barrow, Jr., Mr.

Jerry Taylor, and Mr. James Mattern. Mr. Barrow holds a B.S. degree in biology and has had four years of ,

experience in health physics (HP) at Georgia Power. Mr.

Taylor has twelve years of experience in HP at Georgia '

Tech. Mr. James Mattern is a graduate student working half-time at the Neely Nuclear Research Center (NNRC) and holds a MS degree in HP. We believe that under the able leadership of Dr. Revsin our radiation protection program will be strong and sound.

3. A harmonious and professional working relationship now exists between the radiation protection group and the operations' group.

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSloN Docket No. S o - t (a o- O A) l EXHlBIT NO. 8L l

in the rnatter of_ M bl_ a O statt O Applicant E71ntervenor O other 71 Ob { g @O 60 afdentified Q-Received O Rejected g PDR Reporter _ G)(_u)

Date E[hl 9 6 witness 46 A Unit of the Unrwrsity System of Georgia An Eaual r.Jucation and Employment Opportun.tv institution

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Dr. J. Nelson Grace August 19, 1988 Page Two

4. The Radiation Safety Officer (Dr. Bernd Kahn) of Georgia Tech serves as Chairman of the Nuclear Safeguards Committee and reports directly to me in cases of urgency.  !

Dr. Richard Fuller, Vice President for Operations, who also has administrative responsibility for Environment ,

Safety, will act for me in my absence. l i

5.

Two licensed operators will be required in the control room when the reactor is operational from now on.

6. Procedure review and evaluation are progressing. In addition to review of GTRR procedures against Regulatory and Technical Specification requirements, an additional aspect of this process consists of comparing GTRR l

procedures to those of other research reactor facilities such as NBS, University of Michigan, etc. GTRR procedure revision and/or development is initiated as appropriate.

It is anticipated that this evaluation will be complete by March 1, 1989.

7. Outside evaluations of the NNRC operation and staff have been submitted previously to the NRC. Recommendations resulting fro se evaluations were adapted 2nd put s into action. Georgia Tech plans to aggressively expand rboth educ nal and research programs relating to the; Neely Nuclear Research Center. J Arter a period or 12 to s1 8 months,rwe plan to again implement a comprehensive review of our organizational system to assure optimum effectiveness.

8. Regulator'y training, described in previous communications with you, is a weekly activity at NNRC.

9. Managementcontrolofoperationshasbeenstrengthenedl from one half-time member to 2 1/2 members. These include Dr. Karam, Dr. Macdonald. and Dr. Revsin.

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10. Facility upgrading and capital spending will increase appreciably.

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I Dr. J. Nelson Grace August 19, 1988 Page Three I

11. Mr. Dixon Parker, a nuclear engineer, has been hired to work full time at NNRC.

12. NNRC has initiated a system of internal audits for all documentation. Every document will be audited for  ;

accuracy and completeness by management before it is i filed.

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13. The Nuclear Safeguards Committee has reviewed NNRC  !

activities and recommended that the GTRR be returned to {

full operation.

It is my conclusion that Georgia Tech has addressed and resolved the issues raised in the order modifying our license. I respectfully request that the Regional Administrator, Region II, l

approve in writing the resumption of reactor operation and irradiation experiments.

S n ere hn P. Crecine resident JPC:bh

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