ML20117K791
| ML20117K791 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | University of Missouri-Columbia |
| Issue date: | 02/22/1995 |
| From: | MISSOURI, UNIV. OF, COLUMBIA, MO |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20117K785 | List: |
| References | |
| FOIA-96-249 NUDOCS 9609120162 | |
| Download: ML20117K791 (2) | |
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! UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI RESEARCH REACTOR 4
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, OPERATIONS MONTHLY
SUMMARY
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a January 1995 Prepared by:
Operations Staff FEb 2 2 DN 9609120162 960828 PDR FOIA /
WALSH96-249 PDR / I J
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January 1995 The reactor operated continuously in January with the following exceptions: five shutdowns for scheduled maintenance and refueling. There were no unscheduled shutdowns this month.
Major maintenance items for the month included: replacing cooling tower cell #2 north distribution valve stem; rebuilding pool pump 508A.
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l OPERATION
SUMMARY
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HOURS OPERATED THIS PERIOD 682 1 TOTAL HOURS OPERATED 185,771 HOURS AT FULL POWER THIS PERIOD 680 4 TOTAL HOURS AT FULL POWER 182,809 INTEGRATED POWER THIS PERIOD 284 ABVD TOTAL INTEGRATED POWER 70,317 ARVD l
MAINTENANCE ACTIVITY 1/3/95 Refueled - removed core 94-58, loaded core 95-1 Replaced cooling tower cell #2 north distribution valve stem.
1/9/95 Refueled - removed core 95-1, loaded core 95-2. )
1/17/95 Refueled - removed core 95-2, loaded core 95-3. ,
1/23/95 Refueled - removed core 95-3, loaded core 95-4. Rebuilt pool pump 508A.
1/30/95 Refueled - removed core 95-4, loaded core 95-5.
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January 18, 1995 EA 93-058 1 i University of Missouri ATTN: Dr. James J. Rhyne Director, Research Reactor -
! Facility l
Research Park Columbia, MO 65201
SUBJECT:
NOTICE OF VIOLATION, UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI (NRC INSPECTION REPORT NO. 50-186/94002)
Dear Dr. Rhyne:
l This will acknowledge receipt of your letter dated December 21, 1994 in '
response to our letter dated November 23, 1994 transmitting a Notice of Violation associated with inadequate procedures and training for packaging g radioactive waste materials for transportation at the University of Missouri- i Columbia Research Reactor Facility. i We have reviewed your corrective actions and have no further questions at this time. These corrective actions will be examined during future inspections.
Sincerely, WW 61gned by Roy J. Cart!Eno W. L. Axelson, Director '
Division of Radiation Safety and Safeguards Docket No. 50-186 cc: Dr. William Vernetson, Director of Nuclear Facilities Distribution Docket File w/ encl OC/LFDCB w/ encl PUBLIC IE 06 w/ encl DOCUMENT NAME: B:UOM94002.VIO To ,eceive a copy of this document,Indcate la the box: *C* = Copy without ettschment/ enclosure *E* = Copy with attachment / enclosure
- N* = No copy 0FFICE RIII \/lclRIII v RIII N RIII E' RIII lC NAME TReidinger: DNglsonpu JMcCormick- RDef yette wax 1 jp /g/L/ [w Barge g
DATE 01/ / / /35 01/ ///95 01/if/95 01/ / 8/95 Ol'/ // /95 orrzcru ascono corr Ernam W ff
o Research Reactor Center Research Park II Columbia. Mssoun 65211 Telepnone (314) 882 4211 FAX [314] 882 3443 UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-COLUMBIA December 21,1994 Director of Enforcement US Nuclear Regulatory Commission -
ATTN: Document Control Desk Washington, DC 20555
REFERENCE:
Docket 50-186 University of Missouri Research Reactor License R-103
SUBJECT:
Reply to a Notice of Violation in Accordance with 10 CFR 2.201
Dear Sir:
This is a written statement requin:d by 10 CFR 2.201 in response to the November 23, 1994 US NRC Region III Notice of Violation [NRC Inspection Report Nos. 50-186/93001(DRSS); 50-186/94002 (DRSS); EA 93-058] concerning events at the University of Missouri Research Reactor (MURR).
Two violations were identified: only one requires a written response. i Violation. Requiring a Licensee Response-B. On May 5,1994, the licensee delivered to a carrier for transport radioactive materials (a decommissioned irradiator case)in a package that was not designed and prepared for shipment so that under conditions normally incident to transportation the radiation level does not exceed 200 millirem per hour at any point on the external surface of the package. Specifically, the package arrived at its destination with a radiation level of approximately 600 to 800 millirem per hour on the bottom cxternal surface.
Reply
- 1. Admission or Denial of the Alleged Violation This violation is admitted. MURR was in contact with NRC Region III by telephone on May 6,1994 concerning the problems with this shipment. Written reports were submitted to the US Department of Tran.portation on May 19,1994 and June 3,1994.
A written report was submitted also to the State of Tennessee, Division of Radiological Health on June 3,1994. Additionalinformation was supplied by the licensee during a September 29,1994 Enforcement Conference conducted at NRC Region III offices in Lisle, Illinois.
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I Director of Enforcement, NRC
- December 21,1994 page 2
- 2. Reasons for the violation if admitted The reason for the violation was the failure to have in place adequate waste packaging procedures to ensure that contents of the waste container could not shin and result in an increase in the dose rate on the bottom of the package. In addition, training for personnel responsible for the shipment of radioactive waste was inadequate.
The high dose rate on the bottom of the package was caused by three activated metal parts that apparently had vibrated loose and migrated :o the floor of the container i during transport. A more thorough survey of each of the mte items as it was loaded into the container may have identified these discrete point sourecs. Additional blocking and bracing might have prevented the waste from shifting. Although the package was classified as a Type A shipment, it met all the criteria of an exclusive use,-
. Low Specific Activity shipment. No intermediate unloading or loading of the vehicle l
occurred during shipment, and the radiation levels at the package destination were '
within the limits for an exclusive use shipment.
I When formed in 1992 to evaluate isotope shipments from MURR, the Shipping Task Force did not include the category oflow level radioactive waste in the scope ofits review. A review of the MURR radioactive waste shipping program by the Shipping Task Force may have identified the weaknesses in procedures and training.
- 3. Corrective steps that have been taken and results achieved MURR took immediate responsibility for investigating the cause of the change in dose rate on the package, and took steps to correct the problem and minimize the potential exposure to the public and personnel at the waste processor. The same day MURR was informed of the problem with the shipment, a representative of the University was available in Oak Ridge, Tennessee to verify dose measurements and, if needed, assist with the investigation. When the waste processor was prepared to open the package on May 19,1994, MURR had a Health Physicist on site to help with identifying waste components and identifying the cause of the elevated dose rate.
MURR made no add. Mnal waste shipments until the staff completed an evaluation of I the problems associated with this shipment and implemented the appropriate corrective measures. Procedures were reviewed and revised to correct the weaknesses identified. Waste shipping personnel received training on the new procedures and the lessons learned from the shipment in question. Revisions to the procedures include specific instructions for more detailed surveying of waste material as it is loaded in the container. These procedures emphasize identifying material that may require special treatment prior to shipment. Proper blocking and bracing of the waste in the package is also addressed.
Formal training has been improved for MURR waste shipping personnel in the processes and procedures associated with radioactive waste shipping. Waste shipping ,
personnel attended the " Hazardous Waste Management Summer Institute" which covers 49 CFR requirements, and a member of the MURR staff attended the four day l
f Director of Enforcement, NRC
. December 21,1994 page 3
" Radioactive Waste Packaging, Transportation, and Disposal Workshop" presented by Chem-Nuclear Systems, Inc the week of November 14,1994.
l Subsequent radioactive waste shipments have been made by the retrained personnel using the revised procedures. The documentation associated with these shipments was i reviewed by NRC personnel during a reactive inspection the week of August 15,1994, and no violations were noted. In addition, two representatives of the US Department i of Transportation inspected the MURR hazardous materials shipping program during the week of December 5,1994. Their inspection included a review of waste shipments
! and no violations were identified.
i f 4. Corrective steps that will be taken to avoid further violations.
j As a result of the problems with the shipment in question, the MURR Shipping Task I i Force has broadened the scope ofits responsibilities. The Task Force now reviews all 1
- types of radioactive material shipments including waste and spent fuel. A single I i shipping group now has responsibility for final review of the paperwork and .
4 documentation associated with all radioactive shipments leaving MURR. l
- 5. Date when full compliance will be achieved. !
The University of Missouri Research Reactor believes it is in full compliance at the
- present time and has been since procedures were revised and training completed in j June of 1994. There have been no problems identified with regard to radioactive I waste shipments since May 6,1994.
) Sincerely,
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John P. Ernst Manager, Reactor Health Physics ENDORSEMENT: . ./ . ,
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Reviewed and App ed l. f p' a ,
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.( C, 3 f,,f 4 ,/ MTAW RJSUC STATE OF MISSOURf i f- 4-, cxm cuTy J. Charles McKibben "# "S'0 E*" *PQ ' 4 '"o's Associate Director xc: Regional Administrator, US NRC Region III S. Weiss, NRC/NRR Reactor Advisory Committee Reactor Safety Subcommittee J. McCormick, Interim Vice Pmvost -
J.Rhyne