ML20117L116

Partially Deleted Ltr Re Appointment of New Director at Univ of Missouri Research Reactor

ML20117L116
Person / Time
Site:	University of Missouri-Columbia
Issue date:	04/17/1996
From:	MISSOURI, UNIV. OF, COLUMBIA, MO
To:	Vernestson W NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III)
Shared Package
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References
FOIA-96-249 NUDOCS 9609120320
Download: ML20117L116 (2)

Text

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I College of Engineering l

i UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-COLUMBIA

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April 17,1996 L w l United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission

{ Dr. W. Vemetson, Director of Nuclear Facilities l Region III 801 Warrenville Poad

Lisle, IL 60532-4351 i

i

SUBJECT:

APPOINTMF JT OF NEW DIRECTOR AT.THE UNIVERSITMOF l MISSOURI RESEARCH REACTOR (MURR)

Dear Dr. Vemetson,

j I am concemed tha from the Oh l %1as been appomted on a te basis., and what is expected to be on i a permanent basis, a Director of MURR bas little experience for this E4 i job. All past Directors of MURR have had great 15Iperience working at reac rs for l man ears and have a knowledge of Health Physics and Reactor Physics E4

! has none of e erience necessary for the safe operation of the re tor. E/4

! To my knowledge has never performed an experiment at MURR, been E14 j issued a film badge at MURI& or elsewhere, and has never taken the Health Physics j annual safety test. His knowledge of reactor operation is zero.

I believe that this appointment has been made by ased on EO 4

political pressure from a few campus professors, and nTo inade in the best interest of i the safe operation of MURR. As a member of the Reactor Advisory Committee (RAC), I have listened tMhilosophy for the last year. It is his intention E%

to close staff positions at MURR and convert them to faculty positions, a number of i which would end up in his department. During this process, MURR would loose j key personnel riecessary for the safe ration of the reactor. I can clearly say that j the staff a MURR do not trus t all. I have received many phone calls E)t 4 RECEIVED

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! since this appointment on Friday, April 12,1996, from staff at MUR d all have ,

' deep concerns for their 'obs and the safety of MUltR und #-N administration. Whe t the University ofIG;wa

$6 j issouri-Columbia, relations bet en faculty of his E4 department and physicists at MURR rapidly worsened.% and a few other Ey professors in physics have a political agenda and do noTtave thelest interests of

' MURR at heart. I fear in a effort to e out this agenda, safety at the reactor will be compromised. Certaini knowledge of reactors in general would E%(f

! not be of use in an eme I feelilif t safety at MURR will be compromised to some extend with n charge. It appears to me that some investigation of his lack of expenence is re ' red. Since this appears to involve politics, I would Qh appreciate it if my name were not used.

! Very Sincerely, l

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an equal opportunty institution l

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Univerdty of Missouri Columbia

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114 Jene Hall a Cclumbia. Mo 65211

• Telephone (573) AA1 MM

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April 15,1996 ,

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! Seymour H. Weiss, Director i

Non-Power Reactors and Decommissioning Project Directorata U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Mail Stop 0-11-B-20

,i Waslungton, D.C. 20555

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Dear Dr. Weiss:

' I want to thank you and Dr. Adams for your k'ndness and quick response to my ir questions regarding temporary changes 1 am making at the University of Missouri  ;

!j Nuclear Reactor. Essentially, as I describe to you. I am eager to let our Director, Dr.

James Rhyne, devote more energy and attention to our research mission. Recent internal and external reviews have strongly encouraged me to take advantage of the wonderful research opportunities that having our nuclear reactor provide.

To enable e to fo his full attention on research for at least four months,I am askin become the chief operatin5 officer at MURR.

7to b will serve two important purpor,es for us. P ,it will role is temporary but if' ble Dr. Rhyne to devote g

i the ener research mission that he and the faculty desire. Second, it will -

! permi to become more familiar with the day-to-day activities in a h/ h .

complex nuclear reactor center and to be better able to inform our advisory.

j committee about nuances that can only be learned through direct experience.

! I will send you another letter when 1 end this brief experiment.

i Sincerely, j kl 3

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