IR 05000097/1997001
| ML20148C208 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 05000157, 05000097 |
| Issue date: | 05/05/1997 |
| From: | NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20148C196 | List: |
| References | |
| 50-097-97-01, 50-157-97-01, 50-157-97-1, 50-97-97-1, NUDOCS 9705150170 | |
| Download: ML20148C208 (10) | |
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U. S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION REClON I Docket No: 50-097
- License No: R-89 t-Report No: 97-01 l :
Licensee: Cornell University
! Facility: Ward Center for Nuclear Sciences l
- Location
- Ithaca, New York l
Dates: April 7-10,1997
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Inspector: Stephen W. Holmes, Radiation Specialist
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l Approved by: John R. White, Chief l Radiation Safety Branch
- Division of Reactor Safety
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9705150170 970505 PDR ADOCK 05000097
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY i
The reactor was being maintained as required by the recent (February 12,1997)
i possession only license. Inspections, surveys, records, and reports were as required by the present possession license and had been maintained as required for the previous 3
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years under the operations license. The administrative responsibility for the reactor had i been transferred from the Dean of the College of Engineering to the Vice President for Research and Advanced Studies. A search committee had been formed to hire a new center director. Radiological protection and EP activities were reviewed in NRC Inspection
. Report No. 50-157/97-01. Combined Violation 50-097/94-01 and 50157/94-02 was
- closed. No violations were issued or safety concerns noted.
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Report Details Summary of Plant Status The reactor is in possession only status. The fuel and control rod assemblies had been removed from the core. The fuel was stored in the non-critical racks on the ZPR deck. All reactor moderator (water) had been transferred to the TRIGA reactor pool, and the start-up source transferred to the TRIGA license and moved to the isotope storage roo I
The majority of the following report appertains to the operations of the ZPR for the time prior to its change to possession only status. Included was verification that the provisions l of the present license had been implemente . Operations 01 Conduct of Operations 0 Reactor Staffina Insoection Scoce (Inspection Procedure 40750)
The inspector interviewed the reactor supervisor, reviewed senior reactor licenses and operation logs, and observed reactor status during tour Observations and Findinas The staff consisted of the Reactor Supervisor (RS) and one other staff SRO. The RS and other SRO satisfied the training and experience required by the Technical Specifications (TS). The RS and staff SRO had filled the position of the Responsible Person on Duty during reactor operations as required. Shift staffing had met the minimum requirements of duty and on-call personnel during operation Conclusions Reactor operations staffing had satisfied TS requirement .2 Control and Performance of Experiments Insoection Scoce (Insoection Procedure 40750)
The inspector reviewed approved experiment records, Ward Center Safety Committee (WCSC) minutes, reviewed experimental data in the reactor log, and interviewed the R .-- _ _ . _ . _ _ _ __. _ ___ _ _ _ _ . - _ . _ . _ . . _ - _ _ _ . _ -- _ _ _
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j . Although no new experiments had been requested or approved since the last full
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j been performed by the center director as required by.TS and experiments that had
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safety consideration had been referred to the WCSC and reviewed as required by
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l Review of the experiment data in the reactor log indicated that experiments had i been constrained as required by the TS and experiment authorization, installed, i performed, and removed as outlined in the experiment authorization and licensee's
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procedures.
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l Only approved experiments had been performed.
l Conclusions
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License control and performance of experiments had satisfied TS and regulatory
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01.3 Reactor Operations and Fuel Handlina j l Insoection Scope (Inspection Procedure 40750)
i The inspector reviewed reactor logs and reactor check-out, start-up, operations, shutdown check-lists, and interviewed the R Observations and Findinas i
Reactor operations had been performed in accordance with written procedures and !
TS. Checklists were used extensively. Information on operational status had been '
recorded in log books and checklists as required by procedures and T I implementation of and adherence to the procedures was goo Data recorded for fuel movement was clear, concise and relevant. Fuel movement,
' inspection, log keeping and recording followed the facility's procedure The fuel and control rod assemblies had been removed from the core and the start-up source transferred to the TRIGA license, and moved to the isotope storage room as required by the possession license. The fuel was stored in the non-critical racks I on the ZPR deck. All reactor moderator (water) had been transferred to the TRIGA reactor poo !
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Reactor operations had conformed to TS and licensee procedural requirements. Fuel handling, record maintenance and documentation had been accomplished as l required by TS and licensee procedures.
j Requirements of the possession license had been mee Operational Status of Facilities and Equipment
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a. Inspection Scoce (Inspection Procedure 40750)
The inspector reviewed reactor check-out, start-up, operations and shutdown logs
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and check-lists, interviewed the RS and observed the facility and equipment during l an unaccompanied tour.
b. Observations and Findinas l
J Housekeeping was good, with little extraneous clutter. The pool top floor was clear. All required equipment and facilities observed by the inspector were i
operationa c. Conclusions
- Reactor and support facilities were adequate for safe possession of the fuel.
l 03 Operations Procedures and Documentation a. Insoection Scooe (Insoection Procedure 40750)
The inspector reviewed operating procedures and updates, reactor operating records, check-out, start-up, power run, and shutdown logs and check-lists, and the safety committee minute b. Observations and Findinos Written procedures required for operations by the TS had been available and used by the staff. Procerk,e changes had been reviewed and approved by the WCSC as required by T Records of power level, operating periods, unusual events, calibration and maintenance procedures, installed experiments, and start-up and shut-down checks had been kep Procedures for possession only were available and being used, and required records were being kep . -. _ _ .- __ ._ _ _ _ ._ _ . . _
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c. Conclusions Present and past facility procedures satisfied TS requirements. Reactor operating records and logs were, and hac' been, maintained as required by TS.
J 05 Operator Training and Qualification Program a. Insoection Scope (Inspection Procedure 40750) i The inspector reviewed requalification program records, NRC licenses, training l records and interviewed the R i b. Observations and Findinas l All previous licensed SROs had successfully completed the emergency procedure )
and abnormal events training, reactivity manipulations, and participated in the :
training as required by the NRC-approved requalification plan. Review of records indicated that operator performance and competence evaluation had been performed as required. Past test quentions covered the material prescribed by the program and demonstreted technical depth. Required quarterly operation hours, es SRO, had been recorde c. Conclusions The requalification prograrn had been implemented adequately to ensure appropriate training of the licensed SROs. TS and NRC-approved requalification plan requirements had been me Organization and Administmtion a. Insoection Scoce (Insoection Procedure 40755)
The inspector reviewed organization and staffing and administrative controls and interviewed various management and support staff, b. Observations and Findinas Since the last inspection, the administrative responsibility for the reactor had been transferred from the Dean of the College of Engineering to the Vice President for Research and Advanced Studies. The facility was renamed The Ward Center for Nuclear Sciences. Operational use of the facility and the basic safety functions and responsibilities of the Ward Director, Ward Safety Committee, and the URSO and staff had been unchanged. A request for amendment of the TS, delineating this change and other minor administrative and functional changes, had been submitted to ths NR . - . - . . - . - - - - ---. .. - .- . .- - - . . . .
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Due to a phased-retirement, the center director had stepped down. The RS, who l - has previously served as the acting director, was appointed by the WCSC to j . function as such until the search committee locates and hires a new director.
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j Conclusions I
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! Organizational and administrative controls remain consistent with license l
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ref . Vements and licensee commitments.
t 07 Quality Assurance in Operations
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- Insoection Scoce (Insoection Procedure 40750)
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, 'The inspector reviewed WCSC minutes and annual reviews and interviewed the
, acting director, i Observations and Findinas i The meeting schedule and membership satisfied TS requirements and the
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committee's procedural rules. Review of the minutes indicated the committee had j been active in providing appropriate guidance, direction and oversight to ensured
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suitable use of the reactor. The minutes were clear, and sufficiently detailed for a record of the safety oversight of reactor operations.
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' Conclusions l The Ward Center Safety Committee performed its duties as required by license, TS, and administrative criteri Ill. Maintenance
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M1 Conduct of Maintenance !
l M1.1 Limitina Conditions for Ooeration and Surveillance inspection Scoce (Inspection Procedure 40750 The inspector reviewed selected surveillance records, data sheets and tests, licensee procedures, reactor logs, check-lists, periodic reports, and interviewed the R Observations and Findinas Daily and other periodic checks, tests, and verifications had been performed to insure TS-required limiting conditions for operation (LCO) were validated and that surveillances had been completed as required. All surveillance and LCO verifications had been completed on schedule as required by TS and in accordance with licensee procedures. All were within TS and procedure parameter _
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l The licensee's program for surveillance and LCO confirmations satisfied TS
- requirement i M2 Maintenance and Material Condition of Facilities and Equipment
+ Insoection Scope (Insoection Procedure 40750)
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l The inspector reviewed maintenance and reactor logs, WCSC records, repair records, and observed facility and equipment during an unaccompanied tou h Observations and Findinas l Reactor maintenance records were recorded in the reactor logbook. Maintenance
had been performed and documented consistent with the TS and licensee procedure l
Control room equipment required by the present license was operational. No missing or malfunctioning equipment was noted. The interior reactor structure appeared sound. No OHSA violations had been observe Conclusions i
I Maintenance logs, records, performance, and reviews satisfied TS and procedure i requirements. Facility condition was well maintained for its intended function and :
use under the present licens j l
IV. Plant Suonort ;
i RP and EP activities had been covered in NRC Inspection Report No. 50-157/97-01. No !
violations were issued or safety concerns note S1 Conduct of Security and Safeguards Activities, Closeout of combined Violation 50- i 097/94-01-01 & 50-157/94-02-01 Insoection Scope (Insoection Procedure 40750) l The inspector reviewed the NRC-approved Security Plan and observed facility and equipment during an unaccompanied tou !
The inspector interviewed University security personnel and reviewed their records I concerning the reactor security plan and respons ,
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b. Observations and Findinos t
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The Ward Center security plan had been revised and implemented as committed to by the licensee in their letter, dated December 21,1995, which responded to
- combined Violation 50-097/94-01 and 50-157/94-02.
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Changes to physical security equipment, identified in the plan revision, had been
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i c. Conclusions
, Corrective actions, as described in licensee letter dated December 21,1995, had
- been complete and satisfactory. Combined Violation 50-097/94-01 and i
- 50-157/94-02 is close V. Mannaement Meetinas X1 Exit Meeting Summary (Inspection Procedure 30703)
The inspector presented the inspection results to members of licensee management at the
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conclusion of the inspection on April 10,1997. The licensee acknowledged the inspection findings.
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PARTIAL LIST OF PERSONS CONTACTED Licensee H. Aderhold, Acting Director, Ward Center for Nuclear Sciences S. Lassell, Reactor Radiation Safety Officer / Senior Reactor Operator T. McGiff, University Radiation Safety Officer INSPECTION PROCEDURES USED '
IP 40750: Class 11 Non-Power Reactors ITEMS OPENED, CLOSED, AND DISCUSSED Opened None
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2 Closed i 50-097/94-01-01 & VIO Failure to follow Section 1.3.4(b)(2) of NRC approved 50-157/94-02-01 Physical Security Pla '
1 LIST OF ACRONYMS USED j LCO Limiting Conditions for Operation a
NRC_ Nuclear Regulatory Commission OHSA Occupational Health and Safety Administration RS Reactor Supervisor SRO Senior Reactor Operator
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TS Technical Specifications
] URSO University Radiation Safety Officer :
i WCSC Ward Laboratory Safety Committee l ZPR Zero Power Reactor
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