ML20149F513

Forwards Insp Rept 50-160/87-08 on 871216,880104-05 & 14-22. Violations Noted.Enforcement Conference Scheduled for 880223 to Address Issues Re Program Evaluation Need,Inadequate Mgt & Slow Improvement Rate Since 870504 Enforcement Conferenc

ML20149F513
Person / Time
Site:	Neely Research Reactor
Issue date:	02/10/1988
From:	Grace J NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION II)
To:	Stelson T Neely Research Reactor, ATLANTA, GA
Shared Package
ML20149F517	List: ML20149F513 ML20149F548
References
NUDOCS 8802170210
Download: ML20149F513 (2)

See also: IR 05000160/1987008

Text

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FEB 101998  ;

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Docket No. 50-160

License No. R-97

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G i Institute of Technology

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TN: aDr. T. E. Stelson, Vice President

for Research'

900 Atlantic Drive, N.W.

Atlanta, GA 30332

Gentlemen:  ;

SUBJECT: NRC INSPECTION REPORT NO. 50-160/87-08

This refers to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) team inspection

conducted by P. E. Fredrickson on December 16, 1987 January 4-5, 1988, and  ;

January 14-22, 1988. The inspection included a review of activities authorized i

for your Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) Research Reactor

facility, specifically focusing on the procedures and management controls

involved in an irradiation experiment conducted in August 1987, which resulted l

in potential personal and area contamination. At the conclusion of the

inspection, the findings were discussed with you and those members of your

staff identified in the enclosed Inspection Report.

Areas examined during the inspection are identified in the report. Within '

these areas, the inspection consisted of selective examinations of procedures

and representative records, interviews with personnel, and observation of

activities in progress.

The inspection findings indicate that certain activities appeared to violate ,

NRC requirements. The violations described in the enclosed report are under  ;

consideration for escalated enforcement action. Accordingly, no Notice of L

Violation is being issued at this time, and no response to this letter is .

required. However, please be advised that the number and characterization of f

violations described in the enclosed Inspection Report may change as a result

of further NRC review. An Enforcement Conference to discuss these violations  :

has been scheduled for February 23, 1988. You will be advised by separate f

correspondence of the results of our deliberations. L

The violations discussed in the enclosed inspection report raise concerns with

lack of adequi.te management over the operation of the Georgia Tech research l

reactor. Our inspection efforts during the past year have focused on the need i

for you to evaluate your facility, not necessarily with respect to only meeting i

regulatory requirements, but to the management controls necessary to i

consistently operate a safe facility. Although we understand that you are  ;

attempting to make progress to improve your facility operation since the  ;

Enforcement Conference conducted on May 4, 1987, we have not observed a '

significant improvement in your performance. The issuance of the NRC Order

on January 20, 1988, restricting your irradiation experiments was a direct i

result of our concern over your past performance, your unsatisfactory slow rate i

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of improvement, and, mest important, the lack of management needed 'to

assure that continued irradiation experiments would not result in more l

significant safety problems. At the February 23, 1988 Enforcement Conference,

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you should address these fundamental issues, including a comprehensive

evaluation of your program, rather than focus only on specific violations or a

single activity or organizational component. '

In accordance with Section 2.790 of the hRC's "Rules of Practice," Part 2

Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations, a copy of this letter and its enclosure

will be placed in the NRO Public Document Room.

Should you have any questions concerning this letter, please contact us.

Sincerely.

ORIGINAL SIGNED By

OT

M. L ERNST

J. Nelson Grace

Regional Administrator

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Enclosure:

Inspection Report

cp w/ encl:

Mr. Ratib A. Karam, Director

Neely Nuclear Research Center

Qy. J. S. Tulenko, University

of Florida

g. Paul J. Turinsky, North

Jarolina State University ,

Wr. R. U. Mulder, University i

of Virginia l

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O cense Fee Management Branch  !

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DRS Technical Assistant

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Document Control Desk i

State of Georgia

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