ML20195K367
| ML20195K367 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Neely Research Reactor, University of Missouri-Columbia |
| Issue date: | 01/29/1988 |
| From: | Shafer W NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III) |
| To: | Brugger R MISSOURI, UNIV. OF, COLUMBIA, MO |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8802040177 | |
| Download: ML20195K367 (1) | |
Text
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JAN 291988 Docket No. 50-186 University of Missouri ATTN: Dr. Robert M. Brugger Director, Research Reactor Facility Research Park Columbia, M0 65201 Gentlemen:
Enclosed is an order to modify Georgia Institute of Technology Operation License No. R-97.
The enclosure is sent for information only; no response is solicited.
Sincerely, "Original signed by W.D. ShaQsv W. D. Shafer, Chief Emergency Preparedness and Radiological Protection Branch
Enclosure:
As stated cc w/ enclosure:
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I License No. R-97 EA 88-32 gpg #l M Georgia Institute of Technology 900 Atlantic Drive, N.W.
Atlanta, Georgia 30332 Gentlemen:
Subject:
ORDER MODIFYING LICENSE, EFFFECTIVE IMt'EDIATELY Enclosed herewith is an Order modifying your license (effective immediately).
The Order requires you to imediately suspend certain activities under the subject NRC license until the requirements of the Order are satisfied.
Ycu are required to respond to the enclosed Order, and in preparing your response, you should follow the instructions specified in the Order.
In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's "Rules of Practice," Part 2 Title 10 Code of Federal Regulations, a copy of this letter and the enclosed Order will be placed in the NRC's Public Document Room.
A response to this letter or the accompanying Order is not subject to the clearance procedures of the Office of Management and Budget, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, PL 96-511.
Sincerely,
%5K a es M. Tay1
, Deputy Executive irector for Regional Operation.
Enclosure:
Order Modifying License (Effective Immediately) cc: Dr. T. E. Stelson, Vice President Resea rch f,-
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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSI(N In the Matter of
)
GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
)
Docket No. 50-160 900 Atlantic Drive, N.W.
)
License No. R-97 Atlanta, GA 30332
)
EA 88-32 ORDER !!0DIFYING LICENSE, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY I
The Georgia irstitute of Technology (Georgia Tech) is the holder of Operating License No. R-97 issued by the Nuclear Regulatory Comission (NRC or Comission) on December 29, 1964, and subsequently arrended.
The license, as amended, authorizes Georgia Tech to operate its rnodified research reactor incated on its campus in Atlanta, Georgia, at power inels up to 5 roegawatts Itherral) for research and developcent activities in accordance with the conditions specified therein.
11 l
The Georgia Tech Research Reactor (GTRR) is utilized to ecnduct irradiation experirnents including the irradiation of topa: and other gem-quality n.inerals.
During the week of August 17, 1987, the improper opening of an irraciated toptz contairer resulted in contariination of the reactor building.
An inspection of the licerste's operational and h61th physics activities, including actions pertaining to this contamination event, was conducted on December 16, 1987, and January 4-5, 1988 during which it was learned of the August contamination event.
The inspection revealed that the experirent conditions and manipulation of the
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2 experiment materials resulted in unexpected elevated radiation levels from the experiment container and also the unmonitored release of Cadmium-ll5 (Cd-115) in the reactor building.
The exposure dose rate at one foot from the experiment material was approximately 3 rem per hour (R/hr) on August 18, 1987 and qualitative reasurements of radioactive contamination indicated levels on masolin wipes of approximately 20 mR/hr on August 19, 1987.
The NRC staff also determined during the inspection that the licensee had not provided adecuate exposure assessments for personnel involved in the August 1987 incident, nor had the licensee conducted adequate verification surveys to demonstrate that thc contaminaticn had ret been spread by personnel to areas cutside of the reactor building.
Inspection findings indicated that the licensee had not conducted its activities in full ecmpliance with NRC requirements. A written Notice of Violation has not been issued at this time; additional inspection activities are being conducted. Nonetheless, the following safety concerns, which could result in urnecessary personnel rediati'en exposures and the potential spread of contamination away from the reactor building as a result of experiment manipulations, have already been identified:
A.
On itay 4, 1987, an enforcement conference was held with the licensee in which the licensee outlined step, to be implemented to improve the management controls over operations and health physics at the GTRR to assure safe operation.
These actions included steps to assure appropriate interaction between health physics and cperations components of the organization. A recent inspection has shown these l
actions have not been fully successful and indicate that management control problems continue.
. B.
The licensee's health physics and operating procedures were inadequate in that they failed to address the precautions and equipment to prevent unnecessary exposure and contamination during handling and manipulation of materials irradiated during experiments at the GTRR.
C.
The licensee failed to follow operat'.ng procedures as required by Technical Specifications as follows:
1.
The August 1987 experirent involved irradiation of topaz gemstones for a total of 41.8 megawatt hours compared to 30 megawatt-hours authorized on the Request for Minor Experiment Approval regarding tnpaz irradiations dated April 3, 1987.
P.
Precedure 3102, Quality Assurance for Experiments, October 28, 1982, requires that the approval for'n for Category 4 experiments, such as the topaz irradiation, address quantitative controls of reactivity, activation, shielding, cooling and materials. Pequest for itinor Experiment Approval, dated April 3, 1987, regarding the topaz irradiation lists the estimated isotopic activities to be "nil."
However, following an initial irradiation in April 1987, activation of the experiment materials, including the container, resulted in radiation levels of approximately 3 R/hr at a distance of one foot from the container.
These elevated exposure levels were not evaluated or included in experiment plans for the August 1987 topaz irradiation.
4 D.
Assessments of internal and external personnel exposures for personnel involved in the August 1987 incident and decontamination event were not adequate in that they did not determine and document intakes of radioactive material, extremity dose or skin dose.
E.
Surveys conducted were inadequate as follows:
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1.
Continuous air samples collected from within the reactor building during the August 1987 incident were not adequate to determine intakes in that they were not representative of concentrations, of radioactive material in the work area.
2.
Subsequent to the August 1987 incident, surveys were inadequate to define the extent and amount of radioactive contamination in the reactor building, on personnel,'and in personal property offsite which could have becn potentially contaminated.
F.
At the time of the inspection the licensee had failed to complete a thorough review of the August 1987 contamination event regarding its cause or causes, nor had any corrective measures been implemented as of January 5, 1988 to prevent recurrence during future experiments.
I G.
Licensee management has indicated that there are other events similar to the August 1987 event that also have not yet been fully evaluated by the licensee. These safety concerns were the subject of discussions
c-
. between Region II and the licensee on January 7, 1988.
Upon the conclusion of these discussions, Region II verbally requested, and the licensee agreed that irradiation experiments would be suspended until further notice.
4 III After consideration of the apparent violations and safety hazards posed by the licensee's conduct of experiment activities, as exhibited during the August 1987 event, and the subsequent lack of aggressive review and corrective actions by the licensee, I have determined that certain actions by the licensee are requ. ired, and an Order modifying the Georgia Institute of Technology license is necessary, to protect the health and safety of the public and licensee's employees.
Therefore, pursuant to 10 CFR 2.204, I find that the public health, safety, and interest require that that this Order be effective imr.ediately.
IV Accordingly, pursuant to Sections 104, 161b, 161c, 1611, 1610, 182 and 186 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 2011 et seg., and 10 CFR 2.204, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, THAT:
A.
The licensee shall cease utilization of the reactor facility for irradiation experiments until the following conditions are met and the NRC approves, in writing, the resumption of irradiation experiments.
l l l l
1.
Pianagement controls over facility operation, including irradiation experiments, are assessed to identify weaknesses.
2.
A formal review is conducted, including record reviews and in-depth personnel interviews, to determine (a) if other occurrences similar to the August 1987 incident have occurred, and (b) the principal rcot causes of the August 1987 incident and any other similar incidents.
l 3.
An assessment of interral exposure, external whole body, extremity, and skin doses to personnel involved in the August -
1987 incident (any cther identified incidents) and/or l
decontamination activities is conducted.
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4 The GTRR health physics and operatin't procedures are reviewed to l
identify inadequacies which contributed to the August 1987 contamination event (and any other identified events).
5.
Corrective actions are identified and a schedule established for implementing the corrective actions, including necessary changes in management controls, operations, and procedures.
6.
A training program addressing all changes to management controls, operations, and procedures is developed and implemented.
b 4
. 7.
The licensee's reviews and assessments of the above matters are documented and a summary of these reviews and assessments, including corrective actions and appropriate schedules, are subnitted in writing to the NRC for review and approval.
B.
Results of the licensee's survey of the house of the individual involved in the August 1987 contamination event shall be provided in writing to the NRC within 10 days of the issuance of this order.
The Regional Administrator, Region II, may in writing relax or rescind any of.
the above conditions upon written request and demonstration of good cause by
- the licensee.
l V
i The licensee or any person other than the licensee adversely affected by this l
l Order may request a hearing en this Order within twenty days of its issuance.
Any recuest for hearing shall be sent to the Director Office of Enforcement.
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Conmission, Washington, DC 20555.
Copies shall also be sent to the Assistant General Counsel for Enforcement at the same address and the Regional Administrator, NRC Region II, 101 Marietta St., NW, Suite 2900, Atlanta, GA 30323.
If a person other than the licensee requests a hearing, that person shall set forth with particularity the tranner in which the petitioner's interest is adversely affected by this Order ar.d shall address the criteria set forth in 10 CFR 2.714(d). A REQUEST FOR HEARING SHALL NOT STAY THE IlWEDIATE EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS ORDER.
8-If a hearing is requested by the licensee or any person who has an interest adversely affected by the Order, the Comission will issue an Order designating the time and place of any such hearing.
If the Licensee fails to request a hearing within 20 days of the date of this Order, the provisions of this Order shall be final without further proceedings.
If a hearing is held, the issue to be considered at such hearing shall be whether this Order should be sustained.
FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
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.N J
s M. Tay1
, Deputy Executive Director" for' Regional Operations Dated at Bethesda, Maryland thisjodayofJanuary1968 l
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Georgia Institute of Technology l
Distribution PDR SECY JTaylor DEDRO JNGrace, RII JLieberman, OE EFlack, OE LChandler, OGC Enforcement Coordinators RI, RII, RIII, RIV. RV BHayes, OI SConnelly, OIA EJordan, AEOD VMiller, NMSS JCunningham, NRR State of Georgia OE File EA File DCS i
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