ML20198A383

Discusses Concerns with Umrr Re Degradation of Beam Port Floor Surface Area & Loose Particles or Dust from Concrete Shielding That May Become Lodged in Equipment.Determined That Safety Significance of Concerns to Be Neglible

ML20198A383
Person / Time
Site:	University of Missouri-Columbia
Issue date:	12/10/1998
From:	Weiss S NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned)
To:	Werner S MISSOURI, UNIV. OF, COLUMBIA, MO
References
NUDOCS 9812160252
Download: ML20198A383 (5)

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WASHINGTON, D.C. 20666-0001 December 10, 1998 Dr. Samuel A. Werner 223 Physics Building University of Missouri / Columbia Columbia, Missouri 65211

SUBJECT:

DISCUSSION WITH NRC INSPECTOR On November 19,1998, an NRC inspector discussed two concerns with you. You stated that these concerns were raised earlier with University of Missouri Research Reactor (MURR) management but you were not satisfied with MURR management response.

You said you were concerned that (1) the beam port floor surface area had become degraded such that potential contamination from a spill of radioactive pool water would be difficult to clean up and (2) loose particles or dust from concrete shielding that may occasionally get lodged in your equipment could become activated in the neutron flux from the beam port and when released pose a " hot particle

• concern. You had proposed to the MURR management team that vinyl floor tile be installed and that the concrete blocks be replaced with a single steel clad concrete shield.

According to the MURR management, control of MURR resources has been delegated to Associate Directors, one of whom is responsible for research and development. All work requested of MURR for research support has to be authorized through that manager. Work requests related to health physics would be authorized through the Associate Director, Infrastructure. MURR management stated that they had communicated with you and your management regarding these two issues over several months in 1998. They said that they concluded that the probability of a pool water spill on the beam floor and " hot particles" becoming a radiation safety problem was so small that they were not inclined to support either of your requested changes in the past or currently due to budget constraints.

The inspector toured the beam port floor area with you and reviewed the concerns with both you and MURR management. The floor had been covered with tile originally but was removed several years ago due to construction and damcge caused by the fuel cask. Paint had been applied but came off readily. The bare concrete had been covered with wax to seal the pores.

The concrete blocks sit above a large rotating drum on the equipment. When the fuel cask has

. been moved into containment the equipment and shield blocks had to be moved temporarily.

I No significant accumulations of paint chips, dust, or particles were observed.

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Several records of correspondence dating back to May 1998 were also reviewed by the inspector. The issue of safety was raised in the first two weeks of November 1998. You

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referred to the floor tiles as a housekeeping concern in a May 31,1998, message to the MURR 3p Director.

The inspector concluded that no violations of regulations or license requirements were identified and that you had been frustrated with both the low priority your initiatives have been assigned by the new MURR organization and the authority that has been delegated to Associate 9812160252 981210 PDR ADOCK 05000186 G

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The inspector concluded that no violations of regulations or license requirements were identified and tnat you had been frustrated with both the low priority your initiatives have been assigned by the new MURR organization and the authority that has been delegated to Associate Directors which preclude you from pursuing your initiatives directly with lower levels of the MURR staff, The safety significance of the concerns appears to be negligible.

If you have any questions regarding this response to your concems please contact Thomas Burdick at (630) 829-9864.

Sincerely, N. 0.1a4

/eymourH Weiss Director I

S Non Power Reactors and Decommissioning Project Directorate Division of Reactor Program Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-186 cc: See next page l.

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Directors which preclude you from pursuing your initiatives directly with lower levels of the l

MURR staff. The safety significance of the concerns appears to be negligible.

If you have any questions regarding this response to your concerns please contact Thomas Burdick at (630) 829-9864.

l Sincerely.

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Seymour H. Weiss, Director l

Non-Power Reactors and Decommissioning l

Project Directorate i

Division of Reactor Program Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-186 cc: See next page DISTRIBUTION:

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Directors which preclude you from pursuing your initiatives directly with lower levels of the MURR staff. The safety significance of the concerns appears to be negligible.

If you have any questions regarding this response to your concerns please contact Thomas Burdick at (630) 829-9864.

Sincerely, MM BY:

Seymour H. Weiss, Director Non-Power Reactors and Decommissioning Project Directorate Division of Reactor Program Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation i

Docket No. 50-186 cc: See next page l

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