ML20206H199

Discusses 880819 & 1102 Ltrs Ref NRC Requirements Imposed by 880120 Order Modifying License & 880317 Confirmatory Order Modifying License.Orders Re Utilization of Facility for Irradiation Experiments & Operation of Research Reactor

ML20206H199
Person / Time
Site:	Neely Research Reactor
Issue date:	11/15/1988
From:	Ernst M NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION II)
To:	Crecine J Neely Research Reactor, ATLANTA, GA
References
NUDOCS 8811230116
Download: ML20206H199 (2)

Text

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'o NOV 15 W Docket No. 50-160 License No. R-97 The Georgia 1sti'ute of Technology ATTN: Dr. J. P. .recine, President 225 North Avenue Atlanta, GA 30332 Gentlemen:

$UBJECT: AUTHORIZATION TO RESUME REACTOR OPERATIONS AND EXPEA!MENTS This refers to your letters of August 19 and November 2,1968, to this office which were in reference to NRC requirements imposed by Order Modifying License dated January 20, 1988 and Confirmatory Order Modifying License dated March 17, 1988. These Orders relate to the utilization of the facility for irradiation experiments and the operation of the Georgia Tech Research Reactor (GTRR),

respectively. The past management and program deficiencies have been addressed '

in the Notice of Violation and Proposed Imposition of Civil Penalty issued on November 15, 1988. L During the periods August 29 - September 9, 1938, tri November 7-10, 1988, we '

inspected not only the specific requirements of the Orders but also other actions you have taken to enhance management controls at the GTRR. We Delieve that the training of reactor operators and health physics personnel as well as augmentation of the staff in these areas appear satisfactory for the restart of the facility. The procedure enhancement in both these functional areas appears adequate to control the conduct of experiments and routine radiological controls of routine operations. More importantly, the regJlatory sensitivity training of the entire GTRR staff should lead to improved adherence to proce-dures and an expected improvement in the safety performance of the GTRR.

Our observation of the conduct of the Nuclear Safeguards Comittee (NSC) i indicated sufficient depth and breadth of reviews to assure adequate third party oversight. Interviews with NSC rembers confirmed their awareness of the '

additional functic,7al responsibilities detailed in Amendment No. 7 to the Technical Specification which was issued by the NRC on July 12, 1988. In  ;

addition, the organizational change associated with the Chairman, NSC, l reporting directly to the President should improve management involvement in facility operation.

We believe that monitoring of operations and management controls of the

• facility will be enhanced by the recent appointments of the Vice President ior ,

Interdisciplinary Programs (Acting Vice President for Research) with direct responsibility over the GTRR and a new Manager of the OfW of Radiation Safety, and the augmentation of the Office of the Director with an Associate Director early in 1988. ,

In view of the above we have determined that the actions taken by Georgia Tech are sufficient to permit restart of the reactor and the resumption of irradia- ,

tion experiments. The details of our inspection findings will be documented in  ;

r Inspection Report 50-160/88-02, 14 6811230116 001115

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NOV Is 1m The Georgia Institute of Technology 2 in accordance with the provisiens containea in the Orders referenced above, this office concurs in the restart of the GTRR and the resumption of irradia-tion experiments to be performed in accordance with all regulatory requirements and your approved procedures. We will monitor your performance by increased inspections to assure that the new level of performance meets our expectations.

Sincerely, Malcolm L. Ernst Acting bgional Administrator cc: Dr. A. P. Sheppard, Acting Vice President for Research Dr. R. A. Karam. Director Neely Nuclear Research Center State of Georgia bec: CRS, Technical Assistant A. Adans, NRR Project Manager J. Liebarman, Director OE -

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