ML20210C276

Informs That Reactor Safeguards Committee Held Meeting to Evaluate Operation Under Plan,To Rept on Progress to Hire Permanent Replacement for Brendan & to Consider Whether Adjustments in Plan Were Appropriate

ML20210C276
Person / Time
Site:	Kansas State University
Issue date:	07/14/1999
From:	Jacqueline Thompson KANSAS STATE UNIV., MANHATTAN, KS
To:	Michaels T NRC
References
NUDOCS 9907260017
Download: ML20210C276 (2)

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4 KSTATE Kansas State University Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering 302 Rothbone Hall Manhatton, KS 66506-5205 TO: Memorandum of Record, 783 3n 55i0 Reactor Safeguards Committee, and far 7855 n 7057 ,

Mr. Theodore Michaels l FROM: J. Garth Thompson, Head and g jpg Chair, Reactor Safeguards Committee RE: Interim Operation Plan for the K-State l TRIGA Mark II Nuclear Reactor - Addendum DATE: July 14,1999 At the completion of two weeks operation of the reactor facility under the interim operational plan I convened a meeting of the Reactor Safeguards Committee to evaluate operation under the plan, to report on progress to hire a permanent replacement for Brendan, and to consider whether any adjustments in the plan were appropriate.

The three SRO's were present and they reported on operations for the two-week period. The committee found that the plan is functioning satisfactorily, the SRO's have done a good job of dividing the work load, have exercise? good judgement and care in operating the facility, and have demonstrated their te<'xacal skill and professional training in performing the responsibilities assigned to them. To date, operations have been routine and the work load modest.

I reported that we have successfully hired Dr. David Freeman to a faculty position in the Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Department. He is presently the manager (director) of the research reactor facility at the University of Missouri at Rolla where he recently completed his Ph.D. degree. He will be under contract with us as of August 8, 1999, but will not join us full time until December. He is presently leading the reactor relicensing effort at Rolla.

i We have three candidates for Brendan's position. We will not close the search for several weeks to allow time for additional applications. It may be some time before we complete the hiring process and are able to have a new person on site.

With the start of the new semester coming soon and the prospect of a higher operational load and potential new projects, the committee asked ifit might be possible to retain Brendan in a consulting roll until we are able to fill his position. The idea being that ~

if he could spend a day with us every two weeks, or so, he could review operations and i record keeping and help plan up coming operations. He could also be consulted if there  !-

are new or different research projects. I have talked to Brendan, and since employment is reasonably close to us he is willing to participate with us to the extent his new employment will permit. He has been and remains willing to help out on an informal basis. At the recommendation of the committee, I will place Brendan on a formal l

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consulting arrangement until his replacement is settled in place and amend the operation l plan accordingly.

The SRO's reported that they would like to change the order of their serving as  !

Reactor Supervisor. Ms. Sharp is serving in July, Mr. Tinkler will serve in August, and Mr. i Etzel will serve in September.

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D . J. Garth Thompson, Head D artment of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering 30 Rathbone Hall s State University dar hattan, KS 66506-5205 Phone 785-532-5610 Fax 785-532-7057 Email ietRksu.edo Cc: Dean Terry S. King l

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