ML20215E251
| ML20215E251 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Berkeley Research Reactor |
| Issue date: | 11/05/1976 |
| From: | Lim T CALIFORNIA, UNIV. OF, BERKELEY, CA |
| To: | Engelken R NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION V) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20215E220 | List:
|
| References | |
| FOIA-86-811 IEC-76-03, IEC-76-3, NUDOCS 8612190024 | |
| Download: ML20215E251 (5) | |
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UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY BERKELEY
- DAVIS
- IRVDE
- LOS ANGELES
- RIVERSIDE
- SAN DIEGO
- SAN 71MNC15CO SANTA BARBARA
- SANTA CRUZ COLLECE OF ENCINEERING BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA 94720 DEPARTMENT OF NUCLEAR ENCINEERINC November 5, 1976 Docket No. 50-224 Mr. R. H. Engelken, Director U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, V Suite 202, Walnut Creek-Plaza 1990' North California Boulevard Walnut Creek, California 94596
Dear Mr. Engelken:
In response to your request dated September 13, 1976, Circular No. 76-03 we provide you with the following information:
(The numbers in this letter refer to the numbers in Circular No. 76-03) 1.
A.
No permanent high radiation areas exist in the Berkeley Research Reactor TRIGA Mark III facility.
B.
Potential transient or temporary high radiation areas in the BRR facility are:
a) the reactor exposure room b) the reactor beamports c) the reactor thermal column d) rabbit terminals, both GA and flexo rabbit e) reactor pool, below reactor bridge 60 f) locations where the Co calibration source, currently about 0.2 Ci, is in use g) locations where the 10 Ci PuBe source is in use h) locations where irradiated material is handled after appreciable production and short cooling i) locations where the Van de Graaff generator and Picker x-ray unit are in operation.
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r Circular No. 76-63 November 5, 1976 2.
A.
Control of Access to potential transient high radiation areas:
a)
Reactor Exposure Room i)
The exposure room is considered a high radiation area during or immediately after reactor operations in core-position 1 and 2.
ii)
The exposure room door is always locked, except during loading and unloading of experiments or maintenance.
iii)
Interlocks will prevent all entry to exposure room during reactor operations in core-position 1, 2, 3 and 4.
iv)
Interlocks will prevent all entry to exposure room during non-reactor operations in core-position 1, 2 and 3.
v)
Pre-entry radiation survey is required; all conditions and readings are recorded in exposure room entry-sheet and operational log-book.
vi)
A minimum cooling time is always required before re-entry to the exposure room after reactor operation.
vii)
Area radiation monitor is provided at all times.
viii)
Only trained personnel is allowed to enter.
ix)
Potential high radiation area sign is posted on the Exposure room door.
j b)
Beamports i)
The beamports are considered high radiation areas during or immediately after reactor operations in core position 5 and 6.
ii)
All beamports which are in use are loaded with I
standard beamport shielding.
A sign stating I
who is eligible to remove beamport cover and shielding is posted on every beamport cover.
iii)
Interlocks will prevent moving the core to core-position 4, 5 and 6 before physical inspection is performed of all beamport shielding.
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t Circular No. 76-63 November 5, 1976 iv)
Most beamport experiments require a shield area surrounding the beamport; an additional external scram connected to the reactor is sometimes required upon entry to beamport restricted area.
All safety requirements, including radiation survey and posting of signs, will be stated in the experiment approval after review by the Reactor Health Physic 5.st or the Reactor Hazards Committee.
v)
Area monitors are provided at all tir:.es during any beamport experiment.
c.
Thermal Column i)
The thermal column is considered a h.'gh radiation area during or immediately after reactor operations in core-position 5 and 6.
ii)
Interlocks will prevent moving the core to core-position 4, 5 and 6 before physical inspection is performed of the thermal column door.
iii)
Audible area monitor is provided at all times during reactor operations in position 6.
iv)
For reactor operations in core position 5 and 6 with the thermal column door open, all safety conditions including radiation survey and posting of sign will be stated in the experiment approval after review either by the Reactor Health Physicist or the Reactor Hazards. Committee.
d.
Rabbit Terminals For all rabbit experiments all safety requirements, including shielding, radiation monitoring, handling procedures and cooling time as well as maximum allowable induced activity, will be stated in the experiment approval after review by the Reactor Health Physicist or the Reactor Hazards Committee.
e.
Reactor Pool, below the' bridge i)
This area is considered a high radiation area during any reactor operation larger than 100 kw steady-state.
l ii)
During reactor operations, prior approval ~by the reactor operator is required to enter the reactor top level area.
iii)
An interlock will automatically scram the reactor when the reactor bridge is opened.,
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Circular No. 76-63 November 5, 1976 f)
Locations where the 60Co calibrations source, currently about 0.2 Ci, is in use, i)
Source produces high radiation area in proximity when unshielded, i.e., when out of its storage cask or with cask top removed.
11)
Source cask is locked when not in use Keys are controlled to insure source use on.ly by trained, knowledgeable persons.
3 iii)
Rope-and-sign barriers are erected at the radiation area boundaries whenever the source f
is to be " exposed" for more than a few minutes.
Source is constantly attended when " exposed" for shorter times, and may be attended at other
- times, g)
Locations where the 10 Ci PuBe source is in use l
i)
Procedures are the same as for the Co source.
j' h)
Locations where irradiated material is handled after appreciable production and short cooling i)
Procedures are the same as for the rabbit terminals.
1)
Locations where the Van de Graaff generator and Picker x-ray unit are in operation i)
Operation of the Van de Graaff generator and the Picker x-ray unit is permitted only in a shielded enclosure which has been checked by the Health Physicist.
Enclosure door is interlocked to turn off machina power if door is opened while machine is in operation.
Warning light is located near cubicle door to. indicate when the machine is operating.
Door and cubicle wals are posted.
3.
Precent procedures and programs adequately insure that all per-sonnel are quite aware of potential for temporary high radiation levels and know how to deternine status at any time; procedures insure that all persons know what is necessary to obtain access to any such location.
4.
Required surveys, core movement and other interlocks, and admin-istrative controls provide adequate assurance that radiation con-ditions will be known and remain unchanged for each entry (except for radio-decay).
Circular No. 76-63 November 5, 1976
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5.
Audits are performed periodically by members of the Berkeley Research Reactor's Reactor Hazards Committee.
Very truly yours, T. Lim Reactor Supervisor cc:
Dean Ernest Kuh, College of Engineering L. L. Schmelzer, Environmental Health & Safety Prof. J.
Rasmussen, Chairman, Reactor Hazards Committee Professor T. Pigford, Reactor Administrator l
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