ML20235F736

Ack Reciept of 870811 Comments on Changes to Reactor Staffing at Rensselaer Polytechnic Inst Critical Experiment Reactor Facility.Conversion Granted

ML20235F736
Person / Time
Site:	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Issue date:	09/22/1987
From:	Murley T Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:	Wicks F AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED
References
NUDOCS 8709290298
Download: ML20235F736 (2)

Text

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Docket No. 50-225 SEP 2 21987

-Dr. Frank E. Wicks 1 Nicholas Avenue Schenectady, New York 12309

SUBJECT:

RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE, CONVERSION ORDER FROM HEU TO LEU FUEL, COMMENTS ON CHANGES IN REACTOR STAFFING We have reviewed your letter dated August 11, 1987, which provided comments on changes to the reactor staffing at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute crit-ical experiment reactor facility.

Your concerns focus primarily on the adequacy of the staff operating the reactor. As part of our review of the conversion, we examined the qualifications of the Facility Director and the Reactor Supervisor in accordance with regulations in effect at the time of inspection,10 CFR l 55.31(e), and found, as documented in NRC Region I Inspection Report No.

50-225/87-01, that they are qualified to operate the reactor with LEU. In addition we determined that RPI's staffing satisfies the requirements of 10 CFR 50.54(1),(k)and(m)(1). With regard to your comments about the eligibility of the Reactor Supervisor to work in the United States, it is our understanding that he is eligible to work as a Reactor Supervisor at RPI.

Since the staffing of the reactor at RPI meets the NRC's requirements, and since yours was the only response to the conversion order, we intend to allow the conversion to proceed. If you have any specific concerns about the actual conversion from HEU to LEU at RPI, please address them to me. However, we cannot consider these concerns to be timely and, therefore, they will not delay the conversion.

Sincerely, Original signed by, 8709290298 870922 Thomas E. Ilurley PDR ADDCK 05000225 P PDR Thomas E. Murley, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation DISTRIBUTION tDocket;F.iler DCrutchfield FSchroeder l NRC PDR FMiraglia PDSNP Reading JSniezek LRubenstein TMurley TMichaels OGC-Beth

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Dr. Frank E. Wicks -

1 Nicholas Avenue Schenectady, New York 12309

Dear Dr. Wicks:

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SUBJECT:

RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE, CONVERSION ORDER FROM HEU TO LEU FUEL, COMMENTS ON CHANGES IN REACTOR STAFFING

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We have reviewed your letter dated August 11, 1987, which provided comments on changes to the reactor staffing at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute crit-ical experiment reactor facility.

Your concerns focus primarily on the adequacy of the staff operating the reactor. As part of our review of the conversion, we examined the -

qualifications of the Facility Director and the Reactor Supervisor in accordance with regulations in effect at the time of inspection,10 CFR {

55.31(e), and found, as documented in NRC Region I Inspection Report No. l 50-2?S/87-01, that they are qualified to operate the reactor with LEU. In j addition we determined that RPI's staffing satisfies the requirements of 10 CFR l 50.54(i),(k)and(m)(1). With regard to your coments about the eligibility  !

of the Reactor Supervisor to work in the United States, it is our understanding ]

that he is eligible to work as a Reactor Supervisor at RPI. J Since the staffing of the reactor at RPI meets the NRC's requirements, and since yours was the only response to the conversion order, we irtend to allow the conversion to proceed. If you have any specific concerns about the actual conversion from HEU to LEU at RPI, please address them to me. However, we cannot consider these concerns to be timely and, therefore, they will not delay the conversion.

Sincerely, ,

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Thoma3 E. Murley, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation i

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