ML20244B634

Responds to NRC Re Rationale for Suspending Reactor Experimental Operations.Operators Reviewed Procedures & Identified Areas for Change & Recommended Improvements

ML20244B634
Person / Time
Site:	Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute
Issue date:	02/14/1989
From:	Irving G DEFENSE, DEPT. OF, DEFENSE NUCLEAR AGENCY
To:	NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
References
NUDOCS 8904190306
Download: ML20244B634 (2)

Text

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. 7 DEFENSE NUCLEAR AGENCY: l

' ARMED FORCES RADIOBIOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE  !

BETHESDA, MARYLAND 20814

, 14 IF ebruary 1989 ,

Loffice'of.the' Director DOCKET:No. 50-170 j Regional Administrator, Region:I "US NuclearfRegulatory Commission j 475 Allendale Road l King of Prussia, PA 19406  ;

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Dear Sir:

This lettermis in responseuto USNRC letter from Mr. William F.

- Krt n e , dated 25. January 1989, subject: AFRRI~ REACTOR SHUTDOWN.

=Provided'below is our rationale for why it is safe to operate.

i.he'AFRRl' facility reactor, con'sidering our reasons for choosing.

f co suspend reactor' experimental. operations, q We had,'two major reasons for placing the reactor in a non- l operational.. status'(shutdown). The first reason related to  !

instances"of operator non-compliance with operational Your-NRC inspectors, in Inspection Report

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(procedures.

50-170/88-04,. indicated thatioperator compliance with procedures

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, might needfimprovement. We took the following actions to -

correct problems'in this. area.

a.s .Our; operators. devoted approximately 20 hours2.314815e-4 days <br />0.00556 hours <br />3.306878e-5 weeks <br />7.61e-6 months <br /> each on a  !

L ' review of procedures. In this review they identified-i areas for change and recommended improvements.

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'b./Feact$r opera ~ tors, reactor staff.and safety staff  ;

revieued existing procedures and discussed recommended improvements. We developed a clearer set of procedures in

-order to eliminate misinterpretation.or development of alternate operating standards.

ic. Senior reactor operators attended three hours of i additional training to specifically clarify the new  !

procedures and insure a uniform understanding. During this training we emphasized strict adherence to the rules.

The'second reason for the reactor shutdown concerned stress in j the working environment due to friction in personnel relations.

Reactor personnel attended an off-site team-building session coordinated and facilitated by an industrial psychologist. The psychologist believes that the process has reduced the stress in

,the.workplace, and our personnel appear optimistic and ,

enthusiastic about the program. The industrial psychologist i

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will continue to work with us throughout this year, to further strengthen mutual trust and respect. While these actions were underway, Ms. Munno, who you referenced in your letter, accepted employment elsewhere and is no longer associated with the AFRR1 reactor.

Independently, these two issues would be insufficient to suspend normal operations. We chose to shutdown reactor operations to gain time for corrective actions with the full attention of staff and operators and without the distraction of correcting observed problema during routine operations. We believe the above corrective actions have produced significant progress in resolving interpersonnel stress and staff compliance with procedures so that we may now safely resume reactor operations.

We would welcome your visit to our facility to review and discuss these actions. Please coordinate with Mr. Mark L.

Moore, AFRRI Reactor Facility Director, (301) 295-1290, for a mutually convenient time.

It is currently our intent to resume reactor operations on or about March 1, 1989. We look forward to working with you as we continue to seek improvement in operational safety and efficiency through internal and external reviews, expansion of training programs, modification of existing procedures and the institution of new procedures as necessary.

Sincerely,

,/ .

D GEORGE 4 IRVING, II~

Colon.1 USAF, BSC Dire r Copy Furnished:

Mr. Jim Linville, USNRC Region I Mr. Edward C. Wenzinger, USNRC

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