ML20245J259
| ML20245J259 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | National Bureau of Standards Reactor |
| Issue date: | 04/26/1989 |
| From: | Ronald Bellamy NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| To: | Rozier Carter NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS & TECHNOLOGY (FORMERL |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8905040066 | |
| Download: ML20245J259 (2) | |
See also: IR 05000184/1989001
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APR 2 61989
Docket No: 50-184
U. S. Department of Commerce
National Bureau of Standards
ATTN: Dr. R. S. Carter, Chief
Reactor Radiation Division
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20849
Gentlemen:
Subject:
Inspection No. 50-184/89-01
This refers to your letter dated February 14, 1989, in response. to our letter
dated February 2,1989.
Thank you for informing us of the corrective and preventive actions documented
in your letter.
These actions will be examined during a future inspection of
your licensed program.
Your cooperation with us is appreciated.
Sincerely,
Original Signed By:
Walter J. Pasciak
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honald R. Bellamy, Chief
Facilities Radiological Safety
and Safeguards Branch
Division of Radiation Safety
and Safeguards
cc w/ encl:
J. Torrence, Deputy Chief, Reactor Operations
T. Raby, Reactor S ;pervisor
Public Document Room (PDR)
local Public Document Room (LPDR)
Nuclear Safety Information Center (NSIC)
State of Maryland (2)
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February 14, 1989
Mr. Ronald R. Bellamy
Chief, Facilities Radiological Safety
and Safeguards
Division of Radiation Safety and Safeguards
U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Region I
475 Allendale Road
King of Prussia, PA 19406
Dear Mr. Bellamy:
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Subject: Inspection Report No. 50-184/89-01
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Docket No. 50-184
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This is in response to the above subject inspection; report dated February 2,
1989. and the notice of apparent violation contair.,ed therein. NIST policy
has always been to inform the NRC of anything considered significant regard-
less of whether it is reportable or not.
This policy will continue.
The heat exchanger leak discovered on August 28, 198f was so small .that it
represented a hole size of less than 0.1 inches in diameter.
Cont,idering
that the surface area of the tubes in the heat exchanger alone is thousands
of square feet,
this size leak cannot be consi.dered to be a major
degradation of a barrier. This is consistent with the guidelines of The
American National' Standard ANSI /ANS15.1
"The Development of Technical
Specifications for Research Reactors".
Section 6.6.2 (v) of the Standard
clearly would not consider this type of leak as reportable degradation of a
barrier. NIST never intends to operate with a leak of any kind so long as it
can be identified and repaired.
With respect to the procedure followed in reporting to the NRC,
the Region
was promptly informed of the leak as soon as it was found.
It was indicated
then that follow-up calls would be made and that once the problem was
resolved a comprehensive report would be provided.
It was our understanding
that this procedure would be satisfactory. Accordingly, several additional
calls were made to the Region during September and October 1987.
In October
1987, when the written report was ready, the Region was contacted regarding
transmittal.
At the end of the conversation, the Region was advised as to
how and where the report would be sent.
The report dated October
26,
1987
was mailed promptly.
The reactor annual report for 1987, subsequently
transmitted, refers to this report and includes a summary of releases.
The
October 26, 1987 comprehensive report was intended, as promised, to provide
the NRC with all available information and actions, most of which took place
more than 14 days after the initial leak.
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It is our belief that we have met any reporting requirement fully.
Never-
theless.
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have instructed NBSR Operations, effective immediately, and not
withstanding any other consideration, to make reports to the NRC strictly in
accordance with the NBSR Technical Specification and applicable regulations.
Sincerely,
Michael Rowe
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Acting Chief, Reactor Radiation Division
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