ML20247C701
| ML20247C701 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 07000734 |
| Issue date: | 07/19/1989 |
| From: | Bidinger G NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| To: | Rouse L NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8907240415 | |
| Download: ML20247C701 (2) | |
Text
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- j JUL 1 e 1989 i
'd MEMORANDUM FOR: Leland C. Rouse, Chief Fuel Cycle Safety Branch j Division of Industrial and '
Medical Nuclear Safety, HMSS FROM: George H. Bidinger, Section Leader 4 Uranium Fuel Section Fuel Cycle Safety. Branch ]
Division of Industrial and Medical Nuclear Safety, NMSS 3 1
SUBJECT:
TRIP REPORT, ACCOMPANIMENT OF REGION V INSPECTOR AT GENERAL ATOMIC, JUNE 26-30, 1989 j
l 1 accompanied C. Hooker on a routine,. unannounced inspection at GA to assist Mr. Hooker, a new Fuel Facilities Inspector, and to acquaint myself with the GA staft and facilities. 3 1
The hQh-enriched uranium for the HTGR had just been shipped offsite, and the j security system for the HTGR facility was deactivated during the inspection. '
A new vault for the less than 5_ kg of high enriched uranium had been established. The TRIGA fuel facility and laboratories were operational. The pilot plant and hot cells were not operating with SNM.
Several observations were made concerning nuclear criticality safety. In the new vault, accumulations of not more than 350 grams U-235 were stored in !
open-faced 55-gallon drums. It was suggested that the licensee could enhance. j safety by bolting lids on the drums. This was done during the week. In the TRIGA fuel facility, U-Zr turnings are collected and stored in open 5-gallon !
containers. The turnings are then chopped into small pieces and returned to !
the open 5-gallon pail for storage. It was suggested that the chopped material could be collected in closed 1-gallon containers to reduce the probability of spills, double batching, etc. The licensee will consider this .;
change. At the HTGR facility, the license collected both concentrated and l dilute uranium solutions in 11-liter favorable diameter cylinders. The dilute l_ *
'l solution was thcn dumped into 55-gallon drums in the " bunker," a concrete shielded area. GA was informed that the practice was not acceptable. If the' facility were to be used again, modifications, such as inline monitors and/or, quarantine' tanks, and further sampling would be necessary.
The health physics program was not part of the inspection. Several observations '
were made which will require followup by Region V. 'These in'clude:
1 1.. Radiological. Contingency Plan - GA bliows tenants onsite and'in various buildings including the TRIGA fuel facility. .
No trainiag has been given for response to evacuation alarms...
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- 2. Access control - varies trom building to building and is i non-existent in some cases. Tenants and GA employees who do not receive Part 19 training apparently have access to these i buildings. 1
- 3. The restricted area is being reduced in size, and the soon-to-be unrestricted area is going to be developed. The road connecting the two sites will be in the unrestricted a rea. Movement of SNM between the two sites will require licensing action because NRC. approved shipping containers are not available.
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- 4. Tnere are indications that procedures for instrument calibration {
are not followed. I
- 5. Air samples are not counted for 36 hours4.166667e-4 days <br />0.01 hours <br />5.952381e-5 weeks <br />1.3698e-5 months <br /> to allow for background decay. The samples should be screened for unused air activity before the shift returns to work, not 2 days q later. (Thelicenseisinadequatein'Aisregard.)
l These observations were not pursued because the Managers of Nuclear Licensing and Health Physics were absent. These observations were discussed with GA management but not the management most responsible for the radiation safety j program. These issues were discussed on July 10 by Hopper and myself with '
Laura Quintana, Manager, Health Physics.
WYW W George H. Bidinger, Section Leader Uranium Fuel Section Fuel Cycle Safety Branch u1 vision of Industrial and Medical Nuclear Safety, NMSS Distribution D6cKeTTo'70h734 [h5RL ' NRCiFile7Cente d NMSS R/F IMSB R/F IMUF R/F MHorn VLThdpe' Beveridge/ Cornell 1-23 LCRous h GHBidinger Region V CHooker, RV DFC :IMUF gg : g
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NAME :GBidinger:jc/mh: q \4 M: : : : : :
DATE:7/6/89 : : : : : :
OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
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