ML20249B804

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Forwards Insp Rept 50-243/98-201 on 980218-20 & 0506 & 11-13.Two Apparant Violations Identified & Being Considered for Escalated Enforcement Action
ML20249B804
Person / Time
Site: Oregon State University
Issue date: 06/19/1998
From: Roe J
NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned)
To: Dodd B
Oregon State University, CORVALLIS, OR
Shared Package
ML20249B805 List:
References
50-243-98-201, EA-98-320, NUDOCS 9806240240
Download: ML20249B804 (4)


See also: IR 05000243/1998201

Text

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UNITED STATES

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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

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WASHINGTON. D.C. 20666 4 001

June 19, 1998'

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EA 98-320

Dr. Brian Dodd, Director

Oregon State University

Radiation Center, A100

Corvallis, Oregon 97331-5903

SUBJECT:

NRC INSPECTION REPORT NO. 50-243/98-201

Dear Dr. Dodd:

On February 18-20 and May 6 and 11-13,1998, the NRC conducted an inspection of your

Radiation Center TRIGA Mark-Il reactor facility. The purpose of this inspection was to

follow-up on the event of February 17,1998, involving operation of the TRIGA Mark-Il

reactor without the required scrams being operable. The enclosed report presents the

results of that inspection.

Various aspects of your reactor operations and safety programs were inspected including

selective examinations of procedures and representative records, interviews with personnel,

and observation of activities in progress.

Based on the results of this inspection, two apparent violations were identified, and are

being considered for escalated enforcement action in accordance with the General

Statement of Policy and Procedure for NRC Erforcument Actions" (Enforcement Policy),

NUREG-1600.

These apparent violations resulted from a change to the wiring / circuitry of your reactor

console at some point in the past. This lead to operating the reactor without any of the

required scrams being avaliable on February 17,1998. Technical Specification 3.5.3

requires that these scrams be fully functional whenever the reactor is operating. Technical Specification 6.6.K requires that as-built drawings be retained of the facility. The facility

drawings did not reflect the wiring of the control console on February 17,1998.

The circumstances surrounding these apparent violations, the significance of the issues, and

the need for lasting and effective corrective' action were discussed with members of your

staff at the inspection exit meetings on February 20 and May 13,1998. Detailed

information about this event was also submitted in your 14-day report of March 2,1998.

As a result, it may not be necessary to conduct a predecisional enforcement conference in

order to enable NRC to make an enforcement decision. However, a Notice of Violation is

not presently being issued for these inspection findings. E,efore the NRC makes its

enforcement decision, we are providing you an opportunity to either (1) respond to the

apparent violations addressed in this inspection report within 30 days of the date of this

letter or (2) request a predecisional enforcement conference. If a conference is held, it will

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' e open for public observation. The NRC will also issue a press release to announce the

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conference. Please contact. Alexander Adams at 301-415-1127 within 7 days of the date

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of this letter to notify the NRC of your intended response.

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Dr. Brian Dodd

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June 19, 1998

Your response should be clearly marked as a " Response to Apparent Violations in Inspection

Report 50-243/98-201" and should include for each apparent violation: (1) the reason for

the apparent violation, or, if contested, the basis for disputing the apparent violation,

(2) the corrective steps that have been taken and the results achieved, (3) the corrective

,

steps that will be taken to avoid further violations, and (4) the date when full compliance

will be achieved. Your response should be submitted under oath or affirmation and may

reference or include previous docketed correspondence, if the correspondence adequately

addresses the required response. if an adequate response is not received within the time

specified or an extension of time has not been granted by the NRC, the NRC will proceed

with its enforcement decision or schedule a predecisional enforcement conference.

In addition, please be advised that the number and characterization of apparent violations

described in the enclosed inspection report may change as a result of further NRC review.

You will be advised by separate correspondence of the results of our deliberations on this

matter.

In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter,

its enclosure, and your response (if you choor,e to provide one) will be placed in the NRC

Public Document Room (PDR). Tc the extent possible, your response should not include

any personal privacy, proprietary, or safeguards information so that it can be placed in the

PDR without redaction.

If you have any questions concerning this inspection, please contact us.

Sincerely,

ORIGINAL SIGNED BY:

Jack W. Roe, Acting Director

Division of Reactor Program Management

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Docket No. 50-243

License No. R-106

Enclosure:

NRC Inspection Report

No. 5 0-243/98-201

cc w/ enclosure: See next page

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Dr. Brian Dodd

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Your response should be clearly marked as a " Response to Apparent Violations in inspection

Report 50-243/98-201" and should include for each apparent violation: (1) the reason for

the apparent violation, or,if contested, the basis for disputing the apparent violation,

(2) the corrective steps that have been taken and the results achieved, (3) the corrective

steps that will be taken to avoid further violations, and (4) the date when full compliance

will be achieved. Your response should be submitted under oath or affirmation and may

reference or include previous docketed correspondence,if the correspondence adequately

addresses the required response. If an adequate response is not received within the time

specified or an extension of time has not been granted by the NRC, the NRC will proceed

with its enforcement decision or schedule a precocisional enforcement c.onference.

In addition, please be advised that the number and characterization of apparent violations

described in the enclosed inspection report may change as a result of further NRC review.

You will be advised by separate correspondence of the results of our deliberations on this

matter.

In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter,

its enclosure, and your response (if you choose to provide one) will be placed in the NRC

Public Document Room (PDR). To the extent possible, your response should not include

any personal privacy, proprietary, or safeguards information so that it can be placed in the

PDR without redaction.

if you have any questions conceming this inspection, please contact us.

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Sincerely,

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k W. Roe, Acting Director

ision of Reactor Program Management

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Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

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Docket No. 50-243

License No. R-106

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Enclosure:

NRC Inspection Report

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No. 50-243/98-201

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cc w/ enclosure: See neFt page

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Oregon State University

Docket No. 50-243

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Map of the City of Corvallis

Corvallis, Oregon 97331-

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M. W. Alsworth

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Oregon Department of Energy

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625 Marion Street, N.E.

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Salern, Oregon 97310

- Dr. Wilson Hayes, Vice Provost for Research

- Oregon State University

Administrative Services Building

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Room A-312

Corvallis, Oregon 97331 5903

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Dr. Jack F. Higginbotham

Reactor Administrator -

Oregon State University

Radiation Center, A-100

Corvallis, Oregon 97331-5904-

Test,' nasearch, and Training

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Reactor Newsletter

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University of Florida

202 Nuclear Sciences Center

Gainesville, Florida 32611

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