IR 05000059/2024201
| ML25023A273 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Texas A&M University |
| Issue date: | 01/27/2025 |
| From: | Tony Brown NRC/NRR/DANU/UNPO |
| To: | Joel Jenkins Texas A&M Univ |
| Waugh A | |
| References | |
| IR 2024201 | |
| Download: ML25023A273 (1) | |
Text
SUBJECT:
TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY - U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION ROUTINE INSPECTION REPORT NO. 05000059/2024201
Dear Mr. Jenkins:
From December 16-20, 2024, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff conducted an inspection of the Aerojet General Nucleonics-Model 201 Modified Research Reactor located at the Texas A&M University Nuclear Science Center facility. The inspection results were discussed with you and members of your staff on December 20, 2024. The enclosed report documents the inspection results.
The inspection examined activities conducted under your license as they relate to safety and compliance with the Commissions rules and regulations and with the conditions of your license.
The inspector reviewed selected procedures and records, observed various activities, and interviewed personnel. Based on the results of this inspection, no findings of significance were identified. No response to this letter is required.
In accordance with Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations Section 2.390, Public inspections, exemptions, requests for withholding, a copy of this letter, its enclosure, and your response (if any) will be available electronically for public inspection in the NRC Public Document Room or from the Publicly Available Records component of NRCs document system (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS)). ADAMS is accessible from the NRC website at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html (the Public Electronic Reading Room).
January 27, 2025 If you have any questions concerning this inspection, please contact Andrew Waugh at (301) 415-0230, or by email to Andrew.Waugh@nrc.gov.
Sincerely, Tony Brown, Chief Non-Power Production and Utilization Facility Oversight Branch Division of Advanced Reactors and Non-Power Production and Utilization Facilities Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No.50-059 License No. R-23 Enclosure:
As stated cc w/enclosure: GovDelivery Subscribers Signed by Brown, Tony on 01/27/25
ML25023A273 NRC-002 OFFICE NRR/DANU/UNPO NRR/DANU/UNPO/LA NRR/DANU/UNPO/BC NAME AWaugh NParker TBrown DATE 1/24/2025 1/24/2025 1/27/2025
Enclosure U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION Docket No.:
50-059 License No.:
R-23 Report No.:
05000059/2024201 Licensee:
Texas A&M University Facility:
AGN-201M Research Reactor Location:
College Station, TX Dates:
December 16-20, 2024 Inspector:
Andrew Waugh Approved by:
Tony Brown, Chief Non-Power Production and Utilization Facility Oversight Branch Division of Advanced Reactors and Non-Power Production and Utilization Facilities Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
- 2 -
SUMMARY The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) continued monitoring the licensees performance by conducting an inspection at the Aerojet General Nucleonics-Model 201 Modified (AGN-201M) Research Reactor, in accordance with the research and test reactor inspection program. This is the NRCs program for overseeing the safe operation of licensed research and test reactors. Refer to https://www.nrc.gov/reactors/non-power.html for more information.
List of Violations No violations of more than minor significance were identified.
Additional Tracking Items Type Issue Number Title Report Section Status IFI 05000059/2018201-
Late submittals of annual operating reports.
69002.03 Closed IFI 05000059/2018201-
Late submittal of the current version of the emergency plan.
69002.05 Closed IFI 05000059/2021201-
Licensees revision of the emergency plan to include the TRIGA and AGN-201M reactors in one emergency plan.
69002.05 Closed
- 3 -
REPORT DETAILS Facility Status The 5-watt AGN-201M research reactor was shut down by the licensee for various reasons on June 21, 2013. The reactor, all related components, and fuel were subsequently removed from the Zachry Engineering Complex on the main campus of Texas A&M and moved to the Texas Engineering Experiment Station Nuclear Science Center (NSC). The reactor, related components, and fuel are stored and maintained in a possession-only status at the NSC.
Inspection Scopes Inspections were conducted using the appropriate portions of the inspection procedures (IPs) in effect at the beginning of the inspection unless otherwise noted. Currently approved IPs with their attached revision histories are located on the public website at https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/insp-manual/inspection-procedure/index.html.
Inspections were declared complete when the IP requirements most appropriate to the inspection activity were met consistent with Inspection Manual Chapter 2545, Research and Test Reactor Inspection Program. The inspector reviewed selected procedures and records, observed activities, and interviewed personnel to assess licensee performance and compliance with Commission rules and regulations, license conditions, site procedures, and standards.
69002 - Class III Non-Power Reactors This inspection included a review of selected aspects of the research and test reactor, since the last inspection, to verify activities were conducted safely and in accordance with regulatory requirements and licensee commitments.
Staffing and Audits (IP Section 02.01)
This inspection included a review of staffing and audit records to verify compliance with technical specification (TS) requirements and licensee commitments. Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
select quarterly audits of the AGN-201M dated 2021-present Operator Requalification and Active License Status (IP Section 02.02)
This inspection included a review of selected documents pertaining to operator requalification training to verify requirements of the licensees approved requalification plan and Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Part 55, Operators Licenses, were met. The inspector determined that there were no staff members at the facility who were licensed to operate the AGN-201M research reactor, and the operator requalification program was inactive.
Radiological Surveys (IP Section 02.03)
This inspection included a review of selected radiological surveys to very compliance with TS requirements and licensee commitments. Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
- 4 -
select fuel vault surveys, dated 2021-present
select calibration records for radiation instrumentation, dated 2022-present
the inspector toured the storage areas in the NSC Accelerator Building and the Cargo Container
the inspector entered and observed the fuel storage area Surveillance (IP Section 02.04)
This inspection included a review of surveillances to verify compliance with TS requirements.
Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
select NSC Health Physics AGN-201M surveys, dated 2021-present Emergency Preparedness (IP Section 02.05)
This inspection included a review of the licensees emergency preparedness program, exercises and drills, training, and equipment to verify compliance with the licensees emergency plan and applicable regulatory requirements. Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
an emergency drill was observed by the inspector 86740 - Inspection of Transportation Activities This inspection included a review of the licensees transportation activities to verify they have established and are maintaining an effective management-controlled program, to ensure radiological and nuclear safety in the receipt, packaging, and delivery of licensed radioactive materials. The licensee did not ship any radioactive material under this license since the last inspection of this area.
Inspection Results No violations of more than minor significance were identified.
Minor Violation (VIO 05000059/2024201-1)
69002.03 Minor Violation: TS 6.9.1 states, in part, Routine annual operating reports shall be submitted no later than ninety (90) days following the end of the operating year.
Contrary to the above, the licensee did not submit annual reports for 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, and 2023 within 90 days of the end of the operating year.
Screening: Because the annual reports were subsequently submitted, the information in the reports would not have changed the NRCs oversight posture, and the reactor is disassembled and not operational, the NRC staff determined the failure to meet the requirements of TS 6.9.1 constitutes a violation of minor significance in accordance with section 2 of the Enforcement Policy. This minor violation (VIO 05000059/2024201-1) was corrected by the licensee and this issue is closed.
- 5 -
Enforcement: The failure to comply with TS 6.9.1 constitutes a minor violation that is not subject to enforcement action in accordance with the NRC Enforcement Policy.
This closes inspection follow-up item (IFI)05000059/2018201-01, since the licensee has submitted the late annual operating reports.
Minor Violation (VIO 05000059/2024201-2)
69002.05 Minor Violation: Section 50.54, Conditions of licenses, of 10 CFR, paragraph (q)(5) states, The licensee shall retain a record of each change to the emergency plan made without prior NRC approval for a period of three years from the date of the change and shall submit, as specified in § 50.4, a report of each such change, including a summary of its analysis, within 30 days after the change is put in effect.
Contrary to the above, the licensee did not submit emergency plan changes to the NRC within 30 days after the changes were put into effect.
Screening: Because the changes to the emergency plan did not reduce the effectiveness of the plan and the reactor is disassembled and not operational, the NRC staff determined the failure to meet the requirements of 10 CFR 50.54(q)(5) constitutes a violation of minor significance in accordance with section 2 of the Enforcement Policy. This minor violation (VIO 05000059/2024201-2) was corrected by the licensee and this issue is closed.
Enforcement: The failure to comply with 10 CFR 50.54(q)(5) constitutes a minor violation that is not subject to enforcement action in accordance with the NRC Enforcement Policy.
This closes IFI 05000059/2018201-02, since the licensee has submitted an updated emergency plan. This also closes IFI 05000059/2021201-01, since the updated emergency plan includes the AGN-201M and TRIGA reactors on the same emergency plan.
Exit Meeting and Debriefs The inspector verified no proprietary information was retained or documented in this report.
- On December 20, 2024, the inspector presented the NRC inspection results to members of licensee management and staff.
- 6 -
Documents Reviewed Inspection Procedure Type Designation Description or Title Revision or Date N/A Radiation Safety Program November 15, 2021 69002.03 Procedure RSP-01 ALARA Procedure March 14, 2023 N/A NESC Emergency Plan November 10, 2021 Document N/A NESC Emergency Plan October 11, 2016 69002.05 Procedure IX-B Evacuation Procedures December 19, 1997