IR 05000150/2025201
| ML25063A288 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Ohio State University |
| Issue date: | 03/06/2025 |
| From: | Tony Brown NRC/NRR/DANU/UNPO |
| To: | Cao L Ohio State University |
| Waugh A | |
| References | |
| IR 2025201 | |
| Download: ML25063A288 (1) | |
Text
SUBJECT:
OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY - U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION SAFETY INSPECTION REPORT NO. 05000150/2025201
Dear Dr. Cao:
From January 27-30, 2025, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff conducted an inspection at the Ohio State University Research Reactor facility. The inspection results were discussed with you and members of your staff on January 30, 2025. 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 https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html (the Public Electronic Reading Room).
March 6, 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. 50-150 License No. R-75 Enclosure:
As stated cc: w/enclosure: GovDelivery Subscribers Signed by Brown, Tony on 03/06/25
ML25063A288 NRC-002 OFFICE NRR/DANU/UNPO NRR/DANU/UNPO/LA NRR/DANU/UNPO/BC NAME AWaugh NParker TBrown DATE 3/4/2025 3/6/2025 3/6/2025
Enclosure U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION Docket No.:
50-150 License No.:
R-75 Report No.:
05000150/2025201 Licensee:
Ohio State University Facility:
Ohio State University Research Reactor Location:
Columbus, OH Dates:
January 27-30, 2025 Inspectors:
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
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SUMMARY The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) continued monitoring the licensees performance by conducting an inspection at the Ohio State University (OSU) Research Reactor (OSURR), 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 None.
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REPORT DETAILS Facility Status The OSU 500-kilowatt open pool-type research reactor continued to be operated in support of undergraduate instruction, laboratory experiments, and various types of irradiation projects.
During this inspection, the OSURR was started up, operated, and shut down to support these ongoing activities.
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 select 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.
69001 - Class II 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.
Procedures (IP Section 02.03)
This inspection included a review of select licensee procedures to verify: administrative controls were in accordance with the technical specifications (TSs), license requirements, and licensee commitments; the procedures in use were current and reviewed and approved, as required; procedures could be implemented as intended; and reactor personnel were observing administrative controls and TS requirements relative to procedural adherence. Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
the inspector observed a pre-startup checkout, startup, operations, shutdown, and post-shutdown checkout
select document routing slips, dated 2023-present
select procedure change sheets, dated 2023-present
reactor oversight committee (ROC) meeting minutes, dated 2023-present Experiments (IP Section 02.06)
This inspection included a review of select experiments and procedures to verify licensee experiments were reviewed, approved, and conducted in accordance with TS requirements, licensee procedures, and the requirements of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) 50.59, Changes, tests and experiments. Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
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select request for reactor operation forms, dated 2023-present
select console logbook entries, dated 2023-present
ROC meeting minutes, dated 2023-present Health Physics (IP Section 02.07)
This inspection included a review of the licensees health physics program to verify that the provisions of 10 CFR Part 19, Notices, Instructions and Reports to Workers: Inspection and Investigations, and 10 CFR Part 20, Standards for Protection against Radiation, TSs, and the licensees procedural requirements were met. The inspection included a review of: licensees dose limits; required radiation surveys, sampling, and monitoring; calibration of radiological instruments; the personnel dosimetry program; effluent releases; posting requirements; training requirements; the implementation of as low as is reasonably achievable (ALARA) principles; and the radiation protection programs review and approval requirements. Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
the inspector observed radiation surveys
select personnel and area dosimetry records, dated 2023-present
ALARA investigation memos, dated 2023-present
select reactor building and annex radiation surveys and smear surveys, dated 2023-present
select particulate air sample data sheets, dated 2023-present
select radiation monitor calibration records, dated 2023-present
select Ar-41 weekly release records, dated 2023-present
select console logbook entries, dated 2023-present
radiation safety training records, dated 2023-present
2023 and 2024 annual operating reports Design Changes (IP Section 02.08)
This inspection included a review of design changes to determine whether they were reviewed, approved, and implemented in accordance with 10 CFR 50.59, the TSs, and the licensees administrative procedures. The inspector verified that modified equipment would continue to meet regulatory and procedural requirements and licensee commitments. Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
select OSURR modification requests, dated 2023-present
select 50.59 screenings, dated 2023-present
ROC meeting minutes, dated 2023-present
2023 and 2024 annual operating reports Committees, Audits and Reviews (IP Section 02.09)
This inspection included a review of the licensees committees, audits and reviews to verify the safety review committee and independent audits were conducted in accordance with the TS and that issues identified from reviews were resolved in accordance with TS requirements and the licensees procedures. Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
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ROC meeting minutes, dated 2023-present
calendar year 2023 audit summary
calendar year 2024 audit summary 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. Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
select shipping smear surveys, dated 2023-present
select shipping records for exempt and excepted packages, dated 2023-present
HAZMAT training records, dated 2023-present Inspection Results No violations of more than minor significance were identified.
Exit Meeting and Debriefs The inspector verified no proprietary information was retained or documented in this report.
- On January 30, 2025, the inspector presented the NRC inspection results to members of licensee management and staff.
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Documents Reviewed Inspection Procedure Type Designation Description or Title Revision or Date AP-06 Format for Writing, Revising, and Approving Procedures August 22, 2022 AP-07 Document Distribution September 20, 2023 OM-01 Reactor Operations June 18, 2024 IM-03 Pre-Startup Checkout June 23, 2024 IM-04 Post-Shutdown Checkout February 19, 2024 EP-04 Response to Scrams and Alarms June 27, 2024 69001.03 Procedure RS-15 Radiation Safety Instructions October 3, 2019 AP-01 Scheduling Reactor Operations March 27, 2023 AP-03 Writing and Reviewing Requests for Reactor Operations August 23, 2022 69001.06 Procedure OM-03 Experimental Facilities August 29, 2023 RS-01 Posting, Labeling, and Storage Requirements October 9, 2023 RS-04 Particulate Air Sampling July 7, 2023 RS-06 Radiation Monitor Calibrations August 15, 2023 RS-08 Smear Surveys October 16, 2023 RS-09 Area Radiation Surveys October 16, 2023 RS-17 Ar-41 Release Calculation May 22, 2023 69001.07 Procedure AP-02 General Rules February 10, 2023 AP-14 OSURR Modification Requests April 17, 2023 69001.08 Procedure AP-16 50.59 Screening and Evaluation April 17, 2023 69001.09 Procedure AP-08 NRL Audit July 10, 2023
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Appointment letter for ROC membership December 12, 2023 Miscellaneous Charter for OSURR ROC December 12, 2023 RS-08 Smear Surveys October 16, 2023 86740 Procedure RS-11 Shipping Packages February 17, 2020