IR 05000607/2025201
| ML25093A348 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | University of California-Davis |
| Issue date: | 04/14/2025 |
| From: | Tony Brown NRC/NRR/DANU/UNPO |
| To: | Frey W McClellan Nucleaer Research Center, McClellan Nuclear Research Center |
| Bassett C | |
| References | |
| IR 2025201 | |
| Download: ML25093A348 (1) | |
Text
SUBJECT:
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA - U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION SAFETY INSPECTION REPORT NO. 05000607/2025201
Dear Dr. Frey:
From February 24-27, 2025, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff conducted a safety inspection at your University of California-Davis/McClellan Nuclear Research Center. The inspection results were discussed with you and members of your staff on February 27, 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 http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html (the Public Electronic Reading Room).
April 7, 2025 Should you have any questions concerning this inspection, please contact Craig Bassett at (240) 535-1842, or by email at Craig.Bassett@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. 50-607 License No. R-130 Enclosure:
As stated cc w/enclosure: GovDelivery Subscribers Signed by Brown, Tony on 04/07/25
ML25093A348 NRC-002 OFFICE NRR/DANU/UNPO NRR/DANU/UNPO/LA NRR/DANU/UNPO/BC NAME CBassett NParker TBrown DATE 4/5/2025 4/7/2025 4/7/2025
Enclosure U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION Docket No.:
50-607 License No.:
R-130 Report No:
05000607/2025201 Licensee:
Regents of the University of California Facility:
University of California-Davis, McClellan Nuclear Research Center Location:
McClellan Park, Sacramento, California Dates:
February 24-27, 2025 Inspector:
Craig Bassett 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
SUMMARY The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) continued monitoring the licensees performance by conducting an inspection at the University of California-Davis (UCD)/McClellan Nuclear Research Center (MNRC), 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.
REPORT DETAILS Facility Status The UCD/MNRC 1 megawatt Training, Research, Isotope, General Atomics (TRIGA) research reactor operates in support of neutron radiography, neutron tomography, experimental sample irradiation, and for tours of students and other members of the public. During the inspection, the reactor was operated several hours per day at various power levels up to 900 kilowatts to support neutron radiography and sample irradiation.
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.
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.
Organization and Staffing (IP Section 02.01)
This inspection included a review of the licensees organizational changes and shift staffing records to verify compliance with the technical specification (TS) requirements and licensee commitments. Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
UCD/MNRC annual reports for 2022 and 2023
current UCD/MNRC organizational structure and current staffing
staffing requirements for safe operation of the research reactor facility Procedures (IP Section 02.03)
This inspection included a review of selected licensee procedures to verify administrative controls were in accordance with the TSs, license requirements, and licensee commitments; the procedures in use were current and reviewed and approved, as required by the TSs; 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:
- various facility operations, health physics, and emergency procedures
MNRC Document List, showing all the licensees current documents and procedures including the latest review date for each
observation of staff implementing procedural steps as required Experiments (IP Section 02.06)
This inspection included a review of selected experiments and procedures to verify licensee experiments were reviewed, approved, and conducted in accordance with the 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:
applicable facility procedures
UCD/MNRC annual reports for 2022 and 2023
listing of current experiments and authorized users
recent reviews conducted by the Nuclear Safety Committee (NSC)
selected UCD/MNRC irradiation request forms and facility use authorization forms 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 inspector reviewed: 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:
applicable facility procedures
UCD/MNRC annual reports for 2022 and 2023
radiation protection training records for facility personnel
MNRC radiation safety program review reports for 2023 and 2024
selected periodic contamination and radiation survey results for 2023 and 2024
calibration records of selected radiation detection and monitoring instruments
monthly occupational radiation exposure reports for UCD/MNRC personnel and quarterly environmental monitoring records
radiochemical analysis data/results of water samples taken from a ground water well near the facility for 2023 and 2024
observations of surveys and gaseous effluent sampling in progress 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 also verified that modified
equipment would continue to meet regulatory and procedural requirements and licensee commitments. Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
applicable facility procedures
NSC meeting minutes for 2023 through the present
UCD/MNRC Facility Modification Notebook, containing the Facility Modification Log forms 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 TSs 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:
applicable facility procedures
annual audits conducted for 2023 and 2024
NSC meeting minutes for 2023 through the present Emergency Planning (IP Section 02.10)
This inspection included a review of the licensees emergency procedures, 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:
applicable facility procedures
visited the nearby Sacramento County fire station
documentation of the 2023 and 2024 emergency drills and critiques
memorandum of understanding with each of the following: UCD Medical Center; the County of Sacramento and the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District and McClellan Airport and Park; and the Sacramento County Sheriffs Department
training schedule for maintenance of qualifications for reactor operators which included emergency preparedness training 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:
applicable facility procedures
selected licenses of various UCD/MNRC shipment consignees
records of the radioactive material shipments made during 2023-2024 including completed radiological survey forms, placards and labels, isotope identification, and hazard determination
training records for the two staff personnel authorized to ship hazardous
material in accordance with the regulations specified by the NRC and the Department of Transportation 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 February 27, 2025, the inspector presented the NRC inspection results to Dr. Wesley Frey and other members of the licensee staff.
Documents Reviewed Inspection Procedure
& Section Document Type Designation Description or Title Revision No.
and/or Date Technical Specifications UCD/MNRC-0004-DOC Technical Specifications for the University of California, Davis/McClellan Nuclear Research Center UCD/MNRC Rev. 13 -
9/23/2023 Annual Reports UCD/MNRC Operating Reports UC Davis MNRC 2022 Annual Report and UC Davis MNRC 2023 Annual Report 5/22/2023 and 5/22/2024 Procedures Operating Procedure (See Section 02.03 - Facility Procedures
- #2)
- 2 - Rev. 13 IP 69001 -
Section (Sec) 02.01 (Org &
Staffing)
Operating records Various log entries UCD/MNRC operations log pages Logbooks No.
197 thru 201 1) UCD/MNRC-0001-DOC Emergency Plan for the MNRC TRIGA Reactor Facility Rev. 10 2) UCD/MNRC-0016-DOC MNRC Operating Instructions Rev. 13 3) UCD/MNRC-0018-DOC UCD/MNRC Emergency Procedures Rev, 07 4) UCD/MNRC-0029-DOC MNRC Radiation Safety Procedures Rev. 24 5) UCD/MNRC-0042-DOC MNRC Health Physics Instrumentation Calibration and Test Procedures Rev 28 6) UCD/MNRC-0043-DOC Facility Modification Procedure Rev. 05 7) UCD/MNRC-0081-DOC Experiment Coordination Checklist Rev. 00 IP 69001 -
Sec. 02.03 (Fac Proc)
Facility procedures 8) UCD/MNRC-0082-DOC Environmental Compliance and Health and Safety Plan Rev. 01 Annual Reports UCD/MNRC Operating Reports (See Section 02.01 - Annual Reports)
(See Section 02.01 above)
Procedures Experiment Procedure (See Section 02.03 - Facility Procedures
- #7)
- 7 - Rev. 00 Lists Listing of current experiments, recent reviews, and authorized users Various for 2024 & 2025 IP 69001 -
Sec. 02.06 (Exp)
Facility documents Forms Selected UCD/MNRC irradiation request forms, summary forms, and tracking sheets Various for 2024 and to date in 2025 Training program Training records Lesson plans and qualification cards for personnel trained by the RSO Various for 2022 - 2024 Review Records Annual Rad Safety reviews 2023 MNRC Radiation Safety Program Review Report completed by EH&S and 2024 MNRC Radiation Safety Program Review Report completed by EH&S 12/1/2023 and 11/7/2024 Dose records for individuals Monthly occupational radiation exposure reports for facility personnel For 2022, 2023, & 2024 IP 69001 -
Sec. 02.07 (HP)
Personnel Exposure Records NRC Form 5 Occupational Dose Record for A Monitoring Period for facility personnel For years 2023 & 2024
Inspection Procedure
& Section Document Type Designation Description or Title Revision No.
and/or Date Survey records Contamination and radiation survey records Daily, monthly, and quarterly surveys for controlled and uncontrolled areas of the facility For years 2023, 2024, &
2025 Calibration records Radiation instruments Calibration records of selected radiation and monitoring instruments For years 2023 & 2024 Environmental monitoring Dose records Quarterly environmental dosimeter reports For years 2023 & 2024 Radiochemical Analyses Contractor Reports to the licensee Radiochemical analysis data/results of water samples taken from ground water wells near the facility For years 2023 & 2024 Procedures Rad. Prot.
Procedures (See Section 02.03 - Facility Procedures
- #4, #5, and #8)
- 4 - Rev 24
- 5 - Rev 28
- 8 - Rev 01 Annual Reports UCD/MNRC Operating Reports (See Section 02.01 - Annual Reports)
(See Section 02.01 above)
NSC records of meetings Meeting minutes of 3 NSC meetings NSC meeting minutes from 2023 to the presents 11/22/2023, 10/31/2024, &
1/25/2025 Audit records Annual audit of the facility MNRC UC Davis Audit for 2023, and MNRC UC Davis Audit for 2024 11/2/2023 and 10/17/2024 Change records Facility Modification Log UCD/MNRC Facility Modification Notebook containing the Facility Modification Log forms Various Procedures Modification Procedure (See Section 02.03 - Facility Procedures
- #6)
Rev. 4 IP 69001 -
Sec. 02.08 (Design Changes)
Annual Reports UCD/MNRC Operating Reports (See Section 02.01 - Annual Reports)
(See Section 02.01 above)
NSC records of meetings Meeting minutes of 3 meetings NSC meeting minutes from 2023 to the present 11/22/2023, 10/31/2024, &
1/25/2025 IP 69001 -
Sec. 02.09 (Comm, Audits, &
Reviews)
Audit records Annual audits conducted by the NSC MNRC UC Davis Audit for 2023 and MNRC UC Davis Audit for 2024 11/2/2023 and 10/17/2024 IP 69001 -
Sec. 02.10 (Emerg)
Emergency Plan Facility Emergency Plan UC Davis Emergency Plan Ver. 4.0, dated 11/2016 Emergency functions documentation Drills &
critiques Documentation of the emergency drills and critiques for 2023 & 2024 1/18/2024 and 1/31/2025 Training documentation Training records Training for reactor operators, radiographers, and other staff which included emergency preparedness 1/18/2023 and 1/15/2025 Procedures Emergency Procedures (See Section 02.03 - Facility Procedures
- #1 and #3)
- 1 - Rev. 8
- 3 - Rev. 7 Miscellaneous Memoranda of Understanding (MOU)
MOUs with 1) UCD Medical center, 2)
County of Sacramento and Metropolitan Fire Dept, and 3) Sacramento Sheriffs Dept.
1) 5/1/2006, 2) 11/23/2006, 3) being updated
Inspection Procedure
& Section Document Type Designation Description or Title Revision No.
and/or Date SNM Licenses Licenses of various MNRC consignees Selected licenses of consignees including: 1) Helion Energy, 2) Univ. of California - Berkeley, and 3) Florida State Univ.
Lic. expires:
1) 5/21/2027, 2) 9/30/2029, 3) 8/31/25 Transportation documentation Records of shipments Radioactive material shipments made during 2023 and 2024 and associated surveys, vehicle placards, package labels, isotope identification, and hazard determination Various Procedures Shipping Procedure (See Section 02.03 - Facility Procedures
- #4)
- 4 - Rev. 24 IP 86740 (Trans. of Rad Mat)
Training Training records Training for facility personnel designated as shippers including: 1) D. Reap, 2) C. Dresser, and 3) M. Wilkinson Tng Dates:
1) 2/9/2023, 2) 5/5/2023, &
3) 3/26/2024