IR 05000193/2025201
| ML25115A004 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Rhode Island Atomic Energy Commission |
| Issue date: | 04/30/2025 |
| From: | Tony Brown NRC/NRR/DANU/UNPO |
| To: | Goodwin C Rhode Island Nuclear Science Center |
| Bassett C | |
| References | |
| IR 2025201 | |
| Download: ML25115A004 (1) | |
Text
SUBJECT:
RHODE ISLAND ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION - U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION SAFETY INSPECTION REPORT NO. 05000193/2025201
Dear Dr. Goodwin:
From March 17-20, 2025, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff conducted an inspection at the Rhode Island Nuclear Science Center research reactor facility. The inspection results were discussed with you and members of your staff, as well as Dr. Clinton Chichester, Chairman of the Rhode Island Atomic Energy Commission, on March 20, 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 30, 2025 Should you have any questions concerning this inspection, please contact Craig Bassett at (240) 535-1842, or via 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.: 50-193 License No.: R-95 Enclosure:
As stated cc w/enclosure: GovDelivery Subscribers Signed by Brown, Tony on 04/30/25
ML25115A004 NRC-002 OFFICE NRR/DANU/UNPO NRR/DANU/UNPO/LA NRR/DANU/UNPO/BC NAME CBassett NParker TBrown DATE 4/25/2025 4/25/2025 4/30/2025
Enclosure U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION Docket No.:
50-193 License No.:
R-95 Report No.:
05000193/2025201 Licensee:
Rhode Island Atomic Energy Commission Facility:
Rhode Island Nuclear Science Center Location:
Narragansett, Rhode Island Dates:
March 17-20, 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
- 2 -
SUMMARY The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) continued monitoring the licensees performance by conducting an inspection at the Rhode Island Nuclear Science Center 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.
- 3 -
REPORT DETAILS Summary of Facility Status The Rhode Island Nuclear Science Center (RINSC) 2-megawatt research reactor continued routine operations in support of experiments, research, education, training, and surveillance.
During the inspection, the reactor was operated on various days to support research and experiments.
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.
69004 - Class I Research and Test Reactor Effluent and Environmental Monitoring The inspection included a review of selected documents and records to verify that the requirements of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Part 20, Standards for Protection against Radiation, Appendix B and technical specifications (TS) sections 3.7.2 and 4.7.2 were met. Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
stack gas and particulate monitor calibration records
records of liquid effluent releases to the sanitary sewer
annual radiation safety program reviews for 2023 and 2024
environmental dosimetry records for 2023 through the present
various RINSC procedures including Calibration Procedure (CP) CP-05, CP-06, CP-07, and Radiation Safety Procedure (RS) RS-21, RS-22, and RS-29 and the associated Nuclear Science Center (NSC) forms
RINSC annual reports submitted to the NRC for the last two reporting periods 69006 - Class I Research and Test Reactors Organization and Operations and Maintenance Activities This inspection included a review of the licensees organizational changes and shift staffing records to verify compliance with TS requirements and licensee commitments. Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
reactor logbook No. 68
RINSC organizational structure and staffing
reactor operating data notebooks for 2024 and 2025
various logs and forms documenting operational activities
- 4 -
69007 - Class I Research and Test Reactor Review and Audit and Design Change Functions This inspection included a review of design changes to determine whether they were reviewed, approved, and implemented in accordance with 10 CFR 50.59, Changes, tests and experiments, the TSs section 6.2, and the licensees administrative procedures. The inspection also included a review of the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Committee (NRSC) proceedings to verify compliance with the TS section 6.0. Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
RINSC annual reports for the last two reporting periods
annual radiation safety program reviews for 2023 and 2024
RINSC Administrative Procedure-03 and the associated NSC forms which document the reviews
NRSC meeting minutes and associated records for December 2023 through the present 69011 - Class I Research and Test Reactor Emergency Preparedness This inspection included a review of the licensees emergency procedures, exercises and drills, training, and equipment to verify compliance with the licensees emergency plan, RINSC Emergency Plan, Revision 7, and applicable regulatory requirements. Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
records documenting completion of various required activities including emergency drills, communication verification, and supply inventories
RINSC Emergency Procedure-01, Emergency Plan Implementing Procedures, and the associated NSC form
current letters of agreement between RINSC and local support agencies
status and availability of the contents in the emergency locker located in the Emergency Support Center 69012 - Class I Research and Test Reactor Radiation Protection 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, TS sections 3.7.1 and 4.7.1 requirements, 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 of items and areas; training provided staff members; the implementation of as low as is reasonably achievable (ALARA)
principles; and completion of the radiation protection programs review and approval.
Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
radiation safety training modules and records
RINSC annual reports for the last two reporting periods
dosimetry records for facility personnel for 2023 and 2024
annual radiation safety program reviews for 2023 and 2024
copies of NRC Form 3, Notice to Employees, posted at the facility
RINSC Radiation Safety Office Radiation Safety Manual, updated January 2025
selected survey program summary data and survey reports for 2024 to the present
- 5 -
selected calibration and maintenance records of portable survey instruments, area radiation monitors, and stack monitors for the past 2 years
various RINSC procedures including RS-03, RS-06, RS-19, RS-24, and RS-27 and the associated NSC forms
also, the inspector observed a routine radiation and contamination survey of the reactor bay 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:
various forms used to ship radioactive material (RAM)
training records for those designated as RAM shippers
annual radiation safety program reviews for 2023 and 2024
RAM shipping papers and related records for 2024 to date in 2025
licenses of selected persons or entities receiving a RAM shipment from the licensee 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 March 20, 2025, the inspector presented the NRC inspection results to Dr Cameron Goodwin and other members of the licensee staff, as well as Dr. Clinton Chichester, Chairman of the Rhode Island Atomic Energy Commission,
Attachment Documents Reviewed Inspection Procedure &
Section Document Type Designation Description or Title Version or Revision No.
or Date Stack gas and particulate monitor calibration data and records Various dates Liquid effluent releases to the sanitary sewer 2/24/2024 -
present Facility Records Environmental monitoring records Environmental dosimetry records 1/1/2023 -
present CP-05 Ar-41 Calibration Factor and form NSC-13 Rev. 2 CP-06 Stack Monitor Calibration Checks and forms NSC-02, -46, and -50 Rev. 4 CP-07 Air Monitor Calibration Checks and forms NSC-10 and -12 Rev. 2 RS-21 Liquid Waste Sewer Disposal and form NSC-52 Rev. 2 RS-22 Gamma Spectroscopy Calibration Rev. 2 Procedures and the associated NSC forms RS-29 Tennelec Counter Calibration Rev. 0 RINSC Annual Report for July 2022 through June 2023 7/18/2023 69004 (Effluent &
Environ Monitoring)
Annual Reports RINSC Annual Reports RINSC Annual Report for July 2023 through June 2024 7/18/2024 Technical Specifications (TSs)
Facility TS RINSC TSs and Bases including requirements for organizational structure and staffing 1/5/2017 Facility Logbooks RINSC Console logbook Number (No.)
2/5/2023 -
present Operating data notebooks 2/24/2024 -
present 69006 (Org, Ops, &
Maintenance)
Facility records Operating records Various logs and forms documenting operational activities 2/5/2024 -
present RINSC Annual Report for July 2022 through June 2023 7/18/2023 Annual Reports RINSC Annual Reports RINSC Annual Report for July 2023 through June 2024 7/18/2024 Program reviews Annual reviews RINSC Radiation Safety Program reviews for 2023 and 2024 conducted by a member of the NRSC 12/20/2023 and 12/16/2024 Committee meeting minutes Facility Safety Committee Nuclear and Radiation Safety Committee (NRSC) meeting minutes for December 2023 through the present 12/20/2023 through the present 69007 (Review, Audit, &
Design)
Facility procedure Administrative procedure and NSC forms RINSC Administrative Procedure-03, Facility Modifications and forms NSC-24 and -51 Revision 2 69011 (Emerg Prep)
Facility records Emergency records Records documenting completion of required activities including alarm tests, emergency drills, communications verification, and supply inventories Various dates
- 2 -
Inspection Procedure &
Section Document Type Designation Description or Title Version or Revision No.
or Date Facility procedure Emergency procedure RINSC Emergency Procedure-01, Emergency Plan Implementing Procedures and the assoc. form NSC-86 Revision 6 Letter of Agreement (LOA)
Agreements with support agencies LOA between RINSC and:
1) Narragansett Police Dept.,
2) Narragansett Fire Dept., and 3)
Rhode Island Hospital 1) 2/18/2023 2) 2/18/2023 3) 9/21/2022 Facility records Training Radiation safety training modules and personnel records Various dates Dosimetry records for facility personnel 2023 to the present NRC Form 3, Notice to Employees, posted at the facility 9/2024 Personnel records Exposure records NRC Form 5, Occupational Dose Record for a Monitoring Period for each staff member 2/11/2025 RINSC Radiation Safety Program reviews for 2023 and 2024 conducted by a member of the NRSC 12/20/2023 and 12/16/2024 Program reviews Annual reviews Annual Radiation Safety Program Review for 2023 and 2024 conducted by the RINSC RSO and staff 1/9/2024 and 1/22/2025 Manual Radiation Safety RINSC Radiation Safety Office Radiation Safety Manual Updated 1/2025 Survey records Selected survey program summary data and survey records of the facility 2024 to the present Rad Prot records Calibration records Selected calibration and maintenance records of portable instruments, area and air monitors, and stack monitors 2023 to the present RS-03 Radiation Safety Surveys Rev. 2 RS-06 External Dosimetry Rev. 2 RS-19 Area Monitor Calibration Check and form NSC-17 Rev. 2 RS-24 Ludlum Model 3 Electronic Calibration and form NSC-8 Rev. 2 209269012 (Rad Prot)
Procedures and assoc.
NSC forms RS-27 RadEye PRD Setup and Calibration Test Rev. 2 Training records latest training received by personnel designated as RAM shippers:
1) S. Nam, and 2) A. Welker 1) 3/12/2024 and 2) 3/7/2025 various forms shipping forms including: RINSC Shipping Survey form; RINSC Survey Fuel Shipping; FedEx Express Shippers Declaration For Dangerous Goods; and Tennelec Sample Report of wipe tests Various dates 86740 (Trans of Rad Mat)
Facility records Shipping records RAM shipping papers and related records 2024 to the present
- 3 -
Inspection Procedure &
Section Document Type Designation Description or Title Version or Revision No.
or Date Licenses Personnel or entity records Licenses of those organizations receiving RAM from RINSC including:
1) Helion Energy, 2) Scintipharma Labs, and 3) University of Connecticut License expires on:
1) 5/31/2027 2) 9/30/2025 3) 6/30/2026