ML25247A075
| ML25247A075 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Reed College |
| Issue date: | 09/09/2025 |
| From: | Tony Brown NRC/NRR/DANU/UNPO |
| To: | Newhouse J Reed College |
| References | |
| IR 2025201 | |
| Download: ML25247A075 (1) | |
Text
Mr. Jerry Newhouse, Director Reed College Reed Research Reactor 3203 Southeast Woodstock Boulevard Portland, OR 97202-8199
SUBJECT:
REED COLLEGE - U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION SAFETY INSPECTION REPORT NO. 05000288/2025201
Dear Mr. Newhouse:
From August 11 - 15, 2025, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff conducted a safety inspection at the Reed Research Reactor facility. The inspection results were discussed with you and members of your staff on August 21, 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 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).
September 9, 2025
J. Newhouse 2
Should you have any questions concerning this inspection, please contact Jared Nadel at 301 415-2157, or via email at Jared.Nadel@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. 50-288 License No. R-112
Enclosure:
As stated cc w/enclosure: GovDelivery Subscribers Signed by Brown, Tony on 09/09/25
ML25247A075 NRC-002 OFFICE NRR/DANU/UNPO NRR/DANU/UNPO/LA NRR/DANU/UNPO/BC NAME JNadel NParker TBrown DATE 9/05/2025 9/05/2025 9/09/2025
Enclosure U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION Docket No.:
50-288 License No.:
R-112 Report No.:
05000288/2025201 Licensee:
Reed College Facility:
Reed Research Reactor Location:
Portland, OR Dates:
August 11 - 15, 2025 Inspector:
Jared Nadel, Reactor Inspector (RTR)
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 Reed Research Reactor (RRR), 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 Facility Status The Reed College Class II 250 kilowatt TRIGA Mark-1 research reactor was operated in support of training, facility tours, experiments, and maintenance since the last routine inspection. During this inspection, the reactor was not operated due to ongoing maintenance on the reactor console.
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 TS requirements and licensee commitments. Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
RRR annual report for the period from July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023 RRR annual report for the period from July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024 RRR operations logbooks from February 2023 - August 2025 standard operating procedure (SOP) 60, Logbook Entries, dated April 22, 2022 SOP 65C-1, Visitor Log, dated March 13, 2019 Operations Logs and Records (IP Section 02.02)
This inspection included a review of the licensees operation logs and records to verify they were maintained and that significant issues were reported and resolved as required by the technical specifications (TSs) and the licensees administrative procedures.
Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
RRR operations logbooks from February 2023 - August 2025 SOP 60, Logbook Entries, dated April 22, 2022 SOP 66, Corrective Action Report, dated December 5, 2018.
SOP 66B, "Corrective Action Report Log," dated August 26, 2014 SOP 66A, Corrective Action Reports, CAR # 23-11
4 SOP 66A, Corrective Action Reports, CAR # 23-13 SOP 66A, Corrective Action Reports, CAR # 24-04 SOP 66A, Corrective Action Reports, CAR # 25-06 SOP 2A, Scram Response Form, selected samples performed from 2023 - present SOP 1, Reactor Operation, dated December 17, 2020 SOP 20A, Checklist, selected samples from 2023 - present SOP 22A, Shutdown Checklist, selected samples from 2023 - present Requalification Training (IP Section 02.04)
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. Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
RRR requalification plan, dated November 18, 2020 IRIS requalification records for reactivity manipulations, training attendance, evaluations, and examinations for select personnel from 2023 - present requalification lecture attendance records from 2023 - present select personnel NRC Forms 396 and 398, from 2023 - present select personnel medical examination records from 2023 - present select psychological screening forms from 2023 - present select personnel operating exams performed from 2023 - present select personnel SOP 63B, Accelerated Requalification Form, from 2023 - present select personnel written examinations performed from 2023 - present SOP 63, Requalification, dated May 8, 2020 SOP 63, Requalification, dated August 7, 2025 Surveillance and Limiting Conditions for Operation (IP Section 02.05)
This inspection included a review of surveillances listed in the TSs to verify requirements were met. Limiting conditions for operation were also reviewed to verify that operating conditions were maintained in accordance with the licensees procedural requirements. Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
SOP 20A, Startup Checklist, selected samples performed from 2023 - present SOP 33, Nuclear Instruments, dated December 17, 2020 SOP 33B, Nuclear Instruments Calibration Form, performed February 2, 2022 SOP 33B, Nuclear Instruments Calibration Form, performed February 5, 2023 SOP 34, Control Rods, dated December 17, 2020 SOP 34B, Control Rod Inspection Checklist, performed January 20, 2025 SOP 34B, Control Rod Inspection Checklist, performed February 3, 2023 SOP 30, Primary Cooling System and Reactor Pool, dated December 17, 2020 SOP 30D, Pool Temp and Level Monitor Calibration, performed January 25, 2025 SOP 30D, Pool Temp and Level Monitor Calibration, performed March 3, 2025 SOP 30D, Pool Temp and Level Monitor Calibration, performed January 30, 2024 SOP 23, Biweekly Checklist, dated December 17, 2020 SOP 23A, Biweekly Checklist Form, selected samples performed from 2023 - present SOP 24, Bimonthly Checklist, dated January 8, 2023
5 SOP 24A, Bimonthly Checklist Form, selected samples performed from 2023 - present SOP 26, Annual Checklist, dated January 8, 2023 SOP 26A, Annual Checklist Form, selected samples performed from 2023 to present 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 TS requirements, licensee procedures, and the requirements of 10 CFR Section 50.59, Changes, tests and experiments. Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
SOP 10, Irradiation Preparation, dated April 22, 2022 SOP10A, Irradiation Request Form, dated April 22, 2022 SOP 12, Lazy Susan, dated April 03, 2024 SOP 13, Rabbit, dated April 22, 2022 SOP 14, Central Thimble, dated December 3, 2019 RRR Routine Experiment 1 Irradiation with Neutrons," dated May 16, 2011 RRR Routine Experiment 6 Pool Parameter Measurement," dated Jan 1, 2010 SOP 10A, "Irradiation Request Form," selected samples performed 2023 - 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:
RRR emergency plan dated August 12, 2014 RRR emergency notification call list (ENCL), dated July 2, 2025 SOP 25, Semiannual Checklist, dated January 8, 2023 SOP 25A, Semiannual Checklist Form, selected samples performed from 2023 -
present IRIS requalification records for select personnel from 2023 - present emergency drills held in 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 emergency drill feedback forms for drills held in 2023, 2024, and 2023 Portland Police Bureau (PPB) training video inspector interview with a PPB representative inspector visit to Portland Fire and Rescue Station 20 and related personnel interviews inspector visit to the Reed College Community Safety Office and related personnel interviews RRR operations logbook selected entries from February 2023 - August 2025 Maintenance Logs and Records (IP Section 02.11)
This inspection included a review of the licensees maintenance logs and records to verify that operational and maintenance activities were conducted and maintained in accordance with regulatory and TS requirements. Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
6 inspector observation of maintenance on a submerged light in the reactor pool on August 12, 2025 RRR annual report for the period from July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023 RRR annual report for the period from July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024 SOP 60, Logbook Entries, dated December 17, 2020 SOP 60A, "Maintenance Log," selected samples performed from 2023 - present SOP 60B, "Maintenance Log," dated April 22, 2022 SOP 66B, "Corrective Action Report Log" SOP 62A, "10 CFR 50.59 Screen Form," 23-04, performed June 28, 2023 Fuel Handling Logs and Records (IP Section 02.12)
This inspection included a review of the licensees fuel handling logs and records to verify TS and procedural requirements were met. Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
inspector observation of fuel handling activities on August 13, 2025 SOP 35, Fuel and Core, dated January 9, 2024 SOP 35A, Core Diagram, dated April 3, 2024 SOP 35B, Fuel Handling Checklist, dated January 9, 2024 SOP 35B, Fuel Handling Checklist, performed 2022 - present SOP 35D, Fuel Element Inspection Form, dated January 9, 2024 SOP 35D, Fuel Element Inspection Form, selected samples performed 2023 - present RRR operations logbook selected entries from February 2023 - August 2025 Inspection Results No violations of more than minor significance were identified.
Exit Meeting and Debriefs The inspector verified that no proprietary information was retained or documented in this report.
On August 21, 2025, the inspector presented the NRC inspection results to Mr. Newhouse and other members of the licensee staff.
Documents Reviewed As listed in applicable IP sections above.