ML25317A696
| ML25317A696 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Rhode Island Atomic Energy Commission |
| Issue date: | 12/03/2025 |
| From: | Tony Brown NRC/NRR/DANU/UNPO |
| To: | Goodwin C Rhode Island Nuclear Science Center |
| References | |
| IR 2025202 | |
| Download: ML25317A696 (0) | |
Text
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 Dr. Cameron Goodwin, Director Rhode Island Nuclear Science Center 16 Reactor Road Narragansett, RI 02882-1165
SUBJECT:
RHODE ISLAND ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION - U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION SAFETY INSPECTION REPORT NO. 05000193/2025202
Dear Dr. Goodwin:
From September 22-25, 2025, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff conducted a safety inspection at the Rhode Island Nuclear Science Center research reactor facility. The enclosed report documents the inspection results which were discussed on September 25, 2025, with you, members of your staff, and Dr. Clinton Chichester, Chairman, Rhode Island Atomic Energy Commission.
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 inspectors 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).
November 18, 2025
C. Goodwin Should you have any question 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 11/18/25
ML25317A696 NRC-002 OFFICE NRR/DANU/UNPO/RI NRR/DANU/UNPO/LA NRR/DANU/UNPO/BC NAME CBassett NParker TBrown DATE 11/13/2025 11/18/2025 11/18/2025
Enclosure U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION Docket No.:
50-193 License No.:
R-95 Report No.:
05000193/2025202 Licensee:
Rhode Island Atomic Energy Commission Facility:
Rhode Island Nuclear Science Center Location:
Narragansett, Rhode Island Dates:
September 22 - 25, 2025 Inspectors:
Craig H. Bassett Jared Nadel 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 (RINSC) 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 Status Inspector Follow-up Item (IFI)05000193/2023202-01 Follow-up on licensees actions to complete the revision of CP-08, Nuclear Instrumentation Calibration for calibrating nuclear instrumentation and have it reviewed and approved by the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Committee (NRSC).
Closed
3 REPORT DETAILS Summary of Facility Status The 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 inspectors 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.
69003 - Class I Research and Test Reactor Operator Licenses, Requalification, and Medical Examinations This inspection included a review of selected documents and training records to verify the licensees operator requalification and training activities were conducted in accordance with the licensees approved requalification plan and Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Part 55, Operators Licenses. Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
reactor logbooks for the last 2 years RINSC administrative procedure (AP) concerning requalification senior reactor operator (SRO) and reactor operator requalification files for the last two qualification cycles individual SRO NRC form 396, Certification of Medical Examination by Facility Licensee 69005 - Class I Research and Test Reactor Experiments This inspection included a review of selected experiments and procedures to verify licensee experiments were reviewed, approved, and conducted in accordance with technical specification (TS) requirements, licensee procedures, and the requirements of 10 CFR 50.59, Changes, tests and experiments. Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
various recently approved experiments reactor logbooks for the last 2 years RINSC experiment procedure (XP) concerning requests and approvals selected experiment proposal and analysis forms containing administrative and physical controls and precautions operating data notebooks containing completed copies of various reactor operations request forms (NSC-49)
4 69006 - Class I Research and Test Reactors Organization and Operations and Maintenance Activities This inspection included a review of the licensees organizational and shift staffing records to verify compliance with TS requirements and licensee commitments. This inspection also included a review of the licensees logs and records to verify that operational and maintenance activities were conducted and controlled in accordance with regulatory and TS requirements.
Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
current RINSC TSs reactor logbooks for the last 2 years RINSC maintenance board spreadsheets various forms, check sheets, and RINSC operations procedures (OP) inspectors also observed a reactor start-up, routine operation, and shutdown 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, the TSs section 6.2, and the licensees administrative procedures. The inspection also included a review of the NRSC proceedings to verify compliance with the TS section 6.0. Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
annual radiation safety program reviews RINSC annual reports for the last two reporting periods RINSC AP concerning design changes various RINSC forms documenting screenings and change reviews 69008 - Class I Research and Test Reactor Procedures This inspection included a review of selected licensee procedures to verify: that the administrative controls were in accordance with the TS, license requirements, and licensee commitments; the procedures in use were reviewed and approved; procedures were 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 RINSC procedures NRSC meeting minutes and associated records, reviews, and approvals 69009 - Class I Research and Test Reactor Fuel Movement This inspection included a review of the licensees fuel handling logs and records to verify compliance with TS and procedural requirements. Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
reactor logbooks for the last 2 years fuel inspection documents and photos for recent inspections RINSC IP concerning fuel movement and inspection RINSC OP concerning fuel/reflector movement core change summary for conversion from RINSC low-enriched uranium (LEU) Core #7 to LEU Core #8
5 69010 - Class I Research and Test Reactor Surveillance This inspection included a review of the licensees surveillance program to verify compliance with TS requirements and licensee commitments. This inspection also included a review of the licensees limiting conditions for operations to verify that operating conditions were maintained in accordance with the TS requirements. Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
various forms and worksheets reactor logbooks for the last 2 years RINSC maintenance board spreadsheet various RINSC Calibration and Test Procedures (TP) various RINSC notebooks documenting surveillance item completion including confinement system, reactor data, and primary and secondary water analysis Inspection Results No violations of more than minor significance were identified.
One IFI was closed (see next page).
6 IFI (Closed)
Follow-up on licensees actions to complete the revision of CP-08, Nuclear Instrumentation Calibration for calibrating nuclear instrumentation and have it reviewed and approved by the NRSC.
IP 69008 During an inspection in August 2023, the inspectors reviewed updated procedures and procedures in development. Procedure reviews were performed to verify current revisions were acceptable in accordance with TS and complied with approval requirements in the licensees administrative controls. The inspectors noted that one instrument calibration required by the TS was not performed with formal guidance but rather the operator was directed to perform the calibration in accordance with the instruments technical manual.
Nuclear instruments (NIs) are required to be calibrated on an annual basis in accordance with TS 4.2.6, ensuring that indicated reactor power levels are consistent with actual reactor power and therefore heat produced by the core. The inspectors verified that the facility performed the required NI calibration in accordance with the instruments technical manual and data was recorded on the calibration worksheet NSC-3 and was consistent with previous calibrations. The inspectors also directly observed that the instrument readings appropriately trended with additional independent instrumentation during a reactor start up.
The inspectors concluded that there was reasonable assurance of the NIs operation.
Procedure CP-08, Nuclear Instrumentation Calibration, was a draft procedure awaiting review and approval. The draft procedure established required initial conditions, procedural steps, acceptance criteria for the channels, and required actions to re-calibrate the instruments in accordance with the instruments technical manual.
Planned Closure Actions: The licensee expected to have the draft procedure CP-08 approved by the end of 2023. The procedure and the calibrations completed in accordance with the procedure will be reviewed by the inspector during a future inspection.
Licensee Actions: The licensee developed an NI calibration procedure in September 2023 following the NRC inspection. It was subsequently presented to and approved by the NRSC through revision #1 dated September 20, 2023. CP-08 was revised again by revision #2 dated April 10, 2024, which the NRSC reviewed and approved. The inspectors verified that the current NI calibrations were completed in accordance with the procedure and the results recorded on the associated Form NSC-3 were appropriate. This issue is closed.
Exit Meeting and Debriefs The inspectors verified that no proprietary information was retained or documented in this report.
On September 25, 2025, the inspectors 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,
7 Documents Reviewed Inspection Procedure &
Section Document Type Designation Description or Title Version or Revision No.
or Date Facility records Facility Logbooks RINSC Console logbook Numbers (Nos.)
58 & 59 02/05/2024 -
Present Qualification records SRO & RO files Requalification files for the last 2 years of the qualification cycles 01/03/2024 -
present Personnel files P
Various individual forms NRC Form 396, Certification of Medical Examination by Facility Licensee 09/17/2024 -
present 69003 (Op Requal &
Medical exams)
Facility procedure AP-02 Reactor Operator Requalification including Form NSC-45, Operator Requalification Program Checksheet Rev. No. 4 Logbooks RINSC Console logbook Nos. 58 & 59 02/05/2025 -
present Facility records and NSC forms Operating records Operating data notebooks including various operations request forms (Form NSC-49) 08/14/2024 -
present Experiments Recently approved experiments including reviews by the NRSC 08/26/2024 -
present Experiment records Experiment documentation Experiment proposal and analysis forms including controls and precautions 08/26/2024 -
present 69005 (Experiments)
Facility procedure RINSC XP-01 Experiment Request and Approval Rev. No. 4 Technical Specifications (TSs)
Facility TS RINSC TSs and Bases including requirements for organizational structure and staffing Latest Rev.
dated 01/05/2017 Facility Logbooks RINSC Console logbook Nos. 58 & 59 02/05/2025 -
present Spreadsheet RINSC maintenance board 2024 & 2025 documenting completion of maintenance and surveillance items 01/01/2024 -
present Operating data notebooks containing completed forms 01/06/2023 -
present Facility Records Operating records Various logs and forms documenting operational activities Various dates RINSC OP-01 Reactor Operation Request Rev. No. 3 RINSC OP-02 Pre-Start Checkout Rev. No. 21 69006 (Org, Ops, &
Maintenance)
Facility procedures RINSC OP-03 Reactor Power Changes Rev. No. 8 RINSC Annual Report for July 2023 through June 2024 07/18/2024 Annual Reports RINSC Annual Reports RINSC Annual Report for July 2024 through June 2025 08/04/2025 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 Meeting minutes Facility Safety Committee NRSC meeting minutes for June 2024 through the present 06/06/2024 -
Present 69007 (Review, Audit, &
Design)
Facility procedure RINSC AP-03 and associated NSC forms Facility Modifications and associated Forms NSC-24, 10 CFR 50.59 Screen, and NSC-51, 10 CFR 50.59 Review Rev. No. 2
8 Inspection Procedure &
Section Document Type Designation Description or Title Version or Revision No.
or Date RINSC CP-04 Alarm, Scram, and Interlock Checks Rev. No. 13 RINSC CP-08 Nuclear Instrumentation Calibration and associated Form NSC-3, Nuclear Instrumentation Calibration Worksheet Rev. No. 2 RINSC OP-02 Pre-Start Checkout Rev No. 21 Facility procedures RINSC OP-04 Abnormal Procedures Rev. No. 6 69008 (Procedures)
Meeting minutes Facility Safety Committee NRSC meeting minutes for June 2024 through the present documenting procedure review and approval
- 1) 06/06/2024
- 2) 12/10/2024
- 3) 07/01/2025 Facility Logbooks RINSC Console logbook Nos. 58 & 59 02/05/2025 -
present Inspection documents Fuel inspection documents and photos 04/18/2022 -
present Facility records Core records Core change summary for conversion from RINSC low-enriched uranium (LEU)
Core #7 to LEU Core #8 04/18/2022 RINSC IP-01 Core Element Movement and Inspections Rev. No. 2 RINSC OP-05 Reactor Fuel/Reflector Movement Rev. No. 3 69009 (Fuel movement)
Facility Procedures RINSC TP-07 Approach to Critical Rev. No. 2 Facility Logbooks RINSC Console logbook Nos. 58 & 59 02/05/2025 -
present Spreadsheet RINSC maintenance board 2024 & 2025 documenting completion of maintenance and surveillance items 01/01/2024 -
present Facility records Surveillance records Notebooks containing records documenting surveillance item completion including: 1) confinement system testing, 2) core excess calcs,
- 3) reactor data, and 4) various scrams Various dates RINSC CP-08 Nuclear Instrumentation Calibration and results recorded on Form NSC-3, Nuclear Instrumentation Calibration Worksheet Rev. No. 2 RINSC TP-01 Shim Safety Blade Drop Time Measurement Rev. No. 2 RINSC TP-03 Determining Control Rod Worth Rev. No. 2 RINSC TP-04 Control Rod Reactivity Insertion Rates and associated Form NSC-43, Core Reactivity Data Rev. No. 3 69010 (Surveillance)
Facility Procedures and assoc. NSC forms RINSC TP-05 Determining Shutdown Margin and Excess Reactivity and associated Form NSC-43, Core Reactivity Data Rev. No. 0