ML26006A062
| ML26006A062 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | University of Lowell |
| Issue date: | 01/06/2026 |
| From: | Tony Brown Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Prosanta Chowdhury Univ of Massachusetts - Lowell |
| References | |
| IR 2025201 | |
| Download: ML26006A062 (0) | |
Text
Dr. Partha Chowdhury, Director Nuclear Radiation Laboratory University of Massachusetts-Lowell One University Avenue Lowell, MA 01854
SUBJECT:
UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL - U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION SAFETY INSPECTION REPORT NO. 05000223/2025201
Dear Dr. Chowdhury:
From December 15-18, 2025, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff conducted a safety inspection at the University of Massachusetts Lowell Research Reactor facility. The inspection results were discussed with members of your staff on December 18, 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).
January 6, 2026
P. Chowdhury 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. 50-223 License No. R-125
Enclosure:
As stated cc w/enclosure: GovDelivery Subscribers Signed by Brown, Tony on 01/06/26
ML26006A062 NRC-002 OFFICE NRR/DANU/UNPO NRR/DANU/UNPO/LA NRR/DANU/UNPO/BC NAME JNadel NParker TBrown DATE 01/06/2026 1/06/2026 1/06/2026
Enclosure U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION Docket No.:
50-223 License No.:
R-125 Report No.:
05000223/2025201 Licensee:
University of Massachusetts Lowell Facility:
University of Massachusetts Lowell Research Reactor Location:
Lowell, MA Dates:
December 15 - 18, 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 University of Massachusetts Lowell (UML)
Research Reactor, 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 UML Research Reactor (UMLRR) was operated in support of training, facility tours, experiments, and maintenance since the last routine inspection. During this inspection, the reactor was started up, operated, and shutdown 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 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:
UMLRR Facility Operating License No. R-125, Docket No. 50-223, Renewed Facility Operating License, issued February 3, 2022 UML radiation laboratory organizational chart, dated July 28, 2025 UML Chancellor organization chart, dated October 2025 administrative procedure AP-0, Authority, revision 4 UMLRR annual reports for 2024, and 2025 Radiation Safety Committee Charter, revision 6 various appointment letters for the reactor safety subcommittee UMLRR console logbooks 40, 41, 42 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 technical specifications (TSs) and the licensees administrative procedures.
Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
4 reactor operator procedures (RO)-5, Reactor Operations, revision 4 select RF-4, Daily Routine Check Sheet, performed 2023 - present select RF-5, Radiation Monitoring System Daily Checks, performed 2023 - present select RF-RO-7B, Pre-startup Check Sheet, performed 2023 - present select RF-RO-7A, Reactor Operator Instruction Form, performed 2023 - present UMLRR annual reports for 2024 and 2025 UMLRR console logbooks 40, 41, and 42 AP-0, Authority, revision 4 AP-1, Procedure Control and Distribution, revision 1 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:
UML operator requalification program, dated November 2016 operator board time hours spreadsheet 2024-2025 for select personnel from 2024 -
present UMLRR console logbooks 40, 41, and 42 requalification training attendance records from 2024 - present select personnel NRC Forms 396 and 398, from 2024 - present select personnel medical examination records from 2024 - present select personnel operating exams performed from 2024 - present select personnel written examinations performed from 2024 - present RO-5, Reactor Operations, revision 4 RO-8, Handling Irradiated Fuel, revision 2 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:
UMLRR Facility Operating License No. R-125, Docket No. 50-223, Renewed Facility Operating License, issued February 3, 2022 UMLRR console logbooks 40, 41, and 42 SP-15, Scram Functions Test, revision 7 RF-SP-15, Scram Function Test, revision 7 for TS 4.2.3(7), performed on January 10, 2025 RF-SP-15, Scram Function Test, revision 7 for TS 4.2.3(7), performed on January 8, 2024 RF-SP-15, Scram Function Test, revision 7 for TS 4.2.3(7), performed December 27-29, 2022 SP-2, Ventilation Valves Test, revision 5 RF-SP-2, Containment Valve Closure Test, revision 5, performed on December 1, 2025
5 RF-SP-2, Containment Valve Closure Test, revision 5, performed on June 6, 2025 RF-SP-2, Containment Valve Closure Test, revision 5, performed on December 14, 2024 RF-SP-2, Containment Valve Closure Test, revision 5, performed on June 17, 2024 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:
UML emergency preparedness plan for the Research Reactor, dated May 2023 emergency services agreement with Lowell Fire Department dated June 23, 2025 emergency services agreement with Lowell Police Department dated May 5, 2025 emergency services agreement with PrideStar EMS, Inc. dated May 1, 2025 emergency services agreement with Lowell General Hospital dated May 2, 2025 Cobalt-60 Source Receipt Training and Emergency Plan Exercise, dated May 14, 2024 emergency drill attendance sheet dated May 14, 2024 Active Shooter/Active Threat Response Emergency Drill, dated March 14, 2025 emergency drill attendance sheet dated March 14, 2025 form FHPP-16 checklists, "Emergency Closet Inventory," performed 2024 - present site visit, tour, and personnel interviews at the radiological decontamination facility at Lowell General Hospital on December 18, 2025 EO-1, Radiation Emergency, revision 4 EO-3, Severe Weather, revision 4 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:
UMLRR annual reports for 2024 and 2025 UMLRR console logbooks 40, 41, and 42 repair memo Re: Solenoid Replacement for Valve A, dated November 24, 2025 work order WO-00061812, Mirion Service Report, dated July 29, 2025 repair memo Re: Start Up Counter Detector Swap, Cable Repair, and Cable Replacement, dated June 18, 2025, to August 29, 2025 work order WO-00062904, Mirion Service Report, dated May 2, 2025 repair memo Re: Control Blade #1 - Coupling Replacement, dated February 20, 2025 surveillance and maintenance memo Re: Solenoid Replacement for Valve B, dated December 24, 2025 preventative maintenance memo Re: 2024 Preventative Maintenance on Regulating Rod and Control Blade Drives, dated September 25, 2025
6 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:
memorandum, SP-12 Fuel Inspection 2025, dated September 30, 2025 videographic records of fuel inspections performed in September 2025 of the following fuel elements: F103, F107, F110, F122, F123 RO-2, Unloading and Reloading the Core to a Known Configuration, dated April 1, 2005 RO-8, Handling of Irradiated Fuel, dated May 22, 1991 UMLRR console logbooks 40, 41, and 42 surveillance procedure (SP)-12, Inspection of Control Blades and Fuel, dated January 13, 2011 core loading map 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 December 18, 2025, the inspector presented the NRC inspection results to Dr. Mark Tries, Mr. Leo Bobek, and other members of the licensee staff.
Documents Reviewed As listed in applicable IP sections above.