IR 05000238/2011001

IR 05000238-11-001, on 12/12/11 - 03/29/12, U.S. Department of Transportation, N.S. Savannah, Baltimore, MD, Inspection Report

ML121210715
Person / Time
Site:	NS Savannah
Issue date:	04/26/2012
From:	NRC Region 1
To:	US Dept of Transportation, Maritime Admin
References
IR-11-001
Download: ML121210715 (6)

Text

U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

REGION I

INSPECTION REPORT Docket N License N NS-1 Inspection N /2011001 Licensee: U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration Washington, DC 20590 Facility: N.S. Savannah Location: Canton Marine Terminal Pier 13 4601 Newgate Avenue Baltimore, MD 21224 Inspection Date: December 12, 2011 Inspection Exit Date: March 29, 2012 Inspectors: Mark C. Roberts, Senior Health Physicist Decommissioning Branch Division of Nuclear Materials Safety Region I John Buckley, Senior Project Manager Reactor Decommissioning Branch Division of Waste Management and Environmental Protection Office of Federal and State Materials and Environmental Management Programs (FSME)

Kenneth Kline, Financial Analyst Special Projects Branch Division of Waste Management and Environmental Protection FSME Approved By: Marc S. Ferdas, Chief Decommissioning Branch Division of Nuclear Materials Safety Region I

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

U.S. Department of Transportation

N.S. Savannah NRC Inspection Report No. 05000238/2011001 A routine announced safety inspection was conducted on December 12, 2011, by a Region I inspector of the Nuclear Ship (N.S.) Savannah, currently berthed at a marine terminal in Baltimore, Maryland. The regional inspector was accompanied by two representatives from the NRC's Division of Waste Management and Environmental Protection (DWMEP), Office of Federal and State Materials and Environmental Management Programs (FSME). The FSME,

DWMEP representatives reviewed records related to decommissioning financial assurance for the N.S. Savannah.

The N.S. Savannah is classified as a research and test reactor. The program for overseeing the decommissioning of research and test reactors is described in Inspection Manual Chapter (IMC)2545, Research and Test Reactor Inspection Program. The inspection included a review of the programs and activities associated with the N.S. Savannah while the vessel is in a long-term safe storage status. The inspection consisted of observations by the inspector, interviews with N.S. Savannah personnel, and a review of procedures and records. There are currently no ongoing decommissioning activities being conducted on the N.S. Savannah. Based on the results of this inspection, no findings of safety significance were identified.

REPORT DETAILS

1.0 Background The N.S. Savannah is the property of the U. S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration (MARAD). The N.S. Savannah was designed, constructed, and operated as a joint research and development project of MARAD and the Atomic Energy Commission. The ship operated from 1961 until it was removed from service in 1970. In 1971, the ship was defueled and various dismantling activities were conducted through 1976 to remove much of the radioactive material from the ship and to isolate radiologically contaminated systems. These activities included removing ion exchange systems and resins and most of the water from the primary, secondary, and auxiliary systems. A Possession Only license was issued in May 1976. The N.S. Savannah is a registered National Historic Landmark. In May 2008, the ship was towed from Norfolk, VA to its present location in Baltimore, MD. The program for overseeing the decommissioning of research and test reactors is described in IMC 2545, Research and Test Reactor Inspection Program.

2.0 Long-term Safe Storage Status Review

a. Inspection Scope

(Inspection Procedure 69002)

The inspector reviewed the items required to be reported to the NRC in annual reports per the technical specifications. The items reviewed included:

(1) the status of the facility,

(2) results of radiation surveys and monitoring station dosimeter readings,

(3) results of environmental sample analyses,

(4) results of quarterly intrusion alarm system checks,

(5) radioactive material releases and shipments of radioactive waste, (6)a description of the principal maintenance performed on the vessel,

(7) unauthorized entry into radiation control areas by visitors or employees,

(8) degradation of any boundaries that contain the radioactive materials aboard the vessel, and

(9) results of occupational exposures.

The inspector reviewed Radiation Work Permits (RWPs) and the N.S. Savannahs intrusion, fire, and flood detection system surveillance testing. The inspector also reviewed the protocols used by the N.S. Savannahs nuclear operations staff to respond to emergency events and the status of emergency response equipment maintained by MARAD.

The inspection consisted of observations by the inspector, interviews with N.S.

Savannah personnel, and a review of procedures and records.

b. Observations and Findings

The inspector confirmed that the ship remains in an active layberth condition in Baltimore Harbor with a retention crew during regular working hours and regular attendance by the MARAD nuclear operations staff. There have been no significant organization changes since the previous inspection. In addition to routine maintenance, a major electrical system modification was completed since the last inspection to improve safety and reliability of the supplied electrical power.

The fire detection system provides local visible and audio warning alarms and notification to a remote monitoring system that alerts a local fire department and N.S.

Savannah personnel. The flood and intrusion detection systems also provide remote notification and appropriate response personnel are notified of alarms. Periodic alarm system checks are performed and documented in accordance with the N.S. Savannahs surveillance testing procedures. Emergency equipment, which includes personal protective equipment and radiation survey meters, is maintained in inventoried kits by N.S. Savannah personnel.

The inspector reviewed radiological environmental monitoring programs and the results from surveys in the radiologically and non-radiologically controlled areas of the N.S.

Savannah. Thermoluminescent dosimeters are placed in 46 locations in non-radiologically controlled areas and exchanged semi-annually. The inspector confirmed that the results from these measurements were indistinguishable from background radiation levels. In accordance with the vessels technical specifications, sediment and water samples are collected in the vicinity of the ship and analyzed for gamma-emitting radionuclides that could be attributable to any potential releases from the ship. Sample results were consistent with expected background radiological conditions. Radiological surveys are conducted at least annually in accordance with the vessels technical specifications in both radiologically and non-radiologically controlled areas. Survey results in the non-radiologically controlled areas were indistinguishable from background radiation levels. Survey results in the radiologically controlled areas were consistent with previous annual survey results. The highest measurement obtained by the N.S.

Savannah staff was an exposure rate of 30 milliRoentgens/hour (mR/hr) at 30 centimeters and 120 mR/hr at contact from overhead letdown piping in the reactor compartment lower level. The inspector noted that this area was properly posted and is in a locked area.

Based on a tour of the vessel and discussions with N.S. Savannah staff, there have been no issues identified with the material condition of any of the ships boundaries that contain radioactive materials. There is no active decommissioning in progress so there has been no release of radioactive material as effluents or as radioactive waste.

Potential pathways for non-routine radiological releases of radioactive liquids have been capped.

A Radiation Work Permit (RWP) system is used to access the controlled areas on the ship. Each RWP provided a description of the measures required for access to and egress from the controlled areas and described protective clothing and radiation dosimeter requirements for access. Individuals desiring access to areas that are controlled by an RWP are also provided with a briefing from the Radiation Safety Officer.

The inspector noted that all reported occupational doses were zero.

c. Conclusions

There are currently no ongoing decommissioning activities being conducted on the NS Savannah. Based on the results of this inspection, no findings of safety significance were identified.

3.0

Exit Meeting Summary

On March 29, 2012, the inspector presented the inspection results to Erhard Koehler, Senior Technical Advisor, and other members of the N.S. Savannah staff. Mr. Koehler acknowledged the inspection findings. The inspector confirmed that proprietary information was not provided or examined during the inspection.

A-1

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

PARTIAL LIST OF PERSONS CONTACTED

Licensee and contractors

C. Bearor, Documentation and Administrative Support Manager

E. Koehler, Senior Technical Advisor

J. Osborne, Licensing Compliance Manager

A. Paynter, Quality Assurance Manager, Radiation Safety Officer

J. Weigand, Decommissioning Program Manager

PARTIAL LIST OF DOCUMENTS REVIEWED

N.S. Savannah, Post Shutdown Decommissioning Activities Report, STS-100, Rev.1,

December 11, 2008

N.S. Savannah Annual Report 2009, STS-125, Rev.0, February 26, 2010

N.S. Savannah Annual Report 2010, STS-131, Rev.0, February 28, 2011

N.S. Savannah Decommissioning Funds Status Report for CY 2010, STS-134, March 31, 2011

N.S. Savannah Updated Final Safety Analysis Report, STS-004-002 Rev.6, May 4, 2011

N.S. Savannah - Issuance of Exemption from Requirements of 10 CFR Part 50 and 10 CFR Part 73 Security Requirements - letter dated October 12, 2011 with attachments

N.S. Savannah, Surveillance, Inspection, and Calibration, STS-004-004, Rev.4, July 12, 2011

N.S. Savannah, Technical Specification 3.7.1.7 Deviations Review, STS-148 Rev.0, 2011

N.S. Savannah Radiation Work Permits for 2011

ITEMS OPEN, CLOSED, AND DISCUSSED

None

LIST OF ACRONYMS USED

CFR Code of Federal Regulations

DWMEP Division of Waste Management and Environmental Protection

FSME Office of Federal and State Materials and Environmental Management Programs

IMC Inspection Manual Chapter

MARAD U. S. Maritime Administration

mR/hr milliRoentgens per hour

NRC Nuclear Regulatory Commission

N.S. Nuclear Ship

RWP Radiation Work Permit

STS Savannah Technical Staff

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