ML20216F127

Annual Status Rept for Jan-Dec 1997 for Nasa Plum Brook Reactor & Nasa Plum Brook Mock-Up Reactor

ML20216F127
Person / Time
Site:	Plum Brook
Issue date:	12/31/1997
From:	Pfanner H, Vega J NATIONAL AERONAUTICS & SPACE ADMINISTRATION
To:	Mendonca M NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM)
References
NUDOCS 9803180260
Download: ML20216F127 (10)

Text

F National Aeronautics and i Space Administration l Lewl,s Research Center ,

. Plum Brook Station 6100 Columbus Avenue Sandusky, Ohio 44870 n.-#e < 703 MM 101998 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Attn: Document Control Desk Washington, DC 20555

Subject:

Report of Reactor Status for the NASA Plum Brook Reactor (License No. TR-3, Docket 50-30) and the NASA Plum Brook Mock-Up Reactor (License No. R-93, Docket 50-185)

Enclosed is the Annual Status Report dated January 1998, for the Plum Brook Reactor (License TR-3) and the Plum Brook Mock-Up Reactor (License R-93).

This report is for the reporting period January 1,1997, through December 31, 1997. Submission of this annual report is in compliance with Section 3.31 of the current TR-3 and R-93 possess-but-not-operate licenses which became effective January 28,1987, and January 12,1987, respectively.

Subject reactors continue to be maintained in a protected safe storage condition.

f Henry . Pfann Engineer, Plum Brook Reactor Facility Enclosut e Approved:

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I Wb/'1 Josdjf. Vega /~

h0: }1 Acting Director, Engineering and Technical Services 9803180260 971231 PDrt ADOCK (P0185 g PDR I l fflf h lfllll

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i CC ' 1 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Office of Inspection and Enforcement, Region III I Attn.: Mr. Kenneth R. Ridgeway, Inspector i Reactor Operations Nuclear Support Branch Program Support Section 801 Warrenville Road Lisle, Illinois 60532-4351 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission l Attn.: Mr. Marvin Mendonca l PDNP 1

MS 11-B-20 -!

Washington, DC 20555 j l

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ANNUAL STATUS REPORT Reporting Period: January 1,1997- December 31,1997 NASA, Plum Brook Reactor NASA, Plum Brook Mock-Up Reactor i

License No. TR-3 License No. R-93 Docket No. 50-30 Docket No. 50-185 USNRC Dismantling Order Dated May 26,1981 NASA Application to USNRC, Dated July 26,1985, l Requesting Return to l " Possess-But-Not-Operate" Status NASA, Plum Brook Reactor NASA, Plum Brook Mock-Up Reactor License No. TR-3 License No. R-93 Amendment #8 Amendment #4 November 30,1989 October 12,1989 I~

l January 1998 NASA Lewis Research Center Plum Brook Station 6100 Columbus Avenue Sandusky, Ohio 44870

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TABLE OF CONTENTS  !

1. Introduction

2. Status of Reactor Facility

3. Organization

4. Condition of Systems and Components

5. Security and Surveillance Measures

6. Facility Changes

7. Facility and Environmental Radiological J Surveys

8. Maintenance Performu

9. Audits and Inspections

10. Unusual Occurrences

11. License Status

12. Other i

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l ANNUAL STATUS REPORT l FOR THE NASA PLUM BROOK REACTOR AND PLUM BROOK MOCK-UP REACTOR  !

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1.

Introduction:

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The following Annual Status Report for the period January 1,1997, through December 31,1997, has been prepared pursuant to Section 3.3.1 ef the Plum Brook Reactor Facility (PBRF) TR-3 License effective January 28,1987, and Mock-Up Reactor R-93 License effective January 12,1987. Both of the above-mentioned reactors are licensed as " possess-but-not-operate."

2. Status of Reactor Facilitt.

l At the time NASA requested a Dismantling Order, funding for the reactor I dismantling project was anticipated, and an active dismantling effort was planned and schedu!ed. However, because of continuing federal budget. restrictions, 1 NASA has continued to find it necessary to defer funding for this project. As a result, no major disnentling activities have been performed to date, nor are any  ;

planned. j c;ince 1982, NASA has continued to remove various uncontaminated tools, spare parts, and experimental hardware not required for maintaining protected safe storage or supporting future dismantling efforts. This is being done to make such i items available to NASA and other Government agencies.

i In its letter to NASA dated August 16,1984, the NRC directed NASA to either request reinstatement of the " possess-but-not-operate" statur for the two Plum l Brook Reactors or submit a revised dismantling plan and f edule. NASA responded in a letter dated October 29,1984, stating that it intended to formally '

request return to the " possess-but-not-operate" licensing status. On July 26,1985, l NASA submitted applications and s yporting documents to the NRC for the

" possess-but-not-operate" status. The PBRF TR-3 License was issued January 28, l 1

1987, and the MUR R-93 ~ License was issued January 12,1987. Both licenses were in effect for ten (10) years. -

Renewal applications for the PBRF License (TR-3) and the Mock-Up Reactor License (R-93) were submitted to the NRC on November 4,1996. So far, there have i been three requests from the NRC for additieval information and or clarification on the renewal applications. The status of the NRC requests and the corresponding NASA responses is covered in detail in Section 11, License Status.

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. In addition to providing adequate resources and funding for past, present and l future protected safe storage of the reactors, NASA funded an engineering study in 1984 to document the existing conditions at the site. The study was initiated near the end of CY84, and major fieldwork began in early 1985. The purpose of the study was to gather data on the current condition of the facilities and equipment at the site, and to reinventory the radioactive contamination at the end of the twelve-year radiological decay period since Reactor shutdown in January 1973.

NASA has begun an effort to update this existing engineering study. The update I should be complete by the end of September 1998.

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3. Organization:

i The Plum Brook Management Office (PBMO) reports to the Engineering and  !

Technical Services Directorate of the NASA Lewis Research Center. This j organization is in accordance with the Generic Organization Chart supplied as part of both the PBRF TR-2 and MUR-R93 license renewal applications submitted ,

to the NRC on November 4,1996. I l

During the repoiag period, Mr. Henry G. Pfanner continued to serve as the Plum Brook Reactor Facility (PBRF) Engineer, responsible for maintaining the protected safe storage mode of the reactors. The daily security, surveillance, and '

maintenance activities continued to be performed by an on-site support service contractor, Gilcrest Electric & Supply Company.

Mr. Keith Peecook continues to serve as the first alternate PBRF Engineer.

Ms. Gayle Reid remains as the Radiation Safety Officer for the PBRF and also serves as an alternate PBRF Engineer.

Mr. Robert P. Kozar continued to serve as Chief of the Plum Brook Management Office (PBMO). The PBMO is responsible for the Level 2 Management of the PBRF. Mr. Keith Peecook remains as chairman of the PBRF Safety Committee;  ;

there were two safety committee meetings conducted during 1997. -

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4. Condition of Systems and Components:

The condition of all systems and components vital to maintaining safe protected storage has been carefully reviewed. All systems are performing satisfactorily.

As reported in previous years, the original Containment Vessel (CV) Cathodic Protection System (CPS) remained energized, but was providing less than the recommended level of cathodic protection for portions of the CV wall. This original (CPS) has been removed and replaced with a new (CPS) system as a part 2

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of the 1997 Maintenance Project at the PBRF. The new (CPS) was placed in  ;

operation during July of 1997 and is operating satisfactorily. After a year of service, an analysis of quarterly performance data will be made by the installation  !

contractor to verify its effectiveness. Ultrasonic testing continued at four inspection ports in 1997 indicating no measurable change in CV wall thickness  !

from the original material specifications. This ultrasonic testing continues on an  ;

annual basis. In addition, NAS A has established annual visual inspections and l corrosion rate assessment checks using sample coupons. No significant corrosion has been observed during the first twelve years of data evaluation.

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5. Security and Surveillance Measures:

Security inspections are conducted at the PBRF twice daily and each of the major  ;

buildings is inspected by a security guard once each day. In addition, other security checks, such as inspection of fences and locks, are conducted monthly. l Surveillance of operating systems and components, absolute filters, and I radiological surveys are performed as specified in the PBRF Procedures Manual. i Surveillance inspections are performed for some non-operating systems and  ;

- components to assure that the protected safe storage conditions are maintained.  ;

All of the security and surveillance inspections are accomplished by use of l Inspection and Test Report (ITR) check sheets to insure they are promptly and i properly completed. Completed ITRs are reviewed and approved by the PBRF Engineer and/or alternate and filed in the PBRF Vital Records. ITRs indicating that corrective action is required are a responsibility of the PBRF Engineer and the PBMO.

Equipment Maintenance Records (EMRs) are utilized to document maintenance on vital components, equipment, systems and facilities which are not otherwise covered under the routine ITR system (See Section 8).

Personnel access to areas of the reactor site with significant known or suspected j levels of radiation is controlled under a Safe Work Permit (SWP) system. '

The security and surveillance program in effect at the PBRF appears to be adequate  ;

to maintain the facilities in a protected safe storage mode.

A total of nine SWPs were issued during 1997, and all personnel exposures were  ;

well within permissible limits of 10 CFR 20. A statistical breakdown of the exposure levels as per 10 CFR 20.407 follows.

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Estimated Whole Body Number of Individuals Exposure Range (REM _s) s in Each Range No Measurable Exposure 2 Measurable Exposure Less than .1 4

.1 to .25 0

.25 and Above 0

6. Facility Changes A Facility Change (FC) System is utilized to provide documentation and apprcval  !

of changes to existing facilities and structures, new structures, a physical change to equipment or system, or any change that alters a defined PBRF End-Condhion statement.

There were five FCs initiated during 1997 of which four have been completed. The four completed FCs include removal of batteries from an obsolete telephone system, removal of a PCB contaminated 750 KVA power transformer, removal of control equipment for use at other NASA facilities and replacement of the Containment Vessel Cathodic Protection System. The fifth FC initiated was for a char.ge to the electrical power feed to the PBRF with this work to be completed in 1998.

7. Facility and Environmental Radiological Surveys:

The 1997 monitoring data centinued to include direct radiation, surface contamination, airborne and waterborne activity and stream silt. These parameters did not vary significantly from data obtained during the previous 24 years of standby or protected safe storage of the PBRF. All data indicates the radioactivity within PBRF is being safely contained.

8. Maintenance Performed:

All maintenance performed during the reporting period fell under the Equipment Maintenance Record (EMR) System.

The work covered under the EMR System involved routine maintenance and other minor repaira made to equipment within the Reactor complex. This work was normally performed by the on-site support service contractor who conducted the

normal day-to-day maintenance and surveillance at the FBRF.

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There were a total of 17 maintenance tasks completed in 1997 under the EMR system described.

9. Audits and Inspections:

Mr. Kerry Remp continues to serve as chairman of the PBRF Audit Team and Mr. Robert Corban remained as an audit team member. Mr. David Robinson has been replaced by Mr. Timothy Gaydos as the third team member.

One audit of the PdRF was conducted on December 17,1997, by the PBRF Audit Team. No items of non-compliance were noted during this audit.

There was one on-site NRC audit of the PBRF on August 26,1997. This audit was conducted by Mr. Tom Burdick of the NRC Region III. No items of non-

- compliance were noted during this audit.

10. Unusual Occurrences:

There were no unusual occurrences at the PBRF during 1997 which were reportable to USNRC under the criteria of 10 CFR 21.3,10 CFR 21.4 and 10 CFR 50.72.

11. License Status:

The effective date of the PBRF TR-3 license is January 28,1987, and the effective date of the MUF R-93 License is January 12,1987. Both licenses were effective for ten years from the date ofissuance.

Renewal applications for the current Plum Brook Reactor (License TR-3) and Plum Brook Mock-Up Reactor (R-93 License) were submitted to the NRC for approval on November 4,1996. The NRC has reviewed the license renewal applications and has requested clarifications and/or additionalinformation on three occasions. A response to the first request was submitted to the NRC December 20,1996, and the response to the second request was submitted to the NRC September 18,1997. In addition, NASA is currently preparing a response to the third request, which will be submitted, to the NRC during the first quarter of 1998.

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,12. Other:

A $950,000 maintenance project for the PBRF was initiated in 1997 and is ,

approximately 80% complete. The scope of this project includes long term j maintenance items such as roof and fence repairs, exterior painting, and

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replacement and/or upgrading of mechanical systems. In addition, the electrical l power system, monitoring and security systems and the underground communication cabling is being upgraded or replaced. T his project also provided ready access for inspections of normally sealed areas. These areas were inspected  ;

for structural integrity, water infiltration and provided the opportunity to obtain l updated radiological measurements. l The General Services Administration (GSA) continues to investigate the possible j transfer of 604 acres of excessed property in the western area of Plum Brook S'ation to other government agencies. If this transfer occurs, the Station fence line will be modified to confonn to the new Station perimeter. The nearest point of property affected is approximately 5,000 feet from the fenced site of the PBRF.

NASA will continue to control access to the total Station, as well as insnect, maintain and provide security surveillance for the existing or revised Plum Brook Station perimeter fence line. Conditions at the PBRF will be unaffected.

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