ML19323B379

Responds to NRC 800307 Ltr Re Violations Noted in IE Insp Rept 50-225/80-02.Corrective Actions:Telephone Extension Installed in Control Room.Students Instructed to Work in Pairs When Practicable

ML19323B379
Person / Time
Site:	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Issue date:	03/27/1980
From:	Harris D RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE, TROY, NY
To:	NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
Shared Package
ML19323B374	List: ML19323B379
References
NUDOCS 8005120301
Download: ML19323B379 (2)

Text

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Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, New York 12181 March 27, 1980 Director, Region I ,

U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission King of Prussia, PA 19406

SUBJECT:

Reply to Inspection Report 50.225/80--02

Dear Sir:

In response to the letter dated March 7, 1980 from your office and in compliance with Section 2.201, Part 2, Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations, this letter lists the actions taken to correct the two items of noncompliance iden-tified in Appendix A.

The following actions have been taken to prevent a recurrence of the item of noncompliance identified in Appendix A, section A of your letter dated March 7, 1980; (1) The requirements of Parts 50 and 55, Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regula-tions; the NRC License CX-22 Technical specifications, Section 6; and NRC Inspec-tion and Enforcement Information Notice 79-20 (Revision 1) relating to manning of the reactor controls during reactor operation were reviewed by all licensed reactor operators. The review was verified by a member of the RPI Nuclear Safety Review Board. Moreover, each operator has signed a notarized affidavit affirming his review of the documents listed above.

(2) All students are routinely instructed and have been re-instructed to manipulat.e reactor controls only; (a) with the permission of, and (b) in the presence of a licensed reactor operator.

(3) A sign, stating that reactor controls shall be manipulated only under the conditions stated in 2.a) and 2.b) above, has been placed at the reactor control panel.

(4) A telephone extension has been installed in the control room. This allows the reactor operator to answer the telephone without leaving the front of the control i panel.

(5) The reactor operator shall remove the " Reactor On" key when a licensed reactor l operator is not present at the controls. Removal of the " Reactor On" key deener- I gizes the Safety Amplifiers and thus prevents control rod movement from the SCRAM condition.

i (6) Students have been instructed to work in mutually-checking pairs when prac-ticable using the " buddy system".

I i

Dire ctor, Region I (cont'd.)

March 27, 1980 Page Two (7) A notice of " Critical Facility Safety Rules" has been given to each student and will be given to each future student.

(8) A notebook containing NRC Inspection and Enforcement Notices and Bulletins has been placed in the Facility Supervisor's Office for review by the licensed reactor operators.

These actions will avoid further items of cencompliance. Full compliance has been achieved.

Appendix A, Section B concerns the Nuclear Safety Review Board annual audit; the following actions will be accomplished before the next summer 1980) Nuclear Safety Review Board Meeting:

(1) The Facility Operating Procedures on file in the NSRB Chairman's office will be reviewed to ensure that they are the most recent revision.

(2) A copy of Section 6 of NRC License CX-22 Appendix A, the Technical Specifi-cations, will be distributed to each NSRB member.

(3) The following records will be made available by the Facility Supervisor to the NSRB at the regular January meeting:

(a) the Reactor Operations Log and, (b) the Maintenance Log.

These actions will avoid further items of noncompliance. In view of the thorough audit (which included facility operations and maintenance) completed by Mr. Stetka of your office during his February,1980 inspection, Items 1-3 will be completed by the summer 1980 meeting of the Nuclear Safety Review Board.

Sincerely yours, Dr. Donald R. Harris, Director Critical Experiments Facility Walthousen Laboratory DRH/kg i cc: Dr. G. Judd, Vice Provost for Plans & Resources Dr. G. Ansell, Dean of Engineering Dr. R. T. Lahey, Jr., NSRB Chairman Mr. P. R. Nelson, Reactor Supervisor

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