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Category:CORRESPONDENCE-LETTERS
MONTHYEARML20211B1851999-08-16016 August 1999 Forwards Response to 990308 RAI Re Amends to License R-66 & Ts.Proposed Wording for possession-only License & Revised & New Ts,Included ML20211B9041999-08-16016 August 1999 Forwards Substitute Cavalier TS Pages 32 & 33 for NRC Copy of Cavalier TS Amend Application,Replacing Old Page 32 ML20207A4371999-05-24024 May 1999 Forwards Advance Notification of Spent Nuclear Research Reactor Fuel Shipment R66-99-2 from U VA Nuclear Reactor Facility to Savannah River,Sc.Details Concerning Shipment in Attachment.Attachment Withheld ML20217A6321999-05-24024 May 1999 Provides Advance Notification of Spent Nuclear Research Reactor Fuel Shipment R66-99-2 from Univ of Virginia Nuclear Facility to Savannah River,South Carolina.Encl Withheld ML20206K8071999-05-0606 May 1999 Forwards Insp Rept 50-062/99-201 on 990414-16.No Violations Noted.Insp Consisted of Selective Exams of Procedures & Representative Records,Interviews with Personnel & Observations of Activities in Progress ML20205J4271999-03-30030 March 1999 Submits Advanced Notification of Upcoming Spent Nuclear Reactor Fuel Shipment R66-99-1 from Univ of VA Nuclear Reactor Facility to Savannah River,Sc,Per 10CFR73.Details of Shipment,Encl.Without Encl ML20207K2501999-03-0808 March 1999 Forwards Request for Addl Info Re Amend Request for License R-66 Submitted on 980929 ML20203A1331999-02-0303 February 1999 Requests That Senior Reactor Operator License SOP-70161,on Univ of VA Reactor (License R-66) of CA Bly,Be Terminated ML20202B3421999-01-25025 January 1999 Ack Receipt of 990107 Response to Violations Noted in Insp Rept 50-062/98-202.Response Meets Requirements of 10CFR2.201 ML20206P2991999-01-0707 January 1999 Responds to NRC Re Violations Noted in Insp Rept 50-062/98-202.Corrective Actions:Correct Name for Content Matl Being Shipped Is Now Typed Onto All Shipping Forms ML20198L1161998-12-29029 December 1998 Responds to Request for Updated Version of Route Approved by .Enclosure 1 & Page 7 of Enclosure 2 to Be Incorporated with 981026 Package Encl ML20198J2221998-12-21021 December 1998 Forwards Amend 24 to License R-66 & Safety Evaluation.Amend Removes Surveillance Requirements for Rod Drop Measurements & Primary Coolant Flow Calibr ML20198F1101998-12-21021 December 1998 Requests 30-day Extension to Response to NRC Rai, ML20197H6901998-12-10010 December 1998 Submits Clarification of Request for Amend to Univ of VA Reactor TS Dtd 981203.Request Remains Active ML20197H5701998-12-0909 December 1998 Forwards Insp Rept 50-062/98-202 on 981116-19 & Notice of Violation.One Violation Identified.Various Aspects of Operations,Safety & Security Programs Inspected Including Selective Exams of Procedures & Representative Records ML20197G9721998-12-0303 December 1998 Informs That Univ of VA Is in Process of Preparing Response to NRC 981123 RAI Re Proposed Set of UVAR TS Amends Submitted on 980929.Listed Are Two UVAR TS Considerations That Are Being Brought to NRC Attention for Resolution ML20196B1081998-11-23023 November 1998 Forwards Request for Addl Info Re Amend Request for Amended FOL R-66 for University of Virginia Research Reactor, Submitted on 980929.Response Requested within 30 Days of Date of Ltr ML20155D4711998-10-30030 October 1998 Forwards Advance Notification of Spent Nuclear Research Reactor Fuel Shipment R66-98-1 from U VA Nuclear Reactor Facility to Savannah River,Sc.Details of Shipment Are Encl. Without Encl ML20198C8351998-10-30030 October 1998 Forwards Advance Notification of Spent Nuclear Research Reactor Fuel Shipment R66-98-1 from Univ of VA Nuclear Reactor to Savannah River,Sc.Details of Shipment Encl. Without Encl ML20155C1271998-10-27027 October 1998 Informs That Univ of Virginia,Cavalier & UVAR Reactor Operator Requalification Program Meets Requirements of Regulations & Therefore,Acceptable.Implementation of Approved Program Should Begin Immediately ML20155B6031998-10-26026 October 1998 Refers to Request Dtd 980922,for Approval of Route to Be Used for Transport of Spent Fuel from University of Virginia Nuclear Reactor Facility,Charlottesville,Va to Us DOE Savannah River Site,Aiken,Sc ML20154H9561998-10-0707 October 1998 Forwards Response to NRC Request for Addl Info Re Revised Reactor Operator Requalification Program ML20239A1061998-09-0303 September 1998 Forwards RAI Re Revised Reactor Operator Requalification Program,Submitted by Ltr ML20236X8071998-08-0303 August 1998 Forwards Revised Operator Requalification Program for NRC Review & Approval.New Program Takes Into Account de-facto Limitations of Licensed Ro/Sro Duties Just to Fuel Handling Activities,Given That Reactor Core Is Permanently Unloaded ML20236Q9931998-07-15015 July 1998 Withdraws 960319 Request That Revised Security Plan Become License Amend,Per 10CFR50.34 & 10CFR50.59,due to Permanent Shutdown of Univ of VA Reactor,Effective 980701 ML20236K4741998-07-0707 July 1998 Forwards Amend 8 to License R-123 & Safety Evaluation. Amend Tranfers Responsibility for Overall Mgt of CAVALIER from School of Engineering to Office of Vice Provost for Research ML20236F7091998-06-26026 June 1998 Ack Receipt of ,Informing NRC of Univ of Virginia Decision to Cease Operations at Univ of Virginia Research by 980701 & Being Process to Decontaminate & Decommission Facility ML20249C3801998-06-22022 June 1998 Submits Formal Notification to Us NRC of Intention of Univ of VA to Begin Process That Will Lead to Decontamination & Decommissioning of Univ of VA Reactor Covered by License R-66 ML20249B8641998-06-18018 June 1998 Submits Response to NRC RAI Re TS Amend Request ML20249A5921998-06-15015 June 1998 Forwards Amend 23 to License R-66 & Safety Evaluation.Amend Transfers Responsibility for Overall Mgt of University of Virginia Research Reactor from School of Engineering to Ofc of Vice Provost for Reseach IR 05000062/19982011998-05-0404 May 1998 Ack Receipt of Informing NRC of Steps Taken to Correct Violations Noted in Insp Rept 50-062/98-201.NRC Will Examine Implementation of Corrective Actions During Future Insp ML20217H7921998-04-23023 April 1998 Informs That Univ of VA Administration Had Made Decision to Move Toward Ceasing Operations of UVAR Reactor,As Stated in ML20217H7891998-04-15015 April 1998 Accepts Ltr as Official Notification to NRC of Univ of VA Intent to Decommission Univ of UVAR Reactor ML20216B6331998-04-0606 April 1998 Submits Answer to NRC Request for Addl Info Re Univ of VA Reactor UVAR & Univ VA Cavalier ML20217M1531998-04-0101 April 1998 Responds to NRC Re Violations Noted in Insp Repts 50-062/98-201 & 50-396/98-201 on 980126-28.Corrective Actions:Held make-up Evacuation Drill & Tested Evacuation Alarm.Greater Attention in Documenting & Filing Paperwork ML20217G6241998-03-30030 March 1998 Forwards Annual Rept of Operations of Univ of VA Reactor & Cavalier Reactor During Period 970101-1231,per Section 6.7.2 of TS ML20216G8581998-03-11011 March 1998 Forwards Request for Addl Info Re Review of Amend Request for License R-66,submitted on 980226.Responses Requested to Be Provided within 60 Days of Date of Ltr ML20197B7881998-03-0404 March 1998 Forwards Insp Rept 50-062/98-201 on 980126-28 & Notices of Violation & Deviation.Various Aspects of Radiation Protection & Safety Programs Were Inspected ML20203L9351998-02-18018 February 1998 Forwards Copy of Results of Operator Initial Exam Conducted at Univ of Virginia on 980115-16 ML20197F7171997-12-11011 December 1997 Forwards Insp Repts 50-062/97-201 & 50-396/97-201 on 971111- 13.No Violations Noted ML20197G1381997-12-11011 December 1997 Responds to Electronic Mail Message of 971201 Re Comparative Costs of Relicensing & Decommissioning non-power Reactors ML20198Q3541997-11-0303 November 1997 Confirms Arrangements P Isaac Made W/P Benneche for Administration of Operator Licensing Exams at Univ of Virginia Reactor.Exams Scheduled for Wk of 980112.Requests Ref Matl Listed in Encls ML20198F6671997-08-0101 August 1997 Informs That on 970804,non-power Reactor Insp Program Will Be Transferred from Region II Ofc to NRR ML20141K6131997-05-15015 May 1997 Forwards Insp Rept 50-062/97-01 on 970414-17.No Violations Noted ML20138H0911997-05-0707 May 1997 Forwards Scenerio for 961119 Emergency Drill IR 05000062/19960031997-04-22022 April 1997 Ack Receipt of Informing NRC of Steps Taken to Correct Violations Noted in Insp Rept 50-062/96-03. Corrective Actions Will Be Examined During Future Insp ML20137V9121997-03-25025 March 1997 Forwards List of Phone Numbers & Directions to NRC Region II Ofc.Ofc Will Move to Atlanta Federal Center Complex on 970425.During Transition Period of 970425-27 Ofc Will Not Be Open for Business ML20137U9911997-03-18018 March 1997 Forwards Annual Rept of Operations of Univ of VA Reactor & Cavalier Reactor for Period 960101-1231.W/o Encl ML20141K4911997-02-17017 February 1997 Forwards Response to Violations Noted in Insp Rept 50-062/96-03.Corrective Actions:Reactor Staff Will Request Approval from Univ of VA Reactor Safety Committee for Changes to UVAR Emergency Plan & Implementing Procedures ML20133F8671996-12-20020 December 1996 Forwards Insp Rept 50-062/96-03 on 961118-21.No Violations or Deviations Noted 1999-08-16
[Table view] Category:INCOMING CORRESPONDENCE
MONTHYEARML20211B1851999-08-16016 August 1999 Forwards Response to 990308 RAI Re Amends to License R-66 & Ts.Proposed Wording for possession-only License & Revised & New Ts,Included ML20211B9041999-08-16016 August 1999 Forwards Substitute Cavalier TS Pages 32 & 33 for NRC Copy of Cavalier TS Amend Application,Replacing Old Page 32 ML20217A6321999-05-24024 May 1999 Provides Advance Notification of Spent Nuclear Research Reactor Fuel Shipment R66-99-2 from Univ of Virginia Nuclear Facility to Savannah River,South Carolina.Encl Withheld ML20207A4371999-05-24024 May 1999 Forwards Advance Notification of Spent Nuclear Research Reactor Fuel Shipment R66-99-2 from U VA Nuclear Reactor Facility to Savannah River,Sc.Details Concerning Shipment in Attachment.Attachment Withheld ML20205J4271999-03-30030 March 1999 Submits Advanced Notification of Upcoming Spent Nuclear Reactor Fuel Shipment R66-99-1 from Univ of VA Nuclear Reactor Facility to Savannah River,Sc,Per 10CFR73.Details of Shipment,Encl.Without Encl ML20203A1331999-02-0303 February 1999 Requests That Senior Reactor Operator License SOP-70161,on Univ of VA Reactor (License R-66) of CA Bly,Be Terminated ML20206P2991999-01-0707 January 1999 Responds to NRC Re Violations Noted in Insp Rept 50-062/98-202.Corrective Actions:Correct Name for Content Matl Being Shipped Is Now Typed Onto All Shipping Forms ML20198F1101998-12-21021 December 1998 Requests 30-day Extension to Response to NRC Rai, ML20197H6901998-12-10010 December 1998 Submits Clarification of Request for Amend to Univ of VA Reactor TS Dtd 981203.Request Remains Active ML20197G9721998-12-0303 December 1998 Informs That Univ of VA Is in Process of Preparing Response to NRC 981123 RAI Re Proposed Set of UVAR TS Amends Submitted on 980929.Listed Are Two UVAR TS Considerations That Are Being Brought to NRC Attention for Resolution ML20198C8351998-10-30030 October 1998 Forwards Advance Notification of Spent Nuclear Research Reactor Fuel Shipment R66-98-1 from Univ of VA Nuclear Reactor to Savannah River,Sc.Details of Shipment Encl. Without Encl ML20155D4711998-10-30030 October 1998 Forwards Advance Notification of Spent Nuclear Research Reactor Fuel Shipment R66-98-1 from U VA Nuclear Reactor Facility to Savannah River,Sc.Details of Shipment Are Encl. Without Encl ML20154H9561998-10-0707 October 1998 Forwards Response to NRC Request for Addl Info Re Revised Reactor Operator Requalification Program ML20236X8071998-08-0303 August 1998 Forwards Revised Operator Requalification Program for NRC Review & Approval.New Program Takes Into Account de-facto Limitations of Licensed Ro/Sro Duties Just to Fuel Handling Activities,Given That Reactor Core Is Permanently Unloaded ML20236Q9931998-07-15015 July 1998 Withdraws 960319 Request That Revised Security Plan Become License Amend,Per 10CFR50.34 & 10CFR50.59,due to Permanent Shutdown of Univ of VA Reactor,Effective 980701 ML20249C3801998-06-22022 June 1998 Submits Formal Notification to Us NRC of Intention of Univ of VA to Begin Process That Will Lead to Decontamination & Decommissioning of Univ of VA Reactor Covered by License R-66 ML20249B8641998-06-18018 June 1998 Submits Response to NRC RAI Re TS Amend Request ML20217H7921998-04-23023 April 1998 Informs That Univ of VA Administration Had Made Decision to Move Toward Ceasing Operations of UVAR Reactor,As Stated in ML20217H7891998-04-15015 April 1998 Accepts Ltr as Official Notification to NRC of Univ of VA Intent to Decommission Univ of UVAR Reactor ML20216B6331998-04-0606 April 1998 Submits Answer to NRC Request for Addl Info Re Univ of VA Reactor UVAR & Univ VA Cavalier ML20217M1531998-04-0101 April 1998 Responds to NRC Re Violations Noted in Insp Repts 50-062/98-201 & 50-396/98-201 on 980126-28.Corrective Actions:Held make-up Evacuation Drill & Tested Evacuation Alarm.Greater Attention in Documenting & Filing Paperwork ML20217G6241998-03-30030 March 1998 Forwards Annual Rept of Operations of Univ of VA Reactor & Cavalier Reactor During Period 970101-1231,per Section 6.7.2 of TS ML20138H0911997-05-0707 May 1997 Forwards Scenerio for 961119 Emergency Drill ML20137U9911997-03-18018 March 1997 Forwards Annual Rept of Operations of Univ of VA Reactor & Cavalier Reactor for Period 960101-1231.W/o Encl ML20141K4911997-02-17017 February 1997 Forwards Response to Violations Noted in Insp Rept 50-062/96-03.Corrective Actions:Reactor Staff Will Request Approval from Univ of VA Reactor Safety Committee for Changes to UVAR Emergency Plan & Implementing Procedures ML20132F5931996-12-16016 December 1996 Responds to 960919 RAI Re TS Amend Request . Withdrawal of Proposed TS Amend,Requested ML20134L0571996-11-15015 November 1996 Requests 30 Day Extension for Response to NRC 960919 RAI Re 960528 Application for Amend to License R-66 ML20128N1421996-10-11011 October 1996 Requests Extension to 961119 Re Submittal of TS Amend RAI ML20117J2161996-05-28028 May 1996 Forwards Proposed TS Amend,Consisting of Revised (or Deleted) Definitions for Terms Reactor Secured,Reactor Shutdown,Reactor Operating,Reference Core Condition & Reactivity Limits ML20106J9561996-03-26026 March 1996 Forwards Public Version of Revised Epips,Including Rev 19 to EPIP-6 & Rev 19 to EPIP-14 ML20101N8651996-03-26026 March 1996 Forwards Rev 19 to EPIPs for Facility,Including EPIP 6,page 2,EPIP 6,Attachment 1,pages 1 & 2 & EPIP 14,Attachment 1, Page 1.Rev Reflects Changes in Personnel & Phone Numbers.W/O Encls ML20101E3891996-03-19019 March 1996 Forwards Proprietary Amendment to License R-66 Re Security Plan for Univ of VA Reactor Facility.Encl Withheld (Ref 10CFR2.790) ML20100K6001996-02-22022 February 1996 Forwards Revised Version of Reactor Facility Security Plan. Encl Withheld ML20094C4081995-10-26026 October 1995 Forwards Revised Pages to SAR & New Proposed TS 4.9, Surveillance of Activity in Secondary Coolant Sys, in Response to NRC 951025 RAI ML20093L1041995-10-19019 October 1995 Forwards NRC Questionaire & Licensee Answers Re Proposed Amend to SAR of 951010,including Proposed SAR Section 9.20.8 as Component of Response to NRC Question 6. Replacement of Proposed SAR Amend Also Encl ML20095F2681995-10-11011 October 1995 Forwards Univ of VA Nuclear Reactor Facility 1995 Annual Emergency Preparedness Drill Scenario.Requests That Encl of Ltr Be Held from NRC Public Document Room Until After Drill Event ML20093C7411995-10-10010 October 1995 Forwards SAR for Low-Enriched U Fueled Univ of VA Reactor ML20083P7031995-05-11011 May 1995 Advises That All HEU Fuel Elements Removed from Facility & Condition II.B.(4) Can Be Deleted from License R-66,in Response to NRC 950508 RAI Re Proposed Changes to License. Licensee Still Possesses HEU in Form of Fission Chambers ML20097J3921995-04-20020 April 1995 Forwards Response to NRC 950309 RAI Re Proposed Changes to Ts.Revised TS Also Encl ML20082N9141995-04-19019 April 1995 Forwards Estimated Uncertainity for Univ of VA Reactor Reactivity Measurements ML20081L9751995-03-27027 March 1995 Forwards Rev 18 to EPIPs & Rev 3 to Emergency Plan ML20078C7201994-10-26026 October 1994 Requests That NRC Take No Further Action on Review of Security Plan Proposed by Licensee on 900713,in View of Completed Conversion of Univ of VA Reactor to LEU Fuel & Upcoming Decommissioning of 100W Cavalier Reactor ML20077C3841994-10-18018 October 1994 Forwards Univ of VA Nuclear Reactor Facility 1994 Emergency Preparedness Drill Scenario for 941122 ML20076F9031994-10-13013 October 1994 Forwards HEU to LEU Fuel Conversion Rept, as Required by Attachment to Amend 20,License R-66 ML20077S3361994-07-29029 July 1994 Submits Affidavit Re NRC Request for Publication of Proprietary & Confidential Info of Protechnics Intl,Inc,In Connection W/Spill Which Took Place at Univ of VA Reactor Facility in 1992 & Reported to NRC by Univ on 920911 ML20070G2781994-07-13013 July 1994 Responds to NRC Re Violations Noted in Insp Rept 50-062/94-04.Corrective Action:Many Routine Surveys Performed ML20063F9101994-01-14014 January 1994 Forwards Rev 16 to Epips.Requests Ack Receipt & Filing of Rev by Returning Completed Cover Sheet.W/O Encl ML20062N6471994-01-10010 January 1994 Informs That Rd Flack Named Dept Chairman,Effective 931201 ML20059K0121993-11-0404 November 1993 Informs Nrc,Rd Flack,Named Acting Chair of Dept of Mechanical,Aerospace & Nuclear Engineering by Dean of School of Engineering & Applied Science ML20056F7791993-08-26026 August 1993 Responds to NRC Re Violations Noted in Insp Rept 50-062/93-01.Corrective Actions:Complete Review of Console Schematics & Electronics Performed & Improved Labelling Sys Adopted for Modules in Console 1999-08-16
[Table view] |
Text
Gl$EERING f3 August 25, 1992 & APPLIED SCIEN( E
!*!) ll:l Vl \ l iol \ t ili (k } \! l \ ! l l;; Y ,
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ^!#'""'""""'
Document Control Desk Mail Stop P1-137 I **'"'"V"""
Washington, D.C. 20555
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388598W825559E53H28 Re: License R-66, Docket No. 50-62, for the Universit?8NiNfdlV8*'3 Research Reactor (UVAR).
Subject:
Senior Reactor Operator Requalification Exams Gentlemen:
This letter documents a telephone converWion held on August 6, 1992, from 1: 4 0 PF until 2 : 30 PM, betwee') isrs. Caldwell, Adams, Hankin, and Sartor of the NRC and Messrs. Farrar, Benneche, and Krause ef the University of Virginia Reactor Facility. The reactor director, Dr. Robert Mulder, was away on vacation and did not participate in this conference call. Ilowever, earlier that morning he had had separate telephone contacts with Mr. Caldwell and Mr.
Farrar and was aware of the issues and proposed solutions.
This letter also presents a final averview of the subjects discussed, lists the corrective actions taken and to be taken by the licensee, and includes concluding remarks intended to put several non-applicable " root-cause" hypothesis to rest.
Background:
The subject of the co;.ference call concerned the Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) Requalification Examinations held at the University of Virginia Reactor Facility during the week of July 13, 1992.
The re-examinations were administered jointly by the NRC and a specially designated UVAR staff member who did not need to be
. requalified. Three senior operators took these examinations. They passed the written parts of the exam with higii marks and responded correctly to four out of the five scenarios on the operating part of the exam. Since the failure of one scenario on the operating test was acceptable, the SROs maintained their NRC-licensed operator status, llowever, facility managemelit and NRC examiners l concerns arose based on the same scenario being f ailed by all three SROs.
The failed emergency scenario involved a postulated significant poolwater leak-rate. A key elerent in the response expected by the examiners was the activation of the Reactor Facility's Emergency Plan Implementing Procedures (EPIPs) by each operator. The responsibility for activating the EPIPs rested with the operators since each one was alone (hypotnatically) in the building at the 920B260316 920825 PDR ADOCK 05000062 1h V PDR
( i
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, t (page 2, SRO Requalification, cont.)
start of the " event." While the operators indicated to the i examiners the immediate actions they would have taken to prevent the pool from draining down to the level of the reactor core, such as starting makeup water to the reactor pool, moving the reactor !
bridge and core to the end of the pool opposite the leak and '
placing the gate in the center of the pool to isolate the reactor >
in the intact half of the pool, they did not declare an emergency ,
and activate the EPIPs in a timely manner. That-is, they failed to: 1) open a copy of the EPIPa which was readily available to '
them, 2) declaro a state of emergency and assume the (temporary)
- position of Emergency Director, 3) make phone calls (simulation only) to get the remaining reactor staff and support personnel on-site, 4) begin notification of local, state and federal agencies.
The emergency scetario was conceived by the UVAR SRO who served as the licensee representative examiner, in collaboration with the NRO ,
examiner. By quoting to the SROs a high poolwater loss rate, above )
the upper limit set in the emergency plan (EP), use of the EPIps by the operators was elicited. From interviews that ' :onducted with the SRO examiner and the'SROs who took the exam, .t appeara that 1 the operators did.not interpret the requirements of the scenario correctly, believing until too late that the response being called for by the examiners was limited to the " practical" options available to ameliorate the problem of a reactor poolwater leal-They correctly recalled from memory these. actions, which are statt a i in the EPIPs. Belatedly, one of the individuals did point out that j by the time the leak containment actions were to have been taken, 1 the facility would have had its emergency plan active. l The requirement for the senior-most operator present on-site to initiate the EPIPs at the imminence of an emergency -has been covered often in training. This requirement is stated in the Emergency Plan and its implementing procedures. Every staff member has a personal copy of these documents for reference. Since this requn ement has been known to the entire licensed staff all along,
! there is no defensible excuse for the requirement not to have been !
! followed by the operators during the presentation of the emergency ;
l scenario. Everyone is in agreement with these facts.
i
! Still, in fairness to the SROs who failed the scenario on this j simple yet key point, I would like to note that during almost all
- annual emergency drills the reactor director has been the person L who.has acted as the Emergency Director, declaring the-emergency,
! directing the communications and having oversight over staff l -response, by virtue of his presence on site. Staff response has been limited mostly to simulating the taking of ameliorating l
actions, not handling " paperwork" or notifications which were taken care-of by the director and his secretary.
i
! Drill scenarios involving a lone operator at the facility at the
' inception of an emergency has at come up yet, basically for lack i
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1 (page 3, SRO Requalification, cont.)
of opportunity! Other interesting and worthwhile scenarios were i developed for annual drills held since 1985. Hence, staff has not had a enance to (sorcise during drills for situations where the reactor d! rector ur.d supervisors might be absent. Future drills i will provice an opportunity for staff members with lower seniority to act as emergency directors. (Note: During one past emergency drill the reactor director was postulated absent, so that a reactor
- supervisor had to assume the charge of emergency director and i initiating the EPIPs.)
i correctiva hetioast i A formal meeting was held shortly after the requalification examination between the Reactor Director and the reactor staff to
, discuss the implications of the generic scenario failure. All i involved were emotionally taken aback with the- negative development. It was stated by one individual that because the
" event" had been presented during an exam, there had been a reluctance to pick up the procedures and to refer to them. Instead t preference was given to answering the questions posed from memory, although use of references wasn't proscribed during the operating part of the exam. Two of the operators felt that the scenario being played out to them allowed them the option-to start makeisp +
, water to the pool, attempt to take appropriate actions to find and r
seal the leak, and move the reactor to safety, all in short order, thus averting a more serious emergency situation. In the ensuino ,
discussion it was agreed that this " solution" would not have been appropriate, given the conditions presented in the scenario.
i Several requalification sessions have been scheduled to augment training in energency procedures, beginning in September. (Please see a copy of the requalification schedule which is included in attachment.) A different scenario will be presented at each !
session and different individuals will be assigned to act out the i role of Emergency Director.
Recognizing the opportunity afforded, I have entrusted the SRO in charge of the facility's emergency preparedness to initiate a study to streamline the EPIPs, by suggesting procedures which could be improved, consolidated and perhaps, clininated. Maybe, the EPIPs can be reformatted into a checklist style which would be used more easily. _ Recently, .of ficials .from - the Va. Of fice - of - Emergency Services visited the Reactor Facility to discuss their participation in an upcoming bi-annual drill. They remarked that they_would like to see U.Va. reduce its four reactor-emergency classifications to just two. This would reduce the size of the
, EPIPs and permit their simplification. This _ suggested consolidation of emergency classifications will also be studied.
It must be recognized, however, that actual rework of the Emergency
i I.
i l (page 4, SRO Requalification, cont.)
l Plan and its EPIPs is a major and lengthy undertaking, which will j require input and review by the U.VA. Reactor Safety Committec l (RSC) and perhaps the NRC.
Concluding Remarks i
1 During the " root-cause" analysis period, now concluded, all
, possible (and impossible) reasons for the generic exam question i
failure were brought up by the reactor staff for consideration.
Potential difficulties with the use of the EPIPs was suggested as 1 a possible cause for the perception of " reticence" by the NRC on 1
the part of certain staff members to declare an emergency. Such
'.'dif ficulties" would be associated with the number of emergency implementing procedures (about 2 dozen) and the complex structure 1 1 (patterned after power reactors) calling for four emergency )
! classifications. Given the large number of procedures, the ability i of a single operator to carry them out in a timely fashion was 1 questioned as well.
l In response to the above, the general opinion among staff is that while the EPIPs could be improved, they are workablo at present.
1 Also, not all of the procedures would be applicable to every j emergency, or have to be executed immediately. If only a single individual were to be present at the Reactor Facility at the start i
of an emergency, the most important action he or che is expected to 2
take would be to initiate the EPIPs, by calling upon the reactor operators to return to the Reactor Facility and lend assistance in
. carrying out the EPIPs. These calls could be done within a 4
reasonably short time, i
As regards the adequacy of reactor staffing, in addition to the 1 current five full-time reactor operators, there is the reactor director, two shop supervisors, a reactor secretary and the U.Va.
i i
health physics staff which could be counted upon (excluding police, rescue squad and so forth). Compared with other similar U.S.
university reactors, the UVAR is reasonably well and competently staffed. At a good number of academic reactors there are as few as 5
three part-time operators, one usually being a faculty member and the rest students! Currently, all five UVAR operators are SROs, each with many years of research reactor experience.
4 Consideration was given to a possible lack of familisrity by the I reactor staff with the EP and EPIPs. Upon evaluation,-this charge is clearly wrong. All the SROs who failed the emergency scenario participated in the development and/or review of the EP and EPIPs at the time they were being developed by former reactor staff members, in the early 80's. These documents were reviewed several times by the RSC and the NRC. Drills have been held yearly using these documents since December 1985. Prior to' holding the annual or biannual drills, emergency training has been- covered in the operator requalification program. The SROs who missed initiating
1 .
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1 (page 5, SRO requalification, cont.)
i i the EPIPs during the presentation of the emergency scenario, did in
] fact recollect correctly from memory the principal remedial and i recovery actions called for in the EPIPs for the scenario presented
- to them.
While the current operators-in-training may yet have less familiarity than our licensed operators with the EP and EPIPs, a emergency response is a component of the reactor operator training
{ progrem. Exposure to the requalification program training and i further drilling will bring them to an acceptable level of l familiarity.
l Given the many long discussions that have taken place and a proper k self-critical attitude of the staff, the NRC can rest assured the
! reactor emergency preparedness at U.VA. is in good shape. Should '
i an accident occur or be imminent at the UVAR, even with as few as
- one operator on-site, calls would be made to bring more support to
! the reactor site, and the appropriate local, state and federal
- government agencies would be notified. Certainly, the staff is j well aware of the NRC examiner's comments at his exit interview, to '
- the effect that the NHC prefers to receive f also alarms rather than
! tardy notification. Further, it has been made clear that the NRC l would not react regatively should it be told in a follow-up call.
l that additional information obtained by the licensee following the 4
declaration of an emergency had indicated that the emergency j declaration had been made in error.
l There is additional evidence to strengthen NRC confidence in the '
i good state of emergency preparedness at U.VA. . Several months ago, ;
$ when the reactor supervisors were informed by the U.VA. police of i j a possible phoned threat against this facility,-1, as director, i initiated the EPIPs with all its ramifications. The NRC was duly
} notified, as required. I am confident that had I not.been present
! at the Reactor Facility, the reactor staff would still have taken i all required actions, even had the emergency been of a different j nature.
As a final note, I would like invite NRC representatives to a full-i scale (bi-annual) emergency _ drill currently planned for November,
- 1992. This exercise will involve off-site support organizations.
l The NRC will be sent a copy of the drill scenario in advance.
l l
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(page 6, SRO Hequalification, cont.)
I believe that this letter will permit principal questions examinations. raised in connectionthe withclose-out of the the requalification the NHC, Should there be a need for additional follow-up by I am available at (804) 982-5440.
Sincerely,s Ii j);
k.
) .\ ~ , ' rV, y 1,1 -
Robert U. Mulder, Director U.Va. Reactor Facility &
Asst. Prof. Nuclear Engineering j...
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hequalification Program Schedule cc:
U.Va. Reactor Safety Committee UVAR Staff Mr. Al Adams, Regional Administrator,Projcct Manager for U.VA., USNRC, Wash.
USNRC Region II, Atlanta, Ga. D.C.
August 21, 1992 .
Mero To Reactor Operations Staff !
2 From: J.P.Farrar '
Subject:
Reactor Operator ikqualification Lectures The Reactor Operator Roqualification Program for the U.Vn. Reacts Facility requires that the followirg subjects be covered in a lecture ceries, a) Norml Operatirg Procedures b) Abnorm 1 ard D'crgency Procedures c) Tochnical Specifications d) Plant Instrurentation e) Reactor Protective card Safety Systems f) Radiation Control aM Safety g) Reactor Thoory ard Plant Operating Characteristics h) Any Charges to Procedures cr Dguipment To meet these requirements a serica of lectures will be conducttd for ard by those irdivjduals holding RO/SRO Licenses on the UVAR reactor ard those
, trainiry to obtain a licenFe. These lectures will normlly be held on Morday afternoons at 2:00 P.M. on the dates irdicated ard should last approximtely one horr. The individual corducting each lecture should also prepare a comprehensive outline of the mterial covered for uso during their presentation. This outline will then be placed in a permnent file documentirg our roqualification program. The preparation of visual aids is highly desirable '
wherever apptxpriate. '
Lechires for chames to procedures, equipment, etc. will be scheduled as '
necessary.
Date Presenter Subiect 9-08-92 Benneche, Piccolo Dretyency/ Security /H.P. reorientation 9-14-92 Krause, Mulder Dmrgency Proccdures (Scenario) 9-21-92 Krause, Mulder Dnergency Procedures (Soenario) 9-28-92 Krause, Itilder DTIgency Procedures (Scenario) 10-05-92 Krause, Muld3r Dmrgency Procedures (Scenario) 10-19-92 Farrar Stardarti Operatirg Procedures, (SOP 2,3,4) 11-09-92 Hosticka Stardard Operating Procedures (SOP 5) l l 11-23-92 Benneche Standard Operatirg Procedures (SOP 6) 12-07-92 Krause Standarti Operating Proccdures (SOP 7,8) 1-11-93 Scheid Stardanl Operatirg Procedres (SOP 10,11,13)
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1-18-93 Doyle Technical Spccif3 cations (Scctions 2 & 3) 2-08-93 Farrar Technical Specifications (Sections 4,5,6) 2-22-93 llosticka Instrumatation & Safety Systems ,
, 3-08-93 Krause &crgency Plan & Procedures 3-22-93 Benncdle WAR Safety Amlysis 4-12-93 llosticka Reactor 'Ihcory & WN1 Omractoristics i
, 5-10-93 Farrar Entgency Cooling Systan '
June or July - Annual Roqualification D:am 9
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