ML20205C035

Application for Amend to Licenses R-80 & R-89,proposing Two Changes to seven-member Safety Committee to Make Reactor Supervisor Voting Member of Safety Committee & to Reduce Required Number of Faculty Members from Five to Four

ML20205C035
Person / Time
Site:	05000157, 05000097
Issue date:	03/08/1999
From:	Unlu K CORNELL UNIV., ITHACA, NY
To:	NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM)
Shared Package
ML20205C025	List: ML20205C021 ML20205C035 ML20205C046
References
NUDOCS 9904010060
Download: ML20205C035 (2)

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.C O. R. .N. E. L. .L.

. i Ward Center for Nuclear Sciences Dr. Kenan Unlu Telephone: (to7)255-5224 I 105 Ward Laturatory Director Fn: (607)255-9417 I Ithaca, New York 14$53 ernail: KU150 cornell edu

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March 8,1999

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U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ATTN: Document Control Desk l Washington, D.C. 20555 j

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Facility License:

• ZPR Reactor License #R-89; Docket #50-97 J

Subject:

Proposed Amendment to the Cornell ZPR Reactor License Technical Specifications Section 6 - Administrative Controls i I

Dear Commission:

Cornell University wishes to amend subsections S6.1 Organization and Responsibilities of I Personnel , Chart 1 " Organizational Structure", S6.2 Review and Audit and 96.4 Review of Proposah )

for Experiments under the Administrative Controls section of its ZPR Reactor License Technical j Specifications.

The amendment request proposes two changes to the seven-member safety committee: a) to make l the Reactor Supervisor a voting member of the safety committee, and b) to reduce the required number of faculty members on the committee from five to four.

a) The addition of the Reactor Supervisor as a voting member of the committee would enhance the level of technical expertise brought to bear in the decision making process. The Reactor Supervisor is very familiar with the technical issues involved in laboratory operations,  ;

and can bring this knowledge and information to the committee.  ;

b) Reducing the required number of faculty committee members from five to four would still j i

assure a faculty majority on the committee, but be less restrictive without reducing the level of safety oversight. The addition of the Reactor Supervisor, and the standing membership expertise requirements in 56.2(c), will assure that the committee is better composed of  !

qualified personnel to fulfill it's mission.

The amendment request further proposes cbanges to reflect the functional replacement of the Office of the Vice President for Research and Advanced Studies with the Office of the Vice Provost for Physical Sciences and Engineering. A recent reorganization at the upper levels of the University Administration eliminated the Office of the V.P. for Research and Advanced Studies, and consolidated the functions of that office with several others under the newly created Office of the Vice Provost for Physical Sciences and Engineering. These changes in the University's administrative structure have little impact on the administration of Ward Laboratory.

The sections to be changed are inch Jed below. The text to be removed has been rtruck through and the proposed new text is in double underlined italics. The revised Chart I " Organizational Structure" has been attached.

The proposed amended $6 Administrative Controls has been attached in it's entirety.

9904010060 990323 l.

PDR ADOCK 05000097i P PDR g w

Proposed Changes to 66.0 Administrative Controls:

6.1 Oreanizaiion and Responsibilities of Personnel

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b) The Vice Provost for Physical Sciences and Engineering Vice Pic;ident for Rc;carch and Advenced Studies shall be responsible for the appointment of responsible and competent persons as members of the Ward Center Safety Committee and as Director of Ward Center.

In making these appointments, he/she shall consult with the Ward Center Advisory Board.

c) The Ward Laboratory (including but not limited to the TRIGA Reactor) shall be under the )

supervision of the Center Director, who shall have the overall responsibility for safe, efficient, and competent use of its facilities in conformity with all applicable laws, regulations, terms of facility licenses, and provisions of the Ward Center Safety Committee. He or she shall also have responsibility for maintenance and modification of Laboratory facilities. He or she shall have education and/or experience commensurate with the responsibilities of the position. He or she shall report to the Vice Provost Pre;ident d) The Reactor Supervisor shall serve as the deputy of the Center Director in all nutters relating to the establishntent and enforcement ofen!;icc::.ca: of c:;2blished rules and l

procedures @ut act in me:kr;;uch ;; c;ttiinhment of rulc;, appointments,;nd enilae admini;;rative functions). He or she should have at least a bachelors degree in a, j;l:vsical science or engineering discipline, or equivalent knowledge and experience,ty;;ycan;c!

cd.nicql : mining bcycad high ed.se: and shall possess a Senior Reactor Operator's license. He or she shall have had at least two years ofreactor operating experience and 1 e have a demonstrated competence in supervision. He or she shall be appointed by the "

i Center Director with the approvals of the Vice Provost President and the Ward Center Safety Committee, and shall report to the Center Director.

6.2 Review and Audit ,

c) The Committee shall be composed of:

1. one or more persons proficient in reactor and nuclear physics,

2. one or more persons proficient in chemistry or chemical engineering,

3. one person proficient in biological effects of radiation,

4. the Center Director, ex officio,

5. the University Radiation Safety Officer or his or her deputy, ex officio,

6. a member of the Executive Committee of the Ward Center Advisory Board or his deputy, ex officio, and,

7. the Reactor Supervisor, ex officio.

The same individual may serve under more than one category above, but the minimum membership shall be seven. At leastfgfive members shall be faculty members. -Tiw Reactor Supervisar :te!! at: cad and par: cipate in Commitice meetings, but shall nm : be c voting-nwmber-e) The chairman of the Committee shall be elected by the Committee from its members, except that the Center Director or Reactor Supervisor shall not serve as chairman. A quorum shall 2

consist of not less than a majority of the full Committee and shall include the chairman or his designee.

Cornell University appreciates your assistance in considering this request and is hopeful of an expeditious approval. If you have any questions or require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely, a

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Dr. Kenan Onln Director, WCNS Attachment cc: Dr. Seymour H. Weiss, Director, Non-Power Reactors and Decommissioning Project Directorate, USNRC Mr. Theodore Michaels, Sr. Project Manager, Non-Power Reactors and Decommissioning Project Directorate, i USNRC Mr. Thomas Dragoun, Regional Administrator, NRC Region I Mr.Howard Aderhold, Assoc. Director,WCNS Dr. K.B. Cady, Chainnan, Ward Center Safety Conunittee 4

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C O, R. .N. E. L. L, e ~

Ward Center for Nuclear Sciences Dr. Kenan Unin Telephone: (607)255-5224 105 Ward laboratory Director fax:(607)255-9417 Ithaca, New York 14853 emau: KUIS@corneu.edu March 8,1999 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ATTN: Document Control Desk Washington, D.C. 20555 Facility License: TRIGA Reactor License #R-80; Docket #50-157

Subject:

Proposed Amendment to the Cornell TRIGA Reactor License Technical Specifications Section 6 - Administrative Controls

Dear Commission,

Cornell University wishes to emend subsections $6.1 Organization and Responsibilities.cf Personnel , Chart I " Organizational Structure", $6.2 Review and Audit and S6.4 Review of Proposals for Experiments under the Administrrdive Controls section of its TRIGA Reactor License Technical Specifications.

The amendment request proposes two changes to the seven-member safety committee: a) to make the Reactor Supervisor a voting member of the safety committee, and b) to reduce the required number of faculty members on the conunittee from five to four.

a) The addition of the Reactor Supervisor as a voting member of the committee would enhance the level of technical expertise brought to bear in the decision making process. The Reactor Supervisor is very familiar with the technical issues involved in laboratory operations, and can bring this knowledge and information to the committee.

b) Reducing the required number of faculty commitbe members from five to four would still assure a faculty majority on the committee, but be less restrictive without reducing the level of safety oversight. The addition of the Reactor Supervisor, and the standing membership

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expertise requirements in 56.2(c), will assure that the committee is better composed of  ;

qualified persemel to fulfill it's mission.

l The amendment request further proposes changes to reflect the functional replacement of the Office of the Vice President for Research and Advanced Studies with the Office of the Vice Provost for Physical Sciences and Engineering. A recent reorganization at the upper levels of the University Administration eliminated the Office of the V.P. for Research and Advanced Studies, and consolidated the functions of that office with meveral others under the newly created Office of the Vice Provost for Physical Sciences and Engineering. These char.ges in the University's administrative structure have little impact on the administration of Ward Laboratory. ,

l The sections to be changed are included below. The text to be removed has been struck through l and the proposed new text is in double underlined italics. The revised Chart I " Organizational l Structure" has been attached.

The proposed amended 56 Administrative Controls has been attached in it's entirety.

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Proposed Changes to Q6.0 Administrative Controls:

6.1 Oreanization and Resnonsibilities of Personnel b) The Vice Provost for Physical Sciences and Engineering "ic: "rc;iden: for Rc;carch and Advraccd Studia shall be responsible for the appointment of responsible and competent persons as members of the Ward Center Safety Committee and as Director of Ward Center.

In making these appointments, he or she shall consult with the Ward Center Advisory Board.

c) The Ward Laboratory (including but not limited to the TRIGA Reactor) shall be under the supervision of the Center Director, who shall have the overall responsibility for safe, efficient, and competent use of its facilities in conformity with all applicable laws, regulations, terms of facility licenses, and provisions of the Ward Center Safety Committee. He or she shall also have responsibility for maintenance and modification of Laboratory facilities. He or she shall have education and/or experience commensurate with the respensibilities of the position. He or she shall report to the Vice Provost "rcsident.

d) The Reactor Supervisor shall serve as the deputy of the Center Director in all matt 2rs relating to the establishment and enforcement ofcnicrccm:n cf cate!!ica rulesand procedures (but act in m ::cr; ;ui as c; 21!tmcm of ru!cs, appoi=nents, r.nd :;indir.c administrc:.vc kaction:;). He or she should have at least a bachelors degree in a physical science or engineering discipline, or equivalent knoteledge and exyerience,ty;c ycara ct tcchnica! ::aining bcycad high schss! and shall possess a Senior Reactor Operator's license. He or she shall have had at least two years ofreactor operating experience and have a demonstrated competence in supervision. He or she shall be appointed by the j Center Director with the approvals of the Vice Provost "rc;ident and the Ward Center l Safety Committee, and shall report to the Center Director.

6.2 Review and Audit j l

c) The Committee shall be composed of: )

1. one or more persons proficient in reactor and nuclear physics,

2. one or more persons proficient in chemistry or chemical engineering,

3. one person proficient in biological effects of radiation,

4. the Center Director, ex officio,

5. the University Radiation Safety Officer or his or her deputy, ex officio, .

6. a member of the Executive Committee of the Ward Center Advisory Board or his deputy, ex officio, and,  ;

7. the Reactor Supervisor,_ex officio. l 1

The same individual may serve under more than one category above, but the minimum I l

membership shall be seven. At leastfoupfivemembers shall be faculty members. -The "cr.c:c Superasa 2:1! ::: cad and participe:c m Commi::ce mcct.ngs, h.: a:1! not be a votir.g mcznbcr .

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c)' ' The chairman of the Committee shall be elected by the Committee from its members, except that the Center Director or Reactor Supervisor shall not serve as chairman. A quorum shall

' consist of not less than a majority of the full Committee and shallinclude the chairman or his designee. .

6.4 Review of Proposals for Exneriments b) Procedures:

3. The proposalit, then to be submitted to the Center Director for safety review. (In the absence of the Center Director, the Vice Provost Prc:ddert may designate another Center Safety Committee member to act.) Safety approval requires the approval of the Center Director and at least one other person selected by him/her from the membership of the Center Safety Committee. If the two individuals agree, approval is granted. If they disagree, or if in their judgment the case warrants it, the proposal will be referred to the full Center Safety Committee.

Cornell University appreciates your assistance in considering this request and is hopeful of an expeditious approval. If you have any questions or require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely, JMav ,

l Dr. Kenan Onin l Director, WCNS ]

Attachment cc- Dr. Seymour H. Weiss, Director, Non-Power Reactors and Decommissioning Project Directorate, USNRC Mr. Theodore Michaels, ',r. Project Manager, Non-Power Reactors and Decommissioning Project Directorate, 7 USNRC Mr. Thomas Dragoun, Regional Administrator, NRC Region I

/ Mr. Howard Aderhold, Assoc. Director, WCNS Dr. K.B. Cady, Chainnan, Ward Center Safety Committee I

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