IR 05000188/1986002

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Partially Withheld Insp Rept 50-188/86-02 on 860909-10. Violation Noted:Failure to Perform Semiannual Calibr of Listed Portable Survey Instruments & Written Instruction Not in Effect for Spectroscopy Sys
ML20203P182
Person / Time
Site: Kansas State University
Issue date: 10/15/1986
From: Murray B, Wise R
NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV)
To:
Shared Package
ML20203P177 List:
References
50-188-86-02, 50-188-86-2, NUDOCS 8610270093
Download: ML20203P182 (8)


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I APPENDIX B U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

. REGION IV NRC Inspection Report: 50-188/86-02 License: R-88 Docket: 50-188 Licensee: Kansas State University (KSU)

Department of Nuclear Engineering Manhattan, Kansas 66505 Facility Name: Kansas State University Inspection At: Manhattan, Kansas Inspection Conducted: September 9-10, 1986 Inspector: <^="-"=

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/0//f/~ M Russell Wise, Radiation Specialist, Facilities Date Radiological Protection Section f

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Inspection Summar Inspection Conducted September 9-10, 1986 (Report 50-188/86-02)

Areas Inspected: Routine, unannounced inspection of the licensee's program including: (1) radiation protection, (2) emergency preparedness, (3) material accountability, and (4) physical securit Results- Within the areas inspected, three violations were identified (see paragraphs 3.a. 3.d, and 3.e).

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. DETAILS Persons Contacted

  • N. D. Eckhoff, Department Head, Nuclear Engineering
  • R. E. Faw, Director, Nuclear Reactor Facility (NRF)
  • J. F. Higginbotham, Reactor Supervisor
  • F. L. Ferguson, General Manager, Physical Facilities
  • J. Lambert, Radiation Safety Of ficer
  • G. Simonis, Professor
  • J. Daniels, Reactor Operator
  • J. Whitfield, Reactor Operator R. Tout, M.D., Director, Student Health Center C. A. Beckom, Chief, KSU Police G. D. Westcott, Industrial Hygienist E. M. Hupe, Administrative Officer, Physical Facilities
  • Denotes those present during the exit briefin . Inspector Observation The following are observations the NRC inspectors discussed with the licensee during the exit meeting on September 10, 1986. These observations are neither violations nor unresolved items. These items were recommended for licensee consideration for program improvement, but they have no specific regulatory requiremen Documentation of Instrumentation Calibration / Response Tests - Records of portable survey instrument calibrations and alarm setpoint tests did not indicate what calibration source was used or who had performed the calibratio (See paragraph 3.a.) Calibration of Area Monitor - The area radiation monitor which actuates the evacuation alarm is not currently calibrated above 100 mR/ (See paragraph 3.b.) Personnel Monitoring - Personnel monitoring devices were not approved by National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation for Personnel i Dosimetry (NVLAP). (See paragraph 3.d.) Neutron Surveys - Neutron radiation levels had not been establishe (See paragraph 3.f.)

' CFR Part 19.12 Training - Documentation of radiation worker

, training did not include all categories of instruction in

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10 CFR 19.1 (See paragraph 3.g.)

, Emergency Equipment - A high range instrument was not available in an

emergency ki (See paragraph 4.)

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, Key Control - Documentation of personnel authorized access to the NRF was not curren (See paragraph 8.) Radiation Protection The licensee's radiation protection program was inspected to determine compliance with the requirements of Technical Specifications (TS) F and H; 10 CFR Parts 19 and 20; the KSU Emergency Plan; and the recommendations of NRC Regulatory Guide (RG) The NRC inspector reviewed records, interviewed personnel, made observations, and performed independent survey Radiation Measuring Instrumentation The NRC inspector reviewed calibration records for portable radiation survey instrumentation for 1983, 1984, 1985, and 1986. It was noted that calibration standards utilized for calibration and the' person who was performing the survey instrument calibration was not recorded on the data sheet. The licensee stated at the exit briefing on September 10, 1986, that this observation would be reviewe The NRC inspector noted that calibration of portable survey instrumentation was required to be performed in accordance with Section 10.5 of the KSV Emergency Plan, dated October 14, 1982, which

states, in part, that portable survey instruments will be calibrated i

semiannuall It was noted from the review of calibration records that the following five portable radiation monitoring instruments had been used to determine radiation levels, but had not been calibrated semiannuall Eberline Model E-120, Serial Number (S/N) 915, June 1984 -

July 1985 i

Eberline Model E-120,.S/N 940, January - December 1985

Eberline Model E-500B, S/N 968, January - December 1985

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Eberline Model E-500B, S/N 1021, January - September 1985 Eberline Model E-510, S/N 153, July 1985 - June 1986 The feilure to calibrate radiation monitoring instruments semiannually as required is an apparent violation of Secticn 10.5 of the KSU Emergency Pla (188-8602-01) Area Radiation Monitors (ARMS)

The NRC inspector reviewed the licensee's calibration programs for ARMS which are required to be function tested daily during operations, response tested quarterly, and calibrated annuall REMOVAL OF THE PAGES MARKED " "

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, The NRC inspector noted that documentation regarding calibration of the ARM consists of a label placed on the readout panel of the instrument: no other documentation was utilized to indicate what sources were used, who performed the calibration, or the ranges of operation at which the instrument was calibrate The NRC inspector noted that an area radiation monitor identified in Section 8.3.1 of the KSU Emargency Plan, which actuates the ,

evacuation alarm at an exposure rate of 5 R/h, is only calibrated at an upper radiation level of 100 mR/h The NRC inspector discussed the need to calibrate instrumentation over the ranges of operation addressed in the Emergency Pla Continuous Air Monitor (CAM)

The NRC inspector reviewed the licensee's program for monitoring airborne concentrations within the reactor bay to determine compliance with Sections F and H of the TS and Section 8.3.1 of the Emergency Pla Section 8.3.1 of the Emergency Plan states that the CAM is sensitive to radioiodine and alarms at maximum permissible air concentrations of Iodine-131 in restricted areas. The licensee stated that the instrument is calibrated with a Technetium-99 source, but tha.t no direct comparison results were available from the calibration results to indicate the instruments' response to Iodine-131 level The NRC inspector informed the licensee that Iodine-131 concentration might be difficult to verify because of the masking effect of the noble gases that are produced in the reactor bay during operation The NRC inspector noted that the calibration of the CAM is documented only on the current calibration label placed on the readout meter of the' instrument; no other documentation was utilized to indicate what sources were used, who performed the calibration, or what ranges of operation the instrument was calibrate d. Personnel Monitoring The NRC inspector reviewed the NRF personnel radiation exposure records for 1983, 1984, 1985, and 198 The personnel monitoring devices are provided by the KSU radiation safety department. Two separate badges are utilized at KSU, a beta gamma badge for researchers and a neutron gamma badge for NRF staf The NRC inspectors noted that the licensee had not conducted testing of dosimeters as recommended in ANSI N13.11-198 The NRC inspector noted that the licensee had not developed written calibration and operating procedures for use of the TLD monitoring l system which is utilized for determining personnel exposures at KSU.

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TS, Section H, Administrative Requirements, paragraph 1, states

" written instructions, approved by the Reactor Safeguards Committee, shall be in effect for, but not limited to:" specific areas noted in Section H. The failure to develop written procedures for calibration and operation of the TLD personnel monitoring system is an apparent violation of TS, Section H.1. (188/8602-02)

The NRC inspector noted that the licensee had not participated in the NVLAP program. The NRC inspector discussed with the licensee the forthcoming 10 CFR Part 20 requirement that personnel monitoring devices will need to be NVLAP accredite The NRC inspector noted that self reading dosimeters (SRD) are calibrated semiannually with a radioactive sourc However, the licensee does not routinely, prior to calibration, perform testing on SRDs to determine leakage. The NRC inspector discussed with the licensee the recommendations of NRC RG 8.4 concerning testing and calibration of SRD. The licensee stated at the exit briefing on September 10, 1986, that the NRC inspector's observation would be reviewe e. Environmental Surveillance / Radioactive Releases The NRC inspector reviewed records of analysis on sump drain liquid which is performed with a gamma spectroscopy syste The NRC inspector noted that the licensee had not developed written calibration and operating procedures for use of the gamma spectroscopy system which is routinely used to analyze sump drain water prior to release to unrestricted area TS, Section H, Administrative Requirements, paragraph 1, states

" written instructions, approved by the Reactor Safeguards Committee, shall be in effect for, but not limited to:" specific areas noted in Section H. The failure to establish written procedures for calibration and operation of the gamma spectroscopy system is an apparent violation of TS, Section H.1. (188/8602-02)

Records indicated that all beta gamma radioactivity concentrations were below 10 CFR 20 limits. However, liquid effluent is not monitored for alpha activity. The NRC inspector noted that the Americium / Beryllium neutron startup source located in the reactor pool was not being routinely wipe tested for leakage and the potential exists for the release of alpha activity into unrestricted area CFR Part 20.201(b) states "each licensee shall make or cause to be made such surveys as: (1) may be necessary for the licensee to comply with the regulations in this part, and (2) are reasonable under the circumstances to evaluate the extent of radiation hazards REMOVAL OF THE PAGES MARKED " "

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that may be present." The failure to analyze liquid effluents for alpha activity is an apparent violation of 10 CFR 20.201(b).

(188/8602-03)

The licensee stated that gaseous effluents are not routinely released and that the normal pathway would be through an exhaust duct which has been sealed and the fan switch disconnected to prevent operatio Air intake to the reactor bay is from the outside with exhaust to the reactor bay area. The licensee stated that elevated airborne concentrations are present in the reactor bay atmosphere during operations; however, no analyses have been performed to determine the concentration The failure to analyze reactor bay atmosphere to determine if airborne concentrations exceeded 10 CFR 20 limits is an apparent violation of 10 CFR 20.201(b). (188/8602-03) Surveys The NRC inspector reviewed radiation and contamination survey records regarding surveys performed by the NRF staff to determine compliance with the requirements of 10 CFR Part 20 and the recommendations of industry standard ANSI /ANS-15.11-197 The NRC inspector noted that smears taken routinely to determine levels of contamination were analyzed on the radiation safety department's liquid scintillation counte The NRC inspector noted that procedures had not been developed by the licensee for calibration and operation of the liquid scintillation counte TS, Section H, Administrative Requirements, paragraph 1, states,

" written instructions, approved by the Reactor Safeguards Committee, shall be in effect for, but not limited to:" specific areas noted in Section The failure to establish written procedures for calibration and operation of the liquid scintillation counter is an apparent violation of TS, Section (188/8602-02)

The NRC inspector performed independent contamination and direct radiation dose rate surveys in the NR The smears taken by the NRC inspector were analyzed on NRC Region IV laboratory counting instrumentation, with all results less than or equal to minimum detectable activities. Tne direct radiation survey results revealed no areas of radiation levels in excess of 10 CFR'20 limit The licensee's survey program had not included an evaluation of neutron levels with the reactor operating at full power. The NRC inspector stated that neutron radiation levels are not usually considered to be a problem at TRIGA facilities; however, surveys REMOVAL OF THE PAGES MARKED " "

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should be performed to establish that no significant neutron radiation levels exist. The licensee stated at the exit brief!ng on September 10, 1986, that the NRC inspector's observation would be reviewe Radiation Worker Training Personnel qualifications and training were reviewed and discussed with the licensee to determine compliance with the requirements of 10 CFR Part 19.12 and the recommendations of RGs 8.13 and 8.2 The NRC inspector noted that the licensee required all workers to attend radiation protection trainin However, documentation was not available that all topics required by 10 CFR 19.12 had been covere The licensee stated that the topics required by 10 CFR 19.12 were covered in training sessions, but they were not aware that documentation to that extent would be required, and that

documentation on all future training conducted in this area would be complete .'

The NRC inspector reviewed activity logs and determined that one

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female worked at the NRF and that instruction had not been provided'

to her and her co workers concerning the recommendations in NRC RG 8.1 . Emergency Planning and Preparedness The NRC inspector reviewed the implementation of the KSV Emergency

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Plan (EP) approved by the NRC on August 13. 1984, to determine compliance with 10 CFR 50.54(r).

The NRC inspector reviesed assignment of responsibilities, emergency facilities, and equipment (first aid and medical facilities, communications, and radiation and contamination protection equipment).

The NRC inspector discussed with the KSV Student Health Center Director their roles and responsibilities in the event of a reactor accident at the NR The NRC inspector reviewed the placement and inventories of the emergency equipmen The NRC inspector noted that the inventory of the l cabinet located in the basement of Ward Hall indicated that two survey

instruments, one high range and one low range instrument, would be

! available for use. At the time of the inspection, only the low range l instrument was available for use. The licensee stated that the high range instrument was out-of service. The NRC inspector discussed with the licensee the need to provide a supplemental instrument to the kit to provide for adequate inventory. The NRC inspector noted that the actual

number and type of instruments and equipment are not specifically l identified in the KSV EP.

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The licensee had conducted emergency exercises on August 16, 1984, and

, August 7, 1986. The critiques of emergency exercises were on file and had l been reviewed by the Reactor Safeguards Committee (RSC) as required by the l KSV emergency plan.

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The NRC inspector reviewed the biennial EP reviews conducted and approved by the RSC, and the annual requalification training required for the NRF staf The NRC inspector noted that documentation of annual qualification training was lacking as to specific subject matte l No violations or deviations were identifie I 5. Nuclear Materials Safeguards

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The NRC inspector reviewed the nuclear materials inventory program to determine compliance with License Conditions 2.B and The NRC inspector reviewed the accountability procedures and practice records and material status reports for the period January 1,1983, through September 1, 1986. The procedures, practices, and records were found to be well-implemented. Responsibilities and response requirements were defined clearly and understoo No violations or deviations were identified.

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6. Physical Security The material discussed here contains Safeguards Information as defined by 10 CFR 73.21 and is reported in Attachment to this report.

. 7. Exit Briefing The NRC inspector met with the licensee's representatives identified in paragraph 1 of this report at the conclusion of the inspection on September 10, 198 The NRC inspector summarized the scope and inspection findings.

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