ML23171B027

Purdue Univ., Reply to Notice of Violation in NRC Inspection Report 05000182/2023201

ML23171B027
Person / Time
Site:	Purdue University
Issue date:	06/13/2023
From:	Miller T Purdue University Research Reactor
To:	Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, NRC/RGN-III
References
Download: ML23171B027 (1)

Text

June 13, 202 3 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ATTN: Document Control Desk Director, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Washington, DC 20555 -0001

SUBJECT:

Reply to Notice of Violation in NRC Inspection Report NO. 05000182/2023201

1.) Reason for the Violation

In inspection report NO. 05000182/202 3 20 1, it was found that PUR -1, docket number 50 -182, had committed a level IV violation by operating the reacto r with a replacement RAM detector, without SCRAM capabilities, outside of the one -week period allowed by T.S. 3.2 table II footnote (e). This violation was due to mitigating actions taken following the failure of the PUR -1 pool top RAM detector on August 2 6 th, 2022. In response to the failure of the RAM PUR -1 staff replaced the failed detector with an Eberline 9DP* gamma sensitive detector, with alarm setpoints set to 30 and 50 mR/hr in accordance with footnote (e) of table II. PUR -1 staff misinterpreted th e section of footnote (e) stating: For periods of one week or for the duration of a reactor run to mean that multiple runs for lengths of time not to exceed one week were allowed. PUR -1 was operated in this state from September 8 th, 2022, until the orig inal RAM was repaired, recalibrated, and reinstalled on February 2 nd, 2023.

2.) Corrective Steps Taken and Results Achieved

PUR -1 staff have been in compliance with TS 3.2 since the reinstallation of the pool top RAM on February 2 nd, 2023. In addition, PUR -1 staff, and operators have been notified of the intended meaning of TS 3.2 table II footnote (e). All reactor runs have been since then performed with all requirements of TS 3.2. fulfilled.

3.) Corrective Steps to be Taken

As PUR -1 has returned to normal operat ing conditions following the reinstallation of the permanent pool top RAM and all staff and operators have been informed of the intended meaning of TS 3.2 table II footnote (e), no further steps are needed to correct this violation.

4.) Date When Full Complian ce Will be Reached

Full compliance has been achieved as of February 2 nd, 2023.

School of Nuclear Engineering l 516 Northwestern Ave l West Lafayette, IN, 4790 6 l 765 -494 -5739 l ne@purdue.edu l www.purdue.edu/NE Please feel free to contact me or any of us with questions or if you need further clarification.

Sincerely,

True Miller

Reactor Supervisor N.E. Radiation Laboratory Assistant Director School of Nuclear Engineering

cc:

Dr. Arvind Raman Dean of Engineering Armstrong Hall of Engineering, Suite 3000 701 West Stadium Avenue West Lafayette, IN 47907-2045

Mayor City of West Lafayette 1200 N. Salisbury Street West Lafayette, IN 47906 John H. Ruyack, Manager Epidemiology Res Center/Indoor & Radiological Health Indiana Department of Health 2525 N. Shadeland Avenue, Suite E3 Indianapolis, IN 46219

Howard W. Cundiff, P.E., Director Consumer Protection Indiana State Department of Health 2 North Meridian Street, 5D Indianapolis, IN 46204

Test, Research and Training Reactor Newsletter Attention: Amber Johnson Dept of Materials Science and Engineering University of Maryland 4418 Stadium Drive College Park, MD 20742-2115

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