IR 05000297/2026201
| ML26020A023 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | North Carolina State University |
| Issue date: | 01/21/2026 |
| From: | Tony Brown NRC/NRR/DANU/UNPO |
| To: | Hou J North Carolina State University |
| Waugh A | |
| References | |
| IR 2026201 | |
| Download: ML26020A023 (0) | |
Text
SUBJECT:
NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY - U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION SAFETY INSPECTION REPORT NO. 05000297/2026201
Dear Dr. Hou:
From January 12-15, 2026, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff conducted an inspection at the North Carolina State University PULSTAR Reactor. The inspection results were discussed with you and members of your staff on January 15, 2026. The enclosed report documents the inspection results.
The inspection examined activities conducted under your license as they relate to safety and compliance with the Commissions rules and regulations and with the conditions of your license.
The inspector reviewed selected procedures and records, observed various activities, and interviewed personnel. Based on the results of this inspection, no findings of significance were identified. No response to this letter is required.
In accordance with Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations Section 2.390, Public inspections, exemptions, requests for withholding, a copy of this letter, its enclosure, and your response (if any) will be available electronically for public inspection in the NRC Public Document Room or from the Publicly Available Records component of NRCs document system (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS)). ADAMS is accessible from the NRC website at https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html (the Public Electronic Reading Room).
January 21, 2026 If you have any questions concerning this inspection, please contact Andrew Waugh at (301) 415-0230, or via email to Andrew.Waugh@nrc.gov.
Sincerely, Tony Brown, Chief Non-Power Production and Utilization Facility Oversight Branch Division of Advanced Reactors and Non-Power Production and Utilization Facilities Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-297 License No. R-120 Enclosure:
As stated cc w/enclosure: GovDelivery Subscribers Signed by Brown, Tony on 01/21/26
ML26020A023 NRC-002 OFFICE NRR/DANU/UNPO NRR/DANU/UNPO/LA NRR/DANU/UNPO/BC NAME AWaugh NParker TBrown DATE 1/20/2026 1/20/2026 1/21/2026
Enclosure U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION Docket No.:
50-297 License No.:
R-120 Report No.:
05000297/2026201 Licensee:
North Carolina State University Facility:
PULSTAR Nuclear Research Reactor Location:
Raleigh, NC Dates:
January 12-15, 2026 Inspector:
Andrew Waugh Approved by:
Tony Brown, Chief Non-Power Production and Utilization Facility Oversight Branch Division of Advanced Reactors and Non-Power Production and Utilization Facilities Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
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SUMMARY The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) continued monitoring the licensees performance by conducting an inspection at North Carolina State Universitys (NCSU)
PULSTAR Nuclear Research Reactor, in accordance with the research and test reactor inspection program. This is the NRCs program for overseeing the safe operation of licensed research and test reactors. Refer to https://www.nrc.gov/reactors/non-power.html for more information.
List of Violations No violations of more than minor significance were identified.
Additional Tracking Items None.
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REPORT DETAILS Facility Status The NCSU 1,000 kilowatt PULSTAR Nuclear Research Reactor continued to be operated in support of graduate and undergraduate research and laboratory instruction, service irradiations, reactor operator training, and periodic surveillance. During the inspection, the reactor was started up, operated, and shut down to support these ongoing activities.
Inspection Scopes Inspections were conducted using the appropriate portions of the inspection procedures (IPs) in effect at the beginning of the inspection unless otherwise noted. Currently approved IPs with their attached revision histories are located on the public website at https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/insp-manual/inspection-procedure/index.html.
Inspections were declared complete when the IP requirements most appropriate to the inspection activity were met consistent with Inspection Manual Chapter 2545, Research and Test Reactor Inspection Program. The inspector reviewed selected procedures and records, observed activities, and interviewed personnel to assess licensee performance and compliance with Commission rules and regulations, license conditions, site procedures, and standards.
69001 - Class II Non-Power Reactors This inspection included a review of selected aspects of the research and test reactor, since the last inspection, to verify activities were conducted safely and in accordance with regulatory requirements and licensee commitments.
Procedures (IP Section 02.03)
This inspection included a review of selected licensee procedures to verify: administrative controls were in accordance with the technical specifications (TSs), license requirements, and licensee commitments; the procedures in use were current and reviewed and approved, as required; procedures could be implemented as intended; and reactor personnel were observing administrative controls and TS requirements relative to procedural adherence. Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
the inspector observed the completion of a startup checklist, a reactor startup, and reactor operations
select Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) 50.59, Changes, tests and experiments, screenings, dated 2024-present
select 10 CFR 50.59 evaluations, dated 2024-present
reactor safety and audit committee (RSAC) meeting minutes dated 2024-present
annual operating report for 2024 Experiments (IP Section 02.06)
This inspection included a review of selected experiments and procedures to verify licensee experiments were reviewed, approved, and conducted in accordance with TS requirements,
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licensee procedures, and the requirements of 10 CFR 50.59. Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
the inspector observed neutron imaging experiments
select reactor utilization requests
select experimental log entries, dated 2024-present
RSAC meeting minutes dated 2024-present
annual operating report for 2024
select 10 CFR 50.59 screenings, dated 2024-present
select 10 CFR 50.59 evaluations, dated 2024-present Health Physics (IP Section 02.07)
This inspection included a review of the licensees health physics program to verify that the provisions of 10 CFR Part 19, Notices, Instructions and Reports to Workers: Inspection and Investigations, and 10 CFR Part 20, Standards for Protection against Radiation, TSs, and the licensees procedural requirements were met. The inspection included a review of: licensees dose limits; required radiation surveys, sampling, and monitoring; calibration of radiological instruments; the personnel dosimetry program; effluent releases; posting requirements; training requirements; the implementation of as low as is reasonably achievable principles; and the radiation protection programs review and approval requirements. Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
the inspector observed radiation and contamination surveys
select health physics training records, dated 2024-present
select personnel and area dosimetry records, dated 2024-present
select quarterly radiation protection reports, dated 2024-present
radiation protection program self-assessment for 2024
select radiation and contamination surveys, dated 2024-present
select radiation work permits, dated 2024-present
select effluent records, dated 2024-present
select radiation monitor calibration records, dated 2024-present
annual operating report for 2024 Design Changes (IP Section 02.08)
This inspection included a review of design changes to determine whether they were reviewed, approved, and implemented in accordance with 10 CFR 50.59, the TSs, and the licensees administrative procedures. The inspector verified that modified equipment would continue to meet regulatory and procedural requirements and licensee commitments. Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
select 10 CFR 50.59 screenings, dated 2024-present
select 10 CFR 50.59 evaluations, dated 2024-present
RSAC meeting minutes dated 2024-present
annual operating report for 2024
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Committees, Audits and Reviews (IP Section 02.09)
This inspection included a review of the licensees committees, audits and reviews to verify the safety review committee and independent audits were conducted in accordance with the TSs and that issues identified from reviews were resolved in accordance with TS requirements and the licensees procedures. Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
reactor safety committee (RSC) meeting minutes dated 2024-present
RSAC meeting minutes dated 2024-present
RSC and RSAC membership lists
RSC responsibilities memo
RSAC responsibilities memo
RSAC audit summaries for 2023 and 2024 86740 - Inspection of Transportation Activities This inspection included a review of the licensees transportation activities to verify they have established and are maintaining an effective management-controlled program, to ensure radiological and nuclear safety in the receipt, packaging, and delivery of licensed radioactive materials. Specifically, the inspection included a review of the following:
shipping training records, dated 2024-present
select shipping records, dated 2024-present Inspection Results No violations of more than minor significance were identified.
Exit Meeting and Debriefs The inspector verified no proprietary information was retained or documented in this report.
- On January 15, 2026, the inspector presented the NRC inspection results to members of licensee management and staff.
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Documents Reviewed Inspection Procedure Type Designation Description or Title Revision or Date NRP-OP-101 Reactor Startup and Shutdown December 6, 2022 NRP-OP-103 Reactor Operations July 24, 2021 NRP-OP-105 Response to SCRAMS, Alarms, and Abnormal Conditions May 21, 2021 69001.03 Procedure NRP-OP-201 Primary Demineralizer July 5, 2021 NRP-OP-104 Reactor Experiments August 1, 2024 NRP-XP-101 Experimental Facility Operating Instructions, dated Febr February 25, 2011 69001.06 Procedure NRP-XP-102 Neutron Imaging Facility April 15, 2011 HP-1 Radiation Protection Program October 14, 2013 HP-3 Radiological Surveys April 17, 2009 HP-5 Access Control and Training October 14, 2013 HP-8 Radiation Work Permi November 8, 2004 69001.07 Procedure PS-6-19-1 Thermo Radiation Monitor Calibration, Operation, and Maintenance February 6, 2023 69001.08 Procedure SP-2.1 Review and Approval of Documentation September 29, 2020 86740 Procedure HP-6 Transport of Radioactive and Hazardous Material September 25, 2003