ML033580502
| ML033580502 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | University of Missouri-Columbia |
| Issue date: | 01/29/2004 |
| From: | Alexander Adams NRC/NRR/DRIP/RORP |
| To: | Rhonda Butler Univ of Missouri - Columbia |
| Adams A, NRC/N RR/DRIP/RNRP, 415-1127 | |
| References | |
| TAC MC1601 | |
| Download: ML033580502 (10) | |
Text
January 29, 2004 Mr. Ralph Butler, Director Research Reactor Center University of Missouri-Columbia Research Park Columbia, MO 65211
SUBJECT:
UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT COLUMBIA AMENDMENT RE: MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION (TAC NO. MC1601)
Dear Mr. Butler:
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (Commission) has issued the enclosed Amendment No. 33 to Amended Facility License No. R-103 for the University of Missouri-Columbia Research Reactor (MURR). The amendment consists of changes to the technical specifications (TSs) in response to your application of December 19, 2003.
The amendment revises the management organization for the MURR.
A copy of the safety evaluation supporting Amendment No. 33 is also enclosed.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Alexander Adams, Jr., Senior Project Manager Research and Test Reactors Section New, Research and Test Reactors Program Division of Regulatory Improvement Programs Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-186
Enclosures:
- 1. Amendment No. 33
- 2. Safety Evaluation cc w/enclosures: See next page
University of Missouri-Columbia Docket No. 50-186 cc:
University of Missouri Associate Director Research Reactor Facility Columbia, MO 65201 A-95 Coordinator Division of Planning Office of Administration P.O. Box 809, State Capitol Building Jefferson City, MO 65101 Mr. Ron Kucera, Director Intergovernmental Cooperation and Special Projects Missouri Department of Natural Resources P.O. Box 176 Jefferson City, MO 65102 Mr. Tim Daniel Homeland Security Suite 760 P.O. Box 809 Jefferson City, MO 65102 Test, Research, and Training Reactor Newsletter University of Florida 202 Nuclear Sciences Center Gainesville, FL 32611
January 29, 2004 Mr. Ralph Butler, Director Research Reactor Center University of Missouri-Columbia Research Park Columbia, MO 65211
SUBJECT:
UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT COLUMBIA AMENDMENT RE: MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION (TAC NO. MC1601)
Dear Mr. Butler:
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (Commission) has issued the enclosed Amendment No. 33 to Amended Facility License No. R-103 for the University of Missouri-Columbia Research Reactor (MURR). The amendment consists of changes to the technical specifications (TSs) in response to your application of December 19, 2003.
The amendment revises the management organization for the MURR.
A copy of the safety evaluation supporting Amendment No. 33 is also enclosed.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Alexander Adams, Jr., Senior Project Manager Research and Test Reactors Section New, Research and Test Reactors Program Division of Regulatory Improvement Programs Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-186
Enclosures:
- 1. Amendment No. 33
- 2. Safety Evaluation cc w/enclosures: See next page DISTRIBUTION:
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ADAMS ACCESSION NO.: ML033580502 TEMPLATE #: NRR-106\\
- Please see previous concurrence (TechEd - SE only)
OFFICE RNRP:LA TechEd RNRP:PM OGC OE RNRP:SC NAME EHylton
- PKleene AAdams RH TA PMadden DATE 01/ 08 /04 01/ 02 /04 01/ 14 /04 01/ 21 /04 01/ 22 /04 01/ 26 /04 C = COVER E = COVER & ENCLOSURE N = NO COPY
OFFICIAL RECORD COPY THE CURATORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI DOCKET NO. 50-186 AMENDMENT TO AMENDED FACILITY LICENSE Amendment No. 33 License No. R-103 1.
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) has found that A.
The application for an amendment to Amended Facility License No. R-103 filed by the Curators of the University of Missouri (the licensee) on December 19, 2003, conforms to the standards and requirements of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (the Act), and the regulations of the Commission as stated in Chapter I of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR);
B.
The facility will operate in conformity with the application, the provisions of the Act, and the rules and regulations of the Commission; C.
There is reasonable assurance that (i) the activities authorized by this amendment can be conducted without endangering the health and safety of the public and (ii) such activities will be conducted in compliance with the regulations of the Commission; D.
The issuance of this amendment will not be inimical to the common defense and security or to the health and safety of the public; E.
This amendment is issued in accordance with the regulations of the Commission as stated in 10 CFR Part 51, and all applicable requirements have been satisfied; and F.
Prior notice of this amendment was not required by 10 CFR 2.105 and publication of a notice for this amendment is not required by 10 CFR 2.106.
2.
Accordingly, the license is amended by changes to the Technical Specifications as indicated in the enclosure to this license amendment, and paragraph 3.B. of Amended Facility License No. R-103 is hereby amended to read as follows:
B.
Technical Specifications The Technical Specifications contained in Appendix A, as revised through Amendment No. 33, are hereby incorporated in the license. The licensee shall operate the facility in accordance with the Technical Specifications.
3.
This license amendment is effective as of the date of its issuance and is to be implemented within 30 days.
FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
/RA/
Patrick M. Madden, Chief Research and Test Reactors Section New, Research and Test Reactors Program Division of Regulatory Improvement Programs Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Enclosure:
Appendix A, Technical Specifications Changes Date of Issuance: January 29, 2004
ENCLOSURE TO LICENSE AMENDMENT NO. 33 AMENDED FACILITY LICENSE NO. R-103 DOCKET NO. 50-186 Replace the following page of Appendix A, "Technical Specifications," with the enclosed page.
The revised page is identified by amendment number and contains a vertical line indicating the area of change.
Remove Insert 6.1, page 2 6.1, page 2
Figure 6.0 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI RESEARCH REACTOR FACILITY Number 6.1 Page 2 of 8 Date January 29,2004 Amendment No. 33
SUBJECT:
Administration (contd)
Board of Curators of the University of Missouri Office of the University President Reporting Lines Communication Lines Reactor Advisory Committee Office of the Provost Reactor Facility Director Reactor Manager Operations Staff Health Physics Staff Reactor Health Physics Manager
SAFETY EVALUATION BY THE OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION SUPPORTING AMENDMENT NO. 33 TO AMENDED FACILITY LICENSE NO. R-103 THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI - COLUMBIA DOCKET NO. 50-186
1.0 INTRODUCTION
By letter dated December 19, 2003, the Curators of the University of Missouri (licensee) submitted a request for amendment to the technical specifications (TSs) in Appendix A to Amended Facility License No. R-103 for the University of Missouri at Columbia (UMC)
Research Reactor (MURR). The requested changes would revise the management organization by removing the Chancellor, UMC, from the organization reporting line.
2.0 BACKGROUND
The MURR is a 10 MW(t) research reactor located on the licensees campus in Columbia, Missouri. On December 18, 2001, the NRC initiated an investigation of UMC to determine if a former senior research scientist at the MURR facility was the subject of employment discrimination and continued retaliation by management for previous protected activities. The NRC Office of Investigations (OI) concluded in Office of Investigations Report No. 4-2001-054 that the former senior research scientist was the subject of employment discrimination and continued retaliation by management for previous protected activities.
By letter dated June 4, 2003, the NRC provided the licensee with its conclusions through issuance of an apparent violation of employee protection requirements and a synopsis of the referenced OI report. During subsequent discussions, NRC and the University of Missouri agreed in principle regarding acceptable actions that, if performed, should better ensure that personnel involved with MURR will not be subject to employment discrimination or retaliation for engaging in protected activities, including raising safety concerns. A Confirmatory Order Modifying License, Effective Immediately (Order), was issued to the licensee on December 19, 2003, to put the agreed-upon actions in place. One of the actions agreed to was a modification of the licensees organization to better ensure that university senior management is appropriately involved in ensuring a safety-conscious work environment. Specifically, the Order states:
The licensee shall modify its chain-of-command for MURR to better ensure oversight of its activities by university senior management. It has been agreed that the modification of Figure 6.0 in the MURR Technical Specifications will reflect MURR reporting to the Office of the Provost, who in-turn, reports to the Office of the President, University of Missouri. The requisite technical specification change shall be submitted to the NRC within 30 days of this Order and upon being granted by the NRC, shall be effective no later than 30 days after the date of the NRCs issuance of the license amendment.
The licensee has submitted changes to Figure 6.0 of the MURR TSs to meet the Order.
3.0 EVALUATION The regulations in 10 CFR 50.36 require nuclear reactors to have TSs. The requirements for administrative controls are given in 10 CFR 50.36(c)(5). The staff has determined that the changes proposed by the licensee meet the requirements of 10 CFR 50.36.
Figure 6.0 of the MURR TSs currently has the Reactor Facility Director reporting to the Office of the Provost, which reports to the Chancellor, UMC, who reports to the University President.
The University President reports to the Board of Curators of the University of Missouri.
The licensee has proposed removing the Chancellor, UMC, from the reporting chain. The licensee has also proposed that University President be changed to Office of the University President on the figure.
The licensees proposed changes to the TSs are consistent with the guidance of the American National Standards Institute/American Nuclear Society (ANSI/ANS) standard 15.1, The Development of Technical Specifications for Research Reactors (ANS-15.1). ANS-15.1 is supported by the NRC staff and represents an acceptable approach for developing the administrative requirements section of research and test reactor TSs. The proposed organization is acceptable because university upper management (called Level 1 management in ANS-15.1) continues to have responsibility for the reactor. The elimination of a layer of upper management will focus the responsibility of the remaining levels of upper management.
This organizational structure is consistent with the Order. In issuing the Order, the Director of the Office of Enforcement found that the licensees commitments were acceptable and necessary and concluded that with the commitments, the pubic health and safety are reasonably assured.
The NRC staff finds that the proposed changes to Figure 6.0 of the licensees TSs are consistent with the guidance of ANS-15.1 and meets the requirements of the NRC Order to the licensee. Therefore, the NRC staff concludes that the changes to the licensees organizational structure are acceptable.
4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATION
This amendment involves changes in recordkeeping, reporting, or administrative procedures or requirements. Accordingly, the amendment meets the eligibility criteria for categorical exclusion set forth in 10 CFR 51.22(c)(10). Pursuant to 10 CFR 51.22(b), no environmental impact statement or environmental assessment need be prepared in connection with the issuance of this amendment.
5.0 CONCLUSION
The staff has concluded, on the basis of the considerations discussed above, that (1) the amendment does not involve a significant hazards consideration because the amendment does not involve a significant increase in the probability or consequences of accidents previously evaluated, create the possibility of a new kind of accident or a different kind of accident from any accident previously evaluated, or involve a significant reduction in a margin of safety; (2) there is reasonable assurance that the health and safety of the public will not be endangered by the proposed activities; and (3) such activities will be conducted in compliance with the Commissions regulations and the issuance of this amendment will not be inimical to the common defense and security or the health and safety of the public.
Principal Contributor: A. Adams, Jr.
Date: January 29, 2004