%DONRleak060756; ]> May 7, 1956 letter from J. H. Lampe to Dr. Raymond L. Murray, with enclosure Machine readable transcription Lampe, J. H. Creation of machine-readable version: James M. Jackson Sanborn Creation of digital images: James M. Jackson Sanborn Conversion to TEI.2-conformant markup: James M. Jackson Sanborn ca. 19 kilobytes NCSU Libraries Raleigh, NC DONRleak060756

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4 pp. Manuscript copy consulted UA105.1

Nuclear Reactor

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Library of Congress Subject Headings May 7, 1956 English LCSH manuscript 24-bit color: 400 dpi May 7, 1956 letter from J. H. Lampe to Dr. Raymond L. Murray, with enclosure

May 7, 1956 Dr. Raymond L. Murrray 32 Nuclear Reactor Campus Dear Dr. Murray:

I have just read Dr. Pike's letter of May 4, 1956, which was written to the Chancellor. I would appreciate your giving me a report in the very near future of all the special nuclear material on this Campus for which you, as acting director of the nuclear reactor, must account for. I would also like to have a statement from you which would cover all the uranium fuels that have come to North Carolina State College to be used in the reactor.

I would appreciate very much your doing this so that my detailed knowledge of this situation will be accurate. I am sure the Chancellor would also like to have this information. Dr. Pike' s letter contains some comments and suggestions which I think you should reply to and work out procedures regarding the fuels so that we can be assured that all necessary regulations, licenses, etc., are in our hands and we are in the boundaries of regula- tons. I will indeed appreciate your help in this matter.

Sincerely,

J. H. Lampe Dean of Engineering JHL:C C

cc: Chancellor Bostian Dr. F. P. Pike

NORTH CAROLINA STATE COLLEGE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA RALEIGH SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING J. H. LAMPE, DEAN May 4, 1956 Chancellor Corey H. Bostian Holladay Hall Campus Dear Dr. Bostian:

This is in response to your transmittal to the Committee of a copy of your letter of April 24 to Mr. H. L. Price, which per- tained to the reporting on special nuclear material.

Unfortunately, the Committee has none of the information necessary for reporting on special nuclear material. Especially it does not have the information, and has not been able to obtain it, concerning the loss of enriched uranium consequent to the various Reactor leaks. You are referred to past correspondence from the Committee in this regard.

It appears certain that some enriched uranium (special nuclear material) has been lost on this campus, with most of it going down the Raleigh sewer system. Estimates that I have heard range from 10 milligrams to 50 grams. The recent NCSC-132 re- port of Dr. C. K. Beck, on page 27, shows 8 grams - (U-235) un- accounted for by an estimated material balance. However, I emphasize that the basis for the 8 gram estimate has never been revealed and is questionable. Further, the way events have occurred, it is no longer practical and perhaps not possible to find out how much was lost, mainly because an indeterminate amount has been buried in Oak Ridge.

The AEC regulations clearly state that any loss must be reported. Accordingly, Dr. Beck should have reported, or should report, this loss. The Committee has no information on what has been reported to the AEC.

Chancellor Bostian May 4, 1956

I feel that neither the Committee, nor anyone else, will want to assume the responsibility for an indeterminate amount of en- riched uranium with such a clouded history.

Under the circumstances, I suggest that the most appropriate actions are as follows:

1. That the Chancellor have Dr. C. K. Beck complete the reports to the AEC for the period of time up to the formal transfer of responsibility on the AEC records. These reports should be transmitted by the Chancellor in the near future.

Incidentally, there are several categories of special nuclear material on this campus , altho the fuel uranium is easily the most important. For instance, there is an 80 gm enriched uranium foil used for neutron experiments and some enriched uranium in fission counters.

2. That the Chancellor obtain from Dr. C. K. Beck the past re- cords, including reports to the AEC, on special nuclear material, and the license to possess a utilization facility (nuclear reactor). The license can and quite possibly does, contain special AEC re- quirements on the reporting, handling and transfer of the special nuclear material used for fuel, beyond or in substitution for the normal regulations spelled out in the Code of Federal Regulations.

3. That the total amount of unaccaounted-for uranium be determined by the AEC, before formal transfer of responsibility is made on this campus. The problem of the unaccounted-for uranium will have to be faced sometime, and it is far better that it be done now.

Recall that the unaccounted-for uranium consists of either uranium lost on this Campus or uranium that was buried (or lost) in Oak Ridge. Quite possibly this distribution will never be determined.

The total amount of unaccounted-for fuel uranium can be determined rather readily by shipping back to Oak Ridge for measurement all (or part) of the various waste amounts here. Presumably the amount already shipped to Oak Ridge has been measured or could readily be measured.

We do have two sealed and unopened bottles of uranium fuel solution which are reported to contain 150.47 grams U-235. Instead of shipping the sealed batches back for verification, we might well accept their stated compositions. In that case, the amount to be shipped is quite small. The original total amount (999 grams) minus the amount already in Oak Ridge that can be accounted for (not buried), minus the amount in our wastes to be shipped, minus the 150.47 grams in sealed containers will accurately define the total amount unaccounted-for.

Chancellor Bostian May 4, 1956

4. That the formal transfer on the AEC records of responsibility on this campus for special nuclear material (or at least, for the fuel uranium) await the clarification of the total amount involved.

5. That the Acting Director of the Reactor apply to the Coramittee on Safety and Health for permission to acquire and use special nuclear material, one application for each distinct lot. This would treat special nuclear material as any other radioisotope from a Safety and Health point of view, as required by our Campus Regulations, and as it should be.

The Committee could then grant permission, with the specifications that it be kept properly informed. What this means could be agreed upon by conference with the Chancellor.

 Very truly yours, Pike F.Philips Pike, Chairman committee on Safety and Health for the Nuclear Reactor and Radioisotopes. FPP:t cc: Dean J. H. Lampe Mr. David O. Lintz Safety and Health Committee