ML19276G093
| ML19276G093 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 04/01/1979 |
| From: | Rehm T NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| WIR-790427, NUDOCS 7905150332 | |
| Download: ML19276G093 (29) | |
Text
.~
May 1, 1979 For:
The Commissioners From:
T. A. Rehm, Assistant to the Executive Director for Operations
Subject:
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING APRIL 27, 1979 A summary of key events is included as a convenience to those Commissioners who may prefer a condensed version of this report.
Contents Enclosure Administration A
Nuclear Reactor Regulation B
Standards Development C
Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards D
Inspection and Enforcement E
Nuclear Regulatory Research F
Executive Legal Director G
International Programs H
State Programs I
Management and Program Analysis J
Controller K
Calendar of Significant Events L
Items Approved by the Commission M**
Calendar of Speakinc Encaqements N
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790515033E T. A. Ren. ~ sistant to the txecutive D;. rector for Operations
Contact:
T, A. Rehm
'9-277cl
'No incut this week
- sie:sd from Commissioners and PDR cooy
SUMMAP" 0F KEY EVENTS Week Er 1 April 2/, 1979 Texas A&M University License No. R-23 for the Texas A&M nuclear restarch reactor was renewed for a period of 20 years.
NRC/ DOE Meeting on Waste Management A meeting was held to provide the NRC staff and our contractors with a better understanding of the genlogical exploration program being imple-mented by DOE to identify sites for nuclear waste repcsitories.
DOE's program includes: (i) identifying geologic formations of interest, (2) performing reconnaissance studies on favorable geologic formations, and (3) preparing detailed site specific confirmation studies on areas of no more than a few square miles.
By 1984, DOE will be able to deter-mine the feasibility of developing a repository at specific sites.
DOE is starting a program to examine geologic media other than salt, but it will not be completed until 1985.
Waste Shioment from TMI The Washington Radiation Control Program staff indicated that Three Mile Island waste shipments to the commercial low-level waste site near Rich-land have renewed interest in House Bill 675. The bill would forbid storage or disposal in Washington of all wastes generated outside the state except defense wastes.
New Fuel Fabrication Plant Wastinghouse announced plans to build a new low-enriched uranium fuel manufacturing facility near Mongtomery, Alabama.
An application will be submitted to NRC in late 1979.
Fuel fabrication is expected to begin in 1983.
LOFT The second nuclear test in LOFT is scheduled for May 7.
This test will simulate an accident involving the sudden rupture of a coolant inlet pipe while the reactor is operating at a power level of about 38 MWt.
TMI Action Pla;n At ED0's request, MPA developed an inventory of actions underway in response to TMI incident. The list will provide the basis for the agency's action plan.
OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATION Week Ending April 27, 1979 ADMINISTRATION OF THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT STATUS OF REQUESTS Initial Appeal Recuest Initial Decision Received 169 14 Granted 81 2
Denied 27 4
Pending 61 8
ACTIONS THIS WEEK Received John R. Emshiviller Requests copies of tests and answers given to The Wall Street Journal operators and other licensed personnel by (79-128)
NRC at Three Mile Island Units 1 and 2; Indian Point 1 & 2; Dresden 1 & 2; Peach Bottom 3; Rancho Seco; Palisades; Millstone 2 and Oconee 3.
Also requests studies that evaluate quality of nuclear plant personnel.
Lisabeth Tator Downes (79-129)
Requests a map and other information pertaining to the location of nuclear power plants planned to be built by the year 2000.
William A. Webb Requests a copy of Basic Ordering Agreecent Rolf Jensen & Assoc.
NRC-03-78-13i, Technical Assistance for Fire (79-130)
Protection Program Review and Evaluation which was awarded to Gage Babcock & Associates of Elmhurst, IL.
Laurie Bur't Requests copies of certain documents identified Commonwealth of Mass.
in a memo from Harold R. Denton to Lee V. Gossick (79-131) dated December 11, 1 978, subject:
Review of Regulatory Actions anc Staf f Positicns w.1ich rely on WASH-1400.
Kathleen M. Ragan Recuests a copy of the winning Technical Proposal Kinetic Research, Inc.
for tne " Study of ALARA FOR RADI0 PHARMACEUTICAL (79-132)
MANUFACTURERS" Contract NRC-02-79-037, CONTACT:
J. M. Felton 492-7211 ENCLOSURE A
2 J. D. Thomas Requests information on grade of an NRC employee rio.C-NTEU Chapter 208 at three different dates.
(79-133)
Aido P. Osti Requests all information regarding the Marcn 28, PFIZER, Inc.
1979 Three Mile Island incident.
(79-134)
Catherine Quigg Requests all records referring or relating to Pollution & Environmental the leaks in the spent fuel pool of the Zion Problems, Inc.
Nuclear Station built which is operated by (79-135)
Commonwealth Edison Co.
Clif ton E. Curtis Referral by DOE of request related to the Natural Resources export of special nuclear material to India.
Defense Council (79-136)
James J. Slocum Request for access to all internal files for Milwaukee Sentinel the Genoa, the Point Beach and the Kawaunee (79-137)
Nuclear plants in Wisconsin.
Weson Vivian Requests an internal report relating to the Fermi University of I accident in October 1966 as referred to in the Michigan book "We Almost Lost Detroit."
(79-138)
Granted Thomas Lookabill Made available two documents concerning NRC NUS Ci rporation contracts for low-level radioactive waste.
(79-89)
James W. Souten Made available documents relating to the non-use Baltimore, MD of Boron to flood Three Mile Island Unit 2.
(79-96)
EllynR.Oeiss Made available transcripts of closed Comnission Sheldon, Harmon, Roisman meetings regardirg Three Mile Island Unit 2.
& Weiss (79-102)
Robert Schakne Made available the test scores for all reactor CBS News operators at Three Mile Island Unit 2 (names (79-105) of the individuals were celeted from the test scores).
E'iCLCSUFE A
3 Rex Hunter Made available a copy of the final report on Richton Park, IL the cause of the SL-1 accident.
(79-112)
(An NRC Employee)
Made available documents concerning the (79-116) selection for Vacancy Announcement No.78-523.
Ms. Mary E. Cenley Made available documents concernings NRC's Wal tham, KA orcanization and its health and safecuards (79-120) f uiic tions.
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Ms. Coral Rose Ryan Made available copies of the Prehearing Citizens Concerned About Conference Order Ruling Upon Intervention Nuclear Power Petitions, Dockets 50-498 and 50-499 and (79-123) 10 CFR, Part 2.
Ms. Lisabeth Tator Downes Made available a chart showirg the proposed Tucson, AZ construction of nuclear power plants by the (79-129) year 2000.
E"CLCSURE A
DIVISION OF CONTRACTS Week Ending April 27, 1979 PENDING COMPET..IVE REQUIREMENTS 1.
RFP RS-NMS-79-OSO Title - Enhancement of the Nuclear Materials Management and Safeguards System Description - The project will provide for the implementation of previously developed recommendations concerning data inconsistencies discovered in the Nuclear Materials Management and Safeguards System (NMMSS), as well as providing improvements to other portions of NMMSS.
Period of Performance - Eight months Sponsor - Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Status - Solicitation being developed 2.
RFP RS-NMS-79-047 Title - Licensing Technical Assistance Description - Provide technical assistance to the Division of Fuel Cycle and Material Safety for safety and environmental reviews of license applications for the construction, operation or decommissioning of fuel cycle facilities.
Period of Performance - Two and one-half years Sponsor - Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Status - Solicitation being developed 3.
RFP RS-NMS-79-049 Title - Radiological Evaluation of Burial Grounds Description - Technical assistance to determine and define the radiological conditions existing at on-site burial grounds used by licensees and for sites, not presently licensed, which are known to contain burial radioactive materi al s.
-Period of Performance - Two and one-half years Sponsor - Office of Nuclear Material Safety and safeguards Status - Solicitation being developed RFP'S ISSUED RFP RS-ADM-7f ':)
Title - Ca :- Cour.seling Descric"-
four-hcur course in four individual sessions for p?roximately 100 NRC employees.
perioc cf h.
-mance - One year 5:ensor - Office cf Acministration Status - Solicitatien issued April 2a, 1079.
Proposals are due May 23, 1979.
ENCLOSURE a
. PROPOSALS UNDER EVALUATION 1.
RFP RS-NMS-79-029 Title - Synthesis for Physical Security and Material Control and Accounting Assessment Results Description - Develop methods for combining observations of MC&A Assessment Team members, develop a method for synthe-sizing the results of the Physical Security and MC&A assessments, and develop a draft handbook that explains the methodology for deriving the measures of effective-ness and synthesizing them into the final statement of adequacy.
Period of Performance - Ten months Sponsor - Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Status - Best and Final offers due May 8,1979.
2.
RFP RS-NRR-79-102 Title - Technical Assistance Program for Two-Phase Flow Aspects of Reactor Safety Description - Provide licensing support in the area of two-phase flow, consisting of a review of existing tests, experiments, and analytical methods used in this area.
Period of Performance - Three years Sponsor - Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Status - Contract mailed for signature on April 10, 1979.
3.
RFP RS-NRR-79-107 Title - Reactor Coclant Pump / Motor Structural Integrity Following Sudden Seizure Description - The contractor will provide expert technical assistance in evaluating the load carrying capability of the pump-to-motor hold-down bolts to withstand sudden motor seizure of a physical reactor coolant pumo.
Period of Performance - Three months Sponsor - Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Status - Competitive range established on April 18, 1979.
4.
RFP RS-NRR-79-110 Title - Decision Analysis Methodology Applications to the Reactor Licensing Process Description - A plication of decision analysis methodology within the Office of Nuclear Reactor Reculation in order to develcp a more orderly and more structured process tc arrive at regulatory cecisions Period of Performance - Fourteen months Sponsor - Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Status - Proposals received and were forwarded to Source Evaluation Panel (SEP) on April 25, 1979 for their review and evaluation.
ENCLOSURE A
. CONTRACT AWARDS 1.
RFP RS-NMS-79-028 Title - Development of Improved Techniques for Analyzing Material Control and Accounting Data Description - Assist the NRC in applying the inventory difference simulation model to two major operating strategic special nuclear material fuel cycle facilities designated by the NRC.
Period of Performance - Eight and one-half months Sponsor - Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Status - Cost Plus Fixed Fee Contract awarded to Science Applications, Inc., April 20, 1979.
Estimated cost plus fixed fee of
$47,402.00.
2.
RFP RS-ADM-79-362 Title - Cataloging Support Services Description - Cataloging, processing, data conversion and related activities for backlog of approximately 9650 titles in the NRC Library.
Period of Performance - Seven months Sponsor - Office of Administration Status - Cost Plus Fixed Fee Contract No. NRC-10-79-362 awarded to Informatics,Inc., on April 24, 1979 in the amount of
$77,138.00.
CANCELLATIONS RFP NMS-79-034 Title - Tests of Safeguards System Evaluation fiethods Description - The contractor will assist in planning and conducting tests of various new analytical methods for evaluating the effectiveness of safeguards systems.
Period of Performance - One year
- Sponsor - Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Status - Cancelled at the request of the program office.
CONTRACTS CLOSED OUT
( All administrative action complete anc final payment made)
Contract No.
Organization Close-Out Date AT(a9-2a)-0124 Nuclear Assurance Corp.
04/19/79 NRC-03-77-010 Associated Consultants Od/19/79 International ENCLCSURE A
DIVISION OF SECURITY ITEMS OF INTEREST WEEK ENDING APRIL 27, 1979 A Bulletin on the Protection of Limited Official Use Information (a category of unclassified information originated by the Department of State and given limited protection and distribution) has been prepared and distributed to Headquarters Offices and Divisions for comment or concurrence.
The Facilities and Systems Security Branch conducted on-site reviews of two Congressional subcommittee offices which retain NRC classified matter in coordination with the Office of Congressional Affairs.
On April 24, 1979, an initial security survey was conducted of the Resident Inspector's office at S&W, Apollo, Pa., for the purpose of receiving, storing and safeguarding of information classified no higher than Confidential, Restricted Data.
The Facilities and Systems Security Brcnch coordinated security support assistance for ASLBP conferences to be held in Miami, Florida on May 2, 1979 and in Salem, N. J. on May 2-4, 1979, and provided additional security coverage for Commission and ACRS meetings regarding the Three Mile Island incident which were held at 1717 H Street, Washington, D.C.
A representative of the Division of Security attended a meeting of Special Committee on Compromising Emanations at the National Security Agency.
ENCLOSURE A
OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION WEEKLY ITEMS OF INTEREST (Week Ending April 27, 1979)
Carroll County 1 & 2 An orientation meeting was held on April 24, 1979, with dedicated reviewers and their supervisors. The review is to be conducted using the recommendations of NUREG-0292.
Greene County At the request of the applicant, the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board has canceled all scheduled hearings.
Texas A&M University License No. R-23 for the Texas A&M AGN-20lM nuclear reecarcn reactor was renewed for a period of 20 years, authorizu.3 continued operation until August 26, 1997.
ENCLOSUO.E '
OFFICE OF STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT IMPORTANT EVENTS FOR THE WEEK ENDING APRIL 27, 1979 1
James A. Norberg is attending the I AEA, TRC-Design Committee meeting which is being held in Tokyo, Japan, April 23-27, 1979.
While in Japan Mr. Norberg will visit nuclear power plants in the Kyoto area and also research facilities in Tokai.
2.
Publication of Procosed Rule on Addition of Veterinarians to the, General License for In vitro Clinical Testing:
On April 26, 1979 proposed amenaments to Parts 31 and 32 were published in the Federal Register under the signatur e of the Executive Director for Operations. These amendments are in response to a petition and would add veterinarians to the groups already authorized to use byproduct material under general license for in vitro clinical or laboratory testing.
The 60-day comment period ends on June 25, 1979.
[Deborah A. Bozik]
3.
Known Effects of Low-Level Radiation Excosures: Dn April 25, 1979, Decorah Sozik and Eowarc ?odolak attenced an educational seminar titled, "Known Effects of low-Level Radiation Exposures" which was sponsored by the Mideast Center for Radiological Physics and Allegheny General Hospital. The seminar, which was given in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was related to the Three Mile Island incident and was intended to provide up-to-date information in simple and accurate terms to local physicians who may be required to handle inquiries from their patients.
At the seminar, Gordon K. MacLeod, M.D., Secretary of Health, Commonweal th of Pennsylvania, discussed the Pennsylvania State Bureau of Health
, Research plan for surveillance of the population contiguous to the plant for health effects which may be related to TMI.
They plan a wide variety of studies and surveys to determine the immediate and long-term impact of radiation and psychoemotional s tress upon human heal th.
[Deborah A. Sozik]
4 Meetinc of a Subcommittee of the HEW Interagencv Task Force on lenizing Radiation Researcn:
On April 23, 1979, Kari Goiier, Hai Peterson, and Mike Parsont of SD attended a meeting of a Subcommittee of the HEW Interagency Task Force en Ionizing Radiaticn Research to discuss the desirability cf conducting epidemiologic follow-up studies of plant workers and the generai E" CLOSURE C
. public in the vicinity of the Three Mile Island site. This Subcommittee was chaired by Dr. Arthur Upton, the Director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
It was convened at the request of Dr. Donald Fredrickson, Director of the National Institutes of Health. Tony Robbins of NIOSH and numerous members of NCI's Epidemiology Branch were present.
The following individuals participated by conference call: Henry Falk,
Glyn Caldwell and Mark Nelson of the HEW Center for Disease Control -
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; John Villforth, Director of the Bureau of Radiological Health, FDA; William Ellett, Chief of EPA's Radiation Bioeffects Sranch, and William Burr of DOE.
On the basis of existing dose projections, the grouc almost unanimously agreed that the potential radiation-induced health consequences of the accident would be undetectable.
Dr. Marvin Schneiderman of NCI suggested that if anything were done it should be limited to a registry of the residents including time spent in the vicinity of TMI and social security numbers. This could permit automatic tracking of the population to be done at some time in the future through death certificates.
Dr. Schneiderman also indicated that some short-term studies of abortions and birth defects might be carried out.
This could allay public concerns regarding Dr. Ernest Sternglass's allegations of significant genetic injury and birth defects, and also provide a measure of the psychological impact of the incident.
Mr. Galler raised the question of whether one could distinguish the radiation effects from the possible psychologically-incuced effects; Dr. Schneiderman saic that he believed that they were indistinguishable.
Dr. Ellett of EPA provided an upper bound analysis that confirmed the minor health significance, even if all existing cancers were caused by radiation. He showed that, if the higher risks from the 1977 BEIR Report were used, there should be 3 times as many cancers in the existing population as are now present.
Despite the scientific opinions to the contrary, it appears that CDC may still propose to do a 20- to 50- year study at a cost of $1,000,000 to $2,000,000 a year.
However, they were requested by Dr. Upton to prepare a range of options with their costs for further consideration by the Subccomittee.
The NIOSH representatives also requested from NRC, information en the dosimeter readings and bicassay results on the in-plant workers.
Dr. Parsont, NRC, raised the point that if prompt action is not taken, some valuable data might be lost.
[ Harold T. Peterson]
TNCLOSURE C
. Reculatory Guides to be Issued in the Near FL ure 1.
Ti tl e :
Quality Assurance Program Requirements (Operation)(Reg. Guide 1.33, Rev. 3)
Expected Issuance Date: September 1979 Descriotion:
This guide provides guidance on quality assurance program requirements for the operation phase of nuclear power plants.
Contact:
T. Scarbrough 443-5913 2.
Ti tl e : Qualification of Nuclear Power Plant Inspection, Examination, and Testing Personnel (Reg. Guide 1.58, Rev.1)
Expected Issuance Date: September 1979 Descriotion: This guide provides guidance concerning the qualification of personnel who perform inspections, examinations, and tests at nuclear power plants.
^
Contact:
T. Scarbrough 443-5913 3.
Ti tl e :
Assumptions Used for Evaluating the Potential Radiological Consequences of Accidental Criticality in a Uranium Fuel Fabrication Plant (Reg. Guide 3.34, Rev.1)
Excected Issuance Date:
July 1979 Descriction:
Provides guidance for modeling, source terms ani potential dose es 1mation for evaluating criticality in a U fab plant.
Contact:
W. R. Pearson 443-5910 4.
Ti tl e : Assumptions Used for Evaluating the Potential Radiological Consecuences of Accidental Criticality in a lutonium Processing and Fuel Fabrication Plant (Reg. Guide 3.35, Rev.1)
Excected Issuance Date: July 1979 Descriction:
Provides guidance for modeling, source terms, and dose estimation for evaluating criticality in a ;u plant.
Contact:
s'. R. Pearson a 3-5910 ENCLOSURE C
. 5.
Ti tl e : Design Guidance for Radioactive Waste Management Structures, Systems, and Components Installed in Light-Water-Cooled Nuclear Power Plants (Reg. Guide 1.143, Rev.1)
Excected Issuance Date:
June 1979 Descriction:
Provides design guidance related to seismic, quality classification, and quality assurance provisions for radwaste s/ stems, structures, and components.
Contact:
W. R. Pearson 443-5910 Publications Issued Durino the Week of Acril 23-27, 1979 List of Regulatory Guides Under Development - published titles and scopes of regulatory guides under development as of March 16, 1979, and, where appropriate, the related national standards such as those of the American National Standards Institute, American Nuclear Society, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. The list was developed before the recent accident at Three Mile Island Nuclear Station.
It did not include any new guides or revisions to existing guides that may be found to be necessary as a result of the ongoing investigations of that accident.
ENCLCSURE C
CFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY AND SAFEGUARDS Items of Interest Week Endinc April 27, 1979 Guard Force Strike at B&W Parks Townshio and Aoollo Sites The management of the Babcock and Wilcox Nuclear Material Division has notified licensing personnel of the likelihood that the guard force will strike at its Parks Township and Apollo sites on April 30, 1979.
The licensee intends to provide equal plant protection measures through the use of non-striking security supervisors and salaried personnel.
Specific compensatory measures were proposed by the licensee and modified during discussions with members of the licensing s ta ff.
Formal commitments to tha agreed upon measures will be made a condition of the license prior to the strike deadline.
Enhancement of the Nuclear Materials Management and Safeguards.5; stem uwn; A request for procurement action has been forwarded to the Division of Contracts seeking a RFP for further work in clarifying and enhancing the data contained in the NMMSS. This contract will run approximately eight months and will (a) implement recommendations, from a previous contract, to improve inventory difference and authorized possession limit data and (b) examine and resolve data and reporting problems such as shipper / receiver differences, limits of error, safeguards thresholds and action code analysis.
NRC Uograde of Type E Seals.
Senators John Glenn and Abraham Ribicoff recently wrote Cyrus Vance, Secretary of State, raising certain questions concerning the adequacy of-Type E seals as used by the IAEA. As a result of this request for information, NMSS initiated a review of Type E seal use by domestic licensees and Office of Inspection and Enforcement (IE) inspectors.
Following a prelininary review, NMSS recommended to IE that NRC initiate use of soldering and fingerprinting techniques for Type E seals used for sealing SNM transport containers.
ENCLOSURE D
2 Meeting with Staff of Subcommittee of Energy and Nuclear Non-Proliferation Representatives of NMSS, DOE and DOT met with a subcommittee staff member on April 25, 1979, to discuss means for enabling the IAEA to ship plutonium samples and standards by aircraft. As a result of the meeting, Senator Glenn will probably request NRC, DOE and DOT to examine and pursue possible approaches to alleviate the IAEA safeguards problem.
NRC/ DOE Meeting On April 11, 1979, the second in a series of meeting was held with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and their contractors.
The purpose of this meeting was to provide the NRC staff and our contractors with a better understanding of the geological exploration program being implemented by DOE to identify sites for nuclear waste repositories.
NRC staff members from NMSS, SD, NRR, and RES attended. A copy of the meeting notice was placed in the NRC public document room at 1717 H Street and was sent to those individuals who had requested that they be notified of HRC/ DOE meetings on waste management matters. The total attendance at the meeting was about 100 persons including several individuals from the public, other government agencies, and congressional s ta rt s.
DOE briefly described their program for selecting a repository site.
The sequence of geologic investigations in this process is to (1) identify geologic formations of interest, (2) perform regional reconnaissance studies on favorable geologic formations, (3) perform more detailed studies on smaller areas (t+1000 mi2) within a favorable geologic formation, and (a) prepare detailed site specific confirmation studies on areas of no more than a few square miles.
The geologic exploration work in both salt and non-salt media by DOE is taking place in seven areas inthe United States.
These include the Gulf Interior Region (Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi), the Paradoy Basin (Colorado, Utah), the Permian Basin (Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico),
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the Salina Basin (Ohio, New York), the WIPD site.
By 1934, work should have progressed in these areas to the point where DOE will be able to determine the feasibility of developing a repository at specific sites within these regions, Hanford, and the Nevada Test Site.
ENCLOSURE D
DCE is starting a crogram to examine gecicgic media other :har, salt, but DOE has not yet defined geographic recions cf interest.
This wcrk wil3 tocus primarily cn arg11 1acecus and crysta l,i a ne rocks.
..ine i
geologic exploration program in non-sait media will not be ccmpleted
.. e.. i l i c. c -
T'.e next meeting between DOE and NRC on waste manacement matters is tentatively scheduled for late May, when the topic of criteria development wtil be discussed.
LLL Parer re Waste Dis:: sal in Deso Geolccic Reoositories In res:cnse to a recent NRC chance to cur centract with Lawrence Li vErmore Lab, the lab has submitted a draft working paper entitled, culatab ie tiements in t, e,n,aste Management rrocram wnich includes n
ne n
lists of elements that they feel are important to the prcblem of waste disposal in deep ceolocic repositories.
The NRC staff will meet with LLL to discuss this working paper the week of May 1,1979.
Meetine re 10 CFR 6G Juring the week of May 1,1979, NMSS will conduct a meeting with SD and LLL to discuss the Livermore report and ~the preliminary draf t of subpart 3 to 10 CFR Fart 60 to decide on the centent for the initici draf t for public ccament.
Presentaticn bv Withersocen. Lawrence Eerkeley Labs
?r fessor Witherspoon from the Lawrence Berkeley Labs will give a
- resentation en the "Stripa Mine Experience cn Hich-Level Waste
-si s pos al
.n Swec.e n.,,
_..inis presenta:1cn wil.l _e given in.r.ocm 1:0 c.
the nillste Euilding cn May 1,1979, at 9:00 a.m.
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Ja s te Shi oment from TMI Jaste ".anagement was informed by Washing cn Radiation Ccntrol Procram staff :ha: Three Mile Island waste shipnerats to the commercial low-
'.e ei waste site nea r Richland have renei.ed interest in Kcuse Eiii 675.
he Washing:cn legislature is helcing hearings cn the bili Thursday ever'.c, April 26, 1079.
The bill would fcrbic s:crace cr cispcsai
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4 Low-Level Waste Surial Ground at Sheffield Nuclear Engineering Company's (NECO) attorney and OGC signed an agreement on the Sheffield, Illinois, low-level waste burial ground. When NEC0's canagement consents, the agreement will provide for compliance with NRC's order dated March 20, 1979, in that requirements for site security, monitoring, and maintenance, etc., in the site license will be met.
ACRS Waste Manacement Subccmmittee Meeting Members of the Waste Management Division attended the ACRS Waste Management Subcommittee meeting in Richiand, Washington, on April 18-20, 1979.
The draft High-Level Waste Management Program (copies of which had earlier been mailed to Subcommittee members and consultants) was discussed with the Subcommittee in some detail.
The Plan is being reviewed in light of Subcommittee comments prior to submittal to the Commis sion.
Meetinc with Swedish Reoresentatives Messrs. So Aler and Ragnar Nilson of Studsvik A.B. along with Mr. Lars Larson of the Swedish Embassy visited NRC for discussions on reactor safety, fue' cycle safety and future research cooperation.
Research and react.
.=spects were handled by the RES staff.
The Swedish visitors indicated that they have two alternative routes for handling spent fuel from reactors. Authority for two reactors has been based upon reprocessing of fuel by COGEMA (France) with subsequent disposal of high level wastes in Sweden. The disposition of plutonium is not established at this time. The additional nine reactors have been justified by interim spent fuel storage at an AFR for several decades.
For subsequent actions, consideration will be given to either reprocessing based on experience to that date or spent fuel disposal.
Present Swedish studies on tr a latter option include encapsulation in a thick copper cannister and. burial in rock fo rmations.
The Swedish representatives indicated that they have adequate indigenous uranium supply to fuel about a dozen LWR's for their projected operating life (30 years) and feel that their independence in this regarc is significantly different frca most countries in western Europe.
ENCLOSURE
5 NASAP FC comments on DOE document " Nuclear Energy System Characterization Data" were finalized. The more significant items were that:
(a) for many cases considered, the uranium needs through 2025 far exceed the projected U.S. resources and this was not indicated in any way; (b) all cases except the introduction of the breeder indicate the build-up of large (hundreds to thousands of tonnes) quantities of fissile materials; (c) no cases were designed to minimize such build-ups to aid proliferation resistance; and (d) technological fixes such as dilution and spiking are apparently considered in the study to se an adequate means for achieving proliferation resistance upgrading.
Incident Resoonse Grouc A p'.anning group of senior staff headed by F. D. Fisher has begun preparation of a charter, tasks breakdowns, schedules, and estimates of staffing and other resources requirements for an appropriate capability for responses to incidents involving Fuel Cycle and Material Safety licensees.
Arendment of Table 5-3 for Radon Revised estimates of the radon releases from the front end of the uranium fuel cycle have been developed for Table S-3.
These estimates are based on recent measurenents of radon releases at mines and mills and are lower in total than the estimates given in testimony by the staff at individual reactor hearings.
The new radon-222 values proposed for Table S-3 are 4860 Ci/AFR during operation of the mines and mills, plus 9 Ci/AFR/ year during the first 100 years af ter shutdown and 17 Ci/
AFR/ year during the period between 100 and 1,000 years after shutdown.
The projections are not extended beyond 1,000 years because uncertainties become ;oo large.
Draf ts of the Commission paper, Federal Register notice, and press release on the proposed anendment of Tacle 5-3 are being prepared for internal review.
Assessment of Radienuclide Capture, Retention and Disocsal Technology OECD-NEA draft Chapter 7, Assessment of Radionuclide Capture, Retention and Dicposal Technology was reviewed and commented upon.
This report suggests a methodoloty for evaluating wnether radionuclide capture, retention and disposal systems are cost effective.
It :omoares costs witn dese commitments averted to a world population cf 100 billion ENCLOSURE D
6 persons over a 10,000-year period for long -life radionuclides such asl'C and 1291.
This report, however, avoids the principal issue of how much is a man-rem, dose commitment, to a world population worth? Thus the ability to make a finding as to whether the radionu-clide capture, retention and disposal systems are cost effecti te is stili uncertain.
Fuel Cycle Facility Accident Research Projects FC staff members attended a coordination meeting for Fuel Cycle Facility Accident Research Projects. Representatives from PNL, LASL and ORNL were briefed by RES on the general scope of the research activities recuired by each contractor.
The contractors outlined their approach and tentative schedules for their programs.
The first phase, literature search and accident and incident categorization, will be completed in three months.
NRC will review with contractors and set up a priority for Phase II, experimental work in establishing models and aerosols to study release behaviors for eventual source term formulation.
SD provided an interim report prepared by ANL entitled, " Externally and Internally Caused Accidents and Incidents in the Nuclear Fuel Cycle Facili ti es. " This interim report is a rather comprehensive listing of incidents that occurred in the United States and foreign :ountries from 1942 to 1978 and a copy was turned over to E. D. Fisher for his use in the planning of the Fuel Cycle Incident Response Study Program being launched.
New Fuel _ Fabrication Plant Westinghouse announced on April 11, 1979, that it plans to build a new low-enriched uranium fuel manufacturing facility near Montgomery, Alabaca.
An application for this plant will be submitted to NRC in late 1979.
The Westinghouse timetable calls for fabrication of fuel to begin i n -193 3.
ENCLCSURE D
OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT Items of Interest Week Ending April 27, 1979 1.
Preliminary Notifications relating to the following actions were dispatched during the past week:
a.
PNO-79-67AB through 67AH Three Mile Island Unit 2 - Nuclear Incident at Three Mile Island Unit 2 - These Preliminary Notifi-cations were issued to provide updated status information regarding the incident.
b.
PNO-79-88 North Anna Units 1 & 2 - Problem in Reanalysis of Piping Stresses - During reanalysis of main steam piping, Stone and Webster found that stress anclysis assumptions used for Unit I were also used for Unit 2.
Since Unit 2 main steam valve housing has a soil foundation while Unit 1 is founded on rock, response characteristics are different and more severe for Unit 2 piping in the main steam valve housing.
Subsequently, four pipe hangers were identified that required modification.
Corrective action is in progress.
(Closed) c.
PNO-79-89 Rancho Seco - Loss of Inverter Power Supply - Automatic:
Reactor Trip - On April 22, 1979, the reactor sustained an autonatic shutdown from high reactor coolant system pressure casued by a failure of the "A" inverter power supply.
There were no anomalies in the reactor protection system or plant operator performance during the event. The licensee completed repairs to the failed inverter and returned the unit to operation.
(Closed) d.
PNO-79-90 Sig Rock Point - Reactor Coolant Pressure Boundary Leak -
The licensee reported the discovery of a small primary system leak while hydrotesting the pressure vessel in preparation for startup following an extended refueling outage. The leak was located on a control rod drive thimble at the weld joining the thimble to the reactor vessel. No estimate of delay in startup has been made; however, the repair may require defueling of the reactor. An IE inspector is at tne site.
(Closed) e.
PNO-79-91 Millstone Point Unit 2 - Vapor Binding of Shutdown Cooling Systen Punp - While operating the Shutdown Cooling System (SDC) in a degraded mode, the LPSI pump became air bound resulting in a loss of SDC flow.
The licensee took safety measures and restored flow. The planned restoration activities resulted in the saillover of aporoximately 15,000 gallons of water through an cpen steam generator manway to the containment.
There was no release of radicactive material to the environs.
(Closed)
- ':SPECTIO', E f.
PNO-79-92 Crystal River Unit 3 - Industrial Death in Spent Fuel Pool - On April 25, 1979, a contractor employee fell into the spent fuel pool and was killed. The man fell abcut 40 feet to the bottom of the cool which had been drained 'or maintenance.
The State of Florida and OSHA have been informed.
(Closed) 9 PNO-79-93 North Anna Units 1 & 2 - Electrical Tr isfer Bus Overloads - Licensee review of electrical requirements during combined operation of Units 1 & 2 revealed that the 4160 volt comnon transfer bus and transfer feeder breakers a.e not capable of carrying full load current under certain circumstances. This problem involves power supplies to general plant systems and does not affect emergency equipment power supplies. The licensee is preparing to rearrange transfer bus loads to alleviate this problem prior to Unit 2 startup.
(Closed) h.
PNO-79-94 Indiana University Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN -
Fire at Licensee's Facility - On April 25, 1979, a fire occurred in the basement of the licensee's facility because of a shooting when one of the shots struck a flask f volatile liquid. One person was killed from the shooting and the person doing the shooting attempted suicide.
The fire occurred in an area where 1.9 microcuries of iodine-125 was stored; however, it is believed that the fire did not reach the radioactive material.
(Cicsed) i.
PNS-79-36 Duane Arnold - Threat Letters - A local radio /TV station in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Mr. Duane Arnold received letters from the Eastern Icwa Anti-Nuke Vigalantes claimina to nave 100 grams of plutonium which they threaten to use to cause contamination of the Iowa Electric Light and Power Co. corporate headquarters and the residence of Mr. Duane Arnold, president of the utility, unless the plant is closed down by May 4, 1979. The matter was turned over to the appropriate Federal agency.
(Closed) j.
PNS-79-37 Diablo Canyon Unit 1 & 2 - Bomb Threats - Somb threats were received on April 20 and 25,1979.
In each instance, the licensee conducted a search of the facilities with negative results.
(Closed)
INSCECTION E
0FFICE OF NUCLEAR REGULATORY RESEARCH Imcort Items - Week Endino Aoril 27, 1979 LOFT The new schedule for the second nuclear test in LOFT (L2-3) is May 7, 1979.
This test will simulate an accident involving the sudden rupture of a coolant inlet pioe when the reactor is operating at a power level of about 38 MWt, which corresponds to the nominal power density in a commercial LWR (12 Kw/ft. linear heat generation rate).
In recent preparations for the test, the LOFT reactor was filled with water, pressurized and brought to criticality. After zero power ohysics tests, the power was reised to 10 percent to check the secondary system for leaks.
The plant is now cooled down while preparations for the L2-3 test are completed.
ENCLCSURE
ITEMS OF INTEREST 0FFICE OF INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS WEEK ENDING APRIL 27. 1979 INTER'iATIONAL COOPERATION Foreign Visits Six members of the Chinese Nuclear Energy Society delegation whicn visited NRC on March 27 returned on April 23 for a follow-up session with IP and RES staff members to discuss the ground rules for bi-lateral agreements, including personnel and information exchanges.
Mr. Pierre Audigier, Deputy to the Executive Officer of the French Interministerial Committee for Nuclear Safety and Mr. Guy Jeanpierre, Head of the Nuclear Materials Security Department of the Institut de ?rotection et de Surete Nucleaire, met with SP staff on Tuesday to discuss emergency preparedness, NMSS staff Wednesday to discuss waste canagenent, material control and physical security protection, and SD staff on Tnursday to discuss low level radiation.
Forei cn Reoorts The following foreign reports were received at IP during the week of April 23-27.
For further information contact Ann McLaughlin (27788).
(** indicates report is in English.)
From Sweden Deleted from PDR copy.
t ETCLCSURE H
EXPORT IMPORT AND INTERNATIONAL SAFEGUARDS The Action Plan Working Group met Tuesday morning at the Department of State.
NRC was represented by Chris Kessler (IP) and Ted Sherr (NMSS).
The principal topic of discussion was the development of an effective management process for the implementation of work plans which have been reviewed and accepted by the Working Group.
An interagency meeting on the subject of exchanging information re-garding material control and accounting with other countries was held at NMSS Thursday morning.
In addition to NRC (NMSS and IP), DOE and ACDA were represented.
ENCLCSURE H
OFFICE OF STATE PROGRAMS ITEMS OF INTEREET WEK ENDING APRIL 27, 1979 Emercency precaredness Federal Interagency Regional Advisory Committee reviews of State Emergency plans for Vermont and Pennsylvania were initiated this week.
H.
E.
Collins, S P, briefed the Commission on the status of Emergency Preparedness Program activities with Federal, State and local governments.
The current status of State plans was covered in brief.
State Acreements The Georgia Department of Natural Resources regulatory program for agreement materials will be reviewed on April 30 and May 1.
The New York Department of Labor regulatory program for agreement materials will be reviewed during the week of April 30.
Procram Develocment NUREG-CR/0756, " Transportation of Radioactive Material in Illinois --
June 6, 1977 to June 6, 1978," was published this week, reporting en the S tate 's first-year's monitoring program, performed under an agreement with NRC and DOT.
The monitoring was conducted by State Police troopers in cruisers ecuipped with radiation detection instrumentation provided by NRC.
The Office of S tate Programs and the Denver Research Institute of the University of Denver held a public meeting in Jackscn, Wyoming, April 24-25, to gather information and ideas en the socio-economic aspects of the transportation of icw specific activity radioactive materials, and to examine the present lines of communication be tween NRC, the uranium indus try and the general public.
ENCLOSURE I
OFFICC 0F MANAGEMENT AND PROGRAM ANALYSIS Items of Interest Week Ending April 27,1979 TMI F0IA Prepared with ADM the procedures for agency control and release of TMI documents under the F01A.
Documents will be entered in NRC's document control system and added to the TMI docket form-ing the official file of the accident.
TMI Action Plan At ED0's request developed an inventory of actions underway in response to TMI accident.
List will be used to exchange infor-mation between offices and with the Commission.
It will provide the basis for the agency'c action plan and should prove valuable in the ensuing investigations.
Canaressional Transcriots Edited transcripts and coordinated inserts for records of the following hearings:
(1) Senator Hart's hearing on Three Mile Island accident on April 10; (2) Representative Dinge11's sub-committee on NRC authorization; and (3) Senator Hart's hearing of March 27 on the shutdown of five reactors due to seismic design.
PA0 on Three Mile Island-2 Sent Proposed Abnormal Occurrence on Three Mile Island-2 to staff for review and comment.
ENCLOSURE J
OFFICE OF THE CONTROLLER ITEMS OF INTEREST Week Endinc April 27, 1979 FY 1979 REPROGRAMMING SECY-79-53 AND SECY-79-53A The Commission concurred in the proposed reprogramming actions and transmitted them to Congress for approval.
RESOURCE IMPACT OF THREE MILE ISLAND AND 5 P' ANT CLOSINGS A call issued to all Office Directors to identify "best estimate" resources changes for the remainder of FY 1979 and FY 1980 due to the recent reactor incidents, requested submissions by Thursday, April 26, 1979. Some submissions have been received. Remaining submissions are promised to be submitted by next week.
FY 1979 MID-YEAR RESOURCES REVIEW CCN issued a call for the staff to complete a FY 1979 Mid-Year Review of resource requirements by mid May. This review will be incorporated into the Commission-requested Second Thirdly program review planned for late in May.
Erciosure K
CALENDAR CF SIGNIFICANT EVENTS May 1 Midland - Prehearing conference May 4 Salem 2 - SER Supplement No. 4 to be issued NEP 1 & 2 - SER Supplement No. I to be issued Carroll County - Orientation meeting for reviewers and their supervisors (which was postponed because of TMI efforts ) will be held during the week ending May 4 Summer - A Visit to the Plant to review fire protection features will be made during the week ending May 4 May 7-9 New Haven I & 2 - Site visit - Public meeting will be held on May 8, 1979 in Mexico, NY ENCLOSJRE L
CALENDAR OF SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS MAY i
State of South Carolina Advanced Management Seminar, Greenwood, SC - NRC Concurrence Proaram for Fixed Nuclear Facilities - J. W. Hufham 6
lith Annual National Conference on Radiation Control, Sheraton-Century Center Hotel, Oklahoma City, OK - Recort on Current and Projected Federal Radiation Protection Activities with EPA and FDA - Robert G. Ryan 17 National Classification Management Society Seminar, Jack Tar Hotel, San Francisco, CA - Tne NRC Security Procram -
Classification Management in a Reculatory Acency - Raymond J.
Brady 21 Radioactive Waste Management for Nuclear Power Reactors.-
Rules, Reaulations and Standdras - Alexandria, VA - I. C.
Roberts 23 Annual Records Management Conference of the National Archives, Fredericksburg, VA - Automation of Records Management at NRC -
R. Stephen Scott JUNE 3-8 American Nuclear Society Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA - Status of Dertinent Reculations and Regulatorv Guides for Indecencent Scent Fuel Storace Installations - Russell E. L. Stanford
' 15 Lecture the IE insoectors on concrete and other structural defects excerienced in Nuclear Power Diant Constructicn -
L. L. Seratan ENCLOSURE N
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