ML20002C354
| ML20002C354 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 12/29/1980 |
| From: | Rehm T NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| TASK-IR, TASK-SE SECY-80-554, WIR-801219, NUDOCS 8101100149 | |
| Download: ML20002C354 (31) | |
Text
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December 29, 1980 For:
The Cormiissioners From:
T. A. Rehm, Assistant for Operations, Office of the EDO
Subject:
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 19, 1980 A sumary of key events is included as a convenience to those Corstissioners 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 Re:,earch F*
Executive Legal Director G*
International Programs H
State Programs I
Management and Program Analysis J
Controller K*
Analysis and Evaluation of Operational Data L
Small and Disadvant' aged Business Utilization M*
ItEns Approved by the Comission ~~
l N
Calendar of Speaking Engagements 0
u
. A. Rehm, A22,5 for' Operations Office of the Executive Director for Operations
- No input this week.
</'
CONTACT:
T. A. Rehm, 27781 810110 0 N 9
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Sumary of Weekly information Report Week Ending December 19, 1980 Salem Unit 2 The licensee has notified us that there will be a significant delay in the conduct of an emergency drill, which was originally scheduled for January 26, 1981. FEMA infomed the licensee that their review of the scenario to be exercised will require about three weeks longer than the licensee had anticipated. The licensee expects that an emergency drill would not be conducted before April 1981.
Recuests for Hearing Maine Yankee Atomic Power Plant and Pilgrim Unit 1 have requested a hearing regarding the Environmental Qualification of Safety-Related Electrical Equipment.
Public Meeting The Office of Standards Development is planning to hold a public meeting to discuss Section 50.55a, the Commission's negulation on Codes and Standards. This regula -
tion incorporates by reference, with some modifications, national codes for the construction and inservice inspection of components for nuclear power reactors.
The meeting is intended to provide an opportunity for the NRC staff and other interested parties to discuss coninents and suggestions for improving the regulation.
The meeting will be held in Room P-ll4/ll8, Phillips Bldg., Bethesda, on January 30, 1981, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
hdon Value for Table S-3 i
The staff is making preparations to publish a technical report giving the latest data on radon releases from uranium mining and milling operations. This report provides the technical basis for a rulemaking to amend Table S-3 by adding the new radon-222 data.
IE Bulletin On Decemt.er 2,1980, at Dresden Unit 2, the continuous monitoring system (CMS) on the scram discharge volume (SDV) failed to respond as expected following a normal reactor scram. The CMS was recently installed to detect the presence of water in the SDV in accordance with a confirmatory order issued as a result of the Browns Ferry 3 partial scram on June 28, 1980.
IE supplement 4 to Bulletin 80-17,
" Failure of Control Rods to Insert During a Scram at a BWR," was issued December 18, 1980, requiring that testing be performed within 14 days to demonstrate CMS operability and that manual surveillance of the SDV be resumed in the interim.
Licensee actions will be verified by IF inspections.
Transfer of Depleted Uranium Export Licensing Authority l
On December 16 the President signed legislation (H.R. 6942) which transfers export licensing authority for certain foms of depleted uranium from NRC to the Executive Branch.
OFFTCE OF ADMINTSTRATION Week Ending December 19, 1980 ADMINISTRATION OF THE FREEDOM 0F INFORMATION ACT STATUS OF REQUESTS Initial Appeal of Reouest Initial Decision Received 703 38 Granted 550 16 Dented 105 19 Pending 48 3
ACTIONS THIS WEEK Received Jay Gary Finkelstein, Requests, on behalf of American Broadcasting Companies, Bergson, Borkland,
!nc. and Charles C. Thompson, II, six categories of Margolis & Adler information relating to the Lifespring Corporation or (80-612)
Foundation and Human Factors Research, Inc.
John W. Pestle, Requests a copy of the damage claim filed against the Varnum, Riddering, NRC on December 8,1980 by General Public Utilities Wierengo & Christenson Corporation relating to the Three Mile Island Nuclear (80-613)
Power Plant accident.
(An individual requesting Requests information on his Reactor Operator License information about himself) exam results.
(80-614)
Allan Mazur, Requests the enclosures to a letter dated December 1, Syracuse University 1978 to Commonwealth Edison Company from James Keppler (80-615) and any subsequcnt correspondence regarding the enclosures.
Bonnie J. Irving, Requests information relating to security guard REguard Security contract procurements.
Service, Inc.
(80-616)
McNeill Watkins, II, Requests records identifying alternatives to the Debevoise & Liberman specific requirements of Appendix R, Part 50, Fire-(80-617)
Protection Rule.
Marc A. Hillier, Requests studies of alpha and beta radiation levels in State of Illinois subsurface water supplies.
(80-618) l CONTACT:
J. M. Felton 492-7211 l
ENCLOSURE A i
2 Received, Cont'd Carlos Byars, Requests copies of the extracts of the Reed Report Houston Chronicle listing the 27 saft.ty-related issues as identified by (80-619)
John D. Steinmetz, Requests four categories of information relating to Ecison Electric the final rule on " Fire Protection Program for Institute Operating Nuclear Power Plants", Appendix R.
(80-620)
Diane E. Findley, Requests a copy of the Final Report under NUSAC Inc.
Science Applications, Inc.
Contract No. NRC-02-79-043-2.
(80-621)
Dale E. Hollar, Requests all documents relating to the basis or Debevoise & Liberman supporting rationale for the conclusion in the NRC's (80-622)
Memorandum and Order, CLI-80-40 and the accompanying Staff Technical Analyses.
Geoffrey S. Stewart, Requests all correspondence and documents relating to Davis Polk & Wardwell correspondence or to verbal communications between the
!30-623)
NRC and Thomas J. Madden of the firm Kaye, Scholer, Fierman, Hays and Handler and documents made available to Mr. Madden under his F0IA requests,80-515, 80-516, and 80-555.
Andrew Albert, Requests all documents pertaining to the NRC staff Herald Journal investigation of former site Superintendent T. J.
(80-624)
Perkins of the Nine Mile Point Unit 1 Nuclear Power Plant.
Theresa M. Watson, Requests all inspection reports, disclosable seizure FOI Services, Inc.
information and court action regarding the Nuclear (80-625)
Equipment Chemical Corporation and Fern Labs.
Janice F. Rutherford, Requests a copy of the winning technical proposal in The BDM Corporation response to RS-NMS-81-032 entitled " Technical Support (80-626) for the Confidence Rulemaking Proceeding."
(NRC employee)
Requests specific documentation relating to her (80-627)
Step-Three Grievance.
Linda Logan Bryan, Requests specific information relating to Atomic Energy City of Jacksonville Comission Docket No. STN-50-437: Offshore Power (80-628)
Systems' Application for License to Manufacture Floating Nuclear Plants.
ENCLOSURE A v--
m y
3 Granted Joanne Bloom, in response to a request fi" documents regarding the Isham, Lincoln imposition of civil penaltmas, NRC requests for
& Beale congressional authorizatior for more severe civil (80-533) penalties and responsibili:1es and behavior of nuclear station operators, made available 43 documents.
Nicholas S. Reynolds, In response to a request for 15 categories of documents Debevoise & LtBerman regarding Memorandum and Order CLI-80-21 and IE (80-556]
Bulletin 79-01B, made available 42 documents.
Marilyn Shineflug In response to a request for four categories of (80-574) documents relating to cracks in the containment of one of the Zion reactors, made available three documents.
(An individual requesting In response to a request for copies of his official information about himself) performance appraisals, informed the requester we are (80-584) unable to locate any performance appraisals subm'iuted in his Behalf.
Lilias Jones, In response to a request for a copy of three NUREG Black Hills Alliance documents, made available two documents and infonned
(.80-591) the requester the NRC was unable to locate one document.
Lilias Jones, in response to a recuest for a copy of ten listed Black Hills Alliance documents, made available a copy of these records.
(80-593)
Jill Wright In response to a request for a copy of the non-(80-596) proprietary version of the winning proposal under NRC Request for Proposal RS-RES-80-214, informed the requester this document is already available at the PDR.
(An individual requesting In response to a request for copies of all NRC documents information about himself) pertaining to himself, informed the requester the (80-604)
NRC has no information pertaining to him in its personnel, security or radiation exposure records.
Eric Buetens, In response to a request for a copy of a list of the The Chronicle-Express routes by which spent fuel would be transported in (80-605)
New York State, made available one document.
Ed Forti, In response to a request for access to the mailing list Ketchum, MacLeod for the NRC's Public Document Rcom Daily Accession
& Grove List, informed the requester the NRC is placing him (80-609) on its Dafly Accession List.
John W. Pestle, Made available a copy of the damage claim filed against Varnum, Riddering, the NRC by the General Public Utilities Corporation on Wierengo & Christenson December 8, 1980.
(80-613)
ENCLOSURE A
4 Granted, Cont'd (An individual requesting Made available information on his Reactor Operator information about himself)
License exam results.
(80-614)
Denied Lindsay Audin In respense to a request for five categories of (80-545}
documents regarding transportation of plutonium, made available 58 documents.
Denied portions of one document containing safeguards infonnation.
ENCLOSURE A
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DIV!SION OF CONTRACTS Week Ending December 19, 1980 RFP'S ISSUED RFP RS-RES-81-166 Title - Probabilistic Studies of Flood Hazards and Flooding Effects Description - A study to identify and devc
methodologies to estimate probabilities of exceedance of flood levels and probabilities of radioactive release from nuclear power plants as a con-sequence of floods, including an assessment of the un-certainties in the estimates.
Period of Performance - Thirty-six months 5:ensor - Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research Status - RFP issued December 12, 1980.
Proposals due February 12, 1981.
PROPOSALS UNDER EVALUATION RFP RS-RES-81-177 Title - Seismicity of the Pacific Northwest (Washington and Oregon)
Description - A study to monitor the seismicity of the Pacific Northwest to provide background seismological information necessary to evaluate the potential seismic hazard to nuclear power plants.
Period of Performance - Estimated at five years Sponsor - Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research Status - Best and Final offers due December 19, 1980.
CONTRACT AWARDS 1.
NRC-02-81-028 Title - Evaluation of Material Accounting Performance at Nuclear Fuel Cycle Facilities Description - The purpose of this effort is to support NRC evaluation of material accounting performance at nuclear fuel cycle facilities. The effort will involve the collection of specific facility information, the evaluation of input data needed to run the cited programs, and the assessment of the results.
Period of Performance - Two years Sponsor - Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Status - Cost-plus-fixed-fee contract was awarded to NUSAC, Inc., in the amount of $167,028, and is effective on December 2,1980.
ENCLOSURE A L
2 CONTRACTS CLOSED OUT
(".., administrative action comoleted and final payment made) 1.
Contract No.
Contractor Close-Out Date NRC-Oi-78-340 Eberline Instrument Corp.
12/17/80 1
ENCLOSURE A
NRR HIGHLIGHTS h
'0 dM@udd 9I l
(DECEMBER 15-19, 1980)
S i- : :#-e '.'ni t No. 1 5~E -otified the *;RC by telephone on December 15, 1933, that due to te:hnical difficulties, attempts to braze sleeves within the " sludge oile" of the steam generator have been terminated until some of the difficulties are overcome.
One approach being investigated by SCE is to dry the sludge pile prior to attempting to bra:e again.
SCE plans to ra:uest a meeting with the NRC in January to discuss the status of the steam generator repair program.
Since SCE had reported earlier that ap;rcximately half of the bra:es would be within the depth of the sludge pile and half of the bra:es would be above the sludge, the su :ess of the repair program as presented relies on the outco e of the atts ;t to bra:e within the sludge pile.
Maine Ya.kse Atomic power Plant
' li i 'i.-:.it At::.ic ?c..ir C: ;iny, by littir di ed "i:1-tir 5, l.50, :
"i.ii!id i hiaring in rigird to our Oc- :Ir 24, 1950 Ecui;rint Oullifi:sti:.
CT ir.
Ih3 hiiring requist is Eddrissid to thi iss'le of hhithir all sifity '
rill Ed Eli:irical equip:Ent sh:uld be invir:r.rintally qualified in acc:r:ar.:S with the ::R Guidelir.es or NUREG-0555 N sune 30,1932.
l' air.1 Yi.kie states that this req-,' for a heiring will provide a:ple
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.nity to clarify the requiri:Ents for the Orcir and riview the sifity
..f.if:.. re;;rt schedulid for iss 1,:s :n Fibruary 1, 1951.
Salem Unit 2 2
The licensee has notified us that there will be a significant delay in the conduct of an emergency drill. The original schedule called for a drill to be conducted on January 25, 1981. However, at a recent meeting with representatives of FEMA, the State of New Jersey and the State of Delaware, the licensee was informed by the New Jersey represent-l atives that they expect a 6-8 week slip in their schedule in order to obtain approval of the governor.
In addition, FEMA representatives informed the
~
l licensee that their review of the scenario to be exercised will require about three weeks longer than the licensee had anticipated. Based on this infor. nation, the licensee currently expects that an emergency drill would not be conducted before April 1981.
l Pilcric Unit 1 i
i By telec:ryon December 11, 1980, Boston Edison provided a copy of their request for a hearing dated December 4,1980 on the staff's Orders of October 24, 1980 regarding the Environmental Qualification of Safety-Related Electrical Equipment.
ENCLOSURE B j
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t 2-
'iRR Highlights (Continued)
Josech M. Farley, Unit No. 1 On December 12, 1980 we were informed by Alabama Power Company and Westinghouse that -inspection of both LP turbines at Farley-1 had been completed.
Mul tiple bore and keyway cracks, as well as indications on the disc face were observed in the first and second discs. The licensee is tentatively planning to re-place both rotors before restarting the plant in March 1981.
ENCLOSURE B e
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NRC Till PROGRAM 0FFICE WEEKLY STATUS REPORT Week of December 14-20, 1980 Plant Status Core Cooling Mode:
Cyclic natural circulation in the "A" reactor coolant system (RCS) loco via the "A" once througn stc=
generator (OTSG), steaming to tne main concenser, and RCS Icop-A and B cyclic natural circulation to reactor building ambient.
Available Core Cooling Modes: OTSG "B" steaming to the main condenter; long-term cooling "B" (OTSG-B); decay heat removal.
RCS Pressure Control Mode:
Standby Pressure Control (SPC) System.
Backup Pressure Control Mode: One of two decay heat removal pumps to supply pressure in conjunction with variable recirculation back to the barated water s+.o. age tank (SWST) to provide control of pressure.
~
Major Parameters (As of C500, Decemoer 19,1980) (approximate values)
Average Incore Thermocouples:
ll3*F Maximum Incore Thermocoupie:
153*F RCS Loop Temperatures:
A 8
Hot Leg 112*F 116 F Cold Leg (1) 86*F 82 F (2) 96*F 86*F RCS Pressure:
83 psig (DVM)
Pressurizer Temperature:
69*F Reactor Building:
Temperature: 63F Uater level:
Elevation 290.5 f t. (8.0 f t. frcm floor) via penetration 401 mancmeter Pressure:
-0.25 psig (L4eise)
Concentration:
3.8 x 10-D uCi/cc (Kr-85) (sample taken 12/17/80)
Effluent and Environmental (Radiological) Information_
l.
Liquid effluents frcm TMI site released to the Susquehanna River after processing, were made within the regulatory limits and in accordance with NRC requirements and City of Lancaster Agreement dated February 27, 1980.
The concentrations of radioactive material in the discharged effluent during this weekly period were less than the Lower Limits of Detection (LLD).
ENCLOSURE B
2 2.
_ EPA Environ ental Data.
Results from EPA monitoring of the environment arouno tne 'QH site were as follows:
3 The E?A measured Krypton-85 (Kr-85) concentrations (pCi/m ) at several environmental monitoring stations and reported the followir.g results:
Location December 8 - December 12, 1980 (pCi/m3)
Bainbridge 28 Goldsboro 26 Observation Center 30 Middletown 19 All of the above levels of Kr-85 are considered to be back-ground levels.
No radiation above normally occurring background levels were detected in any of the samples collected from the EFA's air and garma rate networks during the period from Dececber 10 through December 18, 1980.
3.
NRC Environmental Data.
Results from NRC monitoring of the environ-ment arouno tne TMF site were as follows:
The following are the NRC air sample analytical results for the onsite continuous air sampler:
I-131 Cs-137 Samole Period (uCi/cc) (uCi/cc)'
HP-246 December 10 - December 17, 1980
<8. 2 E-14 <8. 2 E-14 4.
Licensee Radioactive Material and Radwaste Shioments_.
The iclicwing snipments were mace:
On Monday, December 15,19S0, a 40 ml Unit 2 reactor coolant sample was sent to Babcock and Wilcox (B&W), Lynchburg, Vi rginia.
On Wednesday, December 17, 1980, contaiminated cork sanples from the Unit 2 auxiliary building expansion icint were shipped to Science Applications, Incorporated, (SAI), Rockville,
!!a ryland.
On Thursday, December 13, 1980, a box containing Unit 2 air filter and smear sample papers was mailed to Teledyr.e Isotopes, Westwood, "ew Jersey.
On Thursday, December 18, 1980, a box containing a Unit I waste evaporator concensate storage tank (WEC3T) monthly ca posite sample was mailed to Teledyne Isotopes, Westwood, New Jersey.
~ ENCLOSURE B
3 Major Activities 1.
Reactor Decay Heat Removal.
Oecay heat removal (approximately Eu l i) continues to ce removec by steaming (under vacuum conditions) in the "A" Cnce Through Staam Gener tor (OTSG) c.nd by heat trcnsfcr from reactor coolant system to reactor bu t Iding ambient.
Work continues on resolving staff comments on the licensee's_ proposal to use the loss to ambient mcde as a viable means of decay heat removal.
Approval of tne licensee's procedure 1s expected next ~ week.
2.
Contamination of Buildino Expansion Joints..._$ amole.results of cork adjacent to the air intake tunnel snov/ no activity above the lower level of detectability. This indicates that the water stop in the expansion joint between the " control and service building" and the
" air intake tunnel" is intact and keeping the contamination from spreading past the water stop.
The licensee is developing a plan to remove the contami'nated wEter from the expansion joints and is continuing in their efforts to ensure the contamination is not being released to the environment.
The onsite NRC staff will continue to closely monitor che Ticcnscc's actions in this area.
Meetings Attended 1.
On Wednesday, December 17, 1980, L. Barrett, A. Fasano.- ELJ.aved2mp,.
and M. Shanbaky attended a meeting at NRC Region I, King of Prussie, PA.
Licensee management representatives were present to discuss the Unit 1 Health Physics Program Evaluation concer~ning acceptab1'e corrective action for the evaluation findings and applicability to Unit 2.
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2.
On Thursday, December 18, 1980, B. Snyder and L. Barrett attended the TMI Advisory Panel meeting at the William Penn Museum in Mcrrisburg. The topic of discussion was radioactive unste manage-ment.
Presentations were given by Mr. G. Cunningham, Assistant Secretary for the Department of Energy (DOE), Mr. R. Arnold, Chief Oceratino Epecutive. General Public Utilities Nuclear Group (GPU"G).
l and representatives from Congressman Udall's staff and the ACRS.
i The panel focused on the progress towards the disposal of TMI radiaoctive water. The panel also expressed concern that DOE could l
accept TMI high level waste only for research and development (R&D)
Durposes and therefore store that accepted waste only and that it did not appear any organi:ation is taking the lead in resolving any legislative hurdles for TMI waste disposal.
Concerns on delays of the cleanup efforts and financial status of GPU were also expressed.
l 3.
On Friday, December 19,1980,.L. Barrett, R. Bellany and G. Kalman i
held a seninar on the Three Mile Island containment building. in l
Bethesda, Maryland for the NRC staff.
D**
- D' e Jh S J
ww ENCLOSURE B
OFFICE OF STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT IMPORTANT EVENTS FOR THE WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 19, 1980 1.
SD is planning to hold a public meeting to discuss section 50.55a, the Commission's regulation on Codes and Standards. This regulation incorporates by reference, with some modifications, national codes for the construction and inservice inspection of components for nuclear power reactors.
The meeting is intended to provide an opportunity for the NRC staff and other interested parties to discuss comments and suggestions for improving the regulation and is part of our effort to obtain feedback representing a spectrum of opinions through open discussion.
It is anticipated that the meeting will provide a valuable exchange of information concerning problems experienced during application of the regulations.
The public meeting to discuss this regulation will be held in Room P114/ll8 of the Commission's offices at 7920 Norfolk Avenue, Sethesda, Maryland on January 30,1981, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
2.
The fifth meeting of the Degraded Cooling Steering Group was held on December 9,1980, and brought out several contrasting views of the proper direction for degraded cooling rulemaking.
For example, one participant pointed out that the recent Zion / Indian Point work has assumed no opera-tor involvement (i.e., no operator errors of cor: mission or omission and no operator assist in terminating an accident) and is likely to result in " passive system" improvements like controlled filtered venting actuat-ed by relief valve or rupture disk. The belief was expressed that the degraded cooling rulemaking should likewise be directed toward mitiga-tior. and not prevention and that the only role prevention should have is in relation to major new systems. This view is not accepted by all the Group members; many still believe that prevention or termination of sequences prior to core melt can play an important role in reducing risk to an acceptable level.
Another key point made was that, from a probablistic viewpoint, al-though " windows" can be defined for some accident secuences which define degrees or core damage, it looks like the probabilities are such that, for safety purposes, you may have to deal with a full core melt.
If one believes this view, then one could conclude that a TMI-2 type accident; that is, one that has a degraded core but terminated before a core melt, is not of sufficiently higher probabiity than a core melt to address separately in rulemaking.
The next Steering Group meeting, to be held on January 6,1981, will treat three items:
(1) Approach to siting rule, particularly source term; (2)
Approach to Degraded Core Cooling Rule - need for safety goal, role of l
prevention / mitigation, must we assume core melt?; and (3) Use of aoproach where individual Group members take lead for each prime area of rule (e.g.,
accidents to be considered, fission products, or hydrogen).
ENCLOSURE C
< 3.
Radia tion Policy Council The U.S. Radiation Policy Council held its third meeting on December 18, 1980 in Washington, DC. John Davis, NMSS, attended as NRC's representa-tive to the Council. Mr. Davis informed the Council of NRC's plans for the identification and analysis of specific waste streams for which control for radiation protection purposes is not necessary. The Council also received status reports from DOE on low-level waste management and from EPA on radon in structures and occupational exposure guidance.
The Council was given status reports on:
(1) work plans for its long-term agenda; (2) conversion to SI units; (3) a charter for a public advisory committee and (4) radiological emergency preparedness. The Council directed the RPC staff and the Working Group to continue work on these issues and to prepare recommendations for Council actions at its next meeting.
(Contact:
E. Podolak, SD, 443-5860) i l
ENCLOSURE C
Publication to be Issued in the Near Future
Title:
Inservice Inspection Code Case Acceptability - ASPE Section XI, Division I Excected Issuance Date: March 1981 Descriotion: This guide endorses with certain exceptions those ASME Section XI (Inservice Insoection) Code Cases that the NRC staff has found to be generally acceptable. The guide makes known the regula-tory position concerning the Code Case and provides guidance in their use.
Contact:
E. O. Woolridge Publication Issued During the Week of December 15-19, 1980 Draft Regulatory Guide and Value/ Impact Statement: Nuclear Criticality Control and Safety of Homogeneou: Plutonium-Uranium Fuel Mixtures Out-side Reactors, Task No. FP 026-5.
Comments requested by February 19, 1 981.
Draft Regulatory Guide and Value/ Impact Statement: Standard Format and Content for the Safety Analysis Report for an Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (Dry Storage), Task No. FP 029-4 Comments requested by February 27, 1981.
ENCLOSURE C
[
OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY AND. SAFEGUARDS Items of Interest Week Ending December 19, 1980 Radon Value for Table S-3 After discussions with the Chairman's office and the ED0's office, in follow-up of Commission Paper SECY 80-499, "Information Regarding Activities Pertaining to Table S-3," the staff is making preparations to publish a technical report giving che latest data on radon releases from uranium mining and milling operations. This report provides the technical basis for a rulemaking to amend Table S-3 by adding the new radon-222 data. Actual rulemaking action may be deferred until issuance of the Appeal Board decision from the radon hearing at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and until settle-ment of the Kerr-McGee suit in the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals to nullify the new regulations on uranium milling.
Meeting with LIXI Corocration Members of the Material Certification and Procedures Branch met with repre-sentatives of the LIXI Corporation on December 17, 1980, for the purpose of discussing health and safety design requirements for the Lixiscope. The LIXI Corporation is proposing to distribute their device for various industrial applications and madical diagnosis. The Lixiscope is a hand-held, self-contained, high-resolution x-ray imaging device using up to 500 millicuries I-125. Possible uses include medical diagnosis, non-destructive testing, quality control, security screening, and radiation control management.
Physical Protection Of Catecory II Material In Transit--Final Rule A final paper has been prepared forwarding a Federal Register notice for issuance of amendments to 10 CFR 73.67 in final form. These amendments would allow the IRC staff to order certain shipments of SNM of Moderate Strategic Significance delayed in order to help assure that a formula quantity of SSNM is not accumulated by an adversary through multiple thefts of shipments of less than a formula quantity.
ENCLOSURE D
4 Items of Interest 2
MC&A Uograde Rule On December 1,1980, the proposed MC&A Upgrade Rule was sent out for NRC office concurrence or coment. Comments have been received from all but one office and revisions are being made in the proposed rule in an effort to resolve differences.
I i
r ENCLOSURE D i
OFFTCE OF XNSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT Items of Interest I
Week Ending December 19, 1980 1.
The following Notifications of Significant Enforcement Action were dispatched during the past week:
I a.
EN-80-26A Superior Industrial X-Ray Com::any, Blue Island, IL - An Order
^
Imposing Civil Penalties in the amount of 59,050 was issued to subject licensee on December 17, 1980.
Previously, a Notice of Violation and a Notice of Proposed Imposition of Civil Penalties in the amount of $9,800 was issued based on alleged items of noncompliance relating to radio-graphic exposure device being left unattended in an unrestricted area.
After consideration of the licensee's response, the IE staff concluded that the penalty for one item of noncompliance should be mitigated by
$750 but that the penalties for the other items should ce imposed as proposed.
b.
EN-80-34A Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, St. Paul, MN -
An Order Imposing a Civil Penalty in the ar.ount of $2,000 was issued to.
subject licensee on December 17, 1980.
Previously, a Notice of Violation and a Notice of Proposed Imposition of a Civil Penalty was issued based on an alleged item of noncompliance relating to a radioactive waste shipment from the licensee's facility to the Richland, Washington burial site where the external radiation levels on the surface of the transport vehicle exceeded regulatory requirements. After consideration of the licensee's response, the IE staff concluded that the item of noncompliance' did occur and no adequate reason was given by the licensee for mitigation or remission of the proposed penalty.
c.
EN-80-55 Pharmatopes, Inc., Oak Park, Mich. - On December 15,1980, a Notice of Violation and a Notice of Proposed Imposition of Civil Penalties in the amount of S7,550 was issued to subject licensee.
This action was based on alleged items of noncompliance relating to the radiation protection program at the licensee's Washington, D.C. radiopharmaceutical dispensing facility, and involved an extremity exposure of an individual, failure to report the exposure, failure to make adequate surveys, failure to properly t
i instruct individuals, failure to properly survey packages before shipment and failure to follow laboratory rules incorporated in the license.
d.
EN-80-56 Commonwealth Edison Co., Chicago, Ill. (Dresden Nuclear Power Station) - On December 19, 1980, a Notice of Violation and a Notice of l
l Proposed Imposition of a Civil Penalty in the amount of S4,000 was i; sued l
to subject licensee.
This action was based on an alleged item of non-compliance relating to the shipment of waste material from the Dresden Station which when received at the Richland, Washington burial site was not packaged in a strong, tight package and the lid on one bin was not bolted down and was easily removed.
l e.
EN-80-57 Consolidated Edison Company (Indian Point Unit 2) - A Notice of Violation and a Notice of Proposed Imposition o# Civil Penalties in the amount i
of. $5,000 was issued to subject licensee on December 19, 1980, based on an m
alleged item of noncompliance relating to a change in a procedure without m
Comission approval which was contrary to a Technical Specification and g
which involved an unreviend safety question.
As a result of the unauthorized E cnange, the reactor was operating with the automatic start feature of the d
Containment Spray System, and Engineered Safety Feature, rendered inoperable.
C:
I s
2-2.
Preliminary Notificatier.s relating :: tae following acticns were ciscatched during the week:
a.
PNG-I-80-173 Nuclear Metals, Inc., Ccncord, Mass. - Employee Contaminated with Depleted Uranium in the Form cf Green Salt (U F ).
4 b.
PNG-I-80-173A Nuclear Metals, Inc. Concord, Mass. - Bioassay Results for Employee Centaminated with Depleted Uranium in the Form of Green Salt (U F:).
c.
PNC-I-80-174 Lebanon Valley General Hospital, Lebanon, Pa. - Loss of 10 Millicuries of Xenon-133 d.
PNG-I-80-174A Good Samaritan Hos:i al, Lebanon, Pa. - Lost Package Cor.tair.ing 10 Millicuries of Xenen-133 is Found e.
PNG-I-80-175 Peach Bottom Unit 3 - Scram Discharge Volume Level Instrument Failure f.
PNO-I-80-176 Beaver Valley Power S atien, Unit 1 - Unscheduled Plant Shutdown g.
PNO-II-80-173 Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc., Erwin, Tenn. - Unplanned Release of Airborne Radioactivity Within Regulatory Limits h.
PNG-II-80-174 Brunswick Steam Electric Plant - Loss of Reactor Building Airborne Effluent Monitoring Ca ability i.
PNG-III-S;-230 American Electric Pcwer Service Corp., D. C. Cook Unit 2 - Fire in Main Generator Exciter j.
PNO-III-80-231 Mallinckrodt, Inc., St. Lcuis, MO. - Report on Lost Shipment of Radicactive Material:
3 Curie Technetium Generator k.
PNG-IV-80-40A Arkansas Nuclear One, Unit 2 - Plant Shutdown Extended 1.
PNS-1-80426 United Nuclear Corp., - Naval Products, Montville, Conn. -
Bcm: Threat m.
PNS-III-80-21 Ocnald C. Cook Nuclear Pcwer Plant - Telephone Semb Threat n.
PNS-III-80-22 Quad-Cities, Unit 1 anc 2 - Bomb Threat 3.
The following Information Notices were issued:
a.
" Actuation of ECCS in the Recirculation Mode While in Hot Shutdown," was issued on December 16, 1980 ::
each pressuri:ed water reactor facility holding a power reactor operating license or a constructicn permit.
i 4
l ENCLOSURE E l
l
a b.
IE Information Notice 80 45:
" Potential Failure of SWR Backuo Manual Scram Capability," was issued on Cece :er 17, 1980 to eacn boiling water reactor facility holding a power rea :or operating license or a construction permit.
4.
Dresden Unit 2 - On December 2,1980, the continuous monitoring system (CMS) on the scram discharge volume (SDV) failed to respond as expected following a normal reactor scram. The CMS had beer. recently installed te detect the presence of water in the SDV in accordan:e with a confirmatory order issued as a result of the Browns Ferry 3 partial s:ran on June 28, 1980. At Dresden Unit 2, :ne ;F.S has been made : eracle a :.i. teen tested.
Any potential ceneri: CMS :r:blers a-e beine resolis: :. z- :n'ormation Not"ce issued on Decer:e-5. 1970, and a Salleiir. issae: :
- e:er.:er 18,198::
- E Su::le-m-n-a to Eulle:in 30-17 "Failare 0 :: - :- : :s to :nser: 3aring a 3
Scram at a 5WR".
The Bulletin requires nat testing be performed within 14 days to demonstrate CMS operability and nat manual surveillance of the SDV be resumed in the interim.
Licensee actions will be verified by IE inspections.
4 i
I I
j D**
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o ENCLOSURE E
4 ITEMS OF INTEREST 0FFICE OF INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 19, 1980 US/IAEA Safeguards Agreement On Friday, December 12, representatives of DOE, ACDA, State, and NRC met to discuss a orocosed interagency procedure for implementation of the US/IAEA Safeguards Agreement. NRC representatives from NHSS, ELD, and IP oresented for consideration a revised version of an earlier ACDA draft. ACDA agreed to draft new language which would accommodate the concerns of all agencies.
Transfer of Deoleted Uranium Exoort Licensing Authority On December 16 the President signed legislation (H.R. 6942) which transfers export licensing authority for certain forms of depleted uranium from NRC to the Executive Branch. Under the legislation, the Commerce Department will assume export licensing authority over depleted uranium when fabricated into such items as counterweights and shielding.
In addition the State Department Office of Munitions Control will assume export licensing authority over depleted uranium when fabricated into penetrators for munitions. Bulk deoleted uranium will remain under NRC's export licensing authority.
Duane Arnold Pumo Failure Notification to Japan and Spain This week IP sent notification to Japan and Spain concerning a pump problem of Duane Arnold NPP.
IE Region III informed IP of the problem, a split ring failure of a Bryon Jackson High Pressure Core Injection (HPCI) booster pump.
This failure rendered the high pressure injection train inoperable if called upon for operation. Similar Bryan Jackson pumps are in service at Fukushima 1 and Santa Maria de Garona NPps.
Siting Comments by the German RSK The RSK (the equivalent of ACRS in the Federal Republic of Germany) advised during a recent visit that they would be submitting comments in December on the proosed NRC rulemaking on reactor siting.
A. Jahns, Executive Secretary of the RSK, advised R. Fraley, Executive Secretary of ACRS, this week that, due to unforeseen delays, these RSK comments will now be submitted by the end of January.
U.S. Action Plan on IAEA Safeguards - Working Grouo~ Meeting Representatives from IP and NMSS attended a meetino of the Action Plan Workina Group on December 16 at the State Department. The principal focus of the meeting was on the review of an NRC-prepared draft revision of the Action Plan.
t ihe next meeting of the Group is scheduled for January 6,1981.
i 1
I 1
ENCLOSURE H
2-yeetine With GA0 Representatives IP and NMSS representatives attended a meeting on December 17 with an official from GA0 to discuss matters related to the question of NRC's safeguards and physical security infonnation needs in connection with review of U.S. exports.
We understand that the information will be included in the final report to Congress in t' arch 1981 required by the NNPA. The draft of the report is expected to be conoleted and circulated to the aporopriate agencies for comments sometime in January 1981.
CISET Meetino On December 17 at the Department of State J. Lafleur, IP, attended a meeting of the Committee on International Science, Engineering, and Technology (CISET),
an interagency group coordinating U.S. international scientific cooperation, under the Chairmanship of Assistant Secretary Pickering. The annual report to Congress (the " Title V Report") was discussed, as well as activities planned for the coming year.
Meeting with REEco IP on December 15 met with A. Bickers, D. Vetter, and W. Nix of the Reynolds Electric and Engineering Company to discuss continued international participation in the Radiological Emergency Response Operations training courso. The staff suggested adding more detailed coverage of the TMI emergency response and " hands on" experience in developing and evaluating energency plans (both strongly recom-mended by the first foreign participants) to the next international session.
REECo was already working on the first and agreed to the second. Tentative agreenent was reached to schedule the next international session Seotember 30 -
October 9, 1981.
Meeting with INPO IP and RES met on December 18 with INPO representatives R. S. Smith and M. Bell to discuss the International Participants Program which INP0 is initiating in resconse to several requests they have received from foreign utilities and consulting firms.
IP provided INPO with a list of our governmental arrangement acministrators and suggested that they be asked to identify the group (s) in their countries most representative of the actual plant operators with whom INP0 wished to exchange coerating experience information.
(No onsite Diant evaluations are contemolated in the foreseeable future.) The staff also identified other Federal agencies and contacts (State and DOE) which should be kept advised as work on INP0's international program proceeds.
Foreign Visits to NRC On "onday Srs. Xavier Jardi and Jesus Taoia of La Agrupacion (a Spanisu AE) met with W. S. Besaw, Director of TIDC/ADM, to discuss TERA and the automation of HRC licensing records.
ENCLOSURE H
t On Wednesday Mr. Makoto Sue, NHK Japan Broadcasting Corp., met with H. Faulkner, IP and F. Ingram, PA regarding the Corporation's plans to produce a TV series on nuclear power. Plans are that the series will consist of 3 individual shows, ene of whic' will address the subject of nuclear reactor safety. Mr. Sue was interested in learning, generally, of NRC activities and revisions to the LOFT test progran in light of TMI. Japan Broadcasting plans to send a filming crew to the U.S. in March.
If NRC assistance for filming and interviewing is desired, they will send a formal request.
This week Mr. Hiromichi Hirayama, an inspector with the Safeguards Division of the Nuclear Safety Bureau in Japan, is visiting NRC between his participation in the Safeguards Technology training course at Los Alamos and the Physical Pro-tection training course to be held at the Sandia Laboratories. Mr. Hirayama is reviewing NRC documents related to the safety and environmental reviews of SARs and NRC procedures for obtaining comments from other government agencies and the public on licensing issues and proposed regulations related to nuclear power plant siting.
IP is scheduling brief meetings in which Mr. Hirayama may present questions for NRC staff response.
ENCLOSURE H
l\\
OFFICE OF STATE PROGRAMS ITEMS OF INTEREST WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 19, 1980 On December 15 and 16, Robert E. Troj anowski, RSLO, Region II, 1
participated in a Regional Advisory Committee meeting with of ficials of the State of South Carolina to review the South Carolina Emergency Plan.
As a result of this meeting, the committee recommended to the State that their major exercise scheduled for January 1981 be delayed until March 1981, to permit sufficient time to make necessary revisions.
The State was receptive to this request.
William B. Menczer, RSLO, Region III, was in West Chicago on Decembe 16, 1980, to inspect the Kerr McGee facilities and areas of the city in which Thorium contamination was present.
On i
December 18, 1980, Mr. Menezer met with Philip Gustafson, the new director of the Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety, and with William O'Connor, Legal Counsel to the Governor, to discuss NRC and State actions concerning decontamination of West Chicago.
On December 18, Thomas C.
Elsasser, RSIO, Region I, attended the TMI Citizens Advisory Committee meeting in Harrisburg, PA.
The major topic of discussion at the meeting was the TMI radio-active waste issue.
On December 12, 1980, Dean Kunihiro, RSLO, Region V, attended a Western Interstate Energy Board sponsored meeting in Las Vegas to develop regional solutions to management and disposal of low level radioactive waste.
A newly created group, the Western I.egional Low Level Radioactive Waste Committee, will be chaired by Dave Stevens of Washington State.
Ralph DiSibio is the Vice Chairman.
The Committee was organized into two regional sub groups:
north and south.
The south regional working group to deal with the question of siting and agreed that the only acceptable approach was a shared siting commitment.
The north regional working group focused on the process of developing the compact itself.
It is anticipated that a two-day meeting be held in February and that a draft compact document would be available at that time.
ENCLOSURE I
OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND PROGRAM ANALYSIS Items of Interest WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 19, 1980 Annual Report Sent for Cennission review 15 of 16 Annual Report Chapters and 6 Appendixes.
Chapter 1 is due to be circulated for comment December 29.
ENCLOSURE J l
CFFICE FOR ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION OF OPERATIONAL DATA ITEMS OF INTEREST
' WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 19, 1980 i
AE00 recently canpleted a report entitled, "AE00 Observations and Recorrendations Concerning the Problem of Steam Generator Overfill and Cc:bined Primary and Secondary Side Blowdown." This report discusses the implications and possible effects of failures in non-safety-related balance-of-plant equipment which could result in steam generator overfill situations, and potentially lead to combined primary anc secondary side blowdown. All but one of tha recommendatiens in the report have already been acted upon. The report is now being distributed and forwarded for appropriate action and response by NRR.
)
i ENCLOSURE L L
SCllEDULED SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS I
Date Organization Location Subject Speaker i
3/26/81 22nd Annual Quality Clinic Knoxville, TN What the NRC Regulations W. Ruhlman, R0 I Require from a QA Program 3/31/81 American Chemical Society Atlanta, GA Regulatory implications of II. Peterson, SD Radiation-Dose Effect Relationships 4/1/81 Spouses of Operating Staff Education Center Quality Assurance Requirements A. Cerne, R0 I at Seabrook Station Seabrook, Nil and Licensing Procedures Related to Seabrook Station e
ENCLOSilRE O
e' ITEMS APPROVED BY THE COMMISSION - WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 19, 1980 A.
EXCERPT OF STAFF REOUIREMENTS - AFFIRMATION SESSION 80-54. 3:10 P.M., THURSDAY.
DECEM5ER 11,1950, COMMISSIONERS' CONFERENCE ROOM, D.C. OFFICE (OPEN TO PUBLIC ATTENDANCE). Memo SECY to Dircks, 12/15/80.
I.
SECY-80-448 - Procosed Narrative Exclanation of Table S-3 The Commission by a vote of 3-0 (Commissioner Gilinsky abstaining) approved a proposed explanatory narrative for Table S-3, Table of Uranium Fuel Cycle Environmental Data, and a proposed rule announcing the publi-cation cf the draft narrative and conditions for the Table's use.
Comissioner Bradford concurred in part and dissented in part, as noted in his separate views.
The Commission requested that staff revise the proposed explanatory narrative and proposed rule as follows:
a.
page 8 of the proposed rule should be revised to reflect the following paragraph modified to include an exception for raden and technetium:
No further consideration of fuel cycle impacts addressed by the table and the narrative would be required or allowed in individual licensing proceedings.
Table S-3 and the material in the narrative would be referenced as support for a generic conclusion that these fuel cycle impacts cannot affect significantly the cost-benefit balance for a reactor.
b.
modify page 4 of the narrative as indicated in Attachment 1; c.
delete page 10, beginning with Section E, through page 26 of the narrative (references on pages 27-28 should be modified accordingly);
d.
revise the discussion on page 57 of the narrative making clear that i
. the tendency to overestimate effects resulting frcm use of the linear hypothesis applies only to the low-LET radiation. A discussion should be added similar to that on page 5, first paragraph, in the l
7/14/80 memo, W. Dircks to Commissioner Bradford; page 59 of the narrative should be revised to include the probability e.
2 of risk associated with operating reactors and projected reactors over their lifetimes; f.
clarify or delete the following statement found on page 68 of the narrative:
"After 100,000 years, the waste in the repository presents no greater hazard than the original materials charged to the reactor.";
ENCLOSURE N
e' A.
(continued) 9 modify pages 70-78 of the narrative as indicated in Attachment 2; and h.
the numbers from staff's table titled " Estimated Risks of Cancer ar.d l
Genetic Effects" (Attachment 3) should be included in the narrative.
The numbers should be changed to be consistent with the capacity factor used in the narral.ive.
(NPSS - SECY suspense - 1/26-81)
Commissioner Bradford noted that he will be providing separate views which will be available at least three days before the deadline for publication.
B.
STAFF REOUIREFENTS - BRIEFING ON TVA'S ACTIVITIES IN EMERGENCY OFFSITE FACILITIES, 2:05 P.M., WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1980, COMMISSIONERS' CONFERENCE ROOM, D.C.
OFFICE (OPEN TO PUBLIC ATTENDANCE) Memo SECY to Dircks, dtd 12/18/80.
The Comission was briefed by TVA representatives L. Mills, J. Hufham, and E. Sliger on TVA's Activities in Emergency Offsite Facilities.
Also present were Sam Slone - Director, Civil Defense Dept. for the State of Alabama and John Keese, of the Civil Defense & Emergency Planning for the State of Tennessee.
The Commission requested that staff provide its reflections on the briefing, specifically. commenting on:
a.
the acceptability of the TVA proposal to centralize emergency offsite facilities for the entire TVA system; and b.
the applicability of the TVA concept for other multi-site licensees.
(IE)
(SECY Suspence 1/9/81)
C.
STAFF REQUIREMENTS - BRIEFING ON SECY-80-511 - STORAGE OF LOW-LEVEL RADI0 ACTIVE WASTES AT POWER REACTOR SITES,1:30 P.M., WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1980, COMMISSIONERS' CONFERENCE ROOM. 0.C. OFFICE (OPEN TO PUBLIC ATTENDANTO Memo for tne Record, dtd 12/18/80.
The Commission was briefed on the storage of low-level radioactive waste at power reactor sites as currently being implemented at the TVA and how their process might apply to other low-level disposal sites throughout the country.
There were no requests or staff requirements from this meeting.
ENCLOSURE N
D.
SECY-80-494 - PROPOSED EXPORT OF FIVE KILOGRAMS OF HEAVY WATER TO INDIA (XMAT0146)
(C0MISSIONER ACTION ITEM) Memo SECY to Dircks, dtd 12/19/80.
This is to advise you that the Commissioners have reviewed the subject license to Aldrich Chemical Company, Inc.
The Cc= mission (with three Cor=nissioners approving) has accepted your recommendation to export to India 5 kilograms of heavy water.
Commissioner Gilinsky did not participate in this action.
The Office of International Programs was informed of this i
action by telephone on December 19, 1980.
E.
SECY-80-482 - PETITION FOR RULEMAKING FROM PUBLIC CITIZEN LITIGATION GROUP ON j
REQUIRED LEVELS OF FINANCIAL PROTECTION. Memo SECY to Dircks, dtd 12/19/80.
Attached is the vote sheet from Chairman Ahearne which is to be used as a guide in revising the Federal Register Notice to address more directly(Attach-Congressman Udall's and the California Energy Commission's comments.
ment not included.)
l F.
SUPPLEMENTAL STAFF REOUIREMENTS - AFFIRMATION SESSION 80-54, 3:10 P.M., THURSDAY, DECEMBER ll,1980, COMMISSIONERS' CONFERENCE ROOM, D.C. OFFICE (OPEN TO PUBLIC ATTENDANCE). Memo SECY to Dircks/Kamerer, dtd 12/19/80.
i III. SECY-80 a82 - Petition for Rulemakino from Public Citizen Litigation Grouc on Recuired Levels of Financial Protection The Commission by a vote of 3-1, with Commissioner Bradford dissenting, denied a petition by the Public Citizen Litigation Group to amend Part 140 to increase the amount of prinary financial protection required of persons li:ensed to operate reactors with a rated capacity of 100 Mw(e) or more from $160 million to $460 raillion.
The Commission by a vote of 3-1, with Chairman Ahearne dissenting, also decided tnat the agency should seriously explore with the nuclear insurance industry the potential for increased liability coverage.
(EDO) (SECY Suspense: 2/7/81)
The Cemnission reouested that:
1.
staff revise the Federal Register Notice to address more directly j
Congressman Udall's and the California Energy Commission's comments.
l The following separate view should be attached to the Federal Register Notice:
" Commissioner Bradford believes that a rulemaking on some Price-Anderson subjects raised in the comments would have been in order."
(NRR) (SECY Suspense:
12/31/80) 2.
a letter be sent to the Public Citizen Litigation Group informing them of the denial; and (NRR) (SECY Suspense:
12/31/80) l 3.
a letter be sent to the appropriate Congressional subcommittees informing them of the denial. (OCA/NRR) (SECY Suspense:
12/31/80)
ENCLOSURE N