ML20055G612

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Weekly Info Rept for Wk Ending 900622
ML20055G612
Person / Time
Issue date: 06/27/1990
From: Blaha J
NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO)
To:
References
TASK-IR, TASK-SE SECY-90-230, WIR-900622, NUDOCS 9007230373
Download: ML20055G612 (46)


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June N, 1990 INFORMATION REPORT secy_,o_230 For:

The Comissioners From:

James L. Blaha, Assistant for Operations, Office of the EDO

Subject:

WEEKLY INFORMATION REPMT - WEEK ENDING JUNE 22, 1990 A summary of key events is included as a convenience to those Comissioners who may prefer a condensed version of this report, gntents Enclosure Nuclear Reactor Regulation A

Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards B

Nuclear Regulatory Research C

Analysis and Evaluation of Operational Data D

Governmental & Public Affairs E

General Counsel F*

Administration G

Information Resources Management H

Controller W' 91.

I*

Personnel J

Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization & Civil Rights K*

Enforcement L

. Consolidation M

Regional Offices N

Executive Director for Operations 0

Items Addressed by the Commission P

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Meeting Notices 0

Proprietary or Other Sensitive Infofm g g g g R

external distribution) of the rest of this paper j

  • No input this week.

anes L. Blaha ssistant for Operations, OEDO

Contact:

James L. Blaha, OEDO NOTE:

TO BE MADE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE l

492-1703 IN 10 WORKING DAYS FROM TIIE

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DATE OF THIS PAPER AND UPor REMOVisL OF ENCLOSURE R

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9007230373 900627 g

COMMS NRCC PDR WEEKLYINFOREPT PNg

HIGHLIGHTS OF WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT WEEK ENDING JUNE 22, 1990 c

Maine Yankee--Stuck Control Element Assembly During Cycle-12 Refueling On June 7, 1990, Maine Yankee experienced a stuck control element assembly (CEA) during Cycle-12 refueling. A subsequent-examination of the stuck CEA revealed that the center control rod end cap was missing and all the B,C absorber pellets were gone. The licensee removed all the 23 old CEAs of similar design for inspection. The old (reference) CEA design had 4 outer control rods with an 8 inch Ag-In-Cd absorber plug near the end cap and the remaining length of B,C pellets; the center control rod had all Because of excelsive cladding strain associated with B C B C pellets.

swelling, the reference design has been modified to include the Ag-I,n-Cd 4

absorber plug in the end of the center control rod. This failure appears to have-generic safety implications. Subsequent inspections at Maine Yankee revealed axial cracks on the center control rods of other CEAs, two with the end caps missing. To help the NRC staff determine the potential magnitude of the problem, CE licensees are being questioned and a meeting has been scheduled with the CE Owners Group.

Low-Level Waste Disposal Regulatory Workshop State Programs and the Division of Low Level Waste Management & Decommissioning sponsored a Low-Level Waste Disposal Regulatory Workshop on June 19-21, 1990 in Bethesda, Maryland. The workshop, which was attended by 30 State officials, included status reports on a variety of Federal LLW regulatory initiatives such as the BRC exemption policy, mixed waste. manifest rulemaking, Cle m Air Act, performance assessment and LLW guidance implementing 10 CFR Part 61. Sessions-were held on LLW licensing, characterization and siting issues, Agreement State reviews, the NRC LLW research program and waste form. Worksho) presenters included representatives from State Programs, Division of Low '.evel Radioactive Waste Management. Office of Research, the Environmental Protection Agency and the States of North Carolina, California and Washington, Midwest Interstate LLRW Commission Meeting Carl Paperiello, Region III Deputy Administrator, and Roland Lickus Director, Region III State and Governmental Affairs, attended the Midwest Interstate Low-Level Radioactive Waste Commission meeting on June 20-21, 1990 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Dr. Paperiello discussed the status of NRC's BRC policy. The Midwest Commission also received a briefing on the BEIR V report and a status of Michigan's site selection process. The Michigan LLRW-Authority has recently eliminated the final site from consideration for failing to meet the State's siting criteria concerning water resource protection. Future activity in Michigan will be to determine if, in fact, any site can be found to meet the State's siting criteria.

NRC Receives Recoanition for Efforts in Federal Women's Proaram Jim Sniezek, Deputy Executive Director for Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Regional Operations and Research was selected for the Federal Women's Program Achievement Award. He was honored at a luncheon in Washington, D.C on June

18. Mr. Sniezek was selected on the basis of his extensive efforts to hire, provide career opportunities for, and promote women and other minorities in NRC.

Ed Halman, Acting Director, Office of Administration, received the Federal Women's Program Achievement Award in 1989.

e Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Items of Interest Week Ending June 22, 1990 Seabrook Unit 1 At 4:39 p.m. an automatic reactor trip from 31% power occurred when a high generator neutral voltage signal actuated the generator trip circuit. After the trip, an emergency feedwater system high flow actuation-signal isolated feedwater to steam generator SG-A.

The signal was reset and decay heat removal was established on all four SGs.

Licensee event and human factors review and any necessary corrective actions will be completed and approved by management before restart.

Browns Ferry Unit 2 On June 15, 1990, the Region II Administrator, the Director PDII-4, and members of their staffs toured Browns Ferry Unit 2 and met with senior TVA management. A revised Unit 2 restart schedule was announced during the meeting.

TVA management made a presentation on the current site organization and responsibilities. The presentation included plant readiness, power ascension testing, and senior TVA management's program fer assessing operational readiness. The following dates were discussed during the meeting; October 13, 1990 - Fuel Load; December 4, 1990 -

Unit 2 Criticality.

SRP-PLEX On June 20, 1990, the License Renewal Project Directorate (LRPD) requested review and comment from all technical divisions within RES and NRR on draft sections of a proposed Standard Review Plan for license renewal applications.

These draft sertions were developed with contractual. support from PNL and EG&G and included strong staff oversight by LRPD. The LRPD request for comment is consistent with the established milestone contained in the License Renewal schedule contained in SECY 90-021.

Zion Units 1 and ?

On June 15, 1990, the Diagnostic Evaluation Team (DET) completed its first two weeks of inspection activities at Zion Station. The team leader had an informal exit meeting with station management. The following issues were discussed as potential issues of some concern.

Control of motor operated valves (MOV) torque switch setting and stroke time testing method.

The design bases of service water are not well understood and documented.

JUNE 22, 1990 ENCLOSURE A

e In general, the design of service water system appears to be acceptable.

However, there may be s me situations which result in insufficient cooling _for containment fan coolers.

There appears to be a lack of leadership in the control room. There are some command and control issues which were obvious during the inspection.

4 All of the above issues are considered to be preliminary findings by the team.

Some of these may be resolved before the final week of inspection. The team is scheduled to be on-site from June 25 through June 29, 1990. There will be an exit meeting on June 29, 1990 at the site.

Examiner's Conferenca The Operator t.icensing Branch held their annual Examiners' Conference during the week of June 11-15 in Concord, California.

Examiners from headgearters, all five regions, the three contractor groups and key support individuals who participate in the conduct of OLB activities attended.

In addition, a member of the Mexican regulatory body was in attendance. The objectives of the conference were annual calibration of all NRC and contract examiners for improved consistency, identification of additional areas of the Examiner Standards that need resolution, and tean-building. All three objectives were successfully met. Topics discussed during the conference-included Revision 6 to the Examiner Standards, recent enforcement actions involving licensed operators, contractor / regional interface issues, examination development techniques and methods to achieve examination consistency.

Feedwater Pipe Rupture at Finnish Reactor Plant (EMCB)

The Loviisa Unit l' plant, experienced a circumferential break in the 12.8 inch carbon steel main feedwater piping on May 28,.1990.

The rupture occurred after one main feedwater pump tripped and a check valve slammed shut. The reactor was manually tripped and there was no personnel injury or significant damage to safety equipment. The rupture was directly downstream of a flow measuring orifice and immediately upstream of orifice to flange weld. The 360 degree orifice flange wall thinning started at the orifice plate and tapered to about 1 mm (39 mils) wall thickness at the rupture. The original wall thickness at the rupture was 18 mm. The 20 inch long pipe section downstream of the break had circumferential wall thinning to a residual wall thickness of 5 to 10 mm. The root cause is being determined.

It is suspected that the wall thinning could be due to cavitation erosion.

Unit 2 was shutdown for feedwater piping inspection. Some wall thinning was measured at similar locations in Unit 2.

As a consequence, an interim repair is being made to replace Unit 1 and 2 orifice flanges made of the same material (carbon steel). A permanent modification with stainless steel components will be made in the future.

Victor Benaroya, International Programs, and William Kerr, ACRS, will be visiting the Loviisa plant within the next few weeks and will obtain additional information on the incident investigation.

NRR will evaluate this information for applicability to domestic reactors.

The release of this information was cleared with IP.

JUNE 22, 1990 ENCLOSURE A

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Legality of Amendment for Cycle Specific Core Operating Limits From Technical Specifications Challenged On March 8, 1990, the Ohio Citizens for Responsib1' Energy petitioned to inter-e vene and request a hearing regarding a Perry, Un% i technical :pecification (TS) amendment that would remove cycle specific arr operating limits from the TS. On June 11, 1990, the ASLB granted petition to intervene btsed on its conclusion that a valid question exists as to whether such amenement permits

... unlawful abdication of Comission responsibility to pass on the question of whether a licensee's activities meet the standards of the Atomic Energy Act and the' commitment responsibility to provide the public an opportunity to partici-pate in that process." The ASLB has stated that the resolution of this ques-tion depends on whether or not substantial engineering judgment is needed to derive core operating limits.

In light of this, SRXB is providing technical support to DRSP/PD III-3 and OGC who have the lead for resolving this issue.

Maine Yankee--Stuck Control Element Assembly During Cycle-12 Refueling On June 7, 1990, Maine _ Yankee experienced a stuck control element assembly (CEA) during Cycle-12 refueling. A subsequent examination of the stuck CEA revealed that the center control rod end cap was missing and all the B C absorber pellets were gone.

The licensee removed all the 23 old CEAs gof similar design for inspection.

The old (reference) CEA design had 4 outer control rods with an 8 inch Ag-In-Cd absorber plug near the end cap and the remaining length of B,C pellets; the center control rod had all B C pellets.

Because of excelsive cladding strain associated with B C 4

4 swelling, the reference design has been modified to include the Ag-In-Cd absorber plug in the end of the center control rod. This failure appears to have generic safety implications.

Subsequent inspections at Maine Yankee revealed axial cracks on the center control rods of other CEAs, two with the end caps missing. To help the NRC staff determine the potential magnitude.of the problem, CE licensees are being questioned and a meeting has been-scheduled with the CE Owners Group.

Design Basis Proaram Guideline A public meeting was held on June 18 between the NRC staff (headquarters and regions) and NUMARC represar.Latives to discuss the NUMARC Design Basis Program Guideline document.

The staff emphasized that Design Basis Document (DBD) verification was a critical element of the program; and several suggestions were made to augment the guideline in the area of verification and validation.

NUMARC indicated that the guideline would be revised to reflect NRC comments, and then would be resubmitted to the NRC. NUMARC has requested that the staff acknowledge (via a letter to NUMARC) their acceptance and or exceptions to the guidelines. NUMARC reiterated their request for enforcement policy discretion for issuance of Level III violations regarding problems identified during imple-mentation of DBD efforts and were told that this was under consideration.

l JUNE 22, 1990 ENCLOSURE A 1

- 4,-

RESTART SCHEDULE 6/22/90 COMMISSION PLANT SHUTDOWN BRIEFING PLANT RESTART BROWNS FERRY 2 9/15/840 9/90E 12/90E*

NINE MILE POINT 1 12/19/87C 5/14/90C 7/5/90E
  • Comission decision prior to restart authorization.

JUNE 22, 1990 ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Items of Interest Week Ending June 22, 1990 SAFEGUARDS AND TRANSPORTATION International International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Inspection at B&W Facility On June 14, 1990, an IAEA team began their annual physical inventory verifica-tion at the Babcock & Wilcox (B&W) Fuel Company in Lynchburg, VA. The team audited the facility ledger, took a 100% item count of nuclear material on in-ventory and performed nondestructive measurements on bundles and fuel rods.

They also sampled uranium dioxide pellets to be sent to their IAEA laboratory in Seibersdorf, Austria, for uranium and isotopic analysis. The verification went smoothly, with no discrepancies identified.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Inspection at General Electric Facility On June 20, 1990, en IAEA team commenced a short notice random inspection-at the General Electric Fuel Fabrication Plant in Wilmington, NC. The team will audit the low-enriched uranium facility's ledger, weigh and measure the U-235 content by nondestructive assay of UF cylinders and measure fuel rods.

6 Transtortation Plutonium Air Shipment On June 14, 1990, Division of Safeguards and Transportation staff met with rep-)

resentatives'of the Power Reactor and Nuclear Fuel Development Corporation (PNC to discuss the Plutonium Air Transport Program. The discussion focused on the development of draft test criteria and possible continuation of the program.

The current program is scheduled to conclude in September 1990 with a draft report on controlled test criteria.

Meeting on Burnup Measurement On June 19, 1990, representatives of Nuclear Assurance Corporation (NAC) briefed HMSS staff on progress in developing an instrument to measure the burnup of -a r actor fuel. The measurement system includes a device to detect both neutron 3,,d gama-ray emissions from the fuel. The system's performance will be benchmarked against dissolution assays at Japan's Tokai reprocessing plant in 1991. The measurement system has potential application as a reliable basis for determining-burnup in spent fuel.

HIGH-LEVEL WASTE MANAGEMENT Meatings and Site Visits on Faulting On June 12-13, 1990, staff from the Division of High-Level Waste Management (HLWM) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) held a Technical Exchange on Significant JUNE 22, 1990 ENCLOSURE B

.o l' Faulting. Discussion included NRC's definition of a significant fault NRC's comments concerning the study plan on the location and recency of faulting near-prospective surface facilities, and the draft study plan _on Quaternary faulting within the site area. Representatives of-the State of Nevada,'NRC and DOE con-tractors, the Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste, and the Nuclear Waste Techni l((;.-

On June 14-16, 1990, represertatives of the. State of Nevada conducted a site cal Review Board also were present.

On June 13. DOE led participants-on a site visit at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, to examine evidence of faulting and to discuss its integrated approach for studying prospective surface faults at the site.

visit for participants from 1LWM, the Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory

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Analyses, DOE and its contrictors, the Advisory Committee on' Nuclear Waste and the Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board. This visit was to review results of

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the State's investigation o' Quaternary faulting-and the structural control of

-volcanism in the vicinity of Yucca Mountain, and to discuss how these studies may affect determination of the site's suitability for a geological repository.

INDUSTRIAL AND MEDICAL NUCLEAR SAFETY Fuel Cycle Safety Babcock & Wilcox, Naval Nuclear Fuel Division On June 19, 1990, NRC staff from Region 11 and NMSS met with Babcock & Wilcox (B&W) personnel to discuss a number of items including the status and impact ofL the UNC/B&W transition, improvement of the audit / assessment programs, status of performance improvement program-issues, and B&W's assessment of its performance

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Significant changes have included increased safety staff, programmatic and pro-cedural changes and. involving operations personnel in safety matte"s.

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JUNE 22, 1990 ENCLOS

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i Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research Items of Interest Week Ending June 22, 1990 Director's Office Sumary of the Sixth Session of the Mitigative and Adaptive Research (MARS)

. Working Group The meeting of the Working Group was held on Thursday, May 31 in Room 1414 in the Department of Commerce Building at 14th and Constitution Avenue. There were approximately 24 people in attendance representing 11 government agencies. The meeting was chaired by Dr. John Knauss, Under Secretary of Comerce for Oceans and Atmosphere.

The MARS Working Group reports to the Committee on Earth Sciences under the Office of Science and Technology Policy in the Executive Office of the President.

Dr. Knauss opened the meeting by requesting reports from the three subcommittees.

The Adaptation Subcommittee report was given by Joel Smith (EPA) who noted that the. group was focusing on possible approaches and actions that could minimize the effect of climate change. The focus was on actions that normally would not be done under government policy and programs. The subcommittee noted that their activities would not include social and economic consequences but these were important and should be investigated by other individuals in other organi-zations. -Specifically noted were HHS, AID and OMB.

During discussions it was noted that in a recent meeting in New Haven, Connecticut, it was estimated that climate warming may be between 0.8 and l'F between now and the year 2050. However, there is a wide range of opinion regarding the potential magnitude of warming and the associated consequences.

The Mitigation Subcommittee report was given by Paul Shapiro of EPA who dis -

cussed the development of a format for the collection of currently planned research by the various agencies. This data would be presented in a document

.to be submitted to OMB in the fall.

A report-by the Subcommittee on the Ecr mics of Global Change was presented by John Riley (USDA) who expanded upor. u. Hw Haven discussion (Yale University).

It was indicated that the par 'cipants believed that the change in warming may be so gradual that it may not be detectable, and the exact detectable level of change is not known.

The Yale meeting participants also believed there was a need to improve a number of data bases, such as the socioeconomic data bases and the climatological data bases. This would allow for fuller utilization of satellite data.

During this discussion, it was noted that most countries had adopted the U.N. standard GNP data base although the U.S. had not because it currently does not use the metric system in commercial-activities (although it expects to by 1995). The meeting participants further agreed that the current economic models need considerable improvement. Currently they provide qualitative rather than quar.titative results and results vary widely from model to model.

It was noted at this time that we do not understand why there is a difference in predicted results from the models.

JUNE 22, 1990 ENCLOSURE C

2-A' considerable amount of discussion was focused on how to collect and present-the relevant R&D activities from the various agencies. A schedule and process was developed to collect, review and present this informatiot in an overall document such that a draft would be ready for OMB review by Acqust 30, and that a final document would be made available-to Congress by Novembe* 28.

(In this regard, the NRC input will note that the NRC sponsors no relevant climate warming'research regarding adaptation or mitigation R&D.)

.Dr. Knauss ended the meeting by noting that possible future accomplishments for the MARS Working Group included the following:

a.

Agreement on a MARS agenda; b.

Completion of an annotated matrix; c.

A listing and description of ongoing agency programs that address the MARS agenda; d.

A listing and description of agency proposals for the 1992 budget that address the MARS agenda; and e-A report to accompany the President's budget which would describe the MARS agenda and those agency programs that contribute to that agenda, but fall short of claiming to be a MARS approved program.

Division of Regulatory Applications Briefing on Feasibility Study on Reduction of Uncertaintie:s in Radiation Risk Coefficients On Thursday, June 14, 1990, Dr. Mortimer M. Elkind, Profeisor of Radiation Biology, Colorado State University and Dr. Reainald L. Go:chy, Sr. Scientist, Science Application International Corporation briefed NRC staff on this soon to be completed RES funded study.

The objective of the study b to determine the feasibility of reducing the uncertainties in risk cefficients thrcugh studies of radiation effects at the molecular and cellular levels.

The preliminary conclusion of this work is that it should be possible with better understanding of basic processes of radiation carcinogenesis and mutagenesis to narrow the gap between epidemiological data at high doses and dose rates and risk of health effects at low doses and dose rates, where no human data exists. The publication of the feasibility study report is anticipated before the end of 1990.

Division of Safety Issue Resolution JCCCNRS Working Group 2 Heeting on RCP Seal Issues Members of the Engineering Issue Branch met with the Soviet delegation to the JCCCNRS Working Group 2 to discuss reactor coolant pump seal issues.

JUNE 22, 1990 ENCLOSURE C

3-The Soviet's believe their cooling to be very reliable. However, because of blackout considerations, and possible loss of cooling they are performing full scale pump loss of cooling' tests at a laboratory. The results should be

-available shortly.

Preliminary estimates by their seal manufacturer indicate a 6 hour6.944444e-5 days <br />0.00167 hours <br />9.920635e-6 weeks <br />2.283e-6 months <br /> duration of seal integrity with no cooling and an expectation that the tests will confirm 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br />.

The Soviets did indicate that they have had 2 incidents of loss of cooling (no injection and no intermediate) and afterward there was no seal damage.

Further details as to length of the events, etc., were not available. The Soviet delegation indicated that at the next meetina such details along with the results of the aforementioned test could be avallable.

Toxic Gas Workshop An NRC workshop was held on June 19, 1990 in OWFN 2F17 to evaluate and recommend short-term (2 minutes) exposure limits for five toxic gases which may present a hazard to reactor control room operators during an accidental release. PNL, a RES contractor, provided a draft document which was used as a guide to workshop members to arrive at recommended values for chlorine, ammonia, halon 1301, halon 1221, and sulfur dioxide. PNL provided a panel of three expert toxicologists which included a staff member of the National Academy of. Science and two private consultants.

Participating NRC staff included members of NRR and RES who are presently involved in the final stages of the resolution of Generic Issue 83, " Control Room Habitability". A transcript of the meeting was taken to assist in the revisions of regulatory guides and standard review plans involving control room habitability.

JUNE 22, 1990 ENCLOSURE C s

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Office for Analysis'and Evaluation of Operational Data Items of Interest Week Ending June 22, 1990 Division of Operational Assessment (DOA)

The Emergency Response Data System (ERDS) acceptance testing has been satis-factorily completed. The IRB staff met with NUMARC and industry representatives during the week to conduct demonstrations of ERDS and to discuss issues and concerns related to ERDS implementation.

The AEOD Director, the Director, NRR, Division of Operational Events Assessment.

IRB Acting Chief and AEOD staff made presentations at an Nuclear Utilities Services Workshop on the Reporting of Events in 10 CFR 50.72, Immediate Notification Rule, and 10 CFR 50.73, Licensee Event Report (LER) Rule. The presentations were well received by the attendees. The BWR Owner's Group also described industry's efforts to clarify the reporting requirement in order to achieve greater uniformity.

The first two weeks of onsite evaluation by the Zion Diagnostic Evaluation Team (DET) has revealed a number of issues. Many of these issues had been previous acknowledged by Ceco, but corrective actions were not yet implemented. The team will focus on utility priorities and resources next week. On June 22, the DET' manager briefed the EDO on preliminary findings.

Onsite evaluation will be concluded next week and an exit meeting will be held with utility management on August 14.

On June 18-22, the TTC Senior Health Physicists traveled to Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, to present Site Access Training to the Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) design contractors.

NRR had requested the' training to support a major contract recently awarded te AECL to provide design inspection support to the Division of Reactor Inspection and Safeguards.

Preliminary Notification The following Preliminary Notifications were issued during the past week.

a.-

PNO-I-90-46A, Maine Yankee Atomic Power Company (Maine Yankee Nuclear Power Station), Additional Control Element Assembly-(CEA) Failures.

b.

PN0-1-90-47A, U.S. Department of the Army, Picatinny Arsenal (Docket No.

030-05215), Discovery of Strontium-90 Source / Contamination in Helicopter Scheduled for Demolition at Picatinny Arsenal, N.J. (Update),

c.

PN0-I-90-48, Public Service of New Hampshire (Seabrook Nuclear Station Unit 1), Bomb Threat.

d.

PHO-II-90-25A, Carolina Power & Light Company (Brunswick 1 and 2), Restart of Units.

I JUNE 22, 1990 ENCLOSURE D

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PNO-II-90-31, Duke Power Company (Catawba Unit 1), Shutdown Exceeding l

48-Hours..

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PNO-II-90-32, Georgia. Power Company (Hatch Unit 1), Shutdown Exceeding 48-Hours Due to Hydrogen Burn in Charcoal Absorption System.

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PNO-II-90-33, Aerojet Ordnance, Explosion at Depicted Uranium Facility.

h.

PNO-II-90-39 Allied-Signal, Inc. (Docket No. 040-03392), Small Release of Uranium-Hexafluoride (UF I*

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L JUNE 22, 1990 ENCLOSURE D

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Office of Governmental and Public Affairs Items of Interest Week Ending June 22, 1990 State Programs low-level Waste Disposal Regulatory Workshop

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State Programs and the Division of Low Level Waste Management & Decommissioning sponsored a low-Level Waste Disposal Regulatory Workshop on June 19-21, 1990 in Bethesda, Maryland.

The workshop, which was attended by 30 State officials, included status reports on a variety of Federal LLW regulatory initiatives such as the BRC exemption policy, mixed waste, manifest rulemaking, Clean Air Act, performance assessment and LLW guidance implementing 10 CFR Part 61. Sessions were held.on LLW licensing, characterization and siting issues, Agreement State reviews,.the NRC LLW research program and waste form. Workshop presenters included representatives from State Programs, Division of Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management, Office of Research, the Environmental Protection Agency and the States of North Carolina, California and Washington.

Midwest Interstate i.LRW Conmission Meeting Carl Paperiello, Region III Deputy Administrator, and Roland Lickus, Director, Region III State and Governmental Affairs, attended the liidwest Interstate Low-Level Radioactive Waste Commission meeting on June 20-21, 1990 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Dr. Paperiello discussed the status of NRC's BRC policy. The Midwest Commission also received a briefing on the BEIR V report and a status of Michigan's site selection process. The Michigan LLRW Authority has recently eliminated the final site from consideration for failing to meet the State's siting criteria concerning water resource protection. Future activity in t

Michigan will be to determine if, in fact, any site can be found to meet the State's siting criteria.

Idaho Radiation Control Program Review Visit Howard Faulkner, Region IV, conducted a review visit of the Idaho Radiation Control Program on June 21-22, 1990 in Boise, Idaho. The purpose of a review visit'is to assess the status of the State's program and to assist the State in preparing for a_ routine review.

Brunswick Emeraency Planning Remedial Exercise Robert Trojanowski, Region II State Liaison Officer, participated in a remedial emergency planning exercise held at the Brunswick Steam Electric Plant on June 22, 1990 in Southport, North Carolina. Mr. Trojanowski served as a member of the Regional Assistance Comittee which evaluated the exercise. The remedial exercise was held to test the licensee's ability to promptly notify and communi-cate accurate emergency information and State and local ability to respond.

NUNE 22, 1990 ENCLOSURE E

Office of Administration Items of Interest Week Ending June 22, 1990 Regional Applicating Drug Testing Representatives of the Division of Security participated in a conference call on June 19, 1990, with the Office of Personnel'and all the Regions to review regional applicant drug testing procedures. Materials which were previously sent to DRMAs and RP0s were reviewed and discussed. All vacancy announcements for testing designated positions will be modified to reflect that Regional applicants must successfully pass a drug testing before entering on duty.

Headquarters applicant testing was initiated in December 1989.

Industrial Security Program On June 15, 1990, the NRC completed an extensive questionnaire regarding its industrial security program which was focwarded to the Secretary of Defense for use in evaluating the merits of a national industrial security program. The questionnaire covered all aspects of NRC's program including its legal basis, standards, personnel security program and security education and training programs.

Significant FOIA Requests Received by the NRC for 5 Day Period June 15 - 21, 1990 Request for records from 1956 about uranium prospecting, storage, and licensing in Warwick, New York, Vernon Township, New Jersey or Milford, New Jersey.

(Oliver Mackson, The Tiries Herald-Record, F01 A-90-274)

Request for a copy of a record that shows the quantity of thorium allowed in storage at one time by Cerac, Inc., of Wisconsin. (William Kao, EM' Industries, Inc., F01A-90-275)

Request for two categories of records regarding transportation to and disposal of wastes at the Lowry Landfill, Colorado, by DOE, Rockwell International Corporation, or Dow Chemical Company. (John Jacus, The Lowry Coalition, F01A-90-276)

Request for records that form the basis for 0GC's position in its February 7, 1990 memorandum regc* ding the AEC/hRC agreement on regulatory authority over radioactive materials N the State of Nebraska. (Mick Karmazin, Nuckills County Nuclear and Hazardous Was M Monitoring Committee, F0IA-90-278)

Request for a copy of the PRA tor the Fermi Ordt 2 nuclear power plant.

(James Riccio, Nuclear Information and Resource Service, F01A-90-279)

Request for copies of records on specified licensees wthorized to use thorium in 1965-1967. (Diana Moro-Bishop of Gallagher, Wheeler, Reilly and Lachat, F01A-90-280) 1 i

JUNE 22, 1990 ENCLOSURE G

.c Request for copies of correspondence received or generated regardsng Ferret Exploration or the Crow Butte Uranium Project of Nebraska. (Julie Rezac, Western Nebraska Resources Council, F01A-90-281)

Referral from NASA of one record regarding TMI-2. (David DeKok, F0!A-90-282)

Request for copies of invoices from September 1, 1989 through April 30, 1990, for any carpet-related services for NRC offices. (Carolyn Stuckey, Family Carpet Service, Inc., FOIA-90-283)

Request for copies of records in license files authorizing activities related to byproduct materials in the Brookings, South Dakota area. (Terrol Winsor of Rothgerber, Appel, Powers & Johnson, FOIA-90-284)

Request for records that would provide four specified categories of information cleanup of waste. (Dee Trammell, Trammell Ventures, Inc., F01A-90-285)posal and regarding environmental requirements for air, water, and handling, dis J

'l JUNE 22, 1990 ENCLOSURE G

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.1 Office of Information Resources Management Items of Interest Week Ending June 22, 1990 1.

Service Probless wi'h "800" Telephone Numbers for NRC The 800 numbers for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission telephone operators.

which were recently switched to the new Federal Telecommunications System (FTS) 2000, are not working correct 1".

The General Services Administration, AT&T, and Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company (C&P) have been notified.

The problem has also been reported to the Trouble Handling Information System at the FTS 2000 Coordination Center.

2.

Special Library Association Conference 2

Eileen Chen, Chief, Library Services Section,~ attended the 1990 Special

-Library Association Annual Conference in Pittsburgh, PA as the Chair-Elect of the Nuclear Science Division.

9 l

JUNE 22, 1990 ENCLOSURE H

'a, Office of Personnel items of Interest Week of June 22, 1990 NRC Receives Recoanition for Efforts in Federal Women's Proaram Jim Sniezek, Deputy Executive Director for Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Regional Operations and Research was selected for the Federal Women's Program Achievement Award. He was honored at a luncheon in Washington, D.C, on June

18. -Mr. Sniezek was selected on the basis of his extensive efforts to hire, provide career' opportunities for, and promote women and other minorities in NRC.

Ed Halman, Acting Director, Office of Administration, received the Federal Women's Program Achievement Award in 1989.

Labor Relations Trainina Conducted in Chattanooaa Carol Harris, Labor Relations, OP, and Marvin Itzkowitz, OGC, traveled to Chatanooga, Tennessee, to present training to supervisors and managers at the Technical Training Center on June 19. The training included discussion of such areas of personnel management as performance appraisals, conduct of employees, and the development of elements and standards.

OP Staff Hiahlichted Personnel Proarams for Division of Freedom of Information and Publication Services Office of Personnel staff members Barbara Williams, Pat Sullivan, Lillian van Santen, Carol Harris, and Eileen Mason described various personnel programs to about 50 staff members of the Division of Freedom of Information and Publications Services on June 20, 1990.

Topics included were applying for vacancies, adverse actions, employee development and career counseling, position' evaluation, rotational assignments, and the incentive awards program.

' Arrivals Joseph Birmingham, Reactor Engineer (PFT), NRR Larry Campbell,- Mechanical Engineer (PFT), NRR Ann Fitzgerald, Technical Intern (PFT), NRR Francis Grubelich, Mechanical-Engineer (PFT), NRR Mary Senatore, Secretary (PFT),-NRR Adrea Byrdsong,. Secretary (PFT), OP Lisa Berlinger, Secretary (PFT), RES Keith Brown, Health Physicist (PFT), RI Robert Lance, Radiation Specialist (PFT), RI Summer Hires Mary Ryan, Summer Technical Intern (OPFT), ACRS Douglas Viner, Summer Technical Intern (0PFT), ACRS Kimberly Edelin, Summer Clerk-Typist (0PFT), ADM Katherine Hallas, Secretary (0PFT), ADM Chanoch Kanovsky, Summer Clerk (0PFT), ADM Noel Tavano, Summer Clerk-Typist (0PFT), ADM JUNE 22, 1990 ENCLOSURE J

A.

2~

Summer Hires (Continued)

Erika Smith, Summer Aide (0PFT), AEOD

- Abraham Meth, Summer Clerk (OPFT), IRM Jemilda Williams, Summer Aide (0PFT), IRM William McCarthy, Summer Technical Intern (OPFT), NMSS JoannWhite,SummerClerk-Typist (OPFT),NRR Melanie Harkovich, Summer Intern (0PFT), OP Richard DiMisa, Summer Clerk (0PFT), RES Monica McGill, Summer Clerk-Typist (SIS) (OPFT), RES James Johnson, Summer Clerk (0PFT), SECY Emily Schlein, Summer Clerk (OPFT), SECY Alethea Beasley, Clerk (SIS) (OPFT), R1 Marla Johnson, Clerk (SIS) (0PFT), R1 Brandy Holloway, Summer Clerk-Typist (0PFT), RIV Wanda Cox, Technical Intern (0PFT), RV Departures Mary Simms, Management Assistant (PFT), NRR Retirements

- George Knighton, Director, Project Directorate V (PFT), NRR JUNE 22, 1990 ENCLOSURE J

cs f-Cffice of Enforcement Items of Interest Week Ending' June 22,-1990 Civil Penalties Paid 1.

New York Power Authority (Fitzpatrick) paid the civil penalty in the-1 amourit of $75,000. The action was based on events that led to the unpit.nned radiation exposure of 48.4 rems to the thumb of a Radiation and Environmental Services Technician on' March 8, 1990.

In addition to exceeding the quarterly exposure limit for extremities, the licensee was a

cited for inadequate radiation control procedures and failure to follow l-the! approved station work procedure for a non-routine radiological evolution. The. civil penalty was escalated by 50% based on the-licensee's

)oor past performance of non-routine radiological tasks that-is evidenced

)y events in 1987 and 1989 that had similar root causes.

(EA 90-055) 2.

Washington Public Power Supply System (WNP-2) paid the civil penalty in the amount of $50,000. The civil penalty was imposed by order dated-May 21, 1990. The action was based on violations of the equipment qualification' requirements of 10 CFR 50.49.

(EA 88-211) 3.

An Order Impo:ing Civil Monetary Penalty in the amount of $5,000 was issued to St. Louis Testing Laboratories, Inc., St. Louis, Missouri. The action was bated on a violation involving exposure to a radiographer in' excess of 3 rems for a calendar quarter and five other related violations.

A Notice of Violation and Proposed Imposition of Civil Penalty was issued March 6, 1990. The licensee responded to the Notice in letters dated April 4 and, April 25, 1990. After careful consideration of the licensee's response, the staff has concluded that the violations did occur as set forth in the Notice of Violation and Proposed Imposition of Civil Fenalty.

(EN 90-30A) 4.

An Order 1mposing Civil Mont vy Penalty in the amount of $3,750 was issued to Testmaster Inspection Company, Inc., Perrysburgh, Ohio. This action was based on licensee's failures to make adequate surveys after-each radiographic exposure, to retract the source into the radiography exposure device, and to immediately notify the RS0 when pocket dosimeters were off scale and source was in the exposed position.

A Notice of Violation and Proposed-Imposition of Civil Penalty in the amount of $3,750 was issued February 13, 1990.

The licensee responded to the Notice in a letter dated March 7, 1990, admitting the violations and requesting mitigation of the Civil Penalty. After careful consideration of the licensee's response, the staff has concluded that the violations occurred as stated and th6 licensee did not provide a sufficient basis for mitigation of the civil penalty. Accordingly, as Order Imposing civil Penalty was issued.

(EN 90-016A) 5.-

A Notice of Violation and Proposed Imposition of Civil Penalty in the anount of $6,875 was issued on June 21, 1990, to Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio. This action was based on a violation involving the failure to report a therapy misadministretion within the JUNE 22, 1990 ENCLOSURE L

f9 required 24 hour2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br /> time period. This violation is of significant concern as the. licensee has on two previous occasions failed to recognize therapy misadministrations and-report them to the Commission in a timely manner.

In addition,_the NRC in a letter dated June 22, 1989, specifically explained the reporting requirements for a therapy misadministration as stated in 10 CFR 35.33(a) in response to the licensee's request for clarification on the reporting requirements in a letter dated March 15 1989. The escalation and mitigation factors in the Enforcement Policy were considered and a 175% escalation of the base civil penalty was deemed a)propriate 25% because the NRC identified the violation, 50% because tie licensee, corrective actions were neither prompt nor comprehensive, and 100% because of the licensee's poor past performance.

(EN 90-61)

-Other On June 18, 1990 representatives from the Office of Enforcement, Office of Investigations, Office of the General Counsel, and International Programs hosted a meeting for nine representatives of various Canadian agencies including the Department of Justice, Customs and Excise, Environment, Agriculture, Employment and Immigration, Fisheries and Oceans. The group was primarily interested in the NRC's civil penalty process and associated hearing appeal process. The visit was intended to provide insights that would be useful in developing a similar system in Canada.

l JUNE 22, 1990 ENCLOSURE L

e e

L Office of Consolidation Items of Interest Week Ending June 22, 1990 Second Building Status GSA forwarded a counter-proposal of the lease addendum to this Office and the developer on June 22. Attorneys for the developer and GSA have agreed to meet on Thursday, June 28 to discuss any differences remaining between thein on the terms of the contract.

OWFN Cafeteria Work on the interior of the cafeteria continued during the week. The contractor installed carpeting and cloth banners in the dining area, completed installation of lights and air-conditioning equipment and controls, installed the kitchen exhaust fan on the roof of the penthouse, and completed the exhaust duct connections.

We consulted with Tower on the design and fabrication of signs for the cafe-teria.

WFN Transportation Coordinator We arranged for office space at One White Flint North for Ms. Francine Waters, the Director of the kriite Flint Commuter Service Center. Ms. Waters will coordinate closely with Ms. Renea Bailey, the NRC transportation coordinator for White Flint, and the Montrose & Executive Boulevard Commuter Service Center director, Ms. Gail Thorsen, in promoting the NRC/ White Flint ridesharing program and in providino ride-matching services to area commuters.

JUNE 22, 1990 ENCLOSURE M

r Region I Items of Interest Week Ending June 22, 1990 1.

Phosphorus-32 Contamination at the University of Vermont On June 6, 1990, a researcher at the University of Vermont in Burlington, VT, conducted an experiment with phosphorus-32, a beta emitter with a fourteen day half-life.

In the course of this experiment, he apparently contaminated a number of areas in the laboratory with the radioactive material. Very few people were working in that laboratory on that day.

On June 7, 1990, several additional people reported for work in the laboratory.

About an hour after work began, the University's Radiation Safety staff came to the laboratory to investigate the results of several increased, contamination survity results which had been detected late in the day on June 6.

A thorough survey revealed contamination as high as 50,000 disintegrations per minute (dpm) per 100 square centimeters on various laboratory surfaces, about 20,000 dpm on one individual's arm and 400,000 dpm on one individual's hand.

All of the contamination was readily removed by washing, except thet the individual's hand could not be decontaminated below about 30,000 dpm.

The licensee estimates that this individual's total hand exposure will be within NRC requirements. The cause of the contamination was apparently poor handling procedures and the 4

use of an improper survey meter by the experimenter. The users in this laboratery have been re-instructed in tafe handling procedos.Y and a proper survey meter has been provided. Region I inspectort r, viewed the matter during an inspection on June 18 and 19, 1990.

2.

Salem Comissioner Curtiss has toured the Salem Nuclear Generating Station with the Regional Administrater on June 13.

3.

Ginna On Tuesday, June 19, Comissioner Curtiss toured the Ginna site with the Director, Division of Radiation Safety and Safeguards.

4 Seabrook At 4: 39 p.m., 6/?l, the reactor tripped from 31% power due to a turbine trip. The generator " neutral volts high" relay had actuated, causing the generator output breaker to open and the turbine to trip. The trip cause is under investigation, with New England Power Company electricians (who maintain this reiay) assisting the station staff.

After the trip, an emergency feedwater system high flow actuation signal isolated feedwater to steam generator SG-A.

That signal was reset and decay heat removal was established on all four SGs.

No other unexpected post-trip conditions develeped. The cause of the high flow signal is also under investigation.

JUNE 22, 1990 ENCLOSURE N

.g.

Seabrook is stable in Mode 3, hot shutdown, with an event evaluation in progrest. Restart will not be undertaken until the evaluation is completed and approved by licensee management.

4 i

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t IY I

h JUNE 22, 1990 ENCL.05URE N

l Region II Items of Interest i

Week Ending June 22, 1990 1.

Duke Power Company On June 18, the Regional Administrator and the Director Division of Reactor Projects were in Headquarters to participate in a meeting between Duke Power Company representatives, Catawba non-operating owners, and

~

selected NRR staff members to discuss recent events and concerns.

2.

Babcock and Wilcox Company Naval Nuclear Fuels Division (NNFD)

On June 19, the Deputy Regional Administrator; accompanied by the Director, i

Division of Radiation Safety and Safeguards and a member of his staff, conducted a Management Meeting at the B&W NNFD faciiity in Lynchburg, l

Virginia regarding the licensee's performance and initiatives to improve

?

management programs and also toured the site.

3.

Tri-State Associates Inc.

l On June 20, representatives from the Tri-State Associates, Inc.,

Woodbridge, Virginia, were in the Region II Office tn attend an Enforce-i ment Conference concerning failure to survey a radiography device whirF resulted in the radiographer approaching an exposed source. The licevee discussed the extensive corrective actions which had been taken.

4.

System Eriroy Resources. Inc.

On June !O, the Vice President for Nuclear Operations, System Energy Resourci.s, Inc. and members of the Grand Gulf Security Staff met with representatives of the Safeguards Section to discuss Grand Gulf security upgrade issues.

5.

Florida Power and Licht Company On June 21, the Deputy Regional Administrator and the RII Division Directors met with B. Bohlke, Vice President Nuclear Engineering-Licensing, Florida Power and Light Company, to discuss FPL's nuclear organization.

6.

Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc.

On June 22, C. R. Johnson, President, Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc., met with the Regional Administrator and other Region 11 staff to discuss the results of a recent investigation.

The licensee's investigation identi-

.fied sior.ificant programmatic problems which resulted in a large quantity of Special Nuclear Material (SNM) being found in an unintended location.

Extensive short and long term corrective actions were discussed. Region 11 and NMSS will be following up on this.

JUNE 22, 1990 ENCLOSURE N

.o a

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\\

7.

Carolina Power and Light Company-Brunswick

')

On June 22, a remedial emergency exercise was conducted at the Brunswick facility.

8.

Carolina Power and Light Company-H. B. Robinson On June 25, an unannounced small-scale emergency exercise was conducted at H. B. Robinson.

Several problems with the licensee's response were identified to the extent that the license plans to brief Region II manage-ment on their corrective actions and schedule another exercise within the next several months.

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JUNE 22, 1990 ENCLOSURE N l

a-Region III Items of Interest Week Ending June 22, 1990 1.

Davis-Besse Mr. H. J. Miller, Director, Division of Reactor $afety, and members of his staff met with Mr. S. C. Jain, Director, Davis-Besse Engineering, Toledo Edison Company, and members of his staff to review status of engineering activities and modifications at the Davis-Besse plant.

This meeting was held in the Region III Offices on June 18, 1990.

2.

_ Midwest Low-level Radioactive Compact Commission On June 20, 1990 Dr. Carl J. Paperiello, Deputy Regional Administrator addressed the annual meeting of the Midwest Low-Level Radioactive Compact Commission in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on the topic of the NRC's proposed Below Regulatory Concern policy. Mr. Roland Lickus, Chief. State and Government Affairs, also attended the meeting which concluded on June 21, t

1990.

3.

Combustion Engineering, Inc.

On June 15, 1990, a management meeting was conducted to develop an exercise scenario for the upcoming emergency exercise currently scheduled for August 8, 1990. This emergency preparedness exercise is part of a regional initiative to participate in one exercise per year with a materials or fuel facilities licensee.

4.

St. Mary Medical Center, Gary and Hobart, Indiana and Porter Memorial Hospital,Jalparaiso, Indiana NRC Region III and Headquarters OGC staff members are in Gary, Indiana attending a prehearing with an Administrative Law Judge concerning inspection findings at St. Mary Medical Center, Gary and Hobart, Indiana and Porter Memorial Hospital in Valapraiso, Indiana. The inspections commenced en March 30, 1990, after allegations were received by Region III on March 28, 1990, concerning activities at St. Mary Medical Center.

Hearing requests were made by the licensees after Orders were issued suspending their brachytherapy programs. Also, a petition for leave to intervene was filed by an authorized user.

Inspection of the licensee's brachytherapy programs is continuing.

5.

Allied-Signal, Inc.

On June 18, 1990, the licensee informed Region III that a small quantity of uranium-hexafluoride (UF ) was inadvertently released from a sampling c

line connection.

At that time, it was believed that three individuals may have come in contact with the cloud of UF. However, those individuals 6

exhibited no observable physical symptoms of exposure.

Region III and NMSS dispatched inspectors to monitor the licensee's investigation of the JUNE 22, 1990 ENCLOSURE N

4 O

cause of the release.

Subsequently, the licensee determined five workers received uptakes of uranium-238 ranging from 2 to S MPC-hrs.

6.

Byron Nuclear Power Station On June 22, 1990, Mr. A. Bert Davis, Regional Administrator, and members of the Regional and Headquarters staffs met with representatives of Comonwealth Edison Company at the Byron Nuclear Power Station to review the Systematic Assessment of Licensee Performance (SALP) for the Byron Nuclear Power Station.

7.

Chairman Carr's Visit

)

Chairman Kenneth Carr visited three Minnesota facilities this week.

On June 18 he toured the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company (3M)

)

facilities in St. Paul and New Biighton; on June 19 he visited the Prairie Island Nuclear Power Station.

nd on June 20 ne visited the Monticello Nuclear Power Station. Mr. A. Bert Davis, Regional l

Administrator, accompanied him en the visits.

8.

Commissioner James Curtiss Visit Commissioner James Curtiss visited the Zion Nuclear Power Station on June 21, 1990.

He was accompanied by Mr. Edward G. Greenman, Director, Division of Reactor Projects, and the resident inspectors.

1 l

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1 l-JUNE 22, 1990 ENCLOSURE N i

w Region IV Items of Interest 4

Week Ending June 22, 1990 1

1.

URF0 Meeting with Uranium Environmental Subcommittee of American Mining j

Conoress On June 18, 1990, the Director of URF0 and selected staff met with the Uranium Environmental Subcommittee of the American Mining Congress.

The purSose of the meeting was to discuss technical aspects of NRC's uranium recovery program, and included discussions of the Staff i

Technical Position on Erosion Protection of Reclaimed Mill Tailings, geotechnical engineering issues of reclaimed mill tailings, ground-water corrective action programs, and alternate concentration limits.

i 2.

URF0 Metting with Malapai i

The Director of URF0 and the Project Manager met with Malapai Resources, EDF/FITCO, and TOMIN on June 15, 1990, to discuss the licensing aspects of the sale, management, and surety associated with the license transfer.

The licensee presented various alternatives being considered for post-sale organizational controls; and the NRC discussed licensing requirements for each alternative.

3.

URF0 Meeting with Hydro Resources, Inc.

On June 19, 1990, the Director of URF0 and members of his technical staff met with Hydro Resources, Inc., to discuss licensing issues at their New Mexico sites. Primary issues concerned ground water.

P b

' JUNE 22, 1990 ENCLOSURE N

s '-

Region V Items of Interest Week Ending June 22, 1990 1.

Rancho Seco Nuclear Generating Station Backers of a ballot initiative to abolish the Sacramento Municfpal Utility District have ended their signature gathering drive, stating "it became clear that we could not qualify for the November ballot." About 27,400 valid signatures were needed to qualify the measure, but backers state that they were on a pace to collect between 19,000 and 20,000 by the July 10 deadline, i

SMUD-related bills in both the California Senate and Assembly were shelved i

indefinitely last week. The Senate bill would have required SMUD to l

submit new rate proposals and major construction projects to a state comission for evaluation; the Assembly bill would have placed the utility under the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors. Both authors attributed their decisions to postpone action te discussions they had with new SMUD General Manager S. David Freeman, l

P.,

Washington Public Power Supply System The licensee announced the following management changes to be effective on June 18:

(1) J. P. Burn, the present Director of Engineering will become Director of Special Projects (a new position); (2) C. M. Powers, the i

present WNP-2 Plant Manager, will become Director of Engineering, and (3) the present Assistant Plant Manager, J. W. Baker, will become Plant l

I lianager. A new Assistant Plant flanager has not yet been selected.

3.

Quality Assurance (QA) Managers Meeting l

On Tuesday, June 19, 1990, the QA Managers from the Region V utilities visited the Region V office for the purpose of discussing activities of their recently formed organization, the Western Region Joint Quality l

Assurance Group (WRJQAG).

l WRJQAG was formed to enhance member QA programs. WRJQAG is focusing more L

QA oversight and attention on management and performance issues rather I

than the more traditional emphasis on compliance to organizational L

procedures.

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JUNE 22, 1990 ENCLOSURE N y

I

i Office of the Executive Director for Operations Items of Interest Week Ending June 22, 1990 1

1.

The General Accounting Office (GAO), at the request of Congress, has begun a study of the relationship between the NRC and the Institute for Nuclear Power Operations (INPO). An entrance meeting with the staff was i

held on June 21, 1990, and GA0 indicated they may complete their research by September 1990.

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OllNE 22, 1990 ENCLOSURE O

ITEMS ADDRESSED BY THE COMMISSION - WEEK ENDING JUNE 22, 1090 A.

STAFF REQUIREMENTS - BRIEFING ON EVOLUTIONARY LIGHT WATER REACTOR CERTIFI-CATION 155EEF AND RELATED REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS (SECY-90-016, 5ECY-90-065, AND SECY-90-146), 9:00 A.M., FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 1990, COMMISSIONER 5' CONFERENCE ROOM, ONE WHITE FLINT NORTH, ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND (OPEN TO PUBLIC ATTGDANCE) -

SECY to James M. Taylor, EDO dated 6/28/90 The Commission was briefed by the NRC staff on Evolutionary Light Water Reactor (LWR) Certification Issues and Related Regulatory Requirements.

The Commission discussed with the staff the issues of " essentially complete design," including " inspections, tests, analyses, and acceptance criteria."

The Commission requested staff to:

1.

Prepare a Commission paper which sets forth how the staff intends to implement the provision of Part 52 which requires an essentially complete design.

The staff should highlight to the Commission any difficulties that the staff'forescos in this regard, along with how the staff would propose to address such matters.

2.

Consistent with established priorities, conduct a limited review of the test data available from the General Electric Simp]ified Boiling Water Reactor and use the results of this review in formulating conclusions on the EPRI document.

3.

Consistent with Commission priorities, ensure that adequate personnel and skills are available to maintain expertise for licensing design reviews.

4.

Elevate to the Commission as soun as possible all policy and implementation issues identified while executing Part 52 which requires a decision on clarification.

5.

Provide staff comments on the continued need for formal rcview and comment on a License Review Basis Document f;i cach passive design, given that the Commissiors will issue an SER on the EPhI Requirements Document for passive design first (similar to paragraph 2c in SRM M900403A, dated May 1, 1990).

6.

Brief the Commission on the progress of design certifi-cation review and implementation of the above guidance every six months.

1; The Commission will provide guidance concerning implementation E

of the Part 52 requirement for an essentially complete design after the Commission has had an opportunity to consider the staff's proposal.

JUNE 22, 1990 ENCLOSURE P

.o The Commission desires to schedule another neuting at'the earliest convenient time to discuss the certification issues described in SECY-90-016.

A meeting was scheduled and held at 10:00 a.m.,

Thursday, May 3, 1990, for this purpose.

Commissioner Remich emphasized the benefits and importance for early staff interactions with the reactor vendors.

He encouraged staff to provide the vendors with early Commission views concerning the desired characteristics of advanced reactor designs and to issue timely comment on the implications of such designs for safety and the regulatory process.

i B.

STAFF REQUIREMENTS - BRIEFNG ON ACCIDENT SEQUENCE PRECURSOR PROGRAM, 2:00 P.M., THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 1990, COMMISSIONERS' CONFERENCE ROOM, ONE WHITE FLINT NORTH, ROCnVILLE, MARYLAND (OPEN TO PUBLIC ATTENDANCE) - SECY to James N. Taylor, EDO datea 6/22/90 The Commission

  • was briefed by the NRC staff on the accident sequence precursor program.

The Commission requested that the staff consider methods to provide risk prioritization data to the utilities for informational use by the operators.

Chairman Carr requested the staff to investigate the need for a PRA or similar analysis on spent fuel pool problems.

The Commission requested and the staff agreed to analyze the event precursor data to determine the impact of operator initiated events and, in particular, if improved training can be correlated to the current improving trends.

C.

STAFF REQUIREMENTS - BRIEFING ON STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPLEMENTATI)N OF SEVERE ACCIDENT POLICY FOR EXTERNALLY INITIATED EVENT 5 (SECY-90-192).

10:00 A.ll., FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 1990. COMllISSIONERS' CONFERENCE R00h, ONE ~

WHITE FLINT h0RTH, ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND (OPEN TO PUBLIC ATTENDANCE) - SECY

.t_o James H. Taylor, EDO dated 6/22/90 The Commission ** was brief ed by the NRC staf f on their recommendations for implementation of severe accident policy for externally initiated events.

The issues and any resulting staff requirements will be contained in the SRM which results from the Commission votes on SECY-90-192.

No new staff requirements were identified at this meeting.

  • Commissioner Roberts was not present.
    • Commissioners Roberts and Remick were not present.

JUNE 22, 1990 ENCLOSURE P

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3-D.

STAFF REQUIREMENTS - AFFIRMATION / DISCUSSION AND VOTE, 11:30 A.M., FRIDAY, i.

JUNE 15, 1990 COMMISSIONER 5' CONFERENCE ROOM, ONE WHITE FLINT NORTH, ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND (OPEN TO PUBLIC ATTENDANCE) - SECY to James M. Taylor, EDO dated 6/22/90 I.

SECY-90-178 - Final-Rule Entitled, "Storace of SDent Nuclear Fuel in NRC-ADoroved Storace Casks at Nuclear-Eower Reactor Sites" and Other Conformina Amendments to 10 CFR Parts 50 and 170 The Commission, by a 4-0 vote,* approved a final rule which f

+

would allow power reactor licensees to store spent fuel on their reactor sites under a general license.

The rule requires 6

that licensees notify the 11RC that only NRC-certified casks

L will be used for storage and that the spent fuel can be stored under conditions specified in the cask's certificate of compliance.

The rule also provides procedures _and criteria for-obtaining !!RC approval of spent fuel storage cask designs.

The attached modifications should be incorporated.

Commissioner Roberts did not participate in this matter.

The rule should be revised as noted, reviewed by the Regulatory Publications Branch, ADM, and returned for signature and

. publication.

  • Section 201 of the Energy Reorganization Act, 42 U.S.C.

i 55841, provides that actjon of the Commission shall be determined by a " majority vote of the members."

Commissioner Remich was not present hen this item was affirmed.

Accordingly, the formal vote of the Commission was 3-0 in favor of the decision.

Commissioner Remick, however, had previously

.i indicated that he woult approve this paper and had he been present he would have a.' firmed his prior vote.

f JUNE 22, 1990-ENCLOSURE P

C.

Ei NRR HEETING NOTICES

.Rl June 22, 1990 Gi w

PATE/ TIME NUMBER LOCATION PURPOSE APPLICAMT/

ATTENDEES NRR CONTACT 6/25/90 None One White Flint North EPRI/SGRP will discuss its NRC/EPRI/SGRP C. Cheng' 9:00-4:00 Room 2F-17 steam generator tube " Defect Management Program" for the tubesheet and tube support plate locations. This program is intended to serve as a technical basis for alternative tube plugging limits based on defect length criteria rather than depth criteria.

6/25/90 50-309 One White Flint North Meeting with Maine Yankee Atomic NRC/MYAPC E. Leeds 10:00 Room 145-11 j

Power Company to discuss the licensee's corrective actions with regard to control element assembly failure and replacement.

6/25/90 None One White Flint North Discussion of Ongoing Activities NRC/SGRP C. Welty 11:00 Room 2F-17 on Steam Generator Reliability Project with KRC.

6/25/90 None One White Flint North EPRI/SGRP will discuss its steam NRC/EPRI/SGRP C. Cheng 11:00-4:00 Room 2F-17 generator tube " Defect Management Program" for the tubesheet and tube support plate locations.

E2

  • Copies of summaries of these meetings will be made publicly available and

{,2 placed in the respettive docket file (s) in the NRC and local public document rooms.

g A listing of these pecting notices can be obtained by calling 492-7424. l I W C w g __,__-___m--.__ = s.

! EE . p. 2 L Ei NRR MEETING NOTICES l2 June 22, 1990 c3 APPLICANT / DATE/ TIME NUMBER-LOCATION PURPOSE ATTENDEES NRR CONTACT 6/25/90 50-255/ One Uhite Flint North Meeting with Combustion NRC/CERRP J. Tatum 1:00 285 Room 2F-21 Engineering Regulatory Response Group to discuss Failure Mechanism, Generic Implications and Resolution of CEA Failure Observed at Maine Yankee. 6/26/90 50-213 TMI - Training Facility Meeting with General Public NRC/GPUN ff. Masnik 10:00-17:00 Room 140 Utilities Nuclear Company to Route 447 discuss the current status of Middletown, PA TMI-2 and the schedule for the e remainder of the cleanup. 6/26/90 50-219 One White Flint North Meeting with General Public NRC/GPUN A. Dromerick 10:00-5:00 Room 88-11 Utilities Nuclear Company to discuss the status of Licensing Activities for Oyster Creek. 6/27/90 50-445 One White Flint North Meeting with New Hampshire NRC/NNY V. Nerses 10:30 Room 8B-11 Yankee Division to discuss Cycle 2 Fuel Design Features. 6/28/90 50-390 One White Flint North The r staff will discuss NRC/TVA ' P. Tam 8:00-5:00 Foom 148-13 with JVA representatives the proposed Technical Specification for Watts Bar Nuclear Plant, Unit. 1. , hi 6/28/90 676 One White Flint North Meeting with Westinghouse NRC/ Westinghouse L. Donatell Es 10:00-12:00 Room 12C-11 Electric Corporation to discuss 12 future staff review plans for ?? AP600. o r a -.a. m L-

~ p.3 e5 flRR MEETING NOTICES M Jur.e 22, 1990 4 APPLICANT / DATE/ TIME NUMBER LOCATIOfi PURPOSE ATTENDEES NRR CONTACT 6/28/90 50-213/ Northeast Utilities Meeting with Northeast Utilities WRC/NU D. Jaffe 10:00-4:00 245/ Corporate Of fice and staff to discuss various 107 Seldon Street licensing issues of common Room 5238 interest. Berlin, Connecticut 6/28/90 50-200/ One White Flint North Meeting with Virginia Electric NRC/VE&PC B. Buckley 10:30-2:00 281 Room 148-11 8 Power Cor:pany to discuss modifications to corrponent cooling water piping. 6/28/90 None 12300 Twinbrook ParFway The Combustion Engineering NRC/CEOG .P. Randall 1:00 Suite 330 Owners Group requested the Rockville, Maryland meeting to discuss their response to our letter of April 16, 1990 giving comments on their report: CEN-381-P " Law Temperature Overpressuri-zation Transient Pressure-Temperature Limit for Determination of Law Temperature Overpressure Protection Setpoints. l' 7/3/90 50-275/ Flarriott Hotel Denver West Meeting with Pacific Gas and NRC/PG&E H. Rood 8:00-5:00 323 1717 Denver West Marriott Electric Company to review and Blvd. discuss Empirical Estimates of Golden, Colorado 80401 Vertical Ground Motion, Diablo Canyon Long Term Seismic P Program. 3 m O

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55 flRR PIEETING NOTICES ro June 22, 1990 US APPLICANT / DATE/Tli1E NUMBER LOCATION PURPOSE ATTENDEES NRR CONTACT 7/12/90 50-458 One White Flint North Meeting with Gulf States NRC/GSU W. Paulson 9:00 Room 108-13 Utilities to discuss the forth-coming steady state physics and transient reports which will be submitted by the licensee in support of performing their own reload analyses. 7/17-20/90 50-390 One White Flint North The NRC staff will discuss with NRC/TVA P. Tam 7/31-8/2/90 Room IB-13 TVA representatives the proposed 8:00-5:00 Technical Specification for Watts Bar Nuclesr Plant, Unit 1. 7/17/90 50-029 One White Flint Morth Meeti,g with Yankee Rowe NRC/ Yankee Rowe P. Sears 9:00-12:00 Room 88-11 to discuss the licensee's approach to reactor vessel evalua tic,ns. 7/26/90 None One White Flint North Meeting with Westinghouse Owners NRC/ Westinghouse Y. Hsif 8:30-11:30 Room 2f-17 Group to discuss Pressurizer Safety Valve Setpoint. 7/26/90 tione One White Flint North BWROG presentation on efforts NPC/GE/BWROG/ H. Richings 1:00-5:00 Room 88-11 to provide resolution and ORNL closure of problems related to the effects of instability on ATWS analyses. y, M E l ni 43

June 22, 1990 [ NMSS Meeting Notices T g Division of Industrial and Medical Nuclear Safety Docket Attendees / Data / Time Number Location Purpose Applicant NRC Contact 6/26-27 40-8820 Parkersburg, WV Meet with fmax & DOE NRC D. Hurt concerning turnover DOE of Parkersburg site to DOE 6/26-28 72-08 Lusby, MD Calvert Cliffs ISFSI NRC F. Sturz site visit for environ-Baltimore Gas & mental assessment & Electric (BG&E) necting w/Calvert !!aryland Department County officials of Natural Resources (DNR) Division of High-level Weste Management Docket Attendees / Date/ Time Number Location Purpose Applicant NRC Contact None E P8 si m O

_, _ ____y l a, .c E E 99 y Division of low-level Waste Management and DeconWissioning G Docket Attendees / 8 Date/ Time Number Location Purpose Applicant NRC Contact 6/25 Germantown, MD Greater-Than-Class NRC J. Austin C (GTCC) Sources DOE 6/28 Washington, DC Mixed Waste Survey NRC J. Austin EPA DOE //6 OWFN 48-11 Meet with Pennsylvania NRC M. Dunkelman Regulators and LLW GPA Site Developer 7/12 Bethesda, MD Discuss issues related NRC J. Austin to management of radio-NIH active waste with hazardour, biological, pathogenic or ".f-ctious components E P8 E m 'O 4,. e -m+ - -,,..--.

3_ E5 Division of Low-Level Waste Management and Decomissioning (cont'd) Attendees / m ~ Docket g Date/ Tim Number Location Purpose Applicant NRC Contact 7/22-24 Minneapolis, MN Low-level Waste NRC P. Lohaus E Forum 7/26 Lincoln, NE 0A Werkshop for State NRC L. Pittiglio of Nebraska Division of Safecuards and Transportation Attendees / Docket Date/ Tire Number Location Purpose Applicant NRC Contact 07/18 71-9230 OWFN 6B-ll BR-100 Cask NRC E. Easton Preapplication Review DOE 8:30-11:30 am Babcock & Wilcox P S si m 1 J

^ o ~ o $l June 22, 1990 . Ei Office for Analysis and Evaluation of Operational Data .M cg Docket Attendees / y; Pate/ Time Number location Purpose Applicant NRC Contact 06/25-27 TTC Meeting to discuss reactor AEOD (TTC), Regions I-Y, K. Raglin inspector job skills and NRR training requirements 06/25-29 Zion Facil'ity Final week of Diagnostic AEOD/ CECO A. Gibson Zion, It Evaluation 6/26 NUttARC Discuss results of Maintenance AECD/INP0/NUMARC M. Williams Offices Indicator Trial Prograr with six utilities 06/27 Operations Discussions of ERDS and J. Redondo, J. Jolicoeur Center emergency response functions Head of Systems Licensing Div. Consejo de Seguridad Nuclear, Madrid, Spain IRB C6/26-29 Baton Rouge, Presentation at FEMA /USDA AE00, utilities. E. Weinstein LA conference on

  • Protecting the licensee, States Public and its Fond Supply" 08/08 Operations Materials Exercise in Conjunction AEOD, RIII, NMSS, CE E. Weinstein Center with the Licensee 08/28 and Baton Rouge, Post emergency table top exercise AE00, States E. Weinstein 09/18 LA at the River Bend facility local parishes, federal agencies E

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l June 22, 1990 Region I Meeting Notices -m 0 Attendees / Docket g Date/ Time Number Location Purpose Applicant NRC Contact i

  • S 07/02/90 50-219 Forked River, NJ SALP Management Peeting Licensee and Selected Ruland 1:00 pm GPUN - Oyster Creek RI Staff Members 07/10/90 50-289 RI Office SALP Board Meeting Selected RI Staff Roland GPUN - TMI 1 Members 9:00 a.m.

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o June 20, 1990 RII MEETING NOTICE ~ DOCKET ATTENDEES / ~ g DATE/ TIME NUMBER l  ; TION PURPOSE APPLICANT NRC CONTACT E 7/10/90 Jenkinsville, SC SALP Presentation Licensee, DRA, and Milhoe.n SCE&G - Sumer Site selected RII staff 10:00 am members 7/11/90 Wilmington, NC ttanagement iteeting Same as above M11hoan General Electric Company 7/12/90 Jenkinsville, SC Commissioner Curtiss Cosmissioner, Tech Asst., Com. Curtiss is touring the Summer and selected RII staff facility for site rembers familiarization 7/13/90 New Hill,?!C Comissioner Curtiss Comissioner, Tech Asst.. Com. Curtiss is touring the Harris and selected RII staff facility for site nembers familiarization P l S i si l m O

3 Region III tieeting Notices e3 Docket Attendees ~ Date/ Tine Number location Purpose Applicant NRC Contact 06/25-26/90 Chicago O' Hare Region III Information Licenseer, Regional Greenman Conference Administrator, and selected menbers of RIII Staff 06/28/90 50-155 Big Rock Point Site Visit Comissioner Rogers, Miller Director, Division of Reactor Safety 06/29/90 50-315 D. C. Cook Site Visit Comissioner Rogers, Greenman 50-316 Director, Division of Reactor Projects 06/29/90 50-461 Region III Illinois Power Company, licensee, Regional Miller 1:00 pm Clinton - Enforcement Administrator, and selected Conference members of RIII Staff 07/02/90 50-266 Point Beach Routine Management Licensee, Director, Greenman 50-301 Meeting Division of Reactor Projects and selected members of RIII Staff 07/09/90 Region III Illinois Department Director, IDMS, Regional Lickus 1:00 pm Nuclear Safety - Administrator, and selected Management Meeting members of RIII Staff 07/10/90 50-373 LaSalle Site Visit Comissioner Rogers, Davis 50-374 Regional Administrator 07/11/90 50-454 Byron Site Visit Comissioner Rogers, Davis lm 50-455 Regional Administrator ! = 07 11/90 Region III Nuclear Plant Analyzer Licensee, Deputy Regional Morelius 'g Drill Administrator, and selected ,lg members of RIII Staff o

o: e . o-E5-REGI0ft IV MEETING NOTICES J:nc 22, 1990 a DOCKE1 APPLICANT / , j DATE/ tit'E NUttBER LOCATIO?i PURPOSE ATTENDEES RIV CONTACT 6/26/90 50-482 Region IV Wolf Creek - Discuss last refueling WCMOC & R1,' managment - WJones 2:00 outage. 6/78/90 50-498; Region IV South Texas - Discuss comercial grade HL&P & RIY manag= ment JWiebe 50-599 procurement & results of their SSFI program. a/4/90 All RIV Region IV Discuss changes in Examiner Standards All Sites JPellet-9:00 Sites and exams set fer 1991. EP S 55 m O S m ,.__..a _ _ _ _. _ _ _ _ ~ _. m _}}