ML20134K336
| ML20134K336 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 02/06/1997 |
| From: | Blaha J NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| SECY-97-030, SECY-97-030-R, SECY-97-30, SECY-97-30-R, WIR-970131, NUDOCS 9702130248 | |
| Download: ML20134K336 (28) | |
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UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION-WASHINGTON, D. C. 20056 INFORMAT!ON REPORT February 6. 1997 SECY 97-030 For:
The Commissioners From:
James L. Blaha. Assistant for Operations. Office of the EDO Sub.iect:
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING JANUARY 31. 1997 Contents Enclosure 3
i Nuclear Reactor Regulation A
Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards B
Nuclear Regulatory Research C
Analysis and Evaluation of Operational Data D
General Counsel E*
Administration F
Chief Information Officer G
Chief Financial Officer H*
Personnel I
Small Business & Civil Rights J
Enforc3 ment K*
State Programs L*
Public Affairs M
i International Programs N
j Off!re of the Secretary 0*
Region I P
Region II P
Region III P
Region IV P*
Executive Director for Operations 0*
i Congressional Affairs R
- No input this week.
q EM" 28M" ZE! '
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WEEKLYINFOREPT PDR ames L. Bla a g
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j Assistant for Operations. OEDO
Contact:
B. McCabe. OEDO c^:.-t-/
NRC HLE CENIJR COPY xo,.%
/7 77
February 6. 1997 SECY 97 030 For:
The Commissioners From:
James L. Blaha Assistant for Operations. Office of the EDO
Subject:
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING JANUARY 31. 1997 Contents Enclosure Nuclear Reactor Regulation A
Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards B
Nuclear Regulatory Research C
Analysis and Evaluation of Operational Data D
General Counsel E*
Administration F
Chief Information Officer G
Chief Financial Officer H*
Personnel I
i Small Business & Civil Rights J
Enforcement K*
l State Programs L*
Public Affairs M
International Programs N
Office of the Secretary 0*
Region I P
Region II P
Region III P
Region IV P*
Executive Director for Operations 0*
Congressional Affairs R
- No input this week.
g signed by James L Baha James L. Blaha Assistant for Operations. OEDO
Contact:
B. McCabe. OEDO Documen Name:
C.\\
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OE (
AC /. 00 BM Cabe Jlif ha 02/ /97 02/ /97
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Items of Interest Week Ending January 31. 1997 Seabrook Station. Unit 1 A temporary exemption to the requirements of 10 CFR 50.75(e)(2) for additional assurance for decommissioning funding was issued on January 22, 1997 to Great Bay Power Corporation. The exemption allows Great Bay 6 months to arrange for the required additional assurance to comply with 50.75(e)(2).
Great Bay is a 12.1324 percent joint owner of Seabrook. Unit 1.
The additional assurance is required of non-electric utilities.
The issue of Great Bay's status as a non-electric utility arose from the staff's review of Great Bay's request for NRC approval, pursuant to 10 CFR 80, for indirect transfer of a license. The 50.80 approval would allow Great Bay to utilize a reverse triangular merger to form a parent holding company. The staff approved the restructuring by an Order also issued on January 22. 1997.
Voatle Electric Generatino Plant -- Imolementation of Imoroved Technical Soecifications On January 23, 1997, a full conversion to a new set of technical specifications based on the improved tecnnical specification format was implemented at the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant.
Vogtle is the first Westinghouse four-loop plant, and the third pressurized water reactor plant, to achieve a full implementation of the new technical specification format.
Fermi Unit 2. Licensee-Initiated Indeoendent Review of Recent Doerational Problems Fermi 2 has experienced a number of equi ament problems or failures that have prevented the licensee from restarting t1e unit following the fifth refueling outage. The most significant problems have been:
failure of emergency diesel generator 11 to maintain proper voltage e
during the combined loss of offsite power / loss of coolant accident test:
licensee indicated this was caused by a problem on a new voltage regulator card e
one main steam safety / relief valve (SRV) position indicator (tailpipe pressure switch) failed to indicate properly when the SRV was opened for testing licensee indicated this was caused by a low-pressure zone in tailpipe near instrument tap e
failure of one SRV to close on demand during testing: licensee indicated this was caused by a bent stem on the associated solenoid valve e
failure of a drywell-to-torus vacuum breaker to close during a stroke test: licensee indicated this was caused by improper installation of a magnet assembly on the vacuum breaker JANUARY 31. 1997 ENCLOSURE A
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e failures in a main generator output breaker and in a electrical protection circuit led to an event involving motoring of the main generator These and other problems, in conjunction with activities to balance the new main turbine low pressure rotors, have led to repeated startups and shutdowns over the last two months.
Licensee review of these events has not identified a commonality among the causes.
However, the licensee has indicated that it intends to bring in a small group of experienced industry personnel to independently review these problems and provide insights to the licensee.
NRC problems. personnel continue to monitor licensee actions in response to these Regional Clinton Power Station -- Outaae Status The facility has remained shutdown since the event of September 5.1996, when control room operators attempted to isolate a leaking reactor recirculation pump seal and enter single loop operation. The licensee has yet to complete
. activities associated with the sixth refueling outage that began in mid-October.
Electrical instrumentation installed during the outage 'to mitigate concerns associated with degraded grid voltage is not functioning as designed.
This work on the Division 2 train and efforts to modify feedwater check valves in order to perform acceptable leak rate tests represent the major items on the critical path.
On January 27, 1997, an individual set off a radiation alarm while exiting the radiologically controlled area of the plant.
Low-level contamination of approximately 150 counts per minute was identified on the individual's l
forehead.
It was subsequently discovered that a small )iece of paper normallyusedforcontaminationsurveys,waslocatedbelindthesweatbandof the individual's hardhat. The paper had a contamination level of l
approximately 500 counts per second. The licensee is investigating this l
incident as a potentially deliberate contamination event.
Also, on January 27, 1997, the licensee inadvertently drained approximately 26.000 gallons of condensate water to the RCIC pump room sump. An operator and an inde)endent verifier went to the "B" feedwater train as opposed to the "A" train w1en verifying valve alignments.
In addition to the valve lineup j
error, control room operators did not properly evaluate an alarm for RCIC sump pump run time. The alarm annunciated several times during the shift without control room operators investigating the source of drainage into the sump.
l The licensee has initiated a plant-wide stand-down to evaluate recent events.
Incomolete RCCA Insertion UDdate At a meeting on January 9. 1997. Houston Lighting and Power (HL&P) indicated
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that it would perform mid-cycle rod drop testing on South Texas Unit I later in January, when the rodded assembly burnups approached the value corresponding to the lowest burnup (32 GWD/MTU) at which an incomplete control rod insertion (IRI) wc, observed last cycle.
JANUARY 31, 1997 ENCLOSURE A
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r On January 25. 1997. South Texas Unit 1 was shut down to perform rod drop testing. The results were as follows:
e RCCAs at locations C9 and K8 stopped at 6 steps Burnup on the fuel assemblies was 26.1GWD/MTU and 27.4GWD/MTU l
e respectively e
Both fuel assemblies were 1.5 cycles burned.with core residence time of 615EFPD e
Two additional rods showed zero recoil: corresponding =burnups were i
26.2GWD/MTU and 27.5GWD/MTU.
Further evaluation of the test data will be performed this week to determine additional actions and the licensee will advise NRC of the results.
This information plus the test results from the end-of-cycle South Texas Unit 2 tests (scheduled for 2/8/97) will be used to determine actions including testing for the remainder of Unit 1 Cycle 7 (EOC (9/97).
San Onofre. Unit 2 -- Steam Generator Tube Insoection Results Southern California Edison the licensee for San Onofre Unit 2 (SONGS-2), is completing its steam generator (SG) eddy current (EC) inspections for the current refueling outage. SONGS-2 is a Combustion Engineering plant with two model 910 $Gs.
The Mcensee nported 39 axial indications at eggcrate supports and in freespan regions in the lower bundle region. These indications were bobbin coil "nonquantifiable indications (NQIs)" subsequently confirmed with a plus point probe.
Several of these indications do not meet RG 1.121 structural integrity requirements based on eddy current size estimations.
Leakage integrity may also be an issue. The licensee plans to insitu pressure test the',e indications and a substantial number of similar but smaller indications to prove acceptable tube integrity.
In lieu of performing an extensive plus point probe inspection of tubes in the lower bundle region, the licensee plans to show through insitu pressure testing and tube pull analyses that the bobbin coil inspection was sufficient to detect structurally significant indications.
As an added measure. SONGS-2 plans to perform a mid-cycle bobbin coil inspection of the lower bundle region.
1 SONGS-2 also reported a five-fold increase in the number of dented eggcrate intersections from the previous May 1995 inspection. The licensee plans to l
inspect 100% of these intersections using a plus Joint probe.
Results to date do not indicate a concern with tube cracking.
S0iGS-2 is actively investigating the cause of what appears to be an active centing mechanism.
The licensee met with the NRC staff on January 30 to discuss details of the inspection results, in-situ pressure test candidates, tube pull candidates and the runtime analysis used to support the operation of SONGS-2 to a mid-cycle outage. The staff indicated that should the in-situ pressure testing or tube pull results be unfavorable, the adequacy of the SONGS-2 SG tube inspection as JANUARY 31, 1997 ENCLOSURE A i
it stands today will need to be reviewed. The staff will also review the details of the runtime analysis used to justify operation of SONGS-2 through to a mid-cycle outage.
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i JANUARY 31, 1997 ENCLOSURE A
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Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Items of Interest Week Ending Jarauary 31, 1997 Pneumatic Monitorina at Yucca Mountain On December 18, 1996. The Department of Energy (DOE) announced that it had completed pneumatic (air permeability and barometric pressure) monitoring in two boreholes located along the North Ramp of the Exploratory Studies Facility (ESF). This monitoring began in late 1994, during the early stages of construction of the ESF. to help characterize pneumatic pathways at Yucca Mountain. The effectiveness of a pneumatic barrier above a hot nuclear waste l
repository could be important to performance assessment. At issue was the l
concern that characterization of aneumatic pathways would be )recluded it the tunnel boring machine (TBM) breacied a confining unit (PTn) t1at lies above the proposed repository horizon.
It was thought that if the PTn was an effective barrier to air flow, the pneumatic system above. in, and below the PTn could be characterized by monitoring responses to changes in barometric
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pressure.
1 The DOE in its Accelerated Surface-based Testing Program, committed to collect these data. 3rior to TBM penetration of the PTn. by monitoring 1
pressure in the bore 1 oles continuously through a winter season when barometric pressure fluctuations are greatest. The resulting data showed the PTn to be a i
pneumatic barrier, but of spatially variable effectiveness.
When the TBM j
penetrated the PTn pressure responses in the boreholes were used to determine i
the large-scale air permeabilities in the proposed high-level waste repository horizon. These data have been used in the calibration of the "Three-Dimensional Site-Scale Unsaturated Zone Model of Yucca Mountain." Continued monitoring of pneumatic pressure in these boreholes is no longer required since it is not yielding new information.
Nuclear Reaulatory Commission Staff Comments on Deoartment of Enerav Thermohydroloav Testina and Modelina Proaram for Yucca Mountain On January 23. 1997, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff completed its review of recent information on the Department of Energy's (DOE's)
Thermohydrology Modeling and Testing Program, and provided written comments to DOE's Yucca Mountain Site Characterization Office. The objective of the review was to evaluate whether DOE's program will provide the information necessary for DOE to prepare a license application for a repository at the site, should it prove suitable.
The NRC staff supported DOE's approach of phased thermal testing at various scales, including laboratory scale testing, a large block test, an alcove scale single heater test, and a drift scale heater test, but had specific comments on the details of DOE's test program.
NRC staff comments addressed the issues of: the adequacy of DOE's planned drift scale test to observe the relevant flow ahenomena that could occur in the repository environment: the adequacy of DOE's 31anned test to distinguish among alternative conceptual l
flow models; and t1e need for bounding the effects of coupled thermal-JANUARY 31, 1997 ENCLOSURE B y
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hydrologic-chemical coupling.
NRC staff offered to meet with DOE to discuss and clarify its comments.
Ohio Environmental Protection Aaency Meetina on Shieldallov Metalluraical i
CorDoration Facility On January 22, 1997, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency held a public hearing in Cambridge. Ohio, to receive public comments on their " Preferred Plan" for remediating the Shieldalloy Metallurgical Corporation site in Cambridge. The Ohio plan has been developed using the CERCLA process. and in parallel with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) development for this site.
Both the Ohio Preferred Plan and 1
the NRC EIS favor onsite disposal of the radioactive slag piles at the site.
Reaching a common conclusion has been a major objective in the coordination effort between NRC and Ohio.
However, there are several issues remaining, and these are expected to be resolved in selecting a final remedy for the site.
i Nuclear Reaulatory Commission Staff Meets with Babcock & Wilcox to Discuss Parks Townshio Decommissionina On January 23. 1997 staff from the Division of Waste Management met with representatives of Babcock and Wilcox (B&W) Nuclear Environmental Services.
Inc.
at Nuclear Regulatory Commission Headquarters. The purpose of this meeting was to discuss and resolve issues arising from the NRC staff's review of B&W's proposed decommissioning plan for their Parks Township, Pennsylvania facility (PTS).
The PTS is currently listed on the NRC's Site Decommissioning Management Plan (SDMP) and is adjacent to the B&W Shallow Land Disposal Area SDMP site. Although NRC and B&W staff were able to resolve most of the issues raised by the NRC staff's review, several issues remain;to be resolved before-i the decommissioning plan can be approved by the NRC. These. issues center on the manner in which groundwater will be evaluated, the a)propriate method for estimating doses from residual radioactive material at tie site, and the surveys that B&W will use to demonstrate that the site meets NRC's criteria for unrestricted use.
Meetina with the National Minina Association On January 28. 1997, staff from the Uranium Recovery Branch Division of Waste Management, met with representatives of the National Mining Association.(NMA).
at the NMA's offices in Washington, DC. These meetings are held on a bi-monthly basis to discuss generic issues of concern to the uranium recovery industry. Among the iten discussed were:
(1) agenda topics for the jointly-sponsored uranium recovery industry workshop scheduled for June 1997; (2) the scoping meeting with the industry on the Standard Review Plan.for in-situ leach mining applications (to be held in Riverton. Wyoming, in March 1997);
and (3) the status of various guidance documents currently under development by the NRC staff.
JANUARY 31. 1997 ENCLOSURE B
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Site Familiarization Visit to General Electric Fuel Facility. Wilminaton.
North Carolina On January 23, 1997. Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards staff visited the General Electric (GE) Fuel Fabrication Facility in Wilmington.
North Carolina. The visit in preparation for upcoming license renewal.
included observation of GE's new dry conversion process (DCP) facility, which is currently under construction and is expected to be authorized as part of the renewal.
During the visit. GE provided information to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on various uranium processing initiatives, including AVLIS feed material. fuel bundle defabrication, and other feed materia h.
GE has contracted with U.S.
Enrichment Corporation to develop a modified conversion process that accepts the uranium metal nuggets produced in the AVLIS process. The visitors also observed outdoor areas, including the waste water treatment plant, the incinerator, waste storage areas, and former disposal areas for CaF sludges.
2 GE recently constructed a large building to house the CaF sludges that were 2
previously (1968-1972) disposed of in shallow trenches on site. Given the large volume of CaF sludge and the expense of disposing of the material. GE 2
is exploring alternative technologies that can be used to economically treat the CaF waste to extract the uranium and/or reduce its volume. The visit 2
also included a discussion of the Carolina Star Voluntary Protection Program, which was recently awarded to the GE facility by the State of North Carolina and the Occupational Health and Safety Administration in recognition of GE's superior performance in work place safety.
Nuclear Fuel Services Beoins Processina Enriched Uranium from Rocky Flats On January 23. 1997 Nuclear Fuel Services (NFS) in Erwin. Tennessee, began processing highly-enriched uranium provided by the Department of Energy's (DOE's) Rocky Flats Plant. NFS is converting liquid uranium nitrate solution into a dry oxide powder for storage by DOE.
Prior to the initiation of processing. Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff from the Office of Nuclear i
Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS) and Region II completed extensive licensing and inspection reviews, including several team inspections.
Based on these reviews, the staff concluded that NRC has reasonable assurance of safe operation for the processing.
NRC coordinated the reviews with the State of Tennessee.
Initial processing activity was observed by NRC inspectors from Region II and NMSS.
The processing is expected to last several months.
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Pro.iect " Plutonium Excess Arms Converted to Electricity" Team Meetina On January 28. 1997, staff from the Regulatory and International Safeguards Branch' attended a presentation at Nuclear Regulatory Commission Headquarters by the Plutonium Excess Arms Converted to Electricity (P.E.A.C.E.) team.
The meeting'was organized by the Project Directorate III-2. Division of Reactor Projects III/IV. Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
The P.E.A.C.E. team l
consists.of British Nuclear Fuels Limited. Cogema. Commonwealth Edison and Duke Power. The purpose of their presentation was to discuss the licensees' proposed program for the use of mixed oxide fuel (M0X) in existing domestic commercial nuclear reactors.
This initiative comes in response to a recently JANUARY 31, 1997 ENCLOSURE B 1
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published Record of. Decision by the Department of Energy (DOE), where one of the proposed methods for disposing of surplus weapons grade plutonium is to j
burn it as M0X fuel.
i The P.E.A.C.E. team pro)oses to utilize European experience in the fabrication i
and use of MOX fuel. Tleir presentation also addressed the scope of j
responsibilities between team members and a DOE team, and the potential NRC l
involvement. The team discussed the state of M0X technology. a M0X lead test assembly program. and M0X reload irradiation.
In concluding, the. team i
emphasized that, from their )ers)ective there are no significant technical issues to be resolved, and tiey lave the necessary experience and technical capabilities to meet DOE's MOX program.
NRC staff present at the meeting L
raised several issues concerning environmental requirements, severe accident t
analysis, safeguards (including transportation), and 10 CFR Part 70 as it relates to M0X fabrication.
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JANUARY 31, 1997 ENCLOSURE B.
Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research Items of Interest Week Ending January 31, 1997 Commissioner Roaers* Visit 'to Johns Hookins University I
On January 16. 1997, staff from the Electrical, Materials, and Mechanical i
Engineering Branch (EMMEB) escorted Commissioner Rogers and his Technical Assistant on a visit to the Johns Hopkins University (JHU). The focus of the visit was on using NDE for qualification and quantification of reactor pressure vessel (RPV) embrittlement.
t The visit consisted of an overview of the Center for Non-Destructive Evaluation (CNDE), a presentation on NDE for RPV embrittlement and a tour focusing on ultrasound-based research and included a demonstration of a laser-l generated ultrasound technique which can be employed in applications where use i
of conventional transducers is not possible.
IPE Submittal Briefinas On January 23 and January 28, 1997 RES/PRAB staff provided briefings on the results of.the North Anna, Summer,. Turkey Point, Millstone 1.. Oyster Creek and Nine Mile Point 1 IPE submittals at the appropriate regional j
offices. These briefings included insights on the risk and safety important systems, components and human actions.
Perspectives were also provided on (1) reasonableness of the results given the current design and operation.
(2) the p iential strengths and weaknesses of the design, and (3) issues and items fcc consideration during inspections.
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Office for Analysis and Evaluation of Operational Data l
Items of Interest i
Week Ending January 31. 1997 j
Tour of Ooerations Center for the State of Michiaan 4
i A tour of the Operations Center and meeting on dose assessment was conducted by IRD members for representatives from the State of Michigan and FEMA on January 29. 1997. This meeting was scheduled at the request of Michigan and involved a discussion on-a potential change in the way Michigan intends to perform protective action decision making.
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l FEMA National REP Proaram Review l
i Representatives from IRD are participating in the initial meeting of the FEMA l
National REP Program Review taking place in Denton. Texas from January 27-30, 1997. This FEMA review will attempt to redefine the way in which FEMA conducts REP exercise. evaluations and other related topics.
l PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATIONS (PNs) i P
a.
PNO-I-97-007. National Institute of Health. STATUS OF LOST PACKAGE CONTAINING ONE MILLICURIE OF 10 DINE-125.
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b.
PNO-I-97-007A. National Institute of Health. UPDATE OF STATUS OF LOST
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PACKAGE CONTAINING ONE MILLICURIE OF 10 DINE-125.
c.
PNO-I-97-008. New York Power Authority (Fitzpatrick 1) REACTOR SCRAM AT THE FITZPATRICK NUCLEAR PLANT.
d.
PNG-I-97-009. Avslo. FOLLOW-UP 0F-A REPORT OF JET ENGINE HELD BY A SCRAP METAL FACILITY.
e.
PNO-I-97-002. Carolina Power & Light Co. (Harris 1). SECURITY EVENT DUE TO POTENTIAL TAMPERING / VANDALISM OF NON-SAFETY RELATED EQUIPMENT.
f.
PNO-II-97-003. Nuclear Fuel Services. Inc., NUCLEAR FUEL SERVICES (NFS)
RESUMES HEU-PROCESSING.
g.
PNO-II-97-0004. Virginia Power Co. (Surry 1). SURRY UNIT 1 SHUTDOWN LONGER THAN 72. HOURS.
h.
PNO-II-97-005. Tennessee Valley Authority (Watts.Bar 1) MAIN CONDENSER TUBE LEAK - REACTOR SHUTDOWN FOR REPAIRS.
i.
PNO-II-97-006. Georgia Power Co (Hatch 1). PLANT SHUTDOWN DUE TO PRIMARY PRESSURE BOUNDARY LEAKAGE.
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PNO-III-97-0003. Commonwealth Edison Co. (Zion 2). OUTAGE EXTENDED TO ADDRESS TECHNICAL AND PLANT CONDITION ISSUES.
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PNO-III-97-004. U S. Enrichment Corporation Siemens Power (Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant. TRUCK CARRYING FOUR URANIUM HEXAFLUORIDE CYLINDERS IN ACCIDENT.
r Co. (Clinton 1). POSSIBLE DELIBERATE fbE
$U k DE m.
PN0-IV-97-006. Entergy Operations. Inc. (Waterford 3). T0XIC CHEMICAL SPILL ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER (10 MILES UPSTREAM OF WATERFORD).
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i JANUARY 31, 1997 ENCLOSURE D l
9 Office of Administration Items of Interest Week Ending January 31. 1997 Procurement Reform Doug.Hanson, Project Officer for NASA's Scientific & Engineering Workstation Procurement (SEWP II) program, will present the program to Division of j
Contracts (DC) and IRM staff on February 13. 1997.
Under the SEWP 11 program.
indefinite delivery / indefinite quantity contracts are available for use by other Federal agencies for streamlined arocurement of scientific and engineering workstation information tec1nology products.
NRC has used the SEWP contracts in the past and requested the presentation to learn more about i
new contracts awarded under this program and further opportunities for i
streamlining.
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Acauisition Trainina
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On January 30. 1997, the. Division of Contracts (DC) piloted its second i
- acquisition course. " Developing Proposal Evaluation Criteria." for approximately 20 employees from the technical program offices.
DC will pilot and regularly schedule a total of 11 courses during FY 1997. These courses l
- include specific topics such as SEP Procedures. Contract Negotiation. Contract Administration. Property Management, and Organizational Conflict of Interest.
The next two courses entitled. " Developing the Independent Government Cost Estimate" and " Source Evaluation Panel Procedures." will be piloted on' February 20. 1997 and March 27, 1997, respectively.
i PC REFRESH Contract 1
l On December 27, 1996, a protest was filed with the General Accounting Office l
(GA0) under the NRC's solicitation RS-IRM-96-177 entitled. " Acquisition of Microcomputer Hardware and Software. Laser Printers, and Microcomputer Support Services (PC REFRESH)." The protester alleges that NRC's evaluation was im) roper and that NRC failed to conduct meaningful discussions. The NRC su)mitted an Agency Report in response to the GAO protest on January 27. 1997.
GA0 is required to issue its decision on the protest within 100 days from the date of filing of the protest with GAO, which is April 7.1997.
In order to avoid disruption of these services..NRC has awarded a contract to Sylvest Management Systems Corporation. The contract was signed by the NRC Contracting Officer and forwarded to SBA for approval'on January 8.1997. The contract includes provisions which allow Sylvest to commence work pending receipt of SBA approval.
NRC expects to receive the fully executed contract from SBA by January 31, 1997.
Duolication Fees (Part 9)
A final rule that revises the Commission's regulations to change the charges for co)ying records that are publicly available in the Public Document Room was pu)lished in the Federal Register on January 28, 1997 (62 FR 3984). The JANUARY 31, 1997 ENCLOSURE F i
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l final rule reflects changes in copying charges resulting from a new contract l
award. The final rule became effective January 28. 1997.
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l Criteria for the Release of Individuals Mministered Radioactive Material l
(Parts 20 and 35)
A final rule that amends the criteria for the release of patients administered radioactive material was published in the Federal Register on January 29. 1997 L
(61 FR 4120). The new criteria for patient release are based on the potential i
dose to other individuals that are exposed to the patient. The criteria are consistent with the recommendations of the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements and the International Commission on Radiological Protection. The final rule becomes effective May 29, 1997.
Revisions to the National Industrial Security Proaram Ooeratina Manual (NISPOM)
The Department of Defense, as the Executive Agent for the NISPOM prepared revisions to the October 31, 1995 version of the NISPOM to conform it to the new Executive Order 12958. " Classified National Security Information." and its implementing directive. The proposed revisions were circulated for agency comments. On January 29, 1997 representatives of agencies which submitted comments on the proposed revision, including NRC, met at the Offices of the Information Security Oversight Office where comments were successfully resolved.
Meetina with DOE on Foreion Ownershio. Control or Influence (FOCI)
Under the NISPOM NRC will also be required to make FOCI determinations for contractors _ with NRC that require authorizations for access to classified information.
On January 30. 1997. Division of Contracts and Division of Security staff met with DOE staff to review DOE procedures for obtaining FOCI information from potential contractors.
Following the NISPOM requirements.
NRC is developing a set of FOCI procedures patterned on DOE's established program. An NRC FOCI determination will be necessary and NRC's procedures will be used whenever an NRC component requests work by a contractor which requires authorizations for access to classified information.
Exoansion of COMCTR Comoleted The expansion of NRC's Secure Communication Center (COMCTR) to accommodate additional equipment was completed on January 24. 1997.
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JANUARY 31. 1997 ENCLOSURE F
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Chief Information Officer Items of Interest Week Ending January 31, 1997 Chief Information Officer Selected i
The Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has selected Anthony J.
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Galante to become NRC's Chief Information Officer.
Mr. Galante. who has spent the pa.
20 years in various management level positions with the Mobil Oil.
Corporation, will report for duty on Monday. February 3.1997.
He will be.
l located in T-6E2 until his permanent office is completed on the 17th floor of i
One White Flint North.
Aaency-Wide Documents Access and Manaaement System The Agency-Wide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) 3roject has f
been directly affected by new legislation. The Information Tec1nology Management Reform Act (ITMRA) of 1996 requires each Federal agency to design f
and implement an Information Technology Capital Planning and Investment t
Control (CPIC) process for maximizing the value of and assessing and managing i
the risks of information investments. ADAMS due to its projected costs, fits j
the criteria for such a project. The CPIC analysis is tailored around the-development of three alternatives supported by detailed benefits and costing.
These alternatives will then be reviewed by the various review Councils established through the CPIC procedures as approved by the Chairman.
The three alternatives for ADAMS include: (1) the status cuo approach. (ii)
. ADAMS as a full implementation of the project as recomrcenced by the BDM l
contractor with custom ~ developed views for each of the major business processes and (iii) ADAMS as an "out-of-the-box" solution. ADAMS "out-of-the-box" minimizes the customization required of the product in favor of i
rolling out the hardware and software infrastructure needed to support further i
needs within an ap)lication development approach.
In fact. as conceived.
ADAMS "out-of-the-Jox" is the first major step in implementing ADAMS as a full document management retrieval application for all business areas and needs.
According to the analysis of the BDM contractor. 73% of all the functional requirements for ADAMS is satisfied "out-of-the-box" and would, therefore.
constitute a viable alternative to the full alternative.
Electronic Information Exchanae The Nuclear Information and Records Management Association (NIRMA) has taken over the Electronic Information Exchange (EIE) project with the approval of Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI). A Web site detailing objectives and providing other information may be contacted at the URL http://www.fml.com/NIRMA/..
NRC staff will be coordinating activities with NIRMA as the industry
. representative.
FOIA Reauests Received Durina the' Week Endina January 30. 1997 Reports issued in 1991 related to Northeast Utilities Systems.
(J. Lifshitz l
of Abbey. Gardy & Squitieri: F01A/PA-97-0022)
JANUARY 31. 1997 ENCLOSURE G
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Copy of Waterford LER-50-382-88-010 and Comanche Peak LER-50-445-93-010.
(M. O'Mealia: F01A/PA-97-0023)
Copy of the contract and abstract of awardee for laser toner.
(G. Lewis: ABM Federal Sales: F01A/PA-97-0024)
Copy of 01 reports related to Indian Point from 1996 through 1997.
(O. Williams: J/R/A Associates: F0IA/PA-97-0025) l Copy of central file identified records related to Apollo & Parks Township.
l (K. G. Revees of Baron & Budd: F01A/PA-97-0027)
Listing of materials licensees.
(T. Johnson: Communication Sciences Institute: F01A/PA-97-0028)
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Office of Personnel Items of Interest Week Ending January 31. 1997 i
Oraanizational Develooment and Trainina (ODT) Staff Member Attends Human Resource Develcoment Council Policy and Leaislation Subcommittee Meetina On. January 28. 1997 Lillian VanSanten, ODT staff member attended a Human Resources Development Council Policy and Legislation Subcommittee meeting at the Department of Labor in Washington, DC.
Items for discussion included final rule SCFR 412. Executive. Management, and Supervisory Development: OPM guidance on PL 104-208, which prohibits inappropriate training: the proposed rule on SCFR 334. Intergovernmental Personnel Act Mobility Program: and final rule 5 CFR 410. Training.
Arrivals ADAMS Steven REACTOR ENGINEER (PFT)
RI BAILEY. Stewart PROJECT MANAGER (PFT)
NRR GALANTE. Anthony CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER (PFT)
CIO HARRIS. Gary SR RESIDENT INSPECTOR (PFT)
RIII ORR. John REACTOR ENGINEER (PFT)
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RAKOVAN Lance HEALTH PHYSICIST (PFT)
OSP RICH.. Daniel RESIDENT INSPECTOR (PFT)
RII TINSLEY Robert HYDROGE0LOGIST (PFT)
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Retirements MEJAC Mary TECH WRITER-EDITOR (PFT)
IRM SPEIS. Themis DEP DIR FOR RESEARCH (PFT)
RES WILCOX. Larry SR COMMUNICATIONS SPEC (PFT)
IRM YINGST. Thomas PERSONNEL STAFFING SPEC (RECRUIT) (PFT)
OP Deoartures LAKE. Tisha AUDITS ASSISTANT (OPFT)
OIG STAMBAUGH. JoAnne HEALTH PHYSICIST (OPFT)
RI VANDERNIET. Clark SR RESIDENT INSPECTOR (PFT)
RIII JANUARY ~31. 1997 ENCLOSURE I 1
Office of Small Business & Civil Rights Items of Interest Week Ending January 31, 1997 Martin Luther Kina. Jr. Birthday Celebration The Office of Small Business and Civil Rights sponsored a program on January 29, 1997 commemorating the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
l The program featured a presentation by Dr. Dennis P. Kimbro, Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship, Clark Atlanta University.
Dr. Kimbro is a renowned author, lecturer, and business consultant.
His presentation was a takeoff from his latest book, "What Makes the Great GREAT."
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Office of Public Affairs Items of Interest j
Week Ending January 31, 1997 Media Interest Headquarters and Regional public affairs officers received a high volume of i
media calls regarding the Commission's " watch list" meeting and the meeting
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with Northeast Utilities.
Several reporters attended the exit meeting for the design inspection at Three Mile Island.
Five reporters and about 80 members of the public attended the decommissioning meeting regarding the Saxton, PA, nuclear experimental reactor.
A number of public citizens, television and print press attended the Envirocare exit meeting in Utah.
Press Releases f
i Headouarters:
97-12 Note to Editors:'ACRS Meeting Schedule Change 4
97-13 NRC Staff Identifies Nuclear Power Plants Warranting 4
j Increased Regulatory Attention j
97-14 NRC Revises Regulations on Release of Patients Administered Byproduct Material 97-15 Note to Editors -- Millstone Meeting j
Reaions:
I-97-6 NRC Names New Resident Inspector at Maine Yankee Nuclear Power Plant I-97-7 NRC Staff to Meet With Officials of Kennedy Memorial 4
Hospitals - University Medical Center to Discuss Apparent Violations i
I-97-8 Note to Editors: Meeting with GPU Nuclear on TMI-1 Inspection 11-97-14 NRC Staff Proposes $5.000 Fine and Terminates License of West Virginia Company 1
111-97-08 NRC Staff Proposes $50,000 Fine Against Northern States Power Company For a Violation of NRC Requirements at Prairie Island Station JANUARY 31. 1997 ENCLOSURE M e
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i 111-97-10 NRC Predecisional Enforcement Conference With Centerior Service Company on Apparent Violations of NRC Requirements at 1
Perry Plant IV-97-07 NRC. Envirocare to Hold Open Meeting at the Conclusion of I
Facility Inspection i
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i Office of International Programs Items of Interest Week Ending January 31, 1997 IAEA Vacancy Notices i
The following notices from the International Atomic Energy Agency have been posted on NRC bulletin boards:
P-3 Medical Radiation Physicist 97/001 Research and Isotopes i
P-2 Collection Development Librarian 97/002 Nuclear Energy I
l-P-5 Section Head 97/003 Nuclear Energy P-5 Section Head 97/004 Administration P-5 Project Manager for Model Project INT /4/131 97/800 l
Technical Co-operation Programmes i
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Region I i
Items of Interest Week Ending January 31. 1997 Kennedy Memorial Hosoital l
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.On January 29. 1997. NRC Region I held a 3re-decisional enforcement conference
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with representatives of Kennedy Memorial iospital, to review the findings of an NRC inspection conducted on October 31. November 6. and December 12, 1996.
The conference was open for public observation. While four of the apparent violations were identified by the licensee prior to the inspection and i
a)propriate corrective actions were taken. NRC staff expressed concern that j
t1e licensee missed opportunities to identify and correct these violations earlier.
Enforcement action for the apparent violations is being considered.
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Washinaton Hosoital Center
.On January 31. 1997 NRC Region I held a pre-decisional enforcement conference with representatives of. Washington Hospital Center to review the findings of l
an NRC inspection conducted on September 17-26. 1996, and an NRC Office of l
Investigations investigation conducted on September 24-26, 1996. The conference was closed to members of the public.
Enforcement action for the apparent violations is being considered.
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JANUARY 31, 1997 ENCLOSURE P l
Region 11 Items of Interest Week Ending January 31. 1997 Florida Power and Liaht Comoany - St. Lucie Region 11 management attended an exit meeting conducted by NRR which was open to the public, to discuss the results of the NRC's Architect / Engineer Team inspection. The team confirmed the operational capability of the two systems reviewed the Unit 1 auxiliary feedwater system and the Unit 2 component cooling water system. The licensee in preparation for the inspection had reviewed the systems and identified issues requiring corrective action.
The NRC inspection team also identified several issues.
i but found that the systems could be relied on to perform accident mitigation functions if called upon.
Southeast Low-level Waste Comoact The State Liaison Officer attended a meeting hosted by the Southeast Low-level Waste Compact Commission in Raleigh. North Carolina on January 30. 1997. The meeting included carticipation from Waste Generator Industry representatives, other government agencies, outside groups, and the general public. The purpose of the treeting was to identify financial mechanisms and to form a task force to study these mechanisms for the completion of the North Carolina Chatham/ Wake Law-Level Waste Site.
Currently, there is a projected $104 million shortfall.
Georaia Power Comoany - Hatch On January 29. Hatch Unit I reported a Notification of Unusual Event (NOUE) due to a reactor coolant pressure boundary leak on a three quarter inch vent line weld in a normally non-isolable portion of primary system piping. The unit had earlier been taken off line in order to make a containment entry to identify the source of a leakage trend.
A weld repair was )erformcd and the NOUE was exited at 7:25 a.m.. on January 30. The licensee arought the unit to cold shutdown conditions to perform additional corrective maintenance activities.
Duke Power Comoany - Oconee Since the Unit 2 second stage reheater drain line ru)ture and manual reactor trip in late September 1996, all three Oconee Units lave been shut down to yerform secondary piping inspections and make necessary piping code and water i
lammer related modifications.
A Management meeting to discuss restart readiness was held on January 10, 1997, after the satisfactory completion of an integrated engineered safeguards test of the Oconee/Keowee emergency power system. The meeting was attended by the local media.
On January 31. Unit 2 had begun a plant heat up with restart expected by the end of the week following repairs to insulation and piaing in containment.
The restart of Units 1 and 3 are planned to follow in ebruary.
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Virainia Electric and Power Comoany - Surry Unit 1 At 1:24 a.m. on January 24. a unit shutdown was initiated as required by Technical Specifications due to a small non-isolable steam leak on a 11/2" steam trap line. A manual turbine trip from the control room did not function because of a sticking solenoid in the turbine trip servo mechanism circuitry.
The turbine was locally trip)ed.
Immediately after the trip. the source range instrument N32 failed with tie other source range monitor N31 failing a few minutes later.
The unit was maintained in the hot shutdown condition with shutdown margin being verified every 12 hours1.388889e-4 days <br />0.00333 hours <br />1.984127e-5 weeks <br />4.566e-6 months <br /> and additional measures to assure no inadvertent Jositive reactivity addition.
Excore gamma detectors (Gammametrics) were 3eing used to monitor core reactivity.
Virginia Electric and Power Company maintenance personnel brought in a Westinghouse technical representative to assist in troubleshooting the cause of the failed nuclear instruments.
JANUARY 31, 1997 ENCLOSURE P l
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Region III Items of Interest Week Ending January 31, 1997 l
Point Beach Nuclear Power Station-Ooerational Safety Team Exit and Meetina On January 31, 1997, the Operational Safety Team held an exit meeting with Wisconsin Electric Power Company at the Point Beach Nuclear Station, Two Rivers. Wisconsin to discuss the findings of its review of operational and engineering issues. Areas of concern discussed by the team included lack of j
rigor in the conduct of operations. lack of conservative decision making.
l inadequate corrective action and weak engineering support to operations. The team conducted the inspection December 2 to January 31 at the plant site and i
the utility's cor) orate engineering offices in Milwaukee. Wisconsin. The inspection was scleduled to provide a broad review of plant activities following problems in 1996 with control room operations and with the equipment j
testing program.
Following the team exit, a meeting was held between management representatives from Wisconsin Electric Power Company and members of the NRC staff to discuss the status of the utility's performance improvement initiatives. The meeting also focused on issues to be resolved prior to restarting Unit 2 following completion of the current refueling and steam generator replacement outage.
Unit 2 has been shut down since October of last year.
t Manaaement Chanae Announced for Fermi Nuclear Power Plant j
On January 31. Detroit Edison Company announced that beginning March 1. 1997.
Paul J. Borer, currently a division director for the,istitute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO). will become Vice President of Nuclear Generation at Fermi 2 Nuclear Power Plant. He is on loan to the utility from INP0 for a period of one to two years.
In his position at the plant. Borer will report i
to Douglas Gipson. Senior Vice President of Nuclear Generation.
Wayne Romberg. Assistant Vice President and Manager. Technical and Paul Fessler.
Plant Manager, will report to Borer.
Manaaement Chanaes Announced for Commonwealth Edison Comoany On January 30, 1997. Commonwealth Edison Company announced several management changes: Robert J. Manning has been promoted to Executive Vice President:
Frank M. Clark has been promoted to Vice President: Cordell Reed. Senior Vice President has retired; and Robert A. Paul. Vice President, has left the utility.
Among those reporting to Chairman James O'Connor under a new organizational structure will be Vice President Leo Mullin. President Samuel Skinner, and Executive Vice President for Nuclear Operations Thomas Maiman.
JANUARY 31, 1997 ENCLOSURE P j
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Manaaement Meetina with Commonwealth Ediscn Comoany-Braidwood Nuclear Power Station On January 27. 1997, a meeting was conducted in the Region III Office between management representatives from Commonwealth Edison Com)any and members of the NRC staff to discuss an event at the Braidwood Nuclear Power Station.
The meeting discussion focused on an unplanned opening of the pressurizer power operated relief valve during a cooldown of Unit 1 reactor on October 12, 1996.
1 Manaaement Meetina with Commonwealth Edison Comr;any-Dresden Nuclear Power S11021 l
l On January 31, 1997, a meeting was conducted in the Region III Office between l
management re)resentatives from Commonwealth Edison Company and members of the NRC staff. T1e meeting discussion focused on Comed's progress in completing the actions outlined in the November 21. 1996. Confirmatory Action Letter (CAL). The CAL documented NRC's concerns with Dresden Nuclear Power Station's 4
control of calculations and with the overall performance of site and corporate i
engineering activities.
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Office of Congressional Aff6.rs Items of Interest Week Ending January 31. 1997 CONGRESSIONAL HEARING SCHEDULE, No. 3
- OCAJ DATE-7 ASSIGN-E ijTIMEv iWITNESS "SUBJECTJ iCOMMITTEE
- MENT 4 PLACE:
Combs 02/05/97 9:30 DOE, NWTRB, S.
104, Nuclear Waste Senators Murkowski/ Bumpers 366 DSOB PSCs, NIRS, VA Policy Act Energy & Natural Resources Power Madden 02/12/97 TBA Vote Nomination of Federico Senators Murkowski/ Bumpers 366 DSOB Pena as DOE Secretary Energy & Natural Resources Keeling 02/12/97 9:30 TBA Nuclear Deterrence Senators Cochran/Lieberman 342 DSOB Policy Intl Security, Proliferation &
Federal Services Governmental Affairs Gerke Late Feb TBA TBA Workshop on Electricity Senators Murkowski/ Bumpers Deregulation Energy & Natural Resources JANUARY 31. 1997 ENCLOSURE R