ML20135B342

Weekly Info Rept for Wk Ending 961122

ML20135B342
Person / Time
Issue date:	11/27/1996
From:	Blaha J NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO)
To:
References
SECY-96-243, SECY-96-243-R, WIR-961122, NUDOCS 9612040277
Download: ML20135B342 (23)

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November 27. 1996 SECY 96-243 l

fat: The Commissioners From: James L. Blaha, Assistant for Operations, Office of the ED0 l Sub.iect: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 22, 1996 I

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 Information Resources Management G*

Controller H* ,

Personnel I l Small Business & Civil Rights J*

Enforcement K*

State Programs L*

Public Affairs M International Programs N l Office of the Secretary 0*

Region I P Region II P Region III P Region IV P*

Executive Director for Operations Q*

Congressional Affairs R*

• No input this week.

Drig6Isbned by James L. Blaha '

040102 James L. Blaha Assistant for Operations, OED3

Contact:

B. McCabe, OED0 g/

415-1721 ,

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umTED STATas NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHWOTON, D. C. 30886 INFORMATION REPORT November 27. 1996 SECY 96-243 Eg.t: The Commissioners Erns: James L. Blaha, Assistant for Operations, Office of the EDO Sub.iect: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 22, 1996 Contents Enclosure Nuclear Reactor Regulation A Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards B Nuclear Regulatory Research C*

Analysis and Evaluation of Operational Data D l

General Counsel E*

Administration F Information Resources Management G*

l Controller H*

Personnel I Small Business & Civil Rights J*

Enforcement K*

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 Q*

Congressional Affairs R*

I

• No input this week.

'W ames L. B a

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ssistant for Operations, OEDO 2

Contact:

B. McCabe, OEDO 415-1721

! SECY NOTE: TO BE MADE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE IN 5 WORKING L, DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS PAPER.

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Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation i Items of Interest i Week Ending November 22, 1996 NEI Meetina

! On September 30, 1996, the NRC issued Generic Letter (GL) 96-06, " Assurance of l Equipment Operability and Containment Integrity During Design Basis Accident (DBA)-Conditions." The generic letter discussed safety concerns associated with two-phase flow and waterhammer in cooling water systems associated with containment fan coolers, and thermal overpressurization of piping systems j inside containment. The generic letter asked that licensees determine whether J these conditions are applicable to their respective facilities, and to take corrective action as appropriate. Licensees were required to provide an

initial response to the GL by October 30, 1996, informing the staff of actions l that were planned to be taken to address these concerns, and the GL requested that licensees submit a summary report by January 28, 1997, informing the staff of assessment results, operability determination conclusions, and any corrective actions that were found to be necessary.

On October 29, 1996, the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) hosted a meeting of licensee representatives and NRC staff to discuss questions concerning GL 96-06. Mr. Ralph Beedle of NEI issued a memorandum to the NEI Nuclear Strategic Issues Advisory Committee (NSIAC) on November 7,1996, which briefly summarized the meeting and suggested that a coordinated industry effort could result in a more cost-effective utility response to GL 96-06. The memo stated that NEI is taking steps to establish a task force to respond to the generic issues raised in the generic letter, that NEI will request EPRI to sponsor analytical and experimental work to address two-phase flow, and that NEI will meet with the NRC staff to ensure that relevant technical information resulting from generic industry work is well understood. Utilities were asked to complete a one page survey form that was attached to the memo to facilitate further NEI action.

Millstone 3 Maintenance Rule Inspection An inspection of the implementation of the maintenance rule at Millstone Unit 3 was conducted from November 6 - 8, 1996. Herb Williams and Tom Shedlosky, Region I and J.D. Wilcox of the Quality Assurance and Maintenance Branch (HQMB), reviewed the structures, systems and components and their relative .

risk significance that the licensee determined are in scope of 10 CFR i

'50.65(b). The inspection was conducted in support of the new NRR Special Projects Office's efforts to review the licensee's design basis verification program. The results of the inspection will be included in the resident inspector's monthly inspection report.

Arkansas Nuclear One Unit 2 -- Reactor Shutdown Due to Primary to Secondary Leakaae l On November 16, 1996, a primary-to-secondary leak in the Unit 2 Steam l Generator B reached a value of approximately 48 gallons per day (gpd) forcing the reduction of power and a plant shutdown. The licensee initially

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identified the leak on November 14, 1996, when the N-16 monitors indicated a step change in the primary-to-secondary leakage to 13-14 gpd. In response to the indication of leakage, the licensee initiated secondary side sampling and established a response team to further evaluate the situation.- On November 16, the N-16 monitors spiked upward and stabilized at a level indicative of leakage at 48 gpd. The licensee opted to shutdown the unit to-locate, characterize, and repair the leaking tube (s). Additional actions may become necessary pending the results of the inspection. Prior to this cycle, ANO-2 had been performing mid-cycle inspections since 1992 when a circumferential crack at the top of the tubesheet resulted in a forced outage due to elevated primary-to-secondary leakage. The licensee proposed that_for the current fuel cycle (1996) a mid-cycle steam generator tube inspection was unwarranted (still under review by the staff) based on'a cycle length assessment to address circumferential cracking at the tubesheet expansion transitions and axial cracking at the eggerate intersections. The licensee's position that another mid-cycle inspection is unnecessary could be affected

. based on the cause of the leak.

Lasalle Units 1 and 2 -- Outaaes Extended to January 1997 LaSalle Unit 2 is currently in a refueling outage. Unit I shut down for a maintenance outage on September 22, 1996, to repair a turbine control valve and has remained down due to a number of equipment problems identified since shutdown. The repairs that are required prior to startup of either unit include: modifications to install a keep-fill system on the service water side of the RHR heat exchanger to prevent water hammer, modifications to the auxiliary electric equipment room to maintain a positive pressure for post accident habitability, replacement of the RHR pump seal coolers which do not meet the design pressure of the system, and repairs to some air operated containment isolation valves due to a design deficiency. The licensee is also i

preparing design changes for 18 MOVs that could potentially be damaged by a '

hot short during a control room fire. The licensee is also making repairs to i station heating which became inoperable when some glycol tubing ruptured. The expanded work scope, as well as two work stoppages, had extended the length of the refueling outage by approximately two weeks. Both units were expected to return to power in December. However, the licensee has decided to keep both units shutdown pending completion of a design basis review of two selected systems - RHR service water and control room and auxiliary electric equipment room ventilation. This review was initiated by the new engineering manager based on recent operability evaluations of these systems that raised concerns regarding the design basis. Restart is not expected until January 1997.

Fermi Unit 2 Safety Relief Valves Fail Setooint Test - Update Detroit Edison, the licensee for Fermi 2, previously reported that 14 of 15 safety / relief valves (SRVs) tested had failed to lift within the required pressure range of plus or minus one percent of setpoint. Six of the valves would not lift at the maximum test pressure applied. The licensee has reported that the root cause of the failures is most likely oxide bonding between the pilot valve disc and seat. This problem has been observed previously with this type of valve and industry efforts to determine an NOVEMBER 22, 1996 ENCLOSURE A l

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effective corrective action continue. However, the number and magnitude of the failures in this case appear to be abnormal.  !

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i The licensee evaluated differences between this cycle and previous cycles to

[' determine why the number of failures was so high. They believe the extended length of the past cycle and the prolonged period of time (approximately six months) between the installation of the SRV pilot valves and the start of the operating cycle may have contributed to the failures. Problems with the main turbine following the blade failures in December 1993 were the primary reasons for the unusual operating cycle.

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The licensee evaluated the implications of these SRV setpoint failures in j terms of the past operating cycle. The licensee determined that the maximum pressure at the bottom of the reactor vessel would be 1366 psig, less than the i

ASME Code limit of-1375 psig, although the steam pressure read at the top of the vessel would have' been 1349 psig, exceeding the Technical Specification safety limit of 1325 psig. There were not any events during the past cycle l

! that challenged the SRVs and the reactor vessel pressure safety limit. In i addition, the licensee evaluated how identical SRV failures, if they occurred, i i would affect the upcoming cycle. Due to differences in core characteristics {

(lower overall void coefficient), the licensee found greater margin to the  !

ASME Code limit (1344 psig at the bottom of the vessel, 1325 psig at the steam dome).

The licensee plans to (1) replace all 15 valves with refurbished units with i platinum-alloyed discs for the upcoming cycle, (2) submit an amendment request to expand the technical specification SRV setpoint tolerance to plus or minus three percent, and (3) continue analysis of the failed components to learn more about the failure mechanism.

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i Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards I Items of Interest Week Ending November 22, 1996 l Advisory Comittee on the Medical Uses of Isotones Meetina

$ The Nuclear Regulatory Comission convened a meeting of the Advisory Comittee i

on the Medical Uses of Isotopes (ACMUI) on November 14-15, 1996. Major topics i of discussion were: (1) Strategic Assessment and Direction Setting Issues Papers, (2) Status reports on (a) the Advance Notice for Proposed Rulemaking for Part 33, " Specific Domestic Licenses of Broad Scope for Byproduct i Material," (b) Modules for Regulatory Guide 10.8, " Guide for the Preparation of Applications for Medical Use Programs," (c) Memorandum of Understanding

1. .with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and (d) Continuing Implementation ,

j of the Quality Management Rule; (3) regulatory authorization for intravascular I 4

brachytherapy, and the development of criteria and training and experience

! requirements; (4) security and control of byproduct materials in medical and i university settings; (5) mobile high-dose-rate afterloader applications; and l (6) inspection guidance for the final rule on patient release. The staff t provided updates on several rulemakings and regulatory guides: (1) Petition by Tri-Med for carbon-14 use; (2) Release of Patients (10 CFR 35.75); (3)

} " Reporting Requirements for Unauthorized Use of Licensed Radioactive

i. Material;" and (4) Regulatory Guide for the final rule, " Preparation, Transfer

, for Comercial Distribution, and Use of Byproduct Material for Medical Use."

In addition, on November 14, 1996, there was a closed session of the ACMUI to l discuss ethics rules and their application.

Workshop on Reaulation of Radioactive Materials for Nuclear Reaulatory Administration of Ukraine I

j Two staff members from the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards ,

! and one from RIV presented a workshop on regulation of radioactive materials  !

! to the staff of the Nuclear Regulatory Administration of Ukraine (NRA) in ,

i Kiev, Ukraine the week of November 11-15, 1996. The workshop drew wide '

i attendance from NRA headquarters and 13 regions, from numerous other i Ministries, and from licensees, a total of approximately 60 people. The

Nuclear Regulatory Commission team presented a detailed program on licensing 3 and inspection, including related information on legislation, standards i development, training of staff, agency organization, and relationships with  ;

2 other government bodies. The workshop included discussion of laws, i

regulations, and guidance, but concentrated on practical aspects of licens.ing,

inspection, and enforcement, with team members leading the audience through i the processes and discussing particular cases, issues, problems, and l solutions. The workshop was well-received by NRA management, and attendees i demonstrated a high level of interest throughout and appeared to particularly l 3

appreciate the practical experience and examples.  :

) The Joint Nuclear Reaulatory Commission /Aareement State Trainina Workina Group

] During the week of November 12, 1996, staff from the Office of Nuclear i Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS) participated in the Joint Nuclear i

Regulatory Commission / Agreement State Training Working Group at the Technical  ;

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i Training Division (TTD). The Working Group is comprised of individuals from NMSS, Office of State Programs, Office for Analysis and Evaluation of Operational Data, Texas, Utah, and Illinois. The group reviewed the class i outlines for seven technical courses offered by TTD and developed draft essential elements for each course. This information will be used to .

j establish course equivalency and will be provided for comment to NRC Offices and other Agreement States.

Second Meetina with the Department of Enerav Reaardina Submittal of Central

Interim Storaae Topical Report

On November 20, 1996, the second meeting was held between representatives of i the Department of Energy (DOE), its associated contractors, and the Nuclear

! Regulatory Commission staff to discuss a proposed submittal of a non-site-

, specific topical safety analysis report (TSAR) for a central interim storage l (CIS) facility. DOE anticipates that a TSAR application for a non-site-j specific CIS will be submitted in May 1997. The DOE presentation included discussions on CIS design approach, design basis events, design criteria, and I radiation analysis of storage area dose rates. During the presentation, the j

staff noted concerns regarding quality assurance, design control, control of-vendor processes, and use of probabilistic assessment in design activities, i At the conclusion of the meeting, the staff recommended that both parties meet

again in early 1997 to have a third meeting on this topic. The staff requested that DOE present more information reg -ding the design, and that DOE include information regarding conduct of operations, maintenance and

, surveillance activities, operating controls and limits, and procedures. DOE j agreed to this.

} International Inspection of Babcock & Wilcox Downblendina Facility

, During the period November 16-19, 1996, the International Atomic Energy Agency

(IAEA) performed a routine monthly inspection on the downblending activities j on Project Sapphire material at the Babcock & Wilcox facility in Lynchburg, Virginia. During this inspection, the IAEA verified the purified high-j enriched uranium received during the preceding five weeks and verified

activities associated with the downblending of the high-enriched uranium to i low-enriched uranium during the same time frame.

I j Renewal of Special Nuclear Matertl License for Siemens Power Corporation s

! The Special Nuclear Material license for Siemens Power Corporation (SPC) in l Richland, Washington, was renewed on November 15, 1996, for a period of five i years, expiring on November 30, 2001. SPC is a fuel fabrication facility that i uses the ammonium diuranate and dry conversion processes to convert uranium i hexafluoride to uranium dioxide (UO ) powder. The U0 powder is pressed into pellets that are loaded into rods, 2and the rods assembled into fuel assemblies for light water reactors. The license authorizes SPC to possess and use up to i 350 grams of U-235 in uranium compounds at any enrichment for analytical

purposes and in sources, and up to 25,000 kilograms of U-235 in uranium i compounds enriched up to 5 weight percent in the U-235 isotope. It also j authorizes possession of small amounts of plutonium for sources and as stored '

j waste. The license had been in timely renewal since August 1992. An '

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l c Environmental Assessment was prepared for the renewal in 1995, and a Finding

. of No Significant Impact and Notice of Opportunity for a Hearing was published in the Federal Reaister in June 1995. No requests for a hearing or other

public comments were received.  ;

l Special Insoection at Babcock & Wilcox Comercial Fuel Facility j

The Nuclear Regulatory Comission sent a special three-member inspection team i i to the Babcock & Wilcox Comercial Fuel Facility to determine how an  ;

unirradiated fuel assembly was inadvertently returned to the point of origin  !

in Griefswald, Germany. A confirmatory action letter was sent on November 20,

. 1996,- documenting the NRC's understanding of corrective actions to be taken by  ;

i the facility.  :

I Meetina on Uranium Mill Tailinas Sites on National Priorities List Under I Comore1ensive Environmental Reclamation. Comnensation. and Liabilities Act  ;

l A meeting was held at the Nuclear Regulatory Comission Headquarters on November 15, 1996, among representatives of the NRC's Uranium Recovery Branch and Office of the General Counsel; the Department of Energy's (DOE's) Grand '

Junction, Colorado, Project Office; and the Environmental Protection Agency's i

(EPA's) Headquarters, Region 6 and Region 8. The meeting was held at the i request of the DOE to discuss closure and post-closure issues for the Church ,

i Rock and Homestake sites in New Mexico and the Cotter-Canyon City and Uravan

sites in Colorado (an Agreement State). The four sites are presently subject i to NRr a Colorado licensing requirements and listed on the National

PriorMes List Under Comprehensive Environmental Reclamation, Compensation j and Liabilities Act (CERCLA). At present, it is intended that the Church Rock  ;

! and Homestake sites will be transferred to DOE for.long-term care. The State  :

p of Colorado has not yet made a decision on the long-term care of the Canyon i 4

City and Uravan sites. The major items discussed at the meeting were  !

j regulatory responsibility, integration of regulatory requirements, and  !

possible effect of CERCLA on DOE's long-term care of the sites. Although no  !

! final conclusions were reached during the meeting, EPA stated that it may be l i .possible to "de-list" one or more of the sites prior to transfer to DOE. EPA

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i 'will investigate the question of " lead agency" designation for the sites, and

will provide NRC and DOE with copies of relevant regulations. i l Nuclear Reaulatory Commission / National Minina Association Uranium Recoverv l Workshop '

l On November 13-14, 1996, staff from the Uranium Recovery Branch of the

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Division of Waste Management (DWM), the Office of the General Counsel, ,

i Region IV, and the Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses (CNWRA) met l l' with representatives of the uranium recovery industry. The meeting was (

jointly sponsored by the Nuclear Regulatory Comission and the National Mining i j Association (NMA). Representatives from the NMA, uranium recovery licensees,  ;

affected States, the Department of Energy (D0E), and the Environmental  :

I Protection Agency were present to discuss relevant issues within the uranium l recovery industry. .

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' ',i The DWM and CNWRA staff presented information on various uranium recovery subjects, including: (1) current and anticipated licensing casework; (2) the licensing review process; (3) site inspection program results; and (4) CNWRA staffing and experience. DOE also gave presentations related to its experience in groundwater protection strategies and its activities concerning license termination and site transfer.

Presentations were also given by industry representatives. Of particular interest were the industry projections of two new license applications for in-situ leach (ISL) uranium recovery operations to be submitted in 1997, and of four more under consideration. The two new license applications will join the three ISL applications that are currently under staff review. The meeting concluded with a technical workshop on the NRC's process for verifying and inspecting a uranium recovery licensee's site decommissioning.

Meetina with Kennecott Sweetwater Uranium Mill Reoresentatives On November 15, 1996, Division of Waste Management staff met with representatives of Kennecott Uranium Company to discuss the pending application for restart of the Sweetwater Uranium Mill, located near Rawlins, Wyoming. The Sweetwater Mill is currently in standby status, under Source Material License SUA-1350. Kennecott requested the meeting to discuss its environmental and exploration programs and conceptual design for construction proposed at the site. Current plans are to construct a new evaporation pond and tailings impoundments prior to restart of the existing mill. High-grade uranium ore for the mill will be mined from the already-permitted Jackpot Mine, located 25 miles to the north of the mill. In addition, Kennecott informed staff of its schedule for submittals related to restart of the mill.

The submittals include an application to construct the new evaporation pond (May 1997), and the application for all other necessary construction, a revised reclamation plan, and a request for a performance-based license (July 1997).

Nuclear Enerav Institute low-level Waste Workshoo Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff attended the Nuclear Energy Institute's (NEI) Low-Level Waste (LLW) workshop in Knoxville, Tennessee, on November 12-13, 1996. The workshop was the first in a series NEI plans to conduct to stimulate dialogue, explore current and future LLW management options, identify common interests and objectives, and to achieve collaborative solutions for the national LLW program.

The conference was attended by approximately 100 individuals, representing nuclear utilities, waste processing companies, States and compacts. Sessions covered strategies for shaping LLW policy, the effect of Barnwell's new rate structure on industry, and industry's experience to date with Envirocare's expanded capabilities. NEI continues to support an NRC leadership role in the LLW program, as they have previously stated a number of times. With respect to the change in the Barnwell rate structure, utilities are closely examining ways to minimize costs using this new system. Ir. stead of reducing volume to the smallest possible amount, which is what the previous system encouraged, utilities are focusing on achieving certain waste densities to minimize their NOVEMBER 22, 1996 ENCLOSURE B

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costs. Less waste processing will be performed, especially waste compaction. l

Envirocare is now accepting dry active waste and certain resins, but it is  !

j unclear how much change this will cause in existing utility waste disposal practices.

Staff Participates in Interaaency Steerina Committee On Radiation Standards  ;

Subcommittee Meetinas

! On November 19, 1996, staff from the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and j Safeguards (NMSS) and the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research participated i in a meeting of the Recycle Subcomittee of the Interagency Steering Committee j l on Radiation Standards (ISCORS). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

has been meeting with interested stakeholders, such as States, nuclear groups,

the steel industry, environmentalists, and EPA regional offices concerning a recycle rulemaking. No one group is interested in supporting such a

rulemaking. Many stakeholders confused the recycle rulemaking with Below

Regulatory Concern efforts, which dealt with exemptions from regulatory

! control. Environmentalists are opposed to a recycle rulemaking. The States  !

!. were in favor, or neutral, but cited the need to address naturally occurring l radioactive material (NORM). The Nuclear Energy Institute and the steel j industry want to remain neutral. EPA plans to meet with specific steel industry companies relative to this issue. Following release of a pre-proposal rule in 1997, EPA is planning a workshop and articles in trade journals.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission, EPA, and Department of Energy (DOE) staff resumed discussions from earlier meetings on the possibility of replacing the- l models under development at each of their agencies with a single model. Each agency came to the meeting with a set of criteria for selecting an ideal code.

The group agreed to continue.this discussion at the next meeting which is scheduled for December 20, 1996.

On November 20, 1996, NMSS staff participated in a meeting of the Risk Harmonization Subcommittee of ISCORS. The participants discussed the draft Comparative Risk paper and agreed to provide agency input on a revised scope and outline for the paper by January 10, 1997. EPA staff reported that the l plan for the National Academy of Sciences study on NORM would be available soon and copies will be distributed to the members of the Subcommittee. EPA staff also reported that it had been contacted by Senator Glenn's staff concerning progress made in risk harmonization. A member of Senator Glenn's staff has been invited to the next full ISCORS meeting in February 1997.

As a result of funding reductions, DOE staff expressed concern about the long-term viability of the dosimetry center at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The unique capabilities of this center have supported dosimetry studies for both national and international organizations. DOE will send a letter to the ISCORS members concerning interagency support for this center and a draft will be circulated for review. The Subcommittee is preparing a presentation on the differences between chemical and radiation protection paradigms, as they apply to radioactive waste management, for the full ISCORS meeting in February 1997.

These discussions will continue at the next Subcommittee meeting scheduled for December 18, 1996.

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Office for Analysis and Evaluation of Operational Data Items of Interest Week Ending November 22, 1996 Reactor Concepts Course TTD staff presented a special Reactor Concepts Course on November 13-14, 1996 i at the U.S. EPA Training Facility in Boston, MA in response to a request by the U.S. Attorneys Office in Connecticut. In attendance were 3 Assistant U.S.

Attorneys from Maine, 2 Assistant U.S. Attorneys from Connecticut. 2 EPA

lawyers from the U.S. EPA regional office in Boston, 1 EPA lawyer from their l office in Connecticut, and I representative from U.S. NRC Region I Office of i Investigations. The course provided a basic introduction to nuclear power and electrical generation, the fission process and heat generation, boiling and l pressurized water reactor systems overviews, radiation and biological effects, radioactive waste, nuclear materials transportation, refueling operations, and l emergency response. After the formal course presentations, a question and l answer session was conducted covering specific areas of concern to the course

! attendees. Question areas included the chain of command at the plants, the duties of an NRC project manager, non-radioactive chemical discharge management, TMI action items, operation of demineralizers and ion exchangers, discharge of resins, and other areas.

The TTD conducted a special course for 0IG and 01 personnel at the TTC

November 18-22, 1996. This was the third course requested by OIG. Thirteen OIG and three OI personnel attended the course. Course topics included training of NRC inspectors, sources and location of regulations, an overview of boiling water and pressurized water reactors, regulatory environment, professionalism, reactor and materials inspection and licensing programs, radiation protection issues for reactors, high and low level waste, industrial radiography, medical uses of byproduct material, fuel cycle issues,.

transportation of radioactive materials, and gamma irradiators, moisture density gauges and well logging. Classroom presentations were supplemented by simulator tours and demonstrations and videos of various activities.

In support of Lisbon Initiative technical assistance for Russian Priority 5.1 and Ukrainian Priority 2.1 (Analytical Simulator) the Technical Training Division provided special training on the regulatory use of training suulators for members of the Russian (GAN) and Ukrainian (NRA) regulatory agencies at the TTC November 11-22, 1996. Presentations included both classroom discussions and simulator demonstrations using the BWR/6 and CE simulators. Course topics included use of simulators in regulatory training, use of simulators in licensing examinations, use of sin'ulators in regulatory analysis, and theory of operation and modification of simulators. This training was necessary to prepare the GAN and NRA personnel for contractor training and to prepare them to assist in the evaluation of contractor work associated with the procurement of the analytical simulator.

Preliminary Notifications (PNs)

a. PNO-I-96-081, Bayonne Hospital, POTENTIAL MEDICAL MISADMINISTRATION l

t INVOLVING THE USE OF A HIGH DOSE-RATE REMOTE AFTERL0ADER DEVICE.

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b. PN0-1-96-082, Massachusetts General Hospital, FIRE IN RESEARCH BUILDING '

AT MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL.

l l c. PNO-II-96-080A, Professional Service Industries, Inc. (PSI), UPDATE OF '

REPORTED RADIATION OVEREXPOSURE TO TECHNICIAN'S HAND.

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d. PNO-II-06-081, Virginia Power Co. (North Anna 2), NORTH ANNA UNIT 2 REACTOR TRIP AND SHUTDOWN IN EXCESS OF 72 HOURS.

e. PNO-III-96-069, Michigan Chemical Corporation, RADI0 ACTIVE WASTE BURIAL SITE IDENTIFIED (TERMINATED LICENSE NO. SMB-0833 AND STC-0833). ),

f. PNO-IV-96-061, Entergy Operations, Inc., PLANT SHUTDOWN FOR SMALL STEAM  !

GENERATOR TUBE LEAK.

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.. i Office of Administration Items of Interest Week Ending November 22, 1996 Procurement Reform - Survey Team for Acauisition Reform ISTAR)

The Division of Contracts (DC) has established a STAR team to survey other Federal agencies' procurement "best practices." During the period November 12

- 16, 1996, the team met with procurement staffs at the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA), the Department of Commerce, the Veterans Administration, and the Department of Energy (DOE). FLRA shared information on their best practices for-simplified acquisitions; Commerce and DOE I discussed a broad range of procurement topics. This past week, the STAR team  ;

also participated with representatives from other agencies and industry in the l "1996 Nash & Cibinic Report Roundtable" sponsored by Federal Publications, the  :

"2nd Annual Federal Acquisition Update and Forecast Conference" cosponsored by GWU and Federal Contracts Reoorts, and the Small Agency Council Procurement l i

Committee meeting co-sponsored with GSA to cover new developments in  !

simplified acquisitions mechanisms offered by GSA. Contracting staff are '

being provided procurement "best practices" and streamlining methods identified as a result of these surveys and conferences to ensure NRC takes ,

full advantage of further opportunities for efficiency in the procurement j process. i Contract Awards l l

On November 12, 1996, a fixed price requirements contract was awarded to KPMG l Peat Marwick for " Replacement of the Automated Property Management System (PASS)." The period of performance is November 12, 1996 through November 11, 1997, with four. additional one-year option. periods. The total estimated cost is $237,425.

On November 1, 1996, a fixed price requirements contract was awarded to Qualex International for performance of " Document Reproduction Services." The contractor is responsible providing document reproduction, document delivery, and related services to the public. Under the terms of this contract, the public makes payment directly to the contractor for services rendered. The period of performance is November 16, 1996 through November 15, 1998, with one option year. The total contract value is $1,018,972.75, inclusive of the option year.

~On November 4, 1996, a contract was awarded to Tracor Applied Sciences, Inc.,

entitled, " Urine Specimen Collection - Nationwide." The fixed price requirements contract in the amount of $135,154 is effective December 13, 1996 through December 12, 1999, with two one-year option years, for a total contract value of $231,532. The requirements of the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board are also included in this contract.

NOTE: Procurement streamlining methods were used in all of the above contract awards.

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4 Tritium Production Pro.iect The Department of Erergy (DOE) wants to contract with one to two NRC nuclear l power plant licensees to place special fuel assemblies in their reactors which j will product tritium for the U. S. thermonuclear weapons program. NRR has '

provided an overview of the project to the Division of Security (SEC), ,

including the requirements for handling classified information. SEC has now offered to assist in setting up a work station to facilitate the groups' .;

handling of classified information, including secure ADP capability, secure  !

communications capabilities, access limitations, and secure storage. In I addition, SEC has proposed developing and hosting a security education program  ;

tailored especially to the tritium team, and addressing their specific needs.  :

This session, which has been coordinated with IRM, will be presented to  :

approximately 12 NRR staff on December 4, 1996.  :

1 Sionificant FOIA Reauests Received durina the 5-Day Period of November 15 -

21. 1996:

Records since 1/1/93 related to Florida Power & Light's St. Lucie Units 1 & 2 not publicly available and the total inspection hours for Region II licensed plants. (N. Binder; Debevoise & Plimpton; F01A/PA-96-485) I OI investigative file regarding Lawrence Conway v. PECO Energy Co.

(M. Peabody; PECO Energy; F0!A/PA-96-487)

Copy of policy guidance for evaluating allegations of inadequate safety or health protection. (R.Keller; Information Focus on Energy, Inc.;

F01A/PA-96-488)

Listing of facilities licensed to perform brachytherapy. (K. Nelson; Standard Imaging; F01A/PA-96-489)

NOVEMBER 22, 1996 ENCLOSURE F

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Items of Interest  :

Week Ending November 22, 1996 ,

Meetina of Office of Personrel Manaaement's (0PM's) Policy and leaislative Subcommittee Attended On November 20, 1996, Lillian VanSanten, an Organizational Development and Training staff member, attended a meeting of OPM's Policy and Legislative Subcommittee. The two-hour meeting covered guidance on provisions of the Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act concerning Training; EE0C Notice N-915.022 - Policy Guidance on "new age" training programs which conflict with employees' religious beliefs; and SCFR Part 410 - Final Rule.

l National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) Meetina Attended ,

On November 20, 1996, Eileen Mason, Chief, Organizational Development and  ;

Training, attended a meeting on implementing the human resources competency  !

model developed by the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) Center for Human Resources Management. The purpose of the meeting was to establish a network of human resource professionals from a variety of Federal agencies that will serve as an intaragency working group on the use of the competency i' model for human resource professionals.

Arrivals ,

i BURTON, Steve RESIDENT INSPECTOR (AN0) (PFT) RIV l Retirements KASNICKI, Dennis FUEL FACILITY INSPECTOR (PFT) RII Departures DR0ZD,Andrzej SR REACTOR ENGINEER (PFT) NRR HALLSTROM, George REACTOR INSPECTOR (PFT) RII I

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NOVEMBER 22, 1996 ENCLOSURE I

l Office of Public Affairs Items of Interest Week Ending November 22, 1996 Media Interest Chairman Jackson was interviewed by the Hartford Courant for a two-part series on NRC and Millstone.

School Volunteers Proaram Pat Santiago, OEDO, used the classroom activity, "Your Grandmother's Attic" to demonstrate the presence of radiation in ordinary items to students at St.

Joseph's School in Herndon, VA.

Neil Thompson and Janet Thot-Thompson, IRM, hosted students from the St.

Albans School at the Technology Center who learned about the latest global uses of communications and computer applications. The students also toured i the Operations Center with Rick Hasselberg, AE0D, and received a presentation from Don Cherry, NMSS.

Press Releases i

Headauarters: 1 96-160 NRC Launches Special Inspection at Framatome Cogema Facility l 96-161 NRC Seeks Qualified Candidates for Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards96-162 NRC Launches On-Line Discussion of High-Level Waste Repository Rule 96-163 NRC Issues Report on Control of Radioactive Material 96-164 NRC Begins First of a Series of Design Inspections at Nuclear Power Plants96-166 Note to Editors: ACRS meeting 96-167 Note To Editors: ACNW meeting 96-168 NRC Issues Initial Certification Decision for Uranium Enrichment Plants Reaions:

I-96-75 Beaver Valley Nuclear Plant Rated " Good" in Three Areas,

" Superior" in Fourth Area of NRC Assessment Report I-96-76 Local Public Document Room for Three Mile Island and Peach Bottom Nuclear Plants is Reopened NOVEMBER 22, 1996 ENCLOSURE M

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11-96-96 NRC Staff Proposes $150,000 Fine Against CP&L at Brunswick 11-96-97 NRC Staff Proposes $50,000 Fine Against TVA at Sequoyah l 111-96-69 NRC Issues Inspection Reports on Two Team Inspections at j Clinton Nuclear Power Station IV-96-61 NRC to Hold Public Meeting to Discuss Fort St. Vrain Final i

Radiation Survey Results i

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i NOVEMBER 22, 1996 ENCLOSURE M l

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Office of International Programs Items of Interest Week Ending November 22, 1996 1

Executive Director of Japan's PNC visits NRC 3

On Friday, November 22, 1996, Mr. Hiromasa Nakano, Executive Director of .

Japan's Power Reactor & Nuclear Fuel Development Corporation (PNC), visited '

l NRC and briefed Commission assistants on the current status of PNC's investigation into the Monju FBR event that occurred last December 1995. He t i

then offered some remarks on fuel cycle safeguards issues in Japan. L l

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Region I  ;

Items of Interest i Week Ending November 22, 1996 Peach Bottom Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station conducted a full-participation exercise on November 19, 1996, from 3 p.m. until 9 p.m. The State of Maryland, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and all associated risk ccJnties participated in the exercise.

I New Britain Hosoital l An Enforcement Conference was held in Region I on November 18, 1996, with the management of New Britain Hospital. Issues relating to Nuclear Medicine records accuracy were discussed. Specifically, the discussion focused on alleged falsification of dose calibrator constancy records. The licensee described actions taken which resulted in their identification and reporting of the alleged falsification. The licensee also emphasized that the NRC l should consider all actions taken by the hospital in mitigating any '

enforcement actions taken against the Hospital. In particular, the licensee emphasized that the apparent violations were identified by the licensee, reported to the NRC, and immediate corrective actions were taken. The NRC Region I staff discussed the potential safety and programmatic implications and the licensee described actions taken to prevent recurrence.

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NOVEMBER 22, 1996 ENCLOSURE P

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Region II Items of Interest Week Ending November 22, 1996 Quarterly Press Conference 1 A quarterly press conference was held at the Surry Nuclear Information Center on current regulatory issues at the Surry plant and the North Anna plant plus NRC preparations for emergency response in preparation for hurricanes, 4

accidents, or other events. Two reporters from the Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk and one reporter from the Richmond Times-Dispatch attended. In addition, a reporter and photographer from WVEC-TV and WAVV-TV attended briefly. A major  !

3 topic of discussion was the potential effect of plant staff reductions on  !

safety.

Viroinia Electric and Power Comoany - Surry Members of the Region II staff presented the latest SALP results to representatives of the Virginia Electric and Power Company regarding the performance of their Surry facility. The SALP results identified superior performance in Operations, Engineering, and Plant Support. Performance in Maintenance improved but remained at a good level. Human performance deficiencies and personnel errors during maintenance and testing activities

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remained challenges. Following the presentation, a public meeting was held with local officials.

Southern Nuclear Operatina Company - Farlev Representatives from the Southern Nuclear Operating Company were in the  !

Region II Office to attend an enforcement conference regarding the adequacy of I fire protection at the Farley plant. Specifically, Kaowool was missing from three areas requiring protection, and other sections of Kaowool had been damaged but not detected by routine licensee inspections.

Duke Power Comoany

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On November 19, 1996, Duke Power Company announced several management changes. ,

Mr. Ted McHeekin, currently Site Vice President at McGuire, will assume i management of the Fossil / Hydro Department replacing Maurice McIntosh who is l retiring. Mr. Brew Barron will assume the role of McGuire Site Vice President effective January 1, 1997. Mr. Barron has held management positions at the three Duke Nuclear facilities. He is reporting to the McQuire position from his current position with Duke Engineering and Services at Idaho National Laboratory.

Oconee On November 21, 1996, the Oconee Security manager reported a potential l tampering issue. Oil was found inside the limit switch compartment on a motor operated valve (MOV) operator. The MOV is one of the main steam supply valves to the Unit 3 turbine driven emergency feedwater pump turbine. The valve operator had been removed from the system, refurbished, and stored within the NOVEMBER 22, 1996 ENCLOSURE P

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protected area. The oil was found when maintenance personnel were installing the operator back into the system. The licensee is investigating the issue.

A Region II security _ inspector and the resident inspectors are monitoring the licensee's actions.

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NOVEMBER 22, 1996 ENCLOSURE P

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Region III 1 Items of Interest ,

Week Ending November 22, 1996  !

Confirmatory Action Letter Issued to Co -anwealth Edison Comoany l A Confirmatory Action Letter (CAL) was issued by NRC Region III to  ;

Commonwealth Edison Company regarding concerns with Dresden Nuclear Power '

Station's control of calculations and with the overall performance of site and i corporate engineering activities. These concerns were identified by the  !

Independent Safety Inspection's preliminary evaluation of Dresden Station's i safety performance. The CAL confirms actions that the utility will take in ,

response to NRC's concerns and also details notifications, results and l documents that the utility will provide to NRC Region III. j Commonwealth Edison Meetina -- Zion and LaSalle Nuclear Power Stations  ;

A management meeting was held in the NRC Region III Office, Lisle, Illinois, on November 19, 1996, between NRC senior managers and Commonwealth Edison ,

Company senior managers. The meeting discussion focused on Comed's  ;

independent self assessment for LaSalle and Zion Nuclear Power Stations. This  ;

assessment, consisting of document review and onsite visits, began on October i 22, 1996. A final report is scheduled to be issued January 17, 1997. The  ;

assessment team consisted of 17 members primarily from outside of Comed. The j team is evaluating operations, maintenance and testing, engineering and  !

technical support, plant support, and management and organization. A key i focus of the team is to determine why past efforts to improve performance at l the two stations have been ineffective.

l4 American Electric Power Comoany Meetina -- D.C. Cook Nuclear Power Station 5

On November 18, 1996, a management meeting was held in the NRC Region III Office between NRC senior managers and American Electric Power Company senior i managers. The meeting discussed the status of D.C. Cook Nuclear Power Station's Final Safety Analysis Report reconciliation, the plan by the utility j to improve operator performance and the general issue of equipment  !

precondi+1oning, t

Predecisional Enforcement Conference with Northern States Power Comoany On November 22, 1996, a predecisional enforcement conference was conducted in I the NRC Region III Office between management representatives from Northern .

States Power Company and members of the NRC staff. The purpose of the l conference was to discuss inspection findings at the Prairie Island Nuclear  ;

Power Station. An apparent violation that was discussed at the conference '

concerned the failure to determine that an unreviewed safety question existed on the non-seismic intake canal and to seek a license amendment.

Advanced Medical Systems. Inc. - Cleveland. Ohio On November 21, 1996, a management meeting was held at Advanced Medical Systems, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, between NRC staff and Advanced Medical NOVEMBER 22, 1996 ENCLOSURE P l

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• . e Systems, Inc., staff. The purpose of the meeting was to review the activities regarding the packaging and transportation of approximately 50,000 curies of sealed and bulk sources of cobalt-60 from the licensee's facility. The licensee has contracted with Chem Nuclear, Inc., to prepare the material for waste disposal at Barnwell. This project began on November 15, 1996, and is projected to be completed around the middle of December 1996 (ahead of schedule). NRC Region III has been onsite during the major portions of the packaging and source transfer operation and will be onsite during the transportation activities.

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