ML20136G842
| ML20136G842 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 03/12/1997 |
| From: | Blaha J NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| SECY-97-060, SECY-97-060-R, SECY-97-60, SECY-97-60-R, WIR-970307, NUDOCS 9703180224 | |
| Download: ML20136G842 (26) | |
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- March 12. 1997 SECY 97- 06o i
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l For: The Commissioners i .
4 From: James L. Blaha, Assistant for Operations, Office of the EDO Sub.iect: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING MARCH 7, 1997 l
Contents Enclosure i l
Nuclear Reactor Regulation A Nuclear Material Safety and . Safeguards l B
. Nuclear Regulatory Research . C
, Analysis and Evaluation of Operational Data D General Counsel E* I Administration F ;
Chief Information Officer G j Chief Financial Officer H* i
' . Pnrsonnel I 1 Small Business & Civil Rights J* l Enforcement K* -
State Programs L*
Public Affairs M J Internatfonal Programs N*
- Office of the Secretary 0*
l Region I P Region II P Region III P Region IV- _
P 2
Executive Director for Operations 0* l Congressional Affairs R
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- No' input this week.'
Original signed by: !
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Carl F. Dolinka for.
7 9703180224 970312 James L. Blaha PDR COMMS NRcc
]- WEEKLYINFOREPT PDR . Assistant for Operations. OEDO
Contact:
.B. McCabe. OED0 ,
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l.. Document Name: C:\ WEEK 307 Di r
pt /r }/1' 1 OED0 A0/ 0 )(OfpN WN BMc p' JBlaha '
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' NBC FRE CEMER COPY !
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UNITED STATES
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D. C. 20056 INFORMATION REPORT March 12. 1997 SECY 97-060 i
'l For: The Commissioners From: James L. Blaha, Assistant for Operations. Office of the ED0
{
Subject:
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING MARCH 7, 1997 l Contents Enclosure l 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 .0fficer G Chief. Financial Officer H* I Personnel I Small Business & Civil Rights J* .
Enforcement K*
State Programs L*
Public Affairs M i 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.
l Im"e L. 'B aha Assistant for Operations. OEDO
Contact:
B. McCabe. OEDO
1
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Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Items of Interest Week Ending March 7, 1997 '
Meetina between the NRC staff and renresentatives from the Nuclear Eneroy Institute (NEI) and Industry on Graded Quality Assurance Related Tooics On February 27, 1997. members of the NRC staff met with NEI and licensee i representatives from Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station and the South Texas Project. The topics discussed were industry concerns related to graded quality assurance (QA) activities, performance-based QA activities, the potential impact of the draft graded QA regulatory guide (RG) on volunteer plants, and the status of the petition for rulemaking on S50.54(a) which was filed by NEI on behalf of the industry.
NEI presented its outline of what the industry con.siders are necessary steps that must be taken to improve the regulatory process for QA. NEI emphasized that, in their opinion. the success of the graded QA " initiative" is pivotal if the industry is to continue to Jursue performance-based regulatory improvements in other areas. and tlat the industry remains concerned about the uncertainty associated with staff expectations on graded QA that have been outlined in the draft RG. NEI further emphasized that while the industry does not believe that changes in the provisions of Appendix B to 10 CFR Part 50 are necessary, a change to the provisions in S50.54(a) is needed if the industry is to be allowed to move forward on performance-based approaches to implementing QA programs.
The staff agreed that it is appropriate to evaluate the 550.54(a) OA program I change process to find objectively acceptable alternatives in the reporting threshold for QA program changes.
Both NEI and the ' staff agreed that progress can be made toward a more p' erformance-based regulatory framework and agreed to meet to continue the dialogue once the risk-informed RGs are issued for public comment.
Workshoo on Severe Accident Manaaement Imolementation On March 11-13, 1997. NRR staff will attend an industry workshop on Severe Accident Management Implementation in Charlotte. North Carolina. The purpose of the workshop is to provide a forum for utility personnel responsible for implementing accident management to explore and discuss solutions to issues that have arisen during the implementation of severe accident management guidance and training. The staff will provide a presentation on NRC perspectives and expectations regarding accident management, and will attend the balance of the workshop in order to better understand the status of industry implementation. and associated issues.
Salem Nuclear Generatina Station Units 1 and 2 On March 4. 1997, the NRC held a meeting with the public at the Salem Community College in Carney's Point New Jersey from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. to describe the status of the facility and receive public comments. After the MARCH 7. 1997 ENCLOSURE A
NRC discussed licensing and inspection activities and the Unit 2 restart process, about 20 members of the public spoke. Over 50 people attended the meeting including radio, television and newspaper reporters and a representative of the state of New Jersey. The staff will review the transcript and respond as appropriate. .
Maine Yankee -- ISA Enforcement Conference The staff will conduct an enforcement conference, open for public observation, at the Maine Yankee site on March 11, 1997. This conference is related to the l Independent Safety Assessment conducted in 1996. In Inspection Report 96-16 l ddted February 11, 1997, the staff presented sixteen a) parent violations in five categories: (1) safety related equipment inopera]ility; (2) testing )
inadec uacies: (3) safety review inadequacies: (4) procedure inadequacies and ;
non-acherences: and (5) corrective actions not identified, untimely and/or inadequate. The licensee responded to the specific violations in a letter dated February 28, 1997. At the March 11 meeting, the licensee will discuss the broad issues and common causal factors that have evolved from the specific l enforcement issues and their impli. cations on future operation of Maine Yankee.
Zion - Emeraency Diesel Generator (EDG) Cylinder Liner Crackina ,
l Zion Station has Cooper-Bessemer, 16 cylinder EDGs, two per unit and one common unit diesel, for a total of five. On Janua 27, 1997, the 2A EDG l experienced a loss of lube oil due to the catastro ic failure of the IL l piston which occurred as a result of a through wal jacket water leak in the cylinder liner. As follow-up investigation into the event, the licensee is in the process of inspecting the cylinder liners on the 2B EDG. Currently, 7 of 14 cylinder liners inspected on the 2B EDG have unacceptable cracking. In addition, the licensees inspection of the five refurbished liners from stores revealed unacceptable cracking in two. The licensee's root cause investigation is in 3rogress. The licensee still plans to inspect the cylinder liners of t1e other 4 EDGs.
Status of Review of Licensee Resoonses to 50.54(f) Reouest on Desian Bases During the weeks of February 17 and 24, 1997, all 107 licensee responses to the 50.54(f) request for information were~ received. The NRR Project Managers !
completed the acceptance reviews of all 107 submittals (Phase 1). No issues of significant . regulatory concern requiring prompt NRC followup were identified. Licensees were responsive to the recuest for information. No significant omissions were identified. Acknowlecgement letters to the licensees will be issued by March 14, 1997.
The pilot process to review one submittal from each region using the draft review guidance (Phase 2) was completed. A teleconference was held with NRR and the Regions on March 3, 1997, to discuss the lessons learned from the pilot review and to finalize the review criteria. The final review criteria, which will be used during Phase 3 was distributed to the Regions and NRR Project Managers on March 4, 1997.
m MARCH 7, 1997 ENCLOSURE A
The Phase 3 reviews ~ are scheduled to be completed in a timeframe that will support discussion of the results at the Senior Management Meeting screening meetings scheduled for April 1997.
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- MARCH 7. 1997 ENCLOSURE A 1
Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Items of Interest Week Ending March 7, 1997 High Country Nuclear Medicine Conference From February 28-March 2,1997, a representative from the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS) participated in the High Country Nuclear Medicine Conference in Vail. Colorado. A presentation was provided on
" Emerging Regulatory Issues in Radioactive Drug Therapy." The presentation included an overview of the preliminary Commission v.iews contained in Direction Setting Initiatives (DSI) Papers 7 and 12. and the pending revision of 10 CFR Part 35. The presentation also addressed guidance currently under development and emerging use of radioactive drug therapy such as radiolabeled biologics . -
The NMSS representative also met with the Executive Committee of the Council 4
on Radionuclides and Radiopharmaceuticals. Inc. (CORAR). to discuss their interest in particiaatiiig in meetings to be held during the planned revision of Part 35. CORAR 1ad previously provided comments, during the Strategic Assessment and Rebase~ lining public meetings, which generally supported the-preliminary Commission findings set forth in DSI 7 The Executive Committee res)onded Jositively to the Commission decision to focus regulatory actions on higler risc activities and to pursue performance-based regulations, and ex3ressed a strong interest in assisting the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in aclieving these goals.
1 Emoloyee Concerns Forum Meetina During the week of February 24, 1997. Allegation Coordinators from the Offices !
of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards and Nuclear Reactor Regulation, as '
well as Regional Allegation Coordinators, attended the Employee Concerns Forum Meeting in Las Vegas Nevada. Other attendees were primarily utility and ;
Government agency managers and consultants involved with employee concerns l programs. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Agency Allegation Advisor gave a presentation on the NRC allegation program, and the regional and headquarters Allegation Coordinators met in breakout sessions with licensee and agency managers from their regions or areas. Training sessions, presentations and discussions were also held on various aspects of dealing with "whistleblower-type" concerns.
Assumino Jurisdiction Over Gaseous Diffusion Plants On Monday. March 3. 1997, at 12:01 a.m.. local time. the Nuclear Regulatory i Commission officially assumed regulatory jurisdiction from the Department of Energy (DOE) over U.S. Enrichment Corporation (USEC) operations at the gaseous diffusion uranium enrichment plants located at Paducah. Kentucky, and Piketon.
Ohio. This step completes a process initiated by the Energy Policy Act of 1992, which called for NRC to establish standards and a process for certification, and for USEC to apply to NRC for Certificates of Compliance with-those standards.
MARCH 7. 1997 ENCLOSURE B
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As required by the Energy Policy Act. the NRC issued 10 CFR Part 76.
" Certification of Gaseous Diffusion Plants." on September 23, 1994. After its first application for certification was rejected by the NRC for lack of
- sufficient information. USEC reapplied for initial certification on September 15. 1995. A proposed certification decision was prepared and issued on Seatember 19. 1996, and the actual certificates were issued to USEC on Novem)er 26. 1996. NRC has now assumed regulatory authority--following a transition aeriod which allowed the facilities time to train staff and to implement NRC requirements.
1 Letter of Credit for Shieldallov Metalluraical Corooration I i
On February 26, 1997, funds were transferred from the Shieldalloy Metallurgical Corporation's (Shieldalloy's) financial assurance instrument for i decommissioning to a Mellon Bank standby trust that is administered by the i I Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Shieldalloy has two licenses--one each for its '
plants in Cambridge Ohio, and Newfield. New Jersey, where metal alloys for the steel industry are produced. Shieldalloy, in Cha
. Federal Court for the Southern District of New York pter 11 bankruptcy requested that the NRC in the draw funds from its letter of credit held by Deustche Bank and transfer the l funds to.the standby trust. The funds from the letter of credit are being ;
used in the bankruptcy case, which includes consideration of future l decommissioning funding. '
Staff Meets with San Bernardino County Official Reaardina Ward Vallev On February 25. 1997. Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff met with the County I Supervisor of San Bernardino County. California, to discuss County-proposed legislative changes to the Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Amendments Act of 1985. The proposed Ward Valley low-level waste (LLW) dis)osal facility is located in San Bernardino county and the County Supervisor lad requested the meeting. The legislative proposal--which contains a number of significant changes, including a new classification system for LLW. a prohibition on shallow-land disposal, a requirement that only " engineered storage" be .used. l and limits on the half-lives of radionuclides that can be managed in such a facility--has also been provided to at least one member of Congress for consideration.
Technical Exchanae with the Deoartment of Enerav on Ioneous Activity at Yucca Mountain On February 25-26, 1997, staff from the Division of Waste Management and the Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses met with representatives of the Department of Energy (DOE) and DOE contractors from Sandia National Laboratory and Geomatrix Consultants on the probability and consequences of igneous activity affecting the proposed geologic repository at Yucca Mountain. Nevada.
-The objective of this meeting was to determine how DOE will consider igneous activity-in the development of the total system performance assessment to be included in DOE's Viability Assessment of the proposed Yucca Mountain Site.
During the meeting. DOE contractors presented the results of their Probabilistic Volcanic Hazard Assessment (PVHA) and plans for conducting consequence analysis.
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MARCH 7. 1997. ENCLOSURE B
Representatives from the Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses described new field data and the results of models of probability and consequence which, in the consideration of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff, should be evaluated in DOE's analysis. As a result of the meeting, agreement was reached that DOE will consider evaluating new data, such as the size and volume of the Little Cone Volcano and the number of events at Anomaly A in Southern Crater Flat, through sensitivity studies. DOE also agreed to explain how the probability distribution function for the probability of disruption from its PVHA will be used in performance assessments and sensitivity studies. Finally. DOE agreed to provide the NRC with a letter describing the DOE basis for subissue resolution which will be considered in the development of NRC's Issue Resolution Status Report.
Meetino on Pre-Closure Seismic Desian Methodoloav Tooical Reoort No. 2 On February 27. 1997. staff from the Division of Waste Management met with the Department of Energy (DOE) and its contractors to discuss comments on the DOE topical report concerning the seismic design methodology for a geologic repository at Yucca Mountain. This report is the second in a series of three topical re) orts on seismicity.. In this report. DOE presents the seismic design metlodology and criteria that would be applied to structures, systems, and components in' order to demonstrate compliance with 10 CFR Part 60's pre-closure safety requirements. Although the staff has no further questions concerning the first report, and expects DOE's revisions to the second report to address all of the issues raised in the meeting, the staff will defer acceptance of DOE's seismic design methodology until the third and final report in the series has been submitted to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for review.
Technical Exchanae with the Deoartment of Enerav on Burnuo Credit On February 28, 1997, staff from the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and
-Safeguards, including its Burnup Credit Task Force, participated in a technical exchange meeting with the De)artment of Energy (DOE) and its contractors to discuss the status of c1anges to DOE's " Topical Re Actinide-Only Burnup Credit for PWR Spent Nuclear Fuel Packages." port on Specifically, the isotopic validation and cask modeling chapters of the topical report were discussed. Burnup credit is the process of taking credit for the reduced nuclear reactivity of spent fuel, as compared to fresh fuel.
in criticality calculations. DOE is expected to revise the topical report in 1
I response to a Nuclear Regulatory Commission request for additional information 1 dated March 22, 1996, and to issue the revised report in April 1997. l Standard Review Plan for Dry Cask Storace Systems On March 3, 1997. "The Standard Review Plan (SRP) For Dry Cask Storage Systems (DCSS)." NUREG-1536, was issued in final form by the staff of the Spent Fuel Project Office. In early 1996, the SRP was released in draft form for public
-comment. The final DCSS SRP considers the over 800 comments received from licensees, staff, other Federal agencies, and the general public.
l MARCH 7, 1997 ENCLOSURE B
, The SRP provides guidance to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff on
, performing safety reviews of dry cask storage systems, and is intended to:
(1) ensure the quality and uniformity of the staff reviews: (2) present a
- basis for the review scope; and (3) provide clarification of the regulatory requirements. The SRP is divided into 14 sections which reflect the standard application format. Regulatory requirements staff positions, industry codes and standards, acceptance criteria, and other information are included.
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' Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research Items of Interest
, Week Ending March 7. 1997 Containment Model Test Proaram Dr. James F. Costello. RES. attended a management meeting held in Tokyo on February 18-20 for the containment model test program. The NRC and the
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- Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) of Japan are sponsoring i i tests.to failure of models of a steel BWR containment and a prestressed i
! concrete PWR containment. The Nuclear Power Engineering Corporation (NUPEC) of i Japan and Sandia-National Laboratories (SNL) are the organizations performing -
the experiments. The major subjects discussed were progress on the post test
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analyses for the steel. model test performed at SNL in December 1996 and progress on the prestressed concrete model currently under construction at
, SNL.
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l Office for Analysis and Evaluation of Operational Data Items of Interest 4
Week Ending March 7, 1997 Meetina with the Deoartment of Enerav On February 28, 1997, NRC staff met with DOE staff at the DOE Forrestal Building on matters relating to the restructuring of the electric industry.
- The meeting was requested by DOE staff. NRC attendees were C. Ernie Rossi and Mary S. Wegner. AEOD. and Jose Calvo, Ronaldo Jenkins, and Narinder Trehan,
- NRR. Ronaldo Jenkins gave a presentation on NRC's concerns with the reliability of offsite power to nuclear power plants. Paul Carrier. DOE.
talked about-the Secretary of Energy's Task Force on Reliability and suggested i that the NRC may want to send an observer to the meetings. ,
! Bonnie Suchman of the General Council's Office (DOE) described legislation
modeling of the grid. DOE recuested contacts in four areas: finance.
radwaste decommissioning, anc capital improvements (operational funding).
The contacts are being identified for transmittal to DOE.
Fire Events - Feedback of U.S. Ooeratina Exoerience Pacer
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Jim Houghton of the Reliability and Risk Assessment Branch presented a paper i on " Fire Events - Feedback of U.S. 0)erating Experience" during the Fire and Safety Conference 1997 in London, Fe)ruary 23-26, 1997. The paper discussed the frequency, severity and nature of the U.S. operating experience with-fires at nuclear power plants. The conference provided a presentation for 4
papers and forum for collegial discussion on fire protection and fire safety topics by experts, representing the nuclear industry, insurers. and nuclear regulatory agency representatives. The presentations included: Opening Perspectives: Modeling Analysis, Data Collection, and Feedback: Power Plant Experience: Cable Fire Experiments: and Fire Safety Upgrades for Soviet Designed Reactors.
PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATIONS (PNs)
- a. PNO-II-97-012, Babcock & Wilcox Co., ALERT DECLARED DUE TO EVACUATION OF BUILDING.
- b. PNO-II-97-014. Tennessee Valley Authority (Browns Ferry'3), NOTIFICATION OF UNUSUAL EVENT DUE TO LOSS OF OFFSITE POWER FOR GREATER THAN 15 MINUTES.
- c. PNO-II-97-015. Duke Power Co. (McGuire 1 2), MEDIA INTEREST IN EVACUATION OF SITE ENVIRONMENTAL LABORATORY DUE TO POTENTIALLY EXPLOSIVE MATERIAL.
- d. PN0-III-97-016. St. Joseph's Medical Center, POSSIBLE BRACHYTHERAPY MISADMINISTRATION.
- e. PNO-III-97-017. Wisconsin Electric Power Co. (Point Beach 1), OUTAGE FOR PUMP REPAIR AND OTHER MAINTENANCE.
MARCH 7. 1997 ENCLOSURE D
- f. PNO-III-97-018 U.S. Army Armament and Chemical Acquisition & Logistics Activity. M1A1 COLLIMATOR CONTAINING TRITIUM GAS DAMAGED DURING MAINTENANCE.
- g. PNO-IV-97-013. Brooks Air Force Base. DAMAGE TO PACKAGE CONTAINING i
10 DINE-125 DURING TRANSIT.
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Office of Administration Items of Interest Week Ending March 7, 1997 Settlement of Claim Under NRC-04-75-183 On 9/11/96, MPR Associates. Inc. filed an appeal with the DOE Board of Contract Appeals, under Contract No. NRC-04-75-183. The appeal challenged a final decision issued by'the Contracting Officer on 6/6/96, to disallow
$26,257.01 payment under the contract. A Case Evaluation and Mediation by a Settlement Judge, an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) procedure, was scheduled for 3/12/97: however, settlement was reached by the contracting officer and MPR on 3/3/97 in the amount of $13.128.50. A settlement agreement and release of claims will be prepared. The contract will subsequently be closed out.
Revisiori of Fee Schedules: 100% Fee Recovery. FY 1997 (Parts 170 and 171)
A proposed rule entitled " Revision of Fee Schedules: 100% Fee Recovery. FY' 1996" was published in the Federal Register on February 27, 1997 (62 FR 8885).
The proposed rule would amend the licensing, inspection, and annual fees charged to NRC a)plicants and licensees as necessary to recover approximately 100 percent of tie NRC budget authority for FY 1997. The comment period for the proposed rule closes' March 31, 1997.
White Flint Metro Parkina lot The Metro Transit Police Department plans to im)lement its new enforcement plan beginning March 17, 1997. The Department 1as provided advance '
notification to NRC of its plan to begin ticketing and towing vehicles in the White Flint Metro parking lot whose drivers are not Metro customers. New enforcement signs will be posted to more clearly indicate the lot is for Metro customers only.
FY 1997 "L" Reinvestication Proaram The FY 1997 "L" Reinvestigation Program is underway. NRC employees with "L" security clearances whose last investigation was conducted approximately five years ago will be required to complete new security forms and undergo reinvestigation by the Office of Personnel Management. Those who must be reinvestigated have already been notified by their Office or Region.
The Division of Security has sent the security forms to tne eligible individuals.
U.S. Security Policy Forum The U.S. Security Policy Forum is responsible for issuing an implementing directive under E.O.12958 " Classified National Security Information."
setting forth national standards for safeguarding U.S. classified information.
On February 28, 1997. Division of Security, participated in a Safeguard Directive Working Grou) meeting where two remaining issues were resolved and will be forwarded to tie U.S. Security Policy Forum and Board for approval.
MARCH 7. 1997 ENCLOSURE F
The first issue involved the release or disclosure of foreign government information to any third country entity. Discussion on the second issue resulted in the Working Group recommending language be added to the directive that provided direction to agencies in the event of a loss. possible compromise or unauthorized disclosure of U.S. classified information. The revisions will be presented to the Forum at its next meeting on March 21, 1997.
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l Chief Information Officer Items of Interest Week Ending March 7. 1997 Aaency-wide Documents Access and Manaaement System (ADAMS)
The Com)rehensive Information Systems Support Consolidation (CISSCO) Program l 1s esta)lishing design and development. testing and evaluation environments l for the ADAMS project. The development laboratory will be used to evaluate '
recommended software for the ADAMS in non-production environments. Software design tools will be used to examine and analyze process flows, data flows.
l and data management issues attendant to the establishment of a recommended 1 solution that includes three pilot applications: Generic Communications. l Electronic Hearing Docket, and Workflow. Using the software design tools. NRC will address the functional, data and communication / network requirements. H l
document user interface requirements, and design solution. i Aaency wide Software Uoarades Agency-wide software upgrades for >ersonal computers began in February and l will continue through the end of tie fiscal year. The schedule. under review by program office representatives. is being coordinated with the One White Flint North restack effort.
The software upgrade consists of GroupWise 4.1. Informs 4.1, Wordperfect 6.1, Netscape 3.0 and OnNet TCP/IP software. Implementation will be accomplished l using automated software distribution / installation tools that streamline and '
l significantly improve the installation process, reducing the number of l workstation visits.
l Development efforts to customize the Wordperfect 6.1 and GroupWise 4.1 screen
- and button layouts and functionality have been completed. Many groups contributed comments and suggestions to make the transition from the DOS-based
, Wordperfect 5.1 to the Windows-based Wordperfect 6.1 as smooth as possible.
l FOIA Reauests Received ~Durina the Week Endina March 6.1997 By-product distribution list. E.I. Dupont license 07-00455-02.
l (F0IA/PA-97-0075) i By-product distribution list. E.I. Dupont license STB-58. (FOIA/PA-97-0076)
By-product distribution list. E.I. Dupont license SMB-301. (F01A/PA-97-0077)
Power plants, geographic location (latitude and longitude) and facility-demographics of all operating and closed plants. (FOIA/PA-97-0078)
Radiation exposure record on behalf of client. (F01A/PA-97-0079)
Brachytherapy licensee list, low and high dose rate. (F01A/PA-97-0080)
PRM-35-15, petitioner's withdrawal letter. (F01A/PA-97-0081)
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Licensee listing. commercial power plants. (F01A/PA-97-0082)
Monju fast breeder reactor, safety and security. (F01A/PA-97-0083)
Dupont Environmental Remediation Services. License No. 07-30237-01.
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Office of Personnel Items of Interest Week Ending March 7. 1997 Federal Savinas Bonds Camoaian Trainino Seminar Attended On March 3. 1997. Janice Clemens and Henry Rubin attended the training seminar for the 1997 Federal Savings Bonds Campaign at the U.S. Department of Justice Building. Topics discussed included features and benefits of Savings Bonds.
campaign materials and promotional activities, and planning of an Agency Savings Bonds Campaign. Also in attendance was Attorney General Janet Reno.
, who will again serve as Chairman of the Savings Bonds Campaign.
Combined Federal Camoaian (CFC) Meetina Attended l On March 4. 1997. Henry Rubin attended a meeting of the Local Federal Coordinating Committee for CFC of the National Capital Area at the Department-of Health and Human Services Building. This was the first meeting for the 1997 campaign. To)ics discussed included results from the 1996 campaign key ,
action items for t1e 1997 campaign, and an overview of the application process '
to become eligible for CFC funds.
Arrivals AGNEU. Terry SECRETARY (0A) (0PFT) OP/SPAC MERSCH0FF. Ellis REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR (PFT)* RIV
- TRANSFERRED FROM REGION II TO REGION IV Deoartures l COLBERT. Joyce PAYROLL TECH (DATA TRANS) (PFT)* OC
- EFFECTIVE 2/21/97 Retirements None MARCH 7. 1997- ENCLOSURE I l
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!' Office of Public Affairs 1 Items of Interest Week Ending March 7. 1997 l
l Media Interest !
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The public meeting at Big Rock Point on decommissioning was attended by some !
35 people, including two newspaper reporters. A media briefing on tha issue !
-was held a day before the public meeting. j i
, School Volunteers Proaram l Michael Rubin, RES. gave a presentation on mathematics and Ed Fox NRR.
l described his job as a civil engineer during career week at Fairland E.S.
Rita Albright. OC discussed math and problem-solving at Mill Creek Towne E.S.
I Press Releases Headauarters:
97-036 Note to Editors: ACNW Report on Radionuclide Transport at l Yucca Mountain l 97-037 NRC Assumed Regulatory Jurisdiction Over Uranium Enrichment l Plants in Kentucky. Ohio l l
97-038 NRC Staff Proposes $12.500 Fine Against B&W Fuel Company j 97-039 NRC Media Workshop Scheduled )
l 97-040 NRC Issues Final Technical Evaluation on Proposed Reclamation I of Uranium Mill in Moab. Utah Reaions:
l I-97-17 NRC Staff Schedules Predecisional Enforcement Conference l
Regarding Apparent Violations at Beaver Valley Nuclear Paant I-97-18 NRC Staff to Discuss Apparent Violations at Maine Yankee:
l Regional Administrator to Hold Quarterly Press Conference l I-97-19 NRC Sends Letter to Northeast Utilities Confirming Actions l
Designed to Improve Haddam Neck Plant's Radiological Controls
- I-97 NRC Staff Issues Confirmatory Action Letter to GPU Nuclear Corporation I-97-21 NRC Staff Rates Vermont Yankee " Good" in Three Areas, i " Superior" in One Area in Latest Assessment 4
MARCH 7, 1997 ENCLOSURE M l
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I-97-22 NRC Names David P. Beaulieu Senior Resident Inspector at i Millstone 2 i I-97-23 Note to Editors: Confirmatory Action Letter Issued to Northeast Utilities l l
4 11-97-19 NRC Staff Proposes $50,000 Fine Against Florida Power !
Corporation for Violations of Security Requirements at j Crystal River
! 11-97-20 NRC Staff to Hold Predecisional Enforcement Conference With
- Virginia Power to Discuss Concerns at Surry Nuclear Plant
! II-97-21 NRC Staff Raises Watts Bar SALP Rating
, 111-97-23 NRC Enforcement Conference With Northern States Power Co. on l j Apparent Violation of NRC Requirements.at Monticello Station i III-97-24 NRC Special Inspection Team to Discuss Preliminary Findings !
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on Control Rod Incident at Zion Nuclear Power Station i i
III-97-25 Latest NRC Staff Review Rates Davis-Besse " Good" in
- Operations and " Superior" in Maintenance. Engineering. and
- . Plant Support III-97-26 Enforcement Conference Scheduled With Wisconsin Electric on 1
i Team Inspection Findings at Point Beach '
IV-97-16 NRC Fines Connell Ltd. $8.800 for Worker Exposure Incident MARCH 7. 1997 ENCLOSURE M
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- l Region I l Items of Interest 1 4
Week Ending March 7, 1997 University of Massachusetts Pre-Decisional Enforcement Conference On February 27,1997. . Region I held an o)en pre-decisional enforcement conference with.the University of Massac1usetts to discuss issues surrounding the inadequate security of radioactive materials at the facility. The
- ' licensee provided significant corrective actions which included management changes and increased audits of licensed activities. A Notice of Violation with no civil penalty was issued on February 28, 1997.
Predecisional Enforcement Conference With Roy Sadovsky. D.V.M.
' i On February 26, 1997, a pre-decisional enforcement conference was held with Roy Sadovsky D.V.M. at the NRC Region I office. The conference included discussion of the apparent violations identified during an NRC inspection and
. findings by the NRC Office of Investigations. Particular attention was given
- to recurrence of the violation in-which the licensee used licensed material at a location not authorized on the license, and the inadequate security of
- licensed materials. Dr. Sadovsky attended the conference with two
. representatives from his consultant Radiation Protection Services.-Inc. The i licensee and his consultants discussed their planned corrective steps to address the apparent violations. The staff is evaluating the appropriate enforcement action.
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Region II Items of Interest
! Week Ending March 7. 1997 Florida Pov:er and Liaht (FP&L) - Turkey Point At 7:35 a.m. on March 4, 1997 with Unit 4 at full power, an Unusual Event was declared because an electrical fire occurred in the 4A control rod drive motor generator set. The fire was extinguished by the fire brigade using automatic Halon and portable chemical and carbon dioxide extinguishers. No personnel were injured and tne Metro Dade county fire department was called to the plant entrance but not needed. The )lant continued operation at 100 percent power.
Unit 3 is in for refueling. T1e Unusual Event was terminated at 8:00 a.m. l EST. i The 4A and 4B rod drive motor generator sets are electrically cross tied so j when the 4A rod drive motor generator set was secured, the 4B rod drive motor generator set sup) lied electrical power to all of the Unit 4 rods. An investigation by :P&L of what caused the electrical fire has been initiated.
The areliminary cause has been identified as a failure of the inboard bearing on tie generator.
1 The NRC resident inspectors were on site and responded to the control room and ,
the scene, and continue to follow the licensee's actions. l Duke Power Comoany - Fi$Jirs On March 5. a precaut1onary evacuation was conducted at Duke Power's McGuire Site Environmental Center. The Environmental Center is located in the Owner Controlled Area, but not in the Protected Area. A small amount of Picric acid was suspected to have crystallized which m ld result in an explosive mixture.
Picric acid is combined with methanol and used for testing metal durability.
The Lnarlotte Hazardous Material team was called to the site to evaluate the chemical's condition. Also, a vendor was called for evaluation and disposal of the acid. It was determined that the acid was not in an explosive condition. The acid was diluted and transported to the licensee's hazards material disposal facility.
There was media interest in this event and a PN was issued.
Tennessee Valley Authority - Browns Ferry 3 On March 5. 1997 Browns Ferry 3 declared a Notice of Unusual Event due to a loss of offsite power. The unit was shutdown at the time an.1 in the process of completing a refueling outage. Emergency diesel generators responded as expected. Offsite power was restored within one hour. Decay heat removal was suspended for seven minutes with no significant increase in reactor coolant temperature. Offsite power was lost when the 161 kV switchyard relays actuated as a resJt of an electrical short in an emergency bearing oil pump motor. The pump hod just been ener-ized for testing. Resident Inspector follow up is ongoing to determir.e v the motor protective feature failed to isolr.te the fault. Unit 2 was not aTfected.
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Virainia Electric and Power Comoany (VEPC0) - North Anna i l
SALP results were presented to the licensee on March 6. The meeting was well attended by VEPC0 management including members of the Board of Directors. !
Following the SALP, a meeting was held with the State and local officials and ;
focused on emergency preparedness. t Surry On March 6,1997, a newspaper reporter for the Virginia Pilot. Norfolk Virginia, met with the NRC's Surry senior resident inspector and Region II public affairs officer and )articipated in a plant tour. The reporter's main area of interest involved t1e resident Sspectors typical daily activities and
-their relationships with the licensee.
U.S. Deoartment of the Navy i On March 4.1997. Region II participated in a meeting with representatives of the Japanese government and the U.S. State Department and Department of '
Defense (DoD). The meeting was held in the Pentagon. The )urpose was to discuss the unauthorized firing of depleted munitions (DU) ay Navy personnel !
at an Air Force giannery range near Okinawa, Japan, in late 1995 and early i 1996. The NRC and DoD clarified the events that lead to the firing of the DU. '
the control measures the Navy has.im
- event, how DU munitions are stored, and plemented to prevent how the DoD recurrence remediated of this the range. The l
NRC discussed oversight of the Navy's program and NRC evaluation of the remediation of the range after the incident and the anal radiological conse m ces for any DU left on the range. ysis of the t Babcock and Wilcox -- Naval Nuclear Fuel Division On March 4,1997, the licensee declared an Alert emergency classification when a dissolver column overflowed. causing low enriched uranium solution to spill on the floor in the licensee's facility, near Lynchburg Virginia. The ;
licensee was mixing low enriched uranium with nitric acid in the column. The.
spill caused a release of nitrous oxide inside the building, which was evacuated. There was no release to the environment and no personnel injuries. '
Based upon cleanup of the spilled material and a determination that the levels of hazardous gas was acceptable, the licensee terminated the Alert ;
classification after four hours and 22 minutes. !
The NRC Senior Resident Inspector responded to the site. The licensee established a team to evaluate the root causes; and has reviewed the findings-to date with the Senior Resident Inspector and Region 11 management.
l l -The licensee plans to restart the process after correcting the root causes.
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- Region III 4
Items of Interest Week Ending March 7, 1997
~AIT Exit - Zion Nuclear Power Station "
The Augmented Inspection Team (AIT) reviewing the February 21 control rod movement incident at Zion Unit 1 held an exit meeting with the licensee on March 7, 1997. The team interviewed the operating shift crew which was on !
. duty at the time of the incident as well as a second shift crew which was '
, present in the control room assisting the primary crew. The team also 1
! interviewed licensee management who were present in the control room and who !
[ were involved in the-followup activities.
The AIT concluded that the were significant deficiencies in oversight of i control room activities by oaerations supervision, in communications among the
- control room staff, and in t1e execution of on-shift responsibilities by the i
shift engineer, unit supervisor, and primary reactor operator. In addition,
- the actions of the reactor operator in continuously withdrawing control rods j with the intent of reestablishing power reflected a significant lack of understanding or reactor physics and proper control rod manipulations for a controlled approach to criticality.
- The. team found that control room management had failed to minimize distractions in the control room. Also, the unit supervisor and shift engineer had allowed themselves to become too involved in restoration of the
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containment spray pump in order to avoid the required shutdown of the reactor.
In addition, the team also found deficiencies in the licensee's licensed
- operator training program. Training on the actions to maintain the reactor at
. very low power levels is included only in the ' operators' initial training, and a normal reactor shutdown is not performed as part of the periodic operator requalification training. The reactor operator at the controls during this incident received his initial training.in 1985.
Manaaement Chanae Announced for Zion Nuclear Power Station Commonwealth Edison Company announced that effective March 4, 1997, Unit 2 '
Plant Manager Robert Starkey is assuming the position of Plant General Manager. He will retain the Unit 2 Plant Manager responsibilities until that 1 position is filled.
Predecisional Enforcement Conference with Illinois Power Comoany l
On March 4, 1997, a predecisional enforcement conference was conducted in the Region III Office Lisle, Illinois',-between managers from Illinois Power Company and members of the NRC staff. The meeting discussion was on:
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deficiencies in the testing of check valves in Clinton Nuclear Power Station's feedwater system; an improper time delay setting in a circuit breaker for a ,
diesel generator in Clinton's emergency core cooling system: inadequate '
testing procedures for Clinton's emergency diesel generators: and failure to l perform required safety evaluations for changes in spent fuel pool cooling i MARCH 7, 1997 ENCLOSURE P
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procedures and for instances when equipment did not meet original design criteria.
Predecisional Enforcement Conference with Northern States Power On March 5. 1997, a predecisional enforcement conference was conducted in the Region III Office. Lisle. Illinois, between managers from Northern States Power Company and members of the NRC staff, An inspection late last year i found that in November 1995 utility staff approved a reduction in the number of safety-related pumps used for containment cooling which would be needed in certain accident conditions. The company's evaluatim did not, as required, address new safety questions which would result from w a change in the plant design. Specifically, the evaluation did not consider how the changes in containment temperature and pressure and heat remaval capacity would affect the containment cooling system.
Reaulator's Meetina reaardina Chemetron "Bert Avenue" site On March 7.1997. Region III Acting Director of the Division of Nuclear Materials Safety Roy Caniano, and members of his staff (Bruce Jorgensen and Dave Nelson), participated in a " Regulator's Meeting" in Newburg Heights, Ohio (a Cleveland suburb) concerning the planned completion of site remediation and closure of the Chemetron "Bert Avenue" site. Discussion focused on a proposed public meeting (April 7.1997) to describe to interested citizens the activities associated with the project, the schedule, and the involvement and responsibilities of the various " regulators."
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Region IV Items of Interest Week Ending March 7, 1997 Coooer Nuclear Station SLP Presentation On March 5. 1997, the Regional Administrator. Deputy Regional Administrator, and Region IV and HQ staff members conducted a public meeting to discuss the most recent Systematic Assessment of Licensee Performance (SALP) report for the Cooper Nuclear Station (CNS). In attendance for the licensee were the Sr.
Vice President - Energy Supply and Vice President - Nuclear. accompanied by licensee staff members.
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.- o Office of Congressional Affairs Items of Interest Week Ending March 7. 1997 CONGRESSIONAL IIEARING SCIIEDULE, No. 8 LOCAY dD TEI w [> -
iASSIONA '?W (TIMi iWIINES$)
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E5dlMECT ACOMMITTEE1
' MENTo :PLACET Madden TBA 10:00 DOE DOE's FY98 Budget Senators Murkowski/ Bumpers 366 DSOB Energy & Natural Resources Keeling 03/11/97 10:00 DOS, AID Aid to Former Soviet Republics Reps. Gilman/ Hamilton 2172 RilOB International Relations Gerke 03/11/97 4:30 Markup II.R. 930, use of federal travel Reps. Horn /Maloney 2154 RHOB credit cards, prepayment audits of Govt Mgmt, Info and Tech federal agency transp. expenses etc. Government Reform and Oversight Combs 03/12/97 9:30 Markup S.104, amend Nuclear Waste Policy Senators Murkowski/ Bumpers 366 DSOB Act Eneigy & Natural Resources Mdden 03/12/97 10:00 DOE Nuclear Waste Mgmnt & Disposal Reps. McDade/Fazio 2362 RHOB Energy & Water Development Appropriations Gcrke 03/13/97 9:30 TBA Role of Public Power in a Competitive Senators Murkowski/ Bumpers 50 DSOB Market Energy & Natural Resources Madden 3/18, 20, 4/22 9:30 TBA DOE's FY98 Budget Senators Domenici/Reid 124 DSOB Energy & Water Development Appropriations Gerke 03/20/97 9:30 TBA Electricity Deregulatian: Is Federal Senators Murkowski/ Bumpers l 216 Hart 12gislation Necessary? Energy & Natural Resources F%RCH 7. 1997 ENCLOSURE R
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