ML20137D138
| ML20137D138 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 03/19/1997 |
| From: | Blaha J NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| SECY-97-065, SECY-97-065-R, SECY-97-65, SECY-97-65-R, WIR-970314, NUDOCS 9703260028 | |
| Download: ML20137D138 (24) | |
Text
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..ll March 19.1997 y
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For:
The Commissioners From:
James L. Blaha, Assistant for Operations. Office of the EDO
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Suttiect:
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING MARCH 14, 1997 Contents Enclosure Nuclear Reactor Regulation A
Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards B
Nuclear Regulatory Research C*
Analysis and Evaluation of Operational Data D
General Counsel E*
Administration F
Chief Information Officer G
Chief Financial Officer H*
Personnel I
l Small Business & Civil Rights J
Enforcement K*
State Programs L*
Public Affairs M
International Programs N*
Office of the Secretary 0*
4 Region I P
Region II P
Region III P
e Region IV P
Executive Director for Operations 0*
Congressional Affairs R
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- No input this week.
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UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D. C. 20655 INFORMATION REPORT March 19. 1997 SECY 97-065 f.gr:
The Commissioners From:
James L. Blaha. Assistant for Operations. Office of the EDO Subiect:
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING MARCH 14. 1997 Contents Enclosure Nuclear Reactor Regulation A
Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards B
Nuclear Regulatory Research C*
Analysis and Evaluation of Operational Data O
General Counsel E*
Administration F
Chief Information Officer G
Chief Financial Officer H*
Personnel I
Small Business & Civil Rights J
Enforcement K*
State Procrams L*
PublicAflairs M
International Programs N*
Office of the Secretary 0*
Region I P
Region II P
Region III P
Region IV P
Executive Director for Operations 0*
Congressional Affairs R
- No input this week.
(Mw f
/
James L. Blaha Assistant for Operations. OEDO i
Contact:
M. Biamonte. OEDO
m Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Items of Interest Week Ending March 14. 1997 OECD/NEA/PWG-1 Exoanded Task Force on Human Factors Meetina From March 10 - 12. 1997. Richard Eckenrode of the Human Factors Assessment Branch (HHFB) 3articipated in the OECD NEA Principal Working Group No.1 Expanded Task Force on Human Factors semiannual meeting in Paris, France.
Issues discussed at the meeting included the role of simulators in operator improving the reporting of human performance in International training, Reporting System (IRS) reports and human factors methodologies for Incident root cause analyses.
Severe Accident Manaaemant Imolementation WorkshoD 10, 1997, David Desaulniers of HHFB attended the NEI During the week of March Severe Accident Management Implementation Workshop in Charlotte North The industry has developed generic severe accident management Carolina.
materials and utilities have committed to the NRC to implement severe accident 31, 1998. The workshop provided a management at their plants by December forum for the exchange of information on plant-specific implementation issues including the interface between the licensee's emergency plan and severe accident management guidance, development and implementation of training, and self-assessment of severe accident management capabilities.
Attendance at IEEE Standards Committee Meetina 10, 1997, staff from the Instrumentation and Controls During the week of MarchBranch attended the IEEE Standards Committee Meeting At this meeting, the final review of IEEE Std. 603-1996 concerning design requirements for safety-related instrumentation and control (I&C) systems was This revision to IEEE Std. 603 includes guidelines for design of completed.
The staff intends to endorse digital I&C systems in nuclear power plants.
this standard in an update to Regulatory Guide 1.153, and codify that endorsement in a revision to 10 CFR 50.55a(h) since IEEE Std. 603 is the replacem e. standard for IEEE Std. 279 currently referenced in the rule.
l Indian Pc at 3 -- Fuel Handlina Susoended On February 27. 1997. Indian Point Unit 3 began fuel receipt and handling in 17, 1997, refueling outage. 'On March 5, preparation for their scheduled May1997, they sus) ended fuel handling opera that they neitier met nor were exempt from the requirements of 10 CFR 70.24.
Licensees are reqaired by 10 CFR 70.24 to maintain criticality monitors in all areas in which fuel may be handled.
Indian Point Unit 3 had previously been exempted from the requirements of 10 CFR 70.24 under the special nuclear materials license that was in effect however, this exemption was never specifically during the construction phase:
carried over to the operating license. The licensee has submitted an exemption request which is currently under staff review.
ENCLOSURE A MARCH 14, 1997' i
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-Maine Yankee -- Plant Status j
Maine Yankee is in a refueling outage.
The fuel remains in the reactor vessel i
while the licensee continues with fuel pool reracking.
ISA-Enforcement Conference I
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On. March 11, 1997, the staff conducted an enforcement conference, open for
.public observation, at the Maine Yankee site media center. This conference is related to the Inde)endent Safety Assessment conducted in 1996.
In Inspection' Report 96-16 dated r bruary 11. 1997, the staff presented sixteen apparent e
violations in five categories..The licensee responded to the specific l:
violations in a letter dated February 28. 1997. At the March 11 meeting, the licensee discussed the-broad issues and common causal. factors that have evolved from the specific enforcement issues and their implications on future operation of Maine Yankee. Staff questions focused.in the areas of the Maine Yankee / Yankee Atomic interfaces. 50.59 safety evaluation processes and quality assurance program effectiveness.
~ Steam Generator Insoections During the first week in April, the licensee will begin steam generator' tube
- inspections will begin at Maine Yankee. This will be the first inspection since the sleeving outage in 1995.
The licensee will meet with the staff at Headquarters on March 26 to discuss its inspection plans and contingencies.
The contingencies include a TS amendment for operation at reduced RCS flow, an amendment to allow an electrosleeving repair method and reanalysis with a higher plugging limit using ANF-RELAP for the SBLOCA analysis.
Pilarim
' M March 7. preliminary information and its accuracy is still being confirmed.
This is On
.1997, the main transformer was subjected to two simultaneous faults:
" one on the A phase and one on the C phase. The faults created et.ough pressure to lift the transformer and fail internal oil seals.
There was no chemical explosion or fire but the pressure did cause the transformer oil reservoir to burst causing about a 2,000 gallon oil spill that required the prompt response of Pilgrim Fire Department. De)artment of Environmental Protection, and Clean i
Harbors Company.
Oil also lea (ed through the iso. phase bus duct into the turbine building creating a pool about 3 inches deep on the floor which then spread into the lower switchgear and cable spreading rooms and some of which subsequently drained into the radwaste sump. However, the oil never threatened or challenged any safety related equipment.
Prior to this event, j
- the startup transformer had been tagged out for maintenance leaving the i
shutdown transformer powered by the 23 KV. line and the B EDG to provide power.
- Spent fuel pool cooling was restored via the shutdown transformer in about an j
hour (all fuel-had been unloaded from the reactor vessel prior to the event)
J limiting the pool heatup to about 2 'F.
The startup transformer was-returned
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to service at.3:00 am on March 8. 1997.
Because of the large extent of damage., plans'are underway to ship back the original PNPS transformer that had been provided to Millstone. The Region provided continuous onsite coverage until the startup transformer was returned to service.
MARCH 14, 1997 ENCLOSURE A M
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e-Seabrook Station Unit 1 On February 28. 1997, the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commissian (NHPUC) issued its final order on the statewide restructuring of the electric utility industry. The stranded cost methodology adopted by the NHPUC in its order is anticipated to require Public Service of New Hampshire (PSNH) and North Atlantic Energy Company (NAEC), both wholly-cwned subsidiaries of Northeast Utilities (NU). to remove an estimated $720 million to $900 m'llion of assets from the balance sheet for the financial quarter in which tne NHPUC's order is issued.
According to NU. the impact of removing these as. sets from the balance sheet could cause the entities
- lenders to call for accelerated repayment of the indebtedness.
NU estimates that repayment of $686 million of PSNH indebtedness and $515 million of NAEC indebtedness could be subject to calls for accelerated repayment. Additionally. 5300 million of NU indebtedness could be subject to acceleration.
NU has stated tnat if such acceleration of debt repayment occurs, bankruptcy filings would be unavoidable.
NU. PSNH. and NAEC have filed suit in US district court in Concord. New Ham] shire, against' the NHPUC as a result of its February 28. order.
The suit see(s an immediate temporary restraining order.to prevent the NHPUC's order from becoming effective. Additionally, the companies have filed suit in New Hampshire Superior Court seeking, among other remedies, recovery of demages resulting from various portions of the order that the companies allege are a breech of contract.
Two major generation NU facilities are impacted by the NHPUC's order in addition to other assets.
NAEC and Connecticut Light and Power (another NU subsidiary) hava a combined 40-3ercent ownership interest in Seabrook Station, Unit 1 in Seah ook. NH, and PSNi owns the fossil-fueled Shiller Station in Newington, NH.
PSNH also shares ownership in Maine Yankee (7-percent),
Vermont Yankee (4-percent). Connecticut Yankee (5-percent)
Yankee Rowe (7-percent) and Millstone Point 3.
_ Status of Review of Licensee Resoonses to 50.54(f) Reauest on Desian Bases In accordance with the process for reviewing licensee responses to the 10 CFR 50.54(f) request for information on design bases, acknowledgement letters to the licensees wera issued on March 14, 1997 (As of W h 12. 1997, acknowledgement leders were sent to the licensees of 76 af the 107 reactor units.)
- The Regions are currently performing the initial ceview of the rcsponses in accordance with Phase 3 of the revicvi process, wnh NRR Project Manager assistance as requested.
Regions II and III presented the results of their reviews at their Plant Performance Review meetings the week of March 10, 1997.
Regions I and IV will present the results of their reviews at their Plant Performance Review meetings the week of March 24 1997.
Results of the Phase 3 reviews for all Regions will be discussed at the Senior Management Meeting screening meetings scheduled for April 1997.
MARCH 14, 1997 ENCLOSURE A
I
!aSalle Units 1 and 2 -- Potential Plant Floodina Both units have been shutdown since 9/96.
An unusual event (UE) was declared on March 11. 1997. when the lake level from which cooling water is taken, rose to 701.8 feet. The FSAR value of the maximum allowable lake elevation is 701 feet.
The concern is that if any one of three intake lines per unit were to rupture, there could be significant flooding in the reactor building and turbine building. The licensee has established a flood watch to conduct more frequent operator walkdowns of the piant areas which could be affected.
The licensee is reevaluating the plant flooding potential from any of the lines.
one of which supplies the core standby cooling system (i.e.. essential service water).
Normally, the lake would be drained down through an outlet line.
However. the control valve on this line is damaged and cannot pass the full drainage flow of 40.000 gpm.
The licensee is obtaining repair parts for this valve.
The repair effort may take about 3 days to complete.
Thereafter, it may take about 6 to 7 days to drain the lake level down to 701 feet.
NRR and Region III are following the licensee's corrective actions closely.
Quad Cities Units 1 and 2 -- Fire Hazards Vulnerabilities identified in IPEEE Quad Cities has submitted their IPEEE report and it indicates that earthquakes and other axternal events do not pose a significant risk of severe accidents:
however, internal fires indicated an IPEEE core damage frequency (CDF) of SE-03.
The licensee realizes that this CDF is large and has taken interim actions to mitigate the potential vulnerabilities.
The licensee has implemented an Interim Alternate Shutdown Method (IASM) at Unit 1 and will
~ implement the IASM on Unit 2 before they return to power from the present refueling outage.
The licensee indicates that this IASM will reduce the internal fire IPEEE CDF value to 7.5E-04.
A meeting is being scheduled with the licensee to discuss the results of their analysis and corrective actions.
Zion Unit 1 -- AIT Exit Meetina On March 7.1997, the AIT presented its findings to the licensee of its inspection of the reactivity excursion event at Zion 1 on February 21. 1997.
The team presented a detailed discussion of the sequence of events and numerous failures throughout.
The inspectors concluded that the event was the direct result of a breakdown in command and control and a failure of the involved operator and supervisor to exercise their respective responsibilities for proper control of the reactor.
The actions of the primary NSO reflected a lack of understanding of reactor physics and proper control rod manipulations.
Contributing factors included having 39 peo31e present in the control room envelope at the time of the evolution and t1e fact thdt the unit supervisor's attention was diverted to other activities.
The AIT also noted that comunication of the event significance to senior licensee management was not timely and that operations management had failed to comprehend the significance of the event.
The AIT noted that weaknesses in command and control and reactivity management had been identified on previous occasions but the licensee had failed to take adequate corrective actions.
WaCH 14. 1997-ENCLOSURE A
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-The licensee did not dispute the AIT findings and acknowledged that problea.s exist in the operations department in the areas of operator knowledge, standards, and work practices.
The licensee has indicated that the units will remain shutdown until the problems are addressed and the operating personnel are retrained.
No date has been established for restart.
NRR and Region III are cooperating in' addressing this issue.
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MARCH 14, 1997 ENCLOSURE A
Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards
!+ ems of Interest Week Erding March 14, 1997 Commonwealth of Massachusetts Radia! ion Control Procram On March 6,1997. staff from the Division of Industrial and Medical Nuclear l
Safety met with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' Radiation Control Program Director. Deputy Director, and three technical staff members who will be performing sealed source and device evaluations, regarding the transfer of sealed source and device cases to Massachusetts--a new Agreement State.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff members discussed items ranging from pendicg equiament failure evaluations to interactions with registration certificate lolders.
NRC staff reviewed in detail nine specific cases.
including an application for a new radiography pipeliner model.
The major areas of thirteen other cases were also discussed with the State technical staff only. The NRC provided copies of selected guidance and standard formats for response letters and registration certificates.
Thei NRC is providing Massachusetts with additional copies of guidance.
including an electronic version of NUREG-1550. " Standard Review Plan for Applications for 5ealed Source and Devices Evaluations and Registrations " and with ir.structions for accessing the computerized Sealed Source and Device Bulletin Board on FedWorld.
Health Risk from Environmental Exoosure to Radionuclides On March 10-11, 1997, representatives from the Offices of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards and Nuclear Regulatory Research attended a two-day working group meeting on the second revision to Federal Guidance Report (FGR)
- 13. " Health Risk from Environmental Exposure to Radionuclides." The meeting also included representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
the Dept"tment of Energy and Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
FGR 13 addresses health osks from exposure to radionuclides using the new International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) 60-based methodology and models for estimating the risk of cancer from internal or external exposures to radionuclides, and provides tabulations of risk estimates or " risk coefficients" for exposure to important radionuclides in environmental media.
These risk coefficients are expressed as a probability of radiogenic cancer mortality or incidence, per unit intake (e.g., per Bq) for internal exposures or per unit exposure (e.g.. per Bq-s m.2 of contaminated ground surface) for external exposures.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff raised concerns with respect to how the revised FGR 13. using the new ICRP 60-based methodology (and new dose conversion factors) will comport with the current 10 CFR Part 20 regulatory framework which uses ICRP 30 as its technological base.
The EPA plans to have the FGR document finalized by September 1997.
The agency representatives plan to discuss the revised FGR and proposed implementation at their. agencies during the next meeting of the Interagency Steering Committee on Radiation Standards which will be held in May 1997.
MARCH 14, 1997 ENCLOSURE B
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Ouality Manaaement' Proaram and Misadininistrationg On March 7.1997..the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approved the information collection requirements (ICR) associated with 10 CFR Part 35.32, "Ouality Management Program and Misadminist. rations (0M rule)." through August 1998.
OMB expressed concern with the burden and possible lack of practical utility of these requirements. The approval was based upon OMB's understanding that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is reviewing Agreement State com)atibility and, during this period (through August 1998), those States which lave not adopted the OM rule, will not be required to do so. Therefore, the approval covers only NRC licensees and the 19-Agreement States that have already adopted the OM rule ICR.
OMB informed NRC that review of the OM rule ICR at the next renewal will. f$cus
.on the progress NRC has made toward burden reduction--consistent with the Paperwork Reduction Act requirement that information collections have practical. utility and minimize the burden on respondents.
Insoection of Transoortation Packaaina Maintenance Activities at Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant On March 4.-6. 1997, the Spent Fuel Project Office conducted a-safety team inspection of maintenance activities associated with the IF-300 spent fuel shipping cask at Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant in Bonsal. North Carolina.
The IF-300 cask is used to ship s)ent fuel from the other two Carolina Power and Light nuclear plants. H.B. Ro)inson and Brunswick, to the Shearon Harris spent fuel storage pool.
This inspection is being performed in two phases.
In the first phase, the team reviewed maintenance and annual inspection programs, as well as the implementation of the 10 CFR Part 71 Quality Assurance Program.
The inspection team determined that the maintenance and inspection controls, and i
the implementation of the Quality Assurance Program were adequate.
One finding was made regarding difference in the acceptable gap dimension between i
the cask and lid as defined in the Safety Analysis Report vs. the operational
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procedure.
An exit meeting for Phase I of the inspection was held on March 6, 1997, to present the preliminary inspection findings.
The second phase of the inspection will be to observe leak testing of the packaging after unloading i
the fuel.
This phase is currently on hold until other pending issues, related to heavy' load handling, are resolved by the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
Atlas Final Technical Evaluation Reoort On March 7.1997, the Division of Waste Management issued a final technical evaluation report (TER) on Atlas Corporation s proposed reclamation plan for its uranium mill site near Moab. Utah. The TER concludes that the Atlas plan to dispose of mill tailings on ' site meets Nuclear Regulatory Commission technical' requirements, which are contained primarily in 10 CFR Part 40.
The staff will not, however, make a final determination on the acceptability of MARCH 14. 1997-ENCLOSURE B
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the disposal plan until it completes its environmental review and issues a final environmental impact statement, which is expected this summer.
NRC issued the draft TER and draft environmental impact statement-for public comment in January 1996, and held a'public meeting on the two reports in Moab, Utah, on February 28. 1996. The final TER reflects staff-consideration of comments received, Atlas responses to 20 open issues identified in the draft TER. and additional NRC staff analysis. The Office of Public Affairs issued a press release announcing the final TER.
In addition to normal distribution of documents related to Atlas, the full text of the final TER has been put.on the Internet at the NRC web site and a copy is being sent to the Grand County i
Public Library, in Moab. Utah,
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Site Decomissionino Manaaement Plan Site - Chemetron On March 7. 1997, Division of Waste Management and Region III staff attended a Chemetron Regulators' meeting in Newburgh Heights. Ohio..Both the Nuclear Regulatory Comission and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) have issued approvals for the Bert Avenue site remediation to take place.
Chemetron is scheduled to begin the remediation work in April 1997 and to complete the work by the end of November 1997. An agenda for the April 7, 1997, public meeting was discussed with the Mayor of Newburgh Heights and representatives from the OEPA, the Ohio Department of Health, and the Cuyahoga.
County Board of Health. The purpose of the public meeting is to inform the i
1 Jublic about the upcoming remediation activities, when the activities wi'll aegin, how nearby residents will be affected, and how the NRC and Ohio agencies will inspect the work.
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Particioation in Waste Manaaement '97 From March 2-6, 1997, staff from the Division of Waste Management (DWM) participated in the Waste Management '97 Conference.
This conference was attended by a wide variety of groups interested in waste management including 4
representatives of industry, vendors, other Government agencies and various
' State agencies, Four papers were presented by the DWM staff:
(1) " Status i
Report on the Development of an International Convention on the Safety of i
' Radioactive Waste Management:" (2) " Overview of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Comission's Uranium Recovery Program:" (3) " Regulatory Approach to Soil Cleanup Verification at Decomissioning Uranium Mill Sites:" and (4)
" Regulation of Ground-water Contamination at Decomissioning NRC-Licensed Facilities."
In addition DWM staff also participated in a workshop entitled-
"How Clean is Clean." and made a presentation at that workshop on
" Promulgating Defensible Decommissioning Regulations."
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MARCH 14,'1997 ENCLOSURE B i
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~ Office for Analysis and Evaluation of Operational Data Items of Interest Week Ending March 14. 1997
~ Assistance for Reaion II During the week of March 3. 1997. Jose Ibarra assisted Region II in the: review.
and documentation'of 581 medical records.related to hundreds of possible~
' medical misadministrations of a strontium applicator for.. treating pterygium, a-tropical eye condition..The bilingual technical support was provided in a
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medical clinic in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico..where the medical files on surgery for. pterygium were reviewed.
Preliminary assessments showed cases of 1
misadministrations: cases of underexposure: cases of overexposure: a total of 493 satients involved:'and misadministrations of the applicator by a
ophtlalmologists.not licensed by the NRC.
AE00 Soecial Reoort S96-02. " Assessment of Soent Fuel Coolina" Issued as
-.NUREG-1275 Vol. 12, l
AE00 Special Report 596-02. " Assessment.of Spent Fuel Cooling" was issued as NUREG-1275. Vol. 12.
The report provides the results of an~ independent assessment that AE00 performed at the request.of the.EDO.
The report presents the results of an evaluation of 12 years of U.S. operating experience and it provides insights from a probabilistic assessment of a dual-unit' boiling-water reactor.(Susquehanna). AE00 is working with NRR (Events Assessment) to issue an information notice on this AE00 report.
Continuity of Government (COG) Plan 11no
'On March 7,1997. IRD staff attended an Interagency workshop at Mt. Weather to discuss further plans for the COG program.
Incident Resoonse Trainino During the week of March 10. 1997 JRD provided Incident Response Training for three senior.NRR managers and project managers.
IRD also provided Dose Assessment Using RASCAL v3.1 at the NRC Professional Development Center.
Representatives from the four regional offices and NMSS attended the one-day refresher progmm for NRC Dose Assessment Analysts.
PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATIONS (PNs) a.
PN0 II-97-016. Tennessee Valley Authority (Watts Bar 1). AUTOMATIC
' REACTOR TRIP - LOW STEAM GENERATOR WATER LEVEL.
b.
PN0-II-97-016A. Tennessee Valley Authority-(Watts Bar 1). AUTOMATIC
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. REACTOR TRIP - LOW STEAM GENERATOR WATER LEVEL-UPDATE.
c.
PNO-III-97-0108. Commonwealth Edison Co. (Zion 1). AIT TO REVIEW IMPROPER CONTROL ROD MOVEMENT DURING REACTOR SHUTDOWN.
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PNO-ill-97-017A. Wisconsin Electric. Power Co. (Point Beach 1),
LICLENSEE'S DECISION TO CONTINUE UNIT 1 OUTAGE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD (UPDATE).
e.
PNO-III-97-019. Northwestern Steel and Wire GENERALLY LICENSED GAUGE FOUND IN SCRAP METAL SHIPMENT.
f.
PNO-III-97-020. Marion Steel Company CESIUM-137 SOURCE FOUND.
g.
PNO-III-97-020A. Marion Steel Company. CESIUM-137 SOURCE FOUND (UPDATE).
h.
PNO-III-97-021. Wisconsin Public Service Corp. 9WPSC ANNOUNCES KEWAUNEE RESTART.
i.
PNO-III-97-022. Commonwealth Edison Co. (Quad Cities 1). REACTOR SHUTDOWN TO REPASIR REACTOR PROTECTION SYSTEM RELAY.
j.
PNO-III-97-023. Gundersen Clinic :td.. RADI0 PHARMACEUTICAL THERAPY MISADMINISTRATION (UNDERDOSE).
k.
PNO-IV-97-014. Arizona Public Service Co. (Palo Verde 3). DECLARATION OF UNUSUAL EVENT DUE TO PARTIAL DRAINDOWN OF UNIT 3 SPENT FUEL POOL --
EVENT NUMBER: 31902.
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PNO-IV-97-014A. Arizona Public Service Co. (Palo Verde 3). DECLARATION OF UNUSUAL EVENT DUE TO PARTIAL DRAINDOWN OF UNIT 3 SPENT FUEL POOL --
EVENT NUMBER: 31902 UPDATE.
MARCri 14. 1997 ENCLOSURE D
Office of Administration Items of Interest Week Ending March 14. 1997 Procurement Reform On March 12. 1997, the Division of Contracts (DC) held a Simplified Acquisition Workshop for procurement staff which addressed innovative approaches to streamline acquisitions under $100.000.
In addition, new streamlined procedures for purchase of commercial items valued at up to
$5.000,000 were discussed. A representative from the General Services Administration discussed procedures to be used when making purchases under GSA Schedule contracts. A representative from the Federal Highway Administration (FHA) shared innovative procedures successfully utilized for FHA procurements.
A second workshop on this topic is scheduled for March 18th.
.C21]m3CClal item Acauisition
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On March 10. 1997. DC awarded a contract to Ann Riley & Associates. Ltd.
for
" Verbatim Stenographic Reporting and Transcription Services." The contractor will perform verbatim stenographic reporting. transcription, and real-time i
translation services for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) meetings held in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The period of performance is September 1. 1997 through August 31. 2000, with one option year.
The total contract value is $124.450, inclusive of the option year.
The contract was awarded within 90 days, using streamlined commercial item acquisition procedures.
Additional procurement streamlining included:
electronically transmitting the S0W. setting a deadline for proposers' questions, limiting proposal preparation time, and electronically coordinating the final evaluation report.
Bilinaual Clerical Suocort to Rea4 0n II During the week of March 3.1997. Victoria Ibarra. DC. traveled to Mayaguez.
Puerto Rico, to assist Region II in their review and documentation of 581 medical files related to possible misadministration of a strontium pterygium applicator.
Bilingual clerical support was provided in inputting the pertinent information from the medical files into a database and the management of the database to assist in the technical analysis.
Automated Information System Security (AISS) Meetina The Director and other Division of Security staff attended the March 13, 1997.
AISS meeting with IRM.
AISS monthly meetings include topics of mutual interest. e.g., computer security.
Status reports were presented at the March meetinc on the following projects:
(1) the development of the electronic use of St.L r d For
'86. " Questionnaire for National Security Positions:" (2) an update on the Navy In-Service-Engineering Group analysis and recommendations
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. ("Information Security Alternatives Document") on the protection of NRC sensitive ADP systems: and (3) an update on the scheduled security reviews (facility information, communications and computer security) planned for the USEC gaseous diffusion plants in May 1997.
MARCH 14. 1997 ENCLOSURE.F e
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Chief Information Officer i
Items of Interest Week Ending March 14, 1997 Customer Sucoort On-Line Services Directory 4
.The Office of Information Resources Management (IRM) is developing an On Line Customer Support Services Directory with the goal of improving access to IRM information for all employees.
The Directory will allow users to determine IRM polices and procedures. to identify office IT Coordinators, to request i
services and products', and to obtain other useful information.
1 Because.the entire staff has or will have access to the agency's internal network (or Intranet), the On-line Services Directory will be made available-electronically.
Information in the-draft IRM Services Directory includes:
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-IRM Customer Support Center-(General Information and On-line Support).
Customer Support Center Service Level Standards o
(Response Time Goals and Escalation Procedures) e' Office IT Coordinat' ors e
Telecommunications Officers
'NRC Management Directives related to IRM e
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Maps of Metropolitan D.C. and Downtown Baltimore e
It is expected that the On-line Services Directory will improve communications with and enhance services provided by IRM.
F0IA Reauests Received Durina the Week Endina March 13. 1997 Congressional correspondence. Paul Wellstone (Sen). Rod Grams (Sen) and Gill Gutknecht (Rep)(F01A/PA-97-0085)
Reg. Guide 8.39. draft. " Release of Patients Administered Radioactive LMaterials".
(F01A/PA 97-0086)
Callaway plant. 01 file regarding security concerns.
(F01A/PA-97-0087) v Uranium shipments, license #SNM-551. Combustion Engineering. Inc. licensee.
(F01A/PA-97-0088)
Budget. FY98 - Exhibits 43 & 43.2(c). OMB Circular A-11.
(F0IA/PA-97-0089)
'D.S. Kupperman letter ~ dated 4/30/90 to 2. Hermann. NRR regarding flow rates through IGSCC.
(FOIA/PA-97-0090)
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MARCH 14, 1997 ENCLOSURE G
Radiography camera malfunctions, Amersham & Industrial Nuclear cameras.
(F01A/PA-97-0091)
Investigations conducted 1-1-88 through 3-11-97 related to named individual (F01A/PA-97-0092)
Power plant guidelines and siting requirements.
(F01A/PA-97-0094)
St. Lucie plant.1994 harassment investigation (F01A/PA-97-0096)
Radioactive sealed source loss (technetium-99) by RIII Analytical Laboratory in August 1996: job descriptions.and other personnel records of named individuals for the period 10/95 through 9/96.
(F01A/PA-97-0097)
Investigations.1-1-88 through 3-11-97, regarding named. individual.
(F01A/PA-97-0098)
Criticality accident requirements.10 CFR 70.24 various documents related thereto.
(FOIA/PA-97-0099) 4 j
MARCH 14, 1997 ENCLOSURE G
Office of Personnel Items of Interest Week Ending March 14, 1997 Tgstino of Interactive Voice Resoonse (IVR) System Underway The Office of Personnel began its testing of an'IVR system that will provide employees with specific information from their personnel records that it hopes to open to the entire agency in the next couple of weeks.
Point of contact for this project is. Robert E. Loach.
He can be reached via e-mail at REL1 or by phone at 415-7534.
Arrivals GIILES, Mark PROJECT ENGINEER (PFT)
RII PELTON. David REACTOR ENGINEER (PFT)
RIII SMALLDRIDGE. Brad REACTOR ENGINEER (PFT)
RIV Deoartures FITZGIBBON, Jane SECRETARY (0A) (OPFT)
.RI MYERS, Christopher REACTOR INSPECTOR (PFT)
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MARCH 14. 1997.
ENCLOSURE I
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Office of Small Business & Civil Rights Items of Interest Week Ending March 14. 1997 Sigh-Tech Small Business Develooment Procurement Conference On March 3-5, 1997, Von Deloatch, Small Business Development Specialist for the Office of Small Business and Civil Rights, participated in NASA's Ninth Annual High-Tech Small Business Development Procurement Conference.
The
-Conference which was held in Los Angeles, California, had more than 1500 high-i tech firms in attendance.
It provided them the opportunity to meet with representatives from the private sector and government agencies to ciscuss procurement opportunities.
Dr. Steven Kelman. Administrator Office of Federal Procurement Policy, was the keynote speaker.
U.S. Hisoanic Chamber of Comgerce Leoislative Forum On March 10-11, 1997, Irene Little, Director. Office of Small Business and Civil Rights attended the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Legislative Forum.
The seven Regional Hispanic Chambers of Commerce discussed issues of concern to Hispanic businesses.
Dr. Steven Kelman Administrator. Office of Federal Procurement Policy. Mr. Ronald Hobson. Assistant Deputy Administrator. Small Business Administration and Mr. William Yeomans, Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division,' Department of Justice, discussed the future of Federal procurement opportunities for minority businesses.
Congressman Xavier Becerra and Congressman J. C. Watts discussed the Congressional Agenda for this Congress as it relates to Affirmative Action legislation.
MARCH 14, l' 97 ENCLOSURE J 9
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Office of Public Affairs.
Items of Interest Week:Ending March 14. 1997 Media Interest
-Time magazine printed a follow up article'to its cover feature one year ago:on the safety allegations at Millstone.
Hub Miller's quarterly news conference at Maine Yankee drew at least 'a dozen media reporters.
Most questions concerned Peter Atherton, the ex-NRC employee who allegedly raised fire protection concerns at the plant in the 1970s.
~ Both HQ and the Region received calls on the arraignment of Ed Trottier, the.
former NRC project manager for Maine Yankee.
i School Volunteers Proaram I
Doug Coe. Lawrence Kokajko and Jesse Arildsen. NRR..all participated.in the Woodfield E.S. Science Expo by mentoring students in science-related activities.
Press Releases Headouarters:
97 041 Note to Editors: ACRS Meeting I
Reaions:
I-97-24 NRC Staff Proposes $160.000 Fine for Duquesne Light Company l
for Alleged Violations at Beaver Valley Nuclear Power Plant j
- I-97-25 NRC to Meet With NU and Public on March 18 o
I-97-26 NRC. Consolidated Edison Company to Discuss Apparent Violations at Indian Point 2 Nuclear Power Plant I-97-27 NRC Issues on Confirmatory Action Letter to TMI on Emergency Preparedness Issues i
h 11-97-22 NRC Staff Releases Evaluation of Operations at Robinson II-97-23 NRC Staff Issues Decision on Proposed Enforcement Action for l
Violations At Crystal River Nuclear Power Plcnt 11-97-24' NRC Staff to Meet March 21 With Crystal River Management
- 111-97-27 Note to Editors: Time Change for Davis-Besse Meeting i
111-97-28' NRC. Staff Proposes $100.000 Fine Against Commonwealth Edison Company for Violations of_NRC Requirements at Zion Station-
- MARCH 14. 1997-ENCLOSURE M o
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111-97-29 NRC to Hold a Conference With Northern States Power on an Apparent Violation of Requirements at Prairie Island Plant IV-97-17 River Bend Station Rated ' Good' in all Areas in NRC Assessment Report IV-97-18 NRC Chairman Shirley Ann Jackson to Hold News Conference in Richland 1
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MARCH 14, 1997 ENCLOSURE M e
Region I Items of Interest Week Ending March 14. 1997 Public Meetina On May 11. 1997. Region I' representatives attended a public meeting arranged 1
by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP), during which PADCP representatives discussed the results of testing for radioactivity at the Pottstown (PA) Landfill.
PADEP requested that NRC be present if needed.
to answer questions about NRC' jurisdiction at the landfill and NRC licensees in the area of the landfill. Approximately 250 people attended the meeting.
NRC and EPA representatives explained that PADEP is the lead agency, and NRC will assist PADEP as appropriate.
PADEP presented the results of testing of j
landfill locoweed. and soil and groundwater samples in the vicinity of-the landfill.
PADEP concluded that the results did not identify levels which would result in harm to the public and that the results are within applicable
. limits.
' Transfer of Materials Docket Files to Massachusetts
)
On March 12. 1997. the Region I Licensing Assistance T am shipped the docket
)
e files for 454 nuclear materials licenses to the soon-to-be Agreement State.
-(
The Cocmonwealth of Massachusetts. Massachusetts is scheduled to assume i
responsibility for the licensing and inspection of those facilities on March 21, 1997.
The files were received in Jamaica Plains. Massachusetts, by Mr. R.M. Hallisey. Director, Massachusetts Radiation Control Program.
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Week Ending March 14, 1997
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- Georaia Power Comoany - Voatle Representatives from Georgia Power Company were in the Regional Office to attend a Predecisional Enforcement Conference for Vogtle..The purpose of the i
conference was to discuss an apparent violation regarding tne inoperable thermal overload protection device for the Safety Injection Pump.1A Hot Leg
- Injection Valve and the licensee's two-part verification system deficiencies.
_ Viroinia Electric and Power Comoany - Surry i
Representatives from Virginia Electric and Power Company were in the Regional Office to attend a Predecisional Enforcement Conference for the Surry Nuclear
- Plant. The purpose of this meeting was to discuss the issues related to our t
inspection of implementation of 10 CFR 50.65. " Requirements for Monitoring the Effectiveness of Maintenance at Nuclear Power Plants."
Southern Nuclear Ooeratina Comoany - Farlev j
The Director. Division of Reactor Safety, attended the exit on March 14. 1997.
for the Architect-Engineer inspection of Farley.
The exit was held in Birmingham at the Southern Nuclear Operating Company. A public exit has been scheduled at the Farley site for March 26, 1996.
Tennessee Valley Authority - Watts Bar On March 6. Watts Bar ex)erienced a reactor trip on low steam generator level
. following a failure of t1e B Main Feedwater pump shaft. The licensee believes l
the pump shaft may have sheared as a result of fatigue failure and is 4
conducting a metallurgical analysis to confirm this. The shaft was replaced i
with a spare and startup is scheduled for March 14.
The licensee also identified remnants of a spiral wound gasket in the No. 4 feedwater line. The gasket was found to be an incorrect type for its application and apparently o
was dislodged following a furmanite repair. The licensee identified and replaced incorrect gaskets on eight other joints in the feedwater system.
A Regional inspector and Headquarters I&C expert responded to Watts Bar i
following three inadvertent Safety Injections (SI) during plant cooldown.
The first SI was due to operator inattention when he allowed steam generator pressure to drop below the low steam pressure SI setpoint. Two more spurious sis occurred with later in the cooldown.
Licensee troubleshooting identified a single card with degraded output voltage in the Eagle 21 system.
This j.
failure, coupled with a second inoperable channel due to testing, allowed logic to be made up which unblocked low pressure safety injection signals and resulted in the second two actuations.
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Items of Interest Week Ending March 14. 1997 Manaaement Chynae Announced for Dresden Nuclear Power Station Commonwealth Edison Company announced that effective immediately Steve Carrett i
will assume the position of Dresden Station Operations Manager.
Most l
recently, he was assistant to the Dresden Site Vice President.
1 Tim O'Connor, the fctmer Dresden Station Operations Manager, was selected for a position on the staff of the Zion Nuclear Power Station Site Vice President.
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MARCH 14, 1997 ENCLOSURE P
Region IV Items of Interest Week Ending March 14. 1997 Commissioner Diaz Visit to Reaion IV On March 14, 1997. Commissioner Diaz, accompanied by his technical assistant, visited the Region IV offices. On March 20, 1997. Commissioner Diaz will visit the San Onofre site for a tour of Unit 1. the decommissioned unit as well as a tour of the operating Units 2 and 3.
The Commissioner also plans to meet with senior managers of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station.
l MARCH 14, 1997 ENCLOSURE P
Office of Congressional Affairs Items of Interest Week Ending March 14. 1997 CONGRESSIONAL HEARING SCHEDULE, No. 9 w
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Madden TBit 10:00 DOE DOE's FY93 Budget Senators Murkowski/ Bumpers 366 DSOB Energy & Natural Resources Madden 3/20 &
9:30 TBA DOE's FY98 Budget Senators Domenici/Reid 4/22 Energy & Water Development 124 DSOB Appropriations Gerke 03/20/97 9:30 TBA Electricity Senators Murkowski/ Bumpers 216 Hart Deregulation:
Is Energy & Natural Resources Federal Legislation Necessary?
Callahan 03/20/97 10:00 TBA FY98 DOE Budget:
Reps. Calvert/Roemer 2318 RHOB Nuclear Energy &
Energy and Environment Environment Science Gerke 03/20/97 1:00 TBA Year 2000 Computer l Reps. Morella/Gordon 2318 RHOB Problem
' Technology Science Committee Reps. Horn /Maloney Gov't Mgmnt, Info & Technology Government Reform & Oversight f
l MARCH 14. 1997 ENCLOSURE R
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