ML20147F304
| ML20147F304 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 03/01/1988 |
| From: | Rehm T NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| WIR-880226, NUDOCS 8803070316 | |
| Download: ML20147F304 (37) | |
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March 1,1988 For:
The Comissioners From:
T. A. Rehm, Assistant for Operations. Office of the ED0
Subject:
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 26, 1988 A sumary of key events is included as a convenience to those Comissioners who ray prefer a condensed version of this report.
Contents Enclosure Administration and Resources Management A
Nuclear Reactor Regulation B
Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards C
Nuclear Reoulatory Research D
Analysis and Evaluation of Operational Data (CRGR Activities)
E Governmental & Public Affairs
-F General Counsel G*
Personnel H
Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization & Civil Rights I
Special Projects J*
Enforcement K
Consolidation L
Regional Offices M
Executive Director for Operations N*
Items Addressed by the Comission 0
Meeting Notices P
Proprietary or Other Sensitive Infornation (Not for Q
external distribution)
- No input this week.
eso30gg 8@h T. A. Reh fo Operations QQgymFOREPTPDR Office of the Executive Director for Operations
Contact:
T. A. Rehm, EDO 492-7781
HIGHLlGHTS OF WEEKLY ENFORMATION REPORT WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 26, 1988 Shoreham On February 17, 1988, the State of New York Court of Appeals, the State's highest court, issued an opinion in the Mario Cuomo, et. al., versus Long Island Lighting Company (LILCO) case. A lower court in the State of New York had determined that LILCO lacked legal authority to implement its Emergency Plan for Shoreham. This determination was appealed by LILC0 to the State of New York Court of Appeals.
In the Court's opinion, the ecmplaint and request for an advisory opinion by Mario Cuomo, et. al., on the legal authority isst.e was not an exercise of judicial function.
Thus, determinatier. of the lower court was' reversed and the complaint was dismissed without reaching the merits i
"of the legal authority issue.
Indiar Point 2 During a recent Safety System Functional Inspection conducted at Indian Point 2, a potential common mode failure was identified in the plant Service Water System. All of the service water pump power cables run from the plant switchgear to the six pumps through a single manhole. The cables are spliced in this manhole area. The splices consist of two configurations: one for the two alternate shutdown pumps, and one for the remaining four pumps. The splices associated with the alternate shutdown pumps have experienced two energetic failures since 1985 due to water intrusien. The manhole has been partially filled with as a fire barrier for Appendix R purposes. However, the manhole is often flooded and currently contains wet sand. The licensee is evaluating the situation and will present its proposed short-and long-tenn corrective actions to resolve this problen, and its justification for continued operation (pending completion of these actions) at a meeting with the NRC in Region I offices on Friday, February 26.
T.M plant is currently operating at 100%.
3M STATIC ELIMINATION DEVICES On February 18, 1988, an Order was issued to 3M suspending its authority to distribute any polonium static eliminatien device to a general licensee and requiring the recall of all models of the davices. An Order was also issued to general licensees suspending authorization to use the 3M devices.
3M is required to test each returned device and report those leaking radioactivity i
to the NRC. The Order to general licensees provided that temporary continued use could be authorized if the licensee made a showing that a particular device was essential for workplace safety. Preparations have been made to respond te requests, if any, for such temporary continued use.
The Operations Center has been briefed and given instructions on how to respond to telephone calls from general licensees. The Regional Administrators have also been provided a memo dated February 23, 1980 regarding guidance on how to grant temporary continued use authoriration of devices. Similar information has been provided to all the Agreement States.
-l OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATION AND RESOURCES MANAGEMENT ADMINISTRATION OF THE FREEDOM 0" INFOPRATION ACT j
STATUS OF REQUESTS - 1988 For 5-Day Period of February 19, 1988 - February 25, 1988 Initial Appeal of Request Initial Decision Received This Week 12 2
Completed This Week 17 2
Carryovers From 1987 157 33 j
Received In 1988 129 18 Granted In 1988 82 4
Denied In 1988 34 7
Pending 170 40 i
ACTIONS THIS WEEK Received Dave Airozo, Requests two categories of record; between November 1, McGraw-Hill 1986, and February 16, 1988, on pressure' vessel (88-118) embrittlemcrt of DOE's high flux isotope reactor.
(Anindividual Requests records maintained in the NRC on herself.
j requesting information abnut herself) i (88-119)
Senator Golden, Requests a copy of "The Outstanding items List for State of the Restart of the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station in Massachusetts Plymouth, Massachusetts."
(88-120)
Homer Gregory, Requests records related to the Notice and Order Smith & Nephew issued to Radiation Sterilizers.
Medical (88-121)
(Anindividual Requests records related to the background investigation reouesting for his security clearance for an NRC position.
information about himself) l (88-122) i CONTACT:
Donnie H. Grimsley 492-7211 i
1 l
FEBRUARY 26, 1988 ENCLOSURE A l
2 Received, Cont'd (Anindividual Requests records maintained in the NRC on himself.
requesting information about himself)
(88-123)
Robert Fiedler, Requests records regarding asbestos at Connecticut Ashcraft & Gerel Yankee and Millstone nuclear power plants.
(88-124)
Charles Ashbaugh, Requests copies of SECY-87-186, SECY-87-186A, and Nuclear Theory NRC Commissioners' responses to the staff in regard
& Technologies to these records.
(88-125)
Philip Kalodner, Requests copies of all contracts among and between Attorney-At-Law named utilities regarding the management of the Peach (88-126)
Bottom nuclear power plant by Philadelphia Electric Company.
Richard Burian, Requests copies of the records released under F0IA-87-722 Battelle Columbus concerning the design, testing and certification of a Laboratories plutonium air transport or PAT-3 container.
(88-127)
H. Anne Plettinger Requests records pertaining to Inspection Report 50-458/
(88-128) 87-30 on the River Bend nuclear power plant.
Donald Lewis Requests copies of all plans submitted by the Philadelphia (88-129)
Electric Company to the Comission with respect to the restart of the Peach Bottom nuclear power plant.
Christopher Sharpe APPEAL TO THE EDO for the release of the denied portions (88-A-17-87-828) of two records relating to a request for records concerning a missing weapon at the South Texas Project.
Jules Zeman, APPEAL TO THE ED0 for the release of the denied portions Haight, Dickson, of one record relating to a request for records concerning Brown & Bonesteel a report entitled, "A Visit to the Mohave Generating (88-A-18-87-665) Station to Review the Steam Line Rupture," and all underlying data pertaining to said report.
Granted 1
Gregory Palast, In response to a request for records regarding vendor Union Associates lists for the Shoreham nuclear power plant between (87-848) 1975 and 1978, informed the requester that the NPC located no agency records subject to this request.
i K. M. Skreiner, In response to a request for records of NRC's resolution NUTECH of public cornents related to Reg. Guide 1.89, Rev.1, l
(88-1)
Environmental Qualification of Certain Electric Equipment Important to Safety for Nuclear Power Plants, June 1984, made available one record.
FEBRUARY 26, 1988 ENCLOSURE A j
-3 Granted, Cont'd Gregory Palast, In response to a request for records regarding problems Union Associates at the Shoreham nuclear power plant during 1987 which (88-55) relate to inspection item 322/82-30-03, infomed the requester that the NRC located no agency records subject to this request.
Patrick Fitzgerald, In response to a request for three categories of records Brown, James &
related to C-E Glass, Inc., License No. 24-13998-01, Rabbitt, P.C.
Docket No. 30-05165, made available six records.
(88-72)
Lyle. Graber, In response to a request for a copy of the enclosure to NUS Corporation the December 4,1987 NRC letter to Rancho Seco, made (88-89) available a copy of the requested record.
Denied Cindee Virostek, In response to a request for ceries of the proprietary Kiski Valley portions of the main report, NUREG-0627ES, and Appendix P Coalition of the report, made available one record. Denied portions (86-431) of one record containing unclassified controlled nuclear information, j
Linda Bauman, In response to a request for records from 1983 to the Government present related to the concerns of a named individual Accountability about the Comanche Peak nuclear power plant, made Project available two records.
Denied portions of five records, (87-256) disclosure of which would tend to inhibit the open and frank exchange of ideas essential to the deliberative process, result in a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy and reveal identities of confidential sources.
Linda Bauman, In response to a request for records related to a named i
Government individual's concerns at Fermi 2 regarding possible Accountability safety violations and classified security infomation Project being typed into an office computer system from 1985 to (87-398) the present, made available 10 records.
Denied four records in their entirety which would disclose unclassified safeguards information, would tend to inhibit the open and frank exchange of ideas essential j
to the deliberative process, result in a clearly l
unwarranted invasion of personal privacy, and could reasonably be expected to interfere with an ongoing investigation.
Lynn Connor.
In response to a request for records related to four Doc-Search specified records on TVA, made available two records.
3 Associates Informed the requester that additional records subject (87-727) to this request are already available at the PDR.
Denied j
one record in its entirety, disclosure of which would tend to inhibit the open and frank excharge of ideas essential to the deliberative process.
Denied one record in its entirety, disclosure of which could reasonably be expected to interfere with an ongoing investigation, FEBRUARY 26, 1988 ENCLOSURE A
4 Denied, Cont'd Gregory Bergman, In response to a request for records relating to Rockingham County redacted information in the evacuation plans for the Newspapers, Inc.
Seabrook nuclear power plant, denied portions of one (88-28) record containing confidential business (proprietary) information.
(NRC einployee)
In response to a request for three categories of (88-51 )
records concerning Vacancy Announcement No R87-2080, denied portions of one record, disclosure of which would result in a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.
Thomas Carpenter, In response to a referral from the DOE of three records Government concerning a request for records related to DOE's Accountability activities involving Americium-241 and materials Project contaminated with radioactivity transported on (88-78)
March 26,1987, from the laboratory owned by John C.
Haynes to Mound Laboratories in Miamisburg, Ohio, made available two records.
Denied portions of one record, disclosure of which could reasonably be expected to constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.
Linda Bauman, In response to an APPEAL TO THE EDO for the release of Government four records denied in their entirety relating to a Accountability request for records relevant to and/or generated in Project connection with Inspection Peport 50-285/87-08 regarding (88-A-2-87-762) the Fort Calhoun nuclear power plant, continued to deny these records, disclosure of which would tend te inhibit the open and frark exchange of ideas essential to the deliberative process, result in a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy and could reasonr.bly tc expected to interfere with an enforcement proceeding.
Linda Bauman, in response to an APPEAL TO THE EDO for the release Government of two records denied in their entirety relating to a Accountability request for records concerning the report by the GA0 Project regarding the NRC lacking guidelines on shutting down (88-A-3-87-655) nuclear power plants for safety violations, made available portions of one record and continued to deny one record in its entirety, disclosure of which would tend to inhibit the open and frank exchange of ideas essential to the deliberative process.
FEBRUARY 26, 1988 ENCLOSURE A
I l
l DIVISION OF CONTRACTS WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 26, 1988 RFP ISSUED RFP No:
RS-PER-88-364
Title:
"Operation and Maintenance of the Information Technology Services Training Laboratory"
==
Description:==
Contractor _will be required to provide ADP training to managers and other technical and norc-technical end-users.
Period of Performance: 3 year period Sponsor:
Office of Personnel Status:
RFP Issued on February 22, 1988. Proposals due on March 23, 1988.
RFP No.:
RS-RES-88-072
Title:
"Irradiation Embrittlement of Reactor Pressure Vessel Steels"
==
Description:==
The contractor shall provide NRC analytical and experimental methods and data that are necessary to ensure the structural safety and reliability of pressure boundary components in Light Water Reactor Systems.
Period of Performance:
4 years Sponsor:
Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research Status:
Amendment three issued February 25, 1988. Closing date extended to March 21, 1988.
PROPOSALS UNDER EVALUATION i
RFP No.:
RS-RG-1-88-269
Title:
"Technical Support of Region I Nondestructive Examination Van"
==
Description:==
The contractor shall provide personnel with expertise in the field of non-destructive examination and a radiographic isotope source to perform field non-destructive examinations at nuclear power plants under construction or in operation anywhere in the United States.
Period of Performance:
2 years Sponsor:
Region I - Engineering Branch j
Status:
Best and Final offers received on February 25, 1988, and forwarded to Source Evaluation Panel for review on February 25, 1988.
FEBRUARY 26, 1988 ENCLOSURE A
}
Weekly Information Report Division of Contracts RFP No:
RS-PER-88-365
Title:
"Regulatory Process Training"
==
Description:==
The Regulatory Process Training Course is taught to improve NRC employees' understanding of the role j
they play in assuring the public's safety and health.-
Period of Performance:
2 years with.1 one-year option Sponsor:
Office of Personnel
)
Status:
RFP closed on February 25, 1988.
Proposals forwarded to Source Evaluation Panel for review on February 25, 1988.
RFP No.:
RS-RES-88-078
Title:
"Keying of Occupational Radiation Exposure Information" 1
==
Description:==
Contractor will develop and utilize a computer program to key code information related to occupational radiation exposure onto a computer tape.
Period of Performance:
2 years with 3 one-year options Sponsor:
Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research Status:
Best and Final offers received on February 19, 1988, and forwarded to Source Evaluation Panel for review on l
February 19, 1988.
IFB CANCELLATION l
IF5 Ko.:
RS-ARM-88-173
Title:
"Cable Installation in NRC-Occupied Space"
==
Description:==
The Contractor shall furnish and install twinaxial and coaxial signal cable.
Period of Performance:
N/A Sponsor:
Office of Acministration and Resources Mar.agement Status:
IFB Cancelled l
-1 FEBRUARY 26, 1988 ENCLOSURE A i
)
0FFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION ITEMS OF INTEREST Week Ending February 26, 1988 Shoreham On February 17, 1988, the State of New York Court of Appeals, the State's highest court, issued an opinion in the Mario Cuomo, et. al., versus Long Island Lighting Company (LILCO) case. A lower court in the State of New York had determined that LILC0 lacked legal authority to implement its Emergency Plan for Shoreham. This determination was appealed by LILCO to the State of New York Court of Appeals.
In the Court's opinion, the complaint and request for an advisory opinion by Mario Cuomo, et. al., on the legal authority issue j
was not,an exercise of judicial function.
Thus, the determination of the lower court was reversed and the complaint was dismissed without reaching the 1
merits of the legal. authority issue.
Indian Point 2 During a recent Safety System Functional Inspection conducted at Indian Point 2, a potential common mode failure was identified in the plant Service Water System. All of the service water pump power cables run from the plant switchgear to the six pumps through a single mannole. The cables are spliced in this manhole area. The splices consist of two configurations: one for the two alternate shutdown pumps, and one for the remaining four pumps. The J
splices associated with the alternate shutdown pumps have experienced two energetic failures since 1985 due to water intrusion. The manhole has been partially filled with as a fire barrier for Appendix R purposes. However, the manhole is often ficoded and currently contains wet sand. The licensee is evaluating the situation and will present its proposed shurt-and long-term corrective actions to resolve this problem, and its justification for continued operation (pending completion of these actions) at a meeting with the NRC in Region I offices on Friday, February 26. The plant is currently operating at 100%.
Seabrook Unit 1 4
New England Electric System (NEES) and Public Service Company of New Hampshire (PSNH) announced on February 23, 1988 that they have begun preliminary discussions about the NEES acquiring PSHN's non-Seabrook assets (On January 28, 1988, PSNH filed for bankruptcy law protection with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Manchester, N. H.).
Any transactions resulting from these discussions would require various approvali, including the bankruptcy court and the regulatory agencies.
As a note of interest, New England Power Company, NEES' wholesale electric generation and transmission subsidiary, is one of the Seabrook, Unit 1 joint owners with about 10% ownership.
FEBRUARY 26, 1988 ENCLOSURE B
OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY At!D SAFEGUARDS i
Items of Interest Week Ending February ?6, 1988 LOW-LEVFL WASTE MANAGEMENT i
Low-level Wast _e Visit to LN Technologies to Discuss Topical Report Vichael Tokar and Leroy Person visited LN Technologies in Columbia, SC on February P4 and 25. The purpose of the visit was to observe and discuss the LN process for cement-solidification of LLW. A Topical Report describino this i
process is under review by LLWM.
LLW Performance Assessment Group i
On February 18, 1988, LLkH and RES staff initiated the low-level Waste Performance Assessment Working Group (PAWG). The purpose of PAk'G is to l
identify and assess issues related to LLW performance and to provide for timely consultation and coordination of staff and contractor projects related to performance assessment in NMSS and RES.
PAWG will meet every other week for the next several months. The next meeting is planned for March 3rd and will focus on review of performance assessment aspects of NRC's Standard Review Plan for LLW license applications and LLTB's draft technical position
(
on environmentel monitoring.
Public Hearing on LLRWPA The U.S. Department of Energy held a public hearing in Washington, DC on February 25, 1980. The purpose of the hearing was to solicit oral coments on a proposed rule that is intended to implement section 5(c)(5) of the low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Amendments Act of 1985. This section of the Act authorizes DOE to grant to comercial nuclear power reactors allocations of disposal capacity for LLW resulting from unusual or unexpected operations or maintenance activities.
FEBRUARY 26, 1988 ENCLOSURE C
l 1
1 2
Meeting With DOE on West Valley On April 27, 1988, representatives of the NMSS staff will meet with LOE officials to provide guidance on the approach 00E should follow in evaluating the applicability of the Part 61 Waste Classification System for the West Valley demonstration project low-level waste.
Such an evaluation is needed to support any request to NRC to revise the 10 nCi/ gram limitation for TRU waste in the WVDPD. A settlement agreement between D0F and the Coalition on West Valley Nuclear Wastes prescribes that DOE must abide by any determination made by NRC regarding TRU concentration limits.
IDUSTRIAL AND MEDICAL NUCLEAR SAFETY MEETING WITH TENNESSEE STATE OFFICIALS RELATED TO NFS-ERWIN On February 18, 1988, staff members of the Fuel Cycle Safety Branch, NMSS and Region 11 met in Nashville, TN, with State officials to discuss various aspects of coordination on activities at the NFS facilities in Enfin, TN. The primary topic was in regard to the ongoing characterization studies and decomissioning plans by NFS for the inactive holding ponds.
State officials represented interests in the solid waste, ground and surface water, and radiological aspects of the decomissioning work. Mr. Earl Leming of the State has been designated the State coordinator on this matter and will be the primary contact for NRC ttaff.
It was agreed that early coordination on NFS proposals for ground water monitoring was appropriate and necessary.
It was also agreed that the NPC staff and State should schedule meetings at the site on a quarterly basis to have NFS present a status report on the pond decomissioning activities. Also, discussed at the meeting were activities authorized and being conducted by NFS under its Tennessee Radioactive Material (source and byproduct material) license.
Region II staff indicated they would provide followup information on this topic to Mr. Mobley, Director of the Tennessee Division of Radiological Health, as available from NRC inspections.
WEST VALLEY DEMONSTRATION PROJECT I
As the first stage in solidifying the high-level waste at Vest Valley, the Departrent of Energy is expected to begin removing cesium from the supernatant phase in late March or early April 1988.
Cost overruns and minor technical problems have delayed the start of supernatant processing for several months.
After most of the cesium has been removed, the large quantity of nonradioacti+e salts dissolved in the supernate will be combined with cement and solioifici in 70-gallon drums.
Approximately 11,000 drums will be produced from the decentam-inated supernate. These activities, lastg into early 1989, will eliminate the liquid portion of the high-level waste, leaving a highly radioactive sludge and a cesium-bearing zeolite to be incorporated in borosilicate glass.
j FEBRUARY 26, 1988 ENCLOSURE C
3 3M STATIC ELIMINATION DEVICES On February 18, 1988, an Order was issued to 3M suspending its authority to distribute any polonium static elimination device to a general licensee and requiring the recall of all models of the devices. An Order was also issued to general licensees suspending authorization to use the 3M devices. 3M is required to test each returned Levice and report those leaking radioactivity to the NRC. The Order to general licensees provided thct temporary continued use could be authorized if the licensee made a showing that a particular device was essential for workplace safety.
Preparations have been made to respond to requests, if any, for such temporary continued use.
The Operations Center has been briefed and given instructions on how to respond to telephone calls from general licensees. The Regional Administrators have also been provided a memo dated February 23, 1988 regarding guidance on how to grant temporary continued use authori7ation of devices.
Similar information has been provided to all the Agreement States.
SAFEGUApDS International t
IAEA Initial Inspection at General Electric i
On February 24-26, 1988, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) conducted their initial inspection of international safeguards at the General Electric low enriched uranium fuel processing facility in Wilmington, North Carolina. An NPSS staff member accompanyed the IAEA inspectors. The IAEA has scheduled future inspections at the facility on an approximate monthly basis.
DOMESTIC Nuclear Materials Management and Safeguards System (NMMSS)
SGTR sponsored a meeting with the NMMSS Users Group on February 17-19, 1988 to clerify instructions for reporting nuclear material transactions.
Proposed revisions of NUREG/BR-0006 and 0007 were completed.
It is expected that publication of the revised instructions will improve the operations of NMSS.
i Classified Priefing On March 8, 1988, Mr. Bob Burnett will brief the ranking minority member of the Subconmittee on Oversight and Investigations.
The briefing will be classified and content will be similar to topics briefed to Congressman Gejdenson on February 9,1988. The subcommittee open hearing on the threat of sabotage and terrorism at commercial nuclear power plants will be held on March 9, 1988.
cEBRUARY 26, 1988 ENCLOSURE C
OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REGULATORY RESEARCH Items of Interest
^
Week Ending February 26, 1988 PREVENTING DAMAGE TO REACTOR CORE 20/3D 2D/3D is a trilateral (Japan, Germany, and U.S.) experinental progran.
The NRC provides computer codes and two-phase flow instruments through INEL and ORNL in exchanoe for test data.
The German Upper Plenum Test Facility (UPTF) is a full scale facility containing 193 fuel bundle upper end boxes and upper plenum internals but lacking a core heater. This program provides large scale test data on LOCA refill and reflood phenomena. These data serve as the best data source for revising i
i 10 CFR 50 Appendix K rules. Moreover, these data have been used to resolve the upper plenum in.lection (UPI) licensing issues. The NRC system (g staff have used the data to assess the emergency core coolant i
licensin ECCS) evaluation redels submitted by the UPI plant licensees.
l In preparing the advanced two-phase flow instruments for the UPTF last plarned outage scheduled for March-April 1988, ORNL has completed 12 drag bodies,10 breakthrough detectors and 4 electronic modules. These instruments will be shipped to Gemany on February ?2,1988.
INEL is 1
I preparing other necessary flow instruments in time for the outage support. After April 1988, we do nnt expect to replace any instruments located in the vessel. We will only provide minimum technical I
consultation support for the U.S.-supplied instruments.
WASTE DISPOSAL RESEARCH
_ Radioactive Waste Management Safety Resea ch Agreement The EDO signed a multilateral agreement for radioactive waste management safety research sponsored by the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency this week. The agreement concerns studies to be conducted as the International Alligator River's Analogue Project. Other program participants are the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization (ANSTO), the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute (JAERI), the Power Reacter and Fuclear Fuel Development Corporation of Japan (PNC), the Swedish Nuclear Power Inspectorate (SKI), and the United Kingdom Department of the Environment (UKDoE). ANSTO will be the Project's Managing Participart, and OECD/NEA is the Sponsoring Agency.
The purpose of the study is to better understand the mechanisms of radionuclide transport in the geologic environment and thereby reduce uncerta1.-ty in the assessment of the long terTr performance of high level waste geologic repositories.
CONTACT:
R. Grill FEBRUARY 26, 1988 ENCLOSURE D
?
Items of Interest Office for Analysis and Evaluation of Uperational Data Week Ending February 26, 1988 CRGR The CRGR reviewed three items at Meeting No. 129 on February 2, 1988:
(1) a proposed final Revision 2 to Reg. Guide 1.100, "Seismic Qualification of Electric and Mechanical Equipment," endorsing IEEE Std. 344-1987; (.'. a proposed NRC Bulletin, "Inadequate Latch Engagement in GE HFA Type Latching Rt v s;" and (3) a proposed Generic Letter, "Boric Acid Corrosion of Carbon Steel Re.ictor Vessel Components in PWR Plants." The Committee recommended issuance of the proposed Reg. Guide revision and the proposed Generic Letter, subject to minor changes to be coordinated through the CRGR staff.
The Committee recommended that the staff obtain additional experience data, if available, and consider further the possible risks associated with the proposed inspection of HFA relays with the reactor at power, in deciding whether to request completten of relay inspections within 90 days or during the next outage.
Changes to the proposed bulletin based on this additional evaluation will be coordinated with the CRGR staff.
Incident Response On February 23, a member of the Incident Response Branch (IRB) participated in the Conference on Excellence in Emergency Preparedness held in Chicago, Illinois.
The paper presented was entitled "Federal Field Exercise Findings Affecting Utilities."
On February 24, a full-scale exercise was held and participation included the l
Headquarters Operations Center, River Bend Station personnel, and the Regional Base Team and Site Team.
The Executive Team was comprised of the Directors from AE0D, NRR, and Deputy Director from RES.
Headquarters Operations Center participation included the Reactor Safety Team, the Protective Measures Team, and the Administrative Support Team.
On February 24, the IRB staff, together with the National Weather Service and the Department of State, represented the U.S. in a successful demonstration of information exchange for the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
The demonstration confirmed the utility of an international weather network as one means of exchanging data in the event of another nuclear accident having potential international consequences.
l On February 25, 1988, the Director, DOA and an IRB staff member participated in a meeting of the Federal Response Subcommittee held at rEMA headquarters.
Matters reviewed during the meeting included:
(1) Draft Revision of the Fed-eral Response Plan; (2) FFE-2 Evaluation Reports; (3) Comments on training options; (4) Ground rules for the next Federal Field Exercise; (5) Draft letter j
to the White House concerning FRERP Compatibility with the National System i
for Coordination; (6) Recommendations concerning the report entitled, "Review and Analysis of the Federal Response to the Chernoby1' Accident"; rad (7) Pro-1 posed NRC draft (ESF-12) te the Earthquake Plan.
FEBRUARY 26, 1988 ENCLOSURE E
.g.
Diagnostic Evaluation and Incident Invastigation The McGuire diagnostic report was forwarded to the Direcfor for final review on February 26, 1988.
Technical Training On February 24, 1988, the Technical Training Center (TTC) hosted a meeting of Training Coordinators from Regions I through V, AE00, NRR, NMSS and OP.
This meeting covered a number of issues including the different TTC interfaces with i
Training Coordinators, the overall process of presenting courses from initial need identification to filling slots with names, the desired process in the region or program offices, the administrative process at the TTC, and the TTC curriculum structure.
Preliminary Notifications The following Preliminary Notifications were issued during the past week:
1.
PN-RI-88-23, ConAm Inspection Services (Nuclear Energy Services, Inc.),
Accident Involving Radiography Sources.
2.
PN-RIII-88-12, Perry 1 (Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company), Shutdown to Repair Leaking Valve.
3.
PN-RIII-88-13, St. Joseph's Hospital, Therapeutic Misadministration.
4.
PN-RV-88-13A, WNP-2 (Washington Public Power Supply System), Update on Failure of Secondary Containment.
5.
PN-RV-88-14, Songs Unit 3 (Southern California Edison), Safety Injections Actuation and Outage Greater Than 48 Hours.
6.
PN-RV-88-15, Palo Verde Unit 2 (Arizona Nuclear Power Project), Unusual Event / Refueling Shutdown.
7.
PN-RV-88-16, Ranch Seco Unit 1 (Sacramento Municipal Utility Disrict),
Recommendation for Closure of Rancho Seco.
FEBRUARY 26, 1988 ENCLOSURE E
ITEMS OF INTEREST OFFICE OF GOVERNMENTAL AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 26, 1988 GPA Director, Harold Denton, chaired a 3-day Workshop on Public Information During Nuclear tmergencies. February 17-19 in Paris at the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency. Michael Congdon of Mr. Denton's staff and Carl Abraham, Public Affairs Officer for Region I, represented the NRC at the Workshop.
DOE and FEMA also participated. The Workshop demonstrated that most advanced nuclear countries had beefed up their crisis communications structures at the national level.
One of the goals of the participants in addition to improving public understanding of radiation protection concepts, Was to estaF ish formal and infernal lines of communications among governmental expe.ts. One useful way would be to set up national crisis information centers to provida authoritative infomation both to the public and to other governments.
Following his meeting in Paris, Mr. Denton traveled to Brussels, Belgium, for meetings with the European Coninunity, to Luxembourg for meetings with EURATOM, and to the State of Hesse in the Federal Republic of Germany.
In each case, he had discussions on the current status and orgoing investigations into the NUKEM affair. Meanwhile, Mr. Congdon traveled to Vienna '.or the February Board of Governors Meeting of the IAEA and for very useful consultations on radiation protection and nuclear safety programs of the Agency with staff members of both the IAEA and the U.S. Mission.
INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS:
Fcreign Visitors On Wednesday Messrs. Yagi, Kikuchi, and Kuruda of the Power Reactor and Nuclear Fuel Development Corporation of Japan met with the staff from NMSS/SG and GPA/IP to discuss NRC efforts to implement the new Murkowski amendment requirements on air transportation of plutonium.
This meeting is part of a continuing dialogue with the Japanese on their efforts to develop a cask for air transport of plutonium which is acceptable to the NRC.
On Thursday Mr. Yutaka Hatano, Japan Electric Power Infonnation Center (JEPIC)
Washington Representative, and Mr. Kazuhiko Hombu, Jtpan Agency of Natural Pesources and Energy (ANRE/MITI), met with International Programs to discuss the placement of the next MITI assignae to MRC. Mr. Togo, who has been an assignee from MITI for the last 16 months, will be returning to Japan ir April.
=
Interagency Coordination of US - Soviet Activities On Thursday International Prograha participated in a meeting of the Interagency Coordinating Committee for US-Soviet Affairs (ICCUSA) to brief the attending agencies on the background and status of the proposed Memorandum of Understanding for reactor safety cocpection between the US and the USSR.
v ICCUSA is an interagency forum, chaired bj the Department of State, which enables agencies to excharge information on proposed and established cooperative programs with the USSR, minimiting an overlap of activities among participating agencies.
NRC will now participate regularly in ICCUSA neetings.
FEBRUARY 26, 1988 ENCLOSURE F
Emergency Communications Test On Wednesday, in conjunction with the emerge 1cy planning and response exercise for the River Bend Pcwer Plant, IP conducteo a successful test of its system for emergency notification and communication with the Canadian Atomic Energy Control Board (ALCB) and the Mexican National Nuclear Safety and Safeguards Comission (CNSNS'-
This was the first such test between NRC and the Mexican regulatory authori,y.
Notification and coninunication tests between NRC and its Canadian and Mexican counterparts will be conducted on a routine basis during future full-scale exercises.
STATE, LOCAL AND INDIAN TRIBE PROGRAMS:
Peeting with the State of Tennessee On February 18, 1988, L. Rouse, HMSS; D. Collins, Chief Emergency Preparedness and Radiological Protection Branch; and R. E. Trojanowski, Director, State and Government Affairs Staff, met with senior representatives of the Tennessee I
Department of Health in Nashville, Tennessee. The purpose of the reeting was to discuss and coordinate mutual regulatory interests regarding the decomis-sioning and clean up of radiological and nonradiological contaminants from the holding ponds at the Nuclear Fuel Services site at Emin, Tennessee.
Energency Preparedness Exercise During the period of February 19 through February 21, 1988, R. E. Trojanowski, Director, State and Government Affairs Staff, participated as a member of the Regional Assistance Committee in the full scale exercise involving the Duke
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Power Catawba facility, the States of North Carolina and South Carolina, and the applicable local governments. During the course of this exercise, the staff at the Charlotte Memorial Hospital failed to adequately demonstrate the capability to respond to the needs of a simulated contaminated / injured person.
l Hence, this will be identified as a deficiency by FEMA which will require a remedial exercise at the hospital within the next four months. Other lesser discrepancies were noted in the areas of training and procedures which do not adversely affect the overall emergency preparedness capability. Appropriate corrective actions for these areas must be demonstrated during the next biennial exercise.
Peeting with the State of South Carolina During the period February 23 through 25, 1988, R. L. Woodruff, Agreement States Representative, met with representatives of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control to discuss natters of mutual interest and to provide assistance, as necessary, in the administration of the State's Agreement State Program. A formal review of the South Carolina Agrurent State program will be conducted by Mr. Woodruff in April 1988.
l FEBRUARY 26, 1988 ENCLOSURE F
I HEETINGS SCHEDULED FOR THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 28-MARCH 4, 1988 February 28 National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners Subcemnittee on Nuclear Issues ~-
Washington,DC(Schwart:/Droggitis)
February 29 -
Region III Assessment - Glen Ellyn, Illinois March 1 (Schwartz /Nussbaumer)
February 29 -
Status Visit of Idaho Radiation Control Programs - March 1 i
Boise, Idaho (Dotta) r 6
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FEBRUARY 26, 1988 ENCLOSURE F
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_AS_SIGNMENT DATE TIME WITNESS SUBJECT CGMMITTEE N Fay 3/1/88 10:30 A.M.
DENNY ROSS SMALL BUSINESS Rep. LaFalce/McDade
.,s E
Dep.Dir.,RES INNOVATION RESEARCH Con on Small Business (SBIR) PROGRAM g
St Fay 3/2/88 2:00 P.M.
COMPISSIONERS NRC AUTHORIZATION /
Sen. Burdick/Stafford BUDGET Com on Environment and Public Works G
$ Fay 3/3/88 9:45 AM COMMISSIONERS NRC AUTHORIZATION /
Rep. Udall/Lujan BUDGET Sub on Energy & the Environment Com on Interior and Insular Affairs Kent 3/3/88 1:30 P.M.
H.R. DENTON US/ JAPAN AGREEMENT Rep. Fascell/Broomfield (T0 ATTEND --
Com on Foreign Affairs NO TESTIMONY)
Combs 3/8/88 TBA
[TVA]
[TVA NUCLEAR PROGRAM]
Rep. Oberstar/ Clinger Sub on Inves.tigations & Oversight Com on Public Works & Transportation Kent 3/9/88 9:45 A.M.
[ MARK-UP]
FY89 BUDGET Rep. Udall/Your.g Committee on Interior & Insular Affairs De1 Medico 3/9/88 2:00 P.M.
COMMISSIONERS TERRORISM Rep. Gejdensen/ Smith Sub on General Oversight & Investigations Committee on Interior & Insular Affairs Callahan 3/16/88 9:30 A.M.
STAFF NRC'S HTGR ACTIVITIES Rep. Lloyd/Morrison Sub on Energy Research & Development Com on Science, Space, & Technology Fay 3/30/88 10:00 A.M.
COMMISSIONERS APPROPRIATIONS Rep. Bevill/Myers FY89 Sub on Energy & Water Develnpment Com on Appropriation:
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~s CA WEEKLY HICHLIGHTS - MARCH 1988 THROUGH APRIL 1988 l
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4 0FFICE OF PERSONNEL ITEMS OF INTEREST Week Ending February 26, 1988 Arrivals and Departures Five Secretaries reported for work in Headquarters, as follows: Lisa Datta, (NMSS); Rose Gerondakis, (OGC); Nancy Hughitt, (0P); Tonya Russell, (NRR); and JeanSprague,(RES). In addition, Kia Tabor, Clerk-Typist joined NMSS and Vincent Pritchett, Reactor Engineer started work at Region I.
Two Secretaries left Headquarters offices: Cassaundra Alston from OGC and Veronica Belmaggio from OSP. Also departing were: Richard Froelich, Sr.
Human Factors Engineer from RES; Mary Jo Seeman, Project Manager, NMSS; Ali Tabatsbai, ACRS Fellow and Peggy Jones, Personnel Assistant from Region II.
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FEBRUARY 26, 1988 ENCLOSURE H
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ITEMS OF INTEREST Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization / Civil Rights Week Ending February 26, 1988 The Directors' Group, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, pursuant to a recommendation by the National Academy of Public Administration, relative to the Minority Small Business and Capital Ownership Development Program, have offered its services to the Small Business Administr tion (SBA).
The b.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization and Civil Rights Director is expected to be a part of this Directors' Group or Council structured to improve programs aimed at the small and disadvantaged business conmunity and relationships with SBA.
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l FEBRUARY 26, 1988 ENCLOSURE I
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l ITEMS OF INTEREST Office of Enforcement Week Ending February 26, 1988 i
i The following Significant Enforcement Actions were taken the week of February 22, 1988.
A Notice of Violation and Proposed Imposition of Civil Penalty in the amount of $175,000 was issued on February 22, 1988 to Omaha Public Power District (Ft Calhoun Station). The action was based on two events in which water from the Fire Protection System entered the Instrument Air System rendering one Emergency (Diesel Generator inoperable with the potential for disabling the second.
EN88-13)
An Order to Show Cause Why License Should Not be Modified, Effective Iraediately was issued to V. A. Edward Hines, Jr. Medical Center, Hines, Illinois on Februa ry 25, 1988.
The Order imposed verification requirements before a technologist administers any licensed material.
It also imposed a reporting requirement as to the technologist's perfonnance in radiological activities.
The action was based on the technologist injecting a patient with a second agent in an effort to cover up a mistake and his subsequent false statements to YA and NRC personnel investigating tha matter.
(EN 88-15)
An Order Suspending Licenses (Effective Innediately) was issued to Wrangler Laboratories, Provo, Utah on February 25, 1988. The action was based on an investigation that indicated that the licensee has failed to fulfill commitments made on behalf of his firms to the NPC, has made contradictory statements to the NRC and to the state of Utah, and his firms has process uranium in an unsafe manner with inadequate controls and resulting contamination.
(EN 88-16)
Civil Penalties Paid Kernit Butcher, Elkins, West Virginia paid the imposed civil penalty in the amount of $500. The action was based on nultiple health physics violations which demonstrated a breakdown in the managerent oversight and control of the l
licensee's radiation safety procram.
(EA 87-96)
Tidewater Memorial Hospital, Tappahannock, Virginia paid the imposed civil penalty in the amount of $2,416.67. The action was based on several violations involving the administering of the Radiation Safety Program.
(EA 87-127 Houston Lighting and Power Company (South Texas, Unit 1) paid the civil penalty in the amount of $75,000.
The action was based on two events in which the licensee failed to satisfy Technical Specification requirements.
In the first, the licensee identified that all three cold leg inspection valves in the high j
head safety injection system were shut in an operational mode in which they were required.
In the second event, the licensee reported all four channels of the low pressurizer safety injection actuation setpoint were set below the Techrical Specification limits. The civil penalty was increased by 50% because
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the first problem existed for a significant curation and because corrective action for a prior event should have prevented the second problem.
(EA 87-240)
FEBRUARY 26, 1988 ENCLOSURE K
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Omaha Public Power District (Ft Calhoun Station) paid the civil penalty in the.
amount of $75,000. The action was based on the failure to lock the door to a very high radiation area and the failure to follow the health physics procedures and technical specifications when entering a very high radiation area. Subsequent to the inspection, two additional violations were identified.. The civil penalty (EA 87-200) was increased by 50% because of a similar violation in May 1986.
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0FFICE OF CONSOLID ATION ITEMS OF INTEREST Week Ending February 26, 1988 Ridesharing Day To celebrate NRC's participation in Montgomery County's F ARE-SH ARE program, March I has been designated as Ridesharing Day at One White Flint North.
Under the terms of an agreement between the County and NRC, employees who work at One White Flint North will be able to purchase passes, tickets, and tokens for public transit at a discount.
Robert McGarry, Director of the County Department of Transportation, will sell the first discount fare, and will bring members of his staff to answer employee questions concerning transit routes, schedules, and fares, as well as to encourage formation of carpools and vanpools.
Hearing on Second Building The date for the County Planning Board's hearing to consider whether to grant the request of the White Flint North developers to build a second office building en the site has again been postponed.
The latest delay is caused by the need to resolve a violation of the zoning ordinance on the part o' the developers relating to provision of sufficient onsite parking space.
Michael Springer, Staff Director of the Office of Consolidation, and Richard Hadsell, Regional Administrator of GS A, met this week with Robert McGarry and Norman Christeller, the Chairman of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (MNCPPC), to present the Federal Government's concerns on this matter.
A hearing on the violation will be held before the MNCPPC on Thursday, March 3.
Commission Move tn One White flint North Commission offices on the 17th and 18th floors, and the first-floor Hearing t
Room, will be ready for occupancy by the end of March.
However, the Commission has requested that its move to the new building be delayed until the weekend of April 9 - 10.
Air Quality An air quality survey, which includes air sampling, is underway on Floors 15, 16, and P-1, under the direction of Banks Mitchum, NR C's Safety and Health Manager.
GS A has ordered that balancing of the air handling system for the building begin now, even though construction is not complete on the 1st, 17th, and 18th floors.
The balancing process will take many weeks to com plete.
FEBRUARY 26, 1988 ENCLG$URE L
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4 ITTMS OF INTEREST REGION II WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 26,-1988 1.
On February 22, representatives of the Florida Power Corporation were in the Region II Office to attend an Enforcement Conference to discuss the diesel generator operability and ultimate heat sink maximum temperature issues at their Crystal River facility.
2.
An Energency Response facility team appraisal was conducted this week at the Florida Power & Light Company's Turkey Point facility.
Representatives of Region II and Headquarters observed the appraisal.
3.
On February 23, representatives of the Duke Power Company were in the Region II Office to attend an Enforcement Conference on the operability of nuclear service weter system and meeting of reporting requirements at their Catawba Nuclear Power Station.
4.
On February 23 the President of Georgia Institute of Technology and Research Reactor staff were in the Region II Office to attend a four-hour Enforcement Conference regarding recent violations, management problems and the Commission's Shutdown Order. A press conference followed.
5.
On February 24, the Regional Administrator met with Florida Power and Light Company acting Group Vice President William Conway, i
to discuss matters of mutual interest.
6.
Chairman Zech, accompanied by the Deputy Regional Administrator and other selected Recion !! staff, was at the Robinson Nuclear Power Station on February 25 and at Brunswick Nuclear Power Station on February 26 for site familiarization tours.
7.
W. Stewart, Vice President, Nuclear Operations; and N. Hardwick, Manager, Nuclear Programs and Licensing; Virginia Electric and Power Company; and the North Anna and Surry Station Managers were in the Region II Office on February 26, to meet with Regional personnel on management issues.
1 FEBRUARY 26. 1988 ENCLOSURE M
ITEMS OF INTEREST REGION IV Week Ending February 29, 1988 1.
Region IV has obtained a copy of proposed Karsas legislation that would, if adopted, create the position of Nuclear Safety Engineer within the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) staff. The proposed bill, House Bill No. 2936, would require the Nuclear Safety Engineer to "monitor the operation and management of all nuclear power electric generating facilities located in Kansas in all aspects which may directly or indirectly effect the health and safety of the inhabitants of the state" and would authorize the nuclear safety engineer to "make on-site inspections with unlimited access to all areas of the facility." The bill also states that the engineer "shall cooperate with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission." Region IV has provided a copy of this bill to State, Local and Indian Tribe Programs which plans to seek OGC review.
2.
Region IV, with the Regional Administrator Acting as Director of Site Operations, and NRC Headquarters participated in the River Bend i
emergency preparedness exercise on February 24, 1988.
3.
The Director, Division of Reactor Safety, met with Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) management representatives at the Fort Calheun site on February 25, 1988, concerning the NRC licensea operator recualificaticr examinations to be conducted the week of March 7,1988, at Fort Calhoun.
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i FEBRUARY 26, 1988 ENCLOSURE M
ITEMS ADDRESSED BY THE COMMISSION - Week Ending February 26, 1988 A.
STAFF REQUIREMENTS - SECY-87-314 - INTERIM POLICY STATEMENT ON MAINTENANCE OF NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS AND REQUIREMENTS FROM STATUS BRIEFING ON 1/7/88 (COMMISSIONERS' CONFERENCE ROOM, D.C. OFFICE, OPEN TO PUBLIC ATTENDANCE)
SECY to V. Stello, Jr., EDO and R. Fraley, ACRS dated 2/25/88 In public session on January 7,1988, the Comission was briefed by the staff on its proposed "Interim Policy Statement on Maintenance of Nuclear Power Plants" as contained in SECY-87-314. This is a joint SRM which contains a sumary of views 'and coments of the Comission expressed at that meeting and those contained in their vote sheets on SECY-87-314 which were submitted after the briefing.
(Their full views were provided to you with their vote sheets.)
1.
The Comission, with Chaiman Zech and Comissioners Carr and Rogers concurring, has approved the attached Policy Statement, as modified by Comissioners Carr and Rogers, for publication as a final statement in the Federal Register.
2.
The Comission, with Chaiman Zech and Comissioners Carr and Rogers -
concurring, directs the staff to develop a notice of proposed rulemaking for Commission review no later than August 1,1988. The proposed rule should spell out NRC's expectations in maintenance within the framework of the attached final policy statement, yet still encourage industry initiatives to achieve excellence.
In preparing the proposed rule, the staff should consult in some open fashion with interested persons, including representatives of the regulated industry, and should consider maintenance approaches in other countries. Staff should also review practices in other industries in this ceuntry in which human perfomance and equipment reliability play an important role in safe operations, and regulatory activities which ensure the adequacy of these practices. The staff should periodically brief the ACR$ and seek their input during the development of the notice of proposed rulemaking.
In this regard, the Chairman suggested that the staff should also schedule public workshops to solicit early public and regulated industry participation in the formulation of the proposed rule, and that the ACRS should consider monitoring one or more of these workshops as a part of their review activities.
Chaiman Zech noted that SECY-87-314 represented an outstanding effort by the staff to carry out the Comission's previous guidance in the development of NRC's maintenance policy. He comended the staff for their vigorous approach to this important issue which can contribute to improve safety of operations.
Chaiman Zech and Comissioner Bernthal succest that the staff should proceed with plans to implement professional maintenance inspections using highly ouelified specialists, including perhaps peer reviewers from outside the agency; the staff should focus on developing the criteria needed to implement a final maintenance rule by inspecting maintenance practices at both good and poor perfoming plants; the staff should also continue to follow the development of industry consensus on the standards for maintenance.
FEBRUARY 26. 1988 ENCLOSURE O
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Comissioners Roberts and Fernthal believe that the approach the Comission takes in the area of maintenance in order to assure protection of public-health and safety is a major policy question. As such, the Comission should have the benefit of the views of both the public and industry (not to mention the ACRS). Therefore, they approve f a principle the staff's' i
recomendation in SECY-87-314 However, they believe that the ACRS's views should be considered by staff prior to any policy statement being published (especially in light of its February 16, 1988 letter).
They do not-approve making the current draft of this policy statement final at this time.
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addition to not providing for a formal public coment period on a major Comission policy, it does not include two important aspects of the staff's proposal.
First, it does not provide the focus;on those systems which are
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important to the safe operation of nuclear _ power plants. Second, instead of encouraging industry initiatives toward self-improvement as' the staff's proposal does, the current draft will most likely discourage further industry initiatives as utilities will await NRC rulemaking, thereby delaying continuing improvement in this area.
Comissioner Bernthal has the following further coments, which Comissioner Roberts supports.
The Comission first voted to produce a maintenance policy statement on April 27, 1987 via SECY-86-316. Only Comissioner Asselstine dissented, recomending that the Comission instead develop a rule.
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On September 11, 1987 Chairman Zech in COML2-87-51 proposed that "staff should proceed with an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and studies necessary to develop'a proposed maintenance rule...", a directive to which I raised no objection but I urged that these matters not be permitted to delay Comission consideration of Staff's final draft policy statement, then scheduled for October.
Five months later, the policy statement still has not issued, but the Comission ma,iority has apparently reached a final decision to proceed with a maintenance rule. Unfortunately, this issue has had little or no discussion by the Comission, by the Staff (understandably, since the Comission directed otherwise in SECY-86-316), and certainly has not had the benefit of public or ACRS coment.
Indeed, I er: informed that ACRS remains unconvinced of the appropriateness of a rule, and even raises serious concerns about the proposed policy statement (cf. February 16 memorandum froft ACRS Chairman Kerr to Chairman Zech).
In the Commission's January 7 -1988 briefing, the ED0 indicated Staff's own uncertainty as to the content of any such rule.
In view of all these factors. I believe it no longer makes sense for the Comission to issue a policy statement, interim or otherwise. ~ At this late stage, especially if the Comission wishes to proceed with a rule as early as August,_ industry is likely to note little and remember less any Comission policy statement -- they will simply await the proposed rule.
FEBRUARY 26, 1988
' ENCLOSURE O-
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1 There is, however, an appropriate procedural mechanism for circumstances such as this, when-1) it is not entirely certain (at least on the part of ACRS) that a rule is appropriate, and 2) if a rule is deemed necessary, there is great uncertainty as to what fom the rule should take. The appropriate procedure is an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, as
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first suggested by the Chaiman last September. Moreover, Staff's coemendable efforts to provide a more detailed description of maintenance 1
4 programs and components, systems and structures -- elements which could 1
have formed the core of an ANPR if not of the rule itself -- would not have been lost in the interim, but could immediately have been offered for public and ACRS coment.
In sum, I would have directed Staff to develop forthwith an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, for publication as soon as possible.
i Staff's draft policy statement should have fomed the basis for the i
ANPR.
(Alternatively, the policy statement drafted by Comissioners Carr and Rogers could also have served as the basis, while those Staff sections deleted in the C&R version could be presented separately for public concent). The current state of this SRM and i
i the many major policy issues raised therein are reason enough to choose the ANPR as an alternative course, fully consistent with the latest intent of the Comission. This course would not have delayed ultimate issuance of a maintenance rule should the Comission finally i
so choose.
Indeed, in all likelihood it would have expedited such issuance.
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l On additional matters related to maintenance of nuclear power plants, the following guidance are offered for staff action:
j a.
The Comission, with all Comissioners concurring, requests the staff to investigate the pros and cons of continuing to require the surveillance and testing of equipment while the plant is at power.
j The staff should assure that NRC does not require unnecessary tests or inspections that result in eouipment disat,sembly or unneceuary wear.
l Staff should infom the Comission of the bases of present requirements and any proposed modifications to present technical specification
)
reautrements.
b.
The Comission, with Comissioners Roberts, Bernthal, Carr and Rogers i
concurring, questions whether a dedicated maintenance inspection i
program encompassing of 75 percent of the utilities is an effective i
use of limited resources.
Instead, staff should continue its nomal practice of assigning inspection resources to those plants needing 4
more attention in the maintenance area, and should, in addition, e
conduct other visits, as necessary, to enhance the effectiveness of j
maintenance, c.
The Comission, with Chaiman Zech and Comissioners Carr and Rogers concurring, is concerned about the utilization of 1.ER cause codes as a maintenance perfonnance indicator due to the subjective nature of i
these codes; staff should continue efforts to develop maintenance 1
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FEBRUARY 26, 1988 ENCLOSURE O
indicators that are more quantifiable and meaningful.
In this connection attention is invited to Comissioner Rogers' memorandum of January 21, 1988 to the EDO.
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The Comission's five-year plan should be adjusted in accordance with the above directives.
In SECY-87-314, the staff indicates that "inadequate maintenance at some i
plants (emphasis added) has been a significant contributor to plant reliability problems and, hence, 15 of safety cor.cern". Comissioner
.j Roberts believes that in the near tenn the staff should focus its efforts on these plants to ensure corrective action is taken.
In the long term, in a more deliberative manner and with full benefit of input from the public.
ACRS and industry, he believes that staff should censider approaches to enhance the effectiveness of maintenance for all plants.
Comissioner Bernthal would also direct staff to assess the Japanese and other successful foreign maintenance programs and experience to determine, for example, whether a minimum required period of plant shut-down is key to an effective plant maintenance program.
B.
BRIEFING BY GE ON NEW STANDARDIZED PLANTS, 2:00 P.M., TUESDAY, 1/26/88 COMMISSIONERS' CONFERENCE ROOM, D.C. OFFICE (OPEN TO PUBLIC ATTENDANCE SECY Memo for the Record dated 2/25/88 The Commission
- ss briefed by representatives of the General Electric Company (GE) on the status of its advanced boiling water reactor submittal for licensing certification.
Presentations by the applicant were made by the following:
- Bertram Wolfe Vice President and General Manager
- Daniel R. Wilkins General Manager ABWR Program
- Joe Quirk, Manager ABWR Certification Chairman Zech made the following requests of GE:
The safety analysis report submittal, should address all differences in design and practices between the submittal for U.S. certification and the plant (s) to be built in Japan.
- Commissicner carr was not present.
FEBRUARY 26, 1988 ENCLOSURE O
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The submittal for plant certification should include the h
1 total balance of plant design.
Carefully test the acceptability of the advanced. electronic and' control _ systems.
Incorporate human factors engineering early'in the design development of the systems.
j Continue-to: work closely with the ACRS.
Commissioner Roberts requested GE to address at the-next commission briefing the apparent inconsistencies within. Tokyo Electric Power Company's brochure, "Advanced Boiling Water (The brochure states that-current BWRs in Japan are Reactor."-
constructed in 60 months but projects a construction period for l
z the Kashiwazaki plants of up to 83 months.)
Commissioner Bernthal recommended that GE address all technical issues before the licensing review boards ~ prior to certification.
At_his request, General Electric agreed to-address at'its,next Commission briefing the confidence level it intends to meet when designing its plent to an acgeptance criteria of core i
per reactor j
damage frequency of less than 10"frequency of exceeding 25 rem a i
per reactor-year.
The General Counsel's office informed the Commission of~ ongoing i
efforts to develop a simplified licensing process based on present regulatory authority.
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C.
STAFF REQUIREMENTS - BRIEFING ON STATIC ELIMINATION DEVICE' PROBLEMS, 1:30 P.M., MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1988 COMMISSIONERS' CONFERENCE ROOM, l
D.C. OFFICE (OPEN TO PUBLIC ATTENDANCE) - SECY to V. Stello, Jr. dated 2/25/88 l
The Commission
- was briefed by the staff and Administrator 1
-Frank Young of the Food and Drug Administration on'recent events with potential impact on public health and safety I
relating to the use of static eliminators containing polonium-
)
210 manufactured by the Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing
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Company.
- Commissioners Carr and Rogers were not present.
FEBRUARY 26, 1988 ENCLOSURE O w
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Chairman Zech requested the staff to investigate the need to broaden the distribution of the recall order of the polonium-210 static eliminator to other facilities (which may not have been identified in the original distribution list) and to inform the Commission of any decision permitting the continued use of the polonium-210 static eliminators.
The staff committed to inform the Commission whether or not c safety assessment was conducted as part of the licensing renewal process on changing the epoxy bonding material in the static eliminators.
D.
STAFF REQUIREMENTS - AFFIRMATION / DISCUSSION AND VOTE, 11:00 A.M.,
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1988, COMMISSIONERS' CONFERENCE ROOM, D.C. OFFICE (OPEN TO PUBLIC ATTENDANCE) - SECY to W. Parler, GC dated 2/25/88 I.
SECY-88 Response to Certified Question Propounded by the Appeal Board to the Commission in in the Matter of General Public Utilitics Nuclear (Three Mile Island Nuclear Station, Unit No. 1), Docket No. 50-289 (CH), ALAB-881 (Dr.cember 31, 1967)
The Commission, by a 5-0* vote, approved an order responding to a question certified by the Appeal Board to the Commission.
The Commission directed the Appeal Board to consider information regarding Mr. Charles Husted's job performance following the cheating incidents.
- Section 201 of the Energy Reorganization Act, 42 U.S.C 55841, provides that action of the Commission shall be determined by a "majority vote of the members present."
Commissioners Bernthal and Rogers were not present when this item was affirmed.
Accordingly the formal vote of the Commission was 3-0 in favor of the decision.
Commissioners Bernthal and Rogers, however, had previously indicated that they would approve this paper and had they been present they would have affirmed their prior votes.
FEBRUARY 26. 1988 ENCLOSURE O
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The Commission
- was briefed by the staff and Administrator Frank Young of the Food and Drug Administration on recent events with potential impact on public health and safety relating to the use of static eliminators containing polonium-210 manufactured by Minnesota Mining &-Manufacturing Company.
Chairman Zech requested the staff to review other manufacturers of polonium-210 static elimination devices for safety hazards and assure proper action, inform the IAEA of findings and concerns, and work with FDA and the Agreement States and aggressively investigate leads to assure the protection of the public health and safety.
f i
- Commissioner Bernthal participated via telephone connection.
Commissioner Rogers was not present.
l FEBRUARY 26, 1988 ENCLOSURE O j
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OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFECUARDS DIVISION OF SAFEGUARDS February 26. 1988 AND TRANSPORTATION O
DOCKET ATTENDEES /
E DATE/ TIME NtfeER LOCATION PURPOSE APPLICANTS INtC 00NTACT m
3/8/88
- 1213 Longworth House Classified Briefing to discuss R. Burnett, NNSS Burnett w
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Office Bldg.
NRC's design basis threat and (Rep Denny Smith) related subjects.
3/9/88
- 1324 Longworth House Open Hearing on the Threat of R. Burnett, NNSS Burnett 2:00 p.m.
Office Bldg Sabotage & Terrorism: to H. Thompson, MMSS (Rep Gejdenson)
Comunercial Nuclear Power G. McCorkle, NNSS Reactors in the U.S.
NRR Reps OCA Reps DIVISION OF LOW-LEVEL WASTE MANAGEMNT AND DECOP9tISSIONING 2/28-3/3/88 Tucs ;n, AZ Waste Management '88 Symposium J. Surmeier J. Surmeier M. Kearney 3/7/88 WFI Visit of Mr. Noriaki Wakabayashi, JAERI J. Creeves J. Greeves 10:00 4-8-1I LLWM Staff 3/10/88 H Street Briefing for Commmissioner Carr on M. Knapp S. Bahadur Mixed Waste J. Creeves S. Bahadur M. Weber M. Kearney R. Fonner DIVISION OF INDUSTRIAL AND MEDICAL NUCLEAR SAFETY g
5 h3/1/88 WFN 6BIl National Radiation Reps from letSS DCool
"' All day Protection Board visit Reps from RES with the United Kingdom Reps from UK Division of High-Level Waste Managespent CDNE
February 26, 1988 RII MEETING NOTICE h
DOCKET ATTENDEES /
E DATE/ TIME NUMBER LOCATION PURPOSE APPLICANT NRC CONTACT S
3/1/88 Juno Beach, FL Meeting with FPL/
Licensee, Enercon Grace 8:30 a.m.
Enercon's Senior and Regional Admin.
Evaluation Team Q
cn 3/2/88 Plami, FL Turkey Point Management Licensee, Reg. Admin.
Grace Meeting and selected RII Staff Members 3/3/88 RII Office Meeting with Senior G. Baker and Grace 2:30 p.m.
Executive VP, Georgia Regional Administrator Power Company, to discuss
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mutual interest items 3/15/68 RII Office Enforcerent Conference - Licensee, Deputy RA, Err.st 10:00 a.m.
Alabama Power Company - and selected RII Farley staff members 2
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REGION III MEETING NOTICES 5
WEEK ENDING: March 13, 1988 ATTENDEES /
DOCKET DATE/ TIE NUPBER LOCATION PUPPOSE APPLICANT NRC CONTACT l 3 3/11 50-282 Site (Prairie Island)
SALP Northern States Power C. J. Paperiello E
50-306 Q
P 8
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gFebruary 29, 1988 APPLICANT /
M DOCKET
'_ DATE/ TIME NUMBER LOCATION PURPOSE ATTENDEES RIV CONTACT E
3/2-3 WA
- FEMA, Regional assistance comittee meeting.
FEMA G. F. Sanborn Denton, TX 3/3 50-267 Region IV Meeting to discuss circulator speed PSCO T. F.Westerinan 1:00 table interchange, case support floor circulator QA level.
3/16-17 NA Region IV General meetings on definition of State Reps from R. J. Doda All Day various categories of radioactive waste CO, DC, UT, TX materials.
3/18 URF0 Meeting to discuss decomissioning plan. ANC & URF0 R. Heyer 10:00 E
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