ML20155K133
| ML20155K133 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 10/29/1998 |
| From: | Blaha J NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| SECY-98-249, SECY-98-249-R, WIR-981023, NUDOCS 9811130109 | |
| Download: ML20155K133 (21) | |
Text
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR RESULATCRY COMMISSidN*
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C'ASHINGTON. D. C. 20056 INFORMATION REPORT e$ oNY A"J h
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October 29. 1998 SECY 98-249 1
For:
The Commissioners From:
James L. Blaha. Assistant for Operations. Office of the ED0 Subiect:
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 23. 1998 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*
Human Resources I
Small Business & Civil Rights J*
Enforcement K*
State Programs L*
Public Affairs M
International Programs N
Office of the Secretary 0
Region I P
Region II P
Region III P*
Region IV P
Executive Director for Operations 0*
Congressional Affairs R*
- No input this week.
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T. Hiltz. OED0 9811130109 981029 PDR CONNS NRCC WEEKLYINFOREPT PDR g 4 y-b- l b WecN a
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i Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Items of Interest Week Ending October 23, 1998
)
Meetino with NET on 50.54(a)
On October 15, 1998. members of the staff (DRCH, DRPM, and OGC) met with staff l
from the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI). representatives from four licensees, and other members of the public to discuss the staff concepts for responding i
to the petition.
In particular. the staff discussed the proposed Direct Final i.
Rule (DFR) elements to elicit input from the meeting attendees on the efficacy l
Ot the DFR as an interim step to provide some additional flexibility for licensees to make changes in their quality assurance (OA) programs without needing to obtain NRC approval.
Some questions arose during the meeting.
l notably, the need for the staff to clarify what set of 0A program precedent l
changes would be available for other licensees to utilize.
NEI stated that the proposed DFR would provide enabling language to address, in the near term, I
the burden reduction that was sought in the original petition.
NEI further stated that the ultimate language that is inserted in 50.54(a) will be extremely important in order to assure uniform understanding of the conditions associated with the criteria which are intended to reduce the number of QA l
program changes which licensees need to submit for NRC approval.
Oconee 10 CFR 50.46 Exemotion For a One Time Test 1
i On October 21. 1998, the Oconee licensee plans to submit a request for exemption to 10 CFR 50.46 in order to conduct a series of one time tests of the onsite emergency electrical power distribution system. The licensee indicated that it will not meet its loss-of-coolant accident / loss-of-offsite power (LOCA/ LOOP) design basis for the two operating units during a brief period (less than one minute) at the beginning of each test on the shutdown unit.
The test is scheduled during the first or second week of November 1998.
The test series is expected to consist of two tests. however, each may be performed three times if problems occur or insufficient data is obtained.
Staff Meetina with Consumers Power on the Palisades Pressure Vessel Fluence On Monday. October 19, 1998, the NRC staff met with Consumers Power Company (CPC) staff, Westinghouse Electric Company staff acting as CPC's consultant and two individuals also acting as CPC's consultants.
The meeting was held at CPC's request in order to discuss the staff's request for additional information (RAI) concerning CPC's proposed reevaluation of the vessel fast i
neutron fluence which contributes to vessel embrittlement.
The discussion covered questions on dosimeter uncertainties and discrepancies in the measured values, cavity dosimetry and its usefulness in the measurement of the vessel fluence, the methodology used in the estimation of the fluence and compliance with the recommendations of ASTM Standard E944-96.
October 23, 1998 ENCLOSURE A
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Based on this discussion the licensee will prepare a final submittal in response to the staff RAIs. At the end of the meeting the licensee indicated that in the future they may revise the methodology to take advantage of possible biases in the method and they may recalculate the source term used in the early cycles to better define their value.
Three Mile Island Unit 1 GPUN intends to submit its license application for transfer of ownership after the NRC publishes its new rule regarding this procedure.
The proposed rule was published in the Federal Reaister for public comment on September 11, 1998, and the comment period expired on October 13. 1998.
The licensee is estimating mid-November for its submittal.
First Enerav Reaches Asset Transfer Aareement with Ducuesne Licht On October 15. 1998. FirstEnergy Corporation announced that it had signed an agreement in principle with Duquesne Light Company that would result in the transfer of 1.436 MW owned by Duquesne Light at eight generating units (both nuclear and fossil) in exchange for 1.298 MW at three power plants owned by FirstEnergy (all fossil). A definitive agreement on the exchange of assets is expected to be reached by the end of this year.
FirstEnergy Corporation is the parent holding company for The Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company. Centerior Service Company. Toledo Edison Company, and the Ohio Edison Company. The Ohio Edison Company is the parent holding company of OES Nuclear. Inc., and Pennsylvania Power Company.
FirstEnergy, which operates both Davis Besse and Perry, owns 100% of Davis Besse. 86.26% of Perry. 52.5% of Beaver Valley Power Station. Unit 1 (BVPS-1), and 86.24% of BVPS-2.
Duquesne Light, which presently operates the Beaver Valley facility, owns the remaining portions of Perry and Beaver Valley.
The asset transfer will result in FirstEnergy obtaining 100% ownership of both Perry and BVPS-1.2.
License transfers, pursuant to 10 CFR 50.80. and the conforming license amendments, pursuant to 50.90 will be required.
In keeping with Duquesne Light's announced plans for auctioning its generating assets, the three fossil units to be acquired by Duquesne Light are expected to be auctioned within the next six months.
In separate activities the staff continues its review of the proposed formation of the FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company (FENOC).
FENOC will be a wholly-owned subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corporation and will focus on the operation of their nuclear facilities.
Staff approval of FENOC is expected by l
the end of this calendar year.
October 23, 1998 ENCLOSURE A
.e Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Items of Interest Week Ending October 23, 1998 U.S. - Jaoan Technical Safeauards Bilateral Meetina On October 19-20. 1998. staff from the Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards, along'with staff from the Departments of State and Energy, and from the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, met with a Japanese delegation.
led by the Japanese Science and Technology Agency, to discuss issues related to the implementation of international safeguards by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The discussions included the following:
status of additional protocols to IAEA safeguards agreements, status of IAEA's strengthened safeguards measures, status of Japan's plutonium facilities.
technical support activities with IAEA and between the U.S. and Japan, status of IAEA safeguards implementation at the U.S. and Japanese facilities, and safeguards assistance to the Former Soviet Union countries.
Separate discussions were held to discuss the status and developing safeguards concepts for the Rokkasho Reprocessing Plant.
Meetina with Siemens Power Corooration On October 14. 1998, staff from the Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards met with the Siemens Power Corporation (SPC) licensing manager and staff to discuss potential safety and safeguards licensing changes that may be needed to support SPC's production of fuel pellets for TVA test nuclear power
' plant fuel assemblies using slightly irradiated material.
SPC is planning to
. process about 2,000 kg of low-enriched u'ranium product that has up to about 6 Bq/g of transuranics.
SPC will need an amendment to a current license condition which limits transuranic alpha activity to 3.3 Bq/g.
SPC is also looking into whether the processing of this material is within the threshold definition in 10 CFR 50.2 for production facilities that plutonium content not exceed 10'6 gram plutonium per gram U-235.
Site Visit to Procosed Private Fuel Storaae Facility Location On October 14, 1998, staff from the Spent Fuel Project Office accompanied technical assistance contractors from the Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses (CNWRA) and Oak Ridge National Laboratories (ORNL) on a visit to the proposed site of the Private Fuel Storage Facility (PFSF) on the reservation of the Skull Valley Band of Goshute Indians. The reservation is bordered by Tooele County Utah. The purpose of the visit was to provide CNWRA and ORNL with an opportunity to view the. site and surrounding areas of interest in more detail than had previously occurred. CNWRA is assisting the staff in the safety review of the application by Private Fuel Storage (PFS). LLC for a license to construct and operate PFSF. an away-from-reactor Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation.
ORNL is assisting the staff in the preparation of the PFS Environmental Impact Statement.
. October 23. 1998 ENCLOSURE B f
l' Potential New Soent Fuel Dual Puroose Cask Acolication On October 15, 1998, staff from the Spent Fuel Project Office (SFPO) net with representatives of Gesellschaft fur Nuclear Behalter (GNB) who are considering l
applications for two new dual purpose cask designs. The first design, the CASTOR X32-S is a forged steel cask capable of handling 32 PWR fuel assemblies. The second design, the CONSTOR X52, is a dual purpose cask consisting of a steel inner and outer shell filled with concrete as a l
shielding material capable of handling 52 BWR assemblies. GNB provided i
detailed information on the preliminary design. GNB indicated that they are targeting an application for the CASTOR X32-S in May 1999.
Representatives of l
International Fuel Containers Inc., GNB's marketing representative, discussed pursuit of potential U.S. users of the CASTOR design.
The staff discussed existing SFP0 policy on resource scheduling for cask reviews and answered technical questions about regulatory requirements for dual purpose casks.
i Meetino on Sedimentation at L-Bar Uranium Mill Tailinas Site On October 15, 1998, staff from the Division of Waste Management met with staff from Sohio Western, the licensee for the L-Bar site, to discuss possible buildup of sedimentation in the site runoff diversion channels. The meeting l
took place in New Mexico, and involved visiting several sites discussed in a recent report submitted by Schio Western consultants as analogs of the L-Bar site to estimate the quantity of sediment expected to be deposited yearly in l
the diversion channels. As a follow up to the meeting with the licensee, staff will issue a review of the analog report, The Schio Western representative requested that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission provide its review as soon as possible to allow Schio Western time to plan any necessary construction for the 1999 construction season, beginning in April 1999.
l State of Nevada Comments on the Nuclear Reaulatory Commission's Decision to i
Proceed with Develooment of its Site-Soecific Imolementina Rule for Hiah-level j
Waste Disoosal at Yucca Mountain On October 20-21, 1998, the Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste meeting was held in Amargosa Valley, Nevada. A representative of the State of Nevada gave a presentation expressing the State's views on 10 CFR Part 63 and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC's) decision to proceed with its implementing rule for geologic disposal of high-level waste at Yucca Mountain. The presenter 3
l indicated that the State objects to the Commission proceeding with its rule l
prior to issuance of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) site-specific standard.
In addition, Nevada believes that NRC is being driven by the Department of Energy's schedule and, in doing so, is violating the Energy l
Policy Act of 1992 by proceeding in the absence of an EPA standard.
The l
presenter indicated that the State objects to NRC changing its hearing process for a geologic repository from an adjudicatory hearing to a legislative hearing. The State also indicated that a high-level waste repository proposed for Yucca Mountain, Nevada, should not be licensed under standards that are October 23, 1998 ENCLOSURE B l
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.less protective than those applicable to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in pp New Mexico.
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The representative from the State indicated that there was a letter on the L
Governor's desk expressing these concerns with the approach laid out in SECY-98-225' and commenting on specific aspects of Part 63, - The letter is l -.
expected to be' signed in the near future and faxed to Chairman Jackson.
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. October 23'. 1998 ENCLOSURE B 1
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Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research Items of Interest Week Ending October 23. 1998 Meetina with Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)
Division of Systems Technology staff met with EPRI I&C and Human Performance staff at EPRI October 19-20. 1998. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss ongoing research activities in these areas and explore opportunities for cooperative future research. EPRI staff has expressed substantial interest in
-I&C research being conducted for RES under our Cooperative Research Agreement with the University of Virginia and our Hybrid Control Room research being conducted by Brookhaven National Laboratory. Additional interactions are planned over the next three months which may lead to establishing tasks in these areas which can be added to the current Memorandum of Understanding between NRC and EPRI.
Video Conference with EPRI On Tuesday, October 20. RES held its quarterly video conference with EPRI staff and management. Ashok Thadani and Margaret Federline represented RES.
with presentations and discussions led by several staff members from each of the RES Divisions.
EPRI was represented by senior EPRI management Robin Jones and Bendi Chexal, with presentations and discussion from their cognizant staff. The discussions touched on cooperative efforts for a broad range of subjects, including high burnup fuel, steam generator tube integrity, fire protection, risk-informed in-service inspection, aging issues, underwater welding of highly irradiated stainless steels, and the integrity of dry storage casks.
During the video' conference, Ashok Thadani and Robin Jones signed an addendum to the umbrella Memorandum of Understanding addressing information exchange on fire risk research. This was an important first step in furthering cooperation with the industry in this area. Another area of interest is EPRI's proposal for support of university research. The underlying interest is in developing a cadre of new engineers that have been trained in areas unique to nuclear energy.
EPRI's original proposal involved NRC participation in lectures and publication of course materials directed at nuclear reactor technology.
However, EPRI has recently expanded the proposal to consider jointly funding limited experimental research in university facilities.
RES is evaluating this overall proposal, particularly in light of the loss of our educational institution grant program.
EPRI and NRC staff are currently planning a joint Commission Briefing for early in CY1999.
Pro.iect Review Meetina for the Joint Containment Model Test Proaram l
The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MITI) of Japan and the NRC are engaged in l
a joint Containment Model Testing Program. The basis of the agreement is that Japan is responsible for the design and construction of the models while we are responsible for the analyses and testing of the models. Sandia National October 23, 1998 ENCLOSURE C f
Laboratories (SNL) is the contractor performing the work for the NRC. The Nuclear Power Engineering Corporation (NUPEC) is the contractor performing the work for MITI. A large prestressed concrete containment model (1/4 scale) is currently being constructed at SNL in Albuquerque, NM. The test to failure under pressure loading will be performed in FY 2000 and post test analyses will determine the ability of state of the art analytical methods to predict the actual failure modes and margins for prestressed concrete containments.
Methods of this type are used to predict containment capacities and fragilities in risk calculations and to estimate degradation effects for aging containment structures.
On October 14 & 15 the RES Project Manager and the SNL Principal Investigator met at NUPEC headquarters in Tokyo, Japan with NUPEC staff and it's subcontractors. The major topic on the agenda was a discussion of construction schedule adjustments required by NUPEC. For the last two years, construction on the model has had to slow down due to the downturn in the Japanese economy and its effect on the NUPEC budget. Since SNL must apply much of the instrumentation during construction, e.g. gauges on the outside of the liner had to be applied after the liner is erected but before the concrete is poured, SNL schedules have to be adjusted as well. A draft of schedule changes that will have the minimum cost impact on both sides was developed and its detailed implementation will be studied by both sides with the goal of fixing a schedule by the end of the calendar year.
American Electric Power Makes Presentation on DC Cook Sumo Evaluation Proiect On October 14, 1998, representatives of American Electric Power (AEP) made a presentation to RES and NRR staff on the methods, models, and tools used by AEP during the DC Cook Sump Evaluation Project.
The thrust of the AEP project was to understand the predicted response of the DC Cook emergency core cooling system (ECCS) to loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA) generated debris blockage of the containment sump. AEP and its contractors discussed the methods for identifying debris sources, estimation of debris generation and transport, and calculation of potential head loss due to debris accumulation.
RES has recently started a program Sump Debris Blockage Study, that will assess the potential e'fect of debris blockages in pressurized water reactor (PWR) containment on ECCS performance. The RES study has been designated generic safety issue 191.
Some of the methods, models, and tools used by AEP and its contractors to assess DC Cook (i.e., plant specific analysis), may be useful in assessing PWRs in a generic manner. The AEP presentation illustrated the level of complexity and detail involved in a comprehensive analysis of sump debris blockage.
1 October 23. 1998 ENCLOSURE C t
Office for Analysis and Evaluation of Operational Data Items of Interest Week Ending October 23, 1998 Reaion'II Trainino Members of ERB conducted post-emergency phase training for Region II senior management via video conference on October 21. 1998.
This training was conducted in preparation for NRC Region II participation in the Sequoyah Ingestion Exercise scheduled for November 5. 1998. This follows full NRC plume phase participation to be conducted on November 4. 1998.
PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATIONS 1.
PNO-I-98-048. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. (Vermont Yankee 1).
EARLY COMMENCEMENT OF PLANNED OUTAGE DUE TO A DEGRADING STEAM LEAK 2.
PNO-I-98-049. Safety Light Corporation. FIRE IN BUILDING ON SAFETY LIGHT CORPORATION SITE 3.
PNO-I-98-049A. Safety Light Corporation. FIRE IN BUILDING ON SAFETY LIGHT CORPORATION SITE
-4.
PNO-II-98-044. Camden-Clark Memorial Hospital MEDICAL EVENT INVOLVING DOSE TO FETUS 5.
PNO-II-98-043. Shepherd Tissue. REPORTED EXCESSIVE HAND EXPOSURE l
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October 23, 1998 ENCLOSURE D l'
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Office of Administration Items of Interest Week Ending October 23. 1998 Security Guards at NRC Headauarters The arrangement by DFS to have armed GSA Federal Protective Officers (FPO) at the White Flint complex expired October 23, 1998.
Their presence was a temporary measure until NRC's contract security guard force obtained the appropriate Maryland State peraits to carry weapons.
NRC's security contractor has obtained the required weapons permits for a number of the guard force personnel to ensure coverage both during the work week and on weekends.
Restack The current phase of the Restack project (10th floor) is progressing on schedule. The new carpet and wall covering have been installed and workstation installation began on October 17, 1998.
Move coordination meetings have been held to facilitate the move in early November.
U.S. Enrichment Corooration (USEC)
USEC has submitted a draft version of their Security Plan for the Protection of Classified Matter relative to their proposed license application for Advanced Vapor Laser Isotope Separation (AVLIS).
This plan will be a part of the license application scheduled to be submitted to NRC in October 1999.
Comments on the draft plan are being prepared by DFS.
NRC Headouarters Facilities Contract The solicitation for bids on the contract to provide facility operation and maintenance services for NRC Headquarters buildings was issued on October 21, 1998. Contract proposals are due on December 4, 1998.
Medical Use of Bvoroduct Material: Workshoo (Part 35)
A document announcing a public workshop concerning the NRC's proposed rule presenting a comprehensive revision of its regulations concerning the medical use of byproduct material and the proposed revision of the Medical Use Policy Statement was published in the Federal Register on October 16, 1998 (63 FR 55559). The workshop will be during the Organization of Agreement States" All
' Agreement State meeting. The workshop will be held on October 31. 1998.
Chances. Tests. and Exoeriments (Parts 50. 52. and 72) l A proposed rule that would amend the regulations concerning the authority for licensees of production or utilization facilities to make changes to the facility or procedures, or to conduct tests or experiments without prior NRC October 23, 1998 ENCLOSURE F l
-" approval was published in the Federal Registe on October 21, 1998 (63 FR r
_36098). :The propose rule 'would clarify which changes, tests, and experiments require evaluation.and the criteria that determine when NRC approval is needed. The. comment. period for this action closes December 21. 1998.
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October 23.'1998 ENCLOSURE F El' p-l.
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l Chief Information Officer Items of Interest i
Week Ending October 23. 1998 l
Freedom of Information and Privacy Act Reauests received durina the 5-Day Period of October 16. 1998 - October 22. 1998:
i Radio-luminescent exit signs. reports on named licensees (F0IA/PA 99-013)
Michigan Community Action Agency Assoc.
correspondence with NRC's General L
Counsel.
(F0IA/PA 99-014)
Maine Yankee, enforcement actions, all documents associated with 96-299. 96-L 320,96-375. 96-397.97-034, 97-147 and 97-559.
(F0IA/PA 99-015) l Radioactive spills or releases. Round Hill. VA in Loudoun County.
(FOIA/PA 99-016) l-Materials license holder listing.
(F0IA/PA 99-017)
Enforcement records related to:
Entergy Corp.: System Energy Resource: and Grand Gulf.
(F0IA/PA 99-018)
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MLTS database.
(FOIA/PA 99-019)
I Training Manual. 10 CFR Part 20. " Standards for Protection Against Radiation."
(FOIA/PA 99-020) l Uranium Mill Tailings impoundments. 1975 through 1989 time frame. Plateau Resources site in Shootaring Canyon. UT.
(FOIA/PA 99-021)
Named individual, investigations / allegations. Susquehanna Steam Electric Station.
(F0IA/PA 99-022) l i
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October 23. 1998 ENCLOSURE G t
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Office of Human Resources Items of Interest Week Ending October 23, 1998 Health Center Proarams Offered to NRC Headauarters Emolovees During the month of October, several health programs were offered to Headquarters employees. A three-pa'rt Prostate Cancer program-education, prostrate special antigen blood test, and digital examination--was offered and 31 examinations were performed. A number of women participated in the Breast Cancer and Cervical Cancer education and screening programs.
On October 14.
1998. Lyn. Turner of HealthSouth Imaging spoke on advances in mammography.
On October 13, 1998. 480 influenza vaccinations were given. Additional nurses were on hand to ensure a smooth and efficient process.
Flu shots will be available in the Health Center, by appointment, through November 6. 1998.
Arrivals MERRIFIELD. Jeffrey S.
COMMISSIONER OCM HARRIS. Larry-MC&A PHYSICAL SCIENTIST NMSS PULLIAM. Timothy BRANCH CHIEF OCF0 Retirements ARMSTRONG Gary SR AUDIOVISUAL PROD SPEC ADM WIGGINTON Sarah SR DIRECTIVES SPEC ADM Departures WILLIAMS. LaCarrol INT'L RELATIONS ASSISTANT OIP l
October 23, 1998 ENCLOSURE I l
Office of Public Affairs Items of Interest Week Ending October 23, 1998
- Media Interest Chairman Jackson was interviewed by the A&E network for its special on the 100 most influential people of the last 1000 years, due to air in the spring.
The Patriot-Ledger (Harrisburg PA) is planning a story on Thermo-Lag.
Several reporters attended'the Oconee scoping meeting on license renewal in South Carolina.
A San Francisco television station is airing a story on the Humboldt Bay decommissioning.
Press Releases Headquarters:
98-188 Note to Editors: Meeting Date Changed 98-189 NRC Schedules Meeting on Reporting Requirements for Nuclear Power Plants 98-190-Note to Editors: ACRS Reports Received 98-191 NRC Status Report on Efforts to Head Off Computer Problems in Year 2000'98-192 Commissioner Merrifield Takes Oath of Office: Dicus Swearing-In Set for Next Week Regions:
I-98-116 NRC to Discuss Apparent Violations With N.Y. Nuclear Gauge. User III-98-53 James E. Dyer Named Regional Administrator for NRC Region III IV-98-39 NRC Opts Not to Cite Envirocare Over Special Nuclear Materials Issue l
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October 23, 1998 ENCLOSURE M L.
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Office of International Programs Items of Interest Week Ending October 23, 1998 l
IAEA Technical Coooeration Meetina The OIP IAEA desk officer Jodi Lieberman, will attend, at the IAEA's invitation and cost, a planning meeting for three large regional nuclear safety projects run by the Technical Cooperation Department November 3-6 in Vienna. Austria.
NRC has been invited to participate in this meeting because l
of NRC's high. level of participation in those and other technical cooperation nuclear safety projects and the U.S. financial contribution to those projects.
NRC attendance at the meeting will enable us to provide important input to l
planned 1999-2000 activities for these projects.
Y2K Meetina on Soviet-Desianed Reactors Representatives from OIP and NRR (Jodi Lieberman and Jerry Wermiel) attended a meeting hosted by the Office of Senior Coordinator for Nuclear Reactor Safety
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at the State Department on Friday. October 23.
The meeting was held to L
discuss the issue of Y2K as related to Soviet-designed reactors, as well as to introduce Morg; i Libby, the U.S. Cost Free Expert who will spend a year at the l
1AEA working '
l2K issues as th2y related to Soviet-designed and other reactors. The seeting, which was also attended by John Koskinen, the head of the President Council on Y2K produced a very fruitful discussion of potential prob. ems at Soviet-designed reactors as a result of the " Millennium 1
Bug." possible courses of action, both bi-and multi-laterally, and a plan of action to be authored for Mr. Koskinen to report on at an upcoming December Y2K meeting which he is to attend.
l October 23, 1998 ENCLOSURE N
Office of the Secretary Items of Interest Week Ending October 23. 1998 Documents Released Date Subject to Public Decision Documents
- 1. SECY-98-168 7/9/98 Proposed Rulemaking Activity Plan SRM on 98-168 10/19/98 (same)
Commission Voting 10/19/98 (same)
Record on 98-168
- 2. Revised SRM on SECY-10/23/98 Request for Commission Waiver of the 98-179 Staff Cost Recovery Policy for Work Performed for the U.S. Agency for International Development
- 3. SECY-98-199 8/19/98 Proposed Rule: 10 CFR Part 31 -
" Requirement for Those Who Possess Certain Industrial Devices Containing Byproduct Material to Provide Requested Information" SRM on 98-199 10/23/98 (same)
Commission Voting 10/23/98 (same)
Record on 98-199 Negative Consent Documents
- 1. SECY-98-226 9/29/98 Issuance of a Section 274f, Atomic Energy Act Order to Exempt Envirocare of Utah Inc. From the Licensing Requirements for Special Nuclear Material in Diffuse Waste that will be Regulated by the State of Utah SRM on 98-226 10/22/98 (same)
Chmn Jackson's 10/20/98 (same) comment on ^8-226
- 2. SECY-98-23;.
10/2/98 Authorization of the Trojan Reactor Vessel Package for One-Time Shipment for Disposal SRM on 98-231 10/22/98 (same)
October 23, 1998 ENCLOSURE O i
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-3 Cmr. McGaffigan's
-10/7/98 (same)
Comment on 98-231 Information Papers 1, SECY-98-217 9/18/98 Weekly Information Report - Week Ending September 11. 1998
- 2. SECY-98-229 10/2/98 Weekly Information Report - Week Ending September 25. 1998 1
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- 3. SECY-98-230 10/2/98 Insights From NRC Research on Fire Protection and Related Issues Memoranda
- 1. M981023 10/23/98 Affirmation Session, 10/23/98 - I.
SECY-98-227 - Northeast Nuclear Energy Co. (Millstone Nuclear Power Station, Unit No. 3). Docket No. 50-
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423-LA-2, Memo & Order (Resolving 1
l Standing Issue). LBP-98-22 (Sept. 2.
1998): II. SECY-98-233 - Yankee Atomic Electric Co. (Yankee Nuclear Power Station), Docket No. 50-029-l LA. Memo & Order (Decision on l
Standing). LBP-98-12, 47 NRC 343 (June 12, 1998): III. SECY-98-240 -
Hydro Resources. Inc.: Presiding i
Officer's Memo & Order Setting Schedule and Ruling on Bifurcation.
9/22/98 Commission Corresoondence l
1.
Letter to The President dated October 15, 1998 designates NRC's liaison to the Presidential Design Awards Program (incoming letter dated September 23, 1998 also released).
2.
Letter to Energy Secretary Bill Richardson dated October 15, 1998 provides MOU between the NRC and the DOE concerns governing NRC funded work performed at the DOE laboratories (incoming letter dated September 16, 1998 also released).
3.
Letter to Dr. Junko Matsubara, Japanese Nuclear Safety Commission, dated October 13, 1998 concerns his recent visit (incoming letter dated September 15, 1998 also released).
October 23. 1998 ENCLOSURE 0 i
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Letter to Louisiana Governor M.J. (Mike) Fostei. Jr., dated 0ctober 13.
1998 solicits continued participation in the NRC's State Liaison Officer program.
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Letter to Connecticut Governor John G. Rowland dated October 13. 1998
. solicits continued participation in the NRC's State Liaison Officer program.
Federal Reaister Notices Issued L
N!$ce$fHarng
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10 CFR Part 50: Financial Assurance Requirements for-Decommissioning Nuclear Power Reactors: Correction.
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-October 23, 1998 ENCLOSURE 0 1
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Region I Items of Interest Week Ending October 23. 1998 Permaarain Products Inc.
The Pennagrain Products. Inc. (PPI) SDMP site is located near Karthaus. PA.
PPI is licensed for a cobalt-60 pool irradiator, and for strontium-90 and cobalt-60 contamination remaining on-site from previous occupants.
Operations from previous occupants ceased in the late 1960's.
Site decommissioning started in July. 1998.
On October 12, 1998. Region I was notified that airborne contamination of strontium-90 had spread from a hot cell to other areas of a building at PPI. A Region I inspector responded to the site on October 13, 1998. The release occurred in an access area to one of the facility's hot cells due to a possible problem in the hot cell ventilation system.
Contamination spread throughout the immediate adjacent areas and into an administrative area in the same building.
Several individuals on site had skin contamination and one of those individuals has entered into a bioassay program to evaluate a possible intake. The licensee stated that their surveys demonstrated that there were no offsite releases.
PPI committed that no additional decommissioning work would commence in the building until they received NRC Region I agreement with steps taken to prevent recurrence.
Recovery operations continue at the site with decommissioning expected to restart in a couple of weeks.
Commonwealth of PA Staff Visit to Reaion I On October 19. 1998. Region I. DNMS, Decommissioning and Laboratory Branch staff hosted individuals from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Bureau of Radiation Protection (BRP) to discuss in-situ gamma spectrometry. The BRP individuals examined the equipment used by Region I for in-situ gamma spectrometry, observed operation of the equipment, and toured the regional lab facilities.
Danbury Hosoital - Cremation of an Iodine-125 Imolant Patient On October 19. 1998, the RS0 from Danbury Hospital in Danbury CT. informed NRC Region I of the pending cremation at a Stamford CT crematorium of an iodine-125 implant patient. The patient had been implanted August 28, 1998 with 11.5 (mci) mil 11 curies iodine-125 seeds.
Only five seeds totaling 1.5 mci (0.3 mC1 each) remained in the body after maximum removal by the licensee.
Danbury Hospital's RSO plans to monitor the event along with the radiation specialist from the State of Connecticut.
October 23, 1998 ENCLOSURE P i
Region II Items of Interest Week Ending October 23, 1998 florida Power and Liaht Comoany (FP&L) - Turkey Point On October 22, 1998, the Regional Administrator and selected Regional staff members met with FP&L officials to discuss the results of NRC's Systematic Assessment of Licensee' s performance (SALP) for the Turkey Point. A rating of superior was achieved in all four functional areas for the third consecutive SALP period.
This was the last SALP meeting conducted in Region II prior to suspension of the SALP process.
Following the presentation, a public meeting was held with State and Local officials to discuss activities for the Turkey Point facility.
October 23, 1998 ENCLOSURE P
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Region IV Items of Interest Week Ending October 23, 1998 Public Meetino with Omaha Public Power District A public meeting was conducted on October 20, 1998, in the Region IV office between Omaha Public Power District management representatives and the NRC.
The meeting was to continue discussions regarding the results of a common cause analysis that was conducted by the Fort Calhoun Staff.
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i October 23, 1998 ENCLOSURE P I