ML20198P487
| ML20198P487 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 01/08/1998 |
| From: | Blaha J NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| SECY-98-004, SECY-98-004-R, SECY-98-4, SECY-98-4-R, NUDOCS 9801220133 | |
| Download: ML20198P487 (19) | |
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January 8. 1998 POLICY ISSUE g SECY 98-004 For: The Commissioners l From: James L. Blaha. Assistant for Operations. Office of the EDO i
Subject:
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 26, 1997 AND JANUARY 2.1998 Contents Enclosure Nuclear Reactor Regulation A*
- Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards B Nuclear Regulatory Research C**
Analysis and Evaluation of Operational Data D*
l General Counsel E**
l Administration F**
Chief Information Officer G Chief Financial Officer H*
- Human Resources 1*
Small Business & Civil Rights J**
Enforcement K**
State Programs L*
- Public Affairs M s International Programs N**
Office of the Secretary 0 VM q I' l
Region I Pc Region Il P*
Region III Region IV P* b 'w V Ib P*
Executive Director for Operations 0*
- y - DH H O Congressional Affairs R** C O^"" ^,
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Contact:
M. Leach. OEDO SECY NOTE: To be made publicly available in 5 working days from 0 nvm sA the date of this paper
Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Items of Interest -
Week Ending December 26, 1997 Society of Nuclear Medicine and American College of Nuclear Physicians Meeting 5 December 18, 1997, the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards staff met with the President and Vice President-Elect of the Society of Nuclear Medicine (SNM). President of the American College of Nuclear Physicians (ACNP) the SNM/ACNP government relations liaison, and an attorney representing the SNM/ACNP. The meeting was held at the request of the SNM/ACNP.
Representatives of the SNM/ACNP provided Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff with a document entitled "A Framework for the Regulation of Nuclear Medicine." The primary focus of the document, as well as the meeting, was to provide NRC with information regarding the risks associated with the practice of nuclear medicine. The organizations also used this meeting as an opportunity to provide staff with draft comments on the Working Group's proposed revision to the Medical Policy Statement and revised requirements for a radiation safety comittee. quality management program, and reporting of medical events and precursors. The staff is placing a copy of the document in the Public Document Room, and will consider the comments as part of the ongoing effort to revise 10 CFR Part 35.
Florida Institute of Technology Meeting On December 11-13. 1997 Fuel Cycle Licensing Branch staff visited the Florida Institute of Technology (FIT) to discuss license termination. FIT was authorized to possess one Pu-Be source and one subcritical assembly, both of which have been returned to the Department of Energy. The assembly consisted of- enriched uranium dispersed in a polypropylene " brick." Staff briefed the licensee on procedures for license termination, and FIT will provide decommissioning records to support the termination.
Nuclear Fuel Services Submittal of Amendment Application On December 23. 1997. Nuclear Fuel Services (NFS). Erwin. Tennessee, submitted to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission another portion of the amendment application for the new Navy fuel project. They expect to provide the complete amendment package by April 1998. This is a major license amendment that will be reviewed in conjunction with renewal of NFS's Special Nuclear Material License.
DECEMBER 26, 1997 ENCLOSURE B
1
~ Technical Review of Physical-Protection Guidelines'(INFCIRC 225)-
On December 8-12, 1997._- the' Director of the Division of Fuel Cycle-Safety and ' l Safeguards represented the Nuclear Regulatory Commission at-a technical-review ~ !
meeting of-the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA's) guidance document
.INFCIRC/225/Rev 3. "The Physical Protection-of Nuclear Material." in j Cardarache France. A representative from the Department of Energy and from. ;
Sandia National Laboratories also participated from the U.S. _-A total of- t sixteen representatives from nine countries participated-in the review. This ;
- meeting was held to prepare for a review conference on the subject document-planned for May 1998 in Vienna. Austria. - The goal of'the group was to identify any proposed changes needed to address technological advances.
-political concerns or changes in implementation practices that have occurred ,
since the.last review conference in 1993. The IAEA will now consolidate and ,
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distribute the proposed changes to the technical review participants-for final Lreview before sending to IAEA member states for consideration prior to the. l formal review conference in 1998.' -
Licensee Performance Review for Framatome Cogema Fuels On December 19. 1997, the Acting Deputy Regional Administrator for Region II.
the Director.- Division-of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards. Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, and other representatives from Region 11 participated in a management meeting with Framatome Cogema to discuss the findings of the Licensee Performance Review (LPR) conducted for the period July 1. 1995, through September 28. 1997. During the meeting Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Framatome Cogema management each discussed their ;
perspective of the licensee *s performance in the areas of safety operations, safeguards, radiological controls, facility support, and licensing activities.
-The results of the LPR will be used as a basis for-establishing the NRC inspection program for the facility during the next year, Safeguards Bilateral Meetings From December 8-19. 1997 Safeguards bilateral meetings were held by representatives of the U.S. Government (i.e., the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Department of Energy. State, and Arms Control and Disarmament Agency) with EURATOM France Germany, and the United Kingdom. These meetings o addressed the implementation ~ of the traditional International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards measures as well as the safeguards strengthening measures in each State. EURATOM has begun discussions with the IAEA toward negotiating the Protocol to the EURATOM-IAEA safeguards agreements. They are-targeting-presentation of the agreements to the IAEA Board of Governors in March 1998.
t DECEMBER 26.-1997 ENCLOSURE B p ,
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Trilateral Initiative Meeting On December 11. 1997, meetings on the Trilateral Initiative were held with Russia and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna. These meetings are preliminary to drafting of new nuclear material verification agreements to enable IAEA to verify sensitive forms of nuclear material irreversibly released from the Russian and U.S. Nuclear weapon programs.
Although the U.S. and Russia could agree on several preliminary issues associated with the agreements. IAEA funding will be a difficult issue to resolve.
Internationel Atomic Energy Agency Safeguards in the U.S.
On December 19. 1997, the Subgroup on International Atomic Energy-Agency (IAEA) Safeguards in the U.S. (SISUS) met at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Headquarters to review the status of IAEA safeguards implementation in the U.S. The principal topic of discussion was a paper prepared by the Department of Energy on the continuing application of IAEA safeguards / verification measures to nuclear materials deemed excess to the U.S. Nuclear weapon programs. The impetus for the paper was a request from the Subcommittee on International Safeguards and Monitoring for an analysis of the purpose, funding and legal basis for continuing IAEA involvement with these materials.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission Visit to the Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses on Tank Waste Remediation Systems On December 16. 1997. Tank Waste Remediation Systems (TWRS) section staff visited the Center for Nuclear Wcste Regulatory Analyses (CNWRA). The purpose of the visit was to familiarize Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff with some of the capabilities of CNWRA, and to discuss changes to and future work for CNWRA under this project. The changes to the current operating plan with CNWRA were necessitated by an Office of Management and Budget passback resource reduction for fiscal year 1999: NRC staff associated with the project will undertake, on a somewhat delayed schedule, some of the activities originally planned to be accomplished by CNWRA.
DECEMBER 26, 1997 ENCLOSURE B
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Office of Nuclear Material Safety and_ Safeguards Items of-Interest- :
.WeekiEnding January 2, 1998 ]
U.S. Enrichment Corporation Petition Submittal; y
- On December 30, 1997, the_U.e "nrichment Corporation (USEC) submitted a ;
Petition to the Commission'r,-we m ng Commission review of-the Director's J December 8.-'1997, decision denying in part USEC's July!31 -~1997. Certificate'
-Amendment Request regarding Paducah Plant Seismic Upgrades. - Although the Director _ granted an 18 month extension of the original December 31. 1997, .
. Compliance Plan Commitment completion date,- the Director denied USEC's request
__that the-18 months extension run from the time that the Staff completes its review of the final design information, updated SAR seismic analyses and updated seismic risk analysis. The staff has not committed to performing a review of the fina' design information as part of the resolution to the-Paducah Compliance. Plan Issue 36. Given the significance of the seismic risk (identified structural vulnerabilities with the existing structure) and the earlier Ccmpliance Plan commitment .to complete this modification as a condition of certification, the Director concluded that .further delay presents an unacceptable risk and is contrary to the public health and safety.
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' JANUARY 2.!1998- ENCLOSURE B
Chief Information Officer Items of Interest Week Ending December 26. 1997 Freedom of Information and Privacy Act Requests Received during the 4-Day Period of December 19-24. 1997:
St. Lucie, identified allegation files.1994 to 1997 time frame.
(F01A/PA-97-484)
OIG Management Implications Report (OIG/MIR-2). NRC Response to Whistleblower Retaliation Complaints. (F01A/PA-97-485)
Metcoa Radiation Site ("Pesses Site"). Pulaski, PA. (FOIA/PA-97-486)
Sewage sludge and ash samples from publicly owned treatment works, methodology for collecting and analyzing. (F01A/PA-97-487)
Steam generator degradation international plants. (F01A/PA-97-488)
Maintenance Rule Training. (F01A/PA-97-489)
Title transfer to 00E, low-level radioactive waste sites. (F01A/PA-97-490)
Personnel and security records on named individuals. (F01A/PA-97-491)
DECEMBER J;s.19?- ENCLOSURE G
Chief Information Officer 1
' Items of Interest
. Week-Ending January;2.;1998 L
-Freedom of Information'and Privacy Act Requests Received during the 4 Day-Period of December 25. 1997 - January 1. 1998:
Horsepower needed for 100~ MW to 2.1 GW unit, and the type and size of the >
l generator. (F01A/PA 97-492)
Gutierrez-Palmenberg Inc. license package. (F01A/PA-97-493)
~
-So. Texas Project. 1997 investigations regarding alleged discrimination. ,
(F01A/PA-97-494)
Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant, characterization report document referenced-on page 8-3. (F01A/PA-97-495)
Waste Control Specialists. Inc.. LLRW disposal site in Andrews County.'TX.
(F01A/PA-97-496) i 4
l; JANUARY 2. 1998- ,
ENCLOSURE G
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Office of Human Resources items of Interest Week Ending January 2, 1998 Arrivals CULLISON, David REACTOR ENGINEER (PFT) RI Rstirements BRADY, Raymond DIR, DFS (PFT) ADM CLARK, Richard SR PROJECT MANAGER (PFT) NRR CONRAN, James SR PROGRAM MANAGER (PFT) AEOD CORTEZ, Jose SR RESEARCH PROG COORD (PFT) RES CUNNINGHAM, Lemoine CHIEF, SAFEGUAh0S BR (PFT) NRR DUNN, Sheryl HR TEAM LEADER (PFT) HR ENNIS, Jerry RADIATION SPECIALIST (PFT) All EVANS, John DEP DIR, DBA (PFT) OCFO FADDEN, Mary SAFEGUARDo PROG ANALYST (PFT) NMSS FORNS, Wanda BUDGET & FNANCE ASST (PFT) RIV FORTUNA, Shirley PROJECT MANAGER (PFT) NMSS GERHARDT, Charles SR OOMPUTER SPEC (PFT) ClO HOLLAND, Willism REACTOR INSPECTOR (PFT) Ril HOYLE, Anne PROCUREMENT SPEC (OPFT) ADM JOHNSON, Allen PROJECT MANAGER (PFT) NRR JOHNSON, Barbara MGMT INFO SYS ANALYST (PFT) NRR LAZARUS, William BRANCH CHIEF (PFT) Rl MATTIA, Mary Jo BRANCH CHIEF (PFT) NMSS RANKIN, William SR PROJECT MANAGER (PFT) Ril REPPERY, Brian INFO SECURITY SPEC (PF") ADM ROONEY, Vemon SR PROJECT MANAGER (PFT) NRR _
JANUARY 2. 1998 ENCLOSURE I
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ROSS, Frederick HYDAOGEOLOGIST (PFT) NMSS SHOTKIN, Louis SR TECH ADVISOR (PFT) RES SWETLAND, Paul PROJECT ENGINEER (PFT) RI TELFORD, Lois SR FACILITIES SECURITY SPEC (PFT) - ADM TOLSON, Virginia RESOURCE MGMT ANALYST (PFT) RI TUCKER, Edward CIVIL RIGHTS PROG MGR (PFT) SBCR ,
VAN CISE, Lillie ADMIN ASSISTANT (PFT) OCM 4
WADE, lzetta UNIT CHIEF (PFT) lRM !
WATKINS, Robert STAFF ASSISTANT (PFT) 01G WECHSELBERGER, Jacob TECHNICAL PROGRAM MGR (PFT) OEDO i WILLIAMS, Garrie SR COMPUTER ANALYST (PFT) ClO WRIGHT, Earl SR RADIATION SPECIALIST (PFT) Ril Departures }
BLACK, Eric VOUCHER EXAMINER (PFT) Rl HIGGINS, William REACTOR ENGINEER (PFT) RI KALMAN, George SR PROJECT MANAGER (PFT) NRR
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JANUARY 2. 1998 ENCLOSURE I
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Office of Public Affairs !
Items of Interest f 2 Week Ending December 26, 1937 :
l Media Interest ;
Newsday requested information on ocean disposal of LLW in the 1950s.-
Press Releases Regions:
1-97-161 NRC Proposes $4.400 Civil Penalty for Stroh Brewery :
Company for Unauthorized Disposal of Gauges Holding Radioactive Material i IV 97-77 NRC Staff Proposes $55,000 Fine Against Entergy for '
Violations at River Bend Nuclear Plant i
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" DECEMBER 26.-1997 ENCLOSURE M.
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Office of Public Atfairs items of Interest
- Week Ending January 2. 1998 Press Releases Regions:
I-97-162 NRC to Take Public Coment on Yankee Rowe Termination Plan 1-97-163 NRCAssignsNew55niorResidentinspectortoSeabrook 1-97-164 NRC Assigns New Resident inspector to Indian Point 3 Plant 11 97 89 Oconee Nuclear Pla' lated " Superior" in One Area.
" Good" in Three Other Areas of NRC Assessment Report t 11 97 90 NRC Staff to Discuss Apparent Violations With West Virginia Nuclear Pharmacy on January 6 111-98 01 NRC Predecisional Enforccment Conference on Apparent Violations of NRC Requirements at Quad Cities Station January 2. 1998 ENCLOSURE M i
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0 Office of the Secretary items of Interest Week Ending December 26, 1997 Decision Documents Released to the Public Document Cate Subject [
- 1. SECY-97173 8/1/97 Potential Revision to 10 CFR 50.65(a)(3) of the Maintenance Rule to Require Licensees to Perform Safety Assessments
- SRM on 97173 12/17/97 (same)
Comission Voting 12/17/97 (same)
Record on 97-173
- 2. COMSECY 97 J30 11/19/97 S.981. The Regulatory improvement Act of 1997
- SRM on 12/1/97 (same)
- Chmn Jackson's 11/26/97 (same) comments on COMSECY-97-030 Comm. 01cus' 12/8/97 (same) comments on .
COMSECY- 97-030
- Comm. Diaz' 12/8/97 (same) cor nts or COMSECY- 97-030 Comm. McGaffigan's 12/5/97 (same) comments on COMSECY- 97-030
- 2. COMNJD-97-006 9/10/97 Commission Procedures: Further issues
- SRM on 10/23/97 (same)
COMNJD 97-006
- Chmn Jackson's 9/19/97 (same) comments on CONMNJD 97-006 DECEMBER 26, 1997 ENCLOSURE 0
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- Comm.- Dicus' 9/15/97 (same) comments on
_ _ COMNJD 97-006
- Comm. 9/26/97 (same)
McGaf figan's comments on COMNJD 97 006 i l
Information Papers Released to the Public i
- 1. SECY 97-289 12/15/97 Proposed NRC Generic Letter,
" Degradation of Steam Generator ,
l Internals * )
l Memoranda Released to the Public-
- 1. J. Blaha to Comr. 10/27/97
- Annual Commission Briefing on the Assistants iIntegratedMaterialsPerformance )
Evaluation Program (IMPEP)
- SRM 12/22/97 (umM _
Federal Register Notices Issued l
- 1. Application for a License to import Radioactive Waste: A111cd Technology Group I
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DECEMBER 26, 1997 ENCLOSURE 0 l
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"ffice of the Secretary items of Interest Week Ending January 2, 1998 WW Document Date Subject I Information Papers Released to the Public
- 1. SECY 97 291 12/15/97 Revising Rules on Generally Licensed and Exempt Products and the Manufacturers / Distributors of These Products (10 CFR Parts 30. 31. and 32)
Hemoranda Released to the Public
- 1. M971218 12/30/9/ Staff Requirements - Meeting with Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste (ACNW), 10:00 A.M., Thursday, December 18, 1997 January 2, 1998 ENCLOSL'E 0
Region I ,
Items of Interest Week Ending December 26, 1997 Predecisional Enforcement Conference with J&L Testing Company. Inc.
J&L Testing is a nuclear gauge licensee whose NRC license has been suspended since 1995. On December 18. 199i, a predecisional enforcement conference was held with the licensee to discuss the findings of M Investigation Report No.
1 95 044 (which concluded that licensee officials had provided incomplete, inaccurate information to NRC in 1995) and the DOL Final Decision and Order issued on September 23, 1997, which found that the licensee had discriminated against a former employee. At the conference, the licensee's legal counsel stated that there had been noncompliance, but it was not willful or with careless disregard. The licensee described its perspective on the root cause of the violations ard described corrective actions taken and planned. The President of J&L Testing contended that she did not fire the former employee who filed the ccnplaint with DOL. Legal counsel for the licensee indicated that an appeal of the DOL findings is pending in the 3rd Circuit Court. NRC staff is considering appropriate enforcement.
Philadelphia Veterans Administration Medical Center (PVAMC)
On December 15, 1997, the Deputy Regional Administrator and other NRC Region I staff toured the PVAMC facility. During the tour, personnel were interviewed to assess the impact on radiation safety of existent communications conflicts and problems that were idt..tified during Inspection Nos.96-001 and 97 002.
On December 18, 1997. Region I management representatives were joined by NMSS/IMNS management and DE staff at the PVAMC facility. The licensee's planned corrective actions were discussed. A Confirmatory Action Letter (CAL) was issued December 19, 1997.
PADEP Meeting On Friday, December 19, 1997. Region I DNMS representatives John Kinneman, John McGrath, and Betsy Ullrich met with representatives of the Pennsylvania Department c' Environmental Protection (PADEP) to discuss the renewal of the Interstate naclear Services Corporation (INS) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. INS operates a nuclear laundry in Royersford. Pennsylvania. The NPDES permit is the first of two authorizations INS needs from PADEP to allow them to discharge effluent from the laundry directly to the Schuylkill River. PADEP representatives discussed their review of the calculations provided by INS regarding release of radioactive material to the river, and the additional information they intend to request from INS regarding the radioactive material and doses to the p Wlic from the proposed releases.
DECEMBER 26, 1997 ENCLOSURE P
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Region II ;
Items of Interest !
Week Ending January 2. 1998 i
Duke Energy Corporation -- Oconee ;
On December 28, 1997 Oconee Unit I was shutdown from 54 percent power upon confirmation of primary-to secondary leakage in the 1A steam generatcr in excess of the Technical Specification leakage limit of 150 gallons per day :
(gpd). The unit was in power escalation. returning from a refueling outage.
when the 400 gpd leakage was detected. Subsequent licensee 1nspection of the :
1A steam generator revealed leakage from two welded plugs and nine tube to- l tube sheet welds. These deficiencies have been resolved and post maintenance testing is currently underway. Region II has been following the licensee's i corrective actions. ;
i Duke Energy Corporation -- Catawba At 7:22 p.m. on December 30, 1997, the Catawba Nuclear Station declared a Notice of Unusual Event due to excessive reactor coolant leakage from Unit I reactor facility. The plant was increasing reactor coolant system temperature and pressure in preparation for restart.after a refueling outage. The leakage was detected when reactor coolant drain tank level, temperature, and pressure experienced step increases. After the plant was partially cooled down and depressurized, the licensee identified the cause of the excessive leakage to be two partially open reactor coolant loop drain valves. No leakage was i detected after these two valves were shut. There was no radioactive release ,
outside of the reactor containment facilities due to this leakagt The NRC ;
resident ins)ectors monitored the licensee's investigation and corrective -
actions to tle leakage. including 24-hour coverage at the time of the leakage.
South Carolina Electric and Gas Company - Summer On January 2. 1998, the unit was shutdown from 100 percent power when a s Technical Specification 72-hour LC0 for the A emergency diesel generator expired,- The EDG failed the TS surveillance test on December 30, 1997, due to oscillations in generator frequency after the output breaker was opened following the one hour full load run. This was the fourth failure of the A EDG since November 12. 1997. The three previous failures were caused by oscillations in generator load (kilowatt) when tied to the grid for testing.
The licensee indicated that the previous failures were caused by problems with 1 the electrical governor control unit and a relay in the isochronous/ droop circuit.-
For the current failure the licensee has replaced the mechanical unit of the
- Woodward governor and a transition arm associated with the fuel racks. Based ,
on its investigations and the problems identified with each of the failures t
. January 2.--1998-- ENCLOSURE P 6
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the licensee believes the four failurer are indepeadent. Testing of the A EDG ;
was completed satisfactorily and the A EDG was declared operable on January 5.
1998. - A conference call with tM licensee and Region 11 staff was held on January'4. 1998, to discuss the licensee's repair efforts and future plans.
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Region 111 ;
Items of Interest Week Ending January 2. 1998 American Electric Power Management Change -- D. C. Cook Nuclear Power Station On January 2, 1998. American Electric Power cnnounced a management change affecting the D. C. Cook Nuclear Power Station. Douglas E. Cooperwilljoin I the utility's nuclear generation group as Plant Manager of D. C. Cook. He will report to Site Vice President John Sampson. Prior to his appointment.
Mr. Cooper was Nuclear Division Corrective Action Manager at Commonwealth Edison Company. The appointment is effective January 5. 1998.
-January 2. 1998 ENCLOSURE P
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Region IV Items of Interest i Week Ending December 26, 1997 1
Management Meeting with Mid American Power in Region IV On December 22, 1997, members of the management team of Mid American Power met with the Regional Administrator and members of the Region IV staff. The purpose of the meeting was to introduce Mr. Wayne Smi h. Mid America's new Vice President Operations. Mid American is curren+ under a contractual agreement with the Nebraska Public Power District for 1 percent of the generating capacity of the Cooper Nuclear Station. This s s eement, which is ,
scheduled to expire in 2004, makes Mid-American the majority consumer of Cooper's power.
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DECEMBER 26, 1998 ENCLOSURE 0
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