ML20199A673

Weekly Info Rept for Wk Ending 980116

ML20199A673
Person / Time
Issue date:	01/22/1998
From:	Blaha J NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO)
To:
References
SECY-98-009, SECY-98-009-R, SECY-98-9, SECY-98-9-R, WIR-980116, NUDOCS 9801280051
Download: ML20199A673 (25)

Text

i January -22;1998 SECY 98 009 For: The Commissioners From: James L. Blaha. Assistant for Operations. Office of the EDO

Subject:

WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING JANUARY 16, 1998 Contents Enclosure Nuclear Reactor Regulhtion A Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards B Nuclear Regulatory Research C*

Analysis and Evaluation of Operational Data- 0 General Counsel E*

Administration F Chief Information Officer G Chief Financial Officer ^

H*

Human Resources l 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 11 P Region 111 P Region IV P Executive Director for Operations 0*

Congressional Affairs R*

• No input this week. Ogid D

,Ma* L g James L. Blaha Assistant for Operations. OED0

Contact:

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INFORMATION REPORT January 22, 1998 SECY 98 009 For: The Commissioners from- James L. Blaha. Assistant for Operations. Office of the ED0

Subject:

WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING JANUARY 16. 1998 Contents Enclosure Nuclear Reacter Regulation A Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards B Nuclear Regulatory Research C*

Analysis and Evaluation of Operational Data D General Cour.se'i 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 1 P Region 11 P Region 111 P Region IV P Executive Director for Operations 0*

Congressional Affairs R*

• No input this week.

Ed ames BIaa ssistant for Operations. OE00

Contact:

B. McCabe. OEDO

0 k '

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation  !'

Items of Interest Week Ending January 16, 1998  ;

CRGR Meeting to Discuss Proposed Generic Letter on the Year 2000 Computer i Problem l On January 13, 1998, staff from the D' vision of Reactor Controls and Human  !

Factors and the Generic Issues and Environmental Projects Branch met with the  !

Committee for the Review of Generic Requirements (CRGR) to discuss the staff's i proposed generic letter on the Year 2000 computer problem. The staff is pro)osing to issuo a generic letter requiring submittai of information from

- eac1 nuclear power plant licensee confirming that they are implementing a program to addren the Year 2000 computer problem and certify they are Year 2000 ready and in compliance with their license. The CRGR concurred with issuance of the proposed generic letter for public comment based on staff agreement o incorporate several minor wording changes and clarifications to the proposed generic letter. The staff expects to publish the draft generic .

letter for public connent by the end of January 1998. j Oconee i

On December 28, 1997. Unit I was shut down due to indication of approximately 400 gallons per day (gpd) steam generator tube leakage in the 1A steam generator. The technical specification leakage limit is 150 gpd from any one steam generator. By aerforming a nitrogen pressure " bubble" test, the ,

licensee determired tlat the leakage path was through the space between the outside of various steam generator tubes and the +ubesheet, through the rolled  ;

region and the tube-to tubesheet weld. Only one of these paths was responsible for a significant leak rate and some of the other leakage paths may have existed for some time. These problems are being corrected by rewelding, rerolling, plugging, or plug replacement as appropriate, followed by eddy current tests. A total of 38 tubes have been plugged. In addition, a ,

large number of periphery tubes (2222) have been rerolled because a  :

significant number of seal weld problems were found dur1ng the pressure tests -

due to hole distortion from tube sheet bow and because these locations see the greatest axial loading during cooldown. A bubble test of the IB steam generator also detected a number of weld leaks, which have also been repaired.

The leaks have not been classified as steam generator " tube" leaks, since the leakage path is not through the steam generator tube wall. It should be

.noted, however.-that during plant o)eration leakage from this path would be detected and classified as tube leacage and the appropriate limits applied since it is not possible to determine if the leakage is through wall or through the weld. Unit restart is expected late next week.  ;

1 b January 16, 1998 ENCLOSURE A L

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• St. Lucie Unit 1 - Completion of Steam Generator Replacement Outage i

' St. Lucie Unit 1 .sturned to service on January 7. 1998, after completing a j~

79 day outage cut ing which both steam generators were re) laced. The replacement steam generators were manufactured by Babcocc & Wilcox. Canada.

The original steam generators are being stored temporarily on site and will be transported to Barnwell. South Carolina..for permanent burial. '

No significant problems were encountered during the outage relating to the i steam generator replacement.

Crystal River 3 -- Preparations for Restart [

Florida Power Corporation (FPC) met with the staff on January 12, 1998, to I discuss the status of preparations to restart CR3. The unit has been shut down since September 1996, and a Confirmatory Action Letter specifies NRC

- authorization prior to restart. Modifications to the plant are nearing l

, completion, and the licensee expects to be ready to enter Mode 4 within the  !

next few days. Region 11 is continuing to inspect corrective actions associated with the deficiencies that caused the extended shutdown. NRR it continuing to review license amendment requests that are needed prior to s restart. Before and during the extended shutdown, several Unreviewed Safety l Ouestions (US0s) were identified. Resolution of a number of the US0s required review and approval of license amendments prior to restart.

Management Chances -- Cooper Phil Graham, VP of Nuclear Energy at Cooper, announced his resignation, effective February 2.. John Swr les. General Manager of Engineering at WNP-2.

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has been named to succeed Graham. Graham will remain at Cooper for an unspecified transition period, ,

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hauary 16. 1998: ENCLOSURE A l

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4 Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards items of Interest Week Ending January 16, 1998 Meeting on High Enriched Uranium Inventory Report On January 14. 1998, staff from the Division of fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards met with Department of Ensrgy (DOE) staff and contractors to discuss the status of DOE's High Enriched Uranium Inventory Report. The report will address the history of high enriched uranium from its initial productico through mid-1996. Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff previously provided comments to DOE on the initial draft of the report and were meeting to discuss how DOE intended to address those comments.

food and Drug Administration Workshop -- Minimizing Medical Product Errors:

ASystemsApproacjj On January 8. 1998. staff from the Offices of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards and Nuclear Regulatory Research attended a U.S. Food and Drug Administration-sponsored workshop entitled hinfm/t/ng Medical Product Errors:

A Systems Approach. Approximately 200 attendees represented a spectrum of stakeholders from the medical, drug, device journalism insurance, and regulatory communities.

Most discussions revolved around human error; means to reduce the likelihood of such error; means to increase the likelihood of early detection and correction of error which does occur; and means to increase the likelihood of early and effective mitigation of the ef'ects of error which is not detected and correci.ed. The participants stresstd the need for a systems approach which recognizes the influence that oM,er elements (e.g., hardware, software.

practices and procedures, and management and organization) of medical systems have on human performance.

Heeting with Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries. Inc.

On January 13, 1998. staff from the Division of Industrial and Medical Nuclear Safety met with the Director of Risk Management of the .tnstitute of Scrap Recycling Industries. Inc. (ISRI). ISRI requested the meeting to discuss the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's current regulation of generally and specifically licensed devices, and how NRC and other government agencies respond to situations where radioactive material enters the public domain.

ISRI indicated that the information will be useful when formulating its comments on the NRC staff's recommendations provided in SECY-97-273.

~1mproving NRC's Control Over, and Licensees' Accountability for. Generally and Specifically Licensed Devices." ISRI will participate in the January 21.

1998. Commission Briefing on SECY 97-273.

January 16, 1998 ENCLOSURE B

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f Hesting with International Atomic Energy Agency Representative i On January 13, 1998, the Spent Fuel Project Office (SFP0) hosted H. Peter {

Dyck, Scientific Secretary and Unit Head for-Spent Fuel Storage, of the  ;

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Mr. Dyck presented a sumary of i the IAEA meetings related to the interim storage of spent fuel during 1997, i ano discussed meetings planned for 1998. SFP0 provided Mr. Oyck with an overview of licensing and inspection activities pertaining to interim storage of spent fuel.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission Licenses the Uranium Hill Tailings Disposal Site i at Rifle, Colorado .

On January 13, 1998. Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff formally accepted the  !

Department of Energy's (DOE's) Long Term Surveillance Plan (LTSP) for the ,

permanent uranium mill tailing; dis)osal site at Estes Gulch near Rifle, Colorado. With the acceptance of tle LTSP, NRC has licensed 00E for the t long term custody, maintenance, and monitoring of the Estes Gulch disposal site to ensure the continued protection of the public health and safety, and the environment.

Rifle is one of the 24-abandoned mill tailings sites designated for DOE's remedial action by the end of 1998, under the Uranium Hill Tailings Radiation Control Act of 1978. The Estes Gulch disposal site was used tn 90E to receive the mill tailings from the two abandoned uranium processing si;.cs near the town of Rifle, On January 9,1998. NRC staff issued its Completion Review 1 Report for the remediation of the two processing sites near Rifle, and thereby concurred ls DOE's certification that it had completed the remediation of those sites in accordance with the NRC-approved Remedial Action Plan and the Environmental Prowction Agency standards in 40 CFR 192. The approval of the LTSP and the licensing of the permanent disposal site marks the completion of DOE's planned surface remedial action activities for the two abandoned mill tailings sites near Rifle.

License Termination and Site Transfer Protocol with the Department of Energy for Uranium Mill Sites On January 8, 1998, the Uranium Recovery Branch, Division of Waste Management, signed a " License Termination / Site Transfer Protocol Between the Department of Energy and the Nuclear Regulatory Comission," Under Title II of the Uranium Hill Tailings Radiation Control Act of 1978, the Department of Energy (00E) has a statutory obligation to accept title to uranium and thorium byproduct material disposal sites for lora cerm surveillance and maintenance, if the

- state-in which the site is located does not elect to become the long-term "

_ custodian. ' After termination of the specific hcense for a Title 11 site and the acceptance by the NRC of the site Long Term Surveillance Plan, the site will come under the DOE's general license for custody and long-term care-pursuant to 10 CFR.40.28,

• General License for Custody and Long-Term Care of

- January 16, 1998 ENCLOSURE B i

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Uranium or Thorium Byproduct Materials Disposal Sites." This protocol, which has been under development for the past couple of years by the Uranium Recovery Branch staff and the DOE formalizes the successful approach currently being implemented by the NRC and the DOE. To date, two Title 11 sites, the Atlantic Richfield Company's Bluewater. New Mexico site, and the Tennessee Valley Authority's Edgemont. South Dakota site have been placed in the custody and long term care of DOE under 10 CFR 40.28.

Issuance of Source Material License for Crownpoi .. New Mexico. Mining Project During the week of January 5, 1998, staff from the Division of Waste Management issued a five year source material license (SUA 1508) to Hydro Resources. Inc. (HRI) to construct and operate the Crownpoint Uranium Solution Mining Project in W.Kinley County. New Mexico. The staff based its licensing action on the results of its environmental and safety reviews documented in '

the final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS). dated February 1997, and the Safety Evaluation Report (SER). dated December 1997 respectively. In the FEIS. the staff concluded that HRl's proposed Crownpoint Project was environmentally acceptable, and that potential impacts of the project could be mitigated. These mitigative measures are enumerated as conditions in the license. Additionally, the staff concluded in its SER review that issuance of a license, with certain conditions specified therein, would not be inimical to the common defense and security, or to the public's health and safety, and otherwise meets the applicable requirements of 10 CFR Parts 19, 20, 40. and 71, and the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended. Seven petitions for leave to intervene have been filed on the project. The presiding office has held a determination of standing in abeyance pending com)letion of the staff review.

The issuance of the license is the last step in t7e staff's review, and it is expected that the determinations of standing will now be made.

State of Nevada Accepts Custody of Beatty Low level Waste Disposal Site On December 30. 1997, the State of Nevada accepted permanent custody of the former iow-level radioactive waste disposal site at Beatty. Nevada, according to a press release issued by American Ecology Corporation. The site operated from 1962 until it stopped accepting waste at the end of 1992. Since then, the licensee, U.S. Ecology, a subsidiary of American Ecology, has been implementing closure act1vities at the site (e.g., decontaminating and/or dismantling buildings) and monitoring its performance. Transfer of the license to the State is 6ne of several steps eventually leading to termination of the license at the end of the institutional control period, which may be as long as 100 years.

January 16. 1998 ENCLOSURE B

4 Office for Analysis and Evaluation of Operational Data items of Interest Week Ending January 16. 1998 Auxiliary Feedwater System Reliability Draft Report The Safety Programs Division of the Office for Analysis and Evaluation of Operational Data has issued the draft report. " Auxiliary / Emergency Feedwater System Reliability. 1987-1995." 1NEEL/ EXT-97-00740. for internal and external peer review. The objective of this study was to assess auxiliary feedwater system performance in 72 PWRs based on operating experience from 1987-1995.

Major findings of the study include the following:

• There were no failures of the entire system identified in 1.117 unplanned system demands.

e The operational unreliability of the AFW system calculated by arithmetically averaging the results of 72 plant-specific models is 3.4 x 104. Individual results vary over two orders of magnitude, from 1.5 x 4

104 to 6.2 x 10 .

• The variability in AFV system unreliability reflects the diversity found in AFW system designs, and to some extent variation in results among plants with similar designs.

• AFW designs composed only of turbine-driven pumps were the least reliable, while AFW designs comprising three redundant trains of diverse design (e.g., two motor and one turbine driven pumps) were more reliable.

The benefit of additional trains of redundancy to AFW system reliability is offset by the effect.*; of common cause failures, o Performance is generally comparable to or better than previous evaluations for regulatory programs such as the station blackout rule, the ATKS rule. and the standard review plan.

Loss of Offsite Power Experience Draft Report The Safety Programs Division of the Office for Analysis and Evaluation of Operational Data has issued the draft report. " Evaluation of Offsite Power Events at Nuclear Power Plants: 1980-1996." INEEL/ EXT-97-00887, for internal and external peer review. The objective of this study was to update the loss of offsite power (LOSP) estimates (frequency and probability of recovery) found in NUREG 1032. " Evaluation of Station Blackout Accidents at Nuclear Power Plants." This study used the same data classification scheme as in NUREG-1032 i.e.. plant-centered grid, and severe weather-related events. In addition to estimating LOSP frequency dwing power operation, the study also estimated the LOSP frequency during shutdown. Major findings of the study include the following:

January 16, 1998 ENCLOSURE D

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e The frequency of LOSP events at power is 0.04 per plant critical year for  !

plant centered events. 0.009 per plant critical year for severe weather '

events, and 0.002 per plant critical year for grid-related events.  ;

e The LOSP frequency from grid-related events is a very small contributor

to LOSP events.

e Plant centered LOSP events at power do not show plant-to-plant  ;

variability while plant centered events during shutdown do show  !

significant statistical plant-to-plant variability.  ;

-e Severe weather LOSP events showed site-to-site variability for both power and shutdown modes, e LOSP frequencies and durations are generali., 1etter than those calculated in support of the station blackout rulemaking 'n NUREG 1032.

Dosimety and Whole Body Counting Course The annual presentation of the Internal Dosimetry and Whole Body Counting  !

(H 312) course was conducted in Region I, January 12 - 16. This course is normally presented at the Technical Training Center in Chattanooga. TN. In

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order to mare efficiently meet the geographical needs of the attendces, the course was moved to Region I. The course provides an understanding of the sources and-hazards of internal deposition of radioactive material. Course

- topics include protective measures for preventing internal contamination,

protocols for internal monitoring of personnel, and dose evaluation models. ,

Also covered are methods of evaluating extent of internal contamination i including whole body counting procedures, calibration, quality assurance and data analysis and biological sampling procedures, types of samples which may be collected, collection procedures, processing of samples, quality assurance programs and reporting of results. Twenty one people were in attendance: 10 NRC, and 11 Agreement State personnel.

PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATIONS  ;

1. PNO-1 98-001. Nth Consultants Ltd., DAMAGED PORTABLE GAUGE AT A TEMPORARY JOBSITE IN EXTON,.PA 2.- PNO I-98 001. Nth Consultants. Ltd., DAMAGED PORTABLE GAUGE AT A TEMPORARY JOBSITE IN EXTON. PA (UPDATE)

3. PNO II 98-002, Wilson, Miller. Barton & Peak, Inc., STOLEN PORTABLE GAUGE l 4,- PNO-III-98-004, Indiana Michigan Electric Co. (Cook 1 2), STARTUP -

l ACTIVITIES DELAYED January 16, 1998 ENCLOSURE D t

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5. PNO-lll-98 005. Wisconsin Centrifugal. Inc.. NOTIFICATION OF RADIOGRAPHY EQUIPMENT MALFUNCTION AND OFF-SCALE DOSIMETER

6. PNO Ill 98 006. Commonwealth Edison Co. (Zion 1 2). ANNOUNCEMENT OF PERMANENT SHUTDOWN OF ZION STATION

7. PNO-IV-98 001. Entergy Operations. Inc. (Arkansas Nuclear 1). UNPLANNED PLANT SHUTDOWN GREATER THAN 72 HOURS ,

8. PNU IV-98 0001A. Entergy Operations. Inc. (Arkansas Nuclear 1). UNPLANNED PLANT SHUTDOWN GREATER THAN 72 HOURS

9. PNO IV-98 002. A. G. Wassenaar. Inc. THEFT OF MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE January 16, 1998 ENCLOSURE D

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i Office of Administration  !

Items of Interest  !

Week Ending January 16. 1998 l Deliberate Misconduct by Unlicensed Persons (Parts 30, 32. 40. 50. 52, 60. 61.  !

70. /1. /2. 110. and 160) l A final rule that extends NRC's deliberate misconduct rule to six categories I of persons was published in the Federal Register on January 13. 1998 (63 FR  :

189 )) . The deliberate misconduct rule placed licensed and unlicensed >ersons on notice that they may be subject to enforcement action for actions t1at i cause a licensee to be in violation of the Commission's requirements or for i deliberately providing incomplete or inaccurate information to the NRC. The  :

final rule extends this rule to applicants for NRC licenses: a>plicants for. .

or holders of, certificates of compliance:' applicants for, or 1olders of.  ;

early site permits, standard design certifications, or combined licensees for E nuclear power plants: applicants for, or holders of. certificates of  !

registration: applicants for, or holders of. quality assurance program -i subcontractors, and consultants of a)provals; t1ese categories of persons. The fina rule becomes effective February 12.

and employees, contractors,l 1998.

Drua Testing NRC conducted a total of 1.073 drug tests of all types during CY 1997. Of these. 835 were random tests. 203 pre employment tests. 17 follow up tests, and 18 tests were conducted under 10 CFR Part 10 procedures. All tests were negative except for one NRC employee who under random selection procedures. ,

tested positive for marijuana in March 1997. In addition, one contractor, under 10 CFR Part 10 procedures, tested positive for marijuana in August 1997.

Assistance to Montgomery County On January 12, 1998, at the County's Fire end Rescue Services station in Darnstown. MD. NRC was presented with a certificate in recognition and appreciation for NRC's ... generous contribution in support of the Montgomery County Department of Firo and Rescue Services Bomb Squad." The Office of Administration worked closely with this organization following their handling, alon

• ADM'g with Maryland s help, along withState otherauthorities, of a sus)1cious organizations, ena) led thepackage here County toatfully NRC.staff and equip this important emergency response Bomb Squad.

Closed Circuit Television (CCTVF Upgrade Project Underground boring for conduit and cabling to new exterior camera locations ,

has been com)1eted. Work continues on the installation of conduit and cabling through the 31-level to electrical closet locationt.. Theprojectincludesthe replacement of black and white cameras with color cameras and enhant.ements to the Central Alarm Station in 0 P1-34. Work is scheduled to be completed in May 1998.

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! January 16.:1998' ENCLOSURE F

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Chief Ir. formation Offiter items of Interen Week Ending January 16, 1998 Freedom of information and Privacy Act Requests Received during the 5-Day Period of January 9, 1998 - January 15, 1998:

General Electric suspension of non testing related SBWR design review activities. (F01A/PA-98-011)

AT&T and/or Bell Laboratories, repoi ts, allegations, and investigations.

(f01A/PA 98 012)

Irradiated fuel transportation environmental impact statement. 10/9/97 to present, and Sandia Laboratory review. (F01A/PA 98 013)

Crystal River, 4/96 incident involving named individual. (F01A/PA 98-014)

MLTS datebase for state of New Jersey on disk. (F01A/PA 98-015)

U.S. Nuclear Corporation and/or Nuclear Corporation of America. Burbank. CA.

(F0!A/PA-98 016)

South Texas Nuclear Project, O! reports related to discrimination and interview transcripts of nar:d individual. (F01A/PA-98 017)

South Texas Nuclear Project, 01 reports related to discrimination and interview transcripts of named individual. (F01A/PA-98-018)

January 16, 1998 ENCLOSURE G

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Office of Human Resources  !

Items of Inte,est Week Ending January 16, 1998 Senior Executive Service (SES) Recertification Completed The 1997 SES recertification process has now been completed. A total of 148 executives were recertified. The next recertification cycle will be in 2000, i

Arrivals C10CCO,Jeff Hydrologist NMSS ECTON, Ann Management Analyst NMSS.

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FNiEY, Mary V.. Investigator 01/ Rill

. HSUEH, Kevin Health Physicist OSP KEMKER, Brian Resident inspector Rlll MOORE, Linda Secretary Ril MORRISSEY, Thomas Project Engineer RII SIMPKINS, Doug Radiation Specialist RIV SIMPSON, Patrick Resident Inspector RIII SMITH, Gina Management Analyst O1G WERTZ, Geoffrey Reactor Engineer RI Retirements None Departures MILLINGTON, Elizabeth Personnel Assistant RIl i

January 16, 1998 ENCLOSURE I

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Office of Public Affairs items of Interest Week Ending January 16. 1998 Media Interest-There was extensive press coverage in Region 111 at the announcement that the Zion plant was shutting down.

The media reported on Chairman Jackson's meeting with INRA in Walnut Creek.

and the tours of Lawrence Berkeley Lab-and Yucca Mountain.

The New London Day is planning a story on the resident inspector program generally, and at Millstone: The New York Times is also planning a story on Millstone.

Press Releases Headquarters:

98 5 Note to Editors: ACRS meeting on February 3 98 6 Note to Editors: ACRS meeting on February 4 98 7 Note to Editors: ACRS meeting on February 3 4 98 8-- NRC to End Environmental Monitoring Program With St.ites 98 9 NRC Advisory Committee on Reactor bafeguards to Meet in Rockville. Maryland. February 5 7 98-10 NRC Schedules Third Workshop on Demonstrating Compliance With Cleanup Criteria 98-11 NRC Cites Five Star Products and Construction Products Research for Alleged Discrimination Against Employee Regions:

I-98 4 NRC Proposes $55.000 for Violation at Susquehanna Plant

Agency Cites Lack of Controls Over Emergency Diesel Generator 1-98 5 NRC Schedules Two Meetings on Hope Creek Apparent Violations 11-98 4 NRC Staff Issues Assessment of Performance at Watts Bar Nuclear Power Plant January 16, 1998 ENCLOSURE M

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111 98 5 Latest NRC Assessment Rates Point Beach " Good" in Operations. Maintenance, and Plant Support and

" Acceptable" in Engineering 111-98 6 NRC Special Inspection Team to Present Findings at Mallinckrodt Medical. Inc.

111 98 7 NRC Staff Proposes $110.000 fine for Fitness For Duty Violations at Zion Nuclear Power Station IV 98 4 International Nuclear Regulators Continue Conference With Visits to Livermore Laboratory. Yucca Mountain IV-98 5 NRC. Entergy to Discuss Apparent Violations at Waterford 3 Nuclear Plant January 16, 1998 ENCLOSURE M i

Office of International Programs  ;

Items of Interest <

Week Ending January 16, 1998 ,

Visit of Mr. Lars Hogberg. Swedish Nuclear Power inspectorate l On Thursday, January 15. Lars Hogberg. Director General of the Swedish Nuclear .

Power Inspectorate, met with the Commissioners and senior staff to address a l nunber of issues of mutual interest. These included regulatory excellence, i inspection practices, decommissioning radiation limits. NEA membership and i safety research interests. Mr. Hogberg stated that he is now the Swedish Governor to the IAEA.

Meetings Between NRC and Japanese Representatives On Thursday. January 15. en eight member government. industry and utility -

delegation from Japan, led by Dr. Michio Ishikawa, Nuclear Power Engineering Corporation (NUPEC), met with representatives from NRR. RES and OGC to discuss ,

welding inspection practices in the U.S. and NRC's regulatory requirements.  ;

"Less than genuine data" on post weld heat treatment has been identified for' over two hundred suspicious welds at fourteen BWRs in Japan.

On Thursday, January 15. Mr. Hideto Aoki NUPEC, and Mr. Toshimitsu Homra.

Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute, met with RES. Japan is interested in NRC's rebaselining analyses of operating reactors using NUREG 1465 source '

term. The visitors provided preliminary analysis of implementing NRC's revised source 6erm at Japanese reactors.

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t January;16. 1998 ENCLOSURE-N

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Office of the Secretary Items of Interest Week Ending January 16. 1998 Document Date Subject Information Papers Released to the Public

1. SECY-97-298 12/24/97 Revised Schedule for the Staff's Review of the A0600 De.iign Certification Application

2. SECY-97-301 12/29/97 Status Report of the Nuclear Regulatory Comission Task Force on Oversight of the Department of Energy, in Response to COMSECY OE3 - DSI 2 (Roort No. 2)

3. SECY-97-302 12/29/97 Improving Access to Research Information

4. SECY-98-001 1/2/98 Staff Requirements Memorandum 951219A - Briefing on Mechanisms for Addressing Generic Safety Issues

5. SECY-98-003 1/6/98 Organizational Conflict of Interest Regarding Department of Energy Laboratories Memorenda Relec ed to the Public

1. M971014A 1/14/98 Staff Requirements: Briefing on EE0 Proaram. October 14. 1997 Commission Correspondence Released to the Public

1. Letter to Kaname Ikeda, Director General of the Japanese Science and Technology Agency, dtd 1/5/98. concerns the possible assignment of a foreign assignee for a 12-month period.

2. Letter to Senator Fred Thompson dtd 1/5/98, provides comments on S.981, the Regulatory Improvement Act of 1997.

3. Letter to William Parent. Harvard University, dtd 1/5/98, provides NRC's nomination for the 1998 Inno"ations in American Government Awards.

4. Letter to Senator Joseph Lieberman and Representative John Dingell. dtd 1/5/98, concerns status of implementation of recommendations in GA0 report on Nuclear Employee SLfety Concerns.

January 16, 1998 ENCLOSURE 0

5. Letter to Congress, dtd 1/5/98, provides the annual report on the gaseous diffusion plants located in Paducah. Kentucky and Portt acuth. -Ohio.

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. 10 CFR Part 50; Docket No. PRM-50-63A: Peter G. Crane: Receipt of an Amended Petition for Rulemaking: Extension of Comment Period to February 17. 1998,

2. Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards: Notice of Meeting on February 5-7, 1998.

3. Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards: Meeting of the ACRS Subcommittee on Planning and Procedures: Notice of Meeting on January 30 and 31, 1998.

January 16. 1998 ENCLOSURE 0

.4, Region I ,

Items of Interest Week Ending_ January 16, 1993-NTH Consultants. Ltd.  ;

On January 12, 1998 at about 2:30 p.m.. the licensee's Radiatiun Safety

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Officer (RS0) contacted the NRC Reg!on I staff to report that one of their Troxler Model 3440 portable gauges had been damaged by a bulldozer at a construction site in Exton, Pennsylvania. -The gauge contained cesium-137 and americium-241 sealed sources of approximately 8 and 44 millicuries respectively. Region I dispatched an inspector to the site to monitor and 1

assist in the licensee's recovery efforts. The licensee secured the site to 3revent unauthorized entry and contacted the manufacturer for guidance. The landle of the source rod had been sheared olf and the source rod was bent at a thirty degree angle, thus making retraction of the source rod to the shielded

- position impossible. Lead sheeting was wrapped about the source rod and the gauge was brought back to the licensee's storage facility in the gauge's transport case at about 1:30 p.m..-on January 13, 1998, for transfer to the manufacturer. The licensee determined that no personnel were injured, that the bulldozer was not contaminated, and that'no residual contamination was left behind at tne jobsite.

Eastern Testing & Inspection. Inc.

On January 14. 1998, the NRC terminated the June 6, 1996 Settlement Agreement between the licensee and the NRC. The Settlement Agreement, which required oversight and audits by an independent third party, resulted from staff inspection and an 01 investigation in 1995-96 which identified numerous violations of NRC requirements. The decision to terminate the Agreement was based on the -licensee's acceptable performance of licensed activities since

- the issuance of the Agreement.

Indian Point Unit 3 The' Indian Point. Unit 3. Special Inspection Team (SIT) completed its inspection this week and conducted an exit management meeting. The SIT was dispatched on December.19 1997, in response to an event of December 18. 1997, in which the No. 32. Residual Heat Removal Pump Breaker (Type DS-416) failed to open on demand at the completion of a surveillance test on the pump. The team

. noted that the licensee conducted testing of the failed breaker onsite to

_ support engineering diagnostic review. The licensee then used the test

. results to develop an operability determination on the remaining installed breakers of that type and the plant was subsequently restarted. The failed

breaker was then taken toL the vendor facility for additional measurements, testing and non-destructive dismantlement. .NRR representatives visited the-vendor's site to review the vendor's activities. Licensee and vendor efforts

- are focused on-identification of the root cause of the failure. The

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l l e lO licensee's preliminary review is that the breaker failure probably resulted from a combination of alignment and lubrication factors.

Hope Creek Region I management held two predecisional enforcement conferences (PEC) with PSE&G management on January 14 to discuss Hope Creek issues. The first PEC involved failure to follow procedures associated with reactivity management during a November 12, 1997 shutdown margin demonstration. The other PEC addressed predecisional inadequate scoping and performance criteria identified during the 1997 Maintenance Rule inspection. Enforcement Action is under consideration. Senior Region I staff also held subsequent discussions with licensee management of NRC observations of poor maintenance performance during the recent Hope Creek refueling outage.

Haddam Neck- Public Outreach On January 14, 1998, the NRR Project Manager and the Senior Resident inspector for Haddam Neck met with Keith Ainsworth, who recently took office as the First Selectman for Haddam Connecticut and the town's nuclear consultant.

Edward Flynn. This introductory meeting was requested by NRC to provide an opportunity to personally meet the pri. mary NdC contacts and to open a dialogue for concerns of the town. Topics discussed included: the town's preference for multi-dry cask storage as opposed to spent fuel pool storage; timely and safe release of the site, preferably in stages, to allow for other industrial reuses; and safet" issues concerning the spent fuel nool, specifically, seismic qualification and long term fuel cladding in'.egrity. Additional information on these topics will be forwarded to the town for their review.

January 16, 1998 ENCLOSURE P

Region 11

- Items of Interest I Week Ending January 16, 1998 ,

' Hospital Metropolitano Predecisional Enforcement Conference  ;

On January 13, 1998. Region II held-a predecisional enforcement conference

-with the licensee at the licensee's facility.in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The purpose of this meeting was.to discuss apparent violations related to the failure to control access to licensed materials (a cesium 137 brachytherapy source) and failure to inventory brachytherapy sources-after removal from patients. The licensre presented the corrective actions they were taking or will take.to prevent a recurrence of the violationc. Members of the media were l

present at the conference, including a T.V. station and a local newspaper. l 4 -

St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital Predecisional Enforcement Conference

! .On January 13, 1998. Region II held a predecisional enforcement conference

.with the licensee in Ponce, Puerto Rico, The purpose of this meeting was to discuss aoparent violations related to the operation of the licensee's Caribbean Nuclear Pharmacy. The licensee acknowledged that the oversight of the pharmacy was inadequate and provided corrective actions to address the root causes.

Baxter Healthcare Corporation of Puerto Rico Predecisional Enforcement

. Conference On January 12. 1998. Region II held a predecisional enforcement conference held with the licensee and individuals at the licensee's facility in Aibonito, Puerto Rico. The purpose of this meeting was to discuss apparent violations, including the deliberate' operation oT the licensee's irradiator facility with ,

a safety system inoperable. The-licensee denied that action was deliberately taken to keep the irradiator operating with an inoperable system once it was

' -known to management. The licensee also presented corrective actions taken to address each of the apparent violations.

Tennessee Valley Authority - Watts Bar On January 14, 1998. Region II held a predecisional enforcement _ conference with the licensee in the Regional Office. The purpose of the conference was to discuss apparent violations regarding an unplanned radiation exposure to an

-individual who picked up small pieces of radioactive material during a Lrefueling outage maintenance activity. The licensee presented corrective

actions to address the root:causes of the violations.

South Carolina Electric and Gas Company --V. C. Summer On January 14. 1998. Region II held a meeting with representat bes from the

' January 16, 1998 ENCLOSURE P

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g V;'C.ESummer Nuclear: Plant to' discuss the results of the recent; multiple,

. failures of the A emergency diesel generator, Issues discussed : included-

' licensee troubleshooting efforts.' interface with vendors for. refurbished electrical and mechanical governor control system parts, and post maintenance -

. testing._

'., Virginia' Electric and Power' Company - Surry: -

'On January 16.:1998.-. representatives'from the Surry Nuclear P1 ant. attended a ,

'self-assessment meeting in the-Regional Office. Virginia Power managers. >

_ discussed the strengths and challenges, as well as initiatives being taken at i their Surry station during the past year, ll 4

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Region III LItems of Interest Week Ending January 16, 1998 I Fermi Nuclear Power Station SALP Public Meeting On January 13. 1998, the NRC Region III Regional Administrator and other members of the regional and headquarters staffs met with representatives of Detroit Edison Company to review the recently issued Systematic Assessment of Licensee Performance (SALP) for the Fermi Station. The Fermi facility received a rating of " superior" in plant support and " good" in operations, maintenance, and engineering.

Management-Meeting with Commonwealth Edison Comp:,ny On January 14, 1998,- a meeting was conducted in the Region III Office' Lisle,

Illinois, between management representatives from Commonwealth Edison Company and members of the NRC staff. The meeting discussed the utility's performance as it relates to ar.tions it has taken in response't.o the NRC's January 27, 1997. letter regarding safety performance at Commonwealth Edison's nuclear facilities, NRC Regional: Administrator participated in the meeting.

Management Meeting with Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety On January 15, 1998, a management meeting was conducted in the Region III Offite, between Illinois Department oi' Nuclear Safety representatives and members of the NRC staff. This was a routine management meet 99 to discuss issues-relative to. implementation of both the American Society of Mechanical Engineers code-and the State Resident Engineer Memorandum of Understanding between the State of Illinois and the NRC.

Management Meeting with Centerior Service Company - Davis Besse Nuclear Power-Station-On January 15, 1998, a management meeting was conducted in the Region III Office, between management representatives from Centerior Service Company and members of the NRC staff. The meeting discussed the status of the Davis-Besse Station. NRC Region III Deputy Regional Administrator participated in the meeting.

Management Meeting with-United States Enrichment Corporation On January 15,'1998, a management meeting was conducted at the NRC-Headquarters between management representatives.from United States Enrichment Corporation and members of the NRC . staff. -The meeting discussion focused on

• 1NRC's December 8. 1997, letter to the United = States Enrichment. Corporation on issues related _to chilling effects.

NRC Region III Regional Administrator participated in the meeting.

January'16, 1998 ENCLOSURE P 7 1

Dresden Nuclear Pcwer Station SALP Public Meeting On J6nuary 16, 1998, the NRC Region 111 Regional Administrator and other members of the regional and headquarters staffs met with representatives of Commonwealth Edison Company to review the recently issued Systematic Assessment of Licensee Performance (SALP) for the Dresden Station. The Dresden facility received an improved rating of " good" in maintenance, continued " good" in operations and plant support, and a continued " acceptable" rating in engineering.

January 16, 1998 ENCLOSURE P

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'- Region'lV i Items of Interest Week Ending January 16. 1998 1 Systematic Assessment of Licensee Performance (SALP)'Public Meeting at South LTexas Project -

OnLJanuary 12. 1998, the Deputy Regional Administrator and_other members of the NRC staff held a-SALP public neeting at the' South Texas Project site. The

SALP_ covered the period of March 24, 1996, through November

15, 1997. - The meeting was attended by representatives of the State Bureau of Radiation-Health _and Department of Public Safety.- Matagorda County Judge, Matagorda County Sheriff, disaster service officials, as well as the Mayors of Bay City-fand Palacios. Representatives of the local print media were also present.

Subsequent to the public meeting, the Deputy Regional Administrator met

privately with the state and local officials.

l ABB Combustion Engineering Nuclear Operations

~

Members of ABB Combustion Engineering Operations and Region IV management hold a meeting to discuss an overview of ABB nuclear activities. The meeting was open to attendance by members-of the general public.

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ENCLOSURE P

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