ML20199H706

Weekly Info Rept for Wk Ending 980123

ML20199H706
Person / Time
Issue date:	01/28/1998
From:	Blaha J NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO)
To:
References
SECY-97-013, SECY-97-13, SECY-98-013-R, SECY-98-13-R, WIR-980123, NUDOCS 9802050102
Download: ML20199H706 (23)

Text

_.

January 28, 1998 SECY 98-013 For: The Comissioners from: James L. Blaha. Assistant for Operations. Office of the EDO

Subject:

WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING JANUARY 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 OfTicer H*

Human Resources I Small Business & Civil Rights J Enforcement X*

State Programs L*

Public Affairs M International Programs N Office of the Secretary. O

Region I P Region 11 P Region III P Region IV P Executive Director for Operations Q*

Congressional Affairs R

• No input this week. gr.at sW ND Mmel #

James L. Blaha Assistant for Operations. OEC0

Contact:

iI T. Hiltz. OEDO Document Name: C:\ WEEK 123 g3 (q l OE A EDO THi J ha

() t o r W IIf 01 8 0 /98 g _ C ..p re la Ce. . m II.&\l[\QG}lJ\\\ [

em

• a"!8Mi748c"* NRC RL? Crim.u _ >

WEEKLYINFOREPT PDR

,. UNITED STATE 8 NUCLEAR RESULATORY COMMISSION c:AsHWGTON, D. C,20856 INFORMATION REPORT January 28, 1998 SECY 98-013 For: The Commissioners From: James L. Blaha, Assistant for Operations. Office of the EDO

Subject:

WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING JANUARY 23, 199d 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 Internaticiial Programs N Office of the Secretary 0 Region I P Region II P Region III P Region IV P Executive Director for Operations Q*

Congressinnal Affairs R

• No input this week.

James L. B dha Assistant for Operation . OEDO

Contact:

-T. Hiltz, OEDO

l i

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Items of Interest Week Ending January 23, '.998 i i

Generic Letter 96-06 Workshop j On December 4, 1997, the Plant Systems Branch (SPLB), the Mechanical Engineering Branch (EMEB), and the Probabilistic Safety Assessment Branch (SPSB) participated in a workshop to discuss issues related to GL 96-06,

" Assurance of Equipment Operability and Containment Integrity During Design-Basis Accident Conditions," and to provide additional guidance for addressing the GL 96-06 issues. The workshop was jointly sponsored by the NRC and NEI.

Before the workshop was conducted, NEI had written a letter to the NRC dated September 4, 1997. indicating that licensees have raised many questions concerning code compliance and what is required-to adequately resolve the GL 96-06 technical issues. In the letter. NEI recommended that the NRC sponsor a public workshop to provide licensees an opportunity for follow-up discussion on the many cuestions that have been asked about resolution of the GL 96-06 issues. While the staff was receptive to sponsoring and participating in a GL 96-06 workshop. the staff had not received much feedback from licensees about specific problems that were being encountered. Likewise, discussions during the workshop sessions did not identify any specific problems that were being encountered by licensees. and the staff has not received any feedback of this nature following the GL 96 06 workshop. Licensees are continuing to implement corrective actions to resolve the GL 96-06 issues, and the staff is not aware of any major difficulties or problems t%t are being encountered by licensees.

Update on Fuel Channel Seal Spring Failures On January 8,1998, the Reactor Systems Branch staff held a telecon with Siemens and Pennsylvania Power and Light Co. (PP&L) to discuss new information on seal spring failures. Siemens indicated that the seal spring failures, initially discovered in a German reactor did not happen to the same type reactor of a different unit with the same material lot. With-52 out of 80 assemblies inspected, no seal spring failures were found with seal spring problems in in the second reactor. Furthermore, PP&L informed the staff that a recent visual inspection in Susquehanna Unit 1 only discovered 1 assembly out of 24 assemblies containing failed springs. Previously. Susquehanna Unit 2 had 6 out of 24 assemblies containing failed springs of the same material lot. Siemens summarized that the new information seemed to confirm the hypothesis of reactor / material dependency of seal spring failures. PP&L will continue to perform visual inspections during the summer of 1998.

Meanwhile, Siemens has retooled the seal spring design for an old design prior to 1988 to alleviate the problem.

JANUARY 23, 1998 ENCLOSURE A i

9 Management Changes Duke Energy Corporation recently announced the following personnel reassignments to be effective March 1. 1998: -Jeff Forbes, current Engineering Manager of Catawba, to become Station Manager at Oconee: Jack Peele, current Station Manager at Oconee, to become Engireering Manager at McGuire: Peter Herran, current Engineering Manager at McGuire, to become Engineering Manager at Catawba.

Mr. John Scalice. Senior Vice President of TVA Nuclear Operations announced -

the appointment of Rick Purcell to the position of Watts Bar Site Vice President. Mr. Purcell had been Plant Manager at Watts Bar. Mr. Scalice had been Watts Bar Site Vice President until his recent promotion. Mr, Bill Lagergren, the current Assistant Plant Manager at Watts Bar will serve as '

acting Plant Manager on an interim rotational assignment.

Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation (NMPC) has announced that Mr. John T.

Hueller has joined their organization effective January 19, 1998. Mr. Mueller fills the position formerly held by Rick Abbott (and temporarily assumed by Ralph Sylvia) before Mr. Abbott assumed his current position of Acting Unit 1 Plant Manager for Nine Mile Point. Thus Mr. Mueller assumes the position of Vite President and General Manager. Nuclear. As such, he reports to Mr.

Sylvia (until Mr. Sylvia's planned retirement about_mid-July). The two plant managers and the Vice President of Engineering report to Mr. Mueller. Mr.

'Mueller's background includes the positions of Operations Manager and Plant Manager for Nine Mile Point Unit 2. a vice president at Cooper, and most recently, a vice president at Zion.

On January 16, 1998. Mr. Oliver D. Kingsley, Jr.. Comed's Nuclear Generating Group (NGG) President and Chief Nuclear Officer announced several management changes intended to improve the effectiveness of engineering, licensing and support to the sites. Mr. David Helwig. General Manager of General Electric's Nuclear Services Company, will become a Comed Vice President and NGG Serior Vice President. He will be responsible for engineering, support services, supply management, information systems, procurement and other technical services. His primary assignment will be to improve engineering support to-the sites and to oversee the regulatory compliance and licensing programs.

Mr. Helwig previously worked for PECO for 23 years as the Vice President of Nuclear Engineering and Services and Vice President of Limerick Nuclear Station. Mr. Mike Wallace will become Mr. Kingsley's Chief of Staff. He will be assisting Mr. Xingsley on a variety of issues related to improving NGG operations. Prior % this re-assignment. Mr. Wallace was the Vice President

-of Nuclear Support r NGG. On January 16, 1998. it was announced that, effective immedias . Mr. Fred R. Dacimo, currently LaSalle Plant General Manager, is replacing Mr. Bill Subalusky as the LaSalle Site Vice President.

Mr. Subalusky will be heading up a key strategic initiative for the NGG.

improvement of nuclear training, and will report to Mr. Helwig. On January 19. 1998. Mr. Dacimo announced additional management changes at JANUARY 23, 1998 ENCLOSURE A

LaSalle.that will become effective January 26. 1998. Mr. Tim O'Connor, the former Zion Operations Manager will become the Station Manager and will report

- - 'to the Site Vice President. Mr. Steve Smith._LaSalle Plant Manager. will become the Restart Manager and.will report to the Station Manager. Mr. Jimmy

.Baily, the current Restart Manager is being assigned to a newly created position of Site Business Manager and will report to the Site Vice President.

In his new position. Mr. Baily will have 7 managers under him who previously reported to either the Site VP or the Plant General Manager. This _L reorganization will reduce the number of direct reports to the Site VP from 11 to 6 and reduces the number of layers of'managenent.

Other recent' management changes include. Mr. Ray Landrum, forn.r Zion Shift Operations Supervisor, was named as the Operations Manager at Zion until the L decommissioning organization is in place and Mr. Preston Swafford, formerly L the Dresden Station Outage and Work Control Manager, was named Dresden Station _

Manager.

l-

_ m JANUARY 23. 1998 ENCLOSURE A

- -- - - - - - ~ - -. . . - - . -- - . - . . .

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Items of Interest Week Ending January 23, 1998 Part 35 Working Group and Steering Group Meetings During the week of January 12. 1998, the Part 35 Working Group held a public meeting to discuss the revisions to Part 35. On January 13-14, 1998, the Sceering Group met with the Working Group to discuss rule text associated with.

the cross-cutting issues identified by the Working Group. Regulatory-equirements for the following cross-cutting issues were discussed at the -

meeting: trainirg and experience, radiation safety comittee, quality management rule, patient rotification, and threshold for reportable events.

Inl addition, proposed recomendations for the Medical Policy' Statement were:

. discussed. The Working Group worked to. incorporate the Steering Group's direction into the proposed rule text.

--The meetings were attended by members'of the public. On January 12-14. 1998.

the government relations specialist for the Society of Nuclear Medicine /

American College of Nuclear Physicians attended the meeting. On January 15, 1998, the meeting was attended by medical abysicists from Loyola University of Chicago. Yale New Haven Hospital, Fairfax lospital, and Georgetown University

'- Hospital. the individual from Loyola University also attended the meeting on January 15. 1998.

l Management Meeting with U.S. Enrichment Corporation On January 15 1998, the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards and Region III' conducted a' Senior-Management meeting with the U.S. Enrichment-

, Corporation (USEC). USEC-discussed Compliance Plan completion status .

certificate amendment requests, and privatization activities. Nuclear.

' Regulatory Comission staff discussed Part 76 rulemaking plans, the recently.

issued Annual Report to Congress, and staffing for the AVLIS-related effort.-

NRC staff discussed its evaluation of USEC's preparations in regard to potential year 2000 computer problems, and emphasized the need for attention to ongoing nuclear criticality safety issues. Region III presented the results of a_ performance review which concluded the overall performance of the 1

Portsmouth gaseous-diffusion plant (GDP) is adequate, with weaknesses being

' addressed.-and the overall performance of the Paducah GDP is adequate with a slow improvement trend. USEC was invited to respond to the performance review

-findings and. conclusions at the next scheduled Senior Management meeting.

U Interagency Comittee on Dam Safety (ICODS) Meeting n

On January 14, 1998. Division of Waste Management staff participated in the quarterly meeting of the Interagency Comittee on Dam Safety (ICODS). held at the offices of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). In addition to the Nuclear Regulatory Comission, representatives of FEMA, the Corps of January 23. 1998 ENCLOSURE B L

=: . ~, .

s.

Engineers, the_ Bureau of Reclamation the National Park Service -the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Federal-Energy Regulatory-Commission, the' Departmentiof

' Agriculture, the Mine Safety and Health Administration, and the Association of-I. State Dam Safety Officials were .in attendance. Committee' Chairman Harold Andress of-FEMA led a discussion on the FY98 1C005 funding of $2.9 Million and=

lts allocation to administrative costs, research, training, etc. Reports were

. presented-bysthe various subcommittees on operations, research, training, guidelines development, and National Inventory of Dams, The next quarterly meeting it: scheduled for April 8,.1998. f.t the Corps =of Engineers Waterways Experiment Station in.Vicksburg. Mississippi.. 'In addition, a-technical seminar on Mitigation Strategies for Dam Safety is being hosted by FEMA at its:

National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg, Maryland, on February 18-19.-

. :1998.

g i

i-

- 1 h

l January 23, 1998 ENCLOSURE B

0ffice for Analysis and Evaluation of: Operational; Data- i Items of Interest Week Ending January 23. 1998-RASCAL-Training.

i NRC experts and users of the NRC's Emergency Dose Projection System (RASCAL)-

.from.various offices and regions met with the RASCAL code developers on Wednesday,EJanuary 21,11998. .The purpose ofLthis. meeting was'to examine and-evaluate the-nethodsLand-technical' bases for RASCAL Version 3. _This version-

~

uses the-NUREG-1465 time-dependent source te m and a heavy gas model. for UF6 1 releases, and constitutes a major revision to the existing version; LThere was overwhelming support from the participants to com)lete<this-effort, along-with

-some~new suggestions _that will be considered by-tle staff, PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATIONS ..

1. PNO-III-98-007.. Commonwealth Edison'Co. (Dresden 2).. AUTOMATIC REACTOR TRIP CAUSED BY TURBINE TRIP

2. PNO-III-98-008,; Washington University and Medical Center, BRACHYTHERAPY.

MISADMINISTRATION (WRONG-TREATMENT SITE)_

January E3,=1998 ENCLO3URE D I

. -. - n -. -- - - . - - . - . . _ . - .- . . -~.- -. - ..

4 4 Office 'of Administration Items of Interest Week Ending January 23. 1998 U.S. Enrichment Corporation (USEC) l DFS staff. met with NMSS and USEC personnel'on' January 21, 1998.to discuss

foreign ownership.- control or influence (FOCI) milestones associated with USEC's privatization time-line. The USEC-b s begun the privatization process.

by sending out preliminary bid packages to prcspective buyers of USEC.

L Initial-submissions-with FOCI related information are expected -in March 1998.

Security-Support ,

The. Division of-Facilities and Security _(DFS) will provide' security support for the ASLBP pre-hearing conference, related to the possible use of a Utah '

' site as a temporary high level waste depository. The conference will be held

. at the University of Utah during the week of January 26,1998. Activities include a tour of the proposed site on Monday with the pre-hearing conference Lscheduled to begin.on Tuesday.

Rules Activity The Rules & Directives Branch (RDB) is reviewing a draft proposed rule'that

- would-amend 10 CFR Part 50 to incorporate by reference _the most recent version- .

of-a: national consensus standard'for power instrumentation, and control

, 'portionstof_ safety systems in nuclear power plants. This actioniwas the subject.of a direct final rule that was. issued October 17, 1997.(62 FR 53932)

and subsequently withdrawn on December _23, 1997 (62 FR 66977) because-the NRC

, received significant adverse comments on the action. Becuase of the nature of the comments _ received. the NRC is_1ssuing revised proposed. rule on the action j- rather than proceeding to a final rule.

4 1

4

!~

~ .

3 i

[ . January 23. 1998 ENCLOSURE F y -

e .r,,, -

n na--- w ,,

Chief Information Officer Items of Interest Week Ending January 23, 1998 Freedom of Information and Privacy Act Requests Received during the 4-Day Period of January 16. 1998 - January 22, 1998:

Engelhardt Industries and/or Nuclear Corporation of America in the state of California. (F01A/PA-98-019)

Irradiation facilities, safety violations, accidents, and fines.

(F01A/PA-98-020)

Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee's F0IA requests submitted since 1996.

(F01A/PA-98 021)

Theragenics Corp. (formerly Nuclear Medicine), publicly available documents.

(F0IA/PA-98-022)

Atlas Corporation. Docket 40-3453. license SUA-917. Utah. (F01A/PA-98-023)

Tri-State Area Nuclear Pharmacy, 1997 notices of violation. (F01A/PA-98-024)

MLTS database on disk. (F01A/PA-98-025)

Docket 40-5677 in relation to Combustion Engineering. (F01A/PA-98-026)

MLTS database on disk. (F01A/PA-98-027)

Cabot Performance Materials. source material license SMB-1562.

(F0IA/PA-98-0028)

January 23. 1998 ENCLOSURE G

i Office of Human Resources-

-Items of Interest Week Ending January 23, 1998 HR Employee Attends Government learning Technology Symposium

- On January 21-22, 1998. Carolyn Bassin, HR/HRD, joined other Government tru,,iing staff from all branches of federal and state governments to exchange information and s-periences:about using technology.for learning and education.

- Ms. Eossin discussed NRC's experience with two-way televideo, satellite downlinking, and multi-media. The meeting attracted government training staff-with responsibilities for the acquisition and implementation of learning technology. .One of the purposes was to share information about reducing costs associated with conversion of traditional instruction to technology-delivered

~ 1 earning. Long viewed by the NPR staff as essential to the government's

- ability to meet the increasing demand for: learning Vice President Gore's

- staff discussed their_ efforts to monitor governnent progress in using learning technology to meet the increasing demand for learning, I

Arrivals None Retiremer,t. .

FORTUNA, Roger Deputy Director 01 Departures ZAMUDIO, Manuel Office Assistant RIII 4

i January 23. 1998 ENCLOSURE I

M Office of- Small- Business. & Civil Rights >

Items of Interest '

Week Ending-January 23, 1998 The Office of Small Business- and Civil Rights Open House The Office of Small Business and Civil Rights (SBCR) held an Open. House on January 21. 1998 _ The purpose of the Open House:was'to give employees an

. - opportunity to meet the .SBCR staffiandLlearn more about the functional areas; of:the Office'. An information package was made' available toLattendees which included the SBCR mission statement.. a colorful display of the Office functionalfareas, and pamphlets describing the Mentoring Program, the EE0 Complaint Process. the; Affirmative _ Action Program, and the!Small. Business, Program. . Refreshment stations (supplied with homemade goodiestwere' strategically placed _throughout_the SBCR suite of offices.. VCR's were continuously _alaying videotapes of past Special-Emphasis Program Celebrations, and several p10to albums were available~ chronicling past Special Emphasis

' Celebrations, Additionally, guests toured the Special Emphasis Poster-

. Gallery-depicting the various Special Emphasis Program themes, s This event'was-attended by approximately~ 300 employees including Chairman Jackson. ' Commissioners Dicus.' Diaz. and McGaffigan ' Mr. Jesse Funches.

.Mr. Joe Callan. Mrs. Patricia Norry. Mr. Ashok Thadani Mr. James Blaha. and .

several Office Directors. Regional Administrators from Regions I. II, and IV (at Headquarters for a Commission briefing) also attended. Re)resentatives

--from the EE0 Advisory Committees and EE0 Counselors served-as losts and

- hostesses. The event was successful and "a good time was had by all."

i t

l 5

i T

January 23. 1998 ENCLOSURE J d

k

Office of Public Affairs Items of Interest Week Endi.ng January 23. 1998 Media Interest Region III~ reported significant media interest in the results of the operating reactors briefing and several newspapers observed it on videotape.

Gannett News is planning a story on potassium iodide.

The Times-Picayune (New Orleans) is planning a story on the enforcement-conference at Waterford.

i Press Releases 1 Herdquarters:.

98-12 NRC Seeks' Comment on Petiiton for Rulemaking Concerning Use of Thyroid-Protecting Drug in Emergency Response 98-13 Note to Editors: ACRS Meeting January 30-31 in Potomac 98-14 NRC Staff Identifies Nuclear Power Plants Warranting-Increased Regulatory Attention Regions:

1-98-7 NRC, PA Firm to Discuss Apparent Violation Involving Device

.1-98-8 NRC Proposes $55.000'for Violations at Nine Mile Point 111-98-8 NRC.. Ohio Company to Discuss Apparent Violations  !

111-98-9. NRC. Indiana Company to Discuss Apparent Violations IV-98 6 NRC Proposes '$5.500 Fine Against CTI Alaska, Inc. for-Violation of Radiation Safety Requirements

(

January 23, 1998 ENCLOSURE M

Office of International Programs Items of Interest Week Ending January 23, 1998 IAEA Vacancy Notices

, The following notices from the International Atomic Energy Agency have been posted on NRC bulletin boards:

P Senior Auditor 9'//089 Director General P-5 Section Head 97/091 Nuclear Safety i P-5 Unit Head l

97/092 Safeguards P-3 Isotope Hydrologist 97/093 Researco and Isotopes January 23, 1998 ENCLOSURE N

Office of the Secretary items of Interest Week Ending January 23, 1998 Document Date Subject Decision Documents Released to the Public

1. SECY-97-279 12/3/97 Generic and Cumulative Environmental Impacts of Transportation of High-Level Waste (HLW) in the Vicinity of an HLW Repository (SRM M970612)

SRM on 97-279 1/13/98 (same)

Commission Voting 1/13/98 (same)

Record on 97-279

2. Cmr. McGaffigan's 11/20/97 Recovering the Budgeted Costs Vote Sheet on 97-249 Related to Federal Agencies,

, Nonprofit Educational Institutions.

Srill Entities. Regulatory Support to Agreement States, the Site Decommissioning Management Program.

and Generic Decommissioning and l Reclamation Activities

3. SECY-97-253 10/24/97 Policy Options for Nuclear Power l Reactor Financial Qualifications in Response to Restructuring of the Electric utility Industry SRM on 97-253 1/15/98 (same)

Commission Voting 1/15/98 (same)

Record on 97-253 Negative Consent Documents Released to the Public

1. SECY-97-225 10/2/97 Enhancing NRC Effectiveness and Efficiency SRM on 97-225 1/14/98 (same)

Information Papers Released to the Public

1. SECY-98-004 1/8/98 Weekly Information Report - Week Ending December 26, 1997 and January

2. 1998

2. SECY-98-007 1/9/98 Annual Status Report on Licensing Actions. Fiscal Year 1997 January 23, 1998 ENCLOSURE 0

Commission Correspondence Released to the Public

1. Letter to Representative Edward MarKef. dtd 1/16/98, provides additional ,

information on RTV silicone foam penetration seals Federal Register Notices Issued

1. Application fcr a License t0 Export a utilization Facility: Combustion Engineering

2. Advisory Committee on the Medical Uses of Isotopes: Subcommittee Meeting Notice for February 4-5, 1998 3, Advisory Committee on the Medical Uses of Isotopes: Meeting Notice for March 1-2, 1998 January 23. 1998 ENCLOSURE O

Region I Items of Interest Week Ending January 23. 1998 Public Meeting for Yankee (Rowe) License Termination Plan 1

A public meeting was held on January 13, 1998, at a high school in the

- vicinity of the Yankee facility to present the Yankee Atomic Electric Company's-(YAEC) plans for the final site radiological survey and termination

- of the Part 50 license. - About 80 people attended the session. The meeting i included a presentation by the licensee on the decommissioning of the facility j and the license termination plan, a presentation by the NRC on the l decommissioning rule and expected oversight at the Yankee facility, questions i from-the public, and comments from about 20 local residents who had requested i an opportunity to speak. NRR stated that the license termination plan would '

I be approved under a license amendment and the amendment process allowed the opportunity for a hearing. Interested parties would have the opportunity to l request a hearing after a notice of receipt of the License Termination Plan is placed in the Federal Register.

Meeting on the Former Tenneco Polymers Site in Fords. NJ On Tuesday.-Janusry 20. members of the Decommissioning and Laboratory Branch met with representatives from El Paso Energy Corporation and SECOR International f.o discuss the status of remediation activities at the former Tenneco Polymers site in Fords. New Jersey. This site was identified as needing further evaluation by_the review of formerly licensed sites conducted by Oak Ridge National Laboratories under contract to the NRC. Decontamination of the buildings is nearly complete with remediation of affected soils surrounding the buildings in progress. A Final Survey Plan will be submitted to Region I shortly. Release of the site, including disposal of all radioactive wastes. is expected by the end of 1998.

January 23. 1998 ENCLOSURE P

l l

l Region II Items of Interest Week Ending January 23. 1998 Duke Energy Corporation ;- Catawba On January 20, 1998. Duke Energy cite m aagement met with NRC Region II and NRR staff and provided an assessment of the Catawba Nuclear Station's performance for 1997. Issues discussed included safety system reliability, steam generator performance, radiation exposure, and operational performance.

Duke Enerrgy Corporation -- Oconee On-January 22, 1998. Region II operator licensing met with training department representatives from Oconee (Duke Power) to discuss NRCdlicensee communications. During past examinations, communications difficulties between the NRC and licencee have led to some diminished effectivress in admin 1stering examinations. Thi meeting served to work on improvement of those communications.

-Tennessee Valley Authority -- Sequoyah  !

On January 21, 1998. Region 11 met with management representatives of Sequoyah (TVA) concerning recent poor performance on operator licensing examinations.

TVA conducted a thorough root cause assessment for the failure of seven of eleven candidates on their recent initial examination. A key reason for the performance problems was that TVA management had not provided adequate oversight for the recently revised operator licensing process.

Hospital Metropolitano On. January 16. 1998. Region II issued a Severity Level III violation to Hospital Metropolitano (San Juan Puerto Rico) for the failure to control licensed material and properly inventory brachytherapy sources, As a result, a 7.6 millicurie cesium-137 source was inadvertently left in a hospital room for 55 hours6.365741e-4 days <br />0.0153 hours <br />9.093915e-5 weeks <br />2.09275e-5 months <br /> in May 1996. There were no exposures to workers or members of the public in c.xcess of NRC limits as a result of this event. There was no civil penalty issued because of the licensee's previous good performance and

.acause the licensee took prompt corrective actions that addressed the root cause.

Florida Power Corporation - Crystal River 3 Crystal River 3 has commenced a heat up entering Mode 4 (Hot Shutdown) on January 21 and Mode 3 (Hot Standby) on January 25. The plant is still under a Confirmatory Action Letter (CAL). but Florida Power Corporation notified the staff by a letter dated January 24 that the actions they had committed to accomplish and which had been listed in the CAL were completed and requested January 23. 1998 ENCLOSURE P

concurrence to proceed to Mode-2 and subsequent power operations. Regional and resident inspectors continue to verify completion of items. NRR and Region II are reviewing the licensee's actions to determine whether the NRC i agrees that the actions listed in the CAL are complete.

I i

i i

l, January 23, 1998 ENCLOSURE P

Region III ,

Items of Interest Week Ending January 23, 1998 Mallinckrodt Medical, Inc. Public Exit - Maryland Heights. Missouri On January 23, 1998, a meeting was conducted in Maryland Heights. Missouri, between management representatives from Mallinckrodt Medical. Inc., and members of the NRC staff. The meeting discussed the NRC's preliminary findings from a special inspection that was conducted the week of January 12.

The six-msmber NRC team evaluated the company's radiation protection.

transportation, and distribution programs. NRC staff scheduled the inspection at the company as a result of an employee overexposure last year and several transportation incidents over the last two years.

Management Meeting with Commonwealth Edison Company - Engineering Issues-On January 22, 1998, a meeting was conducted in the_ Region li! Office. Lisle.

Illinois, between management representatives from Commonwealth Edison Company and members of the NRC staff. The meeting discussion focused on the utility's self-assessment efforts in engineering, t

January 23, 1998 ENCLOSURE P

. - -~ -- - . .- - -..- -. -

Region IV Items of Interest '

Week Ending January 23, 1998-Meeting Of Diablo Canyon Independent- Safety Comittee  ;

On January 21-22, 1998, the Diablo Canyon Independent Safety Comittee met in San Luis Obispo, California to discuss the operation of the Diablo Canyon t facility with the licensee. This comittee is-a local public interest group that is independent.of-_the licensee, A Region-IV Branch Chief attended portions of the meeting, including a session in which members of-the public were invited to address issues to the Comittee. Only one member of the public, other than the comittee members.' attended. That individual addressed j

. several concerns to the comittee. The Region will be evaluating these'  !

. concerns.  !

4 - Notice of Enforcement Discretion for Callaway Plant i

, On January 21, 1998, a Notice of Enforcement Discretion was granted to Union Electric for the Callaway Plant by Region IV. On January 9, 1998, a charcoal

, test sample was removed from Train B of the Emergency Exhaust System and submitted for laboratory analysis. On January 21, 1998, the Train A Essential Service Water System and the associated Emergency Diesel Generator were taken

. .out of service for a planned system outage. At 2 p.m. on January 21. 1998, test results were received from the laboratory regarding the charcoal' test sample previously submitted, The results indicated that the methyl iodide penetration was 2.45 percent-(greater than-the 2.0 percent limit imposed by the Technical Specifications). Train B of the Emergency Exhaust System was declared inoperable.

The emergency diesel generator Technical Specification requires that with.one diesel generator inoperable, all required systems, subsystems, trains, components and devices that depend on the remainir.g operable diesel generator as a source of emergency power are also operable. With this condition not met within 2 hours2.314815e-5 days <br />5.555556e-4 hours <br />3.306878e-6 weeks <br />7.61e-7 months <br />, the reactor must be in Hot Standby within the following 6 hours6.944444e-5 days <br />0.00167 hours <br />9.920635e-6 weeks <br />2.283e-6 months <br />, and Cold Shutdown within the following 30 hours3.472222e-4 days <br />0.00833 hours <br />4.960317e-5 weeks <br />1.1415e-5 months <br />. The emergency diesel-generator maintenance was terminated and engine restoration began. This was estimated to take approximately 12 hours1.388889e-4 days <br />0.00333 hours <br />1.984127e-5 weeks <br />4.566e-6 months <br />.

The enforcement discretion was granted based on the fact that the charcoal y test results, while not within technical specification limits, were still within the value assumed by the licensee's accident analyses, and the the additional time allowance to restore the diesel generator posed less risk to public health and safety than a' plant shutdown with on. train of Essential Service Water and one emergency diesel generator out of service. The enforcement discretion granted an additional-24 hours past the initial 2 hour2.314815e-5 days <br />5.555556e-4 hours <br />3.306878e-6 weeks <br />7.61e-7 months <br /> allowed outage time. The Train A Diesel Generator was restoied to an operable I January 23, 1998 ENCLOSURE P I

..-.w- .-

. condition at!2:36 p.m. on January 22, and the Notice of Enforcement-Discretion was exited.

Predecisional Enforcement-Conference On January 23, 1998. Region.IV personnel conducted a Predecisional Enforcer.ent Conference with personnel from Entergy Operations. Inc's Waterford 3 facility.

-The issue discussed related to o)erators placing both trains.of-the safety-related ultimate heat sinc out-of-service contrary to the requirements j

of the: Technical Specifications,

-Callaway Plant The Region IV; Division of Reactor-Safety. Deputy Director with members of the- 1 DRS staff, held a meeting on January 21.-1998, with the-licensee representatives-to discuss radiation protection activities, This meeting was-open to attendance by members of the general public.

i January 23, 1998 ENCLOSURE P

"' .O Office of Congressional Affairs Items of Interest Week Ending January 23. 1998 C0NGRESSIONAL HEARING SCHEDULE. NO. 1 GTINGl iessijl

~

EROCA?#3

• C##DATE??k  ?$lADECEJ R G t u?$rf W C0mIITEE'J5b

Co %u%

=5 W-M me wWME A Mas cu&nagm  %:". W:

+r am%I . V"n.a M$:f w MM MBk:W ozam . eg :L: mM @+ w-_-<xk su,,ntact+:

..e

%.m r - -

nnyPl.ACEsun a n u:a 2%gswe  ;

u swwnpas; n;n+ m. tw=:ma . "': +=vy; Gerke 4/28 9:30 TBA Year 2000 Computer Sen McCain/Hollings SR-253 Problem Commerce. Science and Transportation Comm i

January 23. 1998 ENCLOSURE R

. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _