ML20206E820

Forwards OIP Annual Rept for FY97.Matl Prepared for Inclusion in NRC FY97 Annual Rept

ML20206E820
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Issue date:	01/23/1998
From:	Stoiber C NRC OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS (OIP)
To:	Diaz N, Dicus G, Shirley Ann Jackson, Mcgaffigan E, The Chairman NRC COMMISSION (OCM)
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NUDOCS 9905050254
Download: ML20206E820 (49)

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UNITED STATES p

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NUCLEAR RECULATORY COMMISSION 1

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WASHINGTON, D.C. EceeM001 l

January 23, 1998 MEMORANDUM TO:

Chairman Jackson Commissioner Dieus Commissioner Diaz l

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Commissioner McGamgan 1

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Carlton R. Stoiber, Director Office ofintemational Programs

SUBJECT:

OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS ANNUAL REPORT Attached is the Office of Intemational Programs (OIP) Annual Report for Fiscal Year 1997 (FY 97). This material was prepared for inclusion in the NRC FY 97 Annual Report.

I However, the latter document is currently under review and as of this date information for it has not been re' quested. Therefore, OIP is independently providing to the Commission its' report which, if needed, will subsequently be included in the NRC Annual Report.

Attachment:

As stated 1

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Those on Attached List 9905050254 990324 PDR COMMS NRCC CORRESPONDENCE PDR l

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" Addressess - Memorandum Dated: January 23, 1998 Office Directors and Regional Administrators

SUBJECT:

OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS ANNUAL REPORT Mail Sten B. John Garrick, Chairman, Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste (ACNW)

T-2 E26 Robert L. Seale, Chairman, Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS)

T-2 E26 John T. Larkins, Executive Director, ACRS/ACNW T-2 E26 B. Paul Cotter, Jr., Chief Administrative Judge, Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel T-3 F23 Hubert T. Bell, inspector General T-5 D28 Karen D. Cyr, General Counsel 0-15 B18 John C. Hoyle, Secretary of the Commission 0-16 C1 William M. Beecher, Director, Office of Public Affairs 0-2 A13 Dennis K. Rathbun, Director, Office of Congressional Affairs 0-17 A3 John F. Cordes, Jr., Director Office of Commission Appellate Adjudication 0 15 B18 Carlton R. Stoiber, Director, Office Intemational Programs 0-16 C1 Anthony J. Galante, Chief information Officer 0-16 G15 Jesse L. Funches, Chief Financial Officer 0-17 F3 Ashok C. Thadani, Acting Deputy Executive Director for Regulatory Effectiveness 0 16 E15 Hugh L. Thompson, Jr., Deputy Executive Director for Regulatory Programs 0-16 E15 Patricia G. Norry, Deputy Executive Director for Management Services 0-16 E15 Thomas T. Martin, Director, Office for the Analysis and Evaluation of Operational Data T-4 D18 James Lieberman, Director, Office of Enforcement 0-7 H5 Guy P. Caputo, Director, Office of Investigations O-3 F1 Malcolm R. Knapp, Acting Director, Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research T-10 F12 Paul E. Bird, Director, Office of Human Resources T-3 A2 Edward L. Halman, Director, Office of Administrations T-7 D59 Irene P. Little, Director, Office of Small Business and Civil Rights T-2 F18 Richard L. Bangart, Director, Office of State Programs O-3 H2O CarlJ. Paperiello, Director, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards T-8 A23 Samuel J. Collins, Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation 0-12 G18 Hubert J. Miller, Regional Administrator, Region i Region I Luis A. Reyes, Regional Administrator, Region ll Region 11 A. B. Beach, Regional Administrator, Region ill Region 111 Ellis W. Merschoff, Regional Administrator, Region IV Region IV

• i introduction The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) implements a wide ranging program of intemational cooperation to help ensure the peaceful, safe, and environmentally acceptable uses of nuclear energy. As the regulator of the world's largest civil nuclear program, the NRC has broad capabilities to contribute to intemational safety and regulatory programs. These capabilities span such areas as regulatory philosophy, nuclear power plant safety, radiation protection, nuclear materials safeguarding and physical protection, waste management, and decommissioning of nuclear facilities. At the same time, the NRC, its licensees, and the nuclear industry in the United States gain insights and useful technicalinformation through participation in these activities.

The Office of Intemational Programs (OlP), in coordination with appropriate technical offices, coordinates NRC's intemational activities. The program has three broad objectives:

(1) improving the safety of NRC-licensed facilities in the United States; (2) helping to enhance U.S. national security; and (3) supporting U.S. foreign policy objectives.

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FISCAL YEAR 1997 ACTIVITIES During the fiscal year 1997 (FY 97) reporting period, NRC's intemational program included the following noteworthy activities:

1 Supporting Chairman Jackson in founding the intemational Nuclear Regulators e

Association (INRA), a new organization of senior regulators in eight nations operating a substantial majority of the world's civil nuclear reactors.

Supporting meetings of the U.S.-Russia Joint Commission on Technological e

Cooperation in Energy and Space, chaired by Vice President Gore and Russian Prime Minister Chemomyrdin (known as the Gore-Chemomyrdin Commission, or

- GCC). NRC activities with Russia regarding nuclear safety and security issues have constituted an important element of this bilateralinitiative since the GCC's inception.

Actively participating in the policy and implementation aspects of nuclear safety e

initiatives under the Group of Seven (G-7) industrialized nations, the Group of 24 Nuclear Safety Coordination (G 24 NUSAC) mechanism, and the Nuclear Safety Account administered by the European Bank for Reconstruction and

- )' multilayered intemational efforts to enhance nuclear safety Development (EBRD/NSA). These institutions have focused on coordinating Soviet designed nuclear power reactors.

Supported Chairman Jackson's participation in the Sustainable Energy o

Committee of the Vice President Gore-South African Deputy President Mbeki Binational Commission (known as the Gore-Mbeki Commission or GMC). NRC's efforts have focused on achieving a high level dialogue on nuclear safety topics such as strengthening nuclear safety regulation and South African participation in international nuclear safety research, as well as implementing NRC's agency-to-agency nuclear safety exchange arrangement with South Africa's regulatory organization.

Continuing important nuclear safety cooperation with the New independent States (NIS) of the former Soviet Union (FSU) and countries of central and eastem Europe (CEE). These activities included strengthening their regulatory organizations, training foreign inspectors, and working together in the areas of operational safety and risk reduction. NRC's regulatory assistance program to Armenia's Nuclear Regulatory Authority (ANRA), and to Kazakhstan's Atomic Energy Agency (KAEA) are also part of this effort.

Continuing NRC's efforts to help the FSU regulatory organizations - particularly e

in Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakstan - to improve their regulatory programs and systems for protecting, controlling, and accounting for nuclear materials within the framework of agreements signed by the United States with these countries in the fall of 1993.

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Continuing efforts to work (in conjunction with other U.S. Govemment and I

o related entities) with Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus to study the health effects of exposure to ionizing radiation resulting from the Chomobyl accident and from Russian defense-related activities.

Enhancing regulatory cooperation with several Pacific Rim countries conducting, e

or considering, new or expanded nuclear power programs (speerfically Indonesia, China, the Republic of Korea, and Taiwan).

Maintaining active information exchanges with countries that have substantial e

nuclear programs, and with multilateral organizations promoting intemational nuclear safety, as well as continuing activities in support of significant j

intemational initiatives in the interest of nuclear safety.

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Playing a leading role in resolving implementation issues for the intemational Convention on Nuclear Safety, which entered into force in October 1996. Once the U.S. becomes a party, NRC will be the lead federal agency in implementation activities related to U.S. obligations under the Commission.

Actively participating in the successful negotiation of (a) the Joint Convention on e

the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management; and (b) the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage, both of which were opened for signature at the Intemational Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference in September 1997.

Continuing active, cooperative nuclear safety research with other nations having e

major nuclear power programs, including France, Germany, Japan, and the United Kingdom.

The following sections describe these highlights of the NRC's major intemationalinvolvement in nuclear safety, along with other noteworthy activities during the reporting period.

INTERNATIONAL NUCLEAR REGULATORS ASSOCIATION For the past several years increased attention has been focused on enhancing the levels of safety and security in civil nuclear programs worldwide, as evidenced in the creation of institute for Nuclear Power Operations, the World Association of Nuclear Operators, and specific programs of work addressing nuclear safety at the Intemational Atomic Energy Agency and the Nuclear Energy Agency of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. In all j

of these initiatives, the role of a technically competent, independent regulatory agency has been affirmed repeatedly.

In January 1997 Chairman Jackson convened a working group of the heads of seven national regulatory bodies (Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom) to discuss the creation of an intemational Nuclear Regulators Association (INRA), including 1

4 drafting a terms of reference document. Following national govemment review, the group convened in Paris in May igg 7, and formally constituted INRA.

The purpose of the association is to enable its members to influence and enh' nce nuclear a

safety worldwide from the regulatory perspective. Comprised of the most senior officials of well-established independent national nuclear regulatory organizations, the group's objectives are to exchange views on broad regulatory policy issues (technical, legal, economic, administrative); to build a global nuclear safety culture; to encourage the most efficient use of resources in areas of common interest; to work to enhance the stature of nuclear regulatory organizations worldwide; to seek consensus on how regulatory issues can be approached and implemented to facilitate infomational cooperation in regulation; to work to advance nuclear safety through cooperation among its members, cooperation with relevant existing intergovemmental organizations (e.g., IAEA, OECD/NEA), with other national nuclear regulatory organizations, and others, as appropriate; and to identify emerging nuclear regulatory challenges.

At INRA's May meeting Chairman Jackson was elected first INRA Chairman, to serve for a term of two years. Following constitution of the group, a day was devoted to discussion of two broad topics: national trends in electric generation and their effect on nuclear safety; and an assessment of effectiveness of nuclear regulatory and safety assistance. The group will meet again in January igg 8, and thereafter will meet twice a year.

Bit.ATERAL SAFETY INFORMATION EXCHANGE The NRC participates in a wide range of mutually beneficial programs involving information exchange and cooperative safety research with counterparts in the intemational community.

This section discusses the NRC's arrangements for the exchange of information related to nuclear regulatory and licensing responsibilities.

SAFETY COOPERATION ARRANGEMENTS Since 1g74, most of NRC's safety cooperation has taken place under the aegis of formal bilateralinformation exchange and cooperation arrangements concluded for five year periods.

Originally intended to incorporate all countries operating nuclear power plants of U.S. design, the arrangement program was first expanded to include those with such plants under construction and then broadened to encompass countries with plans for nuclear power development, including those based on non-U.S. origin technology.

NRC currently participates in 34 arrangements with the regulatory authorities of the following countries / areas: Argentina, Armenia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kaztskstan, the Republic of Korea, Lithuania, Mexico, The Netherlands, Peru, The Philippines, Russia, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerfand, Ukraine, the United 9

Kingdom, and Taiwan.

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These arrangements authorize several kinds of activities. They provide communications channels which ensure the prompt reciprocal notification of power reactor safety problems that could affect both U.S. and foreign plants. They encourage the identification of possible precursor events warranting further investigation. They represent the building blocks for bilateral cooperation in nuclear safety, physical security, materials accountancy and control, waste management, environmental protection, and in other areas to which the parties agree.

Finally, they establish the men * $.hrough which NRC provides health and safety information and assistance to other countnes attempting to develop or improve their regulatory organizations and their overall nuclear safety cuttures.

q During fiscal year 1997, NRC entered into a new information exchange and cooperation arrangement with Armenia and renewed expiring arrangements with Mexico and Switzerland.

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(in the month after, NRC also renewed it arrangements with The Netherlands and Japan, most i

of the negotiations for which had been completed before fiscal year end.) Intellectual Property

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Rights (IPR) issues continued to delay the formal anewal of NRC's arrangement with France.

FOREIGN ASSIGNEES WORKING AT THE NRC The NRC implements an on-the-job training program for assignees from other countries, usually from their regulatory organizations, operating under the aegis of the bilateralinformation exchange arrangements. During FY 97,14 people from the countries of Brazil, Bulgaria, China, France, Hungary, the Republic of Korea, Mexico and Spain participated in the program. Their assignments generally ranged from a few months to a year or more, during which assignees worked in many areas, including:

nuclear scientific information handling, including documents, records and e

publication; nuclear power plant steam generator tube and safety related piping integrity issues; design inspection to determine if the plant design is in accordance with its e

original design bases; e

analysis and evaluation of plant performance data; activities associated with the development of Graded Quality Assurance (GQA);

e and review of digital systems for operating nuclear plants and advanced light-water e

reactors.

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6 During their time at the NRC, foreign assignees often make significant contributions to the resolution of U.S. regulatory issues. At the same time, they leam the NRC's approach to nuclear safety, which helps them and their organizations understand and implement westem safety practices. Historically, assignees have often become senior officials in their regulatory organizations during their careers.

THE NEW INDEPENDENT STATES OF THE FORMER SOVIET UNION in FY 97 the NRC continued to play an important role in U.S. assistance to the FSU in developing and enhancing their regulatory systems.

The Gore-Chernomyrdin Commisalon NRC continued to participate in nuclear safety and security activities under the U.S/ Russian Joint Commission on Economic and Technological Cooperation, which is chaired by Vice President Gore and Russian Prime Minister Chemomyrdin and is known as the Gore-Chemomyrdin Commission (GCC). The GCC has met every six months since September 1993, attemating between the US and Russia. Chairman Jackson represents NRC in the GCC process. During FY 97 NRC actively participated in the preparations for and meetings of the eighth and ninth GCC meetings, held February 6-7,1997 in Washington, and September 22-23, 1997 in Moscow, respectively.

At both GCC-Vill and GCC-IX the U.S. and Russia reaffirmed their view that safe nuclear power is a key component of global nuclear safety and security. They stressed the importance of a strong, independent nuclear regulatory authority as a means to promote and maintain nuclear safety. A key component of that policy is vesting the Russian Federal Nuclear and Radiation Safety. Authority (Gosatomnadzor or GAN) with appropriate resources to carry out its functions as defined by the new Russian nuclear law and previous State decrees. NRC-GAN accomplishments, acknowledged at GCC-IX, included development of a regulatory training center, an emergency response capability, and of regulatory standards and criteria.

i Of particular nuclear safety and nonproliferation significance was the continuing bilateral effort to convert Russia's three operating plutonium production reactors at Tomsk (Seversk) and Krasnoyarsk (Zhelezhnogorsk) to district electricity and heat uses, using a design that would not produce weapons-grade plutonium. At GCC-IX three interlinked formal agreements between the govemments of the United States and the Russian Federation were signed to begin implementation of this effort, in support of these agreements Chairman Jackson and GAN Chairman Vishnevsky signed a Joint Statement Conceming Enhancement of Regulatory Oversight of Core Conversion Activities, with the intent of ensuring that safety remain at the heart of the project. At GCC-IX, and in private meetings between Chairman Jackson and Chairman Vishnevsky, NRC reaffirmed its willingness and desire to consult with GAN in the regulatory review and approval process for the core conversion project. NRC and GAN will focus on such areas as the verification of design and accident analysis codes, quality assurance, design requirements for criticality control systems and probabilistic risk analysis.

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, Finally, in conjunction with the need for the Russian govemment to comply with commitments made as part of the grant agreement with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development / Nuclear Safety Account (EBRD/NSA), as well as to enhance their stature as a credible nuclear power vendor, Chairman Jackson continued to stress the need for full safety assessments at Russian plants.

Group of Seven (G 7) Nuclear Safety Activities in the reporting period NRC continued its active involvement in support of the three nuclear safety institutions which have emerged from the annual G-7 economic summits (e.g., the G 7 Nuclear Safety Working Group (NSWG), the Group of Twenty-Four Nuclear Safety Coordination (G-24 NUSAC) group, and the EBRD/NSA.

G 7 Nuclear Safety Working Group (NSWG)

The NSWG is the mechanism for policy development of nuclear issues for the annual G-7 heads of govemment summits. The NSWG's policy coordination function for nuclear safety assistance also continued to be an essential concomitant to the technical coordination function administered by the G-24, as well as the financing function implemented through the EBRD/NSA. NRC representatives on U.S. delegations continue to provide important technical advice and policy in framing U.S. nuclear safety proposals and evaluating those of other govemments, especially activities involving regulatory assistance.

In FY 97 the NSWG continued efforts to effectively implement the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Ukraine, which provides for closure by the year 2000 of the four-unit Chamobyl nuclear power plant. This MOU is conditioned on westem financial support for k

a!!emative energy sources, resolution of social problems related to the closure of the station, and decommissioning issues. A key element in the G-7/ Ukraine MOU on closing Chomobyl has been the development of attemative solutions for the deteriorating sarcophagus entombing Unit 4, with a goal to transforming the sarcophagus to a safer and more environmenta!!y stable condition.

The G-7 and Ukrainian officials agreed to a Shelter implementation Plan (SIP)in June 1997.

The $750 million cost of the SIP covers 22 integrated tasks in the following five areas:

reduction of collapse probability through structural stabilization; o

e reduction of collapse accident consequences; e

improvements to nuclear safety; improved worker and environmental safety; and e

3 a long-term strategy and study for conversion of the sarcophagus to an e

environmentally safe site.

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g Work under the SIP is scheduled to begin this year and will be completed in 2005. At the June 1997 G-7 Summit in Denver, President Clinton led the G 7 in pledging $300 million to fund the SIP, and called for other concemed parties, both public and private, to join the G-7 at a pledging conference in the fall to fully fund the effort. NRC supported the U.S.-led G-7 efforts to organize the SIP pledging conference. These funds will be placed in a special sarcophagus fund (The Shelter Fund) established by the EBRD, which will be responsible for the project's administration. Govemmental donors will participate in a Contributors' Assembly to be established at the EBRD.

The Ukrainian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NRA) will play a key role in the realization of the SIP, most notably in the creation of criteria to implement shelter improvements. NRA's approach to regulating shelter activity is based on the consideration of the sarcophagus as a unique structure that currently has no technical safety criteria. The agency's main approach for safety assessment, which has received westem support, is risk-oriented, based on methodology for radiological risk assessment. In support of the G-7 initiative, NRC is working with the NRA in such areas as radioactive risk evaluation methodology and preparation of licensing documents covering construction and operation of the shelter.

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)/ Nuclear Safety Account (NSA)

The NSA was established a's a supplementary multilateral mechanism to address immediate operational safety and technical safety improvement measures at the least-safe Soviet-design reactors (namely WER 440/230 and RBMK types) not covered by bilateral programmes. The NSA is administered by a steering body of representatives from the 15 donor countries; is coordinated with and assisted by the G-24; and is managed by the EBRD. Created for an initial period of three years (1993-1996), in 1996 it was extended for another three years. Total NSA contributions as of December 1997 are in excess of $300 million.

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in FY 97, the NSA and the Govemment of Ukraine successfully concluded a grant agreement tbr provision of approximately $125 million in assistance to support the Chomobyl plant closure initist!ve. This represents a significant achievement towards the Ukrainian and G-7 goal of permanently closing the Chomobyl plant by the year 2000. Efforts to implement the NSA grant agreement with Ukraine also began in FY 97.

Other ongoing NSA projects include:

Bulgaria: $30 million for safety upgrades and improvements at Kozioduy Units 1-e 4;

Lithuania: $41.25 million for safety upgrades and improvements at the Ignalina e

RBMK plant, and $9.14 million to conduct a safety assessment of ignalina; and e

Russia: $37.98 million for safety upgrades and improvements at Kola NPP;

$29.11 million for safety upgrades and improvements at Novovoronezh NPP; and $1.13 million to support licensing of the safety upgrades and improvements by the Russian regulatory authority GAN.

9 Each of these projects has financing conditioned on commitments to close the least-safe plants, when certain circumstances are met, such as the availability of replacement power or-determinations to be made by regulatory authorities. However, enforcing these conditionalities has been more difficult than expected. Key to most of these projects is the strengthening of the i

national nuclear regulatory authorities, in which NRC assistance has been key. NRC has also provided technical assistance in other bilateral and multilateral EBRDINSA projects.

i G 24 Nuclear Safety Assistance Coordination Activities NRC continued its active participation in the Group of 24 Nuclear Safety Assistance i

Coordination (G-24 NUSAC) process. Since 1992 the G-24 NUSAC has coordinated safety assistance programs worldwide for the countries of the FSU and CEE. In February and again in July 1997, NRC representatives attended G-24 NUSAC Steering and Plenary Committee meetings held in Brussels, Belgium. NRC has also been actively involved in efforts to restructure the G-24 NUSAC coordination process, reflecting the maturity and experience that

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has been gained since 1992.

Russia and Ukraine

' NRC completed its fifth year of providing assistance in nuclear safety and safeguards to Russia and Ukraine. Each year separate annual meetings are held in Washington, during which top management of NRC and the regulatory agencies of Russia and Ukraine, respectively (Russia's GAN, and the Ukraine's Nuclear Regulatory Administration - NRA) review current project progress, and decide on the direction of their programs for the next year. In FY 1997, these meetings occurred in February 1997. These annual events also provide an opportunity for the Chairman and the Commissioners, and officials from other U.S. agencies such as DOS and DOE, to discuss broad policy and specific implementation issues with the visitors, such as topics of relevance to the GCC, the G-7 and the EBRD/NSA.

Both GAN and NRA continued to experience grave economic difficulties, as inadequate budgets kept salaries low, inhibited domestic travel and limited equipment purchases. However, each organization gained in stature as government officials increasingly came to recognize that safe nuclear operations depend on independent regulation. Based on the fundamental nuclear laws each country passed two years ago, regulatory agencies prepared implementing legal and technical documentation which they provided to NRC for comment.

NRC sponsored training in areas of licensing and inspection throughout the year. This training was conducted during approximately 40 training trips to the U.S. from Russia and Ukraine in 1996, involving about 120 people; and approximately 50 training-related trips to these countries j

by NRC staff and contractors. During the year, some of the projects which had been underway j

for several years were completed, such as the training center for NRA and the emergency response center for GAN.

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10 Joint Coordination Committee on Civilian Nuclear Reactor Safety (JCCCNRS)

The Joint Coordination Committee on Civilian Nuclear Reactor Safety (JCCCNRS) was established before the breakup of the Soviet Union to provide a framework for conducting U.S.-

Soviet cooperative activities in nuclear safety research. With the creation of Russia and Ukraine in 1991, most of that work was replaced by the nuclear safety assistance program.

However, cooperation with Russia in several of the areas continues. One area of particular interest to NRC is severe accident research. NRC supports work by two Russian organizations, the Russian Research Center at Kurchatov, which works on hydrogen combustion, fuel bumup and in vessel cooling; and the Russian Academy of Sciences, which works on models for severe accident codes, failure criteria for containment structures and assessment of thermal-hydraulic codes. This work has been of high quality and performed at a fraction of the cost that would have been incurred in the U.S. The relationship has also helped the Russian nuclear power community to become familiar with NRC methods.

Cooperation on Radiation Effects Research The NRC actively participates in research programs on the effects on human health of radiation resulting from industrial practices in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. In Ukraine and Belarus, radiation exposure data was derived primarily from the 1986 Chomobyl accident. A scientific protocol for a study on the thyroids of 50,000 children has been completed, as well as a pilot test. In Russia, the radiation exposure data was derived primarily from the processing of nuclear weapons material. A Joint Coordinating Committee for Radiation Effects Research (JCCRER) was established in 1994 to direct joint research in the U.S. and in the southem Urals region. The JCCRER has focused on three research areas: health effects of radiation on the affected population; health effects of exposure on workers in radiation zones; and information technologies in radiation effects research. Commissioner Greta J. Dieus has represented NRC at the three JCCRER meetings which have been held, the most recent in April 1997.

Armenia NRC continued its bilateral efforts to strengthen the Armenian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (ANRA). During the reporting period, NRC provided training to ANRA specialists in such areas as related to seismic issues associated with nuclear power plants, site security, radiation embrittlement of metals, licensing of nuclear power plants designed and built to earlier standards, and fire protection. NRC also participated in several lAEA-sponsored nuclear safety activities in Armenia, ensuring close coordination between NRC and IAEA regulatory strengthening efforts.

At the September 1997 IAEA General Conference Chairman Jackson and ANRA Chairman Martirosyan signed a cooperative arrangement, providing a formal framework for exchanging nuclear regulatory and safety information between NRC and ANRA.

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11 Kazakhstan NRC continued its regulatory safety strengthening efforts for the Kazakh Atomic Energy Agency (KAEA), which also complements ongoing NRC/KAEA regulatory safeguards strengthening activities. During the reporting period, NRC provided training to KAEA specialists in such areas as licensing of nuclear power plants designed and built to eariier standards, and techniques and procedures for inspection of operating power and research rsactors.

CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE The NRC has continued its extensive assistance program to central and eastem Europe (CEE) 4 drawing on funds provided by AfD. The NRC program is aimed at transferring to local regulstors westem safety principles and NRC safety review and licensing methodology. The j

scope has been expanded to include a broad range of safety-related activities, as noted below.-

The combined efforts of westem donor countries has brought about a noticeable increase in safety culture and awareness in the CEE countries, to the point that many of them are now capable of nuclear safety assistance to other CEE countries.

During FY 97 NRC continued its support to the Associahon of State Nuclear Safety Authorities of the Countries Operating WER Type Reactors. An NRC representative participated in the j

fourth association meeting, held in Helsinki in August 1997. The NRC representative enlisted I

the cooperation of the 'iAEA Technical Cooperation Program and the Slovak participants to organize a selected range of regulatory assistance activities for Bulgarian regulators in Slovakia. NRC also indicated readiness to approach AlD for additional funding for Bulgarian assistance.

The NRC also continued its close cooperation with the lA EA on a range of CEE activities. On several occasions OIP staff members have joined IAEA and CEE representatives in IAEA-initiated Technical Cooperation l'rogram review meetings to help monitor ongoing assistance activities and assist in defining future assistance efforts.

Czech Republic NRC is conducting an extensive assistance program for the Czech State Office for Nuclear Safety (SONS). The key project is a multi-year AID funded training effort, conducted p,imarily by NRC contractors, to teach SONS how to perform an NRC-like safety review of the -

Westinghouse-supplied instrumentation and Control (l&C) system and fuel in connection with licensing the Temelin WER 1000 nuclear power plant (NPP). NRC has also offered training to GONS staff in many other aress, including methodology for its resident inspectors.

In October 1996 NRC held a peer review meeting in which SONS provided an overview of the current licensing status of Temelin. SONS indicated that 80% of the roughly 1000 open licensing issues from the year before had been satisfactorily closed out. A por* ion of the remaining /dD funds earmarked for Temelin will be used to support resolution of issues raised during pre-operational testing activities. SONS staff is now preparing several topics for NRC

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staff peer review in the areas of fuel, design basis accider'ts (DBA), and l&C.

t 12 Slovak Republic Although the Slovak Nuclear Safety Authority (SNSA) has adopted the former Czechoslovakian rules and regulations, they have also developed new materials and approaches. For example, the SNSA has made great progress in putting to use the information derived from attending the NRC inspector training course by translating a!! key docaments into Slovak, and completed an ambitious program of incorporating lessons learned from donor countries into its own inspection program. From its inception in January 1993 through the present, the SNSA has expressed strong interest in modemizing its regulatory capability and has the infrastructure in place to absort> a heavy volume of regulatory assistance, in November 1996 OIP responded to an offer by the then Chairman of the SNRA to brief interested U.S. Govemment officials from the Departments of Energy and State and the NRC to discuss reactor pressure vessel (RPV) integrity and confinement upgrades to Bohunice NPP (Units 1 and 2 of which are WER 440/230 reactor models).

Lithuania The breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991 resulted in the govemment of Lithuania assuming responsibility fr ' oe cperation of the Ignalina NPP (INPP) - a two-unit, third generation RBMK plant. Responsiollity for assuring the safety of the INPP lies with the Lithuanian Nuclear Power Safety inspectorate (VATEST) which has the difficult problem of trying to regulate and inspect against standards established by the former Soviet Union, not all of which apply to INPP. To address this problem, dring the summer of 1997 NRC helped VATESI prepara and update a set of Lithuania-specific Norms and Standards on operational safety of NPPs, prepare Ignalina-specific inspection guidelines and project r+1estones, and develop a regulatory philosophy policy statement, which is being adopted by VATESI.

Additionally, the NRC, in cor:sultation with a number of westem countries, is involved in the third year of a bilateral nuclear safety and regulatory assistance program to VATESI aimed at perfomiing licensing reviews for INPP Unit 1. NRC's assistance to VATESI is taking into ccount the conclusions and safety deficiency findings contained in the Safety Analysis Report (SAR) and Review of the SAR, and in the Safety Panel Report, all of which were released in January 1997. The SAR, RSAR and SPR were performed over the last several years by hiemational teams, and was funded by the EBRD/NSA in conjunction with their grant agreement.

Hungary in February 1997 three Hungarians spent one week at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and one week at headquarters for training in the licensing of digital 18C. The training included not only the U.S. approech to licensing of digital l&C safety systems, but also reviewed how the Hungarian Nuclear Safety inspectorate plans to review a proposed digital control system upgrade at the Paks NPP using the Siemens Teleperm NS family of hardware and software. In August 1997 an inspector working in the Emergency Response Center at the inspectorate spent one week in the Office for Analysis and Evaluation of Operational Data (AEOD) for training and demonstrations in event analysis.

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13 Bulgaria

- Past regulatory shortcomings at the Committee on the Use of Atomic Energy for Peaceful Purposes (CUAEPP), and the general instability and lack of progress in putting to use assistar ce received from the U.S. and other westem donor countries has led the NRC for the last few years to put a hold on replatory assistance untilit could be confident that such assistance would be property utilized and would contribute to greater CUAEPP competence in the handling of regulatoryissues.

Recent significant management changes at CUAEPP have signaled an improved working climate and a new willingness to implement needed institutional reforms and regulatory approaches. These changes can be expected to strengthen nuclear oversight and safety in Bulgaria. At the suggestion of the NRC, and funded through the IAEA, CUAEPP's Chairman padicipated in a four week training program at the Slovak Nuclear Regulatory Authority where he gained insight into their managerrient style, inspection procedures and overall nuclear safety program. As a follow up to this visit the NRC expects to see an increased level of IAEA funded training of CUAEPP regulatory staff in Slovakia.

Romania Romania's hrst nuclear power plant was connected to the national grid in July 1996. It is one of five Canadian-origin heavy water-moderated, natural uranium fueled (CANDU) reactors to be constructed at Cemavoda. Since the fall of the Ceaucescu Govemment in 1989, Romania's actions and statements have been supportive of U.S. non-proliferation objectives, and are consistent with undertakings in the proposed Agreement for Pee eful Nuclear Cooperation between the U.S. and Romania that is now under consideration by the Commission. Pending

. successful completion of interagency review, President Clinton is scheduled to sign the Agreement in March 1998, during the visit to Washington of Romania's President.

PACIFIC RIM This region includes well-established nuclear power programs, such as those of Japan, the -

Republic of Korea (ROK), and Taiwan, and is also the fastest growing energy market in the world. The energy demand in many Pacific Rim countries is expected to triple over the next 30 years, and nuclear power is expected to capture an increasing share of this demand, in response to the growing energy market and increased interest in nuclear power, the Commission has placed a high priority on safety cooperation with Pacific Rim countries.

. Japan Some 30 per cent of Japan's electricity is currently provided by 51 nuclear reactors, including the world's first advanced boiling water reactors. The nuclear share will raise to 42 per cent by the year 2010, when the reactors under construction and planned are completed. Japan's nuclear power program includes a complete fuel cycle. It's nuclear industry is regulated by both the Ministry of Intemational Trade and industry (MITI), which is responsible for the licensing and regulation of operating commercial power reactors, and the Science and Technology Agency l

14 (STA), which is responsible for the licensing and regulation of Japan's fuel cycle and advanced reactors. NRC conducts a strong bilateral safety program with both agencies.

During the fiscal year, there were numerous exchanges of technical teams between the NRC and its safety partners at MITI and the STA, including:

in April 1997, Mr. Tomihiro Taniguchi, Deputy Director General, Agency for e

Natural Resources and Energy of the Ministry of Trade and Industry (ANRE/MITI) visited the Commission to continue previous discussions on current licensing issues; in June 1997, Mr. Tsutomu Inoue, President of Japan's Nuclear Power e

Engineering Corporation, met with the Commission and RES representatives to discuss NRC-NUPEC safety research.

People's Republic of China China continued construction of additional nuclear power plants under the direction of its ninth five-year plan. During FY 97, there was an active exchange of safety information between the NRC and the Nefional Nuclear Safety Administration (NNSA). In addition to hosting NNSA technical teams for discussions, NRC sponsored four technical workshops in Beijing:

Development and Evolution of NRC Safety Approach and Philosophy; e

New Standard Technical Specifications; e

Maintenance Regulations; and, e

e Seismic Regulations and Guidet As China's nuclear program has expanded and accumulated years of nuclear power plant operating experience, the scope of bilateral cooperation has also expanded from its limited initial phase. New areas of technical safety information exchange now include plant operation; maintenance; inspection; emergency preparedness; waste management; and nuclear material control and accounting. The NRC has also held discussions with the Ministry of Health, the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), and the National Environmental Protection Agency to discuss nuclear safety issues of mutualinterest.

Taiwan The NRC coordinates its safety cooperation with the Taiwan Atomic Energy Council (AEC) through the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT). Annually the AIT meets with its counterpart, the Taipel Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO), tc review ongoing exchange programs, and to develop co!!aboration programs. Under the AIT-TECRO Joint Commission on Civil Nuclear Cooperation, the NRC has an active program of bilateral cooperation with Taiwan.

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15 In October 1996, Chairman Jackson visited Taiwan and met with representatives of the AEC and the state nuclear utility Taiwan Power Company to discuss licensing issues, and also visited the Kousheng Nuclear Power Station.

Republic of Korea (ROK)

NRC continued its active program of nuclear safety and regulatory cooperation with the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), the Republic of Korea's designated regulatory and licensing authority, and with the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety (KINS), which serves as MOSTS technical expert group, carrying out many of its day-to-day regulatory responsibilities, incleding interactions with NRC.

During FY 97 formal discussions were scheduled in both the U.S. and the ROK covering such varied areas as risk-informed, performance-based regulation; advanced reactor issues; low-and high-level waste management; fire protection; low power and shutdown operations; unresolved nuclear power plant safety issues; the probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) implementation plan; data communications systems and banks; code development activities; dose calculation methodo!ogy; environmental monitoring; and ROK plans for expanded nuclear commerce within the Pacific Basin. Significant additional cooperative activities which proceeded with the ROK during this reporting period include staff participation in:

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the 19th Intemational Meeting on Reduced Enrichment for Research and Test Reactors hosted by the ROK in Seoul October 7-10,1996; the Symposium on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management held in Taejon e

November 4-5,1996, including a KINS sponsored keynote address on spent fuel behavior associated with the disposal of high-level waste in the U.S.;

the U.S. delegation to the 18th Annual Meeting of the US-ROK Joint Standing e

Committee on Nuclear and Other Energy Technologies (renamed at that time the Joint Standing Committee on Nuclear Energy Cooperation, JCSNEC), which took place in Washington June 18 20,1997; e

the KINS Intemational Seminar on Safety Regulation of Advanced Reactors June 2126,1997 (also sponsored by KINS), and related discussions with the KINS staff the rest of that week; technical consultations on emergency core cooling system experiments and e

thermal-hydraulic code development with the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, which sponsored the NRC staffs week-long visit; in addition to these activities, Dr. Soon-Shik Jang, Principal Researcher in the KINS Regulatory Research Department, began a six-to-twelve month, on-the-job training assignment within the Office of Nuclear Reactor Research (RES) Electrical, Materials and Mechanical Engineering Branch, where he is to leam project management and coordinate the Korean input to the NRC steam generator tube integrity aging research project.

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16 Indonesia Chairman Jackson traveled to Indonesia April 13-17,1997 to meet with key members of the Indonesian nuclear and broader energy community (govemment, science, industry, and academia) to further the nuclear safety dialogue, to exchange information on nuclear and other energy programs and plans, and to visit nuclear program sites and facilities. In order to gain a comprehensive view of the Indonesian energy picture in general and plans for nuclear power and safety in particular, Chairman Jackson's meetings included discussions with the State Minister for Research and Technology Dr. Habibie and Minister Habibie's Expert for Nuclear Affairs Dr. Ridwan: with Ministry of Mines and Energy Director General of Electric Power and Energy Development Notodisuryo; and with President-Director of PLN Marsudi (PLN is the national utility). She visited the National Centre for Research, Science, and Technology (Puspiptek) in Serpong, and the Research Centre for Nuclear Techniques in Bandung, She also visited the Bandung Institute of Technology and Pt. Industri Pesawat Terbang Nusantara (IPTN), Indonesia's aircraft industry center. Chairman Jackson delivered a proposed text for the renewal of the five-year NRC-National Atomic Energy Agency (BATAN) technical information exchange and general cooperation arrangement, originally signed in October 1992.

At fiscal year end, NRC still awaited Indonesian comments on/ acceptance of the renewal text.

During the reporting period four BATAN representatives were supported for year-long, on-the-job training'essignments at NRC under the IAEA Fellowship Program. Three completed their assignments in safety assessment / licensing within the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) in January 1997. A fourth BATAN foreign assignee completed his 14-month assignment in standards development /rulemaking within RES in March 1997. They were the second group of BATAN employees to receive such training. NRC had agreed in 1992 to provide safety training for 12 Indonesians (at that time, anticipated to be four per year for three years), after which NRC agreed to evaluate the program vis-a-vis decisions about the composition and direction of the nascent Indonesian nuclear power program. The overallindonesian program has since, E!en behind schedule, with a concomitant delay in BATAN staff receiving training at NRC.

Australia Chairman Jackson traveled to Australia April 19-22,1997. During her visit she met with key members of the Australian nuclear and broader energy establishment, both govemment and private industry, in Darwin, Sydney, Lucas Heights, Miranda, and Canberra to further the NRC-Australian nuclear safety and non-proliferation dialogue, and to exchange information on nuclear and other energy programs and plans in the both countries. Chairman Jackson also l

visited the Ranger uranium mine and the Koongaara uranium ore deposit, where NRC is engaged in a joint effort with Aui,tralia, Japan, and the Republic of Korea to pursue analogue studies of radio nuclide transport through soils and predictive modeling of such transport, in the Northem Territory. Finally, the Chairman visited the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization's (ANSTO's) High Flux Australian Reactor (HIFAR), the Tandem Accelerator, and the SYNROC (High-Level Waste Immobilization) Demonstration Plant at Lucas Heights.

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17 WESTERN EUROPE AND CANADA The NRC has traditionally maintained strong ties with countries in this region, many with active and advanced nuclear programs. The NRC's relationships with these countries enable us to increase our knowledge of important new technical developments, both for operating facilities and advanced designs, and to harmonize regulatory approaches to the extent possible.

France in March 1997, Commissioner Dieus made an extensive visit to France. During the visit she had discussions with Andre-Claude Lacoste, Director General of the Nuclear installations Safety Directorate (DSIN); Jean Syrota, Chairman of Cogema; Pierre Daures, Chief Executive Officer of Electricite de France (EdF); Annie Sugier, Director of Radiation Protection of the institute for Nuclear Safety and Protection, and Claude Birraux, Parliamentarian and member of the Parliamentary Office for the Evaluation of Scientific and Technical Options. She also visited the La Hague reprocessing and vitrification facility, the Flammanville Nuclear Power Plant and the Curie institute, where she received briefings on their program for radiation health research and treatment.

In May 1997, Commissioner Diaz attended the Fifth Intemational Conference on Nuclear Energy (ICONE 5) in Nice where he made an invited presentation on ' Nuclear Advances Through Global Cooperation." He also visited the Cadarache Nuclear Research Center, where he was briefed on and toured the Phebus Fission Product facility and the Cabri Test Reactor.

NRC is a participant in the Phebus test program and willjoin the Cabri program to test high bumup LWR fuel.

While in France for the constituting meeting of the Intemational Nuclear Regulators Association (INRA) in May, Chairman Jackson visited the Civaux NPP, a 1450 MWe pressurized water reactor (PWR) of the indigenous N4 design. N4 is the latest design developed by Framatome for operating PWRs in France, and is the first series of an entirely French design incorporating many technically innovative features.

A number of key French safety officials also visited NRC during the year for important safety discussions. Mr. Andre-Claude Lacoste, Director General of DSIN, met with Chairman Jackson to discuss the future exchange of regulatory personnel for training. In November 1996, both Pierre Daures, Chief Executive officer of EdF and Colette Lewiner, Chairman of the Eurysis Group, met with the Commission. Mr. Daures reviewed the electricity situation in France and the intense effort to make nuclear cost competitive with other energy sources. Ms.

Lewiner reviewed her company's involvement with DOE in the nuclear waste clean-up and vitrification projects at Hanford. Following the change in Chairmanship at Framatome, Mr.

Jean-Daniel Levi, Senior Vice President for intemational Affairs visited the Commission in May 1997 to renew senior level interactions with NRC, and to discuss Framatome activities in China and the status and planning of the European Pressurized Water Reactor (EPR) advanced reactor design.

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l 18 Additionally, the NRC staff hosted meetings with members of the French High Level Waste National Assessment Committee and the National Nuclear Emergency Management Support j

Team to exchange information on current activities.

Germany The Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) hosted their German counterparts.

- the Reactor Safety Commission, for a one day information exchange meeting on the subject of advanced reactors in April 1997. Dr. Friedrich Kienle, Director of Nuclear Power for the Organization of German Electrical Utilities, met with senior staff members to discuss the status i

of advanced reactor licensing and electricity deregulation in May.

Italy in September 1997 the staff met with Mr, Antonio Luisi, Director of Legislative Affairs, Ministry I

of industry, to discuss the legislative authority for nuclear regulation in the U.S. and the i

prospects for the future use of inherently safe reactors in Italy.

i Spain in May 199hCommissioner Diaz visited the Consejo de Seguridad Nuclear (CSN) in Madrid, Spain. During the visit he held extensive discussions with the CSN Commissioners

- and staff on general nuclear safety issues. He concluded the visit with a we!!-received speech before the CSN employees on ' Change in the Regulatory Structure for the Next Century."

Following that visit he went to the waste repository at Sierra Albarrana in El Cabril, which is operated by the national waste management company Empresa Nacional de Residuos Radioactivos, S.A. (ENRESA). The facility will store low-and intermediate-level waste produced in Spain until approximately 2010.

The United Kingdom The NRC has had an " Arrangement for the Exchange of Technical Information and Cooperation in Nuclear Safety Matters"with the United Kingdom (U.K.) since 1975. Under our bilateral agreements, the NRC and the Nuclear Installations inspectorate (Nil) continued to cooperate closely in nuclear safety information exchanges and involvement in an active program of bilateral and multilateral research cooperation.

i in separate visits to the U.K. in 1997, Chairman Jackson and Commissioner Dieus toured nuclear facilities and met with British officials to discuss PWR technology, radiation protection issues, the current status of the radioactive waste disposal program, privatization and i

I restructuring of nuclear utilities, extemal regulatory review of health and safety management at U.K. nuclear weapons establishment sites, current trends and issues in nuclear energy policies under the new govemment, and the agreement between British Energy and PECO to formulate a joint venture to obtain nuclear generating capacity in the U.S.

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18 Additiona!!y, the NRC staf1 hosted meetings with members of the French High Level Waste National Assessment Committee and the National Nuclear Emergency Management Support Team to exchange information on current activities.

Germany The Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) hosted their German counterparts, the Reactor Safety Commission, for a one day information exchange meeting on the subject of advanced reactors in April 1997. Dr. Friedrich Kienle, Director of Nuclear Power for the Organization of German Electrical Utilities, met with senior staff members to discuss the status of advanced reactor licensibg and electricity deregulation in May.

t Italy i

in September 1997 the staTmet with Mr. Antonio Luisi, Director of Legislative Affairs, Ministry 1

of Industry, to discuss the legislative authority for nuclear regulation in the U.S. and the prospects for the future ussfof inherently safe reactors in Italy.

Spain h

_ in May 199 Commissioner Diaz visited the Consejo de Seguridad Nuclear (CSN) in Madrid, Spain. During thevisit he held extensive discussions with the CSN Commissioners and staff on general nuclear safety issues. He concluded the visit with a well-received speech before the CSN employees on ' Change in the Regulatory Structure for the Next Century."

Following that visit he went to the waste repository at Sierra Albarrana in El Cabril, which is operated by the national waste management company Empresa Nacional de Residuos Radioactivos, S.A. (ENRESA). The facility will store low-and intermediate-level waste produced in Spain until approximately 2010.

The United Kingdom The NRC has had an " Arrangement for the Exchange of Technical lnformation and Cooperation in Nuclear Safety Matters" with the United Kingdom (U.K.) since 1975. Under our bilateral agreements, the NRC and the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (Nil) continued to cooperate closely in nuclear safety information exchanges and involvement in an active program of bilateral and multilateral research cooperatiort In separate visits to the U.K.is 1997, Chairman Jackson and Commissioner Dieus toured nuclear facilities and met iwitfiBritish officials to discuss PWR technology, radiation protection issues, the current status of the radioactive waste disposal program, privatization and restructuring of nuclear utilitied, extemal reguIatory review of health and safety management at U.K. nuclear weapons establisihment sites, current trends and issues in nuclear energy policies under the new govemment, and the agreement between British Energy and PECO to formulate a joint venture to obtain nuclear generating capacity in the U.S.

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19 During her visit Chairman Jackson gave the keynote speech at the 22nd Annual Uranium Symposium sponsored by the Uranium Institute. In her presentation entitled

• Sharing Regulatory Perspectives: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission in a Time of Change," Chairman Jackson covered subjects such as plutonium storage and disposition, the U.S. Enrichment Corporation, extended regulation of DOE nuclear facilities, electricity restructuring and the establishment of the Intemational Nuclear Regulators Association. Chairman Jackson also participated in a subsequent panel discussion on Regulation, Competition and Nuclear Power.'

AFRICA l

South Africa in July 1997, Chairman Jackson participated in the meetings of the U.S.-South Africa Binational Commission, which is co-chaired by Vice President Gore and Deputy President Thebo Mbeki.

i The Commission meets approximately every six months attemating between the United States and South Africa. During the meetings Chairman Jackson reported on the status of nuclear safety initiatives NRC has underway with the South African Department of Minerals and Energy

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(DME) and with the Council for Nuclear Safety (CNS). The NRC initiatives are focused on three areas: basic nuclear safety govemance, personnel training, and involvement in intemational nuclear safety research. As part of the first project two CNS technical specialists spent a week in the U.S. discussing NRC's research programs and results in the areas of reactor vessel embrittlement and steam generator tube integrity, and they visited the laboratories performing the research. As part of the second project an NRC staff team went to South Africa to discuss NRC sponsored research programs that are available for intemational participation with interested South African parties.

Subsequent to the Binational Commission meetings, but related to the NRC/DME/CNS project on revising nuclear energy and safety legislation, NRC hosted an extensive visit in September by the DME Deputy Director General for Energy to review the basic approach and practices of nuclear safety govemance in the U.S. NRC also reviewed and provided comments to DME on a draft South African White Paper on Energy.

Ghana Following attendance at the April 1997 National Conference on Radiation Control in Tacoma, Washington, a Ghanaian delegation headed by Dr. J. H. Amuasi, Secretary, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission and including Augustine W. K. Kyere, Director of the National Nuclear

- Research Institute and Cyril Schandorf, Director and Chief Radiation Protection Officer, Radiation Board of Ghana, visited the Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety to discuss radiation protection and x-ray technology issues, discussed RERTR issues at Argonne National Laboratory, and is scheduled to visit the Food and Drug Ad.ninistration. The delegation then visited the Commission in earfy may to discuss health physics, nuclear medicine and radiation safety.

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20 LATIN AMERICA Mexico in March 1997. Chairman Jackson visited the Comision Nacional de Seguridad y Salvaguardias (CNSNS) in Mexico. During the visit she signed a five-year extension of the bilateral information arrangement between NRC and the CNSNS. The signing was witnessed by then.

Secretary of Energy Jesus Haroles, who is currently Mexican ambassador to the U.S.

in their discussions, the Chairman and Mr. Miguel Medina exchanged views on plant aging, low and high level waste storage, materials licensee regulations, and privatization and utility restructuring. The visit also included a trip to the Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones i

Nucleares (lNIN), where the Chairman held discussions with Dr. Jose Luis Galvan, ININ's Director of Technology Research, and with Dr. Miguel Balcazar, ININ's Director for Scientific I

Research. Finally, the Chairman toured the Laguna Verde Reactor in Veracruz.

Brazil in June 1997, Commissioner Diaz participated in a symposium in Brazil entitled " Globalization of Nuclear Activities,' which was sponsored by the Latin American Section of the American Nuclear Society. During this visit, he also met with officials at the Argentina / Brazil Agency for Accounting and Control of Nuclear Materials (ABACC), whose mandate is to apply safeguards to all nuclear material use in nuclear activities in Brazil and Argentina. Commissioner Diaz briefed ABACC Secretary Carlos Feu Alvim and Deputy Secretary Elias Palacios on NRC safeguards developments and licensing responsibilities, the possible future use of mixed oxide (MOX) fuelin the U.S., and pending U.S. legislation related to the establishment of a waste repository. Commissioner Diaz also met with the president of the Brazilian National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEN), Jose Esteves Dos Santos, and discussed a number of topics, including emergency planning and the possibility of enhancing cooperation between NRC and i

that agency. Commissioner Diaz promised to invite a CNEN representative to one of NRC's future full field exercises.

i The NRC reviewed, and the Commission wrote to President Clinton in support of, the proposed 30-year U.S.-Brazil Agreement for Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy Cooperation. This standard agreement will provide a comprehensive framework for peaceful nuclear cooperation based on strong mutual commitments to nuclear non-proliferation. It will permit the transfer of technology, materials, equipment (including reactors), and components for nuclear research and power production. It supersedes the U.S.-Brazilian agreement signed in 1972, under which exports and cooperation were suspended in 1978, when Brazil did not satisfy a provision of the recently enacted U.S. Nuclear Non-Proliferation Act requiring application of full scope safeguards by the Intemational Atomic Energy Agency. Brazil's recent adherence to relevant intemational nuclear non-proliferation agreements, and implementation of a full scope safeguards regime, made it possible for this agreement to be renegotiated. (The new Agreement was signed by the U.S. and Brazil in eariy October 1997, and forwarded by the President to Congress for their review.)

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l 21 Argentina Also in June 1997, Commissioner Diaz visited Argentina where he met with Eduardo Santos, president of the National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA), Mr.Horacio Osuna, Director of CNEA, and a number of other CNEA officials. Their discussions included CNEA's need to l

increase its export business, particularly to countries that are just beginning nuclear programs; marketing of the indigenously designed 25MW Carem reactor; concems about regulating t

l radioactive sources in certain Latin American countries, and CNEA's plans to increase cooperation with other countries in Latin America.

Commissioner Diaz visited the Ezeiza Atomic Research Center, where he was given a briefing and tour of Combustibles Nuclear Argentinos (CONUAR), the Argentine nuclear fuel elements production facility. Fuel pellets are fabricated there for elements for both the Atucha l and Embalse reactors. He also toured the co-located Fabrication de Aleaciones Especiales (FAESA), which fabricates fuel for the Pilcaniyeu gaseous diffusion enrichment plant.

Finally, Commissioner Diaz met with the chairman of the National Regulatory Authority (NRA),

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Dr. Dan Beninson, Mr. Eduardo D'Amato, NRA Director, and a number of NRA staff. He was l

l given a detailed briefing on NRA's activities, including their participation in the recently-established Ibero-Latin American Forum of Nuclear Regulators, and the possibility of enhancing nuclear cooperation between NRA and NRC. Commissioner Diaz then briefed his hosts on a number of NRC activities, including the patient discharge rule; NRC regulatory oversight of some DOE facilities; progress on establishing a final waste repository; and U.S. Govemment discussions relative to the option of mixed-oxide burning for disposal of U.S. surplus military plutonium.

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MULTILATERAL NUCLEAR SAFETY COOPERATION l

In addition to its extensive program of bilateral cooperation with other countries, NRC also i

works closely in the area of nuclear safety with intemational organizations such as the i

intemational Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna, and the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) of i

the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)in Paris. For example, the NRC uses reports of operational events received from the NEA/lAEA Incident Reporting System, from the IAEA, and from bilateral exchange programs with more than 30 countries to supplement domestic data. The NRC also uses these mechanisms to provide U.S. incident reports to the intemational community.

L INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY (IAEA) l As the primary multilateral organization in the nuclear field, the IAEA provides a forum for the efficient exchange of safety information on a worldwide scale. NRC participates in a wide range of IAEA activities, including periodic peer reviews of the IAEA safety program, and contributes to the drafting of the IAEA's Nuclear Safety Review and the IAEA's Safety Series documents.

The staff also participates in IAEA missions, meetings and conferences, averaging one person per week throughout the year.

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22 General Conference and Board of Governors Meetings The IAEA General Conference has become the premier event on the intemational nuclear calendar, and is an important vehicle through which U.S. nationalinterests are advanced in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. In addition to attendance at the General Conference, the NRC delegation, led by the Chairman, also schedules bilateral meetings with top regulatory officials from other countries, enabling progress on key issues in an efficient and economical manner.

In fiscal year 1997, Chairman Jackson participated as the U.S. Attemate Representative to the dist IAEA General Conference (September 29-October 3,1997). She met with IAEA Director General Blix, and the Deputy Director Generals for Nuclear Safety, Safeguards and Administration. Chairman Jackson held twenty-five bilateral meetings with counterpart senior regulators, and signed an NRC bilateralinformation exchange agreements with Armenia, and renewed bilateral agreements with The Netherlands and Switzerland. She also participated in a trilateral-U.S., Russian Federation and the IAEA - meeting on the safeguarding of nuclear fissile material. During the subsequent Senior Regulators meeting, Chairman Jackson gave a presentation on the recently constituted Intemational Nuclear Regulators Association, and the Executive Director for Operations presented a paper on the subject of " Maintaining the Licensing Basis When Facilities are Modified."

This year th'e General Conference focused on a range of topics on the IAEA's policies, programs and budget. The Conference approved the appointment of Dr. Mohamed El Baradel as the new 1AEA Director, and honored retiring Director General Hans Blix with the title of Director General Emeritus. The U.S. was the first to sign two of three new Conventions opened for signature during the Conference: the Convention on Supplementary Compensstion for Nuclear Damage, and the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management (known as the Joint Convention). In addition, three resolutions were adopted in the area of nuclear safety. The first welcomed the entry into force on October 24,1996 of the Convention on Nuclear Safety (CNS), noted that 41 states have deposited instruments of ratification, and appealed to all states to sign and accede to the CNS. The second welcomed the adoption of the Joint Convention and appeated to all states to sign and ratify it. The third resolution, submitted by Turkey, requested the IAEA Secretariat to prepare for consideration at the June 1998 Board of Govemors meeting a report on internationalinstruments and tegulations conceming the safe transport of radioactive materials, since off-site transportation of radioactive waste and spent fuelis excluded from the scope of the Joint Convention. Further, in resolution GC(41)/46, the Conference recognized the widely held view among Member States on the need to expand the size and composition of the Board of Govemors, and requested the Board to submit a report on a finalized formula for approval by the 1998 General Conference. Finally, in support of strengthening the intemational safeguards regime, the Conference adopted GC(41)/44, requesting that all states having IAEA Safeguards agreements accept additional measures provided for in the model Protocol adopted by at the May 1997 IAEA Board of Govemors meeting.

The Director of the NRC Office of Intemational Programs participated in the U.S. delegation to the Board of Govemors meetings in FY 97. The March Board was requested to approve the Overview of the Nuclear Safety Review 1997. The June Board approved the convening of

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23 diplomatic conferences to negotiate and conclude the final texts of the Joint Convention, and in the nuclear liability area, the Protocol to Amend the Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage and the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage.

The September Board took note of a report by the Secretariat on the September 1-5,1997 Diplomatic Conference on the Joint Convention; and a repori by the Secretariat on the September 8-12,1997 Diplomatic Conference on the Protocol to Amend the Vienna Convention and the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage.

lAEA Peer Discussions Commissioner Dieus participated in the fifth series of IAEA-hosted Peer Discussions on Regulatory Practices (February 24 27,1997), whose subject was " Regulatory Approaches of the Member States on Decommissioning of Nuclear Installations." The results of the series discussions will be compiled in an IAEA safety publication. During her stay in Vienna Commissioner Dieus also met with IAEA officials to discuss nuclear safety-related issues.

Advisory Commission on Safety Standards The IAEA is authorized by its statute to develop safety standards. In the past, different processes were used to prepare and review Safety Series publications in the different safety-related areas, resulting in a lack of compatibility between some Safety Series publications. In 1996, to better organize the development of Safety Series documents, the Director General created the Advisory Commission on Safety Standards (ACSS), a standing body of senior govemment officials with national responsibilities for establishing safety standards relevant to reactor, radiation, waste and transportation safety. In practice, aH Safety Series documents must be considered by the Commission. NRC's Executive Director for Operations is the U.S.

Representative to the ACSS. The ACSS met once during fiscal year 1997 (June 2 4,1997).

Their agenda included discussions of the IAEA's safety standards program, coordination with other groups that influer.ce the safety program (such as the intemational Nuclear Safety Advisory Group); the results of the January 1997 peer review of the IAEA safety program; regulatory issues; and topes for future Peer Discussion Groups and the annual Senior Regulators meetings.

International Nuclear Safaty Advisory Group i

The Intemationa1 Nuclear Safety Advisory Group (INSAG) was established in 1984 as an independent technical body which acts on a consensus basis to advise the IAEA on underiying nuclear reactor safety principles and generic safety matters. Its members are drawn from industry, research, academic institutions and regulatory bodies for three year terms. A new fourth panel of Member States representatives, chaired by German Professor Adolf Birkhofer, met several times during fiscal year 1997. Dr. Salomon Levy, of Levy and Associates, represented the U.S. Major nuclear safety topics discussed during these INSAG meetings included:

i progress on draf6ng a single safety fundamentals document, intended to bring e

some harmonization among the fields of reactor, radiation and waste safety;

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a report on safety management systems to recommend an intemationally acceptable overall framework for managing safety due to the lack of sufficient existing guidance in this area; e

a report on key generic safety issues of the nuclear industry; i

the residuallife of nuclearinstallations; e

e emerging new philosophicalideas on safety; e

updating INSAG-3 to include severe accident requirements for the next generation of nuclear power plants and operating experience; the results of the January 1997 Peer Review of the IAEA Safety Program.

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IAEA Meetings and Missions Members of the NRC staff participated in 28 IAEA advisory group, technical committee and consultants meetings on a range of safety topics in reactor safety, waste safety, radiations safety, and other areas, including:

Reactor Safety Area safety of nuclear power plants built to earlier standards e

e nuclear power plant control and instrumentation safety aspects of nuclear power plant aging e

nuclear power plant incident reporting system (IRS) l e

nuclear safety infrastructure strengthening e

upgrading fire safety of operational nuclear power plants e

e assessment and management of aging power water reactor primary piping safety program performance appraisal system e

nuclear power plant safety design o

Radiation Safety and Other Areas source and environmental monitoring for radiation protection e

biological effects and regulatory control of low doses of ionizing radiation o

e methodology for investigation of accidents with radiation sources radiation protection for medical exposure e

e radiation protection for the public e

transport of safety databases regulatory approaches to decommissioning of nuclear installations e

e incident Reporting System (IRS) safeguards for geologic repositories e

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living requirements for PSA Intemational Nuclear Event Scale (INES) e final action plans for three regional TC safety projects e

Waste Safety Area safety assessment of deep disposal facilities e

e management of wastes from mining and milling of uranium and thorium ores Principles and criteria for radioactive waste disposal NRC staff participated in a safety mission to develop an estimate for clean-up of the spent fuel pool at the Vinca Research Reactor in the former Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY). In addition, staff participated in Operational Safety Review Team (OSART) missions at the Quinshan Nuclear Power Plant in China, the Laguna Verde Nuclear Power Plant in Mexico, and the Yonggwang Nuclear Power Plant in the Republic of Korea.

NRC Staff at the U.S. Mission in Vienna and the IAEA in addition to the activities noted above, NRC funds a nuclear safety attache position at the U.S.

Mission to intemational Organizations in Vienna, Austria. The incumbent serves as the Mission's expert on nuclear s'afety, radiation and waste management issues which arise within the IAEA, and provides programmatic and policy oversight to the U.S. Govemment on the IAEA's nuclear safety program. The nuclear safety attache is also essentiat in identifying potential duplication of effort among multilateral organizations and with NRC bilateral efforts.

This fiscal year, among other tasks, the nuclear safety attache participated in the January 1997 Peer Review of the IAEA Safety Program, the results of which the IAEA shared with the ACSS and INSAG as noted above.

During FY 97, five NRC employees with NRC re-employment rights held positions at the IAEA.

These positions were located in the Division of Nuclear Installation Safety and the Division of Radiation and Waste Safety of the Department of Nuclear Safety; in the Field Accounts and Commercial Claims Unit of the Department of Administration; and !n the Department of Safeguards.

lAEA Visitors to the Commission (AEA Deputy Director General for Nuclear Energy, Victor Mourogov, visited the U.S. in August 1997 to make a presentation at the " Plutonium Futures

• Conference in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

While in the U.S. he traveled to Washington to meet with State and Energy Department and NRC officials. On September 3,1997 he met with NRC Chairman Jackson, Commissioner McGaffigan, the EDO and NMSS staff to discuss policy and technical aspects of licensing and safety of spent fuel related to waste disposal and utilization of MOX fuel; the decommissioning process; and advanced reactors. He also visited the Turkey Point Nuclear Power Plant in Florida.

26 IAEA Steering Committee During fiscal year 1997 NRC participated in the U.S. interagency Steering Committee for the IAEA chaired by Ambassador Sievering, U.S. Representative to the IAEA of the Department of State. The responsibilities of the Steering Committee are to formulate and oversee implementation of U.S. policy toward the IAEA; coordinate and direct the work of four subcommittees in the areas of intemational safeguards monitoring, nuclear safety, technical cooperation and program and budget; to manage Congressional and public relations relating to the IAEA; and to coordinate intelligence community support to the IAEA. The Director of OIP chaim the Steering Committee's Nuclear Safety Subcommittee, which held seven meetings during FY 97 international Conventions in FY 97 e# orts to establish and enhance a global nuclear safety culture were aided by concrete developments on multilateral legal agreements.

Convention on Nuclear Safety The Preparatory Meeting of the Parties to the Convention on Nuclear Safety (CNS) took place April 21-25,1997, at which the Director, OIP reported on the implementation guidelines for the preparation of national reports, the peer review process, and the organizational schema which were developed by three Signatories' Meetings, which he also chaired.

Joint Convention NRC stan from the O# ice of Nuclear Materials Safety and Safeguards and the O#ico of the General Counsel participated in the Department of State-led U.S. delegation to three technical Group of Experts meetings to negotiate a text on the safety of radioactive waste management.

In addition, sta# from the O# ice of intemational Programs participated in the September 1-5, 1997 Diplomatic Conference to conclude the text of the Convention.

Liability Convention During FY 97, staff of the NRC O# ice of the General Counsel participated in the U.S. delegation to the IAEA Standing Committee on Nuclear Liability Negotiations continued on a supplemental funding convention and a protocol to amend the Vienna Convention on Liability.

Final negotiations to conclude the texts of these Conventions took place during the September 6-12,1997 Diplomatic Conference. The supplemental funding convention will enable the U.S.

to participate in an infomational liability regime in the event of a nuclear accident.

NUCLEAR ENERGY AGENCY (NEA)

The NRC is actively involved in the OECD/ Nuclear Energy Agency's (NEA) budget formulation,

)

and development of its Program of Work, through such varied means as participation in technical Standing Committees, Working Groups, and serving in 1997 as Head, or Deputy i

i

i 27 Head, of the U.S. Delegation to two Steering Committee meetings. The NRC benefits greatl from representation on NEA committees and working groups and regularly attending meeting because a large share of the NEA's technical work is related to NRC domestic nuclear safety priorities, particularly operational safety. Nuclear Energy Agency activities also enable the NRC to exchange safety and regulatory knowledge with peers from developed nuclear power countries with plants of types similar to those in the U.S. Cooperative intemational research on high priority safety areas under the auspices of the NEA complement and expand NRC's research program cost effectively.

NRC staff continued to play an important role in contributing to intemational nuclear power safety efforts and promoting good regulatory practices in foreign radiation protection and waste management programs, by serving in two key positions on the NEA Secretariat staff and as officers of technical Committees. In 1997, the Director of the Office of Research was elected Chairman of the Committee on the Safety of Nuclear insta!!ations (CSNI) and the Director of the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation as Vice Chairman of the Committee on Nuclear Regulatory Activities (CNRA).

NRC's leadership role was further recognized through the appointment of Commissioner Kenneth Rogers to the independent High Level Advisory Group on the Future Role of the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency. The panel was constituted by the OECD Secretary-General to advise him on the approprial.e role of the NEA over the next decade and beyond. A Report and Key Findings will be presented to the Secretary-General and the OECD Councilin early 1998.

During FY 97, Luis Echavarri was appointed NEA Director-General. Director-General Echavarri and Deputy Director-General Samuel Thompson came to United States several times to discuss with the NRC and the Executive Branch nuclear safety matters of mutualinterest, and the Commission's views on the OECD proposed restructuring and budget reductions.

COOPERATIVE NUCLEAR SAFETY RESEARCH The NRC conducts confirmatory regulatory research in partnership with nuclear safety agencies and institutes in more than 20 countries. Much of this activity is concentrated in four major i

subject areas:

(1) severe accident research (2) thermal / hydraulic code maintenance and assessment (3) probabilistic risk assessment, and (4) steam generator tube integrity.

More than 60 agreements are currently in force covering the NRC's intemational research work.

Such agreements provide for shared use of research facilities, joint funding arrangements, prompt exchange of experimental results, coordinated analyses, and other forms of cooperation to yield confirmatory safety data of mutual benefit in a timely and cost-effective manner.

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Examples of activities conducted during FY 97 under the NRC's intemational nuclear safety research program include the following:

using the ROSA Large-Scale Test Facility in Japan for confirmatory safety e

system testing to help provide technical baces for NRC licensing decisions on the AP600 advanced reactor design cooperating infomationally to develop practical advanced analytic methods to e

improve predictions of pressure vessel (PV) fracture and assess integrity of PVs under various operating conditions e

cooperating intemationally on severe accident research related to molten fuel / coolant interactions EXPORT AND IMPORT LICENSING NONPROLIFERATION POLICY AND EXPORT LICENSING in 1997, important progress'was made by the U.S. In negotiating and implementing agreements for peaceful nuclear cooperation under the terms of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Act of 1978.

The Commission was consulted and gave its formal views to the President and the Department of State on proposed nuclear trade and cooperation agreements with Brazil, China and Kazakhstan.

NRC staff also provided technical assistance to U.S. policy makers in connection with the Fissile Material Production Cutoff Treaty; the U.S.-Russia agreement to make permanent the cessation of plutonium production for nuclear weapons; and the U.S.-Russia-IAEA Trilateral Verification Initiative on excess weapons material. NRC staff attended meetings of the Nonproliferation Steering Committee, which coordinates and shapes U.S. govemment-wide activities.

NRC'S EXPORT / IMPORT ROLE Under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, the NRC is responsible for licensing the export and import of nuclear-related materials and equipment to ensure these items are used for peaceful purposes and will not be inimical to the United States. This authority extends to nuclear reactors and other fuel cycle facilities and equipment, to source and special nuclear material, to byproduct materials, and to certain other commodities, including radioactive waste.

The NRC obtains the views and recommendations of other govemmental agencies and departments in its pre-licensing reviews, and, in tum, provides its views and recommendations to the Departments of Energy and Commerce on nuclear-related export authorizations under theirjurisdiction.

29 NRC EXPORT LICENSING

SUMMARY

in fiscal year 1997, the NRC completed 95 cases. Most of the new casework involved exports oflow-enriched uranium to Japan, South Korea Taiwan, and Westem Europe for use as fuel in nuclear power reactors, in addition there was one export authorization to supply low-enriched uranium research reactor fuel to the lAN-R1 reactor in Colombia. Other notable actions included export authorizations for six nuclear power reactors, two 1300 MWe Boiling Water Reactors (Lungmen 1 & 2) to Taiwan, and four 1000 MWe Pressurized Water Reactors -

(Yonggwang 1 & 2; Ulchin 5 & 6) to South Korea.

NUCLEAR SUPPLIERS GROUP As a founding member of both the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) Exporters Committee (the 'Zangger Committee") and the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), whose guidelines set the intemational standard for nuclear cooperation and supply, the U.S. has consistently been at the forefront of efforts to preserve and enhance the effectiveness of nuclear supplier control systems. By virtue of its role in licensing exports of nuclear-related materials and equipment, the NRC plays an important role in the development and implementation of U.S. and intemational export control regimes.

NRC participated in interagency preparations for the May 1997 NSG Plenary in Canada. At the plenary Ukraine was welcomed as a new member, bringing the total NSG membership to 35 nations. The NSG plenary established a working group on steps to promote transparency in nuclear export controls, consistent with the ' Principles and Objectives for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament" accepted by the NPT Review and Extension Conference in May 1995.

At the May 1997 meeting of the Zangger Committee, the U.S. presented information on adding uranium conversion equipment to the Committee's safeguards " Trigger List," which would require the application of intemational safeguards as a condition of supply of such technology to non-nuclear weapon States. Also, steps were taken to include China as a member of the Committee.

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AUTHORIZATIONS

. Subsequent Arrangements in FY 1997 NRC reviewed and commented on several DOE

• subsequent crrangement* cases

- wherein the U.S. was requested under the terms of nne or more of its Agreements for Cooperation to allow retransfers of U.S. supplied nuclear equipment or materials, alterations in form or content of such materials, or other actions requiring U.S. prior app oval. Retransfer approvals were given to ship U.S.-supplied reactor components from Germany to Brazil and from Argentina to Canada, to ship low-enriched uranium from France to Indonesia and from Canada to South Korea, and to ship heavy water from Switzerland to Canada. In addition,

30 U.S. approval was given to Taiwan to carry out post-irradiation examination ofirradiated fuel elements. This approval was provided in the context of a joint determination that IAEA safeguards may be effectively applied to the Hot Laboratory at the institute for Nuclear Energy Research.

Part 810 Technology Transfer Authorizations NRC worked with DOE on a proposed transfer of Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) and PWR fuel technology to Armenia.

INTERNATIONAL SAFEGUARDS AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION ACTIVITIES The NRC staff reviews pending export cases to confirm that appropriate IAEA safeguards and physical security arrangements will be applied to exports by the~ receiving country. Reviews are performed in conformance with U.S. nonproliferation laws, which are intended to ensure that U.S. exports will be protected and safeguarded during transit and use in the importing country, and that exports will be used only for peaceful purposes.

The NRC at so participates in the U.S. Program of Technical Assistance to IAEA Safeguards t

(POTAS), which provides the largest share of voluntary technical support of any IAEA member state.

PHYSICAL PROTECTION ACTIVITIES in support ofits review of physical protection arrangements for U.S.-controlled materials in other countries, the NRC participates jointly with other U.S. Government agencies in information exchange trips for the purpose of discussing national physical protection programs.

During FY 97, visits were made to Belgium, Sweden, Australia, Japan, South Korea, South Africa.

ASSISTANCE TO FSU IN NUCLEAR MATERIALS SAFEGUARDS AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION During FY 97 NRC continued to assist the regulatory authorities in Russia, Ukraine and Kazakstan to establish national regulatory systems for materials control and accounting (MC&A) and physical protection, funded through the Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) and Lisbon initiative programs. Among other activities in this area in FY 97, NRC provided assistance in developing regulations, licensing and inspection e

programs, and implementing guidance in the three countries; conducted physical protection workshops for Russian and Ukrainian regulators; e

arranged for Russian inspectors to observe an operational safeguards e

response evaluation (OBRE);

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e conducted MC&A licensing workshops for Russian and Kazakh regulators; e

conducted a physical protection inspection course for Russian, Ukrainian and Kazakh inspectors; and e

conducted a Design Basis ThreatNulnerability Assessment workshop for Russian and Kazakh regulators.

NUCLEAR NONPROLIFERATION ACTMTIES U.S. NONPROLIFERATION POLICY The United States continues to provide strong support for the Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), for the IAEA and its safeguards role, and for multilateral export controls. In support of President Clinton's September 1993 Nonproliferation Initiative setting specific U.S. policy objectives, the NRC participated in a range of interagency and intomational nuclear nonproliferation activities, including such priorities as:

a'.

providing malerials control and accounting technical support for fissile material e

I and plutonium disposition activities in countries of the former Soviet Union harmonizing domestic and multilateral export controls and maximizing the e

effectiveness of those controls

{

providing support to the IAEA for its safeguards and technical assistance e

activities working within the extensive array of intemational programs to promote the e

safe operation of nuclear power plants in the former Soviet Union and Central and East Europe in keeping with the U.S.'s obligations under Article IV of the NPT, providing e

support for bilateral and IAEA-sponsored exchanges of equipment, materials, and scientific and technological information on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy TNE NUCLEAR NONPROLIFERATION TREATY As a result of the successful 1995 NPT Extension and Review Conference, the parties agreed to (1) strengthen the review process for the NPT, and (2) develop principles and objectives for nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament. In FY 96 Andorra, Angola, and Djibouti became parties to the NPT, leaving only six countries worldwide-Brazil, Cuba, India, Israel, Oman and Pakistan-outside the treaty, i

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32 During the FY 97 reporting period OlP staff participated in U.S. Intemal efforts to prepare for the 2000 NPT Review Conference, including support for consultations with other NPT parties to determine priorities for, and perspectives on, the review process.

OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS: INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY l

in order to broaden NRC staff access to open source information on intemational nuclear safety 1

issues, OlP staff established an OlP site on the NRC Intranet. This site consolidates country background information, reference materials, and information sources used in the daily business of country officers..

Separately, OlP staff established an OlP site on the World Wide Web (http://www.nrc. gov /IP/index.html). Its main purpose is to provide information regarding export and import licences issued by the NRC, such as export / import regulations and procedures and status reports on licences. A list of desk officers is also provided for follow-up enquiries. Plans have been made to cross-link the OIP extemal site to other U.S. Govemment agencies involved in the nuclear export licensing process and to provide an interactive guide to NRC licensing procedures.

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g ATTACHMENT 2 COMMON DEFENSE AND SECURITY AND INTERNATIONAL INVOLVEMENT

. General Goal: Prevent the loss or theft of special nuclear materials regulated by the NRC, and support U.S. national interests in the safe use of nuclear materials and in non-

. proliferation.

The NRC participates in a broad program of intemational activities, based on statutory requirements, U.S. Government obligations and commitments, intemational treaties and agreements, Executive Orders and Presidential Decision Directives, and Commission policy and guidance. These activities contribute to improving the safety and security of NRC licensed I

facilities in the U.S., enhancing U.S. national security, supporting U.S. foreign policy objectives, l

and demonstrating U.S. reliability as a supplier of goods and services. In support of these efforts, NRC

)

licenses imports and exports of nuclear facilities, equipment, material, and related

=

commodities, and provides technical support for U.S. nuclear nonproliferation activities; maintains some 34 arrangements / letters of agreement signed with counterpart foreign national regulatory organizations which ensure prompt notification of safety problems warranting action or investigation, and provide for limited bilateral cooperation and information and personnel exchanges on nuclear safety, safeguards, waste management and radiological protection, as well as more than 60 joint international safety research agreements; contributes to the implementation of national nuclear policy by supporting Presidential summits, Vice Presidential commissions, and Executive Branch-directed interagency nuclear safety and nonproliferation activities; improves understanding by informing foreign and international organizations of NRC's e

most recent regulatory policies and practices through visits, information exchanges, and 1

assignments of foreign regulatory personnel to the NRC, and by obtaining information on foreign regulatory approaches and operational experience that helps to improve NRC's domestic nuclear regulation; participates and takes a leadership role in standing committees and senior advisory e

groups of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's Nuclear Energy Agency (OECD/NEA) on issues such as safeguards application, standards development, training, technical assistance, physical protection of nuclear materials, reactor safety research and

{

regulatory matters, radiation protection, risk assessment, waste management, and transportation; assists in the development of international legal instruments establishing the basis for a global nuclear safety culture; i

plays a leading role in the activities of the International Nuclear Regulators Association e

(INRA); and supports U.S. and international activities concerning the Year 2000 computer problems.

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1 P;rfarmanca Goal: Str:ngth:n int:rnati:nal nucl:ar safety and safeguards by I

participating in international safety and safeguards exchange activities, by providing j

assistance through international agreements, and by supporting U.S. non proliferation 3

interests.

Performance 1

l Exoort Licensina and Nonoroliferation. In fiscal year 1998 (FY98), the NRC completed 90 l

export license cases. Most of the new casework involved exports oflow-enriched uranium to Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Westem Europe for use as fuel in nuclear power reactors. In addition, there were two export authorizations to supply high-enriched uranium target material to Canada for medicalisotope production. Other notable actions included export authorizations for a 10 MWt TRIGA Research Reactor to Thailand and reactor components to China via Canada.

The NRC reviewed nine Department of Energy (DOE) subsequent arrangement proposals, including a request from Argentina to recover and use U.S.-supplied unirradiated highly enriched uranium for medical isotope production. Finally, NRC also reviewed seventeen nuclear technology transfer cases being considered for approval by DOE. A number of these requests concerned the transfer of nuclear power reactor technologies and services to China to assist the civilian nuclear power program in the wake of the implementation of the U.S.-China Agreement for Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy and the lifting of sanctions on nuclear-related commerce.

NRC participated in the March 1998 Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) Plenary in Scotland, where working groups were established to initiate open-ended consultations on legal and technical issues relat!ng to intangible technology transfer, and on implementation and policy issues.

Latvia was welcomed as a new NSG member. It was decided to hold a second Seminar on the 1

3 i

Role of Export Controls in Nuclear Non-Proliferation in New York in the spring of 1999, before the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Preparatory Committee meeting.

/

. In FY98, the Commission was consulted and gave its formal views to the President and the Department of State (DOS) on proposed nuclear trade and cooperation agreements with Kazakhstan, Romania and Ukraine.

The NRC participates in a range of U.S. interagency and intemational nuclear nonproliferation activities. Perhaps most important are the contributions NRC makes toward aiding the U.S. to meet its obligations under Article IV of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, including support for bilateral and international Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) sponsored exchanges of equipment, materials, and scientific and,technologicalinformation on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

NRC staff also provided technical assistance to U.S. policy makers in connection with the U.S.-

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Russia agreement to make permanent the cessation of plutonium production for nuclear weapons; the U.S.-Russia-IAEA Trilateral Verification Initiative on excess weapons material; the process of making decisions of how to dispose of plutonium excess to U.S. weapons program 3

needs (e.g., safe storage, long-term disposal and/or use as mixed oxide fuel in commercial power plants); and the Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty. NRC is also represented on the Nonproliferation Steering Committee, which coordinates and shapes U.S. Govemment-wide activities.

- branaements/ Letters of Aareement. NRC currently participates in 34 arrangements with foreign national regulatory authorities, which provides the framework for most of NRC's bilateral cooperation and assistance activities. During FY98, NRC entered into a new classified 4

4

. Informatirn exchange crrang3 mint with Can:da, tnd rsn:wId stinding generaliniormation exchange and cooperation arrangements with China, Greece, Indonesia, Israel, Japan and The Netherlands. NRC also implements an on-the-job training program for assignees from other countries, usually from their regulatory organizations, operating under the aegis of the bilateral information exchange arrangements. During FY98,8 people from China, France, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Spain and Switzerland participated in the program.

The NRC conducts confirmatory regulatory research in partnership with nuclear safety agencies and institutes in more than 20 countries. Much of this activity is concentrated in four major subject areas: severe accident research; thermal / hydraulic code maintenance and assessment; probabilistic risk assessment; and steam generator tube integrity. These intemational research agreements provide for shared use of facilities, joint funding arrangements, prompt exchange of s

experimental results, coordinated analyses, and other forms of cooperation to yield confirmatory safety data of mutual benefit in a timely and cost-effective manner.

lmolementation of U.S. Policy on Nuclear Assistance. NRC continued its active involvement in support of the three nuclear safety institutions which have emerged from the annual Group of Seven (G-7) economic summits: the G-7 Nuclear Safety Working Group (NSWG), the Group of Twenty-four Nuclear Safety Coordination mechanism (G-24 NUSAC), and the Nuclear Safety Account at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD/NSA). In each of

- these fora, NRC provides important technical advice and policy guidance in framing U.S. nuclear safety proposals and evaluating those of other governments, especially activities involving regulatory assistance.

5

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' in FY98, the NSWG continued to work to cffectively implement the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Ukraine, which provides for closure by the year 2000 of the four-unit Chomobyl nuclear power plant. A key element in the MOU has been stabilization of the deteriorating sarcophagus entombing Unit 4, with a goal ta transform the sarcophagus to a safer and more environmentally stable condition. At a cost of $750 million and covering 22 integrated tasks, work under the Shelter implementation Plan (SIP) began in the fall of 1997 and is scheduled to be completed in 2005. A dedicated fund was established at the EBRD to finance

]

sarcophagus improvement activities. This fund, which is separate from the Nuclear Safety -

Accoent, solicis contributions from both public and private donors. The Ukrainian Nuclear Reguletcry Authority (NRA) will play a key role in the realization of the SIP, most notably in the creat'on of criteria to implement shelter improvements, s

4 i

Since 1992, the G-24 NUSAC has coordinated safety assistance programs worldwide for the countries of the former Soviet Union (FSU) and Central and Eastem Europe (CEE). In March 1998, NRC attended the G-24 NUSAC Plenary Committee meeting. NRC has also been actively involved in efforts to restructure the G-24 NUSAC coordination process, reflecting the maturity and experience that has been gained since 1992.

The EBRD/NSA is a supplementary multilateral mechanism to address immediate operational safety and technical safety improvement measures at the least-safe Soviet-design reactors not covered by bilateral programs. Administered by a steering body of representatives from the 15

- donor countries, the NSA is coordinated with and assisted by the G-24 NUSAC, and is managed by the EBRD. In FY98, the NSA and the Government of Ukraine began implementation of the grant agreement signed in 1997 for approximately $125 million in assistance to support the 6

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' Chomobyl plant closure initiative. Other NSA projects include $30 million for safety upgrades and improvements at the Bulgarian Kozioduy nuclear power plant; approximately $50 million for safety upgraded, improvements and to conduct a safety assessment at the Lithuanian Ignalina plant; and approximately $70 million for safety upgrades and improvements at the Russian Kola and Novovoronezh plants and to support' licensing of 'hese activibes by GAN. Key to most of these projects is the strengthening of the national nuclear regulatory authorities, in which NRC has had a substantial role. NRC has also provided technical assistance in other bilateral and multilateral EBRD/NSA projects.

Bilateral Cooperative and Assistance Activitjgt A major focus of U.S. and G-7 intemational nuclear policy is to enhance the safety of the nuclear programs in the countries of the former Soviet Union (FSU) and central and eastem Europe (CFE)..The NRC safety' assistance prograin is designed to aid the nuclear regulators in the FSU and CEE to develop regul:. tory techniques common in the West, and to establish regulatory process independent of the user of

).

I nuclear technology. Of these countries, those with the largest nuclear programs are Russia and Ukraine. By the end of FY98, most of NRC's activities originally planned for these countries had been completed. Virtually all of the equipment, in the form of compuh, simulators and communications, equipment, had been delivered. This more advanced infrastructure is facilitating the implemer,tation of technology transfers and the rnanagement of growing regulatory responsibilities. Measurable accomplishments have been achieved in both countries for implementing nuclear legislation, preparing documents on which to base licensing f..lecisions, constructing state-of the-art training and emergency response failities, and developing fire safety standards and leaming to perform complex risk assessments. However, the program was slowed in the latter part of the reporting period because of financial restrictions related to 7

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U.S. forcign policy concerns, NRC requirsmInts cnd fiscal limititions. In additi:n, serious l

i economic bfluences in these countries impede the ability of the regulators to regulate -

because of small budgets - and of the operators to comply - because of low revenuos.

l NRC actively participates in the biannual meetings of the U.S/ Russian Joint Commission on Economic and Technological Cooperation, which has established a policy framework for -

l implementing nuclear nonproliferation and safety activities. During the reporting period, NRC worked closely with its counterpart Russian regulatory authority, Gosatomnadzor (GAN), in such areas as development of a regulatory training center and an emergency response capability, j

j

. and review of regulatory standards and criteria. Of particular nuclear safety and nonproliferation i

significance is the continuing bilateral effort to convert Russia's three operating plutonium prod 6 - reactors to distr';t electricity and heat uses, developing a design that would not i

produce weapons-grade plut nium, in support of formal U.S.-Russian Government agreements l

l to begin implementation of this initiative, NRC and GAN announced the initialing of an implementing arrangement to enhance regulatory oversight of core conversion activities, with l

the intent of ensuring that safety remain at the heart of the project. NRC and GAN will focus on such areas as the verification of design and accident anaiycis codes, quality assurance, design i

requirements for criticality control systems and probabilistic risk analysis.

In FY98, NRC completed its sixth year of providing bilateral assistance in nuclear safety and safeguards to Russia and Ukraine, and its third year of providing nuclear safety and safeguards assistance to Armenia and Kazakhstan. NRC has focused its assistance efforts on helping h regulatory counterparts in such areas as developing their basic nuclear legislation, enhancing analytical analysis capabilities, enhancing emergency response and emergency preparedness 8

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' capabilities, and development of inspection procedures. Further, NRC has continued to provide technical assistance on developing systems of nuclear materials protection to the regulatory bodies of countries of the former Soviet Union possessing these materials.

Supporting Commissioner Dicus's participation in the Joint Coordinating Committee for Radiation Effects Research (JCCRER), including her visit to Russia in May 1998 for a JCCRER meeting, NRC conducts joint research in health effects of radiation on the population affected by the Chomobyl disaster; health effects of exposure on workers in radiation zones; and information technologies in radiation effects.

The NRC has continued its extensive assistance program to the countries of central and eastem Europe drawing on funds provided by the Agency for Intemational Development (AID). The NRC program is aimed at transferring to local regulators westem safety principles and NRC safety review and licensing methodology. The combined efforts of western donor countries has brought about a noticeable increase in safety culture and awareness in the CEE countries, to the point that many of them are now capable of nuclear safety assistance to other CEE countries. The NRC also continued its close cooperation with the IAEA on a range of CEE j

activities, including participation in IAEA-initiated Technical Cooperation Program review meetings to help monitor ongoing assistance activities and to assist in defining futue assistance i

efforts.

The NRC has traditionally maintained strong ties with the countries of Western Europe and Canada, many with active and mature nuclear programs. NRC Chairman, Commissioner and staff visits to Canada, France, Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom advanced knowledge 0

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'of important new technical developments, both for operating facilities and new designs, and sided in harmonization of regulatory approaches.

The Commission continues to place a high priority on safety cooperation with Pacific Rim countries. NRC conducts an active bilateral safety program with China, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea, which was underscored by Commissioner and staff visits to Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan during the reporting period. Under the NRC-Korer1 Ministry of Science and Technology arrangement, one Korean technical expert completed a year-long on-the-job training assignment at NRC, and one NRC staff member (supported by one NRC contractor) participated in an advisory mission to Korea on human factors engineering.

l In the fall of 1997 the Commission approved the implementation of three nuclear safety projects with the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) of India. In support of this decision, NRC hosted a visit by AERB Chairman P. Rama Rao in March 1998, and Chairman Jackson in tum i

i visited India in April 1998. These projects -in fire safety, emergency response and preparedness, and design modifications - were to have commenced in May 1998, but were l

suspended as a result of the Indian Government's nuclear detonations on May 11 and 13,1998 and the imposition of U.S. sanctions legislation.

Although the scheduled U.S.-South Africa Binational Commission meetings were canceled due to U.S. military actions taken against Iraq, NRC c6ntinued to implement its nuclear safety I-initiatives with the South African Department of Minerals and Energ; e.d with the Council for Nuclear Safety. Other Commissioner travel included Commissioner Diaz' visit to Mexico to address the Conference of Mexican Nuclear Society, and Chairman Jackson's visit to the Czech 10

Republic t3 addrsss o conf:rInce en Pl:nt Lifa Management Extension, both of which included discussions with national nuclear authorities and site visits.

Cooperation with Multilateral Oraanizations. NRC works closely in the area of nuclear safety with the IAEA and the OECD/NEA. Through its participation in technical committee meetings, advisory group meetings, the Advisory Commission on Safety Standards (ACSS), in which the NRC provides the sole U.S. representative, and its attendant Advisory Committees NRC participates in, and provides active technical support for, a wide range of IAEA nuclear safety-related activities. NRC also attends meetings of the IAEA's policy making bodies - the Board of Governors, the Technical Assistance and Cooperation Committee (TACC), the General Conference - serving as a principal lead on matters related to nuclear safety. In this way, NRC helps to determine the direction of future technical assistance programs as well as provide input I

s to IAEA budgetary matters in FY98, NRC staff participated in nearly 50 advisory group, technical committee and consultants me,etings in the areas of reactor safety, waste disposal and radiation safety. NRC staff also attended several planning meetings to help plan nuclear safety-related Technical Cooperation (TC) projects for the IAEA 200-2001 TC program. Because of its ongoing relationship with the IAEA, NRC is also able to provide urgent, near term support for unplanned nuclear safety issues which may arise. For example, NRC also provided key support to help the IAEA address intergranular stress corrosion cracking in Sodet-designed RBMK reactors, a matter which ccuid impact closure schedules for plants such as Chornobyl in 1

Ukraine.

NRC also funds a nuclear safety attache position at the U.S. Mission to International Organizations in Vienna, Austria. As the sole member of the U.S. Mission to focus on nuclear 11 I

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' safety, he represents U.S. policy and technical views on nuclear radiation and waste management issues to the IAEA Secretariat, and programmatic and policy oversight to the U.S.

Govemment on the IAEA's nuclear safety program.

The NRC provides support for IAEA-sponsored intomational safeguards activities for deterring nuclear proliferation and for strengthening and implementing lAEA safeguards. Through Cooperative Threat Reduction and Lisbon initiative program funding, NRC assists in regulatory authorities of Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan to establish national regulatory systems for materials control and accounting and physical protection. NRC staff contribute to the U.S.

Program of Technical Assistance to IAEA Safeguards, which provides the largest share of voluntary technical support of any lAEA member state. In support of its review of physical protection arrangements for U.S. controlled materials in other countries, the NRC participates jointly with bther U.S. Govemment agencies in information exchange trips for the purpose of discussing national physical protection programs. During FY98 visits were made to Denmark, Austria, Germany, South Africa and The Netherlands. Finally, NRC implements IAEA safeguards at NRC-licensed nuclear facilities, involving the control of cnd accounting for nuclear materials, the protection of nuclear materials to prevent it eft or diversion, and contingency plans for responding to threatening situatior,s.

The NRC is actively involved in the OECD/NEA budget formulation, and development of its Program of Work, and contributions to the OECD policies on sustainable development, by

- serving on the U.S. delegation to the Steering Committee, participation in its Standing Technical Committees and Working Groups, and the Group of Govemment Experts on Third Party Liability. The NRC's research program is expanded through cooperative intemational research in projects such as the Halden Reactor Project, the information System on Occupational 12 e

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Erposure (ISOE), the Intern: tion:l Cooperative Program on the Decommissioning of Nuclear Facilities, and the RASPLAV Project on reactor pressure vessel accidents. Much of the NEA's technical cooperation exchange work is directly related to the NRC domestic nuclear safety priorities, particularly operational safety, radiation protection, and radioactive waste. During the reporting period Chairman Jackson was the guest speaker at the official dinner for the 40*

Anniversary Celebration of the OECD/NEA. Commissioner Rogers completed his appointment as a member of the High Level Advisory Group on the Future Role of the OECD's Nuclear energy Agency. The Group presented its report, " Nuclear Energy in the OECD: Towards an integrated Approach" to the OECD Council in January 1998.

A large share of *be NEA's technical work is related to NRC domestic nuclear safety priorities, particularly operational safety. Cooperative international research on high priority safety areas under the auspices of the NEA complement and expand NRC's research program in a cost effective manner.

Devetooment of Intemational Leaal Instruments. In FY98, NRC continued to support U.S.

Government efforts to develop an international legal basis for a global nuclear safety culture, as represented in the Convention on Nuclear Safety (CNS); the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management (the Joint Convention); and the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage.

NRC worked closely with DOS and DOE to seek Senate ratification of the CNS, and to complete the interagency review of both the Joint Convention and the Supplementary Compensation Convention so they can be sent to the President to be forwarded to the Senate for its advice and consent to ratification. When the U.S. becomes a CNS Contracting Party, NRC will be the lead 13 1

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federal agency in implementation activities related to U.S. obligations under the Convention, including the development of the U.S. National Report. When the U.S. becomes a Contracting Party to the Joir t Convention, NRC will provide technical advice to the DOE, which will be the lead federal agency in the Joint Convention's implementation activities. When the supplemental funding convention and the associated protocol to amend the Vienna Convention on Liability are ratified, the U.S. will be able to participate in an intemational liability regime in the event of a nuclear accident.

Intemational Nuclear Reoulators Association (INRA). In FY98, Chairman Jackson and the heads of the national regulatory bodies of Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Spain, Sweden, j

l and the United Kingdom met in January and July 1998 to exchange views on broad range of regulatory policy issues. The Association continued their discussions of salient differences and common features in national regulatory approaches, and identified a set of fundamental elements in nuclear safety regulation. These key elements were communicated to INRA member national governments for reference in nuc! ear safety assistance and cooperation efforts.- Further, a paper on

• Ensuring Nuclear Safety in an increasingly Competitive Electricity Sector," along with the key elements list, were transmitted to the March 1998 Energy Ministerial in Moscow, and to the May 1998 Birmingham G-7 Summit. During the reporting period INRA also exchanged letters with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to provide for enhanced communication and possible future cooperation.

Year 2000 Activities, NRC has developed a You 2000 (Y2K) contingency plan in coordination I

with the U.S. nuclear power industry, other Federal agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency state govemments, and internationel nuclear regulatory organizations.

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The draft pl:n includes provisions to co!!ect and disseminate information on Y2K-related events that occur in countries in time zones ahead of the U.S. and to conduct an international Y2K contingency plan exercise in October 1999, which will be closely coordinated with Canada and Mexico.

NRC is also actively promoting international awareness of the possible impact of Year 2000 computer problems on the safety of nuclear installations. During the 42"' General Conference IAEA Member States adopted an NRC-drafted resolution on Y2K as it applies to the safety of nuclear power plants, fuel cycle facilities, and other enterprises using radioactive materials. The resolution urged Member States to submit information to the IAEA on activities underway to inventory and remediate Y2K problems at the nuclear facilities, and designated the IAEA as the coordinator for disseminating information about Member State Y2K activities. In addition, NRC s

identified a U.S. Cost-Free Expert to help the IAEA implement a Y2K program related to the safety of nuclear power plants.

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