ML20211J903

Weekly Info Rept for Wk Ending 970926

ML20211J903
Person / Time
Issue date:	10/02/1997
From:	Blaha J NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO)
To:
References
SECY-97-222, SECY-97-222-R, WIR-970926, NUDOCS 9710090021
Download: ML20211J903 (23)

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October 2. 1997 SECY 97-222 f.stt: The Commissioners f.ts: James L. Blaha, Assistant for Operations, Office of the EDO Subiect: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 26, 1997 Contents Enclosure Nuclear Reactor Regulation A Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards B Nuclear Regulatory Research C Analysis and Evaluation of Operational Data D General Counsel E*

Administration . F Chief Information Officer G Chief Financial Officer H Human Resources I Small Business & Civil Rights J*

Enforcement K*

State Programs L*

Public Affairs H International Programs N Office of the Secretary 0 Re ion 1 P Re ion 11 P Re ion 111 P Re ion IV P Executive Director for Operations 0*

Congressional Affairs R

• No input this week. r original signed by:

Margo Bridgers for f ()  !

James L. Blaha Assistant for Operations OEDO- 0l 1

Contact:

T. Hiltz. OED0 ..D4 ~Q ',yc.-ceLm- l k Document Name: C:\ WEEK 926.

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INFORMATION REPORT Octobe, 2.1997 SECY 97 222 fpI: The Commissioners .

fyrgm: James L. Blaha, Assistant for Operations. Office of the EDO Subiect: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 26, 1997 Contents Enclosure Nuclear Reactor Regulation A Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards B Nuclear Regulatory Research C Analysis and Evaluation of Operational Data D General Counsel E*

Administration F Chief Information Officer G Chief Financial Officer H Human Resources 1 Small Business & Civil Rights J*

Enforcement K*

State Programs L*

Public Affairs M International Programs N Office of the Secretary 0 Region 1 P Region 11 P Region 111 P Region IV P Executive Director for Operations 0*

Congressional Affairs R

• No input this week.

$d James [L.Blaha hP tk e

Assistant for Operations. OEDO

Contact:

T. Hiltz. OEDO

WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 26, 1997 The Weekly Information Report is compiled by the Office of the EDO and includes highlights of Headquarters and Regional Office activities. THIS IS.

THE LAST WELKLY INFORMATION REPORT TO BE POSTED ON THE LAN IN WP 5.1, The report can be accessed via Netscape at the NRC External Web Site location http : //ww. nrc . gov /NRC/ NEWS / week ly. html .

Contact:

T. Hiltz. OEDO Use GO T0 (Ctrl +Home) to advance to the page number for a specific Office.

PgDn and PgUp can also be used to advance through the text.

0FFICE Page 0FFICE Page NRR 2 OSP

• NMSS 4 OPA 12 RES 6 IP 14 AEOD 7 SECY 15 OGC Region 1 16 ADM 8 Region 11 17 LIO 9 Region Ill 18 CF0 10 Region IV 20 HR 11 r!c60 *

• CLi, SB/CR 21 OE *

• No input this week

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, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation items of Interest Week Ending September 26, 1997 Meetina With Reoresentatives of Nuclear Information Resource Service (NIRS) ind Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) Concernina Silicone foam Fire Barrier

>enetration Seals On September 10, 1997 the staff of the Division of Systems Safety and Analysis (DSSA) staff and the Division of Reactor Projects (DRP). Project Directorate 1 2 met with representatives of the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) and the Nuclear Information Resource Service (NIRS) to answer questions regarding fire barrier pene+ ration seals. UCS and NIRS requested the meeting.

UCS and NIRS made a presentation which outlined their questions about silicone foam fire barrier penetration seals. The staff res)onded to the questions and agreed to follow-up on several additional items. T1e meeting was transcribed and the transcri meeting summary.pt will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room with the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station Risk Informed inservice insoection Submittal The Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation, the licensee for the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station recently submitted a request to use probabilistic safety assessment approach in selecting ASME Code Class 1 pi)e welds to be examined under the provisions of ASME Code Case N560. The NRC staff had a meeting with Vermont Yankee (VY) personnel to discuss the submittal. The VY personnel made a presentation on their program and also addressed certain specific items that the NRC staff had put on the agenda. VY appears to have done a significant amount of work already and at the meettag it was stated

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that the submittal conforms to the draft NRC Regulatory Guide 1061 (General RG).

Of a total population of 407 welds, the current ISI program examines 122 welds whereas, the new program (Code Case N560) proposes to examine 41 welds.

River Bend Station Unclanned Mode Chanac On September 13, 1997. while initiating a post modification test during shutdown of the new alternate decay heat removal (ADHR) system, the licensee for the River Bend Station allowed the reactor to change modes and the core to beginboiling)withoutshutdowncoolinginservice. The reactor water cleanup system (RWCU was in operation and control rod drive (CRD) bypass flow was being admitted to the vessel. The RWCU system and CRD by) ass flow were designated as alternate decay heat systems and although t1eir heat removal capacity was insufficient to remove all decay heat, the licensee planned to

)revent a mode change (and boiling) by keeping the RWCU inlet temperature selow 160 degrees. The reactor core bulk temperature likely exceeded 212 degrees and the licensee later calculated the temperature of about 240 degrees inside the shroud. Boiling did occur and steam was released into the containment from an open 4 inch flange. The drywell (primary containment) was open, and secondary contair, ment isolation was not assured due to the status of SEPTEMBER 26. 1997 ENCLOSURE A

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' some isolation valves and use of the airlocks. However, there were no off-site releases and air borne monitors inside containment did not alarm. ADHR cooling was initiated and the temperatures promptly dropped.

The relevant test procedure did not require the operators to use the decay heat / time to boil curves as the governing criteria for time to perform pre-test o)erations. These curves indicated about 55 minutes time to boil: it took tie licensee about one hour and 37 minutes to get the ADHR in service.

At the time the ADHR pumps were started, the RWCU inlet temperature was just approaching the 160 degree limit in the test procedure. The water level inside the vessel was well above the spill over point. There was sufficient water above the core that it would have taken approximately 7 hours8.101852e-5 days <br />0.00194 hours <br />1.157407e-5 weeks <br />2.6635e-6 months <br /> to uncover the core with no shutdomi cooling available. Similar events involving temperature monitoring have occurred at other boiling water reactors.

Region IV is conducting a special inspection of the event.

SEPTEMBER 26, 1997 ENCLOSURE A

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I' -Office of Nuclear Material: Safety and Safeguards Items of= Interest  ;

[ Week Ending September 26, 1997 '

r p Desian Basis Threat / Vulnerability Assessment Workshoo

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~ On September 23-25, 1997. the Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards conducted a physical protection workshop for representatives of Russia and i

KazakstanatNuclearRegulatoryCommissionHeadquarters. The worksho) was held to discuss the NRC s Design Basis Threat, as well as how vulnera)ility assessments are performed. The workshop included a visn to Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant, where demonstrations of vulnerability assessments were conducted.

J Nuclear Reaulatory Commission /Deoartment of Enerav Liaison Meetina

, On September 18. 1997, staff from the Division of Fuel Cyc4 Safety and

! Safeguards-Division met with their counterparts from the Department of

Energy's (DOE) Office of Safeguards and Security at Nuclear. Regulatory

{' Commission Headquarters, This was a continuation of the arrangements agreed

! to by NRC and DOE several years ago-to. exchange information on safeguards and i security issues of-common interest. Topics of discussion at the meeting

[ included: (1) current status of the organizations within the respective agencies: (2) status and coordination of NRC/ DOE efforts related to mixed oxide fuel fabrication and utilization: (3) utilization of the Nuclear 1

Materials Management and Safeguards System for tracking nuclear material: (4) 1 security, regulatory and guidance issues: (5) potential impacts of the-i International Atomic Energy Agency's Strengthened Safeguards System; and (6) privatizatirm of the U.S. Enrichment Corporation.

Meetina with the Deoartment of the Navy

' On September 11, 1997. Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards staff

. met with representatives of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program in the-Department ~ of the Navy (Navy) to discuss Navy's plans for interim storage and

ultimate disposition of Naval spent nuclear fuel (SNF). The Navy generates

! - SNF in the operation of its nuclear-powered submarines, aircraft carriers, and guided missile cruisers. The total amount of SWF anticipated to be generated by the year 2035 is 65 metric tons (heavy metal) . All of the inventory is expected to be disposed.of'in the planned high-level waste repository at Yucca

' Mountain. Nevada. Discussion at the meeting included an overview of the designs of the various nuclear reactors employed in the Naval Nuclear L Propulsion Program, the design 6nd characteristics of Naval SNF. the concepts

-for the multi pur3ose canisters used for storage, = transportation and i

' disposition of SNr. the criticality control features of the canister designs, estimated SNF degradation and radionuclide release rates in a repository

environment, and results of corrosion tests o,' Naval SNF. as well as plans for

[ - future testing. The staffs plan to meet-again for more detailed discussions.

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Meetinc of the Interaaency Steerina Committee on Radiation Standards On September 18, 1997, the Interagency Steering Committee on Radiation Standards (ISCORS) met at Nuclear Regulatory Commission Headquarters.

Representatives from the NRC, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Energy (DOE), the Department of Defense, the Department of Transportation, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Office of Science and Technology Policy, the Office of Management and Budget, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, were in attendance.

The members discussed ISCORS accomplishments to date end agreed on the need to continue this forum for information exchange. EPA updated the members on the Council of Radiation Control Program Directors' program to link orphan sources at scrap yards and-steel mills with organizations who can recover them. The Committee was also briefed on the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Conference.

The ISCORS subcommittees reported on their respective activities and progress being made in their areas of responsibility. The Cleanup Subcommittee will

. review NRC's draft decommissioning regulatory guide. The Mixed Waste -

Subcomittee was tasked with assessing EPA's waste management strategy to establish regulations to allow very low-level radioactive waste in Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. Subtitle C. facilities. The Sewage Subcommittee is completing preparations for the sewage sludge / ash survej 3nd responding to industry comments on the draft guidance document for publicly-owned treatment works. The Recycle Subcommittee reported on EPA's progress.in developing a recycle rulemaking. The Risk Harmonization Subcommittee is evaluating application of institutional controls.

SEPTEMBER 26. 1997 ENCLOSURE B

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Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research Items of Interest Week'Ending September 26. 1997 International Activities on Human Factors Simulation Facility The Halden Reactor Project (HRP). which the NRC has sponsored for many years.

is an international center for the study of human factors issues in nuclear-power plant operations. The simulation facility at the HRP, the Halden Man-Machine Laboratory (HAMMLAB), neeos to be updated to better address emerging human factors issues. The HRP is )ursuing an effort'to develop a new human-factors laboratory, HAMMLAB 2000, ialden's next generation human factors research simulatior: facility. There are several research simulator facilities in the UniteiStates that are used to study human factors issues similar to those that face the nuclear industry. The Federal Aviation Administration's Technical Center and their Research and Development Human Factors Laboratory in.Absecon, New Jersey: the MITRE Cor Laboratory (1-Lab) in Tysons Corner. poration's Virginia; Integration and NASA's andResearch Langley Interaction-Center. in Hampton. Virginia, all have research simulation facilities in which they study human factors issues in the aerospace domain, -The HRP and NRC can benefit from the experiences of these facilities in the development of the HAMMLAB 2000 infrastructure and research agenda, During the week of September 8th, a team of international human factors experts, hosted by the NRC, visited the FAA. Mitre, and NASA facilities for studying advanced technology. The experts constitute the HAMMLAB 2000zTask Force, which is chaired by Dr. J. Persensky of RES. The task force is overseeing the development of the recuirements for HAMMLAB 2000. The participants in these meetings incluced Dr. Persensky, Jerry Wachtel of RES, and re)resentatives from VTT/ Finland: EdF/ France:-GRS/ Germany; and two persons-from HRP in Norway,- Discussions focused on lessons-learned in the development and operation'of these simulation facilities. There was an exchange of technical papers and computer media, new professional contacts were made.-and csignificant insight was gained into the-r.trong similarity-of human factors research issues, methods, and constraints in the aviation and aerospace fields with those in the nuclear industry. Continuing dialog with these professional contacts:can help strengthen NRC's research program while minimizing overlap tand_ duplication of effort with other Government agencies.

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' SEPTEMBER 26, 1997 ENCLOSURE C l

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Office for Analysis and Evaluation of Operational Data Items of Interest Week Ending September 26, 1997 Nine Mile Point Unit 2 Exercise On September 24, 1997. IRD staff participated in the Nine Mile Point Unit 2 exercise along with Region I, Niagara Molawk Power Corporation, Oswego County, and the State of New York. At Headquarters Commissioner Dicus headed the Executive Team, while at the Region Hub Miller managed the Base Team and Bill Axelson was in charge of thc Site Team. Two IRD staff members were on site to perform regional assessment.

In addition, the Headquarters News Center was activated using the Two White Flint auditorium. Journalism students and their professors from George Washington and American Universities were invited to participate as simulated new media during the press briefing segment of the exercise. Hugh Thompson represented the Executive Team and interacted with the students while Rich Barrett portrayed the Technical Briefer. The students provided their evaluations and comments to the IRD staff following the briefing PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATIONS (PNsh I. PNO-I-97-058. Pennsylvania Power & Light Co. (Susquehanna 2), UNPLANNED REACTOR SHUTDOWN GREATER THAN 72 HOURS

2. PNO I-97-059. Allegheny General Hos) ital. LOSS OF NUCLEAR POWERED CARDIAC PACEMAKER CONTAINING APPROX. 4.2 CURIES OF PLUT0NIUM 238 AT ALLEGHENY GENERAL HOSPITAL 3 .' PNO-I-97-060. Apgee Corp. & Berthold Systems Inc.. COBALT SOURCE FALLS OUT OF DENSITY GAUGE: CONFIRMATORY ACTION LETTER ISSUES TO GAUGE MANUFACTURER

4. PNO-II-97 053 Mayaguez Medical Center, UNPLANNED CONTAMINMION EVENT

5. PNO-III-97-078. Paducah Giseous Diffusion Plant. EMPTY 10-CYLINDER DROPPED

6. PNO-III-97-079. Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center, BRACHYTHERAPY MISADMINISTRATION

7. PNO-IV-97-052. Bill Miller. Inc., THEFT OF RADIOGRAPHIC EXPOSURE DEVICE

8. PNO-IV-97-052A, Bill Miller.. Inc. . THEFT OF RADIOGRAPHIC EXPOSURE DEVICE

9. PNO-IV-97-052. Siemans Nuclear Power Corporation UO2 EXCEEDED MOISTURE

.. MIT SEPTEMBER 26. 1997 ENCLOSURE D J

9 Office of Administration items of Interest Week Ending September 26. 1997 License Acolications for Certain items Containina Byoroduct Material (Part 32)

A proposed rule that would regulate the distribution of timepieces containing gaseous tritium light sources under the same requirements as timepieces containing tritium paint was published in the Federal Register on September 19, 1997 (62 FR 49173). The proposed rule, which responds to a petition for rulemaking submitted by MB-Microtec. Inc. (PRM 32-4), would remove specific recuirements for the prototype testing of these products from the regulations anc provide guidance for prototype testing in a separate document. The comment period for this action closes December 3,1997.

Contract Awards Noncom)etitive Contract NRC-30-97-232 was awarded to Glen Ellyn Clinic. SC.

"Healt1 Services For Region III Em)1oyees." The period of September 22. 1997, through Septem3er 21, 1999, with three, performance one-year is options.

The total value of the contract, including options, is $380.750. The following streamlining initiatives were applied: electronic transmittal of S0W: use of a commercial product description: limiting the size of the SEP panel to two members: decrease in the response time for the submittal of proposals to 5 days; and award without discussions.

NRC-02-97-009, the five year renewal of the contract with Southwest Research Institute for the operation of the Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses (CNWRA), was awarded on September 19, 1997. The total estimated cost is $87.611.477.00 and the period of performance is September 27, 1997 through September 27, 2002. The mission of the CNWFA is to provide technical assistance and research in support of NRC's high-level waste management program under the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, as amended. The following streamlining methods were used: proposal preparation time reduced and simplified evaluation report.

Contract No. NRC-04-97-056, entitled " Testing Ground-Water Flow & Trans) ort Models.' was awarded on September 22. 1997 to University of Arizona in t1e amount of $1.633.744. The period of aerformance is September 22, 1997 through September 22, 2001. The contractor s1all develop a methodology with supporting technical bases and guidance for selecting and evaluating appropriate ground-water flow and transport models and assessing uncertainties of the related performance measures. Streamlined procurement procedures used:

electronic transmittal of statement of work and final evaluation report; waiver of the Commerce Business Daily notice: simplified evaluation criteria:

competition limited to known qualified sources; waiver of audit requirements.

SEPTEMBER 26, 1997 ENCLOSURE F

4 Chief Information Officer Items of Interest Week Ending September 26, 1997 F0IA Recuests Received durina the 5 Day Period of Seotember _19-25.1997:

Thorpe Reprocessing Plant. UK record consultation from State Dept.

(F01A/PA-97-362)

Organizational chart and staff directory. (F01A/PA-97-363)

Records regarding client. (F01A/PA-97-364) .

Vermont Yankee. 01 report 1-96 005. (F01A/PA-97-365)

OI report 3-96-037. (F01A/PA-97-366)

Radiciodine (I-131), thyroid disease treatment. (F01A/PA-97-367)

X-Ray Florescent Spectrometers, re'iation to cance'r development.

(F01A/PA-97-368)

HLTS database, specific program codes, on disk. (F01A/PA-97-369)

TMI, 1987 accident. (F01A/PA-97-370)

Rocketdyne/ Atomics International, printout of records in the PDR and Central Files. (F01A/PA-97-371)

Statutorily required indexes and reference guides to NRC information systems and records. (F01A/PA-97-372)

SEPTEMBER 26. 1997 ENCLOSURE G

l Chief Financial Officer Items of Interest Week Ending September 26, 1997 Authorized Federal Travel Directory on LAN The Office of the Chief Financial Officer has made the Authorized Federal Travel Directory (AFTD) available on the network. The AFTD contains flight, hotel, rental car, and other travel information currently available in the Official Airline Travel and Flight Guide (OAG). Included in the AFTD are both domestic and foreign per diem rates, as well as rates for areas frequently travelled to by NRC employees.

As a result of putting the AFTD on the network, the agency has been able to significantly reduce the number of hardcopy OAG guides for an annual savings of $16.000.

SEPTEMBER 26, 1997 ENCLOSURE H

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Office of Human Resources Items of Interest Week Ending September 26, 1997 Career Fair Attended at Florida International University On September 22, 1997 Henry Rubin, Office of Human Resources. David Diec.

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, and Tom Johnson, Region II, attended a career fair at_ Florida International University in Miami, Florida. Several outstanding candidatas were referred to NRC offices for possible consideration.

Career Fair Attended at the University of Virainia On September 24-25, 1997. Duane' Potter, Office of Human Resources, and Garmon West, Office-of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, attended a career fair at the University of Virginia-in Charlottesville. Virginia. There were a number of-excellent applicants who indicated interest in the NRC.

Arrivals CAHILL, Christopher REACTOR ENGR (PFT) RI DANIS. Aaron INTELLIGENCE SPEC (PFT) NMSS RICE. Danny RADIATION SPEC (PFT)- RIV ROTHSTEIN. Stanley SR ENFORCEMENT SPEC (PFT) OE Retirements JOHNSON. Richard MATERIALS ENGR-(PFT)- RES KROPP. Wayne BRANCH CHIEF (PFT) RIII Departures SALEHI. Kombiz PROJECT MGT (PFT) NRR SEPTEMBER 26, 1997 ENCLOSURE I 9

Office of Public Affairs items of Interest

-Week Ending September 26, 1997 Media-Interest OPA:HQ received a number of calls on the decision of the Attorney General in Maine not to file charges-against Maine Yankee for alleged safety violations.

The Hartford Business Journal will publish a story on the decommissioning at Haddam Neck.

The'St, Petersburg Times is reporting on plants such as Crysi!al River and Brunswick that were shut-down or on the watch list and are now improving their performance.

School Volunteers Proaram Mel Fields.-NRR will be using the OPA Reacter Model to discuss the design and construction of major structures in a typical nuclear power plant for the Ronald McNair E.S. 5th grade class.

-Press Releases 1 Headquarters:

97-141 NRC Schedules Workshop in Rockville. Maryland on

" Restricted Release" Decommissioning Procedures97-142 Note to Editors: ACRS reports received 97-143 NRC Names Dr. Robert E. Uhrig-to Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards-Regions:

I-97-125 Note to Editors: Nuclear Energy Advisory Council Meeting Regarding Haddam Neck-I-97-126 NRC to Hold Press Briefing on Decommissioning of-Maine-Yankee I-97-127 NRC Accepting Comment on Maine Yankee Post-Shutdown Decommissioning Activities Report

-!-97-128 NRC. GPU Nuclear to Discuss Apparent V_iolations at Oyster Creek 11 97-70 NRC Staff to Hold Conference With Duke Power Company to Discuss Apparent Violations at McGuire Nuclear Plant 111-97-86 Note to Editors: Confirmatory Action Letter Issued to American Electric Power Co.

SEPTEMBER-26, 1997 ENCLOSURE M

-111-97 87 NRC Staff Proposes $50,000 Fine Against Detroit Edison Company for a Violation of NRC Requirements at Fermi Plant 111-97-88 NRC Staff Issues Demand for Information to Illinois Power Co.

IV-97-55 NRC. SCE Officiais to Discuss Apparent Violation at San Onofre

-IV-97-56 NRC Staff Entergy Officials to Discuss Apparent l Violations at Arkansas ~ Nuclear One IV-97-57 Stolen X-Ray Camera Found Safe I-SEPTEMBER 26, 1997 ENCLOSURE M

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Office of-International Programs Items of Interest Week Ending September 26, 1997 Chairman to Conclude Three Bilateral Information Exchance and General CooDeration Arranaements in Vienna Arrangements are being finalized for Chairman Jackson to sign the five-year renewals-of NRC's arrangements with the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (September 30) and The Netherlands Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment (October 2) as well-as the-first five-year arrangement with the Nuclear Regulatory Authority of Armenia (also September 30h These will all be done in connection with bilateral discussions Chairman Jackson will hold during the week of September 28 on the margins of the IAEA General Conference in Vienna.

U.S.-China-Science and Technoloav Executive Secretaries Meetina On September 25-26, 1997. the Department of State hosted the U.S.-China Science and Technology Executive Secretaries Meeting where 30 representatives from China met with their U.S. counterparts to discuss bilateral cooperation.

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Kevin Burke, 0IP/NRC, met with Yang Bo, National Nuclear Safety Administration (NNSA). to discuss current and upcoming projects under the NRC-NNSA Protocol on Nuclear Safety Matters. including the renewal of the Protocol that will expire in January 1998. A common theme expressed during the Executive Secretaries Meeting was China's rapid growth of science and technology programs and-accelerated bilateral cooperation, limited in many Protocols by

- the availability of funding.

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l Office of the Secretary items of Interest Week Ending September 26, 1997 Neaative Consent Documents Released to the Public

{ Document Djtte Sub.iect

1. SECY-97-193 8/27/97 Assistance to the U.S. Department of Energy's Fissile Materials Disposition Program

2. SECY-97-187 8/13/97 Nh3S Policy and Procedures Letter

" Procedure for Preparing the Annual Report to Congress on the Gaseous Diffusion Plants"

- SRM on 97-187 9/18/97 (same)

Information Pacers Released to the Public

1. SECf-97-206 9/12/97 Status Report of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Task Force on Oversight of the Department of Energy, in Response to COMSECY-96-053 - DSI 2

2. SECY-97-210 9/18/97 Weekly Information Report - Week Ending September 12. 1997

3. SECY-97-211 9/18/97 Milestones for Revising 10 CFR Part 70

4. SECY-97-212 9/19/97 Agreement State Program Status Assessment Commission Corresoondence Released to the Public

1. Letter to Dr. Charles Fairhurst dtd 9/18/97 provides an offer for an appointment to the Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste

2. Letter to Joseph Duffy. USIA dtd 9/16/97 concerns the Interagency Working Group on U.S. Government-Sponsored International Exchange and Training federal Reaister Notices issued

1. Postponement of the October 9, 1997 meeting of the ACRS Subcommittee on Reactor Fuels. Onsite Fuel Storage, and Decommissioning SEPTEMBER 26, 1997 ENCLOSURE O l

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- i Region-I Items of Interest Week Ending September 26, 1997 Meetina Between NRC. USDA and USEPA to Discuss NRC Licensina Process ll

' On September 22, 1997. Keith Brown of the Division of Nuclear Materials Safety staff met with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to discuss the NRC licensing process as it relates to t'le planned remediation of a USDA radioactive material burial site in Beltsville, MD, USDA is characterizing the site and developing a remediation plan for consideration by NRC and EPA.

Salem Generatina Station On Monday. September 22, 1997. Salem Unit 2 reactor power was increased from

-90% to 100%, marking the first time in more than two years (since June 1995) that full power was attained. This transpired after an earlier call between

-the Salem Assessment Panel (SAP) and PSE&G management that was conducted to confirm the adequacy of the licensee actions since the 1:t hold point, During the call the licensee provided a suninary assessment of activities that "d been completed since their release from the 50% power hold point. In general, the SAP was satisfied with the licensee's assessment activities, and their consistency with NRC- assessments over this time period. Based on the above, the SAP recommended releasing Salem Unit 2 from the 90% hold point. The Regional Administrator (RA) subsequently released the hold point.

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l' Region II Items of Interest Week Ending September 26, 1997 Duke Pover Comoany - Oconee The Regional Administrator and other Region 11 managers met with Duke Power l

Company at the Oconee site on September 22 to discuss the Oconee Emergency I PowerProjectinitiatius. Topics discussed included an overview of the Oconee power system and the state of Oconee's emergency power system. Duke also discussed the recent Keowee field breaker closed coil failure and the i" status of open items from the Keowee Augmented Inspection Team report. Duke stated that a Continued Reliability Assurance review of the emergency power system would begin in October 1997.

Florida Power and Liaht Comoany - St. Lucie Representatives from Florida Power and Light Company were in the Regional Of fice on September 23 to discuss the status of progress on St. Lucie performance improvement program, the steam generator replacement project (SGRP), and the employee concerns program. For the performance improvement initiative. FP&L discussed status of self assessments and reviewed other

. performance indicators and corrective actions. A detailed schedule of the SGRP was presented and the status of the project was discussed including project organization and staffing and pre-outa Durina discussions of the employee concerns program. ge activities.FP&L presented an assbssnent o likely causes of allegations and planned improvements in responding to employee concerns were also presented.

Southern Nuclear Ooeratina Comoany - Voatle On September 24. the Regional Administrator and other NRC staff were at the Vogtle facility to present the results of the latest Systematic Assessment of Licensee Performance for the Vogtle Plant. The facility's overall performance for the past eighteen month period was assessed as superior in all functional areas. :ollowing a plant tour and the SALP presentation, a public meeting was held with state and local officials.

Tennessee Valley Au:hority - Seauovah The Regional Administrator and other NRC staff were at the Sequoyah Nuclear Plant on September 26 for a management meeting on operational performance of the Sequoyal facility. Topics of discussion included management initiatives, departmental self assessments, materiai condition. Unit 2 refueling outage goals, and quality assurance overview.

SEPTEMBER 26. 1997 ENCLOSURE P

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't Region Ill-Items of Interest Week Ending September 26, 1997-Demand For Information Issued to Illinois Power Comoany - Clinton Nuclear

)ower Plant On September 26. 1997, the NRC Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation-in NRC headquarters. Rockville. Maryland issued a Demand For Information (DIF) to Illinois Power Company. The DIF requires the utility to submit information on the corrective action program to resolve issues at the Clinton Nuclear Power Plant. The DIF requires the utility to res)ond at least two weeks before it plans to restart the Clinton plant. After t1e res)onse is submitted, the NRC staff plans to meet with Illinois Power officials )efore the staff makes a decision on the plant's readiness for restart.

The Clinton plant has been shut down since September 5 of last year. It is currently ins)ecting and refurbishing a number of circuit breakers as a result of a circuit areaker failure which occurred August 5.1997.

Manaaenent Neetina with Illinois Power Comoany -'Clinton Nuclear Power Plant On September 26. 1997, a management meeting was conducted in the Region 111 i Office. Lisle. Illinois.-between management representatives from Illinois Power Company - and members of the NRC staff. The meeting discussion focused on the utility's findings and conclusions regarding an August 5. 1997 event i

regarding a safety related breaker that failed to open on demand. The utility also provided an overview during the meeting of the current corrective action and preventative maintenance programs associated with maintaining these and other safety-related equipment at the plant.

Soecial Evaluation Team Public Entrance Meetina - Clinton Nuclear Power Plant On September 24. 1997, the Special Evaluation Team entrance was conducted at.

the Clinton Nuclear Power Plant. The meeting discussed the objectives. scope, and schedule of the team's evaluation of the Integrated Safety Assessment being conducted-by Illinois Power Company and the independent review of the Clinton )lant performance by the team. The 10-member team is headed by Kenneth E. Perkins. Jr.. who is Director of the NRC's-Field Office in Walnut Creek. California. '

t The NRC team will-observe work of the utility assessment at the Clinton site September 24-October 3. 1997. Its independent onsite follow-up is scheduled for October 20-31. 1997. lhe NRC team will discuss its findings in a meeting with the utility which will be open to the public. tentatively scheduled for early December.

Manaaement Meetina with Commonwealth Edison Comoany - Enaineerina lssues On Saptember 24. 1997. a management meeting was conducted in the Region III Office. Lisle Illinois, between management representatives from Commonwealth Edison Company and members of the NRC staff to discuss engineering issues at SEPTEMBER 26. 1997 ENCLOSURE P

l, the utility's six nuclear power stations. The major topics included: design basis document efforts: engineering performance indicators; and engineering assurance efforts, SEPTEMBER 26, 1997 ENCLOSURE P

l' Region IV l Items of Interest l Week Ending September 26, 1997 s

Diablo Canyon Predecisional Enforcement Conference On September 22, 1997, in the Region IV office, the NRC staff and Pacific Gas

& Electric Company senior managers met in a predecisional enforcement conference to discuss the licensee's handling of auxiliary saltwater system floor drain check valves under the requirements of the Maintenance Rule.

There had been several instances in which these check valves had been found to be clogged with debris in the open position (a maintenance preventable functional failure). This created the potential for a flooding event to disable both trains of the auxiliary saltwater cooling system.

Systematic Assessment of Licensee Performance Meetina at Fort Calhoun Station On September 24 the Regional Administrator, accompanied by NRR and Region IV staff, attended a public meeting at the Fort Calhoun Station to discuss the results of the latest Systemctic Assessment of Licensee Performance for the Fort Calhoun Station.

Pre-Decisional Enforcement Cc.1ference with Arkansas Nuclear One On Seatember 26, 1997, the Regional Administrator and members of the Region IV and NRR staffs met with representatives of the Arkansas Nuclear One to conduct a pre-decisional enforcement conference. The purpose of the pre-decisional enforcement conference was to discuss apparent violations involving steam generator tube and tube sleeve degradation.

4 SEPTEMBER 26, 1997 ENCLOSURE P

Office of Congressional Affairs Items of Interest Week Ending September 26. 1997 CONGRESSIONAL HEARING SCHEDULE. No. 33 OCA . DATE-CONTACT '& TIME WITNESS SUBJECT - COMMITTEE-PLACE' mammmmmmmmmmma Keeling 09/30/97 10:00 TBA U.S.-China Nuclear Reps. Gilman/ Hamilton 2172 RHOB Cooperation International Relations Combs TBA TBA Markup S. 8. Superfund Sen. Chafee/Baucus 406 0508 Reauthorization Environment & Public Works Gerke 10/06/97 TBA OMB. GAD Strategic Plan of OMB Reps. Horn /Maloney TBA Gov't Mgmnt. Info & Technology Government Reform & Oversight Keeling 10/06 TBA TBA Nuclear Stockpile Safety Sen. Cochran/ Levin 342 DSOB Intl Security. Proliferation & ,

Federal Services Governmental Affairs SEPTEMBER 26. 1997 ENCLOSURE R