ML20212B817

Weekly Info Rept for Wk Ending 971017

ML20212B817
Person / Time
Issue date:	10/23/1997
From:	Blaha J NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO)
To:
References
SECY-97-247, SECY-97-247-R, WIR-971017, NUDOCS 9710280216
Download: ML20212B817 (21)

Text

r October 23. 1997 SECY 97-247 f.or: The Commissioners f.rs: James L. Blaha. Assistant for Operations. Office of the EDO Sub.iet WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 17. 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

i Chief Financial Officer H*

Human Resources  !

. Small Business & Civil Rights J*

Enforcement K*

State Programs L*

Public Affairs M International Programs N*

Office of the Secretary 0 Region I P i R ion 11 P

. Re ion III P Re ion IV P 0(

Executive Director for Operations 0*-

L Congressional Affairs R gk 4

• No input this week.

- 9710280216 971023 original Signed By Margo Bridgers POR Conns NRCC James L. Blaha--

WEEKLYINFOREPT PDR Assistant for Operations._OED0

Contact:

L. Trocine. OEDO

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UNITED STA Tts l NUCLEAR REGULATO!W COMMISSION WASHINGTON, C. C. 20M6 INFORMATION REPORT October 23. 1997 SECY 97-247 Ent: The commissioners Econ 1: James L. Blaha. Assistant for Operations. Office of the ED0 Subiect: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 17, 1997 Cgntents Enclosure Nuclear Reactor Regulation A Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards B Nuclear Regulatory Research C Analysis and Evaluation of Operational Data D General Counsel E*

Administration F Chief Information Officer G Chief Financial Officer H*

Human Resources I Small Business & Civil Rights J*

Enforcement K*

State Programs L*

Public Affairs M International Programs N*

Office of the Secretary 0 Region I P Region 11 P Region III P Region IV P Executive Director for Operations 0*

Congressional Affairs R

• No input this week.

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JgA James L. Blaha r

Assistant for Operations. OEDO

Contact:

L. Trocine. OEDO

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation items of Interest Week Ending October 17, 1997 ligg. tina with Westinahouse and Union Electric Two members of the Reactor Systems Branch and the Project Manager met with Westinghouse and Union Electric staff in Pittsburgh on October 7-8, 1997, te discuss the model used for the shutdown margin calculations at Callaway. The normal model must be modified to reflect the effects of the axial offset anomaly (A0A) which Callaway is experiencing. The major safety effect of A0A is the erosion of shutdown margin. Major findings were the following:

(1) the dela between a flux map measurement and the model u)date results being used s ould be shortened as much as possible and (2) tie model as it was being used was non-conservative with respect to future shutdown margin predictions While there has been sufficient shutdown margin to date, the ,

plant is ap roaching the point at which the calculated shutdown margin will meet the le h Spec limit of 1300 pcm. The licensee is considering several options including changing pH level, lowering power further, decreasing the rod worth uncertainty, and decreasing the conservatism involved in the release of the trapped boron.

Since the meeting, Westinghouse has informed the staff that the model has been changed so that future predictions of shutdown margin should be conservative.

The flux map taken October 7 of Callaway indicated the shutdown margin was 1460 pcm. Shutdown margin is being lost at the rate of 3-4 pcm 3er day, thus the Tech Spec limit will be reached by mid-November if nothing clanges. An NRC team inspection is being considered for the week of November 17, 1997, Meetina with Illinois Power (KP) ql Offsite Power \ Grid Reliability On October 2, 1997. Electrical Engineering Branch, NRR, Region III, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory staff moi. wito Illir.ois Power (IP) representatives to discuss Offsite Power 1ssues at IP Headquarters in Decatur, IL. The NRC attendees were J, Calvo, R. Jenkins. C. Poslusny and R. Gardner. Mr. Gardner of Region III participated in this meeting in accordance with the staff requirements memorandum dated riay 22, 1997, requesting greater regional involvement with grid reliability issues.

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss with IP the existing grid operation and a future grid procedure changes anticipated due to the impact of deregulation on the IP grid operation as well as their future interface with the independent system operator (IS0) and related regional reliability

,oizations. In addition, the staff toured the load dispatch control center for the IP grid. In addition, the attendees discussed how recent electrical power industry changes due to der'.gulatory forces may change the reliability of the power system grid.

The following points were noted during the subject meeting:

IP expects that they will join either the newly forming Midwest ISO (MISO) or a similar organization depending on future legislative action October 17. 1997 ENCLOSURE A

4 anticipated this Fall. IP has been closely involved in the formation process for tht. MISO.

Mid America Interconnected Network (MAIN) performs load flow studies for the region which IP utilizes to maintain electrical capacity margins.

IP will enhance through station modifications the reactive >ower (mvars) capability for Clinton which should avoid any potential pro)lems.for the offsite power suurces supporting Clinton Station.

Oconee Unit 1 Steam Generator Tube Inservice Inspection Results Duke Power, the licensee for Oconce Unit 1. informed the NRC staff this week of_ a potentially significant finding identified during the inservice inspectf on of the uriit's two once through steam generators (OTSG). "Plus Point" eddy current probe examinations of tubes in the upper tubesheet area in one of the two OTSGs identified approximately 900 tubes with indications. The licensee has characte"ized approximately 150 of the tubes as havina indications with primary-water stress corrosion cracking in the roll transition. The nature of the indications in the remaining tubes, however, is unknown. Based on currently available eddy current inspection data from other OTSG inspections, the licensee stated during a phone call with the NRC that it suspects that the indications may be indicative of deposits or intergranular attack degradation initiating from the primary side of the tube. Several tube aulls are scheduled to confirm the nature of these unknown indications.

3reliminary metallographic examination results should be available late next week.

If the unknown indications do confirm to be the result of tube degradation, the licensee would have to plug or repair all 900 tubes. Since plugging all

- of the tubes would reduce nearly all tube plugging margins for Oconee Unit 1.

the licensee has indicated that it will request a license amendment to implement an alternate tube repair criteria similar to F* ("F-Star") approved for some Westinghouse model steam generators. The staff has reviewed a number of F* amendments in the past for Westinghouse model steam generators, but because this is a first-time review for OTSGs. the review may identify new or different issues than those identified for the Westinghouse steam generators. These potential issues would not be identified until NRC staff has an opportunity to review the topical report. This could extend the length of the review process beyond the licensee's planned unit restart date.

scheduled for mid-November.

Braidwood Unit 2 Stea- Generator Tube Inservice Inspection Results-T Braidwood Unit 2 contains four (4) Westinghouse Model D-5 steam generators

-which contain Inconel 600 thermally treated tubing wit ~n hydraulic tubesheet expansions. Commonwealth Edison, the licensee for Braidwood Unit 2. informed the NRC staff this week that they identified circumferential indications in October 17, 1997 ENCLOSURE A

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the hydraulic expansion at the hot leg top-of-tubesheet. At the time the

-conference call took place they had identified fourteen (14) indications and inspections were still ongong.

The significance of this issue 1s that this is the f.rst U.S. plant with Inconel 600 thermMly treated tubing that has experienced circumferential cracking in this rwion. The licensee indicated that accordin current estimates the indications _ appeared to be fairly small,gThe to eddy licensee plans to conduct in-situ pressure testing of some of the indications to demotstrate structural and leakage integrity, Nine Mile Point 1 The schedule of the current outage at the Nine Mile One nuclear plant had been extended due to an expansion in the scow. of repairs necessary to the plant's four emergency condensers. The plant was shut down on September 15, 1997, due to a leaking tube in one of four emergency condensers. -Tests, inspections, and subsequent evaluation has led to the decision to replace the tubes of all four condensers. Realacement of condenser tubes is expected to take approximately 10 weets, and the plant is expected to return to service in late December.

Limerick Generatino Station. Units 1. and 2 On 0ctober 9, 1997, at 11:02 p.m., the Unit 2 D21 Emergency Diesel Generator (EDG) failed during a test run following planned maintenance, The failure involved a fire in the EDG exhaust stack and manifold. 'The cause of the fire was unburned fuel oil from the failed #1 lower piston that mixed with exhaust from the other cylinders. Operation personnel manually separated the EDG bus from the grid, secured the engine, and extinguished the fire using a portable fire extinguisher. All flames were extinguished within 2 minutes, An Alert

was declared at-11:10 p.m. because emergency core cooling system equipment was inoperable due to the fire. Inspections confirmed no abnormalities to the class 1E power supply and the Alert was terminated at 3:05 am on October 10.

The Unit 2 EDG 21 is on a 30-day LC0. and the remaining 3 Unit 2 EDGs have been tested per TS requirements.

The' initial-findings indicate that the #4 lower piston seized due to failure of-a cotter pin securing the nut to the bolt on thu connecting rod assembly.

This led to bearing destruction, and damage to the crankshaft, connecting rod, cnd cylinder liner. PECO has a work crew at the site to. refurbish the damaged L;G and estimates a-3-week repair time based on damage observed. The licensee still expects to complete the repairs and testing within the 30-day LC0 window. The NRC-lead on the investigation is with the Division of Reactor Safety, Region 1. The Division of Reactor Projects .I/II and Division of i Endneering (EMEB and EELB) are being kept informed of the damage findings and repair progress, October'17, 1997 ENCLOSURE A

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Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Items of Interest Week Ending October 17. 1997

-International Atomic Eneray Acency Safety Guide on Radiation Protection in Medical Exoosure

-On October 6-10, 1997, a Division of Industrial Medical and Nuclear Safety

- staff member chaired the International- Atomic Energy Agency Advisory Group

' Meeting in Vienna. Austria to review a draft of the Safety Guide on Radiation Protection in Medical Exposure. Participants included representatives from Austria. Finland. Germany. Hungary, India. Israel. Spain. Italy, the United Kingdom, the United States, the World Health Organization, and the Pan American Health Organization. -The objective of the Safety Guide is to give-practical guidance to regulatory authorities and collaborating national and professional organizations on compliance with International Basic Safety Standards regarding medical exposures. The Safety Guide covers the exposure of individuals for-diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, exposures incurred by comforters and caregivers, and exposures incurred by volunteers in biomedical or clinical research.

Material Control and Accountina Insoection Course On October 6-10. 1997, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission presented a Material Control and Accounting Inspection course to representatives of the Russian regulatory agency GOSATOMNADZOR (GAN) in Moscow, Russia, under the auspices of the Coo)erative Threat Reduction Program. The course, developed in response

. to a-GAi request, provided information on how the NRC performs ins)ections at fuel fabrication facilities. The course was well received, and GAi officials requested that it be offered during 1998 in Novosibirsk, Russia. ,

Pathfinder Mines Corooration/ Nuclear Reaulatory Commission Meetina -

On October 9.1997. Division of- Waste Management (DWM) staff members met with representatives of-Pathfinder Mines Corporation (PMC) at the Lucky Mc uranium mill site in-Wyoming. The Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses

(CNWRA)-is evaluating the seismic stability of the PMC Lucky Mc tailings impoundment, and a CNWRA technical reviewer accompanied the DWM staff. At the meeting.- PMC discussed and clarified its' res)onse to DWM staff comments on slope stability of tailings impoundment at tie Lucky Mc-site in relation to Condition 54. A. of Source Material License SUA-672. PMC will make a revised submittal after re-evaluating its slope. stability analysis taking-into account the DWM staff comments and the clarifications, thetina with Washinaton Public Power Sucolv System Reaardina Drv Cask Storaae On October 14.1997.: Spent Fuel = Project Office (SFPO)- staff members met with Washington Public Power Sup)ly System (WPPSS) regarding plans to implement dry cask storage of Washington iuclear Project No. 2 (WNP-2) s'ent fuel under the general license arovisions of Part 72. WNP-2 will lose fuIl core discharge capability in Fe)ruary 2000 and currently plans to initiate cask loading in December 2000. WPPSS is considering s o eral dual-purpose (storage and-October 17. 1997 ENCLOSURE B

s. . .

transport) designs which are currently in the certification process and intends to select a vendor in December 1997.

The SFP0 staff questioned the viability of the WNP-2 schedule because neither certification nor rulemaking has been com)leted on the designs WPPSS is considering. The SFP0 staff also noted tlat cask fabrication activities for a design to be used under the Part 72 general license cannot begin until after the design is certified.

October 17. 1997 ENCLOSURE B

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research items of Interest Week Ending October 17. 1997 International Workshoo on Characterization and Measurement of Hydraulic Procerties of Unsaturated Porous Media A critical aspect of decommissioning reviews involving sites where ground-water contamination is a possibility is the estimation of ground water flow and transport properties for use in dose assessment models. Presently, the NRC staff is evaluating the efficacy and practicality of various models addressing dose via the ground-water pathway. A condition common to most decommissioning sites is unsaturated porous media. Other Federal agencies (e.g.. EPA, DOE. NASA. USGS, and D00) are also addressing ground water 30llution problems. To further this effort, the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research, along with the Agricultural Research Service /USDA. University of California at Riverside, DOE, NASA. EPA, USGS, and the U.S. Army ResEarch Office, is co-sponsoring the " International Workshop on Characterization and Measurement of the Hydraulic Properties of Unsaturated Porous Media." The workshop will be held in Riverside. California on October 22-24, 1997. The workshop will bring together an international body of scientists (aparoximately 200 participants representing 25 countries) wrestling with the pro)lem of how best to characterize, measure, or estimate the hydraulic properties of soils and rocks. The scientists will critically review current measurement techniques and discuss alternative theoretical and empirical methods for deducing hydraulic properties from measured data. Workshop proceedings will be oublished. Copies of the workshop program are available from T. Nicholson, RES, and on the workshop home page at http://www.ussl.ars.usda. gov /HYPROP/hyprop.htm.

Reculatory Guides Issued The following two draft regulatory guides were issued in early October:

Draft Regulatory Guide DG-3010. " Spent / Fuel Heat Generation in an Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation" Draft Regulatory Guide DG-1070. " Sampling Plans Used for Dedicating Simple Metallic Commercial Grade Items for Use in Nuclear Power Plants" Six regulatory guides (Regulatory Guides 1.168 through 1.173) dealing with digital computer software used in instrumentation and control systems were also issued in early October.

October 17. 1997 ENCLOSURE C

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Office for Analysis and Evaluation of Operatioral Data Items of Interest Week Ending October 17, 1997 Technical Trainina Division As part of Russian Priority 5 (Establishment of Regulatory Training Program) of the Lisbon Initiative, six specialists from Gosatomnadzor (GAN) of Russia-visited the Technical Training Center (TTC). Region II Office, and the Sequoyah Nuclear Plant on October 6 10, 1997. The purpose of the visit was for senior GAN regional personnel to see first hand how the NRC trains inspectors and to discuss GAN plans for implementing small training organizations in each of its regions. The GAN 3ersonnel included Mr. Peter Alexachin. Head of GAN Division. Headcuarters, ioscow: Mr. Vladimir Kroutikov, De)uty Head of Ural Regional Office: Pr. Viktor Katkov. Chief State Inspector, GAi Volga Regional Office: Mr. Boris Kariouk State Inspector, North European Regional Office Mr. Igor Bystrioukov, State Ins)ector, Don Regional Office:

and Mrs. Olga Trofimova. Officer. International Relations Department.

Headquarters, Moscow. The group visited the Region II Office where they were briefed on regional implementation of inspector training, toured the Sequoyah Nuclear Plant and discussed inspector qualification activities with the Resident Inspectors. At the TTC. they toured the facility, discussed the-Technical Training Division's (TTD) methods for development and presentation of courses, continued discussions of the NRC's inspector training program and implementation of GAN's regulatory training system, and discussed future activities under Priority 5. This is the last planned activity for Russian Priority 5.

The second presentation of the Field Techniques and Regulatory Practices '

Course (G-103) was held at the TTC on October 6-10, 1997. The course was developed at the request of NRR to support the Resident Ins)ector Development -

Program. The course was attended by ten students from the legions and one from NRR. -The course was conducted by Sonalysts. Inc., assisted by staff from NRR and the TTD. The course uses a workshop / case study ap3 roach to emphasize student application of important, job-relevant skills and (nowledge in-realistic case study scenarios. Course modules begin with the introduction of an area of interest from a technical standpoint. Students then divide -into small groups to assess information and develop action plans witn priorities for action. Individual students are then assigned an independent aspect of the case study to resolve, document in writing, and possibly address in front of the class. Students are required to conduct interviews with selected role playing individuals, research completed operator logs. review surveillance / maintenance documents, or evaluate licensee commitments, etc.

Following the student presentations, one of the NRC instructors addresses NRC policy issues, inspection results. cnd class questions. Constructive criticism is then 3rovided, and class participation is encouraged. It is anticipated that t1e course will become part of the -inspector training required by IMC- 1245.

Dr. Rodican Reed of TTD coordinated and monitored presentation of a Nuclear Criticality Safety Course in Kiev, Ukraine. on October 13-17, 1997. The course was presented by personnel from Oak Ridge Institute of Science and

. October 17, 1997 ENCLOSURE D

N Engineering for personnel from the Ukrainian Ministry of Environmental Protection and Nuclear Safety at the Ukraine Radiation Training Center. This was one of the final activities to be completed in support of Lisbon

• Initiative Ukraine Priority 2 (Establishment of Regulatory Training Program).

.A Probabilistic Risk-Assessment (PRA) Technical Managers (P-107) course was held at the Professional Development Center on October 15-17. 1997. Twenty-four NRC managers attended the course. The three day course is designed to.

introduce the NRC ten +:al manager to PRA concepts including reactor and non-reactor applications. the course includes an introduction to PRA methods used in system modeling, accident progression analysis, accident consequence analysis and performance assessment. In addition to furnishing a good:

understanding of the mechanics of a PRA, the course provides information on the more detailed training available to the technical . staff the current agency policy on the use of PRA. information on how the agency has used PRA in making decisions.- and the value of and methods for using PRA to get the most

-benefit from available resources. Also included is a discussion of PRA strengths, limitations, and uncertainty. The course also discusses agency anlications of- PRA methodolo The course has been made mandatory for all  ;

N11. AE00, and NMSS managers.gy.Seven sessions of the course are scheduled for R FY 1998. TTD added four courses to the FY 1998 schedule in order to meet the goal of having 2/3 of the agency's technical managers attend the training in FY 1998. Dates for the remaining FY 1998 courses can be found in the TTD Course Catalog and on the TTD web page.

Incident Resoonse Division Participation in Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) Conference An AE0D/IRD staff member participated as an invited speaker in a Nuclear Energy-Institute Crisis Communications Conference held on October 13 and 14.

1997, at the OMNI Hotel in Atlanta Georgia. The conference was attended by approximately 90-licensee public information officers. The AE0D staff member addressed issues related to public information in' response to radiological incidents.

-PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATIONS  !

1. -PNO-I-97-056C. Unknown.- Royal Green Metal Recyclers. RUPTURED AMERICIUM SOURCE (UPDATE)

2. PNO-II-97-056. Tuomey Regional Medical Center (An Agreement State Licensee). THERAPEUTIC MISADMINISTRATION 3.

PNO-III-97-083. Midwest Iron and Metal. GENERALLY LICENSED GAUGE FOUND BY SCRAP METAL DEALER

4. PNO-III-97-084. Mallickrodt Medical. Inc. RECEIPT OF RADI0 ACTIVELY CONTAMINATED PACKAGE October 17. 1997 ENCLOSURE D i

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Office of-Administration items of Interest Week Ending October 17. 1997-Acceotability of Plant Performance for Severe Accidents: Scoce of

. Consideration-in Safety Reaulations (Part 50)

A document withdrawing an advance notice of proposed rulemaking that. outlined alternative approaches to generic regulation addressing the challenges from severe accidents for future light water reactors was published-in the Federal Register on October 14. 1997 (62 FR 53250). The advance notice of proposed rulemaking was withdrawn because the Commission decided that a regulatory _

change to provide generic performance re

. accidents is not warranted at- this time.quirements during postulated-severe Contract Awards Contract No..NRC-21-98-300 entitled. " Verbatim Reporting Services." was awarded to tnn Riley-& Associates. Ltd. The fixed-price re in the amount of $359.980.68 is effective October 16, 1997,quirements contract through October 15,1998. with 4 one-year option periods for a total contract value of

$1.799.903.40. This comnercial item small business set-aside procurement was completed in four months. Award was made using the following streamlining initiatives: electronic transmittal of Statement of Work (S0W); use of commercial product description, reduce proposal preparation time, waive audit requirements, and award without discussions.

Contract No. NRC-31-97-246 entitled " Data Entry. Programming, and Microcomputer User Support Services." was awarded to US Robotech. Inc. The fixed > rice contract in the amount of. $143.449.681s effective September 30.

1997 t1 rough September 29,1998, with 4 one-year optico periods for a total contract value of $756.028.56. This 8(a) set-aside procurement was completed in two months. Award was made using the:following streamlining initiatives:

electronic transmittal of S0W. use of commercial product' description. reduce proposal pre discussions.paration time, waive audit requirements, award without October 17. 1997 ENCLOSURE F

Chief Information Officer Items of Interest-Week Ending October 17, 1997 FOIA Recuests Received durina the 5-Day Period of October 10-16. 1997-Procurement, list of responsible individuals. (F01A/PA-97-392) 0)tical com) uter equipment, endels & locations of WANG WIIS, Cygnet /Atg. and P1111ps. (;01A/PA-97-393)

Maine Yankee. 01 reports 1-96-025 and 1-95-050. (F01A/PA 97-394)

- Arctic Slope Inspection Services, license no. 50-29015 01. (F01A/PA-97-395)

Year 2000 status report dated 8/12/97, record referred by OMB.

(F01A/PA-97-396)

RADIOCAT license. (F01A/PA-97-397)

IG report 97-53H. (F01A/PA-97-398)

TMI. incident response center tape .ecordings 3/23/79 through 4/3/79.

(F01A/PA-97-399) 01-report 2-95-034. (FOIA/PA-97-400)

October 17. 1997 ENCLOSURE G

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Office of Human Resources items of Interest Week Ending October 17, 1997 Arrivals f

SANTOS. Cayento GENERAL ENGINEER (PFT) RES V0GT-LOWELL. Rene REACTOR ENGINEER (EXAM OUAL) (PFT) NRR Departures SNITKIN. Judith SECRETARY (OA) (OPFT) RI l

October 17, 1997 ENCLOSURE I

Office of Public Affairs items of Interest Week'Ending October 17, 1997 Madia Interest

. There was press interest in NRC's stance on the remediation of the Utah -

uranium mill tailings site in Moab.

The Las Vegas Review Journal reported that a private consultant's study claims NRC's 1984 terrorism assessment of spent fuel containers is fundamentally flawed.

Media'Trainina-Crisis coninunicaticns training has been provided to Commissioners 01cus and Diaz: the EDO and his two technical deputies: the Office Directors of NRR, NMSS, and RES: and six NRR-technicai briefe:s. This training is. intended to

. prepare managers tc deal effectively wii.n the media on-camera durin ,

. emergency should they be called on as spokespersons for the agency.g an Press Releases Headquarters:

97-154 NRC to Hold November Workshop to Discuss Draft Documents on Risk-Informed Piping Inspection.97-155 NRC Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards to Meet in Rockville Maryland November 6-7.

Regions:

-I-97-135 NRC, Utility to Discuss Haddam Neck Radiological-Concerns.

I-97-136- NRC to Accept-Public Corinents at October 27 Meeting Regarding. Decommissioning of Haddam Neck Nuclear Power Plant.

I' V-97 NRC. NPPD to Discuss Apparent Violations at Cooper Nuclear Station. ,

4 October 17, 1997 ENCLOSURE M

' Office of-the Secretary Items of Interest Week Ending October 17, 1997; Information Papers Released to the Public

_ Document Date Subject SECY-97-234 10/14/97 Quarterly Status for the Probabilistic Risk Assessment Implementation Plan Commission Correspondence Released to the Public

1. Letter to 10/09/97 Policy Resolution adopted by the Western Alaska Govenor, Governors' Association regarding " Private Tony Knowles. Storage of Commercial Spent Nuclear Fuel" and Wyoming Governor, Jim Geringer

2. -Letter to- -10/09/97- Expresses Congratulations on Assignment as Mr.-Jason C. Hu, Foreign Minister i

Taipie Economic

& Culatral

i. Representative Office in the

[ U.S.

1 3. Letter to '09/30/97 Provides NRC's Fiscal Year 1998 - Fiscal j Congress & OMB ' Year 2002 Strategic Plan t

Federal Register Notices-Issues

! Docket No. 1A Establishment of Atomic Safety and L

97-070 Licensing Board (Bechhoefer/ Lam /Kline).

Magdy Elamir; M.D.

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October 17, 1997 ENCLOSURE O

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• Region I-Items of Interest Week Ending October-17.-1997 Vermont Yankee On Monday afternoon.- October 13. 1997, about 30 people demonstrated outside the main gate of_the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant. The demonstration, which did not disrupt plant activities. was organized by the Citizen's Awareness Network. Licensee security and local law enforcement personnel were notified in' advance of the demonstration and observed the activities.

Limerick Unit 2 On October 10. 1997, a fire develo)ed in the exhaust system for one of the four emergency diesel generators (EDG) supporting Limerick Unit 2 operation.

The EDG, which was undergoing-a routine surveillance run at the time of the fire, was promptly shutdown. The fire was extinguished within 15 minutes.

The licensee declared an Alert emergency condition at 11:10 p.m. on October 10 when the affected EDG was declared ino)erable due to the fire. NRC Region I and headquarters personnel- monitored tie event and the licensee's response.

The NRC resident inspector observed the event response onsite. The Alert was terminated about 4 hours4.62963e-5 days <br />0.00111 hours <br />6.613757e-6 weeks <br />1.522e-6 months <br /> later, after electrical systems inspections confirmed the reliability of the remaining electric distribution systems. Subsequent investigation revealed significant internal component damage primarily focused on one seized piston and cyhnder. The root cause investigation for the fire is continuing with diesel vendor sup) ort onsite. The licensee expects to repair the EDG within the 30-day TS _C0 action requirements. NRC Region I specialists are monitoring the investigation and repairs.

Salem Unit 2 On Thursday. October 16, 1937, senior NRC managers arrived onsite to tour the Salem facility and to conduct both informal and planned interviews with selected licensee personnel and management. NRC managers included Hubert J.

Miller ' Regional Administrator Region I: Hugh L. Thompson - Deputy Executive

-Director for Regulatory Programs: and Frank J. Miraglia - Deputy Director.

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, These activities followed a tour and interviews held by senior' Region I management at the Hope Creek facility on Wednesday. October 15. 1997.

On Friday. October 17, 1997, a Salem Assessment Panel meeting will be held at the site and will include discussion of-the status of Salem Unit l' Restart

-Inspections.

Mobile Dynamic Imaaina During an inspection on October 16. 1997, at Mobile Dynamic Imaging (in New Jersey), an inspector noted some orogrammatic problems. Through personnel interviews, the inspector learned' that the licensee had injected members of -

its staff with licensed material-in order to perform quality control tests on October 17, 1997 ENCLOSURE P

4-their camera. This is an apparent unauthorized use of licensed material. NRC Region I is continuing to follow-up on this matter, t

October 17, 1997 ENCLOSURE P 1

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I Region II

- Item of Interest Week Ending October 17, 1997 Nucfear Fuel Services. Inc. (NFS1

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On October.16. managers in the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards-(NMSS) and Region Il met with the President of NFS and other

__ licensee managers. The NRC managers were lead by the Acting Deputy Director-for-NMSS and the Acting Deputy Regional Administrator for Region 11. The ~-

)urpose of the meeting was to discuss the results of.tt.e Licensee Performance Review, The key challenges for the licensee from the NRC assessment were as -

follows: -(1) management oversight of changing operations (2) development of-safety bases and establishment of controls before startup of new operations.

(3) improvement in self-identification of deficiencies and implementation of corrective actions, and (4)-communication of management expectations to workers-and followup to ensure these expectations are met. Licensee

_ representatives-discussed steps they were taking to improve in the areas where improvement was needed. The meeting was observed by several members of the media and the public.

-Tennessee Valley Authority - Seauoyah On October 17.- Seguoyah-Nuclear Plant reported to the NRC that they had-discovered several instrument cables damaged in a Unit 2 containment electrical penetration, Sequoyah Unit 2 is currently in an outage, and all fuel'was removed from the Reactor Vessel at the time of this incident. The penetration was being replaced, and work had proceeded to the point-that.the

. penetration was being-re-wired. The licensee continues to investigate the event and has taken compensatory measures.

Drolina Power and Liaht Comoany - Harris On October 14, the Director, Division of Reactor Safety, presented operator certificates:to newly licensed Senior Reactor Operators-at the Harris facility in an evening ceremony at the Radisson Governors Inn in Raleigh/Durham.-

1 October 17. 1997 ENCLOSURE P

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i' Region III Items of Intr ist l Week Ending October 17, 1997 Manaaement Meetinas with Commonwealth Edison Comoany - Dresden On October 15, 1997, representatives of the regional and headquarters staffs conducted two meetings with Commonwealth Edison Company officials in the Regional Office. The first session reviewed operational lessons learned from a July 28 incident involv'ing control of the water level in the Unit 2-reactor vessel which.resulted in a reactor shutdown. The second meetin status and findings of the Dresden Engineering Assurance Group,g the covered the effectiveness of corrective actions, and engineering performance improvements.

Meetina on Status of. Performance Imorovement Activities - Zion On October 17, 1997, the Regional Administrator and members of the regional and headquarters staffs met at the Zion Nuclear Power Station with.

. representatives of Commonwealth Edison Company to discuss the status of performance improvement activities at the Zion Station. The utility continues to plan for a mid December startup for Unit 2, the lead unit for startup at the site.

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Oct'ober 17, 1997 ENCLOSURE P

Region IV Items of Interest Week Ending October 17. 1997 Coooer Nuclear Station Predecisional Enforcement Conferente Nebraska Public Power District managers met with the Re and members of the Region IV staff in Arlington. Texas,gional Administrator at a predecisional enforcement conference. The conference discussion centered around the Power District's failure to identify and correct a significantly degraded residual heat removal system heat exchanger, the failure to identify and correct a single failure that could render the standby gas treatment system inoperable, and eight additional less-significant examples of ineffective corrective actions.

October 17, 1997 ENCLOSURE P

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Office of Congressional Affairs items of Interest Week Ending October 17,1997 CONGRESSIONAL HEARING SCHEDULE, No. 36

?OCW: 'DATE .

~ CONTACT 1- 1&S _.

LTIME WITNESSi SUBJECT ' COMMITTEE '

PLACET Combs TBA TBA Markup S. 8. Superfund Reauthorization Sen. Chafee/Baucus 406 DSOB Environment & PubIic Works Gerke 10/21 1:3v TBA Utility Deregulation: H.R. 655 H R. Reps. Schaefer/Hafi 2322 RHOB 338, H.R.1230 H.R 1359. H.R. Energy and Power 1960 Commerce Gerke 10/22 10.00 Markup Federal Health & Life insurance Reps. Mica /Cummings 2154 RHOB Bi!!s Civil Service

- Govemment Reform & Oversight Gerke 10/22 10:30 TBA Utility Deregulation: H.R. 655, H.R. Reps. Schaefer/ Hall 2123 RHOB 338. H.R.1230. H.R.1359, H.R. Energy and Power 1960 Commerce Kuling 10/23 9:30 TBA U.S.-China Nuclear Cooperation Senators Murkowski/ Bumpers 366 DSOB Agreement Energy & Natural Resources Combs 10/24 10:00 TBA Superfund Reform Act Reps. Oxley/Manton 2123 RHOB Finance & Hazardous Materials Commerce Keeling 10/27 2:00 TBA Nuclear Stockpile Safety Sen. Cochran/ Levin 342 DSOB Inti Secunty, Proliferation & Federal Services Govemmental Affairs Gerke 11/04 TBA Markup H.R. 655. Electnc Consumers' Reps. Schaefer/ Hall TBA Power to Choose Act Energy & Power Commerce October 17. 1997 ENCLOSURE R