ML20236Y046
| ML20236Y046 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 07/24/1998 |
| From: | Blaha J NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| SECY-98-178, SECY-98-178-R, WIR-980717-01, WIR-980717-1, NUDOCS 9808110116 | |
| Download: ML20236Y046 (19) | |
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NUCLEAR REIULATORY COMMISSION 4,
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INFORMATION REPORT Julv 24.1998 SECY 98-178 EE:
The Commissioners from:
James L. Blaha. Assistant for Operations. Office of the EDO Subiect:
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING JULY 17. 1998 i
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
l Enforcement K*
State Programs L*
Public Affairs M
International Programs N
Office of the Secretary 0
Region I P
Region II P
Region III P*
Region IV P*
Executive Director for Operations O
Congressional Affairs R
- No input this week.
Amtlo a.--
JamesL.Baha Assistant for Operations. OEDO
Contact:
O H. Banerjee, OEDO p_?,}
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PDR COMMS NRCC 1
WEEKLYINFOREPT PDR
s Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Items of Interest Week Ending July 17, 1998 l
Risk Assessments Reaardina Doeratina Reactor Event at Washinaton Nuclear 2 and Davis Besse The Probabilistic Safety Assessment Branch (SPSB) recently completed preliminary risk assessment of the June 17, 1998, flooding event at Washington Nuclear 2 (WNP 2) and the June 24, 1998, tornado-induced loss of offsite power event at Davis Besse.
The flooding event at WNP-2 was caused by the rupture of a fire protection system header valve that resulted in the loss of the fire suppression system, and, as a result of flooding, the loss of a residual heat removal pump and the low pressure core spray pump.
SPSB's preliminary assessment determined that the WNP 2 flooding event was not risk significant.
This was based on several factors including the following:
the amount of core decay heat was reasonably low; there were no fires during the event: the time that the plant was without water to suppress fires was limited to approximately 30 minutes; there was no demand for accident mitigation equipment to start: and there were several sources from which water could be injected for core cooling.
If the event had occurred at power, the event would Save been more risk-significant.
- However, the event would not have been highly risk significant because other redundant accident mitigating systems would have been available and the event would not have caused a reactor trip that would challenge the mitigating systems Further evaluation of the WNP 2 fire protection system is ongoing.
If it is found that the fire protection system design is very susceptible to ruptures upon system initiation, then this event could be risk significant with respect to fire events.
For the Davis Besse event. SPSB estimated the conditional probability of core damage given the event and performed several sensitivity analyses to gain further risk insights.
SPSB preliminary results indicated that the risk significance of the event was relatively low, mainly due to plant design features such as a large station blackout diesel generator and two turbine-driven and one motor-driven emergency feedwater pumps.
As additional information becomes available. SPSB will continue to work with the Regions and AEOD to more fully evaluate the risk associated with these events.
3rowns Ferry Units 1. 2 and 3 On July 14, 1998, the staff issued license amendments to the Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Units 1. 2 and 3 for conversion to Improved Standard Technical i
Specifications (STS).
These are the 27th, 28th, and 29th units that have been July 17, 1998 ENCLOSURE A
e approved to convert to the Improved STS. This license amendment also approved several other technical specification changes that were beyond the scope of the conversion.
In its review effort, the staff implemented a new process. A special team of NRR Projects staff performed an audit of the Table which classified the proposed TS changes into various categories (i.e., administrative, relocation, less restrictive or more restrictive changes) and types of changes within each category..The audit team verified and certified the correctness of the Table This process enabled the Office of General Council to focus its review primarily on other aspects of the safety evaluation rather than the Table, and reduced the staff resources required to complete its review of the license amendment.
D.C. Cook Units 1 and 2 By letter dated October 9. 1997, the Union of Concerned Scientists submitted a petition pursuant to 10 CFR 2.206 requesting that the operating licenses for Donald C. Cook Nuclear Power Plant. Units 1 and 2 be modified, revoked, or suspended until there is reasonable assurance that plant systems are in conformance with design-and licensing-bases requirements, and that a public hearing into the matter be held in the Washington. D.C., area before the first unit at D.C. Cook is authorized to restart.
The NRC will hold the requested informal public hearing at the NRC office at 11555 Rockville Pike. Rockville.
MD on August 19. 1998.
The hearing will be open to public attendance and transcribed.
A Federal Register Notice announcing these plans for the informal public hearing was published in the Federal Register on Monday July 20, 1998.
Manaaement Chanaes On June 29, 1998. Carolina Power & Light (CP&L) announced that James Scarola has been named the new Sharon Harris Nuclear Power Plant Site Vice President.
Mr. Scarola is expected to start on August 3. 1998.
In the interim, Joe Donahue. Director of Site Operations, will act as Site Vice President.
Mr.
Scarola will be coming to CP&L from Florida Power and Light, where he served as the St. Lucie Plant General Manager since 1995.
i July 17. 1998 ENCLOSURE A
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Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards l
l Items of Interest l
Week Ending July 17, 1998 Nuclear Reaulatory Commission Meetina With Westinghouse l
On July 15, 1998, representatives of the Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards, Office of the General Counsel, and the Office of Administration, Division.of Facilities and Security, met with representatives of the new owners of the former Westinghouse Corporation (a joint venture between Morrison-Knudsen and British Nuclear Fuels Limited (MK-BNFL)).
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss MK-BNFL's schedule for submitting to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) license amendments for the corporate name change and related matters.
MK-BNFL anticipates submitting license amendments by August 17,.1998, and will request NRC approval by November 16, 1998.
Nuclear Enerav Institute Discussion of their " White Paoer" on 10 CFR Part 70
,j On July 15, 1998, management and staff from the Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards held a public meeting with the Nuclear Energy Institute to discuss the current industry concerns with 10 CFR Part 70 rulemaking as presented in the " Nuclear Energy Institute White Paper on Part 70 Regulation,"
dated July 7, 1998.
Topics addressed. included the principal areas of 4
agreement, principle areas of disagreement, and recommendations regarding the proposed rulemaking.
Discussion of establishing an electronic database to serve the information needs of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and licensees 4
was also addressed.
Year 2000 Como11 ant On July 9,1998, the Nuclear Material Management Safeguards System (NMMSS) computer system passed its Year 2000 system tests and is now Year 2000 compliant, NMMSS is jointly funded by the Department of Energy and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and handles the special nuclear material accountancy records for all NRC licensees.
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July 17, 1998 ENCLOSURE B l
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Office of Administration Items of Interest Week Ending July 17, 1998 Contract Award The Division of Contracts and Property Management awarded contract no.
NRC-33-98-177 entitled " Microfiche Services for the NRC's Final Safety Analysis Report" on July 13, 1998, on a sole source basis to Information Handling Services. This fixed price requirements contract, in the amount of
$277,169.96, has a period of performance of July 13, 1998 through July 12, 1999, with an additional one-year option period in the amount of $162,999.96.
The total contract value of this contract is $440,169.92. Award was made using the following streamlining initiatives:
(1) electronic transmittal of statement of work (S0W) and (2) simplified determination of findings (D&F) for j
other than sealed bid.
The Division of Contracts and Property Management awarded contract no.
NRC-26-98-263, entitled, " Incident Investigation Team Training," on JJ1y 8,1998, to Conger & Elsea. Inc. The contract ceiling amount is $757,465. The period of performance is October 21, 1998 through October 22, 2003 and delivery orders will be placed as the courses are needed. The contractor shall furnish qualified personnel. materials and services to present and maintain the following courses: 1) an Incident Investigation Team Training course (2) an Incident Team Training Refresher Course, (3) a Root Cause/ Incident Investigation Workshop. and (4) a Human Performance Investigation Process training course. The following streamlining measures were used:
simplified evaluation criteria, limited Source Evaluation Panel (SEP) to 2 members.
1 electronic transmittal of S0W and final recommendation report, and award without discussions.
Rulemakina Activity A final. rule that clarified several ambiguities in the regulations governing industrial radiography was published in the Federal Register on July 9,1998 (63 FR 37059).
The final rule clarifies the Commission's intent concerning the implementation date for certain requirements and resolves other ambiguities in the text of the regulations.
The final rule became effective July 9, 1998.
Security Suocort On July 29, 1998. Division of Facilities and Security (DFS) representatives will provide a security briefing for members of the NRR Tritium Project at the request of the project manager.
Various aspects of handling, storing, transmitting and working with classified information will be reviewed.
-July 17, 1998 ENCLOSURE F
Chief Information Officer Items of Interest Week Ending July 17, 1998 Freedom of Information and Privacy Act Recuests Received durina the 5-Day Period of June 10.1998 - July 16.1998:
IMPAC list.
(F01A/PA-98-277)
Millstone shutdown, and NRC administrative functions.
(F01A/PA-98-278)
MLTS database on disk.
(FOIA/PA-98-279)
San Onofre, alleged discrimination 4-96-A-0227.
(FOIA/PA-98-280)
Named individual. IG report.
(FOIA/PA-98-281)
Millstone Station, meetings with named individuals. FOIA/PA 98-114 response (s).
(F01A/PA-98-282)
B&W facilities, specified records on Apollo and Parks Township. PA: NOVs and inspection reports since '75.
(FOIA/PA-98-283)
Environmental site assessment. 2718 Montana Ave.
Billings. MT.
(F01A/PA-98-284)
Palo Verde. Public Service Co. of New Mexico, all records since 1986.
(FOIA/PA-98-285)
NUREGs. #1437 ~ Generic Environmental Impact Statement..." and #1555
" Environmental Standard Review Plan."
(FOIA/PA-98-286)
Self, security and unescorted access clearance to power plants.
(F01A/PA-98-287)
Limitorque Corp., '98 inspection report regarding sizing methodology on motor operated valve actuators.
(F01A/PA-98-288) i i
l July 17, 1998 ENCLOSURE G l
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Office of Human Resources Items of Interest Week Ending July 17, 1998 Health Physics Society Career Fair Attended On July 13-15, 1998. Henry Rubin participated in the Health Physics Society Career Fair in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Also in attendance were Cyndi Jones.
Charlie Willis, Mary Thomas Ed Flack, David Fauver, and Tom Essig from the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, Several excellent candidates were identified from this event.
Arrivals COLLINS, Daniel PROJECT MANAGER NRR CUDD, Karen COMPUTER SPECIALIST ADM MULLEN. Mark INVESTIGATOR OI/RI SMITH, Wilkins MC&A PHYSICAL SCIENTIST NMSS Departures GUNDRUM, Linda PROJECT MANAGER NRR LOPEZ, George COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST OCIO SMITH, Paulette MANAGEMENT ASSISTANT OCIO I
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1 July 17, 1998 ENCLOSURE I
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Office of Small Business & Civil Rights Items of Interest Week Ending July 17, 1998 National Black Chamber of Commerce Annual Conference SBCR participated in the National Black Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) Annual Conference which was held at the Sheraton Hotel in Baltimore. July 9-10. 1998.
One of the featured speakers was the Honorable Aida Alvarez. Administrator.
l' U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
Von Deloatch. Small Business Program Manager, manned the NRC exhibit booth providing information about the Agency's Procurement Preference Programs. Approximately 300 small businesses l
l attended the Conference.
Conference seminars included topics such as.
Marketing Your Business on the Internet. Building Your Reputation Through l
Client / Customer Service. Competing for Procurement Opportunities with Government Agencies, and Market Trends ar.d the Small Business. A highlight of the Conference was a Tribute Dinner in honor of former Maryland Congressman.
Parren Mitchell, who was a strong advocate for small businesses while in Congress.
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July 17, 1998 ENCLOSURE J
Office of Public Affairs Items of Interest Week Ending July 17. 1998 Media Interest The Engineering News Record is publishing a story on Thermo-Lag and the agency's related confirmatory orders.
Press Releases Headquarters:
98-119 NRC Announces Opportunity for Evidentiary Hearing on Calvert Cliffs License Renewal 98-120 NRC Order to Florida Power & Light Confirms Fire Barrier Corrective Actions at St. Lucie Unit 1 98-121 NRC Issues Proposed Revisions to Regulations on Respiratory Protection
)98-122 NRC Increases Insurance Assessment for Nuclear Power f
Plants Based on Inflation i
Regions:
I-98-81 NRC, Connecticut Hospital to Discuss Apparent Violations I-98-82 NRC Cites Breitling USA. Inc.. for Willful Violations l
of Agency Requirements. Proposes $26,400 Fine I-98-83 NRC -Duquense Light to Discuss Restart of Beaver Valley Units I-98-84 Note to Editors: Meeting on Maine Yankee I-98-85 Note to Editors: Postponement of meeting with Windham Community Memorial Hospital III-98-43 NRC Staff Rates Byron Nuclear Plant " Superior" in Two Areas.
" Good" in Two Others in Latest Performance Review 111-98 NRC Staff Proposes $55.000 Fine Against U.S. Enrichment Corporation for Violation at Portsmouth Plant 111-98-45 NRC Staff to Meet With Commonwealth Edison Company to Discuss Startup of Unit 1 at LaSalle Nuclear Station July 17, 1998-ENCLOSURE M l
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IV-98-30.
NRC Proposes to Fine Arizona Public Service Company
$50,000 for Violations at Palo Verde Nuclear Plant I
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Office of International Programs Items of Interest Week Ending July 17, 1998 IAEA Vacancy Notices The following notices from the International Atomic Energy Agency have been
. posted on NRC bulletin boards:
P-5 Senior Inspector (3 posts)
-98/030 Safeguards P-5 Section Head 98/031 Research and Isotopes P-4 Country Officer 98/032 Technical Co-operation P-4 Nuclear Engineer 98/033 Nuclear Energy f
P-3 Translator 98/034 Administration P-4 Systems Analyst 98/035 Safeguards P-4 Safeguards Information Analyst 98/036 Safeguards P-5. Unit Head Design Unit 98/037 Nuclear Safety P-5 Unit Head. Research Reactor Unit 98/038 Nuclear Safety P-3 Project officer (2 posts).
98/039 Technical Co-operation P-3 Project Officer 98/040 Technical Co-operation P-4 Head, Recruitment Unit 98/041 Administration-P-4 Section Head 98/042 Administration July 17. 1998 ENCLOSURE N
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D-1 Director 98/046 l
Safeguards l
P-5 Nuclear Chemical Engineer / Unit Head 98/602 Nuclear Energy P-4 Nuclear Engineer 98/603 Nuclear Energy P-4 Regional Project Manager 98-802 Technical Co-operation l
July 17, 1998 ENCLOSURE N
Office of the Secretary Items of Interest Week Ending July 17. 1998 Documents Released Date Subject to Public Decision Documents 1.
SECY-98-150 6/26/98 Final Rule.10 CFR Part 140.
" Financial Protection Requirements and Indemnity Agreements ~
SRM on 98-150 7/14/98 (same) j 2.
SECY-98-148 6/25/98 Rulemaking Plan: 10 CFR Part 72.
Clarification and Addition of Flexibility f
SRM on 98-148 7/17/98 (same)
Information Papers l
1.
SECY-98-149 6/26/98 Status Report of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Task Force on Oversight of the U.S. Department of
{
Energy. in Response to COMSECY i 053-DSI2 (Report No. 4) l 2.
SECY-98-154 6/30/98 Results of the Revised (NUREG-1465)
Source Term Rebaselining for l
Operating Reactors 3.
SECY-98-156 7/1/98 Weekly Information Report - Week Ending June 26. 1998 Memoranda 1.
M980625 7/17/98 Staff Requirements - Briefing on EE0 Program (SECY-98-137)
Commission Correspondence 1.
Letter to Senator Pete Domenici dated July 9. 1998 concerns the House Appropriations Committee report on NRC funding.
1 2.
Letter to Representative Joseph McDade dated July 9. 1998 concerns the l
House Appropriations Committee report on NRC funding.
l 3.
Letter to Acting Secretary of Energy Elizabeth Moler dated July 9,1998 provides a revised MOU between NRC and DOE.
i July 17, 1998 ENCLOSURE O l
4.
Letter to Donald Winstead, OPM, dated July 8, 1998 concerns
" Strengthening Our Commitment to Service" (Incoming of April 22, 1998 from President Clinton also released).
Federal Reaister Notices Issued 1.
10 CFR Part 20: Respiratory Protection and Controls to Restrict Internal Exposures: Proposed Rule.
2.
10 CFR Part 72: Expand Applicability of Part 72 to Holders of, and Applicants for Certificates of Compliance and Their Contractors and Subcontractors: Proposed Rule.
July 17, 1998 ENCLOSURE O
m Region I Items of Interest Week Ending July 17, 1998 Isomedix On July 12, 1998, an employee of Isomedix Op#1 source rack of their wet eration. Inc., located in Morris.
NJ, notified the NRC that at 3:42 a.m. the storage irradiator failed to return to its safe position after the completion of a batch run.
The irradiator is used mainly to sterilize medical supplies.
The irradiator has two source racks each containing approximately 2 million curies of cobalt-60. The licensee discovered that compressed air was trapped in the hoist cylinder and piping on the cylinder side of the pneumatic valves. At 6:22 a.m. the piping was disconnected and the #1 source rack was lowered into the pool.
The licensee believes that the cause of the event was a buildup of grease on the spool valves.
The licensee cleaned and rebuilt the spool valves for both source racks, and tested the rack movement to verify operability.
The irradiator was returned to production at 9:30 a.m.
on July 12, 1998.
The licensee's Acting Radiation Safety Officer indicated that during the event all alarms operated properly, that no personnel entered the cell, and no personnel exposures occurred.
Meetina with the State of Delaware On July 16, 1998, the Deputy Director of the Division of Nuclears Material Safety and the State Agreements Officer from Region I gave a presentation on NRC's Agreement State program to managers in Delaware's Division of Public Health. Although Delaware officials are exploring the option of becoming an Agreement State, they indicated that any application to the NRC would have to be preceded by changes to the State's enabling legislation for their radiation protection program.
There are currently 63 NRC licensees in the
-State of Delaware.
1 July 17, 1998 ENCLOSURE P
4 Region II Items of Interest Week Ending July 17. 1998 Southern Nuclear Ooeratino Comoany On July 15. 1998, the Deputy Regional Administrator, accompanied by the DRS Deputy Director, met in Dothan. Alabama with representatives of Southern Nuclear Operating Company to present the results of Farley's. Systematic Assessment of Licensee Performance.
Follow the presentation, a meeting was held with State and local officials to discuss activities at the Farley facility.
Ooerator Licensina Workshoo Region II hosted an operator licensing workshop on July 15. 1998, in Atlanta, Georgia. All Region II facilities participated in the meeting, which was also open to public observation. The workshop focused on sharing information used in the development of operator licensing examination operating tests -
i.e.. job performance measures and simulator scenarios. This workshop supplemented the one held last January. which had concentrated on the preparation of written examination questions.
Carolina Power and Liaht Comoany - Robinson Representatives from Carolina Power and Light Company met in the Regional office on July 16.1998, to discuss a self-assessment of Robinson's performance during the current SALP period.
The licensee discussed overall performance, strengths, areas for improvement, and initiatives.
l Tennessee Vallev Authority - Bellefonte The Bellefonte plant, with its two construction deferred reactor plants, has begun to activate the two Unit 1 emergency diesel generators to assist in handling peak electricity demand. The two emergency diesel generators are powered by TransAmerica DeLaval engines and are capable of producing 7 MWE each.
In order to accomplish reactivation, a portion of the Essential Raw Cooling Water (ERCW) system has to be activated. The ERCW system had been in
)
dry layup.
Region II does semi-annual inspections on the status of layup at the Bellefonte facility.
Nuclear Fuel Services. Inc. - Erwin. TN On July 16 NFS began downblending high enriched uranium to low enriched i
uranium using a recently-completed process.
The initial downblending was observed by the senior resident inspector.
The NRC had informed NFS on 1
July 14, 1998 that we had no objection to full operation of the down blending i
July 17,1998 ENCLOSURE P
process. This decision was-based on several weeks v. NRC preoperational inspection of the process.
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July 17,1998 ENCLOSURE P
___ _ ______ _ _____ _ _ _ _u
't Office of the Executive Director for Operations items of Interest Week Ending July 17, 1998 Prooosed Rule Sianed by EDO On July 16, 1998, the Executive Director for Operations approved a proposed rule which revises 10 CFR Parts 10, 11, 25, and 95 to conform NRC regulations to current national security policies for access to classified information at NRC and NRC regulated facilities and the protection of classified information at industrial facilities, e.g., licensees and certificate holders.
It also revises these parts to reflect a reorganization of the Office of Administration and the redelegation of certain authorities to the Deputy Executive Director for Management Services.
This constitutes notice to the Commission that, in accordance with the rulemaking authority delegated to the EDO, the EDO has signed this proposed rule for publication in the Federal Register.
Advance Notice of Prooosed Rulemakina Sianed by EDO On July 16, 1998, the Executive Director for Operation approved an advance notice of proposed rulemaking entitled " Reporting Requirements for Nuclear Power Reactors" the notice will seek public comment on whether the NRC should proceed with rulemaking to modify reactor reporting requirements and, if so, the general nature of the modifications that should be made.
This. constitutes notice to the Commission that, in accordance with the rulemaking authority delegated to EDO, the EDO has signed this notice for publication in the Federal Register.
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July 17, 1998 ENCLOSURE 0
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