ML20237D543

Weekly Info Rept for Wk Ending 980731

ML20237D543
Person / Time
Issue date:	08/07/1998
From:	Blaha J NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO)
To:
References
SECY-98-191, SECY-98-191-R, WIR-980731-01, WIR-980731-1, NUDOCS 9808260283
Download: ML20237D543 (24)

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E RELEASED TO THE PDR .

UNITED STATES * '

e NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSIOh 8/;27 ff [/2d i WASHINGTON, D. C. 20665 e d3!0 Inlda!s i Auaust 7. 1998 T Secy 98 191 f_or: The Commissioners r

Eros. James L. Blaha, Assistant for Operations. Office of the EDO Subiect: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING JULY 31, 1998

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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*

Enforcement K*

State Programs L*

Public Affairs M International Programs N Office of the Secretary 0 Region I P Region II P Region III D Region IV P Executive Director for Operations 0*

Congressional Affairs R

• No input this week.

LQ, G h T James L. Blaha C

Assistant for Operations. OEDO 1

Contact:

T. Hiltz. OEDO

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9808260283 980807 9@ 6 PDR COMMS NRCC WEEKLYINFOREPT PDR C d y ~ [> t h W [.-

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Items of Interest Week Ending July 31. 1998 Fifth NRC/ASME Symoosium on Valve and Pumo Testino on July 21 to 23.1998 On July 21 to 23. 1998. the NRC and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) jointly sponsored the Fifth Symposium on Valve and Pump Testing in Washington. DC. to facilitate the exchange of information on technical and regulatory issues associated with the testing of valves and pumps used in nuclear power plants. The Mechanical Engineering Branch (EMEB) of the NRC Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) was responsible within the NRC staff for organizing and coordinating the Symposium. Over 300 individuals'from the U.S. and other countries participated at the Symposium representing nuclear power utilities, equipment manufacturers and vendors.

consultants and regulatory agencies. Symposium participants included NRC staff members from NRR. the NRC Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research, the NRC Office for Analysis and Evaluation'of Operational Data, and several Regions.

The Symposium opened with a presentation by NRC Commissioner Nils J. Diaz on the importance of. the proper performance of pumps and valves in nuclear power plants and the need to apply risk. insights into the application of appropriate requirements for their successful performance. Following his presentation.

Commissioner Diaz was inducted as an ASME Fellow in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the safe application of nuclear power. Also, at the opening session of the Symposium. Dr. Brian W. Sheron. Acting Associate Director for Technical Review NRR. discussed the importance of achieving a.

proper balance between the responsibilities of the ASME the industry, and the NRC in the future.

The Symposium included sessions on risk-informed testing of valves and pumps:

general issues related to pumps, air-operated valves, safety-relief valves.

check valves, and motor-operated valves: ASME Operation and Maintenance Code <

issues: and regulatory issues related to valve and pump testing.

Approximately 45 technical papers were presented at the Symposium. The i

technical-papers have been issued as NUREG/CP-0152 (Volume 2. July 1998).

l " Proceedings of the Fifth NRC/ASME Symposium on Valve and Pump Testing."

Meetino with Nuclear Enerav Institute (NEI) on NRC Staff Nuclear Power Plant Year 2000 Problem Proaram Inspections and Industry Contingency Plannina ~ i Guidance  !

On July 22 1998, the staff met with NEI and representatives from several nuclear power plant licensees at the NRC office in Rockville. Maryland to discuss industry comments on the proposed Temporary Instruction (TI) l

- containing guidance for the staff's sample inspections of licensee Year 2000 problem programs as a follow up to Generic Letter 98-01 " Year 2000 Readiness of Computer Systems at Nuclear Power Plants" and industry guidance on Y2K July 31. 1998' ENCLOSURE A i

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contingency planning. During the meeting. NEI and industry representatives identified several areas in the draft TI for revision in order to ensure consistency in the inspections and provide for better assessment of licensee Y2K programs. The staff agreed to make several wording changes to address the industry input. NEI also provided a copy of a draft version of NEI/NUSMG 98-

07. " Nuclear Utility Year 2000 Readiness Contingency Planning." NEI indicated that this is the document they plan to provide to all licensees with guidance on development of Y2K contingency plans. They intend to finalize the document for issuance in August 1998. The staff indicated it would provide any ,

comments to NEI on NEI/NUSMG 98-07 by July 31. 1998.

Post-Fire Safe Shutdown Circuit Analysis Workshoo On July 27, 1998, the Plant Systems Branch of the Division of Systems Safety and Analysis. Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation held a one-day workshop on Post-Fire Safe Shutdown Circuit Analysis. There were 167 attendees of which approximately 140 were from licensee, engineering, industry consultant and/or industry group organizations. The NRC made presentations on post-fire safe shutdown circuit analysis history and safety significance and circuit analysis issues recently identified through inspection, licensing actions and event experience. The Nuclear Energy Institute summarized its views on the regulatory history and industry positions. There were also six industry presentations on various technical subjects relating to circuit analyses, two NRC and industry panel discussions on circuit analysis process and completeness, and an open question and answer session for an NRC staff and industry panel. The staff also accepted written questions, comments, and issue papers for consideration. In closing. NEI stated that it would establish an issue working group to work with the staff to achieve technical ,

i resolution of the issue.

The staff will prepare a detailed meeting summary that will include the  ;

staff's observations, all presentation materials, handouts, panel discussion  !

summaries, question and answer session summaries, written comments and listings of the submitted questions and issue papers which the staff will be considering. The staff will also consider the results of the workshop and the proposed NEI effort and determine whether or not it should revise its Circuit Analysis Resolution Plan.

LaSalle Units 1 and 2 On July 24. 1998. the NRC lifted the Confirmatory Action Letter for LaSalle Station. Both units have been shutdown since September 1996. The CAL required the licensee to develop and implement a restart plan meet with the staff periodically, and meet with the NRC once one of the units was ready for restart. A public restart meeting was held on July 24, 1998, satisfying the l final criteria of the CAL. The licensee entered startup mode for Unit 1 on August 1, 1998. Region III has planned for 24-hour inspector coverage for approximately the first week of the startup. Unit 2 is expected to restart in July 31. 1998 ENCLOSURE A

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early 1999. The staff has not yet determined the form and extent of oversight

l. for Unit 2 restart Susouehanna Steam Electric Station On July 30, 1998, the staff issued license amendments which replaced the '

l i' Susquehanna Units 1 and 2 technical specifications in their entirety with.new technical specifications based on the improved Standard Technical Specifications (STS).

These are the 30th and 31st units that have been approved to convert to the improved STS. The licensee plans to. implement 3 these revised technical specifications within 90 days. ,

l 'Manaaement Chanaes Joseph.Hagan has resigned as Vice President - Operations for Grand Gulf

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Nuclear Station. This resignation was announced by Jerry W. Yelverton.

-Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Office, of E0I. As of August 7, 1998, Mr. Hagan will leave Grand Gulf and take a position as Vice President -

Nuclear at the corporate headquarters of the Philadelphia Electric Company (PECO).

Mr. William Eaton, General' Manager at Grand Gulf, was named to permanently replace Mr. Hagan as Vice President - Operations, and Mr. Joseph Venable.

Operations Manager at Grand Gulf, was promoted to General Manager to replace

Mr. Eaton. The person to be the Operations Manager at Grand Gulf.will be

- 1dentified soon.

L On July 21, 1998, Wisconsin Electric Power Company announced management changes at its Point Beach Nuclear Power Plant. Scott Patulski, the current Site Vice-President will assume another position within.the company outside of f .the nuclear business unit. Mark Reddemann, the current Plant Manager, will l assume the Site Vice-President position, Richard Mende, the current l Operations Manager. will become Plant Manager, John Anderson, formerly with '

Northern States Power Company at its Prairie Island plant, will become the

! Operations Manager. Dennis McCloskey. formerly with_Public. Service Electric and Gas, will become the new Maintenance Manager. These changes will be effective August 1. 1998.

On' July 22, 1998, the recently appointed Southern Nuclear Operating Company l Vice President for Plant Vogtle. Mr. B. Beasley, announced several management l changes at Vogtle (Mr. Beasley has been permanently assigned to the Vice

! President position). Mr. J. Gasser. Assistant General Manager of Plant

! Operations, was appointed General Manager of Plant Vogtle, replacing Mr. B.  ;

l Beasley. Mr. S. Chesnut, currently Operations Manager, was appointed '

Assistant. General Manager of Operations. Mr. G. Frederick, currently Assstant General Manager of Plant Support, was appointed Operations Manager. Mr. Ken McCoy...the~ previous Vogtle Vice President, is on a leave of absence from July 31, 1998 ENCLOSURE A

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! O i: Southern Nuclear for personal reasons, which resulted in these management

! changes.

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July 31, 1998 ENCLOSURE A

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Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Items of Interest l Week Ending July 31. 1998 l Liftina of Confirmatory Action Letter Issued to Sierra Nuclear Corocration On July 22, 1998, the Spent Fuel Project Office (SFPO) lifted a Confirmatory Action Letter (CAL) issued to Sierra Nuclear Corporation (SNC). The CAL was l

1ssued on May 16, 1997, to document SNC's commitment to resolve cracking problems identified while welding the closure lids onto the VSC-24 spent fuel storage cask. In lifting the CAL the staff affirmed that SNC had adequately:

(1) determined the root cause of the problems: (2) implemented corrective actions to preclude the recurrence of the problems: and (3) assessed the feasibility for cracking to have occurred during the loading of casks currently in use. The staff issued a Technical Evaluation Report (TER) to SNC to document staff's conclusions. Separate CALs remain in effect for the three utilities using the VSC-24 to confirm their commitments not to load additional casks until the utilities have implemented the corrective actions discussed in the TER. Wisconsin Electric Power Company plans to address all of the l

commitments in writing to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) by July 31, 1998, and resume loading VSC-24s at Point Beach on August 30, 1998. Entergy Operations. Inc., plans to address all of the commitments in writing to NRC by August 28. 1998, and resume loading VSC-24s at Arkansas Nuclear One on September 14. 1998. Provided the licensees' submittals are complete the SFP0 schedule for lifting the respective CALs will support the utilities' loading schedules Environmental Protection Aaency Science Advisory Board's Radiation Advisory Committee Public Teleconference l On July 23, 1998, the NMSS Senior Level Advisor for Health Physics attended the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Science Advisory Board's (SAB's) meeting regarding its resolution of comments on Federal Guidance Report (FGR)

13. Health Risks frorn Low-Level Environmental Exposure to Radionuclides. The meeting discussed the SAB's Radiation Advisory Committee subcommittee report on FGR 13 that was released as a draft public review document on June 29, 1998. In general. the SAB proposed several recommendations to revise FGR 13 which are in agreement with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission concerns. Some of these concerns were related to the incomplete treatment of uncertainties in the document, the unavailability of the CD-ROM containing the DCAL software and users manual, and the potential for misapplication of FGR 13 by users.

The SAB plans to finalize its review of FGR 13 and issue a final report summarizing its concerns and recommendations to EPA Administrator Browner by Fall 1998. '

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July 31, 1998 ENCLOSURE B

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d U.S. Enrichment Corocration. Inc.

On. July 28, 1998, the U.S. Enrichment Corporation. Inc. , (USEC Inc.) was formally privatized by the U.S. Treasury Department and USEC Inc. began trading on the New York Stock. Exchange. The government received approximately

$1.9-billion from the USEC Inc. sale.

Deoartment of Enercy Publishes Licensina Guidance for a low-level Waste Assured Isolation Facility The Department of Energy's National Low-Level Waste (LLW) Management Drogram recently published " Licensing an Assured Isolation Facility for Low-Level Radioactive Waste." This report was prepared at the request of six states.

It consists of two volumes: -(1) Licensing Strategy & Issues; and (2)

Recommendations on the Content and Review of an Application. The purpose of the report is to provide a detailed set of proposed criteria and. guidance for l

preparation of an assured isolation facility (AIF) license application for submittal to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). An AIF is essentially a long-term, monitored and maintained, retrievable storage facility for LLW.

The report is intended to provide a detailed planning basis upon which a l

prospective applicant may begin pre-licensing discussions with NRC and I initiate development of a license application. The report also states that it may be useful to NRC or to state regulatory bodies that may be asked to review an AIF license application in formulating application review guidance. The l guidance in the report is based exclusively on NRC licensing criteria as l interpreted by the developers. Because of the potential wide variation in l

state requirements, no effort was made in the report to identify and address

! such differences.

Video Conference with Congressman Houahton and the West Valley Citizen Task Force 1

On July 29, 1998, staff from the Division of Waste Management participated in a-video conference with Congressman Houghton and the West Valley Citizen Task Force (CTF). The CTF was convened by New York State Energy Research and Development Authority with support'.from the Department of Energy (DOE) in January 1997 to seek advice from stakeholder on the decommissioning and closure of the West Valley Demonstration Project. The CTF completed its deliberations and forwarded recommendations to New York State and DOE in June l 1998. The CTF's objective in the video conference was to enlist the support L of Congressman Houghton in ensuring consideration of the CTF's

- recommendations, along with sustained funding and high-level support for the long-term decommissioning of West Valley. As a result of the call.

Congressman Houghton agreed to arrange a meeting with DOE Secretary designate Richardson after the Secretary is confirmed by the Senate. In the interim.

Congressman Houghton also committed to arrange a meeting with DOE Acting Assistant Secretary Owendoff to obtain DOE views on the CTF's recommendations.

July 31, 1998 ENCLOSURE B

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1 Following the discussion with the Congressman, the CTF received a resolution from the Seneca Nation endorsing the Committee's guidelines ar.d recommendations, heard reports about the League of Women Voters workshop on DOE radioactive waste management in San Diego (June 1998), received an update from DOE on availability of additional technical assessments, and discussed next steps. The next meeting of the CTF is planned for September 16. 1998.

In the interim, several members plan to contact various elected officials to ensure consideration of the CTF's recommendations.

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July 31. 1998 ENCLOSURE B

l Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research Items of Interest Week Ending July 31. 1998 DG-1022 On July 23. 1998 a meeting was held to discuss the public comments and proposed resolution for DG-1029 Guidelines for Evaluating Electromagnetic Interference and Radio Frequency Interference (EMI/RFI) in Safety-Related I&C Systems. In attendance were. RES. NRR and the RES contractor Oak Ridge National Laboratory, as well as NEI. and several vendors and utility representatives. The industry representatives and staff discussed key issues that were identified in the public comments on the draft Reg. Guide. The discussion focussed on NEI's concerns about the differences between the draft Reg. Guide and the EPRI guideline in the areas of conducted and radiated emissions. The staff had previously initiated a review of the technical basis for emission envelopes in the light of consideration brought out in the'public comments and presented the technical basis at the meeting. The proposed modifications to the emission envelopes that are being considered based on that review were discussed at the meeting. The resolutions of these issues are bMng documented in the staff response to the public comments. This mting provided a useful exchange of information and all parties were satisfied that their points of view are being considered. The comments

received by the staff at the meeting will be factored into the Reg. Guide and will be presented to the ACRS and CRGR later this year for review.

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' Office for Analysis and Evaluation of Operational Data l Items of Interest Week Ending July 31. 1998 l

I Public Meetino on Rulemakina for Power Reactor Reoortina j A meeting notice was published in the Federal Register on July 30. 1998 to announce a public meeting on August 21, 1998, to discuss an advanced notice of I proposed rulemaking (ANPR) regarding modification of power reactor reporting requirements.

The discussions will cover a number of concrete proposals regarding

. modification of 10 CFR 50.72 'and 50.73 that were provided in the ANPR. These include:

-(1) objectives for the contemplated rulemaking, which are in summary.

(a) to better align the reporting requirements with the NRC's current reporting needs.

.(b) to reduce the reporting burden. consistent with the NRC's reporting needs, and (c) to clarify the reporting requirements where needed.

.(2) a number of. contemplated amendments, including.

(a) amendments that would clarify the requirements for reporting of design issues and limit such reporting to design issues that exceed a specified level of significance. and (b) amendments that would extend the required reporting time to 8 hours9.259259e-5 days <br />0.00222 hours <br />1.322751e-5 weeks <br />3.044e-6 months <br /> for events that do not involve emergencies but do warrant

- prompt notification.

(3)' a contemplated schedule that would lead to publication of a final rule by about January.7. 2000.

The discussions will also cover a request for public comments on other reactor reporting requirements, beyond 10 CFR 50.72 and 50.73. that could be l . simplified and/or made less burdensome and more risk-informed.

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In addition to the public meeting at NRC Headquarters on August 21, 1998.

these subjects will be discussed at a public workshop on the role of industry in nuclear regulation in Rosemont. Illinois on September 1, 1998.

July 31, 1998 ENCLOSURE D l

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Meetino with NEI On July 28, 1998, the staff held a public meeting with NEI to discuss progress in development of a top-down approach for assessing reactor performance. An outline of this concept was: presented at the April 1998 Regulatory Information Conference and discussed with the staff in a public meeting on May 19.1998 This concept includes proposals for implementation of an overall assessment process as well as performance indicators. The. Union of Concerned Scientists was invited to participate in this discussion. but did not attend. Region IV participated via phone.

An NEI staff member presented tne current status of NEI's program to develop

. indicators to measure commercial nuclear power plant performance and NEI's current thinking regarding application of the indicators to a regulatory oversight process. He discussed'the background and concepts involved in the development of these indicators and presented an overall concept for a proposed regulatory oversight process that would include a risk-informed baseline inspection program, performance assessment and regulatory enforcement. During NEI's presentation, the staff asked numerous questions and provided comments and suggestions for consideration.

Because of the focus on the regulatory oversight process, the overall lead for

-this interaction with NEI was shifted to NRR with AE0D retaining responsibility for the technical aspects of the performance indicators. An NRR staff member discussed the need for further interaction with NEI and the coordination of the IRAP public comment period and public workshops in September 1998. Additional interaction will be scheduled as needed.

Preliminary Notifications 1.

PNO-I-98-033. Connecticut Yankee Atomic Power Co. (Haddam Neck 1). LEAK DURING REACTOR SYSTEM CHEMICAL DECONTAMINATION

2. PNO-III-98-036. Allied Signal. Inc.. RELEASE OF URANIUM HEXAFLUORIDE ON PLANT SITE

3. 'PNO-III-98-037. Commonwealth Edison Co. (La Salle 1 2). NRC STAFF FINDS SUFFICIENT. IMPROVEMENT FOR-LA SALLE-1 RESTART

4. PNO-IV-98-033. Weyerhaeuser Company, NOTIFICATION OF INCIDENT INVOLVING EXPOSURE OF CONTRACTOR PERSONNEL L

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Office of Administration L Items of Interest l Week Ending July _31. 1998  ;

-Garaae'Reoairs On July 30, 1998, negotiations with the GSA' contractor were completed with agreement on prices and schedules that include the additional work identified through the "remapping" project completed in June 1998. Repair work will begin on the evening of August 3. 1998. The project, with all work to be

. performed at night or on weekends is scheduled to be completed by March 3.

1999. Display boards depicting the current and upcoming phases of the project have been blaced in the 0WFN 2nd floor Administrative Services area and the TWFN"pla e level. exhibit area. A network bulletin was also issued reminding individuals using the garage to be alert for construction areas.

Security Guards With notification received in the afternoon of July 24, 1998, from the Maryland State Police. Licensing Division. that NRC's contractor guard company no longer had a license to operate as a business-in the State of Maryland, action was taken t:; immediately terminate the contract. Temporary guard services were aronged through GSA and a GSA guard contractor which began at 7:00 p.m. on July 24, 1998. NRC is taking action.to award a new guard contract which is expected to be in place by August 14, 1998.

Medical Uses of Bvoroduct Material Public Meetinas (Part 35)

A document announcing a series of facilitated public meetings concerning the Commission's proposed comprehensive revision of the regulations governing the medical use of byproduct material was published in the Federal Register on July.24 1993 (63 FR 39763). The meetings will be held in San Francisco on August 19-20. 1998. Kansas City on September 16-17, 1998, and Rockville on October 21-22. 1998.

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Chief Information Officer Items of Interest l Week Ending July 31, 1998 Freedom of Information and Privacy Act Reauests Received durina the 5-Day Period of July 24. 1998 - July 30. 1998:

Generic Safety Issue 166, " Adequacy of Fatigue Life of Metal Components,'

dated 8/26/96. (F01A/PA-98-300)

Depleted uranium. Dept of Defense licenses and NRC guidelines for handling, storage, disposal or use of depleted uranium. (FOIA/PA-98-301) i 4

July 31, 1998 ENCLOSURE G

Office of Human Resources Items of Interest Week Ending July 31. 1998 Arrivals BROUILLARD, Silvia Secretary RIII i HATCHETT. Gregory General Engineer NRR JOHANSEN. Jenny

• Senior Health Physicist NMSS KALIN0USKY, Douglas ** General Engineer NRR KEMERER Myron Senior IT Acquisitions Specialist OCIO LOPEZ. George *** Communications Specialist OCIO NOLAN. Mark Project Manager NRR SEKERAK. Patrick Project Manager NRR i Retirements JAUDON. Johns Director Division of Reactor Safety RII l JOHNSON. Alma Secretary NRR KELLOGG. Paul Senior Project Manager RII McKEE Phillip Deputy Director Licensing and NRR Oversight MILLER. Merle Reactor Inspector RII SHIDELER. Robert Senior Assistant for Audit Policy OIG SLATER. Dorothy Senior Budget Analyst OCFO VAGINS Milton Mechanical & Electrical Engineering RES Advisor Departures BROWN. Barbara Secretary RES 4 GARCIA. Joan Licensing Assistant RIV McCORMICK-BARGER. Branch Chief RIII James McCORMICK-BARGER. Mary Reactor Engineer RIII McDUFFIE. Steve Transportation & Safety Inspector NMSS I RINGWALD. Jacob Senior Resident Inspector RIV

• Reassignment from Region I: ** Returning Gradfellow: *** Reinstated July 31. 1998 ENCLOSURE I l

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Office of Public Affairs Items of Interest '

Week Ending July 31, 1998 Press Releases Headquarters:

98-127 NRC Order to TU Electric Confirms Fire Barrier Corrective Actions at Comanche Peak Unit 1 98-128 Chairman and Vice-Chairman of NRC's Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste Re-elected l 98-129 NRC Identifies Nuclear Power Plants Warranting Increased Regulatory Attention 98-130 Note to Editors: ACRS Meeting 98-131 NRC to Hold Public Meeting on Reporting Requirements I for Nuclear Power D]antg 98-132 Note to Editors: ACRS Meeting '98-133 Note to Editors: ACRS Meeting 93-134 Note to Editors: ACNW Meeting S-98-18 Chm. Jackson, A Full Plate: Current Regulatory Issues- l July 20 '98-135 Note to Editors: ACRS Meeting '

Regions:

1-98-89 Note to Editors: Haddam Neck Nuclear Plant III-98-46 NRC Staff Finds Sufficient Improvements for Restart of Unit 1 of the LaSalle Nuclear Power Station r

July 31. 1998 ENCLOSURE M l

s Office of International Programs Items' of Interest 4 Week Ending July 31. 1998 I

~ United Kinadom Mr. Laurence Williams, Director of Nuclear Safety and Chief Inspector, of the United Kingdom Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NII), met with NRC Senior l . staff,onLJuly 27, 1998. Mr. Williams also traveled to the TMI reactor site to discuss decontamination topics of interest. to the United Kingdom and attended the International Nuclear Regulators Association (INRA) meeting at NRC headquarters office.

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i International Nuclear Reaulators = Association (INRA)

The International Nuclear Regulators Association (INRA) held its third meeting

.at NRC headquarters July 30-31. . Attendees included Senior Regulators from ,;

, eight countries: Dr. Agnes Bishop, President. AECB, Canada: Mr. Andre-Claude Lacoste. Director DSNI. France: Mr. Gerard Hennenhofer. Director-General,

! BMU Germany: Mr. Yoshihiko Sasaki, Deputy Director-General, MITI, Japan: Mr.

Kazuo Sato. Chairman NSC, Japan: Mr. Juan Kindelan. President, CNS,-Spain:

Mr Lars Hoegberg, Director-General, SKI. Sweden: Mr. Laurence Williams Chief l . Inspector,. NII, United Kingdom; and Dr. Shirley -Ann Jackson, Chairman, NRC.

l United States. Dr. Jackson chaired the two-day meeting. The meeting agenda included a continued discussion of commonalities and differences in national

! ' regulatory approaches and the Birkhofer Report on the OECD/NEA. _ The next INRA i- meeting will be held in January 1999 in Arlington, Texas, at the NRC Region IV office.

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Office of the Secretary Items of Interest Week Ending July 31. 1998 Documents Released Date Subject to Public Decision Documents

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1. SECY-98-117 5/27/98 Shelwell Services. Inc. Risk Assessment SRM on 98-117 6/30/98 (same)

Commission Voting 6/30/98 (same)

Record on 98-117

2. SECY-98-144 6/22/98 White Paper on Risk-Informed and Performance-Based Regulation

3. COMEXM-98-004 7/14/98 Policy for Granting Enforcement j Discretion as a Result of Natural l Events SRM on 98-004 7/28/98 (same)

Memo to fm J. Hoyle 7/28/98 (same) to Comm. McGaffigan on 98-004 Chairman Jackson 7/22/98 (same) I comments on 98-004 l

Commissioner Diaz 7/15/98 (same) comments on 98-004

4. COMNJD-98-004 7/9/98 Clearance Rule - SECY-98-028 Cmr. McGaffigan's 7/17/98 (same) response to COMNJD-98-004 Chairman Jackson's 7/23/98 (same) response to COMNJD-98-004 SRM on COMNJD 7/30/98 (same) 004 l l l

July 31, 1998 ENCLOSURE O i

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' 5. SECY-89-171 7/10/98 Proposed Rulemaking on 10 CFR Parts

50. 52 and 72 Requirements Concerning Changes. Tests and Experiments and Staff Recommendations on Cnanges to Other Regulations and Enforcement Policy Information Papers

1. SECY-98-169 7/10/98 Weekly Information Report - Week Ending July 2. 1998

2. SECY-98-170 7/9/98 Response to Staff Requirements Memorandum of June 30, 1997.

Regarding (1) The use of Graphs or Charts at the Senior Management Meeting, (2) Improvements to Help the Public Understand the Linkages -

Between the Various Evaluation Mechanisms that the NRC Uses. and (3) Superior Performance Recognition (M970625A)

Memoranda

1. M980717B 7/20/98 Staff Requirements - Affirmation Session. Friday, July 17, 1998: I.

SECY-98-140 - Ouivira Mining Company

-- Commission Review of LBP-97-20  !

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2. M980729B 7/29/98 Staff Requirements - Affirmation '

Session. Wednesday, July 29.1998:

I. SECY-98-167 - Private Fuel Storage. L.L.C.: Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Memorandum and Order. LBP-98-7 (April 22. 1998)

Commission Correspondence

! 1. Letter to Tomihiro Taniguchi The University of Tokyo, dated July 22, 1998, provides regards for success in his new assignment (Incoming of June 1996 also released).

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Federal Reaister Notices Issued

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i 1. ACRS Subcommittee Meeting on Reliability and Probabilistic Risk Assessment: Notice of Mc ning on August 26, 1998.

2. Policy on Conduct of Adjudicatory Proceedings: Policy Statement.

July 31, 1998 ENCLOSURE O  !

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3. ACRS Subcommittee Meeting on Thermal-Hydraulic Phenomena: Notice of Meeting on August 27, 1998.

4. ACRS Subcommittee Meeting on Planning and Procedures: Notice of Meeting on September 1. 1998.

5. - Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste: Notice of Meeting on August 27-28, 1998.

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' July 31, 1998 ENCLOSURE O

l Region I Items of Interest Week Ending July 31, 1998 Limerick 1 & 2 i

Several Region.I and NRR managers visited the Limerick site on July 27. 1998.

including Regional Administrator Hubert Miller. DRP Deputy Director Richard ,

Crlenjak. and Projects 4 Branch Chief Clifford Anderson: and NRR PD 1-2 Robert Capra. The site visit included a plant tour and meetings with licensee managers and staff.  ;

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Haddam Neck Plant Halts RCS Decontamination Due to Significant System Leakaae At approximately 12:45 p.m. on July 27. 1998, the Connecticut Yankee Atomic Power Company Haddam Neck plant halted the decontamination of its reactor coolant system (RCS), which had been in process since about 10:00 p.m. on July 26th. Approximately 1000 gallons of water containing the decontamination solution, along with not more than 10 curies of attivity (later estimated at about 2 curies), was released to the floor of the primary auxiliary building l and the drain system as a result of leaks from piping systems attached to the RCS. There were no gaseous or liquid releases to the environment from the event. Region I staff including the Senior Resident Inspector and specialist inspectors are reviewing and monitoring corrective and recovery actions by the licensee. Region I issued a PN on the event on July 28th and is scheduled to meet with the licensee on Monday. August 3rd to discuss the event cause.

corrective actions, and the licensee's readiness to proceed with the next  :

phase of the RCS decontamination.

Bankruotcy of Alleahenv Health. Education and Research Foundation Region I continues to monitor the bankruptcy of Allegheny Health. Education, and Research Foundation (AHERF) and its affiliated Philadelphia area hospitals. The bankruptcy involves fourteen Philadelphia area licenses and an additional seven in the Pittsburgh area. At this time, the area hospitals continue to operate as usual. The Region recently received word that PNC Bank wished to resign as trustee of the AHERF standby trust. The appropriate licensees were notified and AHERF is arranging for Chase Manhattan Trust Company to assume the trusteeship.

Commissioner Diaz tours Haddam Neck Plant On July 27. 1998. Commissioner Nils Diaz visited the Connecticut Yankee Atomic Power Company (CYAPCo) Haddam Neck plant in East Hampton, Connecticut. Mr.

Diaz toured the facility with NRR Project Manager Tom Fredrichs Region I l Senior Resident Inspector for Haddam Neck Bill Raymond. Ralph Beedle from NEI.

and Don Davis and Gary Bouchard from CYAPCo.

July 31, 1998 ENCLOSURE P l

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1 Region II Items of Interest Week Ending July 31, 1998 Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeauards (ACRS)

On July 29, 1998. Region II hosted a joint meeting of the ACRS Subcommittees on Plant Operations and on Fire Protection. The meeting was open for public observation and included presentations by Region II managers and staff.

Topics discussed included actions in Region II to improve consistency of NRC policy implementation, staff training and development, fire protection functional inspection results. IPEEE results of Region II facilities, use of Senior Reactor Analysts, and the risk of on-line maintenance. Presentations were also made of the resident inspector program and the NRC's assessment processes.

This meeting in the Region II office followed a site visit and tour of TVA's Browns Ferry nuclear facility.

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l July 31,1998 ENCLOSURE P I'

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Region III Items of Interest Week Ending July 31, 1998 Byron Nuclear Power Station SALP Public Meetina On July 27, 1998, the NRC Region III Deputy Regional Administrator James Caldwell and other members of the NRC staff met in Byron, Illinois, with representatives of Commonwealth Edison Company to review the recently issued Systematic Assessment of Licensee Performance (SALP) for the Byron Nuclear Power Station. The plant received ratings of " superior" in maintenance and engineering and " good" in operations and plant support .

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July 31, 1998 ENCLCSURE P 1 t

ql Region IV j Items of Interest Week Ending July 31. 1998 Meetino with OPPD to discuss Fort Calhoun Station performance On July 23. 1998, the Vice President. Omaha Public Power District, and members of his staff. met with the Deputy Regional Administrator and other members of the NRC staff, to discuss overall performance at the Fort Calhoun Station since the beginning of the current cycle of the Systematic Assessment of Licensee Performance.

Director. Division of Reactor Proiects (Recion IV) Visit to South Texas Proiect On July 30. 1998, the Director. Division of Reactor Projects, participated in a licensed operator presentation ceremony at the South Texas Project in Bay City. Texas. Five senior operators were recognized for their recent successful licensing. The NRC presentation emphasized to all of the operating staff the importance of-individual commitment to reactor safety, and the role that each individual and the staff, as a whole. has to assuring public health and safety. On July 31, 1998, he toured the facility along with members of the licensee management-team.

Meetino with Enterov Ooerations.-Inc. on Resoonse to the Fire Protection i

Functional Insoection o

On Wednesday. July 29. 1998, a meeting was held in Region IV with Entergy

Operations. Inc.. to discuss the results 'of the River Bend Station Fire Protection Functional Inspection (FPFI). This meeting, which was open to

! public observation, began with an approximate 1 hour1.157407e-5 days <br />2.777778e-4 hours <br />1.653439e-6 weeks <br />3.805e-7 months <br /> overview of the River Bend FPFI issues. followed by an afternoon working meeting to discuss in detail the results of the FPFI.

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1 July 31. 1998 ENCLOSURE P I

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