ML20249B664

Weekly Info Rept for Wk Ending 980605

ML20249B664
Person / Time
Issue date:	06/11/1998
From:	Blaha J NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO)
To:
References
SECY-98-134, SECY-98-134-R, WIR-980605-02, WIR-980605-2, NUDOCS 9806240031
Download: ML20249B664 (24)

Text

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NUCl. EAR C:EGUI.ATORY COMMISSigN CASHINGTON,O. C. 20055 .

RELEASEDTOTHE PDR o o

ihd9x Aw INFORMATION REPORT oaa ma  :

June 11. 1998 SECY 98-134 E0r: The Commissioners EcDm:

James L. Blaha, Assistant for Operations, Office of the E00 Subiect: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING JUNE 5. 1998 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 i Region III P Region IV P*

Executive Director for Operations 0*

Congressional Affairs R

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• No input this week.

JWi James L. Blaha /

Assistant for Operations. OEDO pj

Contact:

T. Hiltz, OEDO )

J h g hhh WEEKLYINFOREPT PDR g ng3 00044 g464tA

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e Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Items of Interest l.

Week Ending June 5. 1998 l

Nine Mile Point Unit 2 Core Shroud Weld Inspections l

l l During the current refueling outage, plant personnel have been performing i scheduled inspections of the core shroud welds using inspection and evaluation l

guidance recommended by the Boiling Water Reactor Vessel and Internals Project (BWRVIP) and approved by the NRC. Based on BWRVIP-01. Revision 2. ~BWR Core Shroud Inspection and Flaw Evaluation Guidelines." the licensee's initial inspection plan called for ultrasonic examination (UT) from the outside shroud surface for all of the accessible regions of horizontal welds H3. H4. H6, and H8. As of the morning of June 5, 1998, the licensee has found indications of significant cracks in H4 which required expansion of the inspection scope (H4 is the centrol weld in the highest fluence zone joining the upper and lower halves of the shroud and, unlike the other welds, was completed in the field).

Inspection of 77% (506 inches) of H4 revealed flaw indications totaling 70%

(352 inches) of the examined area, with depths ranging from 0.25 to 0.65 inch (the shroud wall is 2 inches thick). For H3. the licensee found only minor indications that were within the threshold allowed by the BWRVIP gJidance.

Examination of 324 inches of H7 revealed indications with an accumulated flaw length of 105 inches (32% of examined length) of unspecified depth.

Examination of 51% (332 inches) of H5 revealed indications with an accumulated flaw length of 180 inches (54% of the examined length) with a maximum depth of 0.5 inch. The licensee has examined accessible portions of Hl. H2, H6. and H8. but results are not yet available.

The licensee will also UT the four vertical welds that intersect H4 (i.e..

V12. V13. V14. and V15) from the inside shroud surface once a special tool is received in a few days.

The licensee is performing evaluations to determine if core reload should start about June 7. 1998. The licensee is also performing evaluations of core shroud operability, currently with a goal of restarting NMP2 by about June 24.

1998. In accordance with BWRVIP guidance, a report will be provided to the N.RC within 30 days.

The NMP2 core shroud inspection results have been of considerable local interest and the licensee issued a press release June 1. 1998.

Postcard Reauests NRR has responded to over one hundred and thirty postcards sent in by members of the public in the past few months concerning operation of Vermont Yankee.

The postcards request that the NRC 1) halt restart of Vermont Yankee until all safety problems are corrected the work force is retrained, and the licensee demonstrates a commitment to follow the law; 2) put Vermont Yankee on the NRC

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' watch list: and 3) hold a hearing in the effected community to provide l .information and address citizens concerns. The NRR response 1) declined to halt restart because' specific facts supporting the assertions of safety problems were not provided: 2) provided information on the NRC process for-determining watch list plants: and 3) declined the request for a hearing but stated that a SALP meeting would be held in the area in September of this year and members of the NRC staff would be available after this meeting.

Fermi Unit 2 On June _2. 1998, the NRC issued Amendment No. 119 to Operating License No.

l NPF-43 to the Detroit Edison Company for the Fermi-2 plant. The amendment extends the emergency diesel generator (EDG) allowed outage time (A0T) from 72 hours8.333333e-4 days <br />0.02 hours <br />1.190476e-4 weeks <br />2.7396e-5 months <br /> to 7 days. 'The amendment also requires the licensee to (1) verify that the alternate AC sourc, ' combustion turbine-generator 11-1) is operable when .

an EDG is inoperable and (2) implement a configuration risk management program to support the use of the extended A0T.

The staff reviewed the amendment using both deterministic and risk-informed l approaches, applying the guidance in the NRC's draft regulatory guide for l risk-informed technical specification (TS) amendments.

The amendment provides the licensee with greater flexibility in scheduling maintenance and TS surveillance requirements for the EDGs. In particular, the licensee intends to use the extended A0T to perform 18-month frequency EDG inspections during power operations.

Commitment Manaaement Audits By a memorandum dated January 5.1998, the Director of NRR instructed DRPE and DRPW to conduct audits of eight licensees' commitment management programs by May 30, 1998. The audits of commitment management programs have been completed at the following facilities: Fitzpatrick. Three Mile Island. Hatch.

Sequoyah. Kewaunee. Perry. Callaway, and River Bend. The audits (1) assessed the licensees

• implementation of commitments made to NRR as part of license amendments 'and resolution of generic issues and (2) assessed the long-term l control of commitments made to the NRC (including regional offices) and changes thereto as part of the follow-up to SECY-95-300 and the related NEI guidance for licensees to evaluate proposed changes to commitments made to the NRC. Reports documenting each audit are being prepared and will be issued to the licensees within several weeks. The staff will report the findings to the Commission and, as necessary, make recommendations for changes to NRC policy or regulations regarding the handling of commitments made to the NRC that are not otherwise controlled by specific regulations.

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.NEI Meetina to Discuss GL 96-06 RAls Generic Letter 96-06 requested that power reactor licensees address concerns associated with thermal overpressurization.of fluid systems that are exposed to containment accident environments, and concerns about the vulnerability of containment. fan cooler cooling water systems to waterhammer and two-phase flow conditions. . The Plant Systems Branch (SPLB) is responsible for reviewing licensee responses to the waterhammer and two-phase flow concerns, and is currently-issuing Requests for. Additional Information (RAls) to all licensees that pertain to-these two issues. On May 27 and 28, 1998. Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) hosted a working meeting with industry participants to discuss the nature of the RAls that are being issued by SPLB. and to discuss possible industry initiatives that might be pursued to help licensees respond to the RAls. SPLB attended morning sessions of the working meeting, which were open to members of the public, to discuss the RAls that are being issued and to answer questions. The meeting was very productive and proved to be a useful exchange of information between the staff and meeting participants NEI indicated that industry initiatives to help licensees respond to the staff's RAIs could be helpful to both the industry and the NRC, and specific proposals in this regard were presented to the NRC staff at the meeting. NEI indicated that industry initiatives to address the waterhammer and two-phase flow issues (especially with regard to analytical methodology development and/or justification) would involve some scheduler delays, but thought that the delays were justified in order to assure that the appropriate resolution of these-very complex issues is achieved. The NRC staff was receptive-to the NEI proposals, but indicated that NEI should prepare a detailed plan for NRC consideration that includes specific actions to be taken, products to be developed, and completion schedules. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff and NEI agreed that industry initiatives to address the waterhammer and two-phase flow concerns could result in substantial savings to the industry and reduced review efforts by the NRC. NEI agreed to contact the staff within the next couple of weeks with a final decision as to whether a coordinated industry effort would be pursued.

Fuel Issues Uodate - GE Channel Bow Scram time testing at Limerick 1 Cycle 7 indicated a noticeably slower scram time in one cell. The cause was determined to be an unusual channel bow of a high exposure (>46GWD/MTU) Gell channel. Root cause investigations thus far indicate that the channel bow was the result of the fabrication process, which is no longer used. GE has provided a table listing. by plant. the potentially affected channels with current, as well as the expected discharge burnups for these channels. There are only four plants with channels above 45GWD/MTU at the present' time. Three of these plants have successfully tested the control rods in the potentially'affected cells. The fourth plant has testing

. scheduled for June 13, 1998. The BWR Owners Group has recommended a monitoring program which consists of testing 100% of the potentially affected channels above.45GWD/MTU every 120 days of power operation.

June 5, 1998 ENCLOSURE A i i

- Fort Calhoun Unit 1 Omaha Public-Power District.has completed eddy current inspection of tubes in

. steam generators (SG) "A" and "B" in Fort Calhoun Unit 1 during the Spring 1998 outage. The licensee has detected about 12 reportable indications in SG "A" and 22 reportable indications in SG ~B". The licensee has plugged all tubes with reportable indications. The following issues are of interest in terms of emerging degradation in certain regions of tubing and the licensee's limited ~ scope of rotating pancake coil (RPC)' inspection.

For the first time, the licensee detected axial and circumferential indications caused by outside diameter stress corrosion cracking (0DSCC) at the 8th tube support plate (TSP) intersections that were dented in the hot leg side in both SGs. Also, for the first time, the licensee detected volumetric and-axial DDSCC indications-in the free span regions of hot leg tubing. With respect to known degraded regions, the licensee detected several volumetric

- indications at the top of "le tubesheet on the cold leg side. The licensee expanded its RPC dent inspection but the expansion was limited and did not expand its inspection of the cold leg top of tubesheet.

To validate the structural integrity of the degraded tubes the licensee did perform in-situ pressure tests on eight tubes including the limiting circumferential indication in the dented TSP intersection.

The licensee had left in service two tubes with pitting indications in SG ~B" since the 1996 outage on the basis of the bobbin coil sizing. The staff questioned the licensee about its basis for sizing the indications as pits without a metallurgical examination to confirm the mechanism and the sizing technique. The licensee decided to plug the two tubes with the pitting indications during this outage.

Meetina with California Independent System Doerator (CAIS0). Southern California Edison (SCE) and Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) on Grid Reliability NRR staff, with support from Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). completed its final fact finding visits as part of the Grid Reliability Task Action Plan during the last week of May. Specifically, the staff visited the Southern California Edison:(SCE) Grid Control Center (GCC) in Alhambra. CA on May 27,

-. hosted by the GCC transmission control staff and representatives from the Southern California Edison (San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS)) l l staff. Also' attending were staff from the Western States Coordinating Council, the regional council overseeing grid reliability. and the California Independent. System 0perator (CAIS0), the newly established state organization responsible for electrical system reliability. The participants discussed  !

procedures and requirements which assure adequacy and reliability of off site l power supply to SONGS. supporting contingency analyses performed by the GCC  ;

and the CAISO.- the role of the GCC versus the CAISO under varied grid l l

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conditions, and how the deregulation of the electrical industry in California has been implemented and its effects on the offsite power supply provided to SONGS. Later in the day. the staff was provided a tour of the ISO satellite office also in Alhambra.

On May 29. the staff attended a meeting at the CAISO main office in Folsom. CA which was attended by Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) and SCE staff.

CAISO staff provided a comprehensive discussion of the history, charter, functions, and successes of the new organization and how deregulation has progressed in the state. In addition, the PG&E staff discussed its progress and status in electrical upgrades intended to ensure the adequacy of offsite power supply to the Diablo Canyon units. This was followed by a tour of the facility.

This trip also included a program review meeting with the ORNL staff to discuss accomplishments to date, plans for submittal of an interim report and the development of the final report for the contract. In addition, the staff discussed the potential reassignment of the contractual oversight from NRR to RES.

Overall. the staff and ORNL found this trip to provide extremely useful information about the state that has taken the lead in deregulation and saw evidence of strong centralized control with economic incentives, good procedures, and analytical capability that will contribute to the desired quality and stability of offsite power supplies provided to the nuclear units in California.

Manaaement Chances The following personnel changes were made effective June 1, 1998. Don Reid, formerly Vice President of Operations, is leaving Vermont Yankee to take a position at Duke Engineering and Services to provide management and nuclear safety assessments. Greg Maret, formerly the Plant Manager, is now the Director of Operations (replacing the Vice President of Operations position) reporting to Ross Barkhurst. Mike Balduzzi formerly the Operations Superintendent. is now the Plant Manager reporting to Greg Maret. i l

Ed Lupberger. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Entergy, announced on i May 26. 1998, that he will begin a transition to retirement by relinquishing his duties as Chairman and CEO. Mr. Bob Luft, an Entergy Director since 1992 and Chairman of the Finance Committee of the Board, will serve as Chairman and Acting CEO pending selection of a successor. It is anticipated that a CEO will be selected by year end. Entergy is the parent company of Entergy Operations. Inc., the operating company for Arkansas Nuclear One. Grand Gulf Nuclear Station. River Bend Station. and Waterford Steam Electric Station. )

On May 29. 1998. Con Edison announced a corporate reorganization effective .

June 1. 1998. which includes the addition of a new vice president position. j 1

June 5. 1998 ENCLOSURE A i

As a result of deregulation. Con Edison divided its utility. organization,into-four subsidiaries, one.being the Consolidated Edison Company of New York.

Inc., the regulated entity, and three other non-regulated subsidiaries. This reorganization resulted in the creation of a new position. Senior Vice President of Nuclear Power. filled by Neil S. ~ Buzz" Carns. who reports directly to the presic'ent of Con Edison. Further, with the creation of this position. the-former Senior.Vice President of Central Operation. Stephen B.

Bram, was named to the new position as Chairman of Con Edison Energy, heading the other three subsidiaries. These changes do no affect any other levels of plant management.

On May 28. L1998. VEPC0 announced the immediate resignation of Mike Kansler.

Vice President of.. Nuclear Operations. Mr. Kansler's duties included oversight of the operation of Surry 1 & 2 and North Anna 1 & 2. No successor has been named at this time. The departure of Kansler follows by one month the retirement of Bob Saunders who had also served in the same position for several years. Both men have extensive experience in maintenance and operations at both sites.

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Items of' Interest Week Ending June 5. 1998 Environmental Protection Acency Science Advisory Board's Radiation Advisorv-Committee Public Teleconference l

l On June 2.1998, the Senior Level Advisor for Health Physics from the Division l

of Industrial and Medical Nuclear Safety participated in a teleconference with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Science Advisory Board's Federal Guidance Report Review Subcommittee (FGRRS) on its draft sumary of the key issues associated with . Federal Guidance Report (FGR) 13. Health Risks from Low-Level Environmental Exposure to Radionuclides. In general, the FGRRS coments focused on four major issues, three of which were also Nuclear Regulatory Comission (NRC) concerns: (1) the uncertainties in the document' are not well presented: (2) the subcommittee is concerned about the potential misapplication of FGR 13: (3) FGR 13 should use morbidity (incidence) instead of mortality: and (4) whether the report should be issued as a final FGR 13 report or as an EPA report. Regarding the last item, the FGRRS believed that the decision as to whether to issue the document as an EPA report, rather than as FGR 13 was a policy issue, not a science issue, and was outside the purview of its committee. Consequently, the committee dropped its recommendation that the EPA consider issuing this document as an EPA report to alleviate concerns raised by NRC.

The FGRRS will finalize its recommendations by the end of the comment period on June 30, 1998, and plans to have a draft a py of its recommendations available to the public at that time. A final EPA Radiation Advisory Comittee meeting has been scheduled for July 21-23, 1998, at EPA to approve the final FGRRS report.

Health Care Sector Outreach Plan on the Year 2000 Comouter Problem On June 2, 1998. representat Nes from the Division of Industrial and Medical Nuclear Safety met with representatives from the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) regarding the Health Care Sector Outreach Plan on the Year 2000 computer problem. The President's Council on the Year 2000 Conversion designated DHHS to have the lead on the Health Care Sector Outreach Plan. DHHS was briefed by the Nuclear Regulatory Comission (NRC) on our external Year 2000 activities with medical licensees. Further DHHS was provided with Information Notices issued to the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards' licensees and NRC's list of key audiences. Other Federal agencies involved with the Health Care Sector Outreach Plan include the Veterans Administration, the Department of Comerce. the Department of Labor, the Department of Defense, ana the State Department.

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Subcommittee on Implementation of Safeauards and Monitorina On June 2-3. 1998, staff from the Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards participated in a series of meetings of the U.S. Government Interagency Subcommittee on Implementation of Safeguards and Monitoring (SISM) addressing implementation of the Additional Protocol to the U.S.-International Atomic Energy Agency Safeguards Agreement. The meeting on the first day was held at the U.S. On-Site Inspection Agency (OSIA) to learn about procedures used by OSIA when implementing managed access inspections by international or foreign inspectors under the various arms control treaties. The second day's meeting addressed the SISM action plan for coordinating interagency efforts to accomplish the identified activi+1es that must be performed before Protocol implementation.

Public Meetina on 10 CFR Part 70 Rulemakina Activities On May 28, 1998, the Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards held a public meeting on Modifications to 10 CFR Part 70. The purpose of the meeting was to share information on Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) efforts to revise Part 70, and to provide an opportunity for presentation and discussion of public and industry views on this matter. The agenda included three presentations followed by a discussion period. The presentations made by NRC provided information on: (1) the modifications to Part 70 that are currently in development: (2) the Standard Review Plan that has been developed to support the draft proposed rule; and (3) the industry presentation which noted convergence of some of the past differences, and concluded that the rulemaking could move forward pending the resolution of certain issues.

Public Meetina Concernina Decommissioning of the Babcock & Wilcox Shallow Land Disoosal Area On May 27, 1998, staff from the Division of Waste Management held a public meeting in Leechburg, Pennsylvania, to discuss the decommissioning of a former radioactive materials burial area known as the Shallow Land Disposal Area (SLDA). Significant public interest and concern has been expressed regarding the decommissioning of the SLDA because the current licensee. Babcock &

Wiicox, has indicated in the past that its preferred approach to decommissioning the facility includes leaving the buried waste in place, and relying on engineered barriers and institutional controls to maintain public doses below the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC's) limits. NRC staff prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) assessing the licensee's proposal, as well as NRC staff alternatives, in August 1997, but withdrew the DEIS when it was determined that the staff's proposed alternative  !

was not adequately addressed in the DEIS and terminating the license would  !

need to be done pursuant to the recently promulgated 10 CFR Part 20 Subpart E.

The purpose of the meeting was to allow the NRC staff to describe their June 5, 1998 ENCLOSURE B )

reasons for withdrawing the DEIS and to explain the next steps in the decommissioning process.

The meeting was attended by approximately 60 members of the public, local elected officials, and staff from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. The meeting began with presentations by NRC staff on the reasons for withdrawing the DEIS and the requirements of the NRC's new license -

termination rule.followed by questions from the public, as well as.

presentations by local citizens groups. Although NRC staff was able to respond to most of the questions from members of the public, a few members of the local citizen groups continually interrupted the NRC staff, making it difficult for the staff to respond to the citizens' concerns. Several members of the public left the meeting indicating that the disruptive nature of some

-of.the participants severely detracted from the usefulness of the meeting.

The members of the public indicated that they preferred that the licensee remove.the radioactive material and NRC not allow the license to be terminated

.with the material in place, NRC staff. stated the licensee had not provided the NRC staff with a decommissioning plan for the facility and, therefore, the decommissioning option that would be requested by the licensee was unclear.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:15 p.m. The meeting was covered by local newspapers and television stations.

Environmental Imoact Statement Scooino Meetina On June 2,1998, staff from the Spent Fuel Project Office (SFP0) held a scoping meeting for the Environmental Impact Statement, which the staff is preparing in connection with the application by Private Fuel Storage, L.L.C.

(PFS), for a license to construct and operate an away-from-reactor independent spent fuel storage installation on the reservation of the Skull Valley Band of

.Goshute Indians. The reservation is located in Utah's west desert, surrounded by.Tooele County, Utah. The meeting was held in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Accompanying SFP0 were representatives of the Office of the General Counsel, the Office of Public Affairs, the Office of Administration *s Division of Facilities and Security, and the Office of Congressional Affairs.

Approximately 175 people attended the meeting. Videotaped remarks were prese.nted by Utah Governor Michael Leavitt. Utah Congressman Merrill Cook and the Honorable Leon Bear, Chairman of the Skull Valley Band of Goshute Indians, also presented opening remarks. A member of the Utah State Legislature and approximately 10 State officials were among the 30 members of the public .who spoke. At the meeting, a representative of PFS indicated that PFS is now considering additional transportation options involving either a rail spur or intermodal transfer point to be located at Low. Utah. The members of the public.provided the staff with valuable insights into environmental issues of concern. A scoping report will. reflect those issues raised at the scoping meeting which the staff believes are particularly relevant to the proposed PFS facility, 1

June 5, 1998 ENCLOSURE B-4

• 1 Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research Items of Interest Week Ending June 5. 1998 Bi-Lateral Information Exchanae Aareement i On May 11, 1998. Dr. Wernt Brewitz. Head of Final Repository Safety Research Division at the Gesellschaft fur Anlagen-und Reaktorsicherheit (GRS) met with Dr. Sher Bahadur. Chief of the Waste Management Branch to continue discussions on the possibility of a bi-lateral information exchange agreement between his organization and the NRC. These discussions were initiated by Dr. Bahadur in Fall 1997 when he presented NRC's Radionuclides Transport Research Program to the GRS. which is Germany's central scientific-technical expert organization for all issues related to nuclear safety and nuclear waste management. The GRS acts as independent expert advisor to the Federal Government in Germany.

The topics of mutual interest identified in this meeting included: (1) .

validation of concrete performance models: (2) the influence of organic .

materials in soils on radionuclides mobility: (3) mechanistic models of sorption processes for use in performance assessment: (4) selecting and L testing conceptual models of ground-water flow and transport: (5) performance i assessment modeling. Several activities of the GRS are producing information '

valuable to the NRC which include: Developments in high efficiency 3-0 computer modeling: field measurements in the most recent series of experiments being conducted at the Grimsel Facility in Switzerland (current access delayed because NRC is not a participant in the experimental program): models of colloidal transport: and geochemical modeling of the dissolution of Portland cement. A detailed technical agreement is being developed for review and  :

approval describing areas of cooperative research and information exchange.

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Office for Analysis and Evaluation of Operational Data Items of Interest Week Ending June 5. 1998 Incident Resoonse Trainina Proaram On June 2 and 4. 1998. the Incident Response Division. AE0D conducted two sessions of a new incident response training program. The Integrated Response Team Training program was presented to Reactor Safety Team. Protective Measures Team, and Liaison Team members. Participants were presented with a challenging scenario involving an externally initiated event at a power reactor. Feedback from training participants regarding the new training program has been positive.

Preliminary Notifications

1. PNO-I-98-019. Peco Energy Company (Limerick 2). INADVERTENT STANDBY LIQUID' INJECTION - SHUTDOWN EXTENDED GREATER THAN 72 HOURS

2. PNO-II-98-029. Nuclear Fuel Services. Inc., ALERT DECLARED DUE TO TORNADO WATCH

3. PN0-II-98-030. Duke Power Co. (Mc Guire 1). LOSS OF 0FFSITE POWER

4. PNO-III-98-031. Brucker Engineering Ltd., AUTOMOBILE CONTAINING M0ISTURE

~ DENSITY GAUGE FOUND AFTER 5 DAYS

5. PNO-IV-98-015A Washington Agreement State. CONTAMINATED FILM BADGES (UPDATE)

1. PNO-IV-98-021. Omaha Public Power District. (Ft. Calhoun 1). LOSS OF 0FFSITE POWER i

2. 'PNO-IV-98-021A Omaha Public Power District. (Ft. Calhoun 1). LOSS OF 0FFSITE POWER

3. PNO-II-98-027. Virginia Power Co. (Surry 1). NOTIFICATION OF UNUSUAL EVENT: SHUTDOWN TO REPAIR VALVE LEAK 1

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Office of Administration Items of Interest Week Ending June 5, 1998 Self-Guarantee of' Decommissioning Fundina by Non-Profit and'Non-Bond Issuina )

Licensees (Parts 30. 40. 50. 70. and 72)

A final rule that allows additional materials licensees and non-electric-utility reactor licensees who meet certain financial criteria to self-guarantee funding for' decommissioning was published in the Federal Register on June'1,'1998 (63 FR 29535). The final rule allows non-profit licensees, such as colleges, universities, and hospitals, and some comercial licensees, who do not issue bonds, to self-guarantee funding if they meet stringent financel criteria. The final rule becomes effective July 1,1998.

Security Suncort to Commission .

On June 3,1998, DFS provided support for a Commission briefing by the Executive Branch, concerning privatization issues of the.U.S. Enrichment Corporation (USEC). The meeting included representatives from the Commission.

EDO, SECY, 0GC. NMSS and ADM. The meeting provided the Commission with information relevant to the statutory determinations necessary for the transfer of the certificate for operation of the gaseous diffusion plants at Portsmouth OH, and Paducah, KY to any USEC private successor.

Security Sucoort to NMSS The Division of Facilities and Security arranged for security support for a June 2,1998, .public meeting in Salt Lake City, UT to help identify significant environmental issues related to a commercial firm's proposed independent spent fuel storage installation on the reservation of the Skull ,

Valley Band of Goshute Indians. Approximately 175 individuals attended the meeting and over 40 presented testimony. Those offering testimony included Rep. Merrill Cook and Governor Mike Leavitt. No incidents or disruptions occurred.

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Chief Information Officer Items of Interest Week Ending June 5. 1998 Freedom of Information and Privacy Act Recuests Received durina the 5-Day l Period of May 29. 1998 - June 4. 1998:

IMPAC listing. (F0IA/PA-98-218)

Aerial map surveys of contamination for Neely Research. Hatch, and Farley reactors in GA and NFS Erwin in TN. (F01A/PA-98-219)

Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp /LTV Steel in Pennsylvania, sealed source device registration sheets. (F01A/PA-98-220)

Financial Marketing Services. Inc., financial reports and documents filed since 1986. (F01A/PA-98-221)

Public Service Co. of New Mexico, financial reports and documents filed since 1986. (F0IA/PA-98-222)

Non-byproduct material uranium mill tailings. May '90 staff meetings re court 3 decision on West Chicago. (F0IA/PA-98-223)

Uranium mill tailings, meetings and correspondence between NRC and EPA 6/91 through 1/92. (F01A/PA-98-224)

" Report of the Communications Coordinating Committee with Recommendations on Public Communications Initiatives." issued 4/24/98. comments filed by electric utilities. (F01A/PA-98-225)

Atlas Corp. Moab. UT. resource expenditures related to identified meetings 2/95 through 2/98. (F01A/PA-98-226) i International Uranium (USA) Corp. SUA-1358. Docket 40-8681, basic license and amendments 1-4. (F01A/PA-98-227) i l

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Office of Human Resources

-Items of Interest Week Ending June 5.'1998 Arrivals ANTONACCI Hildred- Voucher Examiner RIII CAMPBELL. Kimberly . Gen Phy Scientist. NRR Retirements BROWN. Earl Sr Mechanical Engineer AE0D COOPER. Larry Sr Budget Analyst ADM HOOKER. Charles Fuel Facilities Inspector RIV KENNA Gerard Investigator 01 MIGLIACCIO. Joseph Sr HR Management Analyst HR SHYMLOCK. Milton Branch Chief RII Departures-HOOKER. Joann- Ofc Services Assistant RIV LATHROP Henry Trans & Stor & Sfty Insp NMSS L  !

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Office of Small Business & Civil Rights Items of Interest i Week Ending June 5. 1998 Congressman E111ah E. Cumminas' 2nd' Annual Small Business Procurement Fair On June 1,1998. Von Deloatch. Small Business Program Manager. Office of Small Business and Civil Rights. participated in the 2nd Annual Small Business Procurement Fair sponsored by Congressman Elijah E. Cummings of Baltimore.

- The Fair was attended by more than 300 small businesses, as well as top procurement officials and policy makers from local and Federal government agencies. .Several seminars focused on efforts to increase procurement opportunities for small businesses. In closing remarks. Congressman Cummings stated. "My commitment to fight for increased growth in Maryland and my passion for equal' opportunity-are stronger than ever. I am currently serving on the House. Conunittee on Transportation and Infrastructure. In that role. I am directly involved in pushing for increased business opportunity."

- Meetina with Representatives from Oak Ridae Institute for Science and Education (ORIS$)

On June 2.1998. a meeting was held with representatives of the Office of Small Business and Civil _ Rights and ORISE to discuss issues related to NRC's Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Research Participation Program. -Included on the agenda was a review of Fiscal Year 1998 activities, funding, and implementation of a new agreement commencing in Fiscal Year 1999.

The discussions focused on ways to improve the program efficiency and effectiveness. Representatives from the Office of Human Resources (HR) and the. Division of Contracts and Property Management participated in these discussions. HR discussed ways to utilize the HBCU Program as a recruitment resource.

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-June'511998 ENCLOSURE J g

Office of Public Affairs Items of Interest Week Ending June 5. 1998

. Media Interest There was media interest in the status of the NRC budget recommendation by the Senate Appropriations Committee.

There were 5 print and television media present at the Zion decommissioning meeting.

The New York Times will be running a story on the sale of Three Mile Island.

There were 3 television. 3 newspaper, and 1 wire service reporter at the

. meeting ~on the scoping session for Private Fuel Storage. Inc.. in Utah.

Press Releases Headquarters:.

.98-85 NRC Amends Licensing ~. Inspection and Annual Fees 98-86 Statement by the Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Regions:

I-98-64 NRC Proposes $5.500 Fine Against Alaron Corporation:

Issues Demand for Information II-98-41 NRC to Meet With TVA in Atlanta on June 16 to Discuss Nuclear Power Plant Ice Condensers 11-98-42 NRC Schedules Meeting With Florida Power & Light to Discuss Recent Performance of St. Lucie Plant III-98-37 Quad Cities Enforcement Conference Postponed IV-98-21 Wolf Creek Rated ' Good' in all Areas in Latest NRC Assessment Report c.

June'5,11998- ENCLOSURE M 1

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Office of International Programs Items of Interest Week Ending June 5. 1998..

Visit of Ambassador of Belaium L On Thursday, June 4, 1998. Andre Adam. Ambassador of Belgium.' met with the.

Chairman and Commissioners to inform them of the . interest of Belgium ~ industry ,

in participating in.the'M0X option for disposing of weapons plutonium.

Ambassador Adam reported on the long history of Belgian involvement in the-fabrication and use of M0X fuel and-invited the Commissioners to visit the M0X manufacturing facility in Dessel, Belgium.

TJune 5, 1998 ENCLOSURE N

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o Office of the Secretary Items of Interest Week Ending June 5, 1998 Documents Released Date Subject to Public ,

l Decision Documents

1. SECY-98-119 5/28/98 Remaining Issues Related to Recovery of Millstone Nuclear Power Station, Unit 3

2. COMSECY-98-013 5/27/98 Evaluation of Rulemaking Language Proposals Concerning 10 CFR 50.59 (Changes. Tests and Experiments)

3. SECY-98-038 3/4/98 Hanford Tank Waste Remediation System Privatization Co-Located

'Jorker Standards SRM on 98-038 4/28/98 (same)

Comm. Voting Record 4/28/98 (same) on 98-038

4. SECY-98-083 4/16/98 Plan for the Timely Confirmation of Power Reactor Licensees as " Electric Utilities" as Economic Deregulation Proceeds SRM on 98-083 5/28/98 (same)

Comm. Voting Record 5/28/98 (same) on 98-083 Negative Consent Documents

1. SECY-98-071 4/8/98 Exemption to 10 CFR 72.10(f)(1)

Seismic Design Requirement for Three Mile Island Unit 2 Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation SRM on 98-071 5/20/98 (same)

Information Papers

1. SECY-98-115 5/27/98 Weekly Information Report - Week Ending May 22. 1998

-2 SECY-98-120 5/28/98 Enforcement Discretion for Louisiana Licensees June 5. 1998- ENCLOSURE 0

3. SECY-98-121 5/28/98 Implementation of the IAEA Convention on Nuclear Safety

4. SECV-98-122 5/28/98 Assessment of Technical Skills (

Availability

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t Commission Correspondence l l 1. Letter to Senator Pete Domenici and Representative Joseph McDade dated I

l May 29, 1998 regarding the GA0 report entitled " Nuclear Regulatory Commission: Information on Potential Budgetary Reductions for FY 1999."

l Federal Reaister Notices Issued

1. Application for a License to Import Radioactive Waste: GTS Duratek. j

2. 10 CFR Part 72: Miscellaneous Changes to Licensing Requirements for the Independent Storage of Spent Nuclear Fuel and High-level Radioactive Waste; Proposed Rule.

I June 5, 1998 ENCLOSURE 0

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Region I-Items of Interest Week Ending June 5, 1998

'Licensina Practices and Procedures Course Region I.provided an instructor for the Technical Training Center's-presentation of the Licensing Practices and. Procedures Course; conducted from.

June'1' through 5.1998 in Atlanta.~ Georgia at the Atlanta Federal Center. The

. instructor covered the " Overview of Licensing" introduction to the course, as well. as the section on Medical Licensing. - Attendees from the course included-six'NRC~ staff, 19 students from Agreement States, two from the Navy, three

from the . Veterans Administration and one from the Air Force.

' June 5, 1998 '

ENCLOSURE P

Region II Items of Interest Week Ending June 5. 1998 l Nuclear Fuel Services. Inc.

l The Regional Administrator, other Region II. staff and NMSS managers met with l Nuclear Fue1 Services. Inc. in Erwin. Tennessee on June 2 to discuss readiness of the downblending process for operation. The licensee discussed the results of their reviews for readiness and actions they plan to assure full readiness before the next NRC inspection of the downblending process.

Duke Enerov Corocration - McGuire On June 3.1998. McGuire Unit 1 experienced a loss of offsite power while shutdown due to failure of a switchyard current transformer. Power was lost to the non-essential busses, but the essential busses remained energized from Unit 2. Shutdown cooling was not interrupted and no diesel generators started. An notification of an Unusual Event (NOUE) was declared at 3:52 p.m.

Following restoration of offsite power. the NOUE was exited 4:44 p.m. The licensee initiated an event investigation team. NRC resident inspectors were onsite and closely monitored the licensee's actions.

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June 5. 1998 ENCLOSURE P  !

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! Region III Items of Interest Week'Ending June 5.'1998 l

l Manaaement Meetina with American Electric Power - D. C. Cook l - On June ~4.L1998, a management meeting was conducted in the Region III Office.

Lisle.-Illinois, between~ management representatives from American Electric L Power Company and members of the NRC staff. The meeting was the first status

[. meeting.for the.D.C. Cook Nuclear Power Station under the NRC's startup review process (Manual Chapter 0350) . The utility reported that it had completed the melting of the ice in the Unit 1 ice condenser system and is currently l ' performing inspections to determine the necessary repairs or replacements of ice condenser system components. The utility expects-to begin the melting of the ice in the Unit 2 ice condensers near the end of this month. A number of

. Other reviews are being performed during the outage, many of them related to

- the design review process and the safety evaluation process.

Manaaement Meetina with Commonwealth Edison Comoany - La Salle I

On June 2,11998, a management meeting was conducted at the.Mazon Emergency

' Operations Facility. Mazon, Illinois, between management representatives from Commonwealth Edison Company and members of the NRC staff. The meeting discussion focused on the status and effectiveness of performance improvement activities implemented as part of.the LaSalle County Nuclear Power Station

. restart plan.

Manaaemant Meetina with Northern States Power Comoany - Prairie Island On June 3.1998, a management meeting was conducted in the Region III Office.

Lisle Illinois, between management representatives from Northern States Power Company and members of the NRC staff. The meeting discussion focused on the utility's future spent fuel dry cask storage plan. The utility currently has seven of Transnuclear Inc.'s TN-40 spent fuel storage casks loaded at the site. Five more casks are on order and are scheduled to be delivered

-throughout next year. The utility is planning to load two casks before the April 1999 refueling outage.

Predecisional Enforcement Conference with United States Enrichment Corporation

.0n June 5. 1998, a Predecisional Enforcement Conference was conducted in the

- Region III Office. Lisle. Illinois, between management representatives of United States Enrichment Corporation and members of the NRC staff. The conference was conducted to discuss apparent violations at the Portsmouth

' Gaseous Diffusion Plant. The discussion. focused on the Corporation's failure Lto-control ' components'with uranium deposits inadequate maintenance, testing

and operation:of safety valves on equipment, and exceeding the possession

'limitefor uranium enriched greater than 20 percent.

(June 5.-1998 ENCLOSURE P

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