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SECY 99-004

January 7, 1999

Contact: D. Lange, OEDO

ENCLOSURE B

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards
Items of Interest
Week Ending December 25, 1998

Meeting with Portland General Electric

On December 17, 1998, the Spent Fuel Project Office (SFPO) staff met with representatives of Portland General Electric (PGE) to discuss several issues pertaining to PGE's independent spent fuel storage installation (ISFSI) technical specifications (TS). These issues will require resolution before the Nuclear Regulatory Commission can issue a license to PGE to operate an ISFSI at the Trojan Nuclear Plant. At the meeting, PGE presented revisions to the TS to address previous questions raised by SFPO. The staff found some of the revisions acceptable, however, others will require further modification. PGE plans to begin operating the ISFSI at Trojan in April 1999.

Meeting with Westinghouse Electric Company

On December 17, 1998, the Spent Fuel Project Office staff met with Westinghouse Electric Company (Westinghouse) to discuss the Wesflex Spent Fuel Management System (Wesflex), a dual-purpose storage and transportation cask system that the staff is currently reviewing. Issues relating to the Wesflex structural evaluation were discussed at the meeting, including cask tipover. Westinghouse is considering omitting cask tipover on the storage pad from its accident analysis on the basis that such an event is not credible, a departure from the Standard Review Plan (NUREG-1536) guidance that could present schedular delays.

10 CFR Part 70 Revision

In a December 1, 1998, Staff Requirements Memorandum, the Commission disapproved publication of the staff's draft proposed rule. The Commission directed the staff to continue to discuss all relevant documents with stakeholders (Nuclear Energy Institute, Department of Energy, and others) in public, including use of the Internet, and to submit a revised proposed rulemaking package to the Commission for approval six months from December 1, 1998. To facilitate stakeholder interaction, staff and stakeholder documents have been placed on the NRC Technical Conference Forum Website under the topic "Revised Requirements for the Domestic Licensing of Special Nuclear Material (10 CFR Part 70)." A Federal Register Notice was published December 24, 1998, announcing the availability of the site for providing comments on staff revisions to the Part 70 draft rule and associated Standard Review Plan, as they are posted. An e-mail was sent to those on the Part 70 e-mail distribution list notifying them that some revised staff drafts have been posted on the website and soliciting comment. The e-mail distribution list includes, among others, all attendees at the December 3-4, 1998, public meeting on Part 70.

Department of Energy Issues Viability Assessment for Yucca Mountain

On December 18, 1998, the Department of Energy (DOE) forwarded to the White House and the Congress its Viability Assessment (VA) of a repository at Yucca Mountain. DOE was required by Congress to prepare the VA in the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act of 1997, P.L. 104-206. The VA includes a preliminary repository design, an assessment of its expected performance, identification of the work remaining to be completed to prepare a license application, and estimation of the cost of building and operating a repository at Yucca Mountain. Based on the VA, DOE believes that Yucca Mountain remains a promising site for a repository and that work should proceed to support a decision in 2001 on whether to recommend the site to the President for development as a repository. The plans and schedules described in the VA for key milestones in the national program are consistent with the planning basis for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's High-level Waste Repository Program.

Multi-Agency Radiation Laboratory Protocols Workgroup Meeting

On December 14-17, 1998, the Division of Waste Management (DWM) staff hosted the 17th Multi-Agency Radiation Laboratory Protocols (MARLAP) workgroup meeting. Twenty participants attended the meeting representing several Federal agencies including: the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Energy, Department of Defense, National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the U.S. Geological Survey. The MARLAP workgroup completed revision of several MARLAP chapters and discussed issues pertaining to radiological laboratory analysis and integration of the MARLAP manual. The completed chapters covered the areas of analytical planning and protocols, laboratory sample preparation, data reduction and reporting, and analytical quality assurance. The MARLAP manual will include 20 chapters. While several chapters were completed, others require additional revisions. The workgroup intends to have its next MARLAP meeting open to the public. A web site will be established early next year (February 1999) to provide an outline of MARLAP. The Director, DWM, addressed the workgroup and encouraged early release of MARLAP information to the public. The workgroup intends to complete a draft MARLAP manual for internal Agency review by June 1999.

Interagency Steering Committee Meeting on Radiation Standards

The Interagency Steering Committee on Radiation Standards (ISCORS) met on December 10, 1998. Representatives were present from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC's), Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA ), Department of Energy, Department of Defense, Office of Science & Technology Policy, Occupational Safety & Health Administration, Food and Drug Administration, and other Federal agencies. General topics discussed included the National Academy of Sciences report on EPA's Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials Guidelines, an update on NRC plans for the clearance rule, the Federal Register Notice on implementation of the NRC final rule on radiological criteria for license termination, Department of State's international source management proposal, a review of 1998 planned activities, and proposed 1999 planned activities. Each subcommittee reported on its activities. The Sewer Subcommittee presented a report on comparative concentrations and the results of nine test sites. In the upcoming months, ISCORS will issue a summary report of 1998 activities.

Nebraska Regulators Deny License Application

On December 21, 1998, Nebraska regulators announced the State's decision to deny U.S. Ecology's license application for construction and operation of a regional low-level waste (LLW) disposal facility in Boyd County, Nebraska. Nebraska is the host state for the Central Compact. The following reasons were cited for the denial:

• The site lacks sufficient depth to the water table.

• The site lacks an adequate buffer zone.

• Engineered structures and barriers are proposed as substitutes for a suitable site.

• Ground water discharges to the surface within the disposal site.

• There is a need for continuing active maintenance after site closure.

• The applicant has not determined that it meets the financial assurance requirements for the construction of a LLW disposal facility.

State regulations provide a 30-day period in which an aggrieved party can file a written petition for a contested case hearing. The decision from such a case hearing could be appealed to the district court.

The Executive Director of the Central Compact Commission said that the Compact Commission will review its options at a meeting scheduled for January 13, 1999.

ENCLOSURE D

Office for Analysis and Evaluation of Operational Data
Items of Interest
Week Ending December 25, 1998

PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATIONS:

1. PNO-II-98-053, Burns Cooley Dennis, Inc., LOST PORTABLE GAUGE

2. PNO-IV-98-064A, Washington State Licensee, RADIATION OVER-EXPOSURE TO A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC (Update)

3. PNO-IV-98-065, Pacific Gas & Electric Co. (Diablo Canyon 1), REACTOR SHUTDOWN GREATER THAN 72 HOURS

ENCLOSURE F

Office of Administration
Items of Interest
Week Ending December 25, 1998

Garage Repair Project

All concrete repairs associated with the OWFN Garage Repair Project were completed this week. The remainder of the project will consist of concrete sealer, drive aisle coating and striping.

Rulemaking Activities -- Transfer of Rulemaking Functions (Part 1)

A final rule that amends the Commission's regulations to reflect the transfer of rulemaking functions and responsibilities from the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research to the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards and the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation was published in the Federal Register on December 17, 1998 (63 FR 69539).

ENCLOSURE G

Chief Information Officer
Items of Interest
Week Ending December 25, 1998

Freedom of Information and Privacy Act Requests received during the 5-Day Period of December 18, 1998 - December 24, 1998:

ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs
Items of Interest
Week Ending December 25, 1998

Media Interest

Region II and HQ coordinated Luis Reyes' interview by an Associated Press reporter on ice condenser problems at Watts Bar.

The San Diego Union published a story on the Atlas mill tailings.

ENCLOSURE N

Office of International Programs
Items of Interest
Week Ending December 25, 1998

IAEA Vacancy Notices

The following notices from the International Atomic Energy Agency have been posted on NRC bulletin boards:

ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary
Items of Interest
Week Ending December 25, 1998

Commission Correspondence

1. Letter to MD a.D. Gerald Hennenhöfer, Germany, dated December 16, 1998, concerning his recent retirement (undated incoming also released).

2. Letter to Representative Edward J. Markey, dated December 15, 1998, concerning the reported elimination of the Operational Safeguards Evaluation program (incoming of November 10, 1998, also released).

3. Letter to Secretary of Energy William Richardson, dated December 15, 1998, expressing appreciation for the hospitality of the DOE staff during a visit to the Savannah River site.

4. Letter to Representative Zach Wamp, dated December 15, 1998, regarding constituent concerns relating to relocation of the Technical Training Center (incoming of November 9, 1998, also released).

5. Letter to Representative Frank R. Wolf concerning telecommuting in the Federal Government (incoming of November 13, 1998, also released).

6. Letter to Loren L. Bush expresses appreciation on his retirement from the NRC.

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. [NUREG-1600] Policy and Procedure for Enforcement Actions; Fuel Cycle Facilities Civil Penalties and Notices of Enforcement Discretion; Policy Statement: Amendment.

2. 10 CFR Part 2; Procedures Applicable to Proceedings for the Issuance of Licenses for the Receipt of High-Level Radioactive Waste at a Geologic Repository; Final Rule.

3. Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards; Renewal.

4. Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards; Meeting of the Subcommittee on Planning and Procedures; Notice of Meeting on January 27-29, 1998.

5. Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards; Meeting of the Subcommittee on Reliability and Probabilistic risk Assessment; Revised Notice of Meeting on January 25, 1998.

ENCLOSURE P

Region I
Items of Interest
Week Ending December 25, 1998

D&B Tool Company Radioactive Waste Shipped Offsite

On Monday, December 21, 1998, the Region I staff was notified that an NRC-licensed contractor had removed the last of 44 drums of magnesium-thorium alloy wastes, which had been stored for over ten years at the D&B Tool Company, in Milford, CT. The drums were over-packed where necessary and shipped to the contractor's facility in New Jersey where they are awaiting shipment for disposal at the Envirocare facility in Utah. Region I staff anticipates a request to terminate the possession-only license and will visit the Connecticut site early next year to conduct release surveys. The State of Connecticut has been closely following these developments and has been notified of the waste shipment.

ENCLOSURE P

Region III
Items of Interest
Week Ending December 25, 1998

Management Meeting with American Electric Power - D.C. Cook

On December 22, 1998, a management meeting was conducted in Bridgman, Michigan, between management representatives from American Electric Power and members of the NRC staff. The meeting discussion focused on engineering issues related to the D.C. Cook Nuclear Power Station. The Acting Regional Administrator James Caldwell participated in the meeting.

Commonwealth Edison Company Management Changes Announced - Byron

On December 18, 1998, Commonwealth Edison Company announced that effective January 11, 1999, Marseyne Snow will be the Byron Operation Manager, and Don McDermott will be the Byron Shift Operations Supervisor.

Detroit Edison Company Management Changes Announced - Fermi

On December 21, 1998, Detroit Edison Company announced that Ted Bergner, currently Director of Organizational Development, will assume the position of Superintendent of Operations. Don Cobb, currently Superintendent of Operations, will become Superintendent of Maintenance. Steve Booker, currently Superintendent of Maintenance, will assume the position of Superintendent of Work Control.

ENCLOSURE C

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research
Items of Interest
Week Ending January 1, 1999

Halden Management Board Meeting

The Deputy Director of the Office of Research participated on December 9-10, l998, in a meeting of the Halden Management Board in Antwerp, Belgium. The Halden Reactor Project is directed at answering key safety questions and providing information for safety assessment related to fuel performance, plant materials' behavior in the nuclear environment and human factors and man-machine interactions. The Halden boiling water reactor affords a unique opportunity to perform high-quality in-reactor measurements to provide well-characterized data during reactor operation. Also, commercial fuels and structural materials extracted from LWR's are tested. The management meeting was particularly important in that it focused on providing guidance for the research program for the period 2000-02. Of particular interest to the NRC is continuation of the study of high-burn up fuel under normal and transient conditions as well as human error studies. Following the meeting, she also toured the Hades Underground Research Facility located in a deep clay layer (230m) at the SCK-CEN Nuclear Research Center at Mol. The facility is designed to carry out experiments related to the disposal of high level and long-lived radioactive waste.

Nuclear Energy Agency Radioactive Waste Management Committee Meeting

On December 11-15, 1998, the Deputy Director of Research participated in meetings of the Radioactive Waste Management Committee (RWMC) of the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA). On December 11 she participated with representatives from 10 waste regulatory organizations in the first meeting of the NEA RWMC Regulators' Group. As many countries are now developing waste regulations and moving forward with waste disposal projects, the group is focused on increasing collaboration and building working concepts among regulators of long-lived waste disposal. The group has already established an electronic bulletin board to share information. Ms. Federline presented the staff's recommended approach for development of regulations specific for a Yucca Mountain site. This group of peers commented that the approach is reasonable, practical and clear. As a member of the Bureau of the RWMC, she has been active in developing an approach for streamlining and integrating RWMC activities and mode of operation building upon technical and analytical strengths and accomplishments. The focus of this special meeting on December 14-15 was to present the Bureau's plan for work priorities and initiatives which respond to current national situations. The key elements of the proposal focused on better integration and prioritization of activities related to site investigation and performance assessment, better vertical and horizontal integration of the RWMC activities, and products specifically tailored to the needs of member countries such as lessons-learned related to public confidence. The proposal was generally well received and after comments by members will be finalized to present to the NEA Steering Committee in May 1999.

ENCLOSURE D

Office for Analysis and Evaluation of Operational Data
Items of Interest
Week Ending January 1, 1999

PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATIONS:

1. PNO-II-98-054, All State Engineering & Testing Consultants, Inc. (An Agreement State Licensee), STOLEN TROXLER MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE

2. PNO-IV-98-066, Entergy Operations, Inc., (Arkansas Nuclear 1), PLANT SHUTDOWN FOR GREATER THAN 72 HOURS FOLLOWING REACTOR TRIP

ENCLOSURE F

Office of Administration
Items of Interest
Week Ending January 1, 1999

USEC Headquarters Inspection Report

DFS staff are currently preparing an inspection report regarding the security inspection conducted of USEC Headquarters on November 30, 1998, by DFS and OCIO personnel. The primary objective of the inspection was to ensure compliance with USEC's Headquarters Classified Matter Plan. Based on the results of the inspection, no deviations or violations were identified.

Garage Repair Project

Beginning Saturday, December 26, 1998, the P-1 level of the OWFN garage was closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic to allow the garage repair contractor to seal the entire level and apply the drive aisle coating. The garage entrance is closed and all traffic is directed to the TWFN exit which serves as both the garage entrance and exit. All work on the P-1 level will be completed by January 4, 1999, and the entrance will be reopened January 5, 1999.

Rulemaking Activities -- Domestic Licensing of Special Nuclear Material; Request for Public Comments on Rulemaking Activities (Part 70)

A document announcing the availability, through the Internet, of draft rulemaking language and associated guidance documents, for a proposed amendment to the regulations governing the domestic licensing of special nuclear material was published in the Federal Register on December 24, 1998 (63 FR 71232). This action responds to Commission direction to continue public discussion of all relevant documents with stakeholders and prepare a revised proposed rulemaking package for consideration.

Policy and Procedure for Enforcement Actions; Fuel Cycle Facilities Civil Penalties and Notices on Enforcement Discretion

A document amending the NRC's Enforcement Policy (NUREG-1600) was published in the Federal Register on December 24, 1998 (63 FR 71314). This action increases the base civil penalties for fuel cycle facilities authorized to possess certain quantities of special nuclear material and authorizes the issuance of Notices of Discretion to gaseous diffusion plants. The amendment became effective December 24, 1998.

ENCLOSURE G

Chief Information Officer
Items of Interest
Week Ending January 1, 1999

Freedom of Information and Privacy Act Requests received during the 4-Day Period of December 25, 1998 - December 31, 1998:

ENCLOSURE I

Office of Human Resources
Items of Interest
Week Ending January 1, 1999

ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs
Items of Interest
Week Ending January 1, 1999

Media Interest

Region II was interviewed by the Stuart News on an article regarding spent fuel pool capacity at St. Lucie. Region II also coordinated an interview with the Birmingham News on Browns Ferry.

Jared Wermeil, NRR, is being interviewed by a radio station in Connecticut on Y2K readiness.

ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary
Items of Interest
Week Ending January 1, 1999

Commission Correspondence

1. Letter to Raymond C. Vaughan, N.Y., dated December 24, 1998, concerning the NRC staff's proposed decommissioning criteria for he West Valley site (SECY-98-251) (incoming of November 14, 1998 also released).

2. Letter to Richard L. Bangart, NRC, dated December 16, 1998, expressing congratulations on his retirement from the NRC.

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. Notice of receipt of petition for rulemaking filed by the Atlantic City Electric Company, Austin Energy, Central Maine Power Company, Delmarva Power & Light Company, South Mississippi Electric power Association, and Washington Electric Cooperative, Inc.

2. Establishment of the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board to preside over the proceeding for Special Testing Laboratories, Inc. (ASLBP No. 99-759-01-EA).

3. Designation of Presiding Officer by the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel to conduct an informal adjudicatory hearing in the proceeding of the Shieldalloy Metallurgical Corp.

4. Policy Statement revision: NRC Enforcement Policy; Discretion Involving Natural Events.

ENCLOSURE P

Region I
Items of Interest
Week Ending January 1, 1999

Pre-Decisional Enforcement Conference with University of Medicine and Dentistry, of NJ

Region I held a Predecisional Enforcement Conference on December 23, 1998, with representatives of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. The conference discussion centered on the licensee's failure to secure a quantity of polonium-210 which exceeded 1000 times the Appendix C value published in 10 CFR Part 20. Other less significant findings related to the security and control of licensed radioactive material were also discussed. Region I is currently considering enforcement options.

ENCLOSURE P

Region IV
Items of Interest
Week Ending January 1, 1999

ANO Unit 1Extended Shutdown due to Fish Impingement in the Circulating Water System

On December 25, 1998, a large influx of fish (shad) affected the Unit 1 intake structure, resulting in degraded available circulating water pump suction pressure. Operators began to reduce reactor power at 8:49 a.m. (CST) and inserted a manual trip 2 minutes later from 75 percent power. Following the trip, the Train B startup feedwater control valve failed at approximately 50 percent open. Plant staff repaired the valve prior to restart. Also, maintenance personnel modified the circulating water screens to improve the system's effectiveness in removing shad from the circulating water pump suction.

On December 27, 1998, operators made the Unit 1 reactor critical at 10:30 p.m. and connected the main generator to the grid at 7:15 a.m. on December 28. They again manually tripped the reactor, however, from 7 percent power at 8:35 a.m. on December 28 following another large shad influx. All major plant equipment functioned as designed.

The licensee plans to make a number of improvements to mitigate the effect of shad on the circulating water system. These include:

• Upgrading the traveling screen motors from 2.5 hp to 5 hp. This will double the traveling screen speed.

• Adding a second set of fish lips to the screens. (The licensee believes that these first two modifications will quadruple the effectiveness of the traveling screens in removing fish.)

• Replacing the 15 amp traveling screen motor circuit breakers with 20 amp breakers.

• Increasing the motor overload setpoint.

• Sizing the shear pins to ensure that the shear pins will fail before the motor overloads open.

• Replacing existing fiberglass screens with all steel screens for at least two sets of traveling screens. Currently the traveling screens are a mix of fiberglass and steel, and the fiberglass screens break under the weight of the fish.

• Testing the effectiveness of these modifications under actual conditions before restarting Unit 1.

The Vice President of Operations stated that he intended to keep the plant off line until he had confidence in the results of the modifications.