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SECY-00-0043

February 18, 2000

Contact:  J. Shea, OEDO

ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Items of Interest
Week Ending February 11, 2000

Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station - Pilgrim License Renewal

By letter dated January 7, 2000, Entergy Nuclear Generation Company informed the staff that it plans to submit a license renewal application for the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station in the second half of 2004. The license will expire on June 8, 2012.

Haddam Neck

On February 2, 2000, Bechtel, the Decommissioning Operations Contractor for the Haddam Neck facility, stopped decommissioning work activities controlled by radiation work permits to conduct a review of work practices. The work stoppage was in response to four incidents over the previous few days in which workers proceeded with decommissioning activities before appropriate health physics clearances had been received. Although these incidents were of minor safety significance, one event caused an unplanned uptake of radioactive material resulting in a very low internal exposure to one individual. Bechtel stopped work to emphasize the importance of following RWP instructions.

On February 3, Bechtel conducted an all hands meeting to review the work practices and conducted feedback sessions with its foremen and work crews. Feedback and training sessions will continue through Thursday, February 10, to provide time to conduct small group discussions between workers, supervisors, and managers. About 150 workers (1/3 of the Bechtel workforce) were involved in the work stand-down.

A phased restart of radiation jobs began Monday, February 7. The reactor vessel internals cutting job was among the first to restart. All workers are expected to restart their radiation jobs by Monday, February 14.

The stand-down applied to work in the containment and plant auxiliary building only. No problems were observed in fuel inspection work, which was continued through the stand-down period.

Generic Environmental Impact Statement for Decommissioning Power Reactors

On February 4, 2000, the staff met with Susan Absher, Director, Office of Federal Activities, Environmental Protection Agency, and representatives of EPA Region 1 and the Council on Environmental Quality. The purpose of this meeting was to solicit early EPA involvement in the public scoping process and data gathering for a generic environmental impact statement (GEIS) for decommissioning power reactors. The staff presented a brief overview of its contract with PNNL to develop a GEIS and a proposed schedule for its completion. The EPA agreed with the need for a GEIS and agreed to provide support and attendance at the scoping meetings. The staff and EPA discussed and determined that Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, and Atlanta would be the likely locations for the scoping meetings. EPA representatives offered to assist the NRC in arranging for the scoping meetings.

Hatch Unit 1 Safety-Relief Valve Event

On January 28, 2000, NRC Region II dispatched an Augmented Inspection Team to review the Hatch Unit 1 reactor trip and the possible failure of 10 of 11 safety-relief valves in the main steam system to open. The Mechanical and Civil Engineering Branch, NRR, participated in the AIT to review the concerns related to the SRVs. Based on the information reviewed at the plant site and on discussions with the licensee and representatives from General Electric Nuclear Energy and Target-Rock Corporation, the team concluded that the SRVs did indeed open as intended. When the HPCI pump failed to trip, all four mainsteam lines filled with water up to at least the SRV level. When the SRVs were manually actuated from the control room, water in the steam lines was discharged into the SRV piping instead of steam. Apparently, when water is discharged into the SRV lines, the pressure transducers do not detect the pressure increase and consequently no indication is given to the control room. The control room operators therefore believed the SRVs were not opening. It was not until one SRV was held open for more than a minute (thus expelling the water from the mainsteam lines) that the steam finally was discharged into the SRV piping and the pressure transducer gave an indication to the control room. Tests conducted at Wyle Laboratory on several SRVs taken from Hatch Unit 1 verified that the SRVs were not degraded and were functioning properly. The AIT completed onsite inspection activities and conducted a public meeting with licensee management on February 4, 2000.

University of Texas Reflector - Update

The licensee submitted a report on the combustible gas buildup in the reflector on January 20, 2000, which discussed background, postulated causes, and plans to vent the reflector. The licensee concluded that the probability of combustion from drilling to vent the reflector is negligible, because of a lack of a combustion source and the location of the reflector under 25 feet of water. The licensee also concluded that if combustion did occur that the consequences of combustion are negligible because all reactor fuel has been removed from the pool into storage, the radioactive material in the reactor structure has been reduced through radioactive decay, and the pool water has negligible contamination. The licensee's 10 CFR 50.59 review on the venting of the reflector determined that the venting of the gas did not raise an unreviewed safety question.

The NRC replied to the licensee on February 4, 2000, acknowledging receipt of the report and stating that the NRC will inspect the University's compliance to regulatory requirements related to reflector venting activities. Inspection is continuing on this issue, and the NRR project manager and a NPR inspector will be on site starting on February 9, 2000, to observe preparations and venting of the reflector.

ENCLOSURE B

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards
Items of Interest
Week Ending February 11, 2000

Meeting Conducted by the Nevada Legislature's Committee on High-Level Radioactive Waste

On February 4, 2000, Division of Waste Management (DWM) staff provided testimony to the Nevada Legislature's Committee on High-Level Radioactive Waste (HLW) in Las Vegas, Nevada. Some members of the committee participated through a simultaneous video conference conducted at Carson City, Nevada. DWM staff presented a status report on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's activities regarding the proposed HLW licensing regulations (i.e., proposed 10 CFR Part 63); review of spent nuclear fuel transportation casks; work to resolve key technical issues in the HLW program; and information on other HLW program activities including quality assurance oversight of the Department of Energy (DOE ). Other participants providing testimony included representatives of DOE, the Nevada Agency for Nuclear Projects, the Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and affected units of local government. The public was invited and some members of the audience made statements. The Committee's interest appeared mainly to be the gathering of information. No specific Committee or legislative activities were discussed.

Hector Mine Earthquake Supports Basis for Yucca Mountain Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Analysis Estimate

On February 3-4, 2000, staff from the Division of Waste Management and the Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses observed the faults associated with the Magnitude 7.1 Hector Mine Earthquake of October 16, 1999, in the Mojave Desert. The Department of Energy (DOE)-Yucca Mountain Project Office invited the staff to observe the earthquake rupture zone in which the DOE considers to be analogous to similar faults used in its Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Analysis (PSHA) of the Yucca Mountain candidate repository (1998). Also in attendance were some of DOE's PSHA experts, seismologists and geologists from the state of Nevada, Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board, U.S. Geological Survey (trip leaders), California Division of Mines and Geology, and university scientists. Fault ruptures associated with the Hector Mine earthquake were entirely within the Twenty-Nine Palms Marine Base. The California geoscientists outlined emerging hypotheses about future earthquake activity in the Basin and Range, including Yucca Mountain. Features of the rupture zone were explained as normal for a Mag 7.1, and were in the range of surface effects considered in the PSHA for Yucca Mountain. The active Rock Valley fault near Yucca Mountain resembles strike-slip faults in the Mojave. Reports on the active faults and the Hector Mine earthquake are due to be published this year. The data and interpretations should fall within the norms for such events and are not likely to cause the DOE to revise the PSHA.

Approval of a new Cobalt-60 Transportation Package

The Spent Fuel Project Office approved the EAGLE transportation package. This new package design will be used for transportation of up to 330,000 curies of cobalt-60 as special form radioactive material. The 20,000 pound package will allow the shipment of cobalt-60 sealed sources to and from gamma irradiators in the United States. Gamma irradiator facilities use the cobalt-60 sources to irradiate medical supplies, chemical processes and foodstuffs.

Nuclear Energy Institute/Nuclear Regulatory Commission Meeting on Spent Fuel Storage Issues

On February 8-9, 2000, Spent Fuel Project Office staff met with representatives from the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) and industry to discuss topics that affect the process for amending certificates of compliance (CoCs). Forty five participants, including representatives of both vendors and utilities, attended the meeting. The topics included: (1) ways to further streamline the CoC amendment process; (2) the NEI proposal for standard technical specifications (STS) for spent fuel storage casks; and (3) the status of the development of guidance for implementation of the revised 10 CFR Part 72.48 regulation.

For the first topic, both the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and NEI agreed to pursue the identification of options for more efficiently amending CoCs, including reviewing the legislative rationale for approving new and modified designs. For the second topic, a number of STS issues were discussed. NRC staff recommended continued interaction with NEI to resolve STS content issues and suggested that NEI submit a revised version of the STS in the fall of 2000. For the third topic, both NRC and NEI discussed planned actions to support effective implementation of the revision to Part 72.48 and agreed to coordinate further activities.

Division Directors' Counterpart Meeting

On February 9-10, 2000, in order to enhance communication between the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS) and the regions, Division Directors from NMSS met with their counterparts from the regional Divisions of Nuclear Materials Safety at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Headquarters. These managers are responsible for nuclear materials, fuel cycle safety and safeguards, waste and decommissioning, and spent fuel and transportation activities. Also present were some Deputy Directors from the regions, Headquarters Branch Chiefs, along with representatives from the Office of State Programs, the Office of Human Resources, and a management trainee observing from the National Institutes of Health. They discussed generic issues, such as strategic plan initiatives, personnel and training issues, as well as technical and policy issues of special interest to each of the program areas. Approximately 20 managers and supervisors attended this annual meeting.

Open Meeting of the Clearance Working Group on Control of Solid Materials

On February 9, 2000, the Control of Solid Material Working Group held an open meeting. This meeting was held to discuss the draft Commission Paper which is being developed to provide the Commission with a summary of the stakeholder reactions and concerns with the Issues Paper on Control of Solid Materials. The Paper will also provide recommendations for proceeding. This meeting was open to the public to allow an opportunity for the public to observe development of the paper.

The public was provided an opportunity to make comments at the end of the meeting. Many members of the public commended the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for holding an open Working Group meeting and encouraged the staff to continue to open the Working Group meetings and the Steering Group meetings. Many of the technical comments on the issues paper were similar to those already obtained during the fall of 1999 public workshops on the control of solid materials. The public indicated that the meeting would have been more meaningful if they were provided copies of the documents under review in advance of the meeting or during the meeting.

10 CFR Part 70 Standard Review Plan Meeting

On February 9, 2000, at a meeting open to the public, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards management and staff met with the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), industry representatives, and the Department of Energy (DOE) to discuss the staff's proposed resolution of the approximately 250 comments received on the draft 10 CFR Part 70 Standard Review Plan (SRP). (Comments on the draft SRP were received from NEI and DOE.) The Part 70 SRP that is being developed is associated with the amendments to Part 70 that were published as a proposed rule in July 1999. Although the meeting included useful discussions that will support the resolution of comments, NEI expressed dissatisfaction that the actual wording contained in the revised SRP was not available for review. The staff indicated that it would pursue, with the Office of the General Counsel and the Commission, whether to publish the revised draft SRP before the rule is approved by the Commission. The rule package, including the final rule and the associated SRP, is to be provided to the Commission in early May 2000.

ENCLOSURE C

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research
Items of Interest
Week Ending February 11, 2000

NRC/DOE Meeting on Fire Risk

On January 14, members of the RES and NRR staff, RES contractors, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) staff, and DOE contractors participated in a research information exchange meeting on fire risk. The objective of the meeting, which was organized and run by RES, was to discuss the current plans, status, approaches, and results of the NRC fire risk research program and the DOE program evaluating the fire safety of the Smolensk and Zaporizhzhya reactors. The technical discussions included presentations of recent results from NRC tasks on circuit failures and major fire event reviews, as well as work being conducted at the University of Maryland on fire experiments and modeling. The DOE fire modeling efforts are aimed at developing compartment fire models that will be simple to use yet improve on current PRA treatments of a number of fire issues (e.g., forced ventilation). NRC PRA efforts involving the Kalinin reactor and potential exchanges with the Smolensk and Zaporizhzhya were also discussed.

The post-meeting action items included the transmission of detailed RES results (including fire experiment data and the draft circuit analysis report) to the DOE contractors, as well as DOE contractor activities to support NRC efforts (including providing detailed data relevant to major fire events being reviewed by the NRC fire PRA program). The meeting provided useful technical input to both the NRC and DOE projects and established a basis for future interactions (e.g., exchanges of tools and data). The meeting was felt to be very valuable; a number of attendees requested that similar meetings be held in the future.

New Regulatory Guide

RES recently issued Regulatory Guide 1.180, "Guidelines for Evaluating Electromagnetic and Radio-Frequency Interference in Safety-Related Instrumentation and Control Systems." This guide endorses design, installation, and testing practices acceptable to the NRC staff for addressing the effects of electromagnetic interference and radio-frequency interference, as well as power surges, on safety-related instrumentation and control systems in a nuclear power plant environment. Electromagnetic compatibility testing practices from military and commercial standards are endorsed to address electromagnetic emissions, electromagnetic and radio-frequency interference immunity, and power surge withstand capability.

ENCLOSURE D

Incident Response Operations
Items of Interest
Week Ending February 11, 2000

PDD62 Subgroup

IRO management (C. Miller) and a staff member attended a meeting on February 11 at FEMA Headquarters of the Weapons Of Mass Destruction (WMD) Contingency Planning and Exercise Subgroup. This is an interagency Subgroup to a WMD policy level group at the National Security Council (NSC) focusing on PDD62 issues.

Discussion items included TOPOFF, a large field exercise involving six of the largest Federal agencies in May, 2000. Although part of the exercise will include a radiological component, it is not expected to involve NRC licensed material and the NRC is not expected to be a participant in this exercise. The budget was recently increased budget from 3.5 to 6.0 million dollars to conduct TOPOFF. Other items on the agenda included the status of the National Domestic Preparedness Office (NDPO), the draft U.S. Concept of Operations Plan for WMD, and a new draft document from FEMA titled "Terrorism Attachment G to State & Local Guidance 101".

PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATIONS:

1. PNO-II-00-006, Georgia Power Co. (Hatch 1), AUGMENTED INSPECTION TEAM CONCLUDES REVIEW OF HATCH UNIT 1 REACTOR TRIP AND SUBSEQUENT TRANSIENT
   
   
2. PNO-III-00-003, Consumers Power Co., (Palisades 1), PALISADES SHUTDOWN FOR PLANNED MAINTENANCE OUTAGE
   
   
3. PNO-III-00-004, St. Anthony Medical Center, MEDICAL MISADMINISTRATION

ENCLOSURE F

Office of Administration
Items of Interest
Week Ending February 11, 2000

Westinghouse Electric Company LLC; Receipt of Petition for Rulemaking (PRM-50-69)

A document that requests public comment on a petition for rulemaking submitted by the Westinghouse Electric Company LLC was published in the Federal Register on February 8, 2000 (65 FR 6044). The petitioner requests that the NRC amend its regulations governing pressure and temperature limits for the reactor pressure vessel to eliminate requirements for the metal temperature of the closure head flange and vessel flange regions. The petitioner believes that the elimination of the flange requirements has no impact on Boiling Water Reactors and could improve plant safety in Pressurized Water Reactors. The comment period for this action closes April 24, 2000.

ENCLOSURE G

Chief Information Officer
Items of Interest
Week Ending February 11, 2000

Freedom of Information and Privacy Act Requests received during the 5-Day Period of February 4, 2000 through February 10, 2000:

ENCLOSURE I

Office of Human Resources
Items of Interest
Week Ending February 11, 2000

Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) Keyworker Appreciation GALA Held

On February 9, 2000, a CFC Keyworker Appreciation Gala was held at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C. to recognize all the hard work performed by keyworkers during this past year's campaign. The keynote speaker was the Honorable Donna E. Shalala, Secretary of Health and Human Services and Chair of the 1999 CFC of the National Capital Area. Attendees from NRC included Henry Rubin, CFC Agency Coordinator from the Office of Human Resources; Vicky Lewis, Office Coordinator from the Office of International Programs; and Rose Conn and Susan Abrahams, keyworkers from the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation. NRC was recognized for receiving a Pacesetter Award, which is given to agencies achieving at least a 2.8% increase over last year's dollar contributions.

* Effective date week ending 2/4/00.

ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs
Items of Interest
Week Ending February 11, 2000

Media Interest

There was press interest in the Washington Post article on allegations of weapons parts stored at Paducah.

Region II reported high press interest in the proposed fine against TVA regarding discrimination against a former employee.

Two reporters attended the meeting at HQ to observe the working group deliberations on the clearance of solid materials.

USA Today contacted NRC staff for information on an upcoming article on industrial accidents and workers inadvertently bringing contamination into their homes.

ENCLOSURE N

Office of International Programs
Items of Interest
Week Ending February 11, 2000

Preparations for NPT Review Conference

OIP attended an interagency meeting on February 9 to discuss U.S. Government preparations for the 2000 Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The conference will be held at UN Headquarters in New York, April 24 - May 19, 2000. The main focus of US preparation activities is to address the expected criticisms from non-nuclear weapons States over the perceived lack of progress by the nuclear weapons States in achieving the nuclear disarmament goals of Article VI of the NPT.

ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary
Items of Interest
Week Ending February 11, 2000

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. Hydro Resources, Inc.; Docket No. 40-8968; Notice of Appointment of Adjudicatory Employees.
   
   
2. Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards; Subcommittee Meeting on Planning and Procedures; Notice of Meeting.
   
   
3. Northeast Nuclear Power Company (Millstone Nuclear Power Station, Unit No. 3); Docket No. 40-423-LA-3; Notice of Hearing.
   
   
4. U.S. Army; Docket No. 40-8838-MLA; Designation of Presiding Officer.
   
   
5. Application for a License to Export Radioactive Waste; Bayou Steel Corp.

ENCLOSURE P

Region I
Items of Interest
Week Ending February 11, 2000

Region I Holds First Two Regulatory Conferences under Revised Oversight Program

As part of the Revised Reactor Oversight Program, Region I held its first two regulatory conferences on February 2 and 5, regarding white inspection findings at Salem and FitzPatrick, plants taking part in the pilot program. The regulatory conferences represent meetings to address inspection findings that constitute concerns of low to moderate risk significance. In particular, the white finding at Salem concerned inadequate corrective actions for emergency preparedness, such that untimely event declarations had recurred. The white finding at FitzPatrick related to an overspeed trip of the high pressure coolant injection system in response to an actuation signal following an October 14, 1999 reactor scram. The meetings were open for public observation. Two state representatives and a local newspaper reporter attended the Salem regulatory conference. The information provided by the licensees during the regulatory conferences is being evaluated.

Periodic Meeting with New Hampshire Radiological Health Bureau

On February 8, 2000, the Regional State Agreements Officer and a Health Physicist from the Office of State Programs met with the Program Manager and the Radioactive Materials Supervisor from the New Hampshire Radiological Health Bureau. The purpose of this periodic meeting was to discuss the status of the State's Agreement State Program. The most significant issue discussed at the meeting was the recent departure of two experienced inspectors/license reviewers. The State has hired replacements for these individuals.

Meeting with Alaron Corporation

On February 9, 2000, a meeting was held with Alaron Corporation concerning proposed amendments to its materials license. Alaron is currently licensed to perform decommissioning and decontamination activities at its facility in Wampum, PA. Alaron is considering three changes to its program: 1) the addition of an abrasive blast system using CO₂ dry ice pellets to decontaminate equipment at its Wampum facility, 2) the modification of its hot-cell interlock system and 3) the possession and storage of UF₆ cylinders as a service for other licensees. The licensee and NRC staff discussed the information that would need to be submitted to support a license amendment to authorize these activities.

ENCLOSURE P

Region II
Items of Interest
Week Ending February 11, 2000

Allegheny Wireline Services, Inc.

On February 8, 2000, Region II issued an escalated enforcement action and proposed civil penalty of $5,500 to the licensee (a facility using radioactivity for well logging). The actions were taken in response to licensee violations involving the deliberate failure to perform well site surveys and falsification of records. An individual enforcement action was also issued in the case.

Florida Power and Light Company - St. Lucie Management Meeting

On February 8, representatives from Florida Power and Light Company attended a management meeting in the Region II office. The licensee described their ongoing and planned corrective actions for Emergency Operating Procedures issues they identified at the St. Lucie site. The licensee also presented a brief discussion of recent St. Lucie Unit 1 trips.

Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc. - Licensee Performance Review

On February 8, Region II (the Deputy Regional Administrator and the Director of the Division of Nuclear Materials Safety) and the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (the Deputy Office Director and the Director of the Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards) met with representatives of Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc. in Erwin, Tennessee. The purpose was to discuss the results of the Licensee Performance Review for the licensee's conduct of licensed activities from September 1998 through November 1999.

Tennessee Valley Authority

On February 7, 2000, Region II issued a Severity Level II violation and proposed civil penalty of $110, 000 to the licensee. The action was taken related to discrimination against a former corporate chemistry employee. Individual enforcement actions were also issued to the two managers involved.

Virginia Power and Light Company - North Anna Power Station OSART

On February 10, the Deputy Regional Administrator attended the North Anna Operational Safety Assessment Review Team exit meeting. The exit was also attended by the Director of the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation. The team cited good practices and recommendations for improvement in the conduct of activities at the North Anna site.

ENCLOSURE P

Region IV
Items of Interest
Week Ending February 11, 2000

Public Meeting between Fort Calhoun and Region IV Senior Management

On Monday, February 7, 2000, the Omaha Public Power District's Vice President, Division Manager for Nuclear Operation, Plant Manager, and Maintenance Manager met with the Regional Administrator, and other members of the Region IV staff in a public meeting. Omaha Public Power District operates Fort Calhoun Nuclear Power Station. The Omaha Public Power District managers discussed Fort Calhoun Station performance, financing, the strategic plan, and several technical issues, including reactor fuel integrity.

ENCLOSURE R

Office of Congressional Affairs
Items of Interest
Week Ending February 11, 2000