Headquarters Daily report AUGUST 16, 1995 *************************************************************************** REPORT NEGATIVE NO INPUT ATTACHED INPUT RECEIVED RECEIVED HEADQUARTERS X REGION I X REGION II X REGION III X REGION IV X *************************************************************************** PRIORITY ATTENTION REQUIRED MORNING REPORT - HEADQUARTERS AUGUST 16, 1995 MR Number: H-95-0114 NRR DAILY REPORT ITEM GENERIC COMMUNICATIONS BRANCH/EVENTS ASSESSMENT BRANCH DIVISION OF OPERATING REACTOR SUPPORT OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION Subject: N/A NRC Generic Letter 95-06, "Changes in the Operator Licensing Program," dated August 15, 1995. The NRC issued this generic letter to (1) notify addressees of NRC's intent to change the operator licensing process so that facility licensees will have the option to prepare draft written examinations and operating tests used by the NRC to determine the competence of operator license applicants at power reactor facilities and (2) to solicit volunteers to participate in a pilot program that will evaluate and refine the new examination development process. Technical contacts: Stuart Richards, NRR Thomas Burdick, RIII (301) 415-1031 (708) 829-9703 Glenn Meyer, RI John Pellet, RIV (610) 337-5211 (817) 860-8159 Thomas Peebles, RII (404) 331-5541 NRC Generic Letter 95-07, "Pressure Locking and Thermal Binding of Safety- Related Power-Operated Gate Valves," dated August 17, 1995. The NRC is issuing this generic letter to request that addressees perform, or confirm that they previously performed, (1) evaluations of operational configurations of safety-related, power-operated (including motor-, air-, and hydraulically operated) gate valves for susceptibility to pressure locking and thermal binding and (2) further analyses, and any needed corrective actions, to ensure that safety-related power-operated gate valves that are susceptible to pressure locking or thermal binding are capable of performing the safety functions within the current licensing bases of the facility. Technical contacts: Howard J. Rathbun, NRR (301) 415-2787 Thomas G. Scarbrough, NRR (301) 415-2794 PRIORITY ATTENTION REQUIRED MORNING REPORT - REGION I AUGUST 16, 1995 Licensee/Facility: Notification: Niagara Mohawk Power Corp. MR Number: 1-95-0102 Nine Mile Point 1 Date: 08/16/95 Lycoming,New York SRI/PC Dockets: 50-220 BWR/GE-2 Subject: MANAGEMENT CHANGES Reportable Event Number: N/A Discussion: Since the promotion of Mr. Richard B. Abbott on 8/10/95 to the position of Vice President - Nuclear Generation for the Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station (see MR-1-95-0101), Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation (NMPC) announced the following management changes: Mr. Norman L. Rademacher will succeed Mr. Abbott as the Unit 1 Plant Manager. Mr. Rademacher has been the Unit 1 Operations Manager since 1992, and holds a current Senior Reactor Operator license for Unit 1. Other experience within NMPC includes positions in technical support, quality assurance, and nuclear design. He is a graduate of Maritime College. Mr. Michael A. Balduzzi will replace Mr. Rademacher as the Unit 1 Operations Manager. Mr. Balduzzi is currently the General Supervisor of Operations at Unit 1, and also holds a current SRO license at Unit 1. Both changes are effective immediately. Regional Action: None. Contact: Lawrence Doerflein (610)337-5378 Barry Norris (315)342-4041 PRIORITY ATTENTION REQUIRED MORNING REPORT - REGION III AUGUST 16, 1995 Licensee/Facility: Notification: Cleveland Electric Illuminating Co. MR Number: 3-95-0138 Perry 1 Date: 08/16/95 Perry,Ohio PERRY RESIDENT INSPECTOR 8/15/95 Dockets: 50-440 BWR/GE-6 Subject: EXEMPT RADIOACTIVE SOURCES INADVERTENTLY SOLD TO TWO NON- LICENSED COMPANIES. Reportable Event Number: N/A Discussion: On Tuesday, August 15, 1995, the NRC resident inspector reported to Region III that the Perry Nuclear Station had sold surplus material sometime in July 1995 which included radiation monitoring equipment containing exempt quantity radioactive check sources to at least two non-licensed companies. One of the companies (Willoughby, Ohio) received eight (8 microcurie each) cesium-137 sources and the other company (Beloit, Wisconsin) received two 0.08 microcurie strontium-90 sources. The Perry station recaptured the eight cesium-137 sources from the Ohio based company and the Byron Nuclear station recaptured the two strontium 90 sources from the Wisconsin based company. The Perry nuclear station is currently attempting to determine if other monitoring equipment with check sources were also sold to other non-licensed companies and has asked all purchasers of the surplus material to check their merchandise for monitoring equipment which may contain the radioactive sources. The states of Wisconsin and Ohio have been informed of this matter. Regional Action: The DRSS regional radiation protection specialist for Perry will monitor the stations response to this event. Contact: R.J. CANIANO (708)829-9804 R.A. PAUL (708)829-9826 PRIORITY ATTENTION REQUIRED MORNING REPORT - REGION III AUGUST 16, 1995 Licensee/Facility: Notification: Commonwealth Edison Co. MR Number: 3-95-0139 Zion 1 2 Date: 08/16/95 Zion,Illinois SITE FOCUS TEAM Dockets: 50-295,50-304 PWR/W-4-LP,PWR/W-4-LP Subject: PLANT POWER REDUCTION AT ZION UNITS 1 AND 2 DUE TO INADEQUATE CONTAINMENT LEAK TESTING Reportable Event Number: N/A Discussion: On August 15, 1995, Zion Units 1 and 2 received enforcement discretion to permit continued operation of both units with 23 containment pathways on Unit 1 and 18 pathways on Unit 2 which had not been fully tested in accordance with the technical specifications and 10 CFR 50 Appendix J. The licensee reported this to the NRC on August 14 and 15, 1995. Each pathway consisted of packing, valve diaphragms, compression fittings, or flange sealing surfaces outside of containment which had not been verified to be adequately leak tight. However, most of the pathways had been indirectly or partially verified by integrated leak rate tests or individual tests with water in 1992. While discussions with the NRC staff were being conducted, the licensee reduced power on both units in preparation for shutting both units down. The NRC approved the licensee's request at 3 p.m. CDT on August 15, 1995. The minimum power reached was approximately 70 percent on both units. Regional Action: The site focus team will followup on the circumstances leading to the failure to properly test the containment for leakage. Contact: L.F. MILLER, JR. (708)829-9629