***************************************************************** 09/21/01 **** RADIATION BULLETIN(RADBULL) **** VOL 9.224 ***************************************************************** RADBULL IS PRODUCED BY THE ABALONE ALLIANCE CLEARINGHOUSE ***************************************************************** NUCLEAR POWER CONTENTS 1 Canon City, Colo., Uranium Company Asked to Post Bond in Lawsuit 2 Atomic Safety and Licensing Board to Hold Prehearing Conference 3 Shipment of nuclear waste canceled 4 Unidentified chopper near nuclear plants triggers call for F-16s 5 Public hearings on Yucca Mountain delayed again 6 Public hearings on Yucca Mountain rescheduled again 7 Yucca hearings set for October 8 Kyrgyz leader tells nuclear agency head of concerns about 9 Dean requests review of Vermont Yankee safety 10 Editorial: Terrorism renews fears of nuke waste 11 Letter: Nuke solutions are out there 12 Hearings set on Yucca 13 Daily Events Report 14 IAEA Daily Press Review 15 IAEA Daily Press Review 16 NRC finds safety violation at Md. Calvert Cliffs nuke 17 Cost of closing down Slovak nuclear power station to be shared by 18 ADAMS: Items of Interest - Friday, September 21, 2001 19 Reactor at South-Ukrainian power plant restarted after repair 20 Radioactive dumps ruled out by Labor NUCLEAR WEAPONS CONTENTS 1 New Web worm slows Hanford employees 2 Glitches reduce Hanford cleanup leeway 3 U.S. and Russia Make Progress on Storage of Nuclear Materials 4 Weapons-grade plutonium production to stop in Russia's Tomsk 5 Russian naval command says no nuclear weapons on board Kursk 6 Iraq asks IAEA to resume ties with it, dispel hostile ***************************************************************** ***************************************************************** NUCLEAR POWER ARTICLES ***************************************************************** 1 Canon City, Colo., Uranium Company Asked to Post Bond in Lawsuit Tom McAvoy , The Pueblo Chieftain, Colo. Knight Ridder/Tribune ( September 21, 2001 ) Sep. 19--DENVER--U.S. District Judge Zita Weinshienk has ordered Cotter Corp. to post a bond while the Canon City uranium mill operator appeals a $16 million judgment against it in favor of Lincoln Park residents. The federal judge denied Cotter's motion to set aside part of the jury award handed down earlier this year, but agreed to stay execution of payment until the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver resolves the appeal. Weinshienk presided over the trial resulting in $16 million in damages to 25 people exposed to radiation poisoning and other contamination from the Cotter mill. "They will never see this money," a Cotter attorney said at the time. "We feel completely confident that the 10th Circuit will overturn this verdict." Cotter lawyers got the 10th Circuit to overturn a similar $2.9 million award in 1998, later calculated at $5 million with the addition of interest. Rebecca Lorenz, a lawyer for the 34 plaintiffs in the latest in a series of trials against Cotter, estimated the total this time at more than $30 million when interest and future medical monitoring costs are added. Weinshienk's order covers 10 years of prejudgment and one year of post-judgment interest. The lawsuit accused Cotter of releasing uranium, arsenic, molybdenum, lead, cobalt, nickel, selenium, zinc, cooper and cadmium into the environment around the plant and nearby Lincoln Park. A different $220,000 judgment was settled after a 1992 trial, while another $300,000 verdict from last year is still on appeal. The fourth verdict was by far the largest involving the most people against Cotter. Joe Dodge, who owned a horse ranch next to the Cotter mill, was the lead plaintiff, heading a family awarded $6.1 million in damages. The largest single award was $3.1 million for Brett Luna, whose parents Donald and Sonja Luna also were awarded $1.28 million between them. To see more of The Pueblo Chieftain, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.chieftain.com (c) 2001, The Pueblo Chieftain, Colo. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune ***************************************************************** 2 Atomic Safety and Licensing Board to Hold Prehearing Conference in North Augusta on September 21 on Proposed Fuel Facility Press Release Region II - 2001 - 39 - UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, REGION II 61 Forsyth Street SW, Atlanta, GA 30303 No. II-01-039 September 20, 2001 CONTACT: Ken Clark (404)562-4416/e-mail: Roger D. Hannah (404)562-4417/e-mail: An Atomic Safety and Licensing Board will hold a prehearing conference in North Augusta, South Carolina, at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, September 21, to hear oral arguments on the standing of petitioners to intervene in proceedings related to the pending application of Duke Cogema Stone & Webster to build and operate a mixed oxide nuclear fuel fabrication facility at the Savannah River site in South Carolina. The conference will be held in Room A1 of the North Augusta Community Center, 495 Brookside Avenue, in North Augusta. The three-member ASLB will hear oral arguments on the standing of petitioners to intervene and on the admissibility of petitioners' contentions. Duke Cogema Stone and Webster has applied to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission for permission to build and operate a facility to fabricate commercial nuclear power plant fuel containing mixtures of plutonium and uranium oxide. The meeting is open to the public and the press for purposes of observation. The Licensing Board consists of Administrative Judges Thomas S. Moore, Chairman, Dr. Charles N. Kelber and Dr. Peter S. Lam. ### ***************************************************************** 3 Shipment of nuclear waste canceled Published Friday, September 21, 2001, in the Akron Beacon Journal. U.S. Department of Energy cites safety concerns after attacks. Train would have passed through area Beacon Journal staff writer A rail shipment of nuclear waste, scheduled to come through Akron, has been halted indefinitely in the wake of last week's terrorist attacks. The shipment of highly radioactive nuclear wastes, which was to go from West Valley, N.Y., to a federal facility near Pocatello, Idaho, has been canceled by the U.S. Department of Energy. The cancellation was confirmed yesterday by federal officials. On a four-day trip across Ohio and nine other states, the train would have carried two giant casks, both weighing 100 tons, with steel walls 9 inches thick. Though the route had not been finalized, one taking the train through Portage, Summit, Wayne and Medina counties was preferred by the Energy Department. Ohio officials had expressed confidence in the safety of the shipment, but environmentalists were troubled by the plan. The two casks would have held 125 spent fuel assemblies from nuclear power plants. These fuel assemblies, stored at West Valley, need to be removed to complete a $1.6 billion cleanup of the site south of Buffalo, officials said. The assemblies are bundles of finger-width rods containing fuel pellets. They have been loaded via robotic arms into the two casks. The radioactive waste is a result of the first commercial effort to reprocess used uranium from nuclear power plants. From 1966 to 1972, Nuclear Fuel Services Inc. operated a plant on 150 acres at West Valley. The company halted reprocessing in 1972 and in 1976 notified New York state that it intended to withdraw from the site. At that time, 750 used commercial assemblies were there. In 1980, Congress authorized the Department of Energy to clean the site of radioactive wastes. Bob Downing can be reached at 330-996-3745 or bdowning@thebeaconjournal.com Email This Story ***************************************************************** 4 Unidentified chopper near nuclear plants triggers call for F-16s GoUpstate News The Associated Press LAKE WYLIE -- An unidentified helicopter flying near two of South Carolina's nuclear power plants this weekend brought out fighter jets and triggered an alert at the former nuclear weapons plant on the Savannah River. York County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Channell said Monday that sheriff's deputies responded about 10 p.m. Saturday to a report of a helicopter heading toward the Catawba Nuclear Station on Lake Wylie. Deputies said they saw a military helicopter. Plant officials said they received no notice a military helicopter would be in the area. ''If this had happened two weeks ago, we probably would have received no calls,'' York County Sheriff Bruce Bryant said. ''Because of the disaster in New York and Washington, obviously, people are really on edge. Everyone is being very, very cautious.'' Duke Power spokesman Joe Maher confirmed reports of unidentified aircraft near its Catawba and Oconee plants. There were no such sightings at Duke's North Carolina plants. The plants have been on alert since terrorists hijacked commercial airliners last week and crashed them into the Pentagon and New York's World Trade Center twin towers, which collapsed as a result. Maher refused to say what action the plants took in response to the helicopter. Bryant said he was unsure who called for the two F-16 fighter jets that flew to York County to check the skies. The jets themselves caused a mild panic among residents who called 911 to report the planes. Air traffic controllers at Charlotte-Douglas airport saw the chopper on radar but could not contact it by radio, Channell said. A similar sighting occurred at the Oconee plant west of Clemson, and fighter jets showed up there as well. The Savannah River Site was informed by the sightings at the other plants about midnight, said Rob Davis, a spokesman for Wackenhut Services, which provides security for the site. No helicopters were seen at the site near Aiken, which stores high-level nuclear waste, but a 20-mile stretch of highway that runs along the perimeter was closed. The safety of the nation's nuclear power plants has become a growing concern following last Tuesday's attacks. Nuclear watchdog groups say most plants are not designed to withstand airplane attacks such as last week's. ''Most nuclear plants were not explicitly designed to withstand the crash of a large jetliner,'' said Victor Dricks, a spokesman for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in Washington. Duke Energy spokeswoman Becky McSwain said earlier that the nuclear fuel for plants is very secure. ''It's not like just cracking the building,'' she said. ''You have to fail all three barriers, the building, the vessel and the fuel. You almost have to vaporize that fuel and get it into a large area before you have any public consequences. That's hard to do.'' A jetliner smashing into the Catawba Nuclear Station would have to penetrate steel and 4-feet-thick concrete walls. Nuclear fuel is contained in ceramic pellets sealed inside a tube and stored in 8-inch steel vessels. ***************************************************************** 5 Public hearings on Yucca Mountain delayed again Las Vegas SUN September 20, 2001 LAS VEGAS (AP) - Public hearings on the proposed Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository set for Monday in Amargosa Valley and Pahrump have been postponed for a second time by the Energy Department. A new date for the hearings, originally postponed after last week's terrorist attacks on the East Coast, has not been set, DOE spokesman Joe Davis said Thursday. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham agreed to postpone the hearings after consulting with Nevada Sens. Harry Reid and John Ensign, Davis said. Abraham has been under fire from Nevada's congressional delegation and Gov. Kenny Guinn, who have criticized the Energy Department for holding the hearings before the final environmental impact studies on the site are released by the agency. "We're very pleased to hear that Secretary Abraham will delay the hearings on Yucca Mountain at this time of national crisis," said Reid, a Democrat. Ensign, a Republican, said: "Many Nevadans are coping with great loss and not clearly focused on the issues surrounding Yucca Mountain." The DOE earlier this month gathered public comment in Las Vegas on a scientific report that identified no major obstacles to making Yucca Mountain the national repository for 77,000 tons of highly radioactive waste. Abraham is expected to recommend to President Bush by the end of this year whether the site 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas is suitable to begin accepting nuclear waste in 2010. All contents copyright 2001 Las Vegas SUN, Inc. ***************************************************************** 6 Public hearings on Yucca Mountain rescheduled again Las Vegas SUN September 21, 2001 LAS VEGAS (AP) - Public hearings on the Department of Energy's plans to bury nuclear waste deep inside Yucca Mountain will be held in Amargosa Valley and Pahrump next month. The hearings initially were set for Sept. 12 in Amargosa Valley and Sept. 13 in Pahrump, but the DOE postponed them until Monday because of last week's terrorist attacks on the East Coast. Nevada's congressional delegation then complained that the hearings would be held at the same time on the same day, meaning some citizens would not be able to speak at both hearings. On Thursday, after consulting with Nevada Sens. Harry Reid and John Ensign about the need to focus on the attack on the nation, the DOE again rescheduled the hearings for Oct. 10 in Amargosa Valley and Oct. 12 in Pahrump. The DOE earlier this month gathered public comment in Las Vegas on a scientific report that identified no major obstacles to making Yucca Mountain the national repository for 77,000 tons of highly radioactive waste. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham is expected to recommend to President Bush by the end of the year whether the site 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas is suitable to begin accepting nuclear waste in 2010. All contents copyright 2001 Las Vegas SUN, Inc. ***************************************************************** 7 Yucca hearings set for October [Las Vegas Review-Journal] Friday, September 21, 2001 Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal Amargosa Valley, Pahrump play host By KEITH ROGERS REVIEW-JOURNAL They're on again, off again, on again. Ten days after the Department of Energy postponed the last two public hearings on its plans to bury nuclear waste inside Yucca Mountain -- then rescheduled them for Monday at the same time in separate locations -- officials on Thursday delayed them again. Now the hearings that were initially set for Sept. 12 in Amargosa Valley and Sept. 13 in Pahrump will be, respectively, on Oct. 10 and Oct. 12. "As President Bush made clear, our government does not intend to allow the terrorists to keep us from conducting business of the American people," Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham said in a letter late Thursday to Sens. Harry Reid, D-Nev., and John Ensign, R-Nev. "In light of your strong recommendation to postpone these hearings to a later date, I have directed the department to reschedule the hearings for Oct. 10 and Oct. 12," Abraham said in his letter. Hours after terrorists used passenger jetliners on Sept. 11 to crumble the World Trade Center and demolish part of the Pentagon, Abraham postponed the two Yucca Mountain hearings. Then this week, to the dismay of state and local officials and Nevada's congressional delegation, he rescheduled both hearings to begin at the same time Monday in Amargosa Valley and Pahrump. The rescheduling upset Nevada officials who complained that some citizens would not be able to speak at both hearings. On Thursday, while Reid and Ensign were in New York surveying the rubble of the World Trade Center, they were notified by the Energy Department that hearings had been delayed until some time after Oct. 8. "We're very pleased to hear that Secretary Abraham will delay the hearings on Yucca Mountain at this time of national crisis," Reid said in a statement. "We appreciate his understanding that Nevada families are grieving along with the families in New York and Washington, D.C." The statement quotes Ensign as saying, "We're very grateful to hear that Secretary Abraham listened to our concerns and delayed the hearings. We are in a national crisis and many Nevadans are coping with great loss and not clearly focused on the issues surrounding Yucca Mountain." Abraham's spokesman, Joe Davis, said the comment period, which had been extended to Oct. 5, would be further extended to allow more time to field comments from citizens who can't attend the hearings in Amargosa Valley and Pahrump. He said the new deadline for public comment had not been determined. But both hearings, he said, would be held on their respective dates from 3 to 9 p.m., preceded by an hour-long "poster session." During that time and through the hearings, Yucca Mountain Project officials will be available to answer questions about the government's plans to bring 77,000 tons of high-level radioactive waste to Nevada for disposal in the mountain, 100 miles northwest of Las Vegas. After the first delay, Nevada lawmakers professed incredulity at the seemingly quick rescheduling, and that hearings planned to take place on separate days in the two communities instead would be held at the same time. "Why the Department of Energy is so anxious to get on with these hearings at a time the nation is focused on tragedy is a mystery to me," Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., said earlier this week. Reid and Ensign placed separate protest calls to Abraham on Tuesday. Calls also were placed to the White House. "We asked the White House to step on DOE's neck and say, `You guys are nuts!' " a Nevada congressional official said. "At a time when Bush is trying to bring the country together and looking at broader goals, why do this?" Meanwhile, environmental groups completed a conference call Wednesday to discuss Yucca Mountain strategy -- short-term and long-term -- after the terrorist episodes, said Kalynda Tilges, nuclear issues coordinator for Citizen Alert, a statewide environmental group. Reacting to the new postponement on Thursday, Tilges said, "This is a huge victory for the environmental groups, but we're still waiting to see if the Department of Energy actually got the message to hold the final hearings until after the final (environmental impact statement) is out." She wrote Abraham on Monday asking that hearings not be conducted until after the final impact statement "is issued with transportation issues fully addressed." Yucca Mountain opponents are expected to mount campaigns highlighting Abraham's decision during the crisis to suspend shipments of nuclear waste. "Secretary Abraham's ban on nuclear material transport is a key issue," said Kevin Kamps, nuclear waste specialist for the Nuclear Information and Resource Service. "It's unavoidable now for the Department of Energy to downplay the transportation issues." The Nuclear Energy Institute, which advocates construction of a Yucca Mountain repository, believes the hearings should go on, spokesman Mitch Singer said. Yucca Mountain "is an issue that has been dealt with for a long time," Singer said. "It's not like we have to restudy it, and we say that without any disrespect for what happened last week. "The government cannot ignore everything that goes on in the country," Singer said. "This is one of the things that is part of the nation's business." Donrey Capital Bureau Chief Steve Tetreault contributed to this This story is located at: http://www.lvrj.com/lvrj_home/2001/Sep-21-Fri-2001/news/17047529.html ***************************************************************** 8 Kyrgyz leader tells nuclear agency head of concerns about uranium waste dumps BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Sep 21, 2001 Text of report by Kyrgyz news agency Kabar Bishkek 21 September: Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev and Director-General of the IAEA Dr. Muhammad al-Baradi'i have discussed the possibility of establishing a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Central Asia. The head of the international department of the presidential administration, Askar Aytmatov, told a briefing in the Kabar agency that Kyrgyzstan had made this proposal because of uranium tailing dumps that could present a danger not only to Kyrgyzstan but to the whole of Central Asia. Uranium waste was buried in the period 1938-1939, and the latest burials were carried out in the period 1948-1949 in the area close to the town of Mayluu-Suu [in Dzhalal-Abad Region in the southwest] on the banks of the river Mayluu-Suu. Waste from a uranium-deposit processing plant was buried in 23 dumps and in more than 20 dumps in the mountains. There could be a potential threat from three tailing dumps if there were active landslides. The IAEA is ready, therefore, to consider the possibility of assisting Kyrgyzstan. Source: Kabar news agency, Bishkek, in Russian 0743 gmt 21 Sep 01 /BBC Monitoring/ © BBC. World Reporter All Material Subject to Copyright ***************************************************************** 9 Dean requests review of Vermont Yankee safety The Times Argus Online - By SUSAN SMALLHEER Southern Vermont Bureau MONTPELIER - Gov. Howard Dean asked the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Thursday to conduct an overall review of safety at Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant in Vernon. The governor said he was concerned in light of the terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C., as well as Yankee's safety and security violations earlier this year and in 1998. "The tragedy of Sept. 11 calls for review and reassessment of security at Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant," he said. It is not just the terrorist attacks that prompted his concern, he said. "I'm looking at a much broader set of events than that," Dean said in an interview after he had sent a letter to Richard Meserve, chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. "Considering last week's terrorist action, I would like the confidence that an overall review of Vermont Yankee security and security culture has been undertaken," he wrote. "Vermont Yankee is on people's minds. I'd like to alleviate those fears," he said. Dean said his concerns included other potential terrorist targets: food safety, biological weapons and chemical weapons, not just Vermont Yankee. Christine Salembier, commissioner of the Department of Public Service, said the letter was written to express the state's concern not just about Yankee's record, but the NRC oversight of the reactor. "We are unhappy with the NRC's response," she said of the earlier safety concerns. "We are pushing the NRC to give us the confidence" in Yankee's operation and safety, she said. Dean also raised questions about spent nuclear fuel still in storage at Vermont Yankee, and pointed out that the federal government hasn't lived up to its promise to store the spent fuel at a federal facility. Specifically, Dean noted violations of Vermont Yankee's security system in 1998 and again in 2001 when the NRC was testing Yankee's readiness. Dean also pointed to laxness that allowed a convicted felon access to restricted places at the reactor during refueling before a complete security check was completed this spring. Two incidents involved the perimeter safety fence that surrounds Vermont Yankee. In the most recent instance, NRC inspectors were testing the fence to see if they could breech it, but couldn't. But the fence's alarm system never went off, according to Neil Sheehan, spokesman for the NRC's Region One headquarters in King of Prussia, Pa. Sheehan said notice of the most recent violation had not been posted on the NRC Web site, and he said he didn't know why. In addition to the problem with the fence detection system, there were problems during a "tabletop drill" during the same time, Sheehan said. Both problems were of "very low safety significance," according to an NRC report on the problems. Robert O. Williams, spokesman for Vermont Yankee, said Yankee remained on high alert, as are all other nuclear reactors in the United States. "Additional security measures are in place and we are in periodic communication with state and federal regulators," he said. Williams said the security problems in 1998 and 2001 were addressed by "equipment adjustments," and in 1998 by additional training and in new equipment. In 1998, a NRC inspector was able to smuggle a fake gun through an initial checkpoint when the inspector's backpack was searched. However, it was detected as it passed through a metal detector. None of the security violations rose to the level of fines. "Compensatory measures are in place. Our security program meets the NRC requirements for a well-trained security force that carries out a comprehensive security program," he said. The governor said he expected to hear back from the NRC in seven to 10 days. The NRC's Sheehan said Dean was the first governor to raise safety concerns in the wake of the terrorist attacks. "At this point, every plant remains at the highest level of security," he said, noting that the priority of the NRC was "getting through the current event. Our focus is on all the plants." Times Argus 540 North Main Street, P.O. Box 707 Barre, Vermont 05641 Tel (802) 479-0191 Fax (802) 479-4032 Email info@timesargus.com ***************************************************************** 10 Editorial: Terrorism renews fears of nuke waste Las Vegas SUN September 21, 2001 In the wake of the terrorist attacks last week, Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham did the right thing when he suspended at least 20 shipments of low-level nuclear waste that were bound for the Nevada Test Site. Ironically, Abraham's decision also brings more attention to a transportation issue his department would just as soon see go away: the plans to ship high-level nuclear waste to Yucca Mountain, waste that is abundantly more dangerous than that which Abraham is now halting. In the case of Yucca Mountain, the Department of Energy has ignored the state of Nevada's argument that transcontinental shipments of man's deadliest waste would be ripe for either accident or terrorism. What Abraham should do is acknowledge this danger and recommend that the Yucca Mountain Project be scrapped while alternative technologies are explored that would render high-level nuclear waste less harmful, allowing it to be left at the nuclear power plants where it was created and can be safely guarded. All contents copyright 2001 Las Vegas SUN, Inc. ***************************************************************** 11 Letter: Nuke solutions are out there Las Vegas SUN September 21, 2001 I've told Mayor Oscar Goodman that his approach toward Yucca Mountain is terrific. I would be glad to do anything possible in a capacity to secure the arrest of federal employees driving nuclear waste through Las Vegas. There is such thing as a citizen's arrest, isn't there? Sen. Harry Reid is being exceptionally kind in suggesting that President Bush doesn't know how we are being treated in Las Vegas. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham's unwillingness to attend the meeting in Las Vegas was completely disgusting. We don't believe that he is honestly going to make an objective decision concerning whether or not Yucca Mountain is suitable for nuclear waste. I tend to agree with Sen. John Ensign that transmutation is a better solution for the nuclear waste problem rather than transporting it to Yucca Mountain. Not only is it less dangerous, it sounds like from a financial point of view that it is better, too. However, when has the Bush administration done anything logical? ROBERT LUCIA All contents copyright 2001 Las Vegas SUN, Inc. ***************************************************************** 12 Hearings set on Yucca Las Vegas SUN September 21, 2001 LAS VEGAS SUN The Department of Energy has rescheduled a pair of public hearings on the proposed nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain. The agency has also extended the public comment period. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham on Thursday announced the delay in a letter to Sens. Harry Reid, D-Nev., and John Ensign, R-Nev. The DOE will host the hearings Oct. 10 at the Longstreet Casino in Amargosa Valley and Oct. 12 at the Bob Ruud Community Center in Pahrump. The hearings will run from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., and DOE officials will be available to speak with members of the community at 2 p.m. The written comment period, which had already been extended to Oct. 5, has been further extended, said DOE spokesman Joe Davis, who added that a new deadline has not been set. Reid and Ensign, who were surveying the World Trade Center site in New York Thursday, had asked the Department of Energy to postpone the hearings in the wake of last week's terrorist attacks. "We are in a national crisis, and many Nevadans are coping with great loss and not clearly focused on the issues surrounding Yucca Mountain," Ensign said Thursday. Both Reid and Ensign said they were pleased with Abraham's decision. "We appreciate (Abraham's) understanding that Nevada families are grieving along with the families in New York and Washington, D.C.," Reid said. All contents copyright 2001 Las Vegas SUN, Inc. ***************************************************************** 13 Daily Events Report U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Operations Center Event Reports For 09/20/2001 09/21/2001 ** EVENT NUMBERS ** 38263 38300 Power Reactor Event Number: 38263 FACILITY: WATTS BAR REGION: 2 NOTIFICATION DATE: 09/04/2001 UNIT: [1] [] [] STATE: TN NOTIFICATION TIME: 16:54[EDT] RXTYPE: [1] W 4 LP,[2] W 4 LP EVENT DATE: 09/04/2001 EVENT TIME: 13:04[EDT] NRC NOTIFIED BY: RODEN LAST UPDATE DATE: 09/20/2001 HQ OPS OFFICER: CHAUNCEY GOULD PERSON ORGANIZATION EMERGENCY CLASS: NON EMERGENCY JOHN MONNINGER R2 10 CFR SECTION: ARPS 50.72(b)(2)(iv)(B) RPS ACTUATION CRITICA AESF 50.72(b)(3)(iv)(A) VALID SPECIF SYS ACTUAT UNIT SCRAM CODERX CRITINIT PWR INIT RX MODE CURR PWR CURR RX MODE 1 M/R Y 100 Power Operation 0 Hot Standby EVENT TEXT REACTOR MANUALLY TRIPPED FROM 100% POWER DUE TO STEAM GENERATOR LEVEL APPROACHING THE LO LO LEVEL SETPOINT While operating at 100% power, the Watts Bar Unit 1 reactor was manually tripped at approximately 1304 EDT on September 4, 2001 due to steam generator (SG) level approaching the Lo Lo level setpoint. Just prior to the manual trip of the reactor, an abnormal voltage alarm was received on 125V Vital Battery Board 1 1. The immediate cause of the trip is considered to be the loss of the 1 1 Vital AC Inverter which caused a feedwater regulating valve to close. Subsequently, the maintenance power supply was used to restore power to the 1 1 vital AC bus. All control rods inserted properly in response to the reactor trip. The Auxiliary Feedwater (AFW) System actuated as expected. However, subsequent to the initial actuation signal, additional operator action was required to[manually] start 1B motor driven pump. After the 1B pump was successfully started, the motor driven AFW pump 1A was secured based on instrument indications available to the operating staff. After power was restored to the vital AC bus, the 1A pump was subsequently started and performed properly. Inspections are currently underway to determine the exact cause of the loss of the 1 1 Vital Inverter and basis for the 1B pump failing to [auto] start. No ECCS injection occurred, but the steam generator atmospheric relief valves lifted and fully reseated. The manual actuation of the Reactor Protection System (RPS) is being reported as a four hour report under 10 CFR 50.72 (b)(2)(iv). The actuation of the Auxiliary Feedwater System (an engineered safety feature) is being reported as an eight hour report under 10 CFR 50.72 (b)(3)(iv). The plant is stable in mode 3. The NRC Resident Inspector was notified. * * * UPDATE 1244EDT ON 9/20/01 FROM CHARLES TOUCHSTONE TO S. SANDIN * * * The following information was received as an update: "This report supplements the report made by TVA at approximately 1654 on September 4, 2001 NRC Event Report 38263. "Description of Event: "While operating at 100% power, the Watts Bar Unit 1 reactor was manually tripped at approximately 1305 EDT on September 4, 2001, due to the level of Steam Generator (SG) Number 1 approaching the low low level setpoint. The immediate cause of the trip is considered to be the loss of the 1 I Vital AC Inverter which caused the Number 1 SG feedwater regulating valve to close. Subsequently, the maintenance power supply was used to restore power to the 1 I Vital AC board. "10 CFR 50.72 Notification: "Initial notification to NRC of the reactor trip was made by WBN Operations at 1654 EDT The manual actuation of the Reactor Protection System (RPS) was reported as a four hour report under 10 CFR 50.72 (b)(2)(iv). The actuation of the Auxiliary Feedwater System (an engineered safety feature) was reported as an eight hour report under 10 CFR 50.72 (b)(3)(iv). This report supplements the initial report and is being reported under the same criteria. "Cause of the Event: "The root cause of the reactor trip was the failure of the sensing/current limiting card installed in vital battery charger 6 S or its associated edge connector. The failure of the component resulted in the DC output of the charger rising to 209V. The high DC output voltage resulted in a high input to inverters 1 I and 2 I. Inverter 1 I input and output fuses were blown, while inverter 2 I continued without failure. This occurred because inverter 1 I is equipped with parallel 5 and 15 KVA constant voltage transformers (CVTs), which are more sensitive to high input voltage than the type used in inverter 2 1 which utilizes a single 20 KVA CVT. The inverters are rated for a maximum input of 140 volts. "Equipment Response: "All control rods inserted properly in response to the reactor trip. For WBN, the AFW system consist of a turbine driven AFW (TDAFW) pump and two trains (Train A and Train B) of motor driven AFW (MDAFW) pumps. The design calls for the MDAFW arid TDAFW pumps to start due to the loss of both Main Feedwater (MFW) pumps or an AMSAC actuation, In addition, the MDAFW pumps will actuate on low low S/G level in any S/G and the TDAFW pump will actuate on low low level in any two S/Gs. For this event, actuation of the TDAFW pump resulted from the required logic being met for SGs Number 1 and 4. Based on data obtained subsequent to the reactor trip, an auto start for the TDAFW train was initiated immediately after S/G low low level setpoints were met. "Subsequent to the initial AFW actuation signal, additional operator action was required to start the 1A A and 1B B motor driven pumps. For the Train A MDAFW, the pump did not receive an auto start signal due to the loss of Vital Board 1 I. This resulted from the power for the signal generating circuit being lost with the Vital Board. The evaluation performed to establish the cause for the Train B MDAFW not starting found that the breaker for the pump did not close as a result of the automatic signal initiated by the low SG level. The breaker was subsequently tested and performed as designed and therefore, no conclusive cause was found for the breaker not closing. However, it was established that the most likely cause of the problem was dirty relay contacts on the 1X and 30RX relays." The licensee informed the NRC resident inspector. Notified R2DO(Sparks). General Information or Other Event Number: 38300 REP ORG: CALIFORNIA RADIATION CONTROL PRGM NOTIFICATION DATE: 09/20/2001 LICENSEE: STEVEN RAAS AND ASSOCIATES, INC. NOTIFICATION TIME: 15:15[EDT] CITY: WATSONVILLE REGION: 4 EVENT DATE: 09/19/2001 COUNTY: STATE: CA EVENT TIME: 16:30[PDT] LICENSE#: 5214 AGREEMENT: Y LAST UPDATE DATE: 09/20/2001 DOCKET: PERSON ORGANIZATION JOHN PELLET R4 SUSAN FRANT NMSS NRC NOTIFIED BY: ROBERT GREGER HQ OPS OFFICER: STEVE SANDIN EMERGENCY CLASS: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR SECTION: NAGR AGREEMENT STATE EVENT TEXT AGREEMENT STATE REPORT INVOLVING A DAMAGED TROXLER GAUGE "A Troxler model 3401B moisture density gauge (serial #016692) was run over by earth moving/compacting equipment while the gauge was in use (i.e., the source rod was extended). The source rod was bent such that the source could not be retracted into the shielded position. The unshielded source contained nominally 10 mCi of Cs 137. The source rod was cut by the fire department with the source in a lead 'pig' provided by the UC Santa Cruz health physics program. The source and the gauge housing will be sent to Troxler for repairs." ***************************************************************** 14 IAEA Daily Press Review IAEA Daily Press Review Date 2001-09-20 Number 181 1. Non-proliferation US orders more than 100 aircraft to bases within striking distance of Afghanistan. US, Russia continue cooperation in scrapping Soviet-era nuclear submarines. UN conference on nuclear test ban treaty postponed because of terrorist attacks. (DAW; FT; R - 20/9) Afghanistan; Russian Federation; UN; United States of America 2. IAEA Iraq asks IAEA to resume ties with it. 11 Member States newly elected to IAEA Board of Governors. (FT - 20/9) Iraq 3. Illicit trafficking Nuclear 'trigger' dealer arrested in Spain. (T - 21/9) Israel; Spain 4. Terrorism Iraq offers support to US in wake of terrorist attacks. Russia's lower house of parliament proposes creation of global body to fight international terrorism. Japan informs India, Pakistan of decision to provide emergency economic aid in attempt to support countries cooperating in fight against terrorism in Middle East. (CNN; R - 20/9) Iraq; Japan; Russian Federation; United States of America 5. Nuclear power Fission reaction at Czech NPP Temelin restarted. Austria should give up demand for halt to NPP Temelin, EU Commissioner says. Nuclear heating project likely to resume in Russia. Lithuania must close down NPP Ignalina-2 by 2009, EU Commissioner says. (FT; R - 20, 21/9) Austria; Czech Republic; EU; Lithuania; Russian Federation 6. Nuclear safety Experts warn of 'nightmare' nuclear scenario in Pakistan if control of nuclear weapons were lost. Terrorist attack calls into question new reactor designs. Article on resistance of NPPs to terrorist attacks; IAEA spokesman defines NPPs as small objects for aerial targeting in comparison with other facilities. Northern Russian town Roslyakovo, where the sunken submarine 'Kursk' will be delivered after salvage, considers strategy in event of sudden emergency. Norwegian experts are concerned about possibility of accidental cruise missile launch form 'Kursk'. Czech Army ready to destroy unidentified planes overflying NPPs. (FT; OSH; SDZ - 21/9) Czech Republic; Germany; Pakistan; Russian Federation; South Africa; United States of America 7. Radiation, health New radiation emergency regulations come into force in UK. Users get chance to check mobile-phone radiation. (R - 21/9) United Kingdom; WORLDWIDE 8. Radwaste, fuel US, Russia make progress on storage of nuclear materials in excess of weapon needs. IAEA; Russian Federation; United States of America 9. UN Speaking about fighting terrorism on global front, UN Secretary General issues call to 'confront violence, bigotry and hatred', persevere in 'creating stronger, more just, more benevolent' international community across all lines of religion and race'. Working with UN could avert military strikes in Middle East; US Defence Secretary insists on US right to 'free hand' when it comes to force. (G; NYT; T - 21/9) Asia; United States of America; WORLDWIDE ***************************************************************** 15 IAEA Daily Press Review IAEA Daily Press Review Date 2001-09-20 Number 180 1. Non-proliferation Pentagon reportedly orders combat aircraft to Persian Gulf, recommends use of tactical nuclear weapons as option to retaliate for terrorist attacks. Japan discusses new law clearing way to assist US military action. US plan to lift nuclear-related sanctions on India, Pakistan. Former DPRK researcher claims DPRK moved its entire nuclear development programme to new underground bunkers before US inspections of old facilities. UK Labour Party activists criticize US MD plan. (FT; JAP; OSH; R - 18, 19, 20/9) Dem. P.R. of Korea; India; Japan; Pakistan; United Kingdom; United States of America 2. IAEA IAEA General Conference continues against background of possible terrorist nuclear material diversions and resistance to aerial attack of NPPs. IAEA's spokesman says most NPPs built in 1960s-70s were designed to withstand only accidental impacts from smaller aircraft, sees chance of successful targeting NPP as 'very small indeed'. (NW - 20/9) IAEA 3. Terrorism President Bush appeals for help of allies; several countries offer their support, express reservations regarding planned US retaliation. EU leaders to hold emergency summit. UK and US to plan border-crossing antiterrorism strategy. Iraq denies role in terrorist attacks. Pakistani president tries to calm opponents of cooperation with US; US to reward Pakistan with billions in aid. North Africa seeks US, EU aid to combat militants. Kazakhstan denies sale of nuclear weapons to prime suspect in terrorist attacks. (BBC; FT; IHT; R - 18, 19, 20/9) Algeria; EU; France; Iraq; Kazakhstan; Pakistan; Russian Federation; United States of America 4. Nuclear power Terrorist attacks cause increased scrutiny of safety for future nuclear projects. Lithuania to set date for closure of NPP Ignalina in 2002. (NW; R - 19, 20/9) Lithuania; WORLDWIDE 5. Nuclear safety Russia proposes measures for stepping up nuclear safety. Swiss NPPs deemed safe from attack. Germany, Slovakia, Sweden step up security measures at their NPPs. IAEA experts state it is hard to provide absolute resistance and full protection of nuclear facilities. (FT; NZZ; R; S - 20/9) Germany; IAEA; Russian Federation; Slovakia; Sweden; Switzerland 6. Radiation, health Safety of mobile telephones is in doubt again. (R - 18/9) WORLDWIDE 7. Radwaste, fuel BNFL's MOX plant at Sellafield to be approved by UK government. (FT - 20/9) United Kingdom 8. UN UN Security Council calls on Afghanistan to hand over main suspect in terrorist attacks. French president urges UN Security Council to lead fight against terrorism. Swiss parliament votes to recommend joining UN. (BBC; NZZ; WP - 20/9) Afghanistan; Switzerland; UN 9. Miscellaneous 'Kursk' reactors reportedly to be examined before final salvage operation. (FT - 20/9) Russian Federation ***************************************************************** 16 NRC finds safety violation at Md. Calvert Cliffs nuke [Reuters] Friday September 21, 8:17 am Eastern Time NEW YORK, Sept 21 (Reuters) - The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) said late Thursday it found a violation of NRC safety rules at the Calvert Cliffs nuclear power plant in Maryland. The NRC, in a statement, characterized the findings as ``yellow,'' meaning it is an issue of substantial importance to safety that will result in additional NRC inspection. The plant, located in Lusby, Md., is operated by Constellation Nuclear, a unit of diversified energy giant Constellation Energy Group Inc. (NYSE:CEG - news) of Baltimore. The violation is based on an NRC inspection conducted in June and July of this year that looked into the failure of an auxiliary feedwater pump during a test on May 16. The auxiliary feedwater system is a backup system that provides water to the plant's steam generators in the event the main feedwater system is lost. The NRC said its inspectors found Constellation workers failed to adhere to maintenance instructions during maintenance on the pump and applied too much sealant to the bearing housing, contaminating the bearing oil which resulted in the bearing failure. NRC officials classify certain conditions at nuclear power plants as being one of four colors which delineate increasing levels of severity. The findings begin with ``green'' and progress in severity to ``white,'' ``yellow'' or ``red.'' The NRC said the company has taken corrective action to correct the problem and the pump was tested satisfactorily. --Scott DiSavino, New York Power Desk, +646-223-6072, fax +646-223-6079, e-mail scott.disavino@reuters.com ***************************************************************** 17 Cost of closing down Slovak nuclear power station to be shared by EU BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Sep 21, 2001 Text of report in English by Slovak news agency TASR web site Bratislava, 20 September: Towards the cost of closing Slovakia's Jaslovske Bohunice nuclear power plant, the European Commission, through the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), will provide 150m euros (6.5bn Slovak korunas), Slovak Economy Minister Lubomir Harach confirmed Thursday [20 September]. A framework agreement on creating a fund for the money, and on the gradual release of the money up to 2006, should be signed by the end of the year, he told a press conference. As part of its European Union accession process, and under pressure from neighbouring nuclear-free Austria, Slovakia has agreed to close down the plant's two reactors, in 2006 and 2008. Signing of the agreement will coincide with the transfer of the first 10m euros of the EC money. The draft agreement states that the suppliers and sub-suppliers of the decommissioning work will be Slovak companies. Additional issues connected with the closure will be addressed in a financial memorandum with the European PHARE fund, due to be signed before March 2002. Under the plans for decommissioning, the plant structure should be conserved for 70-80 years after closure and then abolished completely. However, experts are looking at the possibility of using the site for a steam-gas generator or even for a new nuclear power station. Either alternative would require international support and participation, said Harach. [One dollar equals 47.24 Slovak korunas.] Source: TASR web site, Bratislava, in English 1619 gmt 20 Sep 01 /BBC Monitoring/ © BBC. World Reporter All Material Subject to Copyright ***************************************************************** 18 ADAMS: Items of Interest - Friday, September 21, 2001 State of Nevada Agency for Nuclear Projects ADAMS - Items of Interest Recent Released Documents Added - Friday, September 21, 2001 These documents and others may be retrieved at the NRC PERR web site -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Item ID: 012630080 Accession Number: ML012560048 Document Date: 9/12/01 Title: 08/01 - August 2001 Update to the Chairman's Tasking Memorandum (CTM). Author Affiliation: NRC/EDO Document/Report Number: _________________________________________________________________ Item ID: 012630234 Accession Number: ML012630160 Document Date: 8/14/01 Title: 08/14/01, Summary of Info Collection Request, 10 CFR Part 63, Disposal of High-Level Radioactive Wastes in a Proposed Geologic Repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. Author Affiliation: NRC/OCIO/IRDMD/RMB Document/Report Number: _________________________________________________________________ Item ID: 012630216 Accession Number: ML012630071 Document Date: 9/19/01 Title: 09/20/01-Closed Commission Meeting Certification-dated 09/19/01 Author Affiliation: NRC/OGC Document/Report Number: _________________________________________________________________ Item ID: 012630218 Accession Number: ML012630147 Document Date: 9/20/01 Title: 09/24/01 - 10/29/01 Commission Meetings - FRN Author Affiliation: NRC/SECY Document/Report Number: _________________________________________________________________ Item ID: 012630056 Accession Number: ML012620447 Document Date: 9/19/01 Title: 10/03/2001 Meeting w/United States Enrichment Corporation re follow-up to 08/22/2001 meeting re importation of depleted uranium. Author Affiliation: NRC/NMSS/FCSS/SPB Document/Report Number: _________________________________________________________________ Item ID: 012630336 Accession Number: ML012620528 Document Date: 9/19/01 Title: 10/04/01 Meeting with Duke Power on Fees for Research activities related to use of mixed oxide fuel. Author Affiliation: NRC/NRR/DLPM/LPD2 Document/Report Number: _________________________________________________________________ Item ID: 012630061 Accession Number: ML012620367 Document Date: 9/19/01 Title: 10/17/2001 Meeting with NEI, BWROG and Other Stakeholders Re Potential Changes to 10 CFR 50.46 (LOCA-LOOP Requirement). Author Affiliation: NRC/RES/DRAA/PRAB Document/Report Number: _________________________________________________________________ Item ID: 012630151 Accession Number: ML012420465 Document Date: 8/20/01 Title: Comment (564) submitted by Rufus D Kinney opposing Proposed Rules PR-1, 2, 50, 51, 52, 54, 60, 70, 73, 76 & 110 regarding Changes to Adjudicatory Process. Author Affiliation: - No Known Affiliation Document/Report Number: _________________________________________________________________ Item ID: 012630171 Accession Number: ML012420477 Document Date: 8/22/01 Title: Comment (566) submitted by Sanford M Orlow opposing NRC Proposed Rules PR-1, 2, 50, 51, 52, 54, 60, 70, 73, 76 & 110 regarding Changes to Adjudicatory Process. Author Affiliation: - No Known Affiliation Document/Report Number: _________________________________________________________________ Item ID: 012630220 Accession Number: ML012620352 Document Date: 9/19/01 Title: Draft NUREG-XXXX, [1:7], Cover - Chapter 9, Technical Assessment Generic Issue 186: Potential Risk and Consequences of Heavy Load Drops in Nuclear Power Plants. Author Affiliation: NRC/RES/DSARE Document/Report Number: _________________________________________________________________ Item ID: 012630219 Accession Number: ML012600003 Document Date: 9/14/01 Title: FRN - 486th ACRS Meeting, October 4-6, 2001, Rockville, MD Author Affiliation: NRC/SECY Document/Report Number: _________________________________________________________________ Item ID: 012630150 Accession Number: ML012290512 Document Date: 8/2/01 Title: LTR-01-0401 - Ltr. from Sandra Hochstetter, Arkansas Public Service Commission position regarding funding for the decommissioning of Arkansas Nuclear One, Units 1 and 2. Author Affiliation: Arkansas Public Service Commission Document/Report Number: _________________________________________________________________ Item ID: 012630206 Accession Number: ML012630080 Document Date: 9/7/01 Title: Press Release-01-108: NRC Revises Regulations For A Possible Licensing Decision On A Potential Radioactive Waste Repository In Nevada. Author Affiliation: NRC/OPA Document/Report Number: Press Release-01-108 _________________________________________________________________ Item ID: 012630207 Accession Number: ML012630041 Document Date: 9/11/01 Title: Press Release-01-109: NRC Urges Increased Security. Author Affiliation: NRC/OPA Document/Report Number: Press Release-01-109 _________________________________________________________________ Item ID: 012630205 Accession Number: ML012630054 Document Date: 9/14/01 Title: Press Release-I-01-056: NRC Issues Finding Of Low To Moderate Safety Significance To Susquehanna Nuclear Plant. Author Affiliation: NRC/OPA:RGN-I/FO Document/Report Number: _________________________________________________________________ Item ID: 012630202 Accession Number: ML012630086 Document Date: 9/5/01 Title: Press Release-II-01-037: NRC Staff To Hold Public Meeting At Turkey Point To Discuss Inspection Of Plant's License Renewal Program. Author Affiliation: NRC/OPA:RGN-II/FO Document/Report Number: Press Release-II-01-037 _________________________________________________________________ Item ID: 012630203 Accession Number: ML012630093 Document Date: 9/7/01 Title: Press Release-II-01-038: NRC To Hold Public Meetings On McGuire Nuclear Station License Renewal. Author Affiliation: NRC/OPA:RGN-II/FO Document/Report Number: Press Release-II-01-038 _________________________________________________________________ Item ID: 012630204 Accession Number: ML012630066 Document Date: 9/14/01 Title: Press Release-III-01-043: NRC Staff Proposes $11,000 Fine For Radiation Overexposure Last Year At Southeast Missouri State Univ. Author Affiliation: NRC/OPA:RGN-III/FO Document/Report Number: Press Release-III-01-043 _________________________________________________________________ Item ID: 012630341 Accession Number: ML012390086 Document Date: 9/4/01 Title: SECY-01-0169 - IAEA-Proposed "International Legal Instrument" on Research Reactor Safety. Author Affiliation: NRC/OIP Document/Report Number: SECY-01-0169 ***************************************************************** 19 Reactor at South-Ukrainian power plant restarted after repair BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Sep 21, 2001 Text of report by Ukrainian news agency UNIAN Kiev, 21 September: Generating set No 1 at the South Ukrainian nuclear power station resumed operation in the national power grid at 1946 [1626 gmt] on 20 September after extensive planned repair and fresh nuclear fuel loading, UNIAN learnt at the information centre of the Ukrainian state committee for nuclear regulation. By today morning, the power output at the generating set amounted to 500 MW (50% of the nominal capacity). The output is being gradually increased. According to the schedule of works, the reactor was to be restarted on 24 September. [Passage omitted: repair works continue at three Ukrainian reactors] Source: UNIAN news agency, Kiev, in Ukrainian 0634 gmt 21 Sep 01 /BBC Monitoring/ © BBC. World Reporter All Material Subject to ***************************************************************** 20 Radioactive dumps ruled out by Labor The Advertiser: 21 September 2001 By Chief Political Reporter PHILLIP COOREY NO radioactive waste dumps would be set up in SA under a federal Labor government. Opposition Leader Kim Beazley and his environment spokesman, Nick Bolkus, yesterday withdrew Labor's support for a national low-level waste dump to be built near Woomera. Labor already opposes siting a separate medium-level dump in SA. "South Australia and its people have had more than their share of unsafe and ill-considered nuclear experimentation," the pair said in a statement. "The lack of scientific certainty on critical management issues means that now is not the time for construction of new nuclear waste facilities." They accused Industry Minister Nick Minchin of arrogance, saying he was obsessed with establishing the dump against the will of the SA community. "The silence of SA's federal Coalition members and candidates on this matter has been equally remarkable," they said. Senator Minchin, who has pushed establishment of both dumps well into next year and beyond the election, accused Labor of hypocrisy. Moves to establish a low-level waste dump began under the Keating government when Opposition treasurer Simon Crean was primary industries and energy minister. "The timing of this announcement says it all. It is nothing more than a typical Labor political stunt aimed at stirring up community concern," Senator Minchin said. "What does Kim Beazley intend to do with waste sitting in hospital basements in capital cities around the country?" Plans are well advanced for the underground low-level dump, which would take waste, including that from industry and hospitals, and contaminated soil shifted from Victoria to Woomera by the Keating government. The Government has selected a desert site at Evetts Field, west of the Woomera-Roxby Downs road, and environmental assessments are under way. It is expected to be operational next year but, if Labor wins the election, another site outside SA would have to be found. The medium-level dump is a more contentious issue. It would take more dangerous waste such as reprocessed fuel rods from the Lucas Heights reactor. In February, Senator Minchin announced the above-ground medium-level dump would be built on Commonwealth land and take Commonwealth waste only. The states could build their own dumps or pay to use the Commonwealth facility, he said. Senator Minchin ruled out locating the medium-level dump alongside the low-level dump but it could still be built elsewhere in SA. A search is under way for the medium-level dump site and no announcement will be made until late next year. © 2001 Advertiser Newspapers Ltd ***************************************************************** ***************************************************************** NUCLEAR WEAPONS ARTICLES ***************************************************************** 1 New Web worm slows Hanford employees This story was published Thu, Sep 20, 2001 By the Herald staff and The Associated Press Hanford workers stayed off the Internet on Wednesday and were unable to communicate with one another on small computer networks within the complex that use shared drives. At Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, computer specialists shut down the lab's Web site, and workers also were barred from logging onto the Web. The problem was the latest Internet worm, the complex "Nimda" program that has struck computer systems around the world. The viruslike program spreads rapidly to infect computers running Microsoft's Windows operating system. "I think it's going to be around for a while," said Marc Van den Dikkenberg of Amerion, formerly Boss, Internet company in Pasco. Nimda has multiple ways to look for weaknesses it can exploit to infect computer systems and spread, Van den Dikkenberg said. Once it infects a computer, it heads to the e-mail address list to mail itself out through an attachment. The attachment may be named "README.EXE." It also can infect Web sites running Microsoft's Internet Information Services software. Once a Web site is infected, any Web user accessing it can get the worm. When one computer on a company network is infected, it can travel across the network to attack other computers. An entire corporate network can be infected if even a single worker visits a Web site with the worm. On Wednesday the program was generating a lot of Internet traffic as it caused computers to try to infect one another, Van den Dikkenberg said. Experts implored computer users to update their antivirus software and visit Microsoft's Web site to download protective software before reading their e-mail or visiting other Web sites. But because so many computer users don't update their virus killer or haven't downloaded software to plug holes found in Windows since the software was released, Van den Dikkenberg predicted the worm will not be eradicated quickly. About 40 computers at Hanford had been affected by Wednesday afternoon, said Guy Schein, a Department of Energy spokesman. Some city and county governments also reported some computers with the problem, but most were not barring employees from using the Internet. The worm was discovered Tuesday in the United States and Wednesday was striking companies around the world, shutting down sites in Norway, Japan and elsewhere. The only clues to Nimda's origin are the words "Copyright 2001 R.P.China," which indicate a possible -- but far from definite -- link to China. Alan Paller, director of research at the Sans Institute, a computer security think tank, said Nimda is far more efficient and powerful than the "Code Red" worm, which hit in July and August. "Each time we turn over a rock, there's another ... way it weaves itself in," Paller said. Every major antivirus company has updated software that can detect and remove Nimda. Microsoft has provided several different updates for Web servers and home computers on its Web site. Go to www.microsoft.com/technet/security/topics/nimda.asp. Copyright 2001 Tri-City Herald. All rights reserved. This ***************************************************************** 2 Glitches reduce Hanford cleanup leeway This story was published Thu, Sep 20, 2001 By John Stang Herald staff writer Several equipment glitches in August reduced the cushion in Hanford's K Basins project's timetable, the Department of Energy reported. However, the project still is slightly ahead of schedule in removing spent nuclear fuel from the basins, said Larry Earley, the Department of Energy's operations and maintenance manager for the spent nuclear fuel project. The K Basins are two water-filled, leak-prone indoor pools near the Columbia River that hold 2,300 tons of spent nuclear fuel. Hanford is supposed to remove all the fuel, vacuum dry the fuel inside special containers and store the containers in an underground vault in central Hanford by 2004. The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, an advisory panel of nuclear experts, cited six equipment problems this summer that showed up while fuel was being packaged underwater and removed from the K West Basin. These problems took equipment out of service -- in one case for several days, the board's memos said. Earley said the same technical glitches bothered DOE. But he noted the K Basins' custom equipment is the first of it kind anywhere. "Equipment failures were not unexpected," Earley said. The various problems do not appear to have any common causes, he added. Fluor was able to shift and juggle the use of equipment inside the K West pool to keep some fuel work going while the problems were fixed, Earley said. Right now, the project is about two weeks ahead of schedule, which calls for moving 25 canisters of fuel to the storage vault by Sept. 30. By February, the K Basins project is expected to be operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Right now it is working 16 hours a day, five days a week with some overtime work on the weekends. Copyright 2001 Tri-City Herald. All rights reserved. This ***************************************************************** 3 U.S. and Russia Make Progress on Storage of Nuclear Materials Environment News Service: VIENNA, Austria, September 19, 2001 (ENS) - The development of a system to verify the location and status of nuclear weapons material released from defense programs in the United States and Russia has passed its annual review at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) conference in Vienna this week. The agency's 45th General Conference opened on a somber note with a moment of silence followed by a performance by the Vienna Boys Choir to honor the victims of the tragedy in the United States. [elBaradei] The IAEA General Conference approved by acclamation the reappointment of Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei, incumbent director general. (Photos courtesy IAEA) IAEA verification of Russian and American nuclear material is intended to promote international confidence that fissile material made subject by either of the two nations to agency verification "remains irreversibly removed from nuclear weapon programs," the agency said. U.S. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham, together with Minister of the Russian Federation on Atomic Energy Alexander Rumyantsev, and Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency Mohamed ElBaradei met in Vienna Tuesday to review progress. The three leaders said "significant progress was made" in the development of a model for the Subsidiary Arrangements that provide details for the implementation of the new agreements. These arrangements include facility-specific information, reporting requirements, the technical criteria for verification and the inspection procedures to be applied. Specific storage facilities being considered under the agreement are the Mayak Fissile Material Storage Facility in the Russian Federation, and the Savannah River K-Area Material Storage Facility, and the Lynchburg Babcock and Wilcox Uranium Downblending Facility in the United States. "The removal of weapon origin fissile material from the defense programs of the Russian Federation and the United States is in furtherance of the commitment to disarmament undertaken by the two States pursuant to Article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT)." the IAEA said. Technically, the three parties are collaborating in developing and testing special verification equipment for use with classified forms of plutonium. This equipment will incorporate neutron and gamma ray measurement systems operating within a system of "information barriers" designed to allow the inspectors to derive sufficient information for the verification to be credible and independent, while preventing access to classified information. A prototype of this equipment has been demonstrated in the United States. The U.S. and Russia are developing contracts to support the design, construction and testing of such a measurement system in the Russian Federation. [seals] IAEA safeguards seals are verified with laser disk recording. The three parties are also collaborating on an inventory monitoring system that will assure the IAEA has continuity of knowledge once an item of material is verified and placed in storage to assure the material remains in storage as declared by either nation. A number of technical workshops were conducted in the past year. A technical workshop was held in the United States at the Sandia National Laboratories in November 2000 to consider appropriate inventory monitoring techniques. A second technical workshop was held at the Plutonium Fuel Production Facility of the Japan Nuclear Cycle Development Institute in April 2001 to consider how state-of-the-art safeguards systems employed for non-proliferation purposes could be adapted for disarmament verification. In addition, a technical visit was made in March 2001 to British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. in Sellafield, United Kingdom to observe measurement and monitoring activities in a large plutonium storage facility. Secretary Abraham, Minister Rumyantsev, and Director General ElBaradei committed their respective organizations to a work program aimed at the completion of a new verification agreement, the Subsidiary Arrangements, the specific verification arrangements for the facilities identified by both countries and the development of specialized verification and inventory monitoring systems. They agreed that the parties would meet again in September 2002 to oversee the implementation of the initiative. ***************************************************************** 4 Weapons-grade plutonium production to stop in Russia's Tomsk Region BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Sep 21, 2001 Text of report in English by Russian news agency ITAR-TASS Seversk, Tomsk region, 21 September: Nuclear reactors of the Siberian chemical complex situated in the closed city of Seversk in the Tomsk region will stop the manufacture of weapons-grade plutonium. ITAR-TASS learnt from the information department of the high security enterprise on Friday [21 September] that the decision to this effect was taken by the Russia's Atomic Energy Ministry. It was earlier planned that with the stoppage of plutonium production the reactors will also be shut down but it has now been decided that they will continue operating till the year 2005 as they supply electricity to Seversk and to considerable part of Tomsk. Over the next two years it is planned to reconstruct nuclear-power generating sets to switch them to generation of electricity without the possibility of their being used for military purposes. Source: ITAR-TASS news agency, Moscow, in English 0720 gmt 21 Sep 01 /BBC Monitoring/ © BBC. World Reporter All Material Subject to ***************************************************************** 5 Russian naval command says no nuclear weapons on board Kursk submarine BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Sep 21, 2001 Text of report in English by Russian news agency Interfax Murmansk, 21 September: The Russian Northern Fleet command has declared that there were no nuclear weapons aboard the submarine Kursk at the time of its sinking last year, fleet commander Adm Vyacheslav Popov announced at the press centre covering the international effort to lift the Kursk. "I give full guarantees of that," he said. In his turn, Deputy Navy Commander-in-Chief Mikhail Barskov told journalists he had given a personal written pledge to Western experts that nuclear weapons were absent from the Kursk. Participants at the news conference said they are sure that nothing but the weather can obstruct the salvage operation because it has been planned to the last detail. Source: Interfax news agency, Moscow, in English 0822 gmt 21 Sep 01 /BBC Monitoring/ © BBC. World Reporter All Material Subject to ***************************************************************** 6 Iraq asks IAEA to resume ties with it, dispel hostile political manoeuvres BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Sep 20, 2001 Text of report by Iraqi news agency INA web site Vienna, 20 September: Iraq has called on the General Congress of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), currently convening in Vienna, to shoulder its full responsibility by giving Iraq its rights and helping it overcome the huge damage it suffered as a result of the continuous aggression and unjust siege. Iraq asked the congress to keep away from the pressures of the big powers that want to use the IAEA to realize aggressive political objectives against certain countries and peoples. Dr Fadhil al-Janabi, head of the Iraqi delegation to the 45th session of the IAEA General Congress, called on the congress to dispel anti-Iraq political manoeuvres and manipulations, which prevented the agency from carrying out its tasks stipulated in the Security Council resolutions in its capacity as a professional international organization. He said the reports issued by the agency in the recent years of its work in Iraq showed directly and indirectly that its work in Iraq has been completed in accordance with Article C of Resolution 687 and Articles 12 and 13 related to the work of the IAEA inspection teams. These teams completed two inspection operations in Iraq; the first in January 2000, and the second in January 2001. He added that IAEA statements indicated that the nuclear material [in Iraq] is safe, therefore, it is asked, and on the basis of its commitments, to resume full relationship with Iraq and respect its commitments towards Iraq's inalienable rights in accordance with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. He also said that Iraq had cooperated with the agency's employees, experts and missions. The Iraqi delegation called on the IAEA to make serious steps to implement the projects scheduled for Iraq in the years 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002, which have not been carried out due to the tyrannical decisions and US-British pressures on Committee 661. The delegation also said that no substantial progress has been made by the agency in curtailing the results of the continuous and daily aggression against Iraq and the resulting dangerous pollution it causes to the environment in spite of Iraq's efforts to fight the pollution threats and the fact that Iraq's capabilities in this field have been affected by the unjust siege. Iraq asked the agency to help it in the field of rehabilitating the radioactive waste station that was destroyed as a result of the aggression. Source: INA news agency web site, Baghdad, in Arabic 20 Sep 01 /BBC Monitoring/ © BBC. World Reporter All Material Subject to ***************************************************************** NOTE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107 this material is distributed without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. 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