for the period December 21, 1996 through January 10, 1997
Prepared by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington

Russia

Work Scopes Finalized for Three Safety Analysis Projects. During the week of December 10, U.S. program staff held technical discussions with representatives of Gosatomnadzor (GAN) and the Russian Academy of Sciences Nuclear Safety Institute (IBRAE) on the scope of three safety analysis/support projects. IBRAE will help develop a thermal-hydraulic code certification and validation strategy, extend structural analysis for the VVER-1000 containment system, and develop standardized probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) procedures for Russian nuclear power plants (NPPs). (Jeff Binder, ANL, 630-252-7265)

Status of Kola In-Depth Safety Analysis Clarified. Representatives from the Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), the Kurchatov Institute, the Kola NPP, and ANL met December 16 through 20 in Moscow to discuss the status of the Kola in-depth safety analysis (KOLISA) project. Representatives discussed project guidelines and determined that document preparation is on schedule. A meeting of the SAIC expert and the appropriate representative from the Kola plant resulted in speeding up completion of the human reliability analysis guideline. Progress was made on the input file for the RELAP5 code for the accident analysis calculation portion of the PRA. U.S. team members also discussed the possible inclusion of deterministic safety calculations for Units 1 and 2 with a representative from Gidropress. (Phil Pizzica, ANL, 630-252-4847)

Simulator Review Meeting Held in Moscow. During the week of December 2, U.S. program staff participated in project review meetings at the facilities of VNIIAES for five simulator projects. Other participants were GSE Power Systems, Inc. (formerly S3 Technologies) and NPP personnel from Kola, Kalinin, Novovoronezh, South Ukraine, and Chornobyl. The meetings determined that most of the projects are progressing on schedule. (Peter Kohut, BNL, 516-344-4982).

IBRAE Reviews KOLISA Project Documents. IBRAE completed its review of four Kola procedure guides that were prepared by the Kola project team. Project Quality Assurance Procedures; Initiating Event Identification and Grouping; System Analysis (Fault Tree Development); and Data Analysis have been reviewed in Russian and all but Project Quality Assurance Procedures in English. The reviewed documents have been distributed to ANL, SAIC, and the Russian organizations involved in the KOLISA PRA. (Ted Ginsberg, BNL, 516-344-2620).

Ukraine

First Fuel Storage Basket Shipped to Zaporizhzhya. The first multi-assembly sealed basket, designed and fabricated for dry storage of VVER-1000 spent nuclear fuel, was shipped and is expected to arrive at Zaporizhzhya NPP in mid-February. The basket is designed to hold 24 spent fuel assemblies and is compatible with the automated fuel-handling equipment at Zaporizhzhya. During construction, the design specification was tightened to be compatible with the automated fuel-handling equipment, which decreased dimensional tolerances and increased the difficulty in fabricating a conforming basket. The basket will be tested at Zaporizhzhya NPP to determine its acceptability. (Mike McKinnon, PNNL, 509-372-4198)

Khmelnytskyy Full-Scope Simulator Project Reviewed. U.S. program staff reviewed the simulator project at the Khmelnytskyy plant site. Integration activities by GSE Power Systems, Inc. are proceeding despite difficulties caused by ongoing construction activities at the Training Center. Program staff and plant management also discussed possible participants and translation requirements for the simulator testing activities. (Peter Kohut, BNL, 516-344-4982)

Chornobyl Shelter Project

Position Paper Prepared . The U.S. program has prepared a position paper proposing the scope of work, organization, and key participants for a technical working group. The working group has been chartered to define further the recommended short- and long-term measures from the European Commission shelter study. The paper is being reviewed with the U.S. Department of State to support planned discussions and agreement with the European Commission and Ukrainian participants. The technical working group expects to begin activities on this task in late January, with completion in 6 to 8 weeks. (Dennis Kreid, PNNL, 509-375-2170)

Central and Eastern Europe

Kozloduy Configuration Management Project Team Meets. Members of the Kozloduy configuration management working group visited the United States for meetings and tours. Several meetings were held at American Technology International's offices in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and participants discussed project deliverables, the master equipment list, and strategy for implementing working-level procedures. The Kozloduy staff gave a presentation on the background and organization of Kozloduy NPP, the obstacles they face in fully implementing configuration management, and their plans for the next several months. Participants visited the Watts Bar NPP and two facilities at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The visitors saw demonstrations of configuration management databases and discussed its implementation. (Dan Couch, PNNL, 509-372-4591)

Cross-Cutting Activities

Inservice Inspection Workshop Held. During the week of December 16, technical experts in inservice inspection from the United States, Russia, and Ukraine met in Augusta, Georgia, to develop a mutual understanding of the processes used in their countries. Inservice inspection is part of the periodic maintenance performed at all nuclear power plants; it monitors the structural integrity of components and piping critical to their safe operation. The workshop included two days of technical seminars, tours of the ultrasonic inspection equipment that prepared Savannah River Site for restart, and a tour of Vogtle NPP. The final two days of the workshop were devoted to outlining areas of technology transfer and collaboration among the participants. Implementing the new technologies at NPPs will improve safety by reducing radiological exposure and improving maintenance and performance. (Tom Taylor, PNNL, 509-375-4331)

Planned Activities

"*" indicates the event is a new item or has been changed from the last report.

January 13-17 -- Moscow, Russia.
A course on the Systematic Approach to Training will be given in Moscow for participants of the training technology transfer program. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575) (Workshop No. 97-003; Travel Coordinator Melinda Stone, PNNL, 509-375-4391)

January 13-24 -- Balakovo NPP, Russia.
Sonalysts, Inc. and Balakovo NPP training staff will implement the pilot training course for instrumentation and control technicians. Sonalysts staff will work with Balakovo NPP training staff to continue developing the safety inspector training course. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575) (Workshop No. 97-004; Travel Coordinator Melinda Stone, PNNL, 509-375-4391)

January 13-24 -- Fitzpatrick NPP, Scriba, New York; and Washington, D.C.
Instructors from the U.S. program and contractors Bechtel, Burns & Roe, the University of Maryland, and Engineering Planning and Management, Inc. will train Russian NPP staff and regulators in the reactor core protection evaluation methodology. That methodology will be applied in a pilot study in Russia. (Rich Denning, PNNL, 614-424-7412)

*January 17-31 -- Sosnovy Bor, Russia; Helsinki, Finland; and Stockholm, Sweden.
A U.S. technical expert will participate in a Leningrad NPP Unit 2 Probabilistic Safety Assessment (PSA) workshop at Sosnovy Bor. He will attend discussions about the external review with STUK (the Finnish regulator) and attend meetings and a workshop on DOE and Swedish International Project activities. These activities include 1) development of Ignalina NPP emergency operating instructions (EOIs), 2) the status of the EOI deliverable, 3) the Ignalina NPP Configuration Management Improvement project, and 4) the effect of the recent DOE/ENTEK intellectual property clause on the Leningrad NPP Unit 2 PSA work. (Walt Pasedag, DOE, 301-903-3628)

*January 19-28 -- Moscow, Russia; Kyiv, Ukraine.
U.S. experts will meet with Derzhkomatom and staff of two NPPs and a Ukrainian design organization to initiate the VVER-1000 safety parameter display system project. A preliminary specification will be developed for a competitive procurement for a U.S. vendor. They also will discuss the input/output data matrix, status of EOIs, and critical safety parameters. (Norman Fletcher, DOE, 301-903-3275)

January 20-30 -- Kyiv and Slavutych, Ukraine.
U.S. experts will evaluate potential facilities to house the Chornobyl Center for Nuclear Safety, Radioactive Waste and Radioecology. They also will discuss the possibility of Italian participation with representatives of that country. (Kristen Suokko, DOE, 202-586-5559)

*January 21-24 -- Moscow, Russia.
U.S. program personnel will meet at Rosenergoatom offices to discuss program activities. They will meet with representatives of Bechtel National, Rosenergoatom, Russian industry, and NPPs to discuss technology transfer in the manufacture of circuit breakers. They also will meet with Rosenergoatom, Burns & Roe, SAIC, and ConSyst staff to discuss the Novovoronezh safety parameter display system. (Rich Denning, PNNL, 614-424-7412)

January 24-February 2 -- Smolensk NPP, Russia.
A member of the maintenance technology transfer team and two U.S. equipment manufacturers= representatives will provide expert instruction in maintenance technology using equipment recently transferred to plants with RBMK reactors. Designated technical training personnel from each of the RBMK reactor facilities (Ignalina, Leningrad, Smolensk, Kursk, and Chornobyl) are the trainees. (Bob Moffitt, PNNL, 509-372-4108) (Workshop No. 97-009; Travel Coordinator Gail Flora, PNNL, 509-375-6554)

January 25-February 1 -- Moscow, Russia.
Program experts in probabilistic safety analysis will participate in a review meeting for the KOLISA project. Expected to participate are staff from Kola NPP, IBRAE, the Kurchatov Institute, and U.S. contractor SAIC. The U.S. team members then will hold working meetings with their technical counterparts on the IBRAE quality assurance and peer review teams. (Walt Pasedag, DOE, 301-903-3628)

*January 25-February 6 -- London, England, and Slavutych, Ukraine.
U.S. experts will share information with representatives of AEA Technologies on the condition and reliability of the fossil-fuel thermal energy plants at Chornobyl NPP. AEA has done preliminary work to quantify the need for more thermal energy capacity at the site. The shutdown of Unit 1 has raised concerns by the Ukrainian Ministry of Safety for the safety of the single unit left operating at the site. A team of U.S. power plant engineers will acquire information and evaluate alternatives for the thermal energy needs of the site. (Riaz Awan, DOE, 301-903-5462)

January 25-February 8 -- Chornobyl NPP, Ukraine.
Sonalysts, Inc. and General Physics Corporation will work with the Chornobyl NPP training development group on the Control Room Operator and Radiation Protection Technician training courses. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

*January 26-27 -- Kyiv, Ukraine.
U.S. program personnel will meet at Derhzkomatom with Burns & Roe, Ukrainian industry, and NPP staffs to develop agreements related to the provision of safety parameter display systems to VVER-1000 plants in Ukraine. (Rich Denning, PNNL, 614-424-7412)

January 26-29 -- Paris, France.
A technical leader from the U.S. will attend a meeting of the Ignalina Safety Panel. The Ignalina safety analysis report and reports of the task teams who wrote the report will be reviewed. (Walt Pasedag, DOE, 301-903-3628)

January 26-February 1 -- Moscow and Novovoronezh NPP, Russia.
Management and operational safety project staff will hold meetings with representatives of Balakovo and Novovoronezh NPPs and Rosenergoatom to initiate the Russian configuration management project. Details of implementing the project will be discussed at Novovoronezh NPP; a final meeting at Rosenergoatom offices will focus on defining and agreeing to the scope of work and roles and responsibilities for all project participants. (Dennis Meyers, DOE, 301-903-1418).

January 26-February 7 -- Khmelnytskyy NPP, Ukraine.
General Physics Corporation will assist Khmelnytskyy NPP in implementing the pilot Chemical Operator training course. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

January 26 -February 21 -- Aiken, South Carolina, USA.
As part of the training technology transfer program, representatives from Russian VVERs and Bilibino NPP will attend a course on the Systematic Approach to Training and instructor skills. General Physics and Sonalysts staff will present the course, which includes a visit to a U.S. NPP training center. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575) (Workshop No. 97-005; Travel Coordinator Melinda Stone, PNNL, 509-375-4391)

*January 27-February 1 -- Richland, Washington, USA.
A kickoff meeting of the Ukraine Quality Assurance Working Group will be held to discuss improving safety by communicating lessons learned. Communication of ideas, techniques, and methods that do not work may reduce the risk of an accident; communication of those that do work can prevent other plants from "reinventing the wheel." Representatives from Ukrainian NPPs, Derhzkomatom, the U.S. program, and Ukrainian and U.S. consultants plan to attend. Participants will develop a project work plan for program review and approval. (Bob Moffitt, PNNL, 509-372-4108) (Workshop No. 97-008; Travel Coordinator Gail Flora, PNNL, 509-375-6554)

January 29-February 1 -- Moscow, Russia.
A U.S. program expert in plant safety evaluation will meet with ENTEK staff to review the status of two projects at Leningrad NPP. ENTEK will present a progress report on the deterministic safety analysis and pressure tube rupture propagation efforts under way for Leningrad Unit 2. ENTEK is expected to provide information on its project management and controls as well as proposed approaches for providing quality products. (Walt Pasedag, DOE, 301-903-3628)

January 29-February 7 -- Fitzpatrick NPP, Scriba, New York; and Washington, D.C.
Instructors from the U.S. team and contractors Bechtel, Burns & Roe, the University of Maryland, and EPM will train Ukrainian NPP staff and regulators in the reactor core protection evaluation methodology. The methodology will be applied in a pilot study in Ukraine. (Rich Denning, PNNL, 614-424-7412)

*Rescheduled * January 31-February 7 -- Moscow, Russia.
Program technical experts will visit VNIIAES to evaluate data on its suitability for inclusion in the Russian RBMK reliability database. (Bob Moffitt, PNNL, 509-372-4108)

January 31-February 7 -- Brugge, Belgium.
A U.S. team member will attend the International Workshop on Nuclear Public Information to meet with information officers from nuclear organizations in Europe and the former Soviet Union countries. The workshop will discuss communication practices in the nuclear industry with a focus on Chornobyl and the development of an information exchange forum using the Internet. The U.S. team member also will discuss the needs of the Chornobyl Center with Center staff and begin developing a formal communications/ marketing plan. (Dan Giessing, DOE, 301-903-2852) (Workshop No. 97-016; Travel Coordinator Gail Flora, PNNL, 509-375-6554)

TBD -- Zaporizhzhya NPP, Ukraine.
A VVER-1000 EOI working group meeting will be held at Zaporizhzhya NPP. Representatives from all VVER-1000 NPPs are expected to attend. (Kent Faris, PNNL, 509-372-4068) (Workshop No. 96-103; Travel Coordinator Melinda Stone, PNNL, 509-375-4391)

February 1-8 -- Kyiv, Ukraine.
To initiate the configuration management project in Ukraine, management and operational safety project staff will meet with Derzhkomatom representatives. Discussions will address the scope of work and define the roles and responsibilities of all project participants. (Dennis Meyers, DOE, 301-903-1418)

*February 3 -14 -- Leningrad NPP, Russia.
Sonalysts, Inc. staff will work with Leningrad NPP training staff to develop a training program for unit shift supervisors as part of the training technology transfer program. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

February 3-14 -- Trnava, Slovakia.
Sonalysts, Inc. and General Physics Corporation will present a workshop on the Systematic Approach to Training at the Trnava Training Center. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

February 3-14 -- Balakovo NPP, Russia.
Sonalysts, Inc. staff will meet with Balakovo NPP training staff to assist in implementing the Radiation Protection Technician pilot training course. Personnel from the Chornobyl NPP training staff also will attend. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

*Date Changed*February 5-19 -- Trnava , Slovakia.
U.S. program staff will work with the specialists at the Nuclear Power Plant Research Institute (VUJE) on the continued upgrade of the V1 simulator. The team will focus on development and implementation of additional terminal displays and completion of the validation program. (Bill Shier, BNL, 516-344-2385)

February 17-21 -- Moscow, Russia; and Kyiv, Ukraine.
U.S. program staff will participate in meetings to sign memoranda of understanding for four simulator projects. Discussions also will be held regarding project organizations and other technical details. (Peter Kohut, BNL, 516-344-4982) .

*Date Changed*February 17-28 -- Waterford, Connecticut, USA.
Staff from Balakovo NPP will work with U.S. contractor Sonalysts, Inc. to develop materials for the safety inspector training program. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575) (Workshop No. 97-019; Travel Coordinator Melinda Stone, PNNL, 509-375-4391)

February 22-27-- London, England.
A U.S. fire protection expert will attend Fire & Safety >97, the Second International Conference on Fire Protection and Prevention in Nuclear Facilities. He will present a paper on fire safety upgrades at Soviet-designed NPPs and participate in a workshop for contractors and Russian and Ukrainian participants to describe the reactor core protection evaluation methodology and its planned implementation in Soviet-designed reactors. (Rich Reister, DOE, 301-903-0234) (Workshop No. 97-001; Travel Coordinator Gail Flora, PNNL, 509-375-6554)

February 24-March 7 -- Aiken, South Carolina, USA.
Representatives from the Trnava Training Center will attend a workshop on instructor skills at General Physics Corporation facilities in Aiken. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575) (Workshop No. 97-006; Travel Coordinator Melinda Stone, PNNL, 509-375-4391)

*Date Changed*February 24-March 7 -- Kursk NPP, Russia.
Sonalysts, Inc. staff will work with Kursk NPP training staff to develop a training program on mechanical maintenance as part of the training technology transfer program. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

*February 24-March 7 -- Kozloduy NPP, Bulgaria.
Staff from General Physics Corporation and Sonalysts, Inc. will work with Kozloduy NPP training center staff to develop training programs for 1) control room operators and 2) mechanical maintenance/ rotating equipment. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

*Date and Scope Changed*March 10-21 -- Chornobyl NPP, Ukraine.
Staff from General Physics Corporation and Sonalysts, Inc. will work with the Chornobyl NPP training staff to develop training programs for radiation protection technicians and control room reactor operators. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

March 17-21 -- Trnava, Slovakia.
Sonalysts, Inc. will implement the Simulator Instructor training course at the Trnava Training Center. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

March 17-28 -- Khmelnytskyy NPP, Ukraine.
General Physics Corporation will work with staff of Khmelnytskyy NPP on the Control Room Operator training course. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

*Date Changed*April 14-25 -- Waterford, Connecticut, USA.
Personnel from the Chornobyl NPP training development group will work with staff from Sonalysts, Inc. on the Radiation Protection Technician training course. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575) Workshop No. 97-020; Travel Coordinator Melinda Stone, PNNL, 509-375-4391)