for the period January 11 through January 24, 1997
Prepared by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington

Russia

Training Technology Transfer Course Presented in Moscow. During the week of January 13, training staff representatives of Russian nuclear power plants (NPPs) with VVER reactors received an overview of the training course, ASystematic Approach to Training (SAT), in Moscow. The course was developed and presented by a team from Sonalysts, Inc. and Balakovo NPP. The trainers will travel to the United States later this month for more advanced training in SAT and instructor skills. At that time, they also will begin preliminary analysis and design of selected training programs for their respective plants. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

Balakovo Trainers Finalize Training Course. Staff from Balakovo NPP worked with a team from Sonalysts, Inc. to finalize the pilot course for instrumentation and control operations during the week of January 13. The pilot course will be implemented during the week of January 20. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

Russian Analysts Complete Training in Fire Hazards Evaluation. on January 24, nine Russian analysts successfully completed a two-week training course, AUsing the Reactor Core Protection Evaluation Methodology. The Reactor Core Protection Evaluation Methodology, or RCPEM, was written by a working group under the guidance of the U.S. Department of Energy. Following extensive reviews by many international organizations, the RCPEM was finalized in November 1996 and is now ready for use.

The course included five days of instruction and two days each at the University of Maryland and the James A. Fitzpatrick NPP in Oswego, New York. At the University of Maryland, participants worked on fire progression modeling and the development of system dependency models. The time at Fitzpatrick NPP gave course participants a firsthand observation of the changes made after that plant had conducted its safe shutdown study using the RCPEM. After their return to Russia, the newly trained analysts will begin a pilot project in fire hazards evaluation. They will use the RCPEM to analyze a Russian NPP for areas where shutdown systems may malfunction in the event of a fire. (Rich Denning, PNNL, 614-424-7412)

Customs To Release Smolensk Computer Equipment. the Russian Customs committee met and agreed to release computer equipment provided by AmeriData Global Ges m.B.H. of Vienna for the Smolensk Training Center. Release as duty-free equipment is scheduled for this week. (Tom Vehec, PNNL, 509-372-4072)

Ukraine

Simulator Development Center Ready To Begin Work. U.S. contractor GSE Power Systems, Inc. reports that all hardware, software, installation, and training services have been supplied or completed at the Engineering Technical Center on Personnel Training for Nuclear Energy (ETC). The ETC, Ukraine's simulator support center in Kyiv, was provided a computer complex to advance the U.S. program's technology transfer efforts to foster an indigenous capability in simulation model development. (Peter Kohut, BNL, 516-344-4982).

Zaporizhzhya Fuel Storage Basket Approaching Destination. The first multi-assembly sealed basket for the dry spent fuel storage system at Zaporizhzhya NPP is moving toward Ukraine. A mid-February delivery to Zaporizhzhya NPP is anticipated. The basket is designed to hold 24 VVER-1000 spent fuel assemblies and to be compatible with Zaporizhzhya's automated fuel-handling equipment. (Mike McKinnon, PNNL, 509-372-4198)

Chornobyl Shelter Project

Timely Delivery Facilitated for Highest-Priority Safety Equipment. During the week of January 20, U.S. program staff and a representative of the Chornobyl Shelter met to finalize the specifications, numbers, and priority levels for safety equipment the program will provide to the shelter. The results of the meetings will facilitate timely delivery of the highest-priority equipment to the Chornobyl Shelter. (Dennis Kreid, PNNL, 509-375-2170)

Preparations Made for First Meeting of International Shelter Project Working Group. The U.S. members of the working group from the International Shelter Project (formerly called the European Commission Shelter Project) met in Richland, Washington, on January 22. The team developed a proposed schedule and list of specific technical task assignments for presentation to the first meeting of the full International Nuclear Safety Project Working Group. That meeting is planned tentatively for early February in Washington, D.C., pending concurrence of the G-7 Nuclear Safety Working Group on the statement of work for the full working group. The U.S. team members continue work toward defining the anticipated deliverables for the overall working group while waiting for the European Commission and other G-7 donor country participants to join them. (Dennis Kreid, PNNL, 509-375-2170)

Cross-Cutting Activities

Standards Developed for Data Collection Process. U.S. project managers involved in plant and generic data collection in former Soviet Union countries met in Atlanta in mid-January to coordinate the data collection efforts to ensure the compatibility of data and data structures. The managers also developed a schedule for completing the generic and plant-specific data collection efforts that support the development of probabilistic risk assessments for the plants. The next major milestone for the group is to present the standardized data collection process and obtain ratification of the process from the users group and program staff. That presentation will take place in April at a joint meeting planned for Slovakia or the Czech Republic. (Tom Vehec, PNNL, 509-372-4072)

Planned Activities

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

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. 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 -- Balakovo NPP, Russia.
The VVER-1000 emergency operating instructions working group will hold a training workshop. Representatives of VNIIAES and Gidropress also will attend. (Kent Faris, PNNL, 509-372-4068) (Workshop No. 97-027; Travel Coordinator Gail Flora, PNNL, 509-375-6554)

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. 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) (Workshop No. 96-074; Travel Coordinator Melinda Stone, PNNL, 509-375-4391)

*January 29-February 15 -- Kyiv and Slavutych, Ukraine.
A delegation representing the U.S. program will meet with Chornobyl NPP representatives. The group will tour and assess the major power plant systems to collect data for use in planning deactivation training for Chornobyl NPP staff. (Riaz Awan, DOE, 301-903-5462)

*January 31-February 4 -- Richland, Washington, USA.
A representative of the State Scientific and Technical Center, Ukraine Ministry of Environmental Protection and Nuclear Safety will meet with program staff at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Discussions will focus on planning for projects related to event reporting and equipment reliability databases, as well as analyses for emergency operating instructions. (Donnie Draper, PNNL, 509-372-4079) (Workshop No. 97-028; Travel Coordinator Gail Flora, PNNL, 509-375-6554)

* Scope Change ÷January 31-February 7 -- Brugge, Belgium.
Program participants from Ukraine and the United States 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. (Dan Giessing, DOE, 301-903-2852) (Workshop No. 97-016; Travel Coordinator Gail Flora, PNNL, 509-375-6554)

*Change in coordinator; date 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. The World Association of Nuclear Operators-Moscow Centre will be coordinating this meeting. (Kent Faris, PNNL, 509-372-4068)

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 3-7 -- Moscow, Russia.
Technical staff from the U.S. program will attend and observe factory acceptance testing of the input/output system of the full-scope simulator for Kola Unit 4. The testing will be done at the facilities of Russian contractor General Energy Technologies (GET). (Peter Kohut, BNL, 516-344-4982)

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)

* Canceled ÷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 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 9-11 -- Slavutych, Ukraine.
Technical leads from the U.S. program will participate in the emergency operating instruction analysis workshop for Chornobyl NPP. They also will meet with Chornobyl's chief engineer to review progress on three projects under way at the plant. (Dennis Meyers, DOE, 301-903-1418)

*February 10-12 -- Vilnius, Lithuania.
Technical staff from the U.S. program and contractor Burns & Roe will meet with representatives of Ignalina NPP to develop a memorandum of understanding for the battery and switchgear upgrade project. (Norman Fletcher, DOE, 301-903-3275)

* Date Change ÷February 10-14 -- Balakovo NPP, Russia.
Sonalysts, Inc. will assist staff of the Balakovo NPP Training Center in implementing the pilot training course, Radiation Protection Shift Supervisor. Training staff representatives from Chornobyl and Khmelnytskyy NPPs and the Novovoronezh Training Center also will attend. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575) (Workshop No. 97-021; Travel Coordinator Melinda Stone, PNNL, 509-375-4391)

* February 10-13 -- St. Petersburg, Russia.
Representatives from the U.S. program and contractor Bechtel National, Inc. will participate in joint technical/contractual meetings with Leningrad NPP officials. Participants will discuss issues regarding the Leningrad proposal for purchase and installation of new plant fire detection equipment. Also to be discussed is a potential task with Leningrad NPP for work related to development of safety parameter display systems. (Rich Reister, DOE, 301-903-0234)

* February 15-March 8 -- Columbia, Maryland, USA.
Seven simulator specialists from Zaporizhzhya NPP will participate in a training course at GSE Power Systems, Inc. (formerly known as S3 Technologies). This course will provide training in UNIX and the simulation software that operates on the full-scope simulator at Zaporizhzhya. (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 Change ÷February 17-28 -- Kozloduy NPP, Bulgaria.
Staff from General Physics Corporation and Sonalysts, Inc. will work with Kozloduy NPP training center staff to develop training programs for control room operators and mechanical maintenance/ rotating equipment. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575).

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 20-21 -- Kyiv, Ukraine.
Program participants from Ukraine will meet with U.S. program technical leads to discuss the work plan and schedule for the Ukraine training technology transfer effort. Representatives from Derzhkomatom and the South Ukraine, Rivne, Zaporizhzhya, and Khmelnytskyy NPPs will attend. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

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)

* Rescheduled ÷ February 22-28 -- 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)

* February 22-March 1 -- Washington, D.C., and Richland, Washington, USA.
Representatives of Rosenergoatom will meet to discuss customs and maintenance issues related to the U.S. program. (Tom Vehec, PNNL, 509-372-4072) (Workshop No. 97-025; Travel Coordinator Gail Flora, PNNL, 509-375-6554)

* February 23-March 1 -- Moscow, Russia
U.S. program experts in plant safety evaluation will meet with staff of ENTEK to discuss the deterministic safety analysis portion of the probabilistic and deterministic safety analysis for Leningrad Unit 2. ENTEK also will present a progress report on the pressure tube rupture propagation efforts under way for Leningrad Unit 2. (Walt Pasedag, DOE, 301-903-3628)

* February 24-27 -- Moscow, Russia.
U.S. program staff from the legislative and regulatory project will participate in a workshop on licensing of nuclear facilities in Russia at the Gosatomnadzor (GAN) Scientific and Engineering Center. This workshop, which also marks the tenth anniversary of GAN's Scientific and Engineering Center, will cover a variety of issues directly related to Russia's transition from a system of operating permits to one of licensing. (Ed Branagan, DOE, 301-903-6509; George Vargo, PNNL, 509-375-6836)

* Canceled ÷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)

* February 24-March 7 -- Zaporizhzhya NPP, Ukraine.
The U.S. program will train technical and engineering staff from Ukrainian NPPs on the use of manual ultrasonic equipment provided by the program in December 1996. The seminar also will cover modern ultrasonic techniques for determining the through-wall extent of defects. (Tom Taylor, PNNL, 509-375-4331)

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)

* March 1-7 -- Vermont Yankee NPP, Vernon, Vermont, USA.
The plant manager and staff representatives from Novovoronezh NPP will participate in a WANO-sponsored exchange meeting with staff of Vermont Yankee NPP. The exchange will cover operational safety topics--conduct of operations, management and operational controls, emergency operating instructions, operator training--plus recent plant events and other items of mutual interest. (Kent Faris, PNNL, 509-372-4068) (Workshop 97-014; Travel Coordinator Gail Flora, PNNL, 509-375-6554)

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 15-April 12 -- Aiken, South Carolina, USA.
Twelve representatives of Russian research reactors will participate in a training workshop at General Physics Corporation facilities. General Physics staff will train the group on the Systematic Approach to Training and instructor skills. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575) (Workshop No. 97-004; Travel Coordinator Melinda Stone, PNNL, 509-375-4391)

* Canceled ÷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 17-22 -- Mohovce NPP, Slovakia.
Regulatory agency representatives from host countries with VVER reactors will attend a regulator workshop hosted by Mohovce NPP. Personnel from each VVER reactor site also will participate. The workshop, which continues work begun at the November meeting in Chattanooga, Tennessee, will cover topics associated with emergency operating instruction development, implementation, and regulation for VVER reactors. U.S. program technical staff also will attend. (Larry Sherfey, PNNL, 509-372-4080)

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)

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)