November 22, 1996
Prepared by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington

RUSSIA

Balakovo Trainers Prepare To Implement Water Chemistry Training Program. A team from Sonalysts, Inc. worked with staff from Balakovo nuclear power plant (NPP) to finalize the pilot training course for water chemistry. Activities included training in classroom and on-the-job instructional techniques and skills. The pilot training course will be implemented next week. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

Russian Representatives Attend Training Course. Representatives from the Russian RBMK NPPs and the Smolensk Training Center arrived in the United States for training in the Systematic Approach to Training and instructor skills at the General Physics facility in Aiken, South Carolina. The course is presented by a team from General Physics Corporation and Sonalysts, Inc.; the course, which runs through December 6, will include a visit to a training center at a U.S. NPP. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

UKRAINE

Khmelnytskyy Trainers Implement Refueling Operator Training Course. the Refueling Operator pilot training course was implemented by the staff of Khmelnytskyy training department with assistance from General Physics Corporation experts. The course includes both classroom and on-the-job training and represents a significant advance in training for the critical refueling operator. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

Development of Training Programs Continues at Chornobyl. general Physics Corporation and Sonalysts, Inc. worked with the Chornobyl NPP training development group at Chornobyl NPP on development of the Control Room Reactor Operator and Radiation Protection Technician training programs. The working sessions are focusing on completing job and task analysis and beginning program design. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE

Slovakia V1 Simulator Upgrade Moves Forward. Program technical staff continued upgrading the V1 simulator at the Nuclear Power Research Institute (VUJE) in Trnava, Slovakia. Additional displays for training stations were developed and implemented on the new configuration. U.S. team members discussed the validation calculations with the VUJE specialists, and three transients met the acceptance criteria with few discrepancies. The fourth transient was discussed in detail, and modeling changes are being implemented. The team also began verification of the data displayed on the training terminals. The simulator now has displays functioning on each training station and can be controlled from the instructor's station. (Bill Shier, BNL, 516-344-2385)

CROSS-CUTTING ACTIVITIES

RELAP5 Training Sessions Held. thermal-hydraulic representatives from Russia, Czech Republic, and Slovak Republic are participating in a hands-on RELAP5 training course at Idaho National Engineering Laboratory in Idaho Falls, Idaho. The first two weeks of training have addressed regulatory and safety analysis aspects of RELAP5 capabilities, RELAP5 theory, quality assurance issues, analysis methodology, and modeling techniques. Subsequent sessions will focus specifically on VVER modeling and applications using RELAP5. (Ross Jensen, ANL, 208-533-7911).

PLANNED ACTIVITIES

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

*November 23-December 7 -- Kyiv and Slavutych, Ukraine.
A U.S. team member will meet with the Director of the Chornobyl Center for Nuclear Safety, Radioactive Waste, and Radioecology and also was invited by the Deputy Director General of the Shelter Project at Chornobyl NPP to provide technical assistance to participants in the Second International Scientific and Technical Conference at Slavutych. (Dan Giessing, DOE, 301-903-2852)

November 25-29 -- Kozloduy NPP, Bulgaria.
Sonalysts, Inc. staff will present a follow-up workshop for Kozloduy plant staff to continue efforts to draft a plant-specific EOI Writer's Guide and User's Guide. (Kent Faris, PNNL, 509-372-4068)

*December 1-14 -- Kyiv and Slavutych, Ukraine.
U.S. contractor Ciel Consultants, Inc. will assist Chornobyl NPP management and quality assurance staff in training on U.S. and international quality assurance standards and their application to Chornobyl. A U.S. expert will meet with plant management to review the status of Chornobyl's quality assurance program. Information collected will provide the basis for a two-week training course on performing quality assurance audits. (Dennis Meyers, DOE, 202-586-7834)

*December 1-20 -- Kyiv and Slavutych, Ukraine.
U.S. program staff will work with Chornobyl NPP staff to evaluate and edit five plant-specific management and operational control procedures. The team also will draft procedures for tagout and conduct of maintenance. (Dennis Meyers, DOE, 202-586-7834)

*December 2-4 -- Visaginas, Lithuania.
A technical team will meet with Ignalina NPP staff to assess the condition of the plant as the basis for developing specifications for the direct-current power supply system. (Norm Fletcher, DOE, 301-903-3275)

December 2-6 -- Indian Point NPP, New York, USA.
VVER-440/230 working group members from Kozloduy, Novovoronezh, and Bohunice NPPs will attend an EOI workshop. (Kent Faris, PNNL, 509-372-4068) (Workshop No. 96-101; Travel Coordinator Melinda Stone, PNNL, 509-375-4391)

December 2-6 -- Richland, Washington, USA.
U.S. program staff, in cooperation with the IAEA, will sponsor a week-long seminar for selected host country regulatory agency representatives. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory experts will train participants to use the COBRA-SFS code to predict in-cask storage temperatures of nuclear fuel. U.S. experience with programs supporting dry storage of spent fuel also will be covered during the seminar. (Mike McKinnon, PNNL, 509-372-4198) (Workshop No. 96-135; Travel Coordinator Gail Flora, PNNL, 509-375-6554)

December 2-6 -- St. Petersburg, Russia.
A team representing the United States, Rosenergoatom, VNIIAES, the Novovoronezh Training Center, and Balakovo NPP will conduct a needs assessment for training technology transfer at Leningrad NPP. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

December 2-12 -- Moscow, Russia.
Programmatic review meetings are planned for a number of ongoing simulator projects. Staff from Kola, Kalinin, Novovoronezh, and Chornobyl NPPs will meet with S3 Technologies, VNIIAES, and U.S. program team members to discuss the progress of the simulator projects at each respective plant. (Peter Kohut, BNL, 516-344-4982) (Workshop No. 96-125; Travel Coordinator Melinda Stone, PNNL, 509-375-4391)

*December 2-19 -- Moscow, Russia, and Kyiv, Ukraine.
U.S. program staff will discuss logistical issues regarding establishment of an adjunct office in Kyiv; discussions also will be held with NPP and regulatory authorities. (Dan Giessing, DOE, 301-903-2852)

December 4 -- Kyiv, Ukraine.
The first meeting of the steering committee for VVER plant safety analysis in Ukraine will be held at Derzhkomatom. Priorities, schedules, and the overall approach for implementing plan-specific projects will be established. Representatives from Derzhkomatom and the Ukrainian NPPs and program staff will attend. (Christian Kot, ANL, 630-252-6151)

December 6-7-- Kyiv, Ukraine.
Program staff from ANL and Scientech will meet with staff from South Ukraine NPP and subcontractor Energorisk, Inc. to plan for the in-depth safety analysis of Unit 1. Details of PRA technical tasks and schedules will be worked out. (Christian Kot, ANL, 630-252-6151)

*December 6-12 -- Taipei, Taiwan.
An expert from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory will present a seminar on the U.S. program efforts to upgrade the safety of Soviet-designed nuclear power plants and U.S. assistance in commercial nuclear power to countries that prohibit development of nuclear weapons. (Dennis Meyers, DOE, 202-586-7834)

*December 7-17 -- Moscow, Russia.
U.S. team members will meet with representatives of the Kurchatov Institute and Gosatomnadzor to determine details of program support to RELAP5 validation efforts for its applications to VVER and RBMK safety analyses in Russia. (Walt Pasedag, DOE, 301-903-3628)

*December 8-13 -- Slavutych, Ukraine.
Technical staff from the U.S. program and contractor Parsons Power Group, Inc., will present a conceptual design of dust suppression equipment to Chornobyl NPP staff. Discussions will cover specifications for radio communications, fall-protection equipment, filters, vacuums, and other tools to meet regulatory restraints and customer needs. (Frank Goldner, DOE, 301-902-2025)

December 9-10 -- Dimitrovgrad, Russia.
Program staff will meet with representatives of the Scientific Research Institute of Atomic Reactors to discuss training programs on the systematic approach to improve the performance of personnel and the safety of the research reactors. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

December 9-13 -- Argonne National Laboratory.
A planning and scheduling meeting for the Novovoronezh Units 3 and 4 plant safety assessment will be held at Argonne. The detailed workscope and an estimated schedule and effort will be developed during the meeting. Participants from Rosenergoatom, Novovoronezh NPP, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), and ANL are expected to attend. (Jordi Roglans, ANL, 630-252-3283) (Workshop No. 96-139, Travel Coordinator Gail Flora, PNNL, 509-375-6554)

December 9-20 -- Balakovo NPP, Russia.
Sonalysts, Inc. staff will work with Balakovo NPP training staff in the continued development of the Instrumentation and Control Technician and Radiation Protection Technician training programs. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

December 11-12 -- Moscow, Russia.
U.S. program staff will meet with the training technology transfer participants to discuss program progress. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575) (Workshop No. 96-091; Travel Coordinator Gail Flora, PNNL, 509-375-6554)

December 16-20 -- Augusta, Georgia, USA.
Plans are being made to bring nondestructive examination specialists from Russia and Ukraine to the United States to observe U.S. nondestructive examination practices. Tentative plans include visits to the Savannah River Site and Vogtle NPP to observe how the inspection program is developed and revised. (Robert Moffitt, PNNL, 509-372-4108) (Workshop No. 96-108; Travel Coordinator Gail Flora, PNNL, 509-375-6554)

*December 16-20, 1996 Moscow, Russia.
The KOLISA project team will review progress on the completion of KOLISA Project Guidelines as well as the status of the RELAP5 input deck for Kola Unit 4. Expected attendees include representatives from Argonne National Laboratory, SAIC, and the KOLISA project team. (Jeff Binder, ANL, 630-252-7265)

*December 16-20 --Parr, South Carolina, USA.
Representatives from VVER-440/213 working group will meet for emergency operating instruction training conducted by U.S. experts at V.C. Summer NPP. (Larry Sherfey, PNNL, 509-372-4080) (Workshop No. 96-105; Travel Coordinator Gail Flora, PNNL, 509-375-6654)

*December 16-21 -- London, England.
A U.S. program technical expert will attend the Ignalina Safety Panel review meeting for the Ignalina Safety Analysis Report (SAR) and the reports of the SAR task teams. The expert will help the safety panel draft the final report summary and determine how it might be applied beneficially by the Lithuanian regulator. (Walt Paseday, DOE-301-903-3628)

TBD November --Upton, New York, USA.
Thermal-hydraulic representatives from Kozloduy Unit 6 will hold a calculational review meeting at BNL to evaluate a set of transients as requested by a visiting Bulgarian specialist. The draft results and future calculation support needs for Kozloduy NPP will be discussed. (Greg Slovik, BNL, 516-344-7983) (Workshop No. 96-137; Travel Coordinator Melinda Stone, PNNL, 509-375-4391)

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

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)

January 13-24 -- Balakovo NPP, Russia.
Sonalysts, Inc. will assist Balakovo NPP with the implementation of the I&C Operations and Radiation Protection Technician training courses. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

January 13-24 -- Kursk NPP, Russia.
Sonalysts, Inc. staff will work with Kursk NPP training staff to development of a training program on Mechanical Maintenance. This effort is part of the training technology transfer program. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

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 also have a working session with Balakovo NPP training staff to continue development of the Safety Inspector training course. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

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 Reactor Operator and Radiation Protection Technician training courses. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

January 26-February 7 -- Khmelnytskyy NPP, Ukraine.
General Physics Corporation will assist Khmelnytskyy NPP with the implementation of 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 VVER NPPs and Bilibino NPP will attend a course on the systematic approach to training and instructor skills at the General Physics Corporation facility in Aiken. General Physics and Sonalysts staff will present the course. A visit to a U.S. NPP training center is included. (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 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)

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

March 17-18 -- Khmelnytskyy NPP, Ukraine.
General Physics Corporation will work with staff of Khmelnytskyy NPP on the Control Room Reactor Operator training course. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

ACRONYMNS/ABBREVIATIONS

Note: in the interest of providing a timely update on the Soviet-Designed-Reactor Safety Program, no formal document review of this weekly report has been conducted by DOE or PNNL.