for the period December 7 through 20, 1996
Prepared by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington

Editor's Note

Responses to the program's August 1996 reader survey suggested that this report be issued less frequently. Consequently, this report will be compiled and distributed every other week instead of once a week. The previous issue was December 6, 1996. Distribution of the next issue is scheduled for January 3, 1997.

Russia

Russian Representatives Complete Comprehensive Training Course. Representatives from the Smolensk Training Center and the Russian nuclear power plants (NPPs) with RBMK reactors completed a one-month training course in the United States. The course, which began on November 11 in Aiken, South Carolina, focused on the Systematic Approach to Training and instructor skills. A team from General Physics Corporation and Sonalysts, Inc. presented the training at the General Physics facility in Aiken. Work during the final week focused on instructor skills development and on-the-job training. Course participants also visited the Catawba nuclear station to see an example of a well-managed and -equipped U.S. nuclear facility training center. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

Training Needs Assessment Conducted at Leningrad NPP. A team representing the U.S. program, Rosenergoatom, VNIIAES, Minatom, the Novovoronezh Training Center, and Balakovo NPP conducted a needs assessment visit to the Leningrad NPP during the week of December 2. Current training practices, resources, and facilities at the site were reviewed. The results of the overall training needs assessment will be documented in a report, now that all sites have been visited. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575).

NOVISA Team Members Agree on Project Plans, Schedules. Team members for the Novovoronezh in-depth safety analysis (NOVISA) project held planning meetings at Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) in Illinois December 9 through 13. Representatives from Rosenergoatom, Novovoronezh NPP, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), and the U.S. program drew up plans and schedules for the safety analyses to be conducted on Novovoronezh Units 3 and 4. The participating team members reached overall agreements on the work scope, baseline schedules, preliminary effort estimates, deliverables, and project organization. Financial arrangements for the project also were discussed. (Jordi Roglans, ANL, 630-252-3283).

Ukraine

VVER Reactor Safety Analyses Approaching Startup. On December 4 through 7, the U.S. team involved in safety analysis projects for Ukrainian NPPs with VVER reactors met in Kyiv with representatives of those plants (Zaporizhzhya, South Ukraine, Khmelnytskyy, and Rivne) and the Ukrainian State Committee on Nuclear Power Utilization (Derzhkomatom). This was the first meeting of the steering committee, which provides overall guidance and oversight for the plant safety analysis projects in Ukraine. Members discussed the approach and scope for the lead projects.

The U.S. team also met in Kyiv with representatives of Zaporizhzhya NPP to begin the safety analysis project for Zaporizhzhya Unit 5, the lead plant for the VVER-1000/320 reactors in Ukraine. Again, project scope, approach, and overall schedule were discussed. The next plant action is to select its subcontractors to carry out the project work.

In addition, the U.S. team participated in a planning meeting for the safety analysis project at South Ukraine Unit 1. Plant representatives and subcontractors Energorisk, Ltd. and Energoprojekt-Kharkiv discussed schedule and approach for the probabilistic risk assessment and data collection tasks. The team also worked out details of the project's organization. Based on these discussions, U.S. program representatives will draft task orders to implement this work. (Christian Kot, ANL, 630-252-6151).

Chornobyl Shelter Project

New Project Subtasks Will Help Meet Shelter Equipment Needs. U.S. program staff visited Chornobyl NPP on December 10 through 12 for talks with Chornobyl Shelter management staff. Participants discussed work to be done as part of the dust suppression and industrial safety enhancements subtasks to the new Shelter equipment project. The U.S. team and Chornobyl Shelter staff agreed on the near-term priorities, deliverables, and applicable protocols for these two efforts. Concurrence has now been reached on all four equipment subtasks; those for which protocols were signed earlier are dose reduction and nuclear safety monitoring. The U.S. team is preparing draft purchase specifications for high-priority equipment items while concurrently developing estimates of equipment costs and delivery schedules for all four subtasks. These will be available for review in mid-January. (Dennis Kreid, PNNL, 509-375-2170)

Cross-Cutting Activities

VVER Reactor Working Group Participates in Operator Exchange. For four days in early December, members of the VVER-440/230 emergency operating instruction (EOI) working group visited Indian Point 2 NPP in New York. The visit, sponsored by the U.S. program, was part of a World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) operator exchange. Fourteen individuals representing Kozloduy NPP (7), Bohunice NPP (3), Armenia nuclear power station (1), Novovoronezh NPP (1), VNIIAES (1), and WANO-Moscow Centre (1) took part in a series of classroom presentations and simulator demonstrations given by Indian Point personnel. Topics covered were related to symptom-based EOIs. Other areas pertaining to operational safety also were discussed. The visit included a plant tour that demonstrated U.S. utility "good practices."

For most participants, the visit was their first to the United States and, consequently, to an American NPP. The exchange provided them their initial opportunity to observe firsthand the application of many of the operational safety practices transferred to them through the U.S. program. According to the visiting operators, the most impressive demonstration was that of a trained Indian Point operating crew using EOIs under simulated accident conditions.

The simulator also offered attendees the opportunity to become operators themselves. After a series of educational scenarios and assisted by Indian Point operators, the representatives from Kozloduy and Bohunice NPPs participated in several multiple-event scenarios as operators, actually using the EOIs. The attendees were very impressed with the ease with which they could use the instructions and mitigate potentially serious accident conditions with minimal stress to the operating crews. (Kent Faris, PNNL, 509-372-4068)

Host Country Nuclear Executives Briefed on Fire Safety Guidelines. From December 9 through 19, executives from nuclear power plants in Ukraine, Russia, and Armenia participated in a fire-safety workshop, "Safe Shutdown Analysis in Fires," in Washington, D.C. Contractors Burns & Roe, Bechtel National, and the University of Maryland gave presentations on the history of fire hazards analysis in the United States. U.S. program representatives described the Reactor Core Protection Evaluation Methodology, developed by the program, for performing safe shutdown studies in Soviet-designed nuclear power plants. As part of the workshop, the participants also visited the Fitzpatrick and Indian Point 3 NPPs in New York State , where staff of the New York Power Authority and a fire safety consulting firm, Engineering Planning and Management, Inc., described the scope of safe shutdown studies performed for these plants. Special sessions also were held with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and U.S. nuclear utility executives. (Rich Denning, PNNL, 614-424-7412)

U.S. Team Members Describe Program for Taiwanese Nuclear Agency Representatives. Program representatives from the U.S. Department of Energy and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory gave a presentation in Taipei on the program's efforts to upgrade the safety of Soviet-designed reactors. (Dennis Meyers, DOE, 301-903-1418)

Planned Activities

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

*January 6-17 --Kyiv, Ukraine.
Meetings are scheduled between the U.S. program and representatives of Ukraine's Nuclear Regulatory Agency, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Nuclear Safety, Derzhkomatom, the Chornobyl Center, and Chornobyl NPP. Logistical issues related to the establishment of the program's Kyiv Adjunct Office will be discussed. (Dan Giessing, DOE, 301-903-2852)

*January 7 -- Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York, USA.
A contractor meeting will be held to discuss the status of ongoing training activities at the Balakovo and Khmelnytskyy NPPs as well as progress in the training technology transfer program in Russia. Representatives from General Physics Corporation, Sonalysts, Inc., and PATH Training will attend. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575).

*January 8-16 -- Munich, Germany.
A member of the program's plant safety evaluation team will work with members of the Ignalina Safety Panel to draft the summary of the panel's final safety analysis report on the Ignalina NPP. The summary is to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the safety analysis report and suggest how the Lithuanian regulator can best apply the findings. (Walt Pasedag, DOE, 301-903-3628)

*January 11-18 -- Moscow, Russia.
Program technical experts will visit VNIIAES to evaluate data on file for its suitability for inclusion in the Russian RBMK reliability database. (Bob Moffitt, PNNL, 509-372-4108)

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., USA.
Instructors from the U.S. program and contractors Bechtel, Burns & Roe, the University of Maryland, and Engineering Planning and Management, Inc. (EPM) 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 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 maintenance equipment recently transferred to plants with RBMK reactors. Designated technical training personnel from each of the five RBMK reactor facilities (Ignalina, Leningrad, Smolensk, Kursk, and Chornobyl) are the trainees. (Bob Moffitt, PNNL, 509-372-4108)

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

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-January 29 -- Paris, France.
A technical leader from the U.S. team 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--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)

January 26-February 7 -- Khmelnytskyy NPP, Ukraine.
General Physics Corporation will assist Khmelnytskyy NPP implement 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 29-February 1 -- Moscow, Russia.
A 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., USA.
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)

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)

TBD -- 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 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 -- 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)

February 17-24 -- Waterford, Connecticut, USA.
Staff from the 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)

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)

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

March 17-28 -- 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)

March 17-28 -- 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)