May 31, 1996
Prepared by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington

RUSSIA

Nondestructive Evaluation Project. Representatives from the U.S. International Safety Program (INSP), the Russian center for nondestructive monitoring and diagnostics (DIAPROM), and the Research Institute for Nuclear Power Plant Construction Technology (NIKIMT) held an initial meeting in Moscow, Russia, at VNIIAES, on May 23 and 24, 1996. The representatives defined the scope for the nondestructive evaluation project in Russia, which is a high-priority project for the host country. The attendees signed an agreement to develop a process applicable to Soviet-designed reactors to ensure the inspection system (involving personnel, equipment, and procedures) will reliably detect defects in the reactor components and accurately relate the size of the defect. Those present also agreed the U.S. team will work with DIAPROM, Rosenergoatom, and Gosatomnadzor to develop the regulatory documents describing the various inspection methods and the evaluation and acceptance criteria for each method. This information will lead to a comprehensive set of regulatory requirements similar to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Section XI. The representatives at the meeting also identified short-term activities and long-term goals for the nondestructive evaluation project. (Greg Trosman, DOE, 301-903-3581 or Steven Doctor, PNNL, 509-375-2495)

Novovoronezh Emergency Water Supply Project. after lengthy negotiations, Parsons Power placed two contracts with Russian organizations for work on the Novovoronezh emergency water supply project. One contract was awarded to MOHT, the contracting company for the Russian design organizations, to conduct the project design work. A second contract was placed with the Novovoronezh nuclear power plant (NPP) for the construction work associated with the project. (Dan Couch, PNNL, 509-372-4591)

Leningrad NPP Pipe Lathe. On May 14, 1996, INSP received a written request from Leningrad NPP to provide a pipe lathe for pipe cutting and weld preparation. The pipe lathe, similar to equipment sent to Ignalina NPP earlier in May 1996, allows cuts and weld preparation to be performed with the precision required for main coolant piping. The equipment was sent to Leningrad NPP on May 24, 1996, and is scheduled to be delivered on June 6, 1996. (Tom Vehec, PNNL, 509-372-4072)

Direct Current Power Supply at Kola NPP. Burns and Roe staff visited the Kola plant in May 1996 to provide advice on the installation of batteries. Installation of the two safety grade batteries and switch boards for Unit 2 has been completed. The batteries and switch boards for Unit 1 have been released from Customs. These two batteries and the common battery that supports both units will be installed during the July 1996 plant outage. (Rich Reister, DOE, 301-903-0234)

Confinement Isolation Valves at Kola NPP. Eleven confinement isolation valves and mechanical operators were installed at the Kola NPP Unit 2. Installation of the pneumatic operating system that powers some of the valves will complete the planned work. (Rich Reister, DOE, 301-903-0234)

Sealing of Confinement Leak Paths at Kola NPP. The additional gasket material provided to the Kola plant in early May 1996 has been installed in Unit 2. This completes sealing activities for this unit. An INSP staff member is at the plant to observe the leak-rate test before the unit returns to power. (Rich Denning, PNNL, 614-424-7412/ Jim Guppy, BNL, 516-344-2698)

Balakovo NPP Training. Sonalysts, Inc. and Balakovo staff began a 2-week work session at the Balakovo NPP. The objective of the work session is to continue development of the simulator instructor training course, the electrical operations course, and the water chemistry technician course. The electrical operations course will be presented in July 1996. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

UKRAINE

Nondestructive Evaluation Project. Representatives from INSP and Goscomatom signed an agreement on May 21, 1996, in Kyiv, Ukraine, to cooperate on a Ukrainian nondestructive evaluation project. This meeting defined the project scope for the nondestructive evaluation project in Ukraine, which is a high-priority project for the host country. The attendees held in-depth discussions about nondestructive evaluation practices in the United States and Ukraine. The information gained from these discussions will allow the United States to better understand the needs of the Ukrainian nuclear energy industry and the differences between the nondestructive evaluation equipment used at Ukrainian NPPs and U.S. NPPs. Upgrading the manual ultrasonic inspection equipment used for inspecting Ukrainian NPP structural components was identified as a short-term goal. For the long-term, attendees agreed to compare Ukrainian equipment needs with the safety criteria being used by DOE's International Nuclear Safety Program. From this comparison, a series of options will be developed so that all representatives can agree on what can be provided and accomplished over the short-term and long-term for this project. (Greg Trosman, DOE, 301-903-3581 or Steven Doctor, PNNL, 509-375-2495)

Zaporizhzhya Dry Cask, Spent-Fuel Storage. All of the equipment supplied by Duke Engineering and Services under the DOE contract, except the multi-assembly sealed baskets to hold the fuel assemblies, has cleared Customs and was accepted by the Zaporizhzhya NPP. This equipment includes the cask transporter, ventilated concrete cask liners, and ancillary equipment. (Mike McKinnon, PNNL, 509-372-4198)

Chornobyl NPP Training. General Physics Corporation held meetings with Chornobyl NPP training representatives and the General Director of Human Relations, at the Chornobyl NPP. Staff from General Physics Corporation reviewed the details of the control room reactor operators project with the training representatives who agreed to the project scope, period of performance, and schedule of visits from U.S. experts. This group had completed preparation of a validated task list for the control room reactor operators position. The Chornobyl NPP management reaffirmed their commitment to establishing the systematic approach to training for the control room reactor operators training program within a year as scheduled. As part of the commitment to training, Chornobyl NPP staff are in the process of establishing and staffing a training development group that will have responsibility for developing technical training programs for plant personnel. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

Khmelnytskyy NPP Training. Five representatives from the Khmelnytskyy NPP arrived at the General Physics Corporation facility in Aiken, South Carolina, for a 2- week workshop. Activities include continued development of the chemical operators program and pilot course, instructor skills training, and special CAD software training for one of the Khmelnytskyy representatives. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

Quality Assurance Project. On May 13-17, 1996, INSP representatives and Ukrainian project team members met at Goscomatom to prepare draft project plans for a National Quality Assurance Project and an Event Analysis, Reporting and Lessons Learned Project. Each project team will meet in the United States in late September 1996 for training and to finalize project strategy. (Dennis Meyers, DOE, 202-586-7834)

CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES

Ignalina NPP Pipe Lathe. Ignalina NPP received and tested the pipe lathe for pipe cutting and weld preparation of 800-mm-diameter piping. The equipment has exceeded the expectations of the plant maintenance personnel. It will be placed into operation on June 5, 1996, and will be instrumental in removing and replacing four sections of cracked piping in the main coolant loop of the reactor. Up to this point, Ignalina NPP did not have the equipment that would allow this type of work to be performed with the precision required for main coolant piping. The pipe lathe was one of the technologies approved for acquisition by the RBMK Maintenance Advisory Board when it met in February 1996, at Charlotte, North Carolina. (Tom Vehec, PNNL, 509-372-4072)

Analytical Simulator Upgrade Project. Staff from Scientech and INSP participated in a workshop May 13 - 28, 1996, at the research institute (VUJE) in Trnava, Slovakia. The remaining elements of the hardware configuration intended for the analytical simulator upgrade project have cleared Customs and arrived in Trnava. Eight X-terminals were integrated into the system and a check of the full system was completed. The major components of the upgraded V1 analytical simulator are now in place. Work is continuing on refining the RELAP5 computer model, improving system response time and the man-to-machine interface. Significant work is still required to complete the remaining screen graphics (masks). (Bob Kennett, BNL, 516-344-2104)

Lithuanian Project Review. Representatives from INSP and the U.S. Agency for International Development (AID)-Lithuania held a series of meetings in Vilnius and Kaunas, Lithuania and at Ignalina NPP May 20-22, 1996. The representatives reviewed all U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) projects in Lithuania and coordinated activities with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Sweden. Progress is being made on the projects. The Lithuanian representatives expressed interest in continuing to work together to complete these projects. They also expressed interest in additional equipment and in several possible new projects. (Dennis Meyers, DOE, 202-586-7834)

PLANNED ACTIVITIES

*June 2-7 -- Waterford, Connecticut.
Representatives from Balakovo NPP, Khmelnytskyy NPP, Kozloduy NPP, Atomtechenergo, Goscomatom, Minatom, Rosenergoatom and VNIIAES will attend the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) conference on design of training centers. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

June 3 -- Rivne NPP, Ukraine.
The VVER-440/213 working group will hold its quarterly meeting at Rivne NPP. The group will review emergency operating instructions (EOIs) produced at participating NPPs, NPP training plans, and NPP plans for verification and validation of EOIs. U.S. utility representatives will present the U.S. methodology on related topics. The meeting will also follow up on outstanding issues from the last meeting in November 1995. The working group will review information from the EOI analysis meeting held in Moscow, Russia, in May. (Larry Sherfey, PNNL, 509-372-4080)

*June 3-7 -- Moscow, Russia.
U.S. representatives will meet with VNIIAES, Rosenergoatom and the Russian Fire Ministry to discuss fire risk analysis projects being undertaken by the Russians at Balakovo and Smolensk NPPs. Meetings will also be held with Gosatomnadzor, Rosenergoatom and RDIPE to discuss the Kursk safety parameter display system project and other engineering and technology safety activities. (Rich Reister, DOE, 301-903-0234)

*June 4-15 -- Chornobyl NPP, Ukraine.
U.S. staff will coordinate the installation of equipment for the satellite linking PNNL with the Chornobyl Center for Nuclear Safety, Radioactive Waste and Radioecology. Once operational, staff from Chornobyl NPP will be trained on operation and basic troubleshooting of the system. (Dan Giessing, DOE, 301-903-2852)

June 10-12 -- Prague, Czech Republic.
The next program review covering U. S. assistance to the Czech Republic is scheduled for June 10-12, 1996, in Prague. Based on information obtained at this review, the U.S. team will make recommendations to DOE management for future funding. The last review meeting was held in March 1995. (Nicholas Grossman, DOE, 301-903-3299)

*June 10-14 -- Chornobyl NPP, Ukraine and Leningrad NPP, Russia.
Representatives from Parsons Power, Westinghouse Electric and INSP will meet with plant staff to initiate safety parameter display system projects and to develop plant-specific specifications. (Rich Reister, DOE, 301-903-0234)

June 10-14 -- Doel NPP, Belgium.
The project team for developing and implementing management and operational controls procedures will meet at Doel NPP, Belgium. The meeting is being coordinated by the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO). This location was chosen to allow the opportunity to study the implementation of similar procedures at a non-U.S. and non-Soviet designed NPP. The team will also conduct technical reviews of draft procedures and take the necessary steps to complete implementation of the procedures at pilot plants in countries with Soviet-designed NPPs. Attendees include representatives from Armenia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Lithuania, Russia, Slovakia, Ukraine, and the United States. (Dennis Meyers, DOE, 202-586-7834)

June 11-20 -- Novovoronezh NPP and Moscow, Russia.
U.S. representatives will meet with representatives from Novovoronezh NPP to discuss plant-specific safety assessments. They will also meet with representatives of the Research and Development Institute of Power Engineering (RDIPE) to continue negotiations for the Leningrad plant specific safety assessment. (Walt Pasedag, DOE, 301-903-3628)

June 15-22 -- Brookhaven National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and Savannah River Site.
Representatives from the Russian regulatory agency GAN will attend a seminar titled "Quality Assurance in Research Reactors and Fuel Facilities." They will receive an overview of quality assurance as applied to research reactors in the United States when they visit BNL, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), and the Savannah River Site June 15-22, 1996. (Jan van Erp, ANL, 708-252-3381; Ted Ginsberg, BNL, 516-344-2620)

June 13-17 -- Budapest, Hungary.
The next program review covering U. S. assistance to Hungary is scheduled for June 13-17, 1996, in Budapest. Based on information obtained at this review, the U.S. team will make recommendations to DOE management for future funding. The last review meeting was held in March 1995. (Nicholas Grossman, DOE, 301-903-3299)

*June 14-21 -- Moscow, Russia.
U.S. specialists will participate in meetings to develop a detailed work scope for the Leningrad NPP deterministic safety analysis project. This activity is part of an international cooperative effort to develop a probabilistic risk assessment for the Leningrad NPP Unit 2. (Walt Pasedag, DOE, 301-903-3628)

*June 17-21 -- Moscow, Russia.
Representatives from INSP will participate in a technology transfer strategy meeting with representatives from all Russian NPPs and all organizations involved with nuclear power plant personnel training (Minatom, Rosenergoatom, Atomtechenergo, VNIIAES). (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

*June 21-July 2 -- Chornobyl NPP, Ukraine.
A workshop about developing and implementing EOIs will be held at Chornobyl NPP. Following the workshop, participants will identify deliverables and agree on a schedule for future work. In addition, work will begin on implementing new Management and Operational Controls procedures at Chornobyl NPP. (Dennis Meyers, DOE, 202-586-7834)

*June 23-29 -- Moscow, Russia.
Members of the Kola In-Depth Safety Analysis (KOLISA) project team will review project guidelines, conduct a plant walkdown, and to introduce human reliability concepts. (Walt Pasedag, DOE, 301-903-3628)

*June 24-28 -- Khmelnytskyy NPP, Ukraine.
General Physics Corporation personnel will work with Khmelnytskyy staff to continue development of the refueling floor operator, chemical operator, and control room reactor operator training courses. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

June 24-28 -- Kozloduy NPP, Bulgaria.
There will be an EOI development workshop at Kozloduy NPP. Participants will include representatives from all VVER-440/230 and VVER-1000 NPPs. (Kent Faris, PNNL, 509-372-4068)

*July 8-12 -- Balakovo NPP, Russia.
Sonalysts, Inc. personnel and Balakovo NPP staff will implement the pilot electrical operations training course. They will continue development of the electrical maintenance, water chemistry, and radiation protection pilot training courses and the simulator instructor specialized training project. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

*July 22-26 -- Brussels, Belgium and Rivne NPP, Ukraine.
Representatives from Burns and Roe and INSP will meet in Brussels with representatives from a European community program of Technical Assistance to the Commonwealth of Independent States (TACIS). The team will then travel to Rivne NPP to discuss the activities required to provide a safety parameter display system compatible with the planned TACIS upgrades of the Rivne instrumentation and control systems. (Rich Reister, DOE, 301-903-0234)

July 22-August 2 -- Metsamor NPP, Armenia.
There will be a VVER-440/230 EOI working group meeting at Metsamor NPP. Representatives from all VVER-440/230 NPPs are scheduled to attend. (Kent Faris, PNNL, 509-372-4068)

July TBD -- Kursk NPP, Russia.
U.S. specialists will visit Kursk NPP in Russia to train plant staff in the use of ultrasonic testing equipment and a re-engineered high temperature suit, which have been recently delivered to the site. (Jim Guppy, BNL, 516-344-2698)

August 26-30 -- Kola NPP, Russia.
There will be a VVER-440/213 EOI working group meeting at Kola NPP. Representatives from all VVER-440/213 NPPs are scheduled to attend. (Kent Faris, PNNL, 509-372-4068)

August 26-30 -- Ignalina NPP, Lithuania.
There will be an RBMK EOI working group meeting at Ignalina NPP. Representatives from all RBMK NPPs are scheduled to attend. (Kent Faris, PNNL, 509-372-4068)

September 9-13 -- Kozloduy NPP, Bulgaria.
There will be a VVER-1000 EOI working group meeting at Kozloduy NPP. Representatives from all VVER-1000 NPPs are scheduled to attend. (Kent Faris, PNNL, 509-372-4068)

November 4-8 -- Kozloduy NPP, Bulgaria.
There will be a VVER-440/230 EOI working group meeting at Kozloduy NPP. Representatives from all VVER-440/230 NPPs are scheduled to attend. (Kent Faris, PNNL, 509-372-4068)

November 4-8 -- Zaporizhzhya NPP, Ukraine.
There will be a VVER-1000 EOI working group meeting at Zaporizhzhya NPP. Representatives from all VVER-1000 NPPs are scheduled to attend. (Kent Faris, PNNL, 509-372-4068)

November 18-22 -- Smolensk NPP, Russia.
There will be an RBMK EOI working group meeting at Smolensk NPP. Representatives from all RBMK NPPs are scheduled to attend. (Kent Faris, PNNL, 509-372-4068)

December 9-13 -- Bohunice NPP, Slovakia.
There will be a VVER-440/213 EOI working group meeting at Bohunice NPP. Representatives from all VVER-440/213 NPPs are scheduled to attend. (Kent Faris, PNNL, 509-372-4068)

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

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.