July 19, 1996
Prepared by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington

RUSSIA

Balakovo Training Center Activities. Balakovo personnel, with support from Sonalysts, Inc., implemented the pilot Electrical Operations Training Course. The pilot course consisted of segments on electrical fundamentals, specific equipment operations (i.e., electrical generator and transformer), practical exercises (generator synchronization on the simulator and racking in breakers in the electrical laboratory), and an examination. Sonalysts also continued to work with Balakovo personnel to develop the Electrical Maintenance, Water Chemistry, Radiation Protection, and Technical Safety Inspector training programs. Observers from the Khmelnytskyy nuclear power plant (NPP) and General Physics Corporation attended the pilot course and program development work sessions. (Sonja Haber, 516-344-3575)

Training Assessment at Beloyarsk NPP. A team of representatives from Minatom, Rosenergoatom, VNIIAES, the Novovoronezh Training Center, Balakovo NPP, Obninsk, and the INSP conducted the initial visit to assess training technology transfer needs. Team members made training technology transfer presentations to the key station and training management personnel at the Beloyarsk plant. Current Beloyarsk training practices, resources, and facilities were reviewed. The trip to Beloyarsk also included a visit to Ural State University, which annually graduates approximately 3,000 engineers and provides a significant amount of hands-on maintenance training for NPP technicians. (Sonja Haber, 516-344-3575)

Regulatory Review of Kursk NPP Safety Parameter Display System. Representatives of the Gosatomnadzor Scientific and Engineering Center met in Pittsburgh with Westinghouse, Parsons Power, and INSP team members to compare U.S. requirements for safety parameter display systems with Russian standards for similar instrumentation and control systems. This comparison was the first phase of the independent regulatory review being performed by the Scientific and Engineering Center for the Kursk NPP safety parameter display system. (Rich Denning, PNNL, 614-424-7412; Norm Fletcher, DOE, 301-903-3275).

UKRAINE

Chornobyl Shelter Project. Four U.S. contractors responded to an INSP request for capabilities and interest to support activities of the European Commission (EC) Chornobyl Shelter Project. The request was issued to identify potential experts to serve on EC project working groups to help evaluate alternative short- and long-term measures for managing the Chornobyl Shelter. In addition, efforts began this week to identify an engineer for on-site assignment in Germany to coordinate INSP participation in the EC project. INSP involvement in this project has expanded rapidly during the past several weeks, moving from observer/reviewer to more active participant. The EC project is scheduled for completion in late October 1996. (Dennis Kreid, PNNL, 509-375-2170)

CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES

Emergency Operating Instructions Workshop at Kozloduy NPP. Sonalysts, Inc., conducted an emergency operating instructions (EOIs) workshop during the week of July 9 through 13. In addition to representatives from the Kozloduy (Bulgaria) NPP VVER-1000 and VVER-440/230 units, a representative from the Kola NPP VVER-440/230 attended. The intent was to present principles of the generic Westinghouse and Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO) "Writer's and User's Guides" and apply these principles to the site- specific Kozloduy NPP documents and EOIs in a workshop environment. Kozloduy staff interest concerning the "Writer's Guide" material was so high, however, that time ran out before topics associated with the "User's Guide" could be covered. Additional workshops are planned to cover this topic as well as verification and validation. (Kent Faris, PNNL, 509-372-4068)

Kozloduy Training Center Activities. Representatives from Sonalysts and General Physics completed the first week of a scheduled 2-week work session with Kozloduy Training Center and plant staff on the development of the Unit Shift Supervisor and Reactor Repair Technician training programs. The objective of the work session is to complete job and task analysis and training program design, and conduct dry runs of the pilot training courses. (Sonja Haber, 516-344-3575)

PLANNED ACTIVITIES

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

July 21-26 -- Moscow, Russia.
Members of the Kola In-Depth Safety Analysis (KOLISA) project team will meet to review and develop project guidelines and plans. (Jeff Binder, ANL, 708-252-7265)

July 21-27 -- Trnava Training Center, Slovakia.
Representatives from INSP, Sonalysts and General Physics will work with Trnava Training Center staff to conduct a training needs analysis. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

July 21- August 2 -- Chornobyl NPP, Ukraine.
General Physics personnel will work with training center and plant staff to develop the control room reactor operator training program. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

*July 22 to 26, 1996 -- Chornobyl NPP and Asken Company, Kyiv, Ukraine.
A Bechtel National representative will meet at Chornobyl NPP to discuss results of a review of fire-retardant structural steel coatings and to finalize fire safety equipment specifications. He will also visit the Asken plant to review progress in the manufacture of fire doors. (Rich Denning, PNNL, 614-424-7412)

July 22-26 -- Brussels, Belgium.
INSP representatives will participate in a workshop meeting with European Commission (EC) Chornobyl Shelter Project staff. Attendees will review safety goals, discuss design criteria, and establish working group scopes, schedules, and assignments supporting development of measures for safely managing the Chornobyl Unit 4 shelter over both the short and long term. (Dan Giessing, DOE, 301-903-2852)

July 22-26 -- Kursk NPP, Russia.
Site visit for the training technology transfer project. Russian participants will accompany U.S. personnel. (John Yoder, DOE, 301-903-5650)

July 27-August 3 -- Moscow, Russia.
The semiannual coordinating meeting between DOE and Minatom will be held in Moscow, Russia. INSP management will attend. (Dan Giessing, DOE, 301-903-2852)

July 29-30 -- Leningrad NPP, Russia.
Representatives from INSP, Parsons Power, Westinghouse, Leningrad NPP, and RDIPE will meet to reach agreement on specifications for the Leningrad Unit 3 safety parameter display system and sign a memorandum of agreement on roles and responsibilities. (Rich Denning, PNNL, 614-424-7412)

July 29-Aug 2 -- Smolensk NPP, Russia.
An INSP representative has been invited to attend a meeting of the RBMK Maintenance Managers at Smolensk NPP the week of July 29. The meeting will focus on the new computerized maintenance work control system (Desna-Remont) installed at Smolensk NPP by Scottish Nuclear under the TACIS Program. Also attending this meeting will be the maintenance managers from all the RBMK sites and representatives from Scottish Nuclear. (Robert Moffitt, PNNL, 509-372-4108)

July 29-August 3 -- Kola NPP, Russia.
Russian participants will accompany U.S. personnel on this site visit for the training technology transfer project. (John Yoder, DOE, 301-903-5650)

July 30-August 3 -- Chornobyl NPP, Ukraine.
INSP staff will work with Chornobyl staff to review and evaluate progress on the control room reactor operator training program. Together they will identify a second training course and equipment needs. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

August 1-2 --Slavutych, Ukraine.
Representatives from INSP, Parsons Power, Westinghouse, Chornobyl NPP, and RDIPE will meet to reach agreement on specifications for the Chornobyl Unit 3 safety parameter display system and sign a memorandum of agreement on roles and responsibilities. (Rich Denning, PNNL, 614-424-7412)

August 12-23 -- Russia and Ukraine.
Arrangements are being made for INSP specialists to observe nondestructive examination (NDE) activities at NPPs in both Russia and Ukraine in support of the new NDE projects. Tentative plans are to visit the South Ukraine NPP in Ukraine, then either the Kursk NPP or Smolensk NPP in Russia. The focus of this trip will be to observe actual examinations and inspections to better understand their current capabilities and determine how to augment them most effectively. (Robert Moffitt, PNNL, 509-372-4108)

*August 26-30 -- 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)

*August TBD -- Moscow, Russia.
The VVER-1000 working group will hold a special meeting at VNIIAES. Members of the working group from the Kozloduy, Balakovo, and Zapoizhzhya NPPs will meet with VNIIAES and Gidropress to review and discuss results from analysis calculations completed by Gidropress. No U.S. representatives will attend. (Kent Faris, PNNL, 509-372-4068)

September 2-6 -- Bilibino NPP, Russia.
U.S. personnel will be accompanied by Russian participants on this site visit for the training technology transfer project. (John Yoder, DOE, 301-903-5650)

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)

September 16-20 -- Kalinin NPP, Russia.
Russian participants will accompany U.S. personnel on this site visit for the training technology transfer project. (John Yoder, DOE, 301-903-5650)

*September TBD -- Kozloduy NPP, Bulgaria.
A VVER-440/230 EOI working group meeting is tentatively scheduled. Representatives from the Armenia Nuclear Power Station and the Kozloduy, Novovoronezh, and Kola NPPs will attend. (Kent Faris, PNNL, 509-372-4068)

October 14-18 -- Smolensk NPP, Russia.
Russian participants will accompany U.S. personnel on a site visit for the training technology transfer project. (John Yoder, DOE, 301-903-5650)

October 21-25 -- Novovoronezh NPP, Russia.
On this site visit for the training technology transfer project, U.S. personnel will be accompanied by Russian participants. (John Yoder, DOE, 301-903-5650)

*October TBD -- Site TBD.
A Regulator EOI workshop is tentatively being scheduled at a U.S. location. Representatives from Russian, Ukrainian, and CEEC regulators agencies will attend to learn, observe, and discuss regulator involvement with EOIs associated with the VVER reactors. (Kent Faris, PNNL, 509-372-4068)

*October TBD -- Kozloduy NPP, Bulgaria.
An EOI workshop is tentatively scheduled for Kozloduy NPP. Representatives from Sonalysts, Inc., will present the principles of the U.S. "User's Guide" to staff from Kozloduy VVER-1000 and VVER-440/230 units. (Kent Faris, PNNL, 509-372-4068)

*October TBD -- Dukovany NPP, Czech Republic.
In a tentatively scheduled EOI workshop, Sonalysts representatives will present the U.S. principles of verification and validation to staff from the Dukovany NPP VVER-440/213 units. (Larry Sherfey, PNNL, 509-372-4080)

*October TBD -- Moscow, Russia.
A special meeting of the VVER-1000 working group will be held at VNIIAES. Working group members from the Kozloduy, Balakovo, and Zaporizhzhya NPPs will meet with VNIIAES and Gidropress to review and discuss results from analysis calculations completed by Gidropress. No U.S. representatives will 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)

December TBD -- Charlotte, North Carolina.
Plans are being made to bring a group of nondestructive examination (NDE) specialists from Russia and Ukraine to the United States to observe U.S. NDE practices. Tentative plans include visits to the Electric Power Research Institute NDE Center in Charlotte and a U.S. NPP, as well as to the Savannah River Site to observe how it upgraded its inspection program. (Robert Moffitt, PNNL, 509-372-4108)

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.