July 26, 1996
Prepared by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington

RUSSIA

RBMK Decommissioning Strategy Development Project. Analysis of the current Russian regulatory and legislative environment as it applies to decommissioning of RBMK nuclear power plants (NPPs) was begun July 9-17, 1996. International Nuclear Safety Program (INSP) technical staff met with representatives from the Kurchatov Institute at Moscow and St. Petersburg. Discussions also were held with senior management and technical staff from Leningrad NPP to discuss 1) the NPP's role in the project, 2) their understanding of the current regulatory and legislative environment, and 3) technical details of Unit 1 at Leningrad NPP. (Robert Lavelle, BNL, 516-344-7747)

Kalinin Full-Scope Simulator. S3 Technologies shipped the computer components for this simulator to VNIIAES last month. Russian Customs at Moscow is currently holding the equipment. The Russian Customs' officials have begun to enforce a new safety certification for all electronic equipment entering Russia, which the simulator equipment did not have. This certification, according to S3 Technologies, involves a time-consuming process, and S3 Technologies is currently investigating how this matter can be resolved.

Simulators are used for training nuclear power plant operators and for validating emergency operating instructions (EOIs). Full-scope simulators are full-sized physical replicas of actual nuclear power plant control panels, which use interactive computer programs to simulate control room operations. (Peter Kohut, BNL, 516-344-4982)

Kola Full-Scope Simulator. The computer system hardware, associated systems, and development software for the Kola full-scope simulator have arrived in Moscow. However, S3 Technologies, the project's hardware contractor, cannot clear the shipment through Russian Customs because of the new requirement for a safety certification of electrical equipment entering Russia. S3 Technologies and General Energy Technologies (GET), the Russian contractor, are working to resolve the issue. To date they have identified three organizations that may be able to provide the necessary certification. (Peter Kohut, BNL, 516-344-4982)

Pipe Lathes. Pipe lathes have been purchased for the Kursk, Smolensk, and Chornobyl NPPs. The pipe lathe allows pipe cuts and weld preparation with the precision necessary for repair of main coolant piping. Pipe lathes were among the technologies approved for acquisition by the RBMK Maintenance Advisory Board when it met in February 1996 at Charlotte, North Carolina. Delivery of the pipe lathe for Kursk NPP will be ~August 1, 1996; the remaining two lathes will be delivered on or before August 30, 1996. (LaDonna James, PNNL, 509-375-4372)

UKRAINE

Chornobyl Fire Safety Equipment. Bechtel representatives presented Chornobyl staff with the results of a review, which identified possible coating materials to make structural steel in the turbine hall more fire resistant. Acceptance tests and quality assurance requirements also were discussed for the fire doors being manufactured by Asken. Staff from Asken, Bechtel and Chornobyl NPP then met on July 25, 1996, in Kyiv to discuss progress and the schedule for production of the fire doors. (Rich Denning, PNNL, 614-424-7412)

Khmelnytskyy Full-Scope Simulator. Staff from INSP and S3 Technologies visited the Khmelnytskyy site on July 17-19, 1996, to review the progress of the training center construction. The building is nearing completion and a priority list of items essential for completion was drawn up. These items must be accomplished before the simulator control panels can be delivered to the site. All parties agreed that these items would be completed by August 1, 1996, allowing shipment of the simulator control panels to begin.

Modification work on the control panels was reviewed when personnel from INSP, Khmelnytskyy NPP, and S3 Technologies visited Energotraining. Shipment of panel units 1-6 is complete and all other panel units will be ready for shipment in mid-August 1996. (Peter Kohut, BNL, 516-344-4982)

Ukrainian Simulator Support Center. S3 Technologies performed acceptance tests on the computer hardware at the S3 Technologies facility, Columbia, Maryland, on July 16 and 17, 1996. The tests were completed successfully and were observed by representatives from INSP. The simulator equipment can now be shipped to the Simulator Support Center, Kyiv. S3 Technologies is completing the required Customs documentation and shipment is anticipated within 2 weeks. (Peter Kohut, BNL, 516-344-4982)

Pipe Lathes. See item under "Russia."

CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES

Ignalina Instrumentation and Control System Module Replacement. The kick-off meeting for this project was held at the Ignalina NPP (Lithuania) on July 15 and 16, 1996. Agreements were reached among representatives from Ignalina NPP, INSP, and Halliburton NUS on the scope of the project and the roles and responsibilities of the participants. This project will focus on the development of a reliable, bi-stable electronic module to replace the current modules at Ignalina Unit 2. These electronic modules monitor critical safety conditions at the plant. The new electronic modules will be more reliable and will improve the safe operation of the Ignalina plant. (Ron Wright, PNNL, 509-372-4076)

Kozloduy Training Center. Representatives from Sonalysts and General Physics Corporation completed the second week of a 2-week training session with staff from the Kozloduy training center and Kozloduy NPP (Bulgaria). The sessions focused on developing training programs for the unit shift supervisor and reactor repair technician. During the week, task analysis (including additional tasks for both positions) and training program design activities were completed. Work was begun on developing course materials for student books and on-the-job training guides. Pilot teaching sessions were conducted for the reactor repair technician instructors. (Sonja Haber, 516-344-3575)

Paks NPP Training. The final report for the Human Factors Training and Support Project is ready for distribution. The project developed a tool to evaluate operator performance on a simulator. This tool is being used successfully at the Paks training center to improve or modify training, which can improve the reliability of worker performance. The Hungarians have already sent a formal letter of appreciation to INSP for this collaborative effort. (Bob Fitzpatrick, BNL, 516-344-7204)

PLANNED ACTIVITIES

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

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-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 that is part of the project involved with transferring training technology. (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 1-12 -- Stockholm, Sweden.
INSP technical staff will participate in an Ignalina NPP EOI development workshop. (Sam McKay, PNNL, 509-372-4059)

*August 5-16 -- Sonalysts, Inc., Waterford, Connecticut.
Representatives from Balakovo NPP will visit Sonalysts for a 2-week training session. They will focus on development of materials for simulator instructor training (pilot course scheduled for September 1996 implementation) and training for water chemistry technicians. Balakovo staff will also visit a U.S. NPP and an NPP training center. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

*August 10-24 -- Chornobyl NPP, Ukraine.
INSP technical staff will participate in a Chornobyl NPP EOI workshop. The purpose of the workshop is to develop site-specific guidelines for two emergency procedures, a training program plan, and an EOI writer's guide. (Dennis Meyers, DOE, 202-586-7834)

*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, and Kalinin and Smolensk NPPs in Russia. The focus of this trip will be to observe actual examinations and inspections to better understand the plants current capabilities and determine how to augment them most effectively. (Robert Moffitt, PNNL, 509-372-4108)

*August 18-20 -- Smolensk NPP, Russia.
Representatives from INSP, Parsons Power, RDIPE, Smolensk NPP, and Westinghouse will meet to agree on team responsibilities and to develop a schedule for providing safety parameter display systems for Smolensk Units 1, 2 and 3. (Rich Denning, PNNL, 614-424-7412)

*August 18-23 -- Moscow, Russia.
Representatives from the U.S. International Nuclear Safety Center at Argonne National Laboratory will meet with staff from the Russian Academy of Sciences (IBRAE). The purpose of the meeting is to review progress on the Russian International Nuclear Safety Center database and ensure its compatability with the existing database at Argonne. (Walt Pasedag, DOE, 301-903-3628)

*August 19-23 -- Khmelnytskyy NPP, Ukraine.
General Physics Corporation will conduct a 1-week training session at Khmelnytskyy NPP. The objective is to continue development of training programs for the control room reactor operator, refueling floor operator, and chemical operator. General Physics staff also will provide instruction on the systematic approach to training to Khmelnytskyy NPP representatives. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

*August 21-23 -- Moscow, Russia.
Representatives from INSP, Kursk NPP, Parsons Power, RDIPE, and Westinghouse will meet to agree on team responsiblities and to develop a schedule for providing safety parameter display systems for Kursk Units 3 and 4. (Rich Denning, PNNL, 614-424-7412)

*August 22-23 -- Stockholm, Sweden.
A Leningrad NPP probabilistic risk assessment meeting is scheduled. Participants include representatives from AEA Technologies, ENTEK, ES-Konsult, and INSP. (Sam McKay, PNNL, 509-372-4059)

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 recently been 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 Zaporizhzhya NPPs will meet with VNIIAES and Gidropress to review and discuss results of analysis calculations completed by Gidropress. No U.S. representatives will attend. (Kent Faris, PNNL, 509-372-4068)

September 2-6 -- Bilibino NPP, Russia.
Russian participants will accompany U.S. personnel on this site visit that is part of the project involved with transferring training technology. (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 that is part of the project involved with transferring training technology. (John Yoder, DOE, 301-903-5650)

*September 20-29 -- 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)

*September TBD -- 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)

October 14-18 -- Smolensk NPP, Russia.
Russian participants will accompany U.S. personnel on this site visit that is part of the project involved with transferring training technology. (John Yoder, DOE, 301-903-5650)

October 21-25 -- Novovoronezh NPP, Russia.
Russian participants will accompany U.S. personnel on this site visit that is part of the project involved with transferring training technology. (John Yoder, DOE, 301-903-5650)

October TBD -- Site TBD.
An EOI workshop for regulatory personnel tentatively is being scheduled at a U.S. location. Representatives from Russian, Ukrainian, and CEEC regulatory agencies will attend to observe, learn, 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 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 of 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 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 its inspection program has been upgraded. (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.