August 9, 1996
Prepared by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington

RUSSIA

Novovoronezh NPP Safety Analysis. Representatives from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Novovoronezh nuclear power plant (NPP), and Rosenergoatom reached agreement on the overall scope and organization structure of the Novovoronezh Units 3 and 4 in-depth safety analysis work. At a meeting in Moscow, it was agreed that the Novovoronezh safety analysis work will build on the results of existing probabilistic risk analysis work and will focus on making the results plant-specific. Participants at the meeting agreed that the first step will be the establishment of a plant-specific database with the plant in charge of this work. (Walt Pasedag, DOE, 301-903-3628)

RBMK Maintenance Technology Transfer and Training Meeting. Smolensk NPP hosted a meeting of the maintenance managers from RBMK plants on July 29-August 3. The focus of the meeting was a detailed presentation on the Desna-Remont controls system for maintenance work. This system is a modified version of the Scottish Nuclear system developed at Torness station and is being used at the Hunterstation as well. The Desna-Remont system is an electronic tracking system that allows NPP operators to know what equipment is in use and what equipment is out of use for maintenance. This makes it easy for the operators to know what equipment is available should an emergency arise. Representatives from Chornobyl, Ignalina, Kursk, and Smolensk NPPs participated in the meetings along with staff from British Energy, Electric Service Bureau of Ireland and the International Nuclear Safety Program (INSP).

High Temperature Suits. During the RBMK maintenance technology transfer and training meeting, INSP technical staff obtained information on tests of Russian and U.S. high temperature suits. The tests of the suits were evaluated by POZTEST, a group made up of maintenance and safety managers from Kalinin, Kursk, and Smolensk NPPs and Rosenergoatom. The testing was performed in a high temperature environment (250 degrees celcius, 2.5 bar) in a closed room that had a manometer removed, which led to an emergency situation. The POZTEST group determined that the U.S. high temperature suit did not meet the requirements because it was too loose, too heavy, and if a person falls down, they needed help to get back up. In a steam environment, condensation fogs the view plate of the U.S. suit, plus the fabric of the suit makes it difficult to decontaminate. The Russian high temperature suit was effective because it is light, comfortable, has a self-clearing view plate, and the smooth surface allows for easy decontamination. The test subject was able to replace the manometer and stop the leak in the Russian designed suit.

Internet Capabilities. At the RBMK meeting, the subject of communications and Internet capabilities was also discussed. It was reported that the Internet can be made available to the Russian plants through fixed satellite communications using Russian satellites. A representative from the Smolensk training center is sending a computer specialist to Moscow to obtain specific information on the systems available. This would help normal communications with the plants as well as provide a method of implementing the maintenance information network. (Tom Vehec, PNNL, 509-372-4072)

Basic Ordering Agreement Signed. At the RBMK maintenance meeting, INSP representatives were able to discuss a basic ordering agreement with Smolensk management and answer any questions. The Smolensk NPP representative signed the basic ordering agreement on August 1. This will allow the authorization of specific task orders for the Smolensk site. (Jan Reilly, PNNL, 509-375-2918)

Training Needs Assessment. A team representing Balakovo NPP, the Novovronezh training center, Rosenergoatom, the United States, and VNIIAES conducted a training needs assessment for the Kola NPP. Presentations on transferring training technology were well received by key plant and training management personnel, and Kola management will support the project to transfer training technology . Current Kola training practices, resources, and facilities were reviewed. The results of the needs assessment will be presented in a report after all sites have been visited. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

VVER-440/230 EOI. INSP transferred fund to Novovoronezh NPP on July 25, 1996, as payment for partially completed emergency operating instruction (EOI) contract deliverables. This payment will enable Novovoronezh NPP to pay Gidropress for analysis work on the remaining ten EOIs to be implemented. (Kent Faris, PNNL, 509-372-4068)

UKRAINE

Chornobyl Training. Staff from General Physics Corporation completed the second week of a 2-week training session at Chornobyl NPP. General Physics staff are working with the recently established training development group to develop a training program for control room reactor operators. An INSP representative met with Chornobyl management to discuss current and future projects. It was agreed that a second training program in radiation protection will be initiated in September 1996 when General Physics staff return to Chornobyl NPP. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

Khmelsytskyy Full-Scope Simulator. The Khmelsytskyy NPP staff reported that the construction on the building to house the full-scope simulator has progressed sufficiently to allow the control panels to be transferred to the building. Technical staff from INSP and S3 Technologies are scheduled to inspect the construction of the building later in August. Following confirmation of construction progress, the delivery of the simulator controls panels from Energotraining in Kyiv, Ukraine, to the Khmelnyskyy plant will proceed. (Bill Shier, BNL, 516-344-2385)

Chornobyl Shelter Project. Tasks have been initiated with five companies under basic ordering agreements for assignments supporting the European Commission Chornobyl Shelter Project. Tasks were placed with Bechtel, Halliburton NUS, Parsons-Gilbert Commonwealth, Science Applications International Corporation, and Stone and Webster. A team kickoff meeting will be held in Washington D.C. on August 13. Follow this meeting, work will begin with the European Commission Project at the offices of Trischler and Partner in Darmstadt, Germany, the week of August 19. The European Commission project has an aggressive time table, scheduled for completion on October 31, 1996. The U.S. team has a challenge to get involved and make an impact in this key study. (Dennis Kreid, PNNL, 509-375-2170)

Safety Parameter Display System for Chornobyl. Staff from INSP, Parsons Power, RDIPE, Westinghouse, and Westron met with Chornobyl NPP staff at the plant to discuss differences between the prototype safety parameter display system being installed at Kursk NPP Unit 2 versus the requirements for a safety parameter display system for Chornobyl NPP Unit 3. The specification for the Chornobyl safety parameter display system was signed. However, the plant will require an additional month to complete the detailed description of all signals to be monitored by the safety parameter display system. The project team also met with the Ukraine Nuclear Regulatory Administration. Through a cooperative agreement with Russia, the Nuclear Regulatory Administration will rely heavily on the regulatory review being performed by GAN for the Kursk NPP Unit 2 safety parameter display system. The Nuclear Regulatory Administration will, however, follow the progress of the Chornobyl Unit 3 safety parameter display system closely. (Rich Denning, PNNL, 614-424-7412; Norm Fletcher, DOE, 301-903-3275)

Contract Signed. A contract was signed on August 3 with representatives of the Chornobyl Center for the development of a database to update ongoing safety projects and to analyze the information for the purpose of coordinating safety work being carried out in the Ukraine. (Robert Breneman, PNNL, 509-375-6635)

PLANNED ACTIVITIES

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

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 17-31 -- Kalinin and Smolensk NPP, Russia.
Arrangements are being made for INSP specialists to observe nondestructive examination (NDE) activities at NPPs in Russia in support of the new NDE projects. Tentative plans are to visit the 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 compatibility with the existing database at Argonne. (Walt Pasedag, DOE, 301-903-3628)

August 18-25 -- Boston, Massachusetts.
Four representatives from Gosatomnadzor will attend a class on nuclear emergency planning at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, Massachusetts. (George Sherwood, DOE, 301-903-4162 or George Vargo, PNNL, 509-375-6836)

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 19-24 -- Khmelnytskyy NPP, Ukraine.
Technical staff from INSP and S3 Technologies will inspect the construction of the building that will house the full-scope simulator. The delivery of the simulator control panels cannot proceed until certain construction items are complete in the building. (Bill Shier, BNL, 516-344-2385)

August 21-23 -- Moscow, Russia.
Representatives from INSP, Kursk NPP, Parsons Power, RDIPE, and Westinghouse will meet to agree on team responsibilities 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 25-30 -- Slavutych, Ukraine.
INSP technical staff will attend the European Commission workshop on the Chornobyl shelter project. (Dennis Kried, PNNL, 509-375-2170)

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 27-28 -- Washington, DC.
Ukrainians will attend a workshop on legislative framework for the nuclear liability issues. (George Sherwood, DOE, 301-903-4162 or George Vargo, PNNL, 509-375-6836)

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)

August TBD -- Brookhaven National Laboratory.
Staff from Novovoronezh NPP will arrive at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) in late August to train and perform safety analysis calculations using the nuclear plant analyzer input decks (input files) for Unit 5. BNL is preparing the agenda and training programs that will be needed during their stay. (Greg Slovik, BNL, 516-344-7983)

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 3-7 -- Trnava, Slovakia.
A meeting will be held to plan for the Trnava simulator upgrade project. Participants will review the status of the current simulator, discuss the project tasks and schedules, and finalize the roles of the project players in a memorandum of understanding. (Ken Erickson, PNNL, 509-372-4063)

*September 8-12 -- Moscow, Russia.
The semi-annual coordinating meeting with Minatom and other Russian contacts will take place in Moscow. These meetings will cover the status of ongoing projects and future cooperative efforts. (Dan Giessing, DOE, 301-903-2852)

September 9-12 -- Balakovo NPP, Russia.
Balakovo NPP staff and Sonalysts staff will implement the training courses for electrical maintenance and simulator instructors. Representatives from INSP will implement the specialized training course for management/supervisory skills. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

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

*September 13-19 -- Kyiv, Ukraine.
Program review meetings will take place in Kyiv with representatives from the Chornobyl Center, DOE, Goscomatom, and INSP technical staff. (Dan Giessing, DOE, 301-903-2852)

*September 14-28 -- Moscow, Russia.
Acceptance testing of the Kalinin full-scope simulator will take place at the simulator manufacturing factory of VNIIAES/GET in Moscow. INSP technical staff will attend. (John Yoder, DOE, 301-903-5650)

*September 16 -- Smolensk NPP, Russia.
The first classes on vibration analysis and shaft alignment will be held at the Smolensk training center. (Tom Vehec, PNNL, 509-372-4072)

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 16-20 -- Moscow, Russia.
Representatives from Gosatomnadzor will attend a workshop on quality assurance for the transport of nuclear materials. (George Sherwood, DOE, 301-903-4162 or George Vargo, PNNL, 509-375-6836)

*September 20-22 -- Moscow, Russia.
A project review meeting for the Kola in-depth safety analysis (KOLISA) project will be held in Moscow. INSP technical staff will attend. (Walt Pasedag, DOE, 301-903-3628)

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 21-October 4 -- Ignalina NPP, Lithuania and Kozloduy NPP, Bulgaria.
INSP staff will participate in configuration management meetings at Ignalina NPP. Then staff from INSP, Kozolody NPP, and Risk Engineering Limited will meet at Kozloduy NPP to discuss the configuration management and seismic upgrade projects. (Dan Couch, PNNL, 509-372-4591)

*September 23-27 -- Obinsk, Russia.
DOE will hold an information exchange at the Institute of Power and Physics Engineering in Obinsk. The goal of this exchange is to provide an open forum to communicate the results of the safety analyses carried out under INSP sponsorship in Russia, Ukraine, and Central European countries with Soviet-designed reactors. (Walt Pasedag, DOE, 301-903-3628)

September 30-October 4 -- Place TBD
Representatives from BNL, DOE, GAN, INPO, and NRC will attend training technology transfer meetings. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

September 30-October 10 -- Waterford, Connecticut.
Balakovo specialists will travel to Sonalysts to continue development of the training course for instrumentation and control operations. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

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 7-18 -- Kozloduy NPP, Bulgaria.
General Physics and Sonalysts staff will assist Kozloduy NPP with the implementation of training courses for the shift supervisors and reactor repair technicians. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

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 14-25 -- Waterford, Connecticut.
Balakovo NPP specialists will travel to Sonalysts to continue development of the radiation protection training course. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

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 28-November 1 -- 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)

October TBD -- Place 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 tentatively is 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 11-22 -- Balakovo NPP, Russia.
Sonalysts staff will assist Balakovo in the implementation of the water chemistry training course. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

November 11-December 6 -- Place TBD
A workshop on the systematic approach to training will be held for participants of the Training Technology Transfer Program. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

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)

Dec. 11 - 12 -- Moscow, Russia.
A meeting will be held with the training technology transfer participants to discuss the progress of the program. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

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)

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.