Morning Report for August 30, 1999

                       Headquarters Daily Report

                         AUGUST 30, 1999

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                    REPORT             NEGATIVE            NO INPUT
                    ATTACHED           INPUT RECEIVED      RECEIVED

HEADQUARTERS        X
REGION I                               X
REGION II                              X
REGION III                             X
REGION IV                              X
PRIORITY ATTENTION REQUIRED  MORNING REPORT - HEADQUARTERS AUGUST 30, 1999

MR Number: H-99-0075

                           NRR DAILY REPORT ITEM
                           GENERIC COMMUNICATIONS



Subject: Revisions to the Generic Communications Program

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is planning to issue a regulatory
issue summary to all NRC licensees to inform addressees of actions taken
by the staff to improve the agency's generic communications program and
its implementation, specifically: (1) more clearly define each generic
communications product and the distinctions between the several types of
generic communications; (2) require the staff to obtain early senior
management acknowledgment of emergent generic issues and require the
staff to initiate early interaction with the nuclear power industry when
evaluating an issue; (3) implement a tiered approach to generic
information requests; (4) develop simplified value-impact assessments
when the compliance exception to the backfit rule (10 CFR 50.109) is
invoked, in order to present senior management with additional
information for making better informed decisions; and (5) use the
Headquarters Daily Report to disseminate potentially generic information
to licensees and to the public.

Projected Issuance:  September 1999


Contact:    Eric Benner, NRR
            301-415-1171
            Email: 

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HEADQUARTERS      MORNING REPORT     PAGE  2          AUGUST 30, 1999

MR Number: H-99-0076

                           NRR DAILY REPORT ITEM
                           GENERIC COMMUNICATIONS



Subject: Relaxation of Technical Specification Requirements for PORC
         Review of Fire Protection Program Changes

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is planning to issue a regulatory
issue summary to all holders of operating licenses for nuclear power
plants, except those that have permanently ceased operations and have
certified that fuel has been permanently removed from the reactor vessel,
to advise them that they may request a license amendment to their
respective plant technical specifications to modify the requirements for
the Plant Operating Review Committee (PORC) review of the fire protection
program and implementing procedures. The amendment will alleviate the
unnecessary burden on the PORC of reviewing all changes to these programs
and procedures. Licensees that choose to submit a license amendment
request, however, must be able to demonstrate that adequate procedural
controls and regulatory controls are in place to assure the continued
effectiveness of the fire protection program. Any action taken on the
part of a licensee in response to this regulatory issue summary will be
strictly voluntary.

Projected Issuance:  September 1999


Contact:    Jim Shapaker, NRR
            301-415-1151
            Email: 
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HEADQUARTERS      MORNING REPORT     PAGE  3          AUGUST 30, 1999

Licensee/Facility:                     Notification:

Part 21 Database                       MR Number: H-99-0077
Abb-Ce                                 Date: 08/30/99


Subject: Part 21 - Random resetting of oscillation power range monitor
         in BWRs


Discussion:

VENDOR: ABB-CE                      PT21 FILE NO: 99-34-0

DATE OF DOCUMENT:  06/29/99         ACCESSION NUMBER:

SOURCE DOCUMENT: EN 35879           REVIEWER: REXB, E. Goodwin

NEW ISSUE.  The vendor ABB-CE reports that a defect in ABB oscillation
power range monitors that could cause the scram function to be disabled
for a time, typically less than a minute. The defect could lead to
nonconservative failure of detection and suppression of thermohydraulic
core oscillations during this time. Two of these monitors (a slave
monitor and a master monitor) are installed in each channel of boiling
water reactor neutron monitoring systems. The problem relates to random
resetting of the slave monitor. The vendor is developing an action plan
to determine the cause of the defect. The vendor states that this defect
applies to Susquehanna 1 and 2, Clinton, Hope Creek, WNP-2, Perry,
LaSalle 1 and 2, Dresden 2 and 3, and Quad Cities 1 and 2. The vendor
also states that installed monitors are in the monitor mode with trip
contacts disabled.

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HEADQUARTERS      MORNING REPORT     PAGE  4          AUGUST 30, 1999

Licensee/Facility:                     Notification:

Part 21 Database                       MR Number: H-99-0078
Foxboro/Potter & Brumfield             Date: 08/30/99


Subject: Part 21 - Potential leakage path in isolator card relays

Discussion:

VENDOR:  Foxboro/Potter & Brumfield         PT21 FILE NO: 99-35-0

DATE OF DOCUMENT: 07/09/99                  ACCESSION NUMBER:

SOURCE DOCUMENT: EN 35906                   REVIEWER: REXB, T. Koshy

NEW ISSUE. The vendor Foxboro reports a potential defect in isolator
cards containing specific relays, model numbers NO152CK or CO147SS, that
are manufactured by Potter & Brumfield. The tin-plated contact support
arms could develop leakage paths between adjacent metallic surfaces
because of growth of tin whiskers. The vendor states that this potential
defect is limited to those relays manufactured during the period from
December 1, 1981, to December 31, 1983. The vendor states that it is will
notify all affected nuclear utilities.
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