INFORMATION REPORT

April 5, 2002 SECY-02-0061

For: The Commissioners

From: John W. Craig, Assistant for Operations, Office of the EDO

Subject: SECY-02-0061 WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING MARCH 29, 2002

Contents Enclosure

Nuclear Reactor Regulation A

Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards B

Nuclear Regulatory Research C*

Incident Response Operations D

General Counsel E*

Administration F

Chief Information Officer G

Chief Financial Officer H*

Human Resources I

Small Business & Civil Rights J*

Enforcement K*

State and Tribal Programs L*

Public Affairs M

International Programs N

Office of the Secretary O

Region I P

Region II P

Region III P*

Region IV P

Executive Director for Operations Q*

Congressional Affairs R

*No input this week.

/RA/

John W. Craig

Assistant for Operations, OEDO

Contact:

J. Colaccino, OEDO
April 5, 2002 SECY-02-0061

For: The Commissioners

From: John W. Craig, Assistant for Operations, Office of the EDO

Subject: SECY-02-0061 WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING MARCH 29, 2002

Contents Enclosure

Nuclear Reactor Regulation A

Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards B

Nuclear Regulatory Research C*

Incident Response Operations D

General Counsel E*

Administration F

Chief Information Officer G

Chief Financial Officer H*

Human Resources I

Small Business & Civil Rights J*

Enforcement K*

State and Tribal Programs L*

Public Affairs M

International Programs N

Office of the Secretary O

Region I P

Region II P

Region III P*

Region IV P

Executive Director for Operations Q*

Congressional Affairs R

*No input this week.

/RA/

John W. Craig

Assistant for Operations, OEDO

Contact:

J. Colaccino, OEDO

DISTRIBUTION:

Central File

Public Document Name: C:\WIR\WEEK329.WPD

*Please see previous concurrence.

OEDO AO/OEDO

JColaccino:paa* JWCraig

04/5/02 04/5/02
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING MARCH 29, 2002

The Weekly Information Report is compiled by the Office of the EDO and includes highlights of

Headquarters and Regional Office activities. 

Contact: J. Colaccino, OEDO by E-mail: jxc1@nrc.gov. 

Use GO TO (Ctrl+Home) to advance to the page number for a specific Office.

PgDn and PgUp can also be used to advance through the text.

OFFICE Page OFFICE Page

NRR 2 STP *

NMSS 4 OPA 17

RES * IP 18

IRO 9 SECY 19

OGC * Region I 20

ADM 10 Region II 21

CIO 11 Region III *

CFO * Region IV 23

HR 15 OEDO *

SB/CR * OCA 25

OE *

*No input this week
March 29, 2002 ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 29, 2002

Licensee Security Clearance Letters Issued

On March 22, 2002, NRR’s Division of Licensing Project Management distributed letters from

the Director of the Office of Administration to all licensees of operating nuclear plants, offering

the opportunity to obtain security clearances for licensee personnel. The NRC is taking this

step to enhance its licensees' ability to respond to the continuing heightened security

environment following the recent terrorist threats, by having access to classified information

under routine circumstances. Licensees who desire to participate are to respond to the Office

of Administration within 30 days. Classified information will ultimately be distributed to the

cleared licensee contacts through the plant resident inspector’s office, which will be provided

the ability to receive and store classified national security information. In a separate letter,

selected NMSS licensees were provided the same opportunity. Consideration is also being

given to granting security clearances to licensees of shutdown and decommissioned plants. 

TVA Board Hears Report on Browns Ferry Unit 1 Study

On March 26, 2002, TVA issued a News Release stating, among other things, that: A technical

study requested by the TVA Board in September 2001 shows that Unit 1 can be returned to

service "safely and economically," according to Chief Nuclear Engineer Jon Rupert. According

to the study, it would take about five years and cost about $1.7 billion to restart the unit. 

Browns Ferry Unit 1 has not operated since 1985. TVA restarted Unit 2 in 1991 and Unit 3 in

1995. 

This is just one of many steps to be taken so that the Board can make an informed decision. 

The Board will review the results of an environmental review and an assessment of power and

financial conditions before deciding whether to pursue the Browns Ferry option. It is the NRC

staff’s understanding that the Board will make a decision in May 2002.

Vessel Head Inspections at Plants Currently in Outages

As a result of the degradation of the reactor vessel head at Davis-Besse and the NRC’s

issuance of Bulletin 2002-01, "Reactor Pressure Vessel Head Degradation and Reactor Coolant

Pressure Boundary Integrity," the NRC staff has been interacting with utilities in outages

regarding their vessel head inspection scope and results. Several of these utilities have, or are

planning to perform, 100% bare-metal visual inspections of the reactor vessel head. For the

plants that have completed these visual inspections, there was nothing identified that would

warrant additional follow-up.

Root Cause of Davis-Besse Wastage

The root cause investigation at Davis-Besse is on-going. The licensee provided the NRC with a

preliminary root cause summary report on March 22, 2002. A more detailed root cause report

is expected within the next few weeks. In the preliminary root cause report, the corrosion of the

reactor vessel head was attributed to leakage through a crack in the nozzle followed by boric
March 29, 2002 ENCLOSURE A

acid corrosion of the low-alloy steel. The NRC staff is continuing to interact with

representatives of Davis-Besse regarding their findings and root cause evaluation.

Meeting with Industry Regarding Control Room Envelopes

On March 19, 2002, the Division of Systems Safety and Analysis (DSSA) held a public meeting

with the industry represented by the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) to discuss regulatory

guidance which partially endorses NEI-99-03 and a proposed generic letter on establishing and

maintaining the integrity of control room envelopes. The proposed generic letter seeks

information on the status of licensees’ control room envelopes with respect to their licensing

basis values for unfiltered in-leakage and any necessary corrective actions. The industry and

staff emphasized the need for open communication during the public comment period for the

draft regulatory guides and proposed generic letter. The staff confirmed that it will accept

comments on the regulatory guides and generic letter for 90 days after it has been issued for

public comment. 

Of the five associated regulatory guides, one has been published in final form, two are out for

public comment, and two will be issued for public comment in early April 2002. The staff is

proceeding to develop the generic letter. 

The staff presented the substance of the regulatory guides, which partially endorse NEI 99-03,

and reviewed the four issues which are addressed in the regulatory guides. These issues

include the appropriate integration of new information into plants’ licensing bases, testing

methodology, correction of a technical specifications surveillance requirement, and the

assessment of fire byproducts (smoke and other toxic substances).

NRC Information Notice 2002-12: Submerged Safety-Related Electrical Cables dated

March 21, 2002

The NRC issued this information notice to inform addressees of observed protracted

submergence in water of electrical cables that feed safety-related equipment. 

NRC Information Notice 99-28, Supplement 1: Recall of Star Brand Fire Protection Sprinkler

Heads dated March 22, 2002

The NRC issued this supplement to notify addressees that the Consumers Product Safety

Commission is seeking to expand the original recall of the Star brand fire protection sprinkler

heads. This supplement provides information that came to light after the issuance of the

original Information Notice.

Proposed Criteria for the Treatment of Individual Requirements in a Regulatory Analysis

On March 21, 2002, the Offices of NRR and NMSS held a public meeting to obtain stakeholder

input on the staff's preliminary proposed criteria for the treatment of individual requirements in a

regulatory analysis, which were published in the Federal Register on February 13, 2002 (67 FR

6663). A number of constructive suggestions were provided by representatives from the

Nuclear Energy Institute, the Nuclear Utility and Backfitting Review Group (NUBARG), and
March 29, 2002 ENCLOSURE A

Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP. The staff will now redraft the preliminary proposed

criteria and provide a recommendation to the Commission.

Meeting Between NRC Staff and Stakeholders on the Fitness-for-Duty Rule

On March 13, 2002, the NRC staff met with the Nuclear Energy Institute and other stakeholders

at NRC Headquarters. The topics discussed were: (1) the draft revisions to 10 CFR Part 26,

the Fitness-for-Duty Rule; (2) rulemaking time line update; and (3) resolution of open issues. 

The next meeting between NRC staff and stakeholders on the draft revisions to Part 26 is

scheduled for April 17, 2002, at NRC Headquarters. 

Reactor Oversight Process

The Inspection Program Branch conducted another of a continuing series of public meetings on

March 21, 2002, for the NRC/Industry Reactor Oversight Process (ROP) Working Group. The

key issues discussed included: update on status of unavailability/unreliability pilot program

issues; discussion of fire protection, radiation protection, and draft steam generator tube

degradation significant determination processes (SDPs); industry initiatives on self assessment;

and frequently asked questions. The next NRC/Industry ROP public meeting is scheduled for

April 25, 2002. 
March 29, 2002 ENCLOSURE B

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 29, 2002

Safeguards Bilateral Meetings

The U.S. Government held its annual safeguards bilateral coordination meetings with Germany

on March 14, 2002, and with EURATOM on March 15, 2002. Staff from the Division of Fuel

Cycle Safety and Safeguards represented the NRC at the meetings, which were held,

respectively, in Germany and Luxembourg. Other U.S. participants were from the Departments

of State and Energy. The meetings addressed each country’s or organization’s policy and

technical positions with respect to strengthening International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

safeguards. The IAEA’s integrated safeguards system was the primary topic. The agenda for

each meeting also included: (1) IAEA safeguards implementation in the U.S. and the European

Union; (2) Additional Protocol ratification status; (3) status of the U.S.-Russia-IAEA Trilateral

Verification Initiative; and (4) technical support to the IAEA. There was general agreement on

the technical issues discussed during both meetings. Germany and EURATOM had differing

policy positions regarding the weighting of Additional Protocol measures, and traditional

safeguards measures in Integrated Safeguards. With respect to the Additional Protocol,

Germany expressed its expectation that the U.S. Additional Protocol should be ratified soon

after the European Commission ratifies the Additional Protocols of the European Union Member

States (expected by the end of 2002).

International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors Meeting

On March 18-21, 2002, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors met

in Vienna, Austria. Staff from the Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards and the Office

of International Programs participated as members of the U.S. delegation to the meeting. The

meeting’s agenda included: (1) applications for membership in the IAEA; (2) the IAEA’s

proposal for protection against nuclear terrorism; (3) the proposed regional cooperative

agreement for Arab States in Asia for research, development, and training related to nuclear

science and technology; (4) measures to strengthen international cooperation in nuclear,

radiation, transport, and waste safety; (5) strengthening the IAEA’s activities related to nuclear

science, technology, and applications; (6) nuclear verification and security of nuclear materials,

including the conceptual framework for integrated safeguards; (7) planning for the 2004-2005

program and budget; and (8) decisions on personnel matters. The primary safeguards issues

addressed by the March IAEA Board of Governors Meeting were the IAEA’s framework for

implementing integrated safeguards and the IAEA’s proposal for protecting against nuclear

terrorism. The Board generally accepted both proposals. Comments on the proposal for

protecting against nuclear terrorism included the priority of tasks and how the program would

be funded. Board comments on integrated safeguards addressed the need for the system to: 

(1) continue to be developed, evaluated, and improved on the basis of review, evaluation,

technical developments, and implementation experience; (2) maintain sufficient flexibility for

future developments and efficient implementation under a variety of State-specific and facilityspecific conditions; and (3) maintain a close dialogue and cooperation between the IAEA and

Member States, including the Standing Advisory Group on Safeguards Implementation

involvement.
March 29, 2002 ENCLOSURE B

U.S.-International Atomic Energy Agency Safeguards Implementation Meeting

On March 22, 2002, the U.S.-International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Safeguards

Implementation meeting was held in Vienna, Austria. The meeting addressed IAEA safeguards

implementation at the BWXT Downblending Facility, and the Department of Energy storage

facilities in Oak Ridge, Hanford, Rocky Flats, and Savannah River. There will be a follow-up

meeting in April between management personnel from the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and

Safeguards and BWXT.

Subcommittee on International Safeguards and Monitoring

On March 26, 2002, the Subcommittee on International Safeguards and Monitoring met to

receive reports from the U.S.-Germany and U.S.-EURATOM Safeguards Bilateral Meetings; the

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors Meeting; the U.S.-IAEA

Safeguards Implementation Meeting; and other meetings held in Vienna, Austria, during the

week of March 18, 2002.

Staff Met with Representatives of Kaiser Aluminum to Discuss Bankruptcy Effects on

Decommissioning

On February 12, 2002, Kaiser Aluminum (Kaiser) filed a voluntary petition under Chapter 11 of

the Federal Bankruptcy Code in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. Kaiser

released a statement indicating that in conjunction with the bankruptcy filing, it had obtained a

loan commitment for $300 million of debtor-in-possession financing. Kaiser stated that this

financing, along with the company’s invested cash, was sufficient to fund ongoing operations,

including decommissioning of the Kaiser facility in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

On March 22, 2002, NRC staff met with representatives of Kaiser to discuss what impact the

bankruptcy would have on decommissioning activities at the Kaiser facility in Tulsa, Oklahoma. 

Kaiser officials confirmed that decommissioning activities will continue as currently planned. A

report of the meeting will be published by April 5, 2002.

Staff Observe the Department of Energy’s Audit of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

On March 18-22, 2002, staff from the Division of Waste Management observed the Department

of Energy’s (DOE’s) audit of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) in Berkeley,

California. The Office of Quality Assurance of DOE’s Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste

Management (OCRWM) conducted this compliance-based audit. The audit evaluated the

effectiveness of LBNL’s implementation of the OCRWM Quality Assurance Program for the

Yucca Mountain Project (YMP) activities. 

Staff Attends the Department of Energy’s Waste Package Materials Performance Peer Review

Panel’s Final Report Presentation

On March 18-19, 2002, representatives of the Division of Waste Management and the Center

for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses attended the presentation of the final report prepared

by the Waste Package Materials Performance Peer Review Panel. The Department of

Energy’s (DOE’s) Yucca Mountain Project convened this panel. The Panel consisted of seven
March 29, 2002 ENCLOSURE B

renowned corrosion experts from universities, a national laboratory, and a private research and

development organization in the U.S. Fifteen additional U.S. and international experts on the

subject matter assisted the Panel. The Panel summarized its review and addressed various

topics. The topics included: (1) composition of aqueous environments; (2) materials

metallurgical stability; (3) long-term uniform corrosion; (4) localized corrosion; (5)

environmentally assisted cracking, including stress corrosion cracking; and (6) hydrogen effects

and contributing effects of design and fabrication factors on corrosion. The Panel concluded

that the current waste package design is likely to meet performance criteria for the repository, if

some technical issues are favorably resolved. Although the Panel noted that the technical

basis supporting the suitability of alloy 22 for the outer barrier of the waste package is

substantial and growing, there will always be uncertainty in the evaluation of the long- term

performance of the waste package in the repository as a result of the extremely long life

required. Various technical concerns were presented emphasizing the need for a better

determination of the realistic range of aqueous environments, a better integration between

design and fabrication efforts, and the testing and modeling of corrosion processes. In

response to the Panel’s findings, DOE presented updated assessment results of the corrosion

behavior of waste package materials. The staff is reviewing the Panel’s final report.

Public Meeting to Discuss Planned Oyster Creek Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation

On the evening of March 26, 2002, staff from the Spent Fuel Project Office, the Office of

Nuclear Reactor Regulation, and Region I conducted a public meeting at the Lacey Township

Middle School in Forked River, New Jersey. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the

planned Oyster Creek independent spent fuel storage installation (ISFSI). The staff held an

open house from 5:30-6:30 p.m. to provide pamphlets and other NRC literature to members of

the public, to display graphics related to the planned ISFSI, and to answer questions from the

public. During the open house, the NRC staff members were stationed at various locations to

hold small group discussions on topics of interest to the attendees, including physical security,

process for general licensing of ISFSIs, and inspection programs. Subsequently, the staff

provided a brief overview, from 6:30-7:30, on the 10 CFR Part 72 ISFSI general licensing

process and NRC inspection oversight. A question and answer period was held from 7:30-9:00,

and then extended by the staff several times until past 10:00 to listen to the concerns from the

public and provide responses and additional information, as appropriate. The public

participants had concerns and questions on a variety of issues, including the safety of the dry

spent fuel storage system in a sabotage attack similar to those on September 11, 2001; the

adequacy of the site Emergency Plan; and the general licensing process. Representatives of

several citizen groups gave statements that the Commission should not allow the continuation

of 10 CFR Part 72 general licensing, since the public is not provided with the opportunity for a

hearing and that the public comment period during rulemaking for the dry storage system

designs is not sufficient. A spokesperson for the Jersey Shore Nuclear Watch did not believe

that NRC addressed the Resolutions passed by a number of the surrounding boroughs and

townships, and requested that NRC conduct adjudicatory hearings on the planned Oyster

Creek ISFSI. One individual requested that the staff inform the Commission that it should

change the General Licensing process to include the opportunity for an adjudicatory hearing

before allowing fuel to be loaded in an ISFSI. The staff provided the participants with

information on the mechanisms for petitioning the Commission to modify the regulations

(10 CFR 2.802).
March 29, 2002 ENCLOSURE B

Direct Final Rule Published - Holtec HI-STORM 100, Amendment 1

On March 27, 2002, a direct final rule entitled "List of Approved Spent Fuel Storage Casks:

Holtec HI-STORM 100 Revision" was published in the Federal Register (67 FR 14627). The

direct final rule is to amend 10 CFR Part 72 by revising the listing for the Holtec HI-STORM 100

casks in Part 72.214 to include Amendment No. 1 to the Certificate of Compliance (CoC)

Number 1014. This amendment will: (1) modify the present cask system design to add four

new multipurpose canisters; (2) add new containers for damaged fuel; (3) add the HI-STORM

100S overpack and the 100A and 100SA high-seismic anchored overpacks; (4) allow the

storage of high-burnup fuel; (5) delete the Technical Specifications for special requirements, for

the first systems in place, and for training requirements, and relocate these requirements to the

main body of CoC 1014; and (6) allow the storage of selected nonfuel hardware. The

amendment will also: (1) use revised thermal analysis tools to include natural convection heat

transfer; (2) revise the helium backfill requirements to allow a helium density measurement to

be used; (3) allow a helium drying system rather than the existing vacuum drying system; and

(4) require soluble boron during canister loading, for certain higher-enriched fuels. In addition,

modifications will be made to applicable CoC conditions and sections of Appendix A and

Appendix B to the CoC, to reflect the changes. The direct final rule will be effective on June 10,

2002, unless significant adverse comments are received by April 26, 2002.
March 29, 2002 ENCLOSURE D

Incident Response Operations

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 29, 2002

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Meeting

An IRO staff member attended a meeting at the National Atmospheric Release Advisory Center

(NARAC) at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory on March 19-20, 2002. NARAC has a

capability to make dose projections for greater distances using more sophisticated models than

NRC has in its Operations Center. The purpose of the meeting was to improve NRC-NARAC

coordination so that the NARAC capability could be used by NRC during an emergency. 

Several steps were taken to improve coordination. These include revised procedures to work

together, developing new methods to improve electronic connectivity, and plans for participating

in exercises and drills.

Preliminary Notifications

1. PNO-I-02-009, Langan Engineering & Environmental Services, Inc., A

MOISTURE/DENSITY GAUGE STOLEN FROM A TEMPORARY JOB SITE.

2. PNO-II-02-014, Thompson-Arthur Division APAC-Carolina, Inc., STOLEN PORTABLE

GAUGE.

3. PNO-III-02-010, Spectrum Health Hospitals, BRACHYTHERAPY MISADMINISTRATION

4. PNO-III-02-011, Nascote Industries, Inc., MISSING GENERALLY-LICENSED STATIC

ELIMINATOR DEVICE.

5. PNO-III-02-012, Sholle Corporation, MISSING GENERALLY-LICENSED GAUGING

DEVICE.

6. PNO-IV-02-014A, St. Bernard’s Regional Medical Center, MEDICAL

MISADMINISTRATION - UPDATE.

7. PNO-IV-02-016, Entergy Operations, Inc. (Waterford 3), ALERT DECLARED AT

WATERFORD 3 BECAUSE OF COMPLICATIONS IN PLACING NORMAL SHUTDOWN

COOLING IN SERVICE.

8. PNO-IV-02-018, North County Compaction Engineering, Inc., STOLEN PORTABLE

GAUGE.
March 29, 2002 ENCLOSURE F

Office of Administration 

Items of Interest 

Week Ending March 29, 2002

Revision of Fee Schedules; Fee Recovery for FY 2002 (Parts 170 and 171)

A proposed rule that would amend the licensing, inspection, and annual fees charged to the

Commission’s applicants and licensees was published in the Federal Register on March 27,

2002 (67 FR 14818). The proposed rule is intended to ensure NRC compliance with the

Omnibus Budget and Reconciliation Act of 1990. The Act mandates that the NRC recover

approximately 96 percent of its budget authority in Fiscal Year 2002, less amounts appropriated

from the Nuclear Waste Fund and the General Fund. The amount to be recovered for FY 2002

is approximately $479.5 million. The comment period on this action closes April 26, 2002.
March 29, 2002 ENCLOSURE G

Chief Information Officer

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 29, 2002

Freedom of Information and Privacy Act Requests received during the Period of

March 22, 2002 through March 28, 2002:

Plum Island Animal Disease Center, Plum Island, Suffolk County, NY, all records. 

(FOIA/PA-2002-0198)

All records related to self. (FOIA/PA-2002-0199)

VA Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, license no. 42-00220-06 and inspection report 92-01 and all

associated records. (FOIA/PA-2002-0200)

San Onfre power plant, Southern California Edison Company, all safety concerns submitted to

Nuclear Safety Concerns organization and their technical disposition. (FOIA/PA-2002-0201)

Daily Plant Status Reports, 1/1/02 through 3/17/02 (FOIA/PA-2002-0202)

San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS), exhibit 6 and 7, to OI Report 4-2000-063,

and OI Report 4-2001-005 (FOIA/PA-2002-0203)

Contract with CNWRA, FY 2001 and FY 2002, related to operating plans/program plans for

high-level waste work (FOIA/PA-2002-0204)
March 29, 2002 ENCLOSURE I

Office of Human Resources

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 29, 2002

Arrivals

BROWDE, Shana NUCLEAR SAFETY INTERN RES

BURRELL, Michael SECURITY SPECIALIST NRR

CABRERA TOLEDO, Ivelisse NUCLEAR SAFETY INTERN NMSS

Retirements

ADENSAM, Elinor PROJECT DIRECTOR, PROJECT 

DIRECTORATE I

NRR

BONSBY, Christine MANAGEMENT ASSISTANT RES

CHILDS, James ASSISTANT INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR

INVESTIGATIONS

OIG

HOOKS, Kenneth SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER NMSS

LEE, Tim SENIOR REACTOR SYSTEMS ENGINEER RES
March 29, 2002 ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 29, 2002

Media Interest

There was interest in Rep. Ed Markey’s analysis of NRC responses to security-related

questions he had asked the agency.

The reactor vessel head degradation at Davis-Besse, and the possibility this problem exists

elsewhere, continued to receive widespread media coverage.

Chairman Richard Meserve was interviewed by ABC-TV, CNN and Fox News about nuclear

power plant security.

Press Releases

Headquarters:

02-033 NRC Orders Honeywell to Enhance Security

02-034 NRC to Hold Three Meetings April 8 to 10 in Nevada on Potential Repository

at Yucca Mountain

02-035 NRC Licensing Board to Hold Hearings in April in Utah on Private Fuel

Storage Proposal

Regions:

I-02-023 NRC Determines Inspection Finding for Vermont Yankee Nuclear Plant To Be

of Substantial Safety Significance

I-02-024 NRC to Meet with Amergen to Discuss Three Mile Island 1 Performance

II-02-019 NRC to Meet with CP&L Officials to Discuss Safety Performance at Robinson

Nuclear Power Plant

III-02-005 NRC to Meet with Nuclear Management Co. March 26 to Discuss Monticello

Nuclear Power Plant Performance

III-02-006 NRC to Meet with Detroit Edison Co. March 28 to Discuss Fermi 2 Nuclear

Power Plant Performance

III-02-007 NRC to Meet With Nuclear Management Co. March 28 to Discuss Prairie

Island Nuclear Power Station Performance

III-02-008 NRC to Meet with Exelon Generation Co. April 2 to Discuss Quad Cities

Nuclear Power Station Performance

III-02-009 NRC to Meet with Exelon Generation Co. April 3 to Discuss Dresden Nuclear

Power Station Performance
March 29, 2002 ENCLOSURE M

III-02-010 NRC to Hold Public Meeting on Decommissioning Activities For Hematite,

Missouri, Fuel Processing Facility

III-02-011 NRC to Meet with Exelon Generation Co. April 3 to Discuss Dresden Nuclear

Power Station Performance

III-02-012 NRC Inspection Team to Present Findings April 5 On Davis-Besse Reactor

Vessel Head Damage - Second meeting to discuss plant Performance in

2001

IV-02-011 NRC Monitored Events at Waterford 3

IV-02-012 NRC to Meet With STP Nuclear Operating Company to Discuss Safety

Performance at South Texas Project

IV-02-013 NRC to Meet with NPPD to Discuss Safety Performance at Cooper Nuclear

Station

IV-02-014 NRC to Meet with Arizona Public Service To Discuss Safety Performance at

Palo Verde
March 29, 2002 ENCLOSURE N

Office of International Programs

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 29, 2002

Quarterly Review Meeting of NRC’s Former Soviet Union (FSU) Assistance Program Activities

The Office of International Programs held the first quarterly review meeting of NRC's former

Soviet Union (FSU) Assistance Program activities on Thursday, March 27. Representatives of

each program office, the Division of Contracts, Office of Incident Response, Office of the

General Counsel, Office of the Chief Financial Officer, and the Assistant for Operations, OEDO,

attended. Discussions were held on the mechanism for receiving and reporting the expenditure

of AID funds for these activities, usage of FTE resources for performing work, and the status of

ongoing projects. Before concluding the meeting, plans were discussed for briefing the

International Council on funding and resource matters, and a commitment was made to hold

the second quarterly review meeting in June or July. 

French Regulators Visit to NRC

On March 25-28, 2002, a delegation of six regulators from France, headed by Director General

Andre-Claude Lacoste, visited the NRC. The visitors participated in bilateral meetings with

NRR, and Lacoste met with the Commissioners and EDO, on the 25th and 26th. The delegation

traveled to Region II in Atlanta on the 27th for a briefing on the organization of NRC regional

offices and then to the Vogtle nuclear power plant on the 28th, where they engaged in

discussions on low level waste streams and emergency procedures, among other topics. The

French were particularly interested in the US nuclear power plant practice of allowing open

containment during movement of fuel and the Vogtle teledosimetry program. 
March 29, 2002 ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 29, 2002

Document Released

to Public

Date Subject

Information Papers

1. SECY-02-0049 03/20/02 SECY-02-0049 Weekly Information Report -

Week Ending March 15, 2002

2. SECY-02-0041 03/08/02 Status of Accident Sequence Precursor and

SPAR Model Development Programs

Commission Correspondence

1. Letter to Congressman Edward J. Markey dated March 22, 2002, follow-up on a

commitment to inform when the NRC reached a decision on whether the agency’s plant

status reports, which had been removed from the NRC web site following the vents of

September 11, 2001, would be removed from the web permanently. 

2. Letter to Congress dated March 22, 2002, provides the January report on the status of

NRC’s licensing and regulatory duties.

3. Letter to Sandra R. Galef, New York State Assembly, dated March 22, 2002, concerns

general safety and security at the Indian Point 2 and 3 plants and the availability of

additional measures to deter water craft access to the plants.

4. Letter to Richard Blumenthal, Attorney General, Sate of Connecticut, dated March 22,

2002, concerns a proposal made by Combustion Engineering (CE) to have the NRC

assert full regulatory authority over the remediation activities of the CE-Windsor site.

5. Letter to Congress dated March 21, 2002, concerns request that a “public hearing” be

held in Ocean County, New Jersey.

6. Letter to Congressman Jim Saxton dated March 21, 2002, responds to request that a

“public hearing” be held in Ocean County, New Jersey.

7. Letter to Dr. J zsef R naky, Hungarian atomic Energy Authority, dated March 29, 2002,

concerns the newly formed Hungarian working group on combating nuclear terrorism.

8. Letter to the Duxbury Board of Selectmen dated March 19, 2002, responds to request for

help to resolve certain emergency preparedness issues.

9. Letter to Alison Leventhal dated March 18, 2002, concerns discussion at school of the

security of the Indian Point Nuclear Generating Units Nos. 2 and 3.
March 29, 2002 ENCLOSURE O

10. Letter to Michael F. Easley, Governor of North Carolina, dated March 18, 2002, concerns

NRC’s State Liaison Officer program.

11. Letter to Mark Warner, Governor of Virginia, dated March 18, 2002, concerns NRC’s

State Liaison Officer program.

12. Letter to Andrew Kehrer dated March 18, 2002, concerns discussion at school of the

security of the Indian Point Nuclear Generating Units Nos. 2 and 3.

13. Letter to Jim Miller, Sabia, Inc., dated March 18, 2002, responds to e-mail requesting

restoration of unlimited access to the NRC’s Sealed Source and Device Registration web

site.

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. Proposed Rule - Compatibility with IAEA Transportation Safety Standards (TS-R-1) and

Other Transportation Safety Amendments, 10 CFR Part 71, RIN: 3150 - AG71.

2. ACNW Meeting on Planning and Procedures, Notice of Meeting.

3. ASLB - In the Matter of Earthline Technologies (Previously RMI Environmental Services)

Ashtabula, Ohio, License No. SMB-00602, Order Imposing Civil Monetary Penalty, Notice

of Hearing.

4. ACRS Meeting Notice.

5. ASLB - In the Matter of Tennessee Valley Authority (Watts Bar Nuclear Plant, Unit 1:

Sequoyah Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2; Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, Units 1, 2, and 3),

Notice of Evidentiary Hearing.
March 29, 2002 ENCLOSURE P

Region I

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 29, 2002

Indian Point 2

ABC News-New York, interviewed the Indian Point 2 (IP2) resident inspectors and a regionbased operator licensing examiner on March 27, 2002, in the IP2 training simulator. The

interview focused principally on operator training and examination, NRC inspector

responsibilities, and plant security, and is scheduled to be aired the week of April 1.

On March 26, 2002, the Region I State Liaison Officer attended a meeting requested and

coordinated by Westchester County (NY) Emergency Management to review aspects of the

County’s Comprehensive Emergency Response Plan. The meeting was attended by

representatives from the offices of Senator Clinton, Congresswoman Lowey, the Federal

Bureau of Investigation, Federal Emergency Management Agency Region II, the State of New

York, the Westchester County Board of Legislators and multiple local agencies.

Indian Point 3

Mr. Brian Walsh of Congressman Gilman’s Washington office toured the Indian Point 3 (IP3)

plant on March 27, 2002, with Entergy management. Mr. Walsh visited the NRC residents.
March 29, 2002 ENCLOSURE P

Region II

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 29, 2002

General Accounting Office Conducts Agency Budget Case Studies

On March 25-27, 2002, two representatives of the General Accounting Office were in the

Region II office to conduct Agency Budget Case Studies and discuss NRC’s efforts to manage

for results by incorporating performance information into its budget formulation and

implementation process.

Duke Energy Corporation - Full Scale Catawba Nuclear Exercise

On March 25-28, 2002, the State Liaison Officer participated as a member of the Regional

Assistance Committee in the full scale Catawba nuclear exercise, involving officials of the

States of South Carolina and North Carolina and the applicable local governments.

Westinghouse Electric Corporation - Licensee Performance Review (LPR)

On March 28, 2002, the Director, Division of Nuclear Materials Safety (DNMS), Acting Chief,

Fuel Facilities Branch (DNMS), and a Branch Chief from the Office of Nuclear Material Safety

and Safeguards staff members conducted a meeting with Westinghouse management to

discuss the recent LPR. The licensee provided the results of their own self-assessments of the

LPR functional areas.

Reactor Oversight Process (ROP) Annual Assessment Meetings

During the week of March 25-29, 2002, Region II Branch Chiefs in the Division of Reactor

Projects held ROP Annual Assessment meetings for the Oconee, Farley, and Watts Bar

nuclear plants. The meetings were held at or near the nuclear plants and were open to the

public. The Deputy Regional Administrator attended the Oconee meeting in South Carolina.
March 29, 2002 ENCLOSURE P

Region IV

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 29, 2002

Congressman Ryun Visit to Wolf Creek Generating Station

On March 26, 2002, Congressman Jim Ryun of Kansas visited Wolf Creek Generating Station. 

He was primarily interested in security, fuel storage, and fuel shipment. Although introduced to

the resident inspection staff, the congressman had no questions for the NRC.
March 29, 2002 

Office of Congressional Affairs

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 29, 2002

CONGRESSIONAL HEARING SCHEDULE, NO. 47

OCA

Contact

DATE

&

PLACE

TIME WITNESS SUBJECT 

KeelingClosedBriefing

04/10/02S-407

 4:00 Chairman Meserve, Los

Alamos, LLNL, Cal Tech

Radiological Dispersal Devices Senators 

Foreign R

KeelingClosedBriefing

04/11/02 1:00 Chairman Meserve Security at Nuclear Power Plants Reps. Gre

Oversight Energy an

Combs 04/25/02

2322 RHOB

10:00 Chairman Meserve, Secretary

Abraham, Gov. Guinn (R-NV),NEI, GAO,US PIRG, NARUC,and others

Yucca Mountain Nuclear WasteRepository

Reps. BaEnergy anEnergy an

Note: The House of Representatives is in recess until April 9. The Senate is in recess until April 8.