INFORMATION REPORT

May 16, 2002 SECY-02-0086

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-02-0086 WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING MAY 10, 2002

Contents Enclosure

Nuclear Reactor Regulation A

Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards B

Nuclear Regulatory Research C

Nuclear Security and Incident Response 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:

M. Layton, OEDO
May 16, 2002 SECY-02-0086

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-02-0086 WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING MAY 10, 2002

Contents Enclosure

Nuclear Reactor Regulation A

Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards B

Nuclear Regulatory Research C

Nuclear Security and Incident Response 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:

M. Layton, OEDO

DISTRIBUTION:

Central File

Public Document Name: C:\WIR\WEEK510.WPD

OEDO AO/OEDO

MLayton:paa JWCraig

05/16/02 05/16/02
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING MAY 10, 2002

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

Headquarters and Regional Office activities. 

Contact: M. Layton, OEDO by E-mail: mcl@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 16

NMSS 4 OPA 17

RES 8 IP 18

NSIR 9 SECY 19

OGC * Region I *

ADM 10 Region II 21

CIO 11 Region III *

CFO * Region IV *

HR 15 OEDO *

SB/CR * OCA 24

OE *

*No input this week
May 10, 2002 ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 10, 2002

Sequoyah Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2 - 1.3 % Power Uprate

The NRC staff has approved a request by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to increase the

Sequoyah, Units 1 and 2, licensed maximum thermal power ratings from 3411 megawatts

thermal (MWt) to 3455 MWt. This is an increase of approximately 1.3 percent. The basis for

the uprate is installation of Caldon leading edge flow meters (LEFMs) to measure secondary

system feedwater flow with higher accuracy. Electrical output of each unit can be increased as

much as 15 megawatts electrical (MWe), raising the net maximum capacity (MDC) from 1122

MWe to 1137 MWe.

The application for the power increase was submitted to the NRC on November 15, 2001. The

amendments were issued on April 30, 2002, 5 1⁄2 months later. The NRC's evaluation of the

requested power uprate for the plant focused on several areas, including nuclear steam supply

systems, instrumentation and control systems, electrical systems, accident calculations,

radiological consequences, operations and technical specification changes. The NRC staff

determined that the licensee could safely increase the power output of the reactor by making

the proposed plant instrumentation modifications (i.e., LEFMs).

TVA intends to implement the power uprates at both units next month. Unit 1 is currently

operating at full power and Unit 2 is nearing the end of a refueling outage.

Draft Generic Letter (DGL) entitled “Control Room Envelope Habitability”

On May 9, 2002, NRR issued a draft generic letter (DGL) in the Federal Register for comment

by the public. The comment period expires 90 days after the Federal Register notice is

published. This DGL entitled "Control Room Envelope Habitability," describes control room

envelope (CRE) habitability issues identified by the industry and the NRC staff. The DGL

requests that licensees submit information to demonstrate that they meet their CRE design

bases requirements, and that suitable design, maintenance and testing control measures are in

place for maintaining this compliance. Since December 2001, NRR has published four draft

regulatory guides to aid licensees in performing a confirmation of their CRE habitability design

bases. 

Davis-Besse Root Cause Analysis Meeting

On May 7, 2002, the NRC held a Type 1 public meeting with representatives of FirstEnergy

Nuclear Operating Company (FENOC), owners of Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station, to

discuss the technical aspects of the root cause analysis of the Reactor Pressure Vessel Head

Degradation. In its preliminary evaluation, the staff has not been able to confirm the root cause

of the head degradation because existing physical evidence is insufficient to validate the

assumptions in the licensee’s analysis. The staff is continuing its review of the licensee’s root

cause analysis.
May 10, 2002 ENCLOSURE A

AP1000

The NRC hosted a public meeting on May 1, 2002, at NRC Headquarters to discuss the

probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) that was submitted in support of Westinghouse Electric

Company’s (Westinghouse’s) March 28, 2002, request for final design approval and design

certification of the AP1000. The primary purpose of the meeting was to allow Westinghouse

representatives the opportunity to present the AP1000 PRA to the NRC staff members who will

be involved in the design certification review. 

Regulatory Infrastructure

On May 7, 2002, the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) presented its white paper titled, “RiskInformed, Performance-Based Regulatory Framework for Power Reactors,” dated May 2002. 

This white paper was formally transmitted to the NRC on May 7, 2002. The framework

introduces a risk-informed regulatory regime that is technology neutral and is structured to be

consistent with the reactor oversight process. The NEI proposal calls for the development and

issuance of a new Part to Title 10 for power reactors that satisfies current NRC safety goals

while providing an opportunity for improving regulatory effectiveness and efficiency. NEI did not

request a formal review of the document but requested that its paper serve as the basis for

further public discussion on constructing a new regulatory framework.

Staff Issues Draft Environmental Impact Statement in Support of License Renewal For North

Anna Power Station and McGuire Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2

In the week of May 6, 2002, the NRC staff published the draft environmental impact statements

(EIS) regarding license renewal for the North Anna Power Station and McGuire Nuclear Station,

Units 1 and 2. The draft EIS is a plant-specific supplement to the "Generic Environmental

Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Power Plants" (NUREG-1437). The drafts

are being issued for public comment, with the comment period closing on August 1, 2002. On

June 12, 2002, the staff will hold public meetings for McGuire Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2, in

Huntersville, North Carolina, to provide the public with information about the results of the staff’s

review and to collect comments on the draft EIS. On June 25, 2002, the staff will hold public

meetings for North Anna Power Station, Units 1 and 2, in Louisa, Virginia, to provide the public

with information about the results of the staff’s review and to collect comments on the draft EIS. 

After the comment period ends, the staff will resolve the comments received and develop the

final environmental impact statements.
May 10, 2002 ENCLOSURE B

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 10, 2002

MTR Research Reactor Spent Fuel Transport Package Approval Recommended

On May 2, 2002, the Spent Fuel Project Office recommended, to the Department of

Transportation, revalidation of the German Package Design Certificate for the Model

No. GNS-16 transportation package. The GNS-16 will be used to transport irradiated MTR

research reactor fuel from Germany to the U.S., as part of the Department of Energy’s foreign

research reactor fuel-return program.

Staff Participates in Department of Defense Low-Level Radioactive Waste Generators Meeting

On April 29 through May 1, 2002, staff from the Division of Waste Management (DWM)

participated in the 12th Annual Department of Defense Low-Level Radioactive Waste

Generators Meeting. The meeting served as an opportunity for participants to discuss the

impacts on programs since September 11, 2001. A staff member from the Office of Nuclear

Security and Incident Response presented the keynote address. Other topics included the

future of regional management of low-level radioactive waste; reducing transportation costs with

reusable containers and rail shipments; updates to the NRC key programs and activities in the

waste arena; and the status of disposal facilities operated by U.S. Ecology, Chem-Nuclear,

Envirocare, and Waste Control Specialists. 

Staff Attends National Spent Nuclear Fuel Program Strategy Meeting

On April 23-24, 2002, staff from the Division of Waste Management (DWM) attended the

National Spent Nuclear Fuel Program’s (NSNFP’s) Strategy Meeting. The NSNFP heard

presentations by the Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management, Department of Energy,

Yucca Mountain Site Characterization Office; Bechtel SAIC Company/Civilian Radioactive

Waste Management System; Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory; and

the NSNFP Office. The meeting participants discussed current developments, future needs,

realignment of work because of budget restrictions, and the action plan for licensing

implementation. 
May 10, 2002 ENCLOSURE C

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 10, 2002

Publication of ASME Standard

On April 5, 2002, ASME published its "Standard for Probabilistic Risk Assessment for Nuclear

Power Plant Applications" (ASME RA-S-2202). As stated in this document, this standard "sets

forth requirements for PRAs used to support risk-informed decisions for commercial nuclear

power plants, and prescribes a method for applying these requirements for specific

applications. This standard applies to PRAs used to support applications of risk-informed

decision making related to design, licensing, procurement, construction, operation, and

maintenance." This standard is the first in a series addressing PRAs and establishes

requirements for a Level 1 (core damage frequency), limited Level 2 (sufficient to evaluate large

early release frequency) for internal events (excluding internal fires) while at full power. ANS is

developing PRA standards to address external events, low power shutdown, and internal fires,

with tentative publication dates of December 2002, 2003 and 2004, respectively. These

standards are developed under the consensus process with different stakeholders participating. 
May 10, 2002 ENCLOSURE D

Nuclear Security and Incident Response

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 10, 2002

NSIR Meeting with the Nuclear Energy Institute on Interim Compensatory Measures

On May 7, 2002, the Division of Nuclear Security held a closed meeting (Safeguards

Information) with representatives of the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) and the Nuclear Industry

Security Sub-Committee. The primary subjects discussed were (1) tabletop exercises on a

limited number of scenarios provided by industry, and (2) changes to the NEI guidelines for the

implementation of the Interim Compensatory Measures required in the NRC Order dated

February 25, 2002. 

NRC/NEI Closed Meeting on Access Authorization

On May 7, 2002, representatives of the Division of Nuclear Security and representatives from

the Personnel Security Branch in the Office of Administration met with representatives of the

Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) and industry stakeholders at NRC headquarters in a closed

meeting to discuss potential vulnerabilities associated with Access Authorization (AA) for

nuclear power plants and industry’s proposed guidance for AA, NEI 99-08, “Industry Guidelines

for Nuclear Power Plant Access Authorization Programs.” Areas of discussion included

improvement in the current process for submission of fingerprints for criminal history checks,

the pilot program for fully electronic submission of fingerprints scheduled to commence in

May 2002, and recent issues associated with AA for nuclear power plants. The next meeting is

scheduled for June 25, 2002.

NRC Public Meeting with Nuclear Energy Institute and Stakeholders on Fitness for Duty Issues

On May 8, 2002, representatives from the Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response

met with representatives from the Nuclear Energy Institute and other licensee representatives

at NRC Headquarters. Topics discussed included (1) modified revisions to 10 CFR Part 26, the

Fitness-for-Duty (FFD) Rule, which included stakeholder and OGC comments and

(2) rulemaking time line update. The next public meeting between NRC and FFD stakeholders

is scheduled for June 25, 2002, at NRC Headquarters. 

RASCAL Training in Region III

On May 8 and 9, 2002, the Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response/Division of

Incident Response Operations provided training on the RASCAL (Radiological Assessment

System for Consequence AnaLysis) computer code for Region III emergency response

personnel. This code is used during radiological emergencies to estimate projected doses due

to a release of radioactive materials.

Emergency Response Data System Software Upgrade

Between April 30, 2002, and May 7, 2002, the Division of Incident Response Operations staff

worked with Scientech, Inc. to install and test an upgrade to the Emergency Response Data

System (ERDS). This upgrade improved the security features of the ERDS system to include
May 10, 2002 ENCLOSURE D

automatic password expiration and automatic logoff of idle user consoles. ERDS passed all

functional tests following the upgrade. The testing included security functions as well as the

data reception, storage, and retrieval functions associated with the system.

Preliminary Notifications

1. PNO-II-02-19, University of Alabama, RECEIPT OF CONTAMINATED PACKAGE.

2. PNO-III-02-020, Boston Scientific, LOST STATIC ELIMINATOR SOURCES.

3. PNO-I-02-012, District Hospital Partners, L. P., POTENTIAL PERSONNEL

OVEREXPOSURE INVOLVING AN INTRAVASCULAR BRACHYTHERAPY DEVICE.
May 10, 2002 ENCLOSURE F

Office of Administration 

Items of Interest 

Week Ending May 10, 2002

Acquisition Training and Certification Program

On May 7, 2002, the Division of Contracts and Property Management conducted a mandatory

Acquisition Certification and Training Program module entitled “Overview” with 24 attendees. 

This all-day module serves as the primer for other workshops in the acquisition training

program. The workshop familiarizes participants with the entire NRC acquisition process

including Federal Acquisition Regulation applicability, commercial contracts, and DOE

laboratory interagency agreements.

Solicitation of Public Comments on Agency Guidelines for Ensuring Information Quality

A document requesting public comment on the NRC’s draft Information Quality Guidelines was

published in the Federal Register on May 3, 2002 ( 67 FR 22463). The Guidelines contain the

Commission’s policy and procedures for ensuring the quality of information before it is

disseminated to the public and procedures by which an affected person may obtain a correction

of information that does not comply with the Guidelines. The comment period on this action

closes May 30, 2002.

Debt Collection Procedures (Part 15)

A final rule that amends the regulations concerning the procedures used to collect debts that

are owed to the NRC was published in the Federal Register on May 6, 2002 (67 FR 30315). 

The amendments conform NRC regulations to the legislative changes enacted in the Debt

Collection Improvement Act of 1996 and the amended procedures contained in the Department

of the Treasury’s Federal Claims Collection Standards. The final rule becomes effective

June 5, 2002. 
May 10, 2002 ENCLOSURE G

Chief Information Officer

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 10, 2002

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

May 3, 2002 through May 9, 2002:

General Information on the NRC (FOIA/PA-2002-0250)

Historical Plant Reactor Status Reports (FOIA/PA-2002-0251)

Indian Point 2, DPV/DPO, 1-1-2000 through 4-1-2002 involving steam generators, electrical

systems, and safety systems (FOIA/PA-2002-0252)

Bush Administration Energy Task Force, referred by Dept. of Commerce (FOIA/PA-2002-0253)

Chairman Meserve letter to Ed Markey re: abandonment and loss of nuclear devices,

supporting documents (FOIA/PA-2002-0254)

Investigation - Southern California Edison report to NRC, September or October, 2001, and all

subsequent documents (FOIA/PA-2002-0255)

Removal of information from web site, reading rooms, libraries, etc. due to 911, all documents;

and web site rebuilding (FOIA/PA-2002-0256)

FOIA/PA-2002-0099, all documents (FOIA/PA-2002-0257)

TIA-2001-016, “NRC policy questions on use of risk techniques” (TAC MB3732) (FOIA/PA2002-0258)

Decommissioning Plan for Whitaker Corporation, Greenville, PA (FOIA/PA-2002-0259)
May 10, 2002 ENCLOSURE I

Office of Human Resources

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 10, 2002

Arrivals

GALIK, Daniel INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SECURITY

OFFICER

OCIO

KEEFER, Randy REACTOR INSPECTOR RI

MILLER, Glenn NUCLEAR SAFETY INTERN NRR

Departures

SCHNETZLER, Bonnie* Security Specialist NSIR

*Effective 05/03/02
May 10, 2002 ENCLOSURE L

Office of State and Tribal Programs

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 10, 2002

Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors Annual Meeting

The Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors (CRCPD) held its 34th Annual Meeting

on May 5-8, 2002 in Madison, Wisconsin. During the meeting, new leadership assumed their

duties as follows: Cynthia Cardwell, Texas as the CRCPD Chair, Paul Merges, New York as

Past Chair and Richard Ratliff, Texas as the Chair-Elect. The selection of Ronald Fraas from

Kansas as the new Executive Director for CRCPD, was also announced. He will be replacing

Charles Hardin who is retiring and has served as the Executive Director for more than 20 years. 

CRCPD passed four resolutions, including support for the use of Potassium Iodide (KI), support

for NRC’s prompt development of national standards for control of solids, request that

Congress recognize State authority over sources of ionizing radiation in DOE facilities and

concern with the use and marketing of CT scans to screen healthy people. Sessions and

training on radiological counter terrorism which included NRC speakers were highlights of the

Annual Meeting. Several of the States indicated their efforts in response to the terrorist attacks

and included: pamphlets for public education, staff terrorism training seminars, task force

activities, issuance of advisories and development of a threat level classification system. NRC

staff also participated in panels on decommissioning and managing long, lived, low-activity

radioactive and mixed waste. Joel Lubenau, (retired NRC and NRC nominee), presented the

John C. Villforth Lecture on Safety and Security of Radioactive Material.
May 10, 2002 ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 10, 2002

Media Interest

FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Co. officials met with NRC staff on May 7 and 9 to discuss the

degradation of the Davis-Besse reactor vessel head, their root cause analysis and repair plans.

There was media interest in the possible restart of Browns Ferry 1.

Press Releases

Headquarters:

Regions:

I-02-037 NRC to Meet with Company Regarding Finding at Susquehanna Plant

II-02-028 NRC Draft Report Finds Surry License Renewal Environmentally

Acceptable; Public Input Sought at Meetings in Late May

IV-02-024 NRC Proposes $6,000 Fine for High Mountain Inspection Services, Inc.
May 10, 2002 ENCLOSURE N

Office of International Programs

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 10, 2002

Hungarian Visit

Mr. Peter Babics, Director of License Renewal, Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority, Mr. Sandor

Ratkai, Director of Development and Analysis, Paks Nuclear Power Plant, and Mr. Istvan

Lenkei, Deputy Director for License Renewal, Paks Nuclear Power Plant, spent April 29, 2002,

through May 3, 2002, in the United States engaged in plant life extension discussions. They

met with NRC staff for two days, with discussions focusing on aging management and license

renewal. They spent one day meeting with Constellation Nuclear Services, where they were

briefed on the license renewal application of Calvert Cliffs. They concluded their week by

touring the North Anna nuclear power plant, and observing a public meeting to discuss

inspection of the North Anna license renewal program.
May 10, 2002 ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 10, 2002

Document Released

to Public

Date Subject

Decision Documents

1. SECY-02-0060 03/29/02 Proposed Policy on Enhancing Public

Participation in NRC Meetings

2. SRM on SECY-02-0060 05/08/02 same

3. Voting Record on

SECY-02-0060

05/08/02 same

4. SECY-02-0068 4/19/02 Proposed Rule on Financial Information

Requirements for Applications to Renew or

Extend the Term of an Operating License

for a Power Reactor

5. SRM on SECY-02-0068 5/10/02 same

6. Voting Record on

SECY-02-0068

5/10/02 same

Information Papers

1. SECY-02-0073 05/02/02 SECY-02-0073 Weekly Information Report -

Week Ending April 26, 2002

2. SECY-02-0070 4/24/02 Publication of Revisions 1 to Regulatory

Guide 1.174 and SRP Chapter 19 and

Notice of a Staff Plan for Endorsing

Consensus Probabilistic Risk Assessment

Standards and Industry Peer Review

Programs

3. SECY-02-0076 5/8/02 Semi-Annual Update of the Future Licensing

and Inspection Readiness Assessment

(FLIRA)

Commission Correspondence

1. Letter to Congressman Kucinich dated April 30, 2002, concerns the recent discovery of a

cavity in the reactor pressure vessel head at the Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station. 
May 10, 2002 ENCLOSURE O

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards Subcommittee Meeting on Planning and

Procedures - Notice of Meeting.

2. Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards Joint Meeting of the ACRS Subcommittees

on Reliability and Probabilistic Risk Assessment and on Plant Operations.
May 10, 2002 ENCLOSURE P

Region II

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 10, 2002

Duke Energy Corporation - Pre Oconee Exercise Meeting

On May 6, 2002, the Emergency Response Coordinator was at the Oconee Nuclear Plant to

participate in the initial NRC/Oconee Exercise Meeting for the scheduled September 17, 2002

exercise. 

Westinghouse Electric Company-Predecisional Enforcement Conference

On May 7, 2002, Region II held a closed Predecisional Enforcement Conference with

Westinghouse Electric Company. The purpose of this meeting was to discuss the apparent

violation involving two examples of failure to follow procedures which led to the unauthorized

transfer of 278 grams of uranium to BWX Technologies, Inc.

Department of Energy 2002 Integrated Safety Management (ISM) Forum

On May 8, 2002, the Deputy Director, Division of Reactor Projects, participated in the

Department of Energy 2002 Integrated Safety Management (ISM) Forum, "Taking ISM to the

Next Level." The conference was held at the Hilton Hotel in Albuquerque, NM. 

Atlanta Federal Executive Board Annual Awards Ceremony - Several Employees nominated

from Region II, NRC Office

On May 9, 2002, the Regional Administrator and other managers and staff participated in the

Atlanta Federal Executive Board Annual Awards Ceremony. Fifteen Region II employees were

nominated for these prestigious awards, which are given to outstanding employees in the

Federal Government for service in the Atlanta area. Competition for these awards is with over

30,000 employees from multiple Federal Agencies. One Region II employee was a finalist for

an award for Volunteer Service.
May 10, 2002 

Office of Congressional Affairs

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 10, 2002

CONGRESSIONAL HEARING SCHEDULE, NO. 53

OCA

Contact

DATE

&

PLACE

TIME WITNESS SUBJECT 

Combs 05/16/02

SH-216

 9:30 Secretary Abraham S.J.Res. 34, Approving Yucca

Mountain for the Repository

Senators 

Combs 05/22/02

SD-106

 9:30 Governor Guinn, Nevada

Representatives 

S.J.Res. 34, Approving YuccaMountain for the Repository

Senators Energy an

Combs 05/23/02

SH-216

 9:30 NRC, NWTRB, GAO S.J.Res. 34, Approving Yucca

Mountain for the Repository

Senators Energy an