INFORMATION REPORT

May 9, 2002 SECY-02-0078

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-02-0078 WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING MAY 3, 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 Debra J. Corley Acting For/

John W. Craig

Assistant for Operations, OEDO

Contact:

H. Nieh, OEDO
May 9, 2002 SECY-02-0078

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-02-0078 WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING MAY 3, 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 Debra J. Corley Acting For/

John W. Craig

Assistant for Operations, OEDO

Contact:

H. Nieh, OEDO

DISTRIBUTION:

Central File

Public Document Name: C:\WIR\WEEK503.WPD

OEDO AO/OEDO

HNieh:paa JWCraig

05/ /02 05/ /02
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING MAY 3, 2002

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

Headquarters and Regional Office activities. 

Contact: H. Nieh, OEDO by E-mail: hkn@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 *

NSIR 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 24

OE *

*No input this week
May 3, 2002 ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 3, 2002

Reactor Oversight Process

The annual ROP public meetings, conducted by the regional offices, with licensees to discuss

the results of plant performance for the assessment period of April 1 to December 31, 2001,

were completed as of April 22, 2002. 

The Inspection Program Branch (IIPB) staff conducted another of a continuing series of public

meetings on April 25, 2002, with the NRC/Industry ROP Working Group. The key issues

discussed included: update on status of unavailability/unreliability performance indicator pilot

program issues; update on changes to IMC 0612, “Power Reactor Inspection Reports;” 

discussion of fire protection, maintenance risk assessment and risk management, and draft

steam generator tube degradation SDPs; and frequently asked questions on performance

indicators. The next NRC/Industry ROP public meeting is scheduled for May 23, 2002.

Washington Nuclear Project No. 1 (WNP-1)

On April 24, 2002, a consultant's report provided to the Energy Northwest Executive Board

recommended that WNP-1 not be completed. WNP-1 is a 1250 MWe Babcock and Wilcox

plant located near Columbia Generating Station. Approximately 65 percent of the construction

of the plant and approximately 85 percent of the design were completed when these efforts

were halted in the 1980s. A previous study indicated that it would cost approximately 4.2 billion

dollars to complete the unit. 

ESBWR Pre-Application Review

On April 18, 2002, General Electric Company (GE) submitted a letter requesting the preapplication review of European Simplified Boiling Water Reactor (ESBWR). The ESBWR, rated

at 4000 MWth (approximately 1380 MWe), has been developed to improve overall plant

reliability and economics. The new plant will consist of a boiling water reactor that uses passive

safety systems and natural circulation for normal operation to achieve overall plant

simplification. GE is requesting that the primary focus of the review include identification of

technical issues and an assessment of technology basis for the design. GE is requesting a preapplication review time of 12 months.

Early Site Permits (ESP)

On April 30, 2002, via a press release, Exelon Generating Corporation announced Clinton as

the site selected for its early site permit application. This is the third site that has been

identified by a potential applicant. Exelon plans to submits its application for an ESP that would

be valid for 20 years in June 2003. 
May 3, 2002 ENCLOSURE A

Beaver Valley, Units 1 and 2, Davis-Besse

FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company (FENOC), the licensee for the Beaver Valley Power

Station, Perry Nuclear Plant, and Davis-Besse, announced on April 29, 2002, that Lew Myers,

FENOC Senior Vice President at Beaver Valley has been reassigned to assist Davis-Besse’s

management team with the reactor vessel head restoration and plant restart activities. This

change was effective on April 29, 2002. During the time that Mr. Myers is assigned to this work,

Bill Pearce, plant manager at Beaver Valley, will be the acting FENOC Senior VP at Beaver

Valley.

Limerick Generating Station, Units 1 and 2

Senator Arlen Specter visited the Limerick Generating Station on May 3, 2002. He met with the

licensee's managers to discuss security-related issues. Senator Specter also held a press

conference during the visit.

NEI Comments on a Proposed Rule for Voluntary of Adoption of NFPA 805

On April 23, 2002, NRC staff met with NEI and industry representatives in a public meeting to

discuss comments from NEI on a proposed rule for the voluntary adoption of NFPA 805, a

national consensus standard, as an alternative to existing fire protection requirements. The

comments discussed fundamental issues such as the use of a license amendment to adopt

NFPA 805, the role of the current licensing basis, and the use of NFPA 805 by licensees not

adopting NFPA 805 as their licensing basis. Also discussed were concerns for the continued

acceptability of certain cables, fire standpipes, and fire pumps. The NRC staff agreed to

consider the NEI comments and others received from the public during the ongoing

development of the proposed rule language. 

Topical Report in Support of Extended Fuel Burnup

On April 22, 2002, NEI submitted a new topical report, prepared by EPRI, which is intended to

describe the technical bases supporting a set of revised acceptance criteria for use in the safety

analysis of Reactivity Insertion Accidents (RIAs) in PWRs and BWRs. The revised RIA

acceptance criteria were developed as part of an on-going industry effort to extend fuel rod

average burnup levels beyond the current limit of 62 GWD/MTU. Although the report considers

fuel beyond the 62 GWD limit, it also includes revised acceptance criteria for fuel below that

limit.

This report is the first of several that are expected to be submitted by NEI/EPRI in support of

extended fuel burnup. Staff review will begin this summer. The staff is considering what

confirmatory research may be warranted.

Interface with the CEOG and WOG on Risk Information Application

On April 25 and 26, 2002, SPSB met with representatives from the Combustion Engineering

Owners Group (CEOG) PSA Sub-Committee (PSASC) and the Westinghouse Owners Group

(WOG) Risk Based Technology Working Group (RBTWG) to discuss progress and goals
May 3, 2002 ENCLOSURE A

regarding the use of risk information in nuclear plant operational management. Both groups

are in the process of merging into an aligned relationship and planning meetings in the fall.

During the meeting, representatives from the CEOG and WOG stated that they would identify

and resolve the barriers in licensees’ PSA models so that the NRC staff can access to the

models. 

The two groups are working to improve their PSA models and implementation programs include

the following: treatment of uncertainties, common cause failure, and transition risk; treatment of

initiating events, external events, and uncertainties for the maintenance rule (a)(4)

consideration; and the use of PSA and managing risk exposure in the context of the SDP,

ongoing PSA peer reviews, implementation of the ASME PSA Standard, thermally induced and

efficient licensee programs to manage risk.

Standard for Probabilistic Risk Assessment for Nuclear Power Plant Applications

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) issued the “Standard for Probabilistic

Risk Assessment for Nuclear Power Plant Applications” on April 5, 2002. This document

provides the technical requirements in terms of high-level and supporting requirements for each

of the elements of a Level I and Level II PRA for internal event initiators occurring at full power

operations. As part of this ASME effort, the NRC staff has worked on the Main Committee, the

project team, as well as the comment resolution and technical writing task force. The staff is

currently working on a Regulatory Guide and Standard Review Plan to discuss ways of using

this Standards document in assessing the quality of PRA results used in risk-informed

regulatory decision-making. The staff is also currently working with the American Nuclear

Society in their efforts on the PRA Standards for external event initiators.
May 3, 2002 ENCLOSURE B

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 3, 2002

Revision 1 to Interim Staff Guidance Document No. 9

On April 22, 2002, the Spent Fuel Project Office issued Revision 1 to Interim Staff Guidance

No. 9, "Storage of Components Associated with Fuel Assemblies." Revision 1 includes a

clarification of criteria under which non-fuel components are allowed to be stored, under

10 CFR Part 72, in a spent fuel storage cask. The revision also modifies technical review

guidance related to storage of these components, including criticality guidance for review of

analyses crediting residual neutron-absorbing material.

Research Reactor Spent Fuel Transport Cask Design Approval Recommended

On April 25, 2002, the Spent Fuel Project Office issued a recommendation to the Department

of Transportation regarding design approval for the Model No. JMS-87Y-18.5T cask for

international shipments of irradiated research reactor fuel. The cask is a Japanese-certified

design that may be used to ship both MTR- and TRIGA-type research reactor fuel elements. 

The cask is solid stainless steel, with wood impact limiters, and weighs 18,500 kg,

including contents.

Staff Meet with the Department of Navy on Revision 1 of a Draft Safety Evaluation Report

On April 22, 2002, staff from the Division of Waste Management met with the Department of

Navy (DON) and the Department of Energy (DOE) at the Washington Naval Yard. The staff

met with DON and DOE to discuss Revision 1 of the draft Safety Evaluation Report (SER) for

the DON’s Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program (NNPP) Addendum to the Disposal Criticality

Analysis Methodology Topical Report. The NRC issued Revision 1 of the draft SER on

March 8, 2002. The draft SER documents the NNPP modeling of material degradation,

identification of credible configurations of the spent fuel and waste canister, and neutronic

modeling and validation. The NNPP criticality methodology is dependent on resolving

agreements DOE made with NRC. The NNPP is proposing to use the same canister for the

interim storage, transport, and geologic disposal of naval spent nuclear fuel. The purpose of

the meeting was to clarify the open items, acceptance conditions, and various statements in the

SER. Through discussions in the meeting, NRC was able to lessen the number of acceptance

conditions, from 14 to four, that will be in the final SER. The decrease was mainly

accomplished through added commitments made by the NNPP.

Staff Attends Third Session of the Forum on Stakeholder Confidence

On April 24-26, 2002, staff from the Division of Waste Management attended the third session

of the Forum on Stakeholder Confidence (FSC) in Paris, France. The FSC is a working party

to Radioactive Waste Management Committee of the Organization for Economic Cooperation

and Development's (OECD's) Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA). Participants presented talks on

the European Commission and OECD-sponsored activities related to civil society. Regulators,

implementers, and policy specialists discussed the lessons learned and remaining open
May 3, 2002 ENCLOSURE B

questions associated with public confidence in the disposal of radioactive waste. Participants

described the evolution of public debate on radioactive waste management in the United

Kingdom. The European Union (EU) representative to the FSC described the latest

Eurobarometer inquiry on the views of the EU public concerning radioactive waste

management. Participants also discussed the Environmental Impact Assessment as a tool for

public and stakeholder participation. The NEA secretariat for the FSC presented a draft paper

on step-wise decision-making in radioactive waste management. Finally, as a member of the

FSC core group, the delegate from the NRC staff chaired a discussion of a proposed October

2002 FSC workshop in Canada. The next FSC meeting following the workshop in Canada is

scheduled for May 2003 in Paris.

Meeting with the Department of Energy on Its Pre-Closure Safety Analysis Guide

On April 25-26, 2002, members from the Division of Waste Management took part in a

technical exchange with the Department of Energy (DOE) at NRC Headquarters. One objective

of the meeting was for DOE to present an overview of its Pre-Closure Safety Analysis Guide. 

DOE had sent this document to the staff on March 27, 2002, in response to Preclosure

Agreement 6.02. Another objective of the meeting was to discuss the staff’s early comments

on the document. The staff stated that it plans to complete its review of the DOE document in

June 2002, and to provide DOE with the results of that review. The results of the staff review

would discuss whether the information provided in the March 27, 2002, letter and the discussion

during the meeting satisfies the intent of the agreement.

Staff Attends GoldSim User Conference in Redmond, Washington

On April 25-26, 2002, staff from the Division of Waste Management attended a users

conference on the GoldSim software in Redmond, Washington. GoldSim is a general-purpose

simulation software package with a graphical interface that is the core of the Department of

Energy’s (DOE’s) Total System Performance Assessment (TSPA) for the potential Yucca

Mountain repository. DOE and its contractors presented several papers displaying that

GoldSim can be used to complete both a simplified and a complex TSPA. Members of the

public can exercise the simplified TSPA GoldSim model with a dashboard control panel. 

Representatives from 15 countries were present and the meeting participants described their

use of GoldSim in radioactive waste programs in France, Germany, Canada, Spain, Japan,

Taiwan, and the U.S. (Yucca Mountain, Nevada Test Site, and Waste Isolation Pilot Project

sites). The participants described their uses of the GoldSim software in risk management, highlevel waste, decommissioning, environmental assessments, and mining studies. NRC staff

presented a talk on a description of what regulators are looking for in environmental models. 

Staff is evaluating DOE’s use of GoldSim in the DOE TSPA and staff is conducting sensitivity

studies with GoldSim to focus on those areas most important to repository performance.

Publication of Revised 10 CFR Part 35, "Medical Use of Byproduct Material"; Public Meetings

on Guidance for Part 35

On April 24, 2002, the NRC published a final rule in the Federal Register (67 FR 20249) to

amend its regulations regarding the medical use of byproduct material. The overall goals of this

risk-informed, performance-based revision were to focus NRC's regulations on those medical

procedures that pose the highest risk to workers, patients, and the public. The final rule is
May 3, 2002 ENCLOSURE B

effective October 24, 2002. NRC staff also conducted public meetings at NRC Headquarters to

receive stakeholder input on the associated draft licensing guidance (NUREG-1556, Volume 9). 

The first meeting, held on April 25, 2002, focused on guidance for therapeutic applications of

byproduct material. The second meeting, held on April 30, 2002, focused on guidance for

diagnostic applications of byproduct material. Both meetings were a facilitated round-table

format and participants represented a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including members of

the regulated community, State, and Federal agencies. Key items on the agendas included: 

(1) guidance format and organization issues; (2) potential "disconnects" between the new

10 CFR Part 35 and Volume 9 and other guidance; (3) special issues such as guidance to

address new technologies; and (4) issues related to consistency of Agreement State guidance.

Publication of 10 CFR Part 71 Proposed Rule

On April 30, 2002, the NRC published a proposed rule in the Federal Register (67 FR 21389) to

revise its regulations in 10 CFR Part 71. The proposed rule would make Part 71 compatible

with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) transportation safety standards, and would

also promulgate other NRC-initiated transportation safety. The Department of Transportation

(DOT) also published, on the same date, its proposed rule in the Federal Register. DOT rule

would also make its 49 CFR compatible with IAEA safety standards. Both rules have a public

comment period of 90 days, which ends on July 29, 2002. NRC will have, with DOT

participating, two public meetings to discuss the two rules and hear public comments. The first

meeting will be in Chicago on June 4, 2002, and the second meeting will be on June 24, 2002,

at NRC Headquarters.

Mixed-Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility Draft Safety Evaluation Report

On April 30, 2002, Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards staff issued a draft Safety

Evaluation Report (DSER) on the Mixed-Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility (MFFF) Report. The

MFFF would be a key asset of the Department of Energy’s Surplus Plutonium Disposition

Program, which is being implemented as a result of a bilateral agreement with the Russian

Federation. Pursuant to this agreement, the U.S. and the Russian Federation would each

dispose of 34 metric tons of weapons-grade plutonium declared excess to national security

needs. The MFFF would convert weapons-grade plutonium into mixed-oxide fuel.

Based on the staff’s review of the Construction Authorization Request and supporting

information provided by the applicant, Duke Cogema Stone & Webster (DCS), the staff

determined that DCS has not met all the requirements, in the NRC regulations, that apply to

construction of a plutonium facility. A complete list of the items that the staff considers

unresolved as a result of its review is provided in the DSER. DCS is continuing its work to

resolve the remaining open issues.

Pre-Application Meeting with Louisiana Energy Services

On April 30, 2002, staff from the Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards and the

Louisiana Energy Services (LES) met to discuss six White Paper environmental and licensing

issues. The six issues addressed facility need and the no-action alternative; environmental

justice; financial qualifications; antitrust review; foreign ownership; and tailings disposition. 

These issues were litigated in the previous LES licensing action. 
May 3, 2002 ENCLOSURE B

Pre-Application Meeting with the U.S. Enrichment Corporation 

On May 2, 2002, staff from the Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards (FCSS) and

the U.S. Enrichment Corporation (USEC) met to discuss USEC’s approach for preparing an

Integrated Safety Assessment (ISA) and for addressing seismic issues for its Lead Cascade

Gas Centrifuge project. The ISA approach includes a systematic identification and evaluation

of hazards. 
May 3, 2002 ENCLOSURE D

Nuclear Security and Incident Response

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 3, 2002

Cyber Assessment Meeting Held with NEI and DOE

A meeting was held on April 30, 2002, with NRC, NEI, DOE and licensee personnel to discuss

power reactor cyber assessments. It is envisioned that cyber assessments will be performed at

two power reactor sites in the fall to identify potential cyber vulnerabilities, recommend risk

mitigation measures, and build an assessment tool that licensees could use to conduct their

own cyber assessments. The project was presented to the Commission in a November 27,

2000 memorandum entitled "Cyber Vulnerability Assessment for Power Reactors." The next

meeting for this project will be held at the NRC in the first week of June 2002. 

U.S. Support Program Meeting with International Atomic Energy Agency Representatives

Members of the U.S. Support Program (USSP) to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

Safeguards, conducted its annual meeting with IAEA Department of Safeguards

representatives at IAEA Headquarters in Vienna, Austria, on April 23 and 25, 2002. The USSP

included the Subgroup on Safeguards Technical Support (SSTS), who was represented by a

staff member of the Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response (NSIR). The U.S.

discussed the SSTS Strategic Plan, including the priority U.S. support areas. 

On April 24, the USSP met at the Seibersdorf Safeguards Analytical Laboratory to discuss

areas of U.S. safeguards support pertinent to the Laboratory, which includes destructive

analysis and environmental samples, and to view the Clean and Nuclear Material Laboratories.

The USSP meetings with safeguards officials were preceded by a familiarization meeting with

Ambassador Kenneth Brill and staff at the U.S. Mission on April 22. Members of the USSP also

met with representatives of the Institute for Transuranium Elements in Karlsruhe, Germany, on

April 29, to learn about the work the laboratory performs for the IAEA and to provide information

about U.S. safeguards support to the IAEA.

The IAEA briefed the U.S. delegation on a number of program areas for which the U.S.

provides support. The briefing described the status of each program, and discussed specific

projects within each program area that IAEA anticipates the need of U.S. assistance in the near

future.

Spill of National Significance (SONS) Exercise - April 26, 2002

On April 26, 2002, the Director, Division of Incident Response Operations (DIRO) represented

the NRC at the Spill of National Significance Exercise Executive Seminar, held at U. S. Coast

Guard Headquarters. The executive seminar (involving over 100 individuals) was the

culmination of a multi-day exercise involving all 16 member Agencies of the National Response

Team. Senior executives present included the Secretary of Transportation and the

Commandant of the Coast Guard. Simulated events included an equipment blowout aboard an

Exxon Mobile platform, a ship hitting a submerged object, and a ship collision - with significant

oil and gas releases to the Gulf of Mexico near the Louisiana and Texas coastlines. The
May 3, 2002 ENCLOSURE D

exercise included consideration of homeland security aspects, as well as safety issues,

consequence management, and communications matters. Initial observations identified

opportunities for learning in the management of security issues and overall coordination of

communications. DIRO had coordinated with Region IV and was prepared to discuss issues

involving radioactive sources that would likely be on an oil drilling platform, had the executive

seminar gone to that level of detail.

Federal Radiological Emergency Response Plan Revision 

Staff from the Office of Nuclear Security & Incident Response/Division of Incident Response

Operations (DIRO) participated with staff from Federal Emergency Management Agency

(FEMA), Environmental Protection Agency, and Federal Bureau of Investigation in working

sessions for revision of the Federal Radiological Emergency Response Plan (FRERP) on May 1

& 2, 2002, at FEMA Headquarters. The objective is to update the FRERP to reflect the current

U. S. Government Interagency Domestic Terrorism Concept of Operations Plan, Federal

Response Plan, and post-9/11 lessons learned regarding interagency coordination. The

planned FRERP revision process involves several months of interagency working sessions and

issuance of a final revised plan at the end of the fiscal year. 

OHS Domestic Threat Response & Incident Management Meeting

The Director, Division of Incident Response Operations, represented the NRC at the May 2,

2002, meeting of the Office of Homeland Security (OHS) Policy Coordination Committee on

Domestic Threat Response & Incident Management (DTRIM). Subjects discussed included the

National Special Security Event program, OHS initiatives with Washington, D.C., regarding

capital-area response, and the National Strategy for Homeland Security (NSHS) update. The

DTRIM PCC portion of the NSHS involves emergency response and recovery, and incident

management. OHS is exercising leadership in efforts to build the overall response strategy for

Federal/State and local entities, building on existing plans such as the Federal Response Plan,

Federal Radiological Emergency Response Plan, the National Contingency Plan and the

Conplan. Incident management activities include consideration of a common language and

framework for command and control of incidents.

Meeting of Federal Radiological Preparedness Coordinating Committee

On April 30, 2002, staff from the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation and the Division of

Incident Response Operations (DIRO/NSIR) attended the quarterly meeting of the Federal

Radiological Preparedness Coordinating Committee (FRPCC). Discussions included

consideration of the possibility for provisions to extend the expiration date for potassium iodide

beyond the current Food and Drug Administration-approved five-year shelf-life. DIRO staff

gave an informational brief on the International Nuclear Event Scale, and the Nuclear Event

Web-based System (NEWS). Several other federal agencies indicated an interest in

participating in obtaining access to NEWS. DIRO staff will follow up with these requests. 

Preliminary Notifications

1. PNO-II-02-17A, University of Alabama Medical Center, RECOVERED

BRACHYTHERAPY SOURCE.
May 3, 2002 ENCLOSURE F

Office of Administration 

Items of Interest 

Week Ending May 3, 2002

Disposal of High-Level Radioactive Wastes in a Proposed Geologic Repository at Yucca

Mountain, Nevada (Part 2)

A document containing a correction to a conforming amendment included in the final rule that

established licensing criteria for disposal of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive wastes

in the proposed geologic repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada was published in the Federal

Register on April 29, 2002 (67 FR 20885). The correction restores paragraphs addressing the

consideration of a ruling body of a petition to intervene in, or a request for hearing on, a

licensing proceeding that were inadvertently omitted from the November 2, 2001, final rule. 

The correction is effective as of December 3, 2001. 

Performance-based Contracting

On April 29, 2002, DCPM staff participated in an interagency Performance-Based Contracting

Communities of Practice meeting called in response to the Administrator of the Office of

Federal Procurement Policy’s (OFPP) request to develop a consistent definition of

performance-based contracting that can be agreed upon and used government-wide. The

group’s recommended definition will be further reviewed and commented on by all members of

the Performance-Based Contracting Community of Interest through electronic communications

before it is submitted to OFPP at the end of this month.

Federal Acquisition Conference 2002

On April 30 and May 1, 2002, DCPM staff participated in the Federal Acquisition Conference

2002 hosted by the General Services Administration and the Procurement Executives Council,

an interagency council consisting of the Senior Procurement Executives in the Executive

Branch, the Administrator of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy, and the Deputy Director

for Management, OMB. During this conference, acquisition policymakers from various Federal

agencies shared many new acquisition strategies and best practices as well as the progress of

interagency electronic commerce projects undertaken as a part of the President’s EGovernment Initiative, also known as the Quicksilver Initiative.
May 3, 2002 ENCLOSURE G

Chief Information Officer

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 3, 2002

Data Quality Guidelines

The agency’s Draft Information Quality (IQ) Guidelines were posted on the agency’s public Web

site on May 1, 2002, for a 30-day public comment period, per an Office of Management and

Budget (OMB) requirement. The draft guidelines were also sent to the Office of the Federal

Register on April 30, 2002, for publication in the Federal Register on May 3, 2002. These steps

complete the first phase of agency compliance with OMB implementing requirements of Section

515 of Public Law 106-554, widely known as the Data Quality Law. After the 30-day public

input period, NRC will review comments and modify the IQ guidelines as appropriate for

submission to OMB on July 1, 2002. After OMB review and comments, the NRC guidance will

go into effect on October 1, 2002. 

Nuclear Regulatory Commission Issuances (NRCIs) Available on the NRC Web site

The Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) has made the hardbound editions of the

Nuclear Regulatory Commission Issuances (NRCIs) available on the Web site and in ADAMS,

beginning with Volume 47 (July-December 1997). Each hardbound edition is a final compilation

of the monthly issuances and includes all of the legal precedents for the agency within a sixmonth period. Cross references in the text and indexes are to the NRCI page numbers which

are the same as the page numbers in this publication. On the Web, they are available in

searchable PDF format. The Web address is

http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/nuregs/staff/sr0750/. Their availability has also

been announced on the What’s New page.

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

April 26, 2002 through May 2, 2002:

Allegation - denial of access to Univ. of Missouri research reactor (FOIA/PA-2002-0234)

Allegation - all documents relating to Investigation 4-2000-030S (FOIA/PA-2002-0235)

Site Assessment - College Park Apts., 301 Campusview Drive, Columbia, Missouri (FOIA/PA2002-0236)

Safety concern, Bristol-Myers Atlanta Distribution Center (FOIA/PA-2002-0237)

Allegation - NRR-1999-A-0062, all documents (FOIA/PA-2002-0238)

Adequacy of licensee alternative or dedicated shutdown capability and fixed fire suppression

systems, 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix R (FOIA/PA-2002-0239)

Allegation - IG reports 04181 (case 00-24H), 04350, and 04599, all documents (FOIA/PA-2002-

0240)
May 3, 2002 ENCLOSURE G

Zion Nuclear Power Plant specific sections of the Final Safety Analysis Report (FSAR)

(FOIA/PA-2002-0241)

Report, “Review and Analysis of Hydraulic and Tracer Testing at the C-Holes Complex near

Yucca Mountain, Nevada,” published by CNWRA for NRC (FOIA/PA-2002-0242)

OI Report, 4-2000-061 (FOIA/PA-2002-0243)

Final Environmental Statement-Construction Phase, Grand Gulf, MS (FOIA/PA-2002-0244)

IG Meeting in Fall 2000 with Region IV employees and contractors, all documents and/or

videotape (FOIA/PA-2002-0245)

Contract - NRC 3398180-Ruland Associates, specific sections (FOIA/PA-2002-0246)

Diablo Canyon, PG&E inquiries re: employee concerns from 1-1-1996 through 5-1-2002

(FOIA/PA-2002-0247)

Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Test Reactor, Waltz Mill Site at Madison, PA, license and

contract files, 1958 -1985 (FOIA/PA-2002-0248)

Transcripts and other information re: November 1995 hearing for self and New Britain General

Hospital (FOIA/PA-2002-0249)
May 3, 2002 ENCLOSURE I

Office of Human Resources

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 3, 2002

Arrivals

DEMOSS, Gary RELIABILITY & RISK ANALYST NRR

DUDES, Laura* TECHNICAL ASSISTANT NRR

HITE, Christine FEES SYSTEMS ANALYST OCFO

IRIZARRY, Eric SYSTEMS ACCOUNTANT OCFO

JANDA, Donna HEALTH PHYSICIST (TERM) RI

METZGER, Shahpar SECRETARY (OA) NMSS

PATEL, Amar STUDENT ENGINEER RI

POPE, Michael PROPERTY & SUPPLY TECHNICIAN RIII

SCHWARTZMAN, Adam NUCLEAR SAFETY INTERN RES

Retirements

GORMLEY, Owen MECHANICAL ENGINEER RES

HENDREN, Charles OPERATIONS MANAGER NRR

MURPHY, Joseph SENIOR TECHNICAL ADVISOR RES

SCHOLL, Raymond SENIOR SYSTEMS ANALYST NRR

THOMPSON, Neil PROGRAM MANAGER OCIO

THOT-THOMPSON, Janet IT SPECIALIST OCIO

Departures

CHIES, Toni GENERAL ENGINEER NMSS

PACE, Lisa CRIMINAL INVESTIGATOR OIG

*Transferring from RI to HQ
May 3, 2002 ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 3, 2002

Media Interest

There was media interest in a press release issued by Congressman Edward Markey regarding

lost or stolen devices containing radioactive material. The news release was based on

information provided by NRC in response to Markey’s questions on this topic.

Press Releases

Headquarters:

02-054 NRC Approves Power Uprate for Sequoyah Units 1 and 2

02-055 NRC Approves Power Uprate For Arkansas Nuclear One, Unit 2 

02-056 NRC to Meet with FirstEnergy May 7 to Discuss Root Cause of

Davis-Besse Vessel Head Degradation

02-057 NRC Issues Draft Safety Evaluation Report on Proposed Mox

Facility in South Carolina

Regions:

II-02-027 NRC Staff to Hold Public Meeting at North Anna to Discuss

Inspection of Plant's License Renewal Program

III-02-023 NRC Establishes Agency Oversight Panel For Davis-Besse

Reactor Head Degradation Issue

III-02-024 NRC Davis-Besse Oversight Panel To Hold First Meeting May 9

In Oak Harbor, Ohio 

III-02-025 New NRC Region III Public Affairs Officer

IV-02-023 NRC Names Scott Schwind Senior Resident Inspector At Cooper

Nuclear Station
May 3, 2002 ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 3, 2002

Document Released

to Public

Date Subject

Information Papers

1. SECY-02-0071 4/26/2002 Weekly Information Report Week Ending

April 19, 2002

Commission Correspondence

1. Letter to Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton dated April 26, 2002 concerns news report of a

small plane flying over the Indian Point Nuclear Plant. 

2. Letter to Edward F. Jacoby, Jr., New York State Disaster Preparedness, dated April 25,

2002, responds to request for NRC’s assistance and support in gaining FDA approval for

doses of potassium iodide in other than the 130 mg size currently approved. 

3. Letter to Representative Marcy Kaptur dated April 24, 2002, concerns the recent

discovery of a cavity in the reactor pressure vessel head at the Davis-Besse Nuclear

Power Station. 

4. Letter to Senator Harry Reid dated April 24, 2002, supplements response to request for

information of March 12, 2002, regarding testing of casks used to transport spent nuclear

fuel. 

5. Letter to Congress dated April 24, 2002, provides February report on the status of NRC’s

licensing and regulatory duties. 

6. Letter to John Bridgeland, Assistant to the President and Director of the USA Freedom

Corps Office, The White House, dated April 24, 2002, provides information on volunteer

service opportunities at the NRC... Executive Order 13254.

7. Letter to Rod Paige, Secretary of Education, dated April 24, 2002, informs of NRC’s

liaison to the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Advisory Board and the Initiative. 

8. Letter to Cari M. Dominguez, Chairwoman, EEOC, dated April 22, 2002, provides NRC’s

“Annual Affirmative Employment Program Accomplishment Report” for Fiscal Year 2001.
May 3, 2002 ENCLOSURE P

Region I

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 3, 2002

Indian Point 2 - Guard Force Union Contract

Contract negotiations between Wackenhut Security and the security guard force union

(UPGWA) at Indian Point Unit 2, continue with a new 90-day extension beyond May 3, 2002. 

The international union management supported ratification of the new contract, but the rank

and file voted against it. Licensee and Region I contingency plans are in place should an

unexpected strike occur. 
May 3, 2002 ENCLOSURE P

Region II

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 3, 2002

Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc. - Closed Predecisional Enforcement Conference and Licensing

Performance Review Meeting

On April 29, 2002, the Regional Administrator, Director, Division of Nuclear Materials Safety

(DNMS), Acting Chief, Fuel Facilities Branch (DNMS), and other Region II staff members were

at the Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc., in Erwin, TN, to attend a Closed Predecisional Enforcement

Conference.

On April 30, 2002, the Regional Administrator, Director, Division of Nuclear Materials Safety

(DNMS), Acting Chief, Fuel Facilities Branch (DNMS), and other Region II staff members were

at the Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc., in Erwin, TN, to attend the Licensing Performance Review

meeting.

Office of the Inspector General (OIG) Conducts an Audit of Region II’s Effectiveness and

Efficiency of Regional Operations

On April 29-May 2, 2002, the Team Leader, Technical Audits, and other members of the OIG

were in the Region II office to conduct a comprehensive audit to review the effectiveness and

efficiency of regional operations.

Region II’s Participation in the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Review in Armenia

On April 25-May 10, 2002, the Deputy Director, Division of Reactor Safety is supporting NRC’s

program to aid IAEA. The Deputy Director is participating as a team member in an International

Regulatory Review of the country of Armenia’s nuclear regulatory program.

Dominion/Virginia Electric and Power Company - Japanese Visitors at North Anna Nuclear

Plant

On May 1, 2002, Japanese visitors, accompanied by the Deputy Director, Division of Reactor

Projects, visited the North Anna nuclear plant in Mineral, VA.

Emergency Response Coordinators’ Rewrite of the NRC Emergency Response Plan

On April 29-May 2, 2002, the Region II Emergency Response Coordinator attended a special

meeting in Headquarters with other Emergency Response Coordinators to rewrite the NRC

Emergency Response Plan.
May 3, 2002 ENCLOSURE P

Region IV

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 3, 2002

Predecisional Enforcement Conference with Avera McKennan Hospital

The Director, Division of Nuclear Materials Safety, Region IV, along with RIV staff members and

a Headquarters legal staff member, conducted a closed Predecisional Enforcement Conference

on May 2, 2002, with the Avera McKennan Hospital Regional President and his medical and

legal staff members. The meeting was held to discuss apparent violations involving (1) the

unauthorized use of licensed material on a human where such use was not authorized, and

(2) the failure of the radiation safety officer to investigate the unauthorized use of byproduct

material. 
May 3, 2002 

Office of Congressional Affairs

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 3, 2002

CONGRESSIONAL HEARING SCHEDULE, NO. 52

OCA

Contact

DATE

&

PLACE

TIME WITNESS SUBJECT 

Combs 05/14/02

SD-366

TBA Governor Guinn, Nevada

Representatives 

Yucca Mountain Senators 

Energy an

Combs 05/16/02

SD-366

TBA Secretary Abraham Yucca Mountain Senators 

Energy an

Combs 05/23/02

SD-366

TBA NRC, NWTRB, GAO Yucca Mountain Senators 

Energy an