INFORMATION REPORT

April 10, 2003 SECY-03-0053

For: The Commissioners

From: William M. Dean, Assistant for Operations, Office of the EDO

Subject: SECY-03-0053 WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING APRIL 4, 2003

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/

William M. Dean

Assistant for Operations, OEDO

Contact:

C. Glenn, OEDO
April 4, 2003 SECY-03-0053

For: The Commissioners

From: William M. Dean, Assistant for Operations, Office of the EDO

Subject: SECY-03-0053 WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING APRIL 4, 2003

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.

William M. Dean

Assistant for Operations, OEDO

Contact:

C. Glenn, OEDO

DISTRIBUTION:

Central File

Public Document Name: C:\WIR\WEEK404.WPD

OEDO AO/OEDO

CJGlenn WMDean

04/10/03 04/11/03
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING APRIL 4, 2003

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

Headquarters and Regional Office activities. 

Contact: C. Glenn, OEDO by E-mail:CRG1@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 2 OPA 2

RES 2 IP *

NSIR 1 SECY 2

OGC * Region I 1

ADM 1 Region II 2

CIO 1 Region III *

CFO * Region IV 1

HR 1 OEDO 1

SB/CR * OCA 1

OE *

*No input this week
April 4, 2003 ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Items of Interest

Week Ending April 4, 2003

NRC Information Notice 2002-21, Supplement 1, Axial Outside-Diameter Cracking Affecting

Thermally Treated Alloy 600 Steam Generator Tubing, dated April 1, 2003

The agency is issuing this supplement to IN 2002-21 to inform addressees of the root cause

assessment for the axially oriented outside-diameter crack indications in the thermally treated

Alloy 600 steam generator tubing at Seabrook. It is expected that recipients will review the

information for applicability to their facilities and consider actions, as appropriate, to avoid

similar problems. 

Early Site Permit - North Anna

On April 1, 2003, agency representatives held two Category 3 public meetings in Mineral,

Virginia. The primary purpose of the meetings was to inform the public in the vicinity of the

North Anna site of the staff’s plans and process for review of the early site permit (ESP)

application that Dominion Energy, Inc. plans to submit in September 2003. The staff discussed

the scope of the ESP review and opportunities for public involvement in the review process. 

Another objective of the meetings was to have a dialog with the public on questions or concerns

they may have on the process. Over 20 members of the public attended the afternoon meeting,

and 10 attended the evening meeting. The staff responded to a number of questions and

concerns, the majority of which were related to nuclear waste issues (such as concerns about

the Commission’s "confidence findings" on storage and disposal of high-level waste), local

environmental concerns (ability of Lake Anna to cool another power plant without overheating or

seeing loss of lake level), and concerns regarding security in light of the terrorist attacks in

September 2001.

Approval Of General Electric Nuclear Energy (GENE) Power Uprate Topical Reports (TRs)

The staff has completed its review of two GENE TRs. These are the thermal power

optimization TR for measurement uncertainty recapture power uprates and the constant

pressure power uprate TR for extended power uprates. Completion of the staff’s review of both

TRs took longer than originally planned due to issues with GENE’s request to withhold certain

information from public disclosure. Review of the constant pressure power uprate TR was also

delayed due to issues related to how the TR was to be applied. Both issues have been

resolved to the staff’s satisfaction and the TRs were approved.

Sequoyah, Unit 1 Reactor Pressure Vessel Head Inspection

During the current Sequoyah Unit 1 refueling and steam generator replacement outage, a bare

metal visual inspection of the reactor pressure vessel head was performed in accordance with

NRC Order EA-03-009 (the Order). Using the guidance in the Order, Sequoyah Unit 1 is

considered a low susceptibility plant. During the inspection on March 24, 2003, the licensee

identified a potential leak indication at the head to penetration interface for control rod drive

mechanism (CRDM) penetration number three. Subsequent chemical analysis of samples by

the licensee on March 26, 2003, confirmed that the residue found at this interface contains
April 4, 2003 ENCLOSURE A

boron, iron, and zinc; consistent with a reactor coolant system (RCS) leak. This RCS leak is

postulated to be from a crack in the pressure boundary at the CRDM interface. Between

April 2-4, 2003, the licensee plans to conduct a remote ultrasonic testing (UT) examination of

penetration number three to test for the presence of a through-wall crack. If the UT

examination is not conclusive, the licensee may conduct a dye penetrant test of the penetration

number three J-groove weld to test for the presence of a through-weld crack.
April 4, 2003 ENCLOSURE B

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards

Items of Interest

Week Ending April 4, 2003

Presentation of Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards Version of the Fuel Cycle

Processes Course

On March 24-28, 2003, Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards (FCSS) staff presented

the 1-week FCSS version of the Fuel Cycle Processes Course (F201S) to NRC staff and

management. This course replaces the need for an individual to take the 6-month self-study

course. This is the fourth time the FCSS version of the course has been taught in the last 3

years. Each time the course is given: (1) FCSS staff, and now Office of Nuclear Security and

Incident Response (NSIR) staff, who are experts in the topics, prepare and present the lecture

materials; and (2) an FCSS staff member administers the course. In the future, NRC interns

from the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS) and the Office of Nuclear

Regulatory Research (RES) will be required to take F201S. There are 28 students in this year’s

FCSS class from Region II, NMSS, NSIR, and RES.

Staff Participates in Public Meeting on Mixed-Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility Draft

Environmental Impact Statement

On March 25-27, 2003, Division of Waste Management staff held public meetings in Savannah,

Georgia; North Augusta, South Carolina; and Charlotte, North Carolina, respectively, for the

proposed Mixed-Oxide (MOX) Fuel Fabrication Facility. Staff provided a brief overview on

NRC’s roles and responsibilities relative to the proposed MOX project, a summary of the

impacts associated with the alternatives, and ways the public could submit comments. After the

presentation, there was a question and answer period followed by a formal comment period. 

The meetings in Savannah and Charlotte were lightly attended, whereas the meeting in North

Augusta had approximately 80 attendees. Areas of concern repeatedly identified in comments

were acts of terrorism and environmental justice. Attendees in each city were pleased that

NRC was willing to hold the public meetings, and encouraged NRC to expand its outreach.

An open house was also held before each of the meetings. During this time, the staff was

available to answer individual questions/concerns about any material found in the Draft

Environmental Impact Statement. The Department of Energy (DOE), Duke Cogema Stone &

Webster, and other organizations (e.g., Southern Alliance for Clean Energy), were also

available during the open house.

Southern States Energy Board Meeting

On March 26-27, 2003, Spent Fuel Project Office (SFPO) staff participated in a Southern States

Energy Board’s Radioactive Materials Transportation Committee and Transuranic Waste

Transportation Working Group meeting in Houston, Texas. Approximately 35 representatives

from State agencies, various offices of DOE, and the Department of Transportation’s (DOT’s)

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration also attended. Meeting presentations included

updates on DOE’s transportation programs (Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, Savannah River, and

Mound cleanup, Foreign Research Reactor returns); the TRANSCOM system; the response

capabilities of DOE’s Office of Secure Transportation; and Federal agency updates (by NRC,
April 4, 2003 ENCLOSURE B

DOE, and DOT). SFPO presented an update of NRC’s transport and storage activities. There

was interesting roundtable discussion at the meeting on several issues, including

implementation of security escorts, funding for emergency response, and the NRC Package

Performance Study.

DOT/NRC Periodic Meeting

On March 27, 2003, SFPO and DOT staff met at DOT Headquarters for a periodic informationexchange meeting, as provided under the DOT/NRC Memorandum of Understanding. Agenda

topics included: (1) DOT and NRC rulemaking activities; (2) outcome from the public meetings

on NRC’s Package Performance Study; (3) preparations for the International Atomic Energy

Agency’s transport safety conference; (4) interpretation of DOT’s "exclusive-use" transport

requirements; and (5) regulatory compliance issues. The next meeting was tentatively

scheduled for May 8, 2003, at NRC Headquarters.

Spent-Fuel Cask Testing

On April 1, 2003, SFPO staff met with DOE staff in Germantown, Maryland, to view the

industry/DOE report on aircraft crashing into a containment building and spent-fuel dry-storage

casks. The report will be transmitted to NRC as a safeguards document.
April 4, 2003 ENCLOSURE C

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research

Items of Interest

Week Ending April 4, 2003

Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Melt Coolability Concrete Interaction

(OECD-MCCI) Program

The OECD Melt Coolability and Concrete Interaction (MCCI) Program was launched in January

2002 to provide confirmatory evidence and test data for various mechanisms to cool ex-vessel

core debris by an overlying water pool and to determine the efficacy of severe accident

management strategy of flooding the reactor cavity in the event of an ex-vessel core melt

release. Preliminary data from the experiments recently conducted at Argonne National

Laboratory (ANL) indicate that additional cooling over and above the conduction limited cooling

was achieved in both tests, thus confirming water ingression to be a viable coolability

mechanism. However, no appreciable effect of system pressure was observed on long-term

cooling by water ingression. 

Other potential coolability mechanisms such as melt eruption and crust breach will also be

investigated under this program. Results from water ingression and other tests will be used to

develop coolability models for incorporation into analytical codes, which will be used for

extrapolation to plant conditions to determine the efficacy of severe accident management

strategies. The OECD-MCCI Program is hosted and coordinated by NRC with participation by

13 OECD countries and by the Department of Energy. 

Air Oxidation of Spent Fuel Cladding

Air oxidation tests of fuel cladding are continuing at ANL. These tests will provide essential

data on air oxidation kinetics of cladding necessary for evaluating the heatup of fuel during

certain spent fuel pool, dry cask and reactor accidents. ANL has completed low-temperature air

oxidation tests of steam preoxidized Zircaloy-4 cladding specimen. The experimental data were

used to develop correlations for more realistic assessment of spent fuel heatup under air

ingression conditions. Air oxidation tests of Zircaloy-4 at higher temperatures have begun. 

Also, low temperature air oxidation tests of Zirlo, an advanced cladding material for high burnup

operation, have begun. These series of tests will be followed by air oxidation tests of M5

cladding, another advanced cladding material for high burnup operation.

Technical Advisory Group Meetings on Advanced Reactors

The Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES) and the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

(NRR) are in the process of holding a series of Technical Advisory Group (TAG) meetings on

the advanced reactor infrastructure. The TAG consists of senior technical staff from RES and

NRR, with the purpose of providing advice and recommendations to a joint RES/NRR Advanced

Reactor Steering Committee on research activities associated with advanced reactor designs. 

The research areas covered in the March 31, 2003 TAG meeting included Technology Neutral

Framework, Probabilistic Risk Assessment, Structural Analysis, and Materials Analysis. The

next meeting in the series is scheduled for April 9, 2003, and will include High Temperature Gas

Cooled Reactor (HTGR) Systems Analysis. Over the next several weeks, meetings will be held
April 4, 2003 ENCLOSURE C

on instrumentation and control, human factors, the General Atomic’s Gas Turbine Modular

Helium Reactor pre-application review, and HTGR fuels research.

Public Meeting on Handbook of Parameter Estimation for Probabilistic Risk Assessment (PRA)

A public meeting was held on April 2, 2003, to provide external stakeholders an opportunity to

discuss the contents of the Parameter Estimation Handbook (i.e., Data Analysis Handbook), the

schedule for receiving comments, and the plan for completion of the document. RES staff

opened the meeting with a presentation of the project background and history, including a

discussion of the relationship between the Data Analysis Handbook and the ASME/ANS PRA

Standards. The objective of the document and its application, the scope of the effort, and the

process used to develop the document were also discussed at the meeting. One important

clarification made by the NRC staff was that the Handbook should be considered as a

reference document. The technical presentations described the guiding principles used in the

development of the Handbook, the techniques used in assembling and organizing the technical

material, and the limitations of the Handbook. Licensees were requested to provide comments

on the Handbook.

Draft Industry Initiating Event Indicator Report Issued for Peer Review

A draft report documenting development of an integrated industry initiating event indicator (IIIEI)

for potential use in NRC’s Industry Trends Program (ITP) has been issued. The ITP provides a

means to assess overall industry performance. 

Staff from RES and NRR have worked together in developing an overall industry-level indicator

for the initiating event cornerstone. An integrated indicator can provide a better representation

of the overall risk from initiating events when compared to multiple individual indicators of

initiating events with varying degrees of risk significance. This indicator consists of an index of

up to 10 of the most risk significant initiating events, each weighted by its relative contribution to

core damage frequency. The development of the IIIEI relies on concepts similar to those

currently used in the development of the mitigating systems performance indicator currently

being pilot-tested for the Reactor Oversight Process (ROP). RES is continuing to develop riskinformed thresholds for the IIIEI.
April 4, 2003 ENCLOSURE D

Nuclear Security and Incident Response

Items of Interest

Week Ending April 4, 2003

Center for Strategic and International Studies Workshop

On March 27, 2003, the Acting Director of the Division of Incident Response Operations 

attended a joint meeting of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Civil Security

Working Group and the Silent Vector Roundtable Discussion Series. The purpose of the

meeting was to address inconsistencies and areas of concern associated with the homeland

security threat warning system.

Preliminary Notifications

1. PNO-III-03-014B, Palisades Nuclear Power Plant - PALISADES LOSS OF SHUTDOWN

COOLING CAUSED BY LOSS OF OFFSITE POWER (SECOND UPDATE).

2. PNO-IV-03-020, CTL/Thompson Texas, LLC - STOLEN PORTABLE GAUGE.

3. PNO-I-03-008, The Medical Center, Beaver, Pa, Inc. - MEDICAL EVENT INVOLVING A 

HIGH DOSE RATE BRACYTHERAPY AFTERLOADER.

4. PNO-I-03-009, New York State Department of Health Licensee - MEDICAL EVENT 

INVOLVING NOVOSTE BETA-CATH INTRAVASCULAR BRACHYTHERAPY SYSTEM.

5. PNO-III-03-016, University of Michigan - MEDICAL EVENT INVOLVING SODIUM 

IODIDE IODINE-131.
April 4, 2003 ENCLOSURE F

Office of Administration 

Items of Interest 

Week Ending April 4, 2003

Revision of Fee Schedules; Fee Recovery for FY 2003 (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 (FR) on April 3,

2003 (68 FR 16374). 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 94 percent of its budget authority in Fiscal Year (FY) 2003, less amounts

appropriated from the Nuclear Waste Fund. The amount to be recovered for FY 2003 is

approximately $526.3 million. The comment period on this action closes May 5, 2003.

Contract Award

As a result of a competitive small business set-aside procurement, a fixed-price contract 

No. NRC-10-03-140, was awarded to Shirlington Limousine and Transportation on March 24,

2003. The purpose of this contract is to provide on-call transportation services for NRC senior

staff. The period of performance is six months with one six-month and two one-year options. 

The total estimated contract amount, including options, is $342,555.
April 4, 2003 ENCLOSURE G

Chief Information Officer

Items of Interest

Week Ending April 4, 2003

Freedom of Information and Privacy Act (FOIA/PA) Requests received during the period of

March 28 through April 3, 2003:

Baltimore tunnel fire, 7-18-01, all reports, notes, etc., by Battelle

Pacific Northwest Labs (PNL) and Sandia National Lab; contract or

agreement for PNL and Sandia regarding response of a shipping

cask to a fire identical to the Baltimore fire

FOIA/PA-2003-0234

Allegation, University of Missouri Research Reactor, all investigative

files, reports, transcripts, correspondence, regarding denial of

access by named individual

FOIA/PA-2003-0235

NRC files relating job application, reference, correspondence from

other Federal agencies and private companies

FOIA/PA-2003-0236

Exports of nuclear related or other sensitive technology to India and

Pakistan during 1997; and discussions with Indian, Pakistani, Soviet

or Chinese officials, referral by the Department of State

FOIA/PA-2003-0237

National Grid Group PLC and National Grid USA (f/k/a New England

Electric System) all records, decisions, releases, etc., since June 5,

1992, referral by the Securities and Exchange Commission

FOIA/PA-2003-0238
April 4, 2003 ENCLOSURE I

Office of Human Resources

Items of Interest

Week Ending April 4, 2003

Arrivals

BERANEK, Ann TECHNICAL WRITER RES

BERG, Matthew NUCLEAR SAFETY INTERN RES

BROOKS, Kenneth PHYS. SECURITY INSPECTOR RIII

COMPTON, Makeeka OFFICE AUTOMATION ASSISTANT NRR

FERRELL, Kimberly SR. PROGRAM ANALYST OCFO

KEMPER, William GENERAL ENGINEER (TECHNICAL ADVISOR) OIG

KLEIN, Joel SYSTEMS ENGINEER NMSS

MONAHAN, Kelley SECRETARY OCFO

WERKHEISER, David REACTOR INSPECTOR RI

Retirements

FLACK, Edwin SENIOR HEALTH PHYSICIST NMSS

GABRIEL, Barbara PERSONAL ASSISTANT OCM

JACKSON, Glenda ASSISTANT FOR FEE POLICY & RULES OCFO

JACKSON, Jerry SENIOR MECHANICAL ENGINEER RES

WORKMAN, Brenda SECRETARY (OA) NRR

Departures

EUCHNER, Jennifer ATTORNEY OGC
April 4, 2003 ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs

Items of Interest

Week Ending April 4, 2003

Media Interest

The President’s designation of Commissioner Diaz as Chairman received wide coverage. The

Chairman was interviewed by Dow Jones and The St. Petersburg Times.

Media attention continued to focus on security at nuclear plants, especially during public

meetings on annual nuclear plant performance assessments. 

Safety concerns regarding transportation of spent fuel also received press scrutiny, with

features on the Baltimore Harbor study and transportation needs for Yucca Mountain. 

Nevada’s petition for a hearing panel of outside experts to review DOE’s license application for

Yucca Mountain received coverage.

Press Releases

Headquarters:

03-041 Dr. Nils J. Diaz Named Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory

Commission

03-042 NRC Considering Request by Wisconsin to be an “Agreement

State”

03-043 NRC Announces Opportunity for Public to Request Hearing on

USEC’s Lead Cascade Enrichment Facility License Application

Regions:

I-03-023 NRC to Discuss Annual Performance Assessments of Indian Point

2 and 3 Nuclear Power Plants

I-03-024 NRC Assigns New Inspector to Nine Mile Point

I-03-025 NRC to Discuss Annual Performance Assessment of Three Mile

Island 1 Nuclear Power Plant

I-03-026 NRC to Discuss Annual Performance Assessment of James A.

Fitzpatrick Nuclear Power Plant

I-03-027 NRC Assigns New Resident Inspector to Millstone Station 

II-03-023 NRC to Meet with Duke Energy Officials to Discuss Safety

Performance at Oconee Nuclear Power Plant

II-03-024 NRC to Meet with Duke Energy Officials to Discuss Safety

Performance at Catawba Nuclear Power Plant
April 4, 2003 ENCLOSURE M

II-03-025 NRC to Meet with TVA Nuclear Officials to Discuss Safety

Performance at Watts Bar Nuclear Power Plant

II-03-026 NRC to Meet with TVA Officials to Discuss Safety Performance at

Sequoyah Nuclear Power Plant

III-03-018 NRC to Meet with Officials from Exelon Nuclear to Discuss Safety

Performance at Clinton

III-03-019 NRC to Meet with Officials from Exelon Nuclear to Discuss Safety

Performance at La Salle

III-03-020 NRC to Meet with Officials from Exelon Nuclear to Discuss Safety

Performance at Byron

III-03-021 Public Meetings April 8 on License Renewal of Quad Cities Nuclear

Plant

III-03-022 NRC to Meet with Officials from Nuclear Management to Discuss

Safety Performance at Monticello

III-03-023 NRC to Meet with Officials from Nuclear Management to Discuss

Safety Performance at Point Beach

III-03-024 NRC to Meet with Officials from Nuclear Management to Discuss

Safety Performance at Prairie Island

III-03-025 NRC to Meet with Officials from Exelon to Discuss Safety

Performance at Dresden

III-03-026 Public Meetings April 10 on License Renewal of Dresden Nuclear

Plant

III-03-026 NRC to Meet with Officials from Nuclear Management to Discuss

Safety Performance at Prairie Island (revised III-03-024)

IV-03-012 NRC Proposes $9,000 Fine for Pacific Radiopharmacy, Ltd.

IV-03-013 NRC to Meet with Nebraska Public Power District to Discuss

Performance of Cooper Nuclear Station 

IV-03-014 NRC to Meet with TXU Generation Management Co. to Discuss

Performance of Comanche Peak

IV-03-015 NRC to Meet with Entergy Operations Inc. to Discuss Performance

of Arkansas Nuclear One 

IV-03-016 NRC to Meet with Entergy Operations Inc. to Discuss Performance

of River Bend Station
April 4, 2003 ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary

Items of Interest

Week Ending April 4, 2003

Document Released

to Public

Date Subject

Decision Documents

1. SECY-02-0180 10/07/02 Legal and Financial Policy Issues

Associated with Licensing New Nuclear

Power Plants

SRM on 02-0180 3/31/03 (same)

Commission Voting

Record on 02-0180

3/31/03 (same)

2. SRM on SECY-02-0057 3/31/03 Update to SECY-01-0133, "Fourth Status

Report on Study of Risk-Informed Changes

to the Technical Requirements of 10 CFR

Part 50 (Option 3) and Recommendations

on Risk-Informed Changes to 10 CFR 50.46

(ECCS Acceptance Criteria)"

Commission Voting

Record on 02-0057

3/31/03 (same)

3. Chairman Meserve’s

vote on SECY-01-0072

3/27/03 Draft Rulemaking Plan: Distribution of

Source Material to Exempt Persons and to

General Licensees and Revision of 10 CFR

40.22 General Use

4. Chairman Meserve’s

vote on SECY-02-0196

3/21/03 Recommendations Stemming From the

Systematic Assessment of Exemptions from

Licensing in 10 CFR Parts 30 and 40; and a

Rulemaking Plan for Risk-Informing 10 CFR

Parts 30, 31, and 32

Negative Consent Documents

1. SECY-03-0030 2/26/03 Proposed Agreement Between the State of

Wisconsin and the Commission Pursuant to

Section 274 of the Atomic Energy Act of

1954, As Amended

SRM on 03-0030 3/27/03 (same)

1. Letter to Representative W.J. “Billy” Tauzin, dated March 31, 2003, concerns amendment

pertaining to medical isotope production that could be offered at the markup of the

proposed “Energy Policy Act of 2003.”
April 4, 2003 ENCLOSURE O

2. Letter to Congress (Sen. Domenici & Rep. Hobson), dated March 31, 2003, provides

report on efficiencies gained through implementation of the Reactor Oversight Process. 

3. Letter to Congress dated March 28, 2003 provides January report on NRC’s licensing and

regulatory duties. 

4. Letter to Representative W.J. “Billy” Tauzin, dated March 28, 2003, concerns amendment

to the “Energy Policy Act of 2003" offered by Rep. Markey on emergency evacuation

plans before the NRC issues a license or grants a license renewal for a “sensitive nuclear

facility.” 

5. Letter to Tom Ridge, Secretary of Homeland Security, describing additional

security-related actions the NRC has taken over the past several months.

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. ACRS Meeting of the Subcommittee on Reactor Fuels - Notice of Meeting.

2. ACRS Meeting on Planning and Procedures - Notice of Meeting.

3. ACRS Meeting of the Subcommittee on Materials and Metallurgy - Notice of Meeting.

4. 141st Meeting of the Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste - Notice of Meeting.
April 4, 2003 ENCLOSURE P

Region I

Items of Interest

Week Ending April 4, 2003

Meeting on Emergency Response Issues and Perspectives

On April 3, 2003, the Delaware Valley Society for Radiation Safety, and the Philadelphia

chapter of the Health Physics Society, presented an all-day seminar on Emergency Response

Issues and Perspectives. Representatives from State and Federal organizations, including the

Environmental Protection Agency and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, and 

local law enforcement agencies and licensee organizations made presentations on a variety of

emergency response issues, including radioactive dispersal devices and dealing with the

media. Region I staff attended the seminar and a Region I Branch Chief represented NRC on

the closing panel discussion.
April 4, 2003 ENCLOSURE P

Region II

Items of Interest

Week Ending April 4, 2003

Reactor Oversight Process (ROP) Annual Assessment Meetings

During the week of March 31 - April 4, 2003, the Regional Office held the NRC ROP Annual

Assessment Meetings for Summer, Vogtle, Turkey Point, Browns Ferry, Surry, McGuire and

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

the public. The Regional Administrator attended the Oconee ROP Annual Assessment Meeting

in Seneca, SC.

Representative from the Office of the Inspector General’s Office Visits Region II

On March 31, - April 1, 2003, a representative from the Office of the Inspector General visited

the Regional Office as part of his interfacing with the regional staff. 

Region II Allegation Program Audit

On March 31 - April 2, 2003, the Agency Allegation Advisor, accompanied by the Office of the

Nuclear Reactor Regulation Senior Allegations Coordinator, and the Region I Allegations

Coordinator were in the Regional Office to conduct the Annual Allegation Program Audit of the

Region II implementation of the program.

National Radiological Emergency Preparedness Conference

On March 31 - April 3, 2003, the Regional State Liaison Officer participated in the National

Radiological Emergency Preparedness Conference in Portland, Oregon.
April 4, 2003 ENCLOSURE P

Region IV

Items of Interest

Week Ending April 4, 2003

Management Changes at Entergy Nuclear South

Effective April 7, 2003, Bill Eaton, Vice President at Grand Gulf Nuclear Station, will become

Vice President of Engineering for Entergy Nuclear South. George Williams, Vice President of

Operations, will begin a rotational assignment as Vice President of Grand Gulf. Greg Pierce,

Director of Nuclear Support, will step up to be Acting Vice President of Operations Support.

During the week of March 31 - April 4, 2003, the Regional Office held the NRC ROP Annual

Assessment Meetings for the Waterford 3, Callaway, Wolf Creek and San Onofre nuclear

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

Regional Administrator attended the Callaway Plant Annual Assessment Meeting.
April 4, 2003 ENCLOSURE Q

Office of the Executive Director for Operations

Items of Interest

Week Ending April 4, 2003

Proposed Rule Signed by EDO

On March 31, 2002, the Executive Director for Operations approved a proposed rule that amends

10 CFR Part 35, “Medical Use of Byproduct Material.” This amendment would clarify certain

inconsistencies within Part 35 and allow training in ophthalmic treatment to be conducted in eye

clinics or private practices, in addition to medical institutions.
April 4, 2003 

Office of Congressional Affairs

Items of Interest

Week Ending April 4, 2003

CONGRESSIONAL HEARING SCHEDULE, NO. 11

OCA

Contact

DATE

&

PLACE

TIME WITNESS SUBJECT 

Combs 04/07/03

SD-124

 1:30 Margaret Chu, OCRW FY04 Budget Senators 

Energy anAppropria

Gerke 04/08/03

SD-342

 9:30 GAO, OPM, AFGE, NTEU,

SEA, Natl Commission onthe Public Service

The Human Capital Challenge:Offering Solutions and DeliveringResults

Senators Gov’t MgmGovernmReps. DaCivil ServGovernm

Combs 04/09/03

SD-406

 9:30 Markup S. 156, Price-Anderson

Reauthorization

Senators Environm

McDermott 04/10/03

SD-366

10:00 Markup Title IV–Nuclear Energy Title of

Omnibus Energy Draft Legislation

Senators Energy an

Gerke 04/11/03

2154 RHOB

10:00 TBA Mid-Term Report Card: Is the Bush

Administration Doing Enough onPaperwork Reduction?

Reps. OsEnergy P RegulatGovernm