INFORMATION REPORT

May 22, 2003 SECY-03-0082

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-03-0082 WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING MAY 16, 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:

B. Smith, OEDO
May 22, 2003 SECY-03-0082

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-03-0082 WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING MAY 16, 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:

B. Smith, OEDO

DISTRIBUTION:

Central File

Public Document Name: 

C:\WIR\ML031430456.wpd.WPD

OEDO AO/OEDO

BSmith WMDean

05/23/03 05/23/03
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING MAY16, 2003

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

Headquarters and Regional Office activities. 

Contact: B. Smith, OEDO by E-mail: BWS1@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 8 IP 18

NSIR 9 SECY 19

OGC * Region I 20

ADM 10 Region II 21

CIO 11 Region III 22

CFO * Region IV 23

HR 15 OEDO *

SB/CR * OCA 24

OE *

*No input this week
May 16, 2003 ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 16, 2003

Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station

On May 9, 2003, the NRC issued a license amendment to Entergy authorizing an increase in

the maximum licensed power level for Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station. The amendment

increases the maximum steady state power level by 1.5 percent from 1998 megawatts thermal

(MWt) to 2028 MWt. The increased power level is based on the installation of flow

measurement instrumentation that results in improved feedwater flow measurement accuracy. 

Entergy plans to implement the increased power level within 60 days.

Updated Regulatory Guide 1.178

The NRC plans to issue updated versions of Regulatory Guide (RG) 1.178, "An Approach for

Plant-Specific Risk-Informed Decision Making Inservice Inspection of Piping," and Standard

Review Plan Section (SRP) 3.9.8, "Standard Review Plan for the Trial Use For the Review of

Risk-Informed Inservice Inspection of Piping." This is the first update of the RG and SRP since

the original versions were issued for trial use in September 1998. The staff presented the

updated versions and discussed the proposed changes in a presentation on May 8, 2003, to the

full committee of the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safety (ACRS). ACRS will issue a letter

with its recommendations concerning the proposed updates. 

Staff Issues Robinson License Renewal Draft Supplemental Generic Environmental

Impact Statement for Public Comment

On Wednesday, May 7, 2003, the staff issued the draft of Supplement 13 to NUREG-1437,

“Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants, Supplement

13, Regarding H.B. Robinson Steam Electric Plant, Unit No. 2,” for public comment. This

supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) includes the staff’s preliminary analysis

that considers and weighs the environmental effects of the proposed action, the environmental

impacts of alternatives to the proposed action, and mitigative measures available for reducing

or avoiding adverse impacts. It also includes the staff’s preliminary recommendation regarding

the proposed action: that the Commission determine that the adverse environmental impacts of

license renewal for Robinson are not so great that preserving the option of license renewal for

energy planning decision makers would be unreasonable. A 75-day public comment period is

scheduled to begin on or about May 16, 2003, with the Notice of Filing of the draft SEIS with the

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (comment period will end on July 30, 2003). The staff

has scheduled public meetings on June 25, 2003, in Hartsville, South Carolina, to present its

analyses and to accept public comments on the draft SEIS.

Industry Initiating Event Performance Indicator

Staff members from NRR and the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research briefed the Advisory

Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) on the Industry Initiating Event Performance

Indicator (IIEPI) at a joint subcommittee meeting on May 7, 2003. The purpose of the briefing
May 16, 2003 ENCLOSURE A

was to obtain feedback from the ACRS on the IIEPI concept, which may be implemented within

1-2 years as an industry indicator for the NRC’s Industry Trends Program.

The IIEPI is a new indicator of industry performance in the initiating events cornerstone. It is

more risk-informed than the current set of indicators which are derived from the plant-level

performance indicators in the Reactor Oversight Process. The IIEPI consists of a risk-weighted

index of the most risk-significant initiating events for operating power reactors (nine initiating

events for BWRs and ten for PWRs).

The ACRS commented on the development of IIEPI and did not identify significant concerns. 

The staff anticipates that it will address ACRS feedback and conduct a public workshop on the

IIEPI this summer. The staff will then brief the full ACRS this fall to obtain written feedback on

the IIEPI.
May 16, 2003 ENCLOSURE B

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 16, 2003

Meeting with Duke Cogema Stone & Webster to Discuss Integrated Safety

Analysis Methodology

On May 8, 2003, the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS) staff met with

Duke Cogema Stone & Webster (DCS) to discuss DCS’ plan to perform its Integrated Safety

Analysis (ISA) of the Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility. Performing an ISA is required by

10 CFR 70.62 and is an integral part of DCS’ license application process for its possession and

use application.

The NMSS staff found DCS’ approach to be acceptable at the high level at which it was

presented. The NMSS staff concluded, however, that follow-up meetings are necessary to

discuss topics such as format and content of the ISA Summary, level of detail to be included in

the ISA Summary, and more explanation of how DCS intends to implement its previous ISA

commitments. The NMSS staff also concluded that the timing of such follow-up meetings

would be dependent upon when DCS plans to submit its possession and use license application

and that these meetings would not be held until that date is determined.

Louisiana Energy Services Announces Leadership Changes

On May 13, 2003, Louisiana Energy Services (LES) announced that George Dials resigned as

President and will be replaced by Pat Upson, the current President of Urenco. Jay West, the

former Deputy Mayor of Nashville, Tennessee, will become LES’ lead local official. No further

information was provided on siting the proposed gas centrifuge facility or submittal dates for a

license application.

U.S. Enrichment Corporation, Inc.

On April 9, 2003, NRC published a Federal Register notice (FRN) offering the opportunity for a

hearing on the U.S. Enrichment Corporation's Lead Cascade application. Petitions were

required to be submitted to NRC within 30 days of the FRN. No petitions for a hearing were

received by NRC within the allotted time period.

Meeting with the State of Nevada Agency for Nuclear Projects

On May 8, 2003, staff from the Spent Fuel Project Office (SFPO) and their contractors met with

staff from the Nevada Agency for Nuclear Projects and their contractors to discuss SFPO’s

analysis of the Baltimore tunnel fire event and the impact this event could have had on a spent

fuel transportation cask. Presentations were made by NRC contractors responsible for different

areas of review of the Baltimore tunnel fire and included staff from the National Institute of

Standards and Technology, the Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses, and Pacific

Northwest National Laboratories. Details of contractor efforts in fire modeling, materials

analysis, and spent fuel cask thermal modeling were discussed in the presentations. Several

questions, and significant discussion, focused on the staff’s approach. The meeting provided

the opportunity for the staff to clarify in detail the actions taken to reach the conclusion that the
May 16, 2003 ENCLOSURE B

Baltimore tunnel fire event would not have resulted in a release of radioactive material to the

environment had the spent fuel transportation cask analyzed been involved in the event.
May 16, 2003 ENCLOSURE D

Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 16, 2003

TOPOFF2 Exercise Update

During the week of May 12 - 16, 2003, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) participated 

in the full-scale exercise activities associated with TOPOFF2, the second

Congressionally-mandated, national-level exercise involving weapons of mass destruction. 

Commissioner Merrifield led the NRC’s exercise participation and served as the agency’s "top

official" for TOPOFF2. Headquarters, Region III, and Region IV staff participated in exercise

activities that included staffing of the Headquarters Operations Center response teams, limited

staffing of Region III and IV Incident Response Centers, and participation by Region IV and

Headquarters representatives at the Seattle Joint Operations Center. NRC’s participation

focused on simulated terrorist threats to licensee facilities, a radiological dispersal device

detonation in Seattle, a highway shipment of radioactive material in the Pacific Northwest, and

the effect of a bio-terrorism event in Chicago. NRC conducted a series of internal critiques to

capture "lessons learned" - opportunities to enhance the agency’s emergency response

capabilities - and participated in Federal interagency critiques on May 16, 2003. 

Preliminary Notifications

1. PNO-III-03-024, University of Wisconsin-Madison - REPORTED MEDICAL EVENT

INVOLVING YTTRIUM-90 MICROSPHERES (UNDERDOSE).
May 16, 2003 ENCLOSURE F

Office of Administration

Items of Interest 

Week Ending May 16, 2003

Source Material Reporting Under International Agreements; Confirmation of Effective Date

(Parts 40 and 150)

A document confirming the effective date of October 1, 2003, for a direct final rule that requires

licensees to report the receipt or transfer of source material controlled under any of the various

international Agreements for Peaceful Nuclear Cooperation was published in the Federal

Register on May 12, 2003 (68 FR 25281).

Risk-Informed Categorization and Treatment of Structures, Systems, and Components for

Nuclear Power Reactors (Part 50)

A proposed rule that would provide an alternative approach for establishing the requirements

for the treatment of structures, systems, and components (SSCs) for nuclear power reactors

using a risk-informed method of categorizing SSCs according to their safety significance was

published in the Federal Register on May 16, 2003 (68 FR 26551). The proposed rule would

allow licensees to remove SSCs of low safety significance from the scope of certain identified

requirements. For SSCs of low safety significance, licensees would not be required to provide

increased assurance, beyond normal industrial practices, that SSCs perform their design basis

function. The proposed rule would also revise requirements for SSCs of greater safety

significance. The comment period for this action closes July 30, 2003. 

Contract Award

As a result of a competitive negotiated procurement, a task order type contract no. NRC-04-03-

048 was awarded to Purdue University on May 7, 2003, for Thermal Hydraulic Research. 
May 16, 2003 ENCLOSURE G

Chief Information Officer

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 16, 2003

NRC Receives the National Archives and Records Administration’s (NARA) Archivist’s

Achievement Award in Records Management

The NRC received the 2003 Archivist’s Achievement Award in Records Management on 

May 13, 2003, at NARA’s annual Records Administration Conference. The award is in

recognition of NRC’s work on the development and implementation of the Agency-wide

Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) as an electronic records management

system. ADAMS is the first enterprise wide electronic records management system to receive

NARA approval. As a result, OCIO staff have been deeply involved in sharing lessons learned

with other agencies who are currently exploring the development and deployment of electronic

records management systems. The OCIO staff have demonstrated ADAMS to several

agencies and have made presentations to senior management at other Federal agencies and at

Federal and industry conferences and symposia. The OCIO staff continue to work very closely

with NARA as it develops policies and procedures governing the development and

implementation of electronic records management systems and the transfer of electronic

records to NARA for permanent storage. 

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

May 9 through May 15, 2003:

Contracts NRC3398180 and NRC3395173, Operation of NRC Data

Center, all bid records, pricing, personnel, history, performance,

milestones, and deliverables

FOIA/PA-2003-0277

Sylvania Electric nuclear fuel facilities, Hicksville, NY, & Bayside, NY,

from 1952 to 1966, all documents, studies, correspondence,

disciplinary actions, etc.

FOIA/PA-2003-0278

Physicians Imaging Center, Tinton Falls, NJ, all records,

communications

FOIA/PA-2003-0279

Contract NRC-3301189001, ADAMS Document Processing Support,

request for proposal, contract, modifications, proposal of successful

bidder, etc.

FOIA/PA-2003-0280

Indian Point 2, OIG Case No. 01-01S, NRC Senior Management

Meeting minutes of 6/10-11, 1997, 1/6-7, 1998, 7/14-15, 1998, and

5/10-11, 2000, all meeting minutes

FOIA/PA-2003-0281
May 16, 2003 ENCLOSURE I

Office of Human Resources

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 16, 2003

Arrivals

GARMOE, Alexander STUDENT ENGINEER RIII

HEIMERICKS, Craig STUDENT ENGINEER (Summer-hire) RIV

KANA, Angela STUDENT ENGINEER (Summer-hire) RIV

MARTIN, David STUDENT CLERK RIII

MORENO, Jeffrey STUDENT ENGINEER (Summer-hire) RIV

MYERS, Stephen STUDENT ENGINEER (Summer-hire) RIV

MUNIZ, Adrian NUCLEAR SAFETY INTERN NRR

O’KELLY, Kevin STUDENT CLERK RIII

REINERT, Dustin STUDENT ENGINEER (Summer-hire) RIV

RUBENSTONE, James GEOLOGIST NMSS

SABISCH, Andrew REACTOR ENGINEER RIII

SMITH, Katherine STUDENT ENGINEER (Summer-hire) RI

SULLIVAN, Margaret STUDENT CLERK RIII

VERNON, Dennis SR. SECURITY SPECIALIST NSIR

WICHMAN, Adam STUDENT ENGINEER RIII

WILLIAMS, Shawn PROJECT ENGINEER NMSS

WRAY, Roxanne SECRETARY OCIO

Retirements

KLUG, Thomas PHYSICAL SECURITY INSPECTOR RIV

Departures

McANALLEN, Julia NUCLEAR SAFETY INTERN NMSS
May 16, 2003 ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 16, 2003

Media Interest

The Office of Public Affairs (OPA) supported the TOPOFF 2 national terrorism exercise, which

was covered by print and broadcast media. Interviews were conducted by the “Virtual News

Network” (VNN) with Commissioner Merrifield, Carl Paperiello, and William Beecher.

NBC Nightly News and Associated Press featured GAO’s report on Department of Energy’s

failure to track and recover radioactive sources that could be used in a “dirty bomb.” 

Fox 5 TV (Washington) conducted an interview about moisture density gauges and their

potential use in dirty bombs.

Budget cuts and layoffs at the Yucca Mountain project made headlines, as did the continuing

differences between NRC and Nevada over waste transportation safety issues.

The OIG’s probe of alleged NRC staff influence on the Baltimore tunnel fire study was reported

in Nevada papers.

Press Releases

Headquarters:

03-059 NRC Approves Power Uprate for Pilgrim (5/12)

03-060 NRC Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste to Meet May 28-30 in

Rockville, Maryland (5/12)

03-061 NRC Licensing Board to Conduct Sessions May 29 on Proposed Utah

Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage Facility; Time Changed (5/13)

03-062 Commissioner Dicus Receives Radiation Protection Award (5/16)

Regions:

I-03-036 NRC Proposes $6,000 Fine for N.Y. Firm for Radiography Violation

III-03-040 NRC Proposes $6,000 Fine Against St. Joseph’s Hospital in Michigan for

Overexposure to a Member of the Public (5/12)
May 16, 2003 ENCLOSURE N

Office of International Programs

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 16, 2003

OECD/NEA Director-General Luis Echavarri, and Deputy Director-General Carol Kessler made

their annual visit to the U.S. NRC on Friday, May 16, 2003. The visitors met with the Chairman, 

Commissioners, Executive Director of Operations, the Director of the Office of Nuclear

Regulatory Research, the Director of the Office of International Programs, and the Deputy

Director of the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards. The main topics of interest

for Mr. Echavarri included the revision process for the NEA Strategic Plan, the Yucca Mountain,

and current issues with the Japanese regulators. 
May 16, 2003 ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 16, 2003

Document Released

to Public

Date Subject

Information Papers

1. SECY-03-0072 5/8/03 SECY-03-0072 Weekly Information Report -

Week Ending May 2, 2003

Memoranda

1. M030516 5/16/03 Staff Requirements - Affirmation Session: I.

SECY-03-0073 - Pacific Gas & Electric Co.

(Diablo Canyon Power Plant Independent

Spent Fuel Storage Installation);

Intervenor’s Request for Suspension of

Proceeding Pending Decision on

Rulemaking Petition

Commission Correspondence

1. Letter to Senator Chuck Hagel, dated May 9, 2003, concerns comments on NRC’s

ongoing efforts to enhance security requirements.

2. Letter to Senator Jeff Sessions, dated May 9, 2003, concerns comments on NRC’s

ongoing efforts to enhance security requirements.

3. Letter to Senator Lindsey Graham, dated May 9, 2003, concerns comments on NRC’s

ongoing efforts to enhance security requirements

4. Letter to Don Arbuckle, OMB, dated May 9, 2003, provides NRC FY 2003 Regulatory

Plan.

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. ACRS Subcommittee Meeting on Planning and Procedures.
May 16, 2003 ENCLOSURE P

Region I

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 16, 2003

Agency Decommissioning Counterpart Meeting

Region I hosted a Counterpart Meeting of NRC Regional and Headquarters staff and

management involved in decommissioning in Buffalo, NY, May 13-14, 2003. Representatives

from all of the Regions, the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, and the Office of

the General Counsel attended, as did representatives of the Advisory Committee on Nuclear

Waste and the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education. Technical, procedural,

budgetary, and legal issues were discussed, with outstanding issues and action items being

assigned for closure. The attendees toured the nearby West Valley Demonstration Project on

the afternoon of May 14 to review decontamination and decommissioning operations. 
May 16, 2003 ENCLOSURE P

Region II

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 16, 2003

Duke Energy Corporation - Full Scale McGuire Nuclear Exercise

On May 12-15, 2003, the Station Liaison Officer participated as a member of the Federal

Emergency Management Agency Regional Assistance Committee in the full scale McGuire

nuclear exercise. The exercise involved officials from the State of North Carolina and the

applicable local governments. The Committee’s findings were presented during a public exit

that included media coverage on May 15.

Transportation Accident Involving a Reactor Vessel Head

On May 14, 2003, a vehicle, transporting the old reactor vessel head from the Unit 1 reactor at

the North Anna nuclear power plant, was involved in an accident in the State of Kansas. The

vehicle was in route to the Envirocare facility in the State of Utah. The Offices of Nuclear

Reactor Regulation, Public Affairs, Region II and Region IV coordinated the NRC response to

the accident on May 15 - 16, 2003.
May 16, 2003 ENCLOSURE Q

Office of the Executive Director for Operations

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 16, 2003

Proposed Rule Signed by EDO

On May 9, 2003, the Executive Director for Operations approved a proposed rule that revises

10 CFR Part 110. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) proposes to amend its

regulations to issue a general license for the import of major components of utilization facilities

for end-use at NRC-licensed reactors. The amendment is necessary to facilitate imports of

major components of domestic nuclear reactors in furtherance of protection of public health and

safety and will also reduce unnecessary regulatory burden related to the maintenance of NRClicensed reactors.
May 16, 2003 

Office of Congressional Affairs

Items of Interest

Week Ending Month #, 2003

CONGRESSIONAL HEARING SCHEDULE, NO. 15

OCA

Contact

DATE

&

PLACE

TIME WITNESS SUBJECT 

Keeling 05/20/03

210 CHOB

9:00 Ridge, DHS Homeland Security Progress Report,

Project Liberty Shield, TOPOFF II

Reps. CoSelect CoSecurity

Combs 05/28/03

Las VegasTentative

TBA TBA DOE QA for Yucca Mountain Senators 

Energy anAppropria