INFORMATION REPORT

July 18, 2002 SECY-02-0134

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-02-0134 WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING JULY 12, 2002

Contents Enclosure

Nuclear Reactor Regulation A

Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards B

Nuclear Regulatory Research C*

Nuclear Security and Incident Response D

General Counsel E*

Administration F*

Chief Information Officer G

Chief Financial Officer H*

Human Resources I

Small Business & Civil Rights J*

Enforcement K*

State and Tribal Programs L*

Public Affairs M

International Programs N*

Office of the Secretary O

Region I P

Region II P

Region III P*

Region IV P*

Executive Director for Operations Q*

Congressional Affairs R

*No input this week.

/RA/

John W. Craig

Assistant for Operations, OEDO

Contact:

M. Layton, OEDO
July 18, 2002 SECY-02-0134

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-02-0134 WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING JULY 12, 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.

/R/

John W. Craig

Assistant for Operations, OEDO

Contact:

M. Layton, OEDO

DISTRIBUTION:

Central File

Public Document Name: C:\WIR\WEEK712.WPD

OEDO AO/OEDO

MLayton:paa JWCraig

07/17/02 07/18/02
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING JULY 12, 2002

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

Headquarters and Regional Office activities. 

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

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

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

OFFICE Page OFFICE Page

NRR 2 STP *

NMSS 4 OPA 17

RES * IP *

NSIR 6 SECY 19

OGC * Region I 20

ADM * Region II 21

CIO 11 Region III *

CFO * Region IV *

HR 15 OEDO *

SB/CR * OCA 24

OE *

*No input this week
July 12, 2002 ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Items of Interest

Week Ending July 12, 2002

Indian Point Nuclear Generating Unit Nos. 2 and 3

On July 3, 2002, the Parents Concerned About Indian Point (PCAIP) petitioned the Second

Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals to review the Commission’s decision dated June 4, 2002, denying

PCAIP’s April 29, 2002, Motion for Reconsideration. In the April 29 Motion, PCAIP requested

that the Commission reconsider its February 13, 2002, motion to reopen the 1983 special

proceedings that it had initiated concerning various aspects of Indian Point, including

emergency evacuation planning and preparedness. The basis presented by PCAIP in the

February 13, 2002, motion was that the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, materially

changed the probability of a direct attack at the plant and that evacuation planning was devised

to primarily address an evacuation caused by a plant malfunction. In a letter dated March 28,

2002, the Commission notified PCAIP that it would not entertain the reopening of a closed

proceeding once the time for judicial review has expired. The letter also stated that the

Commission initiated the 1983 proceeding in response to a notice from the Federal Emergency

Management Agency (FEMA) advising the NRC that the Indian Point emergency preparedness

program was inadequate at that time; and that PCAIP may wish to discuss this matter with

FEMA.

Tritium Production Program

The Atomic Safety and Licensing Board’s (ASLB’s) Memorandum and Order of July 2, 2002,

denied petitions to intervene in the proceedings on Tennessee Valley Authority’s (TVA’s) 

license amendment requests to produce tritium at Watts Bar and Sequoyah. The ASLB’s 

denials were based on the following:

- Jeannine Honicker's petition — lack of standing

- Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League's petition — failing to file any contentions

- We the People, Inc.’s petition — failure to submit an admissible contention

Jeannine Honicker filed an addendum to her contentions on July 3, 2002, asking the ASLB to

accept additions to her contentions. 

As TVA requested, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission plans to complete its reviews of the

TVA proposed tritium production program by August 20, 2002, for Watts Bar, and

September 21, 2002, for Sequoyah. The Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation is also preparing

a staff position on Dr. Bergeron’s comments about risk informing our review of TVA’s license

amendment requests.

Public Meeting with the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) and Industry on Public Radiation Safety

Cornerstone Issues

On July 2, 2002, the NRC staff participated in a teleconferenced public meeting with

representatives of the nuclear industry and the NEI to discuss issues with the Significance
July 12, 2002 ENCLOSURE A

Determination Process (SDP) associated with the Public Radiation Safety Cornerstone of the

Reactor Oversight Process (ROP). The industry representatives provided justification for their

proposal to modify the SDP to eliminate the counting of findings for uncontrolled radioactive

material found within their Protected or Restricted areas. Currently, the SDP would result in a

White finding if there are greater than five occurrences within the two year inspection period. 

The staff and industry representatives provided candid feedback on the issue and a consensus

was reached to go forward with the draft proposal to modify the SDP to restrict the use of the

occurrence counter. A draft of the revised SDP will be presented for discussion at the next

scheduled public meeting on August 20, 2002.

The staff continues to work with industry to understand their concerns and revise the SDP, as

appropriate. These public meetings are held periodically to enable the staff and stakeholders to

share information which is used to "fine tune" the ROP as experience is gained with the

process. 

James A. Fitzpatrick Nuclear Generating Station

The staff has issued a license amendment replacing the Fitzpatrick technical specifications in

their entirety with new technical specifications, based on the improved Standard Technical

Specifications (iSTS). The licensee will implement these revised technical specifications within

120 days. 

Fitzpatrick is the 66th unit approved to convert to the iSTS. This number includes Watts Bar

which was originally licensed with the iSTS and Browns Ferry Unit 1. The two Zion units were

approved, but never implemented the iSTS. Applications for conversion to iSTS for an

additional 3 units are currently under review. Licensees for 8 units are planning to make

applications in the next two years and 27 are either undecided or have indicated that they will

not be converting.
July 12, 2002 ENCLOSURE B

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards

Items of Interest

Week Ending July 12, 2002

Meeting with Fuel Manufacturing Facilities on Interim Compensatory Measures for the

Protection of Special Nuclear Material of Low Strategic Significance

On July 10, 2002, staff from the Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards and the Office

of Nuclear Security and Incident Response met with representatives of the Category III fuel

manufacturers to discuss the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC’s) draft Interim

Compensatory Measures (ICMs) for the protection of special nuclear material of low strategic

significance (Category III quantities of material). This is generally material of less than 10

percent enrichment in U-235. Participating licensees included Westinghouse Electric

Company, Global Nuclear Fuel America, Framatome, Nuclear Fuel Services, and BWXT. 

Other stakeholders attending included the Nuclear Energy Institute, the U.S. Enrichment

Corporation, and Duke Cogema Stone and Webster. The purpose of the meeting was to obtain

licensee input on potential operational impacts of implementation of the ICMs for NRC

consideration and to answer the licensees' questions about the interpretation and

implementation of the ICMs. 

Staff Participates in Interagency Steering Committee on Radiation Standards Meeting

On July 9, 2002, the Interagency Steering Committee on Radiation Standards (ISCORS) held

its annual public meeting at Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Headquarters (the public

meeting is one of four meetings held each year). A member of the Office of Nuclear Material

Safety and Safeguards management chaired the meeting, and other NRC staff participated. In

addition, representatives from the Department of Energy, the Department of Defense, the Food

and Drug Administration, the Department of Transportation, the Occupational Safety and Health

Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the States of Illinois and

Pennsylvania participated. In this meeting, the group heard presentations from Dr. Roger

Clarke of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), and from Dr. Kevin

Crowley of the National Research Council’s Board on Radioactive Waste Management (the

Board). Dr. Clarke reviewed the history of ICRP, and changes it is considering for its 1990

Recommendations in ICRP 60, and Dr. Crowley discussed recently completed Board studies,

and those that are ongoing. ISCORS also received updates from each of its seven

subcommittees. Before the ISCORS meeting, ICRP’s Dr. Clarke made a more detailed

presentation, to Federal agency staff, on revisions being considered for ICRP’s

Recommendations.

Staff Issues Draft Licensing Support Network Regulatory Guide for Comment

On July 2, 2002, the Division of Waste Management issued a Federal Register notice soliciting

public comment on Draft Regulatory Guide DG-3022 (Proposed Revision 1 of Regulatory

Guide 3.69), "Topical Guidelines for the Licensing Support Network." The draft guide is being

developed to provide guidance acceptable to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff on the

scope of documentary material that should be included in the Licensing Support Network, which

is an electronic information system that is being designed and implemented to provide for the
July 12, 2002 ENCLOSURE B

entry of and access to potentially relevant licensing information for a geologic repository for

high-level radioactive waste. The public comment period ends September 30, 2002.

Revision to the TRUPACT-II Transportation Package Certificate of Compliance Supporting

Shipments of Los Alamos National Laboratory Transuranic Waste to the Waste Isolation

Pilot Plant

On July 5, 2002, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued an amendment, to the Model No.

TRUPACT-II package, which will allow transportation of drums of high-activity transuranic

waste from the Los Alamos National Laboratory to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant site. 

Revision to the Eco-Pak Liqui-Rad Transport Unit Package Certificate of Compliance to

Support the Down-Blending of Surplus Highly Enriched Uranium

On July 5, 2002, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued an amendment to the Model No.

Eco-Pak Liqui-Rad Transport Unit Package Certificate of Compliance. The amendment

allowed a substitution of the insulating and impact-limiting foam. The Eco-Pak Liqui-Rad

Transport Unit Package will be used to transport Uranyl Nitrate solutions derived from the

down-blending of surplus highly enriched uranium for the Department of Energy. 
July 12, 2002 ENCLOSURE D

Nuclear Security and Incident Response

Items of Interest

Week Ending July 12, 2002

Federal Emergency Management Agency E-Government Initiative

Staff from the Division of Incident Response Operations participated in the Federal Emergency

Management Agency (FEMA) Disaster Management Use Case Workshop at FEMA

Headquarters on July 9, 2002. The workshop was part of a series of meetings associated with

the Disaster Management E-Government Initiative (FEMA is the managing sponsor). This

workshop was attended by disaster management representatives from the partner agencies

and focused on the disaster management business processes that could be associated with the

E-government initiative. 

Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD) Tabletop Exercise Meeting

The Division of Incident Response Operations (DIRO) and the Division of Industrial & Medical

Nuclear Safety (IMNS) participated with representatives of the Department of Energy (DOE) in

a radiological dispersal device (RDD) tabletop exercise planning meeting at NRC Headquarters

on July 9, 2002. The NRC’s emergency exercise program to address potential terrorist events

will include an interagency tabletop exercise to examine responsibilities of the respective

agencies for RDD-type events. The meeting purpose was to discuss the potential for DOE

assistance and participation in a RDD tabletop exercise. DOE representatives discussed their

current program of DOE and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) co-sponsored tabletop

exercises related to terrorist events involving weapons of mass destruction. Meeting attendees

concluded that the DOE/FBI tabletop exercises, with modification, would be appropriate for use

by NRC. DOE representatives agreed to assist in the development and conduct of the NRC

tabletop exercise. DIRO, in coordination with IMNS, will support development of the scenario

and related materials with DOE. 

Domestic Threat Response and Incident Management PCC

On July 9, 2002, representatives of the Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response

attended the Office of Homeland Security Domestic Threat Response and Incident

Management Policy Coordination Committee (PCC) meeting. Discussion topics included a

periodic threat update and presentations by representatives of the Technology Support Working

Group and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency on modeling and simulation techniques.

Preliminary Notifications

1. PNO-IV-02-35, Swedish Medical Center, MEDICAL MISADMINISTRATION.
July 12, 2002 ENCLOSURE G

Chief Information Officer

Items of Interest

Week Ending July 12, 2002

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

July 5, 2002 through July 11, 2002:

Daily Power Reactor Status reports, 5-18-2002 through 7-7-2002 (or current date) (FOIA/PA2002-0325)

Commissioner Merriefield’s contract/work agreement with NRC (FOIA/PA-2002-0326)

OI Report 1-2001-015 (FOIA/PA-2002-0327)

IMPAC listing (FOIA/PA-2002-0328)

Daily Plant Status Reports, January 1 - June 20, 2002 (FOIA/PA-2002-0329)

MLTS, active and retired facilities (FOIA/PA-2002-0330)

Radioactive material, lost or stolen, from Three Mile Island, Peach Bottom, York Hospital, and

Memorial Hospital, York, PA (FOIA/PA-2002-0331)
July 12, 2002 ENCLOSURE I

Office of Human Resources

Items of Interest

Week Ending July 12, 2002

HR/HRD Staff Member Participates in Development of the IAEA Web-Based Training Project

From June 3-7, 2002, an Instructional Systems Specialist in the Office of Human Resources,

HRD staff, was invited to serve as a consultant to the International Atomic Energy Agency in

Vienna, Austria. The IAEA is currently involved in a project to develop distance learning

material in radiation protection. She advised the Agency on the approaches and tools to be

used for developing distance learning material in radiation protection. Also, she currently

coordinates several NRC web-based training (WBT) projects with HR, Research, and NRR, and

has presented WBT strategies to staff at the Technical Training Center (TTC) in Chattanooga,

TN.

Arrivals

BROWN, Carol SECRETARY NRR

CLAY, James SECRETARY (TL/OA) RIII

COYNE, Kevin* OPERATIONS ENGINEER NRR

ESKINS, Douglas REACTOR ENGINEER RIII

GABRIEL, Sandra HEALTH PHYSICIST (TERM APPOINTMENT) RI

GREEN, Fredrick NUCLEAR SAFETY INTERN NSIR

HEALY, Shawn PERSONNEL SECURITY ADM

MUSICO, Bruce EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS SPECIALIST NRR

RIVERA-VARONA,

Aida

NUCLEAR SAFETY INTERN NRR

SALOMON, Arthur RESEARCH STATISTICIAN RES

WILLIAMSON, Alicia NUCLEAR SAFETY INTERN NRR

Departures

ARONSON, Laurence AUDIOVISUAL PRODUCTION SPECIALIST ADM

ROSE, Carol BRANCH CHIEF OCFO

*Transferring from RIII
July 12, 2002 ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs

Items of Interest

Week Ending July 12, 2002

Media Interest

The Senate vote on Yucca Mountain prompted many inquiries from reporters about the role

NRC will play in determining the suitability of the site for a high-level waste repository.

There was media interest in Chairman Meserve’s July 9 response to questions asked by

Congressman Edward Markey regarding the Davis-Besse nuclear plant.

Press Releases

Headquarters:

02-081 NRC Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste To Meet in Rockville, Maryland,

on July 23-25, 2002

Regions:

III-02-040 NRC Announces New Senior Resident Inspector at Braidwood Nuclear Power

Station

III-02-041 NRC Names New Resident Inspector at Point Beach

III-02-042 NRC Oversight Panel to Hold Two Meetings in Oak Harbor, Ohio, on

Davis-Besse Reactor Vessel Head Damage

III-02-043 NRC Oversight Panel to Hold Two Meetings in Oak Harbor, Ohio, on

Davis-Besse Reactor Vessel Head Damage
July 12, 2002 ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary

Items of Interest

Week Ending July 12, 2002

Document Released

to Public

Date Subject

Information Papers

1. SECY-02-0123 07/03/02 SECY-02-0123 Weekly Information Report -

Week Ending June 28, 2002

2. SECY-02-0115 06/27/02 Effectiveness and Efficiency Plan for Power

Uprates

Memoranda

1. M020626A/B 07/11/02 Staff Requirements - All Employees

Meetings

Commission Correspondence

1. Letter to Congress dated July 3, 2002, provides the April report on the status of NRC’s

licensing and regulatory duties. 

2. Letter to Dario Herrera, Chairman, Board of County Commissioners, Las Vegas, Nevada,

dated July 3, 2002, concerns the May 21-23, 2002, public meetings held in Las Vegas, on

NRC’s Draft Yucca Mountain Review Plan. 

3. Letter to Gray Davis, Governor of California, dated July 2, 2002, concerns the NRC’s

State Liaison Officer program. 

4. Letter to Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton dated June 28, 2002, provides response to

request for confirmation that the interim security measures imposed by Order on

February 25, 2002, are still in place. 

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste Meeting on Planning and Procedures - Notice of

Meeting.

2. Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste 136th Meeting, July 23-25, 2002, Rockville, MD.
July 12, 2002 ENCLOSURE P

Region I

Items of Interest

Week Ending July 12, 2002

Indian Point Unit 2 (IP2)

The NRC Augmented Problem Identification & Resolution Inspection Team completes its onsite inspection work July 12th. The team will hold an exit meeting with Entergy in a couple of

weeks. 

As part of the Region I IP2 outreach program for external stakeholders, the NRC IP2 Special

Project Director is in the IP2 area this week and contacting local office staff members for

Senator Schumer and Congresswomen Kelly and Lowey; the Cordlandt Township Supervisor;

and the Rockland County Executive.
July 12, 2002 ENCLOSURE P

Region II

Items of Interest

Week Ending July 12, 2002

Regional Administrator Attends NRC Diversity Day Program 

On July 11, 2002, the Regional Administrator participated in the Annual NRC Diversity Day

Program held in Headquarters.

Framatome ANP, Inc. Licensee Performance Review (LPR) Meeting

On July 8, 2002, the Director, Division of Nuclear Materials Safety (DNMS), and Chief, Fuel

Facilities Branch, DNMS held a management meeting with Framatome in Lynchburg, VA. The

purpose of the meeting was to discuss the licensee’s performance over the past year.

Carolina Power and Light Company - H. B. Robinson Management Meeting

On July 10, representatives from Carolina Power and Light Company were in the Regional

Office to participate in a management meeting. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss

plant performance and upcoming outage activities. 

Office of the Chief Financial Officer - Cost Management Presentation

On July 10, 2002, a representative from the Office of the Chief Financial Officer, gave a

presentation to regional managers and supervisors on cost management reports and the type

of information available for use in planning and monitoring resource expenditures. 

Financial Assurance Training

On July 11, 2002, the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguard, Division of Waste

Management provided Financial Assurance Training to the Region II Office Materials Licensing

Branch. This will aid in the Region’s processing and control of these type documents.

Statewide Radiological Emergency Preparedness Workshop

On July 10-11, 2002, the Regional State Liaison Office participated in the Statewide

Radiological Emergency Preparedness workshop and conference with representatives from the

State of Florida. Topics of discussion included the NRC and FEMA emergency preparedness

processes.
July 12, 2002 

Office of Congressional Affairs

Items of Interest

Week Ending July 12, 2002

CONGRESSIONAL HEARING SCHEDULE, NO. 61

OCA

Contact

DATE

&

PLACE

TIME WITNESS SUBJECT 

Keeling 07/15/02

345 CHOB

1:00 Tom Ridge, Director, Office of

Homeland Security

Department of Homeland Security Reps. Arm

Select Ho

Keeling 07/16/02

345 CHOB

TBA Cabinet Secretaries Department of Homeland Security Reps. Arm

Select Ho

Combs 07/16/02

2154 RHOB

3:00 TBA EPA Elevation to Cabinet Status Reps. Os

Energy P RegulatoGovernm

Keeling 07/17/02

345 CHOB

TBA Committee Chairmen and

Ranking Members

Department of Homeland Security Reps. Arm

Select Ho

Combs 07/18/02

SD-366

9:30 TBA U.S. Technology Transfer Programs

for Energy Efficiency, Nuclear,Fossil, and Renewable Energy

Senators Energy an