October 29, 2002 SECY-02-0193

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-02-0193 WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING OCTOBER 25, 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
October 29, 2002 SECY-02-0193

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-02-0193 WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING OCTOBER 25, 2002

Contents Enclosure

Nuclear Reactor Regulation A

Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards B

Nuclear Regulatory Research C

Nuclear Security and Incident Response D

General Counsel E*

Administration F

Chief Information Officer G

Chief Financial Officer H*

Human Resources I

Small Business & Civil Rights J*

Enforcement K*

State and Tribal Programs L*

Public Affairs M

International Programs N*

Office of the Secretary O

Region I P

Region II P

Region III P*

Region IV P

Executive Director for Operations Q*

Congressional Affairs R

*No input this week.

/RA/

John W. Craig

Assistant for Operations, OEDO

Contact:

M. Layton, OEDO

DISTRIBUTION:

Central File

Public Document Name: C:\WIR\WEEKO25.WPD

OEDO AO/OEDO

MLayton:paa JWCraig

10/29/02 10/30/02
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 25, 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 16

RES 8 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
October 25, 2002 ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Items of Interest

Week Ending October 25, 2002

Reactor Oversight Process

On October 9, 2002, a public meeting was held at NRC headquarters to discuss questions and

comments generated by industry representatives regarding the proposed steam generator tube

integrity significance determination process (SDP). The discussions included issues previously

defined as part of the reactor oversight process and their applicability to the proposed SDP. 

Additionally, several comments were carried as open issues to be discussed at a public meeting

to be held on December 19, 2002. 

NRC Information Notice 2002-29, Recent Design Problems in Safety Functions of Pneumatic

Systems dated October 15, 2002

The NRC is issuing this information notice to inform addressees of recent occasions when the

controls or designs of safety-related systems incorporating non-safety-related air-operated

controls was less than adequate. It is expected that recipients will review the information for

applicability to their facilities and consider actions, as appropriate, to avoid similar problems. 

Public Workshop on License Renewal 

On October 22-23, 2002, the License Renewal and Environmental Impacts Program conducted

a public workshop to solicit stakeholder comment on implementation of the license renewal rule

and associated guidance documents. Over 110 persons attended the workshop including

industry representatives, staff reviewers, supporting contractors, public interest representatives,

and state representatives. Day one was focused on enhancing the license renewal application

format to provide the most efficient review by the staff and enhance public confidence. Day two

was focused on environmental review issues. The workshop provided participants with the

opportunity to obtain information, ask questions, and make comments and suggestions for NRC

consideration. 

Early Site Permit (ESP) Meeting with the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI)/ ESP Applicants

On October 16-17, 2002, representatives from NEI met with the NRC staff to discuss issues

related to ESP applications and reviews. Representatives from Dominion, Exelon and Entergy

were in attendance. As a follow-up to the September 25, 2002, ESP meeting, the staff and

industry continued a discussion on the use of a plant parameter envelope (PPE) approach to

meet regulatory requirements. NEI provided one example involving the use of the PPE

approach in assessing the environmental effects of cooling water usage. In addition, the staff

and NEI discussed (1) a staff comparison of the draft NRC ESP review standard table of

contents (TOC) and the draft NEI ESP Application Template TOC; (2) the NEI Task Force

seismic demonstration project; (3) NEI questions regarding quality assurance requirements for

ESP applications; and (4) the realistic and reasonable role that staff pre-application and review

standard development activities will play in developing the NRC nominal review schedule for

ESP applications.
October 25, 2002 ENCLOSURE A

Boiling Water Reactor Vessel and Internals Project Seminar

On October 17, 2002, the staff of the Materials and Chemical Engineering Branch (EMCB)

sponsored a seminar on the boiling water reactor vessel and internals project (BWRVIP). The

seminar was attended by the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR), the Office of Nuclear

Regulatory Research (RES), and regional staff. The purpose of this seminar was to: (1) provide

the staff with an overview of the BWRVIP program, (2) discuss program development,

(3) provide an overview of non-destructive examination as it relates to the BWRVIP, (4) discuss

BWRVIP inspection and flaw evaluation guidelines, and (5) discuss the aspects of structural

evaluations in BWR internal components. The seminar was presented by VIP representatives

from EPRI and Southern Nuclear Company.

Grand Gulf Nuclear Station, Unit 1

On October 10, 2002, the NRC staff issued a license amendment for Grand Gulf Nuclear

Station, Unit 1 which increased the maximum allowable thermal power level (licensed power

level) by 1.7% from 3,833 megawatts thermal (MWth) to 3,898 MWth. The licensee’s application

took credit for the highly accurate feedwater flow determination provided by the Leading Edge

Flow Meter technology utilized for plant calorimetric calculations.

Arkansas Nuclear One, Unit 1

The inspection of the vessel head nozzles is continuing. To date, 49 of the 69 nozzles have had

a volumetric examination. Thirty-one of the nozzles were cleared by Westinghouse, and due to

a slower than expected examination rate, the balance of the nozzles are being examined by

Framatome.

The licensee has also decided to perform a volumetric examination of the center nozzle. 

Previously, the licensee indicated (in its Bulletin 2002-02 response) that it did not desire to

perform a volumetric examination of this nozzle due to various hardships.

To date, three nozzles appear to be candidates for repair (nozzles 56, 54 and 68). Nozzle 56

was the only leaker identified from the bare metal examination. Nozzle 56 was also the nozzle

that was found to have leaked during the previous refueling outage and it was discussed in detail

in a public meeting on October 16, 2002. Regarding the other two nozzles, the licensee is still

collecting additional data on nozzle 54 to completely characterize its flaws, and the licensee

currently believes that the indication seen in nozzle 68 is a weld reflection of a porosity dot in the

weld material.

North Anna Power Station, Units 1 and 2 

A public meeting has been scheduled for October 29, 2002 between the staff and Virginia

Electric and Power Company to discuss the reactor vessel head replacement project at North

Anna, Unit 2. This meeting will provide the licensee an opportunity to present their plans to

reconcile the differences between the replacement reactor vessel head and the currently

installed head with respect to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Code

Section XI requirements. Any differences than can not be reconciled with the ASME Code would

be screened through the 10 CFR 50.59 process. In addition, during this meeting the staff will

discuss their oversight of this project. 
October 25, 2002 ENCLOSURE A

Oconee Nuclear Station, Units 1, 2, and 3

As of the morning of October 22, 2002, 58 of the 65 control rod drive mechanism (CRDM)

nozzles have been ultrasonically (UT) examined. Six nozzles have axial indications, none have

circumferential indications; these 6 nozzles are in addition to the 7 nozzles that showed evidence

of leakage during the visual examination (total of 13 nozzles). The UT on the remaining nozzles

is expected to be completed by the evening of October 22, 2002. There were 4 nozzles that

were repaired during the last refueling outage. These 4 nozzles were UT examined and the 2

previously-repaired nozzles, that were masked, were also examined by dye-penetrant testing. 

No indications were found in any of the 4 previously-repaired nozzles. Another call to discuss

inspection results will be held before the end of October 2002 once the licensee has completed

its volumetric examinations.

Containment Significance Determination Process (SDP)

NRR held a three-day working meeting at Brookhaven National Laboratory (October 16-18)

regarding improvements to the at-power SDP notebooks and processes, and a draft revision to

the containment SDP (Appendix H to MC0609). This included detailed discussions with the

members of the Operations Support Team (OST) concerning: the latest revision of the

containment SDP tool, the interfaces between the Level 1 notebooks and the containment SDP,

further improvements to the containment SDP, and possible benchmarking approaches. 

Comments received were generally favorable, and will be used to enhance the user friendliness

of the Appendix H revision. SPSB is planning to present the revised containment SDP to the

Senior Risk Analysts (SRA) at the upcoming SRA counterpart meeting the week of 

November 12, 2002.

Meeting with Industry on Issues Related to Use of Potassium Iodide in Radiation Emergencies

On October 10, 2002, a publicly observed meeting was held between representatives of the

Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), industry, Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), Environmental

Protection Agency (EPA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), State agencies, and the Federal

Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at NRC headquarters. The purpose of the meeting

was to share information and to clarify expectations for prophylactic use of potassium iodide (KI)

in radiation emergencies. 

An FDA representative discussed that the FDA was looking at potential radiation dose

recommendations for prophylactic use of KI. He explained that age was a factor considered in

determining the potential radiation dose to be recommended. The potential radiation dose

recommendation for an adult should be higher than it would be for a child. He said the FDA was

looking at a potential 5 rem dose as meeting the needs of a child.

The group discussed the responsibility of a licensee in States which request that the licensee

give them projected dose data and not provide them with a recommendation for prophylactic KI

use. Some States believe that if such a recommendation is made that it will be misunderstood. 

The NRC pointed out that the licensees need to meet their obligation to identify to the State that

they recommend KI be used in affected areas. This is an issue that the licensee must workout

with the State.
October 25, 2002 ENCLOSURE B

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards

Items of Interest

Week Ending October 25, 2002

Trousdale County, Tennessee, County Commission Meeting

On October 21, 2002, Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards staff met with Trousdale

County, Tennessee, Commissioners, to respond to questions on the proposed Louisiana Energy

Services gas centrifuge enrichment plant. The staff also answered questions on the project

from the public (about 80 persons) who attended the meeting. Issues raised included depleted

uranium tails disposition; effluent releases; transportation; Davis Besse inspection issues;

Paducah gaseous diffusion plant groundwater contamination; changes in property values; and

County zoning requirements.

Support of Consultants Meeting at the International Atomic Energy Agency

During October 14-18, 2002, a staff member from the Division of Industrial and Medical Nuclear

Safety attended a Consultants Meeting in Vienna, Austria, convened by the International Atomic

Energy Agency (IAEA). The meeting focused on the development of additional guidance, for the

International Nuclear Event Scale (INES), to rate events involving radiation sources. This

meeting was based on a recommendation, at the Biennial meeting of International Nuclear Event

Scale National Officers, held February 26 through March 2, 2002, on the need to develop

additional training and guidance on radiation/source events. This additional guidance will be

written, based on a review of existing and draft guidance, developed by Member States, and

source incidents, that have been rated in INES. This activity is part of IAEA’s ongoing effort to

expand the scope of the INES, to develop a universal tool for communicating the severity of

events involving the civilian uses of nuclear power and radioactive materials. The IAEA has

been systematically addressing specific issues and developing rating guidance for them. The

Consultants also met with another Consultants group that was working on a TECDOC on the

categorization of sources, and discussed issues of mutual interest.

Amendment to the Transnuclear, Inc., NUHOMS® MP-187 Multi-Purpose Spent Fuel Cask

Transportation Certificate of Compliance

On October 18, 2002, NRC issued Amendment No. 8 to the NUHOMS® MP-187 Spent Fuel

Cask Transportation Certificate of Compliance (71-9255). The amendment allows for an

alternative to the ASME Code. The Code requires dye penetrant examination of the machined

portion of the cask bottom forging. The approved alternative allows for flaw tolerance analysis. 

This Code alternative is approved for only one cask (Failed Fuel Dry Shielded Canister: FF-DSC

Serial Number FF-13P-R21) to be used by the Sacramento Municipal Utility District. This action

was to support fuel-loading operations at the Rancho Seco Independent Spent Fuel Storage

Installation.

Meeting with Electric Power Research Institute to Discuss Cladding Integrity under

Transportation Accident Scenarios

On October 23, 2002, representatives from the Spent Fuel Project Office, the Electric Power

Research Institute, Anatech, and industry attended a meeting to discuss technical issues

associated with the transportation of high burnup spent fuel. This was a working-level meeting
October 25, 2002 ENCLOSURE B

consisting of technical discussion on models and methods that could be used to evaluate the

response of spent fuel cladding to transportation accident scenarios. It was expected that one of

the outcomes of the analysis would be an estimate of the spent-fuel rod-failure probability, under

hypothetical accident conditions.

Staff Attends Forum on Stakeholder Confidence Workshop in Canada

On October 15-18, 2002, staff from the Division of Waste Management attended a site visit and

workshop sponsored by the Forum on Stakeholder Confidence (FSC) and Natural Resources

Canada (NRCanada), an agency of the Canadian Government. FSC is a working party to the

Radioactive Waste Management Committee of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and

Development’s Nuclear Energy Agency. Delegates to FSC took part in a site visit at uranium

processing waste disposal facilities in three communities in or near Port Hope, Ontario. 

Delegates were joined by a wide range of Canadian stakeholders, in Ottawa, for 3 days, to

discuss issues affecting public confidence in radioactive waste management and disposal in

Canada. As a member of the FSC core group, the delegate from the NRC staff facilitated three

roundtable discussions and served as session moderator for one of three topical sessions. 

Topics included an overview of the Canadian context for radioactive waste disposal in Canada. 

Of particular emphasis was NRCanada’s efforts to address recent legislation that mandated

explicit consideration of social acceptability and ethical considerations in the search for highlevel-waste disposal options. Other topics included identifying social and community concerns,

means for addressing those concerns, and the use and effectiveness of development

opportunities and other community-incentive programs for building stakeholder confidence and

social acceptance. The next FSC meeting is scheduled for May 2003, in Paris.

NRC and Department of Energy Quarterly Quality Assurance and Management Public Meetings

On October 16-17, 2002, Division of Waste Management staff met with the Department of

Energy (DOE) to discuss quality assurance (QA) and management issues on the DOE Yucca

Mountain program. Both meetings were two-way videoconferences, hosted at the Yucca

Mountain Site Characterization Office, with connection to NRC Headquarters in Washington,

DC. The Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses in San Antonio, Texas, took part by

telecommunications. Both meetings were open to the public.

The purpose of the meetings was to discuss the status of the QA program at the potential

repository site at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. Presentations included the status of the

Management Improvement Initiatives Implementation; status of the DOE QA Program; results of

the DOE Semi-Annual Self-Assessment; and status of Key Technical Issue agreement items. 

As part of the meetings, the status of previous action items was presented by DOE and

accepted by NRC. Also, DOE agreed to address several new action items by providing

additional information requested by NRC. If necessary, DOE and NRC will have additional

public meetings to address the new action items identified during the October 16-17, 2002,

quarterly QA and management meetings.

The Fifth Nickel Development Institute Workshop on the Fabrication and Welding of Nickel

Alloys and Other Materials for Radioactive Waste Containers

On October 16-17, 2002, Division of Waste Management (DWM) staff attended the Fifth Nickel

Development Institute Workshop on the Fabrication and Welding of Nickel Alloys and Other
October 25, 2002 ENCLOSURE B

Materials for Radioactive Waste Containers, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Nearly 100 representatives

from industry, the Department of Energy (DOE), and the public attended the workshop. DOE

and industry representatives presented information on waste package (WP) design; material

composition considerations; corrosion issues that may affect the predicted long life of the WP;

welding techniques for closure of the WP; and stress relief of the final WP closure weld. The

meeting was informative and timely in that it provided insight into some of DWM’s Key Technical

Issue Agreements on the Container Life for the proposed Yucca Mountain repository.

Staff Participates in Fuel Cycle Facilities Forum Meeting

On October 23, 2002, staff from the Division of Waste Management participated at the Fuel

Cycle Facilities Forum (FCFF) meeting, held in Hartford, Connecticut. Staff provided the FCFF

with an update or discussion on the following topics: (1) the Memorandum of Understanding

between the Environmental Protection Agency and NRC; (2) the status of the Clearance Rule;

(3) report to the Commission on results of the Decommissioning Pilot Program; (4) Draft

NUREG-1761, “Radiological Surveys for Release of Solid Materials”; and (5) Proposed Rule:

“Transfers of Certain Source Materials (0.05 percent by weight) by Specific Licensees to

Persons Exempt from Licensing.”
October 25, 2002 ENCLOSURE C

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research

Items of Interest

Week Ending October 25, 2002

ACRS Review of “Guidance for Performance-Based Regulation"

On October 11, 2002, the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES), with the Office of

Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) support, made a presentation to the Advisory Committee on

Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) regarding the draft NUREG/BR, "Guidance for Performance-Based

Regulation." The guidance document, which is "user-friendly," will assist NRC staff in

developing less prescriptive or performance-based approaches to regulatory issues. The staff

noted to the ACRS how it plans to integrate risk-informed and performance-based approaches

to regulation under the "coherence" activities. The ACRS agreed with the staff’s proposal to

publish the guidance as a NUREG/BR document. A letter to the NRC Chairman dated October

17, 2002 has been issued providing the basis for the ACRS conclusions, and recommending

that additional explanation be included in specific aspects of the guidance. 

ACRS Presentation on Policy Issues for Future Non-LWR Reactors

On October 10, 2002, RES gave a presentation to the ACRS on the Technical Related Policy

Issues for Future Non-Light Water Reactors. The briefing discussed the schedule and options

for resolving the seven policy issues identified in SECY-02-0139, "Plan for Resolving Policy

Issues Related to Licensing Non-Light Water Reactor Designs". The issues included:

(1) expectations for safety, (2) defense-in-depth, (3) use of international codes and standards,

(4) event selection, (5) source term, (6) containment vs. confinement, and (7) emergency

preparedness. A public workshop addressing these seven issues will be held on October 22-23

at the Double Tree Hotel in Rockville, MD. 

Implementing Agreement Between the NRC and the Nuclear Regulatory Authority of the Slovak

Republic (UJD SR) Relating to UJD SR Participation in the USNRC Thermal-Hydraulic Code

Applications and Maintenance Program (CAMP)

On September 27, 2002, the Executive Director for Operations signed an Implementing

Agreement with the Nuclear Regulatory Authority of the Slovak Republic (UJD SR). It was

subsequently countersigned by Marta Ziakova, Chairman, UJD SR on October 7, 2002. 

This Implementing Agreement defines the terms and conditions by which the NRC and the

UJD SR will continue their cooperation in the NRC thermal-hydraulic code applications and

maintenance program on the basis of mutual benefit and reasonable equity and reciprocity. As

part of its participation, the UJD SR will provide a cash contribution plus one code assessment

report per year for the duration of this Implementing Agreement. This Implementing Agreement

will enter into force upon signature, with effect from August 31, 2002, and remain in force for a

period of five years. 
October 25, 2002 ENCLOSURE D

Nuclear Security and Incident Response

Items of Interest

Week Ending October 25, 2002

Silent Vector Emergency Exercise (Tabletop)

On October 17-18, 2002, the Acting Deputy Director of the Division of Incident Response

Operations observed "Silent Vector," a strategic-level emergency exercise organized and

conducted by the ANSER Institute for Homeland Security in conjunction with the Center for

Strategic and International Studies. The players during the exercise included a former U.S.

Senator; a former Virginia Governor; former department and agency heads; former senior

military leaders; and a former NRC Chairman. Industry representatives, the media,

Congressional staff, and others observed the exercise.

NATO to use RASCAL Code

The Division of Incident Response Operations provided NRC’s RASCAL emergency response

dose assessment code to a U.S. representative on a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

project to assess the consequences. 

National Response Team

NSIR/DIRO staff attended the National Response Team (NRT) meeting on October 24, 2002, at

the Environmental Protection Agency Emergency Operations Center. The topics of discussion

included the NRT effort to reconcile the coordination issues between the four major response

plans (Federal Response Plan, National Contingency Plan, U.S. Government Interagency

Domestic Terrorism Concept of Operations Plan, Federal Radiological Emergency Response

Plan) during terrorist events. 

TOPOFF 2 National Seminar

On October 16-17, 2002, Nuclear Security Incident Response and Region IV Response

Coordination Branch staff participated in the TOPOFF 2 National Seminar with other emergency

response functional area leaders from Federal, State, and local departments and agencies, and

the Canadian Government in Seattle, Washington. Top Officials (TOPOFF) 2 is a

Congressionally-mandated, national combating Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) terrorism

exercise series designed to provide training for Federal, State and local top officials and

responders, and demonstrate coordinated national crisis and consequence management

capabilities. The co-chairs of TOPOFF 2 are the Departments of Justice and State. This

seminar focused on improving the nation’s capability to provide a horizontally and verticallyintegrated and effective response. 

Diablo Canyon Exercise

On October 23, 2002, NRC Headquarters and Region IV staff participated in an emergency

preparedness exercise with Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant in California. Multiple Federal

agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Office of Homeland Security, DOE, and

Federal Emergency Management Agency participated. NRC activated its Headquarters

Operations Center, Region IV’s Incident Response Center, and sent a team to the site as part of
October 25, 2002 ENCLOSURE D

the exercise. The exercise was unique in that it was the first FEMA-evaluated licensee exercise

that featured an integrated response, including aspects of the Concept of Operations Plan and

the Federal Radiological Emergency Response Plan.

Preliminary Notifications

1. PNO-I-02-019, Testwell Laboratories, Inc., STOLEN AND RECOVERED PORTABLE

GAUGE.
October 25, 2002 ENCLOSURE F

Office of Administration 

Items of Interest 

Week Ending October 25, 2002

Meeting of the Interagency Procurement Executive Council

On October 24, 2002, a representative of the Division of Contracts, attended a meeting of the

interagency Procurement Executive Council. The meeting included an update on the status of

schedules and anticipated interagency resources for several projects included among the

President’s e-Government Initiatives. The projects under discussion seek ways to exploit

potential benefits of emerging electronic technologies for federal procurement processes. 

Memorandum of Understanding Between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission; Consultation and Finality on Decommissioning and

Decontamination of Contaminated Sites

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the NRC and EPA was published in the

Federal Register on October 24, 2002 (67 FR 65375). The MOU is intended to identify the

interactions of the two agencies for the decommissioning and decontamination of NRC-licensed

sites and indicate the way in which these interactions will occur.
October 25, 2002 ENCLOSURE G

Chief Information Officer

Items of Interest

Week Ending October 25, 2002

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

October 18, 2002 through October 24, 2002:

CARES Computer Code Version 1.1 for PC (FOIA/PA-2003-0016)

OI Report 3-2001-005, all records and transcripts (FOIA/PA-2003-0017)

Davis Besse, significance determination process for the reactor vessel head degradation

(FOIA/PA-2003-0018)

Material Licensing Tracking System, all active licenses (FOIA/PA-2003-0019)

Allegation, RIV-2001-A-0172 (FOIA/PA-2003-0020)

Organizational chart for NRC (FOIA/PA-2003-0021)

Organizational charts and telephone directory for NRC (FOIA/PA-2003-0022)

Fermi plant, all records related to an incident occurring on 4-25-00 (FOIA/PA-2003-0023)

Allegation, Report 1-97-A-0145 and all supporting documents (FOIA/PA-2003-0024)

Communications from 9/1/99 to present between or among named NRC individuals regarding

named individuals, and any investigation concerning the conduct of named NRC individuals, not

captured under OIG/EEO investigation (FOIA/PA-2003-0025)

OIG Report 02-27H, FY2002 1st quarter report, and supporting documents (FOIA/PA-2003-0026)

Region IV Operating Plan Quarterly Performance Review reports 1/1/98 through present

(FOIA/PA-2003-0027)

OIG audit reports of Operating Plan Quarterly Performance Review reports for all regions, 1/1/98

through present (FOIA/PA-2003-0028)

Communications between or among named NRC individuals regarding the Region IV FY2002

Operating Plan First Quarter Performance Review and/or a specifically named individual

(FOIA/PA-2003-0029)

N.V.T. Technologies, all contracts and supplements since 01/2000; any annual or quarterly

reports or audits re: NVTs work; any congressional correspondence re: NVT since 1998

(FOIA/PA-2003-0030)

STARFIRE records on self, specific pay periods (FOIA/PA-2003-0031)

Pebble Bed modular reactor, all documents (FOIA/PA-2003-0032)
October 25, 2002 ENCLOSURE G

OIG Case No. 02-15H, final report (FOIA/PA-2003-0033)

OI Report 1-2002-005, full report without exhibits (FOIA/PA-2003-0034)

OI Report 3-2001-005, excluding exhibits (FOIA/PA-2003-0035)

Exhibits of OI Report 3-2001-005 (FOIA/PA-2003-0036)
October 25, 2002 ENCLOSURE I

Office of Human Resources

Items of Interest

Week Ending October 25, 2002

Arrivals

CROUCH, Howard NUCLEAR SYSTEMS ENGINEER NSIR

MURPHY, Martin MATERIALS ENGINEER NRR

TURNER, Larry REACTOR OPERATIONS ENGINEER NRR
October 25, 2002 ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs

Items of Interest

Week Ending October 25, 2002

Media Interest

There was continued media interest in Davis Besse and NRC’s Lessons Learned Task Force

Report. 

South Carolina’s request for potassium iodide renewed media interest in this subject. 

A dozen advanced journalism students from George Washington University posed as mock

reporters in the NRC news center during the October 23 Diablo Canyon exercise. 

OPA participated, with other members of NSIR and approximately 10 other federal agencies, in

the October 24 Office of Homeland Security Radiological Dispersal Device Preparedness

Working Group Subgroup on Communications. 

The Discovery Channel is working on a piece, to air at years end, on the security of the nation’s

infrastructure. 

Press Releases

Headquarters:

02-122 NRC Invites Public to Submit Nominations for Advisory Committee on

Nuclear Waste 

02-123 NRC Announces Availability of Guidance on Licenses for Medical Uses of

Radioactive Material 

02-124 NRC Announces Meeting on Memorandum of Understanding With EPA on

Cleanup of Radioactively Contaminated Sites 

02-125 NRC Announces Extension of Opportunity to Comment on Louisiana

Energy Services’ White Papers 

Regions:

I-02-063 NRC Seeks Public Input on Environmental Statement for Proposed R.E.

Ginna Nuclear Power Plant License Renewal 

I-02-064 NRC Proposes $43,200 Fine Against Easton, PA Company for Deliberate

Violations of NRC Requirements 
October 25, 2002 ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary

Items of Interest

Week Ending October 25, 2002

Document Released

to Public

Date Subject

Decision Documents

SECY-02-0133 7/15/2002 Control of Solid Materials: Options and

Recommendations for Proceeding

SRM on 02-0133 10/25/2002 (same)

Voting Record on 02-0133 10/25/2002 (same)

Information Papers

1. SECY-02-0187 10/17/2002 SECY-02-0187 Weekly Information Report -

Week Ending October 11, 2002

Commission Correspondence

1. Letter to Congress dated October 15, 2002 provides the status of NRC’s fee collection

activities for fiscal year 2002. 

2. Letter to Congress dated October 15, 2002 provides August report on the status of

NRC’s licensing and regulatory duties. 

3. Letter to the Honorable Christine Todd Whitman, Administrator, EPA, dated October 15,

2002, expresses appreciation for EPA’s efforts in completing the MOU between NRC and

EPA concerning “Consultation and Finality on Decommissioning and Decontamination of

Contaminated Sites.”

4. Letter to Edwin Lyman, President, and Alan J. Kuperman, Senior Policy Analyst, NCI,

dated October 10, 2002, concerns the request by Nordion, Inc. to amend the license

authorizing the export of highly-enriched uranium targets for medical isotope production

using the Canadian MAPLE 1 and 2 reactors and the New Production Facility. 

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards Meeting of the Subcommittee on Plant

License Renewal - Notice of Meeting.

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

Procedures - Notice of Meeting.

3. Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards Subcommittee Meeting on ThermalHydraulic Phenomena (GSI-189) - Notice of Meeting.
October 25, 2002 ENCLOSURE O

4. Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards Subcommittee Meeting on Safety Research

Program - Notice of Meeting.

5. Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards Joint Meeting of the Subcommittees on

Reliability and Probabilistic Risk Assessment and on Plant Operations - Notice of

Meeting.

6. Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards Subcommittee Meeting on Safeguards and

Security - Notice of Meeting.

7. Advisory Committee on the Medical Uses of Isotopes - Meeting Notice.

8. NRC Seeks Qualified Candidates for the Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste -

Request for resumes.

9. MOU between NRC and EPA on Consultation and Finality on Decommissioning and

Decontamination of Contaminated Sites - Notice of Issuance.
October 25, 2002 ENCLOSURE P

Region I

Items of Interest

Week Ending October 25, 2002

Issuance of License Amendment to ABB Prospects, Inc.

On October 17, 2002, Region I issued a license amendment (Amendment No. 53) to ABB

Prospects, Inc permitting the licensee to dismantle and deconstruct the buildings of Building

Complexes 2, 5, and 17 down to the building slabs and foundations at grade level only. The

amendment does not authorize below grade work on sub-surface structures or soil. The

amendment further requires that Region I review and approve final radiological survey plans and

survey data for the buildings prior to dismantlement and deconstruction. Additionally, the

licensee will submit a site-wide Decommissioning Plan that would lead to license termination and

unrestricted release of the site. An Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant

Impact were prepared for this amendment and published in the Federal Register on October 17,

2002. Input from several state agencies in Connecticut was considered in the preparation of the

supporting documents for this licensing action.

Region I Management Visit to Grand Gulf Plant and Entergy Corporate Offices

On October 23 and 24, 2002, the Regional Administrator, Director and Deputy Director of

Reactor Projects, Region I, and the Project Director, Nuclear Reactor Regulation, visited the

Grand Gulf plant and Entergy Corporate Offices outside Jackson, Mississippi. The visit provided

insights regarding Entergy-South corporate office support to both the northern “fleet” (deregulated plants) and corporate office in White Plains, NY, and to the southern “fleet” (all

regulated plants). The corporate visit included a general discussion of how plant performance

issues and challenges are addressed corporately and at individual sites utilizing corporate

processes and resources. Entergy senior management present at the corporate office visit

included the Chairman and CEO, Jerry Yelverton; President, John McGaha; Sr. VPs and Chief

Operating Officers, Gary Taylor and Mike Kansler, and Sr. VP John Herron.

Region I Meeting with the State of New Jersey

On October 22, 2002, the Regional Administrator, and members of his staff met with Jill Lipoti,

Assistant Director, Radiation Protection Programs, and members of her staff from the State of

New Jersey. The meeting was requested by New Jersey to discuss insights regarding the

Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station. The state representatives also discussed the status

of their other ongoing programs in New Jersey, such as developing high level waste

transportation routes from the nuclear stations in New Jersey to Yucca Mountain.
October 25, 2002 ENCLOSURE P

Region II

Items of Interest

Week Ending October 25, 2002

Carolina Power and Light Company (Progress Energy)

On October 22, 2002, the Regional Administrator accompanied Commissioner Diaz, who

participated in the presentation of NRC operator license certificates to newly licensed operators

from the Shearon Harris Nuclear Plant. Commissioner Diaz provided insights on what it means

to have an NRC operator license.

On October 23, 2002, the Regional Administrator accompanied Commissioner Diaz on a visit to

the Shearon Harris Nuclear Plant. The visit included a tour of the facility, observation of NRC

and licensee security activities at the site, and a discussion on current topics with licensee

representatives and NRC resident inspectors.

American Nuclear Society Meeting

On October 23, 2002, the Regional Administrator made a presentation to attendees at an

American Nuclear Society meeting in Raleigh, NC. The presentation included a discussion of

challenges facing the industry and the NRC.

Florida Power and Light Company (FP&L) - St. Lucie License Renewal Program Meeting

On October 25, 2002, the Deputy Director, Division of Reactor Safety and other staff members

held a public meeting with the licensee near the site in Florida. The purpose of the meeting was

for the NRC to present the results of the NRC’s first inspection of the FP&L St. Lucie license

renewal program. The inspection encompassed a review of whether the licensee’ program for

monitoring and correcting materiel aging issues was of adequate scope.

Differing Professional View - Oconee

On October 16, 2002, Region II completed a decision and response to two Differing Professional

Views (DPVs). The DPVs were submitted to the Regional Administrator on July 2, 2002 in

response to the closure of two unresolved items in an NRC Inspection Report (Report), issued to

the licensee on May 31, 2002. The DPVs requested review of the decisions to close these

unresolved items, which are related to the licensee’s tornado mitigation strategy. The first DPV

questioned the correctness of the Report conclusion that the licensee’s pressurizer code safety

valves would be operable during certain postulated tornado mitigation conditions. The second

DPV questioned the correctness of the Report conclusion that the steam generator atmospheric

dump valves were not required to be protected from certain tornado conditions.

Region II convened an ad hoc review panel (Panel) to review the issues in both DPVs in

accordance with Management Directive 10.159. The Panel was co-chaired by individuals from

Region II and the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR), since the DPVs involved matters

under the jurisdiction of both Offices. The panel issued a report to the Regional Administrator on

October 9, 2002. The Panel concluded that the issues raised by the submitter have merit and

recommended certain actions be taken by the Regional Office and NRR. The Regional
October 25, 2002 ENCLOSURE P

Administrator accepted the Panel’s conclusions and recommendations and initiated actions to

follow up on October 16, 2002.
October 25, 2002 ENCLOSURE P

Region IV

Items of Interest

Week Ending October 25, 2002

Meeting with Envirocare of Utah

The Director, Division of Nuclear Materials Safety, along with other members of the NRC staff,

conducted a meeting on October 22, 2002, with both the Senior Vice President and Radiation

Protection Manager of Envirocare of Utah. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss current

events, including Envirocare’s organization and compliance functions, review of license status

and pending license amendments, recent SERP activities, and unimportant quantities of source

material. 

Drop-in Visit with Nuclear Management Company Representatives

On October 25, 2002, representatives from Nuclear Management Company met with the Region

IV regional administrator to discuss general items of interest. 
October 25, 2002 

Office of Congressional Affairs

Items of Interest

Week Ending October 25, 2002

CONGRESSIONAL HEARING SCHEDULE, NO. 71

OCA

Contact

DATE

&

PLACE

TIME WITNESS SUBJECT 

Combs Tentative TBD Dr. Paperiello, DOE, DOD,

DOS

Combating Terrorism: PreventingNuclear Terrorism

Reps. ShNatl Secu

 InternatiGovernm

Note: Congress is in recess until Tuesday, November 12.