INFORMATION REPORT

June 1, 2004 SECY-04-0087

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-04-0087 WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING MAY 21, 2004

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 and 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:

T. Kim, OEDO
June 1, 2004 SECY-04-0087

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-04-0087 WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING MAY 21, 2004

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 and 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:

T. Kim, OEDO

DISTRIBUTION:

Central File

Public Document Name: C:\WIR\Week521.WPD

OEDO AO/OEDO

TKim:paa WMDean

06/1/04 06/3/04
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING MAY 21, 2004

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

Headquarters and Regional Office activities. 

Contact: T. Kim, OEDO by E-mail: tjk3@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 OIP *

NSIR 9 SECY 19

OGC * Region I 20

ADM 10 Region II 21

CIO 11 Region III 22

CFO * Region IV *

HR 15 OEDO *

SBCR * OCA 24

OE *

*No input this week
May 21, 2004 ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 21, 2004

Phased Approach to Achieving PRA Quality

On May 13, 2004, the staff held a public meeting with industry representatives at the NRC

headquarters on the topic of probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) quality expectations and

requirements. The purpose of the meeting was to (1) provide a forum for stakeholders to

comment on the staff’s draft action plan, published on March 15, 2004, that defines a practical

strategy for the implementation of the phased approach to achieving an appropriate quality for

PRA for the NRC’s risk-informed regulatory decisionmaking; (2) present the staff’s latest

thoughts on policy issues, and (3) discuss industry activities in the area of uncertainty analysis. 

The staff’s presentation focused on changes to the draft plan that were made in response to

previous comments from the public and the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards. 

Representatives from the Electric Power Research Institute and the Westinghouse Electric

Corporation discussed their PRA scope and quality initiative. The staff noted that the industry

efforts were complementary to the staff’s initiatives and agreed to meet with the industry for

continued exchange of technical information. The staff also agreed that it may be appropriate

to reference the industry program in its action plan.

ACR-700 Pre-Application Review

During the week of May 17, 2004, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) staff visited the

Bruce-A Nuclear Power Plant and the Atomic Energy of Canada, Limited (AECL) facilities in

Ontario, Canada. The visit was part of the pre-application review of the proposed 700 MW

Advanced CANDU Reactor, ACR-700. The staff observed the at-power refueling of the BruceA, Unit 4 reactor, an operating CANDU reactor. The staff also toured AECL production and

testing facilities. 

Public Meetings Regarding The Draft GSI-191 Generic Letter

On May 19, 2004, NRR staff held a public meeting (Category 3) at the NRC headquarters

concerning the draft Generic Letter 2004-XX, "Potential Impact of Debris Blockage on

Emergency Recirculation During Design Basis Accidents at Pressurized-Water Reactors,"

which has been published for comment. The 60-day comment period ends June 1, 2004. The

purpose of the meeting was to provide a forum for stakeholders to comment and ask questions

on the draft Generic Letter. The staff responded to questions concerning the information

requested in the generic letter, the NRC’s expectations for the addressee submittals, the

schedule for submitting requested information, the impact of the generic letter on plant's current

licensing basis, and other relevant topics. A meeting summary will be issued in the near future.

Also on May 19, 2004, the staff held another public meeting (Category 2) with industry

representatives to discuss licensees’ implementation of the proposed Generic Letter. NEI and

other industry representatives raised several questions about the implementation of the

proposed Generic Letter, particularly concerning implications for a backfit, proposed changes

to current licensing basis for pressurized-water reactors, flexibility in the schedule for

implementing the expected actions, and compliance with regulations and licensing basis.
May 21, 2004 ENCLOSURE A

NRC Regulatory Issue Summary (RIS) 2004-07: Release of Final Review Standard (RS)-002,

“Processing Applications for Early Site Permits”

On May 19, 2004, the NRC issued the subject RIS to inform addressees of the availability of

Review Standard (RS) 002, “Processing Applications for Early Site Permits (ESP).” Title 10 of

the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 52 (10 CFR Part 52), Subpart A, “Early Site Permits,”

specify the requirements for issuing an Early Site Permit (ESP). The ESP process is intended

to allow a prospective applicant for a nuclear power reactor facility to resolve site-related

licensing issues and obtain approval of a site (or sites) without having to file an application for a

construction permit or a combined license. An ESP is effective for a period of up to 20 years.

Three ESP applications were submitted to the NRC in 2003 and are currently under review. 

Additional ESP applications may be submitted in the future (although no entities have stated

firm intentions of submitting such applications). Consequently, the NRC has prepared RS-002

to provide guidance to NRC staff reviewers of ESP applications to help ensure that the

applications currently under review and any future applications will be reviewed in a consistent,

effective, efficient, and thorough manner. The document also identifies for stakeholders the

types of information that the NRC staff will look for in an ESP application. For each area of

review, the review standard provides staff guidance on acceptance criteria, review procedures,

and sample evaluation findings. The review standard was developed from existing regulatory

guidance. 

Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO) Coordination Meeting on Training

On May 18, 2004, NRR staff conducted the annual NRC/INPO coordination meeting on training

and qualification. The meeting was held at the NRC headquarters and it was open to the

public. The meeting served as an useful forum for discussing INPO and NRC initiatives and

issues related to the training and qualification of nuclear power plant personnel. Topics

discussed included changes to the Training Program Accreditation process, changes to the

Plant Evaluation process, implementation of the simulator rule, and results of licensed operator

requalification inspections. No new policy issues were identified during the meeting.

Meeting with State of New Jersey to Discuss License Renewal Process

On May 14, 2004, NRR staff accompanied by a representative from the Office of the General

Counsel, met with representatives of the State of New Jersey, Department of Environmental

Protection (NJDEP) in Trenton, New Jersey. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the

NRC’s license renewal process at the request of NJDEP. The staff provided an overview of the

process, including a discussion on the scope of license renewal requirements and how the

public could participate in the process.

Issuance of Ginna Renewed License

On May 19, 2004, the NRC issued a renewed operating license for the R.E. Ginna Nuclear

Power Plant for an additional 20 years. The staff completed the environmental and safety

reviews in accordance with the requirements of 10 CFR Parts 51 and 54. The renewed license

was issued a half month ahead of the staff’s review schedule (i.e., 22 months without hearing)

following NRC’s receipt of the application submitted by the Rochester Gas & Electric
May 21, 2004 ENCLOSURE A

Corporation. Thus far, the staff has issued renewed licenses for 26 units, and is currently

reviewing applications for 16 units.

Proposed Changes to the Steam Generator Technical Specifications

The staff met with industry on May 14, 2004, to discuss the last remaining issues associated

with the proposed changes to the steam generator technical specifications. These changes are

in accordance with NEI 97-06, "Steam Generator Program Guidelines." The staff and industry

representatives reached an agreement on the wording for the structural integrity performance

criterion (SIPC), which will allow the licensee for Catawba (pilot plant), to submit its final

technical specification application package. NEI will be preparing the guidance to be used by

licensees to interpret and include the technical basis for the SIPC. This information will be

provided to the staff with Catawba’s submittal expected in July 2004. 
May 21, 2004 ENCLOSURE B

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 21, 2004

Southern States Energy Board, Radioactive Materials Transportation Committee Meeting

On May 14, 2004, a management representative from the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and

Safeguards (NMSS) participated in the Southern States Energy Board, Radioactive Materials

Transportation Committee meeting, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The Board is one of four

such organizations throughout the country with which NMSS periodically meets to discuss

current issues impacting the storage and transportation of spent nuclear fuel or other

radioactive materials. The management representative provided a presentation covering: (1)

Status of Package Performance Study (PPS); (2) National Academy of Science Transportation

Study; (3) Transportation Licensing Issues; (4) Current Inspection Issues; and (5) 10 CFR

Part 71 Rulemaking Workshop. The presentation generated a great deal of interest and

questions on the recent PPS Staff Requirements Memorandum and the change-authority

provision associated with the recent Part 71 rulemaking.

NRC Staff Revises the High-Level Waste Risk-Insights Baseline Report

On May 14, 2004, the revised Risk-Insights Baseline Report was sent to the Commission and

was made available to the public. NRC staff has revised the baseline of risk insights to reflect

the structure of the Yucca Mountain Review Plan. The revised report describes the

development of the risk-insights baseline, describes the application of risk terminology in NRC’s

high-level waste (HLW) program, and incorporates quantitative analyses to support the risk

insights. The staff rated the significance of the individual risk insights to assess the relative

importance of staff activities. The risk insights were rated by considering the contribution to, or

adverse effect on, the waste isolation capabilities of the repository system. The revised report

serves as a reference to help promote a clearer and more consistent staff position on the

relative risk significance of technical issues in the HLW program. The staff intends to use the

information documented in the revised report to help prioritize its pre-licensing activities, focus

staff resources, and support risk-informed project management and decision-making in the

HLW program. The staff expects to use the revised report, together with the Yucca Mountain

Review Plan and the Integrated Issue Resolution Status Report, to conduct a risk-informed

review of a potential Department of Energy license application for a Yucca Mountain repository. 

The Risk-Insights Baseline Report has been finalized and can be downloaded from the

following HLW web page link:

http://www.nrc.gov/waste/hlw-disposal/reg-initiatives/resolve-key-tech-issues.html#process

Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board Meeting

On May 18-19, 2004, staffs of the Division of High Level Waste Repository Safety and the

Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses (CNWRA) attended the May meeting in

Washington, D.C. of the Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board. This meeting focused on the

potential for corrosion of waste packages. The Board, the Department of Energy (DOE), and

several other interested parties — including NRC, the Electric Power Research Institute, and

the State of Nevada — presented their research and views on the environment and the

potential for waste package corrosion. NRC and CNWRA staffs made several presentations
May 21, 2004 ENCLOSURE B

concerning regulatory perspective on the corrosion, near-field chemical environment, the

uniform and localized corrosion, and sensitivity analysis. Additionally, DOE updated the Yucca

Mountain Project, transportation, science, and seismicity. 

Denial of Petition for Rulemaking (PRM-30-62)

On May 19, 2004, the denial of petition for rulemaking (PRM-30-62) was published in the

Federal Register (69 FR 28849). The petition, filed by the Union of Concerned Scientists,

requested that NRC amend the employee protection regulations to require licensees to provide

training to make certain that their management — first-line supervisors, managers, directors,

and officers — is aware of its obligations under the NRC’s employee protection requirements. 

With the petitioner’s agreement, the Discrimination Task Group considered the issues in the

petition during its evaluation of the processes used for handling allegations of discrimination

and the violations of the employee protection requirements. The petition was denied, because:

(1) the Discrimination Task Group concluded that the proposed rulemaking would not correct

the problem that was the basis for the petition;

(2) the Commission approved the recommendations of the Discrimination Task Group, as

revised by the Senior Management Review Team and subject to the specific comments

provided in the March 26, 2003, Staff Requirements Memorandum on SECY-02-0166,

“Policy Options and Recommendations for Revising The NRC's Process for Handling

Discrimination Issues”; and 

(3) NRC believes that the current employee protection regulations are adequate, clear, and

sufficiently flexible to accommodate the concerns in PRM-30-62.

Consistent with the direction in the March 26, 2003, Staff Requirements Memorandum, the staff

will prepare guidance emphasizing the training of licensee management about their obligations

under the employee protection regulations, and will make this guidance available to licensees.
May 21, 2004 ENCLOSURE C

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 21, 2004

Agreement between the NRC and the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority in the Area of

Probabilistic Risk Assessment Research

On May 12, 2004, the Executive Director for Operations signed an International Agreement

between the NRC and the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority (HAEA). The Office of Nuclear

Regulatory Research (RES) forwarded this Agreement to HAEA on May 14, 2004.

This Agreement defines the terms and conditions by which the NRC and the HAEA will continue

cooperation in the area of probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) research and in the international

cooperative probabilistic risk assessment (COOPRA) program on the basis of mutual benefit

and reasonable equity and reciprocity. The research conducted and in-kind information

exchanged under this Agreement will enhance the quality of PRA methods and provide insights

on risk assessment techniques. This Agreement will remain in effect for a period of five years.

Inter-Agency Meeting on Human Factors

On May 17, 2004, RES staff attended a meeting with representatives from the Federal Railway

Administration, the Federal Aviation Administration, the Consumer Product Safety Commission,

the Food and Drug Administration, and the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center. The

purpose of the meeting was to share information and to identify potential common regulatory

issues concerning human factors that could be addressed through information sharing or

cooperative efforts. Future meetings will be conducted to discuss human factors activities in

more detail so that common issues and potential cooperative work can be more readily

identified. 

Spent Fuel Pool Liner/Structural Leakage Issue Workshop

On May 19, 2004, RES and Region I staff participated with nuclear industry representatives in a

workshop organized by MPR Associates on “Spent Fuel Pool Liner/Structural Leakage Issues.”

The purpose of the workshop was to provide plant operators with an understanding of the spent

fuel pool (SFP) liner leakage issues, efforts to assess environmental and structural aspects

related to SFP leakage as addressed in the NRC Information Notice 2004-05, “Spent Fuel Pool

Leakage to Onsite Groundwater,” for Salem Nuclear Generating Station, and facilitate

communication between plant operators. 

The workshop explored methods for inspection and leak detection, repair and mitigation, testing

of concrete and steel reinforcement to determine impact of exposure to borated water,

structural assessment of the SFP due to prolonged exposure to borated water, and monitoring

and remedial actions required to remove tritium from the ground water. The workshop provided

an opportunity for the NRC staff to learn how different plant operators are addressing issues

discussed in Information Notice 2004-05 and to determine if additional guidance or inspection

requirements need to be developed by the NRC staff.
May 21, 2004 ENCLOSURE C

Destructive Examination of North Anna 2 Control Rod Drive Mechanism (CRDM) Project Kickoff

Meeting

On May 18, 2004, RES staff met with Westinghouse and EPRI staff for the subject meeting

held at the Westinghouse Science and Technology Development Center near Pittsburgh,

Pennsylvania. The program of salvaging, decontaminating, and examining nozzles from the

North Anna 2 head is part of the NRC-Industry Collaborative Program on Alloy 600 Issues. The

objectives of this task within the collaborative project are to benchmark nondestructive

examination techniques for flaw detection and characterization, establish the failure

mechanism(s) in Alloy 600 base metal and J-groove welds, and characterize any boric acid

corrosion of the reactor pressure vessel head. This project will support better understanding of

the characteristics of service-induced flaws and improvement of inspection strategies which are

currently being developed. The expected completion date of the industry activities is December

2004.
May 21, 2004 ENCLOSURE D

Nuclear Security and Incident Response

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 21, 2004

Preliminary Notifications

1. PNO-II-04-002, Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc. - FATALITY OF CONTRACT

CONSTRUCTION WORKER AT NUCLEAR FUEL SERVICES, INC.

2. PNO-IV-04-011, Scela, Inc, d/b/a Radiopharmacy of Boise - CONTAMINATION EVENTS

DUE TO SPILL OF IODINE-131.
May 21, 2004 ENCLOSURE F

Office of Administration 

Items of Interest 

Week Ending May 21, 2004

Notice of Issuance of Final Backfit Guidance (Part 70)

On May 18, 2004 (69 FR 28043), the NRC published a document announcing that the Office of

Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards has issued its final guidance document for

implementing the backfit provisions in 10 CFR 70.76.
May 21, 2004 ENCLOSURE G

Chief Information Officer

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 21, 2004

Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Public Survey

The ADAMS Public User Survey was released to the public May 13, 2004. The survey asks

questions about user satisfaction with ADAMS and related services as well as their level of

experience with the system. The responses will identify areas for improvement in future

upgrades for both Citrix and Web-based ADAMS and will be available until June 15, 2004. 

“For the Record” Added to Public Web Site

"For the Record" has been added as a new document collection on the public Web site. This

feature was established to publish NRC's responses to information on controversial issues, or

to significant media reports. This site will also be used to respond to large write-in campaigns

more efficiently.

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

May 14 through May 20, 2004:

Palo Verde, Unit 1, pressure vessel head and associated penetration

nozzles, submittals dated 03/19/04, 04/16/04, 04/22/04, 04/28/04,

and 04/29/04 as referenced in an 05/05/04 NRC Safety Evaluation

(TAC # MC2388)

FOIA/PA-2004-0247

OI Reports 1-2003-008 (RI-2002-A-0164 & RI-2003-A-0331) and 1-

2003-018 (RI-2003-A-0013)

FOIA/PA-2004-0248

Average annual dose per radionuclide, records used to

prepare/review staff estimates and all documents related to DOE’s

Shipment Mobility/Accountability Collection (SMAC) database review

FOIA/PA-2004-0249

DOE/NRC Tracking Sources Subgroup, Information Systems for

Tracking Radiological Sources document and the DOE “Final Waste

Management PEIS for Managing the Treatment Storage and Disposal

of Radioactive and Hazardous Waste

FOIA/PA-2004-0250

Three categories of records on self FOIA/PA-2004-0251

Site assessment, 165 South Cleveland Ave., Mogadore, OH 44260,

all records

FOIA/PA-2004-0252

St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, July 2002 overexposure incident, all

records including communications with the Advisory Committee on

the Medical Uses of Isotopes (ACMUI)

FOIA/PA-2004-0253
May 21, 2004 ENCLOSURE I

Office of Human Resources

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 21, 2004

Arrivals

Anthony F. Andrisano Student Law Clerk (Summer) OGC

Ayo Ayegbuis Student Engineer (Summer) OIG

Matthew L. Dennis Student Engineer (Summer) OIG

Richard S. Heibel Student Engineer (Summer) RES

Jason C. Paige Student Engineer (Summer) NRR

Michael Spencer Student Engineer (Summer) OGC

Ian Spivak Project Engineer NMSS

Margaret Sullivan Student Clerk (Summer) R-III

Adam Wichman Student Engineer (Summer) R-III

Deanna Yu Student Clerk ADM

Caroline Zarbrucky Sr. Systems Accountant OCFO
May 21, 2004 ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 21, 2004

Media Interest

The Office of Public Affairs (OPA) responded to significant media inquiries on the following:

The General Accounting Office’s report on NRC oversight of the Davis-Besse nuclear plant.

Testimony by the Commissioners before a Senate oversight hearing regarding Davis-Besse.

A report by the Union of Concerned Scientists urging NRC to toughen its oversight of nuclear

power plants.

Other Public Affairs Items:

Two OPA staff members made presentations on building public confidence in nuclear

regulators at an international conference in Ottawa, Canada, sponsored by the Nuclear Energy

Administration.

OPA staff assisted at public meetings at the Three Mile Island, Millstone and Davis-Besse

plants.

Press Releases

Headquarters:

04-059 NRC to Hold Public Meeting May 25 to Discuss a Risk-Informed Approach

to Reactor Containment Sump Issue (5/18)

04-060 NRC Updates Construction Inspection Procedures for Possible New

Nuclear Plants (5/19)

04-061 NRC Renews License for R.E. Ginna Nuclear Power Plant for an Additional

20 Years (5/19)

04-062 NRC Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards to Meet June 2 - 4 in

Rockville, Maryland (5/20)

Regions:

IV-04-022 NRC to Hold Two Public Meetings on Issues Regarding Diablo Canyon

Power Plant (5/19)
May 21, 2004 ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 21, 2004

Document Released

to Public

Date Subject

Decision Documents

1. SRM on SECY-04-0071 5/14/04 Proposed Program to Improve the

Effectiveness of the Nuclear Regulatory

Commission Inspections of Design Issues

Commission Voting

Record on 04-0071

5/14/04 (same)

2. SRM on SECY-04-0032 5/14/04 Programmatic Information Needed for

Approval of a Combined License Without

Inspections, Tests, Analyses and

Acceptance Criteria

Commission Voting

Record on 04-0032

5/14/04 (same)

3. SECY-04-0076 5/6/04 Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA)

Implementation of its Master Materials

License (MML)

SRM on SECY-04-0076 5/19/04 (same)

Commission Voting

Record on 04-0076

5/19/04 (same)

4. SECY-04-0081 5/13/04 Proposed License to Export Radioactive

Byproduct Material to India for Use in Oil

Well Servicing Operations (Application No.

XB001304)

SRM on SECY-04-0081 5/20/04 (same)

Commission Voting

Record on 04-0081

5/20/04 (same)

Information Papers

1. SECY-04-0080 5/13/04 SECY-04-0080 Weekly Information Report -

Week Ending May 7, 2004

Memoranda

1. M040510 5/18/04 Staff Requirements - Briefing on Grid

Stability and Offsite Power Issues
May 21, 2004 ENCLOSURE O

2. M040520B 5/20/04 Affirmation Session: 1) SECY-04-0075 -

Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc. (Erwin, TN);

Appeal of LBP-04-05, the Presiding Officer’s

Ruling on Hearing Requests; 2) SECY-04-

0079 - Hydro Resources, Inc. (Rio Rancho,

NM) Petitions for Review of LBP-04-03

(Financial Assurance); 3) SECY-04-0082 -

Louisiana Energy Services, L.P. (National

Enrichment Center); 4) SECY-04-0069 -

Final Rule to Amend 10 CFR Part 2,

Subpart J, in Regard to the Licensing

Support Network

Commission Correspondence

1. Letter to Senator James M. Inhofe, date May 18, 2004, responds to request for the NRC’s

views on waste-incidental-to-reprocessing (WIR).

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. 10 CFR Chapter I; Regulatory Analysis Guidelines: Final Criteria for the Treatment of

Individual Requirements in a Regulatory Analysis; Notice of Issuance.

2. Dominion Nuclear Connecticut, Millstone Nuclear Power Station, Units 2 

and 3, Establishment of Atomic Safety and Licensing Board. 

3. Atomic Safety and Licensing Board, Duke Energy Corporation, Catawba Nuclear Station,

Units 1 and 2, Notice of Evidentiary Hearing and Opportunity to Make Limited Appearance

Statements (06/15-17/04).
May 21, 2004 ENCLOSURE P

Region I

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 21, 2004

Meeting Regarding Indian Point Emergency Exercise

On May 19, 2004, the Region I Regional Administrator accompanied the NRC Chairman and

the head of Federal Emergency Management Agency on a tour of the Indian Point site. The

Chairman and the Regional Administrator also met with the County Executives of the four

emergency planning zone counties. This meeting was held to discuss emergency

preparedness and security topics prior to the upcoming June 8 emergency exercise at the site. 

Vermont Yankee - Special Inspection

Members of NRC’s special inspection team were on site during the week of May 17, 2004, to

monitor the progress of Entergy’s investigation into the two fuel rod segments that are

unaccounted for at Vermont Yankee. Entergy now expects to complete its investigation in July,

rather than by its initially projected date of May 28. On May 19, Entergy updated its Event

Notification of April 21, 2004, and indicated that a camera search of the spent fuel pool did not

find the fuel rod segments. Entergy is continuing document reviews and interviews with present

and former employees and contractors, and is working with individuals associated with the

possible disposal sites. The special inspection team expects to be on site again the week of

June 14. Resident inspectors will monitor Entergy’s investigation efforts in the interim.

Region I 2003 Annual Assessment Meeting for Three Mile Island (TMI), Unit 1

On the evening of May 20, 2004, the 2003 Annual Assessment Meeting for TMI was conducted

at the Middletown Borough Municipal Building near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Following the

meeting, six members of the public asked questions of, or made statements to, the NRC on a

range of subjects related to the safety of TMI. The meeting was attended by about 20

members of the public, as well as three individuals from the media, and a staff member for a

local Pennsylvania State Senator. 

Connecticut Yankee Haddam Neck Plant Completes Initial Spent Fuel Cask Loading and

Transport to ISFSI

On the morning of Friday, May 21, 2004, Connecticut Yankee staff moved its first cask of spent

fuel to its Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI) for the Haddam Neck Plant. The

spent fuel cask, stored inside a vertical concrete cask (VCC), is the first of 40 spent fuel casks

to be placed at their ISFSI. Two of three canisters of Greater-than-Class C-Waste already are

in storage at the ISFSI. A Region I inspector observed the loading of the spent fuel cask into

the VCC and the transfer to the ISFSI.
May 21, 2004 ENCLOSURE P

Region II

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 21, 2004

Region II Management Retreat

On May 17-18, 2004, the Executive Director for Operations and Deputy Regional Administrator

participated in the Region II Management Retreat for all managers and supervisors.

Regional Interagency Steering Committee

On May 18-19, 2004, the State Liaison Officer participated as a member of the Regional

Interagency Steering Committee, sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency,

Region IV, in Atlanta, Georgia.
May 21, 2004 ENCLOSURE P

Region III

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 21, 2004

Supplemental Inspection at Perry

On May 17, 2004, Region III began a supplemental inspection under Inspection Procedure

95002 at the Perry Nuclear Power Station to review the circumstances surrounding three white

findings in the Mitigating Systems Cornerstone: the October 23, 2002, failure of a high pressure

core spray pump; the August 14, 2003, inoperability of a pump in the low pressure core spray

and residual heat removal systems; and the September 1, 2003, failure of an emergency

service water pump. The four-person inspection team will return June 7 for a second week of

inspection.

End-of-Cycle Performance Assessment Meetings

On May 20, 2004, members of the regional staff held an end-of-cycle performance assessment

meeting for the Monticello Nuclear Power Plant in Monticello, Minnesota.
May 21, 2004 

Office of Congressional Affairs

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 21, 2004

CONGRESSIONAL HEARING SCHEDULE, NO. 59

OCA

Contact

DATE &

PLACE

TIME WITNESS SUBJECT 

Keeling TBA

2141 RHOB

TBA Markup H.R. 2934, increase criminal penalties

related to terrorist murders, includingcrimes involving nuclear sabotage

Reps. SenJudiciary

Note: The Senate and House of Representatives are in Memorial Day recess until June 1.