INFORMATION REPORT

August 22, 2002 SECY-02-0156

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-02-0156 WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING AUGUST 16, 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
August 22, 2002 SECY-02-0156

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-02-0156 WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING AUGUST 16, 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\WEEK816.WPD

OEDO AO/OEDO

MLayton:paa JWCraig

08/22/02 08/22/02
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING AUGUST 16, 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 8 IP 18

NSIR 9 SECY 19

OGC * Region I 20

ADM 10 Region II 21

CIO 11 Region III 22

CFO * Region IV 23

HR 15 OEDO *

SB/CR * OCA 24

OE *

*No input this week
August 16, 2002 ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Items of Interest

Week Ending August 16, 2002

Maine Yankee Atomic Power Station

On August 14, 2002, Maine Yankee began the transfer of its spent fuel from the spent fuel pool

to the onsite independent spent fuel storage installation (ISFSI). The licensee is using the NAC

International Universal Multi-Purpose Canister System dry cask spent fuel storage system. The

licensee had previously conducted an NRC-observed dry run to demonstrate their ability to

transfer the fuel from the pool; de-water, weld, inspect and decontaminate the cask; and

transfer the cask to the ISFSI via a heavy haul trailer. An NRC Region I inspector was onsight

to observe the movement of the first cask. The fuel will join four canisters of greater-than-class

C waste that the licensee has previously transferred to the ISFSI. 

In addition, on August 6, 2002, the licensee moved the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) into the

shipping container that will be used to transfer the RPV to Barnwell, South Carolina. The RPV

was lifted using a “strand jack system “ and the containment polar crane, which had horizontal

stiffeners added to its girders to increase its capacity. The RPV package is scheduled to be

transported out of the containment in September, then be moved to a transport barge at the

Maine Yankee barge slip and secured to the barge in preparation for shipment to Barnwell. 

According to Maine Yankee, this will be the largest single package Barnwell has ever received.

Nuclear Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning Utilities Group (NHUG) Meeting

The NRC attended the Nuclear Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning Utilities Group summer

meeting during the week of August 5. This meeting addressed current issues on chillers and

control rooms. Papers were presented on the NRC's draft Regulatory Guides DG-1114 and

DG-1115 concerning control room habitability and testing for unfiltered inleakage. Committee

meetings discussed these draft guides and the lessons learned from testing control rooms for

unfiltered inleakage. During the committee meetings, the NRC continued to receive

compliments expressing appreciation for our five regional workshops on control room

habitability held in July and August. Many verbal and written comments from stakeholders

stated that these meetings were very successful.

Issuance of Bulletin 2002-02, Reactor Pressure Vessel Head and Vessel Head Penetration

Nozzle Inspection Programs

The NRC issued Bulletin 2002-02, "Reactor Pressure Vessel Head and Vessel Head

Penetration Nozzles Inspection Programs," on Friday, August 9, 2002 . Like Bulletins 2001-01

(issued on August 3, 2001) and 2002-01 (issued on March 18, 2002), Bulletin 2002-02 is

concerned with the integrity of the reactor vessel head and vessel head penetration nozzles.

This Bulletin is addressed to all PWR licensees. The bulletin requests that PWR licensees

provide information concerning changes in their inspection programs and their future

inspections of reactor vessel head and reactor vessel head penetration nozzles, starting with

their next or current refueling outage. Responses to Bulletin 2002-02 are due within 30 days of

issuance, which would be September 9, 2002. 
August 16, 2002 ENCLOSURE A

The staff is planning to conduct a public meeting in Rockville, MD on Friday, August 23, 2002

with NEI to discuss NRC expectations for licensee responses.

Reactor Oversight Process

The mid-cycle reviews for the current assessment period for all power plants were completed

on August 7, 2002. The Regions performed their reviews in accordance with the guidance

provided in Inspection Manual Chapter 0305, “Operating Reactor Assessment Program.” The

mid-cycle review involved evaluating the most recent quarterly performance indicators and

inspection results for the period July 1, 2001 to June 30, 2002. The Inspection Program Branch

(IIPB) staff participated in the mid-cycle reviews of all power plants. Mid-cycle letters will be

issued by the end of the month. 

The IIPB staff conducted a public meeting on August 8, 2002, to finalize the guidance

documents (draft Appendix F and draft Section 2.2 to NEI 99-02, “Regulatory Performance

Indicator Guideline”) for the upcoming Mitigating System Performance Index (MSPI) pilot

program. These documents were revised to incorporate the feedback received during the MSPI

workshop held on July 23-25, 2002. At this meeting, the MSPI working group also discussed

MSPI implementation issues. The next MSPI working group public meeting is scheduled for

August 21, 2002.

Women in Nuclear (WIN) Annual Meeting

A representative from the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation traveled to San Antonio, TX to

participate in the 4th Women In Nuclear (WIN) annual meeting. She was part of a panel

discussion which explored issues of concern in health physics and emergency preparedness. 

She presented an overview of the NRC Potassium Iodide program as well as answered

technical questions regarding the presence of strontium-90 in the environment and the claims

put forth by the Radiation Public Health Project “Toothfairy” report. 

Nuclear Quality Oversight Conference

On August 7-9, 2002, representatives of the Equipment and Human Performance Branch

(IEHB) attended the semi-annual meeting of nuclear quality assurance managers at Solomons

Island, Maryland. Topics covered included an initiative toward an industry-based quality

assurance oversight program, which is an extension of several joint assessment programs. 

Also covered was the ongoing adoption of continuous surveillance and assessment processes

within the regulatory audit framework.

Of particular interest to IEHB was a discussion of the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)-

led task group report on the feasibility of procuring commercial grade items manufactured

under commercial ISO 9000 quality standards. EPRI is leading an effort to evaluate the

potential for crediting ISO 9000 as an alternative means of meeting the intent of 10 CFR 50

Appendix B for suppliers. IEHB plans to meet with EPRI to further discuss these initiatives. 

Duke License Renewal Application for McGuire 1&2 and Catawba 1&2
August 16, 2002 ENCLOSURE A

The Safety Evaluation Report with open items was issued August 14, 2002. The document was

briefly delayed to address the impact of NRC Bulletin 2002-02, concerning the Davis Besse

vessel head penetration nozzle degradation, on the McGuire and Catawba license renewal

application. The staff had characterized the vessel head penetration nozzle degradation issue

as a current operating issue that is beyond the scope of the license renewal review pursuant to

10 CFR 54.30. However, after considering Bulletin 2002-02, the staff generated an open item

to obtain a commitment from the applicant to incorporate the forthcoming resolution of the

vessel head penetration nozzle degradation issue (in the current operating term) into the aging

management program credited for vessel head penetration nozzle degradation in the period of

extended operation.
August 16, 2002 ENCLOSURE B

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards

Items of Interest

Week Ending August 16, 2002

Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc., Hearing Requests for Blended Low-Enriched Uranium Project

The NRC has received five hearing requests related to the proposed Blended Low-Enriched

Uranium (BLEU) project at Nuclear Fuel Services (NFS) in Erwin, Tennessee. The requests

were submitted in response to a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), and notice of

opportunity to request a hearing, that were published in the Federal Register on July 9, 2002. 

BLEU is a Department of Energy and Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) project to dispose of

surplus highly enriched uranium by downblending it into low-enriched uranium (LEU) and to

manufacture the LEU into fuel to be used in TVA’s Browns Ferry reactors.

In February 2002, NFS requested a license amendment to authorize LEU nitrate receipt and

storage, and plans to request at least two more future amendments to authorize downbending

and conversion. NRC’s Environmental Assessment (prepared by the Center for Nuclear Waste

Regulatory Analyses) supported these three amendments, and the FONSI supported the LEU

nitrate receipt and storage amendment.

Staff Participated in American Nuclear Society Conference on Nuclear and Hazardous

Waste Management

During the week of August 5, 2002, staff from the Division of Waste Management participated

in Spectrum 2002, the American Nuclear Society’s 9th Biennial Conference on Nuclear and

Hazardous Waste Management, held in Reno, Nevada. Staff chaired, and made presentations

during sessions on Entombment, Decontamination, and Decommissioning. The staff also

presented a paper, at the Spent Nuclear Fuel session, on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s

roles and responsibilities regarding the Yucca Mountain project and spent fuel transportation.

Meeting with the Department of Energy on Geotechnical, Seismological, and Geophysical Data

Supporting a Proposed Geologic Repository at Yucca Mountain

On August 6-8, 2002, staff from the Division of Waste Management and the Center for Nuclear

Waste Regulatory Analyses (hereafter, the Center) participated in an Appendix 7 meeting with

the Department of Energy (DOE). The purpose of the meeting was for DOE to present the

geotechnical, seismological, and geophysical data it had collected and analyzed during the last

two years. On August 6, 2002, DOE and its contractors, the staff, the Center, and

representatives from the State of Nevada and Nye County paid a visit to the Exploratory Studies

Facility (ESF). DOE contractors showed the attendees the various rock type formations and

associated fractures, joints, faults, and rock mechanics test and sampling locations within the

ESF. On August 7-8, 2002, the staff discussed several issues related to structural deformation

and seismicity, repository design and thermal-mechanical effects, and total system

performance and integration agreements. These discussions included explanations of how

DOE plans to use the site characteristics to estimate potential seismic ground motions and the

extent and magnitude of rockfall loads probabilistically. DOE also presented preliminary

analyses that assess the response of the drip shield and waste package subjected to these

potential seismic and rockfall loads. It identified the different reports to be issued during 2003
August 16, 2002 ENCLOSURE B

and 2004 to support resolution of the applicable key technical issue agreements and their

licensing applications. 
August 16, 2002 ENCLOSURE C

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research

Items of Interest

Week Ending August 16, 2002

Agreement Between the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (USNRC) and the

Russian Research Center (RRC) Formerly the I.V. Kurchatov Institute for Atomic Energy (KI) on

Fuel Behavior and Material Science Research

On August 9, 2002, William D. Travers, EDO, signed the referenced Agreement. This

Agreement defines the terms and conditions by which the USNRC and RRC-KI of Russia will

continue cooperation on fuel behavior and material science research. The objectives of this

Agreement are to (a) obtain experimental data on the behavior of Zr-1%Nb fuel rod cladding

under postulated accident conditions, (b) advance the development of fuel rod codes that are

used to analyze fuel behavior under accident conditions, and (c) explore and modify plant

transient codes for analyzing accidents in light-water reactors containing high-burnup fuel. The

work performed under this Agreement will contribute to NRC’s goal of maintaining safety by

verifying the accuracy of the FRAPTRAN analytical code, which will be used in the NRC review

of extending burnup limits. The work conducted at RRC-KI is considered to be cost effective,

contributing to the efficient use of the NRC resources. This Agreement shall enter into force

upon signature by the parties and be effective for a period of five years.
August 16, 2002 ENCLOSURE D

Nuclear Security and Incident Response

Items of Interest

Week Ending August 16, 2002

National Atmospheric Release Advisory Center

On August 9, 2002, Dr. James Ellis, Director of the National Atmospheric Release Advisory

Center (NARAC) (located at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory), presented a seminar in

the NRC Operations Center describing the support that NARAC would provide to NRC in the

event of a radiological emergency. NARAC is committed to supporting NRC during an

emergency. The NARAC codes compliment RASCAL, the primary NRC emergency dose

assessment code, because the NARAC codes can model to greater distances, consider

differing wind fields in the vertical direction, and can model wind flow around topographic

features more accurately. NARAC would expect NRC to provide it with the radiological source

term generated by RASCAL.

Federal Radiological Monitoring and Assessment Center Working Group

On August 13-14, 2002, the Division of Incident Response Operations participated in a meeting

of the Assessment Working Group of the Federal Radiological Monitoring and Assessment

Center (FRMAC). The Assessment Working Group develops the procedures that are used to

monitor radioactivity deposited by a plume and to assess the significance of the measured

radioactivity relative to protective action guides (PAGs). FRMAC is in the process of

computerizing the procedures. The computer code would be able to input deposition patterns

calculated by RASCAL, the NRC’s emergency dose assessment code. 

Preliminary Notifications

1. PNO-I-02-013, Fletcher Allen Health Care, UNDERDOSE MISADMINISTRATION

RESULTING FORM A PREMATURELY TERMINATED INTRAVASCULAR

BRACHYTHERAPY PROCEDURE.

2. PNO-II-02-029, Virginia Electric Power Company, LOW WATER LEVEL IN LAKE ANNA

RESERVOIR DUE TO DROUGHT.

3. PNO-II-02-030, Southern Resources, STOLEN PORTABLE GAUGE.

4. PNO-1-02-014, Alaron Corporation, DAMAGE TO PACKAGE CONTAINING

CONTAMINATED EQUIPMENT DURING TRANSPORTATION.

5. PNO-II-02-024B, Virginia Electric and Power Company, TENTATIVE LABOR

AGREEMENT TO END STRIKE AT NORTH ANNA AND SURRY.
August 16, 2002 ENCLOSURE G

Chief Information Officer

Items of Interest

Week Ending August 16, 2002

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

August 9, 2002 through August 15, 2002:

NUREG/CR-5199, “Inspection Techniques for Post-Fire Safe Shutdown of Nuclear Generating

Stations,” dated September 1988 (FOIA/PA-2002-0364)

UCLA Research Reactor Facility, Los Angeles, CA, records re: license termination and

decommissioning, and order issued 9-30-1985 by ASLB (FOIA/PA-2002-0365)

Purchase Order DR-98-0126, issued under GSA schedule GS-23F-9781H, Arthur Andersen

(FOIA/PA-2002-0366)

Envirocare of Utah, notices of deficiency or violation, site inspections, permits, complaints and

general correspondence, 1998 to present (FOIA/PA-2002-0367)

Investigation 4-1999-066 (FOIA/PA-2002-0368)

Daily Plant Status Report, 5/1/02 to 5/29/02 (FOIA/PA-2002-0369)

Contract 10-98-151, copies of proposals (FOIA/PA-2002-0370)

Licensed Operator Exam (RO) given at V. C. Summer Nuclear Station about 9/27 - 10/1/99

(FOIA/PA-2002-0371)

Radiation exposure on named individual, investigative report (FOIA/PA-2002-0372)

Ponder Oil Services, Mega Oil, and Vista USA Inc., and nuclear fission materials leaving port of

Baku, Azerbaijan, 1994-2002, all records (FOIA/PA-2002-0373)

E-mails in NRC FOIA office containing specific named individual and e-mails containing

American Lawyer Media (FOIA/PA-2002-0374)

Oyster Creek, State of New Jersey response to exemption request dated April 30, 2002, re: 10

CFR 1.109 and 10 CFR 50.75(f)(2) (FOIA/PA-2002-0375)

MLTS, licensees in NJ, PA, VA, IL, MN, and WI of pharmaceutical and biotech research

(FOIA/PA-2002-0376) 

Investigation of discrimination by Earthline Technologies (RMI) on named individual (FOIA/PA2002-0377)
August 16, 2002 ENCLOSURE I

Office of Human Resources

Items of Interest

Week Ending August 16, 2002

Arrivals

HUNTER, Christopher NUCLEAR SAFETY INTERN RES

LEMONCELLI, Mauri* LEGAL INTERN OGC

MAUER, Andrew NUCLEAR SAFETY INTERN OSTP

MONTGOMERY, Natasha** SECRETARY OHR

RIESBECK, Kirsten INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

SPECIALIST

OIP

SMITH, Brooke LEGAL INTERN OGC

Departures

ALVENS, Duane STUDENT ENGINEER RII

DIECKER, Jane*** STUDENT ENGINEER RIV

DORSEY, Melissa STUDENT LAW CLERK ASLBP

DOWLING, Jonathan*** STUDENT LAW CLERK OGC

GERARDI, Craig STUDENT TRAINEE (GENERAL

ENGINEERING)

RES

GEROND, George*** STUDENT ENGINEER RIV

GOSHEN, John PROJECT MANAGER NRR

LIMATA, Laura STUDENT ENGINEER NMSS

MOCK, Aisha STUDENT CLERK RIII

MORENO, Jeffrey*** STUDENT ENGINEER RIV

NEUNER III, Burton STUDENT ENGINEER RIII

O’KELLY, Kevin  OFFICE ASSISTANT RIII

PAIGE, Jason STUDENT CLERK NRR

PENNAMON, Bryan STUDENT ENGINEER RII

PRUETT, Timothy IT SPECIALIST OCIO

RHO, Jennifer STUDENT SOCIAL SCIENTIST OIP

RUTENKROGER, Scott** * STUDENT ENGINEER RIV
August 16, 2002 ENCLOSURE I

VIRANT, Thomas STUDENT ENGINEER RIII

WITTMEYER, Jennifer**** STUDENT LAW CLERK OGC

WYLAM, Justin*** STUDENT ENGINEER RIV

*Converting from part-time temp

**Returning to duty 8/20/02

***Effective 8/15/02

****Effective 8/14/02
August 16, 2002 ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs

Items of Interest

Week Ending August 16, 2002

Media Interest

A meeting between First Energy and NRC officials about problems at the Davis-Besse nuclear

power plant, attracted media interest.

There was media interest in an accident involving a tractor-trailer rig hauling low level

radioactive materials to the Indian Point nuclear power plant.

NRC’s Executive Director for Operations and Region IV Administrator told the board of

Nebraska Public Power District that significant changes are needed at the Cooper Nuclear

power plant.

Press Releases

Headquarters:

02-088 NRC Announces Opportunity for Hearing on License Renewal Application for

H. B. Robinson Nuclear Power Plant

02-089 NRC to Hold Public Meeting in South Carolina on Proposed MOX Facility

02-090 NRC Seeks Public Comment on Use of Alternative Dispute Resolution in its

Enforcement Program

02-091 NRC Licensing Board to Continue Hearing September 9 in Maryland on TVA

Appeal of NRC Staff Discrimination Ruling

Regions:

I-02-051 NRC, Army Command to Discuss Use and Tracking of Licensed Devices

IV-02-037 Michael Hay Named NRC Sr. Resident Inspector at Waterford 3

IV-02-038 Inspection Team to Discuss Results of Recent Inspection at

Cooper Nuclear Station August 22
August 16, 2002 ENCLOSURE N

Office of International Programs

Items of Interest

Week Ending August 16, 2002

French Visit

During the period August 13-20, 2002, a regulatory team from the French General Directorate

for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection (DGSNR) visited NRC for in-depth discussions of

radiation protection safety at nuclear power plants. The extensive visit included discussion at

Headquarters, at Region II offices, and a two day visit to the McGuire Nuclear Power Plant. 

Discussion at the plant focused on the complexity of ensuring radiation protection during an

outage.
August 16, 2002 ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary

Items of Interest

Week Ending August 16, 2002

Document Released

to Public

Date Subject

Information Papers

1. SECY-02-0144 7/26/02 Process Used to Determine When Further

Research on a Particular Item Should be

Closed or Terminated

2. SECY-02-0148 8/2/02 Summary of Activities Related to Generic

Safety Issues

3. SECY-02-0149 8/2/02 Proposed Bulletin: "Reactor Pressure

Vessel Head and Vessel Head Penetration

Inspection Programs"

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. Request to Amend A License to Export Highly-Enriched Uranium - Notice of Receipt.
August 16, 2002 ENCLOSURE P

Region I

Items of Interest

Week Ending August 16, 2002

ABB Prospects, Inc. Site in Windsor, CT 

On August 15, 2002 the Region I Director of the Division of Nuclear Material Safety (DNMS)

and staff from Region I DNMS met with representatives of ABB Prospects, Inc. at the ABB site

in Windsor, CT and toured the site. Representatives from the State of Connecticut, Department

of Environmental Protection, Division of Radiation (CTDEP) were also present and participated

in the tour. The tour covered the entire site and included both NRC licensed areas and Formerly

Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP) areas. The tour also included the interiors

of the buildings in Building Complexes 2, 5, and 17, which are the subject of a current license

amendment request. At the conclusion of the tour, the NRC met separately with CTDEP to also

discuss ABB’s current license amendment.
August 16, 2002 ENCLOSURE P

Region II

Items of Interest

Week Ending August 16, 2002

2002 American Nuclear Society Utility Conference

On August 12-14, 2002, the Director, Division of Reactor Safety, and Deputy Director, Division

of Reactor Projects, attended the 2002 American Nuclear Society Utility Conference "Sustaining

the Nuclear Revival" in Amelia Island, Florida.

South Carolina Electric and Gas Company - V.C. Summer Nuclear Power Plant

On August 13, 2002, the Director, Division of Reactor Projects, was at the V.C. Summer

Nuclear Power Plant, in South Carolina, to meet with the resident inspectors and tour the plant.

Virginia Electric and Power Company - North Anna and Surry

On August 15, 2002, the licensee and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers

signed a tentative agreement to end the 13-day strike. The transition of replacement and

returning workers is in progress. The resident inspectors will evaluate the transition from a

strike condition to normal plant operations.