February 27, 2003 SECY-03-0029

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-03-0029 WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING FEBRUARY 21, 2003

Contents Enclosure

Nuclear Reactor Regulation A

Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards B

Nuclear Regulatory Research C*

Nuclear Security and Incident Response D

General Counsel E*

Administration F

Chief Information Officer G

Chief Financial Officer H*

Human Resources I

Small Business & Civil Rights J*

Enforcement K*

State and Tribal Programs L*

Public Affairs M

International Programs N

Office of the Secretary O

Region I P

Region II P

Region III P*

Region IV P*

Executive Director for Operations Q*

Congressional Affairs R

*No input this week.

John W. Craig

Assistant for Operations, OEDO

Contact:

C. Glenn, OEDO
February 27, 2003 SECY-03-0029

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-03-0029 WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING FEBRUARY 21, 2003

Contents Enclosure

Nuclear Reactor Regulation A

Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards B

Nuclear Regulatory Research C*

Nuclear Security and Incident Response D

General Counsel E*

Administration F

Chief Information Officer G

Chief Financial Officer H*

Human Resources I

Small Business & Civil Rights J*

Enforcement K*

State and Tribal Programs L*

Public Affairs M

International Programs N

Office of the Secretary O

Region I P

Region II P

Region III P*

Region IV P*

Executive Director for Operations Q*

Congressional Affairs R

*No input this week.

John W. Craig

Assistant for Operations, OEDO

Contact:

C. Glenn, OEDO

DISTRIBUTION:

Central File

Public Document Name: C:\WIR\WEEK221.WPD

OEDO AO/OEDO

C. Glenn JWCraig

02/25/03 02/28/03
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 21, 2003

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

Headquarters and Regional Office activities. 

Contact: C. Glenn, OEDO by E-mail: CJG1@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 3 OPA 9

RES * IP 10

NSIR 5 SECY 11

OGC * Region I 12

ADM 6 Region II 13 

CIO 7 Region III *

CFO * Region IV *

HR 8 OEDO *

SB/CR * OCA 14

OE *

*No input this week
February 21, 2003 ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 21, 2003

Briefing of Representative Nita Lowey Staff

On February 19, 2003, Nuclear Reactor Regulation staff met with Ari Selman of Representative

Nita Lowey’s staff to discuss Indian Point nuclear security and emergency preparedness issues. 

Nuclear Security and Incident Response and Region I staff joined via teleconference.

Issues discussed included various security and emergency preparedness issues such as the

resumption of force-on-force exercises, physical fitness and training requirements for security

guards, and evacuation time estimates. 
February 21, 2003 ENCLOSURE B

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 21, 2003

License Application Received from U.S. Enrichment Corporation

On February 12, 2002, NRC received a license application, from the U.S. Enrichment

Corporation (USEC), to construct, and operate for 5 years, a gas centrifuge uranium

enrichment test and demonstration facility (Lead Cascade). The proposed facility will be based

on Department of Energy (DOE) advanced gas centrifuge technology. USEC plans to

assemble and operate the Lead Cascade in an existing DOE gas centrifuge building located at

the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant site in Piketon, Ohio. The Lead Cascade, which will

consist of up to 240 centrifuges, will provide USEC with reliability information on the machines

and auxiliary systems, as they would be used in commercial operations. USEC is expected to

submit a license application for its commercial-scale facility in late 2004 or early 2005.

Staff Meets with Kiski Valley Water Pollution Control Authority

On February 12, 2003, NRC held a meeting, open to the public, with the Kiski Valley Water

Pollution Control Authority (KVWPCA), BWXT, and the Pennsylvania Department of

Environmental Protection (PADEP), to discuss remediation of the contaminated lagoon at the

KVWPCA site. A reporter from the Valley News Dispatch also participated by telephone. Much

of the discussion focused on options for meeting the unrestricted release criteria under the

License Termination Rule, including the option of demonstrating that the contaminated lagoon

already meets the criteria, in its present configuration. NRC staff focused on what KVWPCA

needs to do to meet NRC criteria. KVWPCA and PADEP would have to discuss any nonradiological considerations. NRC staff emphasized the importance of KVWPCA submitting a

decommissioning plan (DP) and explained how submittal of the DP would be noticed and how

the DP would be reviewed. In response, KVWPCA committed to submit a schedule, by

March 12, 2003, for the development of its DP.

Prospective Sale of Foster Wheeler Environmental Corporation to Tetra Tech, Inc.

On February 18, 2003, Tetra Tech, Inc., issued a press release announcing its intent to

purchase Foster Wheeler Environmental Corporation (FWENC) from its parent company,

Foster Wheeler, Ltd. According to the press release, the companies have reached a definitive

agreement on the purchase, with the transaction expected to close by the end of March 2003.

NRC is currently reviewing an application submitted by FWENC for a 10 CFR Part 72 license

for the proposed Idaho Spent Fuel facility. The application was submitted in November 2001,

under a contract with the Department of Energy. The staff will assess the impact of the

proposed sale of FWENC on the pending application. At a minimum, revised financial

assurance information will need to be submitted after the sale.

Inspection of Spent Fuel Dry Storage and Transportation Cask Fabrication Activities in Japan

From January 27 to February 7, 2003, an inspection team from the Spent Fuel Project Office

(SFPO) performed an inspection of selected fabrication activities for spent fuel dry storage and
February 21, 2003 ENCLOSURE B

transportation casks being manufactured in Japan for use in the U.S. The team examined the

activities at two fabrication sites, Hitachi Zosen Diesel and Engineering Company, Ltd., in

Ariake, and Kobe Steel, Ltd., in Takasago. The team found the construction quality to be

excellent and the licensee and certificate holder oversight adequate. The team identified some

areas requiring corrective action and will recommend appropriate action to SFPO management. 

The team plans to issue two formal inspection reports, one to each certificate of compliance

holder in late March 2003.
February 21, 2003 ENCLOSURE D

Nuclear Security and Incident Response

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 21, 2003

Preliminary Notifications

1. PNO-III-03-007, Southeast Missouri State University - OCCUPATIONAL

OVEREXPOSURE.

2. PN0-III-03-008, University of Iowa - BRACHYTHERAPY MEDICAL EVENT.

3. PNO-IV-03-010, Engineering Consulting Services, LTD - STOLEN PORTABLE GAUGE.

4. PNO-IV-03-011, Longview Inspection - OCCUPATIONAL DOES IN EXCESS OF LIMIT.

5. PNO-III-03-010, Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station - FUEL LOADING.

6. PNO-III-02-038A, Anderson Engineering, Inc. - RECOVERY OF STOLEN

MOISTURE/DENSITY GAUGE (UPDATE).
February 21, 2003 ENCLOSURE F

Office of Administration 

Items of Interest 

Week Ending February 21, 2003

List of Approved Spent Fuel Storage Casks: Fuel Solutions Revision (Part 72)

A direct final rule that revises the Fuel Solutions cask system listing in the list of approved spent

fuel storage casks was published in the Federal Register on February 21, 2003 (68 FR 8445). 

This action modifies the technical specifications for the cask system to permit the return of the

W-21 canister to the storage cask if it must be removed from the storage cask. The direct final

rule becomes effective May 7, 2003.

Contract Award

Contract No. NRC-07-03-399 was awarded on a competitive basis to ICF Consulting, Inc. on

February 20, 2003. The objective of this contract is to obtain technical support for the

integration of access authorization and fitness-for-duty rulemaking efforts. The contract has a

three-year period of performance (February 20, 2003 through February 20, 2006) with two oneyear options. The total contract value, to include options, is $2,065,664. The streamlining

initiative utilized was NRC’s synopsis waiver for technical assistance requirements.
February 21, 2003 ENCLOSURE G

Chief Information Officer

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 21, 2003

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

February 14 through February 20, 2003:

Material License Tracking System, active and retired sites (FOIA/PA-2003-0169)

Hanford Site, proposed shipment of Transuranic Waste, all documents, referral by Department

of Energy (FOIA/PA-2003-0170)

IG Report 02-451, “Allegations of Unlawful Interaction between NRC & the Department of

Energy Staffs Regarding Yucca Mountain (FOIA/PA-2003-0171)

Senior Reactor Operator exam (50-339/2002-301) and licensing (SOP-21732), all records on

self, correspondence between NRC and Virginia Power - North Anna (FOIA/PA-2003-0172)

W-2 for 1993 on self (FOIA/PA-2003-0173)

Unspecified FOIA request; UFO information (FOIA/PA-2003-0174)
February 21, 2003 ENCLOSURE I

Office of Human Resources

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 21, 2003

Departures

BIRMINGHAM, Peter INTELLIGENCE SPECIALIST NSIR

FRANCIS, Joseph STUDENT IT TRAINEE RI

NUBGAARD, Rod BRANCH CHIEF OCFO

SPRING, Steven CRIMINAL INVESTIGATOR OIG
February 21, 2003 ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 21, 2003

Media Interest

Press reporting continued to focus on Davis-Besse, including complaints of a whistle blower. 

Region III informed media of “white findings” regarding contamination and radiation exposure

violations at Davis-Besse.

Other inquiries were about the Clinton/Markey proposal for tracking radioactive materials, plant

security, missing moisture density gauges, dirty bombs and emergency preparedness.

Region I Public Affairs supported the Regional Administrator at Representative Engel’s meeting

in New York with local officials about emergency preparedness in the counties surrounding

Indian Point.

Japanese NHK TV interviewed the Director of the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation and

filmed the Technical Library and Technical Training Center for a program to air next month in

Japan.

Press Releases

Headquarters:

03-23 NRC Announces Opportunity for Comment on Spent Nuclear Fuel

Transportation Proposals

Regions:

I-03-008 NRC Hearing Scheduled in Connecticut for Haddam Neck Nuclear

Power Plant License Termination Plan

IV-03-03 NRC Proposes $6,000 Fine for Cooper heat-MQS Inc.
February 21, 2003 ENCLOSURE N

Office of International Programs

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 21, 2003

Visit of Nuclear Counselor, Embassy of France

On February 13, 2003, the Director of the Office of International Programs met with Regis

Babinet, Nuclear Counselor of the Embassy of France, Mr. Babinet requested the meeting to

obtain NRC’s views on the French proposal relating to convening an international convention

and registry of radioactive sources. The proposal was discussed in light of other related

activities such as the International Atomic Energy Agency Code of Conduct. 
February 21, 2003 ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 21, 2003

Document Released

to Public

Date Subject

Information Papers

1. SECY-03-0015 01/31/03 Annual Report on Commission Adjudication

Memoranda

1. SRM-M030211 02/21/03 Briefing on the Status of OCFO Programs,

Performance, and Plans

Commission Correspondence

1. Letter to the Honorable Cari M. Dominguez, Chairwoman, Equal Employment Opportunity

Commission, dated February 14, 2003, provides NRC’s “Annual Affirmative Employment

Program Accomplishment Report” for Fiscal Year 2002. 

2. Letter to Robert R. Loux, Agency for Nuclear Projects, Office of the Governor, State of

Nevada, dated February 13, 2003, concerns testing of spent nuclear fuel casks. 

3. Letter to Robert W. Bishop, Esq, Vice President and General Counsel, Nuclear Energy

Institute, dated February 10, 2003, concerns NRC’s voluntary implementation of

Executive Order 12898, Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority

Populations and Low Income Populations. 

4. Letter to the Honorable Michael O. Leavitt, Governor of Utah, dated February 10, 2003,

responds to request that the NRC and the State of Utah establish an amended

Agreement pursuant to section 274b of the Atomic Energy Act, as amended. 
February 21, 2003 ENCLOSURE P

Region I

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 21, 2003

NRC Meeting with Elected Officials Regarding Indian Point

At the request of New York Congressman Eliot Engel, on February 21, 2003, the Region I

Regional Administrator met with Congressman Engel and numerous elected officials from the

area around the Indian Point site. The meeting was held at Mercy College in Westchester

County, New York. In addition to Congressman Engel, participants included Congresswoman

Nita Lowey, State Assemblyman Richard Brodsky, State Assemblywoman Sandra Galef, and

more than 20 other local elected officials and staff. Local elected officials expressed their

dissatisfaction with emergency planning for the Indian Point site, and advocated a more

effective response to their concerns from the federal government.

Quarterly Presentation Before Community Decommissioning Advisory Committee

On February 19, 2003, Region I staff attended the Community Decommissioning Advisory

Committee (CDAC) meeting regarding the Connecticut Yankee (CY) facility in Haddam Neck,

Connecticut. The Region I staff provided a summary of NRC inspection findings from the last

quarter, and an overview of current inspection plans. Approximately twenty-five people

attended the meeting, including members of CDAC, the licensee and the public. 
February 21, 2003 ENCLOSURE P

Region II

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 21, 2003

Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Department of Health Meeting

On February 18, 2003, the Regional Administrator, and the Chief, Materials

Licensing/Inspection Branch, Division of Nuclear Materials Safety met with the Secretary and

Sub-Secretary of Health and the Radiological Health Program Director at the Commonwealth of

Puerto Rico, Department of Health in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Florida Power and Light Company - Turkey Point Emergency Exercise

On February 19, 2003, the Region II office participated in the Turkey Point Emergency Exercise

with a full Base Team and Site Team. The Deputy Regional Administrator, was the Site Team

Leader; the Director, Division of Reactor Projects, was the Deputy Site Team Leader and the

Director, Division of Nuclear Materials Safety, was the Base Team Manager. Headquarters

staff participation included Commissioner Dicus as the Exercise Team Director and the

Director, Division of Incident Response Operations, as the Executive Team Director. The

Regional State Liaison Officer participated as a member of the Regional Assistance Committee

in the exercise, involving officials of the State of Florida and the applicable local governments. 

Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc. Meeting

On February 20-21, 2003, the Director, Division of Nuclear Materials Safety met with licensee

management and the resident inspector at Nuclear Fuel Services in Erwin, TN., and toured the

facility. 
February 21, 2003 

Office of Congressional Affairs

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 21, 2003

CONGRESSIONAL HEARING SCHEDULE, NO. 5

OCA

Contact

DATE

&

PLACE

TIME WITNESS SUBJECT 

Portner 02/25/03

SD-366

10:00 Secretary Abraham FY04 Budget: Energy Department Senators 

Energy an

Madden/McDermott

02/25/032167 RHOB

 2:00 FEMA, Hub Miller, and

others

Emergency Preparedness Plan atIndian Point Nuclear Plant

Reps. LaT

Economic  and EmTransport

Madden/McDermott

03/10/03Tentative

TBA TBA Indian Point Reps. Sh

National S

 and Inte

Governm