INFORMATION REPORT

December 16, 2002 SECY-02-0218

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-02-0218 WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING DECEMBER 6, 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:

C. Glenn, OEDO
December 16, 2002 SECY-02-0218

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-02-0218 WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING DECEMBER 6, 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:

C. Glenn, OEDO

DISTRIBUTION:

Central File

Public Document Name: C:\WIR\WEEKD06.WPD

OEDO AO/OEDO

CGlenn:paa JWCraig

12/12/02 12/16/02
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 6, 2002

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 4 OPA 17

RES * IP *

NSIR 9 SECY 19

OGC * Region I 20

ADM 10 Region II 21

CIO 11 Region III 22

CFO * Region IV *

HR 15 OEDO *

SB/CR * OCA *

OE *

*No input this week
December 6, 2002 ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Items of Interest

Week Ending December 6, 2002

North Anna

Plans are being firmed up for the replacement of the North Anna Unit 2 pressure vessel head. 

Work on cutting the hole in containment is scheduled to starting December 2002. The new

head is expected to arrive on site between December 18 and 20, 2002. The existing head is to

be moved out of containment and the new head moved into containment in December 2002.
December 6, 2002 ENCLOSURE B

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards

Items of Interest

Week Ending December 6, 2002

Meeting with General Electric on Design for Transport Packages

On December 3-4, 2002, the Spent Fuel Project Office met with the General Electric Company

(GE) about development of two new transport packages. One is a new transport package for

irradiated fuel rods. The package is a modification of a currently certified package, the FSV-1. 

The other package is Model No. 3000, which will be used to ship large quantities of radioactive

material such as cobalt-60. The discussion centered on the requirements for testing of impact

limiters and transporting high burnup fuel. GE is in the initial planning stage in the design of

these two packages.

Recommendation for Approval of Japanese Certificate for Transport Cask for Irradiated

Research Reactor Fuel

On December 3, 2002, the Spent Fuel Project Office recommended to the Department of

Transportation that it revalidate the Japanese certificate for the Model No. JMS-87Y-18.5T

package. The Department of Energy plans to use this package for the return of foreign

research reactor fuel. The package will be used to ship TRIGA-type fuel from Japan to the

United States. 

Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Decision on Diablo Canyon Independent Spent Fuel

Storage Installation

On December 2, 2002, the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board (ASLB) issued a Memorandum

and Order (M&O) granting the Request for Hearing and Petitions to Intervene filed in response

to Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) Company’s application for an Independent Spent Fuel

Storage Installation at Diablo Canyon. In its ruling, the ASLB determined that the San Luis

Obispo Mothers for Peace (the lead petitioner) and several other petitioners had established

standing, and had submitted one admissible contention, relating to PG&E’s current financial

qualifications, in light of its pending bankruptcy. The ASLB also granted interested government

entity status to the California Energy Commission, San Luis Obispo County, the Port San Luis

Obsipo, and the Avila Beach Community Services District. It rejected, as inadmissible, all the

remaining contentions the parties raised. The parties in this case have 10 days from the date

of the M&O to appeal the ASLB decision to the Commission, or to request a hybrid hearing

process under 10 CFR Part 2, Subpart K.

Tour of Uranium Enrichment Gas Centrifuge Test Facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee

On November 26, 2002, the staff from the Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards

(FCSS) visited the U.S. Enrichment Corporation (USEC) and Department of Energy (DOE)

uranium enrichment gas centrifuge test facilities in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. During the

morning, USEC discussed operational data that DOE collected over a period of approximately

15 years, until 1985, at the uranium enrichment gas centrifuge test, demonstration, and

production facilities located at Oak Ridge and at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant

(GDP) site. A DOE official indicated that since DOE would be leasing the area for the Lead
December 6, 2002 ENCLOSURE B

Cascade to USEC, DOE would like to coordinate with the NRC to develop a regulatory

oversight transition plan for this area similar to the ones used in the past for the GDPs. In

the afternoon, the FCSS staff toured DOE’s and USEC’s test and demonstration facilities at

Oak Ridge.

U.S. Enrichment Corporation Selects the Portsmouth Site for its Lead Cascade

On December 5, 2002, the U.S. Enrichment Corporation (USEC) announced that it will site its

Lead Cascade centrifuge uranium enrichment test facility at its Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion

Plant (GDP) in Piketon, Ohio. A June 2002 agreement between USEC and the Department of

Energy (DOE) gave USEC the option of selecting its Lead Cascade site at either of its two

existing GDP sites in Piketon and Paducah, Kentucky. According to USEC, cost and schedule

were the key factors in its decision to site the Lead Cascade at the Portsmouth GDP site. The

June 2002 DOE/USEC agreement requires USEC to submit its license application for the Lead

Cascade to NRC by April 2004.

American Association of Physicists in Medicine

On December 1, 2002, a staff member from the Division of Industrial and Medical Nuclear

Safety represented NRC, as Liaison, at the meetings of three committees of the American

Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM). These were held in conjunction with the annual

joint scientific assembly of the Radiological Society of North America and the AAPM, in

Chicago. The principal topic discussed with the committees (Legislation and Regulation,

Nuclear Medicine, and Radiation Protection) was interpretation and implementation of the

revised 10 CFR Part 35 (“Medical Use”), including possible revision of the training and

experience requirements. Other topics included the status of the National Materials Program,

and the regulation of radioisotopes that are accelerator-produced and used in medicine.

Meeting at the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, Austria

From November 18-22, 2002, a meeting of technical experts to review a proposed revised

Categorization of Radioactive Sources was held at the International Atomic Energy Agency

(IAEA) in Vienna, Austria. The Committee reviewed the concept of the categorization, and the

technical approach used to develop the relative ranking of sources. In that process, the

Committee agreed that the technical approach was valid, and provides an appropriate starting

point for decision-making for safety, security, emergency preparedness, import/export,

provision of IAEA assistance to Member States, and other activities. The categorization

appears to present a flexible and logical approach to selecting sources. The objective of the

meeting, to elaborate and agree on a categorization, was met.
December 6, 2002 ENCLOSURE D

Nuclear Security and Incident Response

Items of Interest

Week Ending December 6, 2002

Office of Homeland Security Meeting - National Response Plan

On December 4, 2002, the Division of Incident Response Operations (DIRO) staff participated

in an Office of Homeland Security (OHS) Federal interagency meeting regarding a “National

Response Plan.” OHS is considering an overall national-level, all-hazards emergency response

plan - National Response Plan - as a means to reconcile and consolidate the U.S. Government

Interagency Domestic Terrorism Concept of Operations Plan, Federal Response Plan, and

Federal Radiological Emergency Response Plan. The meeting purpose was to provide OHS

with an interagency overview of gaps/overlaps in the existing plans. During the meeting, OHS

presented several terrorism-related scenarios as the forum for participants to discuss key

issues and recommendations. The meeting results will be one of multiple inputs to OHS for

consideration of a National Response Plan. 

TOPOFF 2 Large Scale Game

On December 2-5, 2002, the Director of the Division of Incident Response Operations

represented the NRC at the TOPOFF 2 (T2) Large Scale Game, held in Lansdowne, VA. This

activity, attended by about 75 senior decision-makers, was a major part of the T2 exercise

series that will lead to the national T2 Exercise to be held in May 2003. The Large Scale Game

brought together consequence management, remediation, and restoration leaders and planners

from Federal, State and local departments and agencies, and the Canadian Government, for an

interactive gaming simulation employing primarily seminar techniques. The Game was

designed to explore the range of long-term and delayed effects of a major terrorist attack on the

United States.

Preliminary Notifications

1. PNO-II-02-041, Progress Energy - Florida Power Corporation - POTENTIAL EMPLOYEE

STRIKE AT CRYSTAL RIVER UNIT 3 NUCLEAR PLANT.

2. PNO-IV-02-073, Earth Consultants, Inc. - STOLEN PORTABLE GAUGE.

3. PNO-IV-02-075, CARTI-UAMS - MEDICAL MISADMINISTRATION.

4. PNO-IV-02-074, Geosoils - STOLEN PORTABLE GAUGE.

5. PNO-IV-02-071A, Soils and Material Consultants, Inc. - STOLEN PORTABLE GAUGE

FOUND.
December 6, 2002 ENCLOSURE F

Office of Administration 

Items of Interest 

Week Ending December 6, 2002

Electronic Maintenance and Submission of Information: Withdrawal of Direct Final Rule

(10 CFR Chapter I)

On December 4, 2002, NRC published (67 FR 72091) a document withdrawing a direct final

rule that would have amended NRC’s regulations to clarify when and how licensees and other

members of the public may use electronic means to communicate with the agency. The NRC

will consider comments on the companion proposed rule that was published concurrently with

the direct final rule.
December 6, 2002 ENCLOSURE G

Chief Information Officer

Items of Interest

Week Ending December 6, 2002

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

November 29 through December 5, 2002:

NEN Biosciences, Albany Street, Boston MA, inspection reports (FOIA/PA-2003-0078)

Material License Tracking System (FOIA/PA-2003-0079)

License 29-16145-01, Elizabeth General Medical Center, NJ, violations or testing/reporting

(FOIA/PA-2003-0080)

License 12-17667-01, Elizabeth General Medical Center, NJ, violations or testing/reporting

(FOIA/PA-2003-0081)

Radioactive material, missing, unaccounted for, stolen over 10 years; history of regulatory

penalties, fines, actions, revocations for mishandling radioactive material (FOIA/PA-2003-0082)

Status of Regulatory Exemptions for Decommissioning Plants, NRC Staff memorandum dated

8/12/02 (FOIA/PA-2003-0083)

Requests Completed

2003-0027 (No PDR)

2003-0030

2003-0034 (No PDR)

2003-0054 (No PDR)

2003-0055 (No PDR)

2003-0058 (No PDR)

2003-0065

2003-0069

2003-0072 (No PDR)
December 6, 2002 ENCLOSURE I

Office of Human Resources

Items of Interest

Week Ending December 6, 2002

Arrivals

JARRIEL, Lisamarie AGENCY ALLEGATIONS ADVISOR NRR

Retirements

WHITTEMORE, John* SENIOR REACTOR INSPECTOR RIV

Departures

PRUE, Meredith SECRETARY (OA) RI

*Effective 11/30/02
December 6, 2002 ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs

Items of Interest

Week Ending December 6, 2002

Media Interest

The Cleveland Plain-Dealer newspaper reported that First Energy Corp., the operator of the

Davis-Besse nuclear power plant, failed to provide NRC with a photo taken in April 2000 that

shows corrosion stains on its reactor lid, triggering interest from other media.

There was media interest in a scheduled meeting between NRC and TXU Energy to discuss the

results of a recent inspection of corroded and leaking tubing at the Comanche Peak nuclear

power plant in Texas.

The Office of Public Affairs supported public meetings at St. Lucie for license renewal;

Braidwood for plant performance issues; and at headquarters on a variety of subjects.

Press Releases

Headquarters:

02-138 NRC Withdraws Direct Final Rule Clarifying Use of Electronic

Communications with Agency

02-139 NRC Issues Final Rule on Material Control And Accounting Regulations

02-140 NRC Approves Power Uprate for Crystal River 3

Regions:

 I-02-068 David L. Pelton Assigned as New NRC Senior Resident Inspector

III-02-064 NRC Oversight Panel to Hold Two Meetings on Davis-Besse Reactor

Vessel Head Damage in Port Clinton, OH
December 6, 2002 ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary

Items of Interest

Week Ending December 6, 2002

Document Released

to Public

Date Subject

Decision Documents

1. Commission Voting

Record - SECY-02-0179

12/03/02 Final Rule: Material Control and Accounting

Amendments

2. SECY-02-0204 11/15/02 Update of Uranium Recovery Guidance

Documents

Information Papers

1. SECY-02-0210 11/27/02 SECY-02-0210 Weekly Information Report -

Week Ending November 22, 2002

Memoranda

1. M021121A

(Supplemental)

12/03/02 SRM (Supplemental) - Affirmation Session:

I. SECY-02-0179 - Final Rule: Material

Control and Accounting Amendments

Commission Correspondence

1. Letter to Congress (Senator Lieberman and Congressman Burton) dated November 25,

2002 provides response to the General Accounting Offices’s August 2002, report

Coordinated Approach Needed to Address the Government’s Improper Payments Problem

(GAO-02-0749). 

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. Exelon Generation Co./Amergen Energy Co. Establishment of Atomic Safety and Licensing

Board.

2. Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste Request for Candidates - Notice.

3. Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards 498th Meeting December 5-7, 2002 -Revised

Notice of Meeting.
December 6, 2002 ENCLOSURE P

Region I

Items of Interest

Week Ending December 6, 2002

Region I Inspector Seminar

On December 3-5, 2002, Region I held an inspector seminar in the regional office. Resident

inspectors and office assistants from all sites participated in the seminar, as did members of the

region-based staff. Opening day sessions included presentations by the Associate Director for

Project Licensing & Technical Analysis, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation; and the Deputy

Director, Davis Besse Lessons Learned Task Force (along with two of the team members). 

The day culminated with inspector breakout sessions that offered the opportunity for smaller

group discussions of techniques being employed to ensure that licensees are maintaining a

proper approach to safety issues at their facilities. A round table management discussion

followed these sessions.

Other key presentations during the seminar included an update of activities in the Office of

Nuclear Security and Incident Response, given by the Deputy Director of that office, and a talk

by a speaker who had been a prisoner of war in Vietnam for more than seven years, entitled

“Call to Serve - Commitment to Public Service.” Additional inspector breakout sessions were

held on the significance determination process, reactor oversight process changes, medical and

industrial facility inspection updates, and inspection report guidance. 
December 6, 2002 ENCLOSURE P

Region II

Items of Interest

Week Ending December 6, 2002

Region II Management Retreat

On December 3-4, 2002, the Regional Administrator held a planning, budgeting and program

management retreat with the other senior Managers and Branch Chief level managers from the

Regional Office. Topics discussed included the results of Division level self-assessments,

challenges and areas to focus on during the next six months, planning for organizational

changes and strategic workforce planning (e.g., targeted recruiting and actions to retain

employees, etc.).

FEMA IV Regional Emergency Preparedness Conference

On December 5, 2002, the Deputy Regional Administrator, Region II State Liaison Officer,

Region II Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, and the senior Emergency Response

Coordinator from the Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response held an outreach

meeting with representatives from the State and local County organization. The meeting was

held in conjunction with the annual Regional Emergency Preparedness Conference held by the

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Key topics discussed included changes in

the NRC’s emergency response, lessons learned from a history of emergency response events,

and challenges facing the NRC, FEMA, State and local emergency response organizations. 

Florida Power Corporation - Crystal River Nuclear Plant

Negotiations continue between the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)

Union officials and the licensee regarding a contract for certain workers at the Crystal River

Nuclear Plant. On November 27, 2002, the IBEW notified the licensee that the latest contract

offer had been rejected by a union vote and a strike was authorized. A strike would involve

about 300 workers at the site, including licensed reactor operators. As of December 6, 2002,

the licensee and union indicated that they have reached a tentative contract agreement. The

union must still vote on the proposal.

The NRC resident inspectors have completed pre-strike inspections and the region is prepared

to implement 24-hour coverage at the site, if a vote is unsuccessful and a strike takes place.
December 6, 2002 ENCLOSURE P

Region III

Items of Interest

Week Ending December 6, 2002

Meeting with Exelon on Degraded Mitigating Systems Cornerstone at Braidwood

On December 4, 2002, the regional staff met with representatives of Exelon Generation Co. in

Braidwood, Illinois, to discuss the utility’s corrective actions on two issues associated with the

Mitigating Systems cornerstone at the Braidwood Nuclear Power Station. The issues involved

two Unit 1 systems - the auxiliary feedwater system and the pressurizer power operated relief

valves. The meeting was attended by several local officials and about 15 members of the

public.