INFORMATION REPORT

January 27, 2004 SECY-04-0007

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-04-0007 WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING JANUARY 16, 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:

M. Markley, OEDO
January 27, 2004 SECY-04-0007

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-04-0007 WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING JANUARY 16, 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:

M. Markley, OEDO

DISTRIBUTION:

Central File

Public Document Name: C:\WIR\Week116.WPD

OEDO AO/OEDO

MMarkley:paa WMDean

01/27/04 01/28/04
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING JANUARY 16, 2004

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

Headquarters and Regional Office activities. 

Contact: M. Markley, OEDO by E-mail: mtm@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 18

NSIR 9 SECY 19

OGC * Region I 20

ADM 10 Region II 21

CIO 11 Region III *

CFO * Region IV 23

HR 15 OEDO *

SBCR * OCA 24

OE *

*No input this week
January 16, 2004 ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Items of Interest

Week Ending January 16, 2004

Current Status of Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station

On January 12, 2004, the NRC’s Management and Human Performance Inspection team

began an additional inspection of the licensee’s safety conscious work environment (SCWE)

and safety culture with emphasis on the licensee’s SCWE survey results from December 2003. 

The licensee also requested that the follow-up inspection by the NRC Readiness for Restart

Assessment Inspection team be delayed. A future date for this inspection has not been

established. The next 0350 Oversight Panel routine monthly public meeting near the site is

scheduled for the evening of January 21, 2004. 

In response to a Region III Task Interface Agreement, NRR staff reviewed Davis-Besse’s highpressure injection (HPI) pump modifications to address potential pump degradation during the

recirculation mode that might be caused by debris transported to the sump from a loss-ofcoolant-accident blowdown and containment spray actuation. The review included witnessing

the mock-up testing of individual pump components, review of the “engineered” slurry to

simulate expected sump debris, test success criteria, and associated calculations and review of

the final post modification testing. The review is complete and the staff concluded that the

redesigned pump strainers and bearing will operate with debris-laden water without plugging of

the orifices or bearing pads. Also, fine-clearance components such as wear rings and shaft

sleeves may experience wear while operating with debris-laden water during plant recirculation. 

However, hard facing of pump critical components minimizes wear such that operations near

pump critical speed is not adversely affected. The staff concluded test hydraulic performance

of the HPI pump will be maintained even with wear of the fine clearance components while

operating with debris-laden water during plant recirculation.

New York Times Interview Regarding the Vermont Yankee Extended Power Uprate Application

On January 13, 2004, representatives of NRR’s Divisions of Licensing Project Management and

Systems Safety and Analysis, as well as the Office of Public Affairs were interviewed by New

York Times’ Washington, DC correspondent, about issues related to the Vermont Yankee

extended power uprate application acceptance review. The interviewer asked questions on

topics including the level of public interest in the Vermont Yankee application and technical

issues such as the effects of the increased power on operating temperatures and pressures,

the impact on low head emergency core cooling system pumps, and the steam dryer issue at

Quad Cities. Questions were also raised about the history of the staff’s power uprate program,

including the number of requests approved in the past, and whether or not security issues were

addressed during the review of power uprate amendment requests. 

Industry Forum on Configuration Risk Management at Nuclear Power Plants

On January 14-15, 2004, representatives of the Division of Systems Safety and Analysis

participated in an industry sponsored forum on configuration risk management. The staff

provided presentations concerning regulatory perspective on effective configuration risk

management and the current status of NRC activities related to configuration risk management. 
January 16, 2004 ENCLOSURE A

Industry presentations and discussions addressed a number of activities including industry selfassessment of maintenance rule implementation, the use of online real-time risk monitors in

risk management probabilistic risk assessment models for evaluation of risks during shutdown

and low-power operations consistency of risk management decision criteria across the industry,

and risk-informed technical specification initiatives. This forum is sponsored each year by the

Electric Power Research Institute. 
January 16, 2004 ENCLOSURE B

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards

Items of Interest

Week Ending January 16, 2004

Meeting with Rio Algom Mining

On January 13, 2004, the NRC staff met with representatives of Rio Algom Mining LLC to

discuss the Application for Alternate Concentration Limits for groundwater at the Lisbon, Utah,

uranium mill facility. Rio Algom discussed how it would proceed with submittal of an application

and also discussed a proposed plan based on the State of Utah classifying the groundwater

aquifer under its class-of-use criteria. Follow-up discussions were held on January 15, 2004, to

clarify issues regarding these matters and the path forward. Representatives from the State of

Utah participated in the follow-up discussions. 
January 16, 2004 ENCLOSURE C

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research

Items of Interest

Week Ending January 16, 2004

Public Workshop on Non-Light Water Reactor (LWR) Containment Functional Performance

On January 14, 2004, a public workshop on non-light water reactor (LWR) containment

functional performance was held at the Doubletree Hotel in Rockville, MD. The purpose of the

workshop was to obtain feedback from industry experts and other interested stakeholders

regarding the staff’s initial efforts to develop safety performance requirements and criteria for

non-LWR containment designs. The staff presentations included discussions of prior

Commission policies on advanced reactors, reactor safety goals, severe accidents, the use of

PRA methods, and the risk-informed and performance-based regulation. The staff discussed

initial efforts to identify functional performance requirements for future non-LWR containments. 

Representatives from Pebble-Bed Moderated Reactor (PBMR) Pty., Westinghouse,

Framatome-ANP, and General Atomics made presentations on their proposed containment

designs that are currently under development. 
January 16, 2004 ENCLOSURE D

Nuclear Security and Incident Response

Items of Interest

Week Ending January 16, 2004

Preliminary Notifications

1. PNO-IV-04-002, The Methodist Hospital - MISSING STRONTIUM-90 SOURCE.

2. PNO-I-04-01, Onyx Greentree Landfill - RADIOACTIVE SOURCE FOUND AT LANDFILL

IN KERSEY, PENNSYLVANIA.

3. PNO-I-04-002, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania - ACCIDENT INVOLVING

MOISTURE/DENSITY GAUGE.

4. PNO-I-04-O1A, Onyx Greentree Landfill - UPDATE: IDENTIFICATION OF THE

RADIOACTIVE SOURCE FOUND AT LANDFILL IN KERSEY, PENNSYLVANIA.
January 16, 2004 ENCLOSURE F

Office of Administration 

Items of Interest 

Week Ending January 16, 2004

Changes to Adjudicatory Process (AG-49 - Part 2, et al.)

On January 14, 2004, a final rule that amends the NRC’s rules of practice was published in the

Federal Register (69 FR 2182). The final rule provides hearing procedures that are tailored to

the differing types of licensing and regulatory activities that the NRC conducts and better

focuses the limited resources of involved parties and the NRC. The final rule becomes effective

February 13, 2004.

List of Approved Spent Fuel Storage Casks: NAC-UMS, Amendment 3, Revision (AH25 -

Part 72)

On January 16, 2004, a direct final rule that revises the NAC International, Inc. NAC-UMS

(Amendment 3) cask system listing in the list of approved spent fuel storage casks was

published in the Federal Register (69 FR 2497). This action modifies the present cask design

to add an alternate poison material and to revise the structural analysis, thermal analysis, fuel

assembly weight and dimensions, and allowable fuel cladding temperature. The direct final rule

becomes effective March 31, 2004.

On January 16, 2004, the companion proposed rule to this direct final rule was published in the

Federal Register (69 FR 2528 ). The comment period closes February 17, 2004.
January 16, 2004 ENCLOSURE G

Chief Information Officer

Items of Interest

Week Ending January 16, 2004

Federal Computer Week Interviews Chief Information Officer 

On January 16, 2004, the Chief Information Office and the IT Security Staff were interviewed by

a correspondent of Federal Computer Week magazine on how the NRC was able to achieve an

"A" on the Federal Computer Security Report Card. The article is expected to appear in the

January 26, 2004 edition.

New Web Sites Activated

On January 14, 2004, OCIO staff posted two new publicly available web sites requested by

OGC: 

Revisions to 10 CFR Part 2 - This page explains the basis for the revision of Part 2. NRC is

amending its regulations concerning its rules of practice in 10 CFR Part 2 to provide hearing

procedures that are tailored to the differing types of regulatory activities the NRC conducts. 

http://www.nrc.gov/what-we-do/regulatory/adjudicatory/part2revisions.html. 

Hearing Opportunities and License Applications - This Web page will provide current

information on receipt of major applications, notice of intent to file major applications, and

current opportunities to request hearings and petition to intervene for major licensing and

regulatory actions: http://www.nrc.gov/what-we-do/regulatory/adjudicatory/hearing-licenseapplications.html.

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

January 9 through January 15, 2004:

Power Plant Engineering course, 18 training modules, lesson plans,

slides, and course manuals

FOIA/PA-2004-0090

Sealed radioactive source, emergency event where broken or

destroyed

FOIA/PA-2004-0091

Howard Dean, correspondence to, from 1986 to 2003 (Governor of

VT)

FOIA/PA-2004-0092

Yucca Mountain repository, concerns or restrictions on overflights of

repository or transportation routes, all correspondence between

USAF, DOE & NRC

FOIA/PA-2004-0093

Solicitation No. NRR-02-029, all information related to bid, including a

list of bidders

FOIA/PA-2004-0094

Vacancy application, reason for non-selection, candidate hired and

qualifications and experience

FOIA/PA-2004-0095
January 16, 2004 ENCLOSURE G

Twin City Army Ammunition Plant (MN) decommissioning, all

documents; clean up and decontamination of site and surrounding

areas

FOIA/PA-2004-0096

Radiac Research Corporation facilities, 33 South First Street, 261

Kent Avenue, Brooklyn, NJ, all records on or after 1-1-1990

FOIA/PA-2004-0097

Material License Tracking System, active and retired facilities FOIA/PA-2004-0098

Personnel security clearance investigative files, on named individual FOIA/PA-2004-0099
January 16, 2004 ENCLOSURE I

Office of Human Resources

Items of Interest

Week Ending January 16, 2004

Arrivals

Erin D. Hunter Secretary (OA) NRR

Imitiaz K. Madni Reactor Engineer RES

Departures

Dusting Reinert Engineer Associate (Student) R-IV
January 16, 2004 ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs

Items of Interest

Week Ending January 16, 2004

Media Interest

Court arguments in the State of Nevada’s legal challenges to the proposed high-level waste

repository at Yucca Mountain.

OPA and NRR staff interviewed with The New York Times for a piece on the power uprate

approval process for nuclear power plants.

A representative of NSIR conducted a radio interview with ABC Radio concerning radiological

dispersal devices (RDDs) or “dirty bombs.”

New Mexico media coverage of NRC’s decision to drop the double-containment requirement for

plutonium shipments.

U.S. Enrichment Corporation’s decision to build a new gas centrifuge uranium enrichment plant

in Piketon, Ohio, instead of Paducah, Kentucky.

Press Releases

Headquarters:

04-002 NRC Historian Writes Perspective on Three Mile Island Incident, 25 Years

Later (1/12)

04-003 NRC to Hold Hearing on Early Site Permit for Grand Gulf Site; Offers

Opportunity to Request Participation (1/13)

04-004 NRC Issues Report on Improving Reactor Operating Experience Programs

(1/14)

04-005 NRC Announces Availability of Two New Websites on Conduct of Hearings

and Pending Applications (1/14)

Regions:

I-04-001 New Resident Inspector Assigned to Seabrook Nuclear Plant (1/13)

III-04-004 NRC Oversight Panel to Meet on January 21 with Davis-Besse Officials in

Oak Harbor (1/14)

IV-04-003 NRC to Meet with Nebraska Public Power District to Discuss Recent

Inspection at Cooper Nuclear Power Station (1/13)

IV-04-004 NRC to Hold Public Meeting on Grand Gulf Early Site Permit (1/13)
January 16, 2004 ENCLOSURE N

Office of International Programs

Items of Interest

Week Ending January 16, 2004

Japanese Government’s Advisory Committee

On January 14, 2004, a member for national security of the Japanese Government's Advisory

Committee for the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, accompanied by the First

Secretary, Embassy of Japan, met with representatives of NSIR for an unclassified discussion

concerning nuclear plant security. This was a follow up to discussions held in 2002 and 2003. 

The Japanese are continuing to review and strengthen security at their nuclear facilities. 

Taiwan Legislature

On January 15, 2004, a member of the Taiwan Legislature, accompanied by the Director of the

Division of Science and Technology, Taipei, Economic and Cultural Representative Office

(TECRO) met individually with the NRC Chairman and Commissioners. The purpose of his visit

was to introduce himself to the Commission and to provide an overview on the current and

future use of nuclear energy in Taiwan.
January 16, 2004 ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary

Items of Interest

Week Ending January 16, 2004

Document Released

to Public

Date Subject

Information Papers

1. SECY-03-0223 12/24/03 Rulemaking Plan: Assured Isolation Facilities

2. SECY-04-0003 1/13/04 SECY-04-0003 Weekly Information Report -

Weeks Ending December 26, 2003 and

January 2, 2004

3. SECY-03-0226 12/31/03 Report on Office Self-Assessments

Memoranda

1. M040114B 1/14/04 Staff Requirements: Affirmation Session: I.

SECY-03-0225-Sequoyah Fuels Corp. (Gore,

Oklahoma Site); Cherokee Nation’s Petition for

Review of LBP-03-24

Commission Correspondence

1. Letter to Congressman Jon Porter, dated January 9, 2004, concerning NRC staff audits

and evaluations of U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) efforts being conducted in

anticipation of an application for a construction authorization for a proposed high-level

waste (HLW) repository at Yucca Mountain.

2. Letter to Congresswoman Shelly Berkley, dated January 9, 2004, concerning NRC staff

audits and evaluations of DOE efforts being conducted in anticipation of an application for

a construction authorization for a HLW repository at Yucca Mountain.

3. Letter to Brian Sandoval, Attorney General, State of Nevada, dated January 9, 2004,

concerning NRC staff audits and evaluations of DOE efforts being conducted in

anticipation of an application for a construction authorization for a HLW repository at

Yucca Mountain.

4. Letter to Congress and the Small Business Administration, dated January 6, 2004,

provides NRC regulatory enforcement report.

5. Letter to Kathleen Seblius, Governor of Kansas, dated January 6, 2004, concerns the

continued success of the Kansas Agreement State Program.
January 16, 2004 ENCLOSURE O

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards, Notice of Meeting, February 5-7, 2004.

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

Procedures.
January 16, 2004 ENCLOSURE P

Region I

Items of Interest

Week Ending January 16, 2004

Visit of Commissioner Merrifield to INOVA Hospital

On January 12, 2004, the Region I Director, Division of Nuclear Materials Safety, and an

Atlanta-based inspector, accompanied Commissioner Merrifield and his materials Technical

Assistant on a visit to INOVA Hospital in Alexandria, VA. The purpose of the visit was to tour

the facility, discuss applications and treatment planning of high dose rate (HDR) afterloaders in

cancer therapy, and observe an HDR patient treatment. 

Indian Point Energy Center (IPEC) Utility Workers Union Contract Expiration Update

A strike by operators, maintenance workers, and radiation protection workers at Indian Point 3

is possible when the current contract expires on Saturday night, January 17, 2004. Security

personnel are not affected by the contract. Licensee and union negotiations, which have been

ongoing all week, are also scheduled for Saturday. Region I continues to monitor licensee

preparations and is ready to respond, as needed, in accordance with NRC procedures. Region

I has reviewed licensee contingency plans and Region I continued to prepare for possible job

action, with a watch bill to provide 24-hour coverage at both Unit 3 and Unit 2, if required. 

Inspectors are scheduled to begin continuous site coverage early in the afternoon of January

17, with a Region I Branch Chief and security inspector also planning to go to the site to

observe the licensee’s implementation of its contingency plans. 

Media coverage was extensive this week. The Westchester County Executive issued a press

release and held a press conference stating that the Indian Point plants should be shut down if

there is a strike. 
January 16, 2004 ENCLOSURE P

Region II

Items of Interest

Week Ending January 16, 2004

North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) Meeting

On January 13, 2004, the Deputy Regional Administrator, accompanied by the Director,

Division of Incident Response Operations attended a meeting with NORAD at the Tyndall Air

Force Base in Panama City, FL. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the upcoming

Determined Promise/Amalgam Virgo interagency exercises. The exercises are scheduled to be

held in August 2004 and the NRC will be participating in both exercises.

Duke Energy Corporation - Full-Scale Oconee Nuclear Plant Emergency Exercise

On January 12-15, 2004, the Regional State Liaison Officer participated as a member of the

Regional Assistance Committee in the full-scale Oconee Nuclear Plant emergency exercise in

South Carolina. The exercise involved officials of the State of South Carolina and the

applicable local governments.

Dominion Virginia Power Company - Surry Nuclear Plant Information Meeting

On January 14, 2004, representatives from Dominion Virginia Power Company were in the

Regional Office to attend an information meeting. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss

Surry Nuclear Plant performance improvements including their corrective action plans related to

the Emergency AC Power Unavailability Performance Indicator. 
January 16, 2004 ENCLOSURE P

Region IV

Items of Interest

Week Ending January 16, 2004

Public Meeting held with Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station

On January 14, 2004, Region IV held a Category 1 public meeting with Palo Verde Nuclear

Generating Station staff. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the licensee’s efforts to

promote a Safety Conscious Work Environment at the Palo Verde site. 

Regional Administrator visit to Arkansas Nuclear One

On January 15, 2004, the Region IV Administrator conducted a site visit and tour of the

Arkansas Nuclear One facility. The visit included a discussion of current issues with licensee

management and the NRC resident inspectors. 
January 16, 2004 

Office of Congressional Affairs

Items of Interest

Week Ending January 16, 2004

CONGRESSIONAL HEARING SCHEDULE, NO. 41

OCA

Contact

DATE

&

PLACE

TIME WITNESS SUBJECT 

Keeling Mid-Feb/04 TBA John Bolten, State Dept Additional Protocol for IAEA Senators 

Foreign R

Combs 02/04/04 TBA NRC, DOE, Bechtel, NEI,

NARUC

Review of the Progress of DOE’s

Yucca Mountain Project

Reps. BaEnergy anEnergy an