INFORMATION REPORT

December 22, 2003 SECY-03-0217

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-03-0217 WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING DECEMBER 12, 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.

/RA/

William M. Dean

Assistant for Operations, OEDO

Contact:

M. Markley, OEDO
December 22, 2003 SECY-03-0217

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-03-0217 WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING DECEMBER 12, 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.

/RA/

William M. Dean

Assistant for Operations, OEDO

Contact:

M. Markley, OEDO

DISTRIBUTION:

Central File

Public Document Name: C:\WIR\WeekD12.WPD

*See previous concurrence

OEDO* AO/OEDO

MMarkley:paa WMDean

12/18/03 12/22/03
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 12, 2003

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 IP 18

NSIR 9 SECY 19

OGC * Region I 20

ADM 10 Region II 21

CIO 11 Region III *

CFO * Region IV 23

HR 12 OEDO *

SB/CR * OCA *

OE *

*No input this week
December 12, 2003 ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Items of Interest

Week Ending December 12, 2003

Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station - Restart Status

On December 3, 2003, Davis-Besse 0350 Restart Oversight Panel meetings were held near the

site. The licensee provided presentations on their recent Safety Culture and Safety Conscious

Work Environment surveys, Cycle 14 Operational Improvement Plan, and the work scope for

the planned mid-cycle (Cycle 14) outage. The licensee plans to commence the mid-cycle

outage in January 2005. The licensee also plans to submit a license amendment to extend

steam generator tube inspection surveillance beyond March 2004 but is prepared to conduct

the outage in March 2004, if necessary.

Additional meetings are tentatively scheduled to be held on December 18, 2003 pending the

results of ongoing site and inspection activities. A meeting is scheduled to discuss the results

of the NRC Management and Human Performance Team Inspection. The licensee also plans

to hold a meeting to discuss the basis for requesting restart of the plant (Mode 2 operation). As

of December 9, 2003, twenty-four of thirty-one Restart Checklist Items were closed. The next

0350 Restart Oversight Panel monthly public meetings near the site are scheduled for

January 13, 2004.

Dresden Unit 3 - Maintenance Outage

On December 7, 2003, Dresden Unit 3 reached Mode 5 (Refueling) and started a mid-cycle

maintenance outage. This outage was planned to inspect the Dresden Unit 3 steam dryer, and

to make necessary repairs and modifications following extensive damage found at Quad Cities

steam dryers. The outage scope of work includes an inspection to find a lost feedwater (FW)

isokinetic sample probe that had broken away prior to last year’s inspection and replacement, a

walkdown to identify any equipment damage that may be attributable to the extended power

uprate (EPU), and replacing some leaking fuel. Initial inspection identified two four-inch long

through-wall cracks on the 90 degree (A) side on the steam dryer outer hood, consistent with

expectations based on licensee analysis of high stress areas and experience at the other

Dresden Unit. The licensee’s boroscope inspection of the FW sparger identified two probes

inside the sparger, when only one was expected. The licensee performed an ultrasonic

examination of the feedwater line and concluded that a probe installed during the previous

outage had also broken away. The licensee has completed the EPU walkdown and did not find

any equipment damage attributable to EPU. NRC resident inspectors are monitoring the results

of the licensee’s steam dryer and FW sparger inspection. NRR is actively pursuing the root

cause of the recently installed FW probe breaking with the licensee and will consider

appropriate regulatory action.

North Anna Power Station, Units 1 and 2 - Seismic Activity

At 3:59 p.m., on December 9, 2003, an earthquake that registered 4.5 on the Richter Scale and

centered 15 miles Southeast of Columbia, Virginia (29 miles from the site) was recorded at

North Anna. Both units continued to operate at 100 percent power. The licensee entered its

abnormal station procedure for earthquakes and inspected the site for damage, including the
December 12, 2003 ENCLOSURE A

service water reservoir and Lake Anna dams. During this inspection, no equipment or structural

problems were discovered. The licensee has confirmed that this seismic activity was less than

the operating basis earthquake levels for North Anna.

South Texas Project, Unit 2 - Emergency Diesel Generator Failure

On December 9, 2003, with South Texas Project, Unit 2 at full power, emergency diesel

generator (EDG) No. 22 sustained a mechanical failure during surveillance testing. The diesel

could not be secured from the control room. Local shutdown was accomplished successfully 

using the fuel racks. Subsequent inspection revealed that a connecting rod had been ejected

from the engine. No personnel injuries were sustained and the licensee is currently in a 14-day

Limiting Condition for Operation. The same EDG (manufactured by Cooper) sustained a

connecting rod ejection in 1989.

Westinghouse Owners Group Risk Management Subcommittee Meeting

From December 2-4, 2003, representatives from Division of Systems Safety and Analysis

(DSSA) and Division of Inspection Program Management (DIPM) met with the Westinghouse

(and Combustion Engineering) Owners Group, Risk Management Subcommittee to discuss the

Owners Group’s plans for risk-informed initiatives and provide insights concerning NRC policy

in these areas. Initiatives under development by the Owners Group include a methodology for

analysis of shutdown and transition risk in support of NOEDs, Technical Specifications (TS)

Improvement Initiative 4b on integrated plant risk-informed operational management and other

risk-informed TS initiatives, risk-informed fire protection activities, pressurized water reactor

sump blockage, and related matters. 

Issuance of McGuire and Catawba Renewed Licenses

On December 5, 2003, the Director of NRR renewed the operating licenses for the Catawba

Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2, and the McGuire Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2, for an

additional 20 years. This was done in accordance with the Commission’s December 3, 2003 

staff requirement memorandum (SRM). In the SRM, the Commission recognized that in view of

the petition for review pending before it, if the renewed licenses are subsequently set aside on

appeal, the previous operating licenses would be reinstated in accordance with 10 CFR

54.31(c). The renewed licenses were issued within 30 months of receipt of the application

submitted by the Duke Energy Corporation. Subsequently, in an order, CLI-03-17, dated

December 9, 2003, the Commission denied the petition for review filed by the Blue Ridge

Environmental Defense League on the application. The Catawba and McGuire license

renewals bring the total number of renewals to 23 reactor units. The staff is currently reviewing

applications for 12 additional units.

Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority Visit

On December 3, 2003, DIPM staff met with the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority (HAEA) to

discuss the process contained in Inspection Manual Chapter 0350 for plant restart after a

long-term shutdown. HAEA plans to implement a similar process in approving plant restart for

the Paks Nuclear Power Plant which remains shut down after a fuel cleaning incident.
December 12, 2003 ENCLOSURE B

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards

Items of Interest

Week Ending December 12, 2003

Meeting with PacTec Regarding Model MFFP Transport Package for Fresh Mixed-Oxide

Fuel Assemblies

On December 4, 2003, Spent Fuel Project Office staff met with Packaging Technology, Inc.

(PacTec) to discuss the Model MFFP package. The Model MFFP package is being designed to

transport unirradiated mixed uranium and plutonium oxide fresh fuel assemblies. PacTec

described the results of full-scale certification tests performed on the package and design

changes that were incorporated as a result of the testing program. The package will be

modified to provide additional features. PacTec plans to submit an application for package

approval to NRC in March 2004.

Western Nuclear Uranium Mill Tailings Site - Meeting with Western Nuclear, Inc.

On December 8, 2003, staff from the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards and the

Office of the General Counsel met with representatives from Western Nuclear, Inc. (WNI) in

Rockville, Maryland. WNI requested this meeting to discuss issues related to its site closure

license amendment, that contains a proposal for alternate groundwater standards in conjunction

with institutional controls on private off-site properties. Discussions included issues related to

an NRC request for additional information (RAI) dated November 18, 2003. WNI agreed to

address the RAI and update the staff on its “good-faith efforts” to purchase properties within the

proposed long-term care boundary in the small community of Red Mule, Wyoming. The

groundwater plume from the mill is projected to impact Red Mule water supply wells within the

standard time period. WNI is seeking early NRC feedback concerning source of an anomaly of

elevated uranium concentrations detected in Red Mule water wells. 

Publication of Proposed Rule, "Medical Use of Byproduct Material — Recognition of

Specialty Boards"

On December 9, 2003, NRC published a proposed rule to amend 10 CFR Part 35 in the

Federal Register (68 FR 68549) for a 75-day public comment period ending on February 23,

2004. The proposed amendments would revise NRC regulations to change requirements for

recognition of specialty boards whose certifications may be used to demonstrate the adequacy

of the training and experience of individuals to serve as radiation safety officers, authorized

medical physicists, authorized nuclear pharmacists, or authorized users. The proposed rule

would also revise the requirements for demonstrating the adequacy of training and experience

for pathways other than the board certification pathway. NRC also submitted a statement in

support of the proposed rule to the Office of Management and Budget. The proposed rule and

supporting documents are available for public comment on NRC’ s rulemaking web site at

http://ruleforum.llnl.gov.
December 12, 2003 ENCLOSURE C

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research

Items of Interest

Week Ending December 12, 2003

Completion of First High-Burnup LOCA Test with Quenching

On December 4, 2003, Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) completed the third in a series of

high-burnup integral tests related to loss-of-coolant accidents (LOCAs). The tests at ANL are

the first to be performed with high-burnup fuel rods, and this was the first test with a complete

cycle of LOCA conditions: heat-up, ballooning, bursting, oxidation, cooling, and quenching. 

The LOCA test was designed to examine the likelihood that greater corrosion (oxidation) that

occurs during long burnup periods will contribute to embrittlement of the cladding and affect the

criteria in 10 CFR 50.46, as well as the related evaluation models. The third test involved a 

BWR fuel specimen (~64 GWd/t burnup) in a hot cell on December 4. This test entailed five

minutes of operation at 2200 o

F in steam after bursting and underwent the quenching

phenomena that result from reflooding water. During the test, good axial gas flow was

observed. The rupture occurred near the midplane of the specimen, and small fuel particles

inside the rod are visible through the burst opening. The specimen stayed intact during

quenching as expected. The specimen will be examined in detail, and further mechanical

testing of the burst specimen may be performed. Integral tests and other LOCA-related testing

on high-burnup BWR and PWR fuel rods are scheduled to continue during fiscal year 2004 to

provide a basis for possible performance-based revision to temperature and oxidation limits

(embrittlement criteria) in 10 CFR 50.46.
December 12, 2003 ENCLOSURE D

Nuclear Security and Incident Response

Items of Interest

Week Ending December 12, 2003

Preliminary Notifications

1. PNO-IV-03-051, Bayou Inspection Services - MISSING INDUSTRIAL RADIOGRAPHY

CAMERA.

2. PNO-IV-03-051A, Bayou Inspection Services - RECOVERY OF LOST INDUSTRIAL

RADIOGRAPHY CAMERA. 
December 12, 2003 ENCLOSURE F

Office of Administration 

Items of Interest 

Week Ending December 12, 2003

Acquisition Training for Project Managers

On December 12, 2003, the Division of Contracts conducted the Acquisition for Project

Manager’s Overview workshop for 18 participants. Representatives from the Office of the

Inspector General, the Office of Administration, and the Office of Small Business and Civil

Rights were guest speakers. Presentations were given on fraud awareness, security

requirements, and the Small Business Program. This workshop is one of the five mandatory

workshops required for Project Manager certification.
December 12, 2003 ENCLOSURE G

Chief Information Officer

Items of Interest

Week Ending December 12, 2003

IT Security - Congressional IT Security Report Card

On December 9, 2003, the House Government Reform Subcommittee on Technology,

Information Policy, Intergovernmental Relations and the Census issued the fourth annual score

card on Cybersecurity. The NRC, whose grade jumped from a C to an A, had the highest rating

of all Federal agencies. The National Science Foundation was second, with a grade that went

from a D- to an A-. In a statement from the Committee Chairman, Congressman Adam

Putnam, said that the NRC and the National Science Foundation should be commended for

their outstanding scores. The federal government’s overall grade on Cybersecurity improved

over the last year, from an F in 2002 to a D in 2003. Fourteen of 24 agencies’ grades were

below a C, and eight failed.

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

December 5 through December 11, 2003:

Davis-Besse, correspondence between NRC and President Bush,

Sen. George Voinovich (Ohio), and First Energy Corporation

FOIA/PA-2004-0070

Davis-Besse 2002 shutdown, all investigative and administrative

documents from 1-1-01

FOIA/PA-2004-0071

Inspection Techniques for Post-Fire Safe Shutdown of Nuclear

Generating Stations, technical report, 1989

FOIA/PA-2004-0072

Final Environmental Statement Related to Decommissioning of the

Edgemont (SD) Uranium Mill and subsequent correspondence

between Tennessee Valley Authority and NRC

FOIA/PA-2004-0073

Radioactive material license 24-11511-01, Holnam Inc., Clarksville,

MO, dated 12-17-93; amended license dated 03-17-00

FOIA/PA-2004-0074
December 12, 2003 ENCLOSURE I

Office of Human Resources

Items of Interest

Week Ending December 12, 2003

Arrivals

Kathy L. Lyons-Burke IT Specialist OCIO

David F. Carter IT Specialist OCIO

Ray W. Crouse IT Specialist OCIO

Mark E. Franke Reactor Engineer R-III

Maria Angeles P. Lavretta Reactor System Engineer NRR

David A. Martin Student Clerk R-III

Kevin R. O’Kelly Student Clerk R-III

Dustin Reinert Student Engineer R-IV

Margaret Sullivan Student Clerk R-III

John Wilson IT Specialist OCIO

Adam Ziedonis Student Engineer R-I

Departures

Daniel Galik IT Security Officer OCIO
December 12, 2003 ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs

Items of Interest

Week Ending December 12, 2003

Media Interest

Continuing NRC questions for FirstEnergy over Davis-Besse, as the plant makes final

preparations for resuming operations.

A lawsuit by the Sierra Club seeking to force the NRC to hold public hearings on the terrorist

threat at Diablo Canyon before authorizing dry cask storage of spent nuclear fuel at the site.

Press Releases

Headquarters:

03-160 NRC Announces Hearing on Early Site Permit for Clinton Site; Opportunity

to Request Participation (12/8)

03-161 NRC Announces Opportunity for Hearing on Application to Renew D.C.

Cook, Units 1 and 2, Operating Licenses (12/11)

03-162 NRC Invites Nominations for Advisory Committee on Medical Uses of

Isotopes (12/12)

Regions:

III-03-072 NRC Oversight Panel to Discuss Davis-Besse Corrective Action Program

Improvements (12/8)

III-03-073 NRC Staff to Meet with FirstEnergy to Discuss Davis-Besse Restart (12/8)

III-03-074 NRC to Meet with Nuclear Management Company to Discuss Results of

Special Inspection at Point Beach (12/9)

III-03-075 NRC to Discuss Safety Significance of Pump Problem at Perry Nuclear

Plant (12/11)
December 12, 2003 ENCLOSURE N

Office of International Programs

Items of Interest

Week Ending December 12, 2003

Visit to NRC of Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute

On December 9, 2003, a principal research engineer of the Japan Atomic Energy Research

Institute (JAERI), briefed the NMSS/ Fuel Cycle Facilities Branch on the status of their work in

mixed-oxide fuel (MOX). Because Japan’s schedule to utilize MOX has slipped, JAERI is

currently using a conceptual model plant in their work in the development of a probabilistic

safety assessment (PSA) methodology applicable to MOX fuel fabrication facilities. JAERI

expects to shift to using a practical model next year. The budget for the 5-year JAERI program

is $1 million. JAERI and the Japan Nuclear Cycle Development Institute (JNC) are expected to

combine their operations at the beginning of their 2005 budget year (April 2005) and receive

most of their budget from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology

(MEXT). The balance of their budget will be supported by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and

Industry (METI).

NRC Briefings for Taiwan Representative

On December 11, 2003, the new Washington-based Taiwan Economic and Cultural

Representative Office (TECRO) representative visited NRC for a series of overview briefings on

NRR’s role and responsibilities. Separate briefings with NMSS and RES will be scheduled in

early 2004. 
December 12, 2003 ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary

Items of Interest

Week Ending December 12, 2003

Document Released

to Public

Date Subject

Decision Documents

1. SECY-03-0160 9/11/03 Denial of Petition for Rulemaking (PRM-50-74) -

Amend Appendix K to 10 CFR Part 50 to Provide

a Voluntary Alternative which would Replace the

1971 American Nuclear Society Decay Heat

Standard with the 1994 American Nuclear

Society Standard

SRM on 03-0160 10/29/03 (same)

Voting Record on 03-

0160

10/29/03 (same)

Information Papers

1. SECY-03-0203 11/20/03 Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Briefing 

2. SECY-03-0209 12/05/03 SECY-03-0209 Weekly Information Report -

Week Ending November 28,2003

3. SECY-03-0204 11/25/03 Research Effectiveness Review Board (RERB)

Commission Correspondence

1. Letter to Congressman Rob Bishop, dated December 4, 2003, responds to request to

reopen public comment period on a license amendment request from Enviorcare of Utah,

Inc.

2. Letter to Governors, dated December 4, 2003, provides acknowledgment for participation

in the U.S. Nuclear Working Group of the U.S.-Canadian Joint Power System Outage

Task Force.

3. Letter to Congress, dated December 3, 2003, provides the draft FY 2004-2009 NRC

Strategic Plan.

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. Policy Statement on the Treatment of Environmental Justice Matters in NRC Regulatory

and Licensing Actions; Extension of comment period.

2. Notice of Hearing and Opportunity to Petition for Leave to Intervene Early Site Permit

(ESP) for the proposed Clinton ESP Site.
December 12, 2003 ENCLOSURE P

Region I

Items of Interest

Week Ending December 12, 2003

Meeting Regarding Draft Additional Security Measures for Manufacturers and Distributors

On December 8, 2003, representatives of the NRC and the Agreement State manufacturing

and distribution licensees met in Region I with management and technical staff from the NRC’s

Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response (NSIR), Office of Nuclear Materials Safety

and Safeguards (NMSS), and Region I. The purposes of the meeting were to provide

background on NRC’s security efforts in the materials arena, to discuss proper classification

and protection of Safeguards Information - Modified, and to discuss the proposed Additional

Security Measures (ASMs) for these licensees. The licensee representatives provided

comments and other feedback on the proposed ASMs.
December 12, 2003 ENCLOSURE P

Region II

Items of Interest

Week Ending December 12, 2003

Tennessee Valley Authority - Watts Bar Management Meeting

On December 8, 2003, representatives from Tennessee Valley Authority attended a

management meeting in the NRC Region II office to discuss Watts Bar plant performance and

planned major projects.

Region II Inspector Counterpart Meeting

On December 9-11, 2003, the Region II Inspector Counterpart meeting was held in the

Regional Office. On December 9, 2003, the Chief Information Officer gave a presentation on

Information Management and Information Technology; and two representatives from the

Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO) gave presentations on INPO activities. On

December 10, 2003, the Deputy Executive Director for Operations gave a presentation on

Agency Issues; the Director of the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) gave a

presentation on NRR/Reactor Program Issues, and guest speakers from various NRC offices

participated. 

Framatome-ANP, Inc. - Emergency Preparedness Training/Orientation Program

On December 11-12, 2003, the State Liaison Officer and Emergency Preparedness

Coordinator participated in an Emergency Preparedness Training/Orientation program for State

and local government officials, sponsored by Framatome ANP, Inc., in Richland, WA. 
December 12, 2003 ENCLOSURE P

Region IV

Items of Interest

Week Ending December 12, 2003

Public Meeting with Omaha Public Power District

On December 10, 2003, Region IV conducted a public meeting at the Regional Office in

Arlington, Texas, with representatives of the Omaha Public Power District. The purpose of the

meeting was to discuss the recent refueling outage at Fort Calhoun Station, communications

between the licensee and the NRC, and upcoming major projects at the plant. 

Order Issued to Former Waterford-3 Reactor Operator

On December 10, 2003, an order was issued to a former Waterford-3 senior reactor operator

who twice tested positive for an illegal substance in response to random fitness-for-duty tests. 

The order bars the former operator from applying for or holding an NRC operator’s license for

three years. 

Workshop with Manufacturing and Distribution Licensees

On December 11, 2003, the Division of Nuclear Materials Safety hosted a workshop for

Manufacturing and Distribution Licensees. The workshop, sponsored by the Offices of Nuclear

Security and Incident Response (NSIR) and Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS),

was held to discuss additional security measures and the protection of safeguards information

in anticipation of upcoming Orders which will be issued to these types of licensees. 

Representatives from States of Texas and New Mexico, NRC Region IV staff, the Director of

Industrial and Medical Nuclear Safety from NMSS also participated in the meeting.