INFORMATION REPORT

January 28, 2004 SECY-04-0009

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-04-0009 WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING JANUARY 23, 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 by Melinda Malloy Acting For/

William M. Dean

Assistant for Operations, OEDO

Contact:

M. Markley, OEDO
January 28, 2004 SECY-04-0009

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-04-0009 WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING JANUARY 23, 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 by Melinda Malloy Acting For/

William M. Dean

Assistant for Operations, OEDO

Contact:

M. Markley, OEDO

DISTRIBUTION:

Central File

Public Document Name: C:\WIR\Week123.WPD

OEDO AO/OEDO

MMarkley:paa WMDean

01/28/04 01/30/04
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING JANUARY 23, 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 *

NSIR * SECY 19

OGC * Region I 20

ADM 10 Region II 21

CIO 11 Region III 22

CFO * Region IV 23

HR 12 OEDO *

SBCR * OCA 24

OE *

*No input this week
January 23, 2004 ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Items of Interest

Week Ending January 23, 2004

Conference Call with Senior Staff Members for Vermont Senators Jeffords and Leahy

On January 15, 2004, NRC staff from NRR, Region I, and the Office of Congressional Affairs

held a conference call with senior staff members for Vermont Senators Jeffords and Leahy to

discuss issues related to extended power uprates (EPUs). The call was requested, in part, due

to requests from the Senators’ constituents for an independent safety assessment (ISA) of

Vermont Yankee (VY) (similar to the Maine Yankee ISA), due to public concerns regarding

Entergy’s EPU amendment request dated September 10, 2003. The NRC staff discussed the

EPU review process, the status of the NRC's review of the VY EPU amendment request,

including the containment overpressure issue, and the independence in various NRC activities

and processes. The Senators’ staff advised NRC representatives that formal correspondence

relating to the VY EPU application will follow.

LaSalle County Station Unit 1 Steam Dryer Cracking

During refueling outage inspection activities on January 18, 2004, LaSalle identified cracking on

a lower guide rod follower bracket at the base of the steam dryer. The licensee plans to make

repairs. Additionally, three indications of possible cracking at the top of the barrel were found. 

The licensee stated that these may be scratches and General Electric has recommended power

brushing the indications. No apparent moisture carryover problems, which has been associated

with dryer cracking in the past, were noted during the past cycle of LaSalle Unit 1. The licensee

is completing its steam dryer inspections and continuing to evaluate indications and potential

damage. NRC staff is continuing to monitor inspection activities and licensee actions. LaSalle

Unit 1 is a BWR-5 and received a 5% power uprate on May 9, 2000, as compared to Quad

Cities and Dresden units which are BWR-3s and were approved for 17% extended power

uprates.

Exelon Early Site Permit (ESP) Application Proceeding

The NRC received a petition from several organizations dated January 12, 2004, to intervene in

the Exelon early site permit (ESP) application proceeding. In accordance with 10 CFR Part 52,

a hearing is mandatory for an ESP, and a petition to intervene is a first step in admitting parties

as litigants in that hearing. The organizations cited in the petition, which represent 16

individuals who live within 50 miles of the proposed ESP site (at Clinton), are the Environmental

Law and Policy Center, Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League, Nuclear Information and

Resource Service, Nuclear Energy Information Service, and Public Citizen. The petition asserts

three aspects the petitioners believe are within the scope of the proceeding with regard to which

they wish to intervene. In accordance with the hearing process set forth in 10 CFR Part 2, a

Licensing Board appointed by the Commission will determine whether the petitioners have

standing (individuals cited in the petition are affected by the proposed action) and whether at

least one aspect cited in the petition is within the scope of the proceeding. The NRC Office of

the General Counsel, with support as needed from the NRC staff, will develop the NRC’s

response to the petition, regarding whether the petitioners have standing and the aspects

asserted in the petition are within the scope of the proceeding.
January 23, 2004 ENCLOSURE A

Public Meetings on the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement in Support of

License Renewal for Dresden Nuclear Power Station, Units 2 and 3

On January 14, 2004, the NRC staff conducted two meetings to solicit public comments on the

draft supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) issued on December 2, 2003, in

support of license renewal for the Dresden Nuclear Power Station, Units 2 and 3. The draft

SEIS is a plant-specific supplement to the Generic Environmental Impact Statement for

License Renewal of Nuclear Power Plants” (NUREG-1437). Approximately 70 people attended

the meetings, including representatives of the NRC staff, State and local governments, Exelon,

news media, and members of the public. Seven individuals spoke at the meetings. The public

comment period on the draft SEIS ends on February 24, 2004.

Issuance of License Renewal Safety Evaluation Report for H. B. Robinson Steam Electric Plant,

Unit 2

On January 20, 2004, the NRC staff issued the Safety Evaluation Report (SER) associated with

the license renewal application for the H. B. Robinson Steam Electric Plant, Unit 2. The staff

plans to present the results of its evaluation to the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards

(ACRS) in March 2004. 

License Renewal Pre-Application Meeting for the Point Beach Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2

On January 20, 2003, the staff held a public meeting with representatives from the Nuclear

Management Company to discuss their upcoming license renewal application for Point Beach

Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2. The most significant topic discussed at the meeting was

pressurized thermal shock (PTS). The licensee discussed its exemption request under staff

review for the use of a revised PTS calculation methodology based on the Babcock & Wilcox

(B&W) proposed Master Curve.” The licensee stated that it would rely on the approval of this

methodology for the PTS calculations of the Point Beach reactor vessels for license renewal. 

The licensee plans to submit its license renewal application on February 27, 2004.

Meeting on 10 CFR Part 52 Combined License (COL) Issues

On January 15, 2004, a public senior management meeting was held with the Nuclear Energy

Institute (NEI) to discuss 10 CFR Part 52 combined license (COL) issues. Participants at the

meeting included the Directors of NRR and RES. NEI requested the meeting with NRC senior

managers to share information on priorities, schedules, and challenges in new plant licensing

under 10 CFR Part 52. NEI discussed the 23 generic COL issues that have been identified. 

The staff indicated that discussions have begun on many of the COL generic issues but noted

that some resource challenges exist for increased interactions on COL issues. The staff stated

that it is currently planning for one COL application in FY 2006 and suggested that additional

early site permits and COL applications could be a challenge. The staff emphasized its need to

know industry's plans relative to COL applications as soon as possible. 

Emergency Preparedness Counterpart Meeting

On January 20-23, 2004, the Division of Inspection Program Management staff hosted the

Annual Emergency Preparedness (EP) counterpart meeting where NRC Headquarters and
January 23, 2004 ENCLOSURE A

regional EP staff discussed issues of mutual interest. Because of the large number of topics

and increased interest in the meeting, consideration is being given to increasing the meeting

frequency to semi-annually or quarterly. Topics discussed during the EP counterpart meeting

included the Reactor Oversight Process, Alert and Notification Systems, and updates on

various topics such as potassium iodide (KI), U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency

(FEMA), and evaluation of dose/consequences during exercises. A portion of the meeting on

January 21, 2004, was open to the public and was attended by Nuclear Energy Institute and

licensees representatives. A series of topics was discussed, including emergency

preparedness performance indicators, the significance determination process, and security

issues. 
January 23, 2004 ENCLOSURE B

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards

Items of Interest

Week Ending January 23, 2004

Third Part of DOE Yucca Mountain Project Office Evaluation

On January 12-16, 2003, staff from the Division of Waste Management and the Center for

Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses (CNWRA) performed the third part of a three-part

evaluation of the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Yucca Mountain Project Office activities in

Las Vegas, Nevada. During the three evaluation periods, staff independently verified technical

information presented in high-risk-significant analysis model reports (AMRs); assessed DOE’s

processes for developing and controlling AMRs; and evaluated the effectiveness of DOE’s

corrective action process in eliminating recurring problems. The NRC staff plans to use these

evaluations in determining DOE’s ability to submit a high-quality, technically adequate license

application, using its existing policies, procedures, methods, and practices. A final report

discussing the evaluation effort will be issued and made publicly available.

Meeting with BNFL Fuel Solutions Regarding Transport of VSC-24 Canisters in the Model

No. TS125 Cask

On January 15, 2004, Spent Fuel Project Office staff met with BNFL Fuel Solutions (BFS) to

discuss the transport of VSC-24 spent fuel canisters in the Model No. TS125 Cask (NRC

Certificate of Compliance No. 9276). The VSC-24 canister is part of a storage system that is

currently approved under 10 CFR Part 72 (Certificate of Compliance No. 72-1007). BFS plans

to request approval for shipment of the canisters, taking credit for fuel burnup and submit an

application for package approval to NRC in December 2004.

Meeting with Transnuclear, Inc. and Nuclear Management Company Regarding Transport of

TN-40 Storage Casks

On January 15, 2004, Spent Fuel Project Office staff met with Transnuclear, Inc. (TN) and

Nuclear Management Company to discuss the possibility of certifying for transportation the

TN-40 casks which are currently licensed only for storage of spent fuel at the Prairie Island

nuclear power plant. The discussion focused on the proposed approaches by TN for qualifying

the TN-40 casks for transport.
January 23, 2004 ENCLOSURE C

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research

Items of Interest

Week Ending January 23, 2004

Public Meeting on Mitigating Systems Performance Index Pilot Program

On January 21, 2004, at a public meeting to discuss technical and implementation issues with

the Mitigating Systems Performance Index (MSPI) pilot, RES and NRR staff presented final

results regarding the MSPI probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) adequacy issue, as well as

comparisons between MSPI predicted results and those from the current Reactor Oversight

Process (ROP). The meeting was attended by participants from NRC regional offices, industry

representatives (e.g., Nuclear Energy Institute, Institute of Nuclear Power Operatins), and pilot

plant licensees. 

The purpose of the MSPI is to monitor the performance of six systems based on their ability to

perform risk-significant functions. These include the emergency AC power, high pressure

injection, residual heat removal, and cooling water support systems for both pressurized water

reactors (PWRs) and boiling water reactors (BWRs), and the auxiliary feedwater system for

PWRs and heat removal systems for BWRs. The index, which approximates the change in

core damage frequency, is comprised of two elements - system unavailability and system

reliability. Plant-specific PRA models will be used to calculate the contribution of component

failures and maintenance unavailability to the index. 

Technical Exchange Meeting with Framatome-ANP on the Teleperm XS Digital Safety Platform

On January 16, 2004, RES staff participated in a technical exchange meeting with FramatomeANP (FANP) on the Teleperm XS (TXS) digital safety platform. TXS has been generically

approved for safety-related applications at power reactors in the United States. The meeting

supports ongoing research on the three generically qualified digital safety platforms. FANP

detailed technical information that will assist RES in developing guidance for performing future

plant-specific reviews. RES plans to hold future discussions with FANP on these matters. 
January 23, 2004 ENCLOSURE F

Office of Administration 

Items of Interest 

Week Ending January 23, 2004

Acquisition Training for NRC Project Managers

On January 22, 2004, Division of Contracts conducted the Source Evaluation Panel Procedures

Workshop as one of the twelve workshops offered under the NRC’s Acquisition Certification

Training Program.
January 23, 2004 ENCLOSURE G

Chief Information Officer

Items of Interest

Week Ending January 23, 2004

Conference on Platform for Privacy Preferences (P3P)

On January 21, OCIO staff attended a P3P conference for Federal government agencies

sponsored by the Center for Democracy and Technology and the American Council for

Technology. The conference focused on methods for meeting new OMB requirements for Web

site privacy issued under Section 208 of the E-Government Act. The requirements fall into two

categories: (1) submission of an annual privacy impact assessment and (2) creation and

maintenance of a machine-readable privacy statement in agreement with the natural language

privacy statement that is already available at NRC’s Public Web Site.

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

January 16 through January 22, 2004:

Contract #DR01-0347 FOIA/PA-2004-0100

Future nuclear outages in the U.S., current records FOIA/PA-2004-0101

General Electric Co. Refractory, 21800 Tungsten Road, Euclid, OH

44117, all records

FOIA/PA-2004-0102

Nuclear waste storage facilities, U.S. FOIA/PA-2004-0103

Operating nuclear power reactors, U.S. FOIA/PA-2004-0104
January 23, 2004 ENCLOSURE I

Office of Human Resources

Items of Interest

Week Ending January 23, 2004

Arrivals

Carl Grigsby Security Specialist NSIR

Darrin A. King Sr. Information Management Analyst OCIO

Jonathan Lilliedahl Reactor Inspector R-I

John McKirgan Program Manager NSIR

Menelik Yimam IT Specialist NMSS

Phillip T. Young Reactor Engineer NRR

Departures

Allison Black Student Engineer NRR

Christopher Graham Electronics Engineer NRR

Matthew Kormann Sr. Intelligence Specialist NSIR

Amanda Nerret Student Clerk NSIR
January 23, 2004 ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs

Items of Interest

Week Ending January 23, 2004

Media Interest

New delays in efforts to restart the troubled Davis-Besse nuclear plant in Ohio.

NRC initiates special inspection at Kewaunee concerning nuclear plant safety pump problems

that led to an unscheduled plant shutdown.

An NRC-sponsored public meeting in Mississippi on Entergy’s application for an early site

permit at Grand Gulf.

OPA assisted NRR staff in an interview with the Chicago Tribune on plant aging issues.

Press Releases

Headquarters:

04-006 NRC Approves Power Uprate for Fort Calhoun (1/20)

04-007 NRC Issues Review Standard for Extended Power Uprates (1/20)

04-008 NRC to Hold 16th Annual Regulatory Information Conference March 10 -12

in Washington, D.C. (1/20)

04-009 NRC Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards to Meet February 5 - 7 in

Rockville, Maryland (1/20)

04-010 NRC Establishes Emergency Preparedness Organization in Office of

Nuclear Reactor Regulation (1/21)

04-011 NRC Makes License Renewal Application Available for the Millstone

Nuclear Power Plant (1/23)

Regions:

II-04-003 Public Meeting February 5 on License Renewal Application for Browns

Ferry Nuclear Plant, Units 1, 2, and 3 (1/22)

III-04-005 NRC Dispatches Special Inspection Team to Look Into Safety Injection

Pump Problem at Kewaunee (1/20)
January 23, 2004 ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary

Items of Interest

Week Ending January 23, 2004

Document Released

to Public

Date Subject

Decision Documents

1. COMSECY-03-0058 12/3/03 Status of the Office of Nuclear Material

Safety and Safeguards Business Process

Improvement Initiatives

SRM on COMSECY-03-

0058

1/15/04 (same)

Commission Voting

Record on COMSECY03-0058

1/15/04 (same)

Information Papers

1. SECY-04-0001 1/02/04 Semiannual Update of the Status of New

Reactor Licensing Activities

2. SECY-04-0004 1/15/04 SECY-04-0004 Weekly Information Report -

Week Ending January 9, 2004

Commission Correspondence

1. Letter to Dr. Henry Royal, President, Society of Nuclear Medicine, dated January 12, 2004,

concerns a dose reconstruction case.

2. Letter to Dr. Simin Dadparvar, President, American College of Nuclear Physicians, dated

January 12, 2004, concerns a dose reconstruction case.

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. Advisory Committee on the Medical Uses of Isotopes: Meeting Notice, March 1-2, 2004.
January 23, 2004 ENCLOSURE P

Region I

Items of Interest

Week Ending January 23, 2004

Region I Conducts Response Technical Manual Training

On January 21 and 22, 2004, NRC Region I conducted two, eight-hour training courses on the

NRC Response Technical Manual (RTM). These courses were provided by an NSIR staff

member and were attended by approximately 60 persons, including Region I management, four

headquarters personnel, the Bureau Director of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental

Protection (DEP), and a DEP staff member. 

Yankee Rowe Citizen’s Advisory Board Meeting

On January 21, 2004, a Region I Branch Chief and inspector attended the quarterly meeting of

the Yankee Rowe Citizen’s Advisory Board in Rowe, MA. The Region I representatives

described recent inspection results and planned inspection activities to the Board, as well as the

review process for the Yankee Rowe License Termination Plan. The licensee presented the

results of recent decommissioning progress, and a representative of the Massachusetts

Department of Public Health (MDPH) described the risk evaluation MDPH will prepare for site

release. Approximately 45 people attended the meeting, including a representative from a local

weekly newspaper.

Presentation to American Society of Mechanical Engineers

On January 20, 2004, the Region I Deputy Director, Division of Reactor Safety, addressed the

Philadelphia Chapter of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers at Villanova University. 

Approximately 70 engineers and engineering students attended the presentation on NRC

licensing of advanced reactors.
January 23, 2004 ENCLOSURE P

Region II

Items of Interest

Week Ending January 23, 2004

Southeastern Nuclear Plant Manager’s Meeting

On January 20, 2004, the Regional Administrator attended the Southeastern Nuclear Plant

Manager's Meeting in Orlando, Florida.

Florida Power and Light Company - St. Lucie Nuclear Plant

On January 21, 2004, the Regional Administrator visited the St. Lucie Nuclear Plant in

Jensen Beach, Florida. The purpose of the visit was to tour the facility and meet with licensee

management and the resident inspectors. 

2004 NRC Regional Security Inspector’s Counterpart Meeting

On January 20-23, 2004, Region II hosted the 2004 NRC Regional Security Inspector

Counterpart Meeting. The meeting included inspector training, briefings on current issues and

comments by two representatives from the Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response. 

United States Enrichment Corporation - Closed Predecisional Enforcement Conference

On January 21, 2004, Region II held a closed Predecisional Enforcement Conference with

United States Enrichment Corporation. The purpose of this Predecisional Enforcement

Conference was to discuss apparent violations involving the failure to properly control classified

information.
January 23, 2004 ENCLOSURE P

Region III

Items of Interest

Week Ending January 23, 2004

Special Inspection at Kewaunee Nuclear Power Plant

On January 20, 2004, Region III began a special inspection at the Kewaunee Nuclear Power

Plant, operated by Nuclear Management Company, to review the circumstances surrounding

the partial clogging of heat exchangers for the safety injection pump oil coolers. The plant was

shut down January 16 when the heat exchangers were found to be clogged by silt and lake

weeds.

NRC Oversight Panel Meeting in Oak Harbor, Ohio

The NRC Oversight Panel, established under Manual Chapter 0350 to coordinate the agency’s

activities in response to the reactor vessel head damage at the Davis-Besse Nuclear Power

Station, met with FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company officials on January 21, 2004, in Oak

Harbor, Ohio, to discuss the status of the utility’s activities at the plant. The meeting was held

in the evening to facilitate attendance by members of the public.
January 23, 2004 ENCLOSURE P

Region IV

Items of Interest

Week Ending January 23, 2004

21st Century Technologies, Inc. - Closed Predecisional Enforcement Conference

On January 20, 2004, Region IV conducted a closed predecisional enforcement conference

with 21st Century Technologies, Inc. to discuss four apparent violations of NRC requirements

involving distribution products that were not specifically authorized by the Company’s exempt

distribution license. 

Regional Administrator Visits South Texas Project

On January 21, 2003, the Regional Administrator visited the South Texas Project Nuclear

Power Plant. The visit included a tour of the plant and observation of material condition and

security controls, meetings with licensee managers on current issues, and a discussion of plant

performance with the resident inspector.

Public Meeting with Nebraska Public Power District

On January 22, 2004, the Director, Division of Reactor Projects led a public exit meeting with

Nebraska Public Power District officials in Brownville, Nebraska. The purpose of the meeting

was to discuss the results of recently completed quarterly inspection of completed actions in the

Cooper Nuclear Station Confirmatory Action Letter. 
January 23, 2004 

Office of Congressional Affairs

Items of Interest

Week Ending January 23, 2004

CONGRESSIONAL HEARING SCHEDULE, NO. 42

OCA

Contact

DATE

&

PLACE

TIME WITNESS SUBJECT 

Keeling 01/29/04

SD-419

 9:30 State Dept; Commerce,

DOD, National NuclearSecurity Administration

Protocol Additional to theSafeguards Agreement Betweenthe U.S. and IAEA

Senators Foreign 

Combs 02/04/04

Tentative

10:00 NRC, DOE, Bechtel, NEI,

NARUC

Review of the Progress of DOE’sYucca Mountain Project

Reps. BaEnergy aEnergy a