INFORMATION REPORT

April 4, 2003 SECY-03-0051

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-03-0051 WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING MARCH 28, 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/ by Melinda Malloy Acting For

John W. Craig

Assistant for Operations, OEDO

Contact:

C. Glenn, OEDO
April 3, 2003 SECY-03-0051

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-03-0051 WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING MARCH 28, 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/ by Melinda Malloy Acting For

John W. Craig

Assistant for Operations, OEDO

Contact:

C. Glenn, OEDO

DISTRIBUTION:

Central File

Public Document Name: C:\WIR\WEEK328.WPD

OEDO AO/OEDO

CJGlenn JWCraig

04/04/03 04/04/03
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING MARCH 28, 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 4 OPA 12

RES * IP *

NSIR 7 SECY 14

OGC * Region I 16

ADM 8 Region II 17

CIO 9 Region III *

CFO 10 Region IV 19

HR 11 OEDO *

SB/CR * OCA 20

OE *

*No input this week
March 28, 2003 ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 28, 2003

NRC’s ASME Risk-Informed Steering Committee

As the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) begins to expand the application of

risk-informed insights into different areas of the ASME Codes, including design (Section III),

inservice inspection (Section XI), and inservice testing (OM Code), the NRC staff

representatives on these various Code committees recognize the need for a unified and

consistent regulatory approach in evaluating the acceptability of these risk-informed Code

methods. As a result, the NRC’s Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) staff has

established and is coordinating a new ASME Risk-Informed Steering Committee composed of a

group of staffers from various divisions in NRR as well as the Office of Nuclear Regulatory

Research (RES). This internal NRC group held its first meeting last week and plans to meet

informally every other month to collectively review and discuss the technical merits of various

risk-informed Code cases and Code changes proposed by ASME in order to ensure that the

approaches are consistent with the general direction of NRC’s risk initiatives and to arrive at a

regulatory consensus on their acceptability.

Relaxation to Order EA-03-009

NRC Order EA-03-009, which was issued on February 11, 2003, requires certain types of

examinations be conducted on reactor pressure vessel heads, head penetrations and welds. 

This order allows licensees to request relaxation from the requirements of the order for good

cause. As a result, a large number of licensees have indicated their intention to seek

relaxation, and three licensees have already done so: Turkey Point, Unit 3; Palo Verde, Units 1,

2, and 3; and Calvert Cliffs, Unit 2. Review of each request typically involves significant staff

resources in a short period of time due to the outage-driven nature of the inspection activities. 

The staff has completed its evaluation of Turkey Point and Palo Verde's evaluation is nearing

completion. The staff is currently focusing its attention on Calvert Cliffs, as the staff will be

engaged in daily conference/status calls with the licensee regarding their inspection activities

beginning on or about April 2, until completion of their examinations, which are scheduled to

last approximately 10 days.

NRC Regulatory Issue Summary 2003-06, High Security Protected and Vital Area

Barrier/Equipment Penetration Manual dated March 20, 2003

The NRC is issuing this regulatory issue summary to inform addressees about the utility of

various barriers at facilities to delay penetration by skilled and highly trained intruders into vital

or other security areas.

Issuance of North Anna and Surry Renewed Licenses

The Director of NRR issued the renewed operating licenses for North Anna, Units 1 and 2, and

Surry, Units 1 and 2, on March 20, 2003. The Virginia Electric and Power Company submitted

their license renewal applications on May 29, 2001. The staff completed the environmental and

safety reviews in accordance with the requirements of 10 CFR Part 51 and Part 54. The
March 28, 2003 ENCLOSURE A

renewed licenses for North Anna Units 1 and 2 expire on April 1, 2038, and August 21, 2040,

respectively. The renewed licenses for Surry Units 1 and 2 expire on May 25, 2032, and

January 29, 2033, respectively.

Industry Self-Assessment Initiative

On March 21, 2003, a public meeting with Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), industry, and NRC

regional representatives was held to discuss the joint NRC/Industry initiative to allow inspection

credit for certain industry self-assessment activities. During the meeting, agreement was

reached on several issues including the make-up of the self-assessment team, NRC oversight

requirements, eligibility requirements and degree of NRC assessment during pilot

self-assessments. During the next meeting, tentatively scheduled for the beginning of May, the

plan is to select four plants (one in each region) for pilot self-assessments to be conducted later

this year.

Early Site Permit (ESP) Pre-application Public Meeting in Clinton, Illinois

On March 20, 2003, the New Reactor Licensing Project Office (NRLPO) conducted a

pre-application ESP public meeting in Clinton, Illinois for the Clinton site. The purpose of the

meeting was to provide information regarding the NRC ESP review process, as well as to

outline future opportunities for public involvement in that process. NRLPO held the public

meeting at the Vespasian Warner Public Library located in Clinton, Illinois. In addition, the NRC

met with local public officials prior to the public meeting to discuss the ESP review process. 

The public meeting was held at 7:00 p.m. and was preceded by an open house beginning one

hour before the meeting. During the open house period, individual NRC staff members were

available to the public for informal discussions about the ESP process. Representatives from

NRC Region III and the Office of the General Counsel, as well as other NRR personnel

provided support for the meetings. There were approximately 11 non-NRC attendees in the

meeting with local public officials and approximately 50 non-NRC attendees in the public

meeting. A wide range of viewpoints was expressed at the public meeting and several NRC

and Exelon Generating Company representatives were interviewed by the local media.

Public Meeting with NEI on ESP Application Issues

On March 26, 2003, the NRC staff met with representatives from NEI to discuss issues related

to ESP applications and reviews. Representatives from Dominion Generation, Exelon

Generating Company, and Entergy Operations, Incorporated, (prospective applicants for an

ESP) were also in attendance via phone. The NRC staff and NEI discussed staff comments on

the white papers which describe NEI’s approach to the resolution of generic ESP topics: ESP8, use of a bounding approach for providing fuel cycle and transportation information required

by National Environmental Policy Act (10 CFR Part 51 Tables S-3 and S-4); and ESP-12,

“Severe Accidents Issues.” NEI agreed to submit an issue resolution letter on each of the

subject topics no later than April 30, 2003.
March 28, 2003 ENCLOSURE B

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 28, 2003

Trousdale County Puts Louisiana Energy Services Zoning Decision on Hold

On March 24, 2003, Trousdale County, Tennessee Commissioners decided to put a new zoning

classification on indefinite hold, pending resolution of questions regarding what types of heavy

industry, including a uranium enrichment plant proposed by Louisiana Energy Services (LES),

could be sited on land purchased by a local development authority. This hold would also allow

more information to become available when LES submits its license application, expected in

early April, for its proposed gas centrifuge plant. The Trousdale County Commissioners also

rejected a motion to allow citizens to hold a public referendum on the LES plant.

Western Nuclear Uranium Mill Tailings Site - Public Meeting with Western Nuclear Incorporated

On March 24, 2003, staff from the Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards, the Division of

Waste Management, and the Office of the General Counsel met with representatives from

Western Nuclear, Inc. (WNI) in Rockville, Maryland. This meeting was at WNI’s request to

discuss its March 7, 2003, “Supplemental Groundwater Modeling Report,” Red Mule property

acquisitions, and surety issues. WNI indicated that it had acquired two properties in Red Mule

as part of its “good-faith effort” to purchase properties within the proposed long-term care

boundary. The staff’s goal is to review the supplemental report within two months and provide

a follow-up report to the Commission by June 20, 2003, in accord with the Staff Requirements

Memorandum for SECY-02-0183. The report to the Commission will also contain comments

from the Department of Energy and the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality on

WNI’s proposal to use institutional controls, and an alternate water supply, on residential

properties in lieu of active corrective measures to protect human health and the environment

from site-derived ground-water contamination.

Meeting with Russian Federation’s Gosatomnadzor to Discuss Licensing Activities in the

Russian Federation Plutonium Disposition Program

On March 17-20, 2003, a Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards staff member, and

project management and contractor staff of the Department of Energy National Nuclear

Security Administration met with staff of the Russian Federation’s Gosatomnadzor (GAN) at

its Headquarters in Moscow. GAN is responsible for regulating nuclear facilities in Russia,

including the proposed Russian mixed-oxide (MOX) fuel fabrication facility. The staff

participated in discussions on the NRC regulatory process, including the development of

10 CFR Part 70 (with emphasis on the requirement for management measures) and the MOX

Standard Review Plan (SRP), NUREG-1718. GAN management discussed its review of the

Russian translation of the MOX SRP, and the need to develop an equivalent document for GAN

use. The staff also gave a 1-day presentation on configuration management, including basic

concepts, program elements, and regulatory history and requirements. The next meeting will

be held May 19-30, 2003, in Moscow. Issues on the agenda include review of comments on

Russian development of new regulatory requirements and criticality safety.
March 28, 2003 ENCLOSURE B

Trade Court Overturns U.S. Enrichment Corporation Duty Petition Determinations

On March 25, 2003, the U.S. Court of International Trade overturned Department of Commerce

(DOC) determinations to apply duties to enriched uranium purchased from Urenco and Eurodif.

These duties resulted from a U.S. Enrichment Corporation petition to DOC and the International

Trade Commission, in December 2000, claiming that Urenco and Eurodif were using unfair

trade practices in selling enrichment services in the U.S. The Trade Court ruled that Urenco

and Eurodif provided enrichment services and not a product. Under U.S. law, duties cannot be

applied to services.

10 CFR Part 20 Direct Final Rule

On March 25, 2003, the direct final rule and companion proposed rule on labeling personal

information in radiation exposure reports was published in the Federal Register (direct final rule,

68 FR 14307; proposed rule, 68 FR 14349). The rule would require licensees to clearly label

any section of the event report containing personal information, "Privacy Act Information: Not

for Public Disclosure." This action is necessary to ensure that personal information filed with

NRC is segregated from the event report and maintained in a separate, non-public document. 

The comment period ends on April 24, 2003, and the rule will become effective on June 9,

2003, unless significant adverse comments are received by April 24, 2003.

Staff Attends Meeting on Mixed-Oxide Environmental Justice

On March 20, 2003, Division of Waste Management staff attended a meeting on environmental

justice issues for the proposed Mixed-Oxide (MOX) Fuel Fabrication facility. The meeting was

hosted by the Imani Group and Citizens for Environmental Justice at the Second Baptist Church

in Aiken, South Carolina. About 50 people attended the meeting. Staff provided a brief

overview on NRC’s roles and responsibilities relative to the proposed MOX project, the

environmental justice review in its draft environmental impact statement (DEIS), and ways the

public could submit comments. The DEIS concludes that there is a potential environmental

justice concern should a significant hypothetical accident occur. These accidents are

considered to be highly unlikely, and the risk to all populations is very small. Staff considered

this meeting beneficial both in (a) establishing a dialog with low-income and minority persons

surrounding the Savannah River Site; and (b) obtaining useful comments on how the potential

impacts to low-income and minority populations could be mitigated.

Diablo Canyon Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation - Atomic Safety and Licensing

Board Limited-Appearance Statements

On March 23-24, 2003, Spent Fuel Project Office and Office of the General Counsel staff

attended four Limited-Appearance Statement sessions conducted by the Atomic Safety and

Licensing Board (ASLB) in San Luis Obispo, California, as part of the hearing process for the

Pacific Gas and Electric application for an Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation at the

Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant. The limited-appearance sessions were held at ASLB’s

discretion to allow members of the public who are not admitted as parties to the hearing to

provide comments to the Board.
March 28, 2003 ENCLOSURE B

Approximately 100 members of the public provided their views to the Board for its

consideration. The majority of speakers expressed their objections to the Board’s decision of

December 2, 2002, which dismissed a number of proposed contentions, including those dealing

with consideration of terrorist acts as part of the environmental review, emergency planning,

spent fuel transportation, and seismic issues. Many speakers expressed concern over the

vulnerability of the spent fuel pools to terrorist attack, and many speakers also called for the

permanent shutdown of the plant.

A letter from Senator Diane Feinstein to NRC’s Chairman Meserve, dated March 19, 2003, was

also presented, in which Senator Feinstein urged NRC to reconsider the Board’s decision and

admit all the dismissed contentions into the hearing.

American Society of Mechanical Engineers Meeting

From March 17-19, 2003, Spent Fuel Project Office staff participated in a special meeting of the

American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Section III, Subgroup NUPACK, Working

Group WC. The purpose of the meeting was to prepare a draft of the Subsection WC for Spent

Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Waste Storage Containment for the ASME Section III, Division 3

Code. The draft will be sent out to all NUPACK members for a letter ballot. Current plans are

to resolve and finalize comment responses at the time of the next NUPACK meeting and to

present the draft to ASME Section III for approval.
March 28, 2003 ENCLOSURE D

Nuclear Security and Incident Response

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 28, 2003

Preliminary Notifications

1. PNO-III-03-014A, Palisades Nuclear Power Plant - PALISADES LOSS OF SHUTDOWN

COOLING CAUSED BY LOSS OF OFFSITE POWER (UPDATE).

2. PNO-I-03-007, Doylestown Hospital - POTENTIAL MEDICAL EVENT AT DOYLESTOWN

HOSPITAL.

3. PNO-III-03-014, Palisades Nuclear Power Plant - LOSS OF SHUTDOWN COOLING

CAUSED BY LOSS OF OFFSITE POWER.

4. PNO-IV-03-019, Law Engineering & Environmental Services - STOLEN PORTABLE

GAUGE.

5. PNO-I-03-006, Seabrook Station - UNUSUAL EVENT DUE TO A POTENTIAL

INTRUDER INSIDE THE PROTECTED AREA (#39686).

6. PNO-II-03-003, Gallet and Associates, Inc. - STOLEN PORTABLE GAUGE.

7. PNO-IV-03-018, Southwest Research Institute - RADIOACTIVE SHIPMENT IN EXCESS

OF EXTERNAL CONTAMINATION LIMITS.

8. PNO-III-03-015, JANX - FATAL ACCIDENT INVOLVING TRANSPORTATION OF TWO

INDUSTRIAL RADIOGRAPHY EXPOSURE DEVICES.
March 28, 2003 ENCLOSURE F

Office of Administration 

Items of Interest 

Week Ending March 28, 2003

Filing and Notification Requirements for the Shipments of Certain Radioactive Materials 

(Parts 70, 71, and 73).

A final rule that amends the filing and advance notification requirements applicable to

shipments of certain radioactive materials was published in the Federal Register on March 26,

2003 (68 FR 14528). The amendments reflect recent organizational and administrative

changes within the NRC. The final rule became effective March 26, 2003.

Integrated Acquisition Initiative - One Year Review

On March 26, 2003, a representative from the NRC’s Division of Contracts attended a meeting

at the Small Business Administration Auditorium in Washington, DC regarding the President’s

E-Government Initiative entitled “Integrated Acquisition Environment (IAE).” This initiative is in

the Internal Efficiency and Effectiveness (IEE) Portfolio of the President’s E-Government

Initiative. The IAE team leaders provided an update of IAE accomplishments during the past

year, updated IAE team members on the status of pending agency-wide projects, and provided

IAE team members with an advanced notice of new IAE projects. Some of the agency-wide

systems of particular interest to the NRC in this E-Government portfolio include the Business

Partner Network (BPN) and the Federal Procurement Data System - Next Generation (FPDSNG). The BPN web site will provide a central point where contractual and financial offices can

obtain information needed to transact business with commercial firms and other government

agencies. The BPN is on schedule to begin operations in October 2003. The NRC participated

in the interagency group which clarified the functional and data element requirements of the

FPDS-NG which was issued as a solicitation and is currently under technical and cost review by

the General Services Administration. The NRC learned that this system also is scheduled to

begin full deployment in October 2003. 
March 28, 2003 ENCLOSURE G

Chief Information Officer

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 28, 2003

Freedom of Information and Privacy Act (FOIA/PA) Requests received during the period of

March 21 through March 27, 2003:

Allegations, RIII-2002-A-0188 and RIII-2003-A-002, all documents relating to all discussions

between NRC Region III and/or NRC legal staff (FOIA/PA-2003-0220)

Nuclear tests conducted by Israel, Norway, or South Africa since 1984; USGS Programme 

S-078 (K212) since 1984; use of nuclear power in Antarctica, about 04-01 (FOIA/PA-2003-

0221)

MLTS, licensed for medical use of radioactive materials, New York (FOIA/PA-2003-0222)

OI Annual Reports, 1999 through 2002, all records (FOIA/PA-2003-0223)

Davis-Besse, NRC analysis and oversight of FirstEnergy’s refurbishment and maintenance of

primary reactor pressure boundary, all records and correspondences (FOIA/PA-2003-0224)

Environmental Site Assessment, Mississippi State Route 24/48 Woodville (US61) to McComb

(I-55), locations of hazardous, toxic, and non-hazardous (solid) waste sites (FOIA/PA-2003-

0225)

Brunswick Steam Electric Plant Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation Safety Analysis

Report, Carolina Power and Light (FOIA/PA-2003-0226)

Allegation RIII-02-A-0081, all exhibits, transcripts, related documents, and any related

enforcement action documents (FOIA/PA-2003-0227)

MLTS, Part 30 and 40 licenses, entire country; refine to PA, OH, WV (FOIA/PA-2003-0228)

IMPAC listing (FOIA/PA-2003-0229)

Decommissioning, list of licenses to contractors (FOIA/PA-2003-0230)

SRO certification and license, GFES exam results, 1989, for named individual; entire file NRC

maintains on named individual (FOIA/PA-2003-0231)

OIG report 02-11-1, all documents (FOIA/PA-2003-0232)

IMPAC listing (FOIA/PA-2003-0233).
March 28, 2003 ENCLOSURE H

Chief Financial Officer

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 28, 2003

Input to Weekly Commission Update

The Chief Financial Officer signed the FY 2003 proposed fee rule on March 27, 2003, for

publication in the Federal Register (FR). In summary, this rulemaking states that the total

amount to be recovered for FY 2003 is $526.3 million, which includes $29.3 million for

homeland security. The NRC estimates that approximately $124.7 million will be recovered

from fees for services assessed under 10 CFR Part 170 and other receipts, and estimates a net

adjustment of $1.9 million for payments received in FY 2003 for FY 2002 invoices. The

remaining $399.7 million would be recovered through 10 CFR Part 171 annual fees.

Based on the change in the magnitude of the budget to be recovered through fees, the

Commission determined that it is appropriate to establish new rebaselined annual fees under

Part 171 this year -- resulting in increased annual fees compared to FY 2002 for four classes of

licensees (power reactors, spent fuel storage/reactor decommissioning, fuel facilities, and rare

earth facilities), decreased annual fees for two classes (non-power reactors and uranium

recovery), and in two classes, materials users and transportation, some categories (subclasses)

of licenses would have increased annual fees and others would have decreased annual fees.

In addition, the professional hourly rate for the materials programs established in §170.20 would

be revised. The FY 2003 proposed hourly rate for the materials program is $158 per hour

compared to $152 per hour in FY 2002. The hourly rate for the reactor program would remain

unchanged at $156.

At the conclusion of the 30-day public comment period, the staff will finalize the FY 2003 fee

rule, with an estimated FR publication date of mid-June 2003.
March 28, 2003 ENCLOSURE I

Office of Human Resources

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 28, 2003

Departures

WILLIAMS, Herman RECORDS MANAGEMENT TECHNICIAN RIV
March 28, 2003 ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 28, 2003

Media Interest

Press coverage continued to focus on end-of-cycle meetings at various plants. These meetings

were often dominated by citizens concerned with security issues.

Several media outlets wrote about a Federal Emergency Management Agency report that said

emergency planning around the Indian Point nuclear facility should consider the threat of

simultaneous terrorists attacks on the reactors and on the area near them. 

Several Ohio newspapers featured articles on the troubled Davis-Besse nuclear plant, including

allegations by watchdog groups that the licensee intends to restart the facility even though it

knows that two of the reactor’s four coolant pumps have flaws and are leaking.

Chairman Meserve conducted exit interviews with the Gannett and Platts news services.

Press Releases

Headquarters:

03-034 NRC Releases Draft Final Version of Yucca Mountain Review Plan

03-035 NRC Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards to Meet April 10-

12 in Rockville, Maryland

03-036 NRC Taking Action on Recommendations from Davis-Besse

Lessons Learned Task Force

03-037 NRC to Hold Public Meeting on April 2 in Rockville, Maryland, to

Discuss Probabilistic Risk Assessment Handbook

03-038 NRC’s Advisory Committee on the Medical Uses of Isotopes to

Hold Public Meeting May 20-21

03-039 NRC Releases Evaluation of Effects of Baltimore Tunnel Fire on

Rail Transportation of Spent Nuclear Fuel

03-040 NRC Amends Licensing, Inspection and Annual Fees Rule

Regions:

I-03-018 NRC to Discuss Annual Performance Assessment of Calvert Cliffs

Nuclear Power Plant 

I-03-019 NRC to Discuss Annual Performance Assessment of Susquehanna

Nuclear Power Plant

I-03-020 New Inspector Named at Vermont Yankee
March 28, 2003 ENCLOSURE M

I-03-021 NRC To Discuss Annual Performance Assessment of R.E. Ginna

Nuclear Power Plant

I-03-022 NRC To Discuss Annual Performance Assessment of Limerick

Nuclear Power Plant

II-03-018 NRC To Meet With Dominion Energy Officials To Discuss Safety

Performance at Surry Nuclear Power Plant 

II-03-019 NRC To Meet With FPL Officials To Discuss Safety Performance at

Turkey Point Nuclear Power Plant 

II-03-020 NRC To Meet With FPL Officials To Discuss Safety Performance at

St. Lucie Nuclear Power Plant

II-03-021 NRC To Meet With TVA Officials To Discuss Safety Performance

at Browns Ferry Nuclear Power Plant 

II-03-022 NRC To Meet With Duke Energy Officials To Discuss Safety at

McGuire Nuclear Power Plant

III-03-013 NRC to Meet With Exelon Nuclear Officials To Discuss Safety

Performance at Quad Cities Nuclear Power Plant 

III-03-014 NRC to Meet With Officials From Nuclear Management Company

To Discuss Safety Performance at Duane Arnold

III–03-015 NRC to Meet With Officials From Kewaunee Nuclear Power Station

To Discuss Safety Performance

III-03-016 NRC Special Inspection Into Electrical Problems at Palisades Plant 

III-03-017 NRC To Meet With U.S. Enrichment Corp. To Discuss Paducah

Gaseous Diffusion Plant Performance 
March 28, 2003 ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 28, 2003

Document Released

to Public

Date Subject

Decision Documents

1. SRM on SECY-02-0166 3/26/03 SECY-02-0166 - Policy Options and

Recommendations for Revising the NRC’s

Process for Handling Discrimination Issues

Voting Record on 

SECY-02-0166

3/26/03 (same)

2. SRM on SECY-02-0176 3/28/03 Proposed Rulemaking to Add New Section

10 CFR 50.69 "Risk-Informed

Categorization and Treatment of Structures,

Systems, and Components"

Voting Record on 

SECY-02-0176

3/28/03 (same)

Negative Consent Documents

1. SECY-03-0038 3/12/03 Annual Status Report for FY 2002 on the

Administration of the NRC’s Requalification

Program and the Results of Initial Operator

Licensing Examinations

SRM on SECY-03-0038 3/25/03 (same)

Information Papers

1. SECY-03-0043 3/20/03 SECY-03-0043 Weekly Information Report -

Week Ending March 14, 2003

2. SECY-03-0002 1/06/03 Evaluation of the Effects of the

Baltimore Tunnel Fire on Rail

Transportation of Spent Nuclear Fuel

3. SECY-03-0046 3/27/03 SECY-03-0046 Weekly Information Report -

Week Ending March 21, 2003
March 28, 2003 ENCLOSURE O

Memoranda

1. M030327A 3/27/03 Staff Requirements - Affirmation Session: I.

SECY-03-0019 - Final Rule: Part 2, Subpart

G, Rules of General Applicability,

“Availability of Official Records”

2. M030327A-R 3/28/03 Staff Requirements - Affirmation Session: I.

SECY-03-0019 - Final Rule: Part 2, Subpart

G, Rules of General Applicability,

“Availability of Official Records”

Commission Correspondence

1. Letter to Representative W.J. “Billy” Tauzin, dated March 19, 2003, provides views and

comments on the draft “Energy Policy Act of 2003.”

2. Letter to the Honorable Rod Paige, Secretary of Education, dated March 19, 2003,

provides NRC’s Fiscal Year 2002 Annual Federal Performance Report on Executive

Agency Actions to Assist Historically Black Colleges and Universities. 

3. Letter to The Honorable Bradley M. Campbell, State of New Jersey, Department of

Environmental Protection, dated March 17, 2003, concerns the potential release of

contaminated water into waters of the State from a leak in the Salem Unit 1 spent fuel

pool located in Lower Alloways Creek Township, NJ. 

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. ACRS Subcommittee Meeting on Safeguards and Security - Notice of Meeting.
March 28, 2003 ENCLOSURE P

Region I

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 28, 2003

Superbolt (PA) Inspection

Staff and management of the Division of Nuclear Materials Safety (DNMS), Region I, met with

the President and the Plant Manager of Superbolt at the Superbolt facility in Carnegie, PA, on

March 18, 2003 in connection with an inspection of this facility. Currently, Superbolt is a

manufacturer of mechanical stud/bolt tensioners designed to replace conventional hex nuts and

bolts. The Carnegie, PA site was also the location of a former AEC-licensed facility (Superior

Steel Co.) which was authorized to use unlimited quantities of uranium for commercial nuclear

power plant studies in the 1950’s and 1960’s. Staff from Pennsylvania Department of

Environmental Protection also attended the meeting. Facilities were inspected to evaluate the

potential scope of any required remediation work and to confirm status of the facilities since the

last inspection. Provisions to provide more frequent, routine periodic updates concerning the

status of ongoing activities were developed.

Meeting on General Services Administration (GSA) Watertown, MA Site

On March 25, 2003, DNMS staff participated in a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE)

meeting to discuss near-term plans to complete site decommissioning at the GSA Watertown

site. The ACOE is responsible for management of site decommissioning activities for the GSA,

the property owner. The site, a parcel of the former Watertown Arsenal, is on NRC’s Site

Decommissioning Management Plan (SDMP) list of contaminated sites due to scrap depleted

uranium (DU) fragments in the soil from licensed Arsenal operations. 

ACOE contractors are performing a comprehensive review of previous site surveys to

determine whether existing data are sufficient to support the final decommissioning survey. 

The ACOE indicated that the evaluation was expected to be completed by mid-April 2003. Staff

from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and Massachusetts

Department of Health also participated in the meeting.

Maine Yankee Tabletop Drill

On Friday March 21, 2003, Maine Yankee, Wiscasset, Maine, conducted a Severe Incident

Tactical Response Plan drill. The drill was conducted as a tabletop exercise and involved an

intruder attack scenario at its Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation. The purpose of the

drill was to exercise command and control, communication, and coordination among the full

spectrum of offsite support expected for an initiating event of this type. Participants in the drill

included the licensee and various local, State, and Federal law enforcement personnel. A

Region I Division of Nuclear Materials Safety inspector observed the drill.
March 28, 2003 ENCLOSURE P

Region II

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 28, 2003

Tennessee Valley Authority - Sequoyah Nuclear Power Plant

On March 27, 2003, the Regional Administrator toured the Sequoyah Nuclear Power Plant in

Soddy-Daisy, TN, and met with the NRC resident inspectors and members of the licensee’s

management. A part of the tour included the licensee’s efforts to replace steam generators on

Unit 1 and to follow up on the identification of a potential crack in a penetration through the 

Unit 1 reactor vessel head.

Carolina Power and Light Company - Harris Nuclear Power Plant Visit

On March 24, 2003, the Director, Division of Reactor Safety, met with the resident inspectors

and toured the Harris Nuclear Power Plant in New Hill, NC. The Director also participated in the

annual assessment meeting on March 25. 

Annual Assessment Meetings - Reactor Oversight Process

On March 25, 2003, the Regional Office held the Reactor Oversight Process Annual

Assessment Meeting for the Shearon Harris nuclear power facility at the Energy and

Environmental Center Board Room in New Hill, NC. 

On March 27, 2003, two similar meetings were held for the Joseph M. Farley nuclear power

facility at Houston County Administration Building in Birmingham, AL, and for the H. B.

Robinson nuclear power facility at the Hartsville Memorial Library in Hartsville, SC.

Participation in Job Fair as Part of Strategic Workforce Planning

On March 25, 2003, the Director, Division of Reactor Projects, and the Region II Human

Resources Team Leader participated, with representatives from other NRC offices, in a Job

Fair in Jacksonville, FL. This participation is part of the targeted recruiting efforts specified in

the Region II Strategic Workforce Plan.

Southern Nuclear Operating Company - Hatch Nuclear Power Plant

On March 27, 2003, the Deputy Director, Division of Reactor Projects, met with the resident

inspectors and toured the Hatch Nuclear Power Plant in Baxley, GA. The visit included a tour

of the licensee’s drywell and other refueling outage activities.

Public Meetings on Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed Mixed Oxide Facility

Representatives of the Region II Office and the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and

Safeguards participated in three public meetings to discuss the NRC Environmental Impact

Statement for the proposed Mixed-Oxide Fuel Facility. The proposal is to build the facility at the

Department of Energy Savannah River site. One meeting was held in the city of Savannah, GA 

on March 25, 2003, the second meeting was held in the city of North Augusta, SC, on March
March 28, 2003 ENCLOSURE P

26, 2003, and the third meeting was held in Charlotte, NC, on March 27, 2003. The meetings

were well attended by the public and had news media coverage.
March 28, 2003 ENCLOSURE P

Region IV

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 28, 2003

Annual Assessment Meeting with the South Texas Project

On March 24, 2003, a public meeting to discuss the assessment of the performance of the

South Texas Project was held in Bay City, Texas. Present at the meeting were licensee

personnel and local government officials. The assessment included discussion of the

performance indicator for unplanned scrams for Unit 2, which exceeded the White threshold. 

Predecisional Enforcement Conferences Regarding Structural Testing & Inspection, Inc.

The Director, Division of Nuclear Materials Safety, other members of the Region IV staff, and

an OGC Senior Attorney conducted closed predecisional enforcement conferences with

an individual and with Structural Testing & Inspection, Inc., on March 26, 2003, in Idaho Falls,

Idaho. The purpose of these conferences was to discuss apparent willful violations associated

with the acquisition, possession, and use of portable moisture density gauges by Structural

Testing & Inspection, an unlicensed entity. 

Annual Assessment Meeting with the Fort Calhoun Station

On March 27, 2003, the NRC met with officials from the Fort Calhoun Station to discuss the

results of the NRC’s annual assessment of performance at the Fort Calhoun Station. The

annual assessment was for the period of January 1 through December 31, 2002.
March 28, 2003 

Office of Congressional Affairs

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 28, 2003

CONGRESSIONAL HEARING SCHEDULE, NO. 10

OCA

Contact

DATE

&

PLACE

TIME WITNESS SUBJECT 

Gerke 04/01/03

2247 RHOB

 1:00 OPM, GAO, NTEU, SEA Compensation Reform: How Should

the Federal Government Pay ItsEmployees?

Reps. DaCivil ServGovernm

Gerke 04/01/03

2154 RHOB

 2:00 TBA Use of GPRA in Formulating the

President’s FY04 Budget

Reps. PlaGov’t EffiGovernm

Gerke 4/1-3/03

2123 RHOB

 9:30 Markup Energy Policy Act of 2003 Reps. Ta

Energy an

Gerke 04/03/03

2154 RHOB

10:00 TBA Toward a Logical Governing

Structure: Restoring ExecutiveReorganization Authority

Reps. DaGovernm

Combs TBA

SD-192

TBA Margaret Chu, OCRW FY04 Budget Senators 

Energy anAppropria

Gerke 04/08/03

SD-342

 9:30 TBA The Human Capital Challenge:

Offering Solutions and DeliveringResults

Senators Gov’t MgmGovernmReps. DaCivil ServGovernm
March 28, 2003 

OCA

Contact

DATE

&

PLACE

TIME WITNESS SUBJECT 

Gerke 04/8-10 and

Week of 4/29SD-366

10:00 Markup Energy Omnibus Draft Legislation Senators 

Energy an