INFORMATION REPORT

September 18, 2003 SECY-03-0163

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-03-0163 WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING SEPTEMBER 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:

L. Roche, OEDO
September 18, 2003 SECY-03-0163

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-03-0163 WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING SEPTEMBER 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:

L. Roche, OEDO

DISTRIBUTION:

Central File

Public Document Name: C:\WIR\Week912.WPD

OEDO AO/OEDO

LRoche WMDean

09/17/03 09/23/03
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 12, 2003

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

Headquarters and Regional Office activities. 

Contact: L. Roche, OEDO by E-mail: lar2@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 *

NSIR 9 SECY 19

OGC * Region I 20

ADM * Region II 21

CIO 11 Region III *

CFO * Region IV 23

HR 15 OEDO *

SB/CR * OCA 24

OE *

*No input this week
September 12, 2003 ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Items of Interest

Week Ending September 12, 2003

Differing Professional View Related to the Reactor Building Crane at the Duane Arnold Facility

On September 5, 2003, the Acting Director of the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR)

issued a closure memorandum to the submitter of a Differing Professional View (DPV)

regarding an amendment to the operating license for the Duane Arnold Energy Center (DAEC). 

Amendment No. 251, granted by the NRC on May 16, 2003, accepted the DAEC reactor

building crane as being single-failure-proof for loads up to 100 tons. The DPV, which was

submitted on June 17, 2003, raised questions about the staff’s lack of consideration and

documentation of certain seismic loading effects that were required to be considered before

qualifying the reactor building crane as single-failure proof. An ad hoc review panel was

commissioned to review this issue and provide recommendations for follow-up actions as

necessary. The panel completed its review and documented the results in a memorandum to

the Acting NRR Office Director on August 27. The Acting Director agreed with the panel’s

conclusions that while the staff did consider the seismic loading efforts in question during the

technical review of the amendment, the staff’s safety evaluation report (SER), which

accompanied the license amendment, did not fully document the technical staff’s evaluation of

certain loading effects and the basis for acceptance of the licensee’s amendment request. The

panel’s review and the Acting Director’s conclusions essentially substantiated the DPV

submitter’s concern regarding lack of documentation. As a result, the Acting Director tasked

the staff with conducting an additional evaluation to verify that the previously undocumented

seismic loading effects would not pose a significant safety concern. This follow-up review

concluded that there would be no significant loading effects created by the additional loads, and

that it was acceptable for the licensee to use the subject crane to move fuel storage casks. 

The results of the follow-up review were documented in a memorandum from the NRR Office

Director to the Region III Regional Administrator on August 29, 2003.

In a subsequent memorandum to the Associate Director for Project Licensing & Technical

Analysis, the Acting Director also tasked the NRR staff with two longer-term actions. The first

was to issue a supplement to the SER, providing the staff’s basis for determining that the

previously undocumented loading effects were of no safety significance. The second action

was to determine why the original SER did not fully document these loading effects and to

recommend actions that would prevent recurrence. The DPV submitter will be included on

distribution as appropriate for correspondence related to the follow-up actions.

Issuance of Safety Evaluation Report for Ft. Calhoun License Renewal Application

On September 5, 2003, the staff issued the Safety Evaluation Report (SER) associated with the

license renewal application for the Fort Calhoun Station, Unit 1. The staff plans to present the

results of its evaluation to the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) on

October 1, 2003. 
September 12, 2003 ENCLOSURE A

Early Site Permit (ESP) Applications for Grand Gulf, North Anna, and Clinton Plants

On September 2, 3, and 10, 2003, the staff met with Entergy Nuclear Potomac, Dominion

Energy, and Exelon Nuclear LLC, respectively. The purpose of the meetings was to discuss

the staff’s plans for conducting quality assurance inspections in conjunction with the review of

the prospective Grand Gulf, North Anna, and Clinton early site permit (ESP) applications. The

staff discussed information and documents needed to prepare for the inspections, which will be

conducted soon after receipt of the ESP applications. The prospective applicants summarized

their QA organizations and described where the relevant documents can be found.

NRC Information Notice 2003-15, Importance of Follow-up Activities in Resolving Maintenance

Issues

On September 5, 2003, the NRC issued this information notice to alert addressees to recent

experience that emphasizes the importance of follow up activities in resolving maintenance

issues in nuclear power plants. It is expected that recipients will review the information for

applicability to their facilities and consider actions, as appropriate, to avoid similar problems. 

In-service Inspection Workshop

The Division of Engineering hosted a workshop for regional inspectors, September 3-5, 2003,

on in-service inspection topics, including inspections for steam generators, reactor pressure

vessel head and head penetrations, and reactor coolant pressure boundary leakage. The main

purpose was to discuss these topics in a way that would benefit the regional inspectors who

implement inspection procedures and temporary instructions related to in-service inspections.

All of the regions were represented, with 23 attendees from the regional offices and one

resident inspector. NRR, RES, Argonne National Laboratories, and Pacific Northwest National

Laboratories were represented. More than 50 people attended the workshop, which included

about 24 presentations and discussions. 

Steam Generator Regulatory Framework Public Meeting

On September 4, 2003, a public meeting was held with representatives from Duke Power and

the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) to: (1) discuss the appropriate safety factors to be applied

when assessing the structural integrity of steam generator tubes and (2) discuss how these

factors will be incorporated into the regulatory framework. This issue is the last outstanding

technical issue associated with the new regulatory framework (i.e., the plant technical

specifications) for steam generator tubes which began with the issuance of the industry

guidance in NEI 97-06.

As discussed during the meeting, the industry is currently assessing the impact that various

safety factors will have on plant operation, if any. This assessment is scheduled to be

completed in October 2003. Once completed, the industry will assess the need to develop

additional guidance on what the appropriate safety factors should be and the methodology for

determining these safety factors. The staff and industry are targeting a meeting in November to

discuss the results of the industry’s analysis on the impact of various safety factors.
September 12, 2003 ENCLOSURE A

The industry indicated that their current technical specification proposal provides the necessary

regulatory framework to ensure that licensees maintain tube integrity. The current industry

technical specification proposal would require adherence to the licensing basis; thereby

decoupling the technical issue of the appropriate safety factor from the licensing issue of the

technical specifications. The staff indicated that it would consider the industry’s proposal, in the

context of reviewing the Catawba lead plant submittal. In addition, the staff indicated that a key

technical issue to be addressed by the industry and Catawba is what safety factor is consistent

with the licensing basis design criteria and how it was determined.

Callaway Plant Notice of Enforcement Discretion

At 1900 hours on September 6, 2003, Union Electric Company (the licensee) requested the

NRC to exercise enforcement discretion for the Callaway plant, which is located in Callaway

County, Missouri. The enforcement discretion was requested with respect to the requirements

of Technical Specification (TS) Limiting Condition for Operation 3.4.11, "Pressurizer Power

Operated Relief Valves (PORVs)." The licensee requested additional time to repair and test the

"B" pressurizer PORV block valve before a plant shutdown would be required by the 72-hour

allowed outage time (AOT) in TS 3.4.11 for an inoperable block valve. The "B" PORV block

valve was declared inoperable at 0601 hours central daylight time on September 4, 2003, to

support a valve control switch modification. There was an indication and confirmation of failure

of the block valve's actuator and associated control circuit after installation of the control switch

modification, and the licensee requested an additional 48 hours beyond the 72-hour AOT that

began September 4, 2003, to repair and test the valve. In the follow-up call at 2100 hours on

September 6, 2003, the NRC approved the request for enforcement discretion. The licensee’s

letter documenting the request for enforcement discretion was submitted September 9, 2003.

Perry Nuclear Power Plant Notice of Enforcement Discretion

On September 4, 2003, regional enforcement discretion was granted to the Perry Nuclear

Power Plant for a shutdown limiting condition for operation relating to the inoperability of the “A”

emergency service water (ESW) pump. The notice of enforcement discretion (NOED)

teleconference, which was conducted between Region III, FirstEnergy, and the Office of

Nuclear Reactor Regulation, granted an extension of the 72-hour allowed outage time for an

inoperable Division 1 ESW subsystem to 144 hours.

On September 1, 2003, the “A” ESW pump was declared inoperable when low flow alarms were

received. Disassembly of the pump revealed that a stainless steel coupling sleeve on the pump

shaft had broken. Examination of the coupling concluded that improper installation and ensuing

stress corrosion cracking led to the coupling failure. The time projected for procurement and

installation of replacement parts and post maintenance testing exceeded the allowed outage

time of 72 hours. The licensee completed repairs, declared the “A” ESW pump operable, and

exited the NOED on Friday, September 5, 2003, after using 25 hours of the additional 72 hours

granted in the NOED.
September 12, 2003 ENCLOSURE A

Staff Briefing of The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board

The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) convened a public meeting on 

September 10, 2003, as part of their involvement in DOE’s evaluation of safety regulation and

oversight practices. They invited Federal agencies with safety oversight responsibilities to

discuss their agency's current initiatives and practices in this area. At the Board's invitation, the

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation staff conducted overview presentations at the meeting on

Davis-Besse lessons learned and on the bases and evolution of the Reactor Oversight Process. 

The Board expressed their appreciation to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for their role in

their meeting.
September 12, 2003 ENCLOSURE B

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards

Items of Interest

Week Ending September 12, 2003

Meeting with the Nuclear Energy Institute

On September 10, 2003, a Category 1 public meeting with the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI)

was held from 9-11:30 a.m. The meeting, which NEI requested, was an opportunity for it to

provide further information about its comment letter on "Controlling the Disposition of Solid

Materials.” The NEI representative presented NEI’s views on the feasibility and implementation

of the reuse and recycle options. Furthermore, the representative elaborated on why NEI

believes that the recycle option should not be implemented. Stakeholders (Sierra Club and

Nuclear Information and Resource Service) provided input on the various issues as well.

Implementation of Category I Interim Compensatory Measures at Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc.

On September 5, 2003, NRC staff from the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards,

Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards; the Office of Nuclear Security and Incident

Response, Division of Nuclear Security; and Region II met in a closed meeting with Nuclear

Fuel Services (NFS) security managers to discuss the status of Interim Compensatory Measure

(ICM) actions and assist with technical questions regarding performance capabilities of various

physical protection systems. This meeting was a follow-up to the management meeting held in

the NRC Region II offices on August 29, 2003. Additionally, weekly conference calls will be

held with NFS to discuss any questions and review the status of ICM implementation.

Proposed Rule Signed by the Executive Director for Operations

On September 11, 2003, the Executive Director for Operations approved a proposed rule which

revises 10 CFR Part 72.214, “List of approved spent fuel storage casks,” revising the

Transnuclear, Inc., Standardized NUHOMS® Horizontal Modular Storage System (Standardized

NUHOMS® System) listing within the list of approved spent fuel storage casks to include

Amendment No. 6 in Certificate of Compliance (CoC) Number 1004. Amendment No. 6 will add

the NUHOMS®-24PHB cask design to the Standardized NUHOMS® System. The NUHOMS®-

24PHB cask will permit a Part 72 licensee to store high burnup Babcock & Wilcox 15x15 spent

fuel assemblies with an average burnup of up to 55,000 megawatt-days/metric ton of uranium,

enrichment equal to 4.5 weight percent uranium-235, a maximum decay heat load of 1.3

kilowatt (kW) per assembly, and a maximum heat load of 24 kW per cask, under a general

license. 
September 12, 2003 ENCLOSURE C

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research

Items of Interest

Week Ending September 12, 2003

Public Meeting: Draft Regulatory Guide (DG-1122), “An Approach for Determining the

Technical Adequacy of Probabilistic Risk Assessment Results for Risk-Informed Activities”

The Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research held a public meeting on September 4, 2003 to

provide external stakeholders with the status of on-going staff activities related to the subject

DG. The meeting was well attended and focused on discussions related to stakeholder

comments, implementation of the guide, and pilot applications of the guide. There was

consensus to move forward as expeditiously as possible in issuing the guide for trial use and

that the trial period is the best place to resolve the remaining areas needing clarification. 

Industry was particularly interested in implementation of the guide (e.g., how staff review would

differ) and its application as a pilot. The staff noted that implementation is expected to provide

uniformity and consistency to the reviews, a more defensible basis, fewer requests for

additional information (RAI), and an increase in public confidence. During the trial use period,

the guide is also expected to be used for non-pilot applications. NEI indicated it will pursue

potential additional pilot studies and keep the staff informed. The staff indicated that a plan for

the implementation and pilots was being developed and will be shared with the public for their

comment. The staff also noted that they would continue to hold regular public meetings during

the trial period.
September 12, 2003 ENCLOSURE D

Nuclear Security and Incident Response

Items of Interest

Week Ending September 12, 2003

Preliminary Notifications

1. PNO-IV-03-040, Northridge Hospital - HIGH DOSE RATE AFTER LOADER EQUIPMENT

FAILURE.
September 12, 2003 ENCLOSURE G

Chief Information Officer

Items of Interest

Week Ending September 12, 2003

Electronic Information Exchange Adjudicatory High-Level Waste (HLW) Testing

NRC staff have been running exhaustive tests using the Adjudicatory HLW forms and process.

The main test areas included are transmission of large documents, receipt notification,

distribution notification, multi-part transmissions, document servicing, and security. All of the

tests were successful and documents as large as 70MB were transmitted. All of the notification

and servicing processes worked as anticipated. A minor problem was discovered with renewed

certificates. This problem is being addressed and will undergo further testing. 

Reactor Vessel Integrity Database

The Reactor Vessel Integrity Database (RVID) software was migrated from an obsolete Access

database to a more recent supported version. Applications testing was performed with the end

users and fixes applied so that the application successfully works with the new XP operating

systems. The RVID application documentation is now being developed.

Rolling out Remote Procedure Call Patch to Protect NRC Desktops

The agency-wide automated rollout of the Windows desktop patch to eliminate a Remote

Procedure Call (RPC) vulnerability began on September 10, 2003. Several other measures had

previously been implemented as part of an overall plan to mitigate the risk of this vulnerability. 

The rollout of the RPC patch is scheduled to be completed within two weeks. 

Web-based Tool for Publishing NRC News Releases

A Web-based tool for publishing NRC news releases directly to the agency’s Public Web Site

during emergency events and planned emergency exercises is being developed. The tool will

enable authorized users to place news releases at the public site by completing a simple online

form and pressing a “publish” button on a graphical Web page. No knowledge of Web coding

techniques or OCIO Web publishing procedures is required. The tool will also allow the user to

preview a news release before publication and will automatically update the NRC Home Page.

Records Management Web Site Created

OCIO has created a new internal Web site that provides records management guidance and

explains Federal employees’ responsibilities for maintaining and preserving agency records. 

This new site, Records Management www.internal.nrc.gov/RMB/, is accessible through the

NRC’s Internal home page and includes an interactive tool to step employees through the

process of determining if a document is a record. Guidance documents (e.g., frequently asked

questions, e-mail quick reference guide, management directives, records liaison officer lists);

agency records schedules; and links to bulletins, publications, and other promotional

information developed by the National Archives and Records Administration are also included.
September 12, 2003 ENCLOSURE G

Visitors from Japan Tour the Public Document Room

On September 9, 2003, two visitors from Japan (Ms. Kazuko Hamamoto, a Senior Chief

Engineer of the Nuclear Power Engineering Corporation and Mr. Tomoaki Ohta, a Senior

Consultant of Japan NUS) toured the Public Document Room (PDR). The purpose of the visit

was to gain a better understanding of the role the PDR plays in disseminating information to the

public. The visitors were given an overview of the PDR’s mission and services to the public, the

PDR’s home page, and a detailed demonstration of Web-based ADAMS

Ms. Hamamoto explained they will be working with the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency,

Japan’s NRC counterpart, to provide communities located near nuclear facilities with easy-tounderstand information about nuclear safety and regulatory policies. They will also prepare and

distribute brochures, for both the public and nuclear safety regulators.

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

September 5 through September 11, 2003:

Documents related to named individual. FOIA/PA-2003-0422

General Electric Topical Reports FOIA/PA-2003-0423

Trijicon, Inc., Michigan, all violations FOIA/PA-2003-0424

Slumberger Corp., radiation exposure on 05/21/02 of named

individual

FOIA/PA-2003-0425

Exelon response to concerns for allegation no. RIII-03-029 FOIA/PA-2003-0426

State of Alaska, Dept. of Transportation & Public Works, transcript of

named individual re alleged discrimination

FOIA/PA-2003-0427

FOIA Case Log from 10/01/01 to present FOIA/PA-2003-0428

Crystal River, petition regarding Citrus County Emergency Response FOIA/PA-2003-0429

IG Investigations FOIA/PA-2003-0430

Radiation protection professionals employed, directly or through

contracts, by NRC

FOIA/PA-2003-0431

OI Report 3-2003-01 FOIA/PA-2003-0432

Asset Purchase and Sale Agreement between Con Edison and

Entergy Nuclear IP2, LLC, referenced in license transfer request

dated 12-12-00

FOIA/PA-2003-0433

OI Report 4-2003-004 FOIA/PA-2003-0434
September 12, 2003 ENCLOSURE I

Office of Human Resources

Items of Interest

Week Ending September 12, 2003

2003 Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) Leadership Conference Attended

On September 9, 2003, Henry Rubin, Office of Human Resources, attended the 2003 CFC

Campaign Leadership Conference held at the Washington Convention Center in Washington,

D.C. The keynote speaker was the Honorable Mel Martinez, Secretary of the Department of

Housing and Urban Development, who is the Honorary Chair for the 2003 Campaign. The

conference included presentations on such topics as Campaign Planning and Tracking;

Keyworker Selection, Training, and Management; and Marketing the CFC Message. In

addition, there was a CFC Charity Fair, where several qualified charities disseminated

information about their organizations.

Arrivals

COMPTON, Keith SYSTEMS PERFORMANCE ANALYST NMSS

WEINER, Ruth CONSULTANT ACNW

Retirements

HAMILL, Kathleen DIRECTOR, DRMA RIV
September 12, 2003 ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs

Items of Interest

Week Ending September 12, 2003

Media Interest

The NRC’s decision to conduct a special inspection at the Davis-Besse nuclear power plant to

monitor a seven-day test of the facility’s reactor cooling system.

A General Accounting Office report criticizing the ability of the NRC and some states to track

thousands of medical devices and industrial gauges with radioactive material. 

Security measures taken at nuclear power facilities two years after the anniversary of the

September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, including coverage of a letter NRC Chairman Diaz sent

to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge outlining the measures. 

A small fire damaged a pump that provides water to one of the reactors at Pennsylvania’s

Susquehanna nuclear facility late Wednesday, reducing power to 65 percent while repairs were

made.

Press Releases

Headquarters:

No. 03-114 NRC Amending Rules On How Licensees, Applicants and Members Of

Public May Submit Documents Electronically (9/8) 

No. 03-115 NRC Issues Final Rule Modifying Seismological Standards For Dry Cask

Spent Fuel Storage (9/11)

No. 03-116 NRC Amends Combustible Gas Control Standards For Nuclear Power

Reactors (9/11)

Regions:

III-03-061 NRC To Begin Special Inspection Of Davis-Besse Reactor Test (9/8)

IV-03-038 NRC Proposes $3,000 Fine Against Patterson Wireline Of Trinidad, CO. 

(9/10)

IV-03-039 NRC To Hold Public Meeting September 25 On Proposed Spent Fuel

Storage At River Bend Nuclear Power Plant (9/12)
September 12, 2003 ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary

Items of Interest

Week Ending September 12, 2003

Document Released

to Public

Date Subject

Decision Documents

1. SECY-03-0115 7/8/03 Alternative Dispute Resolution Review Team

(ART) Pilot Program Recommendations for

Using Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

Techniques in the Handling of Discrimination

and Other External Wrongdoing Issues

SRM on SECY-03-0115 9/8/03 (same)

Voting Record on

SECY-03-0115

9/8/03 (same)

2. COMSECY-03-0043 08/26/03 Fifth Annual Review of Application-Specific,

Risk-Informed Regulatory Guides and the

Associated Standard Review Plans

SRM on COMSECY-03-

0043

09/11/03 (same)

Voting Record on

COMSECY-03-0043

09/11/03 (same)

3. SRM on SECY-03-0100 9/12/03 Rulemaking Plan on Post-Fire Operator

Manual Actions

Voting Record on

SECY-03-0100

9/12/03 (same)

Negative Consent Documents

1. SECY-03-0153 08/28/03 Removal of the General Services

Administration Watertown, Massachusetts,

Property from the Site Decommissioning

Management Plan

2. SRM on SECY-03-0153 09/12/2003 (same)

Information Papers

1. SECY-03-0155 9/5/03 Weekly Information Report - Week Ending

August 29, 2003
September 12, 2003 ENCLOSURE O

Memoranda

1. M030908 9/8/03 Staff Requirements-Affirmation Session: I.

SECY-03-0143 - Pacific Gas & Electric Co.

(Diablo Canyon Power Plant, Units 1 and 2);

Application of Stay of License Transfer

Order; II. SECY-03-0154 - Duke Energy

Corporation (McGuire Nuclear Station,

Units 1 & 2, Catawba Nuclear Station,

Units 1 & 2)

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. Geological and Seismological Characteristics for Siting and Design of Dry Cask

Independent Storage Installations and Monitored Retrievable Storage Installations - Final

Rule. 

2. Combustible Gas Control in Containment - Final Rule.

3. ACRS Meeting of the Subcommittee on Reactor Fuels - Notice of Meeting.
September 12, 2003 ENCLOSURE P

Region I

Items of Interest

Week Ending September 12, 2003

PermaGrain

Environmental Protection Agency contractors continue to remove and package sources from

the PermaGrain facility for disposal in Barnwell, SC. A Region I inspector witnessed the initial

packaging and shipment, which left the site on September 6, 2003, and arrived at the Barnwell

disposal facility on September 8. Total personnel exposures have been low, less than 100

millirem. It is expected that all sources will be off the site by the end of September 2003. 

CFC Logistics, Inc.

An administrative judge from the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel (ASLBP), serving as

Presiding Officer, heard oral argument on September 10, 2003, in Allentown, PA, from

attorneys for organizations supporting and challenging the license the agency recently issued to

CFC Logistics, Inc. Attorneys from the licensee, petitioners, and the NRC presented arguments

involving the “standing” of the Petitioners to intervene in the proceeding and the applicability to

the areas of concern presented, as well as the petitioners’ request for a stay of the

effectiveness of the license. Members of the public observed the proceeding. The license

issued by NRC authorizes receipt and use of cobalt-60 in an underwater irradiator, but the

licensee previously committed to the Presiding Officer to delay receipt of cobalt-60 until after

the September 10 proceeding. Region I provided support for a visit to the CFC facility in

Quakertown, Pa., on September 10 by the Presiding Officer, Technical Assistant Judge and

Petitioners. The licensee provided a facility tour and presentations on the operation of the

irradiator.
September 12, 2003 ENCLOSURE P

Region II

Items of Interest

Week Ending September 12, 2003

Duke Energy Corporation and Southern Nuclear Operating Company - Catawba and Vogtle

Operator Licensing Certification Presentations

On September 10, 2003, the Director, Division of Reactor Safety, attended the Vogtle Operator

Licensing Certification presentation in Augusta, GA, and on September 11, 2003, attended the

Catawba Operator Licensing Certification presentation in York, SC.

Department of the Navy’s Radiation Safety Committee Meeting

On September 10, 2003, the Directors, Division of Nuclear Materials Safety Regions I and II,

and the Navy Master Materials License Project inspector attended the Department of the Navy’s

Radiation Safety Committee Meeting in Crystal City, VA. The NRC representatives discussed

the transition of the oversight of the Master Materials License to Region I as part of the

materials inspection and licensing consolidation. 

Differing Professional View - Farley

On September 8, 2003, Region II completed a decision and response to a Differing

Professional View (DPV). The DPV was submitted to the Regional Administrator on July 29,

2003, regarding the documentation of problem identification and resolution observations in

inspection reports. 

Region II convened an ad hoc review panel (Panel) to review the issues in the DPV in

accordance with Management Directive 10.159. The Panel which included membership from

the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, issued a report to the Regional Administrator on

September 2, 2003. The Regional Administrator accepted the Panel’s conclusions and

recommendations.

Recruitment Trips

During the week of September 8 - 12, 2003, several recruitment trips were conducted by

various managers and staff to Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, GA, North Carolina

Agricultural and Technology State University in Greensboro, NC; the Oklahoma State University

in Stillwater, OK; and the University of California in Berkley, CA.
September 12, 2003 ENCLOSURE P

Region IV

Items of Interest

Week Ending September 12, 2003

Region IV Public Meeting with the Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD)

A public meeting was held in Region IV, on September 8, 2003, to discuss NPPD’s progress in

implementing the Strategic Improvement Plan at Cooper Nuclear Station. The Strategic

Improvement Plan was developed by NPPD to be a comprehensive improvement plan to

address specific regulatory performance issues described in NRC’s Confirmatory Action Letter

to NPPD dated January 30, 2003.

California Department of Toxic Substance Control Public Hearing

On September 8, the California Department of Toxic Substance Control conducted a public

hearing to discuss Southern California Edison’s application for a permit to continue the

temporary storage of mixed waste at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS). The

meeting was attended by the NRC senior resident inspector and a Region IV senior health

physicist.

Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) names New President and Chief Executive Officer

On September 11, the Omaha Public Power District Board of Directors announced that Gary

Gates, Vice President Nuclear, Fort Calhoun Station, will become the President and Chief

Executive Officer of OPPD effective January 1, 2004. Mr. Gates replaces Fred Petersen, who

is retiring at the end of the year. Effective October 1, 2003, Mr. Gates will serve as Chief

Operating Officer until January 1, 2004. 
September 12, 2003 

Office of Congressional Affairs

Items of Interest

Week Ending September 12, 2003

CONGRESSIONAL HEARING SCHEDULE, NO. 30

OCA

Contact

DATE

&

PLACE

TIME WITNESS SUBJECT 

Combs TBA

2123 RHOB

TBA NRC, DOE, Bechtel, NEI Review of the Progress of DOE’s

Yucca Mountain Project

Reps. BaEnergy aEnergy a

Gerke 09/17/03

2154 RHOB

2:00 TBA Government Reorganization Reps. Da

Civil ServOrganizaGovernm

Keeling 09/17/03

3:00

HC-5Cap.

TBA Implications of the Electric Power

Blackout

Reps. CaInfrastrucReps. ThCyberseSelect H

Gerke 09/18/03

2154 RHOB

10:00 TBA Government Performance and 

Results Act (GPRA) Oversight

Reps. DaGovernm

Keeling 09/30/03

2322 RHOB

 2:00 TBA

Hearing May Be Closed

Nuclear Terrorism Prevention:Fedl Govt’s Progress TowardInstalling Radiation DetectionMonitors at U.S. Ports & Borders

Reps. GOversighEnergy a