INFORMATION REPORT

March 4, 2004 SECY-04-0038

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-04-0038 WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING FEBRUARY 27, 2004

Contents Enclosure

Nuclear Reactor Regulation A

Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards B

Nuclear Regulatory Research C

Nuclear Security and Incident Response D

General Counsel E*

Administration F

Chief Information Officer G

Chief Financial Officer H*

Human Resources I

Small Business and Civil Rights J*

Enforcement K*

State and Tribal Programs L*

Public Affairs M

International Programs N

Office of the Secretary O

Region I P*

Region II P

Region III P*

Region IV P

Executive Director for Operations Q*

Congressional Affairs R

*No input this week.

/RA/

William M. Dean

Assistant for Operations, OEDO

Contact:

M. Markley, OEDO
March 4, 2004 SECY-04-0038

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-04-0038 WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING FEBRUARY 27, 2004

Contents Enclosure

Nuclear Reactor Regulation A

Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards B

Nuclear Regulatory Research C

Nuclear Security and Incident Response D

General Counsel E*

Administration F

Chief Information Officer G

Chief Financial Officer H*

Human Resources I

Small Business and Civil Rights J*

Enforcement K*

State and Tribal Programs L*

Public Affairs M

International Programs N

Office of the Secretary O

Region I P*

Region II P

Region III P*

Region IV P

Executive Director for Operations Q*

Congressional Affairs R

*No input this week.

/RA/

William M. Dean

Assistant for Operations, OEDO

Contact:

M. Markley, OEDO

DISTRIBUTION:

Central File

Public Document Name: C:\WIR\Week227.WPD

OEDO AO/OEDO

MMarkley:paa WMDean

03/04/04 03/05/04
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 27, 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 11

RES 5 OIP 13

NSIR 7 SECY 14

OGC * Region I *

ADM 8 Region II 15

CIO 9 Region III *

CFO * Region IV 16

HR 10 OEDO *

SBCR * OCA 17

OE *

*No input this week
February 27, 2004 ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 27, 2004

Electrical Grid Status Meeting

On February 25, 2004, representatives of the Division of Licensing Project Management,

Division of Engineering, and the Inspection Program Branch met with Federal Energy

Regulatory Commission (FERC) staff to discuss electrical grid reliability. Meeting participants

exchanged information concerning the NRC Inspection Program and FERC staff participation in

reliability readiness audits of grid reliability coordinators and control areas.

Meeting with Spanish Regulators on Containment Safety Analysis and Use of Computer Codes

On February 23, 2004, Division of Systems Safety and Analysis (DSSA) staff met with a visiting

delegation headed by Jose Ramon Alonso Escos of the Nuclear Safety Council (Consejo de

Seguridad Nuclear [CSN]) to exchange information on containment safety analysis and the use

of computer codes, specifically, the COPATTA code for loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA)

analysis. Discussions centered around using COPATTA, coupled with an ultimate heat sink

code, to calculate post-LOCA ultimate heat sink response following a LOCA. The issue of 

temperature monitoring was also discussed.

Public Meeting on ASME Code Seismic Piping Design Rules

On February 23, 2004, the NRC staff held a public meeting in St. Petersburg, Florida, to

discuss NRC’s proposed rule (69 FR 879) to incorporate by reference into 10 CFR 50.55a,

Codes and standards, the 2001 Edition (up to and including the 2003 Addenda) of ASME Boiler

and Pressure Vessel Code, Section III. Specifically, the public was invited to comment on

those portions of the latest Code related to changes in the seismic design rules for piping

systems. Approximately 40 persons attended the public meeting. The latest changes to the

Code rules represented a culmination of effort since 1995 when the NRC placed a restriction in

10 CFR 50.55a on the use of the revised ASME Code rules for piping seismic design that first

appeared in the 1994 Addenda. In the proposed rule, the NRC staff would accept the new

ASME Code piping seismic rules with six modifications and limitations. At the February 23,

2004 public meeting, the NRC staff heard presentations by three ASME piping experts including

a Japanese seismic team involved in dynamic testing of piping systems. The ASME Code

representatives expressed appreciation for the NRC staff’s willingness to discuss these issues

in an open forum and invited the staff to work with the ASME piping experts to reach a final

resolution to this long-standing issue.

License Renewal Pre-Application Meeting for Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2

On February 25, 2004, the staff held a public meeting with licensee representatives to discuss

their plans to submit a license renewal application for Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station, Units 1

and 2. The licensee discussed how the design differences between Units 1 and 2 would be

handled in the application. Nine Mile Point Unit 1 is a BWR/2 design with a Mark I containment

and Unit 2 is a BWR/5 design with a Mark II containment. The licensee received an exemption

from 10 CFR 54.17(c) in October 2002, for the early submittal of a license renewal application
February 27, 2004 ENCLOSURE A

for Unit 2, which does not reach the required 20 years operating experience until October 2006. 

The current operating licenses for Units 1 and 2 expire August 22, 2009 and October 31, 2026,

respectively. The licensee plans to submit their license renewal application by the end of May

2004.

NRC Information Notice 2004-04: Fuel Damage During Cleaning At a Foreign Pressurized

Water Reactor

On February 24, 2004, NRC issued the subject generic communications to inform addressees

about a recent fuel damage event that occurred during chemical cleaning of the fuel at a foreign

pressurized-water reactor (PWR). The fuel cleaning system involved in the event was not of

domestic (U.S.) design or manufacture; however, the fuel and processes used at the affected

PWR are similar to those that may be used in domestic light-water reactors. This event

involved a release of radioactive material to the environment and was reported publicly in the

news media. The occupational dose to workers was within regulatory limits, and the estimated

dose to members of the public was a small fraction of regulatory limits. The event was

classified as Level 3 on the International Nuclear Event Scale, based on substantial damage to

irradiated fuel. 

Public Meeting with the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) Radiation Protection Task Force

On February 25, 2004, members of the Division of Inspection Program Management staff held

a public meeting with NEI to discuss current issues related to occupational radiation protection. 

Discussion topics included the limitations to the method for calculating Total Effective Dose

Equivalent (TEDE) in the recently published Regulatory Issues Summary (RIS) 2004-01,

“Method for Estimating Effective Dose Equivalent from External Radiation Sources Using Two

Dosimeters,” and clarification of the guidance in Regulatory Guide 8.38, “Control of Access to

High and Very High Radiation Areas of Nuclear Plants.”
February 27, 2004 ENCLOSURE B

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 27, 2004

Lead Cascade Facility License Issued to the U.S. Enrichment Corporation Inc.

On February 24, 2004, pursuant to 10 CFR Part 70, the Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and

Safeguards issued a Materials License SNM-7003 to the U.S. Enrichment Corporation Inc.

(USEC Inc.) to possess and use, for up to five years, source and special nuclear material at the

American Centrifuge Lead Cascade facility at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant site in

Piketon, Ohio. USEC Inc. had submitted its application on February 11, 2003. The final Safety

Evaluation Report, Environmental Assessment, and Finding of No Significant Impact were

issued in late January 2004. The American Centrifuge Lead Cascade facility, which is a gas

centrifuge uranium enrichment test and demonstration facility, will consist of up to 240

centrifuges and will use up to 250 kilograms of UF6.

National Symposium on Fusion Imaging and Multimodalities: Technical Features and

Regulatory Considerations

On February 19, 2004, Industrial and Medical Nuclear Safety staff attended the "National

Symposium on Fusion Imaging and Multimodalities: Technical Features and Regulatory

Considerations," sponsored by the Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors, Inc. 

NRC staff served on the "Panel Discussion on Regulatory Perspective on Emerging

Technologies." The panel discussed regulation of GliaSite, Yttrium-90 microspheres,

intravascular brachytherapy, and the seedSelectron emerging technologies. 

Meetings with Department of Energy on Yucca Mountain Project

On February 18-19, 2004, NRC and Department of Energy (DOE) staff and managers held their

public quarterly Quality Assurance and Management meetings to discuss DOE’s quality

assurance program, as well as status of the overall project progress for the potential repository

at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. The meeting was hosted at NRC Headquarters in Rockville,

Maryland, with video and audio connections to the DOE Office of Repository Development in

Las Vegas, Nevada, and the Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses in San Antonio,

Texas. Additionally, representatives from the Nuclear Energy Institute, NRC Region IV,

Bechtel SAIC Co. LLC, General Accounting Office, State of Nevada, Nevada Nuclear Waste

Task Force, Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board, Clark County, and interested members of

the public participated.
February 27, 2004 ENCLOSURE C

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 27, 2004

Implementing Agreement Between NRC and The Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority (HAEA)

Relating to Participation in the NRC program of Severe Accident Research

On February 20, 2004, the EDO signed the international agreement between the NRC and the

Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority (HAEA) relating to participation in the NRC program for

severe accident research. The Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research forwarded this

implementing agreement on February 23, 2004, to Hungary for counter-signature. This

Implementing Agreement defines the terms and conditions by which the NRC and HAEA will

continue their cooperation in the area of severe accident research. These codes are used by

the NRC to evaluate potential risk and vulnerability scenarios for severe accidents and address

regulatory licensing issues for operating plants. In addition to exchanging technical information

and data, HAEA will provide a cash contribution each year for the duration of this Implementing

Agreement. This Implementing Agreement will remain in force for a three year period.

IAEA Technical Meeting on Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources

On February 16-19, 2004, RES staff participated in a technical meeting of the International

Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna, Austria, on the safety and security of radioactive

sources. Representatives from sixteen nations attended this meeting, including manufacturers

and suppliers (M&S) of sealed sources and regulators. The meeting addressed the concerns of

M&S on the impact of the implementation of the IAEA Code of Conduct (CoC) for the safety

and security of radioactive sources. To address their concerns in a unified manner, the M&S

are forming an international industry association, emulating the National Energy Institute (NEI). 

The M&S have drafted an outline of a formal Code of Good Practice that will guide the

implementation of the IAEA CoC in ensuring the safety and security of the sealed radioactive

sources. The M&S also identified three key areas as concerns for export/import controls for

radioactive sources. These were: harmonization of controls among nations, timeliness of

import/export approvals, and requirements for transhipment.

IAEA Technical Workshop on Probabilistic Safety Assessment (PSA) Quality for DecisionMaking

On February 16-21, 2003, a technical workshop was held in IAEA Headquarters in Vienna,

Austria, to discuss and document an international consensus position regarding PSA Quality for

Decision Making. More than 50 individuals from the U.S., France, Spain, Germany, India,

Czech Republic, Finland, United Kingdom, Hungary, Russia, Korea, Switzerland, Sweden,

Belgium, Bulgaria, and Pakistan participated in this meeting. Participants from the United

States included representatives from the NRC, South Texas Nuclear Generating Station,

Westinghouse, Nuclear Energy Institute, and Scientech. The major output of the workshop was

a consensus "PSA Quality Treatise." 
February 27, 2004 ENCLOSURE C

Public Meeting on the Phased Approach to Probabilistic Risk Assessment (PRA) Quality

On February 24, 2004, NRC held a public meeting to engage stakeholders in discussing the

staff’s proposed action plan and phased-approach to PRA quality. Meeting attendees

expressed generally favorable views for the proposed approach. Issues related to

implementation of the plan were discussed and the staff agreed to consider stakeholder

suggestions in the proposed action plan to the extent practicable. An additional public meeting

is scheduled for March 24, 2004, and meetings with the Advisory Committee on Reactor

Safeguards are planned. The final action plan is scheduled to be completed by early July 2004. 
February 27, 2004 ENCLOSURE D

Nuclear Security and Incident Response

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 27, 2004

UNIFIED DEFENSE 04 Exercise “After Action” Conferences

The Office of Nuclear Security & Incident Response (NSIR) participated in two After Action

conferences following the NRC’s participation in the U. S. Northern Commands

(NORTHCOMM) Unified Defense-04 (UD-04) exercise. On February 25, 2004, NSIR staff

attended an After Action conference hosted by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). 

On February 26, 2004, NSIR staff participated in a Department of Defense (DoD) After Action

review hosted by the NORTHCOMM Commander via video-teleconference. The conferences

were attended by both military and civilian agency representatives who participated in the

recent UD-04 exercise. The purpose of the conferences was to acquire input and insight from

the participants on critical exercise issues requiring further examination and followup.

Preliminary Notifications

1. PNO-I-04-007, University of Virginia - LOST BRACHYTHERAPY SOURCE.

2. PNO-III-04-002, Joseph M. Keyzers - DAMAGED GAUGE CAUSED FIRE.

3. PNO-IV-04-007, Arizona Public Service Co. - PALO VERDE UNPLANNED REACTOR

SHUTDOWN TO EXCEED 72 HOURS.
February 27, 2004 ENCLOSURE F

Office of Administration 

Items of Interest 

Week Ending February 27, 2004

Collection, Reporting, or Posting of Information; Availability of Draft Rule Language (Parts 19,

20, and 50)

On February 24, 2004, a document announcing the availability of draft wording for possible

changes to the regulations concerning the collection, posting, and reporting of information was

published in the Federal Register (69 FR 8350). The changes under consideration would clarify

or revise the regulations with the intent of reducing unnecessary regulatory burden associated

with these requirements. Comments are requested by April 9, 2004.

List of Approved Spent Fuel Storage Casks: Standardized NUHOMS® -24P, -52B, -61BT,

-32PT, and -24PHB, Amendment 7, Revision; Confirmation of Effective Date (AH20 - Part 72)

On February 27, 2004, a document that confirms the March 2, 2004, effective date of a direct

final rule that revises the Standardized NUHOMS® -24P, -52B, -61BT, -32PT, and -24PHB

(Amendment 7) cask system listing in the list of approved spent fuel storage casks was

published in the Federal Register (69 FR 9199). 
February 27, 2004 ENCLOSURE G

Chief Information Officer

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 27, 2004

Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Fail-Over Capability

Successfully Implemented and Tested

On February 21, 2004 a successful test of the ADAMS fail-over capability to the One White Flint

(OWFN) Data Center was completed. Servers that are regularly updated with a copy ADAMS

Main Library were recently placed in the OWFN Data Center. In the event of a major problem

with the primary Two White Flint (TWFN) Data Center, the OWFN servers would be manually

brought into service and would permit the agency to continue to operate Main Library functions.

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

February 20 through February 26, 2004:

Comprehensive Information Systems Support Consolidation - II

(CISSCO II), BPA awarded to Lockheed Martin

FOIA/PA-2004-0133

NRC buyers’ list from GSA supply warehouse - Referral by GSA FOIA/PA-2004-0134

ATK and 3M documents - specific records FOIA/PA-2004-0135

OI 3-2003-022, Exhibits 1-23 FOIA/PA-2004-0136

Correspondence between named NRC employees & Florida Power &

Light Co. named employees, 1988-1989

FOIA/PA-2004-0137

South Texas Project Comprehensive Cultural Assessment,

correspondence dated 10-30-2002 & 8-5-2002; Jan. 2003

Comprehensive Cultural Assessment survey (EA-97-341)

FOIA/PA-2004-0138

GE Advanced Liquid Metal Reactor, S-PRISM; and Reactor Concept

M1, made available at ACRS meeting, June 2001 (Referral by

Department of Energy)

FOIA/PA-2004-0139

Davis-Besse, correspondence to FirstEnergy Corp. from 2-12-04 re:

restart, include correspondence of named NRC and FirstEnergy

employees

FOIA/PA-2004-0140

Tridium exit signs, currently registered names, addresses, contact &

phone numbers

FOIA/PA-2004-0141

I.M.P.A.C. FOIA/PA-2004-0142
February 27, 2004 ENCLOSURE I

Office of Human Resources

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 27, 2004

Arrivals

Diane Flack Consultant NMSS

James R. Park Project Manager NMSS

Retirements

Leslie E. Lancaster Reliability and Risk Analyst RES
February 27, 2004 ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 27, 2004

Media Interest

The following are issues or items which the Office of Public Affairs received inquiries from the

media and/or noted media coverage: 

1) OPA arranged an interview with Pat Norry and the Federal News Service on “Ask CHCO”

(Chief Human Capital Officer). Excerpts are scheduled for broadcast on WTOP Radio on

March 1, 2004.

2) OPA responded to numerous media calls on the following: NRC modifying its order

requiring inspection of pressurized water reactor vessel heads, issuing its final

environmental impact statement on the Summer Nuclear Plant in South Carolina, and

issuing a license to USEC to construct and operate a uranium enrichment test and demo

facility at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Ohio.

3) Regional OPA regional offices fielded press inquiries on the following: FirstEnergy Corp.

agreeing to two NRC conditions on Davis-Besse, Riverkeeper ending its two-year legal

battle to shut down Indian Point Nuclear Plant, and the NRC’s meeting next week on the

safety performance of Westinghouse’s commercial nuclear fuel plant in South Carolina. 

Public Affairs officers are helping coordinate and support the NRC’s March 3, 2004, public

presentation on the 1979 Three Mile Island accident.

OPA coordinated a letter to the editor from Region IV’s Pat Gwynn on recent Diablo Canyon

public meetings, which ran in the San Luis Obispo News.

Public Affairs staff participated in the integrated United Defense 04 exercise. 

Press Releases

Headquarters:

04-025 NRC Modifies Order Requiring Inspection Of Pressurized Water Reactor

Vessel Heads (2/23) 

04-026 NRC Issues License To U.S. Enrichment Corporation For Lead Cascade

Uranium Enrichment Facility (2/24)

04-027 NRC Advisory Committee On Reactor Safeguards To Meet March 4-6 In

Rockville, Maryland (2/25)

04-028 NRC Finds No Significant Environmental Impact From Extended Operation

Of Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station (2/25)
February 27, 2004 ENCLOSURE M

Regions:

I-04-006 NRC Proposes $3,000 Fine Against Va. Firm For Radiography Violations 

(2/26)

II-04-005 NRC To Hold Predecisional Enforcement Conference To Discuss Apparent

Violation Of Regulatory Requirements At Oconee (2/24)

II-04-006 NRC To Meet With Westinghouse Nuclear Fuel Plant Officials March 3 To

Discuss Facility Safety Performance (2/25)

III-04-009 NRC Issues Letter On Planned Davis-Besse Order (2/26)

III-04-010 NRC To Hold Public Meeting March 8 On Proposed License Renewal of

D.C. Cook Nuclear Plant (2/26)
February 27, 2004 ENCLOSURE N

Office of International Programs

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 27, 2004

Visit of Tomihiko Furuta , Toyo University

On February 23, 2004, Professor Tomihiko Furuta, Toyo University, met with the staff to

discuss safety goals for power reactors and fuel cycle facilities. In Japan, safety goals exist for

power reactors and are being considered for fuel facilities.

Japanese Team Visit to Discuss Independent Spent Fuel Storage Facilities

On February 24, 2004 , a team from Japan, with representatives from the Nuclear and Industry

Safety Agency (NISA), Japan Nuclear Energy Safety Organization (JNES), and Central

Research Institute of Electric Power Industry (CREIPI) met with staff from the Office of Nuclear

Material Safety and Safeguards Spent Fuel Project Office to discuss the safety review and

regulation of Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installations (ISFSI). 
February 27, 2004 ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 27, 2004

Document Released

to Public

Date Subject

Information Papers

1. SECY-04-0027 2/23/04 SECY-04-0027 Weekly Information Report -

Week Ending February 13, 2004

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards Meeting of the ACRS Subcommittee on

Reliability and Probabilistic Risk Assessment, Notice of Meeting (3/25/04). 

2. Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel, Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc., Designation of

Presiding Officer.
February 27, 2004 ENCLOSURE P

Region II

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 27, 2004

Duke Energy Corporation - Catawba Management Meeting

On February 24, 2004, representatives from Duke Energy Corporation attended a management

meeting in the Regional Office. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss Catawba plant

performance, status of initiatives, and other items of interest.
February 27, 2004 ENCLOSURE P

Region IV

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 27, 2004

Region IV Plant Manager’s Meeting

On February 26, 2004, the Regional Administrator and Deputy Director, Division of Reactor

Projects, attended the RIV Plant Manager’s Regulatory Utility Group meeting in Fort Worth, TX. 

Attendees included plant managers from RIV’s licensed nuclear power facilities. 
February 27, 2004 

Office of Congressional Affairs

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 27, 2004

CONGRESSIONAL HEARING SCHEDULE, NO. 47

OCA

Contact

DATE & PLACE TIME WITNESS SUBJECT 

Gerke 03/01/04

SD-342

11:00 TSP, DOL, Federal Retirement Thrift

Investment Board

Oversight of the TSP: Ensuring the Integrity ofFederal Employee Retirement Savings

Senators FitzFinancial MgGovernmenta

Portner 03/03/04

SD-138

10:00 William Magwood, DOE FY05 Nuclear Energy Budget Senators Do

Energy and WAppropriation

Gerke 03/03/04

2154 RHOB

 1:00 OMB, GAO Government Investments in Information

Technology

Reps. PutnamTechnology,  Relations aGovernment 

Gerke 03/03/04

2247 RHOB

 2:00 GAO, OMB, Treasury GAO Audit of Government Financial Statements Reps. Platts/

Gov’t EfficienGovernment 

Keeling 03/04/04

2322 RHOB

11:00 TBA DOE Nuclear Facility Security Reps. Green

Oversight anEnergy and C

Keeling 03/04/04

SD-366

 2:30 Dr. Travers; TVA COO; NEI, Lehman

Brothers

Future of Nuclear Power/Browns Ferry Restart Senators Ale

EnergyEnergy and N
February 27, 2004 

Madden 03/05/04

Las Vegas

 9:00 DOT and others Proposed Transportation of Nuclear Waste to

Yucca Mountain

Reps. Quinn/RailroadsTransportatio

Gerke 03/10/04

2154 RHOB

 2:00 OMB, GAO, NRC, DOJ, DOL, HHS Agencies’ Computer Security Efforts Reps. Putnam

Technology, Relations anGovernment 

Portner 03/11/04

2362B RHOB

10:00 DOE FY05 Budget Reps. Hobso

Energy and WAppropriation

Gerke 03/11/04

TBA

TBA DOE Final Report by U.S. - Canada Power System

Outage Task Force 

Senators DoEnergy and N

Long 03/17/04

2362B RHOB

10:00 DOE FY05 Nuclear Energy Budget Reps. Hobso

Energy and WAppropriation

Combs 03/24/04

2362B RHOB

10:00 DOE FY05 Nuclear Waste Budget Reps. Hobso

Energy and WAppropriation