INFORMATION REPORT

September 15, 2004 SECY-04-0164

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-04-0164 WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING SEPTEMBER 3, 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:

T. Kim, OEDO
September 15, 2004 SECY-04-0164

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-04-0164 WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING SEPTEMBER 3, 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:

T. Kim, OEDO

DISTRIBUTION:

Central File

Public Document Name: C:\WIR\Week903.WPD

OEDO AO/OEDO

TKim:paa WMDean

09/15/04 09/15/04
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 3, 2004

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

Headquarters and Regional Office activities. 

Contact: T. Kim, OEDO by E-mail: tjk3@nrc.gov. 

Use GO TO (Ctrl+Home) to advance to the page number for a specific Office.

PgDn and PgUp can also be used to advance through the text.

OFFICE Page OFFICE Page

NRR 2 STP *

NMSS 4 OPA 17

RES 8 OIP *

NSIR * SECY 19

OGC * Region I 20

ADM 10 Region II 21

CIO 11 Region III *

CFO * Region IV 23

HR * OEDO *

SBCR * OCA 24

OE *

*No input this week
September 3, 2004 ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Items of Interest

Week Ending September 3, 2004

NRC Information Notice (IN) 2004-17: Loose Part Detection and Computerized Eddy Current

Data Analysis in Steam Generators

On August 25, 2004, NRC issued the subject IN to inform addressees about recent operating

experience regarding (1) the challenges associated with the detection of loose parts and related

tube damage in steam generators and (2) computerized data screening algorithms used in the

evaluation of steam generator tube eddy current test data. The IN describes a situation in 2001

at the Shearon Harris nuclear power plant, in which the licensee detected minor primary-tosecondary leakage in the “C” steam generator and later found a loose part at the damage

location. The licensee also found that the computerized data screening algorithm used for

secondary analysis did not detect this indication because improper settings caused the

computer analysis to skip the portion of the tube containing the indication. 

NRC Generic Letter (GL) 2004-01: Requirements for Steam Generator (SG) Tube Inspections

On August 30, 2004, NRC issued the subject GL to all pressurized water reactor licensees

requesting that licensees: (1) submit a description of the SG tube inspections performed at their

plants, including an assessment of whether these inspections ensure compliance with the

technical specification (TS) requirements; (2) to propose plans for complying with the SG tube

inspection TS requirements for addressees who conclude that they are not in compliance; and 

(3) submit a safety assessment that addresses any differences between licensee’s practices

and the NRC’s position regarding the requirements of the TS. 

Exchange Meeting between the NRC and India's Atomic Energy Regulatory Board

On September 1, 2004, the Division of Inspection Program Management (DIPM) staff

participated in a Bilateral Technical Exchange Meeting between the NRC and India's Atomic

Energy Regulatory Board. Staff from DIPM presented an overview of the Reactor Oversight

Process and a more detailed discussion of the Significance Determination Process.

Meeting with Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Maryland (PJM) Electric Grid Operators

On August 26, 2004, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) staff met with representatives

of the PJM electric grid operators at their offices in Philadelphia to discuss grid management as

it pertains to the supply of reliable offsite power to the member nuclear power plants. PJM

indicated that its entire network is equipped with an automated contingency analysis for every

six minutes of operation. Any potential degraded condition of offsite power is automatically

relayed to nearby nuclear stations. PJM has a working group consisting of various nuclear

stations to address specific issues related to maintaining offsite power and to develop operating

procedures related to grid management. PJM has invited NRC’s participation in future working

group meetings.
September 3, 2004 ENCLOSURE A

Meeting with Entergy Nuclear to Discuss Grand Gulf Early Site Permit Application

On August 25-26, 2004, NRR staff and the staff’s consultants from the U.S. Geological Survey

and Brookhaven National Laboratories met with Entergy representatives at the Grand Gulf

nuclear power plant to discuss the geological, seismological, and geotechnical characterization

of the Grand Gulf plant site, as part of the staff’s review of Entergy’s early site permit

application. After a tour of the proposed site to view the locations of boreholes and other

subsurface explorations, the staff visited the location of the future intake structure. The staff

plans to issue requests for additional information to Entergy in the near future. 

Audit of Vermont Yankee Steam Dryer Analysis

On August 24-26, 2004, staff members from NRR and the Office of Nuclear Regulatory

Research (RES), as well as staff contractors from the Argonne National Laboratory (ANL),

conducted a technical audit of the analysis submitted by Entergy Nuclear Northeast (licensee)

regarding the steam dryer at the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant. The steam dryer

analysis was submitted as part of the licensee’s request to operate the plant at extended power

uprate (EPU) conditions. The audit was conducted at the General Electric Nuclear Energy

offices in San Jose, CA., with the objective of assessing the adequacy of the licensee’s steam

dryer structural integrity analysis under extended power uprate-related flow-induced vibration

loading conditions. A potential cause of recent steam dryer cracking is flow-induced vibration. 

Therefore, there is a need to understand the loading phenomena and the steam dryer structural

response. RES plans to undertake independent analyses to explore the potential causes of

flow-induced degradation. The outcome of these analyses and insights will be used in

conducting power uprate reviews and will also allow the NRC to evaluate the effectiveness of

mitigation strategies.

American Society of Mechanical Engineering (ASME) Code Meetings

During the week of August 30, 2004, NRR and RES staff attended the ASME Code meetings in

New Orleans, LA. Of note was that a newly formed Task Group (TG) on Examination of Steam

Generator Tubes held its initial meeting on August 30, 2004. The charter of the TG is to assess

the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Section XI Code to determine what revisions of the Code

are necessary to integrate the objectives of the Code with the current industry program for

maintaining steam generator integrity. At this meeting, 17 Code paragraphs were identified and

assigned to TG members to review for possible changes. The TG consisted of members from

Electric Power Research Institute, nuclear power utilities, Hartford Steam Boiler, Aptech

Engineering, and the NRC. 
September 3, 2004 ENCLOSURE B

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards

Items of Interest

Week Ending September 3, 2004

Meeting with General Nuclear Systems, Inc.

On September 1, 2004, staff from the Spent Fuel Project Office met with General Nuclear

Systems, Inc. (GNSI) to discuss the proposed drop testing protocol and predictive analysis

performed in support of future applications for a 10 CFR Part 71 and 72 Certificate of

Compliance for the CONSTOR Storage and Transport Cask System. Later this month, GNSI

plans to perform full-scale drop testing of the CONSTOR in Germany, to support the review and

approval of the application. The staff is planning to observe the drop testing.

Workshop on Extreme Ground Motion at Yucca Mountain

On August 23-25, 2004, a staff member of the Division of High-Level Waste Repository Safety

observed a public workshop in Palo Alto, California, on "Extreme Ground Motion at Yucca

Mountain, Nevada." This workshop was sponsored by the Department of Energy’s Science and

Technology Program of the Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management. The outcome of

the workshop will be a set of recommendations to define the physical limits to earthquake

ground motion to be used for seismic design at Yucca Mountain.

32nd International Geological Congress in Florence, Italy

On August 20-28, 2004, staff from NRC Headquarters and the Center for Nuclear Waste

Regulatory Analyses participated in the quadrennial International Geological Congress, held in

Florence, Italy. The purpose of the meeting was to foster public confidence in scientific studies

and to bridge the gap between basic and applied sciences, with an emphasis on natural and

man-induced hazards. Staff presented results of five investigations ancillary to its anticipated

review of a license application for the Yucca Mountain high-level waste repository. The

subjects included: methods to evaluate risk from fault displacements; thermodynamic modeling

of brine chemistry; experimental and thermodynamic modeling of ion-exchange equilibria;

stratigraphic record of Basin and Range extension; and structural evolution of the Crater Flat

basin. This meeting of international geoscientists enabled staff to interact with colleagues

interested in Yucca Mountain tectonics and geochemistry, and to learn how other countries are

applying geophysical and geochemical methods and ideas to the geologic disposal of

radioactive waste.

Workshop on Hearing Process for Affected Units of Local Government

On August 24, 2004, staff from the Division of High-Level Waste Repository Safety, the Office

of the General Counsel (OGC), the Spent Fuel Project Office, and the Atomic Safety and

Licensing Board Panel conducted a workshop on the NRC’s hearing process. NRC staff

organized the workshop to provide a forum for the affected units of local government to obtain

information and ask questions of NRC staff. The Counties requested the workshop to help

them as they prepare to decide how best to participate in an NRC hearing, should NRC receive

an application from the Department of Energy (DOE) for authorization to build a repository at

Yucca Mountain. NRC staff members spoke about NRC’s licensing process; the formal hearing
September 3, 2004 ENCLOSURE B

process; criteria governing NRC’s adoption of a Final Environmental Impact Statement for a

potential repository at Yucca Mountain; NRC’s role in the safe transport of spent nuclear fuel;

and the role and use of NRC’s Licensing Support Network. OGC’s special counsel for public

liaison facilitated the meeting and participants had opportunities for questions and discussion.

Participants included representatives from 9 counties in Nevada and California identified as

affected units of local government in accordance with the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982. 

Also present were representatives of: the State of Nevada; the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe; the

Nevada legislature; and Bechtel/SAIC, DOE’s contractor at Yucca Mountain.
September 3, 2004 ENCLOSURE C

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research

Items of Interest

Week Ending September 3, 2004

Public Meeting on Treatment of Uncertainties and Alternative Approaches Used in Probabilistic

Risk Assessments (PRAs)

On August 27, 2004, Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES) staff held a public meeting

to discuss ongoing efforts to develop guidance on the treatment of uncertainties in riskinformed decision-making and alternative approaches used in PRAs. The purpose of the

meeting was to share the staff’s approach and preliminary work in this area and to solicit

feedback from stakeholders. The meeting was well attended and included representatives from

Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), Nuclear Energy Institute, Westinghouse, licensees,

and National Aeronautics and Space Administration, as well as staff from the Offices of Nuclear

Reactor Regulation (NRR) and Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS). 

Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR) Meeting

On August 30, 2004, RES and NRR staff met with a representative from the PBMR LTD.,

Republic of South Africa (RSA). The purpose of the meeting was to update the staff on the

status of the PBMR project, including the PBMR plant design and the company’s plan to: 

(1) conduct preapplication interactions with the staff on selected key technical topics beginning

in April 2005; and (2) submit the PBMR design for NRC certification in the first quarter of

Calendar Year 2007. According to PBMR Ltd, construction on the demonstration PBMR plant

at the Koeberg site, RSA, will begin in April 2007 and operation is envisioned to commence in

2010. The staff plans to hold a followup meeting with PBMR Ltd., on November 3, 2004, to

discuss their plan for preapplication interactions, submitting the PBMR design certification

application, and US industry involvement in PBMR project activities. The staff informed PBMR

Ltd., that NRC did not budget for the review of the PBMR in FY 2005-2007 and that

Commission approval would be needed to reprogram resources to accommodate review

activities. 
September 3, 2004 ENCLOSURE F

Office of Administration 

Items of Interest 

Week Ending September 3, 2004

Contract Awards

On August 31, 2004, fixed-price Contract No. NRC-21-04-232 was awarded to Neal R. Gross

and Company, Inc., as a result of a small business set-aside competition. The contractor will

provide court reporting services. The contract value is estimated at $7,232,590 for the base

year and three one-year options.

On August 31, 2004, fixed price Delivery Order No. DR-02-04-010 was awarded to ICF,

Incorporated, under the General Services Administration’s Federal Supply Schedule for

technical assistance in the development of an Environmental Impact Statement for the United

States Enrichment Corporation’s American Centrifuge Plant. The period of performance is

fifteen months, with a one-year optional task. The estimated value of the order is $928,118.

On August 27, 2004, a competitive Delivery Order No. NRC-02-04-011, entitled SafeSource

Phase I Acquisition, was awarded to PEC Solutions, Inc., under the Software Development

Functional Area of CISSCO II Blanket Purchase Agreement. The purpose of this delivery order

is to obtain contractor support in developing and deploying an Information Technology system

that will support the new SafeSource business practices needed to improve security for nuclear

radioactive materials. The contract value is estimated at $4,468,266 for the base task and two

optional tasks.
September 3, 2004 ENCLOSURE G

Chief Information Officer

Items of Interest

Week Ending September 3, 2004

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Proposes Disposition Schedule for

Short-Term Temporary E-Mail Records

Consistent with Executive Order 12866 which required that proposed agency rules involving a

significant regulatory action be reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB),

NARA has submitted a proposed rule to OMB that will allow agencies to manage e-mail records

with retention periods of 120 days or less within the e-mail system. This will decrease the

burden associated with printing such records for retention as paper collections and/or as other

electronic record copies. NARA also believes this change in policy for managing short-term email records will encourage agency staff to more willingly create record copies of the relatively

small portion of e-mail records that warrant long-term or permanent retention. After OMB’s

review, NARA will notice the rule for public comment, at which time the NRC will have the

opportunity to review for comment.
September 3, 2004 ENCLOSURE G

Office of Public Affairs

Items of Interest

Week Ending September 3, 2004

Media Interest

The Office of Public Affairs (OPA) handled significant media inquiries on the following:

The Atomic Safety & Licensing Board’s ruling on the Department of Energy’s certification

regarding availability of the Yucca Mountain-related documents.

Security improvements at nuclear power plants (9/11 anniversary).

Shutdown of Indian Point 2.

Mid-cycle assessment letters for various nuclear plants.

Press Releases

Headquarters:

04-100 NRC to Meet with Local Residents in Sioux Falls to Discuss Final Cleanup of

Former Nuclear Reactor Site (8/30)

04-101 NRC Licensing Board Issues Decision on Adequacy of DOE Document

Production Relating to Yucca Mountain Licensing Proceeding (8/31)

04-102 Note to Editors: New Public Affairs Officer in NRC Headquarters (8/31)

04-103 NRC Staff Issues Generic Letter on Nuclear Power Plant Steam Generator

Inspections (9/1)

04-104 Advisory Committee on the Medical Uses of Isotopes to Meet October 13-14 in

Rockville, Maryland (9/1)

04-105 NRC Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards to Meet September 9-11 in

Rockville, Maryland (9/1)

04-106 NRC Issues Mid-Cycle Assessments for All Nuclear Plants (9/2)
September 3, 2004 ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary

Items of Interest

Week Ending September 3, 2004

Document Released

to Public

Date Subject

Information Papers

1. SECY-04-0150 8/16/04 Alternate Approaches for Resolving the

Pressurized Water Reactor Sump Blockage

Issue (GSI-191), Including Realistic and

Risk-Informed Considerations

2. SECY-04-0158 8/30/04 SECY-04-0158 Weekly Information Report -

Week Ending August 20, 2004

Memoranda

1. M040903 9/3/04 Staff Requirements - Affirmation Session: I.

SECY-04-0153-Public Citizen’s Request for

Hearing on the Commission’s July 2, 2004

Spent Fuel Security Order and Proposed

Order Holding Proceeding in Abeyance

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. State of Utah: Discontinuance of Certain Commission Regulatory Authority Within the

State; Notice of Amendment to Agreement Between the NRC and the State of Utah.

2. State of Utah: Final Determination on Proposed Alternative Groundwater Standards for

11e.(2) Byproduct Material. 

3. Atomic Safety and Licensing Board, In the Matter of Exelon Generation Company, LLC

(Early Site Permit for Clinton ESP Site), Docket No. 52-007-ESP, ASLBP No. 04-821-01-

ESP, August 31, 2004, Notice of Hearing (Application for Early Site Permit).

4. Atomic Safety and Licensing Board, In the Matter of System Energy Resources, Inc.

(Early Site Permit for Grand Gulf ESP Site), Docket No. 52-009-ESP, ASLBP No. 04-823-

03-ESP, August 31, 2004, Notice of Hearing (Application for Early Site Permit).

5. Atomic Safety and Licensing Board, In the Matter of Dominion Nuclear North Anna, LLC

(Early Site Permit for North Anna ESP Site), Docket No. 52-008-ESP, ASLBP No. 04-

822-02-ESP, August 31, 2004, Notice of Hearing (Application for Early Site Permit).
September 3, 2004 ENCLOSURE P

Region II

Items of Interest

Week Ending September 3, 2004

NRC Senior Management Visit to Browns Ferry and Bellefonte

On September 1, 2004, the Regional Administrator toured the Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant in

Athens, Alabama, and met with licensee management and the resident inspector. On the

following day, the Regional Administrator toured the Bellefonte Nuclear Plant in Scottsboro,

Alabama, and met with the licensee management.
September 3, 2004 ENCLOSURE P

Region IV

Items of Interest

Week Ending September 3, 2004

Callaway - Plant Management Changes

On September 1, 2004, Ameren/Union Electric Corporation, the licensee for the Callaway

nuclear power plant, announced that Senior Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer Garry

Randolph will retire at the end of the year. Also, effective September 1, 2004, Charles D.

Naslund has assumed the position of Vice President, Nuclear Operations, replacing Ronald D.

Affolter. Mr. Naslund was previously Vice President, Power Operations, of Ameren/UE.
September 3, 2004 

Office of Congressional Affairs

Items of Interest

Week Ending September 3, 2004

CONGRESSIONAL HEARING SCHEDULE, NO. 70

 OCAContact

 DATE & PLACE

TIME WITNESS SUBJECT 

Keeling 09/14/04

2247 RHOB

10:00 NRC, GAO, NEI, and

others

Homeland Security: MonitoringNuclear Power Plant Security

Reps. ShNational Sand InternGovernm

Portner TBA

SD-124

TBA Markup FY2005 Energy and Water

Development Appropriations

Senators Energy anAppropria

Keeling TBA

345 CHOB

TBA Markup Homeland Security Authorization Reps. Co

Select CoSecurity