WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT

February 23, 2005 SECY-05-0037

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-05-0037 - “WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING FEBRUARY 11, 2005”

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*

Office of Information Services 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
February 23, 2005 SECY-05-0037

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-05-0037 - “WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING FEBRUARY 11, 2005”

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*

Office of Information Services 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\week211.WPD

OEDO AO/OEDO

TKim:paa WMDean

02/23/05 02/23/05
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 11, 2005

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 18

NSIR 9 SECY 19

OGC * Region I 20

ADM * Region II 21

OIS 11 Region III *

CFO * Region IV *

HR 15 EDO *

SBCR * OCA 24

OE *

*No input this week
February 11, 2005 ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 11, 2005

Information Notice (IN) 2005-01: Halon Fire-Extinguishing System Piping Incorrectly Connected

On February 4, 2005, NRC issued the subject IN to highlight a potential generic issue regarding

incorrectly connected piping in the halon fire-extinguishing systems. No specific action or

written response is required for INs, however, it is expected that recipients will review the

information for applicability to their facilities and consider actions, as appropriate, to avoid

similar problems. 

Information Notice (IN) 2005-02: Pressure Boundary Leakage Identified on Steam Generator

Bowl Drain Welds

On February 4, 2005, NRC issued the subject IN to highlight a potential generic issue regarding

a pressure boundary leakage identified on steam generator bowl drain welds at a pressurizedwater reactor plant. No specific action or written response is required for INs, however, it is

expected that recipients will review the information for applicability to their facilities and consider

actions, as appropriate, to avoid similar problems. 

Regulatory Issue Summary (RIS) 2005-01: Changes to Notice of Enforcement Discretion

(NOED) Process and Staff Guidance

On February 7, 2005, NRC issued the subject RIS to inform addressees and other stakeholders

of certain immediately effective changes to the NRC’s NOED process and staff guidance. The

RIS and the attached revised NRC Inspection Manual Part 9900: Technical Guidance

supercede guidance on the same aspects of the NOED process currently in the NRC Inspection

Manual. 
February 11, 2005 ENCLOSURE B

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS)

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 11, 2005

NMSS/Regional Division Directors’ Counterpart Meeting

On February 2-3, 2005, Division Directors from NMSS met with their counterparts from the

regional offices. The meeting included discussions on: security issues for NMSS and

Agreement State licensees; training initiatives; program status updates for a number of

activities across the materials and waste arenas; and longer-term challenges likely to face each

program over the next 5-10 years. Managers from the Office of Nuclear Security and Incident

Response, the Office of Human Resources, and the Office of State and Tribal Programs also

participated. This was the first of two Division Director counterpart meetings to be held this

year. 

French Delegation Meets with NMSS Staff on Spent Nuclear Fuel

On February 7, 2005, staff from the Division of High-Level Waste Repository Safety, the Spent

Fuel Project Office, and the Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses met at NRC

headquarters offices to discuss spent nuclear fuel (SNF) performance with representatives from

the Commissariat à L'Energie Atomique, CEA Saclay, France. The Commissariat is conducting

research on the long-term evolution of spent fuel. The purpose of the meeting was to exchange

views on various safety issues involved in the transportation, storage, and disposal of SNF. 

The meeting included discussions on the integrity of high burn-up SNF; the release fraction of

radionuclides; the hydride embrittlement of cladding; SNF matrix dissolution; and gap and grain

boundary inventory of radionuclides. NRC staff also presented an overview of guidance

currently under development, in particular, guidance on damaged SNF.
February 11, 2005 ENCLOSURE C

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES)

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 11, 2005

NRC to Serve as the Designated Representative of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT)

On February 8, 2005, the Executive Director for Operations (EDO) signed an agreement for the

NRC to serve as the designated representative of the AIT. The Taipei Economic and Cultural

Representative Office (TECRO) in the United States and the AIT in Taiwan had signed an

agreement on December 13, 2004, relating to the participation in the NRC program of Thermal

Hydraulic Code Applications and Maintenance Research (CAMP) for a five year period. The

NRC will serve as the AIT's designated representative for the purposes of that cooperation.

Fission Product Burnup Credit

On February 3, 2005, a meeting was held with representatives from the NRC, Department of

Energy (DOE), Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), and Oak Ridge National Laboratory

(ORNL) to discuss the status on ORNL acquisition of fission product burnup credit (FP BUC)

data on behalf of DOE. ORNL presented the status of obtaining experimental data (from

Cogema-France) needed to develop a technical basis to allow fission product burnup credit for

loading spent nuclear fuel (SNF) assemblies in high-capacity casks. The DOE has tasked

ORNL to coordinate the U.S. effort in obtaining the French FP BUC data for NRC, DOE and

EPRI, and to negotiate with Cogema on behalf of DOE. A follow-up meeting is planned for May

2005. 

Quarterly Steering Committee Meeting for Interagency Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

on Research and Development (R&D) of Multimedia Environmental Models

The subject meeting was held by teleconference on February 8, 2005. At this meeting seven of

the nine participating agencies were represented. A subcommittee was established to examine

the potential for renewal of the MOU in eighteen months and the consideration of

recommendations from the participants for changes in the MOU. The Environmental Protection

Agency, DOE, and NRC members were designated to participate on the subcommittee. At this

meeting the Chair of the Steering Committee rotated from the US Geological Survey to the

DOE. The activities of the working groups under this MOU continue to move the science of

multimedia environmental modeling into areas where the agencies can share models and

databases more efficiently and where the models themselves will more realistically simulate

natural systems. In the long run these tools will make environmental analyses more credible

and strengthen the bases for decisions involving environmental contamination. (For more

information on the MOU see the website www.ISCMEM.org). 
February 11, 2005 ENCLOSURE D

Nuclear Security and Incident Response (NSIR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 11, 2005

Preliminary Notifications:

1. PNO-IV-05-002 Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, Unit 1 - TECHNICAL

SPECIFICATION REQUIRED SHUTDOWN DUE TO A PARTIAL LOSS OF OFFSITE

POWER.

2. PNO-IV-05-003 South Texas Project Nuclear Operating Company - SHUTDOWN TO

REPAIR REACTOR COOLANT SYSTEM LEAK.
February 11, 2005 ENCLOSURE G

Office of Information Services (OIS)

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 11, 2005

Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act Requests Received During the Period of

February 4 through February 10, 2005:

Nuclear Materials Events Database (NMED), all available years FOIA/PA-2005-0132

Case log of FOI requests from 1-1-04 to 12-31-04 FOIA/PA-2005-0133

Task Interface Agreements (TIAs) assigned to NRR from 2000 to

present

FOIA/PA-2005-0134

NRC Contract NRC2600307, sections B, C, H, J, L & M, and

modifications

FOIA/PA-2005-0135

Inventory of classified AEC records held by NRC FOIA/PA-2005-0136

NRC Topical Reports since 1985 (with the exception of NEI/NUMARC

Reports) that have been approved with SER date, reports rejected or

withdrawn & date

FOIA/PA-2005-0137

Investigation 3-2002-040, exhibits, notes, correspondence,

correspondence with United States Enrichment Corporation (USEC),

transcripts

FOIA/PA-2005-0138

Records on named individual FOIA/PA-2005-0139

Organization chart(s), staff directory, or phone book FOIA/PA-2005-0140

Hematite MO, uranium fuels processing/fabrication facility (Referral

by DOE)

FOIA/PA-2005-0141

Clinton Nuclear Power Station, state and local emergency plans FOIA/PA-2005-0142
February 11, 2005 ENCLOSURE I

Office of Human Resources (HR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 11, 2005

2004 Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) - NRC Receives the Summit Award

On February 10, 2005, during a CFC keyworker appreciation luncheon, the NRC was

recognized for receiving the Summit Award, which is given to agencies that have a 3 percent

increase in contributions from the previous year. The 2004 campaign has raised over $55

million dollars in contributions. 

Arrival

Donna M. Chenier Consultant OIP

Departures

Randall Brown Consultant HR
February 11, 2005 ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs (OPA)

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 11, 2005

Media Interest

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

Halliburton’s report of a missing well-logging source, which was subsequently located. 

Hearings on a proposed uranium enrichment plant in New Mexico.

The status of the Davis-Besse and Perry nuclear plants in Ohio.

NRC’s FY 2006 budget request to Congress.

Other Items of Interest

OPA facilitated an interview of Chairman Nils J. Diaz by CNN on nuclear power plant security.

OPA staff provided support at Atomic Safety & Licensing Board hearings in Lea County, N.M. 

Press Releases

Headquarters:

05-023 NRC FY 2006 Budget Increases Nuclear Reactor Safety Program (2/7)

05-024 NRC Considers Changes to Regulations on Safeguards Information (2/8)

05-025 NRC Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste to Meet Feb. 23-25 in Rockville,

Maryland (2/8)

05-026 NRC Testifies on Energy Policy Act of 2005 Before Congressional Committee

(2/10)

05-027 NRC Issues Draft Safety Evaluation for Clinton Early Site Permit Application

(2/10)

05-028 NRC Discussions with Atomic Energy Regulatory Board of India (2/11)

Regions:

I-05-007 NRC Officials to Meet with Pennsylvania Hospital to Discuss Oversight of

Radiation Safety Program (2/10)

IV-05-005 NRC Staff to Meet with Entergy Operations, Inc. to Discuss Arkansas Nuclear

One, Unit 2, License Renewal Inspection (2/10)

IV-05-006 NRC Names New Senior Resident Inspector at Palo Verde Nuclear

Generating Station (2/11)

IV-05-007 NRC to Hold Predecisional Enforcement Conference with Arizona Public

Service Co. for Palo Verde (2/11)
February 11, 2005 ENCLOSURE N

Office of International Programs (OIP)

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 11, 2005

Visit by Delegation from Japan’s Nuclear Safety Commission

On February 9, 2005, a four-person delegation from Japan’s Nuclear Safety Commission met

with staff from NRC’s Office of the Inspector General to discuss regulatory review and audit

practices.
February 11, 2005 ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary (SECY)

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 11, 2005

Document Released

to Public

Date Subject

Decision Documents

1. SECY-04-0229 12/6/04 International Brotherhood of Electrical

Workers’ 10 CFR 26.6 Exemption Request

SRM on SECY-04-0229 01/10/05 (same)

Voting Record on SECY04-022901/10/05 (same)

Information Papers

1. SECY-05-0028 02/07/05 Weekly Information Report - Week Ending

January 28, 2005

2. SECY-05-0021 01/27/05 Annual Report on Court Litigation (Calendar

Year 2004)

Commission Correspondence

1. Letter to Rep. Joe Barton, dated February 4, 2005, responds to request for information

relating to NRC’s implementation of data quality guidelines and procedures.

2. Letter to Congress, dated February 2, 2005, provides NRC’s Annual Report of the

Administration of the Government in the Sunshine Act for Calendar Year 2004.

Federal Register Notices

1. Notice of Reconstitution, Hydro Resources, Inc., Docket No. 40-8968-ML, ASLBP No. 95-

706-01-ML.

2. Proposed Rule: Protection of Safeguards Information, 10 CFR Parts 2, 30, 40, 50, 52, 60,

63, 70, 71, 72, 73, 76 and 150, RIN 3150-AH57. 

3. Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards, Ad Hoc Subcommittee Meeting on Early Site

Permit Applications, notice of meeting (3/2/05). 
February 11, 2005 ENCLOSURE P

Region I (RI)

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 11, 2005

Periodic Integrated Materials Performance Evaluation Program (IMPEP) Management Meetings

with Alabama and Florida

During the week of February 1, 2005, a Region I State Agreements Officer held periodic

meetings with the States of Alabama and Florida to discuss their radioactive materials

programs. No performance issues were identified in either program. The next IMPEP reviews

are scheduled for April 2006 for Alabama and February 2007 for Florida.

Spent Fuel Storage At Millstone Station

During the period of January 31 to February 11, 2005, Region I staff and management, with the

assistance of Spent Fuel Program Office Staff, conducted an inspection and observed licensee

activities in preparation for the movement of spent fuel into an onsite Independent Spent Fuel

Storage Installation (ISFSI) at the Millstone Nuclear Power Plant in Connecticut. The purpose

of the NRC-observed dry run was to verify that the equipment and station procedures, including

licensee staff training, are adequate to support the safe loading of casks and storage of the

casks at the ISFSI. Millstone is using the NUHOHMS 32-PT system with storage in horizontal

storage modules. Actual movement of spent fuel will commence once licensee followup actions

from the dry run are complete.

Management Review Board Meeting on New Hampshire Materials Program

During a special meeting of the Management Review Board (MRB) on February 10, 2005,

Region I staff and New Hampshire State representatives discussed the results of a periodic

conference call held on January 25, 2005, regarding the State’s progress with its Program

Improvement Plan (PIP). The State’s radioactive materials program is currently in heightened

oversight based on its performance in the last two Integrated Materials Performance Evaluation

Program (IMPEP) reviews conducted in 2001 and 2004. Based on discussions with the State,

the program’s performance since the last IMPEP review has been satisfactory in most

performance areas with the exception of staffing and training, and regulations required for

compatibility. The MRB concluded that the program will continue under heightened oversight

until a follow-up review is performed during the summer of 2005.

Tour of Radiological Facilities at the Medstar Georgetown Medical Center

On February 10, 2005, a Region I staff accompanied the Director of the Office of Nuclear

Materials Safety and Safeguards and Mr. Julio Barcelo Vernet, Commissioner Consejo de

Seguridad Nuclear, Spain, and his assistant, on a tour of the radiological facilities at the

Medstar Georgetown Medical Center (MGMC). The group visited the facilities of the MGMC’s

Radiation Oncology and Nuclear Medicine departments and viewed the licensee’s CyberKnife,

High Dose Remote Afterloader and their combination Positron Emission

Tomography/Computerized Tomography devices.
February 11, 2005 ENCLOSURE P

Region II (RII)

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 11, 2005

Visit by Commissioner Consejo de Seguridad Nuclear, Spain

On February 8, 2005, Mr. Julio Barceló Vernet, Commissioner Consejo de Seguridad Nuclear,

Spain, visited the Turkey Point nuclear plant for a site tour and met with licensee management.

On the following day, Commissioner Vernet visited the Region II office and met with senior

managers and staff.

Honeywell Licensee Performance Review Meeting

On February 7, 2005, the Deputy Regional Administrator and Director, Division of Fuel Facility

Inspection, conducted a public meeting to discuss the Licensee Performance Review for

Honeywell Specialty Chemicals in Metropolis, Illinois.

USEC Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant

On February 8, 2005, the Deputy Regional Administrator visited the Paducah gaseous diffusion

plant to observe operations at the plant and to meet with the resident inspectors .
February 11, 2005 

Office of Congressional Affairs (OCA)

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 11, 2005

CONGRESSIONAL HEARING SCHEDULE, NO. 6

 OCAContact

 DATE & PLACE

TIME WITNESS SUBJECT 

Madden 02/16/05

2318 RHOB

11:00 White House Office of

Science and Technology,DOE, NSF, DHS, DOC

FY06 Budget : Federal R&D Reps. Bo

Science

Shane 02/17/05

SD-342

10:00 TBD Government Programs at High Risk

of Waste, Fraud and Abuse

Senators Oversight Managemand the DHomeland Affairs

Madden 03/03/05

SD-366

10:00 DOE FY 2006 Energy Budget Senators 

Energy a

Keeling Tentative for

April

TBD Chairman Diaz, DOE,

Exelon CEO, IBEW rep,City Council rep nearGrand Gulf

DOE’s NP 2010 Program Senators 

Energy a