November 22, 2002 SECY-02-0206

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-02-0206 WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING NOVEMBER 15, 2002

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/

John W. Craig

Assistant for Operations, OEDO

Contact:

C. Glenn, OEDO
November 22, 2002 SECY-02-0206

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-02-0206 WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING NOVEMBER 15, 2002

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/

John W. Craig

Assistant for Operations, OEDO

Contact:

C. Glenn, OEDO

DISTRIBUTION:

Central File

Public Document Name: C:\WIR\WEEKN15.WPD

OEDO AO/OEDO

CGlenn:paa JWCraig

11/ /02 11/ /02
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 15, 2002

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

Headquarters and Regional Office activities. 

Contact: C. Glenn, OEDO by E-mail: cjg@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 * IP *

NSIR 9 SECY 19

OGC * Region I 20

ADM * Region II 21

CIO 11 Region III *

CFO 12 Region IV 23

HR 15 OEDO *

SB/CR * OCA 24

OE *

*No input this week
November 15, 2002 ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Items of Interest

Week Ending November 15, 2002

Arkansas Nuclear One, Unit 1

Refueling outage 1R17 is complete. Major activities accomplished include refueling, steam

generator tube inspection, reactor vessel head inspection, and vessel bottom inspection.

The steam generator tube inspection resulted in the plugging of 76 tubes in the A steam

generator and 43 tubes in the B steam generator. The overall number of indications were lower

as compared to previous steam generator inspections and no new degradation mechanisms

were detected. The licensee plans to replace the steam generators in 2005.

The vessel head inspection, which included a bare metal examination of the head and a

volumetric examination of all 69 nozzles, revealed indications that were primarily the result of

axially-oriented primary water stress corrosion cracking and resulted in the repair of 8 nozzles. 

Two nozzles were repaired with a J-groove weld overlay and 6 nozzles were repaired by

installing a new pressure boundary weld between the shortened nozzle and the inside bore of

the vessel head base material. The licensee plans to replace the vessel head in 2005.

Regarding the vessel bottom head, while conducting a visual inspection on the outside of the

insulation, the licensee identified 4 instrumentation nozzles with boric acid deposits on the

nozzle and on the insulation, at the plane where the insulation intersects the nozzles. For these

4 nozzles, the licensee removed the insulation ring around the nozzle and inserted a boroscope

through the insulation and videotaped 360-degrees around where the nozzle intersects the

vessel. No wastage was observed by the licensee during this visual observation. The licensee

concluded that the boric acid staining is a result of previous overfill/splashing events during past

refueling outages, and not leakage from the instrumentation nozzles. The licensee provided

detailed diagrams, drawings, and descriptions of the vessel bottom, and other information, to

support their conclusion.

NRC Regulatory Issue Summary 2002-21, National Guard and Other Emergency Responders

Located in the Licensee’s Controlled Area dated November 8, 2002

The NRC is issuing this regulatory issue summary to remind addressees that their existing

emergency plans and procedures must accommodate the potential deployment of the National

Guard, State police and other emergency responders in the controlled and unrestricted areas at

a nuclear power station. This guidance covers both emergency preparedness and personnel

radiation protection issues for emergency responders.
November 15, 2002 ENCLOSURE B

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards

Items of Interest

Week Ending November 15, 2002

NRC/DOE Technical Exchange and Management Public Meeting

On November 5-6, 2002, the Division of Waste Management held a technical exchange/

management meeting with the newly renamed Department of Energy (DOE) Yucca Mountain

Office of Repository Development, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Meeting topics included: (1)

potential use of a phased approach to repository construction; (2) proposed alternate design of

the repository; (3) DOE’s document hierarchy; (4) license application (LA) projects; and (5) the

level of design detail in the LA. DOE also presented a preliminary LA “Table of Contents.”

At the meeting, the State of Nevada provided a paper on its views about using 10 CFR Part 50

provisions (Preliminary Safety Analysis Report/Final Safety Analysis Report concept) in

licensing a repository under Part 63. A Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) representative stated that

NEI plans to submit a position paper on this same topic.

NRC/DOE Meeting on Preclosure Seismic Design Strategy

On November 7, 2002, staff from the Division of Waste Management and the Center for

Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses and its contractor participated in ameeting with DOE. 

Representatives from the State of Nevada and Nye County observed the meeting. The

purpose was for DOE to present a modification to its proposed preclosure strategy, with the

rationale for an additional 2000-year return period design basis earthquake. DOE also

indicated that this strategy will incorporate risk information obtained from its preclosure risk

assessment. At the meeting, DOE indicated that it would provide NRC with a white paper,

within 2 months, to explain its rationale for adding a new design basis earthquake and to

address NRC staff comments made at the November 7, 2002, meeting.

Meeting with Croft, Inc., Regarding New Transport Package Designs

On November 12, 2002, staff from the Spent Fuel Project Office met with Croft, Inc., to discuss

two new transport package designs -- the Model Nos. SAFESHIELD 2999A and SAFEKEG

2863K. The SAFESHIELD 2999A is being developed for the transport of a variety of

radioactive materials. Croft estimated that the applications for package approval could be

submitted to NRC in mid- to late-2003.
November 15, 2002 ENCLOSURE D

Nuclear Security and Incident Response

Items of Interest

Week Ending November 15, 2002

TOPOFF2 Exercise Preparations 

Top-Officials 2 (TOPOFF2) is the second Congressionally-mandated, national-level exercise

involving weapons of mass destruction. Division of Incident Response Operations (DIRO)

participated in the TOPOFF2 Mid-Term Planning Conference, the latest in a series of

interagency planning sessions, on November 13 & 14, 2002. The meeting was chaired by the

Office for Domestic Preparedness within the Department of Justice, the group charged with

managing TOPOFF2. The meeting addressed exercise preparation activities, scenario

development, and agency participation. The TOPOFF2 program consists of a year-long series

of increasing-complexity training seminars and limited-scope exercise activities leading to the

exercise in May 2003. Headquarters and the Region III and IV offices are participating in the

seminars and limited-scope activities, and will participate in the full-scale exercise. DIRO and

the Regional Offices are participating in the ongoing planning and scenario development

process.

Amalgam Virgo (AV) 03 Initial Planning Conference

Nuclear Security and Incident Response (NSIR) staff participated in the Amalgam Virgo 03

Initial Planning Conference with other emergency response functional area leaders from the

United States, and Canadian Federal departments and agencies, on November 5-7, 2002, at

McChord Air force Base in Tacoma, Washington.

Operations Center Tour

NSIR staff provided a presentation of the Operation Center Information Management System

(OCIMS) and tour of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to representatives of DOE and

TRW on Wednesday, November 13. Information pertaining to NRC’s EOC physical design

characteristics, business processes, and technological infrastructure were provided. DOE

intends to use the information provided as part of an assessment they are currently conducting

in their Emergency Operations Center. 

Preliminary Notifications

1. PNO-II-02-038, Huntington Testing & Technology, Inc. - RADIOGRAPHER EXPOSURE

2. PNO-IV-02-057A, Construction Inspection and Testing - UPDATE - LOST PORTABLE

GAUGE FOUND

3. PNO-II-02-039, GEOVERSE, Inc. - STOLEN PORTABLE GAUGE

4. PNO-IV-02-068, Entergy Operations, Inc. - INADVERTENT ACTUATION OF

EMERGENCY SIRENS IN THE VICINITY OF ARKANSAS NUCLEAR ONE
November 15, 2002 ENCLOSURE G

Chief Information Officer

Items of Interest

Week Ending November 15, 2002

Withdrawal of Direct Final Rule, “Electronic Maintenance and Submission of Information” (ERule)

On September 6, 2002, the staff issued a “direct final rule” that would have amended the NRC’s

regulations to clarify when and how applicants, licensees, and other members of the public

might communicate with the NRC electronically (see SECY-02-0096 and 67 Fed. Reg. 57084). 

The rulemaking is intended to bring the agency further into compliance with the Government

Paperwork Elimination Act. The staff is withdrawing the rule because the agency received

significant adverse comments on the rule. For example, many comments argued that the rule

should not require multiples copies of CD-ROMs, or complete versions of revised FSARs that

are submitted electronically. The staff will treat those comments as comments on the

companion proposed rule that was published at the same time the direct final rule was

published. The direct final rule and the guidance document were to become effective

December 5, 2002. Notice of withdrawal of the direct final rule will be published in the Federal

Register before December 5, and the rule and guidance will not take effect until the comments

have been addressed and the rule text revised, as necessary. Under the GPEA, the final rule

and guidance must be issued before October 21, 2003. 

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

November 8 through November 14, 2002:

Dosimetry badge number and dates at Dupont, Aiken, SC, on deceased individual (FOIA/PA2003-0056)

FOIA requests received by NRC from 1976, re: Oglala Lakota Nation, Oglala Sioux Tribe, Pine

Ridge Reservation, Badlands National Park or the Stronghold (Badlands National Park Unit 2)

(FOIA/PA-2003-0057)

Transcript of interview with named individual in OI Report 3-2001-051 (FOIA/PA-2003-0058)

Florida Power Corp., Crystal River nuclear power station, all communications between NRC,

Federal and State agencies, re: incidental capture of sea turtles and manatees for 2000, 2001,

and to date in 2002 (FOIA/PA-2003-0059)

NRC rules and regulations (FOIA/PA-2003-0060)

NRC contract 3398180, Ruland Associates, specific sections: SF33, B, C, and Statement of

Work (if separate from Section C) (FOIA/PA-2003-0061)

Formal response to Unitech Services Group notification letter of 6/24/02 (FOIA/PA-2003-0062)

Communications between NRC and New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection,

Bureau of Environmental Radiation concerning Magnesium Elektron’s facility in Kingwood

Township, Hunterdon Co., NJ, 1-1-95 to date (FOIA/PA-2003-0063)
November 15, 2002 ENCLOSURE G

FOIA/PA-2002-0418, copy of response (FOIA/PA-2003-0064)

Schedule for resolving and completing generic issue 82 - Beyond Design Basis Accidents in

Spent Fuel Pools, dated 12-7-83 (FOIA/PA-2003-0065)

Allegation RIV-95-A-0004, all correspondence between named individual and NRC (FOIA/PA2003-0066)

Plymouth Power Plant, Plymouth, MA, all documents relating to safety (FOIA/PA-2003-0067)
November 15, 2002 ENCLOSURE H

Chief Financial Officer

Items of Interest

Week Ending November 15, 2002

Cost Accounting System Certification and Accreditation

The NRC’s cost accounting system became operational in FY 2002 to generate management

reports and support the preparation of financial statements. The system was certified and

accredited by the CFO and CIO. This certification is based on an evaluation of security

documents that concludes that satisfactory security controls are in place to adequately protect

the system and that it can be operated within an acceptable level of risk. 
November 15, 2002 ENCLOSURE I

Office of Human Resources

Items of Interest

Week Ending November 15, 2002

Arrivals

CULPEPPER, Michael SR. HR MANAGEMENT ANALYST HR

HIGDON, Joan PROGRAM ASSISTANT SBCR

PRINCE, Robert HEALTH PHYSICIST RI

SERPAN, JR., Charles CONSULTANT OIP

SOSA, Belkys PROJECT MANAGER NRR

WONG, Albert CHEMICAL ENGINEER NMSS

Retirements

PASKAL, Paul PERSONNEL SECURITY ASSISTANT ADM

SPENCE, Robert REACTOR SYSTEMS ENGINEER RES

Departures

ARNOLD, Patricia SECRETARY (OA) RIII
November 15, 2002 ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs

Items of Interest

Week Ending November 15, 2002

Media Interest

A public meeting with FirstEnergy Co. in Oak Harbor, Ohio, on efforts to address problems at

the Davis-Besse nuclear plant, drew media attention.

Press Releases

Headquarters:

02-131 NRC Approves Power Uprate for H.B. Robinson Nuclear Plant

02-132 NRC Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste to Meet November 19-21 in

Rockville, Maryland

Regions:

 III-02-062 NRC Lessons Learned Task Force to Discuss Findings At Public Meeting

November 20 in Oak Harbor, Ohio
November 15, 2002 ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary

Items of Interest

Week Ending November 15, 2002

Document Released

to Public

Date Subject

Information Papers

1. SECY-02-0197 11/7/02 SECY-02-0197 Weekly Information ReportWeek Ending November 1, 2002

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste Meeting on Planning and Procedures - Notice of

Meeting.

2. Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards Subcommittee on Reactor Safeguards

Subcommittee Meeting on Future Plant Designs - Notice of Meeting.
November 15, 2002 ENCLOSURE P

Region I

Items of Interest

Week Ending November 15, 2002

Management Meeting with Maryland

On November 13, 2002, NRC staff from Region I and Office of State Tribal Programs met with

Maryland’s State Liaison Officer and Radiation Program management to discuss the status of

the State’s Agreement State program. The meeting focused on the State’s actions in response

to recommendations from previous Integrated Materials Performance Evaluation Program

(IMPEP) reviews and the status of the inspection and licensing program. Of particular note was

discussion of the challenges being faced by the State associated with the recent loss of staff to

retirements and the actions being taken to address this issue. The Region will continue to

monitor this situation through routine contacts with Radiation Program management. The next

IMPEP review of the Maryland program is scheduled for July 2003.

EXELON Drop-in

On November 13, 2002, Charles Pardee, Senior Vice President, Nuclear Services and Russell

West, Vice President, Peach Bottom, met with Hub Miller and senior regional managers. At the

meeting, the status of Peach Bottom, Limerick, Oyster Creek and TMI were discussed. 
November 15, 2002 ENCLOSURE P

Region II

Items of Interest

Week Ending November 15, 2002

Special Strategic Plan Senior Leadership Group Meeting

On November 14, 2002, the Regional Administrator participated in the Special Strategic Plan

Senior Leadership Group meeting in Headquarters. The Group continued to review the

Agency’s Strategic Plan and discuss potential areas for revision.

Duke, Cogema, Stone (DCS) and Webster Meeting - MOX Facility Construction

On November 12, 2002, the Regional Administrator and staff met, in a public meeting, with

management of DCS to discuss schedules for the mixed oxide fuel fabrication facility planned

for the Savannah River Site in South Carolina. The applicant provided a general description of

the facility and an outline of the construction schedule.

Differing Professional View-Oconee

On November 5, 2002, Region II completed a decision and response to a Differing Professional

View (DPV). The DPV was submitted to the Regional Administrator on August 7, 2002, in

response to the final disposition of eight issues in two NRC Inspection Reports (Reports),

issued to the licensee on, 2001 and May 31, 2002. The DPV questioned whether the Reports

were correct in not documenting each of the eight issues as violations. The DPV also

questioned whether was adequate follow up actions with regard to licensee corrective actions,

if the issues are violations.

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 included membership from the

NRC, Office of Enforcement and issued a report to the Regional Administrator on October 30,

2002. The Regional Administrator accepted the Panel’s conclusions and recommendations

with clarification and assigned actions in response in a November 5, 2002, memorandum.

Region II Administrative Workshop

On November 13, 2002, as part of actions to foster internal communications, the Regional

Office held a workshop with members of the administrative staff from each Regional Division

organization. The workshop included professional enrichment sessions by the Administrative

Team Leader, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards and by representatives of the

International Association of Administrative Professionals.
November 15, 2002 ENCLOSURE P

Region IV

Items of Interest

Week Ending November 15, 2002

Regional Administrator Visit to South Texas Project

On November 8, 2002, the Regional Administrator visited the South Texas Project and toured

the plant with the resident inspectors. The tour included the Unit 2 containment for a detailed

observation of the steam generator replacement activities and repairs to the seal welds on the

control rod drive mechanisms. Following the tour, the Regional Administrator received a

security briefing from the licensee and met with the Vice President, Generation.
November 15, 2002 

Office of Congressional Affairs

Items of Interest

Week Ending November 15, 2002

CONGRESSIONAL HEARING SCHEDULE, NO. 74

OCA

Contact

DATE

&

PLACE

TIME WITNESS SUBJECT 

Gerke 11/19/02

2154 RHOB

10:00 TBA Computer Security in the Federal

Government: How do the AgenciesRate?

Reps. HoGov’t Effi IntergovGovernm

Combs Tentative TBD Dr. Paperiello, DOE, DOD,

DOS

Combating Terrorism: PreventingNuclear Terrorism

Reps. ShNatl Secu InternatiGovernm