October 10, 2003 SECY-03-0174

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-03-0174 WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING OCTOBER 3, 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
October 10, 2003 SECY-03-0174

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-03-0174 WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING OCTOBER 3, 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\WeekO03.WPD

OEDO AO/OEDO

LRoche:paa WMDean

10/10/03 10/14/03
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 3, 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 * SECY *

OGC * Region I 20

ADM 10 Region II 21

CIO 11 Region III 22

CFO * Region IV *

HR 15 OEDO *

SB/CR * OCA 24

OE *

*No input this week
October 3, 2003 ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Items of Interest

Week Ending October 3, 2003

Palo Verde - Issuance of License Amendment on Steam Generator Replacement and Power

Uprate

On September 29, 2003, the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation issued a power uprate

amendment for the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, Unit 2. The amendment supports

replacement of the steam generators and subsequent operation at a maximum power level of

3990 MWt, a 2.94 percent increase from the current 3876 MWt. The amendment will be

implemented prior to entry into Mode 4 during restart from the fall 2003 refueling outage. 

Course on Advanced Probabilistic Safety Assessment (PSA) Modeling Techniques at Argonne

National Laboratory (ANL)

During September 24-26, 2003, the Division of Systems Safety and Analysis (DSSA) gave

presentations on "Probabilistic Safety Analysis in Regulatory and Plant-Operational Decision

Making" and the "Maintenance Rule," and participated in an associated panel at ANL. 

Attendees at the course included representatives from Armenia, Bulgaria, China, the Czech

Republic, Hungary, Indonesia, Lithuania, the Russian Federation, the Slovak Republic,

Slovenia, the Ukraine, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Pacific Northwest

National Laboratory (PNNL), ANL, and the NRC.

The IAEA representative presented their Agency’s assessment of PSAs internationally and

noted that the average technique is Level 2 PSA. Most plants in the world have a Level 2 PSA

along with their associated Level 1 PSA and only a few plants have Level 3 PSAs.

Exelon and Dominion Early Site Permits

On September 25, 2003, Exelon Generating Company LLC and Dominion Nuclear North Anna

LLC submitted to the NRC early site permit (ESP) applications for the Clinton and North Anna

sites, respectively. The staff will perform an acceptance review of the applications. In

accordance with the staff's resource and budgeting plans for FY 2004, the staff's technical

review of the Dominion application will begin immediately after acceptance of the application for

docketing, while the technical review of the Exelon application will begin at the end of

November 2003. 

Denial of Petition for Rulemaking 52-2

A Federal Register Notice documenting denial of Petition for Rulemaking (PRM) 52-2 was

published on September 29, 2003. In PRM 52-2, the petitioner, the Nuclear Energy Institute,

requested that the NRC amend regulations in 10 CFR Part 51 to eliminate requirements that

applicants and licensees analyze alternative sources of energy and need for power with respect

to the siting and licensing of nuclear power plants.
October 3, 2003 ENCLOSURE A

Browns Ferry License Renewal

On September 29, 2003, staff from the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation met with the

Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to continue pre-application discussions regarding TVA’s

planned submittal of the Browns Ferry Units 1, 2, and 3, license renewal application. The

application is scheduled to be submitted in late December 2003. During that time, Unit 1 is

expected to be undergoing restart. Extended power uprates will also be requested for all three

units. Detailed discussions centered on how TVA will identify temporary differences for Unit 1

until restart is completed and how Unit 1 will be identical to Units 2 and 3. TVA will also

address in its application the effects of more than 17 years of lay up on the Unit 1 structures

and components that are not being replaced during restart activities.

License Renewal Applications for Robinson and Ft. Calhoun

On September 30 and October 1, 2003, the staff presented the results of its evaluations of the

H. B. Robinson Unit 2 and Fort Calhoun Unit 1 license renewal applications, respectively, to the

Advisory Committee for Reactor Safeguards (ACRS). The staff issued the safety evaluation

report (SER) with open items for Robinson on August 25, 2003, and the final SER for

Ft. Calhoun on September 5, 2003. The staff presented an overview of the SERs, the

subsequent resolution of the open items, and the findings of the associated onsite audit and

inspections. The ACRS members commented that the license renewal applications and the

staff’s SERs were of good quality. The final SER for Robinson is due to be completed by

January 21, 2004. If approved, the staff plans to issue the renewed license for Ft. Calhoun by

November 21, 2003.

NRC Information Notice 2003-17: Reduced Service Life of Automatic Switch Company (ASCO)

Solenoid Valves with Buna-N Material, Dated September 29, 2003

The NRC is issuing this information notice to alert addressees to potential problems caused by

the hardening of Buna-N material used in fabricating solenoid valves manufactured by

Automatic Switch Company (ASCO). The NRC expects recipients to review the information for

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

NRC Information Notice 2003-18: General Electric Type SBM Control Switches with Defective

Cam Followers, Dated September 26, 2003

The NRC is issuing this information notice to let addressees know of recent and long-term

operational experience with control switches and relays incorporating a polycarbonate plastic

material manufactured by General Electric known as Lexan®. It is expected that recipients will

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

avoid similar problems. 

NRC Meeting with Westinghouse and Exelon on Flowmeter Power Measurements

On September 26, 2003, the staff met with Westinghouse representatives to discuss their root

cause analysis related to the Byron Unit 1 assumed overpower condition regarding crossflow

ultrasonic flowmeter (UFM) signal contamination. A portion of the meeting was closed when

proprietary information was presented. Special tests indicated frequency contamination that
October 3, 2003 ENCLOSURE A

affected the operation of the UFM. The signal contamination was traced to acoustic resonant

frequencies in the piping. However, the source of the resonant frequencies is still unknown. 

Possible sources included feedwater and pumps or other nearby equipment. Westinghouse is

still evaluating UFM performance at other plants and plans to respond to the staff questions by

the end of October.

The staff advised Westinghouse: (1) to verify the integrity of the information contained in

previously-approved topical reports for generic applications of the crossflow UFM; (2) to

establish and publish guidelines instructing users how to operate their system; and (3) that

future UFM applications for Appendix K power uprates will receive greater scrutiny with respect

to signal contamination and assurance that signal contamination is not present. Byron has

indicated that they will gather information using UFMs, but will not use the correction factor until

the root cause analysis is complete.
October 3, 2003 ENCLOSURE B

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards

Items of Interest

Week Ending October 3, 2003

Staff Accompanies Representatives of China National Nuclear Corporation on Tour of Uranium

Recovery Facilities

On September 23-24, 2003, the Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards staff

accompanied four representatives of the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) on a tour

of three uranium recovery facilities in Wyoming. A representative of the International Institute

for Applied System Analysis, Austria, escorted the CNNC staff. On September 23, the group

visited the Power Resources, Inc. (PRI) in-situ leach (ISL) uranium extraction facility at the

Smith Ranch-Highland Uranium Project. PRI site staff delivered a slide show presentation that

included a site overview and a step-by-step description of the ISL process. Although the

Chinese use acid leaching, they have little experience with alkaline leaching. After the briefing,

PRI provided a detailed site tour. On September 24, the group visited the UMETCO Gas Hills

facility and the Pathfinder-Lucky Mc facility. Both facilities are undergoing reclamation. Staff at

both facilities provided information on the history of the site and also provided an extensive site

tour. Because of the nearly complete status of reclamation at both facilities, little actual

reclamation activity was observed. However, the CNNC representatives were able to gain a

thorough understanding of the nature and scope of the reclamation activities. Questions

focused on the technical and cost areas. Other than the overall role of NRC and the States, no

regulatory topics were discussed. The CNNC representatives expressed great appreciation for

the site tours and information. 

Integrated Safety Analysis and Criticality Safety Workshops

On September 23-25, 2003, the Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards (FCSS) staff, in

conjunction with the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), conducted a 2-day Integrated Safety

Analysis (ISA) Workshop, followed by a 1-day Criticality Safety (CS) Workshop. Both

workshops were held in Washington, DC. The presenters for the ISA Workshop were from

NEI, fuel cycle licensees/applicants, and FCSS staff. The presenters for the CS Workshop

were the same plus staff from the Spent Fuel Project Office. Approximately 60 people attended

all 3 days of the workshops. Attendees included representatives from NRC, NEI, fuel cycle

licensees/applicants, the Department of Energy, National laboratories, Electric Power Research

Institute, FCSS contractors, and other consultants/contractors. Both workshops were

Category 2 open public meetings.

Issues of mutual interest, related to the implementation of the ISA Summary and CS

requirements of Subpart H, in 10 CFR Part 70, were discussed. As a result of the information

and views exchanged at the ISA and CS Workshops, the staff is confident that it can continue

to make progress in the implementation of the new regulatory framework established by

Subpart H. The staff intends to develop interim staff guidance to clarify the portions of the fuel

cycle facility standard review plan (NUREG-1520) and will evaluate a potential minor rule

change to the criticality monitoring requirements in 10 CFR 70.24.
October 3, 2003 ENCLOSURE B

Sealed Source and Device Workshop

On September 22-26, 2003, the Division of Industrial and Medical Nuclear Safety conducted a

workshop for Agreement State personnel on the review process for the safety evaluation and

registration of sealed sources and devices. Based on the safety evaluations, the registration

certificates issued are used as the basis for licensing the products. Twenty-two Agreement

State representatives and five NRC Headquarters staff attended as students for the five-day

workshop held in Los Angeles, California. Eight additional representatives from the State of

California and NRC made presentations during the workshop. The workshop was held in Los

Angeles to allow the State of California to "co-host" the workshop, and to allow the attendees to

visit two local source fabricators (Isotope Products Laboratory and North American Scientific) to

see where the sources are constructed, tested, and certified. At the end, the participants

conducted casework exercises to develop a better understanding of how to apply the

information contained in the workshop lectures. These workshops, held every 2-3 years, are

designed to provide in-depth training on the process for evaluating sealed sources and devices. 

Staff Visit to the Rocky Flats Facility in Colorado, and the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in

Carlsbad, New Mexico

On September 16, 2003, staff from the Spent Fuel Project Office visited the Rocky Flats facility

in Colorado. The main purpose of the visit was to observe preparation and shipment of

transuranic waste in TRUPACT-II casks. The Department of Energy (DOE) operating

contractor took the staff on a tour of the facility for preparation of the waste for shipment. The

preparation includes real-time radiography, non-destructive isotopic assay, head space gas

analysis, determination of hydrogen gas generation rate, and visual examination. The staff also

observed preparation of TRUPACT-II cask loading, including O-ring replacement, waste

loading, and leak-testing of the cask. 

The following week, on September 25, 2003, the staff observed receipt of the loaded

TRUPACT-II casks, unloading of the waste, and its emplacement underground at the Waste

Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in Carlsbad, New Mexico. DOE’s contractor took the staff on a tour

of the surface facility, which included receipt and preparation of contact-handled and

remote-handled transuranic waste for disposal. The staff observed the activities at the

transportation operation center and satellite tracking of the shipments, using the TRANSCOM

system. The staff then went on a tour of the WIPP underground and observed operations

associated with excavation, handling, and emplacement of the waste.

Staff Participates in International Conference on Environmental Remediation and Radioactive

Waste Management, Oxford, England

On September 21-25, 2003, staff from the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards

participated in the 9th International Conference on Environmental Remediation and Radioactive

Waste Management (ICEM). The conference had over 600 attendees from 40 countries and

focused on current research results, national and international remediation regulations,

implementation of new methods and equipment for remediation, and initiating and managing

environmental projects. There were discussions on low-level waste management, high-level

waste and spent-fuel management; environmental remediation, decontamination, and

decommissioning; and major institutional issues in environmental management and public
October 3, 2003 ENCLOSURE B

involvement. The staff presented two papers (“Status of NRC’s Decommissioning Program,”

and “Status of the West Valley Demonstration Project”), co-chaired four sessions, and

participated on the conference-organizing committee. The next ICEM will be held in 2005.
October 3, 2003 ENCLOSURE C

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research

Items of Interest

Week Ending October 3, 2003

Public Meeting of the Interagency Steering Committee on Multimedia Environmental Modeling

On September 24, 2003, the Office of Regulatory Research (RES) hosted the annual public

meeting of the Interagency Steering Committee (ISCMEM) established under the Memorandum

of Understanding (MOU) on research and development of multimedia (i.e., air, surface and

ground-water systems) environmental modeling. The MOU provides a mechanism for Federal

Agencies to pursue a common technology in multimedia environmental modeling with a shared

technical basis. Other Federal agencies represented on ISCMEM include EPA, DOE, U.S.

Geological Survey (USGS), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Agricultural Research Service

(ARS), Natural Resources Conservation Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Agency. Information from the public meeting will be posted on the MOU public website:

http://www.ISCMEM.org.

Meeting of ACRS Subcommittee on Reactor Fuels

The ACRS Subcommittee on Reactor Fuels met with staff from RES, the Electric Power

Research Institute (EPRI), and Arizona Public Service on September 29-30, 2003, to discuss

research that is being conducted by NRC and EPRI and related topics. The scope of NRC’s

research was described in an August 21, 2003, memorandum to the Commission. This

research is issue-oriented, and it is being performed in cooperation with EPRI and several

international organizations. The staff presentations were focused on analytical and

experimental work that is being done to reach near-term resolution on two issues: one related

to reactivity-initiated accidents (RIAs) and one related to loss-of-coolant accidents (LOCAs). 

Presentations by EPRI staff described in detail the elements of their Robust Fuel Program that

address economic aspects of fuel performance during normal operation. Brief comments were

also made about an element of EPRI’s program on fuel response to transients, which are

important in safety assessments. Although EPRI and NRC cooperate in data collection in

experimental programs, interpretations and applications are done independently. In this regard,

it became clear that EPRI and RES are pursuing somewhat different courses in resolving RIA

and LOCA issues. The RES staff also gave a brief summary of fuel damage from a crudcleaning operation that occurred at the Paks nuclear power plant in Hungary. 

Arizona Public Service described their experience with crud on fuel in the Palo Verde plants. 

One of EPRI’s major presentations was on their development and implementation of an

ultrasonic technique for removing crud from the fuel during outages.

Panel Discussion on Mitigating Systems Performance Index (MSPI) Pilot Program

In a September 30, 2003, Nuclear Energy Institute Forum on Risk Informed Regulation, RES

staff participated in a panel discussion on the status of the MSPI Pilot Program. The meeting

was open to the public and attended by approximately sixty participants primarily from NRC,

national laboratories, and industry.
October 3, 2003 ENCLOSURE C

The purpose of the MSPI is to monitor the performance of six systems based on their ability to

perform risk-significant functions. The index, which approximates the change in core damage

frequency, is comprised of two elements - system unavailability and system reliability. Plantspecific PRA models will be used to calculate the contribution of component failures and

maintenance unavailability to the index. 

In the panel discussion, RES staff provided an overview of the results of the verification effort

on the Pilot Program, the lessons learned from the program, and the status of the resolution of

key technical issues. A Question and Answer session followed the presentation by the three

panel members.

American Concrete Institute (ACI) Meetings, Boston, MA

Two staff members from the Division of Engineering Technology (DET) attended the ACI Fall

meetings from September 27 through 29 in Boston, MA. One staff member served as the NRC

representative on ACI committee 349, “Safety Related Concrete Nuclear Structures,” and ACI

committee 355, “Anchorage to Concrete.” The other staff member attended as a guest

participant to ACI committee 359, “Code for Concrete Reactor Vessels and Containments.”

The purpose of attending this meeting was to provide input on tests of anchors and to describe

regulatory activities related to seismic category I concrete structures, as well as initiating any

followup actions.

Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) Briefing

On October 4, 2003, staff from the Division of Engineering Technology (DET) briefed the

Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) on the final draft of Regulatory Guide

(RG) 1.168, Revision 1, “Verification, Validation, Reviews, and Audits for Digital Computer

Software Used in Safety Systems for Nuclear Power Plants,” and sought ACRS concurrence on

issuance of the final guide. This regulatory guide endorses current IEEE standards for software

verification, validation, review and audits. It describes methods acceptable to the NRC staff for

complying with NRC regulations on ensuring high functional reliability and design quality in

software and for carrying out software reviews, inspections, walkthroughs, and audits. 

Panel Discussion on DG-1122

In a September 29, 2003, Nuclear Energy Institute Forum on Risk Informed Regulation, staff

from RES and NRR participated in a panel discussion on PRA Standards and Regulatory

Guide; specifically on DG-1122, ”An Approach for Determining the Technical Adequacy of

Probabilistic Risk Assessment Results for Risk-Informed Activities,” and ASME’s “Standard for

Probabilistic Risk Assessment for Nuclear Power plant Applications.” The meeting was open to

the public and attended by approximately sixty participants primarily from NRC, national

laboratories, and industry.

In the panel discussion, NEI’s presentation indicated (1) the need to move forward and publish

the Draft Guide for trial use, (2) a range of pilots are needed (and identified additional pilots

beyond South Texas who has formally submitted a request for a pilot), (3) applicability of nonpilots should be deferred while pilots are tested, and (4) results of pilots should be

communicated through industry workshops prior to using regulatory guide at all plants. RES
October 3, 2003 ENCLOSURE C

and NRR staff presentations focused on the trial use and the purpose of the pilots. The staff

noted that the purpose is to determine if implementation of the regulatory guide obviates the

need for an in-depth staff review of the PRA, i.e., providing a more focused and consistent staff

review and staff confidence in the PRA results. The staff also presented a schedule which

showed the guide and draft pilot guidance being published for trial use in December 2003,

initiating the pilot(s) in early 2004, and issuance of the guide as Revision 0 in late 2004. 

The Chairman of the ASME Committee on Nuclear Risk Management (CNRM, committee

responsible for the ASME PRA standard), was also on the panel. His presentation focused on

current and future ASME risk-informed activities. In the near term, these include publishing

Addendum 1 (October 2003) which resolves the majority of the staff objections and

Addendum 2 (2004) which will address lessons-learned for trial uses of the standard. 
October 3, 2003 ENCLOSURE F

Office of Administration 

Items of Interest 

Week Ending October 3, 2003

Financial Assurance for Materials Licensees (Parts 30, 40, and 70 - AG85)

A final rule that amends the regulations to bring the amount of financial assurance required for

certain materials licensees more in line with current decommissioning costs was published in

the Federal Register on October 3, 2003 (68 FR 57327). The action is intended to ensure that

licensees maintain adequate financial assurance so that timely decommissioning can be

accomplished following shutdown of a licensed facility. The final rule becomes effective

December 2, 2003.

Nuclear Energy Institute; Denial of Petition for Rulemaking (PRM-52-1)

A document that denies a petition for rulemaking submitted by the Nuclear Energy Institute

(PRM-52-1) was published in the Federal Register on October 3, 2003 (66 FR 57383). The

petitioner requested that the NRC amend the regulations to allow applicants seeking an early

site permit and a combined license to use existing information from prior licensing actions as

resolved information that has been approved by the NRC and has been subject to a hearing. 

The NRC is denying the petition because most of the efficiencies, regulatory stability, and

predictability which the petitioner sought can be achieved under existing regulations and

guidance.

Contract Awards 

Competitive Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPA) for "Information Technology Support

Services for Writing Requirements Documents and Performing Configuration Management

Activities," were awarded to the following four companies on September 22, 2003: Access

Systems, Inc., Aquas, Inc., Solutron, Inc., and Telesis Corporation. All four contractors are

woman-owned 8(a) certified small-businesses on the General Services Administration’s (GSA’s)

Federal Supply Schedule. These BPAs establish a pool of contractors to compete for

Information Technology (IT) services necessary to support application of NRC’s System

Development Life Cycle Methodology (SDLCM). As the needs arise, NRC will compete the

requirements among these firms. The period of performance is five years. The total estimated

ceiling amount is $2,995,000.

Delivery Order No. NRC-33-03-344-001, entitled, "Configuration Management" was

competitively awarded to Telesis Corporation on September 30, 2003. This Delivery Order is

for performance of configuration management functions on NRC-owned software. The period

of performance is one year. The total estimated ceiling of this order is $157,766.

Delivery Order No. NRC-33-03-344-002, entitled, "Portfolio Database" was competitively

awarded to Solutron, Inc. on September 30, 2003. This Delivery Order is to analyze and

document the requirements for the Portfolio Database and write the business case for the

development and implementation of the Portfolio Database, in accordance with Management

Directive 2.2, "Capital Planning and Investment Control." The period of performance of this

order is four months. The total estimated ceiling of this order is $158,253.00.
October 3, 2003 ENCLOSURE F

Delivery Order No. NRC-33-01-193-004, was competitively awarded to Integrated Management

Services, Inc. of Arlington, Virginia on September 30, 2003. This Delivery Order is for security

engineering technical support to allow NRC to appropriately assess the overall IT security

posture of the IT applications, systems, and processes that support the High Level Waste

project. The period of performance is one year. The total estimated value, inclusive of an

optional task, is $324,942.24.

Delivery Order No. NRC-33-03-342, was competitively awarded to OAO Corporation on

September 26, 2003, under the Comprehensive Information Systems Support Consolidation

(CISSCO II) program, using the GSA Federal Supply Schedule. This Delivery Order requires

the contractor to provide program management, maintenance and operational support for all

current automated computer systems, and all future systems developed and placed into

production at the NRC. The period of performance is two years with two one-year options. The

total estimated amount of the order is $22,811,855.04, inclusive of options.

Delivery Order No. DR-03-03-044 was competitively awarded to Information Systems

Laboratories Inc. on September 30, 2003. This Delivery Order is for technical assistance to the

Division of Regulatory Improvement Programs, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulations, for “Site

Audit of License Renewal Aging Management Programs and Safety Evaluation Report

Preparation.” The period of performance is 15 months. The total estimated cost, inclusive of

three optional sites, is $715,840.12.

A competitive firm-fixed price contract, No. NRC-38-03-375, entitled, "Motorized Operated

Valve Training” was awarded to Idaho State University, on September 30, 2003. This contract

will provide training to NRC inspection staff on the theory of operation of operated valves used

at nuclear power plants. The period of performance is one year with four one-year options. 

The total contract amount is $488,695, inclusive of options. Procurement streamlining methods

implemented were: combined synopsis/solicitation and reduced proposal preparation time.

Recruitment Activities

On October 1, 2003, Division of Contracts staff participated in On-Campus Recruitment

Programs at Howard University and the University of Maryland. Over 30 resumes were

obtained from business majors, 15 of which were interested in acquisition management intern

positions at NRC.
October 3, 2003 ENCLOSURE G

Chief Information Officer

Items of Interest

Week Ending October 3, 2003

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

September 26 through October 2, 2003:

EPA, NRC Report to Congress re: 42 USC Sec 7924(c) “Uranium

mine wastes hazards elimination program, all records related to

consultations with EPA

FOIA/PA-2003-0446

Docket No. 40-8681, Annual Technical Evaluation of White Mesa

Tailings Management Systems, 7-19-2001

FOIA/PA-2003-0447

Organization chart, telephone directory FOIA/PA-2003-0448

Decommissioning trust, owner of trust, utility name or plant and what

utility company owns, 3-4 years

FOIA/PA-2003-0449

Palisades Operational Safeguards Response Evaluation (OSRE)

Inspection cover letter dated 12-28-1992

FOIA/PA-2003-0450

NRC-Gosatomnadzor meetings in Moscow, 5-19 to 5-30, 2003 and 7-

21 to 8-1, 2003, trip reports, formal presentations

FOIA/PA-2004-0001
October 3, 2003 ENCLOSURE I

Office of Human Resources

Items of Interest

Week Ending October 3, 2003

Arrivals

BENVENUTO, Pablo REACTOR ENGINEER RIV

PRESBY, Peter OPERATIONS ENGINEER RI

SHEA, James PROJECT MANAGER NRR

SHEA, Steven SENIOR AUDITOR OIG

Retirements

HAISFIELD, Mark PROJECT MANAGER NMSS

HOLT, Raymond SR. SYSTEMS ACCOUNTANT OCFO

OLSON, Nancy SECRETARY (OA) NRR

SARTOR, William SENIOR EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

INSPECTOR

RII

Departures

CULPEPPER, Michael SR. HR MANAGMENT ANALYST OHR

DAVIS, William CRIMINAL INVESTIGATOR OI

RUBIC, Mark HUMAN RESOURCES SPECIALIST RIII

TIMM, David CRIMINAL INVESTIGATOR OIG
October 3, 2003 ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs

Items of Interest

Week Ending October 3, 2003

Media Interest

NRC’s criticism of FirstEnergy Corp. for inadequate emphasis on safety as the company

prepares to resume operations at its troubled Davis-Besse plant.

Continued coverage and editorials regarding the General Accounting Office report criticizing

NRC’s oversight of security at nuclear plants.

Press Releases

Headquarters:

03-123 NRC Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards to Hold October Meeting in

Rockville, Maryland (9/29)

03-124 NRC Names New Member to Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste (9/29)

03-125 NRC Changes Regulations on Decommissioning Funding (9/30)

03-126 NRC Approves Power Uprate for Palo Verde Unit 2 (10/2)

03-127 NRC’s Environmental Assessment Finds No Significant Impact from Proposed

BLEU Project Preparation Facility (10/3)

03-128 NRC Renews License for St. Lucie Nuclear Power Plant for an Additional 20

Years (10/3)

Regions:

I-03-056 Radioactive Material Removed from Bankrupt Central Pa. Site (9/29)

I-03-057 NRC to Meet with New Jersey Company to Discuss Apparent Violations (9/29)

I-03-058 NRC Board Issues Order Approving the Settlement of Civil Penalty Proceeding

Involving an Easton, Pa., Company (9/30)

I-03-059 NRC Region 1 Office Now Responsible for Region 2 Materials Licenses (9/30)

I-03-060 Meeting Between NRC and North Jersey Hospital is Postponed (10/2)

II-03-046 Inspection Functions for Nuclear Fuel Manufacturing Facilities Assigned by

NRC to Atlanta Regional Office on October 1 (10/1)

III-03-062 NRC to Meet with FirstEnergy on Long-Term Safety Culture Plans (9/30)

III-03-063 NRC Oversight Panel to Meet with Davis-Besse Officials October 7-8 (10/1)

III-03-064 NRC to Conduct Special Inspection of Fuel Handling Incident at Byron (10/2)
October 3, 2003 ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary

Items of Interest

Week Ending October 3, 2003

Document Released

to Public

Date Subject

1. SECY-02-0175 09/27/02 Denial of Petition for Rulemaking to Eliminate

Review of Alternative Sites, Alternative Energy

Sources and Need for Power in Nuclear Power

Reactor Siting and Licensing Reviews (PRM52-2)

SRM on SECY-02-0175 05/07/03 (same)

Voting Record on

SECY-02-0175

05/07/03 (same)

2. SECY-02-0199 11/08/03 Denial of Petition for Rulemaking to Use

Information from Prior Licensing Actions as

Resolved Information for Early Site Permit and

Combined License Applications (PRM-52-1)

SRM on 02-0199 5/7/03 (same)

Commission Voting

Record on 02-0199

5/7/03 (same)

3. COMSECY-03-0033 7/16/03 Transmittal of Revised FRN - SECY-02-0199 -

“Denial of Petition for Rulemaking to Use Info

from Prior Licensing Actions as Resolved Info

for Early Site Permit & Combined License

Applications (PRM-52-1)”

SRM on 03-0033 8/20/03 (same)

Commission Voting

Record on 03-0033

8/20/03 (same)

Information Papers

1. SECY-03-0166 9/25/03 SECY-03-0166 Weekly Information Report -

Week Ending September 19, 2003

Memoranda

1. M030925A 9/29/03 Staff Requirements - Meeting with Nuclear

Reactor Industry on Security Force Work Hour

Limitations

2. M030924 10/3/03 Staff Requirements - Briefing on Emergency

Preparedness Program Status
October 3, 2003 ENCLOSURE O

Commission Correspondence

1. Letter to Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey dated September 24, 2003, concerns the forceon-force exercises conducted at the Indian Point Energy Center.

2. Letter to Paul Gunter, Nuclear Information and Resource Service dated September 24,

2003, responds to request for answers to three questions concerning the risk-informed

review performed by the NRC staff to evaluate operation of the Davis-Besse Nuclear

Power Station beyond December 31, 2001. 

3. Letter to Dr. Carol S. Marcus, President, ACNP-CA, dated September 23, 2003, responds

to request for NRC to appoint an expert dosimetry panel to review NRC’s internal and

external dosimetry calculations affecting medical, pharmacy, and academic licensees. 

4. Letter to Duxbury Selectmen (Elizabeth H. Sullivan, Chair, John J. Tuffy, Vice-Chair,

Andre P. Martecchini, Clerk), dated September 22, 2003, concerns resolution adopted by

the Town of Duxbury requesting that the NRC support the placement of all but recently

unloaded spent nuclear fuel at the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station into secured dry cask

storage. 

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. NEI Denial of Petition for Rulemaking (PRM 52-1).

2. Financial Assurance for Materials Licensees -Final Rule.

3. Electronic Maintenance and Submission of Information - Final Rule.

4. Application to Amend License to Import Nuclear Facilities or Materials - Philotechnics,

Ltd.

5. ASLBP Designation of Presiding Officer - Fansteel, Inc.
October 3, 2003 ENCLOSURE P

Region I

Items of Interest

Week Ending October 3, 2003

PSEG Organizational Changes

Several changes recently were implemented in the organization of the Public Service Electric

and Gas Company, licensee for the Salem and Hope Creek plants. Chris Bakken reported to

the Salem and Hope Creek site as the Site Operations Vice President, while Greg Halnon

reported as Salem Operations Manager. Jim Hutton reported several weeks ago as the Hope

Creek Plant Manager. These changes are part of an ongoing reorganization instituted by Roy

A. Anderson, Chief Nuclear Officer, since his arrival in April 2003.

Haddam Neck Site Activities

During the week of September 29, 2003, a Region I Division of Nuclear Materials Safety

inspector led a team from the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) to the

Connecticut Yankee Haddam Neck facility to perform confirmatory surveys of the licensee’s

completed final status survey areas outside the industrial area of the plant. Activities included

sampling and surveying areas around the Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation site, the

peninsula, former nature and logging trails, and unimpacted land areas near the transmission

towers. ORISE scanned portions of 380 acres and collected 70 soil samples, which were split

with the licensee. Analyses of the soil samples will be used to evaluate the licensee’s analytical

capability.

Region I Management Retreat

The Region I senior management team conducted its annual program planning retreat on

September 30-October 1, 2003. A representative of the Office of the Executive Director for

Operations attended the retreat.
October 3, 2003 ENCLOSURE P

Region II

Items of Interest

Week Ending October 3, 2003

Recruitment Workshop at the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaquez

On October 1-3, 2003, the Regional Administrator, the Deputy Director of the Office of Human

Resources, and other NRC staff participated in a recruitment workshop at the University of

Puerto Rico-Mayaguez in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The workshop utilized the NRC’s recruitment

booth and other aides to introduce students and University officials to employment needs at the

NRC.

General Electric (G.E.) Inspection Services, Inc - Closed Predecisional Enforcement

Conferences

On September 30, 2003, Region II held two closed Predecisional Enforcement Conferences

with an individual, employed at G.E. Inspection Services, and with officials from G. E.

Inspection Services, Inc. The purpose of these Predecisional Enforcement Conferences were

to discuss an apparent willful violation involving the improper transfer of licensed material. 
October 3, 2003 ENCLOSURE P

Region III

Items of Interest

Week Ending October 3, 2003

Meeting on Davis-Besse Safety Culture

On October 1, 2003, members of the Region III staff and the NRC Oversight Panel met in the

regional office with representatives of First Energy Nuclear Operating Company to discuss the

utility’s activities to evaluate and improve the safety culture of the plant staff and management

at Davis-Besse and its plans for future monitoring of the safety culture. The meeting was also

available through videoconference in NRC Headquarters and through a dial-in teleconference

for interested members of the public.

Special Inspection of Fuel Handling Incident at Byron 1

On October 2, 2003, Region III initiated a special inspection at the Byron Nuclear Power Station

to review the circumstances surrounding a September 26 fuel handling incident at Unit 1 which

is shut down for refueling. In the incident, a fuel assembly being moved under water from the

reactor vessel to the spent fuel storage pool struck equipment in the refueling area. The fuel

assembly showed no evidence of damage. Because of an obstruction in the fuel transfer area,

the refueling staff had disabled a safety system in the overhead crane that limits the path for

fuel movements to avoid possible contact with objects that might damage the fuel.
October 3, 2003 

Office of Congressional Affairs

Items of Interest

Week Ending October 3, 2003

CONGRESSIONAL HEARING SCHEDULE, NO. 33

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 10/08/03

2247 RHOB

 2:00 GAO, OMB, CIE 25th Anniversary of the IG Act:

Where Do We Go From Here?

Reps. PlGov’t EffGovernm

Combs 10/15/03

SD-406

 9:30 Committee Vote Confirmation of Michael Leavitt to

be EPA Administrator

Senators Environm