INFORMATION REPORT

December 13, 2004 SECY-04-0231

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-04-0231 WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING DECEMBER 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
December 13, 2004 SECY-04-0231

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-04-0231 WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING DECEMBER 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\WeekD03.WPD

OEDO AO/OEDO

TKim:paa WMDean

12/ /04 12/ /04
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 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 15 OEDO *

SBCR * OCA *

OE *

*No input this week
December 3, 2004 ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Items of Interest

Week Ending December 3, 2004

Public Meeting on a Proposed Regulatory Issue Summary Related to Changes to Analytical

Metholdogies

On November 30, 2004, NRR staff held a public meeting at the NRC offices in Rockville,

Maryland, regarding a proposed Regulatory Issue Summary (RIS) related to reporting

requirements associated with changes to analytical methodologies for Emergency Core Cooling

System (ECCS) and licensing basis accident and transient analyses. The RIS was precipitated

by recent cases of licensees failing to properly report the impact of the results of changes to

analyses of record for loss-of-coolant accidents (LOCAs) and concerns about unreviewed

changes to non-LOCA analysis methods. The meeting was attended by representatives of the

Nuclear Energy Institute, Westinghouse, Framatome, General Electric, several licensees and

the trade press. The RIS will be revised to incorporate information obtained at the public

meeting and will be issued for public comment in early 2005.

Information Notice (IN) 2004-20: Recent Issues Associated with NRC Medical Requirements for

Licensed Operators

On November 24, 2004, the NRC issued the subject IN to all holders of operating licenses for

nuclear power reactors, as well as research and test reactors to highlight concerns related to

the conduct and documentation of medical examinations for applicants and holders of reactor

operator and senior operator licenses. Recipients of the IN are expected to review the

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

similar problems. However, suggestions contained in this information notice are not NRC

requirements; therefore, no specific action or written response is required.

Information Notice (IN) 2004-21: Additional Adverse Effect of Boric Acid Leakage - Potential

Impact on Post-Accident Coolant pH

On November 24, 2004, the NRC issued the subject IN to inform all pressurized-water reactor

licensees of potential adverse effects of boric acid leakage that may not have been previously

considered and to reemphasize concerns regarding boric acid accumulations on reactor plant

equipment inside containment. The primary concern regarding boric acid leakage is corrosion

of ferritic steel components. However, if boric acid deposits of sufficient magnitude are present

in containment, dissolution of these deposits may also affect the pH of the reactor coolant in the

containment sump. Recipients of the IN are expected to review the information for applicability

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

suggestions contained in this information notice are not NRC requirements; therefore, no

specific action or written response is required.

Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant - Issuance of Draft Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact

Statement for License Renewal

On December 1, 2004, NRR staff issued draft NUREG-1437, “Generic Environmental Impact

Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants, Supplement 21, Regarding Browns Ferry
December 3, 2004 ENCLOSURE A

Nuclear Plant, Units 1, 2, and 3,” for public comment. This supplemental environmental impact

statement (SEIS) includes the staff’s preliminary analysis of potential environmental effects of

the proposed action, the environmental impacts of alternatives to the proposed action, and

mitigative measures available for reducing or avoiding adverse impacts. It also includes the

staff’s preliminary recommendation regarding the proposed action. A 75-day public comment

period will begin with the Notice of Filing of the draft SEIS with the U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency. The staff has scheduled two public meetings on January 25, 2005, in

Athens, Alabama, to present its analyses and accept public comments on the draft SEIS.
December 3, 2004 ENCLOSURE B

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards

Items of Interest

Week Ending December 3, 2004

First Quarterly Senior Management Meeting with US Enrichment Corporation, Inc., (USEC)

On November 29, 2004, NRC staff met with management staff from USEC at the NRC offices

in Rockville, Maryland, to discuss NRC’s review status and management issues related to the

USEC’s application, dated August 23, 2004, for a gas centrifuge uranium enrichment facility --

the American Centrifuge Plant, proposed to be constructed in Piketon, Ohio. During the

meeting, NRC staff discussed NRC’s 30-month licensing schedule, including the 18-month

schedule to complete its safety, safeguards, and environmental reviews. NRC staff also

discussed the current licensing status, current issues, and hearing status. USEC staff gave a

short presentation regarding current issues and the licensing schedule.

Issuance of 10 CFR Part 71 Certificate of Compliance for New Transportation Package Design

On November 30, 2004, the Spent Fuel Project Office issued a 10 CFR Part 71 Certificate of

Compliance for a new transportation package (Model No. RAJ-II) for the shipment of fresh

reactor fuel made from reprocessed weapons-grade uranium. This is the first transportation

package licensed domestically that can ship this type of material which contains elevated levels

of U-236. This package is part of a U.S./Russia, "Swords to Plowshares Program," which

supports non-proliferation and downblending of 33 metric tons of highly enriched weaponsgrade uranium into low-enriched fuel for commercial reactors.

Issuance of 10 CFR Part 72 Specific License for an Independent Spent Fuel Storage

Installation

On November 30, 2004, the Spent Fuel Project Office issued a 10 CFR Part 72 License to the

Foster Wheeler Environmental Corporation, to construct and operate an independent spent

nuclear fuel storage installation at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental

Laboratory (INEEL). The facility will receive, repackage, and store spent fuel originally from the

Shippingport Atomic Power Station, the Peach Bottom Unit 1 reactor, and various training and

research reactors built by General Atomics (TRIGA reactors). Most of this fuel is currently

stored at INEEL in above-ground spent fuel pools or dry underground storage facilities. The

new facility will store the spent fuel in sealed stainless steel canisters placed inside steel tubes

within a concrete storage vault.

Meeting of the Northeast High-Level Radioactive Waste Transportation Project

On November 18-19, 2004, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS) staff

attended a meeting of the Northeast High-Level Radioactive Waste Transportation Project in

Portland, Maine. The Committee, which is composed of members from the Northeastern

states, deals with safety and operational issues related to shipment of spent fuel and high-level

waste. The major topics discussed at the meeting included the status and plans for the

shipping program for the Waste Isolation Project Plant and the planned repository at Yucca

Mountain; transportation routing; and transportation and state coordination issues. NMSS staff

provided an update on topical issues of interest to the Committee and gave a brief presentation
December 3, 2004 ENCLOSURE B

on the recently completed full-scale drop tests in Germany. In addition to Northeastern state

representatives, other meeting attendees included representatives from the Federal Railroad

Administration, Nuclear Energy Institute, Midwest Council of State Governments, Western

Governors’ Association, and Department of Energy (Office of Environmental Management,

National Nuclear Security Administration, and Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste

Management).

Proposed Rule Signed by the Executive Director for Operations (EDO)

On November 30, 2004, the EDO approved a proposed for publication in the Federal Register

rule that amends 10 CFR Parts 25 and 95, “Broadening Scope of Access Authorization and

Facility Security Clearance Regulations." This amendment broadens the scope of the

regulations to include persons who may need access to classified information or obtain facility

security clearance in connection with licensing and regulatory activities under 10 CFR Parts 60

and 63 or in connection with other activities as the Commission may determine, such as

vendors of advanced reactor designs.
December 3, 2004 ENCLOSURE C

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research

Items of Interest

Week Ending December 3, 2004

High-Burnup Fuel Testing Resumes at Argonne National Laboratory

Testing of high-burnup fuel and advanced cladding alloys is underway at Argonne National

Laboratory to address reactor and spent fuel issues. A major element of the testing program is

development of the technical basis for rulemaking to revise the cladding criteria in the loss-ofcoolant accident (LOCA) rule, 10 CFR 50.46. This is part of NRC’s current effort to make

LOCA regulations more risk-informed and performance-based. Earlier this year, work on

irradiated materials in the hot cell was halted because of the failure of remote manipulators. As

of November 30, 2004, work on the project has now resumed fully. A public meeting is planned

for late January 2005 to discuss test results and to present the detailed plans for the final phase

of this work element.
December 3, 2004 ENCLOSURE F

Office of Administration 

Items of Interest 

Week Ending December 3, 2004

Contract Awards

On November 24, 2004, a competitive Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) no. DR-38-05-367

was awarded to Performance Training Resources, Inc. under the General Service

Administration's Federal Supply Schedule. The BPA is for provision on an as-needed basis of a

2-day classroom course in critical thinking, as well as follow-up coaching and counseling

services. The NRC plans to pilot this course with staff from the Office of Nuclear Regulatory

Research in the near future. Based upon this pilot, the staff will evaluate the effectiveness of

the training. Following evaluation of the pilot, the contract permits NRC to order up to an

additional 115 courses as needed at a total estimated cost not to exceed $487,000 over a

three-year period. 

On November 29, 2004, a competitive cost reimbursements contract no. DR-38-05-366 was

awarded to Hummer Whole Health Management, Inc. The contractor will provide the NRC with

an integrated program of health and fitness services as well as ergonomic and occupational

safety and health services. The total estimated cost is $6,430,297. The period of performance

is five years, including four one-year options.

On November 29, 2004, a firm fixed-price type contract no. NRC-09-05-304, was awarded to

Owusu and Company, under the Small Business Administration’s 8(a) set-aside program. The

Contractor will provide data entry and operational support services to the Office of the Chief

Financial Officer. The total value of the contract is $1,791,840.00. The period of performance

is five years, including one nine-month and four one-year option periods. 

On November 29, 2004, a competitive small business set-aside contract no. NRC-10-05-397

was awarded to John Shorb Landscaping, Inc. The contract is for the removal of snow and ice

from the NRC headquarters on an as-needed basis. The period of performance is five years,

including four one-year options, with a total estimated cost of $260,959.00. 
December 3, 2004 ENCLOSURE G

Chief Information Officer

Items of Interest

Week Ending December 3, 2004

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

November 26 through December 2, 2004:

Depleted uranium combustion products; methods to detect aerosol

uranium, aerosol uranium ion, or aerosol uranium combustion

products

FOIA/PA-2005-0057

Investigation of July 23, 2004 incident, all correspondence between

NRC and U.S. Customs

FOIA/PA-2005-0058

Transportation of plutonium to Cherbourg, September 20, 2004, all

records

FOIA/PA-2005-0059

U.S. Court of Appeals Case No 01-1258, which, in part, vacated the

10,000 year compliance period in NRC’s 10 CFR 63 or potential

adoption of new or amended rules re: duration of compliance period,

all correspondence between NRC, EPA or NAS

FOIA/PA-2005-0060

License No. 21-16597-01MD, Capital Pharmacy Inc., 5700 Executive

Drive, Lansing, MI, all records

FOIA/PA-2005-0061
December 3, 2004 ENCLOSURE I

Office of Human Resources

Items of Interest

Week Ending December 3, 2004

2004 Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) Progress Report Luncheon

On December 1, 2004, the CFC Agency Manager, attended a Campaign Management

Progress Report Luncheon at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. The purpose of the

meeting was to obtain the status of agency campaigns throughout the Washington, DC area

and to recommend effective strategies for successful campaigns. To date, NRC has raised

over $296,000, which is 93% of the agency’s dollar goal. 

Arrivals

Michael T. Cash General Engineer (Technical Advisor) OIG

Craig Hrabal Nuclear Process Engineer (Criticality) NMSS

Retirements

Stefani Neidholdt Secretary R-IV

Bill S. Thurmond Reactor Technology Instructor TTC
December 3, 2004 ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs

Items of Interest

Week Ending December 3, 2004

Media Interest

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

Local opposition to the Oyster Creek nuclear plant in New Jersey.

Safety-conscious work environment issues at the Salem and Hope Creek nuclear plants in New

Jersey.

Possible NRC fines for Vermont Yankee over the misplaced fuel rod segments.

Other Public Affairs Items:

OPA staff assisted at a public meeting on safety conscious work environment issues at the

Salem and Hope Creek nuclear plants in New Jersey.

Press Releases

Headquarters:

04-149 NRC Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards to Meet Dec. 2-4 in

Rockville, Maryland (11/29)

04-150 NRC Licenses Spent Fuel Storage Facility at Idaho National Engineering

and Environmental Laboratory (12/1)

04-151 NRC Announces Opportunity for Hearing on Application to Renew

Operating Licenses for Brunswick Nuclear Plant (12/1)

Regions:

I-04-054 NRC Releases Two Inspection Reports on Vermont Yankee; Schedules

Meeting (12/2)

II-04-056 NRC to Meet with U.S. Enrichment Corporation to Discuss Performance at

Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant (12/3)

III-04-050 NRC Davis-Besse Oversight Panel to Meet Dec. 6 in Ohio (11/30)

III-04-051 NRC to Discuss Final Decommissioning of Twin Cities Army Ammunition

Plant (12/1)
December 3, 2004 ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary

Items of Interest

Week Ending December 3, 2004

Document Released

to Public

Date Subject

Decision Documents

1. SECY-04-0199 10/26/04 Request for Authorization to Issue a License

for the Idaho Spent Fuel Facility, Under 10

CFR Part 72

SRM on SECY-04-0199 11/12/2004 (same)

Voting Record on 

SECY-04-0199

11/12/2004 (same)

2. SECY-04-0211 11/8/04 Final Amendments to 10 CFR Part 50,

Appendix E, Relating to (1) Nuclear

Regulatory Commission Review of Changes

to Emergency Action Levels,

Paragraph IV.B and (2) Exercise

Requirements for Co-Located Licensees,

Paragraph IV.F.2

3. SECY-04-0215 11/13/04 Final Report on Results of the National

Materials Program Pilot Projects

Information Paper

1. SECY-04-0210 11/08/04 Status of the Accident Sequence Precursor

(ASP) Program and the Development of

Standardized Plant Analysis Risk (SPAR)

Models

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste, Notice of Meeting (12/13-14/2004).

2. ACRS Meeting of the Subcommittee on Reactor Fuels, Notice of Meeting (12/15-16/2004).
December 3, 2004 ENCLOSURE P

Region I

Items of Interest

Week Ending December 3, 2004

Vermont Yankee - Issuance of Inspection Reports

On December 2, 2004, Region I issued two reports on recent inspections conducted at the

Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant in Vernon, Vermont. The first report documents the

conclusions of an engineering team inspection that was conducted from August 9th through

September 3. The preliminary results from that inspection were released on November 5th and

posted on the NRC web page. The second report contains the results of a special inspection to

look into spent fuel segments that were reported missing at the facility. The team concluded

the pieces found in July 2004 are the pieces misplaced in January 1980. One apparent

violation involving inadequate controls for the two fuel rod pieces from 1980 through 2004 was

identified. Both final inspection reports and the earlier preliminary findings are posted on the

NRC web page at http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/plant-specific-items/vermont-yankeeissues.html The findings of both inspections will be discussed publicly at a meeting of the

Vermont State Nuclear Advisory Panel on December 16, 2004, at the Brattleboro Union High

School, in Brattleboro, Vermont, beginning at 6:00 p.m. 

Salem & Hope Creek - Senior Management Site Visit and a Meeting with Public Service

Enterprise Group (PSEG)

On December 2, 2004, the Region I Regional Administrator, accompanied by staff members

from both Region I and the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, visited the Hope Creek/Salem

site. The Regional Administrator toured the facility with the resident inspectors and met with

licensee management representatives. He also met briefly with United States Senator Thomas

Carper from Delaware, who was visiting the site as a guest of PSEG. Senator Carper’s visit

was unrelated to the NRC’s visit.

In addition, NRC staff, led by the Regional Administrator, held a public meeting with PSEG that

evening to review the licensee’s actions to improve performance in the area of safety conscious

work environment. This meeting was a follow up to the NRC’s July 30, 2004, letter on review of

the work environment at the stations. PSEG presented its actions and results to date. PSEG

stated that there has been “fragile progress” and acknowledged significant effort lies ahead to

achieve substantial, sustainable progress.

Following the meeting with PSEG, several members of the public accepted the opportunity to

address the NRC staff. Approximately 85 individuals attended the meeting.

New Jersey State Assembly Meetings on Oyster Creek License Renewal

On December 2, 2004, the New Jersey State Assembly’s Environment and Solid Waste

Committee held a meeting in Brick Township to discuss local community concerns regarding

Oyster Creek, principally AmerGen's planned submittal in mid-2005 requesting license renewal.

Approximately 200 members of the public, as well as local officials, attended. Speakers

included Amergen senior management, union leaders, members of the public, and public

interest groups. The NRC was not a participant.

A similar meeting is planned for Monmouth County December 9, 2004.
December 3, 2004 ENCLOSURE P

Region II

Items of Interest

Week Ending December 3, 2004

Region II’s Resident Inspector Counterpart Meeting

On November 30-December 2, 2004, Region II held a Resident Inspector Counterpart meeting

at the Regional Office in Atlanta, Georgia. Some of the highlights from the meeting include

presentations by the Deputy Executive Director for Reactor Programs, the Director of

Communications, and the Chief Information Officer. 

Senior NRC Management Visit to Sequoyah Nuclear Plant

On December 2, 2004, the Director, Division of Reactor Safety, accompanied the Deputy

Executive Director for Reactor Programs on a visit to the Sequoyah nuclear plant. They toured

the facility with the resident inspector and met with licensee management representatives.
December 3, 2004 ENCLOSURE P

Region IV

Items of Interest

Week Ending December 3, 2004

NRC/FEMA Exercise Scheduling Conference

On November 29-December 2, 2004, Region IV hosted the NRC/Federal Emergency

Management Agency (FEMA) Exercise Scheduling Conference. This conference included a

public meeting on the new National Response Plan, and NRC initiatives in emergency

preparedness and security. Representatives from Region IV, the Office of Nuclear Security and

Incident Response, as well as the Department of Health and Human Services, the

Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Energy, and the Department of Homeland

Security made presentations during the meeting. Other meeting attendees included

representatives from States, FEMA (Regions IV, VI, VII, VIII, IX and X), Food and Drug

Administration, various offsite response organizations, and representatives from licensed

utilities in Region IV. 

Senior NRC Management Visit to Comanche Peak Steam Electric Station

On November 30, 2004, the Deputy Executive Director for Homeland Protection and

Preparedness and the Region IV Deputy Regional Administrator visited the Comanche Peak

Steam Electric Station. They toured the facility with the resident inspector and licensee

representatives and met with licensee management representatives. 

Public Meeting with Entergy Operations, Inc.

On November 30, 2004, the Region IV Regional Administrator accompanied by members of the

Region IV and the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation staff held a public meeting with

representatives from the Entergy Operations, Inc., at the Region IV offices in Dallas, Texas. 

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss performance of Entergy’s Southern fleet including, 

Arkansas Nuclear One, Grand Gulf Nuclear Station, River Bend Station, and Waterford Steam

Electric Station, Unit 3.