INFORMATION REPORT

June 7, 2004 SECY-04-0094

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-04-0094 WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING MAY 28, 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
June 7, 2004 SECY-04-0094

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-04-0094 WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING MAY 28, 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\Week528.WPD

OEDO AO/OEDO

TKim:paa WMDean

06/07/04 06/08/04
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING MAY 28, 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 6 OPA 13

RES 8 OIP 14

NSIR * SECY 15

OGC * Region I 17

ADM 9 Region II 18

CIO 10 Region III *

CFO * Region IV 19

HR 11 OEDO *

SBCR * OCA 20

OE *

*No input this week
May 28, 2004 ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 28, 2004

South Texas Project - Non-Operating Ownership Change

On May 28, 2004, Cameco Corporation, which had reached a sales agreement with American

Electric Power (AEP) Texas Central Company to purchase AEP’s 25.2 percent ownership in

South Texas Project (STP) Units 1 and 2, announced that its bid had been blocked by two of

STP’s current owners. Texas Generating Co. (Texas Genco), which owns 30.8 percent of the

two-reactor station, and City Public Service of San Antonio (CPS), which owns 28 percent,

intend to exercise their rights of first refusal to purchase AEP’s share. Each company plans to

buy AEP shares in proportion to their current ownership stake, which would boost Texas

Genco’s ownership to 44 percent and CPS’s to 40 percent. Both companies stated that they

would match Cameco’s $333-million offer for AEP’s ownership share in the STP facility.

NRC Bulletin 2004-01: Inspection of Alloy 82/182/600 Materials Used In the Fabrication of

Pressurizer Penetrations and Steam Space Piping Connections at Pressurized-water Reactors

Dated May 28, 2004

NRC issued the subject Bulletin to (1) advise Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) licensees that

current methods of inspecting Alloy 82/182/600 materials used in the fabrication of pressurizer

penetrations and steam space piping connections may need to be supplemented with additional

measures to detect and adequately characterize flaws due to primary water stress corrosion

cracking, (2) request PWR licensees to provide the NRC with information related to the

materials from which the pressurizer penetrations and steam space piping connections at their

facilities were fabricated, (3) request PWR licensees to provide the NRC with information

related to the inspections that have been performed and those that are planned to ensure that

degradation of Alloy 82/182/600 materials used in the fabrication of pressurizer penetrations

and steam space piping connections will be identified, adequately characterized, and repaired,

and (4) require PWR licensees to provide a written response to the NRC in accordance with the

provisions of Section 50.54(f) of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR 50.54(f)). 

NRR staff has taken steps to disseminate the Bulletin in a timely manner, including making it

available through the NRC public website in advance of a planned public meeting with industry

representatives to discuss the contents of the Bulletin on June 3, 2004.

NRC Regulatory Issue Summary (RIS) 2004-08: Results of the License Termination Rule

Analysis Dated May 28, 2004

NRC issued the subject RIS to inform addressees of the NRC’s analysis of issues associated

with implementing NRC’s License Termination Rule (LTR), a schedule for future actions to

address these issues, and opportunities for stakeholder comment. These issues include: the

restricted release/alternate criteria and institutional controls; the relationship between LTR

release limits and the unimportant quantities under 10 CFR 40.13(a); the appropriateness of

developing a separate Uranium/Thorium unrestricted release standard; the relationship

between the LTR and on-site disposal under 10 CFR 20.2002; the relationship between the

LTR and the current case-by-case approach for controlling the disposition of solid materials; the
May 28, 2004 ENCLOSURE A

need for more realistic exposure scenarios; measures to prevent future legacy sites by changes

in financial assurance; measures to prevent future legacy sites by changes to licensee

operations; and, the appropriateness of allowing intentional mixing of contaminated soil for

meeting for meeting release criteria. 

Monthly Meeting on Reactor Oversight Process

On May 27, 2004, NRR staff hosted the monthly Reactor Oversight Process public meeting at

the NRC headquarters. Major topics discussed during the meeting included significance

determination process (SDP) timeliness, safety system functional failure (SSFF) performance

indicator (PI) improvements, reactor coolant system (RCS) leakage PI improvements,

frequently asked questions (FAQ) process improvements, scrams with the loss of normal heat

removal PI, and open and new PI FAQs.

The staff provided an overview of its recently issued SDP Appendices, including Containment

Integrity (Appendix H), Steam Generator Tube Integrity (Appendix J), Fire Protection 

(Appendix F), Maintenance Rule A(4) (Appendix K), and a new proposed Appendix for

Independent Spent Fuel Storage (Appendix L). Industry representatives provided a status

update on the industry’s review of historical licensee event reports (LERs) for SSFFs. The staff

agreed to create a purpose statement for the scrams with loss of normal heat removal PI, and

to work with industry to determine how best to move forward with resolving the problems

associated with the indicator. 

Meeting with NEI on Mitigating Systems Performance Index (MSPI) Program

On May 26, 2004, NRR staff held a public meeting with representatives from Nuclear Energy

Institute (NEI) concerning the MSPI program. The staff discussed its concerns with MSPI

based on the recently completed pilot program. These concerns were documented in SECY

04-0053, "Reactor Oversight Process Self-Assessment for Calendar Year 2003," and the staff’s

meeting notice for the May 2004 MSPI meeting. During the meeting, NEI and licensee

representatives presented a new position and agreed that the Significance Determination

Process and Reactor Oversight Process policies governing assessment of licensee

performance would at this time, remain unchanged from its current form with MSPI

implementation. Many of the staff’s concerns were ameliorated in view of this new industry

position. The staff plans to hold additional meetings to identify possible changes to MSPI

based on the pilot program.

Presentation to Canadian Regulatory Safety Commission

On May 26, 2004, the Division of Inspection Program Management staff made a presentation

on the Reactor Oversight Process (ROP) to a delegation from the Canadian Regulatory Safety

Commission. The delegation was particularly interested in how the ROP is suited for

engineering/design verification inspections.
May 28, 2004 ENCLOSURE A

License Renewal Application Review for the Millstone Power Station, Units 2 and 3

On Tuesday, May 18, 2004, NRR staff conducted two public scoping meetings at the Waterford

Town Hall in Waterford, CT. The purpose of the meetings was to solicit comments from the

public on the scope of the supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) being prepared

as part of the review of the license renewal application for the Millstone Power Station, Units 2

and 3. The application was submitted by Dominion Nuclear Connecticut, Inc. (DNC), on

January 22, 2004. The SEIS will be a plant-specific supplement to the "Generic Environmental

Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Power Plants" (NUREG-1437).

Approximately 75 people attended the meetings. Attendees included members of the public,

State and local government officials, representatives from DNC, news media, and the staff and

its contractors from Los Alamos National Laboratory and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. 

Approximately 20 individuals spoke at the meetings. The entire afternoon session was

videotaped by a local news station. Public comments and questions were mainly focused on

terrorism, spent fuel storage, public radiation exposure and health impacts, severe accidents,

and the winter flounder fishery. The scoping period ends on June 4, 2004. The staff conducted

open houses for one hour prior to each meeting session to provide members of the public with

an opportunity to talk informally with NRC staff and view informational displays and brochures.

The staff and its contractors subsequently visited the site to gather additional information on the

environmental aspects of the license renewal application. The staff and its contractors also met

with several public officials and representatives of civic organizations. The team considered the

full spectrum of environmental issues, including aquatic and terrestrial ecology, land use,

human health, socioeconomics, etc. The team also reviewed the licensee’s process for

identifying new and significant information related to the Category 1 issues identified in

NUREG-1437. A major issue under review is the impact of Millstone operation on the winter

flounder fishery.

The draft SEIS is scheduled to be published in December 2004 and the final SEIS is scheduled

to be published in July 2005. In accordance with the established license renewal process, the

staff will conduct two additional public meetings after the draft SEIS is published.

ASLB Established for Millstone License Renewal

As published in the Federal Register (69 FR 29759) dated May 25, 2004, an Atomic Safety and

Licensing Board (ASLB) has been established to conduct a proceeding on the March 22, 2004,

hearing petition from the Connecticut Coalition Against Millstone, regarding the January 22,

2004, Dominion Nuclear Connecticut applications for renewal of the Millstone Power Station,

Units 2 and 3, operating licenses. 

License Renewal Application for Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2

On May 27, 2004, the Constellation Energy Group, the licensee for the Nine Mile Point Nuclear

Station, Units 1 and 2, submitted an application requesting the extension of the current

operating licenses for an additional 20 years beyond their current 40-year terms, pursuant to 10

CFR Parts 51 and 54. Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2 are boiling-water reactors

designed by General Electric with current operating licenses that expire on August 22, 2009,
May 28, 2004 ENCLOSURE A

and October 31, 2026, respectively. The staff plans to hold a public information meeting near

the plant in July to describe the license renewal process.

Meeting with NEI on an Alternate, Risk-informed Approach for Resolving GSI-191

On May 25, 2004, NRR staff held a public meeting with representatives from NEI to discuss an

alternate, risk-informed approach for resolution of Generic Safety Issue (GSI)-191,

"Assessment of Debris Accumulation on Pressurized Water Reactor Sump Performance." The

staff presented an approach involving a risk-informed exemption request in accordance with

current regulations. Licensees could request, on a plant specific basis, an exemption from the

requirement to consider the design basis large break loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA) for

demonstrating long-term core cooling capability (10 CFR 50.46 (b)(5)). For such an approach,

licensees would need to perform an analysis demonstrating long-term cooling capability and

satisfy the design basis assumptions and criteria for all breaks up to a new break size that

would be less than a double-ended guillotine break (DEGB) of the largest pipe in the reactor

coolant system. Long-term cooling must be assured for breaks between the new break size

and the DEGB, but the analysis may involve more realistic assumptions than a design basis

analysis, consistent with the small likelihood of the break occurring. The assurance of

long-term cooling coupled with the likelihood of the break would be addressed in a risk-informed

exemption request that meets the criteria of Regulatory Guide 1.174, “An Approach for Using

Probabilistic Risk Assessment in Risk-Informed Decisions On Plant-Specific Changes to the

Licensing Basis,” and NUREG-0800, “Standard Review Plan for the Review of Safety Analysis

Reports for Nuclear Power Plants,” Sections 19 and 19.1. 

NEI suggested an alternative approach that was different in several aspects from the staff’s

approach. NEI committed to providing the staff with additional information, and the staff agreed

to consider the NEI proposal and schedule a follow-up public meeting to continue discussions

on a risk-informed approach.

15th Annual Nuclear Decommissioning Trust Fund Study Group Conference

On May 18, 2004, NRR staff addressed the 15th Annual Nuclear Decommissioning Trust Fund

Study Group Conference, sponsored by investment advisors who manage Nuclear

Decommissioning Trusts (NDTs). The Conference is attended by investment firms, tax

advisors, attorneys, and licensees. The staff’s presentation covered the new provisions of the

NRC’s decommissioning funding assurance regulation (10 CFR 50.75) regarding investment

restrictions, withdrawals, trust agreement amendments, and limitations on licensees’ roles in

investment management. The staff also discussed significant changes to Regulatory Guide

1.159, “Assuring the Availability of Funds for Decommissioning Nuclear Reactors,” with respect

to the applicability of earnings credits, as well as the NRC’s policy on proper accounting of NRC

decommissioning funds and licensees’ inability to use such funds for disposal of contaminated

components during operations.
May 28, 2004 ENCLOSURE B

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 28, 2004

Staff Participates in Uranium Recovery Workshop

On May 18-19, 2004, staff of the Offices of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS)

accompanied by a representative of the Office of General Counsel participated in the National

Mining Association/NRC Uranium Recovery (UR) Workshop in Denver, Colorado. Staff from

the Office of the Inspector General observed the meeting. Over 100 individuals attended,

representing: the Department of Energy (DOE); the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA);

State agencies; the UR industry; and members of the public. While at the workshop, the staff

held a closed meeting with the States on May 18, 2004, to discuss the status of the memoranda

of understanding that are being developed with the States of Nebraska and Wyoming, to defer

active regulation of ground water at in situ leach uranium extraction facilities.

Meetings with the Russian Federation Federal Service of Ecological, Technological, and

Nuclear Oversight (formerly Gosatomnadzor or GAN)

On May 11-21, 2004, staff from the Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards (FCSS)

participated in a series of meetings and a workshop in Moscow to support the DOE and

Russian Federation (RF) Federal Service in discussion on topics related to the U.S. and

Russian Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility (MFFF) regulatory requirements and reviews. 

DOE is supporting regulatory development activities associated with the RF Plutonium

Disposition Program. On May 11-21, 2004, FCSS staff participated in a Bilateral Meeting with

DOE and the RF Federal Service (for nuclear oversight), to review DOE-supported tasks for

regulatory development in the RF. The status of the U.S. licensing reviews and the NRC

planning for the MFFF construction inspection program were discussed. NRC support for the

development of an RF standard review plan for the Russian MFFF was also discussed.

On May 17-20, FCSS staff conducted a seminar for the RF Federal Service (for nuclear

oversight), in Moscow, on the U.S. MFFF regulations and guidance documents, safety reviews,

and conclusions for accident analyses and radiation protection. Forty Russian nuclear

regulatory technical staff and inspectors from Moscow Headquarters and several districts

attended the workshop. This was part of a series of training workshops, that the staff is

conducting for the RF regulatory personnel, on MFFF-related subjects. DOE requested that

NRC conduct these workshops to convey information about the staff’s review of the domestic

MFFF, since the RF has adopted the design of the U.S. MFFF for the Russian MFFF.

On May 21, 2004, FCSS staff participated, at DOE’s request, in a debriefing on the May 11-21,

2004, meetings and workshop with the DOE representatives at the U.S. Moscow Embassy. It

was noted in the meeting that Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree, on May 20,

2004, converting the Federal Service for Technological Oversight and the Federal Service for

Nuclear Oversight (formerly Gosatomnadzor or GAN) into the Federal Service for Ecological,

Technological, and Nuclear Oversight, to be supervised directly by the Government of the

Russian Federation. Previously, the two bodies reported to the Federal Ministry of Industry

and Energy.
May 28, 2004 ENCLOSURE B

U.S. Transport Council Meeting

On May 20, 2004, NMSS staff participated in a meeting of the U.S. Transport Council on

transportation issues related to Yucca Mountain. The U.S. Transport Council is a

transportation industry trade group comprised primarily of transportation cask manufacturers,

carriers, freight forwarders, and shippers (utilities). NMSS staff participated in a panel on public

acceptance and gave a keynote address on the roles and responsibilities of NRC in

transportation of spent fuel to Yucca Mountain.

West Valley Meeting

On May 18-20, 2004, Division of Waste Management and Environmental Protection staff

participated in 3 days of meetings, at the West Valley site, to discuss comments on four draft

Environmental Impact Statement appendices related to performance assessment (PA). The

appendices addressed an overview of the PA approach, long-term PA models, hydrogeology,

and erosion. Other participants included the DOE; the New York State Energy Research and

Development Authority; EPA; the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation;

and the New York State Department of Health. 
May 28, 2004 ENCLOSURE C

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 28, 2004

ACR-700 Meeting with TAG on Research Plan

RES staff met with the Advanced Reactor Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to discuss the draft

Research Plan for the ACR-700. The presentation provided information on the framework that

will be used for the Research Plan and the identification of key research areas. While the

ACR-700 Research Plan will ultimately address all areas of RES activities necessary to support

ACR-700 design certification review, this TAG meeting focused on accident analyses

(thermal/hydraulic analysis, severe accidents analysis, and nuclear analysis). The staff

presented detailed information on the code development efforts, the relationships among the

various codes, the timing of specific validation activities, and the correspondence between the

current project schedule and the accomplishment of specific tasks. The staff concluded that,

subject to meeting certain criteria for success, the overall project schedule for design

certification could be supported for issuance of the relevant licensing documents.

Nuclear Risk Management Coordinating Committee Conference Call

On May 20, 2004, the Nuclear Risk Management Coordinating Committee held a conference

call to discuss the Committee’s strategic plan (charter, policies and procedures) and other

issues. The Committee consists of personnel affiliated with the American Society of

Mechanical Engineers, American Nuclear Society, NRC, DOE and NEI. A majority of the

Committee members agreed to taking the following two action items: (1) a letter would be sent

to NRC discussing its concern with the definition of Probabilistic Risk Analysis (PRA) Quality as

described in the Commission’s staff requirements memorandum on “Stabilizing the PRA Quality

Expectations and Requirements,” and (2) a task force would be appointed to identify options

and recommendations to the Committee for improving the implementation of the various PRA

standards. The Committee also agreed to ensure they were developing the necessary PRA

and related standards that are responsive to NRC’s needs. The next meeting for the

Committee is scheduled for September 9, 2004, in Washington, D.C.
May 28, 2004 ENCLOSURE F

Office of Administration 

Items of Interest 

Week Ending May 28, 2004

Regulatory Analysis Guidelines: Final Criteria for the Treatment of Individual Requirements in a

Regulatory Analysis

On May 21, 2004, the NRC published a document in the Federal Register (69 FR 29187) that

specified final criteria for the treatment of individual requirements in a regulatory analysis. The

criteria addressed the concern that aggregating or “bundling” different requirements in a single

analysis could potentially mask the inclusion of an inappropriate individual requirement.

Contract Award

On May 24, 2004, a competitive delivery order No. NRC-33-03-354-002 entitled, “Requirements

Analysis for the Budget Formulation Application Process," was awarded to ACCESS Systems. 

The order requires the contractor to perform a requirements analysis of the NRC’s overall

budget formulation process. The requirements analysis document will be the basis of the

business case for the automated budget formulation application. The period of performance is

May 24, 2004 through March 31, 2005. The total estimated cost of this order is $141,870.

Acquisition Training for Project Managers

On May 20, 2004, the Division of Contracts conducted the Source Evaluation Panel Procedures

course for nine participants. This is one of the twelve workshops offered under the Acquisition

Certification and Training Program. On May 25, 2004, the Division of Contracts conducted the

Overview Refresher course for 33 participants. This half-day workshop satisfies the

requirement that Project Managers receive refresher training every three years to maintain their

Project Manager certification. Presenters included staff from the Office of Administration,

Office of the General Counsel, Office of Small Business and Civil Rights, and Office of the

Inspector General. 
May 28, 2004 ENCLOSURE G

Chief Information Officer

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 28, 2004

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

May 21 through May 27, 2004:

Arizona Nuclear Power Project Participation Agreement, dated

08/23/73 and amendments

FOIA/PA-2004-0254

Callaway plant, alleged discrimination, ref: NRC doc “EA-03-040,

Union Electric Co” ML031671233

FOIA/PA-2004-0255

Diagnostic Cardiovascular Consulting, 765 North Hamilton Rd.,

Franklin County, Gahanna, OH 43230, violations review

FOIA/PA-2004-0256

OI Case No. 1-2003-034 (Allegation R1-2003-A-0068) interview

transcripts between November 3 - 7, 2003

FOIA/PA-2004-0257

Rep. Robert Schaffer; Colorado Alliance for Reform in Education;

Symbios Logic, Inc.; and NFR Marketing & Distribution - all records

FOIA/PA-2004-0258

Colorado Dept. of Natural Resources; Colorado Office of the Attorney

General; Colorado Office of the Governor; Kenneth Salazar (Denver,

CO), and Hope Hernandez Salazar (Denver, CO) - all records

FOIA/PA-2004-0259

Coors Brewing Co; Peter Coors; Marilyn Coors; Joseph Coors; Holly

Coors; Adolph Coors, Jr.; Coors Energy Partners; Castle Rock

Foundation; and Adolph Coors Foundation; Coors Trucking; Coors

Energy; and Coors Porcelain - all records

FOIA/PA-2004-0260
May 28, 2004 ENCLOSURE I

Office of Human Resources

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 28, 2004

Twenty-Seventh Annual Awards Ceremony Held

On May 27, 2004, NRC held its Twenty-Seventh Annual Awards Ceremony on the Green. 

Chairman Nils Diaz; Commissioner Edward McGaffigan, Jr.; Commissioner Jeffrey S. Merrifield;

and Luis A. Reyes, Executive Director for Operations; hosted the ceremony. At the ceremony,

2 NRC executives were honored for having received the Presidential Distinguished Executive

Rank Award, 15 executives were honored for having received the Presidential Meritorious

Executive Rank Award, 7 employees received the NRC Distinguished Service Award, and 40

employees received the NRC Meritorious Service Award. A reception was held for all NRC

employees in the Two White Flint North Cafeteria following the ceremony. Employees from the

Office of Human Resources and the Office of Administration, as well as other offices, provided

volunteer ushers, who helped make the event a huge success.

Arrivals to NRC

Joseph Adams Student Law Clerk (Summer) OGC

Thomas Bellermine Summer Faculty NRR

Janet Brobst Secretary (OA) HR/SPAC

Shane Cameron Student Clerk (Summer) RIII

Patrick Finney Reactor Inspector R-I

Candice D. Griffith Student Engineer (Summer) RES

Sarah M. Haley Student Law Clerk (Summer) ASLBP

Mary Hileman Student Engineer (Summer) RES

Edward Huntsinger Criminal Investigator R-II

Michael A. King Communications Specialist R-III

James Krafty Reactor Inspector R-I

Laura Limita Student Engineer (Summer) R-I

Meredith Madwatkins Student Administrative (Summer) R-I

Timothy McCune Sr. Security Specialist NSIR

Mohammed Munir Reactor Engineer R-III

Sai Wah Ng Student Engineer (Summer) NRR

Veronica Portillo Secretary (OA) OCFO
Arrivals to NRC

May 28, 2004 ENCLOSURE I

Amy Prible Management Analyst (Summer) OEDO

Katherine Smith Student Engineer (Summer) R-I

Monica N. Tevaz Student Engineer (Summer) RES

Chester Trybus Senior Program Analyst OCFO

Chidinma O. Ukoha General Engineer (Summer) RES

Theresa Valentine General Engineer (NSPDP) NRR

Eugene J. White Senior Level Advisor on Security NSIR

Benjamin Wong Student Engineer (Summer) NRR

On Hou Yee Student Engineer (Summer) NRR
May 28, 2004 ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 28, 2004

Media Interest

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

NRC’s special inspection at the Perry nuclear plant in Ohio.

Entergy’s search for missing fuel rod pieces at the Vermont Yankee plant.

A switchyard fire at the Surry plant in Virginia.

U.S. and international efforts to control radioactive sources in the context of the “dirty bomb”

threat.

Other Public Affairs Items:

OPA assisted the Chairman with a media breakfast for reporters hosted by Energy Daily. News

items ran in Energy Daily, Platts Publications, the Las Vegas Review-Journal and the Las

Vegas Sun.

Press Releases

Headquarters:

04-063 NRC Honors Employees on May 27 in Rockville, Md. (5/24)

04-064 NRC to Conduct Pilot Inspection Program Focused on Nuclear Plant

Engineering and Design Issues (5/27)

04-065 NRC Announces Availability of License Renewal Application for Nine Mile

Point Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2 (5/28)

Regions:

I-04-031 New NRC Resident Inspector Assigned to Indian Point 3 Nuclear Plant (5/27)

III-04-034 NRC Begins Special Inspection of Pump Failure at Perry Nuclear Plant (5/24)

III-04-035 NRC to Meet with Nuclear Management Company to Discuss Performance of

Kewaunee Nuclear Plant (5/25)

III-04-036 NRC Honors Four Employees from Lisle Office (5/28)

IV-04-023 NRC to Discuss Performance of South Texas Project Nuclear Plant June 3

(5/26)
May 28, 2004 ENCLOSURE N

Office of International Programs

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 28, 2004

Visit of SUJB Chairman Drabova

On May 21, 2004, Dr. Dana Drabova, Chairperson of the Czech State Office for Nuclear Safety

(SUJB) visited the NRC. Dr. Drabova met with Chairman Diaz and Commissioner McGaffigan,

and toured the emergency response center. She also had discussions with representatives of

the NRC’s Incident Response Organization regarding post-9/11 emergency preparedness and

response, and representatives of NRR regarding power uprates and license renewal. On the

following day, accompanied by OIP staff, she visited the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant.
May 28, 2004 ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 28, 2004

Document Released

to Public

Date Subject

Information Papers

1. SECY-04-0078 5/10/04 Proposed Bulletin: “Inspection of Alloy 82/182/600

Materials Used in the Fabrication of Pressurizer

Penetrations and Steam Space Piping Connections

at Pressurized-Water Reactors”

2. SECY-04-0085 5/25/04 SECY-04-0085 Weekly Information Report - Week

Ending May 14, 2004

Memoranda

1. M040520B Revised 5/24/04 Affirmation Session: 1) SECY-04-0075 - Nuclear

Fuel Services, Inc. (Erwin, TN); Appeal of LBP-04-

05, the Presiding Officer's Ruling on Hearing

Requests; 2) SECY-04-0079 - Hydro Resources,

Inc. (Rio Rancho, NM) Petitions for Review of LBP04-03 (Financial Assurance); 3) SECY-04-0082 -

Louisiana Energy Services, L.P. (National

Enrichment Center); 4) SECY-04-0069 - Final Rule

to Amend 10 CFR Part 2, Subpart J, in Regard to

the Licensing Support Network

2. M040511B 5/26/04 Staff Requirements - Briefing on OIP Programs,

Performance, and Plans

3. M040526AB 5/27/04 Staff Requirements - All Employees Meeting, 10:30

A.M. / 1:30 P.M.

4. M040504B 5/27/04 Staff Requirements - Briefing on Results of the

Agency Action Review Meeting

Commission Correspondence

1. Letter to Senator Barbara Boxer, dated May 20, 2004, provides a follow-up on the request

that NRC undertake an emergency inspection at the Diablo Canyon Power Plant.

2. Letter to David Lochbaum, UCS, dated May 19, 2004, responds to letter regarding the

safety culture related issues at the Salem/Hope Creek Generating Stations and at DavisBesse.
May 28, 2004 ENCLOSURE O

3. Letter to Professor Roger Clarke, International Commission on Radiological Protection,

dated May 18, 2004, expresses the Commission’s support for the development of an

international radiation protection framework.

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. U.S. NRC, Request for a License to Import Radioactive Waste.
May 28, 2004 ENCLOSURE P

Region I

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 28, 2004

Vermont Yankee

Entergy’s investigation of the two unaccounted fuel rod segments is continuing with document

reviews and interviews with present and former employees and contractors. Entergy is also

working with individuals associated with disposal sites. NRC’s special inspection team is

planning to be on-site again during the week of June 14 to monitor the progress of Entergy’s

investigation. Resident inspectors will monitor Entergy’s investigation efforts in the interim. 

NRC’s special inspection activities will continue after Entergy issues its final report, currently

scheduled for in July 2004, to determine the adequacy of Entergy’s investigation.

The Region has selected the dates for the new engineering inspection to be performed at

Vermont Yankee. The onsite inspection will occur during the weeks of August 9, August 16,

and August 30, 2004. A public exit meeting is planned for mid-September with the final

inspection report currently scheduled to be issued in October. 

Receipt and Docketing of PSEG Work Environment Assessments

The NRC received a letter this week from the Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated

(PSEG), dated May 21, 2004, providing reports of three recent assessments conducted for the

licensee at Salem and Hope Creek. Region I is still reviewing the reports, which appear self

critical of the safety conscious work environment, including the corrective action and work

management programs. The latest submittal forms part of PSEG’s response to the NRC letter

of January 28, 2004, which provided interim results of an ongoing review by the NRC of the

work environment.

The PSEG letter notes that the reports all provide similar results, and document that the work

environment at both Salem and Hope Creek is in need of improvement. The PSEG letter

further states that PSEG is developing a comprehensive plan to improve not only the work

environment, but also the PSEG corrective action and work management programs, which they

view as the principal drivers of the needed improvements in the work environment. The

PSEG’s May 21, 2004 submittal is publicly available, in its entirety, in the Agencywide

Documents Access and Management System. 

The NRC has scheduled a meeting with PSEG to discuss the assessment findings. The

meeting, which will be open to the public, will be held at 7:00 pm on June 16, 2004, at the

Holiday Inn in Swedesboro, New Jersey. At that meeting, PSEG will also discuss its

improvement plan. 
May 28, 2004 ENCLOSURE P

Region II

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 28, 2004

Participation in Inspector Counterpart Meetings at Region III and Region IV

During the week of May 24, 2004, the Director, Division of Reactor Safety, attended the

Inspector Counterpart Meetings at the Region III Office in Lisle, Illinois and at the Region IV

Office in Arlington, Texas and made presentations on the PAKS Reactor Event.
May 28, 2004 ENCLOSURE P

Region IV

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 28, 2004

TXU - Comanche Peak Nuclear Plant

The Regional Administrator accompanied the Director of the Office of Nuclear Reactor

Regulation on a visit to the Comanche Peak nuclear plant on May 25, 2004. The visit included

a tour of the facility and obtaining feedback on the reactor oversight program from the NRC

resident inspectors and licensee managers.
May 28, 2004 

Office of Congressional Affairs

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 28, 2004

CONGRESSIONAL HEARING SCHEDULE, NO. 60

OCA

Contact

DATE &

PLACE

TIME WITNESS SUBJECT 

Long 06/02

SD-342

10:00 Markup S.346, amending the Federal

Procurement Policy Act, S.2409,providing continued health benefitscoverage for certain federal employees

Senators CGovernme

Keeling 06/02

2154 RHOB

1:30 OMB, GAO, DHS, DOD, FAA,

and others

Cybersecurity Reps. Put

TechnologIntergoverCensusGovernme

Long 06/03

2154 RHOB

10:00 Markup H.R.3826, Program Assessment and

Results Act

Reps. DavGovernme

Keeling 06/09

SD-226

10:00 Secretary Ridge, DHS Oversight on terrorism and the Dept. of

Homeland Security

Senators HJudiciary

Keeling TBA

2141 RHOB

TBA Markup H.R. 2934, increase criminal penalties

related to terrorist murders, includingcrimes involving nuclear sabotage

Reps. SenJudiciary