INFORMATION REPORT

February 23, 2004 SECY-04-0027

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-04-0027 WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING FEBRUARY 13, 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:

M. Markey, OEDO
February 23, 2004 SECY-04-0027

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-04-0027 WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING FEBRUARY 13, 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:

M. Markley, OEDO

DISTRIBUTION:

Central File

Public Document Name: C:\WIR\Week213.WPD

OEDO AO/OEDO

MMarkley:paa WMDean

02/24/04 02/24/04
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 13, 2004

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

Headquarters and Regional Office activities. 

Contact: M. Markley, OEDO by E-mail: mtm@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 9 SECY 19

OGC * Region I 20

ADM 10 Region II 21

CIO 11 Region III *

CFO * Region IV 23

HR 15 OEDO *

SBCR * OCA 24

OE *

*No input this week
February 13, 2004 ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 13, 2004

Meeting with Boiling Water Reactor Owners Group (BWROG) on Potential Adverse Flow

Effects from Power Uprates

On February 3, 2004, the NRC staff held a public meeting with the BWROG to discuss industry

actions to address potential adverse flow effects resulting from power uprate operation

including Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) steam dryer integrity and other concerns. The staff

discussed concerns regarding (1) expansion of the scope of failures under power uprate

conditions; (2) apparent lack of a firmly established load definition for failures that have been

attributed to extended power uprate (EPU) conditions; (3) the need for more proactive industry

actions to these failures, resolution of plant-specific susceptibility, and potential future failures of

other components; and (4) lack of a specific industry organization for coordinating the industry

response. The staff noted that questions exist regarding potential adverse flow effects from

power uprates. 

The BWROG stated that it will provide the oversight for a broad range of industry efforts to

address these issues including: survey of BWRs with EPU operating experience and review of

an industry power uprate database (February 2004); development of analytical and operational

improvement recommendations to preclude component failures during EPU operation

(May 2004); resolution of problems with known failures and development of an updated EPU

evaluation process based on extent of condition review results (June 2004); and preparation of

steam dryer inspection and evaluation guidelines (September 2004). The BWROG plans to

update the staff on the status of its activities during the senior management meeting tentatively

scheduled for March 4, 2004.

Review of Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) Evaluation Guidelines for Pressurized Water Reactor

(PWR) Sump Performance

The Division of Systems Safety and Analysis (DSSA) staff, with support from Los Alamos

National Laboratory, is completing its preliminary review of the draft NEI Evaluation Guidelines

for PWR Sump Performance that was submitted to the NRC staff in November 2003. The staff

sent a letter to NEI on February 9, 2003, providing initial comments on the draft report. A

teleconference with NEI and the PWR Sump Performance Task Force was held on

February 12, 2004, to discuss the review to date.

Public Information Session on License Renewal Review Process in Decatur, Alabama

On February 5, 2004, the NRC staff conducted a public information session in Decatur,

Alabama, on the license renewal process. The session was conducted following the receipt of

the license renewal application for the Browns Ferry Nuclear Plants, Units 1, 2, and 3. The staff

placed advertisements in local newspapers and issued a press release announcing the

information session. The License Renewal and Environmental Impacts Program staff was

supported by the regional staff and the Office of General Counsel. Approximately 20 people

attended the session. Public questions related mostly to the scoping requirement of the license

renewal rule and the role of the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS). 
February 13, 2004 ENCLOSURE A

Construction Inspection Program Information Management System Meeting with NEI

On February 13, 2004, NRR staff met with NEI to discuss issues related to the construction

inspection program information management system (CIPIMS). This was the first meeting of a

working group tasked with defining and developing construction schedule information that will

enable the NRC to schedule inspections using CIPIMS.

Meeting with Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on Electrical Grid Reliability

On February 5, 2004, NRR staff met with FERC staff to discuss electrical grid reliability issues. 

NRR staff discussed insights and lessons learned from information gathering trips to load

control centers that were conducted in accordance with the NRR Task Action Plan on Grid

Reliability. FERC representatives advised NRC that they were participating in a series of North

America Electric Reliability Council (NERC) audits of the independent system operators

responsible for grid control. Audits are expected to be completed by June 2004. FERC stated

that they plan to utilize up to 30 staff persons in the near term to examine and evaluate NERC

reliability standards. 
February 13, 2004 ENCLOSURE B

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 13, 2004

Public Meeting with Honeywell Specialty Chemicals

On February 11, 2004, a public meeting was held at NRC Headquarters with the licensee,

Honeywell Specialty Chemicals, Metropolis, Illinois, to discuss the root cause of a

December 22, 2003, UF6 release. Honeywell representatives discussed short- and long-term

corrective actions to prevent future occurrences and plans for restart operations. Honeywell

agreed to keep NRC informed as identified corrective actions are implemented. Approximately

40 individuals attended the meeting including NRC staff, representatives of Honeywell, industry,

and the press. 

Thirty-Seventh Mid-Year Topical Meeting of the Health Physics Society

On February 9-11, 2004, Division of Industrial and Medical Nuclear Safety staff attended the

Thirty-Seventh Mid-Year Topical Meeting of the Health Physics Society (HPS) in Augusta,

Georgia. The staff participated in discussions on air monitoring and internal dosimetry (the

HPS meeting’s theme). The staff also participated in a meeting of the Executive Committee of

the American Academy of Health Physics.
February 13, 2004 ENCLOSURE C

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 13, 2004

First Steering Group Meeting to Review the IAEA Action Plan for Occupational Radiation

Protection

On February 4-6, 2004, RES staff participated in the first steering group meeting to review the

IAEA Action Plan for Occupational Radiation Protection. The IAEA Action Plan is intended to

provide guidance that will assist Member States to establish, maintain, and improve programs

for radiation protection of workers. The steering committee plans to meet every 12 to 18

months to review progress on the Action Plan. 

Agreement on Thermal-Hydraulic Code Applications and Maintenance and Cooperative Severe

Accident Research between the NRC and the Armenian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (ANRA)

On February 11, 2004, the EDO signed the international cooperative research agreement

between the NRC and the ANRA of Armenia, concerning Thermal-Hydraulic Code Applications

and Maintenance Program (CAMP). On February 12, 2003, the Office of Nuclear Regulatory

Research forwarded this agreement to Armenia for counter-signature.

Meeting with the Expert Elicitation Group Examining Loss-of-Coolant Accident (LOCA)

Frequency Estimates

On February 10-12, 2004, RES staff held a meeting with an Expert Elicitation Group examining

LOCA frequency estimates related to the ongoing 10 CFR 50.46 (i.e., acceptance criteria for

emergency core cooling systems) reevaluation. The staff is reviewing the analysis framework

and preliminary LOCA frequency estimates developed by the Expert Elicitation Group. 
February 13, 2004 ENCLOSURE D

Nuclear Security and Incident Response

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 13, 2004

Preliminary Notifications

1. PNO-I-04-005A, Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital - UPDATE TO MEDICAL EVENT REPORTED

FOLLOWING IDENTIFICATION OF LEAKING IODINE-125 SOURCE(S).

2. PNO-I-04-006, PMK Group, Inc. - MISSING SOURCES FROM DAMAGED PORTABLE

GAUGE.
February 13, 2004 ENCLOSURE F

Office of Administration 

Items of Interest 

Week Ending February 13, 2004

Compatibility With International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Transportation Safety Standards

(TS-R-1) and Other Transportation Safety Amendments; Correction (AG71 - Part 71)

On February 10, 2004, a document correcting a final rule that amends the regulations

governing the packaging and transportation of radioactive material was published in the Federal

Register (69 FR 6139). The document identifies provisions of the final rule that are scheduled

to expire four years after the October 1, 2004 effective date.
February 13, 2004 ENCLOSURE G

Chief Information Officer

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 13, 2004

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

February 5 through February 12, 2004:

Consent decree and/or final settlement agreement entered into in

Federal court, NRC named as a defendant in litigation, 10 years

preceding this request

FOIA/PA-2004-0117

Policy and procedures, manuals or guidance documents instructing

how, when and/or under what circumstances the agency may enter

into consent decrees or final settlement agreements with private

litigations; guidance to make public

FOIA/PA-2004-0118

Allegation No. RII-2003-A-0168, all documents FOIA/PA-2004-0119

San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, Unit 1 investigation from

1988 through 1991; Unit 3 Detora Meltdown in 2000; Unit 3 breaker

fire in February 2001; Southern California Edison employee reports of

data falsification 1990 to present and NRC response; documents

referring to inaccurate calibrations of instruments, 2003

FOIA/PA-2004-0120

“Transmittal of Information Addressing Key Technical Issue (KTI)

Agreement Item Preclosure Safety (PRE) 3.20,” report in letter dated

July 24, 2003, and report attached to letter dated January 20, 2004

FOIA/PA-2004-0121

Licensed Operator Examinations (RO & SRO) exam material only,

administered at Farley on or about May 19-23, 2003; McGuire on or

about June 16-20, 2003, and Crystal River on or about August 25-29,

2003

FOIA/PA-2004-0122

FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant, correspondence with NRC re:

inadequate ventilation/functionality of fire dampers in relation to fire

and safety pump rooms, between February 1997 and February 2003

FOIA/PA-2004-0123

Identify all records on named individual publicly available FOIA/PA-2004-0124
February 13, 2004 ENCLOSURE I

Office of Human Resources

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 13, 2004

Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) Appreciation Luncheon Attended

On February 11, 2004, the NRC CFC manager and CFC office coordinators attended the CFC

appreciation luncheon for the National Capital Area. This year the Capital Area raised over $50

million. NRC was recognized as a winner of the Summit Award, which is given to agencies who

achieve more than a 3% increase from the previous year.

Arrivals

David Chen Student Engineer (Co-Op) NRR

Mirela Gavrilas Reactor Systems Engineer RES

Kevin Hogan Student Engineer (Co-Op) RES

Retirements

John A. Calvert Sr. Instrumentation & Control Engineer RES
February 13, 2004 ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 13, 2004

Media Interest

Extensive coverage of NRC inspections related to Davis-Besse Nuclear Power restart and

potential delays in restart decision by the NRC.

Notable interest in the NRC study that finds risk from spent fuel in storage pools at nuclear

power plants lower than previously thought, despite potential for malevolent acts or terrorism. 

Press Releases

Headquarters:

04-019 NRC Invites Public To Submit Nominations For The Advisory Committee

On Reactor Safeguards (2/9)

04-020 NRC To Hold Meeting In Eunice, N.M., On Environmental Review Process

For Proposed Uranium Enrichment Plant (2/9)

04-021 NRC Considering Request By Utah To Amend Its Agreement With Agency

(2/12)

04-022 NRC Offers Opportunity For Hearing On Proposed Spent Nuclear Fuel

Storage Facility At Humboldt Bay (2/12)

Regions:

I-04-003 NRC Special Inspection Starts At Susquehanna Nuclear Plant (2/9) 

I-04-004 Search Underway For Radioactive Sources Missing From N.J. Site (2/11)

III-04-008 NRC Senior Officials Will Meet With Point Beach Management To Discuss

Plant Performance (2/11)
February 13, 2004 ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 13, 2004

Document Released

to Public

Date Subject

Information Papers

1. SECY-04-0018 2/6/04 SECY-04-0018 Weekly Information Report -

Week Ending January 30, 2004

2. SECY-04-0012 1/29/04 Submission of the Annual Freedom of

Information Act Report

3. SECY-04-0014 1/30/04 Annual Report on Court Litigation (Calendar

Year 2003)

4. SECY-04-0011 1/30/04 Annual Report on Commission Adjudication

Commission Correspondence

1. Letter to Senator Susan Collins and Congressman Thomas Davis, dated February 4,

2004, provides a statement of actions taken by NRC on the recommendations made by

the GAO in its report “Nuclear Security: Federal and State Actions Needed to Improve

Security of Sealed Radioactive Sources” (GAO-03-804).

2. Letter to Congress, dated January 28, 2004, provides NRC’s Annual Report on the

Administration of the Government in the Sunshine Act for Calendar Year 2003.

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. Advisory Committee on the Medical Uses of Isotopes: Meeting Notice (3/1-2/04).

2. Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards Subcommittee Meeting on Planning and

Procedures (3/3/04).
February 13, 2004 ENCLOSURE P

Region I

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 13, 2004

Industry Outreach Related to Simulator Fidelity and Testing Problems

On February 12, 2004, representatives from the NRC’s Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

and Region I met with the nuclear industry’s Mid-Atlantic Nuclear Training Group (MANTG) in a

joint session of the Operation Subcommittee and Simulator Working Group. Discussion

included issues related to simulator fidelity, testing problems and Scenario Based Testing

(SBT), use of simulator capability criteria training and procedural objectives. 

Disposal of Radioactive Sources

On February 12, 2004, representatives from NRC Region I, Department of Energy (DOE), a

DOE contractor, and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources visited the

Berthold Systems, Inc. (BSI) facility in Aliquippa, PA, to discuss packaging and shipment of 

radioactive sources BSI possesses for proper disposal. BSI is licensed for manufacture and

distribution of fixed gauges and has suspended its activities with no plan to resume operations. 

The DOE contractor (a radwaste broker) accompanied the group to develop options for

packaging and disposal of all radioactive material. DOE gathered information needed to

develop cost estimates. DOE and NRC expect to continue discussion of disposal options

during the week of February 16, 2004.
February 13, 2004 ENCLOSURE P

Region II

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 13, 2004

Tennessee Valley Authority - Chairman Diaz Visits the Sequoyah Nuclear Plant

On February 12, 2004, Chairman Diaz visited the Sequoyah Nuclear Plant. On February 13,

2004, the Chairman met with the Regional Administrator, other Senior Managers, and staff in

the Region II office.
February 13, 2004 ENCLOSURE P

Region IV

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 13, 2004

Region IV Administrator visits Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station

On February 10, 2004, the Region IV Administrator visited the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating

Station. He met with the resident inspectors and licensee management and toured the facility.

Region IV Licensing Managers Utility Group Meeting

On February 11, 2004, the Regional Administrator addressed the Region IV power reactor

licensing managers during their periodic Utility Group Meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada. Topics of

discussion included regional perspectives on recent Region IV plant events and inspection

findings, the enforcement discretion process, as well as, licensee questions involving radiation

protection and physical protection issues, electronic records (i.e., digital media), performance

indicators, and the significance determination process. 

Public Meeting regarding Arkansas Nuclear One (ANO)

On February 12, 2004, Region IV conducted a Category 1 public meeting with representatives

of Entergy Operations, Inc. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss ANO performance

issues and initiatives involving the corrective action program and equipment reliability.

Hazardous Material Leak at the Access Gate to the Diablo Canyon Power Plant

On February 12, 2004, a truck carrying hydrazine was inspected at a plant entrance to the

Diablo Canyon Power Plant owner controlled area (approximately 7 miles from the plant) and

was found to have leaking containers of hydrazine. Although the leak was contained within the

truck, it was considered a loss of control of hazardous material. The California Highway Patrol

(stationed at the gate) called the San Luis Obispo County HAZMAT team and the California

Department of Forestry to contain the spill in accordance with their procedures. The truck was

moved from the area for cleanup and decontamination. The hydrazine was contained within the

secondary containment of the truck. No external leakage to the truck occurred. Significant

media interest occurred as a result of the incident, including TV, radio, and newspapers. The

licensee issued a press release.
February 13, 2004 

Office of Congressional Affairs

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 13, 2004

CONGRESSIONAL HEARING SCHEDULE, NO. 45

OCA

Contact

DATE

&

PLACE

TIME WITNESS SUBJECT 

Gerke 02/24/04

2247 RHOB

 3:00 TBA Dental and Vision Benefits for Federal

Employees, H.R. 3751

Reps. DavisCivil ServicGovernmen

Gerke 03/03/04

2154 RHOB

 2:00 GAO, OMB, Treasury GAO Audit of Government Financial

Statements 

Reps. PlattsGov’t Efficie

Governmen

Keeling 03/04/04

TBA

TBA Dr. Travers; TVA COO; NEI Browns Ferry Restart Senators A

EnergyEnergy and 

Gerke 03/10/04

TBA

TBA OMB Agencies’ Computer Security Efforts Reps. Putn

TechnologyRelations aGovernmen

Portner 03/11/04

2362B RHOB

10:00 DOE FY05 Budget Reps. Hobs

Energy and Appropriatio

Portner 03/17/04

2362B RHOB

10:00 DOE FY05 Nuclear Energy Budget Reps. Hobs

Energy and Appropriatio
February 13, 2004 

Combs 03/24/04

2362B RHOB

10:00 DOE FY05 Nuclear Waste Budget Reps. Hobs

Energy and Appropriatio

Note: The returns from recess on February 23, and the House returns on February 24.