INFORMATION REPORT

March 15, 2005 SECY-05-0044

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-05-0044 - “WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING MARCH 4, 2005”

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

Office of Information Services 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
March 15, 2005 SECY-05-0044

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-05-0044 - “WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING MARCH 4, 2005”

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

Office of Information Services 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\week304.WPD

OEDO AO/OEDO

TJKim:paa WMDean

03/15/05 03/15/05
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING MARCH 4, 2005

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 * OIP *

NSIR * SECY 19

OGC * Region I 20

ADM 10 Region II 21

OIS 11 Region III *

CFO * Region IV *

HR 15 EDO *

SBCR * OCA 24

OE *

*No input this week
March 4, 2005 ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 4, 2005

Beaver Valley Power Station - Application for Improved Technical Specifications

By letter dated February 25, 2005, FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company submitted a license

amendment application for conversion of the current Beaver Valley Power Station technical

specifications to the “Improved Technical Specifications” as described in NUREG-1431,

"Standard Technical Specifications for Westinghouse Plants." The current technical

specifications for Unit 1 and Unit 2 will be consolidated into a single set of technical

specifications applicable to both units. The staff is currently performing the required

acceptance review of the application and, if found acceptable, will issue the review schedule. 

Ginna Nuclear Power Plant - Proposed Application for Partial Site Release

On March 2, 2005, NRR staff met with representatives from Constellation Energy and the State

of New York to discuss a proposed application by Constellation Energy for the release of a

portion of the Ginna site for unrestricted use. This would be the first application for a partial site

release from an operating power reactor licensee. Constellation Energy indicated that the

application would be made pursuant to the provisions of 10 CFR 50.83, “Release of Part of a

Power Reactor Facility or Site for Unrestricted Use,” which was published in 2003 to address

the release of portions of a site or facility before the approval of a license termination plan. The

land in question is a strip of land along the western boundary of the site. As part of its review of

the presumed application, NRC staff will verify that there is no residual radioactivity from plant

operations on the property and that the plant's security and emergency plans would not be

adversely impacted. 

Nuclear Procurement Issues Committee (NUPIC) Meeting

On February 22-25, 2005, NRR staff participated in the subject meeting held in Fort Worth,

Texas. Formed in 1989 and represented by nuclear utilities, NUPIC provides a program for the

evaluation of suppliers furnishing safety related items and services to the nuclear industry. The

staff monitors the NUPIC audits and surveys of equipment suppliers to the nuclear industry. 

During the meeting, the staff discussed NRC participation in NUPIC audits of a commercial

grade supplier in March 2005, and an Appendix B supplier in April 2005. The staff also

presented the status and plans for reviewing an industry proposal to take credit for third party

audits of measurement and test equipment suppliers under the National Voluntary Laboratory

Accreditation Program.

Meeting with Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) Operability Determination Task Force

On February 17, 2005, NRR staff met with members of NEI’s Operability Determination Process

Task Force (ODPTF) to discuss industry comments on draft Regulatory Issue Summary (RIS)

2004-XXX, "Revision to Guidance Formerly Contained in NRC Generic Letter 91-18." The

draft RIS was issued in August 2004 for a 60-day public comment period. During the meeting,

the staff made available the staff’s draft responses to public comments received during the

comment period. The NEI ODPTF members provided the staff with a prioritized listing of
March 4, 2005 ENCLOSURE A

industry comments. The participants agreed to a follow-on meeting tentatively scheduled for

April 19, 2005.

Atomic Safety and Licensing Board (ASLB) Established for Millstone License Renewal Late

Filed Contentions

On February 23, 2005, the Commission’s Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel issued a

notice for establishing a new ASLB. This Board will to preside over a proceeding on the

February 1, 2005, petition for late intervention of Suffolk County, New York, regarding the

January 20, 2004, Dominion Nuclear Connecticut applications for renewal of the Millstone Units

2 and 3 operating licenses. Suffolk County is petitioning to intervene with 3 contentions related

to emergency planning. 

NRC Staff Observation of Replacement Steam Dryer Fabrication for Quad Cities

On February 24, 2005, NRC staff members from NRR and Region III met with representatives

from Exelon Nuclear and General Electric (GE) at U.S. Tool & Die, Inc., near Pittsburgh, PA. 

The purpose of the meeting was to observe the ongoing fabrication of the replacement steam

dryers for Quad Cities Units 1 and 2. The dryers are approximately 60 percent and 8 percent

complete, respectively. Enhanced features of the replacement steam dryers include (1)

increased thicknesses of the outer hood, cover plate, and skirt and solid gussets installed

between the dryer banks; (2) curved edges to reduce flow-induced vibrations; (3) minimized

number of welds and using full-penetration weld in lieu of fillet welds at most locations; (4)

avoidance of welds in high stress and fatigue areas; and (5) a slanted outer-hood plate that is

further away from the main steam line nozzle outlets. The fabrication is being performed by

certified welders with extensive visual and penetrant inspection following initial welds and any

repair activity. GE is providing 24-hour quality assurance engineer coverage and has stationed

design engineers at U.S. Tool & Die to address any necessary field changes. 
March 4, 2005 ENCLOSURE B

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS)

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 4, 2005

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

On March 1, 2005, staff members from NMSS, Office of the General Counsel, and the Office of

Nuclear Security and Incident Response met with representatives of USEC in a second

quarterly senior management meeting between NRC and USEC. The purpose of the meeting

was to discuss the status and schedule of NRC’s ongoing review of the USEC’s license

application, dated August 23, 2004, for the proposed American Centrifuge Plant in Piketon,

Ohio. USEC management indicated that it is pleased with the level of communication and the

clarity of the staff’s requests for additional information. USEC committed to providing timely

and clear responses to the staff’s requests for additional information.

Issuance of the Surry Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation License Renewal

On February 28, 2005, the Spent Fuel Project Office renewed the license for the dry-cask

Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI) at the Surry nuclear power plant in Surry,

Virginia, for an additional 40 years. The 40-year term for Surry’s renewed license represents an

exemption from NRC regulations that specify a 20-year license term for spent fuel storage

facilities. Surry was the first commercial nuclear plant to be licensed to store spent fuel in dry

casks at an ISFSI, and the renewed license allows operation of that ISFSI until 2046. Issuance

of the renewed Surry ISFSI license represents the first renewal of an ISFSI using a dry cask

storage system.

International Standardization Organization Working Group Session on Sealed Radioactive

Sources

On February 23-24, 2005, staff from the Division of Industrial and Medical Nuclear Safety

participated in the meeting of the International Standardization Organization (ISO) Working

Group on Sealed Radioactive Sources. The meeting was held at the French national

standardization institute, AFNOR, in St. Denis, France. The following two international

standards were the subject of the meeting:

(1) International Standard ISO-2919, “Radiation Protection - Sealed radioactive sources -

General requirements and classification.” The Working Group updated the Standard,

revised last in 1999, by an international team comprised of delegates from national

standard groups and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), to current industry

practices, as well as to bring the Standard into agreement with the various national

standards. The major changes included the addition of two sets of tests for

brachytherapy sources; tests for tritium/titanium neutron generators; specification of the

working life in the source certificates; and references to other source-safety and

security-guidance documents, such as IAEA TECDOC-1344, “Categorization of

Radioactive Sources.”
March 4, 2005 ENCLOSURE B

(2) Draft International Standard, ISO-21482, “Warning Symbol for High-Level Radioactive

Sources.” The Working Group drafted this new Standard based on IAEA’s initiative for a

sign, which would supplement the current trefoil, to convey worldwide to untrained

persons the danger when encountering orphan or stolen sources. IAEA is currently

testing five final sign candidates in 11 countries. The draft Standard is scheduled to be

sent to the national standardization bodies for vote in early 2006, and the final Standard

is to be issued in June 2006.

Evidentiary Hearing on Louisiana Energy Services’ Proposed National Enrichment Facility

On February 7-12, 2005, staff members from the Division of Waste Management and

Environmental Protection and the Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards supported the

Office of the General Counsel during evidentiary hearings held by the Atomic Safety Licensing

Board (ASLB) in Hobbs, New Mexico, on Louisiana Energy Services’ proposed National

Enrichment Facility (NEF). The hearings focused on four environmental contentions admitted

by the ASLB relative to the proposed NEF: (1) impacts on groundwater and surface waters; (2)

impacts on groundwater supplies; (3) deconversion of depleted uranium hexafluoride; and (4)

the need for the NEF. The staff also attended two sessions of ASLB-sponsored limited

appearances, held in Eunice, New Mexico (approximately 5 miles west of the proposed NEF

site). The purpose of these limited appearance sessions was to provide members of the public

the opportunity to address the ASLB directly on the proposed NEF.

The ASLB’s partial initial decision on the four environmental contentions is scheduled to be

issued on June 3, 2005. The ASLB will conduct an additional evidentiary hearing on the

remaining six admitted technical/safety contentions in October 2005 with an ASLB partial initial

decision on those six contentions scheduled for February 2006.
March 4, 2005 ENCLOSURE F

Office of Administration (ADM)

Items of Interest 

Week Ending March 4, 2005

List of Approved Spent Fuel Storage Casks: NUHOMS®-24PT4, Amendment 1, Revision

(AH63 - Part 72)

On February 28, 2005, the NRC published a direct final rule in the Federal Register (70 FR

9501) that revises the NUTECH Horizontal Modular Storage Cask, NUHOMS®-24PT4, cask

system listing in the list of approved spent fuel storage casks. This action adds another dry

shielded canister to the authorized contents of the Standardized Advanced NUHOMS® System. 

The direct final rule becomes effective May 16, 2005.

On February 28, 2005, the NRC published the companion proposed rule to this direct final rule

in the Federal Register (70 FR 9548). The comment period closes March 30, 2005.

List of Approved Spent Fuel Storage Casks: HI-STORM 100, Amendment 2, Revision (AH64 -

Part 72)

On February 28, 2005, the NRC published a direct final rule in the Federal Register (70 FR

9504) that revises the Holtec International Storage and Transfer Operation Reinforced Module

System, HI-STORM 100, cask system listing in the list of approved spent fuel storage casks. 

This action modifies cask design. The direct final rule becomes effective May 16, 2005.

On February 28, 2005, the NRC published the companion proposed rule to this direct final rule

in the Federal Register (70 FR 9550). The comment period closes March 30, 2005.
March 4, 2005 ENCLOSURE G

Office of Information Services (OIS)

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 4, 2005

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

February 25 through March 3, 2005:

FOIA requester types, FY04, number of requests received &

distribution percentage for each category

FOIA/PA-2005-0155

Directives, training material, guides, memoranda, rules and

regulations re: handling of safeguards information, sensitive but

unclassified, controlled unclassified, etc., on and after 1-1-00, as set

forth in Executive Order 12958 as amended by Executive Order

13292

FOIA/PA-2005-0156

FOIA Specialists/Officers, average weekly case load; & current GS

series, grade & target grade

FOIA/PA-2005-0157

NRC OI Report 4-2004-009 FOIA/PA-2005-0158

Personnel file on named individual FOIA/PA-2005-0159

Global Positioning System (GPS) technology device surgically

implanted between 5-16-1953 to 2-1-2005

FOIA/PA-2005-0160

Hope Creek reactor, Special Inspection Team report, re: 10/10/04

event (05000354/2004-013), all records

FOIA/PA-2005-0161

Hope Creek nuclear reactor, NRC’s decision to allow continued

operation of the B re-circulation pump, all records

FOIA/PA-2005-0162

Global Positioning System (GPS) technology device surgically

implanted between 8-17-1954 to 2-1-2005

FOIA/PA-2005-0163

Heart Center of Southern Maryland, 2440 M Street NW, Wash, DC,

license no. 08-30115-01; what are they licensed for & any reported

violations

FOIA/PA-2005-0164

Fact sheets - radiation exposure, radiation sickness syndrome and

dirty bombs; What we do - emergency response, emergency

preparedness, potassium iodide and radiation; in depth guide to

citizens preferences

FOIA/PA-2005-0165

Global Positioning System (GPS) technology device surgically

implanted between 2-9-1950 to 2-1-2005

FOIA/PA-2005-0166
March 4, 2005 ENCLOSURE I

Office of Human Resources (HR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 4, 2005

Arrivals

Angela Bolduc Chief, OLR HR

Deborah D. Braswell Secretary (OA) NMSS

David Cornelius Security Specialist NSIR

Ali Eskandary IT Specialist OIS

Richard Ellsbury IT Specialist OIS

Rhonda Hopkins Secretary (OA) NRR

Erica D. Horn Auditor OIG

Pamela Kruzic Special Assistant NSIR

Gerry L. Stirewalt Project Manager NMSS

Bridin Tully Secretary (OA) NRR

Gordon Williams Project Engineer R-II

Kent A. Wood Reactor Systems Engineer NRR

Retirements

Peter Eselgroth Branch Chief R-I

Richard K. Hoefling Senior Attorney OGC

Robert Barry Manili Senior Physical Protection Specialist NSIR
March 4, 2005 ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs (OPA)

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 4, 2005

Media Interest

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

The NRC’s annual assessments of various nuclear plants.

The renewal of the license for Surry’s dry-cask storage installation.

NRC’s decision to grant a license to Duke Power to use mixed-oxide fuel assemblies at

Catawba.

Other Public Affairs Items:

OPA staff supported public meetings at Point Beach on license renewal.

Press Releases

Headquarters:

05-038 NRC Renews License for Dry-Cask Spent Fuel Installation at Dominion’s

Surry Nuclear Power Plant (3/1)

05-039 NRC Expects Strong Attendance at 17th Annual Regulatory Information

Conference (3/1)

05-040 NRC Approves Power Uprate for Seabrook Station (3/1)

05-041 NRC Proposes Revised Standards for Post-Fire Actions by Nuclear Power

Plant Operators (3/3)

05-042 NRC Issues Annual Assessments for Nation’s Nuclear Plants (3/3)

05-043 NRC Authorizes Use of Mixed Oxide Fuel Assemblies at Catawba Nuclear

Power Plant (3/3)

Regions:

I-05-009 Note to Editors: NRC/Constellation Meeting Postponed (2/28)

III-05-007 NRC Proposes $55,000 Fine for Discrimination Against Perry (2/28)
March 4, 2005 ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary (SECY)

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 4, 2005

Document Released

to Public

Date Subject

Decision Documents

1. SRM-SECY-05-0029 3/1/05 Use of the NRC Public Web Site for

Dissemination of the NRC Enforcement

Policy

Commission Voting

Record on 05-0029

3/1/05 (same)

Information Papers

1. SECY-05-0033 2/15/05 Semiannual Report on Status of Staff

Information Technology/Information

Management and Business Process

Activities in Preparation for the High-Level

Waste Repository Proceedings

2. SECY-05-0034 2/17/05 Annual Report on Commission Adjudication

3. SECY-05-0039 3/1/05 “Weekly Information Report - Week Ending

February 18, 2005"

Memorandum

1. SRM - M050215

(Revised)

2/28/05 Briefing on NMSS Programs, Performance,

and Plans - Waste Safety

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. Proposed Rule and Issuance of Draft Regulatory Guide. 10 CFR Part 50, RIN 3150

AH-54, Fire Protection Program - Post-Fire Operator Manual Actions, Draft Regulatory

Guide: Issuance, Availability. 

2. Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste, Meeting on Planning and Procedures, notice of

meeting (3/15/05). 
March 4, 2005 ENCLOSURE P

Region I (RI)

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 4, 2005

Presentation to Maine Yankee Community Advisory Panel Meeting

On February 24, 2005, a Region I inspector made a presentation to the Community Advisory

Panel (CAP) for decommissioning the Maine Yankee plant. CAP presentations have been

conducted semi-annually to provide a summary of NRC’s inspection activities at the plant as

well as the status of licensing and NRC contractor’s confirmatory survey activities. Because the

Maine Yankee decommissioning project is over 98 percent complete, this was the final meeting

of the Maine Yankee CAP. Approximately twenty CAP members, Maine Yankee staff, media

representatives, and members of the public were in attendance.

Spanish Regulators Tour of Haddam Neck (Connecticut)

Region I staff accompanied the Director, Office of the Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards,

on a tour of the Haddam Neck decommissioning plant with officials from Spain’s Consejo De

Securidad Nuclear (CSN). Juan Carlos Lentijo, Technical Director of Radiation Protection, and

Lucila Ramos Salvador, Deputy Director General for Environmental Radiation Protection, of

CSN observed the status of decommissioning activities and fuel movement into the onsite

Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation. Discussions were held concerning the licensee's

plans for final status surveys and NRC confirmatory surveys in preparation for release of the

site for unrestricted use in accordance with the approved License Termination.
March 4, 2005 ENCLOSURE P

Region II (RII)

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 4, 2005

Commissioners Jaczko and Lyons Visit to Sequoyah and Browns Ferry

On February 28, 2005, Commissioners Jaczko and Lyons, accompanied by the Regional

Administrator and Director, Division of Reactor Projects, visited the Sequoyah Nuclear Plant for

a site tour and met with licensee management.

On March 3, 2005, Commissioners Jaczko and Lyons, accompanied by the Deputy Regional

Administrator and Deputy Director, Division of Reactor Projects, visited the Browns Ferry

Nuclear Plant for a site tour and met with licensee management.

On March 4, 2005, Commissioner Jaczko visited the Region II offices and met with Regional

staff.

Support to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

On February 21 - March 2, 2005, the Director, Division of Reactor Safety, was in Budapest,

Hungary, to support an IAEA mission in Paks, Hungary. The visit was to follow up on corrective

actions from a mission last year that reviewed a fuel accident.
March 4, 2005 

Office of Congressional Affairs (OCA)

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 4, 2005

CONGRESSIONAL HEARING SCHEDULE, NO. 9

 OCAContact

 DATE & PLACE

TIME WITNESS SUBJECT 

Shane/Johnson

March 8SD-366

2:30 TBA Diversification of Power Generation Sen. Dom

Energy a

Keeling 03/09/05

SD-342

10:00 DHS FY 2006 Budget: Homeland Security Rep. Coll

Homeland Affairs

Madden 03/09/05

2362BRHOB

10:00 DOE FY 2006 Energy Budget; DOE Reps. Ho

Energy aAppropria

Keeling 03/10/05

2362BRHOB

10:00 NNSA FY 2006 Energy Budget; National

Nuclear Security Administration

Reps. HoEnergy aAppropria

Combs 03/10/05

2123RHOB

2:00 DOE Funding for Yucca Mountain Reps. Ha

Energy aEnergy a

Madden 03/15/05

2362BRHOB

10:00 DOE FY 2006 Energy Budget; Science,

Nuclear Energy and RenewableEnergy

Reps. HoEnergy aAppropria

Shane Tentative for

March 15

TBA TBA S 394 - Freedom of Information Act

Revisions

Sen. CornConstitutiRightsJudiciary
CONGRESSIONAL HEARING SCHEDULE, NO. 9

 OCAContact

 DATE & PLACE

TIME WITNESS SUBJECT 

March 4, 2005 

Combs 03/16/05

2362BRHOB

10:00 DOE FY 2006 Energy Budget; Nuclear

Waste Disposal & EnvironmentalManagement

Reps. HoEnergy aAppropria

Combs Tentative for

mid March

TBD DOE, NRC Status of Yucca Mountain Senators 

Energy a

Keeling Tentative for 

April

TBD Chairman Diaz, DOE,

Exelon CEO, IBEW rep,City Council rep nearGrand Gulf

DOE’s NP 2010 Program Senators 

Energy a