INFORMATION REPORT

December 7, 2004 SECY-04-0227

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-04-0227 WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING NOVEMBER 26, 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 7, 2004 SECY-04-0227

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-04-0227 WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING NOVEMBER 26, 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.

William M. Dean

Assistant for Operations, OEDO

Contact:

T. Kim, OEDO

DISTRIBUTION:

Central File

Public Document Name: C:\WIR\WeekN26.WPD

OEDO AO/OEDO

TKim:paa WMDean

12/ /04 12/ /04
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 26, 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 *

ADM 10 Region II *

CIO 11 Region III *

CFO * Region IV *

HR 15 OEDO *

SBCR * OCA *

OE *

*No input this week
November 26, 2004 ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Items of Interest

Week Ending November 26, 2004

Vermont Yankee - Adjudicatory Hearing on Power Uprate Amendment

On November 22, 2004, the NRC’s Atomic Safety and Licensing Board (ASLB) issued a

Memorandum and Order granting a hearing to the Vermont Department of Public Service

(State) and the New England Coalition (NEC). The ASLB admitted two contentions by the

State, both related to the use of containment overpressure for ensuring adequate net positive

suction head for emergency core cooling system pumps. The ASLB also admitted two

contentions by the NEC, the first on Large Transient Testing and the second on the seismic and

structural integrity of the cooling towers, particularly the alternate cooling system cell. 

Risk Management Technical Specifications Initiative 7

On November 24, 2004, the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) published for public

comment a proposed change to the Standard Technical Specifications. The proposed change

would allow additional outage time for certain system/equipment when the inoperability is due

solely to an associated snubber for that system/equipment and risk is assessed and managed. 

This is one of eight Risk Management Technical Specification initiatives being developed to

enhance safety through the incorporation of risk assessment and management techniques. 

General Electric Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor (ESBWR) Design Certification

Application

By letter dated November 19, 2004, General Electric (GE) informed the NRC staff of its intent to

submit an application for design certification of the ESBWR in June 2005. GE requested that

the ESBWR design certification review be completed within 30 months to support a potential

combined operating license application in 2008 and to support the Department of Energy’s

Nuclear Power 2010 initiative. The staff’s current estimated schedule for design certification

reviews is in the range of 42 to 60 months (including rulemaking) as indicated in

SECY-01-0188, "Future Licensing and Inspection Readiness Assessment," dated October 12,

2004. A schedule for the ESBWR design certification review will be established after the

application is received and accepted for review. 

Dresden Unit 3 Steam Dryer Inspection Results

On November 17, 2004, NRR and Region III staff conducted a telephone conference with

Exelon to discuss the results of the licensee’s detailed inspection of the steam dryer at Dresden

Unit 3 during the ongoing refueling outage. The licensee inspected over 1000 dryer locations

(internal and external) using Visual Test (VT)-1 inspection methods. The licensee identified

approximately 16 cracks in the dryer with the most significant finding being a new 12-inch crack

in the lower cover plate weld. The licensee’s metallurgical analysis of the failed weld on the

lower cover plate indicated the degradation mode to be fatigue with crack initiation at the root of

the weld. The preliminary root cause is considered to be the uncertainty in loads used in

designing the steam dryer with a contributing cause being the redistributed maximum stress

from installation of gussets to stiffen the vertical hood plate in December 2003. The licensee’s
November 26, 2004 ENCLOSURE A

corrective actions included increasing the size of the welds in the cover plate. Most of the other

cracks identified in the steam dryer are considered to have been caused by fatigue, and have

been evaluated or repaired. During this refueling outage, the licensee also installed steam

dryer modifications to address lessons learned from the Quad Cities Unit 2 spring 2004 steam

dryer inspection findings.

Public Meeting on Fire Dynamics Analysis Methods

On November 22-23, 2004, staff from the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR), with

support from the RES staff, presented an overview of the fire dynamics tools (FDTs) described

in NUREG-1805, "Fire Dynamics Tools - Quantitative Fire Hazard Analysis Methods for the U.S.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission Fire Protection Inspection Program," during a two-day public

meeting. The FDTs were developed by the NRR staff using state-of-the-art fire dynamics

principles and assist NRC inspectors in performing fire hazard analyse. Additionally, the

NUREG-1805 methods and tools will support implementation of a recent change to

10 CFR 50.48, “Fire Protection,” that allows nuclear power plant licensees to adopt a

performance-based approach to fire protection as described in consensus standard NFPA-805,

“Performance-Based Standard for Fire Protection for Light Water Reactor Electric Generating

Plants.”
November 26, 2004 ENCLOSURE B

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards

Items of Interest

Week Ending November 26, 2004

Low-Level Radioactive Waste (LLRW) Decision-makers’ Forum & Technical Symposium

On November 15-18, 2004, the Deputy Director of the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and

Safeguards (NMSS) and NMSS staff attended the Nineteenth Low-Level Radioactive Waste

Decision-makers’ Forum held in Midland, Texas. The conference covered a variety of topics,

including the status of low-level waste (LLW) programs at federal agencies; the potential

impacts of closing the Barnwell facility in 2008; the status of national, regional and State LLW

management programs; the status of rulemaking efforts by the State of Texas, NRC, and the

Environmental Protection Agency, regarding low-activity materials; and new initiatives to secure

nuclear materials. A principal focus of the meeting was the LLW disposal application filed by

Waste Control Specialists, LLC (WCS). The application includes proposed disposal for

Compact waste (Vermont and Texas) and federal (DOE) waste. WCS also discussed its plans

to submit an application to disposal of 10 CFR 11.e.2 waste from Fernald.
November 26, 2004 ENCLOSURE C

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research

Items of Interest

Week Ending November 26, 2004

Meeting of the Proactive Materials Degradation Assessment (PMDA) Expert Panel

On November 15-19, 2004, Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES) staff, together with

contractors from Brookhaven National Laboratory, held the third meeting with the Proactive

Materials Degradation Assessment (PMDA) Phenomena Identification and Ranking Table

(PIRT) Expert Panel. The purpose of the PMDA PIRT is to identify locations and components

in light water reactors that could be susceptible to future materials degradation phenomena. 

The PMDA PIRT will provide a basis for the development of proactive regulatory and industry

actions to avoid, mitigate, and/or manage potential future degradation of reactor components. 

A draft report for all pressurized water reactor (PWR) components examined will be available in

June 2005, and a final draft report for both the boiling water reactor and PWR systems

examined will be completed in December 2005. Results from this activity will be used to guide

research and regulatory actions to address proactive assessment and management of

materials degradation in operating reactors. 

Meeting to Detail the Memorandum of Agreement between NRC and the North American

Electric Reliability Council (NERC)

On November 16-17, 2004, representatives from RES and NRR met at offices of the North

American Electric Reliability Council (NERC) in Princeton, NJ to develop the appendices for the

NRC-NERC Memorandum of Agreement (MOA). The MOA establishes formal means of

information and data sharing relevant to the electrical grid. The staff will use the information in

assessments of the reliability of the grid to supply power to nuclear power plants under both

normal and upset conditions. In addition, the group discussed the results of the Federal Energy

Regulatory Commission/NERC readiness audits, and reviewed the recent RES assessment of

NERC grid operational data.
November 26, 2004 ENCLOSURE F

Office of Administration 

Items of Interest 

Week Ending November 26, 2004

Risk-Informed Categorization and Treatment of Structures, Systems, and Components for

Nuclear Power Reactors (AG42-Part 50)

On November 22, 2004, the NRC published a final rule in the Federal Register (69 FR 68008)

that provides an alternative approach for establishing the requirements for the treatment of

structures, systems, and components for nuclear power reactors. The final rule provides for the

use of a risk-informed method of categorizing structures, systems, and components according

to their safety significance. The final rule allows licensees to remove structures, systems, and

components of low safety significance from the scope of certain identified requirements. 

Licensees need not provide increased assurance, beyond normal industrial practices, that

structures, systems, and components perform their design basis function if they are of low

safety significance. The final rule also revises requirements applicable to structures, systems,

and components of greater safety significance. The final rule becomes effective December 22,

2004.

Contract Awards

On November 19, 2004, delivery order DR-33-05-303 was awarded to Government Technology

Services Incorporated under NASA's Scientific and Engineering Workstation Procurement

contract. The contractor shall provide computer equipment and Microsoft software licenses. 

The estimated cost is $444,132.51.

On November 22, 2004, a competitive fixed price delivery order DR-07-05-139 was awarded to

Merchant's Leasing, Incorporated under the General Service Administration's Federal Supply

Schedule. The delivery order was for the lease of two heavy duty pickup trucks for pulling

trailers as part of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's participation in the Force-on-Force

exercises. The lease period is for one year with two option years at a total price of $32,760

which includes full preventive maintenance on the vehicles. 
November 26, 2004 ENCLOSURE G

Chief Information Officer

Items of Interest

Week Ending November 26, 2004

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

November 18 through November 24, 2004:

Allegation R1-2003-A-0110, OI Investigation Case 1-2003-045, and

NRC Review of Safety Conscious Work Environment issues from 8-

03 to 10-04, case no. 1-2003-55F, all supporting information

FOIA/PA-2005-0045

Contract NRC2904261, Region I Telecommunications, Micrographic,

and CD-ROM Services, exhibits, amendments, cost line, bidders list,

winning proposal

FOIA/PA-2005-0046

Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installations, license modification

Order of 8-25-04, particularly Part III B.1 & Part III B.2

FOIA/PA-2005-0047

Contract NRC-01-98-151, Wackenhut Services FOIA/PA-2005-0048

Request for Additional Information (RAI) for Peach Bottom Units 2 &

3, Salem Units 1 & 2, Hope Creek, Indian Point, Pilgrim & Seabrook

Unit 1

FOIA/PA-2005-0049

Allegation, Schlumberger Technology Corp., Havre, Montana, records

re: loss of control of a radioactive source on or about 5-21-02

FOIA/PA-2005-0050

Uniroyal Chemical Co Inc. (a.k.a. Crompton Manufacturing Co Inc.)

Painesville facility, FUSRAP site, Lake County Ohio, 720 Fairport

Nursery Road, Painesville OH, correspondence, contracts, site

inspections, lab test results; shipments & operations of Diamond

Magnesium Co

FOIA/PA-2005-0051

OI Investigation on alleged violation of 10 CFR 50.7, 2002-2003, final

report, transcripts

FOIA/PA-2005-0052

FOIA requests, 1999 thru Nov 12, 2004, what was requested,

whether request was denied, include FOIA exemptions

FOIA/PA-2005-0053

MLTS database, active & retired facilities FOIA/PA-2005-0054

Atchafalaya River & Bayous Chene, Boeuf & Black Assumption, St.

Mary & Terrebonne Parishes, LA, post 1900 land use reports, nuclear

power plants, regulation violations, storage facilities, spills, etc.

FOIA/PA-2005-0055

Safety Evaluation Report (SER) re: qualified digital safety controller

(ML003737664)

FOIA/PA-2005-0056
November 26, 2004 ENCLOSURE I

Office of Human Resources

Items of Interest

Week Ending November 26, 2004

Arrivals

Rochelle Bavol Policy Analyst OCFO

Catherine Blakeney Management Analyst (Co-Op) OCIO

Patricia Hall Management Analyst OCIO

Kim Hammer Nuclear Process Engineer (Criticality) NMSS

Andrew J. Howe Reliability and Risk Analyst NRR

Craig Hrabal Nuclear Process Engineer (Criticality) NMSS

Kim Ottenstein Sr. Visual Information Specialist OCIO

Behrooz Sabet IT Team Leader NSIR

Departure

Marianna Pitiriciu General Engineer (NSPDP) NRR
November 26, 2004 ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs

Items of Interest

Week Ending November 26, 2004

Media Interest

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

The Atomic Safety and Licensing Board’s decision to grant a hearing on the Vermont Yankee

power uprate request.

The NRC’s continuing security review of documents in the ADAMS online library system.

A fire at the Paducah gaseous diffusion plant that temporarily disabled an alarm system.

Press Releases

Headquarters:

04-147 NRC Increases Civil Monetary Penalties to Reflect Inflation (11/24)

04-148 NRC Revises Regulations for Structures, Systems and Components for

Nuclear Power Plants (11/23)

Regions:

I-04-053 NRC to Discuss Performance Improvement Actions at Salem and Hope

Creek Nuclear Power Plants (11/24)
November 26, 2004 ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary

Items of Interest

Week Ending November 26, 2004

Document Released

to Public

Date Subject

Decision Documents

1. SRM-SECY-04-0195 11/22/04 Rulemaking Plan: Clarification of NRC Civil

Penalty Authority Over Contractors and

Subcontractors Who Discriminate Against

Employees for Engaging in Protected

Activities (RM #636)

Commission Voting

Record on 04-0195

11/22/04 (same)

2. SRM-SECY-04-0200 11/22/04 A Risk-Informed Approach to Defining the

Design Basis Tornado for New Reactor

Licensing

Commission Voting

Record on 04-0200

11/22/04 (same)

3. SRM-SECY-04-0178 11/19/04 Regulatory Solution for 10 CFR Part 71

Change Authority for Dual-Purpose

Package Certificate Holders

Commission Voting

Record on 04-0178

11/19/04 (same)

Information Paper

1. SECY-04-0218 11/22/04 Weekly Information Report - Week Ending

November 12, 2004

Commission Correspondence

1. Letter to Congressman Jim Saxton, dated November 17, 2004, provides response to

letter addressed to President Bush regarding Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station.

2. Letter to Senator Jon S. Corzine, dated November 16, 2004, responds to letter

expressing opposition to the Sheldalloy Metallurgical Corporation’s proposed use of

NRC’s Long-Term Control, possession-only license.

3. Letter to the President, Congress, OMB and GAO, dated, November 15, 2004, provides

NRC’s Fiscal Year 2004 Performance and Accountability Report.
November 26, 2004 ENCLOSURE O

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste, Meeting on Planning and Procedures, meeting

notice (12/13/04).