INFORMATION REPORT

May 15, 2003 SECY-03-0076

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-03-0076 WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING MAY 9, 2003

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 & 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:

A. Kugler, OEDO
May 15, 2003 SECY-03-0076

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-03-0076 WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING MAY 9, 2003

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 & 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:

A. Kugler, OEDO

DISTRIBUTION:

Central File

Public Document Name: 

C:\WIR\ML031390048.wpd.WPD

OEDO AO/OEDO

AKugler WMDean

05/14/03 05/16/03
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING MAY 9, 2003

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

Headquarters and Regional Office activities. 

Contact: A. Kugler, OEDO by E-mail: ajk1@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 5 OPA 11

RES 7 IP 12

NSIR 8 SECY 13

OGC * Region I 15

ADM 9 Region II 16

CIO 10 Region III 17

CFO * Region IV 18

HR * OEDO *

SB/CR * OCA 19

OE *

*No input this week
May 9, 2003 ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 9, 2003

Grand Gulf Nuclear Station:

On April 24, 2003, during strong winds and a thunderstorm, an automatic reactor scram

occurred which resulted in a partial loss of offsite power, loss of instrument air, and the loss of

power to the equipment supplied from nonsafety-related buses for several hours. On May 5,

2003, a Special Inspection Team (SIT) arrived onsite to better understand the cause of the

automatic scram, system and component responses, and operator actions following the event. 

Newsletter on Risk-Informed Activities

The pilot edition of an internal NRC electronic newsletter on risk-informed activities was issued

to NRR staff on May 5, 2003. The purpose of the newsletter is to keep staff abreast of the

latest developments in risk-informed activities in the reactor program, including upcoming

meetings and events. Overall, the response to the pilot edition from staff has been very

positive. Many of the commenters have expressed the view that the newsletter is informative

and will be helpful to them in their jobs. All of the comments received are being considered in

the planning of the next edition of the newsletter, which will be issued to the larger reactor

community within NRC.

NRC Regulatory Issue Summary 2003-09, Environmental Qualification of Low-Voltage

Instrumentation and Control Cables, dated May 2, 2003

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued this regulatory issue summary (RIS) 

to inform addressees of the results of the technical assessment of Generic Safety Issue (GSI)-

168, “Environmental Qualification of Low-Voltage Instrumentation and Control Cables.” 

NRC Information Notice 2002-15, Supplement 1, Potential Hydrogen Combustion Events in

BWR Piping, dated May 6, 2003

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued this supplement to NRC Information Notice

2002-15, to inform addressees about the results of a study by the Boiling Water Reactor

Owners Group (BWROG) regarding the potential for hydrogen combustion events in piping and

describe future followup actions by the staff and the Boiling Water Reactor Owners Group. 

Audit of the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR)

External regulation of certain Department of Energy (DOE) laboratories is under consideration

by Congress. Congress has required these laboratories to develop cost estimates to bring their

facilities into compliance with NRC requirements. The cost estimates should identify significant

physical changes, administrative and organizational changes, and procedural or process

changes that would be needed to meet NRC requirements. Oak Ridge National Laboratory has

been identified as a lead DOE facility to be evaluated under this Congressional initiative. The

NRC will perform compliance audits of the HFIR (an 85 MW high performance research/test
May 9, 2003 ENCLOSURE A

reactor at Oak Ridge National Laboratory) in support of this Congressional mandate. DOE has

provided funding to NRC for performing the audits.

Issuance of Peach Bottom Renewed Licenses

The operating licenses for Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station, Units 2 and 3 were renewed on

May 7, 2003. The Exelon Generating Company, LLC (Exelon) submitted the Peach Bottom 

license renewal application on July 2, 2001. The staff completed the environmental and safety

reviews in accordance with the requirements of 10 CFR Part 51 and Part 54. The renewed

licenses for Peach Bottom Units 2 and 3 expire on August 8, 2033, and July 2, 2034,

respectively. 

Staff meeting with General Accounting Office (GAO)

On May 5, 2003, staff from the Financial Regulatory Analysis Section met with representatives

of GAO to discuss issues related to the Price-Anderson Act and licensees’ financial

qualifications. Specifically, the discussion involved issues relating to assurance that a limited

liability company could pay the retrospective premium required under the Price-Anderson Act in

the event of an accident and the NRC’s ability to review licensees’ financial qualifications in

accordance with 10 CFR 50.75. 

Mitigating Systems Performance Index/Reactor Oversight Process

On April 30, and May 1, 2003, a combined Mitigating Systems Performance Index/Reactor

Oversight Process (MSPI/ROP) public meeting was held at One White Flint North. On April 30,

2003, the staff presented the status of its review of the MSPI pilot issues. It was noted that the

ongoing effort by the Office of Nuclear Reactor Research to enhance the Standardized Plant

Analysis Risk models for the twenty plants in the pilot will provide possible solutions to the

remaining open technical issues. 

Topics discussed during the May 1, 2003, ROP meeting included proposed changes to the

Significance Determination Process (SDP) manual chapter appendices, inspection procedural

changes, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the performance indicators (PIs), status of

the ROP efficiency focus group, SDP topics for the maintenance rule, and other SDPs under

development. The staff also discussed PI improvements and an update of the industry's self

assessment program. 

Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) - Maintenance Rule Users Group Meeting

On Monday, May 5, 2003, representatives of the Division of Inspection Program Management

(DIPM) attended the semiannual meeting of the EPRI-sponsored Maintenance Rule Users

Group (MRUG) in Providence, Rhode Island. Discussions covered the development of the new

significance determination process for 10 CFR 50.65(a)(4) risk assessment inspection findings,

development of the new mitigating systems performance indicator and its potential impact to

maintenance rule equipment monitoring activities, the use of maintenance rule processes to

support risk-informed technical specification initiatives, questions, and feedback on current

maintenance rule issues.
May 9, 2003 ENCLOSURE A

Early Site Permits

On May 6, 2003, the New Reactor Licensing Project Office issued letters to Exelon Generating

Company (Exelon), Entergy Operations, Incorporated (Entergy), and Dominion Generation

(Dominion) related to guidance on security requirements in preparation of their early site permit

(ESP) applications. The letters provide the site characteristics which should be discussed in the

context of satisfying 10 CFR 100.21(f), which states, "site characteristics must be such that

adequate security plans and measures can be developed."
May 9, 2003 ENCLOSURE B

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 9, 2003

Trilateral Meeting with Mexico and Canada

During the period May 1-2, 2003, representatives from the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and

Safeguards, the Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response, the Office of International

Programs, and Region IV (and the State of Texas) met with representatives from the nuclear

regulatory agencies of Canada and Mexico to discuss a number of waste and materials safety

topics, including matters related to the control and security of radioactive material. Many areas

of common perspective and agreement were noted, and a number of topics were identified as

matters that would benefit from follow-up cooperative activities. Specifics will be included in the

quick-look report and foreign travel report on the meeting.

Meeting with the Department of Energy

On May 6, 2003, staff from the Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards met with staff

from the Department of Energy (DOE) in a closed meeting, to discuss regulatory oversight

issues related to the U.S. Enrichment Corporation’s (USEC’s) gas centrifuge uranium

enrichment test and demonstration facility (Lead Cascade), to be housed in an existing DOE

Gas Centrifuge Enrichment Plant (GCEP) building at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant

(PORTS) site in Piketon, Ohio. USEC submitted its license application for the Lead Cascade

facility to NRC on February 12, 2003. At the meeting, DOE and NRC staff proposed to jointly

develop, by October 2003, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that would: (1) identify the

areas within the GCEP building that fall under DOE and NRC regulatory oversight; (2) outline

the process for transitioning regulatory oversight from DOE to NRC; and (3) delineate each

Agency’s roles and responsibilities concerning regulatory oversight, to ensure that USEC’s

activities to be conducted during centrifuge disassembly/assembly and operational phases of

the Lead Cascade are safe and secure. Past experience in transitioning regulatory oversight

and developing MOUs for PORTS will be used in developing the MOU for the Lead Cascade.

Nuclear Energy Institute/Electric Power Research Institute Dry Storage Forum

During May 5-7, 2003, several members of the Spent Fuel Project Office, the Office of Nuclear

Regulatory Research, and Region II participated in the Nuclear Energy Institute/Electric Power

Research Institute Dry Storage Forum in Naples, Florida. The conference was attended by

approximately 160 individuals from utilities and industry involved with the various aspects of

spent fuel storage. The NRC staff provided several presentations, including an overview of the

spent fuel program; recent interim staff guidance; license renewal update; lessons learned from

the Baltimore tunnel fire; the Package Performance Study; review of actions taken postSeptember 11, 2001; probabilistic risk assessment efforts; and lessons learned from recent

inspections. The meeting provided an excellent opportunity for staff interaction with the industry

representatives on dry cask storage activities.
May 9, 2003 ENCLOSURE B

Meeting with Westinghouse Regarding Transport Package for Fresh Fuel Assemblies

On May 1, 2003, Spent Fuel Project Office staff met with Westinghouse Electric Company to

discuss the design of the Model No. Traveller transport package. The Traveller is being

designed to transport unirradiated pressurized-water reactor fuel assemblies. Westinghouse

discussed results of full-scale engineering tests of the package. It plans to perform full-scale

certification tests in July 2003 and to submit an application for package approval to NRC in

August 2003. 

Union of Concerned Scientists and Mothers for Peace Petition for Rulemaking

On April 28, 2003, the Union of Concerned Scientists and Mothers for Peace submitted a

petition for rulemaking under 10 CFR 2.802. The petition requests significant changes to the

regulations in 10 CFR Part 50, to provide better protection against radiological sabotage at U.S.

nuclear power plants. In addition, the petitioners request that the Diablo Canyon Independent

Spent Fuel Storage Installation licensing proceeding be suspended, pending action on the

request for rulemaking. The Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation is leading a task group to

address the petition.
May 9, 2003 ENCLOSURE C

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 9, 2003

Presentation to ACRS on the Industry Initiating Event Performance Indicator for the Industry

Trends Program

Staff from RES and NRR presented the development status of the industry initiating events

performance indicator (IIEPI) to the ACRS’ joint subcommittee of Probabilistic Risk Assessment

and Operating Experience. RES is developing the IIEPI for use in the Industry Trends Program

(ITP) to address the initiating events cornerstone of safety. The staff discussed how ACRS

comments and suggestions from the previous briefing were addressed. The staff also outlined

future development efforts for the IIEPI including the development of guidelines for setting

thresholds for the IIEPI via an expert panel. The subcommittee asked how they could provide

input for the expert panel to consider. In response, the staff stated that a white paper on the

IIEPI will be provided in the near future for ACRS review and comment.
May 9, 2003 ENCLOSURE D

Nuclear Security and Incident Response

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 9, 2003

TOPOFF2 Exercise Update

On May 6, 2003, NRC commenced exercise participation in TOPOFF2, the second

Congressionally-mandated, national-level exercise involving weapons of mass destruction. The

TOPOFF2 full-scale exercise is being conducted from May 12 through 16, 2003, with 

limited-scope exercise activities, focused on terrorism-related intelligence information, occurring

the week of May 6 through 9, 2003. NRC Headquarters, Region III and Region IV will

participate in both the limited-scope activities and the full-scale activities. NRC’s exercise

participation will focus on terrorist threats to licensee facilities, a radiological dispersal device

detonation in Seattle, a highway shipment of radioactive material in the Pacific Northwest, and

the effect of a bioterrorism event in Chicago. Participation will include limited staffing of

Headquarters Operations Center response teams, limited staffing of Region III and IV Incident

Response Centers, and Region IV representatives at the Seattle Joint Operations Center. 

Commissioner Merrifield will lead the NRC’s exercise participation and serve as the agency’s

“top official” for TOPOFF2.

Preliminary Notifications

PNO-IV-03-025, Energy Northwest - MEDIA COVERAGE OF ENERGY NORTHWEST

SECURITY OFFICER INFORMATIONAL PICKET AND FORCED SHUTDOWN BECAUSE OF

MAIN CONDENSER INLEAKAGE.

PNO-I-03-015, Washington Hospital Center - MEDICAL EVENT DURING THE USE OF A

NOVOSTE 3.5 FRENCH INTRAVASCULAR BRACHYTHERAPY DEVICE.
May 9, 2003 ENCLOSURE F

Office of Administration 

Items of Interest 

Week Ending May 9, 2003

Filing and Notification Requirements for the Shipments of Certain Radioactive Materials:

Correction (Parts 70, 71, and 73).

A document correcting a final rule that amended the filing and advance notification

requirements applicable to shipments of certain radioactive materials was published in the

Federal Register on May 5, 2003 (68 FR 23574). The amendments reflected recent

organizational and administrative changes within the NRC. The final rule became effective

March 26, 2003. 

Sander C. Perle, ICN Worldwide Dosimetry Service, Receipt of Petition for Rulemaking (PRM20-25)

A document requesting public comment on a petition for rulemaking submitted by Sander C.

Perle, ICN Worldwide Dosimetry Service (PRM-20-25) was published in the Federal Register on

May 5, 2003 (68 FR 23618). The petitioner requests that the NRC amend its regulations to

require that any dosimeter, without exception, that is used to report dose of record and

demonstrate compliance with the dose limits specified in the Commission’s regulations be

processed and evaluated by a dosimetry processor holding accreditation from the National

Voluntary Accreditation Program of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The

petitioner also requests that the definition for individual monitoring devices (individual

monitoring equipment) be revised to include “electronic dosimeters, optically stimulated

dosimeters” as examples of certain devices. The comment period for this action closes July 21,

2003. 

All Operating Power Reactor Licensees; Order Modifying Licenses (Effective Immediately) (3

documents)

Three general notice documents announcing the issuance of immediately effective orders

modifying licenses for all operating power reactor licensees were published in the Federal

Register on May 7, 2003 (68 FR 24510, 24514, and 24517). The orders impose a revised

design basis threat which supercedes the design basis threat specified in 10 CFR 73.1, require

the implementation of compensatory measures to improve tactical and firearms proficiency and

physical fitness of security forces, and require the implementation of compensatory measures

to address issues that may arise from work-hour related fatigue of nuclear facility security force

personnel.

Acquisition Training for Project Managers

On May 7, 2003, the Division of Contracts conducted the Acquisition for Project Manager’s

Overview workshop for 20 participants. On May 8, 2003, the Office of General Counsel

conducted the Organizational Conflict of Interest workshop for 22 participants. These two

workshops are two of the five mandatory workshops required for Project Manager certification. 

A total of 54 certificates were issued on April 30, 2003, to project managers who recently

completed the certification requirements.
May 9, 2003 ENCLOSURE G

Chief Information Officer

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 9, 2003

NRC Participates in General Services Administration’s Federal Wireless Working Group

OCIO attended a new working group established by GSA’s Federal Wireless team to discuss

enhancements to the next Federal Wireless Telecommunications Services (FWTS) contract. 

The group was attended by representatives from eight federal agencies and provided an

opportunity to discuss common issues and requirements to be addressed in future FWTS

activities. 

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

May 2 through May 8, 2003:

OIG Case 4680 FOIA/PA-2003-0272

Radioactive sealed sources manufactured, stored, recycled and

disposed of in the United States

FOIA/PA-2003-0273

OIG report on self, all records from 5-20-01 through 4-30-03 FOIA/PA-2003-0274

Gulf Nuclear Inc. or Gulf Nuclear of Louisiana Inc. and former owners

of Odessa TX, Webster TX, and Houston TX sites, permits,

compliance, enforcement and operational files

FOIA/PA-2003-0275

Investigation of Navarro Research and Engineering Inc. and named

individual

FOIA/PA-2003-0276
May 9, 2003 ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 9, 2003

Media Interest

The TOPOFF2 terrorism exercise, which will occur simultaneously in Chicago and Seattle next

week, generated national coverage for ongoing preparations against biological and radiological

weapons attacks. Articles ran in The Washington Post, New York Times and USA Today,

among other publications.

NSIR’s Roy Zimmerman was interviewed by Business Week for a piece on NRC’s nuclear

power plant security. In a related matter, The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists published a

lengthy critique of NRC security policies.

NRC’s report on safety culture at Davis-Besse received wide play, as did reactor bottom head

degradation at the South Texas Project, St. Lucie and Oconee nuclear plants.

Media reports of security guards sleeping on the job at the Indian Point nuclear power plant due

to forced overtime and fatigue have received local coverage in New York. Also, the refusal of

two New York counties to submit emergency preparedness plans to FEMA kept Indian Point in

the news.

NRC’s reservations about quality assurance at the Department of Energy, as it prepares its

Yucca Mountain license application, garnered significant coverage.

Press Releases

Headquarters:

03-055 NRC Approves Power Uprate for D.C. Cook Unit 2 (5/5)

03-056 NRC Proposes Amending Regulations for Structures, Systems and

Components for Nuclear Power Plants Based on Safety Significance (5/7)

03-057 NRC Renews License for Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station, Units 2 and

3, for an Additional 20 Years (5/7)

03-058 NRC Licensing Board to Hear Oral Arguments May 19 in California on

Diablo Canyon Proposal (5/8)

Regions:

II-03-030 NRC Staff to Hold Public Meeting with SCE&G May 16 to Discuss Initial

Summer Plant License Renewal Inspection (5/8)

IV-03-021 NRC to Conduct Special Inspection at South Texas Project Unit 1 (5/5)

IV-03-022 NRC to Meet with Public to Discuss Decommissioning Sequoyah Fuels

(5/6)
May 9, 2003 ENCLOSURE N

Office of International Programs

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 9, 2003

Visit of J-L. Petitclerc, IRSN, France

On May 5, Mr. Petitclerc, International Collaborations Manager at the new Institute for Radiation

Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN) in France, met with OIP staff to discuss the formation of

the Institute and the recent appointment of the organization’s senior managers. Additionally, a

draft agenda was developed for the visit of Mr. J-B. Cherie, Deputy Director for International

Relations, IRSN, to NRC on May 27. Mr. Petitclerc also participated in the meetings of the

international participants in the NRC sponsored Cooperative Severe Accident Research

Program.

Visit of Helen Leiser, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), UK

Ms. Leiser, former Director of Nuclear Installations, DTI, met with members of the NRR staff for

a briefing on risk informed regulation and reactor regulatory oversight. Currently, Ms. Leiser is

on temporary assignment with the Office of Nuclear Energy, DOE, where she is involved with

international activities relating to the GENERATION IV advanced reactor program.

Upcoming CSNI/NEA/NRC Workshop

In February 2003, the Committee on the Safety of Nuclear Installations of the Nuclear Energy

Agency (CSNI/NEA) hosted the first meeting of the organizing committee to discuss plans for

organizing an international workshop on debris impact on emergency coolant circulation. This

workshop is being jointly organized by the CSNI/NEA and the USNRC. Bhagwat Jain, Project

Manager, Engineering Research Applications Branch, RES, was elected chairperson of the

organizing committee and the workshop is scheduled to be held in Albuquerque, NM,

February/March 2004. The USNRC will promote the workshop announcement to encourage

wider U.S. participation.
May 9, 2003 ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 9, 2003

Document Released

to Public

Date Subject

Decision Documents

SRM-SECY-02-0204 5/7/03 Update of Uranium Recovery Guidance

Documents

Commission Voting Record

on SECY-02-0204

5/7/03 (same)

SRM-SECY-02-0077 5/6/03 Proposed Rule to Update 10 CFR Part 52,

"Early Site Permits, Standard Design

Certifications, and Combined Licenses for

Nuclear Power Plants"

Commission Voting Record

on SECY-02-0077

5/6/03 (same)

Former Chairman Meserve’s

Vote on SECY-02-0077

5/6/03 (same)

Information Papers

SECY-03-0059 4/18/03 NRC’s Advanced Reactor Research

Program

Commission Correspondence

Letter to Congress, dated May 2, 2003, provides NRC’s February monthly report on the status

of its licensing and regulatory duties.

Letter to Jim Doyle, Governor of Wisconsin, dated May 1, 2003, concerns the proposed

Agreement for the State of Wisconsin to assume regulatory authority over acquisition,

possession...and disposal of certain byproduct material.

Letter to Congressman Porter, dated April 29, 2003, concerns comments on NUREG-1768,

“United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s Package Performance Study Test Protocols.”

Letter to Senators Lieberman and Dodd, dated April 29, 2003, concerns the emergency

preparedness program for the Indian Point Energy Center.

Letter to Assemblyman Richard Brodsky, New York, dated April 28, 2003, concerns emergency

planning and preparedness at the Indian Point nuclear facility.
May 9, 2003 ENCLOSURE O

Federal Register Notices

Sander C. Perie, ICN Worldwide Dosimetry Service, Receipt of Petition for Rulemaking (PRM02-25).

ASLBP Notice of Hearing - Advanced Medical Imaging and Nuclear Services.

ACNW Notice of 142nd Meeting.

ACNW Meeting on Planning and Procedures.

ACRS Subcommittee Meeting on Safeguards and Security.

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

Nuclear Power Reactors - Proposed Rule.

ACRS Meeting of Subcommittee on Plant Operations.
May 9, 2003 ENCLOSURE P

Region I

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 9, 2003

Security Tabletop Exercise at Yankee Rowe

On Wednesday, May 7, 2003, a security tabletop exercise was conducted at the Yankee Rowe

plant in Rowe, Massachusetts. The purpose of the exercise was to demonstrate the integrated

response capabilities of the Yankee Rowe Plant with external agencies. Participating agencies

included the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, the Vermont Emergency

Management Agency, the Massachusetts State Police, the Vermont State Police, and the

Yankee Rowe Emergency Response Organization. A critique was held following the exercise. 

Region I Division of Nuclear Materials Safety staff participated in the exercise.

Maine Yankee Reactor Vessel Shipment

Staff and management from Region I and the Office of Nuclear Materials Safety and

Safeguards (NMSS) were at Maine Yankee the week of May 5 to inspect the shipment of the

Maine Yankee reactor pressure vessel (RPV). In addition, the team reviewed radiological

surveys of the site associated with ongoing decommissioning efforts. At high tide on the

afternoon of May 6, 2003, a tugboat hauling a barge loaded with the Maine Yankee RPV began

its two-week trip to the Barnwell, South Carolina, radioactive waste disposal facility. This was

the final major component removed from the decommissioning reactor site. Also, staff from the

Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education supported NMSS in reviewing licensee

procedures and conducting measurements for comparison to site decommissioning surveys

conducted by the licensee. Additional confirmatory surveys are planned during the next two

years as decommissioning is completed.

Inspector Counterparts Seminar

Region I held its semiannual Inspector Counterparts Seminar on May 6-8, 2003. The seminar

featured presentations by the Deputy Executive Director for Management Services and by the

Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR), regarding recent and future

developments in their organizations. In addition, a representative of the Office of Small

Business and Civil Rights discussed the advantages of diversity in avoiding “groupthink,” a

representative from the Office of the Chief Financial Officer presented “The Joy of Statistics,”

representatives from NRR made presentations on lessons learned from Davis-Besse and on

the emergency response significance determination process, and several Region I inspectors

reviewed significant inspection findings and how they were discovered. The Region also held

its mid-year awards ceremony.
May 9, 2003 ENCLOSURE P

Region II

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 9, 2003

Region II Inspector’s Counterpart Meeting

On May 5-8, 2003, the Region II Inspector’s Counterpart meeting was held in the Regional

Office. On May 6, 2003, the Director, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, gave a

presentation on Agency issues/challenges in the strategic arenas of materials safety and

nuclear waste. The Director of the Division of Nuclear Security in the Office of Nuclear Security

and Incident Response, gave a presentation on current activities related to security of

licensees.

30th Annual Federal Executive Board’s Employee-of-the-Year Awards Luncheon

On May 7, 2003, the Regional Administrator and several Region II employees participated in

the the 30th Annual Federal Executive Board’s Employee-of-the-Year Awards Ceremony at the

new Georgia International Convention Center. This Ceremony is in honor of those Federal

employees in Atlanta who were nominated for awards based on meeting or exceeding the

highest criteria for performance in certain categories. The Region II Office nominated several

employees and had one, the Branch Chief of the Resource Information Branch, make it as a

finalist for one of the awards given at the Ceremony.

Carolina Power and Light Company (Progress Energy) - Harris Special Inspection

On May 5, 2003, an NRC special inspection team began an inspection at the Harris nuclear

power plant. The purpose of the special inspection was to review an event involving a loss of

component cooling water and subsequent increase in reactor coolant system temperature

during refueling outage operations.
May 9, 2003 ENCLOSURE P

Region III

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 9, 2003

NRC Davis-Besse Oversight Panel Public Meetings

On May 6, 2003, the NRC Davis-Besse Oversight Panel held two meetings at the Camp Perry

Ohio National Guard facility in Oak Harbor, Ohio. The first meeting was between the panel and

FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Co. officials to discuss the status of activities at the Davis-Besse

plant. The second meeting was an evening public session to review NRC activities involving

Davis-Besse and to respond to questions and concerns from the public.

Meeting to Review Design Issues at Davis-Besse

On May 7, 2003, the NRC Davis-Besse Oversight Panel met in the Region III Office with

FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Co. officials to discuss the resolution of design issues identified

by the licensee at the Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Plant. Among the topics discussed were the

high pressure injection pumps which could fail under certain post-accident conditions;

emergency diesel generator issues including voltage and frequency during loading and diesel

generator room ventilation; the analysis of the electrical distribution system voltage; and

capabilities of air-operated valves. The licensee reported that the resolution of these issues is

underway.
May 9, 2003 ENCLOSURE P

Region IV

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 9, 2003

Meeting with River Bend

The Region IV, Director, Division of Reactor Safety, with members of the Plant Support Branch

and Division of Reactor Projects Branch B, held a meeting in the Region IV office with licensee

representatives from the River Bend Nuclear Plant to discuss the iradiation protection program. 

The meeting was requested by the licensee. Specific topics included deficiencies in ALARA

planning, the March 17, 2003, contamination event, radiation protection program improvement

initiatives, and radiation protection department organizational changes. The meeting was open

to attendance by members of the public; however, no members of the public were present. 
May 9, 2003 

Office of Congressional Affairs

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 9, 2003

CONGRESSIONAL HEARING SCHEDULE, NO. 14

OCA

Contact

DATE

&

PLACE

TIME WITNESS SUBJECT 

Combs 05/28/03

Las VegasTentative

TBA TBA DOE QA for Yucca Mountain Senators 

Energy anAppropria