INFORMATION REPORT

September 6, 2005 SECY-05-0161

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-05-0161 - “WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING AUGUST 26, 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
September 6, 2005 SECY-05-0161

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-05-0161 - “WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING AUGUST 26, 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\week826.WPD

OEDO AO/OEDO

TJKim:paa WMDean

09/02/05 09/06/05
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING AUGUST 26, 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 8 OIP *

NSIR 9 SECY 19

OGC * Region I 20

ADM * Region II 21

OIS * Region III 22

CFO * Region IV *

HR 15 EDO *

SBCR * OCA *

OE *

*No input this week
August 26, 2005 ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending August 26, 2005

Oconee - Issuance of License Amendment to Allow Continued Operation

On August 23, 2005, NRR issued an operating license amendment for all three units of Oconee

Nuclear Station to allow continued operation of the plant for an additional 96 hours with one of

the two Keowee hydro units out-of-service. Since the Keowee hydro units provide the onsite

emergency power system (similar to emergency diesel generators at other nuclear stations) for

all three units of Oconee Nuclear Station, the technical specifications included in the Oconee

operating licenses require shutdown of all three units if one of the hydro units are found to be

inoperable for more than 72 hours. On August 20, the second Keowee hydro unit experienced

electrical generator malfunction during routine testing. While continuing with troubleshooting

and repair efforts, the licensee requested an emergency license amendment on August 21

permitting a one-time extension of 96 hours to continue its troubleshooting and repair efforts

beyond the 72 hours allowed by the technical specifications. The licensee was able to restore

the hydro unit back in operable status on August 25, prior to the expiration of the additional time

permitted by the license amendment. The NRR staff’s safety evaluation report for this license

amendment is publicly available on the Agency Document Access and Management System

under accession number ML052410071. 

Palo Verde - Equipment Problem Resulting in Plant Shutdown

On August 22, 2005, the licensee shut down Palo Verde Unit 2, as required by the station

technical specifications, upon its determination that all four channels of the Core Protection

Calculator (CPC) system were inoperable. The licensee identified a vulnerability in the software

platform used for the CPC system that could prevent the system from performing its safety

function if redundant analog input failures occur simultaneously. The licensee is evaluating

software modifications to remove this vulnerability. NRR staff is evaluating potential generic

implications. To date, Palo Verde Unit 2 is the only U. S. nuclear power plant utilizing this

software platform in a safety-related application. 

Regulatory Issue Summary (RIS) 2005-19: Preparation and Scheduling of Operator Licensing

Examinations

On August 24, 2005, NRR issued the subject RIS to inform power reactor licensees of the NRC

staff’s need for updated information on projected site-specific operator licensing examination

schedules and the estimated numbers of applicants planning to take operator licensing

examinations and the NRC’s generic fundamentals examinations. This RIS requires no action

or written response on the part of addressees. Actions to collect and transmit the information

noted in the RIS are strictly voluntary.

Draft Proposed Rule Language for Revision of 10 CFR Part 52 Available on NRC Website

On August 25, 2005, NRR staff posted the subject draft rule language for revision of 10 CFR

Part 52, “Early Site Permits; Standard Design Certifications; and Combined Licenses for

Nuclear Power Plants,” on the NRC’s rulemaking Web site at http://ruleforum.llnl.gov/cgi-bin/
August 26, 2005 ENCLOSURE A

rulemake?source=draft_p52&st=risk. The staff is posting draft rule language on the Web site 

to inform stakeholders of the current status of the Part 52 update rulemaking in advance of

submittal of the proposed rulemaking package to the Commission, due by October 31, 2005. 

This information will aid stakeholders who may begin preparing early site permit or combined

license applications in the near future and will inform all stakeholders of the staff’s proposals

regarding changes to Part 52 and related regulations. 

Oyster Creek - Public Meeting on License Renewal Review Process

On August 24, 2005, NRR staff, together with representatives from the Offices of Public Affairs,

General Counsel, Nuclear Security and Incident Response, and Region I, conducted a public

meeting in Lacey, New Jersey, regarding the license renewal application for the Oyster Creek

Nuclear Generating Station, which was received on July 22, 2005. The purpose of the meeting

was to inform the public on the NRC’s license renewal review process and to answer questions. 

About 150 people attended the meeting, including State and local officials, licensee

representatives, and members of the public and the media. A number of questions were

raised regarding the scope of the license renewal review and public’s ability to participate in the

NRC’s license renewal review process. 
August 26, 2005 ENCLOSURE B

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS)

Items of Interest

Week Ending August 26, 2005

Public Meeting with DOE Regarding the Savannah River Site

On August 17-18, 2005, Division of Waste Management and Environmental Protection staff met

with representatives of the Department of Energy (DOE) at the North Augusta Community

Center in North Augusta, GA. The purpose of this meeting was to discuss NRC’s requests for

additional information regarding DOE’s draft Incidental Waste Determination for Salt Waste

Disposal at the Savannah River Site (SRS). Representatives of the SRS Citizens Advisory

Board, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, the Environmental

Protection Agency, and the National Academy of Sciences also attended the meeting.

Onsite Review of USEC Inc.’s Integrated Safety Analysis for the American Centrifuge Plant

On August 15-17, 2005, Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards staff conducted an

onsite review of USEC Inc.’s (USEC’s) Integrated Safety Analysis (ISA) for the proposed

American Centrifuge Plant (ACP) to be built and operated in Piketon, OH. The staff conducted

walk-downs of some of the existing facilities at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant site that

are relevant to the ACP and met with technical staff from USEC. USEC agreed to address

issues raised by NRC staff during the review in its ISA Summary. USEC will submit its revised

ISA Summary and corresponding changes to the license application to NRC for review.
August 26, 2005 ENCLOSURE C

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES)

Items of Interest

Week Ending August 26, 2005

Meeting of the International Cooperative Group and Research Program for Proactive Materials

Degradation Management

On August 16 - 19, 2005, RES staff and contractors from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

held the first formal meeting with representatives from several nations to plan an International

Cooperative Group and Research Program focused on Proactive Materials Degradation

Management (PMDM). This planning meeting was held in conjunction with the 12th

International Conference on Environmental Degradation of Materials in Nuclear Power

Systems-Water Reactors. Participants represented utilities, regulators, manufacturers,

universities, and research laboratories from Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Finland,

France, Germany, Japan, Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and United

States. At this meeting, the staff provided background information on the NRC’s efforts to

identify components susceptible to possible future degradation. In addition, industry presented

their proactive degradation assessment work. Finally, the staff discussed a detailed plan to

coordinate an international agreement to conduct a cooperative PMDM program. A second

meeting is planned to be held with potential participants later this year. 

12th International Conference on Environmental Degradation of Materials in Nuclear Power

Systems – Water Reactors

On August 15-18, 2005, RES staff participated in the 12th International Conference on

Environmental Degradation of Materials in Nuclear Power Systems – Water Reactors. The

purpose of the conference was to present current information about materials degradation in

nuclear power plants and to discuss prevention and mitigation strategies. The conference

focused on degradation of nickel base alloys, stainless steels, pressure vessel and piping

steels, zircaloys, and other alloys in the water environments relevant to nuclear power plant

components.

Publication of Draft Regulatory Guide DG-1128 for Public Comment

On August 26, 2005, RES issued the subject draft regulatory guide DG-1128, “Criteria for

Accident Monitoring Instrumentation for Nuclear Power Plants,” for public comment. It is

publicly available on the NRC’s Web site at http://ruleforum.llnl.gov/cgi-bin/library?source

=*&library=rg_lib&file=*&st=draftrg. This draft regulatory guide endorses the Institute of

Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Standard 497-2002, “Criteria for Accident

Monitoring Instrumentation for Nuclear Power Generating Stations,” with certain clarifying

regulatory positions. This proposed regulatory guide is intended for applicants of new nuclear

power plants; however, licensees of current operating reactors may voluntarily convert their

entire accident monitoring program to the criteria in this proposed revision. 
August 26, 2005 ENCLOSURE C

Completion of Integrated Chemical Effects Test # 5

On August 25, 2005, the integrated chemical effects Test # 5 was completed as part of the

Integrated Chemical Effect Testing (ICET) program to support the resolution of Generic Letter

2004-02, “Potential Impact of Debris Blockage on Emergency Recirculation during Design Basis

Accidents at Pressurized-Water Reactors,” issued on September 13, 2004. RES staff was on

hand to witness the completion of Test # 5 at the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM. 

Test # 5 parameters included 100 percent fiberglass insulation and sodium tetraborate buffer. 

Sodium tetraborate is a buffering agent that is used in ice condenser containment pH control

under accident conditions.

Participation in the 18th International Conference on Structural Mechanics in Reactor

Technology (SMiRT-18)

On August 7-12, representatives from RES and the Offices of Nuclear Reactor Regulation and

Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards participated in the SMiRT-18 Conference held in

Beijing, China. SMiRT conferences have been held biennially since 1971 and have become the

leading conference on structural safety of nuclear plants and facilities. NRC representatives

presented technical papers on ongoing NRC research programs, seismic designs for

independent spent fuel storage installations, and also served as chairperson on several

conference sessions. The conference sessions included structural/thermal analysis and testing

of nuclear structures, spent fuel storage systems and core structures, life extension and license

renewal, seismic soil-structure and fluid-structure interaction. SMiRT-18 also included a new

session, “Generation IV,” on new reactor designs. 
August 26, 2005 ENCLOSURE D

Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response (NSIR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending August 26, 2005

Preliminary Notifications

1. PNO-I-05-025, GEO-EXPLOR, Inc. - MISSING PORTABLE MOISTURE DENSITY

GAUGE.

2. PNO-IV-05-10A, Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, Unit 1 - UPDATE TO

PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION PNO-IV-05-010, SHUTDOWN TO REPAIR AUTO

VOLTAGE REGULATOR ON EMERGENCY DIESEL GENERATOR TRAIN B.

3. PNO-IV-05-011, Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, Unit 2 - SHUTDOWN TO

REPAIR CORE PROTECTION CALCULATORS.
August 26, 2005 ENCLOSURE I

Office of Human Resources (HR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending August 26, 2005

Arrival

LI, RUI SHEN GENERAL ENGINEER (NSPDP) NRR

SABA, FARIDEH E. PROJECT MANAGER NRR

SCHUSTER, WILLIAM CHARLES IV GENERAL ENGINEER NRR

VOTH, MARCUS REACTOR INSPECTOR NRR

Departures

COLE, SHELLY D. ATTORNEY OGC

LAI, HUNG-QUOC STUDENT ENGINEER (SUMMER) ACRS

MALIK, SARAH M. RELIABILITY AND RISK ANALYST NRR

NGUYEN, DAT T. STUDENT ENGINEER (SUMMER) NRR

PAIGE, JASON C. STUDENT ENGINEER (SUMMER) NRR

WILDERMANN, NATHAN R. ATTORNEY OGC
August 26, 2005 ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs (OPA)

Items of Interest

Week Ending August 26, 2005

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

Oyster Creek license renewal application and compliance with the Coastal Zone Management

Act.

Keowee Hydro Station electrical problems affecting Oconee.

New reactor design and licensing.

Other OPA Items:

OPA supported a FOX News interview with Chairman Diaz on the new reactor licensing

process.

OPA supported an ABC News interview with the Director - Office of Nuclear Security and

Incident Response on research reactor security.

OPA supported a public meeting on license renewal at Oyster Creek.

Press Releases

Headquarters:

05-114 NRC Announces appointment of New Office Director for State and Tribal

Programs (8/23)

05-115 NRC to Hold Public Meeting on Nuclear Security on Sept. 1 in Rockville,

Maryland (8/25)

05-116 NRC Revises Procedures for Handling Possible Generic Safety Issues (8/26)

05-117 NRC Issues Supplemental Safety Evaluation for Clinton Early Site Permit

Application (8/26)

Regions:

I-05-044 NRC Updates Public on License Renewal Process at Oyster Creek (8/24)

III-05-037 NRC Staff Proposes $16,250 Fine Against Westinghouse for Safety Violations

during decommissioning activities at its Fuel Facility in Missouri (8/26)

IV-05-030 NRC to Hold Public Meeting August 31 on License Application for Commercial

Irradiator in Hawaii (8/23)
August 26, 2005 ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary (SECY)

Items of Interest

Week Ending August 26, 2005

Document Released

to Public

Date Subject

Decision Documents

1. SECY-05-0144 8/10/05 Proposed Rule: 10 CFR Part 63:

“Implementation of a Dose Standard After

10,000 Years” (RIN 3150-AH68)

2. SECY-05-0138 8/2/05 Risk-Informed and Performance-Based

Alternatives to the Single-Failure Criterion

Information Papers

1. SECY-05-0149 8/18/05 Weekly Information Report - Week Ending

August 12, 2005

2. SECY-05-0139 8/4/05 Semiannual Update of the Status of New

Reactor Licensing Activities and Future

Planning for New Reactors

3. SECY-05-0145 8/10/05 Semiannual Report on Status of Staff

Information Technology/Information

Management and Business Process

Activities in Preparation for the High-Level

Waste Repository Proceedings

Memoranda

1. M050816A 8/26/05 Meeting with Organization of Agreement

States (OAS) and Conference of Radiation

Control Program Directors (CRCPD)

Commission Correspondence

1. Letter to Ryan Scott Karben, New York State Assembly, dated August 19, 2005,

responds to request that NRC conduct an investigation into the failure of the Indian Point

Energy Center emergency siren system that occurred during the morning of July 19.

2. Letter to Edward Diana, County Executive, Orange County, New York, dated August 19,

2005, responds to request of an explanation of the July 19, 2005 failure of the Indian

Point Energy Center emergency siren system and the corrective actions being taken.
August 26, 2005 ENCLOSURE P

Region I (RI)

Items of Interest

Week Ending August 26, 2005

Indian Point - Meeting hosted by the Westchester County Executive on Emergency Sirens

On August 24, 2005, Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano hosted a meeting on the

Indian Point emergency sirens. The meeting attendees included representatives from:

Westchester, Putnam, Rockland, and Orange Counties; the New York Public Services

Commission, Entergy (the licensee for the Indian Point Energy Center), the Federal Emergency

Management Agency Region II, the New York State Emergency Management Office, Verizon

and NRC Region I. The purpose of the meeting was for participants to gain a common

understanding of the recent siren problems and the actions being taken to address these

issues. 
August 26, 2005 ENCLOSURE P

Region II (RII)

Items of Interest

Week Ending August 26, 2005

Commissioner Jaczko Visit to Framatome ANP Richland, Inc.

On August 23, 2005, Commissioner Jaczko, accompanied by the Regional Administrator,

visited the Framatome facility in Richland, Washington for a site tour and meetings with

licensee management.

Meeting with NRC’s Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS)

On August 24-25, 2005, members of the ACRS Subcommittees on Plant Operations and Fire

Protection visited Region II offices and met with Region II management and staff to discuss

various regional inspection, enforcement, and operational activities. On the previous day, the

members visited the Browns Ferry Nuclear Station for a plant tour and discussions with the

licensee management regarding plant status including the restart activities for Unit 1.

Visit by Russian Federation’s Rostekhnadzor and Department of Energy (DOE)

On August 25, 2005, Mr. Victor Neretin, Division Director of the Office of the Russian

Federation’s Rostekhnadzo and representatives of DOE met with the Regional Administrator

and staff from the Division of Fuel Facility Inspection to discuss items of mutual interest

associated with the proposed MOX [mixed oxide] fuel fabrication facility. The staff briefed the

visitors on the NRC’s proposed Fuel Facility Inspection Procedures. 
August 26, 2005 ENCLOSURE P

Region III (RIII)

Items of Interest

Week Ending August 26, 2005

Point Beach - Public Meeting with Nuclear Management Company (NMC)

On August 25, 2005, Region III staff met with NMC representatives in Two Creeks, Wisconsin,

to discuss the licensee’s progress in meeting its commitments as documented in the

Confirmatory Action Letter (CAL), dated April 21, 2004. NMC representatives provided a

detailed overview of results, progress, and challenges in implementing improvements in the

corrective action program and plant engineering. A meeting summary will be issued within the

next two weeks, and a copy will be publicly available from the Publicly Available Records

System (PARS) component of NRC's document system (ADAMS).