INFORMATION REPORT

August 29, 2003 SECY-03-0152

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-03-0152 WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING AUGUST 22, 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 by Melinda Malloy Acting For/

William M. Dean

Assistant for Operations, OEDO

Contact:

L. Roché, OEDO
August 29, 2003 SECY-03-0152

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-03-0152 WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING AUGUST 22, 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 by Melinda Malloy Acting For/

William M. Dean

Assistant for Operations, OEDO

Contact:

L. Roché, OEDO

DISTRIBUTION:

Central File

Public Document Name: C:\WIR\Week822.WPD

OEDO AO/OEDO

LRoché WMDean MMalloy for

08/29/03 08/29/03
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING AUGUST 22, 2003

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

Headquarters and Regional Office activities. 

Contact: L. Roche, OEDO by E-mail: LAR2@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 * OPA *

RES 8 IP 18

NSIR 9 SECY 19

OGC * Region I *

ADM 10 Region II 21

CIO 11 Region III 22

CFO * Region IV *

HR 15 OEDO *

SB/CR * OCA 24

OE *

*No input this week
August 22, 2003 ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Items of Interest

Week Ending August 22, 2003

Millstone Power Station, Unit No. 2

On December 12, 2002, the Connecticut Coalition Against Millstone (CCAM) and the Standing

for Truth About Radiation (STAR) Foundation filed a petition to intervene and request for a

hearing on a license amendment request that the licensee submitted to the NRC on

September 26, 2002. The license amendment would revise the Technical Specifications to

modify requirements regarding containment closure and spent fuel pool (SFP) area ventilation

during movement of irradiated fuel assemblies in containment and in the SFP area. The

proposed changes take credit for re-analysis of the limiting design basis Fuel Handling

Accidents using a selective implementation of the Alternative Source Term methodology in

accordance with Title 10 of the Code of the Federal Regulations (10 CFR), Section 50.67, and

Regulatory Guide 1.183.

On February 14, 2003, the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board (ASLB) issued a ruling finding

that CCAM has standing to participate in the proceeding and that the STAR Foundation lacks

standing. CCAM's contention stated that: “The amendment involves the potential of significant

increase in the amounts of radiological effluents that may be released offsite and thus the

amendment involves an adverse impact on the public health and safety.” On August 18, 2003,

the ASLB ruled that CCAM's contention is not sufficiently supported to be admissible under

relevant rules and law. Therefore, the ASLB dismissed the contention and terminated the

proceeding. The NRC staff has not yet completed the review of the amendment request.

Power Uprates

The Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) staff briefed the Advisory Committee on

Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) Subcommittee on Thermal-Hydraulic Phenomena, on RS-001,

“Review Standard for Extended Power Uprates,” on August 19, 2003. The staff (1) explained

the general reasons for undertaking the initiative to develop review standards and how it

expects this initiative to help NRC retain institutional knowledge, (2) described, in general

terms, the format and content of the review standard for extended power uprates, and

(3) provided detailed presentations on many of the technical areas covered by the review

standard. The staff also summarized the public comments it received on the review standard

and how they were addressed. In addition, the staff discussed comments made by the ACRS

during previous ACRS reviews of extended power uprates and how those comments were

addressed in the review standard. The subcommittee agreed to forward the review standard for

full committee review in September. At the end of the meeting, committee members indicated

they are impressed with the staff's work. They also indicated that the review standard will help

licensees in preparing power uprate applications, NRR staff in performing the reviews of these

applications, and the ACRS in conducting its independent review. The subcommittee made

comments related to the criteria for independent calculations, materials review, and transient

testing, which the staff agreed to consider in finalizing the review standard.
August 22, 2003 ENCLOSURE A

Browns Ferry Unit 1 Restart Project Inspection Program

Division of Inspection Program Management issued Inspection Manual Chapter 2509, “Browns

Ferry Unit 1 (BF1) Restart Project Inspection Program,” to address regulatory concerns,

inspection requirements, and open item closure at BF1 during the restart. The traditional form

of enforcement will be adopted during the restart effort, because the Reactor Oversight Process

is not appropriate at this time for BF1 due to the nature of the modification work underway.

Meeting with the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO) on Training and Qualification

On August 8, 2003, the staff conducted an annual public meeting with INPO. The purpose of

the meeting was to discuss INPO and NRC initiatives and issues related to the training and

qualification of nuclear power plant personnel. Other topics discussed included issues related

to the generic fundamentals examination, operator license eligibility, licensed operator

requalification programs, and changes to the accreditation process.

Operator Licensing Regional Counterparts and Industry Focus Group Meetings

On August 6, 2003, the staff conducted a semiannual counterparts meeting in the Region II

office. The meeting was followed, on August 7, 2003, by a semiannual public meeting with the

industry focus group on operator licensing. The purpose of the meetings was to discuss the

experience to date with Draft Revision 9 of NUREG-1021, "Operator Licensing Examination

Standards for Power Reactors," and to solicit feedback on the proposed changes. Other topics

discussed included issues related to the generic fundamentals examination, operator license

eligibility, licensed operator requalification programs, and implementation of the simulator rule

change.

NRC Information Notice 2003-11, Leakage Found on Bottom-Mounted Instrumentation Nozzles,

dated August 13, 2003

The NRC is issuing this information notice to alert addressees to indications of leakage in the

form of boron deposits discovered on bottom-mounted instrumentation nozzles at South Texas

Project Unit 1. It is expected that the recipients will review the information for applicability to

their facilities and consider actions, as appropriate, to avoid similar problems.

Inspector Continuing Training

Division of Inspection Program Management staff has initiated a new program for providing

continuing training for inspectors. A web-based “read-and-sign” program was implemented on

August 11, 2003. The first of two topics covered is a Davis-Besse lessons-learned item on the

effects of boric acid corrosion and primary water stress corrosion cracking of nickel-based alloy

nozzles. The second topic covers changes to Inspection Procedure (IP) 71152, "Problem

Identification and Resolution,” that will require inspectors to implement different sampling

requirements.
August 22, 2003 ENCLOSURE A

Generic Letter (GL) 91-18 Operability Workshop

NRR staff sponsored a workshop last week to discuss and receive preliminary input on the

guidance for operability and degraded and nonconformance issues (GL 91-18). The workshop

was held in the NRC’s Auditorium, and included over 100 participants from industry and 20

members of the staff (from NRR, Office of Enforcement, Office of Nuclear Regulatory

Research, and each region). Over the next few months, the Division of Inspection Program

Management, NRR, will be revising existing guidance to give inspectors direction when

reviewing licensee activities directed at either resolving degraded and nonconforming conditions

or determining operability in conformance with their technical specifications, and other licensing

basis requirements. 

The purpose of the workshop was to seek early participation from a range of contributors on

issues, concerns, and suggestions based on operational and other experience before the draft

revised guidance is prepared and issued for comment. Morning and afternoon breakout

sessions were held so that participants could discuss topics such as operable but degraded,

support system operability, operational leakage, and component reliability. The workshop was

beneficial to the staff and to the stakeholders with which the staff had an open dialog

concerning issues and concerns with the existing GL 91-18 guidance.

Meeting with Industry on Proposed Bulletin 

On August 19, 2003, NRR staff held a public meeting with the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI),

the Materials Reliability Program (MRP), and the industry to discuss the proposed bulletin on

leakage from reactor pressure vessel lower head penetrations and reactor coolant pressure

boundary integrity. The meeting provided an opportunity for the staff to describe its

expectations with respect to industry responses to the bulletin. An MRP representative

indicated that the industry is considering preparation of guidance on the process to be used for

resolving the source of any boric acid deposits or corrosion found during inspections. The staff

responded to questions from certain stakeholders on the use of a bulletin to address this issue. 

Based on comments made by industry representatives, the industry has actions underway to

perform inspections recommended by the staff and to provide the information sought by the

bulletin. 
August 22, 2003 ENCLOSURE C

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research

Items of Interest

Week Ending August 22, 2003

American Nuclear Society (ANS) Conference and Meeting to Assess Proactive Materials

Degradation

The Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES), Division of Engineering Technology (DET)

staff members attended the 11th International Conference on Environmental Degradation of

Materials in Nuclear Power Systems - Water Reactors, on August 10-14, 2003. Technical

sessions included invited and submitted papers, presenting recent results from studies of such

topics as reactor pressure vessel (RPV) steel embrittlement, irradiation effects on materials,

degradation caused by exposure to the pressurized water reactor (PWR) coolant environment,

and irradiation assisted stress corrosion cracking (IASCC). Crack growth measurement and

mitigation approaches were reviewed. Operational experience with reactor systems, and the

environmental degradation of weld metals also were addressed. 

Taking advantage of the presence of international experts on materials degradation at this

conference, DET staff held an information meeting to discuss methods and ideas for developing

proactive materials degradation assessment programs. This included an invited presentation to

the experts on how the Phenomena Identification and Ranking Tabulation (PIRT) process is

conducted, methodology, requirements, boundaries, and information required from experts. 

Some of the international scientists at the meeting may be asked to join an expert panel to

assist the NRC in developing a PIRT for proactive materials degradation assessment. Based

on the interest shown by the participants, the staff is proceeding with the formulation of an

expert panel and developing a comprehensive materials degradation assessment program in

FY 2004.

Off-Site Meeting to Develop Strategy to Resolve Package Performance Study (PPS) Comments

On August 19-20, 2003, staff and management from RES and the Spent Fuel Project Office

(SFPO) met to address the public comments on the PPS draft test protocols (NUREG-1768). 

During the public comment period, NRC staff received about 255 comment letters. Additionally,

staff received numerous comments during the four public workshops and they are being

addressed as well. Considerable progress was made at the meeting toward the goal of

publishing a document describing resolution of the comments by the end of the calendar year. 

Staff members from DET and SFPO are currently finalizing the PPS test plan.

Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) Briefing

On August 20, 2003, the staff briefed the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS)

Thermal-Hydraulic Phenomena subcommittee on the final draft of Regulatory Guide 1.82,

Revision 3, “Water Sources for Long-Term Recirculation Cooling Following A Loss-Of-Coolant

Accident.” Regulatory Guide 1.82 provides guidance for evaluating the impact of debris on

emergency core cooling systems (ECCS) performance during long-term recirculation following

a loss-of-coolant accident. RES staff and its contractor presented the research results to date

and discussed how the research results were incorporated into the regulatory guide. A followup
August 22, 2003 ENCLOSURE C

meeting has been scheduled for September 11 to brief the full ACRS and seek its concurrence

on issuance of final Regulatory Guide 1.82. 

Industry Workshop on Mitigating Systems Performance Index (MSPI) Pilot Program

On August 20, 2003, staff from RES observed an industry workshop at the Nuclear Energy

Institute (NEI) offices to exercise RES-proposed modifications to the MSPI methodology. The

workshop was attended by participants from NRR, industry representatives (NEI), and twothirds of pilot plant licensees. 

The purpose of the MSPI is to monitor the performance of six systems based on their ability to

perform risk-significant functions. The index, which approximates the change in core damage

frequency, is comprised of two elements - system unavailability and system reliability. Plantspecific PRA models will be used to calculate the contribution of component failures and

maintenance unavailability to the index. 

The industry participants had no issues or concerns with the majority of the RES-proposed

modifications to the risk-informed methodology of the MSPI. These modifications were found to

be easily implemented with no unintended consequences. However, overly conservative

outcomes resulted from the proposed inclusion of common cause contribution to the FussellVesely importance measure for several plants participating in the workshop. The staff will

assess the possible causes and consequences of this outcome, and draft new guidelines to

resolve the issue if determined to be necessary.
August 22, 2003 ENCLOSURE D

Nuclear Security and Incident Response

Items of Interest

Week Ending August 22, 2003

Preliminary Notifications

1. PNO-I-03-025, Broadway Elementary School - BROKEN TRITIUM EXIT SIGN IN

CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY, SCHOOL BUILDING.

2. PNO-IV-03-038, Source Production and Equipment Company - POTENTIAL

OCCUPATIONAL EXTREMITY DOSE IN EXCESS OF LIMIT.

3. PNO-III-03-035, Rush North Shore Medical Center - MEDICAL EVENT (WRONG

TREATMENT TIME)

4. PNO-I-03-026, P&G-Clairol, Inc. - REPORTED LOSS OF TWO NICKEL-63 SOURCES.
August 22, 2003 ENCLOSURE F

Office of Administration 

Items of Interest 

Week Ending August 22, 2003

List of Approved Spent Fuel Storage Casks: Standardized NUHOMS® -24P, -52B, and -61BT, 

Revision (AH26 - Part 72)

A direct final rule that revises the Standardized NUHOMS® -24P, -52B, and -61BT cask system

listing in the list of approved spent fuel storage casks was published in the Federal Register on

August 19, 2003 (68 FR 49683). This action adds another dry shielded canister to the

authorized contents of the cask system. The direct final rule becomes effective November 3,

2003.

The companion proposed rule to this direct final rule was published in the Federal Register on

August 19, 2003 (68 FR 49726). The comment period closes September 18, 2003.
August 22, 2003 ENCLOSURE G

Chief Information Officer

Items of Interest

Week Ending August 22, 2003

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

August 15 through August 21, 2003:

Three Mile Island plant, records related to all birth defects within a

10-mile radius in the first five years after the accident

FOIA/PA-2003-0389

Site analysis, Spencer Chemical Co. (Jayhawk Works plant), or Gulf

Oil Co., Chevron Oil Co./Kerr-McGee Oil Co. for 1950’s and 1960’s as

related to uranium processing for DOE

FOIA/PA-2003-0390

Quehanna facility, Curtiss-Wright Corp. 1955 - 1960, by-product

license 37-2416-2, facility license R-36, all other licenses and

indemnification agreements and radioactivity records

FOIA/PA-2003-0391

OI case 4-2002-045 FOIA/PA-2003-0392

Cardinal Health facility, 301 Laser Lane, Lafayette, LA 70507, all

records

FOIA/PA-2003-0393

OIG Investigation report regarding named individual’s testimony FOIA/PA-2003-0394

Dry cask storage/transportation containers, all records related to

Holtec International, U.S. Tool and Die, and Omni violations of

manufacturing and design codes

FOIA/PA-2003-0395

Reagan presidential records related to counter terrorism (Referral by

the Department of Justice)

FOIA/PA-2003-0396
August 22, 2003 ENCLOSURE I

Office of Human Resources

Items of Interest

Week Ending August 22, 2003

Arrivals

BUPP, Margaret LEGAL INTERN OGC

DAVIS, Marlone REACTOR INSPECTOR RI

DAVIS, Troy STUDENT CLERK RI

EMS, Robert INFORMATION TECH. SPEC. (Team Leader) RII

FERICH, Jeffrey* CRIMINAL INVESTIGATOR OI

HIGGINS, Marissa LEGAL INTERN OGC

HUTTON, Carmean PROGRAM ANALYST OCIO

JORDAN, Michael CONSULTANT RIII

KANNLER, Kathleen LEGAL INTERN OGC

LINTZ, Mark PROJECT MANAGER NRR

LUKES, Robert NUCLEAR SAFETY INTERN NMSS

SMOLIK, George SR. PROGRAM ANALYST OCFO

TORRES, Paulette** REACTOR ENGINEER RES

WOODS, Michael LEGAL INTERN OGC

ZACCARI, Laura LEGAL INTERN OGC

Departures

BLACK, Allison STUDENT ENGINEER NRR

CHEN, David STUDENT ENGINEER NRR

FLANAGAN, Michelle STUDENT ENGINEER RES

HARRELL, Autumn STUDENT LAW CLERK ASLBP

HENDERSON, Erica STUDENT CLERK ADM

JOYCE, Regina STUDENT IT SPECIALIST NMSS

KRAYER, Peter BUDGET ANALYST RES

KERSKE, David STUDENT ENGINEER NMSS

MCLEOD, Kisha STUDENT CLERK NSIR
August 22, 2003 ENCLOSURE I

PLATCHEK, Brenda SECRETARY (OA) RI

WONG, Benjamin STUDENT ENGINEER NRR

* Will be reporting to Region I for orientation.

**Transferring from Region I.
August 22, 2003 ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs

Items of Interest

Week Ending August 22, 2003

Media Interest

The aftermath of the August 14 blackout in the Northeast, as nuclear plants resumed

operations and officials and experts assessed the fragility of the country’s electrical grid.

Public opposition to a proposed irradiation facility in Bucks County, PA, as the NRC holds a

public meeting to hear community concerns. OPA staff from Headquarters and Region I

supported.

Press Releases

Headquarters:

03-104 NRC Finds Renewal of Fort Calhoun Nuclear Plant Operating License

Environmentally Acceptable (8/18)

03-105 NRC Seeks Public Comment on Fansteel Decommissioning Plan; Announces

Opportunity for Hearing (8/18)

03-106 NRC Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards to Hold September Meeting in

Rockville, Maryland (8/21)

03-107 NRC Staff Issues Bulletin to Nuclear Power Plants on Reactor Pressure Vessel

Lower Head Penetrations (8/21)

Regions:

I-03-049 NRC Special Inspection Team to Review Shutdown of Salem 1 Plant (8/18)

I-03-050 NRC Assigns New Resident Inspector to Salem Nuclear Plant (8/20)

II-03-041 DiPaolo Named NRC Senior Resident Inspector at Brunswick Nuclear Plant

(8/19)

III-03-057 NRC Staff Proposes $6,000 Fine Against Michigan Company (8/18)

III-03-058 Meeting on Status of Ongoing NRC Inspection at Point Beach (8/22)

IV-03-036 NRC Proposes $6,000 Fine for Longview Inspection, Inc., of Houston, TX (8/19)

IV-03-037 NRC Assigns New Senior Resident Inspector to Arkansas Nuclear One (8/19)
August 22, 2003 ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary

Items of Interest

Week Ending August 22, 2003

Document Released

to Public

Date Subject

Decision Documents

1. SECY-03-0118 7/11/03 Final Rule: Geological and Seismological

Characteristics for the Siting and Design of

Dry Cask Independent Spent Fuel Storage

Installations and Monitored Retrievable

Storage Installations - 10 CFR Part 72

Voting Record for

SECY-03-0118

8/15/03 (same)

2. SECY-03-0139 8/15/03 Proposed License to Export Byproduct and

Source Material to Iraq for Use in Oil Well

Logging (Application No. XB001300)

SRM on SECY-03-0139 8/20/03 (same)

Voting Record for

SECY-03-0139

8/20/03 (same)

Negative Consent Documents

1. SECY-03-0138 8/14/03 Weekly Information Report - Week Ending

August 8, 2003

Information Papers

1. SECY-03-0142 8/20/03 Weekly Information Report - Week Ending

August 15, 2003

2. SECY-03-0137 8/11/03 Litigation Report - 03 - 02

Memoranda

1. M030815 8/15/03 SRM - Affirmation Session: (1) SECY-03-

0118 - Final Rule: Geological and

Seismological Characteristics for the Siting

and Design of Dry Cask Independent Spent

Fuel Storage Installations and Monitored

Retrievable Storage Installations - 10 CFR

Part 72; (2) SECY-03-0129 - Private Fuel

Storage (Independent Spent Fuel Storage

Installation), Docket No. 72-22-ISFSI, LBP03-08 (May 22, 2003)
August 22, 2003 ENCLOSURE O

Commission Correspondence

1. Letter to Professor Harold Feiverson, dated August 19, 2003, responds to offer to publish

an NRC review of the article by Alvarez, et al., entitled “Reducing the Hazards from

Stored Spent Power-Reactor Fuel in the United States” in the journal Science and Global

Security. 

2. Letter to Representative David Price, dated August 19, 2003, regards the vulnerability of

nuclear power plants and spent fuel pools against a possible terrorist attack. 

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. State of Utah: NRC Staff Assessment of Utah’s Proposed Alternative Standard to Use

Utah’s Existing Groundwater Regulation in Lieu of the NRC’s.

2. Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste Meeting on Planning and Procedures - Notice of

Meeting.
August 22, 2003 ENCLOSURE P

Region II

Items of Interest

Week Ending August 22, 2003

Westinghouse Electric Company - Columbia Fuel Plant

On August 18, 2003, representatives from Westinghouse Electric Company, fuel facility in

Columbia, South Carolina, were in the regional office to attend a closed meeting. The purpose

of this meeting was to discuss corrective actions as a result of their review of a failure to follow

procedures at the facility reported under NRC Bulletin 91-01, “Reporting Loss of Criticality

Safety Controls.”

Mixed Oxide (MOX) Licensing Status Briefing

On August 19, 2003, representatives from the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards 

were in the regional office to meet with the Fuel Facilities Branch staff. The purpose of the

meeting was to discuss the status of actions in support of the review of an application for a

facility to process MOX fuel.

Southern Nuclear Operating Company - Hatch Nuclear Plant

On August 19-22, 2003, the Region II State Liaison Officer participated as a member of the

Federal Management Administration’s Regional Assistance Committee to evaluate the full scale

emergency preparedness exercise at the Hatch nuclear power plant. The exercise involved

participants from the State of Georgia and applicable local governments.
August 22, 2003 ENCLOSURE P

Region III

Items of Interest

Week Ending August 22, 2003

Meeting on Quad Cities Source Term Reduction Program

On August 22, 2003, the staff met in the regional office with representatives of Exelon

Generation Company to discuss the utility’s source term reduction program for the Quad Cities

Nuclear Power Station.
August 22, 2003 

Office of Congressional Affairs

Items of Interest

Week Ending August 22, 2003

CONGRESSIONAL HEARING SCHEDULE, NO. 27

OCA

Contact

DATE

&

PLACE

TIME WITNESS SUBJECT 

Gerke 09/03/03

2123 RHOB

TBA DOE, FERC, NERC, NY

officials

Power Blackouts Reps. Ta

Energy a

Gerke 09/04/03

2123 RHOB

TBA TBA Power Blackouts Reps. Ta

Energy a

Keeling 09/10/03

LHOB

10:00 TBA Findings of 9/11 Intelligence

Report

Reps. CoSelect CSecurity

Combs 09/11/03

TBA

A.M. Chairman Diaz, DOE,

Bechtel, NEI

Yucca Mountain Reps. Ba

Energy aEnergy a

Note: Congress is in recess; the Senate returns on September 2 and the House returns on Septembe