INFORMATION REPORT

October 7, 2005 SECY-05-0182

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: “WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING

SEPTEMBER 30, 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:

A. Huffert, OEDO
October 7, 2005 SECY-05-0182

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: “WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING

SEPTEMBER 30, 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:

A. Huffert, OEDO

DISTRIBUTION:

Central File

Public Document Name: C:\WIR\week930.WPD

OEDO AO/OEDO

AHuffert:paa WMDean

10/6/05 10/7/05
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2005

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

Headquarters and Regional Office activities. 

Contact: A. Huffert, OEDO by E-mail: AMH1@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 10 Region II 21

OIS 11 Region III 22

CFO * Region IV 23

HR 15 EDO *

SBCR * OCA 24

OE *

*No input this week
September 30, 2005 ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending September 30, 2005

Rulemaking Activities to Revise the Pressurized Thermal Shock (PTS) Rule 10 CFR 50.61

On September 27, 2005, the NRR staff described a new technical basis for 10 CFR 50.61,

"Fracture toughness requirements for protection against pressurized thermal shock events," to

the Rulemaking Approval Board (RAB). The Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES) has

developed a technical basis that indicates the risk of PTS events causing through-wall cracks in

a reactor vessel is much lower than had been previously understood. The RAB approved

proposed rulemaking in order to provide significant burden reduction while maintaining

adequate safety margins. 

Westinghouse Electric / Nuclear Procurement Issues Committee (NUPIC) Joint Audit - Equipos

Nucleares, S.A. (ENSA) Facilities

At the request of Westinghouse Electric and the NUPIC, NRR staff observed a Westinghouse/

NUPIC Joint Utility Audit at the ENSA facilities in Santander, Spain, from September 19 to 23,

2005. Both Westinghouse management and the NUPIC Chairman requested NRC participation

to help foster a more comprehensive audit and to allow ENSA to experience first hand input

from the NRC. ENSA is currently manufacturing replacement steam generators and one

reactor vessel head for three U.S. plants. 

Revision to Operability Guidance Formerly Contained in NRC Generic Letter 91-18

On September 26, 2005, NRR staff issued Regulatory Issue Summary 2005-20, Revision to

Guidance Formerly Contained in NRC Generic Letter 91-18, “Information to Licensees

regarding Two NRC Inspection Manual Sections on Resolution of Degraded and

Nonconforming Conditions and on Operability.” This guidance informs licensees of the

availability of revised guidance on evaluating the operability of plant structures, systems, and

components, which was previously provided to industry as part of Generic Letter 91-18. 

Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) - Requests to Recapture Low-Power Testing Time in

Facility Operating Licenses to Diablo Canyon, Units 1 and 2

On August 23, 2005, PG&E requested license amendments to Diablo Canyon, Units 1 and 2, to

recapture low-power testing time in the expiration date of the facility operating license for each

unit, and to reflect a 40-year term measured from the date of issuance of the full-power

operating license, as permitted by 10 CFR 50.51 “Continuation of license.” The facility

operating license expiration dates are proposed to be revised from September 22, 2021, to

November 2, 2024, for Unit 1, and from April 26, 2025, to August 26, 2025, for Unit 2. Thus,

the additional operating period would be just over 3 years for Unit 1 and 4 months for Unit 2.
September 30, 2005 ENCLOSURE B

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS)

Items of Interest

Week Ending September 30, 2005

Staff Participates in Low-Level Radioactive Waste (LLRW) Forum Meeting

On September 22-23, 2005, representatives from NMSS participated in a meeting of the LLRW

Forum in Las Vegas, NV. NRC staff gave presentations on the National Source Tracking

System rulemaking; the release of solid material rulemaking and use of 10 CFR 20.2002

disposal authorizations for low-activity materials; and ongoing NRC Yucca Mountain activities. 

The latter was part of a panel with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the State of Nevada, and the Nuclear Energy Institute. 

EPA summarized its proposed rule to address the DC Circuit Court's decision of July 2004

concerning the time frame for compliance with the dose standard. There were also a number of

presentations at the meeting concerning low-level waste (LLW) management and disposal

activities by States, compacts, regulators, and generators. Utah summarized its pending

decision that will double the Envirocare licensed land area. The State could approve that

proposal in early 2006. In addition, the LLRW Forum has drafted a position statement,

concerning management of LLW disposal in the U.S.

Inspection of REVISS Services (UK) Limited

From September 19-23, 2005, the Spent Fuel Project Office conducted an inspection of

REVISS Services (UK) Limited (REVISS), at its facilities in Chesham and Didcot, England. 

Earlier this year, REVISS was granted an NRC 10 CFR Part 71 Quality Assurance (QA)

Program Approval certificate before its submittal of a 10 CFR Part 71, Type B radioactive

material packaging design for which it is seeking an NRC Certificate of Compliance. The

inspection focused on how REVISS implemented its NRC-approved QA program with respect to

packaging design, fabrication, and maintenance activities. An inspector from the United

Kingdom Department of Transportation accompanied the NRC inspectors. Overall, the team

concluded that REVISS is satisfactorily implementing its NRC-approved 10 CFR Part 71 QA

program.

Meeting on NRC Involvement at DOE Hanford

On September 20, 2005, Division of Waste Management and Environmental Protection staff

met with representatives of DOE in Richland, WA. The purpose of this open meeting was to

discuss technical issues associated with the basis for exception to the Hanford Federal Facility

Agreement and consent order waste retrieval criteria for Single-Shell Tank 241-C-106, along

with the methodology for the Hanford Single-Shell Tank System Performance Assessment. 

Topics discussed included: tank waste characterization; waste retrieval technologies and

successes; tank waste treatment approaches; and Hanford Integrated Disposal Facility. 

Attendees included representatives from the Hanford Advisory Board, State of Washington

Department of Health, Defense Nuclear Facility Safety Board, and State of Washington

Department of Ecology.
September 30, 2005 ENCLOSURE B

NRC High-Level Waste Contractors Present at Materials Research Society (MRS) Symposium

MRS in Ghent, Belgium

From September 12-16, 2005, staff from the Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses

(CNWRA) attended the 2005 MRS Symposium on the Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste

Management XXIX in Ghent, Belgium. The staff presented posters entitled "Modeling

Corrosion Processes for Alloy 22 Waste Packages," and "Experimental Determination and

Thermodynamic Calculation of the Deliquescence Relative Humidity of Multicomponent Salt

Mixtures," which are based on independent analyses the CNWRA conducts for the NRC. On

the last day of the symposium, the staff visited some facilities of the radioactive waste

conditioning and storage company Belgoprocess and the SCK.CEN underground research

laboratory, HADES, in Mol, Belgium.

NRC Staff Observation of the DOE Audit of BSC Project Engineering

From September 12-22, 2005, staff from the Division of High-Level Waste Repository Safety

and the CNWRA observed a DOE audit of Bechtel SAIC Company, LLC (BSC). BSC is DOE’s

Management and Operating contractor for the Yucca Mountain Project and is tasked with

preparing the project engineering and design products. The DOE audit team examined BSC

engineering products for the Yucca Mountain Project facilities to determine the effectiveness of

design control measures.
September 30, 2005 ENCLOSURE C

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES)

Items of Interest

Week Ending September 30, 2005

International Meeting on Program for the Inspection of Nickel Alloy Components

From September 21-23, 2005, RES staff chaired the fifth meeting of the international

cooperative Program for the Inspection of Nickel Alloy Components that focused on reliability of

non-destructive examinations (NDE) for primary water stress corrosion cracking (PWSCC). 

The meeting was hosted by the Swedish nuclear regulatory agency, SKI, in Stockholm Sweden. 

 Participants discussed priorities for acquiring or constructing mockups containing flaws that

simulate PWSCC in nickel base alloy piping and dissimilar metal welds that will be used in

round-robbin tests to assess the performance of existing and emerging NDE techniques to

detect and size PWSCC cracks. 

Academic Center of Excellence (ACE) Workshop - Next Generation Nuclear Plant (NGNP)

On September 19-20, 2005, staff attended an ACE Workshop at Oregon State University on

the Thermal Hydraulics (T/H) Methods Development and Validation Plan for the NGNP. The

purpose of the meeting was to obtain information on T/H code verification and validation

research programs at the Idaho National Laboratory to support the staff’s review of the design

and construction of an NGNP. 

Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR) Public Meeting

On September 21-22, 2005, staff met with Pebble Bed Modular Reactor Pty Ltd. at NRC

Headquarters to discuss plans for a pre-application review. Representatives of DOE and

industry attended.
September 30, 2005 ENCLOSURE D

Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response (NSIR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending September 30, 2005

Preliminary Notifications

1. PNO-I-05-027, Virginia Commonwealth University - UNPLANNED CONTAMINATION OF

AN AIR HANDLER UNIT.

2. PNO-IV-05-013, ENTERGY Operations Inc., River Bend Station, and South Texas

Project Nuclear - NRC ENTERS MONITORING MODE DUE TO HURRICANE RITA.

3. PNO-II-05-006, Brunswick Steam Electric Plant - REGION II RESPONSE TO

HURRICANE OPHELIA.

4. PNO-II-05-007, Framatome Advanced Nuclear Power (F-ANP), Inc. - OVERTURNED

TRAILER TRANSPORTING RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL.

5. PNO-III-05-013, Braidwood Station - FORCED OUTAGE DUE TO REACTOR COOLANT

PUMP LEAK-OFF IN EXCESS OF VENDOR RECOMMENDATIONS.
September 30, 2005 ENCLOSURE F

Office of Administration (ADM)

Items of Interest 

Week Ending September 30, 2005

Incorporation by Reference of American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Boiler and

Pressure Vessel (BPV) Code Cases

On September 29, 2005, the NRC published a final rule (AH35 10 CFR Part 50) in the Federal

Register (70 FR 56809) that incorporates by reference the latest revision of Regulatory

Guides 1.84, 1.147, and 1.193, which address NRC’s review and approval of ASME Codes

Cases. The NRC has found the Code Cases listed in these Regulatory Guides acceptable for

use as alternatives to requirements in the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code pertaining to

the construction and in-service inspection of nuclear power plant components. The final rule

becomes effective October 31, 2005.

Contract Awards

On September 21, 2005, a firm, fixed-price purchase order no. DR-04-05-086 was awarded to

Southwest Research Institute (SwRI). The contractor shall provide technical assistance to

correct shortcomings of the Varskin 3 computer code/manual and is a “work for others” award

to SwRI. The total fixed price of this effort is $47,665. The period of performance is

September 21, 2005, through September 30, 2006.

On September 23, 2005, a competitive purchase order was awarded to Mr. Carl Costantino for

technical support services entitled "Updating Criteria for Standard Review Plan Sections 3.7.1,

3.7.2 and 3.7.3 Pertaining to the Review of Seismic Analysis and Design of Nuclear Power

Plants." The estimated cost of this purchase order is $89,460.00. The period of performance is

from October 1, 2005, to September 30, 2007.
September 30, 2005 ENCLOSURE G

Office of Information Services (OIS)

Items of Interest

Week Ending September 30, 2005

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Privacy Act Requests Received During the Period of

September 23 through September 29, 2005:

Images taken at NRC emergency planning meetings of 08-31-05, 09-

01-05 & security meeting on 09-01-05

FOIA/PA-2005-0362

OI Case no. 1-2004-009 FOIA/PA-2005-0363

Kermac Corp. (aka Kerr-McGee) uranium mining operations in Cave

Hills/Riley Pass and Slim Buttes regions of NW South Dakota,

contracts, etc, between 1954-1964

FOIA/PA-2005-0364

Materials License no. 01-30971-01 FOIA/PA-2005-0365

Organizational development report, & final recommendations FOIA/PA-2005-0366

License no. 24-00128-03, copy of facsimile dated 09-23-03 FOIA/PA-2005-0367

Certification Board of Nuclear Cardiology (CBNC), all

correspondence, reports, applications, May 2004 to present

FOIA/PA-2005-0368
September 30, 2005 ENCLOSURE I

Office of Human Resources (HR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending September 30, 2005

Arrival

AYEGBUSI, ODUNAYO REACTOR ENGINEER (NSPDP) R-I

EASUM, THOMAS P. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

SPECIALIST

R-II

GEIGER, ERVIN MECHANICAL ENGINEER RES

GROSS, ALLEN PROJECT MANAGER NMSS

HAGGERTY, SHARON B. SECRETARY (OA) NRR

KILLIAN, LAUREN RELIABILITY AND RISK ENGINEER

(NSPDP)

RES

NOTICH, MARK D. PROJECT MANAGER NRR

PETRONE, CHARLES D. CONSULTANT EDO

SCHMIDT, REBECCA L. DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF CONGRESSIONAL

AFFAIRS

OCA

VAN DECKER, WILLIAM A. CONSULTANT NMSS

Retirements

BIRD, JOHN E. SR LEAD FOR DOI CONVERSION OCFO

BROWNELL, BRIAN D. COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST OIS

CORLEY, DEBRA J. TECHNICAL ASSISTANT OIS

EVANS, BETTY A. CLERK HR

HICKEY, JOHN W. SR TECH ADV FOR MATERIALS

REGULATION

NMSS

JACKSON, GLORIA H. HUMAN RESOURCES SPECIALIST HR

MADDEN, THOMAS J. SEN. CONGRESSIONAL LIAISON

SPECIALIST

OCA

NEDDENRIEP, SHIRLEY L. SECRETARY (OA) R-IV

SANBORN, GARY F. ENFORCEMENT OFFICER R-IV

SHANBAKY, MOHAMED M. BRANCH CHIEF R-I

SOLAN, JILL A. HUMAN RESOURCES SPECIALIST HR
September 30, 2005 ENCLOSURE I

WOOD, ROLAND T. DOCUMENT REVIEWER OIS

Departures

CORTES DOMINGUEZ, RAMON E. NUCLEAR SAFETY INTERN R-II

FERNANDEZ, ANTONIO ATTORNEY OGC

FLACK, DIANE S. CONSULTANT NMSS

FOX, MICHAEL J. CONSULTANT HR

GRIEM, MELVIN L. CONSULTANT NMSS

GRIFFITH, PETER CONSULTANT RES

HOLDEN, KEITH A. RECORDS MANAGEMENT ANALYST OIS

LEFAVE, WILLIAM T. CONSULTANT NRR

SMITH, ROBERT J. CONSULTANT HR

SPRADLEY, LEAH L. STUDENT ENGINEER (SUMMER) ACRS

WELLER, RICHARD A. SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER NMSS

WICHMAN, KEITH R. CONSULTANT NRR
September 30, 2005 ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs (OPA)

Items of Interest

Week Ending September 30, 2005

OPA received significant media inquiries on the following:

Radioactive gauges reported stolen or lost in West Virginia and Tennessee.

Potential license applications for new nuclear power plants.

The leak in the spent fuel pools at Indian Point and the dropped control rod in Unit 3.

NRC’s proposed fine of $19,200 against an Indiana hospital for unintended radiation doses to

five patients.

Other OPA Items:

OPA participated in an emergency drill at Calvert Cliffs.

OPA staff assisted at a public meeting in Piketon, Ohio, regarding the draft environmental

impact statement for the proposed American Centrifuge Plant.

Press Releases

Headquarters:

05-132 NRC Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards to Meet October 6-8, 2005 in

Rockville, Maryland (9/28)

05-133 NRC Updates Aging Management Document for Reviewing Reactor License

Renewal Requests (9/28)

05-134 NRC Names New Director and Associate Director of Office of Congressional

Affairs (9/29)

Regions:

III-05-039 NRC Proposes $19,200 Fine Against a South Bend, Ind., Hospital for

Unintended Radiation Doses to Five Patients (9/26)
September 30, 2005 ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary (SECY)

Items of Interest

Week Ending September 30, 2005

Document Released

to Public

Date Subject

Decision Documents

1. SECY-04-0182 10/7/04 Status of Risk-Informed Regulation in the

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and

Safeguards

SRM on 04-0182 01/18/05 (same)

Commission Voting

Record on 04-0182

01/18/05 (same)

2. SECY-05-0051

(SECY Paper Only –

Attachments not

released)

03/28/05 Details and Projected Cost of a

Demonstration Test of a Full-Scale Spent

Nuclear Fuel Rail Transportation Cask

Under the Package Performance Study

SRM on 05-0051 06/9/05 (same)

Commission Voting

Record on 05-0051

06/9/05 (same)

3. COMSECY-04-0068 10/28/04 Use of Insurance as a Method to Provide

Financial Assurance for Decommissioning

Nuclear Power Reactors

SRM on 04-0068 09/28/05 (same)

Commission Voting

Record on 04-0068

09/28/05 (same)

Information Papers

1. SECY-05-0171 9/26/05 Weekly Information Report - Week Ending

September 16, 2005

Commission Correspondence

1. Letter to Congress, dated September 23, 2005, responds to letter concerning the Buy

America report required by Section 645 of Division F of the FY 2004 Consolidated

Appropriations Act (PL 108-199).
September 30, 2005 ENCLOSURE O

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards, meeting of the Subcommittee on Digital

Instrumentation and Control Systems, notice of meeting (10/20-21/05). 

2. ACRS, Procedures for Meetings.

3. Advisory Committee on the Medical Uses of Isotopes, updated notice of meeting 

(10/25-26/05).
September 30, 2005 ENCLOSURE P

Region I (RI)

Items of Interest

Week Ending September 30, 2005

Indian Point Unit 2 Spent Fuel Pool Leakage Update

A Special Inspection that was chartered on September 20, 2005, is in progress to evaluate the

cause of the slight leakage from the Indian Point Unit 2 spent fuel pool. The current leakage

rate, based on improved collection methods, is approximately 1.3 liters per day. A web-site page

is being made available to keep stakeholders and the public informed of the issue as the Special

Inspection continues.
September 30, 2005 ENCLOSURE P

Region II (RII)

Items of Interest

Week Ending September 30, 2005

Regional Administrator Attends Farley’s Licensed Operator’s Certificate Presentation

On September 28, 2005, the Regional Administrator visited the Farley Nuclear Plant for a site

tour with the Resident Inspectors and licensee management. The Regional Administrator also

participated in the Licensed Operator’s Certificate Presentation in Dothan, Alabama.
September 30, 2005 ENCLOSURE P

Region III (RIII)

Items of Interest

Week Ending September 30, 2005

Confirmatory Action Letter (CAL) issued to FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Co. on Perry Nuclear

Power Plant Performance

On September 28, 2005, Region III issued a CAL to FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Co.,

documenting the company's commitments to implement its revised Perry Improvement Initiative. 

The CAL references the commitments made by the licensee in letters submitted to the NRC

following the broad-based team inspection which reviewed Perry’s performance under NRC

Manual Chapter 95003. 

Teleconference with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Regarding Improvements to

Materials Program

The Illinois radiation control program was placed on heightened oversight in July 2005 as a

result of compatibility issues identified during the April 2005 Integrated Materials Performance

Evaluation Program (IMPEP) review. The first periodic teleconference to discuss program

progress was held on September 29, 2005 with staff of the Division of Nuclear Safety/Bureau of

Radiation Safety (BRH). BRH representatives reported that significant progress is being made

on regulation development and that they expect to have overdue regulations adopted by April

2006. A follow-up IMPEP review will be performed in the summer of 2006.
September 30, 2005 ENCLOSURE P

Region IV (RIV)

Items of Interest

Week Ending September 30, 2005

Public Meeting with Entergy Operations, Inc.

On September 27, 2005, the RIV staff conducted a public meeting at the RIV office in Arlington,

Texas, with representatives from Arkansas Nuclear One to discuss the actions associated with a

previously degraded emergency cooling pond and their fire protection program improvement

plan. Topics discussed during the meeting included the root cause evaluation, corrective

actions, and planned modifications to the emergency cooling pond and steps to address manual

fire protection actions.
September 30, 2005 

Office of Congressional Affairs (OCA)

Items of Interest

Week Ending September 30, 2005

CONGRESSIONAL HEARING SCHEDULE, NO. 33

 OCAContact

 DATE & PLACE

TIME WITNESS SUBJECT 

Keeling 10/06/05

SD-406

9:30 Markup Nomination of Edward McGaffigan Senators 

Environm

Combs 10/06/05

SD-406

9:30 EPA, Corps of Engineers,

and FHA

Federal Action in Response toHurricane Katrina

Senators Environm

Kim 10/06/05

SD-366

10:00 TBA Effects of Hurricanes Katrina and

Rita on Energy Infrastructure

Senators Energy a

Keeling 10/06/05

2172 RHOB

10:30 TBA Six-Party Nuclear Talks in Korea Reps. Hy

Internatio

Shane 10/06/05

SD-342

2:30 TBA Federal Government Leasing of

Space

Senators Federal FGovernm InternaHomeland  Affairs

Combs TBA

SD-406

TBA NRC and others Hurricane Katrina Disaster Senators 

Environm

Keeling TBA TBA Conference FY 2006 Energy and Water

Development Appropriations

House/SeCommitte