INFORMATION REPORT

August 18, 2005 SECY-05-0149

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-05-0149 - “WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING AUGUST 12, 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
August 18, 2005 SECY-05-0149

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-05-0149 - “WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING AUGUST 12, 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\week812.WPD

OEDO AO/OEDO

TJKim:paa WMDean

08/17/05 08/18/05
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING AUGUST 12, 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 * OIP *

NSIR 9 SECY 19

OGC * Region I 20

ADM 10 Region II 21

OIS 11 Region III 22

CFO * Region IV *

HR * EDO *

SBCR * OCA *

OE *

*No input this week
August 12, 2005 ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending August 12, 2005

Public Meeting to Discuss Revisions to NEI Guidance 04-02

On August 5, 2005, NRR staff participated in a Category 3 public meeting held via

teleconference with the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) and other interested stakeholders to

discuss revisions to NEI 04-02, “Guidance for Implementing a Risk-Informed, PerformanceBased Fire Protection Program Under 10 Code of Federal Regulation 50.48(c)).” Risk

screening for plant changes and probabilistic risk assessment quality requirements were the

major topics of discussion. 

NRC Regulatory Issue Summary (RIS) 2005-17: Clarification of Requirements For Application

Of The ASME Code Symbol Stamp On Safety-Related Components

On August 8, 2005, NRC issued the subject RIS to clarify the requirements for applying the

American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Code symbol stamp to ASME Code, Class

2 and 3 components designed and constructed to the requirements of Title 10 of the Code of

Federal Regulations, Part 50, Sections 50.55a(d)(1) and 50.55a(e)(1), respectively. No specific

action or written response is required for the RIS, however, it is expected that recipients will

review the information for applicability to their facilities and consider actions, as appropriate, to

avoid similar problems.

Issuance of the Draft Safety Evaluation Report (SER) with Open Items Concerning the License

Renewal Application for Browns Ferry, Units 1, 2, and 3 

On August 9, 2005, NRR staff issued the subject draft SER which contains two open items and

three confirmatory items. Browns Ferry Unit 1 has been shutdown since 1985, and is currently

undergoing plant refurbishment. The Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS)

plans to tour Unit 1 on August 23, 2005, and meet with the staff and the applicant on October 5

and 6, 2005, concerning the draft SER. No final SER is scheduled to be issued in January

2006. 
August 12, 2005 ENCLOSURE B

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS)

Items of Interest

Week Ending August 12, 2005

Public Meeting on Fuel Cycle Inspection Procedure Revisions

On August 4, 2005, staff from the Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards, Office of the

General Counsel, Office of Enforcement, and Region II conducted a public meeting at the

Region II office in Atlanta, GA, to discuss proposed fuel cycle inspection procedure revisions

and the staff’s preliminary view of enforcement policy in light of new 10 CFR Part 70, 

Subpart H, requirements. The meeting was attended by representatives from the Nuclear

Energy Institute, fuel cycle licensees, a trade media, and members of the public. NRC staff

presented proposed revisions to fuel cycle inspection procedures along with a brief review of

public comments regarding the procedures. They also presented a discussion of a proposed

approach to enforcement policy relative to failure to meet performance requirements due to

failures of items relied on for safety. Industry representatives presented a high-level discussion

of suggested concepts in revisions to the enforcement policy.

Workshop on Earthquake Attenuation Models

On August 2 and 3, 2005, staff from the Division of High-Level Waste Repository Safety, Office

of Nuclear Regulatory Research, and Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation attended a

workshop held by the U.S. Geological Survey in San Francisco, CA. The purpose of the

workshop was to discuss recent developments in earthquake attenuation models for the

Eastern United States. The workshop was also attended by representatives from industry,

universities, and other federal agencies. At the workshop, NRC staff discussed the reliability of

surface wave spectral analysis and its applicability to Yucca Mountain.

Pre-licensing Evaluation of Aircraft Hazards at the Potential Yucca Mountain Repository

On August 2, 2005, the Division of High-Level Waste Repository Safety issued a letter to the

Department of Energy (DOE) that provided NRC staff feedback on DOE's current aircraft

hazard analysis approach to support a potential License Application for the Yucca Mountain

Repository. This letter closes a technical issue agreement. However, the letter notes that

several issues regarding the basis for DOE's assumptions in identifying and estimating the

aircraft hazards still need to be addressed, as well as the suitability of DOE's methodology for

assessing the structural robustness of engineered barriers. NRC staff will continue to review

DOE information related to aircraft crash hazards, including specific issues related to structural

robustness and aircraft impacts. 
August 12, 2005 ENCLOSURE D

Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response (NSIR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending August 12, 2005

Preliminary Notifications

1. PNO-I-05-022, Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station - ALERT DECLARATION AT

OYSTER CREEK.

2. PNO-II-05-004, Brunswick Steam Electric Plan, Units 1 & 2 - TECHNICAL

SPECIFICATION REQUIRED SHUTDOWN DUE TO INOPERABILITY OF ALL

EMERGENCY DIESEL GENERATORS.
August 12, 2005 ENCLOSURE F

Office of Administration (ADM)

Items of Interest 

Week Ending August 12, 2005

Export and Import of Radioactive Material: Security Policies, Correction (AH44 - Part 110)

On August 9, 2005, NRC published the subject correction notice in the Federal Register (70 FR

46066) for a final rule published on July 1, 2005, amending regulations that pertain to the export

and import of radioactive materials. This action was necessary to correct typographical errors

in the codified text and errors in amendatory instructions.
August 12, 2005 ENCLOSURE G

Office of Information Services (OIS)

Items of Interest

Week Ending August 12, 2005

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Privacy Act Requests received during the period of

August 5 through August 11, 2005:

D.C. Cook, Unit 1, daily status reports, 10-06-03 through 11-26-03 FOIA/PA-2005-0317

Material License Tracking System (MLTS), active licenses only FOIA/PA-2005-0318

Clearance granted for named individual, work being done to clean up

the radiation on atolls in the 1950s & 1960s

FOIA/PA-2005-0319

Office of Investigation report 3-2004-015, list of exhibits, transcripts of

interviews w/named individuals

FOIA/PA-2005-0320

Records associated with retirement contributions & methodology used

to calculate payment of benefits

FOIA/PA-2005-0321
August 12, 2005 ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs (OPA)

Items of Interest

Week Ending August 12, 2005

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

The new Energy Policy Act of 2005 and its ramifications for the NRC and the nuclear industry.

Environmental Protection Agency’s new draft radiation standard for the proposed Yucca

Mountain waste repository.

An alert declared at Oyster Creek after its cooling water intake screens became clogged.

The security of spent fuel pools and reactors.

NRC’s inspection of a damaged gauge at an Indiana foundry that may have exposed some

workers to radiation.

Press Releases

Headquarters:

05-109 Energy Bill Provides for Enhanced Security at Commercial Nuclear Facilities

(8/8)

Regions:

II-05-037 NRC Schedules Regulatory Conference to Discuss Hatch Nuclear Plant

Concern (8/12)

III-05-036 NRC Begins Special Inspection of Damage to Nuclear Gauge at Indiana

Foundry (8/12)
August 12, 2005 ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary (SECY)

Items of Interest

Week Ending August 12, 2005

Document Released

to Public

Date Subject

Decision Documents

1. COMJSM-05-0001 7/27/05 Staff Formal Membership in Committees

and Outside Groups

SRM on COMJSM-05-

0001

8/3/05 (same)

Voting Record on

COMJSM-05-0001

8/3/05 (same)

Information Papers

1. SECY-05-0141 8/8/05 Weekly Information Report - Week Ending

July 29, 2005

Commission Correspondence

1. Letter to Dr. Ralph Cicerone, President of National Academy of Sciences, dated July 29,

2005, expresses congratulations on new position.

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. Petition for Rulemaking; Notice of receipt: 10 CFR Part 51 [Docket No. PRM-51-9]; State

of Nevada. 

2. Petition for Rulemaking: Denial - 10 CFR Part 51 [Docket No. PRM-51-8] , State of

Nevada; Denial of a Petition for Rulemaking. 

3. Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS), Subcommittee Meeting on Planning

and Procedures, notice of meeting (9/7/05). 

4. ACRS Subcommittee Meeting on Early Site Permits, notice of meeting (9/7/05). 

5. ACRS, notice of 525th meeting (9/8-10/05). 
August 12, 2005 ENCLOSURE P

Region I (RI)

Items of Interest

Week Ending August 12, 2005

Calvert Cliffs - Site Visit by Commissioner Jaczko

On August 11, 2005, Commissioner Jaczko, along with Regional management and staff, 

toured the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant in Lusby, Maryland. The tour focused on nuclear

plant operations, with emphasis on security and emergency preparedness. 
August 12, 2005 ENCLOSURE P

Region II (RII)

Items of Interest

Week Ending August 12, 2005

Oconee Nuclear Plant - Management Meeting with Duke Energy Corporation

On August 8, 2005, Region II management met with representatives from the Duke Energy

Corporation in the Regional Office to discuss plans for remediation of degraded reactor building

coatings during the next Oconee Unit 2 refueling outage. 
August 12, 2005 ENCLOSURE P

Region III (RIII)

Items of Interest

Week Ending August 12, 2005

Special Inspection at Daimler-Chrysler Foundry

On August 11, 2005, a team of Region III inspectors began a special inspection to review the

circumstances surrounding the recent damage to a nuclear gauge at the Daimler-Chrysler

Foundry, located in Indianapolis, Indiana, which manufactures cast iron engine blocks. The

gauge was damaged when overheated during foundry operations in late July. The permanently

mounted gauge, which contains a sealed radiation source of radioactive cesium, is used to

measure the level of metal in foundry equipment. The overheating affected the lead shielding

in the gauge, but does not appear to have damaged the radioactive material which is contained

in a double-walled steel capsule inside the shielded gauge. After the gauge was damaged,

several workers may have received inadvertent radiation exposures while assessing the

malfunction. No significant health consequences would be expected from these radiation

exposures. The inspectors are reviewing the gauge damage, evaluating the possible radiation

exposures received by workers, and assessing the plans for removal and replacement of the

gauge.

Standard Oversight Begins for Veterans Affairs Master Materials License

On August 8, 2005, Region III notified the Department of Veterans Affairs National Health

Physics Program that the NRC will implement the standard biennial oversight program for its

Master Materials License. Since the Master Materials License was issued in 2003, Region III

had performed semiannual assessments of activities under the license.

End-of-cycle Meeting for Kewaunee Nuclear Power Plant

On August 10, 2005, the Deputy Regional Administrator and members of the regional staff met 

in Kewaunee, Wisconsin, with representatives of Nuclear Management Company to discuss the

end-of-cycle performance assessment for the Kewaunee Nuclear Power Plant. The Deputy

Regional Administrator also visited the Kewaunee and Point Beach nuclear power plants for

plant tours and met with the NRC resident inspectors and licensee staff.

Enforcement Action Against Allied Inspection Services

On August 11, 2005, Region III issued a Severity Level III Notice of Violation to Allied

Inspection Services, Inc., in St. Clair, Michigan, for violations associated with unintended

radiation exposures to two employees during field radiography work on May 17, 2005. No civil

penalty was proposed. An NRC inspection determined that two radiographers failed to ensure

that the radiation source was fully retracted into the shielded exposure device and to conduct a

full radiation survey of the exposure device and guide tube. The radiation doses received by

the two workers did not exceed NRC limits.