INFORMATION REPORT

July 10, 2003 SECY-03-0116

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-03-0116 WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING JULY 4, 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:

R. Torres, OEDO
July 10, 2003 SECY-03-0116

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-03-0116 WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING JULY 4, 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:

R. Torres, OEDO

DISTRIBUTION:

Central File

Public Document Name: C:\WIR\Week704.WPD

OEDO AO/OEDO

RTorres:paa WMDean

07/10/03 07/10/03
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING JULY 4, 2003

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

Headquarters and Regional Office activities. 

Contact: R. Torres, OEDO by E-mail: rjt@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 IP *

NSIR 9 SECY 19

OGC * Region I 20

ADM 10 Region II 21

CIO 11 Region III 22

CFO * Region IV 23

HR 15 OEDO *

SB/CR * OCA 24

OE *

*No input this week
July 4, 2003 ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Items of Interest

Week Ending July 4, 2003

Meetings Related to Generic Safety Issue (GSI) 191 - Assessment of Debris Blockage on PWR

Sump Performance

On June 30, the staff conducted a public workshop to clarify the intent of Bulletin 2003-01,

"Potential Impact of Debris Blockage on Emergency Sump Recirculation at Pressurized Water

Reactors (PWRs)" with Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), PWR industry representatives and other

stakeholders. The meeting was well attended and conducted in the format of prescribed

addressee questions and staff answers. The meeting was successful in answering questions

posed on the intent of the Bulletin. Another public meeting was held the next day with the NEI

Sump Performance Task Force. Topics included the status of industry guidelines addressing

resolution of GSI-191, preliminary results of NRC research including chemical effects and plans

to characterize PWR latent debris, and the status of NRC generic communications relating to

GSI-191.

Workshop on Risk-Informed, Integrated Decision Making with GAN

From June 23-30, 2003, the staff participated with the Department of Energy (DOE) in a

workshop along with participants from the United States industry, DOE, International Atomic

Energy Agency, and Gosatomnadzor (GAN). The workshop covered Probabilistic Safety

Assessment (PSA) as well as deterministic principles, techniques, programs, applications, and

lessons learned. The focus of the workshop was to help senior managers in GAN and at the

nuclear power plants understand and appreciate the value of PSA insights to optimizing plant

safety through the integrated decision making process. Attendees were from Russia and the

Ukraine.

The original plan included briefing the staff at the American Embassy on June 30, 2003,

regarding the success of the workshop. However, GAN requested an additional day on the

Reactor Oversight Process and Significance Determination Process. United States

representatives briefed the Embassy via telephone and accommodated GAN’s request. On

Monday, the staff conducted a high level but fairly detailed presentation and interactive

discussion with GAN representatives equivalent to NRC Office and Division Directors. GAN

and the various plant managers expressed appreciation for the workshop.

Staff Holds Public Meetings on the H.B. Robinson Draft Environmental Impact Statement in

Support of License Renewal

The NRC staff participated in two outreach activities last week related to the license renewal

application for the H. B. Robinson Steam Electric Plant, Unit 2. On June 25, 2003, the staff

conducted two meetings to solicit comments from the public on the draft supplemental

environmental impact statement (DSEIS) issued on May 7, 2003. The DSEIS is a plant-specific

supplement to the "Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear

Power Plants" (NUREG-1437). The people at the meetings included representatives of the

NRC staff, Carolina Power and Light Company, the nuclear industry, and the news media. The

staff employed all of the usual means of notifying the public in advance of the meeting, such as
July 4, 2003 ENCLOSURE A

notices in the local newspapers and flyers posted in the community. No members of the public

spoke during the meeting. The comment period ends on July 30, 2003.

In addition, in an effort to improve communication and increase interaction with members of the

public, the staff conducted open houses for one hour prior to each meeting session with

displays and brochures.

Staff meets with GAO on biannual decommissioning trust funds

On July 1, 2003, staff of the General Accounting Office (GAO) and NRR, held a meeting

regarding GAO’s upcoming report on the NRC’s review of biannual decommissioning trust

funds reports. GAO had a number of clarification questions about the staff’s reviews of the

1998 and 2000 biannual reports. GAO indicated that they will provide their draft report for NRC

review and, in coordination with the NRC’s Office of the Executive Director for Operations, they

will hold an exit conference with the NRC by the end of July 2003. Their schedule for

completion and issuance of the final report is October 2003. 

Exelon Early Site Permit

By letter dated June 27, 2003, Exelon Generation Company informed the NRC that it will not be

submitting its early site permit (ESP) application by the end of June 2003 as Exelon had

previously indicated. Exelon stated that the seismic evaluation effort for its ESP application is

not yet complete. Exelon stated further that it is still refining the scope of work necessary to

provide the seismic-related information and is not able at this time to identify when this work will

be complete. Exelon will advise the NRC as to its plans once the seismic scope of work has

been fully refined which Exelon expects to be around mid-August 2003.

10 CFR Part 52 Proposed Rule

On July 3, 2003, the proposed rule for 10 CFR Part 52 was published in the Federal Register

for a 75-day comment period. The proposed rule seeks to clarify the regulations governing the

licensing processes for early site permits, design certifications and combined licenses for

nuclear power plants. The proposed changes are based on lessons learned during the

previous design certification reviews and discussions with stakeholders about the early site

permit, design certification, and combined license review process. Two of the most significant

proposed changes include a requirement for applicants who reference an early site permit to

update emergency planning information and a requirement for applicants who reference a

certified reactor design to include a plant-specific probabilistic risk assessment in their licensing

application that reflects site-specific design information and design changes. 

International Communications/Information Exchange on SWR-1000

During the week of June 23, 2003, the staff led a team of NRC staff members from two offices

on a visit to the SWR-1000 principal test facilities in Erlangen and Karlstein, Germany. The

SWR-1000 is a Framatome Advanced Nuclear Power (FANP) boiling water reactor design that

incorporates passive safety features. FANP requested pre-application discussions with the

staff and expects to submit a design certification application sometime after 2005. The purpose

of the visit was to introduce the test facilities to the NRC staff and to provide the opportunity for
July 4, 2003 ENCLOSURE A

the staff to review and observe FANP’s quality assurance controls at these facilities. The visit

included a trip to FANP’s facility in Karlstein, Germany, where SWR-1000 vent testing,

quencher testing, fuel design critical heat flux testing, and components testing (e.g., spring

assisted check valve, control rod drives) will be performed. The visit also included a trip to

FANP’s facility in Erlangen, Germany, where external vessel cooling and fast boron injection

testing will be performed. 

NRC Special Inspection of Quad Cities Unit 2 Steam Dryer Failure

From June 23-26, 2003, the NRC staff from Region III and NRR participated in a special

inspection of the recent failure of the steam dryer upper hood at Quad Cities Unit 2. During the

inspection, the NRC staff met with Exelon and GE Nuclear Energy personnel to discuss the

licensee’s efforts in identifying the cause of the failure, and to assess the structural adequacy of

the repair of the damaged areas of the steam dryer. The special inspection team reviewed the

licensee’s analyses of the steam dryer repair to the upper hood. The team concluded that the

repairs are adequate to preclude a recurrence of a fatigue-type failure in the repaired section. 

The root cause of the failure, including the flow-induced loading on the dryer structure, is still

under investigation by the licensee. Consequently, the licensee committed to a re-start power

ascension for Quad Cities Unit 2 that is limited to a power level equivalent to the licensed power

level before the extended power uprate until the root cause determination is completed and

presented to the NRC staff.
July 4, 2003 ENCLOSURE B

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards

Items of Interest

Week Ending July 4, 2003

DOE, NRC, and State of Ohio Meet Regarding Battelle Decommissioning Project

On July 1, 2003, the Region III Administrator, the Director, Division of Waste Management

(DWM), Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, and other NRC staff conducted a

site tour and participated in a periodic meeting with the Department of Energy (DOE), and the

Ohio Department of Health at the Battelle Columbus Laboratories Decommissioning Project,

West Jefferson site. During the meeting, the Federal and State partners discussed issues

surrounding the cleanup of the site, including DOE funding, DOE contract change, transuranic

waste shipments, schedules for site cleanup, and Ohio’s involvement in the oversight of the

project. Overall, the meeting was successful in furthering open communications among the

primary stakeholders in the site cleanup. A tentative follow-up meeting among Region III, DWM

staff, and the State Department of Health is being planned for mid-July. The next NRC and

DOE periodic meeting is planned for mid-October. 

NRC and U.S. Army Staffs Meet on Jefferson Proving Ground

On July 1, 2003, staffs from the U.S. Army and NRC met at NRC Headquarters to discuss a

proposed Jefferson Proving Ground license amendment that would amend the license to a

possession-only license, which will be maintained until decommissioning occurs. The

amendment, if submitted and granted, would create a 5-year renewable possession-only

license for an indefinite time period. The staffs also discussed the information that would be

needed in the amendment request. The public asked a number of questions about the

type/frequency of environmental monitoring and what criteria would be established as “action

levels” for the Army.

North Anna Independent Spent Fuel Storage License Amendment 2

On June 30, 2003, the Spent Fuel Project Office issued Amendment 2 to Materials License

SNM-2507, for the North Anna Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation. This amendment

will allow North Anna to store spent nuclear fuel in the TN-32 dry storage cask with Technical

Specification limits that support North Anna’s operational needs.

Public Comments on Control of the Disposition of Solid Materials

In February 2003, staff published a Federal Register notice soliciting public comments on the

potential rulemaking for controlling the disposition of solid materials and the scope of the

environmental impact statement to support the rulemaking effort. As of June 30, 2003, when

the public comment period ended, staff had received over 2500 comments. A large number of

the comments contain the same text. The staff has begun evaluating the comments and will

prepare a scoping report scheduled to be completed in October 2003. Public comments are

being placed on the external NRC web site.
July 4, 2003 ENCLOSURE B

Meeting with Nuclear Fuel Services on the Blended Low-Enriched Uranium Project

On June 27, 2003, NRC staff met with Nuclear Fuel Services (NFS) representatives, at NRC

Headquarters, to discuss plans for NFS submittal and NRC review of the amendment

application for the Oxide Conversion Facility, which is the third of three license amendment

applications associated with the Blended Low-Enriched Uranium (BLEU) project. NFS

proposed to deliver the third amendment application, the Oxide Conversion Building, in October

2003.

On June 30, 2003, a second meeting with NFS was held to discuss technical issues prior to the

issuance of the Request for Additional Information request related to the Enrichment

Preparation facility, the second BLEU amendment which is currently under staff review.

Meeting with International Uranium Corporation

On June 30, 2003, Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards and Office of the General

Counsel staff met with representatives from International Uranium Corporation (IUSA) and

Nuclear Fuel Services (NFS). Three members of the public listened in, via speaker phone, and

one reporter was present. This meeting was at IUSA’s request to discuss an upcoming license

amendment request to receive and process alternate feed materials at the White Mesa mill

(10 CFR Part 40) from an NRC-licensed NFS facility (10 CFR Part 70). IUSA outlined a

process whereby Department of Energy legacy materials would be down-blended with depleted

and natural uranium at the NFS facility, to create “ore” that would be entered into the uranium

fuel cycle at the White Mesa mill in Utah. IUSA noted that the application would also include a

White Paper and Environmental Report.
July 4, 2003 ENCLOSURE C

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research

Items of Interest

Week Ending July 4, 2003

Reactor Operating Experience Results and Databases Web Page

The Division of Risk Analysis & Applications (DRAA) has launched a beta version of its web

page containing results from operating experience analyses and links to supporting database

sites. The link to this webpage is http://nrcoe.inel.gov/index.cfm. The page contains updates of

key reliability and risk related analyses for reactor accident initiating events, risk significant

systems, important components, common-cause failure information (parameter estimates and

failure insights), and frequently used risk related information derived from reactor operating

experience data. In the future the web page will provide links to supporting databases,

including capability to access and search licensee event reports (LERs). DRAA will continue to

update and improve the web page over the next several months based on new developments

and user feedback. Currently the web page is only available to NRC staff. After the initial beta

test period, there is a plan to make portions of this information available to the public. 

Research Reports on Containment Structure Integrity

Two major research reports summarizing a significant containment study have recently been

published. The work was a joint research effort by the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research

and the Japan Nuclear Power Engineering Corporation (NUPEC). The reports are available on

the NRC Public Web Site and printed copies are currently being distributed.

One report, NUREG/CR-6810, "Overpressurization Test of a 1:4 Scale Pre-stressed Concrete

Containment Vessel Model," describes the design, construction, and testing of this large model

which was representative of current PWR containment designs. The objective of the tests was

to obtain data on the structural response of the model to pressure loading in order to validate

analytical modeling and to observe failure mechanisms.

The other report, NUREG/CR-6809, “ Post-test Analysis of the NUPEC/NRC 1:4 Scale Prestress Concrete Containment Vessel Model,” documents work done under NRC/NUPEC

sponsorship to assess the effectiveness of calculational methods that can be used to predict

the responses of actual containment structures when subjected to beyond design basis

pressure loading. Strengths and weaknesses of different approaches are documented. 
July 4, 2003 ENCLOSURE D

Nuclear Security and Incident Response

Items of Interest

Week Ending July 4, 2003

Preliminary Notifications

1. PNO-I-03-021, Three Mile Island, Units 1 and 2 - UNUSUAL EVENT DUE TO A FIRE

INSIDE THE PROTECTED AREA GREATER THAN 15 MINUTES - SUBSTANTIAL

MEDIA INTEREST.
July 4, 2003 ENCLOSURE F

Office of Administration 

Items of Interest 

Week Ending July 4, 2003

Early Site Permits, Standard Design Certifications, and Combined Licenses for Nuclear Power

Plants (Part 52, et al.)

A proposed rule that would amend the requirements for early site permits, standard design

certifications, and combined licenses for nuclear power plants was published in the Federal

Register on July 3, 2003 (68 FR 40026). The proposed amendments are based on the NRC

staff’s experience with previous design certification reviews and on discussions with

stakeholders about the early site permit, design certification, and combined license processes. 

The amendments are intended to improve the effectiveness of the licensing process for future

applicants. The comment period for this action closes September 16, 2003. 
July 4, 2003 ENCLOSURE G

Chief Information Officer

Items of Interest

Week Ending July 4, 2003

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

June 27 through July 3, 2003:

Vacancies filled under NSIR/DNS-2003-003, selectees, rating panel

documents, etc.

FOIA/PA-2003-0333

White Mesa Uranium Mill, Docket No. 40-8681, archeological reports,

licensing documents, correspondence between NRC and state,

Federal agencies re: investigation of cultural sites, implementation of

statutes and regulations

FOIA/PA-2003-0334

EA-02-248, report 030-01997/2002001 (DNMS), all documents FOIA/PA-2003-0335

Hypurrcat, NY, licensing records, applications, agency inquiries,

reciprocity, all records

FOIA/PA-2003-0336

Thyrocat, NY, licensing records, applications, agency inquiries,

reciprocity, all records

FOIA/PA-2003-0337

Statement of Work, 33-01-189 FOIA/PA-2003-0338

Allegation RIV-96-A-0275, including all correspondence between

named individual and NRC

FOIA/PA-2003-0339

OI report 3-1999-016S and interviews/depositions of persons named

in report

FOIA/PA-2003-0340

OIG and OI reports on self, records from 5-20-01 to 6-24-03 FOIA/PA-2003-0341

Rep. Richard Burr, NC, all correspondence, 1-1-95 to present FOIA/PA-2003-0342

Records on self, 1989 FOIA/PA-2003-0343
July 4, 2003 ENCLOSURE I

Office of Human Resources

Items of Interest

Week Ending July 4, 2003

Arrivals

EDWARDS, Robert CONSULTANT HR

OMOTOSHO, Emmanuel STUDENT IT SPECIALIST (summer) NSIR

PACHIKARA, Reshma MANAGEMENT ANALYST (summer) RES

RAIBI, Michele SYSTEMS ANALYST OCFO

ROBLES, Milton NUCLEAR SAFETY INTERN NRR

WEBB, Susan SECRETARY (OA) NMSS

Departures

MCDERMOTT, Jeffrey* CONGRESSIONAL AFFAIRS OFFICER OCA

*As of June 27, 2003
July 4, 2003 ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs

Items of Interest

Week Ending July 4, 2003

Media Interest

Chairman Diaz appeared in a CNN report on Indian Point that aired on Saturday, June 28. The

segment was followed by a live discussion between Ed Lyman of the Union of Concerned

Scientists and Jack Devine of Polestar Applied Technology, an Entergy consultant.

The Journal News in N.Y. reported on an interview with Commissioner McGaffigan in which he

said the NRC has its own standards to determine the effectiveness of emergency evacuation

plans for nuclear power plants and would not necessarily defer to a negative evaluation from

FEMA. 

The New York Times and The Journal News in N.Y. reported that a study commissioned by the

operator of the Indian Point nuclear power facility has concluded that it would take nearly nineand-a-half hours to evacuate everyone within the 10-mile zone around the plant. That is twice

as long as previously estimated.

Staff from the Office of Public Affairs fielded numerous media calls on a transformer fire in a

turbine building at decommissioned Unit 2 of the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in

Pennsylvania.

Press Releases

Headquarters:

03-086 NRC Advisory Committee On Reactor Safeguards To Hold July Meeting In

Rockville, Maryland (7/1)

Regions:

I-03-041 NRC Proposes $3,000 Fine Against Washington, D.C. Hospital (7/1)

III-03-046 NRC Oversight Panel To Meet With Davis-Besse Officials July 9 (7/1)

III-03-047 NRC Public Meeting July 10 On Updating Generic Environmental Impact

Statement For License Renewal (7/3)

IV-03-029 NRC To Hold Regulatory Conference With Entergy Operations, Inc. (7/2)
July 4, 2003 ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary

Items of Interest

Week Ending July 4, 2003

Document Released

to Public

Date Subject

Decision Documents

1. SECY-03-0100 6/17/03 Rulemaking Plan on Post-Fire Operator

Manual Actions

Information Papers

1. SECY-03-0107 6/26/03 Weekly Information Report - Week Ending

June 20, 2003

Memoranda

1. M030702B 7/2/03 Staff Requirements - Affirmation Session: I.

SECY-03-0098 - Connecticut Yankee

Atomic Power Co. (Haddam Neck Plant

License Termination Plan); Intervenor’s

Petition to Consider Dose Standard with

Respect to Children

Commission Correspondence

1. Letter to Congressman Dennis Kucinich, dated June 30, 2003, concerns the NRC staff’s

inspection activities at the Davis-Besse nuclear power plant.

2. Letter to Congresswoman Berkley, dated June 26, 2003, concerns onsite inspection

oversight for the Yucca Mountain Site Nevada project.

3. Letter to Congressman David Hobson and Senator Pete Domenici, dated June 26, 2003,

provides report on regulatory efficiencies gained by consolidating or eliminating regional

offices.

4. Letter to Colin Powell, Secretary of State, dated June 25, 2003, concerns U.S. citizen

participation in United Nations organizations.

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. ACRS Subcommittee Meeting on Thermal-Hydraulic Phenomena.

2. ACRS Subcommittee Meeting on Future Plant Designs.
July 4, 2003 ENCLOSURE P

Region I

Items of Interest

Week Ending July 4, 2003

Indian Point

Region I management representatives met on July 1, 2003, with the newly appointed Director of

Public Security for Westchester County, New York, one of the counties in the emergency

planning zone for the Indian Point station. The Region I representatives explained the mission,

organization and interests of NRC relative to Indian Point.

Risk Assessment - Army Chemical Agent Monitors

During an inspection on June 25, 2003, at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, an inspector from

the Region I Division of Nuclear Materials Safety met with representatives of the Department of

the Army, Soldier, Biological and Chemical Command (SBCCOM) to discuss information about

the chemical agent monitors and chemical agent detectors used under NRC license. A

representative of ATL, Inc., a contractor for the Office of Nuclear Materials Safety and

Safeguards (NMSS), who is performing a risk assessment of the use of these devices, was

present during the inspection.

Unusual Event due to a Fire at Three Mile Island (TMI) Unit 2 Generates Substantial Media

Interest 

On July 2 at approximately 10:40 a.m., fire and heavy smoke was reported coming from a 480V

switchgear room in the TMI Unit 2 turbine building. AmerGen declared an Unusual Event at

10:56 a.m. due to a fire inside the TMI protected area greater than 15 minutes in duration. 

AmerGen, as well as several local fire departments, responded to the event and extinguished

the fire as of 11:25 a.m. The fire started inside a dry-type transformer located in

nonradiological area of the plant; the transformer supplies one set of 480V switchgear. 

AmerGen terminated the Unusual Event at 12:45 p.m. There was no impact on TMI Unit 1; the

plant continued to operate at full power. There was no radiological release due to the fire. No

personnel injuries occurred due to this fire.

Unit 2 has been removed from service since 1979 and is currently in a safe storage condition. 

Unit 2 is owned by the FirstEnergy Corporation, but it is monitored and maintained by

AmerGen, the licensee for Unit 1. 

The NRC monitored AmerGen’s response to the fire and the resident inspector responded to

the control room. During the event, all power was shut down to Unit 2. Since that time, power

to the unit has been restored and temporary power routed to the equipment (e.g., lighting, sump

pumps) that was supplied by the damaged switchgear. The cause of the fire in the transformer

has not yet been determined. The resident inspector as well as the Division of Nuclear

Materials Safety (DNMS) health physicist responsible for oversight of TMI Unit 2 continue to

follow AmerGen’s and First Energy’s review and corrective actions in response to this fire. 

Region I and Headquarters public affairs staff responded to numerous local and national media

inquiries regarding this event.
July 4, 2003 ENCLOSURE P

Region II

Items of Interest

Week Ending July 4, 2003

Southern Nuclear Company, Inc. (SNC) - Contract Settlement at Hatch and Vogtle Nuclear

Plants

The licensee’s contract with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) union,

for certain workers at the Hatch and Vogtle Nuclear Power Plants expired on June 30, 2003. 

Prior to the expiration, licensee and IBEW representatives negotiated a new contract. During

this time, the licensee and NRC, Region II, initiated strike contingency plans. These were

discontinued, since the union re-voted on the proposed contract at the request of SNC

management and, on June 30, 2003, informed SNC management that the contract offer was

accepted.

Development of Technical Staff - Knowledge Transfer Sessions

On July 1-2, 2003, the Division of Reactor Safety conducted two special training sessions, as

part of an initiative to enhance knowledge transfer to new inspectors. The first session entitled

“The History of Design Bases” focused on control of the power reactor design bases since the

1950's. During the session a historical perspective on the control of design were discussed. 

The second session entitled “Constructing Effective Oversight of Engineering Program” focused

on the attributes of a strong engineering program and was designed to provide the inspector

with background information to enhance their ability to inspect engineering issues.
July 4, 2003 ENCLOSURE P

Region III

Items of Interest

Week Ending July 4, 2003

Predecisional Enforcement Conference

On July 2, 2003, members of the Region III staff met in the regional office with officials of

Columbia Hospital, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for a predecisional enforcement conference on an

apparent violation involving the failure to provide adequate security for radioactive material in a

laboratory. The conference was closed to public observation because it involves the findings of

an NRC Office of Investigations report that has not been publicly disclosed.

Kewaunee and Point Beach Reactor Head Replacement

On July 3, 2003, members of the Region III staff met in the regional office with representatives

of Nuclear Management Company to discuss its plans for replacement of the reactor vessel

heads at the Kewaunee and Point Beach nuclear power plants. The Kewaunee replacement is

scheduled for September 2004; Point Beach Unit 2 replacement is planned for April 2005; and

Point Beach Unit 1 replacement is scheduled for October 2005.
July 4, 2003 ENCLOSURE P

Region IV

Items of Interest

Week Ending July 4, 2003

Predecisional Enforcement Conference (PEC) Longview Inspection, Inc.

On July 1, 2003, the Director, Division of Nuclear Materials Safety and NRC staff members

conducted a public Predecisional Enforcement Conference (PEC) with the Director, Longview

Inspection, Inc., in Region IV. The purpose of the PEC was to discuss apparent violations of

NRC requirements regarding the security and surveillance of a radiographic exposure device

used at a temporary jobsite.

Open Public Inspection Exit Meeting with Nebraska Public Power District

On July 1, 2003, the Director, Division of Reactor Projects and other members of the Region IV

staff met with officials from the Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) to discuss the results of

the NRC’s second quarterly inspection of NPPD’s Strategic Improvement Plan. The meeting

was well attended, consisting mostly of NPPD personnel. During the meeting the discussions

focused on NPPD’s progress in accomplishing required actions as specified in the Confirmatory

Action Letter issued by NRC on January 30, 2003. There was some news media coverage as a

result of this meeting. 
July 4, 2003 

Office of Congressional Affairs

Items of Interest

Week Ending July 4, 2003

CONGRESSIONAL HEARING SCHEDULE, NO. 21

OCA

Contact

DATE

&

PLACE

TIME WITNESS SUBJECT 

Gerke 07/08/03

2154 RHOB

10:00 TBA Federal Electronic Records

Management: What is the Plan?What is Our Progress?

Reps. PuTech Poli GovernGovernm

Portner 07/08/03

2362B RHOB

 5:00 Markup FY04 Energy and Water

Development

Reps. HoEnergy anAppropria

Gerke 07/09/03

2247 RHOB

 2:00 TBA Health Care Affordability for Federal

Retirees

Reps. DaCivil ServGovernm

Keeling TBA

SD-342

TBA Joe D. Whitley Confirmation to be General Counsel,

Department of Homeland Security

Senators Governm

Combs TBA TBA Chairman Diaz, DOE

Bechtel, NEI

Yucca Mountain Reps. Ba

Energy anEnergy an

Gerke 07/24/03

TBA

TBA TBA Past, Present, and Future of the

Competitive Sourcing Initiative

Senators Gov’t MgmGovernm