INFORMATION REPORT

February 1, 2005 SECY-05-0025

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-05-0025 - “WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING JANUARY 14, 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*

Chief Information Officer 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
February 1, 2005 SECY-05-0025

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-05-0025 - “WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING JANUARY 14, 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*

Chief Information Officer 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\Week114.WPD

OEDO AO/OEDO

TKim:paa WMDean

02/ /05 02/ /05
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING JANUARY 14, 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 * STP *

NMSS 4 OPA 17

RES 8 OIP *

NSIR * SECY 19

OGC * Region I 20

ADM * Region II 21

CIO 11 Region III *

CFO * Region IV *

HR 15 OEDO *

SBCR * OCA 24

OE *

*No input this week
January 14, 2005 ENCLOSURE B

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards

Items of Interest

Week Ending January 14, 2005

Westinghouse-Hematite Public Meeting

On January 6, 2005, staff members from the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards

(NMSS) and Region III, and representatives from the Missouri State Department of Natural

Resources and Jefferson County Health Department attended a Westinghouse-sponsored

public meeting. Westinghouse presented information on alternatives and planned actions

associated with: (1) removal of an on-site pile of contaminated soil; and (2) demolition and offsite disposal of the contaminated buildings on site. The licensee was seeking feedback from

members of the public on these two activities. The meeting was well-attended by the members

of the community near the site and the Joachim Watershed Community Advisory Group.

Quarterly Management Meeting with Louisiana Energy Services

On January 12, 2005, NMSS staff met with management representatives from Louisiana

Energy Services (LES) to discuss issues related to the uranium enrichment facility proposed to

be located in Eunice, New Mexico. Issues discussed included the status of the licensing review

and environmental impact statement preparation, and open technical issues. LES management

committed to being responsive to the open technical issues.
January 14, 2005 ENCLOSURE C

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research

Items of Interest

Week Ending January 14, 2005

Meeting at Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) Non-Destructive Examination (NDE)

Center

On January 11, 2005, Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES) staff met with

representatives of the EPRI NDE Center to identify opportunities to coordinate research efforts. 

The EPRI staff gave a tour of the NDE Center’s facilities and extensive collection of test mockups, and presented an overview of EPRI’s research programs on non-destructive examination

of reactor components. The EPRI steering committee of member utilities recently authorized a

significant increase in funding for research to improve the reliability and speed of in-service

inspections. The RES staff described the program for the inspection of nickel alloy components

(PINC), an international cooperative research group being formed to assess NDE techniques

for detecting primary water stress corrosion cracking in components made of Alloy 600 and

related materials. Pointing to a number of common interests and goals, EPRI restated their

commitment to participate in the PINC program.
January 14, 2005 ENCLOSURE G

Chief Information Officer

Items of Interest

Week Ending January 14, 2005

Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act Requests Received During the Period of

January 7, through January 13, 2005:

Transportation of low level nuclear waste, contact information of

contract holders

FOIA/PA-2005-0096

Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station, design criteria and

regulations including deviations from existing regulations, all records

FOIA/PA-2005-0097

Material License Tracking System (MLTS), active and retired facilities FOIA/PA-2005-0098

Civil and administrative violations for which a monetary penalty was

assessed, CY 2004

FOIA/PA-2005-0099

ICI Glidden Research Center, 16651 W. Sprague Road, Strongsville,

OH 44163, Cuyahoga County, MLTS #106333341, all records on site

FOIA/PA-2005-0100

Georgia Nuclear Aircraft Lab, license, inspections reports and

inventory, waste material, all records

FOIA/PA-2005-0101
January 14, 2005 ENCLOSURE I

Office of Human Resources

Items of Interest

Week Ending January 14, 2005

Arrival

Neil Nguyen Student IT Trainee (Co-Op) OCIO

Departures

Scott A. Gordon Environmental Engineer (NSPDP) NMSS

Jay Thompson Health Physicist NMSS
January 14, 2005 ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs

Items of Interest

Week Ending January 14, 2005

Media Interest

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

NRC statements on pump safety and special inspection at Hope Creek.

Security of nuclear power plants.

The Early Site Permit process and the potential for new reactors.

Other OPA Items:

OPA arranged for and assisted in the interview by the Public Broadcasting System of the

Deputy Director of the Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response. 

OPA assisted at a public meeting regarding safety issues at Hope Creek.

Press Releases

Headquarters:

05-007 NRC Increases Security Requirements for Portable Gauges Containing

Radioactive Materials (1/11)

05-008 NRC to Hold Public Meeting Jan. 19 on Environmental Impacts of Proposed

North Anna Early Site Permit (1/11)

05-009 NRC Extends Opportunity to Request Use of New Standard for Addressing

Existing Fire Protection Issues (1/12)

05-010 Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Schedules Hearings on Proposed

Uranium Enrichment Plant in New Mexico (1/14)

Regions:

I-05-002 NRC Releases Two Letters Regarding Hope Creek Nuclear Plant; Letters

Discuss Pump Review and Special Inspection Results (1/10)

I-05-003 New NRC Senior Resident Inspector Assigned to Peach Bottom Nuclear

Power Plant (1/11)

I-05-004 NRC Hearing Process on Pa. Irradiator Concludes (1/11)

II-05-001 NRC Staff Seeks Input on Environmental Review for USEC’s Proposed

Ohio Centrifuge Plant (1/10)
January 14, 2005 ENCLOSURE M

II-05-002 NRC Seeks Public Input on Brunswick Nuclear Plant Environmental Issues

for License Renewal (1/14)

III-05-002 NRC Revokes License of a Missouri Company and Prohibits its Owner from

Involvement in NRC-Licensed Activity (1/10)

III-05-003 NRC Begins In-Depth, Three-Part Inspection at Perry Nuclear Plant (1/10)

IV-05-001 NRC Staff to Meet with STP Nuclear Operating Co. to Discuss Adoption of

New Regulatory Initiative (1/13) 

IV-05-002 NRC Staff to Meet with Pacific Gas & Electric Co. to Discuss Results of

Engineering Team Inspection (1/14)
January 14, 2005 ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary

Items of Interest

Week Ending January 14, 2005

Document Released

to Public

Date Subject

Decision Documents

1. SECY-04-0194 10/22/04 Denial of Petition for Rulemaking (PRM-40-

28) - Donald A. Barbour, Philotechnics

SRM on SECY-04-0194 12/02/04 (SAME)

Commission Voting

Record on 

SECY-04-0194

12/02/04 (SAME)

2. SECY-04-0233 12/22/04 Proposed Rulemaking–Post-Fire Operator

Manual Actions (RIN 3150 AH-54)

3. SECY-04-0236 12/23/04 Southern Nuclear Operating Company’s

Proposal to Establish a Common

Emergency Operating Facility at its

Corporate Headquarters

Information Papers

1. SECY-04-0235 12/28/04 Litigation Report - 2004 - 05

2. SECY-05-0007 01/10/05 Weekly Information Report - Week Ending

December 31, 2004

Commission Correspondence

1. Letter to A. C. Tollison, Jr., INPO, dated January 6, 2005, concerns final version of the

INPO’s “Principles for a Strong Nuclear Safety Culture.”

2. Letter to Sen. Biden, Sen. Carper, and Rep. Castle, dated January 7, 2005, concerns

activities related to an October 10, 2004 steam pipe break at Hope Creek.

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. Establishment of Atomic Safety and Licensing Board, Safety Light Corporation,

Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania Site (Materials License Suspension), Docket Nos. 30-5980-EA

and 30-5982-EA, ASLBP No. 05-835-01-EA. 

2. Atomic Safety and Licensing Board, In the Matter of Louisiana Energy Services, L.P.

(National Enrichment Facility), Docket No. 70-3103-ML, ASLBP No. 04-826-01-ML,
January 14, 2005 ENCLOSURE O

January 7, 2005, Memorandum and Order (Notice of Hearing and of Opportunity to Make

Oral or Written Limited Appearance Statements). 

3. Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards, Meeting of the Subcommittee on Plant

License Renewal, notice of meeting (02/09/05). 

4. Policy statement: revision; [NUREG-1600] - NRC Enforcement Policy; Extension of

Enforcement Discretion of Interim Policy. 

5. Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards, Subcommittee Meeting on Planning and

Procedures, notice of meeting (01/27-28/05). 
January 14, 2005 ENCLOSURE P

Region I

Items of Interest

Week Ending January 14, 2005

Public meeting on Hope Creek Special Inspection and Technical Issues

On January 12, 2005, the NRC staff from Region I, with support from the Office of Nuclear

Reactor Regulation (NRR) staff, held a public meeting in Swedesboro, NJ to discuss NRC’s

findings related to the Hope Creek special inspection and other technical issues. The Region I

staff discussed the results of the special inspection of the steam leak that occurred on October

10, 2004. The NRR staff presented the NRC’s findings on the "B" reactor recirculation (RR)

pump issue. For the "B" RR pump, after a careful and thorough review, the NRC staff

concluded that the Hope Creek plant can operate safely with the existing pump until the next

refueling outage. The staff’s conclusion was based upon commitments agreed to by the

licensee and documented in a confirmatory action letter dated January 11, 2005 that rigorous

and continuous monitoring be maintained for critical pump parameters, including vibration

levels, so that prompt actions can be taken by plant operators should there be abnormal pump

indications.

The evening public meeting was attended by approximately 150 people including

representatives from several Congressional offices, the State of New Jersey, and the State of

Delaware. Also attending were several public interest groups and local citizens. The public

meeting was covered by several local media reporters and television crews. 
January 14, 2005 ENCLOSURE P

Region II

Items of Interest

Week Ending January 14, 2005

NRC National Response Plan (NRP) and Security Initiatives Outreach Meeting

On January 12-13, 2005, Region II and the Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response

(NSIR) sponsored the NRC National Response Plan (NRP) and Security Initiatives Outreach

Meeting in Florida. The purpose of the meeting was to present an overview of the NRP and

discuss how the plan will impact other response plans/procedures, and present security

initiatives. Attendees included representatives of Region II licensees (power plants and fuel

facilities); State/local agencies; Federal agencies; and the Institute of Nuclear Power

Operations. 

Southeast Nuclear Plant Managers' Meeting

On January 14, 2005, the Regional Administrator participated in the Southeast Nuclear Plant

Managers' Meeting in Florida.
January 14, 2005 

Office of Congressional Affairs

Items of Interest

Week Ending January 14, 2005

CONGRESSIONAL HEARING SCHEDULE, NO. 2

 OCA Contact DATE &

 PLACE

TIME WITNESS SUBJECT 

Madden 01/19/05

SD-366

2:30pm Samuel W. Bodman Confirmation for Secretary of Energy Senators 

Energy a