INFORMATION REPORT

August 8, 2005 SECY-05-0141

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-05-0141 - “WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING JULY 29, 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 8, 2005 SECY-05-0141

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-05-0141 - “WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING JULY 29, 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\week729.WPD

OEDO AO/OEDO

TJKim:paa WMDean

08/05/05 08/09/05
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING JULY 29, 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 8 OIP *

NSIR 9 SECY 19

OGC * Region I 20

ADM 10 Region II *

OIS 11 Region III 22

CFO * Region IV *

HR 15 EDO *

SBCR * OCA *

OE *

*No input this week
July 27, 2005 ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending July 27, 2005

NRC Information Notice (IN) 2005-21: Plant Trip and Loss of Preferred AC Power From

Inadequate Switchyard Maintenance

On July 21, 2005, NRR issued the subject IN to power reactor licensees to inform them about

loss of power events as a result of inadequate preventive and corrective maintenance practices

on switchyard circuit breakers and current transformers. No specific action or written response

is required for INs, however, it is expected that recipients will review the information for

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

Meeting with the ASTM D-33 Coatings Committee

On July 25 - 26, 2005, the staff met with representatives of the American Society for Testing

and Materials (ASTM) D-33 Committee, which is responsible for the standard on Protective

Coatings for Power Generation Facilities. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss how

improvements in the ASTM standard could support resolution of Generic Safety Issue (GSI)-

191, “Assessment of Debris Accumulation on PWR Sump Performance,” by specifying

maintenance practices. As a result of this meeting, the ASTM D-33 committee will survey the

industry experience related to containment coating failures to justify the need for and scope of

inspection standards.
July 27, 2005 ENCLOSURE B

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS)

Items of Interest

Week Ending July 27, 2005

Pre-Licensing Meeting Regarding New Transport Package for Medical Isotopes

On July 21, 2005, Spent Fuel Project Office staff met with BNG Fuel Solutions and Tyco

Healthcare/Mallinckrodt Medical regarding the proposed Model MIDUS transportation package. 

The package is being developed for domestic and international transport of medical isotopes. 

The discussion centered around the conceptual design and the analyses and testing that will be

performed. BNG plans to submit an application for package approval in February 2006.
July 27, 2005 ENCLOSURE C

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES)

Items of Interest

Week Ending July 27, 2005

North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC), Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

(FERC), NRC, and Academic Community Meet to Discuss Electric Grid Analysis

On July 18 -19, 2005, the subject meeting sponsored by NERC was held in Oak Ridge

Tennessee. Discussions focused on the application of complex system theory to analyses of

the electric grid. The information gathered from the meeting will be used to update the RES

grid study.
July 27, 2005 ENCLOSURE D

Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response (NSIR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending July 27, 2005

Public Meeting with the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI)

On July 25, 2005, Division of Preparedness and Response/Emergency Preparedness

Directorate staff held a public meeting with NEI, to discuss issues related to submission of an

emergency plan for a new reactor at the early site permit (ESP) application stage. A key

discussion topic was that such a submission could utilize designated placeholders (e.g.,

inspections, tests, analyses, and acceptance criteria [ITAAC], or ESP permit conditions) to

cover various aspects of emergency planning that are not fully addressed at the ESP stage,

and allow for a predictive finding of "reasonable assurance."

Federal Register Notice Announcing the Emergency Preparedness Public Meeting

On July 28, 2005, a Federal Register Notice was published announcing a public meeting to

discuss selected topics for the review of emergency preparedness regulations and guidance. 

The meeting announcement provided additional information and references that stakeholders

can review to prepare for the meeting and links to the meeting website: 

http://www.nrc.gov/public-involve/public-meetings/epreview2005.html. The meeting will be

conducted from August 31 to September 1, 2005, at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and

Conference Center. 
July 27, 2005 ENCLOSURE F

Office of Administration (ADM)

Items of Interest 

Week Ending July 27, 2005

List of Approved Spent Fuel Storage Casks: NAC-UMS Revision 4 - Direct Final Rule (AH75-

Part 72)

On July 25, 2005, NRC published a direct final rule in the Federal Register (70 FR 42485) that

adds Amendment 4 to the Certificate of Compliance (CoC) Number 1015. This amendment will

modify the cask design by replacing the specific term “zircaloy” with the more generic term

“zircaloy alloy,” revising other definitions, adding an alternate site-specific design basis

earthquake analysis, and incorporating editorial and administrative changes.

National Source Tracking of Sealed Sources (AH48 - Parts 20, 32, and 150)

On July 28, 2005, a proposed rule was published in the Federal Register (70 FR 43646) that

would amend NRC regulations to implement a National Source Tracking System for certain

sealed sources. The proposed amendment would require licensees to report certain

transactions involving sealed sources to the National Source Tracking System.
July 27, 2005 ENCLOSURE G

Office of Information Services (OIS)

Items of Interest

Week Ending July 27, 2005

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

July 22 through July 28, 2005:

Hematite facility, inspection report conducted Nov. 4-5, 1970, docket

no. 70-00036, re: inadequate plant air sampling & pit burial greater

than 10 CFR 20 limits

FOIA/PA-2005-0302

OI Allegation RIII-04-A-0112 FOIA/PA-2005-0303

Records related to Korea (Referral by the Department of State) FOIA/PA-2005-0304

OIG Case 05-24G, testimony, affidavits, notes, investigative reports,

witness testimony, affidavits & final OIG report

FOIA/PA-2005-0305

OI Case 1-2003-058 FOIA/PA-2005-0306

Department Of Energy application for an export license to ship highenriched uranium (HEU) to Belgium, all records including redacted

portions

FOIA/PA-2005-0307

Nuclear Materials Event Database, industrial radiography-related

event reports

FOIA/PA-2005-0308

Investigation regarding a July 4, 2002 incident at Los Angeles

International Airport (Referral by the FBI)

FOIA/PA-2005-0309
July 27, 2005 ENCLOSURE I

Office of Human Resources (HR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending July 27, 2005

Arrival

KOCHER, DAVID C. CONSULTANT ACRS

Retirements

BLUNT, ALVIN B. SECTION CHIEF OIS

BOWDEN, VIOLET S. SECRETARY (OA) ADM

GRIMSLEY, DONNIE H. SPECIAL ASSISTANT OIS

MACE, MARY H. BRANCH CHIEF ADM

Departures

GOOD, GAIL DEPUTY DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF REACTOR

SAFETY

R-IV

JACOX, CHRISTINE L. BUDGET ASSISTANT OCFO

POLISHAK, MICHAEL F. REACTOR INSPECTOR R-IV
July 27, 2005 ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs (OPA)

Items of Interest

Week Ending July 27, 2005

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

Oyster Creek license renewal application.

Vermont Yankee switchyard insulator failure.

“Tooth Fairy Project” near Vermont Yankee.

Backup power for Indian Point emergency sirens.

Other OPA Items:

OPA supported a predecisional enforcement conference with Saint Joseph Regional Medical

Center to discuss five apparent violations involving medical events.

Press Releases

Headquarters:

05-106 NRC to Hold Public Meeting on Emergency Preparedness for Nuclear Power

Plants on Aug. 31-Sept. 1 in Rockville, MD (7/28)

05-107 NRC Announces Availability of License Renewal Application for Oyster Creek

(7/28)

Regions:

IV-05-028 NRC Proposes $6,000 Fine for High Mountain Inspection Service (7/25)

IV-05-029 NRC Announces Opportunity for Hearing on License Application for Commercial

Irradiator in Honolulu, Hawaii (7/26)
July 27, 2005 ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary (SECY)

Items of Interest

Week Ending July 27, 2005

Document Released

to Public

Date Subject

Decision Documents

1. COMSECY-05-0025 7/12/05 Renewal of Full-Power Operating License

for Arkansas Nuclear One, Unit 2

SRM on 05-0025 7/25/05 (same)

Commission Voting

Record on 05-0025

7/25/05 (same)

2. SRM-SECY-05-0052 7/29/05 Proposed Rulemaking for “Risk-Informed

Changes to Loss-of-Coolant Accident

Technical Requirements”

Commission Voting

Record on 05-0052

7/29/05 (same)

Information Papers

1. SECY-05-0123 7/8/05 Status of the Development of Memoranda of

Understanding with Nebraska and Wyoming

Regarding the Regulation of Groundwater

Protection at their in Situ Leach Uranium

Recovery Facilities

2. SECY-05-0132 7/25/05 Weekly Information Report - Week Ending

July 15, 2005

3. SECY-05-0133 7/26/05 Weekly Information Report - Week Ending

July 22, 2005

Memoranda

1. M050728A 7/28/05 Staff Requirements-Affirmation Session: I.

SECY-05-0109 (1) Exelon Generation

Company, LLC; (2) Dominion Nuclear North

Anna, LLC; (3) System Energy Resources

Inc.; (4) Louisiana Energy Services, L.P.; (5)

USEC Inc. (American Centrifuge Plant)
July 27, 2005 ENCLOSURE O

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. Proposed Rule: 10 CFR Parts 20, 32, and 150, RIN: 3150-AH-48, National Source

Tracking of Sealed Sources. 

2. In the Matter of David H. Hawes, Docket No. 55-22685, ASLBP No. 05-840-01-SP,

Establishment of Atomic Safety and Licensing Board. 

3. REVISED Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste, notice of 162nd meeting (8/2-4/05). 
July 27, 2005 ENCLOSURE P

Region I (RI)

Items of Interest

Week Ending July 27, 2005

Entergy Announces Plan to Provide Backup Power for Indian Point Sirens

On July 28, 2005, Entergy issued a press release announcing its plan to provide backup power

for the sirens in the 10-mile emergency planning zone for Indian Point. The announcement

follows recent events in which all sirens were unavailable due to an equipment failure on

July 19, 2005, and twenty sirens were unavailable due to weather induced power outages on

July 27, 2005. Entergy stated that the design and deployment of the backup power system is

expected to take up to two years. Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency

Management Agency (DHS/FEMA) review and approval is required for the new siren system

design.
July 27, 2005 ENCLOSURE P

Region III (RIII)

Items of Interest

Week Ending July 27, 2005

Predecisional Enforcement Conference with St. Joseph Regional Medical Center

Region III staff met July 27, 2005, in the Regional Office with representatives of St. Joseph

Regional Medical Center located in South Bend, Indiana, for a predecisional enforcement

conference to discuss apparent violations of NRC requirements associated with the inadvertent

radiation doses to the legs of several patients during brachytherapy treatments in 2004.