INFORMATION REPORT

March 26, 2004 SECY-04-0049

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-04-0049 WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING MARCH 19, 2004

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 by Melinda Malloy Acting For/

William M. Dean

Assistant for Operations, OEDO

Contact:

T. Kim, OEDO
March 26, 2004 SECY-04-0049

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-04-0049 WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING MARCH 19, 2004

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 by Melinda Malloy Acting for/

William M. Dean

Assistant for Operations, OEDO

Contact:

T. Kim, OEDO

DISTRIBUTION:

Central File

Public Document Name: C:\WIR\Week319.WPD

*See previous concurrence

OEDO AO/OEDO

*TKim:paa WMDean

03/25/04 03/26/04
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING MARCH 19, 2004

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 18

NSIR 9 SECY 19

OGC * Region I 20

ADM 10 Region II 21

CIO 11 Region III *

CFO * Region IV 23

HR 15 OEDO *

SBCR * OCA 24

OE *

*No input this week
March 19, 2004 ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 19, 2004

Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station Restart

On March 11, 2004, Davis-Besse attained criticality, ending the outage that began on

February 16, 2002. On March 14, 2004, Davis-Besse entered Mode 1 operation (greater than

5 percent power), and on March 16, 2004, Davis-Besse synchronized the main generator to the

electrical grid.

On March 16, 2004, when switching feedwater (FW) flow from the startup FW system to the

main FW system, the licensee identified a problem in the main FW system. Subsequently, on

March 17, 2004, the licensee commenced a reduction in power with the intent to shutdown to

effect repairs. All license requirements were met.

The NRC staff is maintaining around the clock onsite inspection coverage observing plant

activities.

Vermont Yankee Power Uprate

On March 15, 2004, the Vermont Public Service Board (PSB) authorized Entergy, during

Vermont Yankee’s spring 2004 refueling outage, to implement plant modifications to

accommodate power uprate of up to 20 percent. The PSB found that the proposed power

uprate, with appropriate conditions, would promote the general good of the State by providing

additional electric capacity to New England’s power grid and economic benefits to Vermont. In

connection with its authorization, the PSB requested that the NRC conduct an "independent

engineering assessment" of Vermont Yankee. 

On March 16, 2004, the Vermont State Senate Committee on Finance approved a resolution

urging the NRC to condition its approval of Vermont Yankee’s power uprate request upon

performance of an "independent engineering assessment,” as called for in the PSB ruling of

March 15, 2004, which assesses the conformance of the facility to its design and licensing

basis for operation at both the current licensed power level and the proposed uprated power

level. The NRC staff is currently reviewing the Vermont Yankee power uprate request and

expects to complete the review in early 2005.

Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) Sump Issue Discussed at the Regulatory Information

Conference (RIC) on March 11, 2004

The Emergent Technical Issues Session at the RIC on March 11, 2004, included a discussion

on the PWR sump issue. Dr. Brian W. Sheron, the Associate Director for Project Licensing and

Technical Analysis, presented the current status of the staff’s efforts to resolve the issue and

stated that the overall schedule will not be delayed. The draft Generic Letter will be issued for

public comment this month and a public workshop is scheduled for March 23 and 24, 2004, to

discuss the Nuclear Engineering Institute (NEI) guidance document. Dr. Sheron discussed the

staff’s recent letter to NEI which rejected the industries proposed resolution based on a

leak-before-break and fracture mechanics analyses, and informed the audience that the staff is
March 19, 2004 ENCLOSURE A

considering allowing a smaller loss-of-coolant accident break size to be applied for calculating

debris generation, consistent with the 10 CFR 50.46 rulemaking effort. However, for break

sizes between the new smaller design-basis accident break and the double-endedguillotine-break of the largest pipe in the reactor coolant system, some level of mitigative

capability and acceptance criteria must still be satisfied. 

Public Meeting with NEI

Staff of the Division of Inspection Program Management staff and the regions (via telephone)

participated in a Category 2 public meeting with NEI on March 15, 2004, to discuss issues

regarding the Occupational and Public Radiation Safety Cornerstones of the Reactor Oversight

Process. The discussion focused on Frequently Asked Questions concerning the control of

access to locked high radiation areas and issues concerning the adequacy of physical barriers

used to prevent unauthorized entry into a locked High Radiation Area. The staff is continuing to

work with stakeholders to clarify the NRC and NEI guidance in this area.

The meeting also focused on the staff’s proposed revision to the Transportation Significance

Determination Process on package dose rate limits. The intent of the proposed revision is to

more closely align the NRC's enforcement of transportation regulations with those of the of the

Department of Transportation and the Office of Nuclear Materials Safety and Safeguards.

Comments were requested on the draft. A follow-up meeting is scheduled for April 6, 2004.

Mitigating Systems Performance Index (MSPI)

For over two years, NRC staff, industry representatives, and other stakeholders have

participated in a pilot program to develop and assess a potential replacement for the current

safety system unavailability (SSU) performance indicator (PI). The pilot program was

completed in late 2003 and the staff has completed its assessment of the results. While the

MSPI had certain advantages over the SSU PI, the disadvantages and unintended

consequences (e.g., assessment process changes and additional staff resources needed to

implement and maintain the MSPI) were significant and outweighed the potential improvements. 

The staff will continue to work with all stakeholders involved in its effort to improve PI. 

16th Annual Regulatory Information Conference (RIC)

On March 10-12, 2004, the 16th annual Regulatory Information Conference (RIC) was held in

Washington, DC. Mr. James Dyer, Director, NRR, opened the conference on Wednesday,

March 10 with the conference theme, “Promoting Openness Through Effective

Communications.” He explained the Agency’s goal to promote openness by providing a

meaningful exchange of information. In addition, he described how effective communications

could enhance stakeholder understanding of the Agency’s regulatory programs. 

The staff made presentations on a variety of technical and regulatory topics such as: License

Renewal, Reactor Oversight Process, Licensing Issues, International Issues, Communications,

Operating Experience, Emergency Preparedness, Risk-Informed Activities, Fire Protection, and

Emergent Technical Issues, as well as numerous other topics. 
March 19, 2004 ENCLOSURE A

The theme during the RIC of maintaining a questioning attitude was echoed by several

speakers, including the Chairman. Of particular interest was a panel discussion on the 25th

anniversary of Three Mile Island accident which included Mr. Richard Thornburg, former

Governor of Pennsylvania and Mr. Harold Denton, former Director of NRR, as well as the

Chairman and the Executive Director for Operations. The conference was widely attended by

domestic and international stakeholders, members of industry, the media, and the NRC staff. 
March 19, 2004 ENCLOSURE B

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 19, 2004

Meeting with the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) on Action Items from September 2003

Workshop

On March 5, 2004, staff from the Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards met with NEI

representatives to discuss the status of action items from the September 2003 Integrated

Safety Analysis and Criticality Safety Workshops. These action items included NRC

development of interim staff guidance and industry’s perspective on various aspects of items

relied on for safety. The follow-up meeting to the workshop, to be hosted by NRC in the

summer of 2004, was also discussed.

In-Office Review of Louisiana Energy Services’ Integrated Safety Analysis

On March 9-10, 2004, staff from the Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards conducted

an in-office review of the non-classified portion of the Louisiana Energy Services’ (LES’s)

Integrated Safety Analysis (ISA) at its contractor’s Marlborough, Massachusetts, corporate

office. By letter dated December 12, 2003, LES had submitted, to NRC, its license application

and ISA Summary for construction and operation of the National Enrichment Facility (NEF), a

gas centrifuge uranium enrichment facility, in Lea County, New Mexico, near the city of Eunice. 

The NEF’s design is similar to the design of the Claiborne Enrichment Center in Homer,

Louisiana, for which LES had submitted a license application in 1991, which it later withdrew in

1998. However, since Subpart H of 10 CFR Part 70 went into effect in 2000, the most

significant difference between the two license applications is the ISA.

Meeting of the International Commission on Radiological Protection

On March 8-10, 2004, senior staff participated in a meeting of the International Commission on

Radiological Protection Task Group on the definition of the individual for purposes of the

radiation protection dose assessment. The Task Group continued detailed drafting and

discussion, and focused upon the advantages and disadvantages of the proposed approach. 

The Task Group will meet again in Oxford, England, in July 2004, to complete work on the draft.

NUREG on Public Scoping Comments on Controlling the Disposition of Solid

Materials Rulemaking

On March 9, 2004, NRC published NUREG/CR-6682, Supplement 1, entitled "Summary and

Categorization of Public Comments on Controlling the Disposition of Solid Materials." These

public scoping comments are related to NRC's proposed rulemaking to evaluate alternative

courses of action at NRC-licensed facilities for controlling the disposition of solid materials that

have very low amounts of, or no, radioactivity. In 1999 NRC sought early input on the major

issues associated with this effort; these public comments were summarized and published as

NUREG/CR-6682, "Summary and Categorization of Public Comments on the Control of Solid

Materials." As part of its continuing efforts to solicit stakeholder involvement, on February 28,

2003, NRC published a “Request for Comments” on the scope of a proposed rulemaking, in the

Federal Register (68 FR 9595). In this Federal Register notice, NRC sought stakeholder
March 19, 2004 ENCLOSURE B

participation and involvement in identifying alternatives and their environmental impacts that

should be considered as part of a rulemaking. NRC also conducted a workshop to solicit new

input in May 2003. NUREG/CR-6682, Supplement 1, summarizes over 2600 public comment

letters and e-mails received on the proposed rulemaking in 2003.

Senate Field Hearing on Yucca Mountain Silicosis Concerns

Along with about 100 members of the public and news media, an NRC onsite representative on

the Yucca Mountain project attended a March 15, 2004, Las Vegas field hearing convened by

U.S. Senator Harry Reid of Nevada. The hearing was held to understand past site industrial

safety practices for, and potential health impacts from, working in environments with high levels

of silica or fibrous mineral dust during the drilling and tunneling of Yucca Mountain. Also

discussed was the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) knowledge of, and response to, the dust

issues. Current DOE managers, former and current workers at the Yucca Mountain site, and

industrial and medical health experts provided testimony.
March 19, 2004 ENCLOSURE C

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 19, 2004

Standard Review Plan for Selected Containment Subcompartment Analyses Found NonConservative

The licensee for River Bend requested a license amendment to revise the method of analysis

for high energy line breaks in subcompartments inside the containment using the GOTHIC

computer code. The staff found that this new method of performing subcompartment analyses

for a certain class of breaks was nonconservative. In addition, this method of performing

subcompartment analyses for a certain class of breaks showed that the guidance in the

Standard Review Plan was nonconservative for this case. Pressure resulting from a Reactor

Water Cleanup (RWCU) system pipe break in the filter demineralizer room was found to be

much higher than predicted in the licensee’s submittal. NRC’s findings were provided to the

River Bend licensee who confirmed the conclusions and took steps to notify the nuclear

industry by means of an Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO) newsletter.

Standardized Plant Analysis Risk (SPAR) Model Development Program

With the receipt of the Revision 3 SPAR model for Beaver Valley 1 on March 11, 2004, RES

staff has completed the updates of all 72 Revision 3i SPAR models to address comments

generated during onsite quality assurance review of these models. The next phase of the

SPAR Model Development Project will consist of producing a set of enhanced models using

insights obtained during the comparison exercise conducted with the pilot program plants in the

Mitigating Systems Performance Index development program, and using recent feedback

received from model users from the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, the Regions, and

RES.
March 19, 2004 ENCLOSURE D

Nuclear Security and Incident Response

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 19, 2004

Preliminary Notifications

1. PNO-I-04-008-A, St. Mary Hospital - UPDATE TO POTENTIAL MEDICAL EVENT

INVOLVING A PROSTATE SEED IMPLANT.

2. PNO-III-04-003, Davis-Besse - SHUTDOWN OF THE DAVIS-BESSE NUCLEAR

POWER STATION PLANT FOR GREATER THAN 72 HOURS.

3. PNO-IV-04-010, Pacific Gas and Electric Company - EARTHQUAKE NEAR DIABLO

CANYON POWER PLANT.
March 19, 2004 ENCLOSURE F

Office of Administration 

Items of Interest 

Week Ending March 19, 2004

Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material; Public Meeting (Part 71)

On March 15, 2004, a document announcing a Nuclear Regulatory Commission/Department of

Transportation workshop on the regulations applicable to the safe transport of radioactive

material was published in the Federal Register (69 FR 12088). The workshop will provide an

opportunity for affected parties to discuss any operational concerns with the recently revised

transportation regulations. The workshop will also include discussions concerning change

authority for dual-purpose certification holders, a proposed action that was not included in the

recent final rule (69 FR 3632; January 26, 2004). The workshop will be held on April 15, 2004.

Contract Award

On March 12, 2004, a competitive fixed-price delivery order, DR-33-04-316, was awarded to

Kyocera Mita America, Inc., under the General Services Administration’s Federal Supply

Schedule. The vendor is required to provide sixteen (16) KM-6330 copiers on a Lease-toPurchase basis, each with a 90-day warranty and monthly minimum maintenance. The new

copiers will be located at Headquarters and Regions I, III, and IV. The delivery order is

estimated at $403,900.80 for a five-year period of performance.
March 19, 2004 ENCLOSURE G

Chief Information Officer

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 19, 2004

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

March 12 through March 18, 2004:

Nuclear Laundry Services, Waterbury, Connecticut, radioactive

material license, termination letter, transfer of ownership 1962, and

decommissioning documents

FOIA/PA-2004-0159

Note from H. K. Shapar to J. Hennessey, 04/03/67, explaining why

the Commission consistently interprets the provision to require a trialtype hearing (Section 189a of the Atomic Energy Act)

FOIA/PA-2004-0160

Decommissioning plan & cost estimates for the Alan J. Blotcky

Reactor in Omaha, Nebraska & the Ford Reactor, Univ. of Michigan,

Ann Arbor, Michigan

FOIA/PA-2004-0161

EA-03-190, inspection report 030-07710/01-001, investigative report

4-2002-001, with attachments, all records

FOIA/PA-2004-0162

EA-03-126, inspection report 01-4-2002-001 with attachments, all

records

FOIA/PA-2004-0163
March 19, 2004 ENCLOSURE I

Office of Human Resources

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 19, 2004

Arrivals

Russell A. Barnes Security Specialist NSIR

Janet C. Burkhardt Secretary OCIO

Lynn D. Cooper Office Services Assistant R-IV

Keith Heater Secretary (OA) R-I

Susan W. Johnson Branch Chief OCIO

Leslie Kerr Cost Analyst NRR

Jun Lee IT Specialist NRR

John Nicholson Health Physicist R-I

Jiwon Song Secretary (OA) HR/SPAC

Sheldon Stuchell Security Specialist NSIR

Nicholas H. Taylor Reactor Engineer R-IV

Marshanda White-Plye Office Automation Assistant NRR

Retirements

Henry K. Lathrop Project Engineer NMSS

Departures

Anthony C. Ebaugh Nuclear Safety Intern NMSS

Burnetta Montgomery Human Resources Specialist (Intern) HR

Cheryl Stone Branch Chief ADM
March 19, 2004 ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 19, 2004

Media Interest

Office of Public Affairs (OPA) responded to significant media inquiries on the following:

For the approaching 25th anniversary of the Three Mile Island accident, OPA facilitated

interviews of NRC historian J. Samuel Walker with CNN, Reuters, NPR, Pennsylvania Public

Radio, and other media outlets.

Petitions in a lawsuit by Sierra Club and other groups seeking public hearings on the potential

terrorist threat to a spent fuel storage installation proposed for the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant

in California.

Calls by eight Western governors for the Commission to reverse its decision to drop the doublecontainment requirement for waste shipments containing plutonium to the Department of

Energy’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in New Mexico.

First Energy’s efforts to restart the Davis-Besse nuclear plant in Ohio after being shut down for

two years.

Other OPA Items:

Assisted at public meetings regarding the Honeywell Uranium Conversion Plant in Metropolis,

Illinois, and the Salem/Hope Creek nuclear plants in New Jersey.

Made presentations on nuclear power regulation at schools in Illinois and New Hampshire.

Press Releases

Regions:

I-04-010 NRC to Discuss Annual Performance Assessment of Pilgrim Nuclear Plant

(3/17)

I-04-011 NRC to Discuss Annual Performance Assessment of James A. FitzPatrick

Nuclear Plant (3/17)

I-04-012 NRC to Discuss Annual Performance Assessment of Millstone Nuclear

Power Plant (3/18)

I-04-013 NRC to Discuss Annual Performance Assessment of Beaver Valley Nuclear

Power Plant (3/18)

II-04-011 NRC to Meet with SCE&G Officials to Discuss Safety Performance at

Summer Nuclear Power Plant (3/17)
March 19, 2004 ENCLOSURE M

II-04-012 NRC to Meet with Progress Energy Officials to Discuss Safety Performance

at Harris Nuclear Power Plant (3/17)

III-04-012 NRC Suspends License of a Missouri Industrial Testing Company (3/16)

III-04-013 NRC Proposes $60,000 Fine Against Point Beach Nuclear Power Plant

(3/19)

IV-04-009 NRC Proposes $21,000 Fine to Alaska Department of Transportation (3/16)

IV-04-010 NRC to Discuss Performance of Palo Verde Plant (3/17)

IV-04-011 NRC to Meet with Entergy Operations Inc. to Discuss Performance of

Arkansas Nuclear One (3/18)

IV-04-012 NRC to Meet with Nebraska Public Power District to Discuss Performance

of Cooper Nuclear Station (3/19)
March 19, 2004 ENCLOSURE N

Office of International Programs

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 19, 2004

Japanese Interest in NRC’s Resident Inspector Program

On March 15, 2004, Mr. Tsuyoshi Ebine, Deputy Director for Nuclear Safety Training, Japan

Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency, accompanied by staff from the Japan Nuclear Energy

Safety Organization, met with staff from the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation NRR to

discuss NRC’s Resident Inspector Program. Mr. Ebine and his group also visited the Sequoyah

Nuclear Plant in Tennessee and met with the Resident Inspectors on March 18, 2004, to

discuss the Resident Inspector Training and Qualification Program. 

Japan Nuclear Safety Commission Explores the NRC

On March 16, 2004, Dr. Yoshio Murao, Dr. Koichi Takitani, and Dr. Koji Morizono, senior staff of

Japan’s Nuclear Safety Commission (NSC), met with representatives from OIP; the Office of

the Secretary; the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board; the Offices of the Inspector General

and, Nuclear Regulatory Research; the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards, and NRR

for overview briefings on their roles and responsibilities within the Commission. The NSC

makes recommendations to the Prime Minister on nuclear safety. The NSC is also responsible

for prioritizing Japan’s nuclear confirmatory research.
March 19, 2004 ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 19, 2004

Document Released

to Public

Date Subject

Decision Documents

1. SRM-SECY-03-0227 3/15/04 Review Standard RS-002, “Processing

Applications for Early Site Permits”

Commission Voting

Record on 03-0227

3/15/04 (same)

2. SECY-04-0037 3/3/04 Issues Related to Proposed Rulemaking to

Risk-Inform Requirements Related to Large

Break Loss-of-Coolant Accident (LOCA)

Break Size and Plans for Rulemaking on

LOCA with Coincident Loss-of-Offsite Power

Information Papers

1. SECY-04-0034 3/2/04 Litigation Report - 2004 - 01

2. SECY-04-0035 3/1/04 Results of the License Termination Rule

Analysis of the Use of Intentional Mixing of

Contaminated Soil

3. SECY-04-0043 3/15/04 SECY-04-0043 Weekly Information Report -

Week Ending March 5, 2004

Memoranda

1. M040302B 3/16/04 Staff Requirements - Meeting with the

Advisory Committee on the Medical Uses of

Isotopes (ACMUI) and the NRC Staff

Commission Correspondence

1. Letter to Congress, dated March 9, 2004, forwards NRC’s monthly reports for November

2003, December 2003, and January 2004, on the status of NRC’s licensing and

regulatory duties and the status of Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station.

2. Letter to Senator Barbara Boxer, dated March 3, 2004, provides follow-up to letter dated

December 24, 2003, responding to letter urging NRC undertake an emergency inspection

at the Diablo Canyon Power Plant.
March 19, 2004 ENCLOSURE O

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards, Meeting of the Subcommittee on Regulatory

Policies and Practices, meeting notice (4/1/04). 

2. Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards, Joint Meeting of the Subcommittees on

Materials and Metallurgy and on Plant Operations, meeting notice (4/2/04).

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

License Renewal, meeting notice (4/14/04). 

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

Procedures, meeting notice (4/14/04).

5. Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards, Joint Meeting of the Subcommittees on

Reliability and Probabilistic Risk Assessment and on Plant Operations, meeting notice

(4/14/04). 

6. Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste Meeting on Planning and Procedures, meeting

notice (4/20/04). 

7. Advisory Committee on the Medical Uses of Isotopes Renewal Notice. 

8. Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards, meeting notice (4/15-17/04).
March 19, 2004 ENCLOSURE P

Region I

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 19, 2004

Management Meeting on Salem/Hope Creek Safety Conscious Work Environment

On March 18, 2004, the Region I Regional Administrator and Regional and Headquarters staff

met with senior management from the Public Service Electric and Gas (PSEG) to discuss the

company’s plans to assess and improve the work environment at its Salem and Hope Creek

plants. In late January 2004, the Regional Administrator had sent a letter to the Chairman of

PSEG providing interim results of an ongoing NRC special review of this issue and requested

that PSEG conduct its own in-depth review. The company provided its review plan on 

February 27 and further described it at the March 18 meeting. The PSEG’s self-assessment

will integrate input from three discrete, independent activities: a survey of the work environment

performed by Synergy Survey in December 2003; an assessment performed by Utilities Service

Alliance (USA) in early March 2004; and an ongoing Independent Assessment Team (IAT)

staffed with a number of industry and former NRC personnel that began in mid-February 2004. 

PSEG expects to communicate the detailed results and an action plan in mid-May. However,

because the results thus far have indicated that the licensee's safety conscious work

environment and corrective action program implementation are well below industry norms, the

company has began a number of near-term remedial actions. The NRC staff expects to

continue its heightened monitoring of this issue through planned interactions with PSEG

management, frequent NRC management visits to the site, and resident inspector oversight.

Electrical Cable Separation Allegation Follow-up at Indian Point 2

On February 23, 2004, the NRC received an allegation from a former Entergy employee

regarding cable separation issues at Indian Point Unit 2. The allegation was made public by the

former employee through statements to the media starting in early March. Inspectors

performed an initial onsite review of the cable separation issues and determined that Entergy

has an appropriate basis to conclude there are no immediate safety issues. Further review of

the cable separation allegation and Entergy’s actions will be conducted over the next several

weeks.
March 19, 2004 ENCLOSURE P

Region II

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 19, 2004

Duke Energy Corporation - Catawba Emergency Exercise

On March 16, 2004, Region II participated in the Catawba Emergency Exercise with both a

Base Team and a Site Team, and the Regional Administrator functioned as the Site Team

Leader/Director of Site Operations. 

Region II Operator Licensing Activities Audit

On March 16-18, 2004, the Director, Division of Inspection Program Management, NRR visited

Region II to observe the conduct of the Regional Annual Operator Licensing Activities audit.

2004 Nuclear Nonoperating Owner’s Group Conference

On March 17, 2004, the Deputy Regional Administrator attended the Nuclear Nonoperating

Owner’s Group Conference in Orlando, Florida.

Carolina Power and Light Company - Brunswick Regulatory Conference

On March 17, 2004, representatives from Carolina Power and Light Company were in the

Regional Office to attend a Regulatory Conference. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss

a preliminary White finding related to a Brunswick Unit 2 design review involving reactor feed

pump speed control system. 

Honeywell International, Inc. Management Meeting

On March 18, 2004, the Regional Administrator and the Director, Division of Fuel Facility

Inspection attended a public management meeting in Metropolis, Illinois. The purpose of the

meeting was to discuss Honeywell International’s progress in improving operational safety

performance and emergency preparedness at the Honeywell Uranium Conversion Plant in

Metropolis, IL. 

Health Forum Sponsored by Region II Federal Women’s Program

On March 18, 2004, the Region II Federal Women’s Program sponsored a Health Forum in the

Regional Office. 
March 19, 2004 ENCLOSURE P

Region IV

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 19, 2004

Korean Institute of Nuclear Safety (KINS) Visit

On March 17, 2004, three senior representatives from the KINS visited NRC’s Region IV office

in Arlington, Texas, to obtain information regarding regional experience in inspecting licensee

implementation of Maintenance Rule requirements. On March 18, 2004, the delegation visited

the Waterford-3 Steam Electric Station to obtain information about the licensee’s experience in

implementing their Maintenance Rule program.
March 19, 2004 

Office of Congressional Affairs

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 19, 2004

CONGRESSIONAL HEARING SCHEDULE, NO. 50

OCA

Contact

DATE &

PLACE

TIME WITNESS SUBJECT 

Combs 03/24/04

2362B RHOB

10:00 DOE FY05 Nuclear Waste Budget Reps. Hob

Energy anAppropriat

Gerke 03/24/04

2203 RHOB

2:00 TBA Federal Health Benefits and Long-Term

Care Programs

Reps. DavCivil ServiGovernme

Gerke 03/24/04

2154 RHOB

2:30 TBA Implementing Quicksilver E-Government

Initiatives

Reps. PutTechnologIntergoverCensusGovernme

Combs 03/25/04

2123 RHOB

 9:30 NV Delegation, NRC, DOE,

NWTRB, Bechtel, NEI,NARUC

Review of the Progress of DOE’s YuccaMountain Project; H.R. 3429, H.R. 3981

Reps. HalEnergy anEnergy an

Keeling 03/25/04

2141 RHOB

2:00 TBA Consolidating Terrorist Watchlists Reps. Cob

Crime, TeJudiciaryReps. GibIntelligencSelect Com
March 19, 2004 

Gerke 03/31/04

2154 RHOB

TBA GAO Government Performance and Results

Act

Reps. PlatGov’t EfficGovernme

Gerke March 2004

TBA

TBA DOE Final Report by U.S. - Canada Power

System Outage Task Force 

Senators DEnergy an

Portner 04/01/04

2123 RHOB

 9:30 DOE Secretary Abraham Fiscal 2005 Budget: DOE Reps. Bar

Energy an

Portner 04/29/04

TENTATIVE

TBA NRC Commissioners NRC Oversight Senators V

Clean Air, SafetyEnvironme