INFORMATION REPORT

December 1, 2004 SECY-04-0224

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-04-0224 WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING NOVEMBER 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/

William M. Dean

Assistant for Operations, OEDO

Contact:

T. Kim, OEDO
December 1, 2004 SECY-04-0224

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: SECY-04-0224 WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK 

ENDING NOVEMBER 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/

William M. Dean

Assistant for Operations, OEDO

Contact:

T. Kim, OEDO

DISTRIBUTION:

Central File

Public Document Name: C:\WIR\WeekN19.WPD

OEDO AO/OEDO

TJKim:paa WMDean

11/30/04 12/01/04
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 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 22

CFO * Region IV *

HR 15 OEDO *

SBCR 16 OCA *

OE *

*No input this week
November 19, 2004 ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Items of Interest

Week Ending November 19, 2004

Mitigating Systems Performance Index Public Meeting

On November 17, 2004, the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) staff hosted the

monthly public meeting on the Mitigating Systems Performance Index (MSPI). The staff

discussed comments on MSPI guidance documents (NEI 99-02: Section 2.2 “General

Guidance, Appendix F,” Technical Guidance and Appendix G, “MSPI Basis Documentation).” 

This meeting was focused on the remaining open technical comments from the October 2004

meeting. The meeting also discussed MSPI staff milestones for developing appropriate

inspection guidance, reviews of MSPI basis documents, and industry initiatives and status of

the February 2005, MSPI workshop.

Reactor Oversight Process Public Meeting 

On November 18, 2004, NRR staff hosted the monthly public meeting on the Reactor Oversight

Process. The staff provided a status overview of Significance Determination Process (SDP)

timeliness issues, as well as a discussion on draft aspects of the Maintenance Rule SDP. The

industry representatives provided an update on their review of the safety system functional

failures performance indicator (PI) and, together with the staff, provided an update on the

scrams with loss of normal heat removal and reactor coolant system leakage PI improvement

initiatives. In addition, the group participants discussed open and new PI frequently asked

questions. 

Staff Holds Public Meeting on the Draft D.C. Cook Environmental Impact Statement in Support

of License Renewal 

On November 9, 2004, NRR staff conducted two public meetings to solicit comments on the

draft supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) related to the license renewal

application for Donald C. Cook Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2 (CNP), issued on September 24,

2004. The draft SEIS is a plant-specific supplement to the "Generic Environmental Impact

Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Power Plants" (NUREG-1437). Approximately 40

people attended the two meetings, including members of the public, representatives of the NRC

staff, Argonne National Laboratory, Indiana Michigan Power Company, State and local

governments, and the local news media. Members of the public asked questions regarding the

health effects of radiation to plant workers and regulations regarding radiation dose limits.

The public comment period for the CNP SEIS ends on December 8, 2004. At the conclusion of

the comment period, the staff will evaluate the comments received, revise the SEIS as

appropriate, and issue the final SEIS in May 2005.

Meeting with Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) and Industry on Steam Generator Issues

On November 10, 2004, NRR staff met with NEI and other industry representatives to discuss

the results of an industry effort to develop guidance for licensees to use in evaluating steam
November 19, 2004 ENCLOSURE A

generator (SG) tube integrity. This guidance was developed to support implementation of the

industry’s steam generator initiative (i.e., NEI 97-06), and to specifically provide licensees with a

methodology for assessing the effects of loads other than pressure loads (e.g., bending loads)

on steam generator tube integrity. The industry guidance is expected to be published later this

month.

NEI and the industry representatives also discussed their interest in receiving timely NRC

approval of a Technical Specification Task Force (TSTF) request to modify the steam generator

surveillance requirements in the standard technical specifications. Approval of the TSTF will

facilitate review and approval of license amendments to make their technical specifications

consistent with the NEI 97-06 program.
November 19, 2004 ENCLOSURE B

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards

Items of Interest

Week Ending November 19, 2004

On-Site Integrated Safety Analysis Review for USEC Inc.'s American Centrifuge Plant

From November 8-10, 2004, NRC staff performed an on-site review of USEC Inc.'s American

Centrifuge Plant (ACP) Integrated Safety Analysis (ISA). The review took place at the

proposed ACP site located at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant site in Piketon, Ohio. 

The NRC ISA review team consisted of three staff members who reviewed the ISA

documentation in the areas of instrumentation and controls and human factors. Several issues

were identified, which were verbally provided to USEC Inc. during the on-site review.

Nuclear Fuel Services 10 CFR Part 71 Application for the Champion Transport Package Design

On November 10, 2004, Spent Fuel Project Office staff met with Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc.,

(NFS) to discuss technical issues identified by the staff during the review of the Safety Analysis

Report for the Champion transportation package, which had been submitted to NRC in

August 2004. The applicant presented a revised criticality evaluation. Structural, thermal,

containment, and quality assurance issues were also discussed. NFS indicated that a new

application would be submitted in the future; however, a specific schedule was not presented.

Meeting of the Midwestern Radioactive Materials Transportation Committee

On November 9-10, 2004, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS) staff

attended a meeting of the Midwestern Radioactive Materials Transportation Committee in

Columbus, Ohio. The Committee, which is composed of members from 12 Midwestern states,

deals with safety and operational issues related to shipment of spent fuel. The major topics

discussed at the meeting included the status of the Department of Energy’s shipping program

for Yucca Mountain; Section 180(c) funding; routing; and the safety and security of spent fuel

shipping casks. The NMSS staff provided an update on topical issues of interest to the

Committee and gave a brief presentation on the recently completed full-scale drop tests in

Germany. In addition, a representative of Private Fuel Storage presented an update on its

proposed facility in Skull Valley, Utah.
November 19, 2004 ENCLOSURE C

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research

Items of Interest

Week Ending November 19, 2004

Implementing Agreement (IA) between the NRC and the Japan Nuclear Energy Safety

Organization

On November 16, 2004, the Executive Director for Operations signed the IA entitled

“Implementing Agreement between the NRC and the Japan Nuclear Energy Safety

Organization (JNES) Regarding Participation in the USNRC Cooperative Project on NonDestructive Examination for Primary Water Stress Corrosion Cracking in Nickel-base Materials

and Dissimilar Metal Welds.”

The NRC and JNES will work together to (1) compile data describing the morphology and nondestructive examination (NDE) responses associated with primary water stress corrosion

cracking, and (2) assess available and developing techniques for NDE of nuclear power plant

components. The insights gained through this cooperative project will enhance NRC’s

understanding of the aging and environmental effects on materials in nuclear power plants,

reduce uncertainty associated with non-destructive examinations, and improve the quality of

standards for in-service inspections for structural integrity endorsed by 10 CFR 50.55a, “Codes

and Standards,” and Regulatory Guide 1.147 (Rev. 13) “In-service Inspection Code Case

Acceptability, ASME Section XI, Division 1.” This Implementing Agreement will remain in effect

through December 2007.

Standardized Plant Analysis Risk (SPAR) Model Onsite Quality Assurance Review

On November 8-10, 2004, staff from the Office Nuclear Regulatory Research conducted an 

onsite quality assurance (QA) review of the Revision 3 Standardized Plant Analysis Risk

(SPAR) model for the Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, Units 1 and 2. The staff evaluated

differences between the NRC’s SPAR model and the licensee’s plant probabilistic risk

assessment (PRA) in order to understand the basis for the differences and to identify potential

revisions to the SPAR models. This onsite QA review is part of the SPAR model development

program and will lead to more accurate plant-specific SPAR models. This onsite QA review is

part of the SPAR model development program and will lead to more accurate plant-specific

SPAR models. In conjunction with this review, the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

benchmarked the Susquehanna Significance Determination Process Notebook against the

licensee’s PRA model.

Code Applications and Maintenance Program (CAMP) Fall Meeting

The Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES) conducted the fall CAMP meeting on

November 11-12, 2004. CAMP is an international program through which the member

countries get access to the TRACE, RELAP5, PARCS, and SNAP computer codes used for

thermal-hydraulic reactor safety analysis. The current CAMP membership consists of 21

countries. Participation in the fall meeting included 32 people from 16 countries. RES and its

contractors made presentations about current NRC code development activities. Five countries

provided member country status reports. Six technical presentations were made by five

member countries describing TRACE and RELAP5 assessment and plant calculations. 
November 19, 2004 ENCLOSURE C

Gas Entrainment Test to Support GSI-193 “BWR ECCS Suction Concerns”

On November 10, 2004, representatives from the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research

observed a two-phase-flow transport-phenomena test in a physical 1/6-scale model of a

selected emergency core cooling system (ECCS) piping system. This test was sponsored by a

licensee as part of an analysis for gas-entrainment in ECCS systems. Pending the results of

the 1/6-scale test, this analysis might include full-scale tests of single and multistage ECCS

pumps exposed to two-phase flow (gas-liquid). The 1/6-scale test and future full-scale pump

tests are relevant to establish part of the technical basis of Generic Safety Issue (GSI) 193,

which analyzes the sources and transport of gas in a boiling water reactor ECCS system during

an accident. 

Meetings on Fuel-related Projects: Studsvik and Paks

The Studsvik Cladding Integrity Project was organized by Organization of Economic

Cooperation and Development (OECD) to better understand the fundamental mechanisms of

cladding failure during normal operation and anticipated transients. The first formal meetings of

this project were held at the Studsvik laboratory on November 8-10, 2004, and were attended

by a representative from the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research. Although this project was

originally designed to serve industry needs, the mechanisms being studied involve hydrogen

embrittlement and delayed hydride cracking. These mechanisms play an equal role in cladding

behavior under accident conditions of safety significance, so the project is also of interest to

NRC.

In addition, OECD is organizing a small international project to examine the damaged fuel from

the cleaning incident at the Paks-2 nuclear power plant in Hungary. A meeting of fuel experts

was held at the Studsvik laboratory immediately following the other meetings, and NRC’s

representative attended the Paks meeting as well. Because the Paks incident resulted in

conditions more severe than a traditionally analyzed loss-of-coolant accident, yet the fuel

remained well below any melting temperature (i.e., it was coolable), this project appears to have

the potential to provide significant insights to fuel behavior under accident conditions.

Program Review of the Halden Reactor Project

On November 5, 2004, Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES) staff participated in an onsite facilities tour and program review of the Halden Reactor Project. The program review

focused on studies of irradiation-assisted, stress-corrosion cracking experiments, and

development and qualification of in-reactor instrumentation for the evaluation of reactor coolant

quality. The discussions were equally divided between a presentation of recent results in both

areas and the plans for the near term continuation of these efforts. 

Cooperative Irradiation-Assisted Stress-Corrosion Cracking Research Group Meeting

On November 7-8, 2004, Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES) staff participated in a

meeting of the Cooperative Irradiation-Assisted Stress-Corrosion Cracking (IASCC) Research

(CIR) group. The CIR group meets approximately every 6 - 10 months to review the status of

sponsored research and to discuss any adjustments that need to be made in the experimental

programs related to the degradation of vessel internals. Members of the group represent
November 19, 2004 ENCLOSURE C

regulatory bodies from the U.S., Sweden, and Spain; research laboratories located in the U.S.,

France, and Finland; and plant staff from Ringhals/Barsebeck located in Sweden. The meeting

was attended by approximately 30 representatives of vendors, research laboratories and

regulatory agencies with a common interest in IASCC. 

PHEBUS FPT-3 Test

On November 18, 2004, the Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN) of France

successfully conducted the last PHEBUS FPT-3 test. NRC is participating in the PHEBUS-FPT

project under a bi-lateral agreement with IRSN. The test provides information related to fuel

degradation and fission product release, transport, and behavior in a simplified model of a

reactor coolant system. A quick look report on the test results will be available in spring 2005. 

The FPT3 test will provide data to assess the adequacy of models in MELCOR, the NRC’s

severe accident code.
November 19, 2004 ENCLOSURE D

Nuclear Security and Incident Response

Items of Interest

Week Ending November 19, 2004

Preliminary Notification

1. PNO-I-04-14, Connecticut Yankee Atomic Power Company - FIRE INSIDE

CONTAINMENT STRUCTURE AT DECOMMISSIONING REACTOR SITE.
November 19, 2004 ENCLOSURE F

Office of Administration 

Items of Interest 

Week Ending November 19, 2004

Contract Award

On November 9, 2004, delivery order no. DR-33-05-314 was awarded to SkyTel Corporation

under a General Services Administration area wide contract. The contractor shall provide

pager services and equipment. The estimated cost is $167,322 for a four year period of

performance, inclusive of three one-year options.

NRC Enforcement Policy

On November 15, 2004 (69 FR 65657), the NRC published a document in the Federal Register

that amends its Enforcement Policy. The amendment provides that the appropriate Regional

Administrator will issue all Notices of Enforcement Discretion for power reactors. The

amendment became effective November 15, 2004. The comment closing date is December 15,

2004.

Protection of Safeguards Information (AH57 - Parts 2, 30, 40, 50, 52, 63, 70, 72, 73, 76, and

150)

On November 16, 2004 (69 FR 67070), the NRC published a document in the Federal Register

that announced the availability of draft proposed rule language. The proposed rule would

amend the NRC’s regulations to provide for further protection of Safeguards Information from

inadvertent release or unauthorized disclosure. The draft proposed rule is being made

available to inform stakeholders of the current status of NRC activities.
November 19, 2004 ENCLOSURE G

Chief Information Officer

Items of Interest

Week Ending November 19, 2004

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

November 12 through November 17, 2004:

Louisiana Energy Services, application for license(s) for enrichment

facility in New Mexico, all correspondence before 1-30-04 between

Commission & NRC staff or LES

FOIA/PA-2005-0037

Fermi II nuclear power plant, all records, re: explosion on 4-25-00 FOIA/PA-2005-0038

Howmet Corporation, 41605 Ann Arbor Road, Plymouth, MI, all

records

FOIA/PA-2005-0039

Government credit card holders FOIA/PA-2005-0040

Contract GS25F0062L, order numbers DR020287 Mod 1, Mod 2,

Mod 3, and DR3303351

FOIA/PA-2005-0041

Allegation NMSS-20003-A-0013, OI Investigation 2-2003-061, all

records

FOIA/PA-2005-0042

Individuals offered employment as Health Physicist, Radiation

Specialist, Inspector and/or License Reviewer, after 4-2001,

Region IV; copy of job announcements, salary, applications, etc.

FOIA/PA-2005-0043

Bargaining unit position title and grades of career ladder (series 343,

grades 9-13); FLSA exemption status; and number of employees at

each grade of each position

FOIA/PA-2005-0044
November 19, 2004 ENCLOSURE I

Office of Human Resources

Items of Interest

Week Ending November 19, 2004

Departures

Brian Corbin Student Law Clerk ASLBP

Joan Higdon Program Assistant SBCR
November 19, 2004 ENCLOSURE J

Office of Small Business and Civil Rights

Items of Interest

Week Ending November 19, 2004

Assessment of Small Business Precurement Goals

Preliminary data for FY 2004 shows that the NRC exceeded 5 of its 6 small business

procurement goals for the year. Specifically, the agency exceeded its percentage goals for

contract awards to small businesses, 8(a) firms, small disadvantaged businesses, womenowned small businesses, and HUBZone small businesses. In FY 2003, the NRC had only met

3 of these 6 goals. The one goal that was not met by NRC or any other Federal agency was for

“service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses,” which remains a key focus area in FY

2005.
November 19, 2004 ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs

Items of Interest

Week Ending November 19, 2004

Media Interest

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

NRC’s security review of public documents and the eventual restoration of the ADAMS library.

Safety issues at the Salem and Hope Creek plants in New Jersey.

Problems with Vermont Yankee’s system of tone alert radios to warn nearby residents of

emergencies.

Other Public Affairs Items:

Public Affairs staff assisted at a public meeting with FirstEnergy and a Nuclear Energy Institute

symposium on emergency preparedness.

Press Releases

Headquarters:

04-143 NRC to Hold Public Meeting Nov. 22-23 on Analyzing Nuclear Power Plant Fire

Hazards (11/15)

04-144 NRC Restores Additional, Hearing-Related Documents to Its Web Site (11/16)

04-145 Dr. Michael T. Ryan and Allen G. Croff Elected to New Positions on NRC

Advisory Committee (11/18)

04-146 NRC Extends Comment Period for Environmental Impact Statement on

Proposed Uranium Facility in New Mexico (11/19)
November 19, 2004 ENCLOSURE N

Office of International Programs

Items of Interest

Week Ending November 19, 2004

Visit of Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) Inspector

On November 16, 2004, Mr. Naoki Kajita, Director, Nuclear Power Inspection Division, NISA,

visited the NRC and met with senior staff from NRR's Division of Inspection Program

Management. The staff provided Mr. Kajita with background information and answered his

questions on NRC's power reactor inspection program, and the Reactor Operating Experience

Program Initiative.

Application Received for License to Export Sealed Sources Containing Byproduct Materials

(Americium-241 and Cesium-137) to Libya

On November 16, 2004, NRC received an application (XB001309) from Baker Hughes,

requesting a specific license to export sealed sources containing byproduct materials

(Americium-241 and Cesium-137) to Libya. The application also indicates that two additional

sealed sources, containing small quantities of the source material, thorium, and the byproduct

material, radium which is under the jurisdiction of the Department of Commerce, are to be

included in the proposed export. The sealed sources will be used in petroleum exploration oilwell service logging equipment at various locations.
November 19, 2004 ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary

Items of Interest

Week Ending November 19, 2004

Document Released

to Public

Date Subject

Decision Documents

1. SRM-SECY-04-0178 11/19/04 Regulatory Solution for 10 CFR Part 71 Change

Authority for Dual-Purpose Package Certificate

Holders

Voting Record for SECY04-017811/19/04 (same)

Information Papers

1. SECY-04-0206 11/8/04 SECY-04-0206 Weekly Information Report -

Week Ending October 29, 2004

2. SECY-04-0214 11/15/04 SECY-04-0214 Weekly Information Report -

Week Ending November 5, 2004

Memoranda

1. M041108AB 11/17/04 Briefing on Plant Aging and Materials

Degradation (Part A and B)

Commission Correspondence

1. Letter to Congresswoman Sue W. Kelly, dated November 5, 2004, responds to letter

regarding the electrical cable and raceway system at Indian Point Unit 2 in Buchanan, New

York.

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. Risk-Informed Categorization and Treatment of Structures, Systems and Components for

Nuclear Power Reactors, 10 CFR Part 50, RIN 3150-AG42, Final Rule. 

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

Procedures, notice of meeting (12/01/04). 

3. Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards, meeting notice (12/2-4/04). 
November 19, 2004 ENCLOSURE P

Region I

Items of Interest

Week Ending November 19, 2004

Commissioner Merrifield’s Visit to Calvert Cliffs

On November 19, 2004, Commissioner Merrifield visited the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant,

in Lusby, Maryland, accompanied by the Region I Administrator. The visit included a tour of the

facility with senior Constellation Energy management, a working lunch, and a meeting with

workers at the site. 

Haddam Neck Community Decommissioning Advisory Committee (CDAC) Meeting

On November 16, 2004, the Haddam Neck CDAC held a public meeting in Middletown, CT, to

discuss the status of the decommissioning project. The meeting was attended by the Chief,

Decommissioning Branch, Region I, and a Region I Health Physicist, who discussed the results

of recent inspection activities, plans for future onsite inspections, and the status of licensing

actions currently pending before the NRC. A total of 30 people attended the meeting, including

two local news reporters. The NRC responded to questions concerning spent fuel

accountability, the status of fuel transfer to onsite dry cask storage, and drying of the spent fuel

stored in the vertical concrete casks.
November 19, 2004 ENCLOSURE P

Region II

Items of Interest

Week Ending November 19, 2004

Fuel Facility Inspector Counterpart Meeting

On November 17-18, 2004, Region II hosted a Fuel Facility Inspector Counterpart Meeting. On

November 18, the Director, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards gave a

presentation at the meeting.
November 19, 2004 ENCLOSURE P

Region III

Items of Interest

Week Ending November 19, 2004

Meeting with FirstEnergy on Fleet Performance

On November 16, 2004, the Regional Administrator and members of the Region III and

Region I staffs met in Painesville, Ohio, with representatives of FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating

Company to discuss the utility’s plans for meeting the challenges of continuing improvements at

Davis-Besse and arresting declining performance at Perry while maintaining good performance

at Beaver Valley.