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INFORMATION REPORT SECY-07-0025 February 1, 2007
Contact: U. Shoop, OEDO Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Code for Operation and Maintenance (OM) of Nuclear Power Plants Motor-Operated Valve (MOV) Subgroup, and MOV and Air-Operated Valve (AOV) Users' Group Meetings On January 9-10, 2007, the NRC staff made presentations at the MOV and AOV Users' Group meetings. In particular, the staff discussed regulatory activities related to MOVs, the recent NRC reorganization as related to the oversight of MOV and AOV issues, participation of NRC staff at users group meetings, and the NRC staff recent ballot on the proposed ASME OM Code appendix that would allow replacement of the quarterly AOV stroke-time IST requirement with periodic exercising and diagnostic testing. In addition, on January 10, 2007, the staff participated in a meeting of the ASME Subgroup on Motor-Operated Valves. The committee members of the Subgroup reached agreement on resolution of OM Main Committee comments related to a proposed mandatory appendix to the ASME OM Code that would replace quarterly MOV stroke-time testing with periodic exercising and diagnostic testing. The proposed Code appendix will be returned to the OM Main Committee for completion of the ballot process. Meeting with Representatives of ASME Code Committee Members On January 10-11, 2007, the staff hosted a public meeting with ASME Code Committee members and interested industry representatives. Discussions were held regarding ASME Code technical and regulatory issues associated with welding, NDE, and pressure testing technologies and practices. One of the significant outcomes of the meeting was a path forward to streamline relief request submittals for weld overlays, thus potentially reducing staff and industry resources in the preparation, review, and approval of relief requests. Risk Management Technical Specifications Meeting On January 18, 2007, the staff met with the Nuclear Energy Institute and industry owner group representatives to discuss the status of Risk Management Technical Specifications initiatives. The Risk Management Technical Specifications initiatives are significant agency efforts to risk-inform the Standard Technical Specifications. These include Initiative 1 to modify plant Technical Specifications Required Action end states; Initiative 4b to allow licensee use of risk to calculate Completion Times for Technical Specifications Required Actions; and Initiative 6 to allow risk-informed Technical Specifications Required Action Completion Times to restore system Operability prior to starting a Technical Specifications 3.0.3 plant shutdown. The Nuclear Energy Institute submitted their recommendations to Chairman Klein in a letter dated December 21, 2006. Renewed Operating License for the Palisades Nuclear Plant Issued On January 17, 2007, the operating license for the Palisades Nuclear Plant was extended for an additional 20 years. The expiration date for the renewed license is March 24, 2031. Nuclear Management Company, LLC, submitted the license renewal application to the NRC by letter, dated March 22, 2005. The staff completed its review in less than 22 months, as documented in a safety evaluation report (SER), NUREG-1871, issued in January 2007, and Supplement 27 to the Generic Environmental Impact Statement, dated October 2006. Regulatory Issue Summary (RIS) 2007-01, "Clarification of NRC Guidance for Maintaining a Standard Emergency Action Level Scheme" On January 10, 2007, the staff issued the subject RIS. The purpose of this RIS is to clarify the regulatory requirement that licensees have a standard emergency classification and action level scheme in use, to ensure classification of events in a logical manner. Office of New Reactors (NRO) Site Visit and Audit of Vogtle Early Site Permit (ESP) Application During the week of January 8, 2007, the staff conducted an audit of the Vogtle ESP application in the areas of hydrology, health physics, geology, seismology, and geo-technical engineering. While at the site, the staff was given a tour of the ESP proposed facility boundary and also a tour of some key areas at the Savannah River Site in support of the review of the Vogtle ESP application. The multiple audits that have been conducted at the Vogtle ESP site will help to focus the staff's review and shape the requests for additional information that will be issued next month. Public Meeting on Tsunami Hazards for New Reactors On January 17, 2007, the staff conducted a public meeting with industry representatives to discuss tsunami guidance related to future reactor siting in coastal areas and to allow for early public dialogue regarding the planned update to NUREG-0800, Standard Review Plan 2.4.6, "Probable Maximum Tsunami Hazards." The meeting was attended by the Nuclear Energy Institute, several utility companies, the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and the general public. In addition, the NRC and industry expressed interest in participating in pre-application meetings concerning detailed applications for specific coastal sites. Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS) BWX Technologies, Inc. On January 17, 2007, the staff issued an Order containing Additional Security Measures for BWXT's Lynchburg Technology Center which is co-located with the Category I facility at its site in Lynchburg, Virginia. The Order and Additional Security Measures ensure the protection of the spent reactor fuel located in the underground storage facility. NAC International on MAGNASTOR Meeting On January 12, 2007, the staff met with representatives of NAC International (NAC) to discuss the staff review of NAC's application for a Certificate of Compliance (CoC) for the MAGNASTOR dry cask storage system under 10 CFR Part 72. The initial application was submitted in August 2004 and has been supplemented a number of times. The NRC staff informed NAC that the information submitted to date is not sufficient in certain areas for the staff to make the necessary safety findings to support issuance of a CoC at this time. The calculational methods to support structural stability of the storage canister internal fuel basket is the primary outstanding issue. The NRC staff indicated that it would consider the information presented by NAC at the meeting in determining whether to reconsider our decision to suspend review of the application, and that we would inform NAC promptly of our decision. Office of Federal and State Materials and Environmental Management Programs (FSME) Proposed Rule Signed by EDO On January 19, 2007, the Executive Director for Operations approved a proposed rule which modifies 10 CFR Part 72.214, "List of approved spent fuel storage casks," to revise the Transnuclear, Inc., Standardized NUHOMS® System listing within the "List of approved spent fuel storage casks." This amendment will modify the Certificate of Compliance by revising Technical Specifications 1.2.1 and 1.2.14 to add the Framatome-ANP, Version 9x9-2 fuel assemblies as approved contents for storage in the NUHOMS®-61BT dry shielded canister. Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES) Eighth Bilateral Meeting Between the NRC and the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board of India (AERB) on Nuclear Safety Projects On January 8-12, 2007, the staff met with technical staff and managers from AERB, the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd., and the Bhabha Atomic Research Center. As a result of the meetings, the parties agreed to investigate opportunities for future cooperation in the areas of software testing and digital system reliability analysis and to discuss these areas during the November 2007 meeting in Mumbai, India. On January 15-16, 2007, the delegation visited the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station and the Massachusetts Institution of Technology Center for Advanced Nuclear Energy Systems. Office of Administration (ADM) Export and Import of Nuclear Material; Exports to Libya Restricted (AIO2 - Part 110) On January 12, 2007, the NRC published a final rule in the Federal Register (72 FR 1426) that amended its export/import regulations to move Libya from the list of embargoed destinations to the list of restricted destinations. This means that exports of small quantities of certain nuclear materials may qualify for the general license specified in NRC regulations in accordance with current U.S. law and policy. The final rule became effective January 12, 2007. Massachusetts Attorney General; Reopening of Public Comment on Petition for Rulemaking (PRM-51-10) On January 19, 2007, the NRC published a document in the Federal Register (72 FR 2464) that reopened the public comment period on a petition for rulemaking submitted by Diane Curran on behalf of the Massachusetts Attorney General (PRM-51-10). The petitioner requested that the NRC revoke certain regulations in their entirety, and revoke other regulations to the extent that these regulations, in the petitioner's view, state, imply, or assume that the environmental impacts of storing spent nuclear fuel in high-density pools are not significant; issue a generic determination to clarify that the environmental impacts of high-density pool storage of spent fuel, will be considered significant; and require that any NRC licensing decision concerning high-density pool storage of spent nuclear fuel be accompanied by an environmental impact statement that addresses the environmental impacts of this storage and alternatives for avoiding or mitigating any environmental impacts. The comment period on this action now closes March 19, 2007. Office of Information Services (OIS) Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Privacy Act (PA) Requests Received During the Period of January 12 through January 18, 2007:
Office of Human Resources (HR)
Office of Public Affairs (OPA) The OPA received significant media inquiries on the following: The Supreme Court's decision not to review the 9th Circuit's ruling that NRC should consider the environmental impacts of potential terrorist attacks on nuclear facilities during licensing reviews. Oyster Creek's license renewal application. The effects of the federal budget crunch and a "continuing resolution" on the NRC. NRC's regulatory oversight of the Palo Verde nuclear plant. An outage at Monticello and its potential ramifications for other plants. Other Public Affairs Items: Chairman Klein was interviewed by the Associated Press.
Office of International Programs (OIP) License Issued to Export High-Enriched Uranium to Canada On January 17, 2007, the Office of International Programs issued to the Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration, Y-12 National Security Complex a license to export 15.5 kilograms of high-enriched uranium (enriched up to 93% uranium-235) to Chalk River Laboratories in Canada. The material will be used by Atomic Energy of Canada Limited to fabricate targets which will be irradiated in the National Research Universal Reactor to produce medical isotopes. Office of the Secretary (SECY)
Commission Correspondence
Federal Register Notices Issued
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