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INFORMATION REPORT SECY-07-0089 June 5, 2007
Contact: U. Shoop, OEDO Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) Thermal-Hydraulic Phenomena Subcommittee Meeting Regarding Generic Safety Issue (GSI)-191 On May 15-16, 2007, representatives of the nuclear industry, NRR, and RES briefed the ACRS Subcommittee on Thermal-Hydraulic Phenomena on the status of GSI-191, Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) Sump Clogging. Four licensees provided detailed descriptions of their actions and plans to address GSI-191. In addition, the PWR Owners Group briefed the Subcommittee on topical reports they have submitted to the staff on the subjects of chemical and downstream effects. The Staff discussed status of review of the topical reports, provided an update on various GSI-191 activities, and discussed the process the staff is employing to address remaining technical questions. The Subcommittee anticipates another briefing from the staff in fall 2007, at which time safety evaluations for the topical reports should be complete and much of the industry's planned chemical effects testing should be done. Monthly Reactor Oversight Process (ROP) Public Meeting On May 16, the NRR staff held the monthly ROP public meeting. The purpose of this meeting was to allow discussion on staff initiatives and provide a forum for industry feedback. Meeting attendees discussed mitigating systems performance index (MSPI) implementation, safety culture integration into the reactor oversight process, performance indicator issues, and open and new frequently asked questions for the ROP. Office of New Reactors (NRO) Staff visit proposed sites as part of pre-combined license application activities On May 3, 2007, staff visited the Grand Gulf site, which has been proposed as the site for a new reactor. Staff made a similar visit to the Shearon Harris site on May 7 and 8, and the William Lee Site on May 9 and 10. The purpose of these visits was to familiarize the staff with the proposed sites and to begin establishing a working relationship with the applicants and local agencies. Topics discussed during the visit included hydrology, emergency planning, meteorology, ecology, radiation protection, socioeconomics, energy alternatives, and alternative sites. Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS) International Atomic Energy Agency Safety Evaluation During Operation Evaluation at Brazilian Uranium Fuel Fabrication Facility Between April 23, 2007, and May 9, 2007, an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team of six experts, including an NRC staff member, conducted an operational safety review, also known as a Safety Evaluation During Operation (SEDO) mission, of Brazil's uranium fuel fabrication facility in Resende, in the State of Rio de Janeiro. This was the IAEA's first such mission to a fuel cycle facility. The SEDO team had four other experts from France, Germany, Sweden, and Spain. The team leader was an IAEA official. Also present were two observers from Argentina. On the day of the exit meeting, a draft report documenting the SEDO team's recommendations was provided to the facility operator, Nuclear Industries of Brazil (INB). This report is anticipated to be finalized in about three months. According to INB, an action plan will be prepared and implemented to address the IAEA's recommendations. In about 18 months, the IAEA team leader, with one or two team members, will likely revisit the facility to determine the extent of INB's implementation of the IAEA's recommendations. Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board Meeting on Yucca Mountain On May 15, 2007, staff attended a public meeting of the U.S. Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board in Arlington, VA. The meeting covered several topics related to a potential geologic repository at Yucca Mountain, NV, including: (a) the use of depleted uranium oxide; (b) a drilling program carried out by Inyo County in California; (c) waste package designs; (d) the saturated zone model; (e) near-field chemistry; and (f) probabilistic volcanic hazards analysis. U.S. Department of Energy Workshop on Volcanic Hazard Analysis for Yucca Mountain From May 10-11, 2007, staff observed a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) public workshop in Las Vegas, NV. The workshop was an update to DOE's expert elicitation of its Probabilistic Volcanic Hazard Analysis for a potential geologic repository at Yucca Mountain. Foam Degradation Observed in Certain Overpacks Used for Shipment of Uranium Hexafluoride In May 2007, Columbiana Hi Tech informed staff about degradation in some overpacks used for the transport of low-enriched uranium hexafluoride. The overpacks were of a design that is authorized by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), and are composed of a rigid phenolic foam encased in stainless steel shells. The overpacks, which were being scrapped, displayed a degree of friability and reduction of strength in the phenolic foam. Subsequently, a meeting was held at DOT Headquarters, with representatives of companies that own and use phenolic foam overpacks. The owners in attendance reported that their overpacks did not display similar degradation. At the meeting, the owners agreed to evaluate their overpacks with respect to possible mechanisms for foam degradation and to report their findings to DOT. Columbiana Hi Tech is the certificate holder for an NRC-certified design that uses the same type of phenolic foam; however, degradation has not been observed in NRC-certified packagings. NRC staff will continue to coordinate and provide technical assistance to DOT, regarding this issue. Public Meeting with U.S. Department of Energy - Idaho Field Office on the Standardized Canister On May 7-8, 2007, staff met with representatives from the DOE - Idaho Field Office (DOE-ID) and their contractors in Idaho Falls, Idaho. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the material and structural integrity of the Standardized Canister design, which will be used as part of the transportation package for transporting DOE-owned spent nuclear fuel to a high-level waste repository. DOE-ID and its contractors presented the results of the material tests and the full-scale drop tests. NRC staff also toured the facility where DOE-ID has been performing the material tests, and discussed the regulatory process and the level of detail regarding DOE's planned submittal of its Standardized Canister design. Meeting with NAC International on NAC-LWT Transport Package On May 14, 2007, staff met with NAC international (NAC), to discuss an amendment for the Model No. NAC-LWT package, for the transport of spent fuel to support the DOE's Foreign Research Reactor Spent Nuclear Fuel Acceptance Program. This amendment application, received on May 7, 2007, requests the addition of materials and test reactor fuel that has a higher fissile content than what is currently authorized. NAC stated that it will provide a supplement to the application by the end of May 2007, to clarify procedure controls to be used, and to provide additional detail in the criticality safety analysis. Office of Federal and State Materials and Environmental Management Programs (FSME) Savannah River Site Citizen's Advisory Board Meeting on Tank Closure On May 8, 2007, staff participated in a public meeting on the Savannah River Site (SRS) Citizen's Advisory Board, to discuss closure of radioactive waste storage tanks at SRS. The NRC presentation focused on the Agency's role in reviewing the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) incidental waste determinations and monitoring disposal actions for the tanks, as well as the public participation process for NRC reviews. DOE, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control also provided presentations on their respective roles. Closed Meeting with the DOE to Discuss Technical Issues Related to Savannah River Site Waste Determinations On May 8-9, 2007, staff met with the DOE, EPA, and South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control staff in Columbia, SC, to discuss technical issues and concepts related to performance assessment modeling for the Savannah River Site F-Tank Farm. Discussion topics included dose conversion factors, bioaccumulation factors, and modeling code integration. A followup meeting will be held this summer to discuss preliminary model results, which will support future waste determinations for F-Tank Farm tanks. Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES) Issuance of Publicly-Available Report, "U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Long-Term Research: FY 2009 Activities" On May 16, 2007, the Office Director signed out letters forwarding a publicly-available version of the "U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Long-Term Research: FY 2009 Activities" report to domestic stakeholders (ML071290405). The letters requested input from the external stakeholders, including the identification of potential collaborative opportunities. The letter also invited them to participate in a public meeting on the topic, to be held on June 1. Addressees of the letters included other government agencies the US National Laboratories, public advocacy groups, and an organization representing universities with nuclear engineering departments. A similar letter to foreign partners is expected to be signed shortly (ML071290689). Public Meeting between NRC and Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) on Steam Generator Tube Rupture during a Pressurized Water Reactor Severe Accident On May 15, 2007, the NRC staff and its contractors held a public meeting with EPRI and its contractors to discuss issues relating to separate NRC and EPRI studies of reactor coolant pressure boundary behavior and failure timing under severe accident conditions. NRC draft reports on this matter indicate that unflawed steam generator tubes may fail at about the same time as the hot leg under high-dry station blackout scenarios. EPRI studies indicate that failure of the steam generator tubes would likely be preceded by a failure in the hot leg which would preclude containment bypass. EPRI presented results of its peer review of the NRC draft reports and NRC staff and contractors presented responses to the EPRI comments. These presentations were followed by a general discussion of specific areas of the NRC and EPRI studies warranting further investigation. Representatives from the Union of Concerned Scientists and Sierra Club were present at the meeting. Nuclear Security and Incident Response (NSIR) Preliminary Notification
Office of Information Services (OIS) Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Privacy Act (PA) Requests Received During the Period of May 11 through May 17, 2007:
Office of Human Resources (HR)
Office of Small Business and Civil Rights (SBCR) NRC Hosts Small Business Procurement Fair On May 16, 2007, SBCR hosted a Small Business Procurement Fair at NRC Headquarters. Representatives from 27 small businesses from a variety of industry groups displayed their products and services and distributed corporate capabilities information. Approximately 200 NRC management and staff members from 17 offices participated in the event. NRC staff and the small business representatives commented that the fair provided an excellent opportunity for face-to-face meetings with key potential business partners, and requested that NRC host similar outreach activities in the near future. Office of Public Affairs (OPA) OPA received significant media inquiries on the following: Demand For Information issued to First Energy Browns Ferry restart Fire protection and security guard issues at Shearon Harris
Office of the Secretary (SECY)
Commission Correspondence - Letter to Robert Loux, State of Nevada, dated May 9, 2007, responding to letter requesting that the Commission reconsider instituting the procedures outlined in an April 2003 petition. Federal Register Notices Issued
Region II (RII) Vogtle Public Meeting On May 17, 2007, representatives from Southern Nuclear Operating Company attended a public meeting for the Vogtle Nuclear Plant in the Region II Office. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the status of the Vogtle Nuclear Plant. Region IV (RIV) Annual Assessment Public Meeting with Entergy Operations, Inc. On May 17, 2007, the staff conducted a public meeting with Entergy Operations, Inc. representatives to present the NRC's assessment of the safety performance of Waterford-3 Steam Electric Station for the period of January 1 through December 31, 2006. Approximately 25 attended the meeting including state and local officials. There was no media coverage. Office of Congressional Affairs (OCA)
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