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INFORMATION REPORT SECY-07-0188 October 26, 2007
Contact: L. Quinones, OEDO Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) Meeting with Taiwan Representatives on Steam Generator Tube Inspections On October 9, 2007, the staff met with representatives from the Taiwan Atomic Energy Council (TAEC) to discuss its review of proposals to limit the extent of steam generator tube inspections in the tubesheet region. The staff provided references to publicly available information (staff evaluations and approved license amendments) and discussed technical issues related to approval of this type of amendment. Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, Units 1 and 2 - Advisory Subcommittee on Reactor Safeguards Technical Review On October 9 and 10, 2007, the staff presented its technical review of PPL's extended power uprate application for the Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, Units 1 and 2, to the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) Subcommittee on Power Uprates. Significant portions of the meeting focused on PPL's steam dryer analysis, the AREVA fuel methodology, and the staff's review of these technical areas. Although there are some remaining questions from the meeting, the Subcommittee did not identify any significant technical or safety deficiencies in PPL's application or in the staff's review. The staff is working with ACRS to prepare for the November ACRS Full-Committee meeting. Nuclear Procurement Issues Committee (NUPIC) Meeting From October 9 to 11, 2007, NRR and Office of New Reactors (NRO) staff attended the Nuclear Procurement Issues Committee (NUPIC) meeting in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The staff presented results from the recent NRC vendor inspections and participated in discussions regarding nuclear vendors. NUPIC evaluates suppliers furnishing safety related items and services to the nuclear industry. The committee, which meets three times a year, is represented by all domestic and several international nuclear utilities. Meeting with Dominion Nuclear to Discuss GSI-191 Chemical Effects Testing On October 11, 2007, the NRC staff met with representatives from Dominion Nuclear and their contractor, Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL), to discuss proposed testing methods related to GSI-191 chemical effects. Dominion's contactor presented a chemical effects test plan based on bench top testing with the objective of demonstrating that materials stay in solution rather than precipitate, i.e., a "solubility" approach. The staff identified for the licensee significant issues with the proposed test approach and identified several assumptions that would require demonstration of an adequate technical basis before the approach could be found acceptable. Public Meeting with Toshiba On October 15, 2007, NRR, NRO, and Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research staff held a Category 2 meeting with Toshiba. Most of the Toshiba staff participated via phone from Japan. Members of the public were present during the meeting. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the contents of Toshiba's topical report (TR) on generic qualification program for field programmable gate array-based safety-related instrumentation and control systems. Toshiba announced its plans to submit the generic TR by the end of October 2007 and another TR on systems development in early spring 2008. Millstone Unit 3 Stretch Power Uprate (SPU) Application Acceptance By application dated July 13, 2007, the licensee requested a 7% SPU for Millstone 3. By letter dated October 15, 2007, the NRC informed the licensee that the licensee provided the necessary information for the staff to begin a detailed technical review, and that the application meets the criteria for an SPU. The application requested NRC approval of the amendment by June 30, 2008. However, the NRC stated in its October 15, 2007, letter that the application may require more review time due to the licensee's proposed revisions to the licensing basis for the alternative source term dose consequence analysis, and as a result, the licensee agreed to a new requested completion date of August 15, 2008. The highest SPU previously approved by the staff was a 6% SPU for Kewaunee on February 27, 2004. Monthly Reactor Oversight Process Public Meeting On October 18, 2007, the staff held the monthly Reactor Oversight Process (ROP) public meeting. The purpose of this meeting is 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 frequently asked questions for the ROP. Final Issuance of NUREGs 1021, 1122 and 1123 On October 19, 2007, the staff issued final supplements to three operator licensing NUREGs: NUREG-1021, 1122, and 1123. The changes in the supplements were developed in cooperation with the industry during a series of public meetings with the Nuclear Energy Institute's Operator Licensing Focus Group, and the joint Owner's Group Training Group for Pressurized and Boiling Water Reactors. The supplements include a number of changes that are intended to: (1) clarify licensed operator medical requirements, including the use of prescription medications; (2) clarify the use of surrogate operators during dynamic simulator scenarios; (3) clarify the selection process for generic knowledge and ability (K/A) statements; (4) qualify the NRC review of post-examination comments; (5) provide additional guidance for maintaining an active license (watchstander proficiency). In addition, a new examination topic was added for generator voltage and electric grid disturbances. Office of New Reactors (NRO) Meeting with Westinghouse on AP1000 Seismic Issues From October 8 - 12, 2007, staff met with Westinghouse to discuss Westinghouse's efforts to standardize and complete AP1000 Seismic analyses associated with soil sites. A portion of the meeting was dedicated to a discussion of Westinghouse's responses to the staff's questions associated with several seismic and structural design related Technical Reports. NRC staff and Westinghouse also discussed the near term schedule for submission of new seismic and structural reports and revisions to Technical Reports. Based on the review of information provided by Westinghouse, the staff determined that Westinghouse's general approach to developing the seismic response spectra for all soil conditions is reasonable and acceptable. Final conclusions will be based on the review of final Technical Report revisions and Design Control Document changes. STP Combined License (COL) Application The staff completed its SUNSI review of the South Texas Project COL application and the application was made available on the public website on October 15, 2007. Pre-Submittal Quality Assurance Audit of the EPR Design Certification Application From October 15 - 19, 2007, the staff conducted a pre-submittal audit of the draft safety analysis report (also referred to as the design control document or [DCD]) at AREVA NP's office in Lynchburg, Virginia. The 23-member audit team reviewed the processes in place to prepare the DCD as well as its content using the COL application regulatory guidance (Regulatory Guide 1.206). No quality assurance issues were identified. Approximately 300 additional observations were identified by the team as either potential acceptance review issues or potential requests for additional information. These observations were verbally communicated to AREVA staff and management. Institute of Nuclear Power Operations Meeting On October 17, 2007, staff met with representatives from the New Reactor Deployment Group of the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO). The purpose of this meeting was to discuss and incorporate NRC and INPO comments on the revision to the November 2005 Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the NRC and INPO. Specifically, this MOA is being revised to include NRC and INPO coordination of activities, exchange of information, and operational experience regarding construction, inspection, and evaluation of new nuclear power plants. NRC and INPO plan to finalize revisions to the MOA by December 2007. Pre-Application Audit of EPR Design Certification During the week of October 15, 2007, the staff conducted a pre-application audit of the EPR design certification application. The reviewers compared the final safety analysis report (FSAR) portion of the design certification application (the design control document) with Part I of Regulatory Guide 1.206. The focus was on identifying any information gaps between the FSAR and the technical content requirements of a design certification application as specified in 10 CFR 52.47. Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS) Meeting with Department of Energy on Interagency Agreements On October 16, 2007, staff from the Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards and the Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response met with staff from the Department of Energy's (DOE's) Oak Ridge Operations Office to discuss implementation of recently signed Interagency Agreements between DOE and the U.S Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for protection of classified information and related security activities. Under the Interagency Agreements, DOE has agreed to be the Designated Approval Authority for licensee classified computer networks. During the meeting, the staff discussed implementation issues, reviewed processes and schedules for the review of licensee classified computer networks, and discussed technical assistance needed for performing inspections of licensee classified computer networks. The NRC staff also provided to DOE the first licensee classified network plan for review. Repository post-closure performance Meeting From October 10-12, 2007, the NRC held an Appendix 7 meeting in Las Vegas, NV, with DOE on topics related to post‑closure performance of the proposed repository at Yucca Mountain. NRC staff gathered information from DOE staff and contractors on potential tunnel degradation and DOE's model for the impact of seismic events on waste isolation. Public stakeholders observed the meeting. Meeting with NAC International October 17, 2007 On October 17, 2007, NMSS staff met with NAC International to discuss two upcoming amendments for the Model No. NAC-LWT package for the transport of spent fuel. The requests include (1) revising the fuel specifications for the TRIGA fuel that is currently authorized and (2) adding fresh and spent mixed oxide (MOX) fuel as new authorized contents. The separate applications are expected to be received in December 2007. Future plans by NAC were also introduced. Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response (NSIR) PNO-II-07-012, Catawba Nuclear Station ONSITE GROUND WATER TRITIUM CONTAMINATION PNO-III- 07-010, Fermit Unit 2 UNUSUAL EVENT DECLARED AT FERMI DUE TO UNEXPECTED PIPING HOLE AND INDENTATIONS PNO-III-07-010A, Fermi unit 2 UPDATE: UNUSUAL EVENT TERMINATED AT FERMI AND SPECIAL INSPECTION TEAM DISPATCHED PNO-III-08-011, Quad Cities TRITIUM LEAKAGE Office of Administration (ADM) Exemptions from Licensing, General Licenses, and Distribution of Byproduct Material; Licensing and Reporting Requirements (AH41 - Parts 30, 31, 32, and 150) On October 16, 2007, the NRC published a final rule in the Federal Register (72 FR 58473) that would amend its regulations governing the use of byproduct material. The amendments revise requirements for reporting transfers of byproduct materials to persons exempt from licensing, simplify the licensing of smoke detector distribution, remove obsolete provisions, and clarify certain regulatory provisions. The final rule becomes effective December 17, 2007. Office of Information Services (OIS) Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Privacy Act (PA) Requests Received During the Period of October 12 through October 18, 2007:
Office of Human Resources (HR)
Office of International Programs (OIP) Export License Issued For the National Research Universal (NRU) Reactor in Canada On October 19, 2007, OIP issued a license (XSNM3504) to the U.S. Department of Energy/ National Nuclear Security Administration authorizing the export of high-enriched uranium to Canada for use as target material in the NRU reactor to produce medical isotopes.Office of the Secretary (SECY)
Federal Register Notices Issued
Region II (RII) McGuire Emergency Exercise On October 19, 2007, Region II participated in the NRC/McGuire Exercise. The Region participated with a full Base Team and Site Team. The Regional Administrator participated as the Site Team Director and the Deputy Director. Division of Reactor Safety participated as the Base Team Manager. Commissioner Jaczko was an observer during the exercise at the State of North Carolina Emergency Operations Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. Headquarters fully participated in this exercise. NRC's TOPOFF Exercise On October 17-19, 2007, Region II participated in the Agency's TOPOFF Exercise. The Regional participation included two individuals at the Federal Radiological Monitoring and Assessment Center (FRMAC) in Portland, Oregon. Regional staff participated at the FRMAC as the NRC Public Affairs Liaison Coordinator and as the State Liaison Coordinator.Region IV (RIV) Arizona Public Service Company Executive Management Changes On October 17, Arizona Public Service (APS) Company announced the retirement of Mr. Jack Davis, the President and Chief Operating Officer of Pinnacle West Capital Corporation and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of APS. Mr. Don Brandt, currently APS President, was selected to be CEO, APS. Mr. Randy Edington has been promoted to Executive Vice President, Nuclear, and Mr. John Hesser has been named Vice President, Nuclear Engineering. APS and Pinnacle West Corporation are the primary owners of Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station. Office of Congressional Affairs (OCA)
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