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INFORMATION REPORT

SECY-00-0186

August 31, 2000

Contact:  D. Diec, OEDO

WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING AUGUST 25, 2000

The Weekly Information Report is compiled by the Office of the EDO and includes highlights of Headquarters and Regional Office activities.

Contact: D. Diec, OEDO by E-mail: dtd@nrc.gov.

ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Items of Interest
Week Ending August 25, 2000

Operating Licensing Program Meeting with NEI

NRC's operator licensing program headquarters staff and regional representatives met with the Nuclear Energy Institute's (NEI) Initial Licensed Operator Focus Group in a public meeting on August 16, 2000. This working group meeting was convened to discuss a number of topics related to the effective and efficient implementation of the operator licensing program and the significance determination process (SDP) for issues identified during licensed operator requalification inspections. Specific topics included the proposed supplement to NUREG-1021 that was issued for public comment in March 2000, the status of a regulatory issue summary (RIS) related to licensed operator eligibility requirements and guidelines, the status of the simulator rulemaking, the generic fundamentals examination, and possible long-term changes to the written licensing examination process.

Public Meeting with NEI Regarding RROP EP Cornerstone

On August 17, 2000, a public meeting was held with NEI to discuss "Frequently Asked Questions" (FAQs) regarding the Revised Reactor Oversight Program (RROP) Emergency Preparedness (EP) Cornerstone. The FAQs concerned the appropriateness of methods to collect PI data. Additional issues were discussed concerning the consistent implementation of the RROP inspection program. These issues included the confidentiality of scenarios and the detail required for simulator scenarios reviewed by inspectors. Two members of the public (reporters) attended the meeting. Due to large number of FAQs received and efforts to improve the response time for publishing answers, the staff agreed to schedule regular monthly meetings on the third Thursday of each month beginning in September to review EP cornerstone FAQs.

Update on the Power Uprate Program & ACRS' Request for a Briefing

The staff recently held meetings regarding the licensees' interest in amendment requests for a 15 percent power uprate. The following plants are expected to submit their licensing amendment requests include Duane Arnold, Dresden 2 & 3, and Quad Cities 1 & 2 (late 2000). Similar requests for Browns Ferry 2 & 3 and Brunswick 1 & 2 are expected in 2001. A 15 percent uprate for these 9 units represents about 3,400 MWt (1,100 MWe) of additional generating capacity.

Until late 1998, power uprates have been limited to 5 percent nominal. A total of 42 power uprate amendments (23 PWRs & 19 BWRs) were issued between 1977 and mid-1998, all within 5 percent. The significance of the 5 percent stems from the fact that uprates beyond this threshold would require significant BOP equipment upgrades, including the high pressure turbine, condensate pumps & motors, transformers, iso-phase bus duct cooling, etc.

Between 1997-1998, the licensees for Monticello and Hatch 1 & 2 have pursued "extended uprates" (6.3 percent for Monticello and 8 percent for Hatch 1 & 2) with encouragements and incentives from GE. Preceding the requests from Monticello and Hatch, GE submitted Topical Reports on the Extended Power Uprate Program, which covered uprates of up to 20 percent, including the initial 5 percent. GE's Topical Reports and the uprate applications for Monticello and Hatch 1 & 2 were approved by the staff in late 1998 and endorsed by the ACRS.

Also during this period, the staff conducted an extensive self-assessment (i.e., Maine Yankee Lessons Learned Task Force), which resulted in action items, including (1) expansion of review criteria for power uprates to include areas such as human factors and offsite power stability, (2) verification of appropriate application of computer codes and analytical methods used by the licensee, and (3) development of a Standard Review Plan (SRP) to ensure consistency in staff reviews. The set of power uprate reviews following this self-assessment (Monticello, Hatch, and Farley) have incorporated the action items 1 & 2. The staff safety evaluations for Monticello (BWR) and Farley (PWR) have been used as templates for the subsequent power uprate reviews pending the development of the SRP.

Since mid-1998, the staff approved three additional BWRs power uprate amendments. To date, there is a total of 48 power uprate amendments (23 PWRs & 25 BWRs) have been approved that represent over 6,000 MWt (or 2,000 MWe) of additional generating capacity. Currently, there are four 5 percent power uprate applications in-house for the staff review. Additional applications are expected in the near future.

Recently, the ACRS has requested to meet with the staff to discuss power uprate related issues associated with (1) safety margins and risk studies, (2) potential synergistic safety issues (i.e., aging/uprate effects, and high-burnup/uprate effects), and (3) the status of developing an SRP for power uprate reviews. The renewed interest in this topic stems from a study conducted by an ACRS Fellow for power uprates up to 15 percent. The ACRS briefing has been tentatively scheduled for December 2000. NRC management pre-brief is tentatively scheduled for September 19, 2000.

Indian Point Unit 2

Consolidated Edison Company of New York (ConEd) began a full-core off-load on August 18, 2000, in preparation for the replacement of the steam generators at Indian Point Unit 2. The off-load has been slowed due to several maintenance problems with some fuel handling equipment. At this time ConEd expects to complete the core off-load activities by August 24.

The meeting between the staff and ConEd to discuss the licensee's recovery plan after being designated as an "agency focus" plant has been scheduled for September 11, 2000, at the plant site.

On August 22, 2000, ConEd announced that, effective September 1, 2000, Kevin Burke will become the President of ConEd, replacing J. Michael Evans, who will retire from the position of President and Chief Operating Officer that he held since 1998. Mr. Burke is currently the President of Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc., a subsidiary of Consolidated Edison, Inc. Before joining Orange and Rockland in 1999, Mr. Burke was the senior vice president for ConEd's electric transmission and distribution systems. He has also served as Vice President of Corporate Planning, Vice President of Brooklyn Customer Service, and Vice President of Construction.

Other corporate changes include: Steve Bram was named President of Orange and Rockland from his current position as Senior Vice President of Central Operations. Luther Tai was promoted to Senior Vice President of Central Operations from his current position as Vice President of Corporate Planning.

ENCLOSURE B

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards
Items of Interest
Week Ending August 25, 2000

Upgrade of the Nuclear Material Management and Safeguards System

The Department of Energy (DOE) has indicated that it intends to cut back on the scope of the planned upgrade to the Nuclear Material Management and Safeguards System. The revised scope will include only changes needed to move from the obsolete (unsupported) FoxPro for DOS platform to the Windows-based Oracle platform, changes that are essential for tracking of foreign obligations on nuclear materials in the U.S., and a few data elements requested to be included by DOE's Office of Defense Programs. Reporting of obligations is required by certain Agreements for Cooperation negotiated by the Executive Branch. The DOE decision should simplify the effort of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff to ensure that NRC licensees are not impacted by changes that DOE proposed for their own material management purposes.

U.S. Support Program Meetings With Contractors

During August 14-17, 2000, a Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards staff member participated with U.S. Government interagency members of the Subgroup on Safeguards Technical Support to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in support program related meetings with Sandia National Laboratories, Aquila Technologies Group, and Los Alamos National Laboratory officials in New Mexico. The meetings included discussions on the progress and difficulties with IAEA support program tasks (e.g., remote monitoring of selected site activities by IAEA) currently underway at the three organizations, particularly tasks involving joint participation of the organizations. In addition, the discussions also involved current technologies with possible applications for enhancing IAEA safeguards.

Final Rule: 10 CFR Part 72

On August 21, 2000, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission published a Final Rule: 10 CFR Part 72 - Clarification and Addition of Flexibility (65 FR 50606) affecting spent fuel storage regulations. This rule clarifies Part 72 to:  (1) specify those sections of Part 72 that apply to general licensees, specific licensees, applicants for a specific license, certificate holders, and applicants for a certificate of compliance (CoC); (2) eliminate the necessity for repetitive reviews of cask design issues in a licensing proceeding on applications for specific Part 72 licenses, where previously approved cask designs, or designs under Commission review, have been incorporated by reference into the application; (3) eliminate repetitive reviews in those cases where the site-specific licensing proceeding and a CoC review and certification (i.e., rulemaking) are proceeding in parallel; and (4) allow an applicant for a CoC to begin cask fabrication under a Nuclear Regulatory Commission-approved quality assurance program before the CoC is issued. The rule will become effective September 20, 2000.

Resolving Unsaturated Zone Hydrology Issues at Yucca Mountain

On August 16-17, 2000, Division of Waste Management staff engaged in a technical exchange and management meeting with the Department of Energy (DOE ) at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratories in Berkeley, California. The meeting focused on the technical issue of isothermal unsaturated zone flow at Yucca Mountain. The subissue of deep groundwater percolation was closed at the staff level pending DOE's completion of planned field tests and modeling work. In particular, DOE needs to complete monitoring and seepage tests in the isolated east-west drift to evaluate the amount of groundwater drip into tunnels. The staff has tentatively closed the matrix diffusion subissue (refers to the migration of dissolved ions from moist fractures into rock matrix), as it relates to the unsaturated zone, pending DOE's completion of several tasks. The subissue of present-day groundwater infiltration remains open pending the staff review of a DOE plan for resolution. DOE will submit this plan in October 2000 for staff review. The staff will meet with DOE in November 2000 to review resolution of shallow groundwater infiltration and the remaining subissues in saturated zone hydrology.

Public Meetings to Discuss Reexamination of Spent Fuel Shipment Risk Estimates and Package Performance Study

On August 15-16, 2000, Spent Fuel Project Office (SFPO) staff, with the assistance of Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) personnel, held three public meetings in Las Vegas and Pahrump, Nevada, regarding the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC's) recently completed NUREG 6672, "Reexamination of Spent Fuel Shipment Risk Estimates," and the results of Phase 1 of the Package Performance Study. The first roundtable meeting was held on August 15, 2000, during the day. Government, industry, and public interest groups, as well as SFPO staff and SNL personnel, comprised the roundtable participants. The other two town hall formatted meetings were held in the evening on August 15-16, 2000, respectively. There were good discussions by all the participants and a number of issues were identified for further consideration by NRC.

Meeting with Tennessee Valley Authority on Dry Spent Fuel Storage Plans

On August 23, 2000, Spent Fuel Project Office staff met with representatives of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to discuss their dry spent fuel storage plans at the Sequoyah Nuclear Plant. TVA plans to use the general license provisions of 10 CFR Part 72 and begins to load spent fuel in the Spring of 2004, using the Holtec International HI-STORM 100 storage system.

Meeting Regarding New Transport Container for Fresh Fuel Assemblies

On August 22, 2000, Spent Fuel Project Office staff met with the Westinghouse Electric Company to discuss the design of a new transportation container for unirradiated fuel assemblies. The details of the criticality analyses for the package and the plans for physically testing the package were discussed. The package is being designed to meet current domestic and international transportation regulations. Westinghouse plans to submit an application for package approval to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in January 2001.

ENCLOSURE C

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research
Items of Interest
Week Ending August 25, 2000

Meeting of the PTS Risk, Thermal Hydraulics, and Uncertainty Analysis Teams

On August 15-17, 2000, members of the RES staff met at NRC Headquarters with the contractors responsible for the PRA, thermal-hydraulic (TH), and uncertainty analyses underlying the development of a technical basis for revising 10 CFR 50.61, "Fracture Toughness Requirements for Protection Against Pressurized Thermal Shock (PTS) Events." The purpose of the meeting was to integrate the efforts of the various engineering teams involved. The meeting was prompted by the recent generation of preliminary TH and PRA results for Oconee, the first plant analyzed. NRR and ACRS staff also attended the meeting.

The presentations covered a set of TH runs performed for Oconee, the preliminary Oconee PTS event trees and scenario frequencies, the Oconee human reliability analysis (HRA), and the methodology used to quantify TH uncertainties. The TH runs show that certain scenarios do not create a PTS challenge (the range of potentially significant LOCAs is very limited). The PRA analysis shows that a number of potentially challenging scenarios are of sufficient likelihood to warrant a detailed treatment of probabilistic fracture mechanics (PFM) and TH considerations. The HRA examines training and operating procedures to identify key potential human failure events, including errors of omission. The TH uncertainty analysis identifies the key parameters affecting TH uncertainties and certain kinds of scenarios for which a simplified approach can be used instead of detailed modeling to estimate TH trajectories.

The lessons learned from this meeting will be useful in future integrated-engineering analyses to be performed by RES.

Final Report on Regulatory Effectiveness of the Station Blackout Rule

RES issued a final report, "Regulatory Effectiveness of the Station Blackout Rule," on August 16, 2000. This report evaluates the effectiveness of station blackout (SBO) rule by comparing regulatory expectations to outcomes in the areas of coping capability, risk reduction, emergency diesel generator reliability, and value-impact. The report concludes that, although some regulatory documents may require clarification consistent with the principles of good regulation, the SBO rule is effective and the costs to industry and the NRC to implement the SBO rule were reasonable considering the outcome. The report also concludes that resolution of the generic issue of SBO was effective and that no additional generic actions were warranted and no new generic safety issues had been identified.

As a result of this report, RES and NRR plan to review regulatory documents related to SBO to eliminate identified inconsistencies in the definition of reliability consistent with the Planning Budgeting and Performance Management process. RES plans to re-evaluate Regulatory Guide 1.93, "Availability of Electric Power Sources," December 1974 to determine whether additional practical guidance may minimize the likelihood of an SBO. This guide is the basis for technical specifications in the area of availability of ac onsite and offsite power supply. The report identifies where NRC inspection procedures could be modified, in the future, to better incorporate operating experience. The report also identifies the following lessons learned for future regulations: (a) existing regulatory documents that incorporated risk-informed and performance-based approaches may need to be modified to ensure consistent interpretation and use of terms, goals, criteria, and measurements and (b) new regulations or the accompanying regulatory documents should include quantitative objectives to facilitate evaluation of their regulatory effectiveness.

Two New Regulatory Guides on Decommissioning

RES has issued Regulatory Guide 1.184, "Decommissioning of Nuclear Power Reactors," which describes methods and procedures for implementing the NRC's regulations on the initial activities and the major phases of the decommissioning process. Regulatory Guide 1.185, "Standard Format and Content for Post-Shutdown Decommissioning Activities Report," provides guidance on the type of information that is to be included in the licensee's post-shutdown decommissioning activities report (PSDAR) and it establishes a standard format for the information in these reports.

ENCLOSURE D

Incident Response Operations
Items of Interest
Week Ending August 25, 2000

NFS Erwin Exercise

NFS Erwin participated with NRC Headquarters, Region II, and State and local organizations on August 16, 2000, in the first joint emergency exercise involving active participation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI ). The exercise was a milestone in the process of developing practical procedures for working with the FBI in responding to acts of terrorism and threats associated with weapons of mass destruction as defined in Presidential Decision Directives 39 and 62. The nature of the FBI role requires independence and confidentiality in contrast to NRC emergency response operations. Consequently, IRO, with extensive support from NMSS, developed a joint concept of operations and a memorandum of understanding with the FBI. Subsequently, it was necessary to obtain an agreement for a joint exercise, find a licensee willing to host an unscheduled exercise, and develop a scenario that would adequately and realistically test the concept of operations within FBI and NRC staffing limitations. Because of very good cooperation and staff work, the exercise with the FBI and NFS Erwin occurred more than six months ahead of the original schedule.

This exercise could not be added to a scheduled licensee exercise because of potential interference with graded activities so the major participants (IRO, NMSS, R II, NFS, and the FBI) prepared the entire scenario. As the scenario played out during the exercise, it was clear that licensee, NRC, and the FBI must work together with State and local counterparts and each must depend on the specific strengths of the others to overcome a threatening situation. Nearly a dozen FBI personnel played the exercise at the site with NFS arranged on-scene participation by State and local organizations, while three personnel from FBI Headquarters participated at NRC Headquarters. The Congressman for that district of Tennessee added more realism by calling the NRC Executive Team.

The NFS Erwin exercise provided a solid basis for NRC to draft appropriate preparations and procedures should a real situation of this kind arise. IRO will prepare a summary memo to participants and will track detailed follow-up actions. IRO and NMSS will also coordinate appropriate findings with the FBI. A similar exercise with a power reactor licensee is under discussion.

Preliminary Notifications

1. PNO-I-00-020B, Grand View Hospital, RECOVERY OF IODINE-125 BRACHYTHERAPY IMPLANT SEEDS THAT WERE REPORTED MISSING (UPDATE)
   
   
2. PNO-I-00-023, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, POTENTIAL MISADMINISTRATION INVOLVING A DIAGNOSTIC DOSE OF IODINE-131 SODIUM IODIDE.
   
   
3. PNO-I-00-025, University of Pittsburgh, PROBABLE UNDERDOSE TO ONE PATIENT DURING THE ADMINISTRATION OF YTTRIUM-90 MICROSPHERES.
   
   
4. PNO-II-00-026, Keegan Technology and Testing, STOLEN MOISTURE/DENSITY GAUGE.
   
   
5. PNO-II-00-027A, Law Engineering and Environmental, RECOVERED MISSING PORTABLE GAUGE.
   
   
6. PNO-II-00-031, Southern Nuclear Operating Company (Farley 2), ALERT DECLARED BY FARLEY DUE TO FIRE AND TRIP OF THE 2C SERVICE WATER PUMP.
   
   
7. PNO-III-00-030, Honeywell Specialty Chemicals, URANIUM INTAKE IN EXCESS OF REGULATORY LIMITS.
   
   
8. PNO-III-00-031, American Electric Power Co. (DC Cook 1 & 2), TWELVE PEOPLE ARRESTED DURING DEMONSTRATION OUTSIDE PLANT.
   
   
9. PNO-IV-00-017, Welding Testing X-Ray Inc., RADIOGRAPHY CAMERA FOUND ON ROAD.
   
   
10. PNO-IV-00-018, Midwest Inspection Services, HIGH DOSIMETER READING.
    
    
11. PNO-IV-00-019, Entergy Operations, Inc. (River Bend Station), PLANT SHUTDOWN GREATER THAN 72 HOURS DUE TO OFFGAS SYSTEM PROBLEMS.
    
    
12. PNO-III-00-032, Northwood Panel Board Co., TRAFFIC ACCIDENT INVOLVING SHIPMENT OF GAUGE SOURCES.

ENCLOSURE F

Office of Administration
Items of Interest
Week Ending August 25, 2000

Acquisition Training

On August 22, 2000, the Division of Contracts and Property Management conducted an Acquisition Certification and Training Program module entitled, "Developing Proposal Evaluation Criteria." This module focuses on the importance of developing appropriate technical evaluation factors (e.g., technical approach, past performance, experience, key personnel) for a procurement action and the relationship of technical and cost evaluation.

On August 23, 2000, the Division of Contracts and Property Management conducted an Acquisition Certification and Training Program module entitled, "Developing the Independent Government Cost Estimate." This module focuses on the importance of establishing an independent Government cost estimate, the mechanics of the process, and components which can be used in its development.

Licensing Procedures for the Receipt of High-Level Radioactive Waste at a Geologic Repository: Licensing Support Network, Design Standards for Participating Websites (Part 2)

A proposed rule that would amend the rules of practice applicable to the use of the Licensing Support Network for the licensing proceeding on the disposal of high-level radioactive waste at a geologic repository was published in the Federal Register on August 22, 2000 (65 FR 50937). The proposed rule would establish basic data structure and transfer standards that participant websites must use to make documentary material available. The comment period for this action closes October 6, 2000.

ENCLOSURE G

Chief Information Officer
Items of Interest
Week Ending August 25, 2000

Freedom of Information and Privacy Act Requests received during the 5-Day Period of August 18, 2000 through August 24, 2000:

ENCLOSURE I

Office of Human Resources
Items of Interest
Week Ending August 25, 2000

ENCLOSURE J

Office of Small Business & Civil Rights
Items of Interest
Week Ending August 25, 2000

Proposed Rule to be Signed by EDO

On August 25, 2000, the Executive Director for Operations approved a proposed rule entitled "Nondiscrimination in Federally Assisted Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance From the Commission," which amends 10 CFR Chapter I, Part 4, to incorporate the Civil Rights Restoration Act's (CRRA), expanded definition of a covered program and program or activity, to comply with a recent Third Circuit decision in Cureton v. NCAA, 198 F.3d 107 (1999). This action expands the disparate effects standard contained in the CRRA to all the operations of the covered entity, rather than only those programs that actually receive Federal financial assistance.

This constitutes notice to the Commission that, in accordance with the rulemaking authority delegated to the EDO, the EDO has signed this proposed rule for publication in the Federal Register.

ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs
Items of Interest
Week Ending August 25, 2000

Media Interest

There was press interest in the follow-up meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah, on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement on the proposed Private Fuel Storage facility.

Region III reported press interest in the upcoming enforcement conference at the University of Missouri.

ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary
Items of Interest
Week Ending August 25, 2000

Commission Correspondence

1. Letter to Congressman Stephen Horn, dated August 18, 2000, concerns NRC's computer security program.
   
   
2. Letter to Senator Charles E. Schumer, dated August 15, 2000, concerns the export of highly-enriched uranium to Canada.
   
   
3. Letter to Senator Joseph I. Lieberman, dated August 14, 2000, concerns the use of Energy Savings Performance Contracts and "share-in-savings" contracting.

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. GRAYSTAR, Inc., Notice of Reconstitution, Docket No. SSD 99-27.
   
   
2. Carolina Power & Light Company Notice of Reconstitution, Docket No. 50-400-LA.

ENCLOSURE P

Region I
Items of Interest
Week Ending August 25, 2000

Presentation at Harvard Short Course

On August 23, 2000, the Regional Administrator (RA) made a presentation at Harvard University's "Nuclear Emergency Planning" workshop and spoke on emergency planning, NRC regulatory oversight, and NRC use of performance indicators. On August 24, 2000, Decommissioning and Laboratory Branch staff addressed a Harvard University workshop on In-Place Filter Testing. The staff also spoke on NRC regulatory guidance for air cleaning systems at nuclear facilities.

ENCLOSURE P

Region II
Items of Interest
Week Ending August 25, 2000

Southern Nuclear Operating Company - Hatch and Farley

On August 23, 2000, the public meeting on the reactor oversight process was held at the Southeastern Technical Institute's Tattnall Auditorium, Vidalia, GA. Public meetings, of this type, have now been conducted at all Region II sites.

On August 25, 2000, the Deputy Regional Administrator attended Hatch facility fire protection inspection's exit meeting. This is part of the regional plan to have managers attend all exits for large team inspections for the revised reactor oversight program.

On August 25, 2000, the Director, Division of Reactor Safety attended the Farley facility OSRE exit meeting.

Southeast Plant Manager's Meeting

On August 25, 2000, Commissioner Merrifield provided insights into effective communication and other topics to plant managers at the Southeast Plant Manager's Meeting in Gatlinburg, TN. The Regional Administrator accompanied Commissioner Merrifield.

Tennessee Valley Authority - Watts Bar Nuclear Plant

On August 24, 2000, Commissioner Merrifield, accompanied by the Regional Administrator, toured the Watts Bar Nuclear Plant in Spring City, TN, and met with licensee management, licensee staff and NRC resident inspectors.

State of Tennessee Integrated Material Performance Evaluation Program (IMPEP) Exit Meeting

On August 25, 2000, the Director of the Office of State and Tribal Programs, and the Region II Director, Division of Nuclear Materials Safety, participated in the IMPEP exit meeting in Nashville, TN.

ENCLOSURE P

Region III
Items of Interest
Week Ending August 25, 2000

Chairman Meserve Visits Sites in Illinois

Region III Deputy Administrator accompanied Chairman Richard Meserve on visits to the LaSalle Nuclear Power Plant near Seneca, Illinois, on August 23 and the Clinton Nuclear Power Plant near Clinton, Illinois, on August 24. The Chairman toured both plants and spoke with the utility officials. The Chairman also held press availability sessions at both locations.

ENCLOSURE P

Region IV
Items of Interest
Week Ending August 25, 2000

Commissioner Diaz Visits Grand Gulf Nuclear Station

On August 22, 2000, Commissioner Nils J. Diaz and his Technical Assistant visited the Grand Gulf Nuclear Station. Commissioner Diaz was accompanied by the Region IV Deputy Regional Administrator and the Senior Resident Inspector.

Comanche Peak Steam Electric Station Contract Negotiations

On August 23, 2000, TXU Electric, the licensee for Comanche Peak Steam Electric Station gave a 2-week notice to cancel its existing contract to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 2337. Both parties have been in negotiations since August 1999. IBEW represents 216 operators and electrical and mechanical maintenance personnel. The licensee's strike contingency plans have been reviewed by Region IV.

Kerr McGee Corporation

On August 24, 2000, the Director, Division of Nuclear Materials Safety, and members of his staff conducted a public meeting in the Region IV office with representatives of the Cimarron Corporation, a subsidiary of Kerr McGee Corporation. The licensee made a presentation describing their decommissioning plan for areas of the licensee's Oklahoma City Technical Center.