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INFORMATION REPORT SECY-08-0032 March 7 , 2008
Contact: Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) Meeting at the National Institute of Standards and Technology On February 20, 2008, Division of Engineering and Office of New Reactors staff met at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Gaithersburg, MD, with representatives of the five domestic laboratory accreditation bodies. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the calibration and testing laboratory accreditation process through the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC). Meeting with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) Materials Reliability Program On February 21, 2008, the Division of Component Integrity staff met with representatives from EPRI Materials Reliability Program (MRP) to discuss (1) implementation of MRP-139, "Materials Reliability Program: Primary System Piping Butt Weld Inspection and Evaluation Guideline," (2) the response to the NRC's request for additional information on MRP-169, "Technical Basis for Preemptive Weld Overlays for Alloy 82/182 Butt Welds in PWRs," (3) MRP's status on developing inspection guidelines for pressurized water reactor vessel lower head penetrations, and (4) the status of activities of the MRP Inspection Task Group. The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss materials issues of high interest to the staff. Issuance of the Safety Evaluation Report for the License Renewal of the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station On February 25, 2008, the NRC issued the final Safety Evaluation Report (SER) related to the license renewal of the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station. The SER documents the staff's final safety determination based on its review of the Vermont Yankee license renewal application submitted on January 25, 2006. Power Plant Simulator 2008 Conference On February 27, 2008, Division of Inspection and Regional Support staff attended the Power Plant Simulator 2008 Conference in Austin, Texas, to discuss the NRC's review and comments on the Nuclear Energy Institute's (NEI's) recommendations regarding the methodology for implementation of simulator Scenario Based Testing. Vogtle, Unit Nos. 1 and 2, Measurement Uncertainty Recapture (MUR) Power Uprate Approval On February 27, 2008, the NRC issued license amendments that approved an increase in the licensed core thermal power level for Vogtle, Units 1 and 2, by 1.7% to 3625.6 megawatts thermal for each unit. The power increase will be achieved by the implementation of the Caldon Leading Edge Flowmeter CheckPlusTM ultrasonic flow measurement system, which allows for more accurate measurement of feedwater flow. The license amendments will be implemented at the completion of spring 2008 refueling outage for Unit 1, and the completion of fall 2008 refueling outage for Unit 2. Office of New Reactors (NRO) Completion of Acceptance Review for the Evolutionary Power Reactor The staff has completed its acceptance review of the U.S. Evolutionary Power Reactor (U.S. EPR) design certification application, and issued an acceptance letter to AREVA on February 25, 2008. Completion of the Acceptance Review for the Lee Station Combined License Application The staff has completed its acceptance review of the Lee Station Combined License Application (COLA), and issued an acceptance letter to Duke Energy on February 25, 2008. Lee Station is the fifth COLA accepted by the staff for review. Entergy's Submittal of a COLA for the Grand Gulf Site On February 27, 2008, Entergy submitted a combined license application (COLA) for one Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor (ESBWR) reactor at the Grand Gulf site. This is the second COLA to reference the ESBWR design. The estimated completion date of the acceptance review is April 30, 2008. Health Physics Public Meeting On February 28, 2008, a public meeting on new reactor health physics issues was held between the staff and industry representatives. During the meeting, industry and NRC staff discussed the status of the four Radiation Protection program templates being developed by the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) to support COLAs. The NRC expects to complete the safety evaluations of the templates by the end of April 2008. Also discussed was the industry role in updating radiation effluent computer codes, such as the GALE code. NEI will review this issue, discuss with industry executives at an upcoming meeting, and be prepared to discuss industry involvement in code development at the next monthly public meeting, which will be held during the first week of April, 2008. Completion of Acceptance Review for the U.S. Advanced Pressurized Water Reactor The staff has completed its acceptance review of the U.S. Advanced Pressurized Water Reactor design certification application, and issued an acceptance letter to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries on February 29, 2008. Office of Federal and State Materials and Environmental Management Programs (FSME) Second Session of the Integrated Materials Performance Evaluation Program Team Member Training Was Held On February 26-27, 2008, FSME conducted a second session of the Integrated Materials Performance Evaluation Program (IMPEP) Team Member Training, which was hosted by Region IV. The training was well attended by staff from the Office of the Inspector General, Region III, Region IV, the State of New Mexico, and the State of Texas. Prairie Island Indian Community Tribal Council President meets with Chairman, Commissioners and Staff of NRC On February 27, 2008, the Prairie Island Indian Community Tribal Council President met with the Chairman and Commissioners, as well as with staff from the Office of the Executive Director for Operations, FSME, Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Office of the General Counsel and Office of Small Business and Civil Rights. Topics discussed included: the Community's desire to participate in the environmental review of the Prairie Island Nuclear Generation Plant license renewal, power uprates, high level waste storage and disposal, emergency preparedness, NRC's Waste Confidence Decision, licensee communications, and NRC Tribal college and university outreach. The Tribal Council President stated the Community is not opposed to license renewal, but would rather contribute information about cultural, socioeconomic and environmental resources which would enhance the associated Environmental Impact Statement. Fifth Regional Fingerprinting Workshop Held for Licensees On February 27, 2008, staff conducted the fifth regional fingerprinting workshop for licensees, implementing NRC Order EA-07-305, "Order Imposing Fingerprinting and Criminal History Records Check Requirements for Unescorted Access to Certain Radioactive Material" issued on December 5, 2007. Workshops were held in: Lisle, Illinois; Arlington, Texas; Rockville, Maryland; Boston, Massachusetts and Oakland, California. Additional workshops will be considered when Agreement States implement their compatible requirements. Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response (NSIR) Categorization Of Radioactive Materials On February 26, 2008, NRC staff hosted a meeting with National Nuclear Security Administration and Department of State staff to discuss a number of issues regarding categorization of materials and NRC rulemaking activities. These issues included: planned, on‑going and recently completed NRC and U.S. Department of Energy studies regarding the categorization of radioactive and nuclear materials; planned NRC rulemakings; and other interagency activities in the area of source security. Hostile Action-Based Incident Response (IR) Drill On February 27, 2008, NRC IR staff participated in a "hostile action-based" IR drill with the Byron Nuclear Station and in coordination with State, local, and other Federal response organizations. The drill was used as a learning opportunity to improve coordination and communication capabilities. Additionally, the Federal Emergency Management Agency/NRC Joint Scenario Task Force conducted observations at Byron and surrounding emergency response facilities. PNO-II-08-002 – Florida Power & Light Company On February 27, 2008, a grid disturbance caused by equipment malfunction in a substation near Miami initiated a dual-unit trip at Turkey Point. Both power reactors were returned to normal operation. Power Reactor Security Requirements Rulemaking On February 28, 2008, NRC staff added additional draft final rule language on the "regulations.gov" website for Power Reactor Security Requirements rulemaking. The addition included: Personnel Access Authorization Requirements for Nuclear Power Plants and Draft Final Rule Text, Part 73, Appendix B. The draft final rule is provided for the public to assist in commenting on draft regulatory guides in support of the final draft rule. PNO-IV-2008-002 – Sabia, Inc. On February 29, 2008, Sabia, Incorporated reported that a worker had become contaminated after a 57 millicurie (approximately) Strontium-90 (Sr-90) source was breached (EN #44023). Industrial gauges were being disassembled at a Sabia facility near Idaho Falls, Idaho. The worker was contaminated on his hands, face, and clothing, and inhaled some of the material. He was taken to a local health care facility where medical officials consulted with the Oak Ridge Radiation Emergency Assistance Center (REAC) regarding his radiation exposure. He was released later the same day. The licensee stated that REAC estimated that the dose received by the worker was below regulatory limits. Office of Administration (ADM) Geologic Repository Operations Area Security and Material Control and Accounting Requirements; Extension of Comment Period (AI06 – Parts 60, 63, 73, and 74) On February 26, 2008, the NRC published a document in the Federal Register (73 FR 10187), extending the comment period for the proposed rule that would revise the security and material control and accounting requirements for a geologic repository operations area (GROA). The proposed rule is intended to ensure that effective security measures are in place for the protection of high-level radioactive waste at a GROA given the current threat environment. The comment period for this action now closes May 5, 2008. Office of Information Services (OIS) Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Privacy Act (PA) Requests Received During the Period of February 22, 2008 through February 28, 2008 :
Office of Human Resources (HR)
Office of the Secretary (SECY)
Commission Correspondence
Federal Register Notices Issued
Region I (RI) Materials Security Roundtable Meeting On February 29, 2008, RI participated in an all day forum on Materials Security, sponsored by the New Jersey Chapter of the Health Physics Society. The NRC presentations discussed the Increased Controls and the Fingerprinting Orders. Other presenters included representatives from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the National Nuclear Security Administration. Region IV (RIV) Management Changes at Diablo Canyon Power Plant On February 21, 2008, Pacific Gas and Electric Company announced the permanent appointment of Mr. John Conway as Senior Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer, and Mr. Jim Becker as Site Vice President, effective March 1, 2008. Management Changes at Grand Gulf Nuclear Station On February 26, 2008, Entergy Nuclear Operations announced that Mr. Russ Brian, Vice President of Operations at Grand Gulf Nuclear Station, will transition to fill the role of Vice President, Operations Support for Entergy Nuclear in Jackson, Mississippi. Entergy also announced that Mr. Randy Douet will take on the role of Site Vice President at Grand Gulf. Mr. Douet is currently Vice President of Nuclear Support for Tennessee Valley Authority, and previously served as Site Vice President at Sequoyah Nuclear Plant. The new appointments become effective April 1, 2008. Meeting with Omaha Public Power District On February 28, 2008, the staff met with representatives of Omaha Public Power District in the Region IV office to discuss performance at Fort Calhoun Station and the status of the station's performance improvement plan. The public meeting was held at the request of the licensee. Omaha Public Power District announced their readiness for the NRC supplemental inspection to be conducted in accordance with Inspection Procedure 95002. The supplemental inspection will begin the week of March 10, 2008. Office of Congressional Affairs (OCA)
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