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INFORMATION REPORT SECY-08-0126 September 3, 2008
Contact: Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) Dresden Unit 3 - Notice of Enforcement Discretion (NOED) On August 17, 2008, the Exelon Generation Company requested an NOED to address the failure of a drywell floor drain sump containment isolation valve. The valve failure rendered the floor drain system inoperable and prevented the licensee from meeting its technical specification requirement to monitor unidentified reactor coolant system leakage. Inability to monitor unidentified reactor coolant system leakage required a plant shutdown. The Dresden Unit 3 drywell consists of two similar sump systems, the floor drain sump and the equipment drain sump. The licensee was granted an NOED for 7 days to allow it time to reconfigure the drywell floor and equipment drain sumps such that the equipment drain sump could be used to monitor all drywell leakage (identified and unidentified), and to authorize a technical specification change to allow the licensee to operate in this configuration. 10 CFR 50.55a Amendment to Update ASME Codes On August 18, 2008, the Executive Director for Operations approved a final rule that amends 10 CFR 50.55a to incorporate by reference the 2004 Edition of Division 1 of Section III of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (BPV Code); the 2004 Edition of Division 1 of Section XI of the ASME BPV Code; and the 2004 Edition of the ASME Code for Operation and Maintenance of Nuclear Power Plants (OM Code). These additions provide updated rules for constructing and inspecting components and testing pumps and valves in light-water nuclear power plants. This action is in accordance with the NRC’s policy to periodically update § 50.55a to incorporate new editions and addenda of the ASME Codes by reference. ASME Codes are national voluntary consensus standards, and, as such, are required by the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-113, to be used by government agencies unless the use of such a standard is inconsistent with applicable law or otherwise impractical. Environmental Audit of Prairie Island License Renewal Application During the week of August 18, 2008, the staff conducted an environmental site audit at the Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant as part of its license renewal review. In accordance with a Memorandum of Understanding with the Prairie Island Indian Community (PIIC), a representative of the PIIC participated in site audit activities pertaining to socioeconomics, land use, and environmental justice. In addition, two observers from the PIIC accompanied the staff during an archaeological tour of the site. Office of New Reactors (NRO) Issuance of Interim Staff Guidance on Assessment of Normal and Extreme Winter Precipitation Loads on the Roofs of Seismic Category I Structures for Use and Comment On August 18, 2008, the staff posted the subject Interim Staff Guidance on the NRC website for public comment. The ISG presents the staff's position on identifying winter precipitation events as site characteristics and site parameters for determining normal and extreme winter precipitation loads on the roofs of Seismic Category I structures. Issuance of a Supplement to Proposed Interim Staff Guidance on Limited Work Authorizations On August 21, 2008, the staff posted the subject Interim Staff Guidance, for use and comment. This guidance is intended to clarify the delineation of preconstruction activities and those activities that require prior NRC approval (i.e., construction activities). Office of Federal and State Materials and Environmental Management Programs (FSME) Chairman and NRC Staff Visit a Uranium Recovery Facility On August 20, 2008, staff from FSME, the Office of Congressional Affairs, the Office of Public Affairs, and Region IV accompanied Chairman Klein on a visit to the NRC-Licensed PRI Smith Ranch in situ leach uranium recovery facility in Wyoming. U.S. Senator Barrasso and the Deputy Director, Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality also participated. The group learned about the future plans for the facility, toured the central processing plant, and visited with the staff at the facility. Organization of Agreement States (OAS) Annual Meeting Held From August 18-21, 2008, the Ohio Department of Health Radiation Protection hosted the 2008 OAS meeting in Columbus, Ohio. A number of NRC senior leaders, including the Chairman, and Commissioner Lyons, and members of NRC staff, attended some or all of the meeting. The OAS consists of state radiation control directors and staff from the 35 Agreement States who are responsible for implementation of their respective Agreement State programs. OAS provides a mechanism for those States to work with each other and with NRC on regulatory issues associated with their respective agreements. Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (NRR) Publication of Report on “Cladding Embrittlement During Postulate Loss-of-Coolant Accidents” On August 21, 2008, the final published version of NUREG/CR-6967, “Cladding Embrittlement During Postulated Loss-of-Coolant Accidents,” was made available to the public through ADAMS. This report provides test results that could be used to establish the technical basis for revision of 10 CFR 50.46(b) to accommodate burnup effects. Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response (NSIR) Emergency Preparedness (EP) Focus Group Forums On August 19, 2008, NRC staff attended the 19th in a series of 20 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)-sponsored Emergency Preparedness (EP) focus group forums, with discussions of draft preliminary language regarding proposed changes to scenario demonstration criteria that will support FEMA and NRC EP rulemaking changes. The focus group was conducted in Jackson, MS, and was attended by representatives from Radiological Health and Emergency Management agencies for the State of Mississippi and plume exposure counties, as well as a local fire department representative for Grand Gulf Station. In general, comments were supportive of the proposed changes to make scenarios more challenging and less predictive. However, stakeholders indicated that the use of natural events (i.e., hurricanes, tornados) should be minimized since these would involve a regional response effort outside the evaluation scope for radiological EP exercises. Emergency Response Data System On August 19, 2008, NRC staff published the latest Emergency Response Data System (ERDS) Modernization Newsletter. The newsletter provides project related activities performed during June and July and is designed to keep stakeholders abreast of the ongoing activities related to the ERDS modernization effort. The newsletter is located in ADAMS # ML071010182. Office of Administration (ADM) Clarified Requirements When Licensees Depart from a License Condition or Technical Specification in an Emergency; Proposed Generic Communication – Part 50 On August 15, 2008, the NRC published a document (73 FR 47853) in the Federal Register that requested public comment on a proposed regulatory issue summary. The proposed issuance would clarify the application of regulatory requirements when licensees implement regulations that allow them to depart from a license condition or technical specification in an emergency situation. The comment period for this action closes October 14, 2008. Office of Information Services (OIS) Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Privacy Act (PA) Requests Received During the Period of August 15, 2008 through August 21, 2008:
Nuclear Information and Records Management Association 2008 Conference Staff members from the Information and Records Services Division attended the Nuclear Information and Records Management Association 2008 Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada from August 10-13, 2008. The conference provided NRC employees the opportunity to learn about current issues related to information management, information technology, records management, and document control. Bimonthly Records and Information Discussion Group Meeting On August 20, 2008, staff from the Information and Records Services Division attended a Bimonthly Records and Information Discussion Group held by the National Archives and Records Administration. Discussions were held on, proposed Records Management Regulations, and new Electronic Records Management tools and guidance. Detailed demonstrations were also provided on the Federal Records Center’s Program, and the Archives and Records Centers Information System. Office of Human Resources (HR)
Office of Public Affairs (OPA) OPA Received Significant Media Inquiries on the Following: License renewal and power uprates for Susquehanna nuclear power plant (Pennsylvania) Nuclear plant occupational radiation low dose levels NRC Commission ruling rejecting Nevada’s petition to block docketing of the Yucca Mountain application (Nevada) Seismic risks at Indian Point nuclear power plant (New York); Federal Emergency Management Agency’s final approval of the design report for the plant’s new siren system The Commission’s decision to allow an extension of time that enforcement discretion would apply to plants transiting to the National Fire Protection Association 805 standard. Other Public Affairs Items: OPA facilitated interviews between Chairman Klein with the Denver Post and the Associated Press mostly about mining issues, new reactors and waste scheduling issues. OPA Region II facilitated an interview for Mark Clayton of the Christian Science Monitor with Timothy Johnson regarding proliferation issues related to the GE Silex test loop uranium enrichment plat at Wilmington, North Carolina. OPA supported an outreach meeting on an anticipated application for a new reactor at the Bell Bend site near the existing Susquehanna nuclear power plant in northeastern Pennsylvania.
Office of the Secretary (SECY)
Commission Correspondence
Federal Register Notices Issued
Region II (RII) Duke Energy Corporation – Public Management Meeting On August 21, 2008, representatives from the Duke Energy Corporation attended a public meeting in the Region II Office. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the causal analysis and corrective actions moving ahead for the reactor coolant pump seal failures at the Oconee Nuclear Plant. Region IV (RIV) Meeting with Nebraska Public Power District On August 21, 2008, the staff met with representatives of Nebraska Public Power District in the Region IV office to discuss performance at Cooper Nuclear Station and the status of the station’s performance improvement plan. The public meeting was held at the request of the licensee. The licensee discussed their preparations for an upcoming supplemental inspection to be conducted during the first half of November 2008 |
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