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INFORMATION REPORT SECY-05-0001 January 3, 2005
Contact: T. Kim, OEDO Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Public Meeting with Progress Energy Regarding Fire Protection Program Upgrades On December 9, 2004, the staff held a public meeting at the NRC offices in Rockville, Maryland with representatives from Progress Energy to discuss planned upgrades of the fire protection programs at the Progress Energy’s fleet of nuclear power plants including, Brunswick, Crystal River 3, Harris, and Robinson. This was a followup to the meeting held on January 7, 2004. The Progress Energy’s initiative to upgrade the fire protection programs stemmed, in part, from response to some previously identified NRC inspection issues, as well as to keep pace with proposed enhancements to NRC fire protection regulations, such as the operator manual actions rulemaking. As part of this effort, Progress Energy will address site-specific safe shutdown analysis issues and will incorporate the latest industry information regarding cable failure modes and probabilities into each plant’s safe shutdown analysis. Progress Energy expects to complete this effort for the Harris nuclear power plant in 2005, followed by Brunswick, Robinson, and Crystal River 3. Regulatory Issue Summary (RIS) 2004-19, “Authorized Nuclear Inservice Inspector Access and NRC Approved Alternatives to American Society of Mechanical Engineers Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (ASME Code)” On December 10, 2004, the NRC issued the subject RIS to inform all nuclear power plant licensees that when the NRC reviews and authorizes a specific alternative to the ASME Code requirements, such as the use of non-ASME Code repair to address pipe wall thinning, or the use of an alternate inspection method, the scope of the review and authorization is based only on matters explicitly addressed in the licensees' request. All other requirements of the ASME Code not explicitly addressed in the authorized alternatives such as in the ASME Code Cases must be met, including Subarticles IWA-2120 and IWA-2130. Subarticle IWA-2130 does not distinguish the affiliation of an authorized inspector; therefore, any authorized inspectors qualified under IWA-2120, such as the inspector of an authorized insurance company, shall have access to the nuclear power plants. This RIS requires no action or written response from the addressees. Public Meeting to Discuss Industry Guidance on Implementing 10 CFR 50.69 Requirements On December 14, 2004, the staff met with industry representatives to discuss draft revision 2 of the Nuclear Energy Institute’s (NEI’s) Guidance Document, NEI 00-04, "10 CFR 50.69 SSC Categorization Guidelines," submitted on October 29, 2004, and the staff positions provided in Regulatory Guide (RG) 1.201, "Guidelines for Categorizing Structures, Systems, and Components in Nuclear Power Plants According to Their Safety Significance." At the meeting, industry representatives proposed changes to NEI 00-04 based on experience gained from the recent Surry pilot program. NEI intends to revise NEI 00-04 based on the feedback received during the meeting and provide it to the NRC in January 2005. Public Meeting on Mitigating System Performance Index and Reactor Oversight Process On December 15, 2004, the staff hosted the monthly public meeting on the Mitigating Systems Performance Index (MSPI) and the Reactor Oversight Process (ROP). Discussion topics included the upcoming February 2005 industry MSPI workshop, the remaining scheduled MSPI milestones for the next 12 months, and the draft probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) requirements/guidance to be included in the MSPI guidance documents. The staff addressed questions on Inspection Manual Chapter 609, Appendix K, “Maintenance Risk Assessment and Risk Management Significance Determination Process.” Industry representatives discussed status of industry subcommittees on barrier integrity, and scrams with loss of normal heat removal performance indicators, draft revision 3 on the NEI Guidance 99-02, "Regulatory Assessment Performance Indicator Guideline," and open and new frequently asked performance indicators questions. The next public MSPI/ROP meeting is scheduled on January 26-27, 2005. Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses' Annual Program Review and “Five-Year Strategic Plan” On December 7-9, 2004, staff and senior managers from NRC and the Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses (CNWRA) met at the CNWRA offices in San Antonio, Texas, for the Annual Program Review. The purpose of this meeting was to focus on the technical, programmatic, and management aspects of the NRC programs under the CNWRA's Charter, including the High-Level Waste (HLW) Repository Program, the Spent Fuel Projects Office Nuclear Waste Policy Act-related efforts, and the non-HLW NRC efforts, such as Uranium Recovery Projects, Decommissioning Projects, Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards Projects, and National Environmental Policy Act reviews. The CNWRA management also provided a briefing on its “Five-Year Strategic Plan.” Meeting to Discuss Nuclear Fuel Services’ Application for the Champion Transport Package Design On December 8, 2004, staff from the Spent Fuel Project Office met with representatives from the Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc., (NFS) to discuss the preliminary test plan for the Champion transport package design. The package is being designed to transport highly enriched uranium. The discussions centered on preliminary finite-element modeling analyses for drop-testing and fire-testing. The results from these preliminary analyses will be used to determine the worst-case orientations for physical drop-testing. NFS plans to request another meeting with NRC in February 2005, to discuss the results from the preliminary analyses. Region I Inspection of Advanced Care Medical, Inc. On December 14, 2004, staff members of the Division of Industrial and Medical Nuclear Safety and a representative from the Food and Drug Administration participated in an inspection, led by NRC Region I, of Advanced Care Medical, Inc., located in Oxford, Connecticut. Advanced Care Medical, Inc., markets strands containing radioactive iodine-125 (I-125) seeds and bio-absorbable material used for the brachytherapy treatment of prostate cancer. The I-125 seeds were found leaking on several occasions during the last few months. The purpose of the inspection was to observe the licensee's process of fabricating strands and to review the licensee's root-cause analysis and the adequacy of the licensee's corrective actions. Information Meeting with General Atomics and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries On December 15, 2004, staff from the Spent Fuel Project Office held an information meeting with representatives of General Atomics (GA) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) to discuss plans for future licensing actions for the GA-4 Legal Weight Truck Cask, and to discuss ongoing activities on the design of a new rail cask for transportation of spent fuel. This new transportation cask, called the GAMSF-21P and -57B, is based on an MHI design currently undergoing design certification and physical drop-testing in Germany. Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research Semiannual Piping Failure Data Exchange Meeting Sponsored by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) On December 8-10, 2004, Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES) staff attended the subject meeting which was held to assemble a database of light water reactor piping failures submitted by the member countries. Thirteen representatives from ten countries attended the meeting. Several representatives described recent piping failure events, including a detailed presentation on the recent Mihama pipe rupture event in Japan. The NRC’s participation in this project provides vital leverage for the ongoing research in this area, providing a large pool of relevant reactor experience to draw from in order to develop meaningful piping failure frequency estimates. The US research effort in this area is a collaboration between the NRC and Electric Power Research Institute. Nuclear Security and Incident Response Preliminary Notifications
Office of Administration Broadening Scope of Access Authorization and Facility Security Clearance Regulations (AH52 - Parts 25 and 95) On December 15, 2004, the NRC published a direct final rule in the Federal Register (69 FR 74949) that expands the scope of the regulations applicable to persons who may require access to classified information in connection with licensing and regulatory activities under the regulations that govern the disposal of high-level radioactive waste in geologic repositories. The direct final rule also expands the scope of the regulations applicable to procedures for obtaining facility security clearances to include persons who may need to process, store, reproduce, transmit, transport, or handle NRC classified information in connection with these activities. The direct final rule becomes effective February 28, 2005. On December 15, 2004, the NRC published the companion proposed rule to this direct final rule in the Federal Register (69 FR 75007). The comment period closes January 14, 2005. Chief Information Officer Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act Requests Received During the Period of December 10 through December 16, 2004:
Office of Human Resources
Office of Public Affairs Media Interest The Office of Public Affairs (OPA) received significant media inquiries on the following: The NRC’s public meeting at Vermont Yankee regarding the engineering inspection and the lost-and-found spent fuel fragments. The Atomic Safety Licensing Board’s decision to have an “informal” hearing on the Vermont Yankee uprate request. Impending hearings in the application of Louisiana Energy Services to build a uranium enrichment plant in New Mexico. The NRC’s public meeting regarding safety conscious work environment issues at Hope Creek and Salem. Questions over the need to repair a pump at Hope Creek. NRC’s plan to grant a license renewal exemption for Oyster Creek. A U.S. Court of Appeals ruling upholding the NRC’s revised hearing procedures in licensing proceedings, allowing the agency to limit but not eliminate discovery and cross examination. Other OPA Items: OPA staff assisted at the Vermont Yankee and Hope Creek/Salem meetings.
Office of the Secretary
Commission Correspondence
Federal Register Notices Issued
Region I Public Meeting to Discuss Recent Inspection Results at Vermont Yankee On December 16, 2004, NRC staff presented the results of both the Special Nuclear Material Control and Accountability Inspection and the Engineering Pilot Inspection at a Vermont State Nuclear Advisory Panel (VSNAP) meeting in Brattleboro, VT. Approximately 520 people attended, including staff representatives of the Vermont Congressional delegation, State and local officials, licensee personnel, the media, and concerned members of the public. After a brief presentation to VSNAP, the NRC staff responded to public comments and questions. A Government-to-Government Meeting on Indian Point On December 16, 2004, the Regional Administrator hosted a closed meeting in Westchester County, N.Y., between the NRC and local government organizations in the communities surrounding the Indian Point Energy Center. Representatives from NRC Region I, the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, the Spent Fuel Project Office, and the Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response made brief presentations. The NRC’s Director of Communications also attended. In addition, representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Region II office participated. Selected topics included security and safeguards, emergency preparedness, recent plant performance, and the planned independent spent fuel storage installation. Approximately 50 local government representatives, including State and local officials, as well as Congressional staff members. The majority of the meeting was reserved for questions and answers. Region II USEC Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant Licensee Performance Review On December 13, 2004, Region II staff, led by the Regional Administrator and Director- Division of Fuel Facility Inspection, conducted a public meeting in Paducah, Kentucky, to discuss licensee performance at the USEC’s Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant and the safety conscious work environment at the Paducah and Portsmouth sites. Tennessee Valley Authority Management Meeting On December 15, 2004, representatives from the Tennessee Valley Authority attended a management meeting in the Regional Office to discuss strategic objectives and initiatives of their nuclear organization. Florida Power and Light Company - Special Inspection at St. Lucie Nuclear Plant On December 16, 2004, Region II dispatched a Special Inspection Team to the St. Lucie nuclear plant to assess the circumstances and activities associated with the failures of two safety-related circuit breakers. On two separate occasions, December 9 and on December 13, St. Lucie, Unit 1 experienced apparent malfunctions of circuit breakers associated with 1A and 1C component cooling water (CCW) pumps, respectively. Duke Energy Corporation - Predecisional Enforcement Conference On December 17, 2004, the Regional Administrator and Director- Division of Reactor Projects attended a Predecisional Enforcement Conference held in NRC headquarters to discuss apparent violations regarding the completeness and accuracy of a license amendment request to allow the use of mixed oxide fuel at the Catawba nuclear power plant. Region III Public Meeting to Discuss License Renewal Inspection Findings at D. C. Cook On December 15, 2004, Region III staff met with representatives of American Electric Power in Buchanan, Michigan, for a public meeting to discuss the preliminary findings of NRC inspections of the utility’s program for managing the effects of plant aging in association with its application for renewal of the operating licenses for the two units at the D. C. Cook Nuclear Power Station. Region IV Diablo Canyon Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installations (ISFSI) On December 8, 2004, the California State Coastal Commission granted unanimous approval to build the independent spent fuel storage facility at the Diablo Canyon Power Plant. There was one contingency to the decision which is undergoing a 1-year review involving public access to 3 miles of beachfront property owned by Pacific Gas and Electric that is located north of the plant. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals is currently considering a lawsuit filed by Mothers for Peace and the Sierra Club against the NRC regarding consideration of security (terrorism) for the independent fuel storage facility. Construction of the independent fuel storage facility is scheduled to begin around April 2005. Senior Management Changes at Wolf Creek, Diablo Canyon, and Callaway On December 14, 2004, Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Group announced that Mr. Steve Hedges will replace Ms. Donna Jacobs as Vice President of Operations and Plant Manager at the Wolf Creek nuclear power station. Mr. Hedges had previously held the position as Manager, Integrated Plant Scheduling. Ms. Jacobs has recently accepted an employment with Pacific Gas and Electric Company as Vice President Nuclear Services at the Diablo Canyon Power Plant. Ameren Union Electric announced that Mr. Charles Nasland will be assuming the position of Senior Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer at the Callaway nuclear plant effective December 17, 2004, following Mr. Garry Randolph’s retirement. |
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