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INFORMATION REPORT

SECY-05-0114

June 30, 2005

Contact: T. Kim, OEDO

Enclosure A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR)
Items of Interest
Week Ending June 17, 2005

Nine Mile Point - Public Meeting on Status of License Renewal

On June 9, 2005, representatives from the Constellation Energy Group (CEG) met with NRR staff to discuss the status of CEG’s effort to “recover the quality” of the Nine Mile Point (NMP) license renewal application (LRA). By letter dated March 3, 2005, CEG had requested a 90-day grace period to address the quality issues identified during the course of the NRC staff’s review and inspection of the LRA submitted in May 2004. CEG described its plan for updating the LRA to address the staff’s requests for additional information (RAIs). In addressing the RAIs, the applicant identified 14 additional systems, that were not identified in the original LRA, to be within the scope of license renewal. CEG plans to submit an updated LRA by July 15, 2005.

Enclosure B

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS)
Items of Interest
Week Ending June 17, 2005

DOE Savannah River Site - Public Meeting Regarding Waste Cleanup

On June 8, 2005, Division of Waste Management and Environmental Protection staff met with representatives of the Department of Energy (DOE) to discuss the NRC staff’s Requests for Additional Information pertaining to the DOE’s draft “Section 3116 determination” for the disposal of separated, solidified, low-activity salt waste at the Savannah River Site near Aiken, South Carolina. Section 3116 of the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 authorizes DOE, in consultation with NRC, to determine that certain waste from reprocessing is not high-level waste and that it may instead be disposed of as low-level waste if it meets the provisions set forth in Section 3116. Representatives of the State of South Carolina and the Defense Nuclear Facility Safety Board also attended the meeting.

Quarterly Meeting of Interagency Steering Committee on Radiation Standards (ISCORS)

On June 14, 2005, the subject meeting was held at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) headquarters offices in Washington, DC. Updates on the progress of several activities were presented including: (1) development of the “Multi-Agency Radiation Survey and Assessment of Materials and Equipment” (MARSAME) guidance; (2) protective action guide (PAG) development for radiological dispersion devices and improvised nuclear devices; and (3) EPA recovery phase PAG development. In addition, guidance planning was discussed for personal security screening systems, including back-scatter and transmission uses, public and worker exposures, and training. Recommendations were discussed regarding an update to the existing Federal guidance on medical x-ray systems to address increased exposures from new digital imaging, and potentially addressing trends toward increased exposures via (1) combined use of medical radiation modalities, and (2) non-medical exposures from radiation scans of asymptomatic patients (including children) for general health evaluations and legal evidence of abuse. The next meeting will be a public meeting, to be hosted at the NRC headquarters offices in Rockville, Maryland, on September 1, 2005.

Enclosure C

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES)
Items of Interest
Week Ending June 17, 2005

Publication of NUREG/CR-6876, “Risk-Informed Assessment of Degraded Buried Piping Systems in Nuclear Power Plants”

On June 6, 2005, staff published the subject NUREG/CR which documents the research conducted toassess the effect of age-related degradation on buried piping systems innuclear power plants, including the most common aging effects observed in buried piping -- general wall thinning and localized loss of material/pitting. The scope of this research project included the development of a methodology to assess the failure probability of buried piping asa result of various input loads, a time-dependent methodology to assess the effect ofdegraded buried piping on plant risk, and the degradation acceptance criteria forburied piping. The methodologies presented in this report provide tools to help the NRC staff make a quick, independent assessment to determine whether theidentified degradation has the potential for an immediate, significant effect on plant risk.

Enclosure F

Office of Administration (ADM)
Items of Interest
Week Ending June 17, 2005

Revision of Fee Schedules; Fee Recovery for FY 2005; Correction (AH61 - Parts 170 and 171)

On June 10, 2005, NRC issued a correction (70 FR 33819), addressing minor typographical and printing errors, to a previously published final rule (70 FR 30526; dated May 26, 2005) that amends the licensing, inspection, and annual fees charged to the Commission’s applicants and licensees. The final rule becomes effective July 25, 2005.

Public Records (AH12 - Part 9)

On June 14, 2005, a final rule that amends the regulations concerning availability of agency records under the Freedom of Information Act and the Privacy Act was published in the Federal Register (70 FR 34303). The final rule establishes procedures under which the NRC provides predisclosure information to submitters of confidential business or commercial information. The final rule becomes effective July 14, 2005.

Receipt of Petition for Rulemaking (PRM-20-26)

On June 15, 2005, a notice requesting public comment on a petition for rulemaking was published in the Federal Register (PRM-20-26;70 FR 34699). The petitioner requests that NRC amend its regulations pertaining to exposure and environmental limits of heavy metal radionuclides. The comment period for this action closes August 29, 2005.

Receipt of Petition for Rulemaking (PRM-54-2)

On June 15, 2005, a notice requesting public comment on a petition for rulemaking was published in the Federal Register (PRM-54-2;70 FR 34700). The petitioner, an elected official representing Westchester County, New York, requests that NRC amend its regulations for license renewal. The comment period for this action closes August 29, 2005.

Enclosure G

Office of Information Services (OIS)
Items of Interest
Week Ending June 17, 2005

Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act Requests Received During the Period of June 10 through June 16, 2005:

Enclosure I

Office of Human Resources (HR)
Items of Interest
Week Ending June 17, 2005

Enclosure M

Office of Public Affairs (OPA)
Items of Interest
Week Ending June 17, 2005

The Office of Public Affairs (OPA) received significant media inquiries on the following:

The article in this week’s TIME magazine on nuclear plant security.

The feasibility study for Westchester County’s closure of Indian Point.

Hope Creek’s return to service early this week and subsequent shutdown because of a steam leak.

Other Public Affairs Items:

OPA provided support at the annual assessment meeting held June 13 for the Dresden nuclear plant.

Enclosure O

Office of the Secretary (SECY)
Items of Interest
Week Ending June 17, 2005

Commission Correspondence

1. Letter to Senator Patty Murray and Congressman Norm Dicks, dated June 10, 2005, responds to request for additional information on the disposal of low-activity radioactive waste and the conditions under which this waste may be disposed of at a facility not licensed by NRC.

2. Letter to Congressman Eliot L. Engel, dated June 10, 2005, responds to letter regarding the recent testing of the Hemyc fire barrier system.

3. Letter to Congress, dated June 10, 2005, provides the April 2005 monthly report on the status of NRC’s licensing and other regulatory activities.

4. Letter to Congressman Fred Upton, dated June 8, 2005, responds to letter expressing strong support for the application from Nuclear Management Company, LLC, to extend the operating license for the Palisades Nuclear Plant.

5. Letter to Mr. Dan G. Blair, OPM, dated June 7, 2005, advises of the appointment of James McDermott to serve as Acting Chief Human Capital Officer at the NRC.

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards, Subcommittee Meeting on Planning and Procedures, notice of meeting (7/5/05).

2. Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards, notice of meeting (7/6-8/05).

Enclosure P

Region I (RI)
Items of Interest
Week Ending June 17, 2005

Seabrook - Florida Power and Light (FPL) Management Changes

On June 17, 2005, FPL announced several management changes. Mr. Mark Warner, current FPL Seabrook Site Vice-President, has accepted the position of Vice President of Nuclear Operations Support at the FPL Corporate Headquarters, reporting to Mr. Art Stall, Senior Vice-President Nuclear Division. Mr. Gene St. Pierre, current Plant Manager, is promoted to Seabrook Site Vice-President. Mr. Mike Kiley, current Operations Manager, is promoted to Plant General Manager, reporting to Mr. St. Pierre.

Enclosure P

Region IV (RIV)
Items of Interest
Week Ending June 17, 2005

San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station - Site Visit by Regional Administrator

On June 14, 2005, the Regional Administrator visited the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station to tour the site with the resident inspectors, discuss site security enhancements, and meet with licensee senior management to discuss items of interest.

Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station - Site Visit by NRC’s Executive Director for Operations

On June 15, 2005, the Executive Director for Operations and the Regional Administrator visited the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station to tour the site with the resident inspectors, discuss site security enhancements, and meet with licensee senior management to discuss items of interest.

Enclosure R

Office of Congressional Affairs (OCA)
Items of Interest
Week Ending June 17, 2005

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