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INFORMATION REPORT SECY-05-0122 July 7, 2005
Contact: T. Kim, OEDO Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) Staff Holds Public Meeting on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for an Early Site Permit (ESP) at the Grand Gulf ESP Site On Tuesday, June 28, 2005, the staff conducted a meeting to solicit comments from the public on the subject draft environmental impact statement (DEIS). Over 150 people attended the meeting, including members of the public, representatives of the NRC staff, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, System Energy Resources Inc (SERI, the applicant), local governments, and the local news media. Speakers expressed views supporting and opposing the Grand Gulf ESP. Members of the public raised questions and presented comments primarily regarding security, terrorism, alternative energy sources, and radiological effluent releases. The public comment period for the Grand Gulf ESP ends on July 14, 2005. At the conclusion of the comment period, the staff will evaluate the comments received, revise the DEIS and then issue the final EIS. Nuclear Generation Owners and Operators Meeting On June 23, 2005, NRR staff participated in the Nuclear Generation Owners and Operators meeting in Wilmington, Delaware, which was sponsored by PJM (Pennsylvania, Jersey, Maryland). PJM is the transmission system operator that also serves the Chicago and Virginia areas. This meeting was part of the continuing efforts by the electric power industry to address the operational needs for reliable offsite power to nuclear stations. The NRC staff participates in these meetings on transmission system operation, consistent with the Commission’s direction for the staff to work with the industry to improve grid reliability. The meeting attendees, particularly the nuclear plant licensees, asked questions about the draft generic letter, “Grid Reliability and the Impact on Plant Risk and the Operability of Offsite Power,” which was published for public comment in the Federal Register on April 12, 2005. The comment period ended on June 13, 2005. Some licensee representatives stated that they do not have planned actions when the transmission system operator notifies the nuclear plant about a grid contingency that would not meet the voltage conditions to support operation of safety systems. Other licensees stated that they have procedures with specific actions to take when the transmission operator informs them of a grid contingency. The meeting attendees generally agreed that steps should be taken to reduce the possibility of a nuclear power plant trip and to ensure operational readiness of the onsite power sources. First License Amendment Pursuant to Regulatory Issue Summary (RIS) 2005-05 On June 29, 2005, NRR staff issued an amendment for the Farley Nuclear Plant that reconciles the licensing basis between spent fuel pool (SFP) and the spent fuel cask activities. The Farley amendment is the first amendment issued pursuant to the NRC staff guidance in RIS 2005-05, "Regulatory Issues Regarding Criticality Analyses for Spent Fuel Pools and Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installations." The amendment will enable the licensee to move spent fuel into the Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation and thereby maintain the capability for a full core offload into the SFP. Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS) Approval of Design for Transport Package for Fresh Mixed-Oxide Fuel On June 24, 2005, the Spent Fuel Project Office issued Certificate of Compliance No. 9295 for the Model No. MFFP package. The package is designed for the transport of unirradiated mixed (uranium and plutonium) oxide fuel assemblies. The package was designed to be used by the Department of Energy as part of its fissile material disposition program. Meeting with National Conference of State Legislatures’ High-Level Radioactive Waste Working Group On June 27-28, 2005, NMSS staff participated in a meeting of the National Conference of State Legislatures’ High-Level Radioactive Waste Working Group held in Washington, DC. The meeting focused on the licensing of the Yucca Mountain repository, private fuel storage, and associated transportation issues. The Working Group membership consists of State legislators representing 33 states, including Nevada and Utah. NMSS participants gave presentations on the licensing process for approving the construction and operation of a high-level waste repository and the certification process for approving spent fuel shipping casks. Other presentations were given by the Department of Energy, the Nuclear Energy Institute, the Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board, the Western Interstate Energy Board, the Council of State Governments, and the National Academy of Sciences. The presentations were followed by a general roundtable discussion. Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES) Meeting with NEI, and EPRI’s Consultants on New Plant Seismic Issues On June 22 and 23, 2005, staff members from RES and NRR attended a meeting with representatives of the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), and EPRI’s consultants. The topic of the meeting was the technical program being conducted by NEI to resolve seismic issues for new nuclear power plants. An outline of the industry program was presented at a public meeting on May 25, 2005. At this meeting, industry described the details of its technical program, including the technical basis for two separate efforts to reduce the effects of high frequency (10 to ~ 100 Hertz) ground motion and its influence on the seismic design spectra. Proprietary NUREG-1826 Documents APEX-AP1000 Confirmatory Testing to Support AP1000 Design Certification Issued On June 30, 2005, the staff issued the proprietary version of NUREG-1826, "APEX-AP1000 Confirmatory Testing to Support AP1000 Design Certification." This report documents the confirmatory integral testing conducted at Oregon State University's Advanced Plant Experiment (APEX) facility, in support of the certification of Westinghouse Electric Company's AP1000 advanced passive nuclear reactor design. Specifically, the NRC sponsored eight beyond-design-basis accident tests at the APEX facility to confirm AP1000 safety margins and provide a database to assess NRC's thermal-hydraulic computer codes. This report presents the results of these tests, along with a detailed scaling analysis and facility description. The results of the independent analyses were factored into the NRC staff's conclusion that Westinghouse's application for AP1000 design certification would meet the applicable content requirements of 10 CFR 52.47, as well as the review standards of 10 CFR 52.48, as documented in the AP1000 Final Safety Evaluation Report issued in September 2004. A non-proprietary version of the document is being prepared for public release. Meeting on the International Aerosol Trapping in Steam Generator (ARTIST) Program On June 20-22, 2005, staff participated in the 3rd annual Meeting of the Aerosol Trapping in Steam Generator (ARTIST) Project Program Review Committee in Brugg, Switzerland. ARTIST is an experimental investigation of the aerosol retention in the primary and secondary sides of steam generators to better quantify the risks that should be ascribed to accidents involving rupture of steam generators. The project is important since it addresses a class of containment bypass accidents that can be risk dominant in pressurized water reactors. The results of the work can lead to changes in the relative risks of various classes of reactor accidents which may have ramifications on risk-informed regulatory programs at NRC including the Reactor Oversight Process, operator training, maintenance, etc. Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response (NSIR) Preliminary Notifications
Office of Administration (ADM) List of Approved Spent Fuel Storage Casks: VSC-24, Amendment 5, Revision (AH70 - Part 72) On June 30, 2005, the NRC published a direct final rule in the Federal Register (70 FR 37647) that revises the VSC-24 (Ventilated Storage Cask) (Amendment 5) cask system listing in the list of approved spent fuel storage casks. This action changes the certificate holder’s name from Pacific Sierra Nuclear Associates to BNG Fuel Solutions Corporation. The direct final rule becomes effective September 13, 2005. On June 30, 2005, the NRC published the companion proposed rule to this direct final rule in the Federal Register (70 FR 37714). The comment period closes August 1, 2005. Contract Awards On June 14, 2005, a competitive cost reimbursement contract no. NRC-02-05-004 was awarded to CTR Technical Services, Inc., as a result of a full and open competition. The contractor shall provide technical expertise to identify significant nuclear criticality safety issues associated with processing uranium in a uranium-enrichment or fuel fabrication facility. The estimated cost is $35,400 for an eight month period of performance. On June 21, 2005, a competitive, fixed-price, delivery order (requirements) contract No. NRC-38-05-378 was awarded to The Woodard Corporation for the Office of Human Resources (Technical Training Center). The contractor will provide training courses for NRC inspectors and other technical personnel on the operation and maintenance of emergency diesel generators utilized at nuclear power plants for emergency power. The total value is $596,438. The period of performance is five years, including four one-year option periods. Office of Information Services (OIS) Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act Requests received during the period of June 24 through June 30, 2005:
Office of Human Resources(HR)
Office of Public Affairs (OPA) The Office of Public Affairs received significant media inquiries on the following: The National Academy of Sciences report on Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation (BEIR-7). The public meeting on Vermont Yankee’s power uprate application. A containment cooler leak and subsequent shutdown at Fermi. Other Public Affairs Items: OPA arranged an interview with Chairman Diaz for The Economist. OPA supported a public meeting on Grand Gulf’s early site permit application.
Office of the Secretary (SECY)
Commission Correspondence
Federal Register Notices Issued
Region I (RI) Approval of Settlement Agreement and Termination of Hearing Regarding Safety Light Corporation Request for License Renewal The NRC staff, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) and the Safety Light Corporation (SLC) filed a "Joint Motion to Approve Settlement Agreement, Dismiss Hearing Requests, and Terminate Proceeding" with the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board (ASLB) on June 20, 2005. The ASLB granted the Motion on June 29, 2005. The Agreement is consistent with the public interest in that it: 1) provides reasonable assurance that SLC can conduct licensed activities safely and in accordance with NRC requirements (including certain exemptions from financial assurance requirements for decommissioning) during the specified licensing term; 2) provides for continuation of licensed operation with the accumulation of funds available for decommissioning the Bloomsburg site; 3) requires the completion of certain actions to provide for an orderly shutdown of licensed activities; and 4) resolves disputes without the need for further litigation. CTI Consultants, Inc. (CTI) Management Meeting At the request of CTI, Region I held a management meeting with CTI on June 29, 2005, to discuss the findings of the routine inspection that was conducted April 4, 5, and 6, 2005, at CTI’s branch offices and temporary job sites. The inspection revealed a number of repeat violations. CTI representatives discussed its reorganized management oversight of the radiation safety program and corrective actions that have been taken and will be taken to correct the violations identified. The meeting was open to members of the public, but none attended. |
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