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INFORMATION REPORT

SECY-00-0195

September 8, 2000

Contact:  J. Shea, OEDO

WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 1, 2000

The Weekly Information Report is compiled by the Office of the EDO and includes highlights of Headquarters and Regional Office activities.

Contact: J. Shea, OEDO by E-mail: @nrc.gov.

ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Items of Interest
Week Ending September 1, 2000

Indian Point Unit 2

Consolidated Edison Company of New York (ConEd) completed its full-core off-load in preparation for the replacement of the steam generators at Indian Point Unit 2. The steam generator replacement team started work inside of containment to remove asbestos insulation, install a temporary jib crane, and strengthen the polar crane in preparation for steam generator removal. Baseline ultrasonic testing of nozzle welds on the new steam generators is in progress. The baseline eddy current testing of steam generator tubes has been completed.

The meeting between the staff and ConEd to discuss the licensee's recovery plan after being designated as an "agency focus" plant has been scheduled for the evening of September 11, 2000, at the plant site. The regulatory conference with ConEd to discuss the findings from the steam generator inspection is scheduled for September 26, 2000, at the Region I offices.

Reactor Oversight Process

The Inspection Program Branch (IIPB) coordinated efforts of Headquarters and Region I staff and participated in the Indian Point 2 steam generator tube failure inspection findings and preliminary significance characterization (red finding) briefings to the Executive Team and the Commissioners' Technical Assistants on August 23, 2000 and August 24, 2000, respectively.

The second meeting of the Inspection Manual Chapter 1245 Inspector Training and Qualification Task Group took place on August 23-24, 2000. The group updated the inspector task list by incorporating new reactor oversight tasks and modifying tasks changed as a result of the oversight process. The tasks from the updated list will be validated further through a survey of individuals throughout the agency who are involved with implementing the reactor oversight process. The results of the survey will be used to guide changes to the process for training and qualifying individuals to conduct inspections. The next meeting of the task group will take place in Region I on September 13-14, 2000.

August Spector, of the IIPB, made a presentation at the Nuclear Information Resource Management Association (NIRMA) Symposium in Dallas, Texas, on August 22, 2000, entitled, "The Challenge of Communicating the NRC Reactor Oversight Process." At this meeting, he discussed the Reactor Oversight Process and how the agency has implemented a communication strategy, which emphasized stakeholder dialogue, use of web sites and plain language communications.

Improved Guidance for License Renewal Issued for Public Comment

In a joint letter to the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) and the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) dated August 30, 2000, the staff forwarded copies of the draft improved guidance for license renewal that is simultaneously being issued for formal public comment. The set of improved renewal guidance consists of: Generic Aging Lessons Learned (GALL) report, Standard Review Plan for License Renewal, Regulatory Guide DG-1104 for license renewal, and Revision 2 to the industry guide for implementing the renewal rule, NEI 95-10 (DG-1104 proposes to endorse NEI 95-10).

The issuance of the improved renewal guidance for public comment represents a major accomplishment toward fulfillment of the Commission direction in the August 27, 1999, Staff Requirement Memorandum (SRM) on SECY 99-148, "Credit for Existing Programs for License Renewal." These documents provide a comprehensive evaluation of the adequacy of existing maintenance and inspection programs to manage aging effects and incorporate lessons learned from the initial license renewal reviews. These guidance documents were prepared by the staff of the License Renewal & Standardization Branch with substantial contributions from NRC contractors at the Argonne National Laboratory and the Brookhaven National Laboratory, NRR and RES staff experts. In addition, these reports benefitted from significant industry feedback from the early drafts of the GALL report, which was released in conjunction with the renewal workshop in December 1999, and subsequent early drafts of the Standard Review Plan.

A Federal Register notice, published on August 31, 2000 (65 FR 53047), announces the availability of these documents for comment and the plans for a public workshop on September 25, 2000. The comment period closes on October 16, 2000. The FRN also includes specific questions the staff is interested in receiving comments on that will focus on the fundamental question of the extent to which existing programs adequately manage aging effects for the structures and components within the scope of license renewal.

Because of the wide interest in the improved renewal guidance, the issuance of these documents has been announced with a Press Release by the Office of Public Affairs, notification to Congress by the Office of Congressional Affairs, and contacts by the Office of State and Tribal Programs and Office of International Programs.

NRC Regulatory Issue Summary 2000-13: Annual Report on the Effectiveness Of Training in the Nuclear Industry For Calendar Year 1999 dated August 18, 2000

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission NRC issued this regulatory issue summary to inform the addressees of the availability of the NRC's "Annual Report on the Effectiveness of Training in the Nuclear Industry for Calendar Year 1999" and to provide some insights from the information contained in the report.

Issuance of Industry Initiatives Guidelines for Public Comment

The NRC staff has developed proposed guidelines to ensure that future industry initiatives would be treated and evaluated in a consistent and predictable manner. The proposed guidelines would allow industry initiatives to play an important role in achieving the NRC's regulatory goals of maintaining safety, reducing unnecessary regulatory burden, improving efficiency, effectiveness, and realism, and improving public confidence. These guidelines were provided to the Commission in SECY-00-0116, dated May 30, 2000. In staff requirements memorandum (SRM) dated June 28, 2000, the Commission approved issuing the guidelines for public comment.

On August 31, 2000, the Events Assessment, Generic Communications, and Non-power Reactors Branch (REXB) staff published these guidelines in the Federal Register. REXB is soliciting stakeholder comments from interested parties related to the proposed guidelines for including industry initiatives involving nuclear power reactor licensees in the regulatory process. The guidelines are available in ADAMS under accession number ML003741569.

ENCLOSURE B

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards
Items of Interest
Week Ending September 1, 2000

Review of an Application for a Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility

On August 22, 2000, Office of the Chief Information Officer staff published the final version of NUREG-1718, "Standard Review Plan (SRP) for the Review of an Application for a Mixed Oxide (MOX) Fuel Fabrication Facility," on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission website at http://www.nrc.gov/NRC/NUREGS/SR1718/index.html. This document is also an official government record on ADAMS under accession number ML003741461. A Notice of Availability for the MOX SRP was published in the Federal Register on August 23, 2000.

The Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS) expects to receive a license application from Duke Cogema Stone and Webster to license a MOX fuel fabrication facility under 10 CFR Part 70. Also, an application for construction approval is expected from the applicant by the end of this calendar year. NMSS staff developed the MOX SRP in order to ensure the quality, uniformity, stability, and predictability of the staff reviews.

In the preparation of the final MOX SRP, NMSS staff considered all public comments received during the public comment period which closed on March 27, 2000. A summary of public comments and staff responses is available at http://www.nrc.gov/NMSS/FCSS/fcssindex.html.

International Atomic Energy Agency Inspection

During the week of August 28, 2000, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) performed its scheduled monthly inspection of the BWX Technologies high enriched uranium down blending facility. The IAEA team conducted a routine inspection consisting of reviewing the facility operator's records, downloading data from IAEA equipment, and replacing seals on piping and equipment. A Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards staff member was present to facilitate operator-IAEA discussion of topics related to continued effective implementation of IAEA safeguards.

National Research Council Workshop

On August 23-24, 2000, staff from the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards and the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research represented the Nuclear Regulatory Commission at a workshop convened by the National Research Council, in Washington, DC. The purpose of this workshop was to assist the Council in developing long-term (2006 and beyond) research and development (R&D) needs for the Department of Energy's (DOE ) Environmental Quality program. Approximately 50 individuals, representing Federal agencies, academia, and private industry attended the workshop. R&D activities in the areas of stewardship, high-level waste, subsurface contamination, advanced monitoring, modeling, health effects, management processes, education, and spent fuel management were recommended. Cross-cutting issues were also identified. These recommendations will ultimately shape the portion of DOE's R&D budget earmarked for environmental quality.

Observation of the Department of Energy Audit of the Disruptive Events Process Model Report

On August 21-25, 2000, Division of Waste Management staff observed the Department of Energy's (DOE), Office of Quality Assurance audit of the Disruptive Events Process Model Report (PMR). The total of nine PMRs support the anticipated Site Recommendation by DOE for the proposed Yucca Mountain High-Level Waste Repository. The Disruptive Events PMR was the final PMR to be audited. Also, two analysis model reports (AMR) supporting the Disruptive Events PMR were selected for review during the audit. The Disruptive Events PMR appeared to have satisfactorily compiled the results of the supporting AMRs. The DOE auditors identified several potential deficiencies relating to the Igneous Consequence Modeling AMR including:  inadequate review and checking of the AMR, and not identifying the conceptual basis for the validation of the computer code used for modeling a volcanic eruption.

In addition to the DOE auditor findings, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) observers identified the appearance of a backlog of procedure revisions to address problems and recommendations identified during the previous eight PMR audits. The NRC staff plans to meet with DOE in September 2000 to discuss several quality assurance issues, including the results of the PMR audits.

American Society on Quality Conference

On August 27-29, 2000, a Division of Waste Management staff member participated in the American Society on Quality 2000 Energy Conference in Tucson, Arizona. Serving as one of the members on the Executive Panel, the staff member made a presentation on graded quality assurance (GQA). Overall, discussion focused on ways the Agency is using probabilistic risk assessments in helping to determine what structures, systems, and components can be placed in the GQA program. The Executive Panel discussion was complemented by several working session presentations by Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff from the Offices of Nuclear Reactor Regulation and Nuclear Regulatory Research.

Issuance of Amended Certificate for the NUHOMS Spent Fuel Storage System

On June 22, 2000, the direct final rule adding Certificate of Compliance (CoC) No. 1004, Amendment No. 2, for the NUHOMS spent fuel storage system to the list of approved casks was published in the Federal Register (65 FR 38794). The comment period ended with no adverse comments received, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued the final CoC on August 30, 2000. The effective date of this amendment is September 5, 2000. As of that date, the NUHOMS storage system, as amended, will be available for use by holders of 10 CFR Part 50 power reactor operating licenses under the general license provisions of 10 CFR 72.210.

The Certificate has been revised to update the Technical Specifications fuel qualification tables to reflect additional fuel parameters, and to allow storage of burnable poison rod assemblies along with the spent fuel.

NMSS Weekly Information Report Entry

On September 5, 2000, the Executive Director for Operations approved a notice withdrawing a direct final rule that would have revised the Pacific Sierra Nuclear Associates VSC-24 cask system listing within the "List of approved Spent Fuel Storage Casks" to include Amendment No. 2 to the Certificate of Compliance (CoC). The NRC is taking this action because it has received significant adverse comments in response to an identical proposed rule that was concurrently published with the direct final rule.

This notice informs the Commission that, in accordance with the rulemaking authority delegated to the EDO, the EDO has signed this notice for publication in the FR.

ENCLOSURE D

Incident Response Operations
Items of Interest
Week Ending September 1, 2000

NRC Participates in International Conference on Nuclear Emergency Planning

On August 21-25, 2000, Dr. Frank Congel, Director and Eric Weinstein, State Liaison for Incident Response, Incident Response Operations, represented the NRC at the International Conference on Nuclear Emergency Planning organized by the National Interagency Civil-Military Institute (NICI). The Conference took place at the Sheraton Hotel, Baltimore Inner Harbor. NICI has been in existence for ten years as part of the Partnership for Peace program and is responsible for developing common programs and initiatives for the National Guard. Its annual programs focus on emergency response and coordination during severe events, including hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes, and, this year, nuclear power plant accidents. Representatives from countries associated with Guard activities are invited to these conferences.

NRC was contacted by representatives of Maryland Emergency Management Agency and Baltimore Gas and Electric Company to assist in the presentations at the conference. Attendees included representatives from Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Russia, Ukraine, Romania, Sweden, Denmark, El Salvador, Honduras, Equador and the United States. Federal agency representation, in addition to the NRC, included FEMA, the Department of Defense, the Department of State, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and others.

Presentations were made on a variety of subjects related to nuclear emergency response and planning. The NRC presentation focused on response to nuclear power plant accidents. Lessons learned from the TMI accident were discussed by Dr. Congel. Mr. Weinstein discussed nuclear emergency response capabilities from the Federal government and post plume phase response to nuclear emergencies, in addition to facilitating a tabletop discussion among Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine, Romania, and Denmark on the benefits of cooperation and exchange of information during a nuclear event. Each nation followed with a short presentation on its country's emergency planning program.

The conference was being observed by a Congressional delegation from the Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations and Emergency Management of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Attendees considered the conference a positive learning experience.

Draft Operations Center Tour Available on the Web

IRO has a draft "Interactive Tour of the NRC Operations Center" available for internal staff review. Contact Rick Hasselberg, 301-415-6417 or e-mail "fwh" for more information.

Preliminary Notifications

PNO-I-00-027, Testing Technologies, Inc., EXPOSURE OF A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC DURING RADIOGRAPHY.

PNO-II-00-032, Global Nuclear Fuels - Americas, TWO SETS OF CALIBRATION SOURCES DISCOVERED MISSING.

PNO-II-00-033, Cumberland Medical Center, UPDATE ON MEDICAL THERAPY MISADMINISTRATIONS.

PNO-III-00-033, Commonwealth Edison (Braidwood 1&2, Byron 1&2, Dresden 2&3, LaSalle 1&2, Quad Cities 1&2), REACTOR OPERATORS RELIEVED OF DUTIES FOR UNION-RELATED ACTIVITIES.

PNO-III-00-034, Geotechnical Consultants, Inc., STOLEN MOISTURE-DENSITY GAUGE.

PNO-IV-00-020, Department of the Air Force, HQ AFMOA/SGO2, MISSING EXIT SIGNS CONTAINING TRITIUM.

ENCLOSURE F

Office of Administration
Items of Interest
Week Ending September 1, 2000

Rulemaking and Jurisdictional Working Groups; Uranium and Thorium (Part 40)

A document announcing the formation of two working groups regarding the NRC's uranium and thorium regulatory activities was published in the Federal Register on August 28, 2000 (65 FR 52049). The working groups will focus on regulatory activities relating to the distribution of source materials and jurisdictional and technical issues relating to the regulation of materials with low concentrations of uranium and thorium.

Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance (Part 5)

A common final rule, issued by NRC and 20 other Federal agencies, was published in the Federal Register on August 30, 2000 (64 FR 58568). The final rule provides for the enforcement of Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 by the participating agencies. Title IX prohibits recipients of Federal financial assistance from discriminating on the basis of sex in education programs or activities. The final rule provides guidance to recipients of Federal financial assistance who administer education programs or activities. The final rule becomes effective September 29, 2000.

ENCLOSURE G

Chief Information Officer
Items of Interest
Week Ending September 1, 2000

Freedom of Information and Privacy Act Requests received during the 5-Day Period of August 25, 2000 through August 31, 2000:

ENCLOSURE I

Office of Human Resources
Items of Interest
Week Ending September 1, 2000

Office of Human Resources (HR) Providing Expertise for SES Candidate Development Program Candidates

HR is assisting the SES Candidate Development Program candidates in placing a survey on communications in the NRC on the WEB. HR provided the expertise in both the development of a web-enabled data base and the Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) that will be seen by the survey participants. HR will provide output for the consultant supporting the candidates on this project.

*Effective 8/25/00

ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs
Items of Interest
Week Ending September 1, 2000

Media Interest

Region I received press inquiries about the Inspector General's report on Indian Point 2.

OPA staff has been providing information to CBS-TV for their upcoming program about industrial accidents, including Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, Bhopal, and others.

ENCLOSURE N

Office of International Programs
Items of Interest
Week Ending September 1, 2000

French Ministry of Industry

On August 30, Mr. Philippe Kahn, Head of the Nuclear Affairs Department, Ministry of Economics, Finance and Industry of France, met with Executive Director for Operations William Travers. The topics of their discussion included risk informed regulation, impact of aging on reactor lifetimes, utilization of Mox for disposing of weapons plutonium, and safety oversight of DOE facilities. Mr. Kahn commented on the timing uncertainty of the nuclear regulatory restructuring in France because of the complex interagency negotiations that are ongoing.

ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary
Items of Interest
Week Ending September 1, 2000

Commission Correspondence

Letter to Les W. Bradshaw, Nye County Department of Natural Resources and Federal Facilities, dated August 25, 2000, concerns the Commission's review and concurrence process for the U.S. Department of Energy's draft final "General Guidelines for Nuclear Waste Repositories and Yucca Mountain Site Suitability Guidelines."

Federal Register Notices Issued

GRAYSTAR, Inc., Notice of Reconstitution, Docket No. SSD 99-27

Carolina Power & Light Company, Notice of Reconstitution, Docket No. 50-400-LA

Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste; Notice of Meeting

Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards; Subcommittee on Materials and Metallurgy; Notice of Meeting

Moab Mill Reclamation Trust; Docket No. 40-3453-MLA-3; Notice of Reconstitution

Moab Mill Reclamation Trust; Docket Nos. 40-3453-MLA-4 and 40-3453-MLA-5; Notice of Reconstitution1.

ENCLOSURE P

Region I
Items of Interest
Week Ending September 1, 2000

Predecisional Enforcement Conference with Mallinckrodt Inc.

Region I conducted a predecisional enforcement conference with management representatives of Mallinckrodt Inc.'s Harrisburg, Pennsylvania facility. The conference was held to discuss apparent violations identified during a special inspection conducted from July 5 through August 1, 2000. The apparent violations discussed were related to a radiation exposure to the hand of a radiopharmacist in excess of NRC limits in Part 20. The conference provided the licensee with the opportunity to discuss their corrective and preventive actions and to address concerns related to the control of radiation exposures. The conference was also attended by management from Mallinckrodt Inc.'s corporate office in Maryland Heights, Missouri. Region I staff will be evaluating the information provided by the licensee and will make an enforcement decision in the near future.

ENCLOSURE P

Region II
Items of Interest
Week Ending September 1, 2000

Nuclear Reactor Regulation Organizational Performance Training (including 4 X 4 Matrix)

On August 29, the Director, Program Management, Policy Development and Analysis Staff, NRR, and a Senior Analyst, Arthur Anderson Company, conducted the Organizational Performance Training for all managers and supervisors.

ENCLOSURE P

Region IV
Items of Interest
Week Ending September 1, 2000

Public Meeting Held in Region IV with Entergy Operations Inc., Engineering Management

On August 29, 2000, the Vice President, Engineering, Entergy Operations, Inc., as well as other members of his staff, met with the Deputy Regional Administrator and members of the regional staff. The meeting was held at the request of Entergy Operations to discuss engineering performance at the corporate level and at the Entergy sites. The licensee introduced the engineering leadership for the sites, updated several improvement initiatives, discussed their views on various engineering performance issues, and addressed the communication of engineering related technical issues at the Entergy sites over the past several months.

ENCLOSURE Q

Office of Congressional Affairs
Items of Interest
Week Ending September 1, 2000