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SECY-03-0076

May 15, 2003

Contact: A. Kugler, OEDO

Enclosure A

Grand Gulf Nuclear Station:

On April 24, 2003, during strong winds and a thunderstorm, an automatic reactor scram occurred which resulted in a partial loss of offsite power, loss of instrument air, and the loss of power to the equipment supplied from nonsafety-related buses for several hours. On May 5, 2003, a Special Inspection Team (SIT) arrived onsite to better understand the cause of the automatic scram, system and component responses, and operator actions following the event.

Newsletter on Risk-Informed Activities

The pilot edition of an internal NRC electronic newsletter on risk-informed activities was issued to NRR staff on May 5, 2003. The purpose of the newsletter is to keep staff abreast of the latest developments in risk-informed activities in the reactor program, including upcoming meetings and events. Overall, the response to the pilot edition from staff has been very positive. Many of the commenters have expressed the view that the newsletter is informative and will be helpful to them in their jobs. All of the comments received are being considered in the planning of the next edition of the newsletter, which will be issued to the larger reactor community within NRC.

NRC Regulatory Issue Summary 2003-09, Environmental Qualification of Low-Voltage Instrumentation and Control Cables, dated May 2, 2003

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued this regulatory issue summary (RIS) to inform addressees of the results of the technical assessment of Generic Safety Issue (GSI)-168, "Environmental Qualification of Low-Voltage Instrumentation and Control Cables."

NRC Information Notice 2002-15, Supplement 1, Potential Hydrogen Combustion Events in BWR Piping, dated May 6, 2003

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued this supplement to NRC Information Notice 2002-15, to inform addressees about the results of a study by the Boiling Water Reactor Owners Group (BWROG) regarding the potential for hydrogen combustion events in piping and describe future followup actions by the staff and the Boiling Water Reactor Owners Group.

Audit of the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR)

External regulation of certain Department of Energy (DOE) laboratories is under consideration by Congress. Congress has required these laboratories to develop cost estimates to bring their facilities into compliance with NRC requirements. The cost estimates should identify significant physical changes, administrative and organizational changes, and procedural or process changes that would be needed to meet NRC requirements. Oak Ridge National Laboratory has been identified as a lead DOE facility to be evaluated under this Congressional initiative. The NRC will perform compliance audits of the HFIR (an 85 MW high performance research/test reactor at Oak Ridge National Laboratory) in support of this Congressional mandate. DOE has provided funding to NRC for performing the audits.

Issuance of Peach Bottom Renewed Licenses

The operating licenses for Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station, Units 2 and 3 were renewed on May 7, 2003. The Exelon Generating Company, LLC (Exelon) submitted the Peach Bottom license renewal application on July 2, 2001. The staff completed the environmental and safety reviews in accordance with the requirements of 10 CFR Part 51 and Part 54. The renewed licenses for Peach Bottom Units 2 and 3 expire on August 8, 2033, and July 2, 2034, respectively.

Staff meeting with General Accounting Office (GAO)

On May 5, 2003, staff from the Financial Regulatory Analysis Section met with representatives of GAO to discuss issues related to the Price-Anderson Act and licensees' financial qualifications. Specifically, the discussion involved issues relating to assurance that a limited liability company could pay the retrospective premium required under the Price-Anderson Act in the event of an accident and the NRC's ability to review licensees' financial qualifications in accordance with 10 CFR 50.75.

Mitigating Systems Performance Index/Reactor Oversight Process

On April 30, and May 1, 2003, a combined Mitigating Systems Performance Index/Reactor Oversight Process (MSPI/ROP) public meeting was held at One White Flint North. On April 30, 2003, the staff presented the status of its review of the MSPI pilot issues. It was noted that the ongoing effort by the Office of Nuclear Reactor Research to enhance the Standardized Plant Analysis Risk models for the twenty plants in the pilot will provide possible solutions to the remaining open technical issues.

Topics discussed during the May 1, 2003, ROP meeting included proposed changes to the Significance Determination Process (SDP) manual chapter appendices, inspection procedural changes, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the performance indicators (PIs), status of the ROP efficiency focus group, SDP topics for the maintenance rule, and other SDPs under development. The staff also discussed PI improvements and an update of the industry's self assessment program.

Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) - Maintenance Rule Users Group Meeting

On Monday, May 5, 2003, representatives of the Division of Inspection Program Management (DIPM) attended the semiannual meeting of the EPRI-sponsored Maintenance Rule Users Group (MRUG) in Providence, Rhode Island. Discussions covered the development of the new significance determination process for 10 CFR 50.65(a)(4) risk assessment inspection findings, development of the new mitigating systems performance indicator and its potential impact to maintenance rule equipment monitoring activities, the use of maintenance rule processes to support risk-informed technical specification initiatives, questions, and feedback on current maintenance rule issues.

Early Site Permits

On May 6, 2003, the New Reactor Licensing Project Office issued letters to Exelon Generating Company (Exelon), Entergy Operations, Incorporated (Entergy), and Dominion Generation (Dominion) related to guidance on security requirements in preparation of their early site permit (ESP) applications. The letters provide the site characteristics which should be discussed in the context of satisfying 10 CFR 100.21(f), which states, "site characteristics must be such that adequate security plans and measures can be developed."

Enclosure B

Trilateral Meeting with Mexico and Canada

During the period May 1-2, 2003, representatives from the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, the Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response, the Office of International Programs, and Region IV (and the State of Texas) met with representatives from the nuclear regulatory agencies of Canada and Mexico to discuss a number of waste and materials safety topics, including matters related to the control and security of radioactive material. Many areas of common perspective and agreement were noted, and a number of topics were identified as matters that would benefit from follow-up cooperative activities. Specifics will be included in the quick-look report and foreign travel report on the meeting.

Meeting with the Department of Energy

On May 6, 2003, staff from the Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards met with staff from the Department of Energy (DOE) in a closed meeting, to discuss regulatory oversight issues related to the U.S. Enrichment Corporation's (USEC's) gas centrifuge uranium enrichment test and demonstration facility (Lead Cascade), to be housed in an existing DOE Gas Centrifuge Enrichment Plant (GCEP) building at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PORTS) site in Piketon, Ohio. USEC submitted its license application for the Lead Cascade facility to NRC on February 12, 2003. At the meeting, DOE and NRC staff proposed to jointly develop, by October 2003, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that would: (1) identify the areas within the GCEP building that fall under DOE and NRC regulatory oversight; (2) outline the process for transitioning regulatory oversight from DOE to NRC; and (3) delineate each Agency's roles and responsibilities concerning regulatory oversight, to ensure that USEC's activities to be conducted during centrifuge disassembly/assembly and operational phases of the Lead Cascade are safe and secure. Past experience in transitioning regulatory oversight and developing MOUs for PORTS will be used in developing the MOU for the Lead Cascade.

Nuclear Energy Institute/Electric Power Research Institute Dry Storage Forum

During May 5-7, 2003, several members of the Spent Fuel Project Office, the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research, and Region II participated in the Nuclear Energy Institute/Electric Power Research Institute Dry Storage Forum in Naples, Florida. The conference was attended by approximately 160 individuals from utilities and industry involved with the various aspects of spent fuel storage. The NRC staff provided several presentations, including an overview of the spent fuel program; recent interim staff guidance; license renewal update; lessons learned from the Baltimore tunnel fire; the Package Performance Study; review of actions taken post- September 11, 2001; probabilistic risk assessment efforts; and lessons learned from recent inspections. The meeting provided an excellent opportunity for staff interaction with the industry representatives on dry cask storage activities.

Meeting with Westinghouse Regarding Transport Package for Fresh Fuel Assemblies

On May 1, 2003, Spent Fuel Project Office staff met with Westinghouse Electric Company to discuss the design of the Model No. Traveller transport package. The Traveller is being designed to transport unirradiated pressurized-water reactor fuel assemblies. Westinghouse discussed results of full-scale engineering tests of the package. It plans to perform full-scale certification tests in July 2003 and to submit an application for package approval to NRC in August 2003.

Union of Concerned Scientists and Mothers for Peace Petition for Rulemaking

On April 28, 2003, the Union of Concerned Scientists and Mothers for Peace submitted a petition for rulemaking under 10 CFR 2.802. The petition requests significant changes to the regulations in 10 CFR Part 50, to provide better protection against radiological sabotage at U.S. nuclear power plants. In addition, the petitioners request that the Diablo Canyon Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation licensing proceeding be suspended, pending action on the request for rulemaking. The Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation is leading a task group to address the petition.

Enclosure C

Presentation to ACRS on the Industry Initiating Event Performance Indicator for the Industry Trends Program

Staff from RES and NRR presented the development status of the industry initiating events performance indicator (IIEPI) to the ACRS' joint subcommittee of Probabilistic Risk Assessment and Operating Experience. RES is developing the IIEPI for use in the Industry Trends Program (ITP) to address the initiating events cornerstone of safety. The staff discussed how ACRS comments and suggestions from the previous briefing were addressed. The staff also outlined future development efforts for the IIEPI including the development of guidelines for setting thresholds for the IIEPI via an expert panel. The subcommittee asked how they could provide input for the expert panel to consider. In response, the staff stated that a white paper on the IIEPI will be provided in the near future for ACRS review and comment.

Enclosure D

TOPOFF2 Exercise Update

On May 6, 2003, NRC commenced exercise participation in TOPOFF2, the second Congressionally-mandated, national-level exercise involving weapons of mass destruction. The TOPOFF2 full-scale exercise is being conducted from May 12 through 16, 2003, with limited-scope exercise activities, focused on terrorism-related intelligence information, occurring the week of May 6 through 9, 2003. NRC Headquarters, Region III and Region IV will participate in both the limited-scope activities and the full-scale activities. NRC's exercise participation will focus on terrorist threats to licensee facilities, a radiological dispersal device detonation in Seattle, a highway shipment of radioactive material in the Pacific Northwest, and the effect of a bioterrorism event in Chicago. Participation will include limited staffing of Headquarters Operations Center response teams, limited staffing of Region III and IV Incident Response Centers, and Region IV representatives at the Seattle Joint Operations Center. Commissioner Merrifield will lead the NRC's exercise participation and serve as the agency's "top official" for TOPOFF2.

Preliminary Notifications

PNO-IV-03-025, Energy Northwest - MEDIA COVERAGE OF ENERGY NORTHWEST SECURITY OFFICER INFORMATIONAL PICKET AND FORCED SHUTDOWN BECAUSE OF MAIN CONDENSER INLEAKAGE.

PNO-I-03-015, Washington Hospital Center - MEDICAL EVENT DURING THE USE OF A NOVOSTE 3.5 FRENCH INTRAVASCULAR BRACHYTHERAPY DEVICE.

Enclosure F

Filing and Notification Requirements for the Shipments of Certain Radioactive Materials: Correction (Parts 70, 71, and 73).

A document correcting a final rule that amended the filing and advance notification requirements applicable to shipments of certain radioactive materials was published in the Federal Register on May 5, 2003 (68 FR 23574). The amendments reflected recent organizational and administrative changes within the NRC. The final rule became effective March 26, 2003.

Sander C. Perle, ICN Worldwide Dosimetry Service, Receipt of Petition for Rulemaking (PRM-20-25)

A document requesting public comment on a petition for rulemaking submitted by Sander C. Perle, ICN Worldwide Dosimetry Service (PRM-20-25) was published in the Federal Register on May 5, 2003 (68 FR 23618). The petitioner requests that the NRC amend its regulations to require that any dosimeter, without exception, that is used to report dose of record and demonstrate compliance with the dose limits specified in the Commission's regulations be processed and evaluated by a dosimetry processor holding accreditation from the National Voluntary Accreditation Program of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The petitioner also requests that the definition for individual monitoring devices (individual monitoring equipment) be revised to include "electronic dosimeters, optically stimulated dosimeters" as examples of certain devices. The comment period for this action closes July 21, 2003.

All Operating Power Reactor Licensees; Order Modifying Licenses (Effective Immediately) (3 documents)

Three general notice documents announcing the issuance of immediately effective orders modifying licenses for all operating power reactor licensees were published in the Federal Register on May 7, 2003 (68 FR 24510, 24514, and 24517). The orders impose a revised design basis threat which supercedes the design basis threat specified in 10 CFR 73.1, require the implementation of compensatory measures to improve tactical and firearms proficiency and physical fitness of security forces, and require the implementation of compensatory measures to address issues that may arise from work-hour related fatigue of nuclear facility security force personnel.

Acquisition Training for Project Managers

On May 7, 2003, the Division of Contracts conducted the Acquisition for Project Manager's Overview workshop for 20 participants. On May 8, 2003, the Office of General Counsel conducted the Organizational Conflict of Interest workshop for 22 participants. These two workshops are two of the five mandatory workshops required for Project Manager certification. A total of 54 certificates were issued on April 30, 2003, to project managers who recently completed the certification requirements.

Enclosure G

NRC Participates in General Services Administration's Federal Wireless Working Group

OCIO attended a new working group established by GSA's Federal Wireless team to discuss enhancements to the next Federal Wireless Telecommunications Services (FWTS) contract. The group was attended by representatives from eight federal agencies and provided an opportunity to discuss common issues and requirements to be addressed in future FWTS activities.

Freedom of Information and Privacy Act Requests received during the period of May 2 through May 8, 2003:

Enclosure M

Media Interest

The TOPOFF2 terrorism exercise, which will occur simultaneously in Chicago and Seattle next week, generated national coverage for ongoing preparations against biological and radiological weapons attacks. Articles ran in The Washington Post, New York Times and USA Today, among other publications.

NSIR's Roy Zimmerman was interviewed by Business Week for a piece on NRC's nuclear power plant security. In a related matter, The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists published a lengthy critique of NRC security policies.

NRC's report on safety culture at Davis-Besse received wide play, as did reactor bottom head degradation at the South Texas Project, St. Lucie and Oconee nuclear plants.

Media reports of security guards sleeping on the job at the Indian Point nuclear power plant due to forced overtime and fatigue have received local coverage in New York. Also, the refusal of two New York counties to submit emergency preparedness plans to FEMA kept Indian Point in the news.

NRC's reservations about quality assurance at the Department of Energy, as it prepares its Yucca Mountain license application, garnered significant coverage.

Enclosure N

Visit of J-L. Petitclerc, IRSN, France

On May 5, Mr. Petitclerc, International Collaborations Manager at the new Institute for Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN) in France, met with OIP staff to discuss the formation of the Institute and the recent appointment of the organization's senior managers. Additionally, a draft agenda was developed for the visit of Mr. J-B. Cherie, Deputy Director for International Relations, IRSN, to NRC on May 27. Mr. Petitclerc also participated in the meetings of the international participants in the NRC sponsored Cooperative Severe Accident Research Program.

Visit of Helen Leiser, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), UK

Ms. Leiser, former Director of Nuclear Installations, DTI, met with members of the NRR staff for a briefing on risk informed regulation and reactor regulatory oversight. Currently, Ms. Leiser is on temporary assignment with the Office of Nuclear Energy, DOE, where she is involved with international activities relating to the GENERATION IV advanced reactor program.

Upcoming CSNI/NEA/NRC Workshop

In February 2003, the Committee on the Safety of Nuclear Installations of the Nuclear Energy Agency (CSNI/NEA) hosted the first meeting of the organizing committee to discuss plans for organizing an international workshop on debris impact on emergency coolant circulation. This workshop is being jointly organized by the CSNI/NEA and the USNRC. Bhagwat Jain, Project Manager, Engineering Research Applications Branch, RES, was elected chairperson of the organizing committee and the workshop is scheduled to be held in Albuquerque, NM, February/March 2004. The USNRC will promote the workshop announcement to encourage wider U.S. participation.

Enclosure O

Document Released to Public	Date	Subject
Decision Documents
SRM-SECY-02-0204	5/7/03	Update of Uranium Recovery Guidance Documents
Commission Voting Record on SECY-02-0204	5/7/03	(same)
SRM-SECY-02-0077	5/6/03	Proposed Rule to Update 10 CFR Part 52, "Early Site Permits, Standard Design Certifications, and Combined Licenses for Nuclear Power Plants"
Commission Voting Record on SECY-02-0077	5/6/03	(same)
Former Chairman Meserve's Vote on SECY-02-0077	5/6/03	(same)
Information Papers
SECY-03-0059	4/18/03	NRC's Advanced Reactor Research Program

Commission Correspondence

Letter to Congress, dated May 2, 2003, provides NRC's February monthly report on the status of its licensing and regulatory duties.

Letter to Jim Doyle, Governor of Wisconsin, dated May 1, 2003, concerns the proposed Agreement for the State of Wisconsin to assume regulatory authority over acquisition, possession...and disposal of certain byproduct material.

Letter to Congressman Porter, dated April 29, 2003, concerns comments on NUREG-1768, "United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Package Performance Study Test Protocols."

Letter to Senators Lieberman and Dodd, dated April 29, 2003, concerns the emergency preparedness program for the Indian Point Energy Center.

Letter to Assemblyman Richard Brodsky, New York, dated April 28, 2003, concerns emergency planning and preparedness at the Indian Point nuclear facility.

Federal Register Notices

Sander C. Perie, ICN Worldwide Dosimetry Service, Receipt of Petition for Rulemaking (PRM-02-25).

ASLBP Notice of Hearing - Advanced Medical Imaging and Nuclear Services.

ACNW Notice of 142^nd Meeting.

ACNW Meeting on Planning and Procedures.

ACRS Subcommittee Meeting on Safeguards and Security.

Risk-Informed Categorization and Treatment of Structures, Systems and Components for Nuclear Power Reactors - Proposed Rule.

ACRS Meeting of Subcommittee on Plant Operations.

Region I

Security Tabletop Exercise at Yankee Rowe

On Wednesday, May 7, 2003, a security tabletop exercise was conducted at the Yankee Rowe plant in Rowe, Massachusetts. The purpose of the exercise was to demonstrate the integrated response capabilities of the Yankee Rowe Plant with external agencies. Participating agencies included the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, the Vermont Emergency Management Agency, the Massachusetts State Police, the Vermont State Police, and the Yankee Rowe Emergency Response Organization. A critique was held following the exercise. Region I Division of Nuclear Materials Safety staff participated in the exercise.

Maine Yankee Reactor Vessel Shipment

Staff and management from Region I and the Office of Nuclear Materials Safety and Safeguards (NMSS) were at Maine Yankee the week of May 5 to inspect the shipment of the Maine Yankee reactor pressure vessel (RPV). In addition, the team reviewed radiological surveys of the site associated with ongoing decommissioning efforts. At high tide on the afternoon of May 6, 2003, a tugboat hauling a barge loaded with the Maine Yankee RPV began its two-week trip to the Barnwell, South Carolina, radioactive waste disposal facility. This was the final major component removed from the decommissioning reactor site. Also, staff from the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education supported NMSS in reviewing licensee procedures and conducting measurements for comparison to site decommissioning surveys conducted by the licensee. Additional confirmatory surveys are planned during the next two years as decommissioning is completed.

Inspector Counterparts Seminar

Region I held its semiannual Inspector Counterparts Seminar on May 6-8, 2003. The seminar featured presentations by the Deputy Executive Director for Management Services and by the Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR), regarding recent and future developments in their organizations. In addition, a representative of the Office of Small Business and Civil Rights discussed the advantages of diversity in avoiding "groupthink," a representative from the Office of the Chief Financial Officer presented "The Joy of Statistics," representatives from NRR made presentations on lessons learned from Davis-Besse and on the emergency response significance determination process, and several Region I inspectors reviewed significant inspection findings and how they were discovered. The Region also held its mid-year awards ceremony.

Region II

Region II Inspector's Counterpart Meeting

On May 5-8, 2003, the Region II Inspector's Counterpart meeting was held in the Regional Office. On May 6, 2003, the Director, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, gave a presentation on Agency issues/challenges in the strategic arenas of materials safety and nuclear waste. The Director of the Division of Nuclear Security in the Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response, gave a presentation on current activities related to security of licensees.

30th Annual Federal Executive Board's Employee-of-the-Year Awards Luncheon

On May 7, 2003, the Regional Administrator and several Region II employees participated in the the 30th Annual Federal Executive Board's Employee-of-the-Year Awards Ceremony at the new Georgia International Convention Center. This Ceremony is in honor of those Federal employees in Atlanta who were nominated for awards based on meeting or exceeding the highest criteria for performance in certain categories. The Region II Office nominated several employees and had one, the Branch Chief of the Resource Information Branch, make it as a finalist for one of the awards given at the Ceremony.

Carolina Power and Light Company (Progress Energy) - Harris Special Inspection

On May 5, 2003, an NRC special inspection team began an inspection at the Harris nuclear power plant. The purpose of the special inspection was to review an event involving a loss of component cooling water and subsequent increase in reactor coolant system temperature during refueling outage operations.

Region III

NRC Davis-Besse Oversight Panel Public Meetings

On May 6, 2003, the NRC Davis-Besse Oversight Panel held two meetings at the Camp Perry Ohio National Guard facility in Oak Harbor, Ohio. The first meeting was between the panel and FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Co. officials to discuss the status of activities at the Davis-Besse plant. The second meeting was an evening public session to review NRC activities involving Davis-Besse and to respond to questions and concerns from the public.

Meeting to Review Design Issues at Davis-Besse

On May 7, 2003, the NRC Davis-Besse Oversight Panel met in the Region III Office with FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Co. officials to discuss the resolution of design issues identified by the licensee at the Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Plant. Among the topics discussed were the high pressure injection pumps which could fail under certain post-accident conditions; emergency diesel generator issues including voltage and frequency during loading and diesel generator room ventilation; the analysis of the electrical distribution system voltage; and capabilities of air-operated valves. The licensee reported that the resolution of these issues is underway.

Region IV

Meeting with River Bend

The Region IV, Director, Division of Reactor Safety, with members of the Plant Support Branch and Division of Reactor Projects Branch B, held a meeting in the Region IV office with licensee representatives from the River Bend Nuclear Plant to discuss the iradiation protection program. The meeting was requested by the licensee. Specific topics included deficiencies in ALARA planning, the March 17, 2003, contamination event, radiation protection program improvement initiatives, and radiation protection department organizational changes. The meeting was open to attendance by members of the public; however, no members of the public were present.

Enclosure R

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