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INFORMATION REPORT SECY-05-0132 July 25, 2005
Contact: T. Kim, OEDO Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) Public Meeting to Discuss Comments on Draft Regulatory Guide DG-1139 On July 11, 2005, staff held a public meeting with representatives of the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), nuclear power plant licensees, and other interested stakeholders to discuss resolution of comments received from the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards on Draft Regulatory Guide DG-1139, “Risk-Informed, Performance-Based Fire Protection for Existing Light-Water Nuclear Power Plants.” This draft regulatory guide endorses NEI 04-02, “Guidance for Implementing a Risk-Informed, Performance-Based Fire Protection Program Under 10 CFR 50.48.” NRC Regulatory Issue Summary (RIS) 2005-11: Requirements for Power Reactor Licensees in Possession of Devices Subject to the General License Requirements of 10 CFR 31.5 On July 11, 2005, NRR issued the subject RIS to remind and/or inform power reactor licensees of the requirements for the receipt, possession, use, and transfer of generally licensed devices as described in 10 CFR 31.5, “Certain detecting, measuring, gauging, or controlling devices and certain devices for producing light or an ionized atmosphere.” During a recent NRC radiation safety inspection at a commercial nuclear power plant, it was discovered that generally licensed devices used in the operation of the plant were not being maintained in accordance with the requirements in 10 CFR 31.5. The licensee incorrectly assumed that these devices were not under the jurisdiction of NRC, and therefore did not include them in its radiation protection program required by its 10 CFR Part 50 license. The RIS requires no specific action nor written response; however, licensees are expected to review the information for applicability to their facilities and consider taking actions, as appropriate. NRC RIS 2005-13: NRC Incident Response and the National Response Plan On July 13, 2005, NRR issued the subject RIS to inform addressees of revisions to the NRC Incident Response Plan (NUREG-0728), which conform to the recently implemented National Response Plan, and the NRC’s incident response modes. The RIS requires no specific action nor written response; however, licensees are expected to review the information for applicability to their facilities and consider taking actions, as appropriate. Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS) NRC Regulatory Issue Summary (RIS) 2005-12: Transportation of Radioactive Material Quantities of Concern NRC Threat Advisory and Protective Measures System On July 11, 2005, staff issued the subject RIS to inform addressees of changes to the threat advisory conditions and protective measures system for their use in preplanning graded protective measures to respond to changes in the threat environment. This RIS was addressed to licensees authorized to possess radioactive material that equals or exceeds the threshold values in the Additional Security Measures (ASM) for transportation of Radioactive Material Quantities of Concern (RAMQC) under their 10 CFR Part 30, 32, 50, 70, and 71 licenses and Agreement State licensees similarly authorized to possess such material in such quantities under their Agreement State licenses. The staff has determined that issuance of this RIS is the most efficient mechanism to align the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the NRC, and licensee expectations about licensees’ response to threat advisories. The RIS requires no specific action nor written response; however, licensees are expected to review the information for applicability to their facilities and consider taking actions, as appropriate. Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES) Agreement between NRC and Suez-Tractebel of Belgium in the Area of Severe Accident Research On July 7, 2005, the NRC’s Executive Director for Operations signed the subject International Agreement which defines the terms and conditions by which the NRC and Suez-Tractebel will cooperate in the area of severe accident research. This cooperation will contribute to expanding the NRC’s data and knowledge base and the staff’s ability to independently verify the accuracy of the NRC’s MELCOR severe accident code for different accident sequences. The work performed and information exchanged under this Agreement enhances the quality assurance of the NRC’s reactor safety codes through the expansion of the international user community and through their subsequent code assessments and feedback. The NRC uses this code to evaluate potential risk and security scenarios for severe accidents, address regulatory and licensing issues for operating plants, and to review new designs. In addition to exchanging technical information and data, Suez-Tractebel will also provide a cash contribution each year for the duration of this Agreement to support the staff’s severe accident research activities. This Agreement will remain in effect for a period of five years. Collaborative Seismic Research Project with JNES On July 6-8, 2005, staff members from RES and the Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) traveled to Gillette, Wyoming, to participate in a series of technical information exchange meetings with representatives from the Japan Nuclear Energy Safety Organization (JNES) and its consultants. The primary purpose of the visit was to discuss and plan for collaboration on a research program to study beyond-design basis earthquake motion effects on nuclear power plant (NPP) structures through controlled strong ground motion tests via blast work at the Black Thunder coal mine in Wyoming. The participants discussed the feasibility of constructing a deeply embedded structure as part of an international collaborative effort that may include other interested organizations, such as Commissariat a l’Energie Atomique (CEA) of France and the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI). The deeply embedded structure is one of the unique features for several advanced reactor designs. As part of this meeting, the BNL staff member presented the status of the current NRC/BNL soil-structure interaction (SSI) studies for buried structures. JNES provided the status on the Black Thunder Mine Project. On July 11, the JNES staff members visited the NRC headquarters offices in Rockville, Maryland, and met with cognizant NRC staff members to present the status and feasibility of the Black Thunder Mine Project. Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response (NSIR) Preliminary Notifications
Office of Information Services (OIS) Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act Requests Received During the Period of July 8 through July 14, 2005:
Office of Human Resources(HR)
Office of Public Affairs (OPA) The Office of Public Affairs (OPA) received significant media inquiries on the following: NRC’s fine issued to Pilgrim for an inattentive control room supervisor. The New York Times story regarding the BEIR VII report from the National Academy of Sciences, with technical support from the Offices of Nuclear Regulatory Research and Nuclear Material Safe and Safeguards. Growing public opposition in New Jersey to potential license renewal for Oyster Creek. Other Activities of Note Included: At OPA’s request, The Washington Post on July 9 ran a correction to an earlier story that incorrectly reported that a computer worm had disabled the safety systems of a nuclear power plant in 2003. OPA assisted Director of Enforcement’s interview for a profile in National Black Engineers magazine.
Office of the Secretary (SECY)
Federal Register Notices Issued
Region I (RI) Calvert Cliffs - Site Visit by Commissioner Merrifield with New IAEA Ambassador On July 11, 2005, Commissioner Merrifield and the Deputy Executive Director for Materials, Research, State and Compliance Programs accompanied Mr. Gregory Schulte, U.S. Ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), on a tour of the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant in Lusby, Maryland. Ambassador Schulte was recently confirmed by the Senate to be the new Ambassador to IAEA in Vienna, Austria. The tour gave Ambassador Schulte an opportunity to become familiar with nuclear power plant operations with an emphasis on the safety and security interface. Region II (RII) On July 12, 2005, Commissioner Lyons visited the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion facility in Kentucky and the Honeywell Uranium Hexafluoride Production facility in Illinois for site tours and meetings with licensee management. Regional Administrator Visit to Surry Nuclear Plant On July 14, 2005, the Regional Administrator visited the Surry Nuclear Plant for a site tour with the Resident Inspectors. The Regional Administrator also attended the Southeast Nuclear Plants Manager’s Meeting. Region III (RIII) Commissioner Lyons’ Visit to Davis-Besse Nuclear Plant On July 13, 2005, Commissioner Lyons visited the Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Plant in Ohio for a plant tour and a meeting with licensee management. On July 14, Commissioner Lyons visited the Region III offices in Lyle, Illinois, and met with the Regional management and staff. On July 15, Commissioner Lyons visited the Illinois Emergency Management Agency in Springfield, Illinois, and met with Agency officials. Region IV (RIV) Cooper Nuclear Station - Public Meeting with Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) On July 13, 2005, Region IV staff met with NPPD representatives at the Region IV offices in Arlington, Texas. The meeting was requested by NPPD to present its basis for denial of a noncited violation documented in NRC Inspection Report 05000298/2005002, dated April 29, 2005. This noncited violation resulted from the licensee’s failure to implement its emergency plan implementing procedures during a fire which occurred on March 14, 2005. Representatives from the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency and the Union of Concerned Scientists participated in the meeting via teleconference. Region IV will consider the information provided at this meeting in its reconsideration of the basis for the noncited violation. .
Office of Congressional Affairs (OCA)
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