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INFORMATION REPORT SECY-06-0182 August 16, 2006
Contact: U. Shoop, OEDO Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) Receipt of James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant License Renewal Application On August 1, 2006, the staff received an application from Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc., to renew the operating license for the James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant (JAFNPP) to extend the license for an additional 20 years beyond the current expiration date. The current JAFNPP operating license will expire on October 17, 2014. AP1000 Design-Centered Working Group (DCWG) Meeting On July 27, 2006, the staff held a public meeting with the industry's AP1000 DCWG, composed of Duke Energy, Progress Energy, South Carolina Electric and Gas, Southern Company, Tennessee Valley Authority, and Westinghouse. The meeting focused on the combined license pre-application (COLA) activities. Presentations by the DCWG representatives addressed the group's commitment to high quality applications and maximizing standardization. The DCWG also discussed their plans and schedules for a COLA, the response to Regulatory Issue Summary (RIS) 2006-06, "New Reactor Standardization Needed to Support the Design-Centered Licensing Review Approach," and key COLA challenges. Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor (ESBWR) Design Certification Meeting On July 26-27, 2006, the staff held a public meeting with representatives from General Electric (GE) regarding the ESBWR design instrumentation and control (I&C) systems. The meeting focused on several GE I&C Licensing Topical Reports (LTRs) previously submitted to the staff and the schedule for future I&C-related LTRs. GE provides information on one of four possible platforms for the ESBWR I&C system and requested clarification on some of the requests for additional information. Hope Creek - Ultimate Heat Sink (UHS) Amendment On August 1, 2006, the staff issued a license amendment for Hope Creek that permits continued plant operation with the temperature of the UHS (the Delaware River) greater than 89 °F. The amendment permits continued operation at the elevated UHS temperatures provided the UHS temperature averaged over the prior 24-hour period is verified at least once per hour to be less than or equal to 89 °F, and the UHS temperature does not exceed a maximum value of 91.4 °F. Previously, the Hope Creek Technical Specifications permitted continued plant operation with a UHS temperature up to 89 °F. The UHS temperature reached approximately 88 °F on August 1, 2006, and is expected to remain at elevated levels due to continued hot weather conditions. Indian Point Unit 2 - Emergency Amendment On July 26, 2006, Entergy applied for an emergency amendment to the Technical Specification (TS) for Indian Point 2. The TS change decreased the number of containment sump water level channels that are required to be operable from 3 to 2 channels. Containment sump water level is used for post-accident monitoring, as defined in Regulatory Guide (RG) 1.97. The staff concluded that removal of one channel would still meet the criteria of RG 1.97 since the remaining channels provide acceptable redundancy. The staff issued the license amendment on July 28, 2006. National Fire Protection Association Standard 805 (NFPA 805) Public Workshop During July 24-25, 2006, NRC in conjunction with staff from DC Cook, conducted the subject workshop in Buchanan, MI, for plants transitioning to NFPA 805. Industry participants included the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), Duke Engineering, Progress Energy, Nuclear Management Company (NMC), Callaway, and various support contractors. DC Cook's team presented the transition status of their fire PRA, fundamental elements, multiple spurious operations, recovery actions, and non-power operations. Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS) High-Level Waste Staff Observe Waste Package Outer Barrier Prototype From July 25-27, 2006, NRC and the Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses staff observed the solution-annealing and quenching operation of the 21-PWR Uncanistered Fuel Prototype Waste Package outer barrier. The purpose of this full-scale demonstration was to ensure that the solution-annealing and quenching operation reduces the residual stresses from welding and fabrication; thus, reducing the probability of stress corrosion cracking of the waste package. This critical step in the fabrication process will be performed at the Delphi facilities in Sewell, NJ, under a subcontract with Joseph Oat Corporation. Meeting with J. L. Shepherd and Associates On August 2, 2006, representatives from J. L. Shepherd and Associates met with Spent Fuel Project Office staff to provide an overview of their plans to develop and submit applications for two new transport package designs. J. L. Shepherd and Associates plan to submit these applications in early 2008. Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES) Renewal of Technical Exchange and Cooperation Arrangement in the Field of Nuclear Safety Research and Development On August 1, 2006, the Executive Director for Operations (EDO) signed the renewal of the subject Arrangement, which defines the terms and conditions by which the NRC and United Kingdom Health and Safety Executive (HSE) will continue its cooperation. Under this Arrangement, the NRC and HSE will exchange technical information and cooperate in reactor safety research in areas that include: reactor vessel and piping integrity; aging of reactor components; equipment qualification; thermal hydraulic code application and maintenance; plant and human performance; core melt and reactor system failure; containment safety; structural integrity; seismic safety; probabilistic risk assessment; severe accident analysis; radiation protection and health effects; radionuclide transport and waste management; nuclear fuels analysis; dry cask storage and transport; decommissioning; and, fire protection. This renewed Arrangement will remain in effect for an additional five years. Workshop on Basic Research Needs for Advanced Nuclear Energy Systems On July 31 through August 2, 2006, RES staff attended the subject workshop in Rockville, MD, hosted by the Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Basic Energy Sciences. The workshop's purpose was to identify basic science research directions and priorities in support of the long-term development of deep-burn fast-neutron reactors and associated advanced fuel cycles for DOE's Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP). During the workshop, six working panels discussed research in the following areas: materials, chemistry, separations science, advanced actinide fuels, advanced waste forms, and predictive modeling and simulation. DOE plans to issue a report on the workshop results in October 2006. RES staff is noting the direction of DOE's research in these areas, the relation of DOE's programs to NRC's activities, and opportunities for NRC research collaboration with DOE. Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response (NSIR) Preliminary Notifications
Office of Administration (ADM) Requirements for Expanded Definition of Byproduct Material On July 28, 2006, the NRC published a proposed rule in the Federal Register (71 FR 42952) that would amend its regulations to include jurisdiction over certain radium sources, accelerator-produced radioactive materials and certain naturally occurring radioactive material. The proposed rule is required by the Energy Policy Act, which expanded the Atomic Energy Act definition of byproduct material to include any discrete source of radium-226, any material made radioactive by use of a particle accelerator, and certain discrete sources of naturally occurring radioactive material. The comment period for this action closes September 11, 2006. Requirements for Expanded Definition of Byproduct Material; Meeting On August 3, 2006, the NRC published a document in the Federal Register (71 FR 43996) that announces a public meeting to solicit public comment on a proposed rule that would amend its regulations to include jurisdiction over certain radium sources, accelerator-produced radioactive materials and certain naturally occurring radioactive material. The meeting will be held on August 22, 2006. Office of Information Services (OIS) Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Privacy Act Requests Received During the Period of July 28 through August 3, 2006:
Office of Human Resources (HR)
Office of State and Tribal Programs (STP) 2006 National State Liaison Officers' (SLO) Meeting On August 1-2, 2006, STP hosted the subject meeting in the Two White Flint North Auditorium. Major topics discussed included the Energy Policy Act of 2005, Congressional District Outreach, New Reactor Licensing and Construction Efforts, Emergency Preparedness Incidents and Exercises, Tritium Task Force Updates, Preemption Activities, and Avian Flu Pandemic Implications. Thirty-five State Officials and one Federal staff from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration were in attendance. Staff from the Office of the Executive Director for Operations (OEDO), Office of the General Counsel (OGC), Office of Congressional Affairs (OCA), numerous staff offices, and the NRC's Regional State Officers participated in presentations and panel discussions. Preliminary meeting feedback was positive with numerous recommendations from the SLOs that the NRC should hold the triennial meeting on a more frequent basis. Office of Public Affairs (OPA) The Office of Public Affairs (OPA) received significant media inquiries on the following: An announcement by Unistar to resume manufacturing in the United States of components for nuclear reactors. Amarillo Power's intention to apply to NRC to build two new reactors. The recent incident at a Swedish nuclear plant, and whether a similar event could happen in the United States. Heat-related outages at Fermi and D.C. Cook. Other Public Affairs Items: Commissioner Jaczko was interviewed by Inside NRC.
Office of the Secretary (SECY)
Commission Correspondence
Federal Register Notices Issued
Region II (RII) Chairman Visits BWX Technologies, Inc and AREVA-Lynchburg. On August 2, 2006, Chairman Klein, the Director, Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response, and the Deputy Regional Administrator visited the BWX Technologies, Inc., fuel facility for a site tour, and a meeting with licensee management. On August 3, 2006, Chairman Klein, the Director, Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response, and the Deputy Regional Administrator visited AREVA Lynchburg for a site tour of the Mt. Athos Road Fuel Fabrication Facility and a meeting with licensee management. Office of Congressional Affairs (OCA)
The House of Representatives is in recess until September 5, 2006. |
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