Index | Site Map | FAQ | Facility Info | Reading Rm | New | Help | Glossary | Contact Us

SECY-00-0211

October 26, 2000

Contact:  A. McMurtray, OEDO

WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 20, 2000

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

Contact: A. McMurtray, OEDO by E-mail: acm2@nrc.gov.

ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Items of Interest
Week Ending October 20, 2000

Disposition of Differing Professional View (DPV)

The Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) has completed its action on a DPV filed concerning the regulatory guidance for licensee changes to fire protection programs that are made without prior NRC approval. The filer of the DPV questioned the guidance contained in the (then-draft) regulatory guide for implementation of (revised) 10 CFR 50.59 (Changes, Tests, and Experiments). This guidance states that a section 50.59 review is not required for changes to fire protection programs, because the provisions of section 50.48(a), and the standard license condition provide sufficient regulatory control. (In the revised section 50.59, a new paragraph was added that a section 50.59 review is not required for changes to the facility or procedures when the applicable regulations establish more specific criteria for accomplishing such changes. This was done to remove any duplicative review requirements). Upon review, NRR decided that the position in the regulatory guide was acceptable, but also agreed to add some further clarification in the guidance on how the reviews (using the license condition) are to be conducted. The filer of the DPV was notified of this decision in a memorandum dated October 13, 2000.

NEI License Renewal Workshop

On October 16 - 17, 2000, NRR's license renewal staff participated in the second annual Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) License Renewal Workshop in Naples, Florida. NEI reported that there were 95 workshop participants. Representatives from Calvert Cliffs, Oconee, ANO-1, Hatch, Turkey Point, Cooper, Surry and North Anna, the Owners Groups, Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), and NEI shared information on the preparation of a license renewal application, public outreach, legal considerations, lessons learned, regulatory issues, and technical issues. NEI led the workshop and described the NEI role and goals. The President of Florida Power and Light's (FPL's) Nuclear Division described the importance of license renewal from the perspective of utility executives, and how FPL moved to accelerate the schedule for the Turkey Point application. The NRC representatives explained the importance of planning, communication, public outreach, institutionalizing the lessons from the initial renewal reviews, and the important safety issues. The staff also described the importance of the improved renewal guidance and the plans and schedule for obtaining Commission approval.

Reactor Oversight Process

The Inspection Program Branch (IIPB) staff issued an updated version of Inspection Manual Chapter (IMC) 0610*, "Power Reactor Inspection Reports." It incorporates the documentation requirements of the Reactor Oversight Process (ROP). Substantial changes were made to the draft IMC 0610* that has been utilized since the beginning of initial implementation of the ROP. The changes include new guidance on the format of the cover letter, summary of findings, and the scope and findings sections. IMC 0610* also provides guidance on how to document cross-cutting issues, Licensee Event Reports, performance indicator issues, licensee identified non-cited violations, and corrective action inspections.

Public Meeting on Re-Evaluation of 10 CFR Part 73

At the request of industry, on October 19, 2000, NRR conducted a public meeting at NRC headquarters to discuss various topics in connection with licensee conduct of force-on-force security exercises at nuclear power plants. Attendees included NRC staff headquarters and regional staff, NEI, members of the public, members of industry, and other stakeholders. NRC staff and stakeholders engaged in dialog regarding licensee security drills and exercises, conduct of NRC Operational Safeguards Response Evaluations (OSREs), future force-on-force security evaluations, and related issues.

Maintenance Rule Workshop on Maintenance Effectiveness

On October 11 and 12, 2000, members of the Quality Assurance, Vendor Inspection, Maintenance and Allegation Branch (IQMB) held a Maintenance Rule Workshop on "The Role of Maintenance Effectiveness" as it relates to 10 CFR 50.65(a)(4). Participants at the workshop included NRC staff from the four regional offices, the Office of Enforcement, and other NRR program offices whose programs are dependent on proper implementation of 10 CFR 50.64 (a)(4). Discussion topics included the revised rule and guidance, NRC Manual Chapter 0610*, performance indicators (PIs) related to the Maintenance Rule, status of risk informing Part 50 and recent updated enforcement guidance. The results of the survey and verification and validation (V&V) visits that were used to help develop the new risk-informed, performance-based baseline were also discussed. This baseline inspection program will provide NRC oversight to plant configuration changes during maintenance activities while the plant is on-line and shutdown.

Meeting With NEI, OKONITE Company, and Industry on Cable Test Failures

On October 12, 2000, NRR, and the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES) staff participated in a meeting with the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), the Okonite Company, and industry representatives concerning Loss of Coolant Accident (LOCA) test failures of Okonite single conductor, bonded jacket cable. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the results of a recent industry survey conducted by NEI and share the results with the NRC staff. The focus of the survey was aimed at determining the number of plants using the subject cable, including the location and temperature environment of single conductor Okonite bonded jacket cables. The survey results were:

• 100% response
  
  
• 80 of 103 plants do not use the subject cable
  
  
• 18 plants have the cable installed in a service environment less than 60 Celsius (C) (60 C was the threshold established by the industry where additional action may be appropriate)
  
  
• 5 plants have the cable installed in a service environment greater than 60C

Evaluations of these five plants are being conducted with respect to parameters such as cable age, jacket thickness, and application. The staff does not believe that any immediate actions are required because of: (1) the limited application of this cable in a potentially harsh environment and, (2) the low probability of the initiating event (LOCA). In addition, use of this single conductor, bonded-jacket, Okonite cable does not appear to be a generic environmental qualification (EQ) problem. NEI will issue their final report on the survey results by the end of October. The Okonite Company is considering additional qualification testing of this cable. NRR plans on issuing a Regulatory Issue Summary (RIS) based on the RES LOCA test report and the NEI survey report.

Indian Point Unit 2

On October 18, 2000, Consolidated Edison Company of New York (Con Edison) transported the final replacement steam generator, no. 24, to containment. During the current outage, Con Edison also plans to remove the lower reactor vessel internals to retrieve possible foreign material identified by the loose parts monitoring system. Core reload is currently scheduled to start after installation of the new steam generators.

Catawba and McGuire Nuclear Plants

On October 12, 2000, the NRC staff met with representatives from Framatome Cogema Fuels (FCF) to discuss the Fuel Qualification Plan for use of plutonium-uranium oxide (mixed oxide (MOX)) fuel in the Catawba and McGuire reactors. A representative of the Nuclear Control Institute, an anti-proliferation watchdog group, also attended. The MOX program is part of an international program between the U.S. and the Russian Federation for the transformation of excess weapons grade plutonium to a form that is inaccessible and unattractive for weapons use.

Topics covered at the meeting included the MOX Program Overview, the fuel qualification approach, fuel assembly design and fabrication, physics aspects, the European experience with reactor grade plutonium and the Lead Assembly Program. The meeting was very informative to the NRC staff. The next major milestones in the overall program are the receipt of an application for construction of the Fuel Fabrication Facility at the Savannah River site and receipt of an application to irradiate lead assemblies in McGuire Unit 2.

V. C. Summer

Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station shut down the reactor on October 7, 2000, for a scheduled refueling outage. During a containment inspection, plant personnel identified a large quantity of boron on the floor and protruding from the air boot around the "A" loop of RCS hot leg pipe.

On October 12, 2000, a dye penetrant test revealed a 4-inch long circumferential hairline crack in the weld between the reactor vessel nozzle and the "A" hot leg pipe. The licensee is continuing with their scheduled refueling outage activities, including a full core offload. The licensee does not plan to reload fuel until the hot leg pipe is repaired.

V. C. Summer has assembled a multi-disciplined team, including experts from Westinghouse, EPRI, and the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO), to conduct a root cause assessment and develop corrective actions. The NRC formed a Special Inspection Team to determine the adequacy of the licensee's previous inspections, confirm that the licensee has completed an analysis and examination to determine the root cause, and to review the overall corrective action plan and the extent of the condition. The Team Leader was onsite October 18-20, 2000, to observe the licensee's non-destructive examination of the weld and the crack. The NRC issued Information Notice 2000-17 on October 18, 2000 to inform all reactor licensees about this crack.

ENCLOSURE B

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards
Items of Interest
Week Ending October 20, 2000

Meeting on Paducah Higher Assay Upgrade

On October 16, 2000, management and staff from the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS) met with representatives from the U.S. Enrichment Corporation (USEC). The meeting was held to discuss licensing issues associated with an upcoming certificate amendment request to increase enrichment levels from 2.75% to 5.5% at Paducah. The NRC also sought to resolve recent technical issues which have arisen during the review of USEC nuclear criticality safety evaluations/analyses which form the safety basis for the proposed amendment. These issues must be resolved before NRC staff completes the review of the certificate amendment request. Both parties agreed to continue to have similar meetings throughout the amendment review process to resolve these and similar issues in a timely fashion.

Department of Energy Issues Weapons Authorization Cards for Paducah Guard Force

NRC received a letter dated September 13, 2000, from the Department of Energy (DOE ) to the USEC in which DOE states that it has approved USEC's Weapons Authorization Card (WAC) program. The WAC program allows the guard force at Paducah to carry handguns. DOE removed the WAC from the Paducah facility when NRC took over regulation of the facility. The USEC Privatization Bill of 1998 authorized DOE to reinstate the WAC at the Paducah facility. The DOE letter to USEC stated that all open items except for one have been resolved and are considered closed. For the one open item (training), DOE determined that USEC has acceptable interim actions in place until training is completed.

Meeting with NAC International, Inc., on Completeness of Engineering Analysis and Review/Approval Time Frames

On October 6, 2000, Spent Fuel Project Office (SFPO) management met with NAC International, Inc. (NAC). Representatives of Yankee Atomic (Connecticut Yankee and Yankee Rowe) and Maine Yankee also attended the meeting.

The meeting was held to discuss NRC expectations regarding the completeness of engineering and supporting analysis for storage and transport cask applications and the scheduling, prioritization, and review/approval time frames for storage and transport cask applications. SFPO management expressed concern over several recent technical issues identified by SFPO staff during the reviews of NAC's engineering analysis. NAC acknowledged the concerns and intended to communicate, in writing, the results of a self-assessment of their licensing processes regarding future submittals.

SFPO management also addressed key aspects in the performance of NRC regulatory reviews, including the rules of engagement, and times necessary for reviews and completing storage cask rulemakings.

Meeting with Global Nuclear Fuel Regarding Model No. NPC Transport Package Design

On October 17, 2000, SFPO staff met with Global Nuclear Fuel - Americas, LLC (GNF), regarding the Model No. NPC package to discuss the staff request for additional information. The NPC package is designed to transport low-enriched uranium oxide powder and pellets. GNF has requested NRC approval of the design.

Radiation Safety Standards Committee

On October 9-11, 2000, the ninth meeting of the Radiation Safety Standards Committee of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was held in Vienna, Austria. The committee reviewed a number of safety requirements and guides in the areas of emergency preparedness, safety and security of sources, intervention levels for commodities, and regulatory infrastructure. The Committee approved for transmittal to the Committee on Safety Standards (CSS), the Safety Guide on Radiation Protection in Medical Exposure. In addition, updates were presented on the activities of the IAEA in transportation, nuclear safety, and waste safety. The next meeting of the committee is scheduled to be a joint meeting with the Waste Safety Committee on April 2-6, 2001.

10 CFR Part 40 Rulemaking Working Group

On October 17-18, 2000, the 10 CFR Part 40 Rulemaking Working Group held its initial meeting. The working group is made up of staff from the NRC and representatives from the Agreement States and Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors. The purpose of the working group is to propose options to modify Part 40, (excluding regulations specific to uranium recovery activities), in order to improve the control of distribution of source material to exempt persons and general licensees and make the regulation more risk-informed. During this meeting, the working group:  (1) developed a draft charter for the working group; (2) identified problems with the existing Part 40; and (3) discussed options to resolve those problems. Several members of the public attended this meeting and made statements at designated times.

Technical Exchange and Management Meeting on Structural Deformation and Seismicity Issues at Yucca Mountain

On October 11-12, 2000, staff from the Division of Waste Management (DWM) and the Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses (Center) met with the DOE in Las Vegas, Nevada. This meeting was held to achieve resolution of open items related to the Seismicity and Structural Deformation Key Technical Issue (KTI). There were four subissues discussed: faulting, seismicity, fracturing-structural framework, and tectonic framework. The meeting also included representatives from the Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board, the Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste, the Yucca Mountain Management and Operating contract, The State of Nevada, Nevada Nuclear Waste Task Force, and Clarke County, Nevada. As a result of the discussions and agreements reached, the first three subissues were closed-pending and the fourth subissue was closed. DOE agreed to provide an updated Features, Events and Processes Report on Disruptive Events that would contain more detailed technical bases for DOE's exclusion of faulting and seismicity events, and a technical basis for its use of the median. DOE also agreed to demonstrate the adequacy of the expert elicitation feedback process for its Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Analysis. Concerns about the fracture parameters and fracture-network models abstracted into DOE flow, transport, rockfall and thermo-mechanical models will be addressed in future technical exchanges conducted by the relevant KTI teams.

Sequoyah Fuels Site Visit and Technical Exchange

On October 17, 2000, staff from NMSS, the Office of State and Tribal Programs, and Region IV (RIV) toured the Sequoyah Fuels site and participated in a technical exchange at the Sequoyah Fuels Corporation site in Gore, Oklahoma. The technical exchange was related to staff's review of the Sequoyah decommissioning plan and associated site environmental issues, including the characterization of groundwater. Both the tour and technical exchange afforded the participants an opportunity to discuss environmental issues prior to anticipated NRC requests for additional information from Sequoyah Fuels. Representatives from the Army Corps of Engineers, the Oklahoma Attorney General's Office, the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, and a local public interest group were also present at this technical exchange.

Sequoyah Fuels Site Decommissioning Public Meeting

On October 17, 2000, staff from the DWM met with members of the public to discuss the status of the decommissioning activities at the Sequoyah Fuels facility. The meeting was also held to obtain public comments on the environmental impacts that need to be addressed during the NRC's environmental review of the proposed decommissioning action. Also present at this meeting were representatives from the Army Corps of Engineers, the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, the Oklahoma Attorney General, the Cherokee Nation, reporters from two local newspapers and approximately 40 members of the public. The NRC staff gave an update on the status of the environmental and safety reviews. The public asked questions on groundwater contamination and whether wastes from other NRC licensed facilities could be added to the disposal cell at the Sequoyah Fuels facility. Comments from members of the public at this meeting indicated opposition to the proposed on-site disposal cell. The NRC staff explained that its review of the environmental impacts will consider the licensee's proposed approach for onsite disposal, along with alternatives, such as disposing of the contaminated material off-site in a licensed disposal facility. NRC will consider environmental impacts when reaching a decision on the acceptability of the licensee's proposed approach.

ENCLOSURE D

Incident Response Operations
Items of Interest
Week Ending October 20, 2000

South Texas Project (STP) Emergency Exercise October 18, 2000

On October 18, 2000, the NRC successfully conducted a full participation emergency exercise in association with emergency response personnel from STP, the State of Texas, Matagorda County, Texas and several Federal agencies. The NRC emergency response organization was tested by participating in this simulated severe nuclear reactor accident at STP. Incident Response Office (IRO) and Region IV staff coordinated this exercise. The exercise included the participation of Commissioner Merrifield, the Executive Director for Operations, and managers from each of the Headquarters offices, as well as technical analysts in reactor safety and protective measures, Congressional and public affairs, State programs, and operational support. A Base Team managed by the Region IV Regional Administrator was established at the Region IV office, while the Deputy Regional Administrator directed a team of regional personnel at the plant site. As the scenario progressed, each segment of the NRC emergency organization was notified and activated. The NRC resident inspector and the Headquarters Operations Officers (HOO) were the initial points of contact for the licensee.

An added feature to the exercise was the opportunity for the NRC to demonstrate the U.S. emergency response capabilities and philosophy to Japanese government officials. Prior to the exercise, the Japanese visitors were provided an overview of how the U.S. responds to radiological events and given an opportunity to direct questions to NRC staff regarding emergency response. Feedback from the delegation was very positive.

Preliminary Notifications

1. PNO-I-00-033, Department of Health and Human Services/National Institutes of Health, REPORT OF MISSING PHOSPHORUS-32 LABELED DCTP FROM NIH.
   
   
2. PNO-IV-00-028A, Omaha Public Power District (Fort Calhoun Station), UPDATE ON THE REACTOR SHUTDOWN TO REPLACE DEGRADED REACTOR COOLANT PUMP SEAL PACKAGE.
   
   
3. PNO-IV-00-029, Nebraska Public Power District (Cooper Nuclear Station), REACTOR SCRAM WITH PLANT SHUTDOWN GREATER THAN 72 HOURS.

ENCLOSURE F

Office of Administration
Items of Interest
Week Ending October 20, 2000

Criteria for an Extraordinary Nuclear Occurrence; Withdrawal of a Proposed Rule and Denial of a Petition for Rulemaking Submitted by the Public Citizen Litigation Group and Critical Mass Energy Project (Part 140; PRM-140-1)

A document that withdraws a proposed rule that would have amended regulations concerning the criteria for an extraordinary nuclear occurrence (ENO) and denying a petition for rulemaking on this matter was published in the Federal Register on October 17, 2000 (65 FR 61283). The Commission is taking this action because it has determined that the current criteria for determining that an ENO has occurred are adequate and consistent with Congressional intent.

List of Approved Spent Fuel Storage Casks: (NAC-UMS) Addition (Part 72)

A final rule that adds the NAC Universal Storage System (NAC-UMS) cask system to the list of approved spent fuel storage casks was published in the Federal Register on October 19, 2000 (65 FR 62581). The amendment allows holders of nuclear power plant operating licenses to store spent fuel in the NAC-UMS cask system under a general license.

ENCLOSURE G

Chief Information Officer
Items of Interest
Week Ending October 20, 2000

Freedom of Information and Privacy Act Requests received during the 5-Day Period of October 13, 2000 through October 19, 2000:

ENCLOSURE H

Chief Financial Officer
Items of Interest
Week Ending October 20, 2000

Part 170 and Part 171

The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990, as amended, requires NRC to collect approximately 100 percent of its budget authority (less the amounts appropriated for the Nuclear Waste Fund and for regulatory reviews and other assistance provided to DOE and other Federal agencies). In fiscal year 2000, just ended, NRC collected fees and other charges in the amount of $450.1 million (100.7 percent) of the amount required to be collected. The agency collected $110.3 million in Part 170 Fees for Services and $339.8 million in Part 171 Annual Fees. The agency is in the process of notifying the Congressional Committees of the amount collected.

ENCLOSURE I

Office of Human Resources
Items of Interest
Week Ending October 20, 2000

Diabetes Education Program Held

The Health Center sponsored a Diabetes Education series to alert employees of the warning signs of diabetes and to provide the latest information on treatment for those who have the disease or have family members who are diabetic. Myrna Maschke of Bayer Pharmaceutical gave two lunch-time presentations. One was held on September 15, 2000, which addressed the control of diabetes. The other was given on October 19, 2000, which discussed new trends in diabetes management. Approximately 50 employees attended the program.

Drug-Free Workplace and Workplace Threats and Violence Training Held

During the week of October 16, 2000, the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Manager, along with the Drug Testing Program Manager from the Office of Administration, presented Drug-Free Workplace and Workplace Threats and Violence Training for Region IV personnel. Two three-hour sessions were given to 17 managers. In addition, 37 employees attended a two-hour session.

* Effective October 13, 2000
**Effective October 17, 2000

ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs
Items of Interest
Week Ending October 20, 2000

Media Interest

The Region II Regional Administrator was interviewed by CNN for their Spanish language news magazine show "Ecologic," which is widely viewed in the Caribbean and across South America. The interview will focus on Vieques Island activities, and will air in two to three weeks.

Japan's largest television broadcasting company, NHK, interviewed NRC headquarters staff and filmed the training for the October 18, 2000, emergency response drill with the STP.

A reporter from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette toured the Arkansas Nuclear plants for a story on their steam generator replacement.

There was press interest in the Nuclear Control Institute's press conference in which they claimed that plants with ice condensers that use MOX fuel are more at risk for severe accidents.

ENCLOSURE N

Office of International Programs
Items of Interest
Week Ending October 20, 2000

Visit of Claude Birraux, France

On October 18, 2000, Claude Birraux, a French Parliamentarian, visited the Chairman and Commissioners Dicus, Diaz, and McGaffigan. Dr. Birraux is conducting a study for the Parliament on the disposal of weapon's plutonium by burning MOX fuel in civilian reactors. He was interested in the Commissioners views on the viability, safety, and likelihood of using this disposal option in the U.S.

Japanese Observers of South Texas Emergency Drill

On October 18, 2000, a team from the Japan Ministry of International Trade and Industry, Nuclear Power Engineering Center, and the Japan Nuclear Fuel Cycle Development Center observed the South Texas Project nuclear emergency preparedness drill from the NRC's headquarter's and Regional Emergency Operations Centers. Prior to the drill, the team attended an orientation and training session and had an opportunity to talk with Commissioner Jeffery Merrifield who headed the Executive Team during the drill.

ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary
Items of Interest
Week Ending October 20, 2000

Document Released to Public		Date	Subject
Decision Documents
1.	COMSECY-00-0033	10/4/00	Request to Discontinue the Diagnostic Evaluation Program
	SRM on 00-0033	10/13/00	(same)
	Commission Voting Record on 00-0033	10/13/00	(same)
2.	SECY-00-0160	7/26/00	Withdrawal of Proposed Rule and Denial of Petition for Rulemaking Submitted by the Public Citizen Litigation Group and the Critical Mass Energy Project (WITS No. W8100014)
	SRM on 00-0160	9/14/00	(same)
	Comm. Voting Record on 00-0160	9/14/00	(same)
Information Papers
1.	SECY-00-0206	10/12/00	SECY-00-0206 Weekly Information Report - Week Ending October 6, 2000

Commission Correspondence

1. Letter to Congressman Tom Bliley dated October 12, 2000, provides NRC rulemakings to be proposed or completed in the closing months of the Clinton Administration.
   
   
2. Letter to Joan Claybrooke, President, Public Citizen Litigation Group, dated October 11, 2000, concerns accident at the Three Mile Island, Unit 2 nuclear reactor (TMI-2).
   
   
3. Letter to Ralph Beedle, Senior VP and CNO, Nuclear Generation, NEI, dated October 6, 2000, concerns proposed changes to the Fitness-For-duty rule (10 CFR Part 26).
   
   
4. Letter to Congresswoman Shelley Berkley dated October 6, 2000, concerns the license application for a potential geologic repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada.

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards; Notice of Meeting.
   
   
2. Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards; Subcommittee Meeting on Safety Research Program; Notice of Meeting.
   
   
3. 10 CFR Parts 50 and 72; Reporting Requirements for Nuclear Power Reactors and Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installations at Power Reactor Sites; Final Rule.
   
   
4. Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards; Meeting of the ACRS Subcommittee on Materials and Metallurgy.

ENCLOSURE P

Region I
Items of Interest
Week Ending October 20, 2000

Haddam Neck Licence Termination Plan (LTP) Meeting

On October 17, 2000, Region I participated in an NRC sponsored public meeting to discuss the Connecticut Yankee Atomic Power Company (CYAPCO) License Termination Plan (LTP). The meeting, held in the vicinity of the Haddam Neck Nuclear Power Plant, was attended by approximately 125 people. About a dozen members of the public provided comments or questions. The meeting participants from the NRC included members from NRR, NMSS, Office of General Counsel (OGC), and Region I. CYAPCO made a presentation regarding their LTP. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, NRC Region I, and Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection made statements during the meeting regarding their responsibilities and proposed review of the LTP. The meeting lasted four hours, which included a one-hour poster session.

ENCLOSURE P

Region II
Items of Interest
Week Ending October 20, 2000

Florida Power Corporation - Crystal River full scale exercise

On October 16-20, 2000, the Regional State Liaison Officer evaluated the licensee and State of Florida emergency preparedness performance for the Crystal River full scale exercise. The Regional State Liaison Officer was a member of the Federal Emergency Management Agency evaluation team. The licensee successfully demonstrated their emergency preparedness program.

A member of the Office of the Inspector General (IG) accompanied the Regional State Liaison Officer during the exercise. This was part of the IG Liaison program with Region II.

Testing Technologies, Inc. - Open Predecisional Enforcement Conference

On October 18, 2000, Region II held an open predecisonal enforcement conference with representatives from Testing Technologies, Inc., Woodbridge, VA. The purpose of this conference was to discuss five apparent violations that occurred during radiography in Washington, D.C. on August 27. Licensee representatives discussed the circumstances surrounding the apparent violations and corrective actions.

NDT Services, Inc - Severity Level I Violation and Orders

On October 17, 2000, the agency issued a Severity Level I violation and license termination to NDT Services, Inc. for numerous examples of failure to comply with NRC requirements, several of which were deliberate. The NRC had issued an order suspending the license on March 27, 1998. In addition, on October 18, orders were issued to three former employees of NDT Services, Inc. prohibiting their involvement in NRC licensed activities for periods ranging from one to five years.

ENCLOSURE P

Region III
Items of Interest
Week Ending October 20, 2000

NRC Staff Meets with USEC Officials to Discuss Safety Conscious Work Environment

On October 18, 2000, members of the NRC staff met with USEC officials in the Region III office (Lisle, Illinois) to discuss USEC's efforts to ensure a safety conscious work environment at the Paducah (Kentucky) and Portsmouth (Ohio) Gaseous Diffusion Plants. The meeting was open to the public.

Region III Holds the Fifth Public Discrimination Workshop

On October 19, 2000, Region III held a public workshop in Paducah, Kentucky, to review the agency's handling of complaints by nuclear industry workers who allege their employer discriminated against them after they raised safety concerns. Approximately 35 members of the public attended this workshop, most of whom were either current or former workers at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant.