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INFORMATION REPORT SECY-08-0122 August 25, 2008
Contact: Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) Omaha Public Power District - Appointment of New Site Vice President for Fort Calhoun Station (FCS) By letter dated July 30, 2008, Omaha Public Power District announced the appointment of Mr. Jeffrey A. Reinhart as the new Site Vice President for FCS, Unit 1. Mr. Reinhart was previously an assignee to FCS from the Institute for Nuclear Power Operations (INPO). Mr. Reinhart assumed responsibility effective August 4, 2008, and reports to Mr. David J. Bannister, Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer. Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) Sponsored Mitigating Systems Performance Index Workshop On August 11 to 13, 2008, the staff participated in a NEI-sponsored public workshop on the Reactor Oversight Process Mitigating Systems Performance Index (MSPI) in San Francisco, California. The purpose of the workshop was to discuss current issues with the MSPI, review recent industry experience from lessons learned events, provide refresher training for new MSPI stewards, and provide training on INPO’s Consolidated Data Entry database used for transmitting data to the NRC. Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for License Renewal of Shearon Harris Unit 1 Issued On August 13, 2008, the staff issued the Final Supplement 33 regarding Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant, Unit 1. The Final SEIS represents the completion of the staff’s environmental review of the license renewal application for the Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant, Unit 1. The report contains the NRC’s finding that there are no environmental impacts that would preclude license renewal for an additional 20 years of operation. License Renewal Application for Kewaunee Power Station (KPS) On August 14, 2008, Dominion Energy Kewaunee submitted an application for renewal of the operating license for the KPS to the NRC staff. The application requests that the operating license for KPS be renewed for an additional 20 years beyond the current 40‑year term, pursuant to 10 CFR, Parts 51 and 54. KPS, a pressurized water reactor designed by Westinghouse, has a current operating license that expires at midnight on December 21, 2013. The staff is currently determining whether the application is sufficient for docketing, and if it is, plans to hold a public information session near the plant site in the near future. Information on this meeting will be posted on the NRC public meeting website to describe the license renewal process. Office of New Reactors (NRO) Plant Vogtle Early Site Permit (ESP) Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) Issued On August 15, 2008, the Plant Vogtle ESP FEIS was delivered to the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel. Copies of the FEIS were mailed to the service list and delivered to the United States Environmental Protection Agency on the same day. The FEIS was also made available on the Vogtle webpage on August 15, 2008. The Notice of Availability (NOA) will appear in the Federal Register on Friday, August 22, 2008. The date for the NOA meets the schedule published on the Vogtle webpage. Pre-Application Meeting for Toshiba 4S Reactor On August 8, 2008, the staff met with representatives of Toshiba and Westinghouse for a pre‑application presentation of a Phenomena Identification and Ranking Table (PIRT) for the Toshiba 4S (Super-Safe, Small and Simple) reactor. A television crew from Japan filmed portions of the meeting and conducted interviews before and afterward with members of the pre-applicant team. Office of Federal and State Materials and Environmental Management Programs (FSME) Onsite Observation Visit to the United States Department of Energy Idaho National Laboratory During the week of August 11, 2008, staff, in coordination with the State of Idaho, conducted an Onsite Observation Visit to the United States Department of Energy Idaho National Laboratory as part of the NRC’s overall monitoring responsibilities under the Ronald Reagan Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (NDAA). The purpose of the visit was to observe activities related to the disposal of incidental waste. The specific items that the staff and the State of Idaho focused on were: process line grout formulation and placement, environmental sampling, and radiation protection. United States Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Workshop in Salt Lake City, Utah On August 12, 2008, staff made a presentation on the NRC’s role in regulating uranium milling at a workshop hosted by the United States Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Salt Lake City, Utah. The purpose of the workshop was for the BLM to gain a greater understanding of the roles of other Federal and State agencies in the regulation, permitting, and licensing of uranium mills. NRC staff will be interacting with BLM during our reviews of license applications for new uranium mills. NRC Issues Manufacturer and Distributor Order to Best Theratronics Ltd. On August 14, 2008, the staff issued the Manufacturer and Distributor Order for additional security measures to Best Theratronics Ltd. In April 2008, Best Theratronics purchased MDS Nordion’s self-contained irradiator and teletherapy product line. The Order is effective immediately. Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response (NSIR) PNO-III-08-008A – Palisades Nuclear Plant On August 9, 2008, the Palisades plant resumed operation after a maintenance outage to replace leaking control rod drive (CRD) seals that commenced on August 5. The reactor became critical at 6:48 p.m. EDT on August 9, and the main generator synchronized to the grid at 4:31 a.m. on August 10. The licensee replaced five CRD seals during the outage. Emergency Preparedness (EP) Focus Group Forums On August 13, 2008, NRC staff attended the 18th in a series of 19 FEMA-sponsored EP focus group forums, with discussions of draft preliminary language regarding proposed changes to scenario demonstration criteria that will support NRC EP rulemaking changes. The focus group was conducted in Charlotte, North Carolina, and was attended by representatives from Radiological Health and Emergency Management agencies for the States of North Carolina and South Carolina, plume exposure counties, local law enforcement/fire, and licensees. In general, comments were supportive of the proposed changes to make scenarios more challenging and less predictive. Specific comments emphasized the need for the proposed guidance changes to be flexible, allowing for greater negotiation of extent of play. Representatives also recommended expanding the current 6-year exercise cycle to allow scenarios to be less predictive. Office of Administration (ADM) Medical Use of Byproduct Material – Amendments/Medical Event Definitions (RIN 3150-AI26, 10 CFR Part 35) On August 6, 2008, NRC published a proposed rule (73 FR 45635) in the Federal Register that would amend the regulations governing the reporting and notification of medical events. The proposed rule would clarify requirements for permanent implant brachytherapy by changing the criteria for defining a medical event from dose-based to activity-based and make other conforming and clarifying changes. The comment period for this action closes October 20, 2008. Petitions for Rulemaking; Denial (PRM-51-10 and PRM-51-12) On August 8, 2008, NRC published a document (73 FR 46204) in the Federal Register denying nearly identical petitions for rulemaking submitted by the Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (PRM-51-10) and the Attorney General of California (PRM-51-12). The petitioners requested rulemaking concerning the environmental impacts of the high-density storage of spent nuclear fuel in large water pools known as spent fuel pools. The petitioners asserted that new and significant information shows that the characterization of environmental impact as insignificant was incorrect. The NRC denied the petitions because it determined that the studies on which the petitioners rely do not constitute new and significant information and that the NRC has met and continues to meet its obligations under the National Environmental Protection Act. Alternate Fracture Toughness Requirements for Protection Against Pressurized Thermal Shock Events (RIN 3150-AI01, 10 CFR Part 50) On August 11, 2008, NRC published a supplemental proposed rule (73 FR 46557) in the Federal Register to address several changes in the October 3, 2007 (72 FR 56275), proposed rule on the Alternate Fracture Toughness Requirements for Protection Against Pressurized thermal Shock Events issue to address concerns expressed in stakeholder comments. In the supplemental proposed rule, the NRC is considering the adoption of new provisions regarding the procedures to perform surveillance data checks related to the updated fracture toughness requirements for protection against pressurized thermal shock events. The comment period for this action closes September 10, 2008. Contract Award for the Meta System Helpdesk Operation On August 11, 2008, a firm fixed price contract (NRC-33-08-330) was awarded to Aqiwo, Inc., Arlington, Virginia, under the Small Business Administration’s 8(a) Program. The contractor will be responsible for establishing a dedicated call center for end users of NRC Meta System applications and business processes that is scaled to handle an anticipated significant increase in call volume in the near future. The period of performance of the contract is August 11, 2008, through August 10, 2009, with three additional option years. The total estimated amount of the contract, including option years, is $2,156,606.67. Office of Information Services (OIS) Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Privacy Act (PA) Requests Received During the Period of August 8, 2008 through August 14, 2008:
Office of Human Resources (HR)
Office of Public Affairs (OPA) OPA Received Significant Media Inquiries on the Following: New emergency notification system at Indian Point nuclear power plant (New York) Seven percent power uprate at Millstone nuclear power plant Unit 3 (Connecticut) Restart of Browns Ferry Unit 1 (Alabama) NRC response to Babcock & Wilcox agreement to acquire Nuclear Fuel Services (Tennessee) Nuclear academic programs and government funding; increasing nuclear demand and public interest NRC response to the press release on prohibition on the use of highly enriched uranium (HEU) at research reactors Other Public Affairs Items: OPA coordinated C-SPAN taping of the NRC emergency planning meeting with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and state representatives to discuss emergency preparedness and hostile action issues. OPA participated in a phone interview with an Idaho TV station answering questions about the NRC’s review process for combined license applications. OPA spoke to Science magazine clarifying the NRC’s role in licensing a potential Next Generation Nuclear Plant (NGNP), and pointed out technical areas which need increased knowledge in order to properly evaluate an NGNP application.
Office of the Secretary (SECY)
Commission Correspondence
Federal Register Notices Issued
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