Some fall and winter things to look forward to...

There are several events/activities that I am looking forward to (most likely running or doing) this fall and winter. Here are some of them:

Taking out the kayak/renting a canoe with friends
Warrior Dash Tennessee - 9/17/2011
8th Annual Liz Hurley Ribbon Run - 10/15/2011
2011 UCP Krispy Kreme Challenge - 11/19/2011
Tough Mudder Atlanta, GA on 2/11/2012
Mercedes Half Marathon 2012 - 2/12/2012

This is not an all-inclusive list...

You can download the pics from this slideshow at https://picasaweb.google.com/112864142527452410375/20110828

NRC documents for Browns Ferry 8/20/11 - 8/27/11

1. ML11224A009 - Browns Ferry, Units 1 , 2, & 3, Sequoyah, Units 1 & 2, Watts Bar, Unit 1, Service List Update for Routine Information.
2. ML11224A008 - Browns Ferry, Units 1, 2, & 3, Sequoyah, Units 1 & 2, and Watts Bar, Unit 1, Service List Update for Documents Containing Official Use Only and Safeguards Information.
3. ML11228A084 - Notification of Part 21 - Failure to Include Seismic Input in Reactor Control Blade Customer Guidance.
4. ML11213A030 - G20110563/EDATS: OEDO-2011-0535 - David Lochbaum Ltr. re: 2.206 - Boiling Water Reactors with Mark I and Mark II Containment Designs
5. ML11234A004 - Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, Unit 1, Request For Additional Information Regarding Technical Specification TS-473, AREVA Fuel Transition (TAC No. ME3775).
6. ML11236A252 - Press Release-II-11-048: NRC Schedules Meeting in Atlanta to Discuss Upcoming Inspections at Browns Ferry Nuclear Power Plant.
7. ML112230275 - Biweekly Sholly Report - Applications and Amendments to Facility Operating Licenses Involving No Significant Hazards Considerations; FR Publication date: 8/23/2011.
8. ML11236A155 - 09/15/2011 Notice of Forthcoming Meeting with Tennessee Valley Authority Regarding the Status of the Extended Power Uprate Submittals for Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, Units 1, 2 and 3.

8 miles this morning

1:01:49 + weekly NRC docs

The Sprint Tri results are in. I think I could have done better, but I was still pretty close to the time I expected...

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NRC Docs added to the NRC's public documents website from 8/13-8/20/2011:

1. ML112280623 - 08/30/2011 Category 1 Public Meeting, to Discuss the NRCs Plan for Implementing Supplemental Inspections in Accordance with Inspection Procedure 95003.
2. ML112280554 - 08/02-03/2011-Meeting Summary - 2011 US Nuclear Regulatory Commission Initial Exam Writers Workshop.
3. ML112240142 - Part 21 60-Day Interim Report Notification: Failure to Include Seismic Input in Channel-Control Blade Interference Customer Guidance.
4. ML112280215 - NRC Follow-up Letter Concerning The Browns Ferry Red Finding and Notice of Violation.
5. ML112290752 - Browns Ferry - Operator Licensing Written Examination Approval 05000259-11-302, 05000260-11-302, and 05000296-11-302.

The three most interesting docs (my view) are numbers 1, 3 and 4. I wonder if any of our local media will attend the public meeting in Atlanta on 8/30 to hear about the NRC's 95003 inspection at Browns Ferry...

Lo and behold, the day of the Edward Jones - Huntsville Sprint Triathlon is here...

I start at 0708! Should be fun!!!

Gorgeous afternoon to get outdoors and knock out 5 miles

I probably would have been better off doing this in the morning, but it's difficult for me to head out the door early enough and get to work on time...

Quick little 4.5 miler knocked out for the afternoon...

Map:

Or video (requires Google Earth browser plugin)

NRC docs for Browns Ferry 8/6/2011-8/13/2011 AND Brooke Hill 5k 2011 results

1. ML110450256 - Browns Ferry, Units 1, 2 and 3 - Response to NRC Request for Additional Information Regarding Extending Completion Times for Technical Specification 3.8.1.
2. ML11216A118 - Submittal of Reference Documents Related to EA-11-018 for Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Unit 1.
3. ML112200505 - cROP Tabletop Example Findings.
4. ML11213A209 - LER 09-003-01 for Browns Ferry, Unit 2, Regarding Safety/Relief Valve As-Found Setpoint Exceeded Technical Specification Lift Pressure.
5. ML11214A100 - LER 09-003-03 for Browns Ferry, Unit 3 Regarding Reactor Core Isolation Cooling System Inoperable Longer Than Allowed by the Technical Specifications.
6. ML112210368 - IR 05000259-11-003, 05000260-11-003, 05000296-11-003; 04/01/2011 - 06/30/2011; Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, Units 1, 2 and 3; Annual Heat Sink Performance, Operability Evaluations.

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Results from the 2011 Brooke Hill 5K can be found here. I was fairly pleased since I knocked two minutes off of my time since last year...

Nice start to a Sunday morning

Brooke Hill 5K was fun...

Huntsville Sprint Triathlon next week!





I'm sure they'll post the 5K results later today or tomorrow sometime...

Weekly top 10 on THOMAS

Top ten legislative items searched on THOMAS, compiled on 8/7/2011 from weekly usage statistics

1. S. 365 - [112th] - Budget Control Act of 2011
2. H.R. 2480 - [112th] - Administrative Conference of the United States Reauthorization Act of 2011
3. S. 627 - [112th] - Budget Control Act of 2011
4. H.R. 1981 - [112th] - Protecting Children From Internet Pornographers Act of 2011
5. H.R. 2693 - [112th] - Budget Control Act of 2011
6. H.R. 4646 - [111th] - Debt Free America Act
7. H.Res. 384 - [112th] - Providing for consideration of the bill (S. 365) to make a technical amendment to the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002
8. H.R. 2560 - [112th] - Cut, Cap, and Balance Act of 2011
9. H.R. 2715 - [112th] - To provide the Consumer Product Safety Commission with greater authority and discretion in enforcing the consumer product safety laws, and for other purposes
10. H.R. 2553 - [112th] - Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2011, Part IV

Just a friendly reminder/PSA...

The final Tuesday night Cross Country Run put on by the Huntsville Track Club is this Tuesday night. Weather permitting, I plan on being there!

NRC documents posted to their public document library from 07/30/2011-08/06/2011

I provide no commentary about these. They are just a quick way to access information regarding Browns Ferry for interested folks primarily in the North Alabama/Southern Tennessee area or anywhere else. As always, the Licensee Event Reports are fairly interesting.

1. ML11203A517 - LER 11-002-00, for Browns Ferry, Unit 3, Regarding Reactor Scram Due to Scram Discharge Volume High Water Level.
2. ML11203A019 - LER 11-006-00, for Browns Ferry, Unit 1, Regarding Loss of Safety Function (HPCI) Due to Primary Containment Isolation.
3. ML11195A124 - Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, Units 1, 2, and 3, Issuance of Amendments Regarding the Cyber Security Plan (TS-470) (TAC NOS. ME4952, ME4953 & ME4954).
4. ML112150096 - Appeal of Final Significance Determination of a Red Finding and Reply to a Notice of Violation; EA-11-018.

I loves me some Hybrid!

  HYBRID : Blind Side : Released 29 August by Hybridsoundsystem

This was just from the storms the other night - NWS: 15,000 lightning strikes hit during storms

NWS: 15,000 lightning strikes hit during storms

Forgot to do this over the weekend - NRC docs for Browns Ferry 7/23/11 - 7/30/11

1. ML11199A004 - Browns Ferry, Unit 3, Response to NRC Request for Additional Information Regarding Relief Request 3-ISI-26.
2. ML11199A049 - Browns Ferry, Units 1, 2 & 3, Response to NRC Regulatory Issue Summary 2011-04, "Preparation and Scheduling of Operator Licensing Examinations."
3. ML11199A050 - LER 11-001-00, for Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, Unit 3, Regarding Loss to Shutdown Cooling (RHR).
4. ML112070081 - Update of Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Distribution List for Documents Containing Safeguards (SGI), Official Use Only (OUO), and Routine Information - (Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant).
5. ML11201A302 - Response to NRC Request for Additional Information Regarding Relief Request 3-ISI-25.

5K = done

It was good to see plenty of folks out running in support of Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Alabama.

I wasn't quite satisfied with just 5K AND I felt guilty about eating 1-1/2 large pizzas last night, so I went and ran an extra four miles after the fact.

Hopefully the rest of the day will be as nice as it was this morning (albeit slightly warmer)...

Sweet day to be on the water

Arrowhead Landing(ish) portion of Limestone Bay at the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge

Top ten legislative items searched on THOMAS, compiled on 7/24/2011 from weekly usage statistics

1. H.R. 2560 - [112th] - Cut, Cap, and Balance Act of 2011
2. H.R. 4646 - [111th] - Debt Free America Act
3. H.R. 2354 - [112th] - Making appropriations for energy and water development and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2012, and for other purposes
4. H.R. 2055 - [112th] - Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2012
5. H.R. 2551 - [112th] - Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2012
6. H.R. 1473 - [112th] - Department of Defense and Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011
7. H.R. 2553 - [112th] - Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2011, Part IV
8. H.R. 2219 - [112th] - Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2012
9. H.R. 2417 - [112th] - Better Use of Light Bulbs Act
10. H.R. 1315 - [112th] - Consumer Financial Protection Safety and Soundness Improvement Act of 2011

Great morning for five miles...

NRC documents for Browns Ferry - 7/16/2011 - 7/23/2011

1. ML11189A112 - Browns Ferry, Unit 2, American Society of Mechanical Engineers Section Xl, Inservice Inspection, System Pressure Test, Containment Inservice Inspection, and Repair and Replacement Programs - Owner s Activity Report for Cycle 16 Operation.
2. ML11189A113 - Browns Ferry, Unit 3, Reply to a Notice of Violation; EA-11-012.
3. ML111990115 - Brown s Ferry Unit 1, Initial On-Site Finding of the Independent Reactor Decommissioning Trust Fund Oversight Analysis.
4. ML111950351 - The Nuclear Regulatory Commission Staff Spot-Check Review of Tennessee Valley Authority s One Hundred Percent Ownership Interest of Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, Unit 1, On July 7, 2011 - Finding of No Potential Issues.
5. ML111990127 - Brown s Ferry Unit 2, Initial On-Site Findings of the Independent Reactor Decommissioning Trust Fund Oversight Analysis.
6. ML111990141 - Brown s Ferry Unit 3, Initial On-Site Findings of the Independent Reactor Decommissioning Trust Fund Oversight Analysis.
7. ML111950488 - The Nuclear Regulatory Commission Staff Spot-Check Review of Tennessee Valley Authority s One Hundred Percent Ownership Interest of Brown Ferry Nuclear Plant, Unit 3, On July 7, 2011 - Finding of No Potential Issues.
8. ML111950463 - The Nuclear Regulatory Commission Staff Spot-Check Review of Tennessee Valley Authority s One Hundred Percent Ownership Interest of Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, Unit 2 On July 7, 2011 - Finding of No Potential Issues.
9. ML111050608 - Browns Ferry, Units 1, 2 and 3 - Response to Request for Additional Information Regarding Cyber Security Plan License Amendment Request.
10. ML093570094 - Browns Ferry, Units 1, 2 and 3 - Supplement to Request for Approval of Cyber Security Plan.
11. ML102090056 - Browns Ferry, Units 1, 2 and 3, Second Supplement to Request for Approval of Cyber Security Plan.
12. ML093290183 - Browns Ferry, Units 1, 2, & 3, Request for Approval of Cyber Security Plan.
13. ML11199A217 - Browns Ferry, Units 1, 2, and 3 - Response to Requested Changes Regarding Cyber Security Plan License Amendment Request.

Stayed below 80F the whole time and traffic wasn't bad...

via Athens News-Courier - History festival to teach kids about the Civil War

History festival to teach kids about the Civil War

NRC docs for Browns Ferry 7/9/2011 - 7/16/2011

1. ML11178A005 - 2011/06/21 NRR E-mail Capture - June 4, 2011, Petition re: Enforcement Action Against TVA
2. ML11178A004 - 2011/06/22 NRR E-mail Capture - Re: June 4, 2011, Petition re: Enforcement Action Against TVA
3. ML11186A864 - Submittal of Report in Accordance with 10 CFR 26.719(c)(1) for Drug and Alcohol Testing Errors.
4. ML11172A004 - G20110449/LTR-11-0345/EDATS: SECY-2011-0343 - Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, Units 1, 2, and 3 - Response to Thomas Saporito 2.206 Enforcement Action Against Tennessee Valley Authority.
5. ML11166A110 - G20110449/LTR-11-0345/EDATS: SECY-2011-0343 - Thomas Saporito Email re: 2.206 - Tennessee Valley Authority - Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant and Tom Klgore.
6. ML111930423 - Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, Unit 1: Request for Regulatory Conference or Public Management Meeting.
7. ML11188A154 - LER 11-003-00, for Browns Ferry, Unit 1, Regarding Loss of Safety Function (SDC) Resulting from Emergency Diesel Generator Output Breaker Trip.

Yesterday was a LONG day...

CASA's Mud Volleyball tournament all day (thanks to All on our team, all the other teams, the organizers and EVERYONE else who made the day possible and great fun) followed by a mad scramble to clean up a little bit and make it on time for the HTC Twilight 5K And 1-Mile Fun Run. I missed the start by about 3m20s, but the officials let me go ahead to run. I was not at all fast, but it wasn't overly bad for a day in the sun/mud. Here are the men's results from the Twilight 5K.

Since I was covered in mud much of the day, I figured that would be near prime practice in getting ready for the Warrior Dash (Manchester, TN - September 17). That led me to make two (separate) laps around the Athens High School running path between some of our games.

There was also the mud covered (me and the sack) footbagging. I'm sure that was entertaining to watch...

Krispy Kreme Challenge 2011 - November 19, 2011 - 8AM

Route - http://routebuilder.org/4jb

Info - http://www.ucphuntsville.org/news/krispy-kreme-challenge-2011

I will likely be there. How about you?

23rd annual Mud Volleyball Tournament set for Saturday

23rd annual Mud Volleyball Tournament set for Saturday

NRC docs for Browns Ferry, Try Famous Joe's Pizzeria, Atlantis launch

1. ML11178A024 - Brown, Units 1, 2, and 3, Sequoyah, Units 1 and 2, and Watts Bar, Unit 1 - Response to Request for Additional Information Regarding Decommissioning Funding Status Report.
2. ML11180A056 -LER 11-001-00, for Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, Unit 1, regarding Three-Unit Scram Caused by Loss of all 500-kV Offsite Power Sources.
3. ML11180A267 - LER 11-002-00 for Browns Ferry, Unit 1, Regarding Loss of Safety Function (SDC) Resulting from Loss of Power from C EDG Due to Oil Leak.
4. ML11180A007 - LER 11-005-00 for Browns Ferry, Unit 1, Regarding Reactor Water Level Scram Due to Distracted Operations Crew.
5. ML111861630 - G20110484/LTR-11-0378/EDATS: SECY-2011-0381 - NRC Response Letter To Leslie Monroe Concerning Issues Raised Regarding the Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant
6. ML11181A019 - Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, Unit 1 - Audit Plan Regarding the AREVA Fuel Transition Emergency Core Cooling System Evaluation Model Application.

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New(ish) pizza place in Madison, AL.... We tried Famous Joe's Pizzeria for the first time tonight. Mighty fine pizza!!!

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Great launch of the Atlantis today. Kind of sad to see the end to the Shuttle program....

Happy 4th of July, America!!!

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

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For a more educational consideration of July 4th/the Declaration of Independence, check out this page (and several of the following pages) for a draft of the Declaration before it was official...

2011 Chick-fil-A Charity 5K results posted AND NRC docs for Browns Ferry for the last week (6/25/11-7/2/11)

Race awards
Overall results
Results by age group

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ML11171A037 - Browns Ferry, Units 1, 2 and 3, BWRVIP-25 Core Plate Bolt Stress Analysis.

ML11171A038 - NEDO-33632, Rev. 0, "Browns Ferry (Units 1-3), Core Plate Bolt Analysis Stress Analysis Report."

I was stoked today when I heard...

that the results of the Barbarian Challenge had been posted.

Now, I'm looking forward to the Huntsville Sprint Triathlon and the Warrior Dash (Tennessee).

I'm also hoping the weather stays clear for tomorrow night's run in Huntsville.

Other interesting stuff...

Here are some pretty recent CRS reports from the FAS website.

Added @ 9:28 PM

Forgot these:

CASA Mud Volleyball 2011 - July 16

2011 Chick-Fil-A Charity 5K - July 2

Huntsville Track Club Twilight 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run - July 16

NRC documents for Browns Ferry 6/18/11 - 6/25/11

1. ML11160A205 - Browns Ferry, Units 1, 2 and 3, Response to NRC Annual Assessment Letter.
2. ML11159A041 - 2011/06/07 NRR E-mail Capture - Audit Results Summary Report Supporting TAC ME3775 - BF1 AREVA Fuel Transition and related BF2/3 Request
3. ML11166A134 - 06/08/2011 Meeting Summary with the Beyond Nuclear Petitioners Regarding Their 2.206 Petition to Suspend Operating Licenses (OLs) of General Electric (GE) Boiling Water Reactors (BWRs) Mark I (BWRs) (TAC No. ME6040).
4. ML11167A098 - Browns Ferry, Units 1, 2 & 3; Sequoyah, Units 1 & 2 and Watts Bar, Units 1 & 2 - Response to NRC Bulletin 2011-01, "Mitigating Strategies".
5. ML111730119 - NRC Response to Appeal of Browns Ferry Significance Determination of A Red Finding and Reply to Notice of Violation.

My Greek(ish) spin on tuna salad....

1 medium cucumber, chopped (I use seedless)
2 cups red onion, finely chopped
1 cup Greek vinaigrette salad dressing (I used Kraft Greek vinaigrette)
4 ounce package feta cheese (I used a garlic & herb feta)
2 11 ounce foil packages of tuna fish
Black pepper and oregano, to taste
Sandwich material of your choice (wrap, bagel, bread, pita, lettuce leaf)

Combine first six ingredients in large bowl and mix well. Spread on your choice of sandwich. Or not...

This makes at least five or six good wraps for me. Sorry I'm not perfectly exact...

Enjoy!

Top 10 weekly legislative items on THOMAS

1. H.R. 2112 - [112th] - Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2012
2. H.R. 2055 - [112th] - Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2012
3. H.R. 1540 - [112th] - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012
4. H.R. 1473 - [112th] - Department of Defense and Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011
5. H.R. 1380 - [112th] - New Alternative Transportation to Give Americans Solutions Act of 2011
6. H.R. 2161 - [112th] - IDEA Act of 2011
7. H.R. 3590 - [111th] - Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
8. H.R. 4173 - [111th] - Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act
9. H.R. 3200 - [111th] - America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009
10. H.R. 1249 - [112th] - America Invents Act

- via http://thomas.loc.gov/home/topten/topten_20110619.html

NRC docs for Browns Ferry for the past week

1. ML11158A017 - Browns Ferry, Units 1, 2 and 3, Submittal of Annual Report of Changes or Errors Discovered in the Emergency Core Cooling System Evaluation Model.
2. ML11167A114 - Transcript of 10 CFR 2.206 Petition Review Board Conference Call RE GE Mark 1 BWRS, June 08, 2011, Pages 1-74.
3. ML11147A095 - Browns Ferry, Unit 2, Relief from the Requirements to the ASME Code (TAC No. ME3720).
4. ML111640463 - 05/31/2011 Summary of Category 1 Public Meeting with TVA, Browns Ferry to Present Annual Assessment.

To all you dads out there (particularly mine)....

Happy Father's Day!!!

From dads 60th

New Secrecy News newsletter via the Federation of American Scientists this morning...

Some interesting reads from the taxpayer-funded (yet not easily accessed by the taxpayer) Congressional Research Service...

I would normally wait until the end of the week for this....

But here is the summary of the public meeting regarding the NRC's annual assessment of Browns Ferry (5/31/11). Of particular interest (in my view) to me is Enclosure 2 (starting at page 7 of the .pdf). Enclosure 2 contains NRC responses to some of the particularly pointed questions asked by members of the public during the meeting.

Pentagon Papers - fully released after 40 years

Pentagon Papers

NRC docs for Browns Ferry from last week

1. ML111530328 - Completion of Temporary Instruction (TI) 184, "Availability and Readiness Inspection of Severe Accident Mitigation Guidelines (SAMGS)" at Region II Facilities - Revision.
2. ML111540193 - Response to Disputed Notice of Violation (EA-11-012).
3. ML111540388 - 08/02-03/2011 Meeting Announcement - 2011 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Initial Examination Writers Workshop.
4. ML111600077 - Response to Request For Regulatory Conference or public Management Meeting.
5. ML11159A053 - Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, Unit 3 - Request for Additional Information Regarding Relief from Weld Examination Coverage Requirements, Request for Relief 3-ISI-26 (TAC ME5914).
6. ML11154A037 - Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, Unit 3 - Request for Additional Information Regarding Relief Request 3-ISI-25 (TAC No. ME5400).

Alabama A&M 10K Road Race...

I had planned to get up early and have a leisurely mug of coffee before the little 10K this morning. The best laid schemes of mice and men go oft awry. Anyway, a quick revision to my schedule still allowed me to be up and out in plenty of time. It was a great morning to go run 10K with 100+ folks. I am happy enough with 53:25 for now. Hopefully, I will continue to improve...

I was totally impressed that the winner ran this course in about 32.5 minutes. Wow!!!

Team iLuminate! = Awesomeness!!!

Madison Run Through The Roses 10k and 5k | Madison, Alabama 35758 | 2011-09-10;Summer runs in Huntsville, AL;Weekly NRC docs for Browns Ferry

Madison Run Through The Roses 10k and 5k | Madison, Alabama 35758 | 2011-09-10

It was a slight annoyance to see that the Run Through The Roses had been moved yet again, but it's all in the interest of keeping folks from killing themselves by trying to overdo it. A number of folks ended up needing treatment during/after the Cotton Row Run.

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However, I don't think that the Huntsville Track Club's Summer Cross Country Runs will be canceled due to the heat. It's just a given that the temperatures will be soaring. I hope to make some or all of the Tuesday night runs. The runs start June 7 @ 6:30 PM at the Huntsville Running Park. Be warned, it's normally quite warm during these runs...

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1. ML110870254 - Advises that,based on deferred status of facility,statement re revised corporate procedures on inventory methods & training requirements inapplicable,per Insp Repts 50-259/87-29,50-260/87-29 & 50-296/87-29.
2. ML110870207 - Forwards "Environ Radioactivity Levels,Bellefonte Nuclear Plant,Annual Rept - 1986" & "Environ Radioactivity Levels, Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant,Annual Rept 1986."
3. ML110840239 - Forwards master work policies for plants,including Endorsements 1,2 & 3 to NELIA Certificates NW-105 & 154 & Endorsements 1,2 & 3 to MAELU Certificates MW-39 & MW-185 & certificates of insurance.
4. ML11144A288 - LER 10-002-01 for Browns Ferry, Unit 1, Regarding Drywell Pressure Instrument Channel Inoperability Due to Improper Instrument Tubing Slope.
5. ML11132A118 - Bellefonte, Units 1 and 2 - Proposed Regulatory Framework for the Possible Completion of Construction Activities.

Congrats...

To Endeavour and her crew and NASA in general on 19 years and 25 trips into/returns from space for Endeavour!

Bunny in the backyard; NRC docs for BFN 5/21/2011 - 5/28/2011

From 2011-05-31

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1. ML110980538 - Cyber Security Plan Implementation Schedule.
2. ML11136A187 - 2011/04/26 NRR E-mail Capture - Audit Results Summary Report Supporting TAC ME3775 - BF1 AREVA Fuel Transition and related BF2/3 Request
3. ML111400373 - FEMA Ltr: Statement of Continuation of Reasonable Assurance for Browns Ferry Nuclear Power Plant Restart.
4. ML111400477 - IR 05000259-11-402, 0500260-11-402, and 05000296-11-402, on 02/18/2011 (Corporate Office) & 04/21/2011 (K.Polson & members staff at plant), Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, NRC Security Inspection.
5. ML11122A113 - Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, Units 1, 2, and 3, Sequoyah Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2, and Watts Bar Nuclear Plant, Unit 1 - RAI Regarding Decommissioning Funding Status Report (TAC Nos. ME5455, ME5456, ME5457, ME5535, ME5536, and 5551).
6. ML11137A199 - Browns Ferry, Unit 1, Response to NRC Request for Additional Information Regarding to Transition to AREVA Fuel (TAC No. ME3775).
7. ML102880526 - LER 10-001-00 for Browns Ferry, Units 1, 2 & 3, Regarding Appendix R Safe Shutdown Instruction Procedures Contain Incorrect Operator Manual Actions.
8. ML111460511 - NRC Reply To Browns Ferry November 2010 Letter Regarding Response to Inspection Report No 2010004 and EA 10-215.
9. ML11145A066 - Brown Ferry Nuclear Plant, Units 2 & 3 - Request for Additional Information Regarding a Request to Eliminate Low Pressure Coolant Injection Pump Motor Generator Sets (TAC ME5796 AND ME5799).

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On a slightly different tack, the NRC had a public meeting at Browns Ferry today to discuss the annual performance assessment of our plant. In the wake of the Japan earthquake and the storms at the end of April and Browns Ferry being in the media about a valve failure from the 4th quarter of 2010, there were a decent number of folks present. The NRC does a decent job of getting information from these meetings posted within a week or so. Hopefully there will be a transcript.

I could posit my opinion on many of the concerns that were brought up at today's meeting, but that would take a LONG time. Perhaps I'll use an occasional post here and there to talk about a different concern that was brought up. I will note that the usual fear, uncertainty and doubt that can commonly be associated with anti-nuclear folks was present in spades today. Everyone I work with has GREAT respect for the power of the atom. A healthy sense of respect does not translate to fear. The effects of accidents (particularly severe accidents like Fukushima and Chernobyl) breed that sense of respect. However, when the public at large is presented with partial truths (occasionally driven by political agendas and/or personal gain for the presenter(s)) and not necessarily well versed in the operation of nuclear plants or statistical bases of accident risk analysis, that fear will present itself. I'm NOT going to say that accidents can't or won't happen. They already have. However, I can say that the folks I worked with in Illinois and the folks I work with here (and I'm willing to say every operating nuclear unit in this country) do everything we can to ensure that:

a)the likelihood of any major accident occurring is extraordinarily small, and

b)if a problem does occur, we are trained and ready and able to keep any and all consequences to a minimum

After 9/11, many changes were made throughout the industry. As a result of those changes, I believe we are safer than ever before. After Japan, there will be many more changes and I think we will have an even better margin to a catastrophic event.

For any and all who ran the Cotton Row (or are otherwise interested)....

The times are posted!

OMG, what am I doing?

Sensible light lunch of celery sticks (plain) and an apple. About too warm to eat anything really heavy.

Run was a blast!

Without Further Ado....

It's time to start...RUNNING!!!!!

Happy Memorial Day!

Happy Memorial Day!

Excellent day for a little run after work! Mid/high-70s and sunny and traffic wasn't too bad...

Some things I found interesting...

Definitely - http://www.universetoday.com/85797/dazzling-timelapse-canary-skies/

RIP Spirit Rover - http://tomsastroblog.com/?p=8736

A collection of (what the linked author believes are) some of the best pics from Endeavour's final mission - http://www.universetoday.com/85924/best-images-from-sts-134-endeavours-final-mission-part-1/


What happened in Congress yesterday? - http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/B?r112:@FIELD(FLD003+d)+@FIELD(DDATE+20110524)

Live stream from Endeavour - http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts134/status.html

Top 10 items on THOMAS week of 5/22/11; NRC docs for Browns Ferry from 5/14/11 to 5/21/11; Nature's April Fury

Top ten legislative items searched on THOMAS, compiled on 5/22/2011 from weekly usage statistics

1. H.R. 1473 - [112th] - Department of Defense and Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011
2. H.R. 1540 - [112th] - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012
3. H.R. 754 - [112th] - Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011
4. H.R. 4173 - [111th] - Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act
5. H.R. 3590 - [111th] - Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
6. H.R. 1351 - [112th] - United States Postal Service Pension Obligation Recalculation and Restoration Act of 2011
7. H.R. 3 - [112th] - No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act
8. H.R. 1 - [112th] - Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011
9. H.R. 1380 - [112th] - New Alternative Transportation to Give Americans Solutions Act of 2011
10. H.R. 3162 - [107th] - Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT ACT) Act of 2001

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1. ML11108A034 - Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, Units 1, 2, and 3 - Resumption of Review of the Proposed Extended Power Uprate Amendment (TAC NOS. MD5262, MD5263, and MD5264) (TS-431).
2. ML11112A148 - G20110283/LTR-11-0230/EDATS: SECY-2011-0247 - E-mail, Dick Griest, Regarding Watts Bar Visit with Senator Lamar Alexander on April 18, 2011.
3. ML11129A187 - Browns Ferry, Unit 2, Response to NRC Request for Additional Information Regarding Relief Request 2-ISI-1, Updated Risk Informed Inservice Inspection Program.
4. ML111330758 - IR 05000259-11-002, 05000260-11-002, 05000296-11-002 & 07200052-11-002, on 01/01/2011 - 03/31/2011, Browns Ferry, Units 1, 2 & 3, NRC Integrated Inspection and Notice of Violation.
5. ML102860126 - Browns Ferry, Units 1, 2 and 3 - Updated Reply to Notice of Violation; EA-09-307.
6. ML111380696 - Press Release-II-11-037: NRC Schedules Public Meeting for May 31 to Discuss Performance of Browns Ferry Nuclear Power Plant.
7. ML11132A121 - Browns Ferry, Units 1, 2, and 3, Boiling Water Reactor Vessel and Internals Project - Notification of Deviation from BWRVIP-25, "BWR Core Plate Inspection and Flaw Evaluation Guidelines."

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April was obviously a VERY rough month as far as tornadic storms were concerned. The previous monthly tornado record for the month of April (April '74) was 267. In April 2011, there were 875 tornadoes reported with 625 confirmed so far. The video at the link below shows the monthly satellite loop with red dots denoting where tornadoes formed.

NOAA Environmental Visualization Laboratory - Satellites Capture Record U.S. Tornado Activity from April 1 - April 30

All I can say is wow!!!

I prefer a bit more sun, but the temperature and traffic weren't bad for 7.1 miles this afternoon...

Endeavour's final launch, NRC docs for BFN for last week, 2 weeks to the Cotton Row

Sitting here watching the last several minutes of Endeavour's last countdown/launch.

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NRC docs for Browns Ferry from 5/07 to 5/14. One interesting thing is the 5/31/11 public meeting @ 1300.

1. ML11124A150 - Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, Units 1, 2 and 3 - Annual Radiological Environmental Operating Report - 2010.
   
   
2. ML111250450 - Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, Units 1, 2 and 3 - Annual Radioactive Effluent Release Report- 2010 for the period January through December 2010.



3. ML111230246 - EN-11-011 - Issuance of Final Significance Determination and Notice of Violation (TVA - Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Unit 1).



4. ML111290482 - EA-11-018, Browns Ferry, Final Signficance Determination of Red Finding, Notice of Violation and Assessment Follow-up Letter 2011008.



5. ML111310131 - Statement of Continuation of Reasonable Assurance for Browns Ferry Nuclear Power Plant Restart.



6. ML111300213 - Press Release-II-11-034: NRC Finds Valve Failure at Browns Ferry to Be of High Safety Significance.



7. ML111310667 - 05/31/2011 Notice of Forthcoming Public Meeting to Present the Annual Assessment of the Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Performance and to Provide Opportunities to Discuss with the Public the NRC Reactor Oversight Process.



8. ML11126A096 - 06/08/11 Notice of Meeting with Petitioner Requesting Action Under 10CFR2.206 Regarding Immediate Suspension of Operating Licenses of General Electric Mark 1 Boiling Water Reactors.



9. ML11108A058 - Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, Units 1 And 3 Request To Use Subsequent Edition Of ASME Code Repair And Replacement Activities.



10. ML111330509 - Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant - NRC Temporary Instruction 2515/183 Inspection Report 05000259/2011009, 05000260/2011009, 05000296/2011009.

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Two weeks to the 2011 Cotton Row Run. I hope the weather cooperates!

Caught the beginning of SNL last night and saw this hilarious fake ad...

NRC stuff 4/23 - 5/7 and...

NRC stuff regarding Browns Ferry first:

1. ML111170549 - NUREG/CR-4413, Loss of Control Air at Browns Ferry Unit One - Accident Sequence Analysis.
2. ML072210342 - LTR-07-0521 - Ltr. Vanessa Quinn, re: Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency s Identification of a Deficiency During the Browns Ferry Radiological Emergency Preparedness Exercise Conducted on 7/25/07
3. ML100680452 - Browns Ferry Nuclear Power Plant Exercise - November 2009, Final Report - Radiological Emergency Preparedness Program.
4. ML11105A151 - Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, Units 1, 2, and 3, Response to Request for Additional Information Regarding Technical Specifications Change TS-474 - TS 3.7.3, "Control Room Emergency Ventilation System," Dated March 10, 2011.
5. ML11109A118 - Browns Ferry, Units 1, 2 and 3, Sequoyah, Units 1 and 2, Watts Bar, Units 1 and 2, and Bellefonte, Units 1 and 2, Service List Update for Documents Containing Official Use Only and Safeguards Information.
6. ML11115A039 - Notice of Deviation Pursuant to 10 CFR 21, NPKC-7-21A(N) Splice Kit with Possible Compromised Jacket Seal.
7. ML11115A099 - LER 10-003-02, for Browns Ferry, Unit 3, Regarding Multiple Test Failures of Excess Flow Check Valves.
8. ML111180005 - PNO-II-11-003 - Preliminary Notification of Event or Unusual Occurence.
9. ML111180062 - Press Release-II-11-030: NRC Monitors Events at Browns Ferry Nuclear Power Plant After Loss of Offsite Power and Unusual Event Declaration.
10. ML11118A002 - 2011/04/27 NRR E-mail Capture - Acceptance review results: Request for relief 3-ISI-26
11. ML111190004 - PNO-II-11-003A - Preliminary Notification of Unusual Event due to Loss of Offsite Power (Update).
12. ML111230070 - PNO-II-11-003B, Preliminary Notification of Event or Unusual Occurrence.
13. ML11125A029 - Browns Ferry, Notification of Inspection and Request for Information.
14. ML11118A154 - Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, Units 1, 2 and 3 - Request For Additional Information Regarding Completion Time Extension for TS 3.8.1 Required Action B.4 - Emergency Diesel Generators A, B, C, D, 3A, 3B, 3C, And 3D (TAC No. ME5036, ME5037, And ME5038).

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Well, come Wednesday, it will have been two weeks since storms unlike many of us have seen (and/or experienced) in our lives RAVAGED the southeast US. First and foremost, hundreds of people were killed. A large number of people had their homes and EVERYTHING ELSE swept away. I didn't have the slightest clue about what to say and, frankly, I still don't. It's awesome to see people coming together to clean up and start to rebuild. In general, it seems that this is a frequent pattern in humanity. Destruction comes (in many assorted forms) and communities bond through the catastrophe. What always boggles me is how these same communities seemingly drift back apart in the months and years following the rebound...

To all of you moms out there....

Happy Mother's Day!

Check out this map from the April 15th severe weather (much of which was centered in Alabama)....

View April 15, 2011 Tornado Outbreak in a larger map

NBC Nightly News corrects typewriter demise story; Chernobyl at 25; BAD Weather April

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

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As I'm sure most folks are aware, today is the 25th anniversary of the Chernobyl Accident. Just about three weeks ago, we hit 32 years post-TMI. And we are currently in the consequence mitigation and clean-up phase of the only other nuclear accident to rank with Chernobyl (the linked article includes all the Japanese nuclear plants affected by the earthquake but Fukushima Daiichi is the only other INES 7). However, there are differences. TMI was largely a result of poor maintenance/operation and needed improvement in training and information sharing. Many documents concerning TMI are available, but here is the TMI-2 Lessons Learned Task Force Final Report (NUREG-0585). Chernobyl was also mainly caused by people. Here's the NRC's Report on the Accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station (NUREG-1250). We've still got a long way to go and a lot to learn from Japan. However, at present, the bulk of the problems still appear to have been caused by Mother Nature. Mind you, we will probably discover mistakes made by people in the handling of the Japanese accidents. Speaking of which, the first and second public meetings regarding the NRC's Response to the Japanese events are coming soon. I think that the US nuclear industry will see quite a few changes.

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Well, I'll leave with the news of a record-breaking April regarding severe weather. Keep in mind, there are more serious storms wreaking havoc in the US as I type. Keep an eye to the sky!!!

Last Typewriter Factory in the World Shuts Its Doors - The Atlantic

Last Typewriter Factory in the World Shuts Its Doors - The Atlantic

I remember using a typewriter and now they are dying...

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For what it's worth, the NRC didn't post any documents regarding Browns Ferry in their online repository last week. If you have a particular nuclear plant you are keeping track of, I'll provide my example query and you can change it to your needs. First, go to the NRC ADAMS page. One you're there, click on the "Advanced Search" tab. Here's the query I used to find stuff about Browns Ferry (any of the three units) posted between 4/16/11 and 4/23/11:

e_create_date:{04/16/2011 TO 04/23/11} Docket_Number:(05000259 OR 05000260 OR 05000296)

The fields are pretty obvious. The info in the brackets with e_create_date is the date range and the numbers in the parentheses with Docket_Number are the Docket Number(s) you are interested in. Here's one place you can readily find docket numbers. Happy searching!

3 new footbags

I ordered these 3 new footbags from http://www.worldfootbag.com/ on 4/18/11 and received them in Alabama (from Colorado) on 4/21/11. If you're in need of footbags (aka hacky sacks), juggling equipment, Frisbees or a few other assorted items, give these guys a look!

One word...

PIZZA!!!

I hate it when...

I set my alarm to wake me up 3-1/2 hours before I'm supposed to be at work and I wake up half an hour before the alarm. By this point, many folks ask "Why 3-1/2 hours early?"...

I like to get up and pour/drink my first quart of coffee, check the news/e-mail, knock out several miles on the treadmill and get ready for work and do so at an "ease into the day" pace.

Oh well, it beats the heck out of yesterday when I woke up one hour before I was supposed to be at work...

Here we go!!!

Weird Al smacks it with Perform This Way (Gaga parody)

No earth-shattering info here. My new sacks are on the way.

I just ordered a Mr. Sandbag Footbag, Mr. Sandbag Facile Footbag and a SandBlaster Footbag. My old Stally® footbags were (and still are) rapidly approaching the great hack circle in the sky...

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Well, it's time for sustenance. As an accompaniment to our salmon, we've got this "Artichoke Casserole" from a Justin Wilson recipe:

4 cans artichoke hearts, drained
½ c. dry white wine
¼ c. olive oil
1 c. parmesan cheese
2 c. seasoned bread crumbs
1 t. onion powder
½ t. garlic powder
Cayenne pepper, to taste

Grease casserole dish
Quarter artichoke hearts
Combine everything but bread crumbs
Put in dish and top with bread crumbs
Bake 30 minutes at 350 degrees

Weekly top 10 @ thomas.loc.gov & SUCKAGE

First, the weekly top 10 from thomas.loc.gov"

Top ten legislative items searched on THOMAS, compiled on 4/17/2011 from weekly usage statistics

1. H.R. 1473 - [112th] - Department of Defense and Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011
2. H.R. 1363 - [112th] - Department of Defense and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011
3. H.R. 1 - [112th] - Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011
4. H.R. 1380 - [112th] - New Alternative Transportation to Give Americans Solutions Act of 2011
5. H.R. 1217 - [112th] - To repeal the Prevention and Public Health Fund
6. H.R. 4 - [112th] - Comprehensive 1099 Taxpayer Protection and Repayment of Exchange Subsidy Overpayments Act of 2011
7. H.R. 1255 - [112th] - Government Shutdown Prevention Act of 2011
8. H.R. 25 - [112th] - Fair Tax Act of 2011
9. H.R. 1351 - [112th] - United States Postal Service Pension Obligation Recalculation and Restoration Act of 2011
10. H.R. 4173 - [111th] - Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act

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If the cloud cover would cooperate, the International Space Station is supposed to be doing a North Alabama transit tonight (and a few more nights between now and May 2). I think viewing tonight is going to be right out...

Quickie here....

For all of you Alabama folks, if you're ever looking up the status of Alabama legislation and don't remember who your elected Senator/Representative is, you can use this:

Find Your Legislator

Enter ZIP Code

   

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While I'm at it...

Alabama taxpayer money funds the Alabama Virtual Library (AVL). You used to have to get a specific card from your local library. Now, the AVL uses Geographic IP guessing (Geotargeting). Geotargeting is generally pretty good, but if (as an example) you work at a place whose network address originates outside of Alabama, you'll need a username/password (i.e. AVL card). Hence, a card is still useful.

Sunny and comfortable and not too windy...

Time for about 7 miles

Dang!!!

Between 4/14 and 4/16 (according to preliminary data), there were 217 tornadoes (as of the time of posting this). If you click the image, you'll be taken to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center's storm report page for 4/15/2011. From there, it's easy to click and see the reports for the day before and the day after...

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I've posted here about the Yahoo! News Topics pages before. Here are two of interest regarding the Japanese quake and tsunami and the ensuing nuclear plant problems:

Japan Earthquake and Tsunami

Japan Nuclear Crisis

Your cat as a masseuse

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

Mo Brooks invokes Socialism (video and Congressional Record) and BFN docs from the NRC 4/9/11 to 4/16/11

Mo Brooks raised a bit of a stir by calling elements of the House "socialist" yesterday.

Video of Mo Brooks invoking the "S" word on the House floor (4/15/11)

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The Congressional Record (with the phrase stricken) page (H2867) of the House proceedings at the time (to provide context)

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NRC docs for BFN - week of 4/9/11 to 4/16/11

1. ML110940027 - LER 10-004-01 for Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, Unit 1 Regarding Residual Heat Removal System Pump Motor Failure.
2. ML111010106 - 04/04/11 Summary Of Meeting With Browns Ferry To Discuss One Preliminary Greater Than Green Finding Associated With One Apparent Violation That Was Documented In NRC Inspection Report 05000259-10-005, 05000260-10-005, And 05000296-10-005.
3. ML110950683 - Browns Ferry, Units 1, 2 & 3, Sequoyah, Units 1 & 2, Watts Bar, Unit 1, Submittal of Annual Insurance Status Report.
4. ML110960072 - Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, Units 1, 2, & 3, Sequoyah Nuclear Plant, Units 1 & 2 & Watts Bar Nuclear Plant, Unit 1, Guarantee of Payment of Deferred Premiums - 2010 Annual Report.
5. ML110960073 - Browns Ferry, Units 1, 2 & 3, Sequoyah, Units 1 & 2, and Watts Bar, Unit 1, Submittal of Decommissioning Funding Status Report.
6. ML110960589 - LER 10-003-01, for Browns Ferry, Unit 1, Regarding Failure of a Low Pressure Coolant Injection Flow Control Valve.
7. ML110960744 - LER 10-005-01, For Browns Ferry, Unit 1, Regarding Safety/Relief Valves As-Found Setpoints Exceeded Technical Specification Lift Pressure Values.
8. ML111030547 - Browns Ferry - NRC Generic Fundamentals Examination Results - March 2011.

Frightening in more than one way, yet hilarious...

As heard on NPR's All Things Considered this afternoon....

Japan 2011 Earthquake and Tsunami – U.S. Government Information: USA.gov

Japan 2011 Earthquake and Tsunami – U.S. Government Information: USA.gov

I before E, except after C; Or when sounded as A, as in neighbor and weigh...

Wow!

Sesquicentennial

150 years ago today, the shots that initiated the four years of the American Civil War were fired.

Top ten legislative items searched on THOMAS

Top ten legislative items searched on THOMAS, compiled on 4/10/2011 from weekly usage statistics

1. H.R. 1363 - [112th] - Department of Defense and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011
2. H.R. 1 - [112th] - Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011
3. H.R. 1255 - [112th] - Government Shutdown Prevention Act of 2011
4. H.R. 4 - [112th] - Comprehensive 1099 Taxpayer Protection and Repayment of Exchange Subsidy Overpayments Act of 2011
5. H.R. 910 - [112th] - Energy Tax Prevention Act of 2011
6. H.R. 658 - [112th] - FAA Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2011
7. H.R. 1297 - [112th] - Ensuring Pay for Our Military Act of 2011
8. H.R. 3590 - [111th] - Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
9. H.R. 4173 - [111th] - Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act
10. H.R. 1246 - [112th] - To reduce the amounts otherwise authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Defense for printing and reproduction

Boy Scout nuclear badge tweet and NRC docs for BFN 4/2/11 to 4/9/11

I like this info at usscouts.org: http://tinyurl.com/2evw5dvless than a minute ago via web Favorite Retweet ReplyArt Metcalf
artmetcalf

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1. ML110840041 - Comment (12) of R. M. Krich, on Behalf of TVA, on Draft Regulatory Issues Summary, "Adequacy of Station Electric Distribution System Voltages," (Docket ID NRC-2011-0013).
2. ML110840035 - Browns Ferry, Unit 1 - Letter re Licensee Event Report which Occurred on December 22, 2010, Concerning Low Pressure Coolant Injection Operability, TVA expects to Submit a revised LER by April 15, 2011.
3. ML110871250 - BWR Vessel and Internals Inspection Summaries for Spring 2010 Outages.
4. ML11095A073 - Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, Unit 1 - Request for Additional Information Regarding a Request to Transition to Areva Fuel.
5. ML110940423 - ER 05000259-11-301, 05000260-11-301, and 05000296-11-301; 02/07/2011 - 02/16/2011; Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, Units 1, 2, and 3 Operator License Examinations.
6. ML110950195 - Browns Ferry, Units 2 & 3, Acceptance of Requested Licensing Action re: Deletion of Low Pressure Coolant Injection Motor-Generator Sets (TAC Nos. ME5796 and ME5797).
7. ML110960332 - NRC Response to TVA concerning disputed NOV in NRC Inspection Report 2010005.

I first discovered Front Line Assembly in 1990 while listening to Iceolate on MTV. Yes, they played music...

This version of Iceolate was on the Live Wired box set video from '96:



Front Line Assembly (and other projects)

Local weather from a web-enabled personal weather station right around the corner from my house...

It's a GORGEOUS morning!

Excellent day!!!

It all started with a bit of running this morning. Not too long after that, we went to check out our best friends' boy playing Prep Division ball in Madison. That's always entertaining. Plus, I was able to get in some hacky time...

After that, I had to prepare for something I'd never done before. I successfully used a smoker to make what turned out to be an AWESOME pork shoulder. The prep involved stopping at the store for a few things on the way home. I got the charcoal burning and when it was ready, I let the meat sit there for six hours. Given how much I love pulled pork, I can't believe I'd never done this before.

While this meat was cooking, I had a chance to soak up the rays and hang out in my cul-de-sac listening to loud music and kicking the olde sack again. Seeing that we got into the mid-80s today, I was fairly rank after close to an hour.

I had time to shower and schlep around for a bit before dinner. Mmmmmm, DINNER! If gluttony is truly one of the seven deadly sins, Hades is in line for a management change. Perhaps four sandwiches (and some slaw) was a little excessive, but they tasted SO GOOD.

Just chillin' the rest of the night and tomorrow's supposed to be a beautiful day as well...

When I stepped out to run at 6:40 AM.... (with a little added political rant at the end)

It was partly cloudy and 66F. Beautiful morning!!!

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FWIW, and I don't mean to get too political here, Congress and the White House need a serious wake-up call. Obama's already announced his 2012 campaign. Both sides of the political spectrum have had a role in selling out parts of the American dream and ideal. Both sides appear to be using the American people as pawns. I've been tired of this for years (my voting record is a testament to that). Next election, please don't forget that there are alternatives to Republicans and Democrats. There are the Green, Libertarian, and Constitution parties. And there are others. The status quo just ain't cuttin' it!

Several Federal government shutdown reports from CRS

bit.ly Bundles - Federal government shutdown reports from CRS - http://bit.ly/gZiWoW

2011 Chick-fil-A Charity 5K | Athens, Alabama 35613 | Saturday, April 30, 2011 @ 8:00 AM

2011 Chick-fil-A Charity 5K | Athens, Alabama 35613 | Saturday, April 30, 2011 @ 8:00 AM

'cept for the small tear in its wing...

This luna moth I found flitting about the side of my house was a fine looking specimen.

From 2011-04-06

And before I forget....

Decorah Bald Eagle Cam

High-res images of Fukushima Daiichi & CRS reports regarding the Japanese nuclear incident

A friend from work posted a link to some higher quality images of the Fukushima Daiichi plant on Facebook. Wow!!!

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At the bottom of the "NO-FLY ZONES: CONSIDERATIONS FOR CONGRESS" section of the March 24, 2011 Secrecy News newsletter, you can find the first released CRS report regarding Fukushima Daiichi.

An additional report (and a related report regarding US plants and seismic zones) can be found in this section of the April 4th newsletter.

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In closing, the MIT department of nuclear science and engineering recently held a forum about the nuclear plant side of the Japanese disaster. See the story with embedded 1-1/2 hour video...

Top 10 in THOMAS, politics vs. NIMBY, Zzaj on twitter.com

Top ten legislative items searched on THOMAS, compiled on 4/3/2011 from weekly usage statistics

1. H.R. 1 - [112th] - Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011
2. H.R. 1255 - [112th] - Government Shutdown Prevention Act of 2011
3. H.R. 658 - [112th] - FAA Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2011
4. H.R. 3590 - [111th] - Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
5. H.R. 4173 - [111th] - Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act
6. H.R. 839 - [112th] - HAMP Termination Act of 2011
7. H.R. 872 - [112th] - Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act of 2011
8. H.R. 471 - [112th] - Scholarships for Opportunity and Results Act
9. H.R. 3 - [112th] - No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act
10. H.R. 861 - [112th] - NSP Termination Act

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I recently overheard someone lamenting how those evil Democrats have killed Yucca Mountain. To be perfectly clear, I don't prefer either of the two big parties. Yucca had been in scoping and planning (and the requisite fees to the nuclear industry) since 1982. And yes, it has been generally under the leadership of Democrats that the plans for Yucca have met a highly likely demise. The "lamenter" specifically named John Reid (D-NV). Yes, Reid had a part to play, but as I heard the individual talk, I thought to myself, "What about John Ensign and Yucca?"

This seemed to me to be more of a NIMBY thing than a political line thing. I'm willing to bet that, given a similar situation, many other Congressional delegations (both Republicans and Democrats) would fight against a project like Yucca in their own states.

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Zzaj on twitter.com

Browns Ferry NRC docs for the week,

1. ML110831042 - Texas Transportation Institute, "DOS K12 Crash Test and Evaluation of the HESCO C-3315 Flood Barrier," April 2005, Enclosure 3.
2. ML110831038 - ERDC TR-07-3, "Flood-Fighting Structures Demonstration and Evaluation Program: Laboratory and Field Testing in Vicksburg, Mississippi," Pages 127 through 192, Enclosure 1.
3. ML110831046 - ERDC TR-07-3, "Flood-Fighting Structures Demonstration and Evaluation Program: Laboratory and Field Testing in Vicksburg, Mississippi," Cover Page through 61, Enclosure 1.
4. ML110831040 - ERDC TR-07-3, "Flood-Fighting Structures Demonstration and Evaluation Program: Laboratory and Field Testing in Vicksburg, Mississippi," Page 193 through End of Report, Enclosure 1.
5. ML110831036 - ERDC TR-07-3, "Flood-Fighting Structures Demonstration and Evaluation Program: Laboratory and Field Testing in Vicksburg, Mississippi," Pages 62 through 126, Enclosure 1.
6. ML110831043 - HESCO Bastion USA, HESCO Concertainer Brochure, February 2009, Enclosure 4.
7. ML110831041 - Engineering Evaluation of Hesco Barriers Performance at Fargo, ND 2009, Wenck File 2283-01, Enclosure 2.
8. ML110830037 - Browns Ferry, Unit 3 - American Society of Mechanical Engineers Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section XI, Inservice Inspection Program, Third Ten-Year Inspection Interval, Request for Relief 3-ISI-26.
9. ML110831044 - Tennessee Valley Authority - Re-submittal of Attachments for Responses to Hydrology Action Items.
10. ML110820353 - Browns Ferry Unit 2 - Request for Additional Information Regarding 2-ISI-1, Updated Risk-Informed Inservice Inspection Program (TAC No. ME3720).
11. ML110880671 - Press Release-II-11-012: NRC Schedules Conference With TVA to Discuss Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Issues.
12. ML110240474 - Browns Ferry, Unit 2 - Safety Evaluation For Relief Request 2-PDI-40, For The Fourth 10-Year Inservice Inspection Interval.
13. ML110680394 - Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, Unit 2 - Relief From The Requirements Of The Asme Code; 2-ISI-40.
14. ML110110051 - Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, Unit 2 - Safety Evaluation for Relief Request 2-Isi-41, for the Third 10-Year Inservice Inspection Interval (TAC No. ME3717).

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I was reading some of my RSS feeds and noticed a page from about.com about Alabama state symbols. I didn't know that many of these things were Alabama symbols...

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On a closing note (kind of like a dessert closes out a meal), you might notice that Google's daily image is an ice cream sundae. Today is the 119th anniversary of the first documented ice cream sundae. Mmmmmmm, ice cream sundae!!!