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!