Platts - Wednesday, April 14, 2004 http://www.platts.com

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NRC: DOE's repository technical documents need
improvement

Washington (Platts)--13Apr2004 NRC says DOE needs to
improve the quality of technical information in
documents supporting a license application for a waste
repository at Yucca Mountain, Nev. Otherwise, NRC said,
in a report issued today, the agency may have to issue
"a large volume of requests for additional information"
in some areas, and this could extend the NRC staff's
review time. NRC said its recent team evaluation of
information in three documents that DOE is preparing to
support its Yucca Mountain license application, expected
in December, found that if DOE continues to use its
"existing policies, procedures, methods, and practices
at the same level of implementation and rigor, the
license application may not contain information
sufficient to support the technical positions in the
application."

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NRC proposes fine for Oconee

Washington (Platts)--12Apr2004 NRC has proposed a
$60,000 civil penalty against Duke Energy, citing
violations of safety requirements at Oconee. The NRC
said Duke revised an analysis of a hypothetical steam or
feedwater pipe break accident scenario in May 2001
without first obtaining the agency's review and
approval. Duke said its analysis prior to making the
changes indicated that NRC approval was not required.
Duke has 30 days to pay the fine or protest it.

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