INFORMATION REPORT

March 30, 2006 SECY-06-0072

For: The Commissioners

From: William M. Dean, Assistant for Operations, Office of the EDO /RA/

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING

MARCH 24, 2006

Contents Enclosure

Nuclear Reactor Regulation A

Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards B

Nuclear Regulatory Research C

Nuclear Security and Incident Response D*

General Counsel E*

Administration F

Office of Information Services G

Chief Financial Officer H*

Human Resources I

Small Business and Civil Rights J

Enforcement K*

State and Tribal Programs L*

Public Affairs M

International Programs N*

Office of the Secretary O

Region I P

Region II P

Region III P

Region IV P

Executive Director for Operations Q*

Congressional Affairs R

Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards/

Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste S*

*No input this week.

/RA/

William M. Dean

Assistant for Operations, OEDO

Contact:

L. Rakovan, OEDO
March 30, 2006 SECY-06-0072

For: The Commissioners

From: William M. Dean, Assistant for Operations, Office of the EDO

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING

MARCH 24, 2006

Contents Enclosure

Nuclear Reactor Regulation A

Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards B

Nuclear Regulatory Research C

Nuclear Security and Incident Response D*

General Counsel E*

Administration F

Office of Information Services G

Chief Financial Officer H*

Human Resources I

Small Business and Civil Rights J

Enforcement K*

State and Tribal Programs L*

Public Affairs M

International Programs N*

Office of the Secretary O

Region I P

Region II P

Region III P

Region IV P

Executive Director for Operations Q*

Congressional Affairs R

Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards/

Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste S*

*No input this week.

/RA/

William M. Dean

Assistant for Operations, OEDO

Contact:

L. Rakovan, OEDO

DISTRIBUTION:

Central File

Public Document Name: C:\WIR\week324.WPD

OEDO AO/OEDO

LRakovan:paa WMDean

03/30/06 03/31/06
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING MARCH 24, 2006

The Weekly Information Report is compiled by the Office of the EDO and includes highlights of

Headquarters and Regional Office activities. 

Contact: L. Rakovan, OEDO by E-mail: ljr2@nrc.gov. 

Use GO TO (Ctrl+Home) to advance to the page number for a specific Office.

PgDn and PgUp can also be used to advance through the text.

OFFICE Page OFFICE Page

NRR 2 STP *

NMSS 4 OPA 17

RES 8 OIP *

NSIR * SECY 19

OGC * Region I 20

ADM 10 Region II 21

OIS 11 Region III 22

CFO * Region IV 23

HR 15 EDO *

SBCR 16 OCA 24

OE * ACRS/ACNW *

*No input this week
March 24, 2006 ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 24, 2006

Workshop on Draft Regulatory Guide for Combined License Applications for Nuclear Power

Plants

On March 15, 2006, the staff participated in a public workshop with approximately 70 members

of industry representing future Combined License (COL) applicants, as well as representatives

of the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), General Electric, and Westinghouse. The purpose of this

first of three proposed workshops was to discuss the NRC’s overall development of a Draft

Regulatory Guide (DG)-1145 for COL applicants and to have technical branches discuss their

respective sections of DG-1145. In addition to providing workshop attendees with copies of the

draft Chapter 12 of DG-1145 (Radiation Protection), the staff gave a presentation of those

areas that it would like to see contained in a COL application referencing a certified design.

Monthly Mitigating Systems Performance Index Public Meeting

On March 22, 2006, the staff hosted the monthly Mitigating Systems Performance Index (MSPI)

public meeting at NRC headquarters. Meeting attendees discussed the status of the staff

review of the MSPI basis documents, status of industry peer review of the MSPI basis

document for the support cooling water system, and remaining MSPI milestones.

Monthly Reactor Oversight Process Public Meeting

On March 23, 2006, the staff hosted the Monthly Reactor Oversight Process public meeting at

NRC headquarters. Meeting attendees discussed the definition of a performance deficiency,

safety culture transition issues, performance indicators program improvement initiatives, and

open and new performance indicator frequently asked questions.

License Renewal Application for Vermont Yankee and Pilgrim Nuclear Power Stations

On March 21, 2006, the staff completed the acceptance reviews for the license renewal

applications for the Vermont Yankee and Pilgrim Nuclear Power Stations, and determined that

the applications contain sufficient information for docketing. On January 27, 2006, the staff

received, from Entergy Nuclear Operation, Inc., an application for Vermont Yankee Nuclear

Power Station and an application for Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station requesting the extension of

the operating licenses for an additional 20 years. Vermont Yankee and Pilgrim Nuclear Power

Stations are both boiling water reactors (BWRs) designed by General Electric with current

operating licenses that expire on March 21, 2012, and June 8, 2012, respectively.

Public Meeting too discuss proposed Interim Staff Guidance for License Renewal

On March 23, 2006, the NRC staff met with NEI to discuss development of an Interim Staff

Guidance document for reactor license renewal concerning aging management for BWR Mark I

steel containment drywell shells. Members of the public and representatives of public interest

groups, the State of Vermont, licensees, and the media participated in the meeting by phone.
March 24, 2006 ENCLOSURE A

Public Meetings on the Monticello Draft Environmental Impact Statement in Support of License

Renewal

On March 22, 2006, the staff conducted two public meetings at the Monticello, Minnesota,

Community Center to solicit comments from the public on the Monticello Nuclear Generating

Plant draft supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS). The draft SEIS, which was

issued on January 23, 2006 (Supplement 26), is a plant-specific supplement to the "Generic

Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Power Plants"

(NUREG-1437). The meetings were conducted at 1:30 pm and 7:00 pm. The staff held an

open house for one hour prior to each meeting to provide members of the public with an

opportunity to talk informally with NRC staff and view informational displays and brochures. 

The public comment period for the Monticello SEIS ends on May 4, 2006. At the conclusion of

the comment period, the staff will evaluate the comments received and revise the SEIS, as

appropriate. The staff plans to issue the final SEIS in September 2006.

Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) Subcommittee Meeting on R.E. Ginna

Nuclear Power Plant

On March 15 and 16, 2006, the staff and licensee met with the ACRS Subcommittee on Power

Uprates regarding the extended power uprate application at Ginna. The staff’s presentation

was based on its draft safety evaluation. The next Power Uprate Subcommittee meeting is

scheduled for April 27, 2006. The ACRS full-committee plans to meet on the Ginna uprate

application on May 4, 2006.

Proposed Constellation Energy - Florida Power & Light Group Merger

On March 8, 2006, the Maryland Office of the People's Counsel, an independent State agency

established to represent the interests of residential consumers in utility cases, filed a Petition for

Leave to Intervene in the proceedings on the three stations owned by Constellation Generation

Group. The application for the indirect transfer of the licenses for Ginna, Calvert Cliffs, and

Nine Mile Point was submitted on January 23, 2006. In an Order dated March 17, 2006, the

Petitions were dismissed because the Commission’s procedural requirements were not

satisfied. For example, the Petitioner did not provide any proposed contentions. However, the

Petitioner was informed that comments may still be filed with the NRC by March 24, 2006,

regarding the license transfer applications, pursuant to 10 CFR. 2.1305, “Written Comments.”

Public Meeting on Abnormal Tritium Discharges

On March 22, 2006, a public meeting was held at NRC headquarters to discuss the occurrence

of abnormal tritium discharges from nuclear power plants with industry. In attendance at the

meeting was Congressman Engle from New York as well as a large number of public

participants. The meeting was widely attended by industry, members of the public, newspaper

reporters and trade press. NRC staff presented a detailed overview of the regulations, policy,

and guidance on the topics of radiological effluent and environmental monitoring. There was

also discussion about the newly formed Lessons Learned Task Force; its composition, scope of

its work, and schedule.
March 24, 2006 ENCLOSURE B

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS)

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 24, 2006

NRC Quarterly Meeting with the Department of Energy (DOE) on the Yucca Mountain Project

On March 21, 2006, NRC and DOE staff held a Quarterly Management Meeting on the Yucca

Mountain Project, in Rockville, MD. DOE provided updates on the Yucca Mountain Project,

including: (1) DOE’s 2007 budget request; (2) a near-term schedule; (3) a US Geologic Survey

Infiltration Model status; (4) a lead lab transition plan; (5) information on design activities and

decisions; (6) the Licensing Support Network; (7) current quality assurance issues;

(8) corrective action program improvements; and (9) actions taken regarding the requirements

flowdown and design control problems discussed at the December 2005 Quarterly Management

Meeting. DOE stated that it does not intend to submit a license application in FY 2007, and

plans to release a schedule in the June/July timeframe, showing the projected submission date

for the license application. 
March 24, 2006 ENCLOSURE C

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES)

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 24, 2006

Publication of NUREG/CR-6900, “The Effect of Elevated Temperature On Concrete Materials

and Structures: A Literature Review” 

RES has published the subject NUREG. This work was performed to support NRC efforts in

the review of pre-applications for advanced reactors where the operating temperature is

expected to be higher than the current reactors. This work also addressed current licensing

concerns in plants where operating temperatures have exceeded recommended temperature

limits. 

Publication of NUREG/CR-6901, “Current State of Reliability Modeling Methodologies for Digital

Systems and Their Acceptance Criteria for Nuclear Power Plant Assessments” 

RES has published the subject NUREG. This report describes the issues that should be

addressed in reliability modeling of digital instrumentation and control (I&C) systems. It also

describes how these models should be incorporated into existing plant probabilistic risk

analyses in such a way that digital I&C system’s contribution to plant risk can be accounted for

properly. The report also outlines proposed acceptance criteria for digital I&C system models

used in regulatory applications. 
March 24, 2006 ENCLOSURE F

Office of Administration (ADM)

Items of Interest 

Week Ending March 24, 2006

Fitness for Duty Programs; Notice of Meeting (AF12- Part 26)

On March 17, 2006, the NRC published a document in the Federal Register (71 FR 13782)

announcing a meeting to obtain stakeholder feedback on issues related to the contemplated

revision of the fitness-for-duty regulations. The NRC is seeking an exchange of views on the

NRC staff’s alternative concepts for work-hour controls and the applicability of drug, alcohol,

and access authorization program requirements to combined license holders during

construction. The meeting will be held March 29 and 30, 2006.

List of Approved Spent Fuel Storage Casks: VSC-24 (Amendment 6) (AH87- Part 72)

On March 21, 2006, the NRC published a direct final rule in the Federal Register (71 FR 14089)

that amends the VSC-24 entry in the list of approved spent fuel storage casks (Amendment 6).

This action modifies the present cask system design to revise Technical Specification

requirements related to periodic monitoring during storage operation under a general license.

The direct final rule becomes effective June 5, 2006.

On March 21, 2006, the NRC published the companion proposed rule to this direct final rule in

the Federal Register (71 FR 14120). The comment period closes April 20, 2006.
March 24, 2006 ENCLOSURE G

Office of Information Services (OIS)

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 24, 2006

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Privacy Act Requests Received During the Period of

March 17 through March 23, 2006:

MLTS database information on license no. 29-30703-11, Warren NJ FOIA/PA-2006-0144

Eastern Technologies, Inc., Ashford, AL, copy of application for

license to import radioactive waste from Mexico, filed 2-3-06

FOIA/PA-2006-0145

Freehold Corporate Center, 303 West Main Street, Freehold, NJ

07728, license no.’s 29-06760-07 & 29-06760-08, use of radioactive

materials

FOIA/PA-2006-0146

Eastern Technologies, Inc., Ashford, AL, copy of application for

license to import radioactive waste from Mexico, filed 2-3-06

FOIA/PA-2006-0147

Declassification responsibilities - Referral by the National Archives

and Records Administration (NARA)

FOIA/PA-2006-0148

Three Mile Island fallout & contamination, Arkansas; Chernobyl fallout

& contamination in the U.S.; Pine Bluff Arsenal, release of radioactive

materials in the air

FOIA/PA-2006-0149

Rhodia (formerly Kraft), 257 & 259 Prospect Plains Road, Middlesex

County, NJ, 08512, use of radioactive chemicals

FOIA/PA-2006-0150

Contracts NRC0704540 & NRC3304329, statement of work,

RFP/RFQ, labor categories, labor hours & rates, task orders, etc.

FOIA/PA-2006-0151
March 24, 2006 ENCLOSURE I

Office of Human Resources (HR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 24, 2006

Arrival

BARR, JONATHAN A. NUCLEAR SAFETY PROFESSIONAL

DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM PARTICIPANT

RES

Departures

HIGGINS, MARISA C. LEGAL INTERN OGC
March 24, 2006 ENCLOSURE J

Office of Small Business and Civil Rights (SBCR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 24, 2006

Mentoring Program Orientation

On March 15, 2006, SBCR conducted a Mentoring Program Orientation for mentoring pairs. 

The orientation is designed to provide participants with information regarding the program

process, participant roles and responsibilities, and to assist participants in identifying career

strengths and developmental areas requiring additional focus. 
March 24, 2006 ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs (OPA)

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 24, 2006

Media Interest

The Office of Public Affairs (OPA) received significant media inquiries on the following:

Groundwater sampling results at the Indian Point nuclear plant.

Yucca Mountain Quarterly meeting with DOE.

Tritium public meeting and NRC taskforce formation.

Renewal of licenses for Oyster Creek and Pilgrim nuclear plants.

Press Releases

Headquarters:

06-038 NRC Names J. Sam Armijo to the Advisory Committee on Reactor

Safeguards (3/22/06)

06-039 NRC Announces Opportunity to Request Hearing on Application to Renew

Operating License for Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station (3/22/06)

06-040 NRC Announces Opportunity to Request Hearing on Application to Renew

Operating License for Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station (3/22/06)

06-041 NRC Meeting March 29-30 to Discuss Worker Fatigue Rules, Applying

Drug-Testing Rules to Construction Personnel (3/23/06)

Regions:

I-06-014 NRC to Discuss 2005 Performance Assessment for Beaver Valley Nuclear

Power Plant (3/21/06)

I-06-015 NRC to Discuss Indian Point Annual Assessment Results, Preliminary

Findings from Special Inspection on March 28 (3/21/06)

I-06-016 NRC to Discuss 2005 Assessment for Millstone Nuclear Plant at Two Public

Meetings Scheduled for March 29 (3/22/06)

I-06-017 NRC to Discuss 2005 Performance Assessment for Seabrook Nuclear

Power Plant (3/23/06)

II-06-004 NRC to Discuss 2005 Performance for Vogtle Nuclear Power Plant

(3/22/06)

II-06-005 NRC Staff Responds to Security Concerns at Harris Nuclear Power Plant

Near Raleigh (3/22/06)
March 24, 2006 ENCLOSURE M

II-06-006 NRC to Discuss 2005 Performance at Summer Nuclear Power Plant

(3/24/06)

II-06-007 NRC Sends Special Inspection Team to Vogtle Nuclear Plant to Review

Cause of Repeat Leakage in Shutdown Cooling System (3/24/06)
March 24, 2006 ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary (SECY)

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 24, 2006

Document Released

to Public

Date Subject

Decision Documents

1. SRM on SECY-06-0007 3/22/06 Staff Plan to make a Risk-Informed and

Performance-Based Revision to 10 CFR

Part 50

Voting Record on

SECY-06-0007

3/22/06 (same)

2. COMJSM-06-0001 1/17/06 Regulation of Groundwater Protection at In

Situ Leach Uranium Extraction Facilities

SRM-COMJSM-06-0001 3/23/06 (same)

Commission Voting

Record on 06-0001

3/23/06 (same)

3. COMSECY-06-0016 3/6/06 Proposed Revision of the Interim

Enforcement Discretion Policy for the Fire

Protection Rule - 10 CFR 50.48(c) (NFPA

805 Rule)

SRM on COMSECY-06-

0016

3/24/06 (same)

Commission Voting

Record on 06-0016

3/24/06 (same)

Information Papers

SECY-06-0064 3/22/06 Weekly Information Report - Week Ending

March 10, 2006

Memoranda

M060313 3/22/06 Staff Requirements - Briefing on OIS

Programs, Performance, and Plans

Commission Correspondence

1. Letter to General Paul Sullivan, North American Aerospace Defense Command, dated

March 17, 2006, expresses appreciation for visit to NORAD-USNORTHCOM

Headquarters.
March 24, 2006 ENCLOSURE O

2. Letter to Ambassador John Negrophonte, Director of National Intelligence, dated

March 16, 2006, provides NRC staff’s response to questions about NRC’s inventory of

procedures governing SGI and SUNSI programs.

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS), Meeting of the Subcommittee on

Plan License Renewal, notice of meeting (4/5/06). 

2. ACRS, notice of 531st meeting (4/5-8/06). 

3. Advisory Committee on the Medical Uses of Isotopes, renewal notice.

4. State of Minnesota: Discontinuance of certain Commission Regulatory Authority within

the State; Notice of Agreement between the NRC and the State of Minnesota. 

5. Establishment of Atomic Safety Licensing Board (ASLB), in the Matter of David Geisen

(Enforcement Action).

6. Establishment of ASLB, in the Matter of Dale L. Miller (Enforcement Action).

7. Establishment of ASLB, in the Matter of Steven P. Moffitt (Enforcement Action).
March 24, 2006 ENCLOSURE P

Region I (RI)

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 24, 2006

Indian Point Emergency Planning Summit

On March 22, 2006, the Regional Administrator and representatives from the Office of Nuclear

Security and Incident Response participated in a meeting on emergency planning for Indian

Point that was sponsored by Congresswoman Sue Kelly. The meeting was led by the Assistant

Secretary for Infrastructure Protection at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). 

Attendees included: Congressional staff from the offices of Senators Clinton and Schumer, and

Representatives Engel, Lowey, and Hinchey; representatives from the State of New York and

the four emergency planning zone Counties; officials from the town of Cortlandt, New York; and

representatives from Entergy. The discussion topics included the role of the Federal

government in emergency planning, the concerns of local officials regarding existing

emergency plans, and the grant programs administered by DHS. The NRC and DHS agreed to

participate in a future meeting, after the State and Counties have met separately to consolidate

and prioritize a list of emergency planning issues.
March 24, 2006 ENCLOSURE P

Region II (RII)

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 24, 2006

Commissioner Merrifield Visits Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant

On March 20, 2006, Commissioner Merrifield, accompanied by the Regional Administrator,

visited the Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant for a site tour and meeting with licensee management.
March 24, 2006 ENCLOSURE P

Region III (RIII)

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 24, 2006

Kewaunee End-Of-Cycle Public Meeting

On March 22, 2006, the Regional Administrator and members of the Region III staff met with

representatives of Dominion Energy Kewaunee, Inc., in Kewaunee, Wis., to discuss the results

of NRC’s annual performance assessment of the Kewaunee Nuclear Power Plant.

Fermi 2 End-of-Cycle Public Meeting

On March 22, 2006, members of the Region III staff met with representatives of Detroit Edison

Co. in Monroe, Mich., to discuss the results of NRC’s annual performance assessment of the

Fermi 2 Nuclear Power Plant.

Point Beach Safety-Culture and End-of-Cycle Meetings

On March 23, 2006, the Regional Administrator and members of the regional staff met with

representatives of Nuclear Management Co. in Two Rivers, Wis., in separate meetings to

discuss the licensee’s safety culture survey of the Point Beach staff and the NRC’s annual

performance assessment of the Point Beach plant. The meeting was held in a township hall,

and members of the public and the news media participated in the meeting through a

teleconference connection. 
March 24, 2006 ENCLOSURE P

Region IV (RIV)

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 24, 2006

Commissioner Merrifield Visit to Entergy Nuclear and Waterford Steam Electric Station, Unit 3

On March 22, 2006, Commissioner Merrifield visited the Entergy Nuclear corporate office in

Jackson, Mississippi, where he met with the Entergy Nuclear Chief Executive Officer and

conducted an all-hands meeting. The following day, he toured the Waterford Steam Electric

Station, Unit 3 facility, met with senior licensee management, and the NRC resident inspectors.
March 24, 2006 

Office of Congressional Affairs (OCA)

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 24, 2006

CONGRESSIONAL HEARING SCHEDULE, NO. 11

 OCAContact

 DATE & PLACE

TIME WITNESS SUBJECT 

Combs 03/28/06 

TBA

TBA GAO, DOE/NNSA,

DHS/Customs and BorderProtection

GAO findings with regard tocounterfeiting an NRC license andgeneral availability of exemptquantity radioactive sources

Senators PermaneInvestigatHomeland  Affairs

Decker 03/30/06

SD-138

10:00 DOE Yucca Mountain/EM/Office of

Safeguards and Security

Senators Energy aAppropria

Decker 03/30/06

2362-BRHOB

10:00 DOE DOE-Energy Supply and

Conservation

Reps. Ho

Keeling 04/04/06

2247 RHOB

2:00 NRC, GAO, NEI, Exelon,

Connecticut AttorneyGeneral, POGO

NRC efforts to define the DBT andset protective standards for theNuclear Power Industry

Reps. ShNational Sand InternGovernm

Combs April TBA DOE Status of Yucca Mountain license

application

Senators Energy a

Decker TBA TBA TBA U.S.-Indian Nuclear Agreement Reps. Hy

Internatio
CONGRESSIONAL HEARING SCHEDULE, NO. 11

 OCAContact

 DATE & PLACE

TIME WITNESS SUBJECT 

March 24, 2006 

Combs 04/26/06

TBA

TBA NRC, GAO, DOE/OCRWM,

DOE/IG, Bechtel

Yucca Mountain Project: PersistentManagement and Quality Assurance

Reps. PoFederal WOrganizaGovernm

Shane 05/08/07

TBA

TBA TBA New Nuclear Power Plants Senators 

Energy a