INFORMATION REPORT

October 26, 2005 SECY-05-0193

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: “WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING

OCTOBER 14, 2005”

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

*No input this week.

/RA by T Bergman Acting For W M Dean/

William M. Dean

Assistant for Operations, OEDO

Contact:

A. Huffert, OEDO
October 26, 2005 SECY-05-0193

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: “WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING

OCTOBER 14, 2005”

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

*No input this week.

/RA by T Bergman Acting For W M Dean/

William M. Dean

Assistant for Operations, OEDO

Contact:

A. Huffert, OEDO

DISTRIBUTION:

Central File

Public Document Name: C:\WIR\week1014.WPD

OEDO AO/OEDO

AHuffert:paa WMDean TAB for

10/26/05 10/27/05
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 14, 2005

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

Headquarters and Regional Office activities. 

Contact: A. Huffert, OEDO by E-mail: AMH1@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 18

NSIR 9 SECY 19

OGC * Region I *

ADM 10 Region II 21

OIS 11 Region III 22

CFO * Region IV *

HR 15 EDO *

SBCR * OCA 24

OE *

*No input this week
October 14, 2005 ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending October 14, 2005

Nuclear Procurement Issues Committee (NUPIC) Meeting

From October 4-6, 2005, staff participated in a meeting of the NUPIC in Norfolk, Virginia. The

staff presented an overview of a recently released safety evaluation, which approves an

alternate method for qualifying commercial-grade calibration service providers. The alternate

method accepts accreditations issued by the National Institute of Science and Technology or

the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation, based on international standards. 

Several licensees plan to adopt the alternative which increases the number of calibration

service providers available to them.

Vermont Yankee License Renewal Application

By letter dated October 7, 2005, Entergy Nuclear, Inc., notified the NRC of its intent to submit a

license renewal application for its Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station in January 2006. 

Vermont Yankee is located approximately 5 miles south of Brattleborro, Vermont, and its

current operating license expires on March 21, 2012. The Vermont Yankee application would

be submitted concurrently with Entergy’s application for the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station. The

announcement of the two Entergy applications in January 2006 does not impact schedule or

resources as two Entergy applications were already included in the NRC’s projected receipt of

applications for January 2006.
October 14, 2005 ENCLOSURE B

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS)

Items of Interest

Week Ending October 14, 2005

U.S. Governmental Agencies Submit U.S. National Report to the International Atomic Energy

Agency

On October 11, 2005, the Department of Energy (DOE) electronically transmitted the second

“U.S. National Report,” as required by the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel

Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management. This report was prepared

in cooperation with NRC, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Department of

State. It is an obligation of the Joint Convention to prepare such a report on a 3-year cycle. In

addition to the preparation of the “U.S. National Report,” the participating U.S. Federal agencies

will review the national report of the 33 other nations that have ratified the Joint Convention. 

The report is available from ADAMS at ML052840376. DOE will post it on its public website

shortly.

Staff Observation of EPA's Public Meetings on Proposed Yucca Mountain Standards

From October 3-6, 2005, (in Las Vegas, NV) and October 11, 2005, (in Washington, D.C.) Staff

observed the EPA's public meetings on the proposed revisions to the Yucca Mountain

standards. EPA held these public meetings to solicit comment on its proposal for individual

protection standards applicable for the time period after 10,000 years. It received comments

from a variety of stakeholders, such as State and local authorities, environmental and industry

groups, and private citizens.

IAEA/NEA International Conference on Safety of Radioactive Waste Disposal

From October 2-7, 2005, staff participated in the International Atomic Energy Agency/Nuclear

Energy Agency (IAEA/NEA) International Conference on Safety of Radioactive Waste Disposal,

held in Tokyo, Japan. Topics of NRC presentations included the U.S. Framework for safe

disposal fo radioactive waste and communicating the safety of radioactive waste disposal. 

Over 400 representatives of more than 60 countries attended the conference. Conference

topics included: (1) international and national perspectives on disposal safety; (2) the safety

case and confidence building; (3) the safety of geologic disposal and near-surface disposal;

(4) options for disposal of intermediate level waste; (5) regulatory control; and (6)

communicating the safety of waste disposal. While in Tokyo, staff members met with Japanese

regulators to discuss various waste-disposal issues, including the progress of Japan’s voluntary

siting program, the International Commission on Radiological Protection’s radiation protection

recommendations, and geotechnical issues, such as volcanism and seismicity. Staff members

agreed, with their Japanese counterparts, to continue this dialogue, as topics of mutual interest

arise.
October 14, 2005 ENCLOSURE C

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES)

Items of Interest

Week Ending October 14, 2005

Support of OIS Grid Computing Project

From November 14-18, 2005, the staff plans to support the Office of Information Services (OIS)

in a test of grid computing which will include security issue evaluations. Test results may

provide the NRC with additional capabilities to run large, complex computer codes more

efficiently.
October 14, 2005 ENCLOSURE D

Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response (NSIR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending October 14, 2005

Preliminary Notifications

1. PNO-IV-05-014, Department of the Army - PANORAMIC IRRADIATOR SEALED

SOURCE STUCK IN UNSHIELDED POSITION.

2. PNO-IV-05-015, Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, Unit 3 - SHUTDOWN TO

REPAIR REACTOR COOLANT PUMP OIL SEAL.

3. PNO-IV-05-016, Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, Units 2 and 3 - TECHNICAL

SPECIFICATION REQUIRED SHUTDOWN OF PALO VERDE UNITS 2 AND 3.
October 14, 2005 ENCLOSURE F

Office of Administration (ADM)

Items of Interest 

Week Ending October 14, 2005

Contract Awards

On October 7, 2005, an 8(a) contract was awarded to INFOZEN, INC., for "Reactor Core and

Containment Mitigation Strategy Studies." The period of performance is October 7, 2005,

through October 6, 2006. The amount of the contract is $1,713,596.
October 14, 2005 ENCLOSURE G

Office of Information Services (OIS)

Items of Interest

Week Ending October 14, 2005

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

October 6 through October 13, 2005:

RS-CFO-05-331, bid evaluation documents FOIA/PA-2006-0004

OI report 4-2002-001S, all documents related to the closed

investigation

FOIA/PA-2006-0005

AED Evaluation Process, award, model, pricing FOIA/PA-2006-0006

Cooper Nuclear Station, Greater than Green finding, March 31, 2005

(EA-04-131, Inspection Report 5000298/2004014), all records

FOIA/PA-2006-0007
October 14, 2005 ENCLOSURE I

Office of Human Resources (HR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending October 14, 2005

Arrival

BANERJEE, RONNIE C. STUDENT HR SPECIALIST (CO-OP) R-I

DE LA GARZA, RODRIGO GENERAL ENGINEER NRR

DEBNAM, LATRICIA B. SPACE MANAGEMENT TRAINEE (CO-OP) ADM

GOLDEN, ANDREW S. STUDENT CLERK (STEP) NRR

KAPLAN, MICHELE D. CHIEF, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND

RECONCILIATION

OCFO

LE, HIEN M. OPERATIONS ENGINEER NRR

LEWIN, ARON REACTOR ENGINEER NRR

MANN, JULIAN STUDENT CLERK (STEP) NRR

MCGAUGHEY, JAMES MANAGEMENT ANALYST/AUDITOR OIG

SUTO-GOLDSBY, DELORIS CIVIL RIGHTS PROGRAM MANAGER SBCR

Retirements

FRANT, SUSAN M. DEP DIR, INCIDENT RESPONSE DIR NSIR

Departures

CESARO, RENE S. PROGRAM ASSISTANT NMSS

CORLEW, DIANE C. SECRETARY (OA) R-I

IRIZARRY, ERIC D. SYSTEMS ACCOUNTANT OCFO

KANNLER, KATHLEEN A. ATTORNEY OGC

PARSONS, LEANORE F. RECEPTIONIST (OA) R-I
October 14, 2005 ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs (OPA)

Items of Interest

Week Ending October 14, 2005

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

The American Broadcast Corporation report on security at research reactors.

Shutdown at the Palo Verde nuclear plant.

NRC’s conditions to Entergy on Vermont Yankee’s uprate request.

Press Releases

Headquarters:

05-137 NRC Announces Opportunity for Hearing on Application to Renew Operating

License for Kansas State Research Reactor (10/11)

05-138 NRC Advisory Committee on Medical Uses of Isotopes to Meet Oct. 25-26

(10/12)

05-139 NRC Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste to Meet in New York on Oct. 19-20

(10/13)

05-140 NRC Announces Reappointment of Commissioner Edward McGaffigan Jr.

(10/13)

Regions:

I-05-051 NRC Names Hunegs Senior Resident Inspector at FitzPatrick; Names Cline

Senior Resident Inspector at Nine Mile Point (10/14)
October 14, 2005 ENCLOSURE N

Office of International Programs (OIP)

Items of Interest

Week Ending October 14, 2005

Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) Representative Meets with Commission

Members to Discuss Regulatory Safety Policy

Mr. Katsuhiko Suetsugu, a member of the Advisory Council to the METI of Japan met with

available Commission members to discuss issues related to the NRC’s role in the safe

operation of nuclear facilities and its commitment to public outreach programs.
October 14, 2005 ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary (SECY)

Items of Interest

Week Ending October 14, 2005

Document Released

to Public

Date Subject

Decision Documents

1. SECY-05-0164 09/15/05 Annual Fee Calculation Method

SRM on 05-0164 10/11/05 (same)

Commission Voting

Record on 05-0164

10/11/05 (same)

2. SECY-05-0160 09/01/05 Phase I Report and Recommendations on

Congressional District Outreach Effort

SRM on 05-0160 10/07/05 (same)

Commission Voting

Record on 05-0160

10/07/05 (same)

Information Papers

1. SECY-05-0182 10/07/05 Weekly Information Report - Week Ending

September 30, 2005

2. SECY-05-0179 10/05/05 Weekly Information Report - Week Ending

September 23, 2005

Commission Correspondence

1. Letter to Congress, dated October 4, 2005, provides the August 2005 report on the status

of NRC’s licensing and other regulatory activities.

2. Letter to Dirk Kempthorne, Governor of Idaho, dated October 3, 2005, concerns

appointment of a State Liaison Officer to provide a communication channel between the

States and the NRC.

3. Letter to Ernie Fletcher, Governor of Kentucky, dated October 3, 2005, concerns

appointment of a State Liaison Officer to provide a communication channel between the

States and the NRC.

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS), notice of meeting (11/3-5/05). 
October 14, 2005 ENCLOSURE O

2. ACRS Subcommittee Meeting on Planning and Procedures, notice of meeting (11/2/05).

3. Establishment of Atomic Safety and Licensing Board, Pa’ina Hawaii, LLC (Honolulu, Hawaii

Irradiator Facility). 
October 14, 2005 ENCLOSURE P

Region II (RII)

Items of Interest

Week Ending October 14, 2005

Regional Administrator Visit to Crystal River Nuclear Plant

On October 12, 2005, the Regional Administrator visited the Crystal River Nuclear Plant for a

site tour with the Resident Inspectors.

Regional Administrator Attends Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility (MOX FFF)

Commemoration Ceremony

On October 14, 2005, the Regional Administrator attended the MOX FFF commemoration

ceremony at the Savannah River Site.
October 14, 2005 ENCLOSURE P

Region III (RIII)

Items of Interest

Week Ending October 14, 2005

Public Meeting at Perry Nuclear Power Plant

On October 12, 2005, NRC staff held a public meeting in Painesville, Ohio, to review the status

of Perry’s improvement initiative and discuss the Confirmatory Action Letter.
October 14, 2005 

Office of Congressional Affairs (OCA)

Items of Interest

Week Ending October 14, 2005

CONGRESSIONAL HEARING SCHEDULE, NO. 35

 OCAContact

 DATE & PLACE

TIME WITNESS SUBJECT 

Keeling 10/19/05

SD-G50

2:30 Markup S. 1753, “Warning, Alert, and

Response Network Act”

Senators Commerc Transpo

Combs TBA

SD-406

TBA NRC and others Hurricane Katrina Disaster Senators 

Environm

Schmidt/Keeling

TBA TBA Conference FY 2006 Energy and Water

Development Appropriations

House/SeCommitte