INFORMATION REPORT

March 2, 2006 SECY-06-0051

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING

FEBRUARY 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 2, 2006 SECY-06-0051

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING

FEBRUARY 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\week224.WPD

OEDO AO/OEDO

LRakovan:paa WMDean

03/02/06 03/02/06
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 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 10

RES 8 OIP *

NSIR 9 SECY 19

OGC * Region I 20

ADM * Region II *

OIS 11 Region III *

CFO * Region IV 23

HR 15 EDO *

SBCR * OCA 24

OE * ACRS/ACNW 25

*No input this week
February 24, 2006 ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 24, 2006

Monthly Mitigating Systems Performance Index (MSPI) Public Meeting

On February 22, 2006, the NRC staff hosted the monthly MSPI public meeting in Headquarters. 

Meeting attendees discussed the status of the staff review of the MSPI outliers, independent

staff review of the industry's peer review effort, and remaining MSPI milestones needing

completion.

Monthly Reactor Oversight Process (ROP) Public Meeting

On February 23, 2006, the staff hosted the subject meeting in Headquarters. Meeting

participants discussed ROP significance determination process issues, performance indicator

(PI) general improvements, and open/new frequently asked questions on the PIs.

Oyster Creek Generating Station (OCGS) License Renewal Audit

During the period of February 13-17, 2006, the staff conducted its third audit of the aging

management programs (AMPs) and aging management reviews (AMRs) of the license renewal

application at the OCGS site. The audit team reviewed the applicant’s responses to the team’s

questions identified during the two previous audits conducted on October 3-7, 2005, and

January 23-27, 2006, and reviewed AMP line items and Generic Aging Lessons

Learned-related changes to AMPs. The staff noted that the applicant produced comprehensive

AMP program and AMR technical basis documents to support the license renewal application

safety review. Several questions remained open at the end of the audit. The majority of the

open questions related to OCGS containment AMPs. The audit question and answer data base

is planned to be docketed the week of February 27, 2006. A public exit meeting for the audit is

scheduled for April 20, 2006.

Exelon Early Site Permit (ESP) Final Safety Evaluation Report (SER) Issued

On February 17, 2006, the staff issued its final SER for the Clinton early site permit ESP

application. Exelon Generation Company, LLC, submitted its application on September 25,

2003. The document is being withheld from public release for 14 days to provide the applicant

an opportunity to review it for proprietary information. The staff issued a press release

concurrent with transmittal of the document to the applicant. 

Public Meeting with Progress Energy to Discuss Combined License (COL) Pre-Application

Activities

On February 21, 2006, the staff met with Progress Energy to discuss its preparations for

submitting a COL application for the Harris site, referencing the Westinghouse AP1000 reactor

design. Progress Energy is scheduled to submit its first COL application in late September or

early October 2007 for the Harris site, and a second application for a Florida site in late 2007 or

first quarter 2008.
February 24, 2006 ENCLOSURE A

Public Meeting with NEI on Design-Centered Approach

On February 21, 2006, the staff met with the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) to discuss the

design-centered approach and standardization of a COL application. The staff and industry

representatives discussed various aspects of a reference COL application, including when one

would be identified and submitted, and what portions of a reference COL application would be

considered standard.

Salem Nuclear Generating Station - NRC Approves Alternate Source Term (AST)

On February 17, 2006, the staff approved the full-scope implementation of the AST described in

Regulatory Guide 1.183 for the Salem Nuclear Generating Station, Unit Nos. 1 and 2, in a

license amendment. The request was pursuant to Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations,

Section 50.67, “Accident Source Term,” which provides a mechanism to replace the traditional

source term used in the plants’ radiological consequence analyses. As part of the AST, the

staff approved the following: (1) an increase in the emergency core cooling system leakage

outside containment, and (2) relocation of the technical specification requirements related to the

auxiliary building ventilation system filters to the Updated Final Safety Analysis Report.

Public Workshop on Proposed Rule to Risk-Inform the Emergency Core Cooling Systems Rule

On February 16, 2006, the staff conducted a Category 3 public meeting on the proposed rule to

add a risk-informed alternative to 10 CFR 50.46a (loss of coolant accident redefinition). 

Approximately 40 people attended, including the staff and those from the industry. The

purpose of the workshop was to ensure stakeholders had a clear understanding of the NRC<s

intent and interpretation of the proposed rule so that subsequent written comments would not

result in misunderstandings. The staff provided an overview of the rule, described the

important features and encouraged stakeholders to formally submit constructive comments,

such as alternative approaches that would achieve the underlying purposes of the rule. Most of

the questions concerned the scope and extent of the risk-informed integrated safety

performance assessment process, operational constraints and the mitigation capability for

breaks larger than the transition break size. The comment period for the proposed 10 CFR

50.46a closes on March 8, 2006.
February 24, 2006 ENCLOSURE B

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS)

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 24, 2006

Meeting with USEC Inc. (USEC) on Nuclear Criticality Safety (NCS)

On February 15, 2006, staff from the Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards met with

USEC to discuss USEC’s incorporation of NCS accident sequences in its Integrated Safety

Analysis (ISA) Summary for the American Centrifuge Plant proposed to be built and operated in

Piketon, OH. As a result of the discussions, USEC agreed to: (1) revise its method for

determining the credibility of NCS accident sequences; (2) incorporate the credible NCS

accident sequences in the ISA Summary; and (3) identify the associated items relied on for

safety to demonstrate compliance with the performance requirements of 10 CFR Part 70.

Staff Meets with the Department of Energy (DOE) to Discuss Natural Analog to Yucca Mountain

On February 16, 2006, staff from NRC, the Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses

(Center), and DOE, Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management, met in Las Vegas, NV,

to discuss DOE and NRC activities at the Peña Blanca, Chihuahua, Mexico site. 

Representatives from the State of Nevada observed the technical discussions. Peña Blanca is

being investigated as a natural analog to portions of the potential Yucca Mountain repository. 

DOE summarized its key results and presented information on ongoing seepage monitoring,

dating of the age of the deposit, and radionuclide concentrations in groundwater at the site. 

DOE discussed a total system performance assessment of the analog site that could be used to

corroborate the DOE performance assessment of the potential Yucca Mountain repository. 

Logistics for working at the remotely located site and a DOE request for Center data to support

DOE’s seepage modeling were discussed.

Conference Call with the Office of Senator Larry Craig

On February 16, 2006, NMSS staff, the Office of Congressional Affairs, and the Office of the

General Counsel held a conference call with staff from the Office of Senator Larry Craig (R-ID)

about the status of the former Salmon River Uranium Development Mill site near North Fork, ID. 

The purpose of the call was to convey information to the Senator’s staff about the status of

decommissioning efforts related to the site. During the call, several topics were discussed,

including: (1) the operational history of the site; (2) existing contamination at the site; (3)

request to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for financial assistance, since the

owners have stated that they lack the funds to clean up the property; and (4) other alternatives

to be considered if the site is ineligible to receive funding by EPA, including the possibility of

executing a “land swap” with another Federal agency. At the conclusion of the call, it was

agreed that the Senator’s staff will get additional information about the “land swap” and its

implications, and will remain available for future interactions.

Meeting with Stakeholders Regarding Saltstone Waste Determination Review

On February 21, 2006, NMSS staff met with representatives of the Natural Resources Defense

Council, Greenpeace, Public Citizen, the Nuclear Information and Resource Service, and other

interested parties to discuss technical issues related to the Saltstone Technical Evaluation
February 24, 2006 ENCLOSURE B

Report issued by NRC on December 28, 2005. Topics included assumptions made by NRC in

its evaluation; the definition of "highly radioactive radionuclides" as required by the National

Defense Authorization Act of FY 2005; sensitivity analyses and modeling scenarios; NRC's

future monitoring of the saltstone disposal facility; and NRC's coordination with the State. 
February 24, 2006 ENCLOSURE C

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES)

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 24, 2006

Publication of NUREG/CR-6895 "Technical Review of On-line Monitoring Techniques for

Performance Assessment: Volume I State-of-the-Art”

During the week ending February 24, 2006, RES published the subject report to provide the

technical details that are necessary to conduct an accurate evaluation of these techniques. 

This report provides an overview of current sensor calibration monitoring technologies and their

uncertainty analysis, a review of the supporting information needed to assess these techniques,

and a cross-reference between the literature and the requirements listed in the NRC’s safety

evaluation report (SER) for the Electric Power Research Institute Topical Report on On-Line

Monitoring (TR-104965), dated July 24, 2000 (ML003734509). This SER concluded that, while

the generic concept of on-line monitoring was acceptable for use in tracking instrument

performance, there are 14 requirements that must be addressed in plant-specific license

amendments if the NRC is to consider relaxing calibration frequencies for safety-related

instrumentation. 
February 24, 2006 ENCLOSURE D

Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response (NSIR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 24, 2006

Preliminary Notifications

1. PNO-II-06-005, LaSalle Unit 1 - INDICATION FAILURE FOR 3 CONTROL RODS

FOLLOWING REACTOR TRIP.

2. PNO-III-06-006, Byron - UNUSUAL EVENT DECLARED DUE TO A FIRE WITHIN THE

PLANT PROTECTED AREA.
February 24, 2006 ENCLOSURE G

Office of Information Services (OIS)

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 24, 2006

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

February 17, 2006 through February 23, 2006:

St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center, South Bend Campus, 891 E.

LaSalle Street, South Bend, IN 46617-1935, EA-05-128, follow up

response letter

FOIA/PA-2006-0119

TMI-2 - Safety Analysis Report for Transition to Natural Circulation,

by Metropolitan Edison, April 12, 1979, docket 50-320

FOIA/PA-2006-0120

SECY-05-0231 FOIA/PA-2006-0121

1500+/- acres of agricultural land, Southwest corner of Lorenzo Road

& I-55, Will County, IL, (Braidwood Generating Station) tritium spills &

other environmental issues

FOIA/PA-2006-0122

Case no. 2-2004-049, Allegations RI-2004-A-0010, RI-2004-A-0128 &

RI-2004-A-0148

FOIA/PA-2006-0123
February 24, 2006 ENCLOSURE I

Office of Human Resources (HR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 24, 2006

Arrival

WELLER, RICHARD A. Consultant NMSS

Departures

HARRISON, LEANNE M. ALLEGATIONS COORDINATOR R-I

Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) Evaluation Luncheon Attended

On February 23, 2006, Henry Rubin, CFC Campaign Manager for NRC, attended a Campaign

Evaluation Luncheon. Agenda items included a campaign update and suggestions for the 2006

campaign. Also discussed were three draft scenarios for next year’s campaign film. 
February 24, 2006 ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs (OPA)

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 24, 2006

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

The license for Private Fuel Storage in Utah.

The Site Area Emergency declaration at the LaSalle nuclear plant.

Tritium in groundwater near the Braidwood plant in Illinois.

The Commission’s rulemaking on the Design Basis Threat and other power plant security

regulations.

Press Releases

Headquarters:

06-028 NRC Issues License to Private Fuel Storage for Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage

Facility in Utah (2/22)

06-029 NRC Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards to Meet March 9-11 in

Rockville, Maryland (2/23)

06-030 NRC Proposes Clarifications to New Reactor Licensing Process, Plans March

14 Public Meeting (2/23)

Regions:

I-06-009 NRC to Hold March 1st Public Meeting in Brattleboro, VT., on License Renewal

Application for Vermont Yankee Nuclear Plant (2/22)

III-06-005 NRC Begins Special Inspection at LaSalle Nuclear Plant Following Control Rod

Problem During Automatic Reactor Shutdown (2/20)
February 24, 2006 ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary (SECY)

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 24, 2006

Document Released

to Public

Date Subject

Decision Documents

1. SECY-06-0012 01/13/06 Section 274b Agreement with the State of

Minnesota

SRM on SECY-06-0012 01/26/06 (same)

Voting Record on

SECY-06-0012

01/26/06 (same)

2. SRM on SECY-05-0197 02/22/06 Review of Operational Programs in a

Combined License Application and Generic

Emergency Planning Inspections, Tests,

Analyses, and Acceptance Criteria

Voting Record on

SECY-05-0197

02/22/06 (same)

Information Papers

1. SECY-06-0006 01/05/06 Issuance of Nuclear Regulatory

Commission Generic Letter 2006-XX,

Steam Generator Tube Integrity and

Associated Technical Specifications”

2. SECY-06-0019 01/31/06 Semiannual Update of the Status of New

Reactor Licensing Activities and Future

Planning for New Reactors

3. SECY-06-0039 02/16/06 Weekly Information Report - Week Ending

February 3, 2006

4. SECY-06-0040 02/17/06 Weekly Information Report - Week Ending

February 10, 2006

Memoranda

1. M060208A 02/22/06 SRM-Briefing on NMSS Programs,

Performance, and Plans - Materials Safety
February 24, 2006 ENCLOSURE O

Commission Correspondence

Letter to Congress, dated February 15, 2006, informs of the public release of the results of the

NRC’s 2005 Safety Culture and Climate Survey.

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards, notice of 530th meeting (3/9-11/06). 

2. Proposed rule. 10 CFR Parts 1, 2, 10, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 50, 51, 52, 54, 55, 72, 73, 75,

95, 140, and 170, RIN 3150 - AG24, Licenses, Certifications, and Approvals for Nuclear

Power Plants. 

3. Abnormal Occurrence Reports: Implementation of Section 208 of the Energy

Reorganization Act of 1974; Revised Policy Statement.
February 24, 2006 ENCLOSURE P

Region I (RI)

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 24, 2006

Commissioner Jaczko Visit to Indian Point Energy Center

On February 22-23, 2006, Commissioner Jaczko visited the Indian Point Energy Center and

surrounding areas to meet with Entergy, local government officials, and local interest groups to

discuss emergency preparedness and other issues. On the afternoon of February 23,

Commissioner Jackzo toured the Indian Point Energy Center and met with Indian Point staff

during an “all hands” meeting. The Commissioner was accompanied by the Regional

Administrator.
February 24, 2006 ENCLOSURE P

Region IV (RIV)

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 24, 2006

South Texas Project Nuclear Operating Company Management Change

On February 16, South Texas Project Nuclear Operating Company announced that 

Ed Halpin, current Vice President of Oversight, has been selected to replace Gary Parkey as

Vice President of Generation. Mr. Parkey plans to retire in June 2006. The effective date for

Mr. Halpin to assume his new position is May 18. John Crenshaw, current Manager of Outage

and Work Control, has been selected to replace Ed Halpin. The Vice President of Oversight

position will be reclassified as General Manager of Oversight. 
February 24, 2006 

Office of Congressional Affairs (OCA)

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 24, 2006

CONGRESSIONAL HEARING SCHEDULE, NO. 7

 OCAContact

 DATE & PLACE

TIME WITNESS SUBJECT 

Combs 03/02/06

SD-406

9:30 EPA, DOE, Nuclear Waste

Safety Board

Status of Yucca Mountain licenseapplication and radiation standards

Senators Environm

Combs 03/07/06

SR-232A

2:45 Linton Brooks-National

Nuclear SecurityAdministration,Joseph Rispoli-AssistantSecretary fo Energy forEnvironmental Mgmt.

FY 2007 Budget - Nuclear Weaponsand Environmental Cleanup

Senators Strategic Armed Se

Decker 03/08/06

2362BRHOB

10:00 DOE Department of Energy-Overview Reps. Ho

Energy aAppropria

Shane 03/09/06

SD-406

TBA NRC NRC Oversight Senators 

Clean Air

 and NuEnvironm

Decker 03/09/06

2362BRHOB

10:00 DOE Department of EnergyEnvironmental Management Reps. Ho

Energy aAppropria

Combs 03/14/06

Tentative

TBA DOE Status of Yucca Mountain license

application

Senators Energy a
CONGRESSIONAL HEARING SCHEDULE, NO. 7

 OCAContact

 DATE & PLACE

TIME WITNESS SUBJECT 

February 24, 2006 

Combs 03/15/06

2362BRHOB

10:00 DOE Department of Energy - Nuclear

Waste Disposal

Reps. HoEnergy aAppropria

Combs 03/23/06

Las Vegas,NV

10:00 NRC, GAO, DOE/OCRWM,

DOE/IG, Bechtel

Yucca Mountain Project: PersistentManagement and Quality Assurance

Reps. PoFederal WOrganizaGovernm

Combs 03/28/06 or

03/30/06TBD

TBD NRC, GAO, DOE/NNSA,

DHS/Customs and BorderProtection

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

Senators PermaneInvestigatHomeland  Affairs
February 24, 2006 ENCLOSURE S

Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS)/

Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste (ACNW)

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 24, 2006

As a result of its 529th meeting (February 9-11, 2006), the ACRS issued letters and

reports on the following subjects. 

Date Subject

February 22, 2006 Draft Nureg Report, “Evaluation of Human Reliability Analysis

Methods Against Good Practices”

February 22, 2006 Standard Review Plan, Section 14.2.1, “Generic Guidelines for

Extended Power Uprate Testing Programs”