INFORMATION REPORT 

October 12, 2007 SECY-07-0178

For: The Commissioners 

From: Vonna L. Ordaz, Assistant for Operations, Office of the EDO 

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING 

OCTOBER 5, 2007 

Contents Enclosure

Nuclear Reactor Regulation A 

New Reactors B 

Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards C 

Federal and State Materials and Environmental Management Programs D* 

Nuclear Regulatory Research E* 

Nuclear Security and Incident Response F 

Administration G 

Information Services H 

Chief Financial Officer I* 

Human Resources J* 

Small Business and Civil Rights K 

Enforcement L* 

Public Affairs M* 

International Programs N* 

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/ 

Vonna L. Ordaz 

Assistant for Operations, OEDO 

Contact: 

L. Rakovan, OEDO 
October 11, 2007 SECY-07-0178

For: The Commissioners 

From: Vonna L. Ordaz, Assistant for Operations, Office of the EDO 

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING 

October 5, 2007 

Contents Enclosure

Nuclear Reactor Regulation A 

New Reactors B 

Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards C 

Federal and State Materials and Environmental Management Programs D* 

Nuclear Regulatory Research E* 

Nuclear Security and Incident Response F 

Administration G 

Information Services H 

Chief Financial Officer I* 

Human Resources J* 

Small Business and Civil Rights K 

Enforcement L* 

Public Affairs M* 

International Programs N* 

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/ 

Vonna L. Ordaz 

Assistant for Operations, OEDO 

Contact: 

L. Rakovan, OEDO 

DISTRIBUTION: 

EDO R/F 

AO R/F G:\Melissa\WIR\Week1005.doc 

OEDO AO/OEDO 

LRakovan VLOrdaz 

10/12/07 10/12/07 
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 5, 2007

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 OE * 

NRO * OPA 17 

NMSS 4 OIP * 

FSME 6 SECY 19 

RES * Region I 20 

NSIR 10 Region II 21 

ADM 11 Region III 22 

OIS 12 Region IV 23 

CFO * EDO * 

HR 16 OCA 24 

SBCR * 

*No input this week 
October 5, 2007 ENCLOSURE A 

 Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending October 5, 2007 

Office Director Decision on a Differing Professional Opinion Regarding Ultrasonic Flow Meter 

On June 29, 2007, the Director, NRR, issued a decision on a Differing Professional Opinion 

(DPO), DPO-2006-006, regarding the Westinghouse/AMAG (W/AMAG) Crossflow Ultrasonic 

Flow Meter (UFM). On December 13, 2006, an NRC employee submitted a DPO where he 

indicated that the W/AMAG CROSSFLOW Ultrasonic Flow Meter (UFM), when installed in 

accordance with the guidelines in the NRC-approved topical report CENPD-397-P, Revision 1, 

will function within its claimed accuracy as specified in the topical report. The submitter was 

concerned that the NRC staff's November 2006 draft safety evaluation for suspending the 

previous approval of the W/AMAG CROSSFLOW topical report does not provide a sufficient 

basis for the staff's proposed suspension. Furthermore, the submitter believed the staff did not 

respond satisfactorily to the issues presented in his October 2006 non-concurrence of the 

suspension safety evaluation. On June 12, 2007, an Ad Hoc Review Panel provided the results 

of its independent review to the Director of NRR. The panel reached the following overall 

conclusions: 

• The cross-correlation technology used by the W/AMAG CROSSFLOW UFM is capable of 

measuring fluid flow rate, but the basis for the estimation and maintenance of 

CROSSFLOW's accuracy has not been adequately established. 

• The previously approved CROSSFLOW topical report and the subsequent information 

provided by W/AMAG does not provide sufficient information for the user to ensure that the 

CROSSFLOW UFM will function within its claimed accuracy. 

• The NRC staff's November 2006 draft safety evaluation for suspending the previous 

approval of the CROSSFLOW topical report provides a sufficient basis for the proposed 

suspension. 

• Regarding the staff’s response to the submitter’s non-concurrence on the November 2006 

draft safety evaluation for suspending the CROSSFLOW topical report, the staff followed the 

established NRC process for responding to non-concurrences. The staff satisfactorily 

responded to the key technical issues presented in the submitter’s non-concurrence. 

The submitter did not have any comments with regards to the panel's report issued on June 12, 

2007. Based on the review of the panel’s report and other background information including the 

submitter’s comments when the panel met with the submitter on February 28, 2007, and the emails exchanged between the submitter and the panel on March 7, 2007, and April 12, 2007, the 

Director of NRR agreed with the panel’s conclusions. 

Steam Generator Regulatory Framework

As of September 27, 2007, all pressurized-water reactors have adopted the new steam 

generator requirements. For many years, the NRC staff has been working with the industry on 

improving the steam generator regulatory framework. In 2005, the NRC staff approved generic 
October 5, 2007 ENCLOSURE A 

changes to the steam generator requirements contained within the standard technical 

specifications. These new requirements are risk-informed and performance-based. Over the 

last several years, the staff has reviewed applications to adopt these new technical specification 

requirements at all pressurized-water reactor licensees. The NRC staff will continue to monitor 

implementation of these new requirements. 

Public Meeting with Boiling Water Reactor Vessel Internals Program on the Steam Dryer 

Integrity Guidance Document

On September 27, 2007, the staff met with the Boiling Water Reactor Vessel Internals Program 

(BWRVIP) members to discuss their plan to submit a report that the BWR licensees would use 

as a standardized approach in demonstrating the integrity of the steam dryer for extended power 

uprate applications. The NRC staff provided comments during the meeting to relay the staff's 

expectations on setting the framework of demonstrating steam dryer integrity. The BWRVIP 

plans to submit the report in December 2007 to the NRC for review and approval. Some of the 

NRC comments included topics concerning screening criteria, benchmarking, and generic power 

accession plans. The BWRVIP also plans on submitting other reports (Steam Dryer Repair 

Design Criteria and Steam Dryer Integrity Demonstration Methodologies reports) to the staff that 

will form the basis for steam dryer integrity demonstrations by March 2008. The BWRVIP and 

the NRC staff also discussed the proposed request for additional information responses to the 

BWRVIP-139 report on steam dryer inspections and flaw evaluations. 

Meeting on Industry’s Implementation of the Ground Water Protection Initiative

On September 27, 2007, the staff held a public meeting with representatives from the Nuclear 

Energy Institute (NEI) to discuss the industry’s Ground Water Protection Initiative (GPI). NEI 

presented the NEI 07-07, Industry Ground Water Protection Initiative final guidance document 

dated August 2007. 

Regulatory Issue Summary (RIS) 2007-24, NRC Staff Position on Use of the Westinghouse 

Crossflow Ultrasonic Flow Meter for Power Uprate or Power Recovery

On September 27, 2007, the staff issued the subject RIS to inform addressees that NRC has 

written a letter to Westinghouse Electric Corporation (WEC) suspending NRC's approval of 

WEC's topical report on the CROSSFLOW UFM for new and future use until the staff's concerns 

are resolved. This RIS does not transmit any new requirements and does not require any 

specific action or written response. However, the information provided in the letter to WEC, 

including the Safety Evaluation attached to the letter, may have applicability to current users of 

the CROSSFLOW UFM. 

Draft Review Guidance for Generic Letter 2004-02

On September 27, 2007, draft guidance for reviews of final licensee responses to Generic Letter 

2004-02, "Potential Impact of Debris Blockage on Emergency Recirculation during Design Basis 

Accidents at Pressurized-Water Reactors,” was issued to NRC staff. The guidance, which was 

also made available to licensees and other stakeholders for information, addresses head loss 

testing, coatings, and chemical effects. After opportunity for comment, the guidance will be 

finalized to support reviews of licensee responses scheduled for early 2008. 
October 5, 2007 ENCLOSURE A 

Point Beach, Units 1 and 2 - License Transfer

On September 28, 2007, the staff issued conforming license amendments related to the direct 

transfer of Point Beach, Units 1 and 2, licenses from Wisconsin Electric Power Company (the 

owner) and Nuclear Management Company (the operator) to FPL Energy Point Beach, LLC. 

FPL Energy Point Beach, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the FPL Group, is the new licensee 

(owner and operator) for Point Beach, Units 1 and 2. The staff previously issued an order 

authorizing the transfer of the licenses on July 31, 2007. 

Comanche Peak Steam Electric Station, Units 1 and 2 - Indirect Transfer/Name Change 

By letter dated October 2, 2007, TXU Generation Company Limited Partnership (LP) informed 

NRC that the closing of the transaction and the resulting indirect transfer of operating licenses 

as approved in the NRC Order dated September 10, 2007, is currently targeted for October 10, 

2007. To complete the closing and indirect transfer on that date, the parties plan to convert TXU 

Generation Company LP to a limited liability company on October 9, 2007, and change its legal 

name to Luminant Generation Company LLC. To facilitate the licensee’s targets, the staff is 

proceeding with the prompt issuance of the conforming amendments for the name change by 

October 9, 2007. 

Prairie Island License Renewal Unit 1, 2

On October 3, 2007, the staff conducted an information session for the Prairie Island Indian 

Community Tribal Council in Welch, Minnesota, to describe the license renewal review process. 

The staff presented information and answered questions related to the scope of the license 

renewal review and the Council's ability to participate. Approximately 15 people attended the 

session. 

Low Level Radioactive Waste Meeting with Nuclear Energy Institute

On October 4, 2007, the staff participated in a meeting with NEI on low level radioactive waste 

(LLRW) storage at nuclear power plants. Because the majority of all nuclear facilities will not be 

allowed to dispose of LLRW at Barnwell, NEI and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) 

are developing guidance for storing LLRW at operating plants, and the NEI/EPRI developed 

guidance was presented during this meeting. 
October 5, 2007 ENCLOSURE B 

 Office of New Reactors (NRO) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending October 5, 2007 

Staff Conducts Pre-Combined License Application Audit at Summer

During the week of September 24-27, 2007, the staff conducted an audit of the South Carolina 

Electric and Gas (SCE&G) VC Summer combined license (COL) application in support of the 

staff's acceptance reviews. The audit focused on quality activities implemented by SCE&G and 

their contractors and subcontractors during the development of the Summer application. The 

staff also evaluated quality assurance controls that were implemented during early site activities. 

 The staff did not identify any issues that required audit request responses. 

Meeting With Areva Regarding Digital Instrumentation and Controls Issues

On September 26-27, 2007, the staff and contractors met with members of Areva’s 

instrumentation and control (I&C) development group to discuss their topical report on the AV42 

priority module. The AV42 priority module is a unique digital device that coordinates safety and 

non-safety commands to safety-related equipment in the proposed EPR plant. The meeting 

provided a better understanding of the AV42 priority module design, and also facilitated a forum 

to discuss regulatory issues that affect this unique component. Areva and the staff are planning 

additional face-to-face meetings regarding other Areva digital I&C topical reports that are 

currently under review by the NRC. 

Transmission Planning and Development Forum 

On September 27-28, 2007, the staff attended a Transmission Planning and Development 

Forum in Washington DC. The forum provided an opportunity for the staff to hear expert 

opinions on national grid problems (congestion and reliability), and new transmission line 

constructions. Other participants included high-level representatives from Texas and Kansas, 

other Federal regulatory agencies, construction companies, consultants, transmission system 

operators and owners, utilities, and trading companies. 
October 5, 2007 ENCLOSURE C 

 Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending October 5, 2007 

Visit to Yucca Mountain, NV to Observe Cultural Resources

On October 3, 2007, staff visited the Yucca Mountain site to observe cultural resources. The 

purpose of this visit was to inform staff about the Department of Energy draft supplemental 

Yucca Mountain environmental impact statement and activities under the National Historic 

Preservation Act. 
October 5, 2007 ENCLOSURE F 

 Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response (NSIR) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending October 5, 2007 

PNO-II-07-011A, Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant

Update – Browns Ferry Unit 3 pressure boundary leakage discovered during drywell inspection. 

PNO-II-07-009A, Southern Company

Update to component cooling water pump breaker failures 

PNO-II-07-011, Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant

Browns Ferry Unit 3 pressure boundary leakage discovered during drywell inspection 
October 5, 2007 ENCLOSURE G 

 Office of Administration (ADM) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending October 5, 2007 

Contract Number NRC-28-07-261 Award in Support for Region I

On September 25, 2007, a fixed price contract was awarded to Phacil, Inc. under the SBA 8(a) 

set-aside program. The contractor will provide Region I with data entry and switchboard support. 

The period of performance is from October 1, 2007, through September 30, 2008, with four 

1-year optional periods. The total value of the contract is $963,031. 

Contract Number NRC-28-07-263 Award in Support for Region I 

On September 25, 2007, a non-competitive 8(a) labor hour type contract was awarded to Phacil, 

Inc. The contractor will provide information resources support to Region I. The period of 

performance is for twelve months. The total estimated cost is $441,120 for base year and four 

1-year optional periods. 

Delivery Order Number DR-03-07-047 Award in Support for the Office of Nuclear Reactor 

Regulation

On September 26, 2007, a competitive labor hour type order was awarded to Information 

Systems Laboratories, under the General Services Administration Federal Supply Schedules. 

The contractor will provide technical assistance for review of license renewal applications and 

update of license renewal guidance documents. The period of performance is from October 1, 

2007, through December 31, 2009. The total estimated cost is $642,990. 

Contract Number NRC-28-07-262 Award in Support for Region I 

On September 26, 2007, a labor hour type contract was awarded to Jennell L. Williams, Inc. 

under the SBA 8(a) set-aside program. The contractor will provide Region I with human 

resource and administrative support services. The period of performance is from October 1, 

2007, through September 30, 2008, with four 1-year optional periods. The total value of the 

contract is $478,948. 

Blanket Purchase Agreement DR-42-07-468 and Delivery Order Number DR-42-07-468-001 

Award in Support for the Office of New Reactors

On September 27, 2007, a competitive labor hour type Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) and 

Task Order No. 1 was awarded to Energy Research, Inc., under the General Services 

Administration Federal Supply Schedules. The contractor will provide technical assistance for 

Probabilistic Risk Assessment and Severe Accident Review of Design Certification (DC) and 

Combined License (COL) Applications. The period of performance is from October 1, 2007, 

through September 30, 2008, with two 1-year optional periods. The total estimated cost of the 

BPA is $739,009 and Task Order No. 1 with an estimated cost of $75,927. 
October 5, 2007 ENCLOSURE G 

Contract Number NRC-28-07-264 Award in Support for Region I

On September 27, 2007, a non-competitive 8(a) a hybrid fixed price/time and materials type 

contract was awarded to Alternative Telecommunications Systems, Inc. (ATSI). The contractor 

will replace the PBX switch in Region I. The period of performance is for 13 months. The total 

estimated cost is $459,796. 

Contract Number NRC-38-07-382 Award in Support for the Office of Human Resources

On September 28, 2007, a competitive firm fixed price type contract was awarded to Nomad 

Technologies, Inc., to furnish six multi media podiums to the NRC Professional Development 

Center. The period of performance is from October 1, 2007, through January 31, 2008. The 

total amount of the contract is $118,791. 

Contract Number NRC-38-07-371 Award in Support for HR

 

On September 28, 2007, a competitive firm fixed price type contact was awarded to Advanced 

Health Education Center. The contractor will provide medical technology training for regulatory 

personnel, which will be taught at the Technical Training Center. The period of performance is 

one year with three 1-year optional years. The total amount of the contract is $827,077. 

Contract Number NRC-38-07-715 Award in Support for HR

On September 28, 2007, a competitive firm fixed price type contact was awarded to 

Westinghouse Electric Company Nuclear Services. The contractor will provide new reactor 

training on the AP 1000 design to NRC staff and other trainees. The period of performance is 

one year with one optional year. The total amount of the contract is $930,138. 

NRC Size Standards; Revision, Confirmation of Effective Date (AI15 - Parts 2 and 171)

On September 28, 2007, the NRC published a document in the Federal Register (72 FR 55019) 

confirming the October 24, 2007, effective date of a direct final rule that revises the NRC’s small 

entity size standards. The NRC is increasing its receipts-based size standard to conform to the 

size standard set by the Small Business Administration. 

Requirements for Expanded Definition of Byproduct Material (AH84- Parts 20, 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, 

50, 61, 62, 72, 110, 150, 170, and 171)

On October 1, 2007, the NRC published a final rule in the Federal Register (72 FR 55864) that 

amends its regulations to include jurisdiction over discrete sources of radium-226, acceleratorproduced radioactive materials, and discrete sources of naturally occurring radioactive material. 

The final rule is required by the Energy Policy Act, which expanded the Atomic Energy Act 

definition of byproduct material to include any discrete source of radium-226, any material made 

radioactive by use of a particle accelerator, and certain discrete sources of naturally occurring 

radioactive material. The final rule becomes effective November 30, 2007. 
October 5, 2007 ENCLOSURE G 

Alternate Fracture Toughness Requirements for Protection Against Pressurized Thermal Shock 

Events (AI01 - Part 50)

On October 3, 2007, the NRC published a proposed rule in the Federal Register (72 FR 56275) 

that would amend its regulations to provide updated fracture toughness requirements for 

protection against pressurized thermal shock events. The proposed rule would provide new 

pressurized thermal requirements that are based on updated analysis methods. The comment 

period for this action closes December 17, 2007. 

Consideration of Aircraft Impacts for New Nuclear Power Reactor Designs (AI19 – Part 52)

On October 3, 2007, the NRC published a proposed rule in the Federal Register (72 FR 56287) 

that would amend its regulations to require nuclear power plant designers to take into account 

the potential effects of the impact of a large, commercial aircraft. The intent of the proposed rule 

is to require nuclear power plant designers to perform a rigorous assessment of design and 

other features that could provide additional inherent protection to prevent or mitigate the effects 

of an aircraft impact. The comment period for this action closes December 17, 2007. 

 
October 5, 2007 ENCLOSURE H 

 Office of Information Services (OIS) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending October 5, 2007 

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

of September 28-October 3, 2007: 

Office of Investigations report 4-2007-016 FOIA/PA-2007-0349 

Construction of new nuclear power plants, all correspondence between 

Chairman/Commissioners and listed senior executives of corporations 

01/01/1990 to present FOIA/PA-2008-0001 

Allegation Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR)-1998-A-0071, all 

documents including correspondence between named individual and 

NRC FOIA/PA-2008-0002 

Copy of Differing Professional Opinion (DPO)-2005-002, DPO Panel 

Report, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguard Director’s 

decision; all draft & final docs related to DPO-2005-002 under NRC-02-

03-002 TO#6; all handouts from 5/17/07 meeting between NRC & MOX 

Services, copy of BNL-MOX-2007-001 Report FOIA/PA-2008-0003 

Most recent copy of Materials License Tracking System (active & 

retired facilities) in electronic format FOIA/PA-2008-0004 

Office of the Inspector General investigation, records on named 

individual from 01/01/07 to present FOIA/PA-2008-0005 
October 5, 2007 ENCLOSURE K 

 Office of Small Business and Civil Rights (SBCR) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending October 5, 2007 

Equal Employment Opportunity Advisory Committee Training

On September 25, 2007, the NRC conducted an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Advisory 

Committee training course at the Professional Development Center (PDC). Twenty-two 

members from the six EEO Advisory Committees attended the class at the PDC and three 

committee members from the regions, via VTC. This class enhanced its participants’ awareness 

of the roles and responsibilities of Equal Employment Opportunity Advisory Committee 

members, helped members gain an understanding of key EEO concepts, and understand 

demographic data collection and analysis. 
October 5, 2007 ENCLOSURE O 

 Office of the Secretary (SECY) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending October 5, 2007 

 Document Released 

 to Public 

 Date Subject 

Decision Documents

1. SECY-07-0163 9/19/07 Policy for Use of Peer-to-Peer Software and 

the Peer-to-Peer Threat to Sensitive 

Unclassified Non-Safeguards Information 

2. COMGBJ-07-0004 9/25/07 Multinational Design Evaluation Program 

(MDEP) Stage 2 Conclusions and 

Recommendations 

3. SRM on COMGBJ-07-

0004 

10/5/07 (same) 

4. Voting Record on 

COMGBJ-07-0004 

10/5/07 (same) 

Information Papers

1. SECY-07-0170 9/27/07 Weekly Information Report – Week Ending 

September 21, 2007 

Memoranda

1. M071005 10/5/07 SRM-Affirmation Session: SECY-07-0164 – 

PPL Susquehanna LLC (Susquehanna 

Steam Electric Station, Units 1 and 2) 

Extended Power Uprate – Eric Joseph 

Epstein’s Appeal of LBP-07-10 

Commission Correspondence

1. Letter to Congress, dated September 28, 2007, responds to letter regarding the NRC 

staff’s review of DOE’s anticipated license application for a geologic repository at Yucca 

Mountain. 

2. Letter to the Beaver County Times, dated September 28, 2007, submits a letter to 

Beaver County residents congratulating them on their continuing support of Atoms for 

Peace. 

3. Letter to Min-Shen Ouyang, Taiwan, dated September 28, 2007, responds to invitation to 

participate in the TECRO-AIT Joint Standing Committee Annual Meeting. 
October 5, 2007 ENCLOSURE O 

4. Letter to Director General Jacques Repussard, France, dated September 26, 2007, 

responds to letter addressed to Commissioner Lyons regarding NRC’s participation in the 

PRISME research program. 

5. Letter to Margaret Spellings, Secretary of Education, dated September 25, 2007, submits 

NRC’s FY 2008 Annual Federal Plan on Executive Agency Actions to Assist Historically 

Black Colleges and Universities. 

6. Letter to Mark Stanford, Governor of South Carolina, dated September 25, 2007, writing 

to invite to designate a State Liaison Officer to act as the primary liaison to the NRC. 

7. Letter to Congress, dated September 25, 2007, responds to letter concerning the 

collapse of a portion of non safety-related cooling tower cell at the Vermont Yankee 

Nuclear Power Station. 

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste and Materials, notice of 183rd meeting (10/16-

18/2007). 

2. Advisory Committee on Medical Uses of Isotopes, notice of meeting (10/22-23/2007). 

3. Notice of Intent to Establish Independent External Review Panel to Identify Vulnerabilities 

in the U.S. NRC’s Material Licensing Program. 

4. Final rule, 10 CFR Parts 30, 31, 32, and 150, RIN: 3150-AH41, Exemptions from 

Licensing, General Licenses, and Distribution of Byproduct Material: Licensing and 

Reporting Requirements. 
October 5, 2007 ENCLOSURE P 

 Region IV (RIV) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending October 5, 2007 

Meeting With Omaha Public Power District

On October 1, the staff met with representatives of Omaha Public Power District in the Region IV 

office to discuss performance at Fort Calhoun Station and the status of the station’s 

performance improvement plan. The public meeting was held at the request of the licensee. 

Omaha Public Power District representatives presented information regarding the status of their 

preparation plans for an upcoming Supplemental Inspection, and indicated they would be ready 

for the inspection during the first quarter of 2008. 

Fort Calhoun Management Change

On October 1, Omaha Public Power District announced Dave Bannister as the new Site Director 

at Fort Calhoun Station. Mr. Bannister was previously the Division Manager of Quality and 

Performance Improvement. 

On October 3, Ross Ridenoure, Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) Vice President and Chief 

Nuclear Officer, announced he would retire effective December 1. Mr. Ridenoure has served as 

vice president since December 2003 and was responsible for oversight of OPPD’s nuclear 

operations at Fort Calhoun Station. A replacement has not been named. 
October 5, 2007 ENCLOSURE Q 

Office of the Executive Director for Operations (EDO) 

Items of Interest 

Week Ending October 5, 2007 

On September 25, 2007, the NRC rendered a decision on an appeal to an August 2, 2007, 

decision issued by the Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, on a Differing 

Professional Opinion (DPO). The DPO involved the staff’s preparation of a draft safety 

evaluation suspending approval of topical report CENPD-397-P, AImproved Flow Measurement 

Accuracy Using Crossflow Ultrasonic Flow Measurement Technology.@ On July 18, 2007, an 

NRC employee submitted this appeal addressing the fact that they did not believe the staff had a 

sufficient basis for suspending approval of topical report CENPD-397-P. The employee had 

initially submitted a DPO on the subject on December 18, 2006. Based on a review of the 

relevant information and meetings with the involved individuals, the Executive Director for 

Operations (EDO) concluded that the actions taken by the staff in response to the DPO were 

adequate; therefore, the appeal was denied. 
October 5, 2007 

 Office of Congressional Affairs (OCA)  Items of Interest  Week Ending October 5, 2007 

CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS SCHEDULE, NO. 31 

OCA Contact 

Date & Place Time Committee Subject Witnesses 

Shane 10/03/07 

406 Dirksen 

10:00 Senate Environment and Public 

Works, Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety (Senators Carper / Voinovich) 

NRC Oversight: Reactor Oversight Process 

• Chairman Dale • Commissioner G• Commissioner P• Mark Gaffigan – 

Resources and 

• David Lochbaum 

Project, Union o

• Marvin Fertel – S

Nuclear Officer, 

Decker 10/04/07 

210 Cannon 

10:00 House Budget Committee 

(Representatives Spratt / Ryan) 

“Federal Financial Liability for Commercial Nuclear Waste” 

• Kim Cawley – U

Resources Cost Budget Office 

• Edward Sproat – 

Radioactive Wa

• Michael Hertz – 

General, Civil D

Powell 10/TBD/07 

TBD 

TBD Senate Environment and Public 

Works (Senators Boxer / Inhofe) 

Licensing of a Repository at Yucca Mountain 

TBD