CONTACT: James C. Corbett, OIS

301-415-8719

POLICY ISSUE

INFORMATION

February 9, 2006 SECY-06-0032

FOR: The Commissioners

FROM: Luis A. Reyes

Executive Director for Operations

SUBJECT: SEMIANNUAL REPORT ON STATUS OF STAFF INFORMATION

TECHNOLOGY/INFORMATION MANAGEMENT AND BUSINESS

PROCESS ACTIVITIES IN PREPARATION FOR THE HIGH-LEVEL

WASTE REPOSITORY PROCEEDINGS

PURPOSE:

To inform the Commission about the status of Information Technology/Information Management

(IT/IM) and business process activities related to preparation for the conduct of the proceeding on

a license application, in an electronic environment, for the construction of a high-level waste

(HLW) repository. This paper does not address any new commitments or resource implications.

BACKGROUND:

This report is issued semiannually and covers HLW IT/IM and business process activities. The

scope of the information paper includes activities from July 1, 2005, through December 31,

2005.

DISCUSSION:

A. Program Management

The HLW Licensing Support Program (HLW-LSP) Project Plan continues to be maintained

using an interactive process and ongoing communication with staff and management from all

organizations supporting the HLW-LSP. 
The Commissioners 2

B. Status of the HLW Meta-System

Essentially all resources in the HLW IT/IM area remained focused on supporting Release 1 of

the Meta-System. The HLW IT/IM Management Group reaffirmed the requirements for the

Pre-License Application Phase (Release 2), needed to support the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory

Commission (NRC) responsibilities for activities expected to occur after the U.S. Department of

Energy certifies that its document collection is available via the Licensing Support Network. 

Based on these requirements the staff previously developed a test plan for Release 2 of the IT

Meta-System. This test plan was used to evaluate the NRC preparedness by exercising, from

“end-to-end,” how the organizations’ processes, procedures, functions, and systems receive,

process, and respond to documents and filings. The test also validated modifications made to

process and technology components, since the last Meta-System test. We were able to identify

successes and areas needing enhancements. 

OIS worked with the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel (ASLBP) to test the data

infrastructure for the Las Vegas Hearing Room. OIS worked in conjunction with ASLBP to

implement the Digital Data Management System (DDMS) for use in the Rockville Hearing

Room. OIS now anticipates that use of the IT Meta-System in FY 2006 and FY 2007 will be

predominantly for non-HLW activities, including new reactor activities.

C. Business Process Activities

Several business processes for document processing were re-engineered to expedite the

movement of documents within and between IT Meta-System components. These redesigned

processes resulted in reduced document processing time. These processes will also facilitate

OIS’ ability to meet service-level requirements.

D. Electronic Information Exchange

We have implemented enhancements to the Electronic Information Exchange (EIE) capability

to provide, as appropriate, priority to HLW electronic submissions. These enhancements

proved to be of great value in the most recent round of testing.

E. Electronic Hearing Docket

During this period, the Electronic Hearing Docket for the High Level Waste proceeding (EHD)

was granted interim authority to operate until April 2006. Significant progress has been made

towards completion of the necessary network security infrastructure and documentation for

obtaining an authority to operate. The Protective Order File (POF) for the EHD became

operational during this period. Following the establishment of the POF, SECY personnel

demonstrated the administration of document access controls to the HLW IT/IM Management

Group. IT Meta-System operations were approved by the group in a follow-up meeting. In

conjunction with the operational startup of the POF and to accommodate the DDMS, the

structure of the EHD staging folder for the High-Level Waste Repository Pre-License

Application Presiding Officer (PAPO) proceeding (located in ADAMS) was changed. When the

DDMS is ready to receive documents, the new folder structure will facilitate the transmission of

documents from ADAMS to the DDMS. A simulated test of the hand-off of documents from

ADAMS to the DDMS was conducted for an actual hearing. Administrative controls, password
The Commissioners 3

issuance and assignment of security rights to individual documents in the secure domain for the

POF was successfully tested in the comprehensive end-to-end test for Release 2 of the IT

Meta-System.

There continues to be a steady stream of PAPO proceeding filings and orders. The PAPO

official service list maintained by SECY was modified to accommodate a PAPO Board Order

that eliminated the dual requirement of service of documents by EIE and e-mail. 

The approval of requests for Digital Certificates continued during this period as well as requests

for help from those who were renewing their certificates. In addition, OIS personnel directly

assisted EIE submitters with resolving issues on PDF format and suitability. More documents

have been filed, as a result of the help provided by OIS, that meet NRC document standards. 

Eliminating PDF standard concerns for some PAPO proceeding participants has also resulted

in a more expeditious flow of documents from EIE through Document Processing Center to

ADAMS and EHD. 

COORDINATION:

The OGC has no legal objection. This paper has also been coordinated with SECY and the

Licensing Support Network Administrator. 

/RA/

Luis A. Reyes

Executive Director 

 for Operations
The Commissioners 3

issuance and assignment of security rights to individual documents in the secure domain for the

POF was successfully tested in the comprehensive end-to-end test for Release 2 of the IT

Meta-System.

There continues to be a steady stream of PAPO proceeding filings and orders. The PAPO

official service list maintained by SECY was modified to accommodate a PAPO Board Order

that eliminated the dual requirement of service of documents by EIE and e-mail. 

The approval of requests for Digital Certificates continued during this period as well as requests

for help from those who were renewing their certificates. In addition, OIS personnel directly

assisted EIE submitters with resolving issues on PDF format and suitability. More documents

have been filed, as a result of the help provided by OIS, that meet NRC document standards. 

Eliminating PDF standard concerns for some PAPO proceeding participants has also resulted

in a more expeditious flow of documents from EIE through Document Processing Center to

ADAMS and EHD. 

COORDINATION:

The OGC has no legal objection. This paper has also been coordinated with SECY and the

Licensing Support Network Administrator. 

/RA/

Luis A. Reyes

Executive Director 

 for Operations

Distribution:

L. Reyes, EDO

W. Kane, DEDR

M. Virgilio, DEDMRS

J. Silber, DEDIA

W. Dean, AO

E. Baker, OIS

J. Schaeffer, OIS

J. Corbett, OIS/HBPI

P. Bollwerk, ASLBP

K. Cyr, GC

J. Moore, OGC

J. Strosnider, NMSS

M. Federline, NMSS

EDO 

WITS 200400048

OIS r/f

05-381 (OIS)

ADAMS Accession No.: ML060320468

ADAMS Document Title: SECY-YY-xxxx - Semiannual Report on Status of Staff Information Technology/

Information Management and Business Process Activities in Preparation for the HighLevel Waste Repository Proceedings 

*See previous concurrence

OFFICE OIS/HBPI OIS/HBPI DD/OIS D/OIS ASLBP

NAME P. Hall: PH via e-mail* J. Corbett: JC* J. Schaeffer: JS* E. Baker: EB* P. Bollwerk: PB via e-mail*

DATE 2/2/06 2/2/06 2/8/06 2/6/06 2/7/06

OFFICE OGC NMSS DEDIA DEDMRS EDO

NAME J. Moore: JM via e-mail* M. Federline: MF via e-mail* J. Silber: M. Virgilio: L. Reyes: 

DATE 2/7/06 2/7/06 2/9/06 02/09/06 02/09/06

OFFICIAL RECORD COPY