INFORMATION REPORT

July 25, 2006 SECY-06-0163

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING

JULY 14, 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:

R. Taylor, OEDO
July 25, 2006 SECY-06-0163

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING

JULY 14, 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:

R. Taylor, OEDO

DISTRIBUTION:

Central File

Public Document Name: C:\WIR\week714.WPD

OEDO AO/OEDO

RTaylor:paa WMDean

07/25/06 07/25/06
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING JULY 14, 2006

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

Headquarters and Regional Office activities. 

Contact: R. Taylor, OEDO by E-mail: rxt2@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 * OPA *

RES 8 OIP *

NSIR 9 SECY 19

OGC * Region I 20

ADM 10 Region II 21

OIS 11 Region III *

CFO * Region IV *

HR 15 EDO *

SBCR * OCA 24

OE * ACRS/ACNW *

*No input this week
July 14, 2006 ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending July 14, 2006

National Nuclear Accrediting Board Meeting

On July 12, 2006, the Director of NRR observed two meetings of the National Nuclear

Accrediting Board. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) recognizes the Institute of

Nuclear Power Operations managed accreditation as a means of meeting a systems approach

to training requirements. Observation of the National Nuclear Accrediting Board meetings

allows NRC to monitor the implementation of programmatic aspects of the accreditation

process, to understand what is happening with industry training programs, to assess the

effectiveness of the accreditation process, and to determine the overall well-being of industry

training programs.

Presentation to Visitors from Japan

On July 13 and 14, 2006, the Division of Inspection and Regional Support staff provided a

briefing on the Reactor Oversight Process to managers of the Japanese Nuclear Energy Safety

Organization, members of the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers, and Japanese university

staff. This group is currently visiting the United States as part of their on-going study of foreign

nuclear regulatory processes to improve Japanese regulations related to maintenance and

inspections of nuclear power plants. The staff briefed the group on the NRC strategy on

nuclear power plant inspections, historical perspectives on Reactor Oversight Process

development, baseline and Problem Identification and Resolution Inspections, daily inspection

activities by resident inspectors, and Agency positions on online maintenance and

condition-based maintenance.

Staff Holds Public Meetings Related to the License Renewal of Oyster Creek Nuclear

Generating Station

On July 12, 2006, the staff conducted two meetings in Toms River, NJ, to solicit comments from

the public on the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (DSEIS) regarding the

Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station License Renewal Review. The Draft Supplement 28,

published on June 9, 2006, is a plant specific supplement to the “Generic Environmental Impact

Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants” (NUREG-1437). Approximately 100 people

attended the meetings, including members of the public and representatives of the NRC staff,

Argonne National Laboratory, Amergen, local citizen organizations, and local news media. 

Public comments and questions were mainly focused on NRC regulatory oversight, impact on

aquatic species, and alternatives to license renewal. As part of the public outreach effort the

staff held an open house for one hour prior to the start of each meeting. The open house

provided members of the public with an opportunity to talk informally with NRC staff and view

informational displays and brochures.

The public comment period ends on September 8, 2006. At the conclusion of the comment

period, the staff will evaluate the comments received and revise the DSEIS accordingly. The

final supplemental environmental impact statement (FSEIS) is scheduled to be published in

January 2007.
July 14, 2006 ENCLOSURE A

Staff Issues Supplement 1 to NUREG-1811, “Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for

the an Early Site Permit (ESP) at the North Anna ESP Site”

On July 6, 2006, the staff issued the subject supplement for public comment. The supplement

evaluates the impacts of Dominion’s change to the cooling system for postulated Unit 3 and the

increase in power level from 4300 to 4500 Megawatts-thermal for both postulated Units 3 and 4. 

It includes the staff’s preliminary recommendation that the ESP should be issued. The staff

concluded that there are no environmentally preferable or obviously superior sites. The staff

has preliminarily concluded that the site preparation and preliminary construction activities

allowed by 10 CFR 50.10(e)(1) will not result in any significant adverse environmental impact

that cannot be redressed. A 45-day public comment period is expected to begin on July 14,

2006, with the Notice of Availability of the draft EIS with the U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency. The staff has scheduled a public meeting at the Louisa County Middle School on

August 15, 2006, to present its analyses and to accept public comments on the draft EIS.
July 14, 2006 ENCLOSURE C

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES)

Items of Interest

Week Ending July 14, 2006

NASA’s Office of Safety and Mission Assurance (NASA/OSMA) Meeting

On June 29, 2006, RES staff met with NASA/OSMA staff to discuss potential collaboration in

the areas of digital system reliability analysis, software reliability analysis and digital system

failure data collection and analysis. NASA/OSMA and RES both have on-going research and

development programs in these areas. It was agreed that RES and NASA/OSMA would start to

share, as appropriate, non-proprietary information and data, and to investigate putting in place

a formal agreement on more extensive data sharing and cooperative research and

development in areas of mutual interest.

NRC Staff Participation in the Meeting of the French Standing Group (GPR) of Experts for

Reactors on the EPR Project

On July 6, 2006, RES and the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) staff participated in

discussions with the French Standing Group (GPR) of experts for reactors on the EPR project. 

The French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) organized this meeting to review several issues

from the ASN’s safety assessment of the EPR "Flamanville 3" Project. In addition to French

reactor experts, members of the GPR include experts from Germany and Finland. This

meeting was one of a series of meetings to review the EPR safety assessment in support of a

decision to approval the Flamanville 3 project. Participation in this meeting provided staff an

opportunity to gain a better understanding of the French review process for the Flamanville 3

project and of those technical issues that were the subject of the meeting.

Meeting with the Committee for the National Academies Radiation Source Use and

Replacement Study

On July 10, 2006, the RES Director presented to the National Academies the charge to the

committee for the “Radiation Source Use and Replacement” study. The committee also heard

presentations from other NRC representatives, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the

U.S. Food and Drug Administration, source manufacturers and users, and a Congressional staff

member. This study, mandated by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, will review the current

industrial, research, and commercial (including medical) uses of radiation sources to identify

uses for which: (1) the radiation source can be replaced with an equivalent (or improved)

process that does not require the use of radioisotopes; or (2) the radiation source can be

replaced with another radiation source that poses a lower risk to public health and safety if it is

involved in an accident or used in a terrorist attack. Further information on this meeting and

study is available at the National Academies’ website (www.nationalacademies.org).

Amendment to the Letter of Agreement Between the NRC and the Organization for Economic

Cooperation and Development/Nuclear Energy Agency (OECD/NEA) Relating to International

Common-Cause Failure Data Exchange (ICDE) Project

On July 10, 2006, the NRC’s Executive Director for Operations signed the subject Amendment,

which clarifies the terms and conditions by which the NRC and OECD/NEA will continue to
July 14, 2006 ENCLOSURE C

cooperate in the exchange of international common-cause failure data on the basis of mutual

benefit and reasonable equity and reciprocity. Participation in the project gives the NRC access

to proprietary foreign data that would not otherwise be available. These data augment the

NRC’s common-cause failure database with foreign experience and enable the staff to compare

domestic operating experience with that of other countries to glean insights for use in

quantitative risk studies and inspection activities. 

Publication of NUREG/CR-6882, “Assessment of Wireless Technology and Their Application at

Nuclear Facilities”

On July 12, 2006, RES published the subject NUREG, which identifies and assesses the

safety-related issues that may be posed by the implementation of wireless systems in nuclear

facilities. Currently, wireless technology is not used as an integral element of safety-related

systems in nuclear facilities. This report documents the technology considerations, deployment

issues, and implementation considerations that could contribute to the technical basis for

comprehensive guidance on wireless systems. It is expected to help future instrumentation and

controls designers select compatible wireless systems for nuclear facilities. 
July 14, 2006 ENCLOSURE D

Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response (NSIR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending July 14, 2006

Preliminary Notification

- PNO-IV-06-003A, Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station Unit 1,-UPDATE-PALO VERDE

UNIT 1 EXTENDED SHUTDOWN TO REPAIR SHUTDOWN COOLING VALVE

VIBRATION.
July 14, 2006 ENCLOSURE F

Office of Administration (ADM)

Items of Interest 

Week Ending July 14, 2006

List of Approved Spent Fuel Storage Casks: NUHOMS® HD Addition; Withdrawal of Direct

Final Rule (AH93 - Part 72)

On July 13, 2006, the NRC published a document in the Federal Register (71 FR 39520) that

withdraws a direct final rule that would have added the NUHOMS® HD cask system to the list

of approved spent fuel storage casks (AH93 - Part 72). The NRC is taking this action because it

received significant adverse comments in response to an identical proposed rule which was

published concurrently with the direct final rule.
July 14, 2006 ENCLOSURE G

Office of Information Services (OIS)

Items of Interest

Week Ending July 14, 2006

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

July 7 through July 13, 2006:

Medical records & reports on named individual re: docket 55-30126,

license OP-31211

FOIA/PA-2006-0241

MLTS database, active & retired facilities FOIA/PA-2006-0242

Allegation NRR-2005-A-0035, including all correspondence between

named individual & NRC

FOIA/PA-2006-0243

Indian Point leaks of tritiated water, all correspondence between NRC

& Entergy Nuclear Northeast & any NY State agency between 5-5-

2006 & 7-7-2006

FOIA/PA-2006-0244

Millstone Unit 3 power upgrade, all documents pertaining to present

request under consideration

FOIA/PA-2006-0245

Indian Point, all records regarding safety violations since 1-1-00 FOIA/PA-2006-0246

OI report 3-2004-015, interview transcripts of named individuals FOIA/PA-2006-0247
July 14, 2006 ENCLOSURE I

Office of Human Resources (HR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending July 14, 2006

Arrival

EL-TELEATY, SHADIA S. SUMMER FACULTY HR

ELLIS, TWANA Y. SECRETARY (OA) HR

NEWELL, KARENINA PROGRAM ANALYST CFO

PURCIARELLO, GERARD J. REACTOR SYSTEMS ENGINEER NRR

WILSON, JOSHUA RX SYS ENG/ PROJECT MGR. NRR

Departures

BRASWELL, DEBORAH D. OFFICE AUTOMATION ASSISTANT NMSS

DENNING, RICHARD S. MEMBER ACRS
July 14, 2006 ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary (SECY)

Items of Interest

Week Ending July 14, 2006

Document Released

to Public

Date Subject

Decision Documents

1. SECY-06-0127 5/31/06 Revised Self-Evaluation Criteria for the

Advisory Committee on the Medical Uses of

Isotopes

SRM on 06-0127 6/12/06 (same)

Commission Voting

Record on 06-0127

6/12/06 (same)

Information Papers

1. SECY-06-0151 7/7/06 Weekly Information Report - Week Ending

June 30, 2006

2. SECY-06-0121 5/22/06 Development of a Proposed Rule to

Incorporate Security Assessments in New

Reactor Design Requirements

3. SECY-06-0155 7/13/06 Weekly Information Report - Week Ending

July 7, 2006

Commission Correspondence

1. Letter to Marvin Fertel, NEI, dated June 30, 2006, concerns risk-informed and

performance-based initiatives.

2. Letter to Congress, dated June 30, 2006, provides NRC's views on Bill S.2589; and Bill

S.2610.
July 14, 2006 ENCLOSURE P

Region I (RI)

Items of Interest

Week Ending July 14, 2006

Periodic Management Meeting with New Hampshire Agreement State Program

On July 12, 2006, the Regional State Agreements Officer and the Agreement State Project

Officer from the Office of State and Tribal Programs met the New Hampshire Radiation

Program Director and management to discuss the status of the Agreement State program. 

Important topics discussed at the meeting included the State’s progress on filling staffing

vacancies and meeting NRC compatibility requirements. The State has only one overdue NRC

regulation which they plan to adopt by January 2007. The program continues to have strong

management support within State government.
July 14, 2006 ENCLOSURE P

Region II (RII)

Items of Interest

Week Ending July 14, 2006

Deputy Executive Director for Reactor and Preparedness Programs Visits Region II

On July 13, 2006, the Deputy Executive Director for Reactor and Preparedness Programs

(DEDR), OEDO, visited the Region II Office and met with senior managers and regional staff. 

On July 14, 2006, the DEDR and Regional Administrator visited the Crystal River Nuclear Plant

for a site tour and met with licensee management.
July 14, 2006 

Office of Congressional Affairs (OCA)

Items of Interest

Week Ending July 14, 2006

CONGRESSIONAL HEARING SCHEDULE, NO. 26

 OCAContact

 DATE & PLACE

TIME WITNESS SUBJECT 

Decker 07/11/06

311 CHOB

2:00 Markup Chemical Facility Security Act Reps. Lu

Economic Protection Homeland 

Shane 07/11/06

2247 RHOB

2:00 TBA Improving Federal Employee

Appeals

Reps. PoFederal WOrganizaGovernm

Shane 07/11/06

SD-342Postponed

2:30 TBA Cyber Security Issues Senators 

Federal FGovernmInternatioHomeland  Affairs

Combs 07/19/06

2125 RHOB

2:00 DOE DOE’s schedule for Yucca Mountain Reps. Ha

Energy aEnergy a