INFORMATION REPORT

June 13, 2007 SECY-07-0092

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING

MAY 25, 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
June 13, 2007 SECY-07-0092

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING

MAY 25, 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 Document Name: C:\WIR\week525.WPD

OEDO AO/OEDO

LRakovan:paa VLOrdaz

06/07/07 06/13/07
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING MAY 25, 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
May 25, 2007 ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 25, 2007

American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Code Meetings 

During the week of May 14, 2007, the staff participated in the ASME Boiler and Pressure

Vessel Code meetings for Sections III and XI in Grapevine, Texas. Key activities at this

meeting involved the development of inspection requirements for dissimilar metal welds and the

development of Code rules for the repair of dissimilar metal welds by weld inlays. The

proposed methodology for the repair and mitigation of nickel alloy welds through application of

a repair weld inlay from the inside surface could be used to mitigate flaws in the reactor vessel

hot-leg and cold-leg nozzle welds. It is anticipated that formal ASME Code approval for the

proposed inspection requirements will be initiated in August 2007, with complete ASME

approval to be achieved in February 2008.

Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station - 10 CFR 2.206 Petition Acknowledgment Letter to the

Union of Concerned Scientists

By letter dated May 18, 2007, the NRC informed the Union of Concerned Scientists that its

April 30, 2007, petition request for immediate action (to Order the immediate shut down of

Davis-Besse) had been denied. The petition request concerned a recently-docketed technical

report, prepared by the licensee’s consultants in support of an insurance claim related to DavisBesse’s 2002 reactor vessel head corrosion. The denial of this item of the petition request was

based upon the NRC staff’s assessment that the current reactor pressure vessel (RPV) head

inspection requirements are adequate to detect RPV head degradation issues before they

result in significant corrosion.

Quad Cities, Unit 1 - Relief Request

During an NRC inspection at Quad Cities, Unit 1, a Region III inspector identified that the

procedure used to perform the Ultrasonic Examination (UT) examinations on 20 reactor vessel

pressure welds was not ASME qualified and was performed with alternate cable configurations. 

On May 11, 2007, Exelon Generation Company, LLC requested relief from the requirements of

the ASME Code for Quad Cities, Unit 1, to extend the first period of the fourth 10-year Inservice

Inspection interval until May 2009, at which time equipment and procedures meeting the ASME

Code would be used or the equipment and procedures that were used during the previous

examination could be qualified. On May 18, 2007, the NRC staff verbally authorized the relief

request for Quad Cities Unit 1.

Staff Completes Proposed Draft Changes to Operator Licensing NUREGs

On May 22, 2007, the staff submitted for public comment proposed changes to three operator

licensing NUREGs: NUREG-1021, “Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power

Reactors,” NUREG-1122, “Knowledge and Abilities Catalog for Nuclear Power Plant Operators:

Pressurized Water Reactors,” and NUREG-1123, “Knowledge and Abilities Catalog for Nuclear

Power Plant Operators: Boiling Water Reactors.” Significant proposed changes include: 

(1) clarifying licensed operator medical requirements, including use of prescription medications;
May 25, 2007 ENCLOSURE A

(2) clarifying the wording and selection process of examination topics; (3) adding a specific

examination topic for generator voltage and electric grid disturbances; and (4) providing

additional guidance for maintaining an active license (watchstander proficiency).
May 25, 2007 ENCLOSURE B

Office of New Reactors (NRO)

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 25, 2007

Meeting with New Plant Working Group

On May 10, 2007, the staff participated in a meeting with the New Plant Working Group

(NPWG) to discuss the status of on-going issues including: the environmental pre-application,

acceptance review, and design acceptance criteria (DAC) processes; status of Part 52 and

limited work authorization rulemakings; and the new licensing project plan (implications for new

reactor applicants review schedule). The NPWG discussed regulatory guidance, qualification

programs, AP1000 topical report, and seismic issues that were of concern.

Staff Performed Audits Associated with ESBWR Design Certification Review

On May 14-15, 2007, and May 16-17, 2007, the staff performed two audits at the General

Electric (GE) facility in Wilmington, NC. The topics included radiological consequence dose

calculations and associated proprietary reports, and structural issues. The staff also discussed

the status and path forward for resolution of each outstanding request for additional

information.

GE and Hitachi Sign Agreement

On May 16, 2007, a press release was issued announcing that GE and Hitachi signed a

formation agreement to proceed with previously announced plans to create a global nuclear

energy alliance. Cross-shareholding companies would be created in U.S., Canada and Japan,

subject to government approvals. The transaction is expected to close by the end of June

2007. 

Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO) Annual Public Meeting

On May 17, 2007, the management and staff met with the Vice President, Training and

Accreditation, Institute of Nuclear Power Operations, for the annual public meeting on training

and qualification. The purpose of the coordination meeting was to discuss INPO and NRC

initiatives and issues related to the training and qualification of nuclear power plant personnel. 

Topics discussed included new reactor accreditation, the National Academy for Nuclear

Training electronic learning system, revisions to Academy and INPO documents, an update of

accreditation activities, and leadership development initiatives. No new policy issues were

identified during the meeting.

Public Meeting to Discuss Limited Work Authorization Rule

On May 22, 2007, staff members from NRO and Office of General Counsel held a public

meeting with external stakeholders to discuss the recent changes to the Limited Work

Authorization Rule and solicit comments, as directed by the Commission in SECY-07-0030,

“Final Rulemaking on Limited Work Authorizations.”
May 25, 2007 ENCLOSURE B

Public Availability of Part 52 Draft Final Rule

On May 22, 2007, the staff announced the public availability of the draft final rule for

10 CFR Part 52, "Licenses, Certifications, and Approvals for Nuclear Power Plants." The staff

released the draft final rule on Part 52, via the NRC’s rulemaking website, to make it available

for stakeholder information while review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is

pending. 
May 25, 2007 ENCLOSURE C

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS)

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 25, 2007

Workshop on Long-Term Prediction of Corrosion Damage in Nuclear Waste Systems

On May 14-18, 2007, staff and contractors participated in the “Third International Workshop on

Long-Term Prediction of Corrosion Damage in Nuclear Waste Systems,” held in State College,

Pennsylvania. Three papers on waste package corrosion in the sub-surface environment of a

potential repository at Yucca Mountain were presented. Discussions included long-term

prediction methods, based on laboratory test results.

MIDUS Package Certified for Transport of Molybdenum-99

On May 15, 2007, the staff issued Certificate of Compliance No. 9320, for the Model No.

MIDUS package, to Energy Solutions Spent Fuel Division. The MIDUS package was designed

to transport up to 4,400 curies of molybdenum-99, in liquid form. 

Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) Dry-Storage Information Forum

From May 15-17, 2007, management and staff attended the NEI’s Dry Storage Information

Forum, in Clearwater, Florida. The forum is an annual conference, held to discuss emerging

and ongoing spent fuel storage and transportation issues. Management and staff participated

in the forum as speakers, session chairs, and panelists/presenters. 

Nevada Transportation Workshop

On May 22, 2007, a staff member attended a Las Vegas public workshop of the U.S.

Transportation Council, entitled: "Nevada Transportation: Take Two." The workshop was

attended by representatives from the U.S. Department of Energy High-Level Waste program,

and from Nevada counties Lincoln and Nye. It included an update and discussions on Nevada

and national transportation programs.

Nevada Commission on Nuclear Projects Public Meeting on Yucca Mountain

On May 23, 2007, in Las Vegas, Nevada, a staff member observed a public meeting of the

Nevada Commission on Nuclear Projects. The meeting included: (1) reports on Yucca

Mountain from the Nevada Agency for Nuclear Projects; (2) a review of agency pending legal

actions; (3) a presentation on rail transportation of nuclear waste to Yucca Mountain, along the

Caliente rail route; and (4) reports from local governments and tribal organizations.
May 25, 2007 ENCLOSURE E

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES)

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 25, 2007

11th Semiannual Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development Piping Failure Data

Exchange (OPDE) Meeting

On May 14, 2007, staff met with representatives from other OPDE member countries to present

recent U.S. efforts regarding the second term of the OPDE project and to discuss the features

and the potential uses and applications of the OPDE database. The project’s purpose is to

assemble and maintain a database of the relatively rare light water reactor (LWR) piping

failures and precursor events. This operating experience data is used to develop meaningful

pipe failure estimates, which can be utilized by the OPDE members to improve the safety of

their LWRs. The group also discussed technical issues, the objectives for the program, and

potential continuation of the program, which is scheduled to conclude in 2008. 

Meeting of the Committee on Geological and Geotechnical Engineering of the National

Academies of Science

On May 17-18, 2007, staff participated in the subject meeting that included a presentation on a

recently completed report “Assessment of the Performance of Engineered Waste Containment

Barriers.” The report discusses case histories of several field applications of engineered barrier

systems and evaluates degradation mechanisms of engineered materials and components of

containment systems. It also identifies methods for monitoring engineered barrier performance

and points out significant limitations regarding the available data to confirm the long-term

performance of any barrier system and the short-term performance for many components. 

Potential weaknesses (degradation mechanisms) were listed for many barrier system

components currently in use. 

Fire Modeling Phenomena Identification Ranking Table (PIRT) Meetings

During the week of May 21, 2007, staff held the first of three Fire Modeling PIRT meetings. 

This is the first time the PIRT process is being formally applied to fire modeling. Sandia

National Laboratories is moderating the PIRT for the NRC and is preparing a summary report

for issuance at calendar year’s end. RES expects to use the completed PIRT to assist in the

development of the Fire Modeling Users Guide and future experiments.

Meeting with the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO) on the Equipment Performance

and Information Exchange (EPIX) System

On May 22, 2007, staff from RES and the Idaho National Laboratory met with INPO staff at

INPO headquarters to obtain information on recent changes in the data definitions and

database structure of EPIX. EPIX data are used by NRC to estimate probabilistic risk

assessment parameters for NRC Standardized Plant Analysis Risk models, to estimate system

and component performance found on the NRC public web site, and to help analyze licensee

applications and operating experience. At the meeting, a plan was developed to facilitate the

sharing of information on how NRC and INPO interpret and use EPIX data in reliability

calculations. 
May 25, 2007 ENCLOSURE E

Next Generation Nuclear Plant (NGNP) Licensing Strategy Development

On May 23, 2007, Department of Energy and NRC members of the NGNP licensing strategy

working group met to discuss progress made in developing the licensing strategy for the NGNP

project and related draft report documentation. In particular, the group discussed the

evaluation of four potential licensing approaches and confirmed that only two of these four

options are viable, taking into account various evaluation factors. Both options are based on

Part 50 technical requirements and are in compliance with the language of the 2005 Energy

Policy Act. The next working group meeting is scheduled on June 11, 2007.
May 25, 2007 ENCLOSURE F

Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response (NSIR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 25, 2007

Preliminary Notifications

- PNO-IV-07-005, RIVER BEND STATION/ENTERGY OPERATIONS, REACTOR

SHUTDOWN DUE TO UNEXPECTED CHANGE IN RECIRCULATION FLOW.
May 25, 2007 ENCLOSURE G

Office of Administration (ADM)

Items of Interest 

Week Ending May 25, 2007

Emergency Preparedness Policies Developed for Nuclear Materials Facilities (AI17 - Part 1)

On May 21, 2007, the NRC published a direct final rule in the Federal Register (72 FR 28449)

that amends the regulations governing the organization and functions of NRC offices. This

action clarifies the emergency preparedness responsibilities of the Office of Nuclear Security

and Incident Response. The current limiting reference of “nuclear reactors” is replaced with the

phrase “nuclear facilities.” The direct final rule becomes effective August 6, 2007.

On May 21, 2007, the NRC published the companion proposed rule to this direct final rule in the

Federal Register (72 FR 28455). The comment period closes June 30, 2007.

Mark Edward Leyse; Receipt of Petition for Rulemaking (PRM-50-84)

On May 23, 2007, the NRC published a document in the Federal Register (72 FR 28902) that

requests comments on a petition for rulemaking submitted by Mark Edward Leyse (PRM-50 -

84). The petitioner requests that the NRC amend its regulations to require that nuclear power

facilities be operated to limit the thickness of crud (corrosion products) layers or the thickness of

oxide layers on fuel rod cladding surfaces. The petitioner also requests that the requirements

pertaining to Emergency Core Cooling System (ECCS) evaluation models be amended to

require that the steady-state temperature distribution and stored energy in reactor fuel at the

onset of a postulated loss-of coolant accident (LOCA) be calculated by factoring in the role that

the thermal resistance of crud and/or oxide layers on cladding plays in increasing the stored

energy in the fuel. Lastly, the petitioner requests that the acceptance criteria for emergency

core cooling systems for light-water nuclear power reactors be amended to stipulate a

maximum allowable percentage of hydrogen content in cladding of fuel rods. The comment

period closes August 6, 2007.
May 25, 2007 ENCLOSURE H

Office of Information Services (OIS)

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 25, 2007

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

of May 18 through May 24, 2007:

Index of records likely to be the subject of additional requests;

description of organization; and all administrative staff manuals

FOIA/PA-2007-0214

OI Report 4-2006-040 FOIA/PA-2007-0215

Contract awarded to Lockheed Martin under the ADAMS requirement

specifically Lockheed’s work requirement and ADAMS contract

FOIA/PA-2007-0216

Companies/businesses with current radioactive material

licenses/permits in specified cities within 25 miles of McConnell Air

Force Base, Sedgwick Co., Kansas; provide specific isotope and

maximum activity authorized for each item

FOIA/PA-2007-0217
May 25, 2007 ENCLOSURE I

Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 25, 2007

The Final Fee Rule

The final fee rule was sent to the Federal Register on May 25, 2007. It is estimated that the

final fee rule will be published the week of June 4, 2007. The fee rule will be effective 60 days

after it is published, in early August 2007.
May 25, 2007 ENCLOSURE J

Office of Human Resources (HR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 25, 2007

Arrivals

NAME POSITION TITLE

ABDEL-KADER, WAGIH SUMMER FACULTY HR

ANZALONE, REED STUDENT ENGINEER NRR

BARTHOLOMEW, AARON STUDENT ENGINEER (GENERAL

ENGINEERING

RIV

BAYSSIE, MEKONEN MATERIALS SCIENTIST RES

BRIGGS, CHRISTINE MANAGEMENT ANALYST NRO

BRUNER, DOUGLAS PROJECT MANAGER NRO

CENTENO, RAFAEL IT SPECIALIST OIS

CHUNG, PONG ELECTRONICS ENGINEER (DIGITAL I&C) NRR

EL-TELEATY, SHADIA SUMMER FACULTY HR

GONZALEZ, SERGIO STUDENT ENGR TRAINEE (CO-OP) RES

HAIDER, SYED REACTOR SYSTEMS ENGINEER NRO

HARVEY, SUSAN TEAM LEADER (PERFORMANCE MGMT.

TEAM)

NRR

LUCIANO, MAYRA STUDENT ENGINEER RES

MENDOZA JR, MARCO STUDENT ENGINEER RIV

OPERT, KELLY STUDENT ENGINEER NRR

PIERCE, STEPHEN GENERAL ENGINEER NRR

PUIG-VIVIONI, GABRIELA STUDENT ENGINEER RES

REINHARDT, SONYA STUDENT ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST NRR

SHAMS, MOHAMED STRUCTURAL ENGINEER NRR

SKAGGS RYAN, TERESA STUDENT ENGINEER (GENERAL

ENGINEERING

RIV

SPEER, CHRISTOPHER STUDENT ENGINEER (GENERAL

ENGINEERING

RIV
Arrivals

NAME POSITION TITLE

May 25, 2007 ENCLOSURE J

SWINEHART, HAILEY STUDENT ENGINEER (GENERAL

ENGINEERING

RIV

THARPE, GARY PROGRAM ANALYST NRR

THOMPSON, JENISEMARIE HONESTOGENERAL ENGINEER (NSPDP) NRO

WOLFSON, AVIDON STUDENT ENGINEER (GEN

ENGINEERING)

RIV

WU, GARY SUMMER CLERK OIS

Departures

ALLEN, TAMI HUMAN RESOURCES SPECIALIST HR

SCHWIND, SCOTT SENIOR RESIDENT INSPECTOR (BWR/TL) RIV
May 25, 2007 ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs (OPA)

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 25, 2007

OPA received significant media inquiries on the following:

Browns Ferry I’s efforts to restart.

Esquire magazine’s article on the former chief of security at Palisades.

NRC’s Memorandum of Cooperation with China regarding the AP1000 reactor design.

Other Public Affairs Items:

OPA assisted staff at a public meeting in Piketon, Ohio, regarding the American Centrifuge

Plant project and the annual assessment meeting for Oyster Creek.

OPA assisted the Chairman in his speech in Miami on new reactor applications.

Press Releases

Headquarters:

07-062 Nuclear Regulatory Commission Honors Employees on June 22 in Rockville,

Md. (5/21)

07-063 NRC Announces Appointment of New Member to the Advisory Committee on

Medical Uses of Isotopes (5/21)

07-064 NRC Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards to Meet in Rockville,

Maryland, June 6-8 (5/21)

07-065 NRC Signs Memorandum of Cooperation with China on the AP1000 (5/23)

07-066 NRC Receives Award for Excellence in Performance and Accountability

Reporting (5/23)

Regions:

I-07-031 NRC Proposes $9,750 Fine for Rahway, N.J., Firm for Portable Gauge

Violations (5/24)

II-07-033 Note to Editors: NRC Chairman to Speak in Miami Friday Morning on Agency

Preparations to Receive New Reactor License Applications (5/24)

IV-07-015 NRC to Discuss 2006 Performance Assessment for Callaway Nuclear Plant

(5/24)
May 25, 2007 ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary (SECY)

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 25, 2007

Document Released

to Public

Date Subject

Decision Documents

- SECY-07-0078 5/11/07 Options and Recommendations for the

Responsibility of Future Replenishment of

Potassium Iodide

Information Papers

- SECY-07-0080 5/14/07 Weekly Information Report - Week Ending

April 27, 2007

Commission Correspondence

1. Letter to Dr. Sergey Tzotchev, Bulgaria, dated May 14, 2007, responds to invitation to

attend the Jubilee Forum.

2. Letter to Luis Echávarri, OECD/NEA, dated May 14, 2007, responds to invitation to attend

the international conference, Geological Repositories: A Common Objective, a Variety of

Paths.

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. Atomic Safety and Licensing Board, Notice of Hearing, Application for License Renewal -

Vermont Yankee.

2. Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards, notice of 543rd meeting (6/6-8/2007). 

3. 10 CFR Part 50 (Docket No. PRM-50-84), Mark Edward Leyse; Receipt of Petition for

Rulemaking.
May 25, 2007 

Office of Congressional Affairs (OCA)

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 25, 2007

CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS SCHEDULE, NO. 17

OCA

Contact

 DATE &

 PLACE

TIME COMMITTEE SUBJECT 

Sahm 05/24/07

2123

Rayburn

10:00 House Energy and Commerce,

Subcommittee on Energy and AirQuality(Representatives Boucher /Hastert)

Markup of draft legislationincluding provisions on EnergyEfficiency, Smart ElectricityGrid, Energy Policy Act of2005 Title XVII LoanGuarantees, and StandbyLoans for Coal-to-LiquidsProjects

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