INFORMATION REPORT

December 7, 2006 SECY-06-0237

For: The Commissioners

From: Michael R. Johnson, Assistant for Operations, Office of the EDO

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING

DECEMBER 1, 2006

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*

Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards/

Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste S*

*No input this week.

/RA/

Michael R. Johnson 

Assistant for Operations, OEDO

Contact:

L. Rakovan, OEDO
December 7, 2006 SECY-06-0237

For: The Commissioners

From: Michael R. Johnson, Assistant for Operations, Office of the EDO

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING

DECEMBER 1, 2006

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*

Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards/

Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste S*

*No input this week.

/RA/

Michael R. Johnson

Assistant for Operations, OEDO

Contact:

L. Rakovan, OEDO

DISTRIBUTION:

EDO R/F

AO R/F Document Name: C:\WIR\week1201.WPD

OEDO AO/OEDO

LRakovan:paa MRJohnson

12/07/06 12/07/06
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 1, 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 OE 17

NRO * OPA *

NMSS 4 OIP *

FSME * SECY 19

RES 6 Region I *

NSIR * Region II *

ADM * Region III *

OIS 12 Region IV *

CFO * EDO *

HR 16 OCA *

SBCR * ACRS/ACNW *

*No input this week
December 1, 2006 ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending December 1, 2006

Regional Utility Group Meeting

On November 30, 2006, the staff from the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) and

from Regions I and III participated the Region III Utility Group safety culture workshop in

Chicago, IL. The full-day workshop covered the recent Reactor Oversight Process safety

culture related changes and how the licensees will be affected by those changes.

NRC/Technical Specifications Task Force Public Meeting Regarding Administrative Processing

of Generic Changes to the Standard Technical Specifications

On November 30, 2006, the Technical Specification Task Force (TSTF) and the staff conducted

a public meeting regarding generic changes to the Standard Technical Specifications (i.e.,

Travelers). The staff and the TSTF discussed the NRC administrative processes associated

with TSTF Travelers, and reviewed the status of Travelers formally proposed by industry. The

TSTF also presented and solicited the NRC feedback on Travelers under consideration for

submission to the NRC.

Public Meeting on the Proposed Revision to NUREGs-1122 and 1123

On November 29, 2006, the staff held a public meeting with members of the Pressurized Water

Reactor Owners Group and Boiling Water Reactor Owners Group to discuss their proposed

revision to the “Generic Section” of the pressurized water reactor and boiling water reactor

“Knowledge and Abilities Catalogs,” NUREGs-1122 and -1123, respectively, that the NRC uses

to develop operator licensing examinations. The owners groups will submit their proposed

revisions the week of December 4. The staff expects to complete its review of the industry

proposed revisions and publish the draft revisions to the NUREGs for public comment during

early part of 2007.
December 1, 2006 ENCLOSURE C

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS)

Items of Interest

Week Ending December 1, 2006

European Commission Workshop on Design and Assessment of Packages for Radioactive

Waste

On November 21-22, 2006, NRC staff participated in the subject workshop in Bergen, the

Netherlands. The Workshop focused on information relevant to evaluating the perforomance of

spent nuclear fuel and waste packages in a high-level waste repository, and on identifying and

planning future international collaborative work. Participants discussed future collaborative

tests and the development of international guidance on waste packages. Staff presented a

paper on container, cladding, and waste forms in high-level waste, and exchanged information

with participants from European Union countries, Japan, and Korea.

Issuance of S300 Certificate of Compliance

On November 28, 2006, the staff issued Certificate of Compliance No. 9329 to the U.S.

Department of Energy (DOE) for its Model No. S300 Fissile Material Transport Package (Model

No. S300). The Model No. S300 packaging is designed to transport a single plutoniumberyllium special form capsule. DOE intends to use the Model No S300 for recovery and

disposal of these capsules. 
December 1, 2006 ENCLOSURE E

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES)

Items of Interest

Week Ending December 1, 2006

November 2006 Publication of Brookhaven National Laboratory Report, “Recommendations for

Revision of Seismic Damping Values in Regulatory Guide 1.61,” NUREG/CR-6919

RES published the subject report which provides recommendations for the selection of damping

values used in the seismic analysis and design of nuclear power plants. The recommendations

in this report considered recently published guidance included in the American Society of

Chemical Engineers Standard 43-05, "Seismic Design Criteria For Structures, Systems, and

Components in Nuclear Facilities," and in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Boiler

and Pressure Vessel Code, Section III, Division 1, Non-Mandatory Appendix N, "Dynamic

Analysis Methods", 2004 Edition.

Public Meeting to Discuss Plans to Develop Guidance for Implementing 10 CFR 20.1406,

“Minimization of Contamination”

On November 21, 2006, RES staff conducted the subject meeting to exchange information on

activities underway by industry and the NRC concerning the provisions of 10 CFR 20.1406. 

The Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) noted its members’ voluntary activities, including waste

minimization, contamination reduction, and ground-water protection. Westinghouse is

developing Technical Reports for the Advanced Passive Reactor (AP1000) to address effluent

releases and radiation protection. The NRC’s activities include revising the Standard Review

Plan for new reactor licenses, developing a regulatory guide, revising 10 CFR 20.1406 to

broaden its applicability based on cost/benefit analyses, and preparing a report on

implementation of environmental monitoring requirements. The next public meeting is being

planned for early January 2007 for focused discussions on these activities.

Probabilistic Risk Assessment (PRA) Scope and Quality Workshop

On November 6-7, 2006, RES staff participated in the subject Electric Power Research Institute

(EPRI) sponsored Workshop. Topics included the Treatment of Uncertainty, Support System

Initiating Events, and Treatment of Loss of Offsite Power in PRAs. RES staff discussed a

proposal to identify, prioritize and resolve model "technical adequacy" issues through an NRCindustry cooperative effort.
December 1, 2006 ENCLOSURE H

Office of Information Services (OIS)

Items of Interest

Week Ending December 1, 2006

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

of November 24 through November 30, 2006:

EEO investigations from contractors from 1-1-2005 to 10-30-2006;

contractors for EEO investigations

FOIA/PA-2007-0043

NUREG/BR-0150, Response Technical Manual FOIA/PA-2007-0044

Colorado’s application for delegation as an agreement state; records

reflecting periodic review, inspection of state’s radiation program

FOIA/PA-2007-0045

FBI-NRC memorandum of May 29, 1991, regarding nuclear incidents FOIA/PA-2007-0046
December 1, 2006 ENCLOSURE J

Office of Human Resources (HR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending December 1, 2006

Arrivals

CHAKRABARTI, SAMIR STRUCTURAL ENGINEER NRR

CHIN, ALLISON SECRETARY (OA) NMSS

DAVID, MARSHALL PROJECT MANAGER NRR

GILLEN, DANIEL CONSULTANT FSME

HOMIACK, MATTHEW GENERAL ENGINEER NRR

KALLAN, PAUL PROJECT MANAGER NRR

LEFAVE, WILLIAM SR. MECHANICAL ENGINEER NRR

MCGAFFIGAN, MARGARET STUDENT SCIENTIST (COOP) NMSS

REAMER, CHARLES CONSULTANT NMSS

SHEMANSKI, PAUL SR. ELECTRICAL ENGINEER NRR

Retirement

GILL, AMRITPAL SENIOR ELECTRICAL ENGINEER NRR

JAMGOCHIAN, MICHAEL SENIOR NUCLEAR ENGINEER NRR

RIPLEY, WILLIAM NUCLEAR SYSTEMS ENGINEER NSIR
December 1, 2006 ENCLOSURE L

Office of Enforcement (OE)

Items of Interest

Week Ending December 1, 2006

Office of Enforcement Annual Counterpart Meeting

From November 28-30, 2006, OE held its annual counterpart meeting in Cambridge, MD. The

meeting was attended by representatives from the Regional enforcement and allegations

teams, as well as members of the OE headquarters staff. This year’s conference was

highlighted by a training session given by Employment Learning Innovations, Inc. The course,

entitled “Safely Speaking for Managers,” focused on the communications skills necessary to

maintain a safety-conscious work environment at nuclear power plants. The conference also

included discussions on a wide variety of issues involving the NRC's enforcement and

allegations programs.
December 1, 2006 ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary (SECY)

Items of Interest

Week Ending December 1, 2006

Document Released

to Public

Date Subject

Decision Documents

1. COMSECY-06-0055 11/14/06 Renewal of Licensing Support Network

Advisory Review Panel (LSNARP) Charter

SRM on COMSECY-06-0055 11/29/06 (same)

Commission Voting Record

on COMSECY-06-0055

11/29/06 (same)

2. COMSECY-06-0056 11/14/06 Completion of Decommissioning at Kaiser

Aluminum Facility and Consultation with the

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Under the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory

Commission / U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency Memorandum of Understanding

SRM on COMSECY-06-0056 11/29/06 (same)

Commission Voting Record

on COMSECY-06-0056

11/29/06 (same)

3. COMSECY-06-0033 6/29/06 NRC Interim Pandemic Response Plan

SRM on COMSECY-06-0033 8/7/06 (same)

Commission Voting Record

on COMSECY-06-0033

8/7/06 (same)

Information Papers

1. SECY-06-0223 11/21/06 Weekly Information Report - Week Ending

October 27, 2006

2. SECY-06-0229 11/22/06 Weekly Information Report - Week Ending

November 3, 2006

3. SECY-06-0230 11/22/06 Weekly Information Report - Week Ending

November 10, 2006

Commission Correspondence

1. Letter to Congress, dated November 21, 2006, provides NRC’s quarterly report (July

through September 2006) on the status of its licensing and other regulatory activities.
December 1, 2006 ENCLOSURE O

2. Letter to Congressman Bart Gordon, dated November 21, 2006, responds to letter

concerning NRC’s handling of sensitive unclassified information following the events of

September 11, 2001.

3. Letter to Wang Yuging, China, dated November 21, 2006, expresses appreciation for

October 8 letter and invites delegation from NNSA to NRC.

4. Letter to Andre-Claude Lacoste, Nuclear Safety Authority, France, dated November 21,

2006, offers congratulations on appointment as Chairman of the Nuclear Safety Authority of

France.

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS), Meeting of the ACRS Subcommittee

on Reliability and Probabilistic Risk Assessment, notice of meeting (12/14-15/06). 

2. Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste (ACNW), Meeting on Planning and Procedures,

notice of meeting (12/12/06). 

3. ACNW, notice of 175th meeting (12/12-14/06).