INFORMATION REPORT

December 21, 2006 SECY-06-0241

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING

DECEMBER 8, 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 21, 2006 SECY-06-0241

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING

DECEMBER 8, 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\week1218.WPD

OEDO AO/OEDO

LRakovan:paa MRJohnson

12/21/06 12/21/06
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 8, 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 *

NRO * OPA 17

NMSS 4 OIP *

FSME 6 SECY *

RES 10 Region I *

NSIR * Region II *

ADM 11 Region III *

OIS 12 Region IV 23

CFO * EDO *

HR 16 OCA *

SBCR * ACRS/ACNW *

*No input this week
December 8, 2006 ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending December 8, 2006

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 and the staff conducted a

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

Travelers). The staff and the Task Force discussed the NRC administrative processes

associated with Task Force Travelers, and reviewed the status of Travelers formally proposed

by industry. The Task Force also presented and solicited the NRC feedback on Travelers

under consideration for submission to the NRC.

Public Meeting on the Proposed Revision to 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”

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

revisions 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 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 8, 2006 ENCLOSURE C

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS)

Items of Interest

Week Ending December 8, 2006

Meeting with Westinghouse Electric Company on Minimum Margins of Subcriticality Related to

License Renewal

On December 4, 2006, the staff met with Westinghouse Electric Company (WEC) managers

and staff to consider plans to resolve the remaining technical issue associated with renewal of

license SNM-1107 for the Columbia Fuel Fabrication Facility. The purpose of the meeting was

to discuss and identify a path forward on agreement on a minimum margin of subcriticality

under abnormal operating conditions at the facility. The meeting was attended by

representatives of other fuel fabrication facilities who provided comments on the issues

discussed.

Public Meeting with Transnuclear, Inc.

On December 5, 2006, staff had a pre-application meeting with Transnuclear, Inc. to discuss

Transnuclear, Inc. plans to amend the Certificate of Compliance for the Standardized

NUHOMS® dry cask system. The amendment would be to: (1) include the light-weight transfer

cask that was used under an exemption at Fort Calhoun Station so that it can be used by any

Part 72 general licensee; and (2) use the standardized storage technical specifications. 

Transnuclear, Inc. tentative schedule is to submit the amendment in March 2007, and to

request approval by March 2008. The staff raised several issues including how contingency

planning for off-normal events (e.g., crane malfunctions) will be addressed and Transnuclear,

Inc. requested aggressive schedule given the content of the proposed amendment. 

Transnuclear, Inc. indicated it would consider the staff's feedback, and agreed that another preapplication meeting would be appropriate.
December 8, 2006 ENCLOSURE D

Office of Federal and State Materials and Environmental Management Programs (FSME)

Items of Interest

Week Ending December 8, 2006

Public Meeting Involving Shieldalloy

On December 5, 2006, as part of its decommissioning plan review process, the staff held a

press conference and public information meeting in Newfield, New Jersey. Both were covered

by local television and print media. Prior to the meeting, NRC management met with the New

Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) officials to discuss decommissioning

the site. There were approximately 120 attendees at the public meeting. All were opposed to

Shieldalloy's decommissioning proposal to leave 18,000 cubic meters of radioactive slag and

15,000 cubic meters of radioactive baghouse dust at the site under restricted use conditions. 

Participants in the meeting included representatives from the offices of Senators Lautenberg

and Menendez, three local Assemblymen, the Mayor of Newfield, staff from NJDEP and from

the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 
December 8, 2006 ENCLOSURE E

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES)

Items of Interest

Week Ending December 8, 2006

Publication of NUREG/CR-6920, “Risk-Informed Assessment of Degraded Containment

Vessels”

During the week of November 27, 2006, RES published the subject NUREG, which documents

the results of research conducted at Sandia National Laboratories on degraded nuclear power

plant containments. This study was performed to enhance the agency’s understanding of

containment degradation (e.g., by loss of prestressing or corrosion of the steel shell or liner,

reinforcing bars, bellows, or prestressing tendons) and how degradation reduces the structural

integrity of typical U.S. reinforced-concrete and steel containments.

Interagency Nuclear Safety Review Panel National Aeronautics Space Administration Science

Laboratory Meeting at Kennedy Space Center

On November 28-29, 2006, the Mars Science Laboratory 2009 (MSL09) project team and the

Interagency Nuclear Safety Review Panel (INSRP) met for a technical exchange concerning the

mission, at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This was the second technical meeting for

INSRP. The meeting was attended by, the NRC technical advisor to the INSRP panel. 

Meeting with Japan Nuclear Energy Safety (JNES) Organization to Discuss Future Information

Exchange

On November 29, 2006, the staff met with JNES representatives to discuss the exchange of

research results and related information in the area of reactor materials degradation. The RES

and JNES representatives agreed that sharing research results should begin after finalization of

an agreement between the two parties.

Agreement Between the NRC and the Swedish Nuclear Power Inspectorate (SKI) in the Area of

Severe Accident Research

On December 4, 2006, the Acting Executive Director for Operations signed the subject

international agreement, which defines the terms and conditions by which the NRC and the SKI

will continue to cooperate in the area of severe accident research. This cooperative Agreement

will expand the NRC’s related data and knowledge base, and independently verify the accuracy

of the NRC’s MELCOR severe accident code for different accident sequences. The NRC

uses the MELCOR code to evaluate potential risk and security scenarios for severe accidents,

address regulatory and licensing issues for operating plants, and review new designs. The next

step is for the Agreement to be signed by officials of SKI. This Agreement will remain in effect

for a period of 3 years.

Public Meeting to Discuss High Priority Regulatory Guides for New Reactors

On December 5, 2006, RES conducted a public meeting to discuss the high priority Regulatory

Guides (RGs) being developed in support of new reactor licensing. The purpose of the meeting

was to provide additional opportunity for stakeholders to discuss with the staff, their comments
December 8, 2006 ENCLOSURE E

on the RGs currently out for public comment. Participants agreed to provide the comments

through the public comment process. 

Commissioner Lyons' visit to the National Institute for Standards and Technology’s (NIST) to

tour Fire Research Laboratory and Research Reactor

On December 6, 2006, Commissioner Lyons toured the NIST Fire Research Laboratory and

Research Reactor, and was provided a broad overview of NIST’s capabilities and technical

expertise. The Commissioner was able to view a series of calibration tests being performed on

the large hood in the fire testing laboratory and received a briefing on current NIST work with

RES on verifying and validating fire models for NRC use. He was provided a briefing on the

state-of-the-art neutron research projects NIST was currently involved in at their research

reactor.
December 8, 2006 ENCLOSURE G

Office of Administration (ADM)

Items of Interest 

Week Ending December 8, 2006

Facility Change Process Involving Items Relied on for Safety: Confirmation of Effective Date

(AH96 - Part 70)

On December 1, 2006, the NRC published a document in the Federal Register (71 FR 69430)

confirming the effective date of a September 27, 2006, direct final rule (71 FR 56344) that

clarifies a requirement pertaining to facility change processes involving items relied on for

safety. This action clarifies that if an item relied on for safety is not needed to meet specified

performance requirements, the licensee may remove or replace it without NRC staff approval.

The confirmed effective date for this direct final rule is December 11, 2006.
December 8, 2006 ENCLOSURE H

Office of Information Services (OIS)

Items of Interest

Week Ending December 8, 2006

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

of December 1 through December 7, 2006:

Amarillo Power, Units 1 & 2, response to regulatory issue summary FOIA/PA-2007-0047

Report No. 078-154-A - Part 2 of 2 re: Radioactive Material in

Uncontrolled Location, Norton, MA, approved June 12, 1979

FOIA/PA-2007-0048

OI Report 4-2006-003 FOIA/PA-2007-0049

Federal employees in the State of Georgia; title/position, pay

grade/step, work location, date of employment

FOIA/PA-2007-0050

NRC Job Announcement NSIR/DSO-2006-009, selection process,

evaluation of KSAs, resumes, etc. 

FOIA/PA-2007-0051

Allegation RIV-1998-A-0144, including all correspondence between

named individual & NRC

FOIA/PA-2007-0052
December 8, 2006 ENCLOSURE J

Office of Human Resources (HR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending December 8, 2006

Arrivals

COOPER, LATOYA CLERK NMSS

CRLENJAK, RICHARD CONSULTANT NSIR

DELLA GRECA, ANIELLO CONSULTANT NSIR

DIPALO, ANTHONY CONSULTANT NSIR

GREEN, JAMIE SENIOR PROGRAM ANALYST NRR

HABIB, DONALD PROJECT MANAGER NRR

KEETON, JACK CONSULTANT NSIR

PANICKER, MATHEW REACTOR SYSTEMS ENGINEER NRR

POSLUSNY, CHESTER SR. PROGRAM MANAGER NRR

SANDERS, PEGGY RECORDS MANAGEMENT ANALYST IS

SCHAFFER, STEVEN HEALTH PHYSICIST NRR

SHNAYDER, YANA BUDGET ANALYST OGC

STARTZ, PAUL FUEL FACILITY INSPECTOR RII

WILLIAMS, JULIAN CONSULTANT NSIR

WILLIAMS, VALERIE SECRETARY (OA) NSIR

Departure

DENNIS, STEVEN OPERATIONS ENGINEER NRR

DIMORA, SHANNINE SECRETARY (OA) RI

FLEMMING, JASON PROJECT MANAGER NRR

GONZALEZ-GARCES, DENISE STUDENT ENGINEER TRAINEE (CO-OP) RES

JOCHIM, CHRISTINE STUDENT LAW CLERK OGC

SAVITSKY, RICHARD OPERATIONS MANAGER NRR
December 8, 2006 ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs (OPA)

Items of Interest

Week Ending December 8, 2006

OPA received significant media inquiries on the following:

Polonium, its uses in industry and potential health hazards.

Shieldalloy’s decommissioning plan for its New Jersey site.

Issues with security guards at South Texas Project.

NRC’s denial of petitions regarding license renewal reviews for nuclear plants.

Other Public Affairs Items:

Public Affairs assisted the Chairman during his visit to a BWXT facility in Indiana, which

received wide local coverage.

OPA also assisted staff at a public meeting in New Jersey regarding Shieldalloy’s

decommissioning plan.

Press Releases

Headquarters:

06-148 NRC Announces Opportunity to Request a Hearing on License Renewal

Application for Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant (12/5)

06-149 NRC Announces Availability of License Renewal Application for Shearon Harris

Nuclear Power Plant (12/8)

Regions:

III-06-033 NRC Returns Point Beach to Routine Oversight (12/4)
December 8, 2006 ENCLOSURE P

Region IV (RIV)

Items of Interest

Week Ending December 8, 2006

South Texas Project Public Meeting

On December 4, 2006, the staff conducted a Category 1 public meeting in the Region IV offices

with South Texas Project Electric Generating Station (STPEGS) plant management and

security staff members. The meeting was held to discuss security-related issues at STPEGS. 

Members of the public attending in person or on the phone included representatives of National

Public Radio, Houston; Platt’s New Service; The Matagorda (TX) Advocate; and the Union of

Concerned Scientists.

Arkansas Nuclear One Closed Meeting

On December 7, 2006, the staff held a closed meeting in the Region IV offices with Arkansas

Nuclear One plant management and security staff members. The meeting was held to discuss

security-related issues at Arkansas Nuclear One, Units 1 and 2.