INFORMATION REPORT

June 7, 2006 SECY-06-0130

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING

MAY 26, 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:

L. Rakovan, OEDO
June 7, 2006 SECY-06-0130

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING

MAY 26, 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:

L. Rakovan, OEDO

DISTRIBUTION:

Central File

Public Document Name: C:\WIR\week526.WPD

OEDO AO/OEDO

LRakovan:paa WMDean

06/06/06 06/07/06
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING MAY 26, 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 STP *

NMSS 4 OPA 17

RES 8 OIP * 

NSIR 9 SECY 19

OGC * Region I *

ADM * Region II 21

OIS 11 Region III 22

CFO * Region IV *

HR 15 EDO *

SBCR * OCA 24

OE * ACRS/ACNW 25

*No input this week
May 26, 2006 ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 26, 2006

Proposed Amendment to 10 CFR 50.55a, Codes and Standards Meeting

On May 15, 2006, the staff held a public meeting in Phoenix, Arizona, to present information on

the proposed incorporation by reference of the 2005 editions of the American Society of

Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Code, Sections III and XI. The meeting was held in conjunction

with ASME Code quarterly meetings. The staff discussed proposed limitations and conditions

on the use of this edition of the Code and a proposed deletion from the Rule of a one time

requirement that has been met by all licensees. The meeting was well attended and the

participants provided useful comments. The staff noted that the exchanges at the meeting did

not replace the public comment process and encouraged the participants to send public

comments to the NRC after the proposed Rule is issued in the Federal Register.

ASME Code Meeting on the Development of a Code Case on Dissimilar Butt Welds

In a letter to the NRC dated February 17, 2006, the ASME Code, Section XI, committee

indicated that it would move forward to develop a code case providing appropriate examination

frequency requirements for dissimilar metal butt welds in reactor coolant pressure boundary

(RCPB) piping of pressurized water reactors (PWRs). On May 15, 2006, the staff participated

in a meeting of the Task Group on Alloy 600, which has the responsibility for developing the

code case, and provided the first draft of the proposed code case for discussion. Meeting

participants provided comments on the draft. A special task force has been designated to take

the lead for assimilating comments from the Task Group and revising the draft code case.

ASME Code Meeting on the Development of a Code Case on Mitigation of Stress 

Corrosion Cracking

On May 17, 2006, the staff participated in a meeting with the ASME Code, Section XI,

committee to discuss development of a code case for acceptable mitigation methods to reduce

stress corrosion cracking (SCC) initiation and growth. The use of resistant materials and

implementation of certain mitigation techniques are known to be able to reduce the

susceptibility of welds to SCC. This was the first meeting to discuss this topic and substantial

progress was made on developing a performance-based code case to be used in conjunction

with the proposed code case on examination frequencies for dissimilar metal butt welds in PWR

RCPB piping.

Staff Observance of Nuclear Procurement Issues Committee (NUPIC) Audits

During May 9-19, 2006, at the request of the NUPIC, the staff observed a NUPIC audit at the

Areva NP Plants Sector facility in Paris, France and the Areva NP Chalon/Saint Marcel

manufacturing facility in Saint Marcel, France. Areva is currently manufacturing replacement

steam generators, reactor vessel heads and a pressurizer for U.S. plants. Additionally, the staff

observed a NUPIC joint utility audit at the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Main and Futami

plants in Kobe, Japan. MHI is currently manufacturing or has supplied replacement steam
May 26, 2006 ENCLOSURE A

generators, reactor vessel heads, control rod drive mechanisms, and a pressurizer for U.S.

plants. 

The NUPIC joint utility audit team reviewed the implementation of all Quality Assurance

Programs, including procedures, examination of records, and interviews with personnel. The

staff provided clarification on certain issues related to NRC regulations, including input for

several findings regarding inadequacies in the 10 CFR Part 21 programs.

Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station License Renewal Audit

From May 15-19, 2006, the staff conducted an aging management review audit of the license

renewal application at the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station (VYNPS) site in Vernon, Vt. 

The audit team conducted numerous interviews and breakout meetings with the VYNPS staff. 

The audit team also reviewed the applicant's responses to the team's questions identified

during the audit and applicant responses from the previous aging management program review

audit conducted on April 17-21, 2006. Several questions remained open at the end of the audit. 

The majority of the open questions pertain to aging management of the applicant’s station

blackout system (the Vernon Hydroelectric Dam). The audit question and answer data base is

publicly available through ADAMS. An audit to close many of the remaining audit team’s

questions is currently planned for June 2006.

Draft Regulatory Guide DG-1145 Workshop

On May 17-19, 2006, the staff held a three day public workshop to discuss topics associated

with the development of DG-1145, "Combined License Applications for Nuclear Power Plants

(Light-Water Reactor Edition)." The purpose of the workshop was to discuss portions of DG1145 that had been placed on the NRC website as "draft work-in-progress." The topics

included technical specifications, steam and power conversion, radioactive waste management,

training, security, emergency planning, quality assurance, the maintenance rule, and the

environmental report. In addition, the staff discussed the update of the standard review plan

and the process being used to determine the technical areas requiring review in a combined

license application referencing a certified design. The staff also held a parallel breakout

session on the update of the standard review plan sections associated with instrumentation and

controls. Over 100 members of the public attended the three day workshop.

Staff Visits Cherokee and Harris Pre-COL Sites

During the week of May 15, 2006, headquarters staff and Region II inspectors observed

geological testing at the Cherokee and Harris sites. The inspectors implemented pre-combined

license inspection procedures to ascertain whether the applicant’s quality assurance program is

being implemented appropriately. The staff will issue trip reports for each of the site visits.
May 26, 2006 ENCLOSURE B

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS)

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 26, 2006

Kerr McGee Corporation Decommissioning Activities - License Termination

On May 18, 2006, NRC terminated Special Nuclear Materials License No. SNM-1999 for the

Kerr McGee Corporation (Kerr McGee) Cushing Refinery Site, located in Cushing, OK. 

Kerr McGee conducted decommissioning activities at the Cushing Refinery Site from January

2000 to June 2005. In accordance with its approved decommissioning plan, Kerr McGee

submitted final status survey reports demonstrating that the site meets the unrestricted release

criteria defined in its license. In addition, Kerr McGee submitted a dose assessment which

demonstrates that the site meets the unrestricted release criteria of 10 CFR Part 20, Subpart E. 

The staff's evaluation of Kerr McGee's request for license termination is documented in a

Safety Evaluation Report dated May 18, 2006 (ML060960070).

NRC/Department of Transportation (DOT) Interagency Information Meeting

On May 18, 2006, NMSS staff met with staff from DOT's Office of Hazardous Materials for a

periodic information exchange. Topics of discussion included upcoming International Atomic

Energy Agency meetings, as well as various transport issues including NRC's Spent Fuel

Transport Risk Assessment, the source protection subgroup of a DOT security initiative, and

the LaCrosse Reactor Vessel Package. The next meeting is planned for the end of June.

Omaha Public Power District Meeting

On May 24, 2006, the staff had a public meeting with representatives of Omaha Public Power

District (OPPD) to discuss an impending exemption request to support an upcoming dry

storage campaign at Fort Calhoun. The exemption is from requirements in 10 CFR Part 72

associated with technical specifications for the Standardized NUHOMS Certificate of

Compliance. Specifically, the exemption request pertains to the technical specifications

associated with the use of a light weight 75 ton transfer cask. NRC expects OPPD to submit an

exemption request imminently.
May 26, 2006 ENCLOSURE C

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES)

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 26, 2006

International Workshops

From May 3-12, 2006, staff participated in the Institute for Energy Technology (Halden Reactor

Project-HRP) Workshop on “Human System Interfaces (HSI) - Design and Evaluation” and

Committee on the Safety of Nuclear Installations (CSNI) Special Experts Group on Human and

Organizational Factors (SEGHOF) Workshop on “Future Control Station Designs and Human

Performance Issues in Nuclear Power Plants” workshops in Norway. The information from the

first workshop will be very useful in the development of technical bases for NRC guidance for

HSI safety evaluations. The second workshop provided several lessons learned applicable to

both RES and the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation’s human factors engineering efforts. 

Additionally, staff participated in the bi-annual meeting of SEGHOF and a meeting at the HRP

Virtual Reality Laboratory to discuss the application of this technology to nuclear power plant

human system interface design and evaluation.

8th International Conference on Probabilistic Safety Assessment and Management (PSAM 8)

On May 14-19, 2006, staff attended the subject conference in Louisiana. Topics included

advanced methods and tools for performing Probabilistic Safety Assessments, discussions of

the path forward in challenging areas (e.g., human reliability analysis), and lessons learned

from applications. 

Japan Nuclear Energy Safety Organization (JNES) Delegation Visit to NRC, Argonne National

Laboratory (ANL), and the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) Test Facility at the

University of New Mexico (UNM)

On May 15-18, 2006, a JNES delegation visited NRC headquarters, ANL, and UNM to discuss

the NRC-sponsored chemical effects and head-loss tests, as well as to exchange technical and

regulatory information regarding the sump clogging issue. The JNES delegation toured the

head loss test loop facility at ANL and observed a chemical head-loss test. LANL and UNM

researchers made detailed presentations on the integrated chemical effects testing (ICET)

program and the throttle valve research program. The JNES delegation toured the UNM ICET

loop and throttle valve test facilities. JNES is completing construction of their chemical effects

test facility in Japan and is planning to conduct chemical effects tests later this year.
May 26, 2006 ENCLOSURE D

Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response (NSIR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 26, 2006

Preliminary Notifications

1. PNO-III-06-014, Dominion Energy Kewaunee, Inc.,-PROCEDURE ADHERENCE

PROBLEMS DURING REACTOR STARTUP.

2. PNO-II-06-001, Catawba Nuclear Station, -LOSS OF OFFSITE POWER AND DUAL

UNIT REACTOR TRIP.
May 26, 2006 ENCLOSURE G

Office of Information Services (OIS)

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 26, 2006

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

May 19 through May 25, 2006:

Invention of “Virtual Tour” FOIA/PA-2006-0207

Civil & administrative violations for which a monetary penalty was

assessed, CY2005

FOIA/PA-2006-0208

Certification Board for Nuclear Cardiology (CBNC), all

communications between NRC & CBNC from 1-20-06 to 5-15-06

FOIA/PA-2006-0209
May 26, 2006 ENCLOSURE I

Office of Human Resources (HR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 26, 2006

Arrival

BADAKHSHAN, ROYA E. STUDENT CLERK NSIR

DOSCH, WILLIAM H. HUMAN RESOURCES SPECIALIST HR

GRAZIOSE, CATHERINE IT SPECIALIST (SYSANALYSIS) OIS

HARRIMAN, THOMAS L. REACTOR TECHNOLOGY

INSTRUCTOR

HR

HELM, JONATHAN STUDENT ENGINEER (SUMMER) RII

ISTAR, ATA STRUCTURAL ENGINEER RES

JACOBS, CHRISTIAN PROJECT MANAGER NRR

LAI, JAMES RELIABILITY & RISK ANALYST/ENGR RES

LANGE, CHRISTOPHER R. MANAGEMENT ANALYST OIG

MUIR, JESSIE M. GENERAL SCIENTIST NRR

NOORY, ROYA IT SPECIALIST NSIR

PARRA, SABRINA M. STUDENT ENGINEER (CO-OP) RII

PELLONI, BRIAN A. STUDENT LAW CLERK (SUMMER) RI

PLAZA-TOLEDO, MERALIS GENERAL SCIENTIST (NSPDP) NRR

ROBINSON, EDWARD W. GENERAL ENGINEER NSIR

SCHOENEBECK, GREGORY GENERAL ENGINEER (NSPDP) NSIR

SEIFRIED, JEFFREY STUDENT ENGINEER TRAINEE CO-OP) NMSS

SOMMERS, CHRISTOPHER M. STUDENT ENGINEER NRR

STEEN, AMY J. STUDENT ENGINEER NSIR

WHITE, DUANE E. HEALTH PHYSICIST NMSS

Departures

HARRISON, DEL ANTHONY REACTOR INSPECTOR NRR

RUSSELL, YVETTE F. SENIOR AUDITOR OIG

SHAMA, SUSAN C. LEGAL INTERN ASLBP
May 26, 2006 ENCLOSURE I

STEEN, AMY J. STUDENT ENGINEER NSIR

VAYAVANANDA, GINA C. STUDENT IT SPECIALIST (CO-OP) OIS
May 26, 2006 ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs (OPA)

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 26, 2006

The Office of Public Affairs (OPA) received significant media inquiries on the following:

An “unusual event” declaration at Vermont Yankee.

Missing neutron detectors at Pilgrim.

Annual assessments of various nuclear plants.

NRC’s preparations for licensing new reactors.

Other Public Affairs Items:

Chairman Diaz was interviewed by The New York Times Magazine for an upcoming feature on

the renaissance of the nuclear power industry.

President Bush visited the Limerick nuclear plant and gave a speech on energy policy.

Press Releases

Headquarters:

06-069 NRC Finds No Significant Environmental Impacts From Extended Operation of

Nine Mile Point, Units 1 and 2 (5/22)

06-070 NRC Approves Power Uprate for Seabrook Nuclear Station (5/23)

06-071 NRC Approves Final Rule to Relieve Certain Individuals from Energy Act

Requirements on Fingerprinting, Criminal History Checks (5/25)

06-072 NRC Continues Monitoring, Oversight of Groundwater Contamination at Nuclear

Power Plants (5/26)

Regions:

I-06-034 NRC to Discuss 2005 Performance Assessment for James A. FitzPatrick

Nuclear Power Plant (5/24)

II-06-031 NRC Inspection Team to Review Loss of Offsite Power Event at Catawba

Nuclear Power Plant in South Carolina (5/23)

IV-06-013 NRC to Discuss 2005 Performance at Columbia Generating Station (5/24)
May 26, 2006 ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary (SECY)

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 26, 2006

Document Released

to Public

Date Subject

Decision Documents

1. SRM on COMGBJ-06-

0002

05/25/06 Vermont Yankee’s Extended Power Uprate

License Amendment

Voting Record on

COMGBJ-06-0002

05/22/06 (same)

Information Papers

1. SECY-06-0102 05/50/06 Evaluation of the Pilot Program on the Use

of Alternative Dispute Resolution in the

Allegation and Enforcement Programs

2. SECY-06-0113 05/24/06 Weekly Information Report - Week Ending

May 12, 2006

Memoranda

1. SRM-M060525A 05/25/06 Affirmation Session: (1) SECY-06-0080 -

Final Rule: National Source Tracking of

Sealed Sources (Rin 3150-AH48); (2)

SECY-06-0112 - Immediately Effective Final

Rule - 10 CFR 73.57a “Relief from

Fingerprinting and Criminal History Records

Check for Designated Categories of

Individuals”

Voting Record on

SECY-06-0080

05/25/06 Final Rule: National Source Tracking of

Sealed Sources (RIN 3150-AH48)

Commission Correspondence

- Letter to Congress, dated May 15, 2006, provides a quarterly report on the status of

NRC’s licensing and other regulatory activities.

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste, notice of 171st meeting (6/6-7/06). 

2. Request for a license to import radioactive waste, Duratek Services, Inc. 

3. Request for a license to export radioactive waste, Duratek Services, Inc.
May 26, 2006 ENCLOSURE P

Region II (RII)

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 26, 2006

Vogtle Management Meeting

On May 23, 2006, representatives from Southern Nuclear Operating Company were in the

Regional office to attend a management meeting. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss

the Mitigating Systems Performance Indicator and recent residual heat removal system leaks at

the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant.

Integrated Material Performance Evaluation Program (IMPEP)

On May 23-25, 2006, representatives of the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards

(NMSS) were in the Regional office to conduct an IMPEP review of the fuel facility inspection

program implementation.

Reactor Oversight Process (ROP) Annual Assessment Meeting

On May 23, Region II staff conducted the Shearon Harris Reactor Oversight Process annual

assessment meeting in Apex, NC. The meeting was well attended with approximately 100

attendees representing the public, public interest groups, media, and the utility. Following the

meeting, the staff responded to questions from the public on several topics including,

containment sumps, spent fuel storage, security issues, station blackout, and the 1991 loss of

high head safety injection event.
May 26, 2006 ENCLOSURE P

Region III (RIII)

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 26, 2006

Region Ends Special Inspection at the Kewaunee Plant

On May 23, 2006, members of the Region III staff completed a special inspection at the

Kewaunee Nuclear Power Station, located at Kewaunee, Wisconsin. The inspection looked into

a situation in which plant operators apparently made changes to the startup procedure without

proper review or authorization during plant startup on May 17. The special inspection reviewed

the licensee’s review of the operators’ actions, the logic of the startup procedure itself, and the

reason for the procedure change.

Inspection at Munson Medical Center

On May 22, 2006, members of the Region III staff began an inspection at the Munson Medical

Center In Traverse City, Michigan. The inspection reviews the circumstances around a medical

event involving a 26-year old female that was treated with 150 millicuries of iodine-131 for

thyroid cancer. Before the treatment, the patient signed a form indicating that she was not

pregnant. On May 22, 2006, the patient called the medical center and indicated she discovered

she was pregnant at the time she received the dose. The medical center, with the assistance of

a consultant, determined the embryo/fetus received a calculated whole body dose of 40 rem. 

The inspection is ongoing and is expected to be completed in the next couple of weeks. No

findings are anticipated.
May 26, 2006 

Office of Congressional Affairs (OCA)

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 26, 2006

CONGRESSIONAL HEARING SCHEDULE, NO. 20

 OCAContact

 DATE & PLACE

TIME WITNESS SUBJECT 

Shane 05/22/06

SD-366

2:30 NRC, DOE, and Mr. James

Asselstine, Lehman Bros.

Nuclear Plant Development Senators 

Energy a

Keeling 05/23/06

SD-628

9:30 Committee vote Confirmation of Dr. Dale Klein,

Commissioners Jaczko and Lyons tobe Members on the NRC

Senators Environm

Keeling 05/23/06

2203 RHOB ClassifiedBriefing

2:00 NRC, GAO Follow-up to 4/4/06 Hearing on GAO

report concerning the Design BasisThreat process

Reps. ShNational Sand InternGovernm

Decker 05/23/06

S-116Capitol

2:15 Markup Convention on Supplemental

Compensation for Nuclear Damage

Senators Foreign R

Decker 05/25/06

2217 RHOB

2:00 TBA Foreign Cooperation in U.S. Efforts

to Prevent Nuclear Smuggling

Reps. LinPreventioAttackHomeland 

Shane TBA

TBA

TBA TBA New Nuclear Power Plants Reps. Ba

Energy a
CONGRESSIONAL HEARING SCHEDULE, NO. 20

 OCAContact

 DATE & PLACE

TIME WITNESS SUBJECT 

May 26, 2006 

Shane 06/22/06

TBA

9:30 NRC, GAO, NEI, Public

Interest Groups

GAO Report on Reactor OversightProcess and other topics

Senators Clean Air

Nuclear SEnvironm
May 26, 2006 ENCLOSURE S

Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS)/

Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste (ACNW)

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 26, 2006

As a result of its 532nd meeting (May 4-5, 2006), the ACRS issued letters and reports on

the following subjects. 

Date

May 22, 2006 Beaver Valley Extended Power Uprate Application 

May 22, 2006 R.E. Ginna Extended Power Uprate Application 

May 22, 2006 Proposed Revisions to 10 CFR Part 52: Licenses, Certifications, and

Approvals for Nuclear Power Plants, and Conforming Amendments

to Applicable NRC Regulations