INFORMATION REPORT

April 6, 2007 SECY-07-0067

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING

MARCH 30, 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 Georgette M. Price Acting For/

Michael R. Johnson 

Assistant for Operations, OEDO

Contact:

L. Rakovan, OEDO
April 6, 2007 SECY-07-0067

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING

March 30, 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 Georgette M. Price Acting For/

Michael R. Johnson

Assistant for Operations, OEDO

Contact:

L. Rakovan, OEDO

DISTRIBUTION:

EDO R/F

AO R/F Document Name: C:\WIR\week330.WPD

OEDO AO/OEDO

LRakovan MRJohnson

04/06/07 04/06/07
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING March 30, 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 11

NMSS 3 OIP *

FSME * SECY 13

RES 5 Region I *

NSIR 6 Region II 15

ADM 7 Region III *

OIS 8 Region IV *

CFO * EDO *

HR 9 OCA 16

SBCR *

*No input this week
March 30, 2007 ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 30, 2007

Containment Coatings Testing at McGuire

From March 20-22, 2007, the staff witnessed adhesion testing of containment coatings that was

being conducted at McGuire Unit 1. The testing was conducted by Duke Power personnel and

consultants under the auspices of Electric Power Research Institute/Nuclear Utility Coating

Council (NUCC). Containment coating testing is being conducted at several plants in

2006/2007 to demonstrate that aged protective coatings maintain adequate adhesion. McGuire

is the third unit to perform the testing. The results from the McGuire testing and that at other

plants will be used to evaluate licensee supplemental responses to Generic Letter 2004-02,

“Potential Impact of Debris Blockage on Emergency Recirculation during Design Basis

Accidents at Pressurized-Water Reactors,” and in resolution of Generic Safety Issue (GSI)-191,

"Assessment of Debris Accumulation on PWR Sump Performance.”

Quad Cities and Dresden - Management Meeting Regarding Extended Power Uprate Issues

On March 22, 2007, a Category 1 public meeting was held between representatives of NRR 

and NRC Region III staff, and the Exelon Generating Company (Exelon). The purpose of this

meeting was to discuss Exelon’s actions to address issues arising from extended power uprate

(EPU) operation at the Quad Cities Nuclear Power Station (Quad Cities) Units 1 and 2. Exelon

personnel reviewed EPU issues and their corrective actions, including steam dryer 

replacements, upgrades to electromatic relief valves, and installation of acoustic side branches

to reduce steam line vibrations. Steam dryer replacements are complete at both Quad Cities 

units and at Dresden Nuclear Power Station (Dresden) Unit 3. Dresden Unit 2 dryer will be

replaced during its fall 2007 refueling outage. The NRC staff indicated that it has not identified

any issues that prevent Exelon continuing full EPU operation at Quad Cities and Dresden. 

Exelon plans to submit a letter in April 2007 documenting its ongoing EPU issues corrective

actions commitments.

Waterford 3 - Public Meeting on Steam Generator Batwing Degradation Issue

On March 22, 2007, NRC staff met with Entergy at NRC’s office in Rockville, Maryland to

discuss the technical understanding of the steam generator batwing degradation condition, to

review analyses supporting safe plant operation, to review the mitigation actions taken, and to

discuss Entergy’s plans for a mid-cycle outage to inspect the steam generator batwings and

their support structures. Based on its understanding of the potential impact of the batwing

degradation condition on tube integrity, Entergy has concluded that inspections on the

secondary side of the steam generators should be sufficient to assure plant safety. Entergy will

be prepared to conduct primary site inspections, if needed. The mid-cycle outage will occur in

the fall of 2007.
March 30, 2007 ENCLOSURE C

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS)

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 30, 2007

Honeywell Licensee Performance Review

On March 21, 2007, NMSS staff, along with Region II Senior Management, conducted a public

meeting to formally present the findings of the 2006 Licensee Performance Review for the

Honeywell uranium conversion facility. The meeting was held at the Community Center in

downtown Metropolis, Illinois. The meeting was attended by plant personnel from Honeywell

and members of the public. 

Conclusion of American Centrifuge Plant Mandatory Hearings 

On March 21, 2007, the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board (Board) completed its mandatory

hearing for the USEC Inc. (USEC) American Centrifuge Plant. The Board considered a range

of safety and environmental issues associated with the construction, operation, and

decommissioning of the proposed facility, during the 3-day hearing. It is expected to render its

findings on whether to grant or deny a license to USEC by April 13, 2007.

Staff Observe Audit of U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Technical Data Management System

On March 22, 2007, staff completed an observation of a DOE, Office of Civilian Radioactive

Waste Management, Office of Quality Assurance audit of the Technical Data Management

System. The audit was conducted in Las Vegas, Nevada. Its objectives were to evaluate the

effectiveness of the processes for controlling technical data, the timeliness of data submittal to

the Project’s Technical Data Management System, and the traceability of submitted data to the

processes and products that reference the data. The NRC observers assessed the

effectiveness of DOE’s audit team and the audit process, in achieving the audit objectives.

Final Interim Staff Guidance on Level of Design Detail and Estimating Reliability

On March 22, 2007, a notice was published in the Federal Register (72 FR 13534) that

responded to public comments on draft Interim Staff Guidance, "Preclosure Safety Analysis -

Level of Information and Reliability Estimation." The interim guidance clarifies review guidance

in NUREG-1804, "Yucca Mountain Review Plan." Both the notice and final guidance

HLWRS-ISG-02 are in the NRC’s Agencywide Documents Access and Management System;

the accession number is ML070260204.

NRC and the DOE Quarterly Management Meeting

On March 27, 2007, NRC and DOE staffs held a “Quarterly Management Meeting” on the DOE

high-level waste program. Discussions included program updates and quality assurance

issues, such as the DOE root-cause analysis regarding U.S. Geological Survey e-mails. The

meeting was open to the public and was attended by interested parties, stakeholders, and

members of the press.
March 30, 2007 ENCLOSURE C

Public Meeting with Holtec International to Discuss the HI-STORM 100U Design Concept

Certificate of Compliance Amendment Application and Structural Issues

On March 27, 2007, NMSS staff met with representatives from Holtec International (Holtec) to

discuss the licensee’s plans for resubmittal of a request for approval of the HI-STORM 100U

underground design concept. The meeting was held to discuss Holtec’s response to structural

issues, identified during the NRC’s staff review of a proposed amendment to the HI-STORM

100 Certificate of Compliance, to incorporate the HI-STORM 100U that was withdrawn by

Holtec in late 2006. The withdrawal was predicated on staff concerns that seismic analyses

performed for the HI-STORM 100U would not adequately reflect potential site conditions. At

the meeting, Holtec presented new and revised structural analyses in response to the staff’s

concerns. The staff responded positively to the material presented by Holtec and indicated that

it appeared the staffs concerns had been addressed. A new application is scheduled to be

submitted by the end of April 2007.
March 30, 2007 ENCLOSURE E

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES)

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 30, 2007

Completion of Regulatory Guides for Use in New Reactor Licensing

On March 28, 2007, the staff completed the publication of the high-priority regulatory guides

(RGs) which needed to be completed in March 2007 to support new reactor licensing activities. 

In July 2006, the staff had identified 31 RGs to be revised or developed by March 2007 to

support new reactor licensing activities. Two were later identified as exceptions and not to be

completed by March 2007. One is the proposed revision to RG 1.93, “Availability of Electric

Power Sources,” which was subsequently evaluated and determined to not be needed and

withdrawn. The second is completion of RG 1.206, “Combined License Applications for Nuclear

Power Plants (LWR Edition),” which is being delayed until after incorporation of Commission

comments related to the final Part 52 rule. In the interim, certain sections of RG 1.206 will be

released for preliminary use prior to final publication of the RG. This completes the staff efforts

with the high-priority regulatory guides. The staff will now begin work on the next phases of

regulatory guides revision and development in accordance with the plan to review and update,

as necessary, all regulatory guides.
March 30, 2007 ENCLOSURE F

Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response (NSIR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 30, 2007

Preliminary Notifications

1. PNO-I-07-003, Underwood Engineering Testing Co., Inc., FOUND TROXLER

MOISTURE PORTABLE GUAGE

2. PNO-I-07-003A, Underwood Engineering Testing Co., Inc., FOUND TROXLER

MOISTURE PORTABLE GUAGE - UPDATE 
March 30, 2007 ENCLOSURE G

Office of Administration (ADM)

Items of Interest 

Week Ending March 30, 2007

Project on Government Oversight and Union of Concerned Scientists (PRM-50-83)

On March 29, 2007, the NRC published a document in the Federal Register (72 FR 14713) that

requests comment on a petition for rulemaking submitted by the Project on Government

Oversight and Union of Concerned Scientists (PRM-50-83). The petitioners request an

amendment that would require periodic demonstrations by applicable local, State, and Federal

authorities to ensure that nuclear power plants can be adequately protected against radiological

sabotage greater than the design basis threat. The comment period for this action closes June

12, 2007. 
March 30, 2007 ENCLOSURE H

Office of Information Services (OIS)

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 30, 2007

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

March 23 through March 29, 2007:

Advanced Isotopes of Idaho, inspection reports FOIA/PA-2007-0161

Differing Professional Opinion cases re: leak-before-break technology

in the design of a facility modification involving installation of new

emergency core cooling system (ECCS) recirculation sump strainers

at Oconee, Units 1 & 2, all related documents

FOIA/PA-2007-0162

Logs of correspondence between members of Congress & NRC

between Jan 1, 2007 to Feb 28, 2007

FOIA/PA-2007-0163

Paul S. Freiedman, MD,1422 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA,

license no. 37-00147-03, all records

FOIA/PA-2007-0164

Performance indicator (PI) data for all nuclear power plants, 4th

quarter 2007, specific format requested

FOIA/PA-2007-0165
March 30, 2007 ENCLOSURE J

Office of Human Resources (HR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 30, 2007

Arrivals

BUBAR, PATRICE DEP DIR, INTERGOVT LIAISON & RULEMKG FSME

CRAIG, JOCELYN SECRETARY (OA) NRR

CRAMER, CHAD FUEL FACILITY INSPECTOR (NSPDP) R-II

DEHN, JEFFREY IT SPECIALIST (TERM) RES

FUNCHES, JESSE CONSULTANT OCFO

GORHAM, RONNIE SECRETARY (OA) NRR

HOLBROOK, BOBBY SR. REACTOR INSPECTOR R-II

JOHNSON, ANDREW MATERIALS ENGINEER NRR

LAPPERT, GLENNA SECRETARY (OA) NRR

MANDEVILLE, DOUGLAS GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEER/SCIENTIST FSME

MORRIS. GEORGE CONSULTANT NRR

REDDEN, LINDSEY SECRETARY (OA) RES

STROSNIDER, JACK CONSULTANT HR

SULIMA, JOHN PROJECT MANAGER NMSS

THOMAS, JOHN IT SPECIALIST OIS

ZUBERI, SARDAR TECHNICAL LIBRARIAN OIS

Retirements

BARRETT, RICHARD ASST TO DIR FOR TRANSITION MGMT NRO

FOWLER, GORDON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OFFICER OIP

FUNCHES, JESSE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER CFO

MORRIS, GEORGE SENIOR ELECTRICAL ENGINEER NRR

STROSNIDER, JACK DIR, OFC OF NUC MATL SFTY & SFGDS NMSS

TREMPER, LEAH CHIEF, ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE TEAM CFO

TURNER, CHARLOTTE DIR, PROG MGMT, POLICY DEV & ANA. STA OIS
March 30, 2007 ENCLOSURE J

Departures

DE LA GARZA, RODRIGO GENERAL ENGINEER NRR

VAN WINKLE, MARK INFORMATION SECURITY

SPECIALIST

NSIR
March 30, 2007 ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs (OPA)

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 30, 2007

OPA received significant media inquiries on the following:

Japanese Boiling Water Reactor Criticality Incident. 

Massachusetts Attorney General’s (AG’s) lawsuit against NRC on denial of AG’s request for a

hearing on Pilgrim’s application; AG’s petition for rulemaking that encompasses spent fuel

concerns in licensing renewals.

NRC’s preparations for new reactor applications, licensing process and design certifications.

Contamination issues regarding missing source from a two-source gauge stolen in Philadelphia.

Other Public Affairs Items:

Coverage of Chairman Klein, accompanied by Commissioners Merrifield and Lyons, testifying

before the House Energy and Water Appropriations subcommittee on the NRC budget.

Assisted, the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards staff with an interview with

Inside NRC about progress on development of a framework for oversight of fuel cycle facilities

similar to an Reactor Oversight Process that was recommended by the Office of the Inspector

General in their recent audit. 

MSNBC.com continues to come up with questions about the issue of the Marshal's Service

providing law enforcement deputization for the Office of Investigations.

Press Releases

Headquarters:

07-038 Janice Dunn Lee Appointed Deputy Director General of the OECD/NEA;

Margaret Doane Appointed Office of International Programs Director (3/26)

07-039 Commission Vote Authorizes Early Site Permit for Grand Gulf Site in Mississippi

(3/27)

07-040 NRC Invites Nominations for Advisory Committee on Medical Use of Isotopes

(3/30)

07-041 NRC Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards to Meet April 5-7 in Rockville,

MD(3/30)

07-042 NRC Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste to Meet in Rockville, Maryland,

April 10-12 (3/30)
March 30, 2007 ENCLOSURE M

Regions:

I-07-011 NRC Asks for Help in Locating Missing Radioactive Source in Philadelphia

(3/26)

I-07-012 NRC to Discuss 2006 Assessment for Peach Bottom Nuclear Plant at Public

Meeting Scheduled for April 4 (3/28)

II-07-005 NRC to Discuss 2006 Performance at Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant (3/29)

II-07-006 NRC to Discuss 2006 Performance at Farley Nuclear Plant (3/29)

III-07-008 NRC to Discuss 2006 Performance Assessment for Prairie Island Nuclear

Power Plant (3/29)

III-07-009 NRC to Discuss 2006 Performance Assessment for Monticello Nuclear Power

Plant (3/29)

III-07-010 NRC to Discuss 2006 Performance Assessment for Duane Arnold Energy

Center (3/29)

III-07-011 NRC to Discuss 2006 Performance Assessment for Fermi Nuclear Power Plant

(3/29) 

IV-07-006 NRC to Discuss 2006 Performance Assessment for Palo Verde Nuclear

Generating Station(3/27)
March 30, 2007 ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary (SECY)

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 30, 2007

Document Released

to Public

Date Subject

Decision Documents

1. SRM-SECY-07-0032 03/28/07 Recommended Staff Actions Regarding

Correspondence with Allegers Involving

Security-Related Concerns

Voting Record on

SECY-07-0032

03/28/07 (same)

Information Papers

1. SECY-07-0049 3/8/07 Construction Inspection Roles and

Responsibilities

2. SECY-07-0050 3/9/07 Semiannual Report on Status of Staff

Information Technology/Information

Management and Business Process

Activities in Preparation for the High-Level

Waste Repository Proceedings

3. SECy-07-0057 3/27/07 Weekly Information Report - Week Ending

March 16, 2007

Memoranda

1. M070327 3/27/07 Affirmation Session: I. SECY-07-0051 -

System Energy Resources, Inc., (Early Site

Permit for Grand Gulf ESP)

2. M070329A 3/29/07 Affirmation Session: I. SECY-07-0044 - CBS

Corporation's Petition for Hearing Regarding

an NRC Staff Decision Not to Docket a CBS

Request for an Order That Would Change

Decontamination Standards Governing a

Westinghouse Materials License at Waltz

Mill

Commission Correspondence

1. Letter to Congress, U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Office of Personnel Management,

and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, dated March 22, 2007,

provides first Annual Report on the Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination

and Retaliation (No FEAR) Act of 2002.
March 30, 2007 ENCLOSURE O

2. Letter to Mr. Hiroshi Inoue, Japan, dated March 21, 2007, responds to request that NRC

allocate sufficient staff resources during FY 2008 to review advanced pressurized-water

reactor (US-APWR) design certification application.

3. Letter to Mr. George W. Foresman, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), dated

March 21, 2007, expresses appreciation on September 2006 meeting discussing the

Domestic Nuclear Detection Office’s (DNDO’s) efforts and information needs in

establishing a national nuclear detection program. 

4. Letter to Mr. Vayl Oxford, DHS, dated March 21, 2007, expresses appreciation on the

efforts of the DNDO in working with the NRC and the States in establishing a national

detection program.

5. Letter to Congress and the U.S. Government Accountability Office, dated March 21,

2007, provides NRC's response to GAO recommendations made in its report "Human

Capital: Retirements and Anticipated New Reactor Applications Will Challenge NRC's

Workforce" (GAO-07-105).

6. Letter to Mayor Mark Chilton, Town of Carrboro, North Carolina (NC); Ms. Ellie Kinnaird,

NC Senate; and Mayor Kevin C. Foy, Town of Capel Hill, NC, dated March 19, 2007,

responds to request for NRC participation in public meeting regarding a petition on

Shearon Harris.

7. Letter to Mr. Moses Carey, Jr., Chair, Orange County Board of County Commissioners,

NC, dated March 19, 2007, responds to request for NRC participation in public meeting

regarding a petition on Shearon Harris.

8, Letter to Secretary Samuel W. Bodman, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE); and Mr.

Dennis R. Spurgeon, DOE, dated March 16, 2007, expresses appreciation for meeting

with NRC. 

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. 10 CFR Part 50, Docket No. PRM-50-83, Project On Government Oversight and Union of

Concerned Scientists; Receipt of Petition for Rulemaking.

2. Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste, Meeting on Planning and Procedures, notice of

meeting (4/10/2007). 

3. Advisory Committee on the Medical Uses of Isotopes: Call for Nominations.

4. Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards, Subcommittee Meeting on ThermalHydraulic Phenomena, notice of meeting (4/19-20/2007). 

5. Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel, Notice of Hearing (Application for Early Site

Permit for Vogtle ESP Site).
March 30, 2007 ENCLOSURE P

Region II (RII)

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 30, 2007

Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Visit

On March 30, the Regional Administrator and Regional management visited the Browns Ferry

Nuclear Plant for a site tour and met with licensee management with both licensee

management and members of the NRC Operational Readiness Assessment Team (ORAT),

who are planning the Unit 1 ORAT inspection.
March 30, 2007 

Office of Congressional Affairs (OCA)

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 30, 2007

CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS SCHEDULE, NO. 10

OCA

Contact

 DATE &

 PLACE

TIME COMMITTEE SUBJECT 

Decker 03/28/2007

2362B

Rayburn

10:00 House Appropriations Committee,

Subcommittee on Energy andWater Development(Representatives Visclosky /Hobson)

FY 2008 Appropriations <

Chairman Dale <Dennis SpurgeNuclear Energ<Ward Sproat - Radioactive W