INFORMATION REPORT

June 5, 2007 SECY-07-0089

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING

MAY 18, 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:

U. Shoop, OEDO
June 5, 2007 SECY-07-0089

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING

MAY 18, 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:

U. Shoop, OEDO

DISTRIBUTION:

EDO R/F

AO R/F Document Name: C:\WIR\week518.WPD

OEDO LJR for AO/OEDO

UShoop:paa VLOrdaz

06/05/07 06/05/07
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING MAY 18, 2007

The Weekly Information Report is compiled by the Office of the EDO and includes highlights of

Headquarters and Regional Office activities. 

Contact: U. Shoop, OEDO by E-mail: USS@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 3 OPA 18

NMSS 4 OIP *

FSME 6 SECY 19

RES 7 Region I *

NSIR 10 Region II 21

ADM * Region III *

OIS 12 Region IV 23

CFO * EDO *

HR 16 OCA 24

SBCR 17

*No input this week
May 18, 2007 ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 18, 2007

Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) Thermal-Hydraulic Phenomena

Subcommittee Meeting Regarding Generic Safety Issue (GSI)-191

On May 15-16, 2007, representatives of the nuclear industry, NRR, and RES briefed the ACRS

Subcommittee on Thermal-Hydraulic Phenomena on the status of GSI-191, Pressurized Water

Reactor (PWR) Sump Clogging. Four licensees provided detailed descriptions of their actions

and plans to address GSI-191. In addition, the PWR Owners Group briefed the Subcommittee

on topical reports they have submitted to the staff on the subjects of chemical and downstream

effects. The Staff discussed status of review of the topical reports, provided an update on

various GSI-191 activities, and discussed the process the staff is employing to address

remaining technical questions. The Subcommittee anticipates another briefing from the staff in

fall 2007, at which time safety evaluations for the topical reports should be complete and much

of the industry's planned chemical effects testing should be done.

Monthly Reactor Oversight Process (ROP) Public Meeting

On May 16, the NRR staff held the monthly ROP public meeting. The purpose of this meeting

was to allow discussion on staff initiatives and provide a forum for industry feedback. Meeting

attendees discussed mitigating systems performance index (MSPI) implementation, safety

culture integration into the reactor oversight process, performance indicator issues, and open

and new frequently asked questions for the ROP.
May 18, 2007 ENCLOSURE B

Office of New Reactors (NRO)

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 18, 2007

Staff visit proposed sites as part of pre-combined license application activities

On May 3, 2007, staff visited the Grand Gulf site, which has been proposed as the site for a

new reactor. Staff made a similar visit to the Shearon Harris site on May 7 and 8, and the

William Lee Site on May 9 and 10. The purpose of these visits was to familiarize the staff with

the proposed sites and to begin establishing a working relationship with the applicants and local

agencies. Topics discussed during the visit included hydrology, emergency planning,

meteorology, ecology, radiation protection, socioeconomics, energy alternatives, and alternative

sites. 
May 18, 2007 ENCLOSURE C

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS)

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 18, 2007

International Atomic Energy Agency Safety Evaluation During Operation Evaluation at Brazilian

Uranium Fuel Fabrication Facility

Between April 23, 2007, and May 9, 2007, an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team

of six experts, including an NRC staff member, conducted an operational safety review, also

known as a Safety Evaluation During Operation (SEDO) mission, of Brazil’s uranium fuel

fabrication facility in Resende, in the State of Rio de Janeiro. This was the IAEA’s first such

mission to a fuel cycle facility. The SEDO team had four other experts from France, Germany,

Sweden, and Spain. The team leader was an IAEA official. Also present were two observers

from Argentina. On the day of the exit meeting, a draft report documenting the SEDO team’s

recommendations was provided to the facility operator, Nuclear Industries of Brazil (INB). This

report is anticipated to be finalized in about three months. According to INB, an action plan will

be prepared and implemented to address the IAEA’s recommendations. In about 18 months,

the IAEA team leader, with one or two team members, will likely revisit the facility to determine

the extent of INB’s implementation of the IAEA’s recommendations.

Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board Meeting on Yucca Mountain

On May 15, 2007, staff attended a public meeting of the U.S. Nuclear Waste Technical Review

Board in Arlington, VA. The meeting covered several topics related to a potential geologic

repository at Yucca Mountain, NV, including: (a) the use of depleted uranium oxide; (b) a drilling

program carried out by Inyo County in California; (c) waste package designs; (d) the saturated

zone model; (e) near-field chemistry; and (f) probabilistic volcanic hazards analysis.

U.S. Department of Energy Workshop on Volcanic Hazard Analysis for Yucca Mountain

From May 10-11, 2007, staff observed a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) public workshop in

Las Vegas, NV. The workshop was an update to DOE’s expert elicitation of its Probabilistic

Volcanic Hazard Analysis for a potential geologic repository at Yucca Mountain.

Foam Degradation Observed in Certain Overpacks Used for Shipment of Uranium Hexafluoride

In May 2007, Columbiana Hi Tech informed staff about degradation in some overpacks used for

the transport of low-enriched uranium hexafluoride. The overpacks were of a design that is

authorized by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), and are composed of a rigid

phenolic foam encased in stainless steel shells. The overpacks, which were being scrapped,

displayed a degree of friability and reduction of strength in the phenolic foam. Subsequently, a

meeting was held at DOT Headquarters, with representatives of companies that own and use

phenolic foam overpacks. The owners in attendance reported that their overpacks did not

display similar degradation. At the meeting, the owners agreed to evaluate their overpacks with

respect to possible mechanisms for foam degradation and to report their findings to DOT. 

Columbiana Hi Tech is the certificate holder for an NRC-certified design that uses the same

type of phenolic foam; however, degradation has not been observed in NRC-certified
May 18, 2007 ENCLOSURE C

packagings. NRC staff will continue to coordinate and provide technical assistance to DOT,

regarding this issue.

Public Meeting with U.S. Department of Energy - Idaho Field Office on the Standardized

Canister

On May 7-8, 2007, staff met with representatives from the DOE - Idaho Field Office (DOE-ID)

and their contractors in Idaho Falls, Idaho. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the

material and structural integrity of the Standardized Canister design, which will be used as part

of the transportation package for transporting DOE-owned spent nuclear fuel to a high-level

waste repository. DOE-ID and its contractors presented the results of the material tests and the

full-scale drop tests. NRC staff also toured the facility where DOE-ID has been performing the

material tests, and discussed the regulatory process and the level of detail regarding DOE’s

planned submittal of its Standardized Canister design.

Meeting with NAC International on NAC-LWT Transport Package

On May 14, 2007, staff met with NAC international (NAC), to discuss an amendment for the

Model No. NAC-LWT package, for the transport of spent fuel to support the DOE’s Foreign

Research Reactor Spent Nuclear Fuel Acceptance Program. This amendment application,

received on May 7, 2007, requests the addition of materials and test reactor fuel that has a

higher fissile content than what is currently authorized. NAC stated that it will provide a

supplement to the application by the end of May 2007, to clarify procedure controls to be used,

and to provide additional detail in the criticality safety analysis.
May 18, 2007 ENCLOSURE D

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

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 18, 2007

Savannah River Site Citizen’s Advisory Board Meeting on Tank Closure

On May 8, 2007, staff participated in a public meeting on the Savannah River Site (SRS)

Citizen’s Advisory Board, to discuss closure of radioactive waste storage tanks at SRS. The

NRC presentation focused on the Agency’s role in reviewing the U.S. Department of Energy

(DOE) incidental waste determinations and monitoring disposal actions for the tanks, as well as

the public participation process for NRC reviews. DOE, the U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA) and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control also

provided presentations on their respective roles.

Closed Meeting with the DOE to Discuss Technical Issues Related to Savannah River Site

Waste Determinations

On May 8-9, 2007, staff met with the DOE, EPA, and South Carolina Department of Health and

Environmental Control staff in Columbia, SC, to discuss technical issues and concepts related

to performance assessment modeling for the Savannah River Site F-Tank Farm. Discussion

topics included dose conversion factors, bioaccumulation factors, and modeling code

integration. A followup meeting will be held this summer to discuss preliminary model results,

which will support future waste determinations for F-Tank Farm tanks.
May 18, 2007 ENCLOSURE E

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES)

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 18, 2007

Issuance of Publicly-Available Report, “U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Long-Term

Research: FY 2009 Activities”

On May 16, 2007, the Office Director signed out letters forwarding a publicly-available version

of the “U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Long-Term Research: FY 2009 Activities” report to

domestic stakeholders (ML071290405). The letters requested input from the external

stakeholders, including the identification of potential collaborative opportunities. The letter also

invited them to participate in a public meeting on the topic, to be held on June 1. Addressees of

the letters included other government agencies the US National Laboratories, public advocacy

groups, and an organization representing universities with nuclear engineering departments. A

similar letter to foreign partners is expected to be signed shortly (ML071290689).

Public Meeting between NRC and Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) on Steam

Generator Tube Rupture during a Pressurized Water Reactor Severe Accident

On May 15, 2007, the NRC staff and its contractors held a public meeting with EPRI and its

contractors to discuss issues relating to separate NRC and EPRI studies of reactor coolant

pressure boundary behavior and failure timing under severe accident conditions. NRC draft

reports on this matter indicate that unflawed steam generator tubes may fail at about the same

time as the hot leg under high-dry station blackout scenarios. EPRI studies indicate that failure

of the steam generator tubes would likely be preceded by a failure in the hot leg which would

preclude containment bypass. EPRI presented results of its peer review of the NRC draft

reports and NRC staff and contractors presented responses to the EPRI comments. These

presentations were followed by a general discussion of specific areas of the NRC and EPRI

studies warranting further investigation. Representatives from the Union of Concerned

Scientists and Sierra Club were present at the meeting.
May 18, 2007 ENCLOSURE F

Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response (NSIR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 18, 2007

Preliminary Notification

- PNO-III-07-006A, PALISADES NUCLEAR PLANT, PALISADES SHUTDOWN DUE TO

LOW STEAM GENERATOR LEVEL (UPATE)
May 18, 2007 ENCLOSURE H

Office of Information Services (OIS)

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 18, 2007

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

of May 11 through May 17, 2007:

Occupational radiation dose record on named individual FOIA/PA-2007-0203

OI report 4-2006-042 FOIA/PA-2007-0204

OI report 4-2006-014, all records FOIA/PA-2007-0205

Integrated Materials Performance Evaluation Program (IMPEP)

review of the State of Washington final report in or about 2003;

information re: performance of Washington State Department of

Health re: IMPEP activities; and review of decommissioning funding

plan, 2003 or later

FOIA/PA-2007-0206

OI report 4-2006-014, all records including recorded testimony,

transcripts of interviews, etc.

FOIA/PA-2007-0207

Entergy’s sampling of sewage at Indian Point Energy Center for

radionuclides; any and all correspondence between NRC and Entergy

Nuclear Northwest and New York State agencies from September 1,

2006 to May 11, 2007, include reports

FOIA/PA-2007-0208

USEC report to NRC re: Allegation RII-2007-A-0013 FOIA/PA-2007-0209

Resume, record of NRC and private industry experience, education

and NRC training records, and military experience on named NRC

staff

FOIA/PA-2007-0210

Safety, security, and structural concerns/problems as it relates to the

continued safe operations of commercial nuclear reactors and their

leaking spent fuel pools; community evacuation/sheltering in place

FOIA/PA-2007-0211

NUMEC Corp., Apollo, PA, decommissioning report FOIA/PA-2007-0212

Westinghouse MCC-3, MCC-4 and MCC-5 shipping containers,

documents re: approval; safety analysis report (SAR)

FOIA/PA-2007-0213
May 18, 2007 ENCLOSURE J

Office of Human Resources (HR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 18, 2007

Arrivals

COLLINS, BRENDAN REACTOR INSPECTOR (ENTRY LEVEL) R-II

GAFFNEY, VANNA STUDENT ENGINEER NRR

JONES, ANDREA ATTORNEY OGC

KALKMAN, ADAM STUDENT CLERK OI

LEARN, MATTHEW STUDENT ENGINEER (CO-OP) R-III

WRIGHT, HATTIE SECRETARY (OA) R-IV

Departure

MCGUIRE, JOSHUA HEALTH PHYSICIST NRR
May 18, 2007 ENCLOSURE K

Office of Small Business and Civil Rights (SBCR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 18, 2007

NRC Hosts Small Business Procurement Fair

On May 16, 2007, SBCR hosted a Small Business Procurement Fair at NRC Headquarters. 

Representatives from 27 small businesses from a variety of industry groups displayed their

products and services and distributed corporate capabilities information. Approximately 200

NRC management and staff members from 17 offices participated in the event. NRC staff and

the small business representatives commented that the fair provided an excellent opportunity

for face-to-face meetings with key potential business partners, and requested that NRC host

similar outreach activities in the near future. 
May 18, 2007 ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs (OPA)

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 18, 2007

OPA received significant media inquiries on the following:

Demand For Information issued to First Energy

Browns Ferry restart

Fire protection and security guard issues at Shearon Harris

Press Releases

Headquarters:

07-059 NRC Approves Final Rule on Expanded Definition of Byproduct Material (5/14)

07-060 NRC to Hold Public Meeting May 22 on Work Authorizations For New Nuclear

Power Plants (5/14)

07-061 NRC Demands Information From First Energy Regarding Davis-Besse Nuclear

Power Plant (5/14)

Regions:

I-07-027 Oral Comments to be Accepted in Toms River, N.J., on May 31 Regarding

Proceeding on Oyster Creek License Renewal Application (5/14)

I-07-028 NRC to Discuss 2006 Assessment for Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Plant at Public

Meeting Scheduled for May 22 (5/15)

II-07-032 NRC Authorizes Restart of Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Unit 1 (5/15)

I-07-029 NRC to Discuss 2006 Assessment for Oyster River Nuclear Plant at Public

Meeting in Toms River, N.J., on May 23 (5/16)

I-07-30 NRC to Discuss Preliminary Results of License Renewal Inspection For Vermont

Yankee Nuclear Power Plant on May 24 (5/17)

III-07-020 NRC to Discuss 2006 Performance Assessment for Braidwood Nuclear Power

Plant (5/17)
May 18, 2007 ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary (SECY)

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 18, 2007

Document Released

to Public

Date Subject

Decision Documents

1. Commission Voting

Record on SECY-07-

0062

5/14/07 Final Rule: Requirements for Expanded

Definition of Byproduct Material (RIN:

3150-AH84)

2. SRM-SECY-07-0047 5/16/07 Staff Approach to Verifying the Closure of

ITAAC through a Sample-Based Inspection

Program

Voting Record on

SECY-07-0047

5/16/07 (same)

Information Papers

- SECY-07-0074 4/26/07 Update on the Improvements to the RiskInformed Regulation Implementation Plan

Memoranda

- M070514 5/14/07 Affirmation Session: I. SECY-07-0062 -

Final Rule: Requirements for Expanded

Definition of Byproduct Material (RIN:

3150-AH84)

Commission Correspondence

- Letter to Robert Loux, State of Nevada, dated May 9, 2007, responding to letter

requesting that the Commission reconsider instituting the procedures outlined in an

April 2003 petition.

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 18, 2007 ENCLOSURE P

Region II (RII)

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 18, 2007

Vogtle Public Meeting

On May 17, 2007, representatives from Southern Nuclear Operating Company attended a

public meeting for the Vogtle Nuclear Plant in the Region II Office. The purpose of the meeting

was to discuss the status of the Vogtle Nuclear Plant.
May 18, 2007 ENCLOSURE P

Region IV (RIV)

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 18, 2007

Annual Assessment Public Meeting with Entergy Operations, Inc.

On May 17, 2007, the staff conducted a public meeting with Entergy Operations, Inc.

representatives to present the NRC’s assessment of the safety performance of Waterford-3

Steam Electric Station for the period of January 1 through December 31, 2006. Approximately

25 attended the meeting including state and local officials. There was no media coverage.
May 18, 2007 

Office of Congressional Affairs (OCA)

Items of Interest

Week Ending May 18, 2007

CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS SCHEDULE, NO. 16

OCA

Contact

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