INFORMATION REPORT

March 7, 2007 SECY-07-0043

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING

FEBRUARY 16, 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/

Michael R. Johnson 

Assistant for Operations, OEDO

Contact:

R. Taylor, OEDO
March 7, 2007 SECY-07-0043

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING

FEBRUARY 16, 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/

Michael R. Johnson

Assistant for Operations, OEDO

Contact:

R. Taylor, OEDO

DISTRIBUTION:

EDO R/F

AO R/F Document Name: C:\WIR\week216.WPD

OEDO AO/OEDO

RTaylor:paa MRJohnson

03/07/07 03/08/07
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 16, 2007

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

Headquarters and Regional Office activities. 

Contact: R. Taylor, OEDO by E-mail: rxt2@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 17

NMSS 4 OIP *

FSME * SECY 19

RES * Region I *

NSIR * Region II 21

ADM * Region III *

OIS 12 Region IV *

CFO * EDO *

HR 16 OCA 24

SBCR *

*No input this week
February 16, 2007 ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 16, 2007

NRC Regulatory Issue Summary (RIS) 2007-02, "Clarification of NRC Guidance for Emergency

Notifications During Quickly Changing Events”

On February 2, 2007, the staff issued the subject RIS. The RIS described that it is not

permissible to restart the 15-minute notification clock if degrading plant conditions cause an

escalation in the declared emergency while the notification for the previous declaration was in

progress.

Public Meeting with Industry on Generic Safety Issue (GSI)-191

On February 7 and 8, 2007, the staff participated in a public meeting with the nuclear industry

including the Nuclear Energy Institute, nuclear utilities, and vendors on GSI-191, "Assessment

of Debris Accumulation on Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) Sump Performance." The

primary focus of the meeting was chemical effects and downstream (in vessel) effects. In the

chemical effects area, presentations from the sump strainer vendors and PWR Owner’s Group

indicate that the initial industry testing strategy to account for chemical effects has encountered

challenges. Currently, Westinghouse is performing tests to support the revision of its chemical

model. The sump strainer vendors are revising their test plans and most vendors indicated

revised testing would initiate in the late spring to summer time frame. Licensees are evaluating

a number of options to address chemical effects including removal of fibrous insulation,

changes to the post-Loss of Coolant Accident (LOCA) containment pool buffer, ability to backflush the strainer, and water management to prevent debris from reaching the sump strainer.

Meeting with Entergy Corporation on GSI-191

On February 9, 2007, the staff met with representatives of Entergy Corporation, the licensee for

Indian Point, at NRC headquarters. Entergy described the existing containment sump

configuration at Indian Point and the modifications completed or under consideration to address

GSI-191. Entergy noted that both units will have much larger strainers installed by spring 2007,

but that additional changes may be required to address chemical effects. Entergy discussed its

strategy for handling post-LOCA debris, including a circuitous flowpath to the sumps through

the incore instrumentation tunnel.
February 16, 2007 ENCLOSURE B

Office of New Reactors (NRO)

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 16, 2007

North Anna Early Site Permit (ESP) Hearing

On February 8, 2007, counsel filed the staff’s responses to the Atomic Safety and Licensing

Board questions related to the Safety Evaluation Report for the North Anna ESP. This filing

was in accordance with the Board’s Order of January 18, 2007. 

On February 8, 2007, the ASLB held a Limited Appearance Session in Louisa County, Virginia. 

About 30 members of the public presented their views. 
February 16, 2007 ENCLOSURE C

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS)

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 16, 2007

Meeting with Transnuclear Inc. (TN), to Discuss Amendment Request

On February 8, 2007, staff met with TN to discuss their January 12, 2007, Standardized

NUHOMS® design, amendment 10, application. The amendment proposes to: (1) add two new

high heat-load, high-burnup dry shielded canisters (DSCs); (2) add a high-seismic version of

the horizontal storage module; and (3) change the authorized contents for the NUHOMS®-

24PTH DSC and the NUHOMS®-32PT DSC. TN requested an expedited review of it’s

application. The staff stated at the meeting that, given the complexity of the review, and

assuming all issues can be resolved with one Request for Additional Information, a typical time

for completing a safety evaluation report for this type of amendment request is approximately 1

year.

Meeting with Holtec International to Discuss the HI-STAR 180 Transportation Package

On February 13, 2007, staff met with Holtec International, to discuss a new application for the

HI-STAR 180 transportation package. The HI-STAR 180 is unique because it uses

METAMIC®, a neutron absorber, for the fuel basket material. Holtec is also proposing a bolted

dual lid configuration. Either lid can act as the containment boundary. Holtec provided an

introduction and brief overview of the design and special features of the new package. The

application was submitted January 10, 2007.

Meeting with Eureka County, Nevada, Officials

On February 14, 2007, the NMSS Director and staff met with a County Commissioner, the

Director of Public Works, and nuclear waste consultants for Eureka County, Nevada. As a

recipient of nuclear waste funds, the county conducts oversight of the Yucca Mountain project,

including full participation in the National Environmental Policy Act process, relative to the

proposed repository.

The county officials were particularly interested in NRC’s process for deciding the extent to

which it could adopt a final environmental impact statement for the repository. Eureka County

officials’ primary concerns relate to potential transportation impacts. Another topic of

discussion was potential impacts of the Department of Energy’s use of a Transportation, Aging,

and Disposal Canister (TAD). 
February 16, 2007 ENCLOSURE H

Office of Information Services (OIS)

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 16, 2007

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

of February 9 through February 15, 2007:

Allegation NRR-2005-A-0033, all records FOIA/PA-2007-0117

Emergency Response Plans for nuclear power plants, emergency

management, evacuation services, etc.

FOIA/PA-2007-0118

Contract NRC-10-04-398, copy of winning proposal from SPS

Consulting 

FOIA/PA-2007-0119
February 16, 2007 ENCLOSURE J

Office of Human Resources (HR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 16, 2007

Arrivals

COPLIN, SETH PROJECT MANAGER (FINANCIAL) FSME

DEAHL, ELIZABETH TECHNICAL LIBRARIAN OIS

FIELDS, TIFFANY SECRETARY (OA) CFO

GALLETTA, THOMAS PHYSICAL SCIENTIST NRR

GOSSMAN, MICHAEL CONSULTANT FSME

GULLA, GERALD RELIABILITY & RISK ANALYST NRR

JOHNSON, ANDREA PROJECT MANAGER NRR

JOHNSON, DWINESE SECRETARY (OFFICE AUTOMATION) NRR

KELSH, JANICE PERSONNEL SECURITY SPECIALIST ADM

KHOURI, GEORGE REACTOR INSPECTOR RII

LANGLIE, ELIZABETH SECRETARY (OA) NRR

LENNING, EKATERINA GENERAL SCIENTIST NRR

LOVE BLAIR, ANGELLA REGULATIONS SPECIALIST ADM

RAHN, DAVID I&C ENGINEER RES

SHAIK, SAMINA NUCLEAR ENGINEER (NSPDP) RES

TELLO, LINDA GENERAL SCIENTIST NRR

Departure

FRANKLIN, CALVIN HUMAN RESOURCES ASSISTANT HR
February 16, 2007 ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs (OPA)

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 16, 2007

The OPA received significant media inquiries on the following:

Indian Point’s test of its new siren system and the Commission’s decision not to conduct an

independent safety assessment of the plant.

Detroit Edison’s announcement that it intends to apply for a combined license for a new reactor

at the Fermi plant site.

Other Public Affairs Items:

Commissioner McGaffigan was interviewed by National Public Radio for a profile that ran

February 16 on “Morning Edition.”

OPA Region II assisted at the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board’s pre-hearing session in

Waynesboro, Georgia regarding the Vogtle early site permit application.

Press Releases

Regions:

III-07-002 NRC Finds Problem with Tank Design of Low to Moderate Safety Significance

(2/12)
February 16, 2007 ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary (SECY)

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 16, 2007

Document Released

to Public

Date Subject

Decision Documents

1. COMSECY-07-0001 1/23/07 Appointment to the Patients’ Rights

Advocate Position for the Advisory

Committee on the Medical Uses of Isotopes

SRM on COMSECY-07-0001 2/12/07 (same)

Commission Voting Record

on COMSECY-07-0001

2/12/07 (same)

2. Revised COMSECY-06-0068 12/28/06 Independent Assessment of the

Implementation of the Reactor Oversight

Process by the Regional Offices

SRM on COMSECY-06-0068 2/15/07 (same)

Commission Voting Record

on 06-0068

2/15/07 (same)

Information Papers

1. SECY-07-0018 1/12/07 Licensing Support Network Program

Administration - Semiannual Report

2. SECY-07-0029 2/8/07 Weekly Information Report - Week Ending

February 2, 2007

3. SECY-07-0028 2/7/07 Weekly Information Report - Week Ending

January 26, 2007

4. SECY-07-0022 1/30/07 Status Report on proposed Improvements to

the Generic Issues Program

5. SECY-07-0023 1/31/07 Issuance of Generic Letter 2007-01,

“Inaccessible or Underground Power Cable

Failures that Disable Accident Mitigation

Systems or Cause Plant Transients”

Memoranda

1. SRM-M070215A 2/15/07 Staff Requirements - Affirmation Session: I.

SECY-07-0024 - System Energy

Resources, Inc. (Early Site Permit for Grand

Gulf)
February 16, 2007 ENCLOSURE O

2. SRM-M070123 2/16/07 Staff Requirements - Meeting with Federal

Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on

Grid Reliability

Commission Correspondence

1. Letter to Congressman Hinchey, Congresswoman Lowey, and Congressman Engel, dated

February 15, 2007, responds to letter requesting the development of an independent

assessment of the NRC’s Reactor Oversight Process at the Indian Point nuclear power

plant.

2. Letter to Congress, dated February 9, 2007, concerns NRC’s competitive sourcing efforts

for Fiscal Year 2006.

3. Letter to Congress, dated February 2, 2007, expresses appreciation for interest in the

resources needed for NRC’s anticipated increased workload and related hiring goals.

4. Letter to Dixon Butler and Kevin Cook, dated February 2, 2007, expresses appreciation for

interest in the resources needed for NRC’s anticipated increased workload and related

hiring goals.

5. Letter to Mun-Ki Lee, Republic of Korea, dated February 2, 2007, expresses

congratulations on new appoint in the Energy and Environment Coordination Bureau at the

Ministry of Science and Technology.

6. Letter to Dr. Yuichi Tonozuka, Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA), dated February 2,

2007, responds to letter advising of his retirement as President of JAEA.

7. Letter to Takuya Hattori, Japan Atomic Industrial Forum, Inc, (JAIF) dated February 2,

2007, responds to invitation to participate in the upcoming 40th JAIF Annual Conference.

8. Letter to Byung-Ryong Moon, Atomic Energy Bureau, dated February 2, 2007, express

congratulations on new position as Director General for Nuclear Safety at the Ministry of

Science and Technology. 

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards, Subcommittee Meeting on Planning and

Procedures” (03/07/2007).

2. Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards, Subcommittee Meeting on Future Plant

Designs (03/07/2007).

3. Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards, notice of 540th meeting (03/8-10/2007). 
February 16, 2007 ENCLOSURE P

Region II (RII)

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 16, 2007

Tennessee Valley Authority-Sequoyah Public Meeting

On February 13, 2007, representatives from the Tennessee Valley Authority attended a public

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

was to discuss the Annual Plant Status.
February 16, 2007 

Office of Congressional Affairs (OCA)

Items of Interest

Week Ending February 16, 2007

CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS SCHEDULE, NO. 4

 OCA

Contact

 DATE &

 PLACE

TIME COMMITTEE SUBJECT 

Sahm 02/13/2007

406 Dirksen

10:00 Senate Environment and Public

Works(Senators Boxer / Inhofe)

Findings of the US ClimateAction Partnership Report

- Chad H

CEO, D

- Jonath

Resou

- Peter D

preside

- Steve 

Americ

- Kevin B

presideand Co

- Fred S

Compe

- Harold 

Contin

Combs /Decker

03/13/2007

TBD

2:30 Senate Committee on Homeland

Security and GovernmentOversight, Subcommittee onOversight of GovernmentManagement, the FederalWorkforce, and the District ofColumbia(Senators Akaka / Voinovich)

GAO's report: DOE'sInternational RadiologicalThreat Reduction ProgramNeeds to Focus Future Effortson Securing the HighestPriority Radiological Sources

Not yet determRequested:- GAO- IAEA- DOE- State D- NRC- non-go
CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS SCHEDULE, NO. 4

 OCA

Contact

 DATE &

 PLACE

TIME COMMITTEE SUBJECT 

February 16, 2007 

Decker 03/28/2007

TBD

1:00 House Appropriations Committee,

Subcommittee on Energy andWater Development(Representatives Visclosky /Hobson)

FY 2008 Appropriations Not yet determ

Requested:- NRC- DOE O- DOE O

Waste