INFORMATION REPORT 

February 8, 2008 SECY-08-0016

For: The Commissioners 

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

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING 

FEBRUARY 1, 2008 

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: 

A.C. Ridge, OEDO 
February 8, 2008 SECY-08-0016

For: The Commissioners 

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

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING 

FEBRUARY 1, 2008 

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: 

A.C. Ridge, OEDO 

DISTRIBUTION: 

EDO R/F 

AO R/F Document Name: G:\AO\WIR\2008\Week0201.doc 

OEDO AO/OEDO 

ACRidge VLOrdaz ML080390499 

02/07/08 02/07/08 
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 1, 2008

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

Headquarters and Regional Office activities. 

Contact: A.C. Ridge, OEDO by E-mail: acr1@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 19 

RES * Region I 20 

NSIR 10 Region II 21 

ADM 11 Region III 22 

OIS 12 Region IV 23 

CFO * EDO * 

HR 16 OCA 24 

SBCR * 

*No input this week 
February 1, 2008 ENCLOSURE A 

 Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending February 1, 2008 

Results of Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) Workshop on Primary System Gas Accumulation 

Management

On January 16 and 17, 2008, NEI conducted a workshop on primary system gas accumulation 

management in Austin, Texas. The workshop was attended by a large number of licensees as 

well as industry representatives including NEI, the Boiling Water Reactor Owners Group 

(BWROG) and Pressurized Water Reactor Owners Group (PWROG) chairmen, Institute of 

Nuclear Power Operations (INPO), Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and several 

industry consultants. A number of licensees and consultants made presentations about their 

efforts in the past to address problems associated with gas accumulation in emergency core 

cooling systems (ECCS). The information presented was relevant to licensees as they 

undertake their evaluations of gas accumulation in response to NRC Generic Letter (GL) 

2008-01, “Managing Gas Accumulation in Emergency Core Cooling, Decay Heat Removal and 

Containment Spray Systems,” dated January 11, 2008. NEI agreed that further meetings with 

the NRC staff on this issue will be needed as it moves forward with the development of guidance 

on managing gas accumulation and the development of a template for licensees’ responses to 

GL 2008-01. 

Meeting with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)

On January 17, 2008, the staff met with representatives of the Federal Energy Regulatory 

Commission (FERC) at FERC Headquarters in Washington, D.C. The purpose of the meeting 

was to discuss the North American Electric Reliability Cooperation (NERC) Standard, 

Nuclear-001 (NUC-001) on Nuclear Power Plant Grid Interface Coordination. NUC-001 has 

been approved and issued by NERC and is currently with FERC for final review, approval and 

issuance to the industry. 

Staff Participates in Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Stationary Battery 

Committee's Winter Meeting

 

From January 21 to 24, 2008, the Stationary Battery Committee of the IEEE hosted a conference 

in Dallas, TX. The purpose of this meeting was to collectively work with conference participants 

to improve IEEE standards relating to stationary batteries. Specifically, the staff assisted with 

the development of new revisions to IEEE standards related to stationary batteries, including 

IEEE Standard 450, "IEEE Recommended Practice for Maintenance, Testing, and Replacement 

of Vented Lead-Acid Batteries for Stationary Applications," IEEE Standard 484, "IEEE 

Recommended Practice for Installation Design And Installation of Vented Lead-Acid Batteries for 

Stationary Applications," IEEE Standard 1187, "IEEE Recommended Practice for Installation 

Design and Installation of Valve-Regulated Lead-Acid Storage Batteries for Stationary 

Applications," and IEEE Standard 1188, "IEEE Recommended Practice for Maintenance, 

Testing, and Replacement of Valve-Regulated Lead- Acid (VRLA) Batteries for Stationary 

Applications." 
February 1, 2008 ENCLOSURE A 

James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant Safety Evaluation Report

On January 26, 2008, the staff issued the Safety Evaluation Report (SER) related to the license 

renewal of the James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant (JAFNPP). By letter dated July 31, 

2006, Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. submitted a license renewal application pursuant to Title 

10, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 54 for NRC’s review and renewal of the JAFNPP’s 

operating license for an additional 20 years. Issuance of the SER is an important milestone for 

the applicant and the staff. The NRC staff has closed all open items and identified no 

confirmatory items in its review. 

Observation of Pilot Peer Review of the Diablo Canyon Fire Probabilistic Risk Assessment 

From January 28 to February 1, 2008, the staff observed the NEI’s pilot peer review of the 

Diablo Canyon fire probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) to learn the approach planned by the 

industry. The staff also used this opportunity to gather experience for use in the subsequent 

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 805 pilot plant staff reviews on the Harris and 

Oconee fire PRAs. 

Staff Holds Public Meetings to Solicit Comments on the Draft Supplemental Environmental 

Impact Statement for the License Renewal of Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant

On January 30, 2008, the staff conducted two meetings in Apex, North Carolina, to solicit public 

comments on the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (DSEIS) regarding the 

Shearon Harris License Renewal Review. The Draft Supplement 33, published in December 

2007, is a site-specific supplement to the AGeneric Environmental Impact Statement for License 

Renewal of Nuclear Plants@ (NUREG-1437). Approximately 25 people attended the meetings, 

including members of the public, representatives from Progress Energy, local citizen 

organizations, and local news media. Public comments and questions were mainly focused on 

the impact of the plant on water use and the effect of radiation on human health. 

 

As part of the public outreach effort, the staff held an open house for an hour prior to the start of 

each meeting. The open house provided members of the public with an opportunity to talk 

informally with the NRC staff and view informational displays and brochures. 

Generic License Renewal Topics and Process Improvement Public Meeting

On January 30, 2008, the staff conducted a category 2 public meeting with NEI regarding 

generic license renewal topics and process improvements at the NRC headquarters in Rockville, 

Maryland. During the meeting the NRC staff discussed its intent to provide additional 

clarification to the existing staff guidance related to the scoping of station blackout structures, 

systems and components. This additional guidance is consistent with the license renewal and 

station blackout regulations. The staff plans to issue the guidance as Interim Staff Guidance, 

which will provide an opportunity for the public to comment on the proposed guidance. 
February 1, 2008 ENCLOSURE A 

Meeting to Discuss Draft Procedure for Conducting Acceptance Reviews for Requests for 

Licensing Action

On January 31, 2008, the staff conducted a public meeting to solicit comments on a draft 

procedure for conducting acceptance reviews for licensees’ requests for licensing actions. The 

procedure is intended to allow a more effective and efficient staff review. Industry attendees 

expressed support for the proposed approach and provided suggestions for revisions and 

clarifications which will be provided in writing to the staff. The staff will consider the comments 

within the context of the procedural goals before issuing the procedure as final, currently 

scheduled for April 2008. 
February 1, 2008 ENCLOSURE B 

 Office of New Reactors (NRO) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending February 1, 2008 

Revision 4 of the Vogtle Early Site Permit Application

On January 22, 2008, the staff received a letter from Southern Nuclear Operating Company 

(SNC) stating that revision 4 to the Vogtle early site permit application would be submitted to the 

NRC on March 31, 2008. SNC is also expected to provide the staff with additional data and test 

results necessary for the staff to complete its review. Staff expects this new information will 

have a significant effect on the safety review schedule as well as the overall permit issuance 

schedule. The staff is currently developing a new schedule to incorporate this delay. 

Acceptance of North Anna Combined License Application 

On January 28, 2008, the staff issued a letter, with associated Federal Register Notice (FRN), to 

Dominion to notice the docketing of the North Anna Unit 3 combined license (COL) application. 

The letter and FRN are available at ML080240154. The docket number for this application is 

052-017. 

MidAmerican Nuclear Energy Company Combined License Application

By letter dated January 28, 2008, MidAmerican notified the staff that it will not submit a COL 

application to the NRC in 2008. MidAmerican had previously informed NRC staff that it was 

evaluating several sites in the Western United States in support of a December 2008 COL 

application. 

 
February 1, 2008 ENCLOSURE C 

 Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending February 1, 2008 

International Technical Support

From January 21 to 25, 2008, a Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards staff member participated in 

a workshop on domestic Material Protection Control and Accounting (MPC&A) inspections, held 

in Beijing. The workshop was held as part of a cooperative agreement between the U.S. 

Department of Energy (DOE)/National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and the China 

Atomic Energy Authority (CAEA). MPC&A cooperation with China is relatively new and is 

administered in the U.S. through DOE/NNSA's Office of International Material Protection and 

Cooperation’s Office of Material Consolidation and Civilian Sites. The major areas of 

discussion, during the workshop, were: (1) the DOE, NRC, and CAEA regulatory frameworks 

(that provide inspection authority), (2) MC&A and Physical Protection inspection techniques and 

(3) inspector training. The workshop included a tour of the nuclear material control laboratory 

and training center at the China Institute of Atomic Energy, which is located near Beijing. 

NRC Issues Severity Level III Violation, with Proposed Civil Penalty, to BWX Technologies, Inc.

On January 24, 2008, NRC issued a Severity Level III violation, with proposed Civil Penalty, to 

BWX Technologies, Inc. (BWXT), for a violation of NRC requirements. The violation involved a 

failure to analyze a potential nuclear criticality safety event at BWXT's fuel cycle facility, near 

Lynchburg, Virginia. No criticality occurred. On July 26, 2007, a specially designed vacuum 

cleaner, carrying highly enriched uranium solution, spilled its contents into an attached plastic 

bag being used for contamination control. This configuration had not been analyzed for nuclear 

criticality safety. The actual consequences of the spill were minimal, because of the amount and 

low concentration of the highly enriched uranium solution. However, the potential consequences 

were significant, because highly enriched uranium solution could have been present, in which 

case a criticality accident might have been possible. NRC concluded that BWXT, in this case, 

had insufficient controls to ensure that highly enriched uranium solution would be maintained 

within acceptable quantities and concentrations. 
February 1, 2008 ENCLOSURE E 

 Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending February 1, 2008 

Agreement between NRC and the Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT) in the Area of 

Thermal-Hydraulic Code Applications and Maintenance

On January 14, 2008, the NRC’s Executive Director for Operations signed the subject 

international agreement. The agreement defines the terms and conditions by which the NRC 

and the VTT will continue cooperation in the Code Applications and Maintenance Program 

(CAMP) on the basis of mutual benefit and reasonable equity and reciprocity. The research 

conducted, the in-kind information exchanged, and the participation fee provided by VTT under 

this Agreement will contribute to the NRC’s goal of leveraging agency resources and 

independently verifying the accuracy of the NRC’s thermal-hydraulic codes through the 

expansion of the international user community and through their subsequent applications and 

feedback. This international participation and feedback contributes significantly to the quality 

assurance of the TRAC/RELAP Advanced Computational Engine (TRACE) code. This code is 

used by the NRC to evaluate transient and accident scenarios, assess generic safety issues, 

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

Agreement will become effective upon signature and will remain in effect for 5 years. 
February 1, 2008 ENCLOSURE F 

 Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response (NSIR) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending February 1, 2008 

Emergency Preparedness Seminar

On January 23, 2008, NRC staff met with 16 utility Emergency Preparedness (EP) managers at 

the EP Seminar held by the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO). The Seminar was the 

second in a series of training initiatives for new EP managers at INPO. Topics discussed 

included development of more realistic and challenging EP exercises, Emergency Action Level 

guidance and other topics important to effective EP programs. 

PNO-I-08-002 – R.E. Ginna Nuclear Power Plant

Loss of site communications due to high winds. 

PNO-II-08-001 – Global Nuclear Fuel – Americas, LLC.

Alert declared based on moderator alarm in moderator-limited process vessel. 

PNO-I-08-001A – Seabrook 1

Unplanned shutdown greater than 72 hours resulting from automatic reactor trip due to ground 

fault on 345kv line. 
February 1, 2008 ENCLOSURE G 

 Office of Administration (ADM) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending February 1, 2008 

Minor Amendments: Reorganization (RIN 3150-AI07)

On January 31, 2008, the NRC published a document in the Federal Register (73 FR 5709) 

amending its regulations to reflect the addresses of two additional Headquarters buildings, the 

reorganization of the Office of Nuclear Materials Safety and Safeguards, the creation of the 

Office of Federal and State Materials and Environmental Management Programs, the 

reorganization of the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, the creation of the Office of 

New Reactors, and other minor changes. This document is necessary to inform the public of 

these minor changes to NRC regulations. The effective date of this final rule is January 31, 

2008. 

State of Nevada; Denial of Petition for Rulemaking (PRM-51-9)

On January 31, 2008, the NRC published a document in the Federal Register (73 FR 5762) 

denying a petition for rulemaking submitted by the State of Nevada (PRM-51-9). The petition 

requested the NRC modify its criteria for adopting an environmental impact statement prepared 

by the Department of Energy for a construction authorization and materials license for a geologic 

repository. The petitioner asserted that the current regulation must be “corrected” because it is 

at odds with a recent court of appeals decision. Further, the petitioner asserted that certain 

litigation procedures that will be used in the proceedings to consider adoption violate the 

National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended. NRC denied the petition 

because the court found no reason for NRC to change its adoption criteria and because the 

petition does not demonstrate that NRC's litigation procedures violate NEPA. Commissioner 

Gregory B. Jaczko's vote on this denial is included in Appendix I of the Federal Register notice. 
February 1, 2008 ENCLOSURE H 

 Office of Information Services (OIS) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending February 1, 2008 

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

of January 25 to January 31, 2008: 

Turkey Point Unit 3, report of investigation by the Federal Bureau of 

Investigation to NRC regarding equipment damage of March 2006, all 

records FOIA/PA-2008-0106 

Security file on named individual FOIA/PA-2008-0107 

Inattentive security officer findings, 2004, 2005, 2006, nationwide FOIA/PA-2008-0108 

Office of Investigations Case 4-2007-026, all records FOIA/PA-2008-0109 

Atmospheric testing, 1961 through 1965, and locations FOIA/PA-2008-0110 
February 1, 2008 ENCLOSURE J 

 Office of Human Resources (HR) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending February 1, 2008 

Arrivals 

ARNOLD, GARY ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE (CONSULTANT) ASLBP 

BLOUNT, BARBARA PRINTING SPECIALIST ADM 

BOYCE, THOMAS DIRECTOR, OIS/DEPUTY CIO OIS 

CLARK, PHYLLIS PROJECT MANAGER NRO 

DAVIDSON, CYNTHIA SECRETARY (OA) NRR 

FRINGER, JOHN ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECT MANAGER NRO 

HAYES, MICHELLE REACTOR SYSTEMS ENGINEER NRO 

KALKMAN, ADAM STUDENT CLERK OI 

MOORE, EVERLINE PROPERTY TECHNICIAN RII 

PICHUMANI, RAMAN STRUCTURAL ENGINEER NRR 

SEBER, DOGAN GEOPHYSICIST (SEISMOLOGY) NRO 

SIMPSON, JO ANN FINANCIAL ANALYST NRR 

TRAVERS, ALLISON ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST NRR 

WALL, YVONNE SECRETARY (OA) NSIR 
February 1, 2008 ENCLOSURE M 

 Office of Public Affairs (OPA) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending February 1, 2008 

OPA Received Significant Media Inquiries on the following:

Potassium iodide distribution beyond the 10-mile emergency planning zone 

MidAmerican cancelling its plans to submit a combined operating license application for a 

reactor in Idaho 

Braidwood nuclear plant recent remediation efforts of identified tritium plume 

Hemyc Fire Barriers Inspector General Report 

Southeast drought-related conditions related to nuclear power plants and construction of the 

mixed oxide fuel facility 

Special Inspection Team review of the Global Nuclear Fuel facility near Wilmington, North 

Carolina 

Other Public Affairs Items:

OPA coordinated press conferences for Chairman Klein after his tour of the Shearon Harris 

nuclear plant and his visit to North Carolina State University’s research reactor. 

OPA coordinated Industry press interviews with Chairman Klein about his recent trip to China. 

OPA responded to inaccurate accounts and facts in KSBY-TV (San Luis Obispo, Calif.) media 

story covering recent potassium iodine issues. 

OPA supported a Christian Science Monitor interview with Commissioner Jaczko on a variety of 

topics including the license renewal process. 

 

OPA supported the Chief Information Officer’s participation in a media panel discussion about 

cyber security on Federal News Radio. 

Press Releases 

Headquarters: 

08-014 License Renewal Application for Three Mile Island Unit 1 Available for Public 

Inspection (1/28) 

08-015 NRC Names Thomas Boyce as Director of Information Services and Deputy 

Chief Information Officer (1/28) 

08-016 NRC Accepts Application for New Reactor at North Anna (1/29) 

08-017 NRC Finds No Significant Environmental Impacts From Extended Operation of 

James A. Fitzpatrick Nuclear Plant (1/29) 
February 1, 2008 ENCLOSURE M 

08-018 NRC Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards to Meet Feb. 7-9 in Rockville, 

Md. (1/29) 

08-019 NRC Approves Power Uprate for Susquehanna (1/30) 

08-020 NRC Announces Opportunity to Request Hearing on License Application for 

Uranium Recovery Operation in Wyoming (2/1) 

08-021 Uranerz In-situ Leach License Application Available for Public Viewing (2/1) 

Regions: 

II-08-003 NRC Chairman to Meet With News Media in Raleigh at 1:00 P.M. (Est) on 

Friday, Feb. 1 (1/31) 

II-08-004 NRC Establishes Special Inspection Team Following Event at Global Nuclear 

Fuel – Americas Plant Near Wilmington, N.C. (2/1) 

 
February 1, 2008 ENCLOSURE O 

 Office of the Secretary (SECY) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending February 1, 2008 

Document Released 

to Public 

Date Subject 

Decision Documents

1. COMSECY-07-0030 10/17/07 Requesting Authority to Issue Case 

Management Orders in High-Level Waste 

Proceeding Prior to the Issuance of a Notice 

of Opportunity for Hearing 

 SRM-COMSECY-07-0030 12/13/07 (same) 

 Commission Voting 

 Record on COMSECY- 

 07-0030 

12/13/07 (same) 

2. SECY-07-0148 (Redacted 

Version) 

08/28/07 Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation 

Security Requirements for Radiological 

Sabotage 

Information Papers

1. SECY-08-0012 01/25/08 Weekly Information Report – Week Ending 

January 18, 2008 

2. SECY-08-0009 01/17/08 2007 Annual Report on Commission 

Adjudication 

Commission Correspondence

1. Letter to Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, dated January 25, 2008, responds to letter 

concerning the installation of a new siren system at the Indian Point Energy Center and 

Entergy’s movement of spent fuel rods to dry cask storage. 

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. State of Nevada; Denial of Petition for Rulemaking, 10 CFR Part 51, Docket No. 

PRM-51.9. 

2. Independent External Review Panel to Identify Vulnerabilities in the U.S. NRC’s Materials 

Licensing Program, notice of meeting (February 19-21, 2008). 
February 1, 2008 

 Office of Congressional Affairs (OCA)  Items of Interest  Week Ending February 1, 2008 

CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS SCHEDULE, NO. 1 

OCA Contact 

Date & Place Time Committee Subject Witnesses 

Decker 02/28/08 

TBD 

TBD Senate Environment and 

Public Works, Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety (Senators Carper / Voinovich) 

Oversight Hearing on Security Related Topics 

• Commission will b

Decker Spring 08 

TBD 

TBD House Energy and Commerce 

Committee, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations (Representatives Stupak / Whitfield) 

Inattentive Guards at Peach Bottom and other Security Related Topics 

• TBD