WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT

May 14, 2007 SECY-07-0080

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING

APRIL 27, 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
May 14, 2007 SECY-07-0080

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING

APRIL 27, 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\week427.WPD

OEDO LAR for AO/OEDO

UShoop:paa VLOrdaz

05/14/07 05/ /07
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING APRIL 27, 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 * OE *

NRO 2 OPA 11

NMSS 4 OIP *

FSME * SECY 12

RES 5 Region I *

NSIR 6 Region II *

ADM 7 Region III *

OIS 8 Region IV 23

CFO * EDO *

HR 9 OCA 24

SBCR 10

*No input this week
April 27, 2007 ENCLOSURE B

Office of New Reactors (NRO)

Items of Interest

Week Ending April 27, 2007

NRO Staff visit V.C Summer and Bellefonte Sites as Part of Pre-Combined License Application

Activities

During the week of April 16, 2007, NRO and the Office of Nuclear Security and Incident

Response (NSIR) staff visited two sites for which the NRC expects to receive combined license

applications in Fall 2007 (V.C. Summer and Bellefonte). The purpose of the visits was to

familiarize the staff with the proposed sites and to begin establishing working relationships with

the applicants and local agencies. Topics discussed during the visits included hydrology,

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

sites. These visits are part of the pre-combined license application activities planned by the

staff for all sites. 

General Electric (GE) Submits Integrated Schedule

On April 19, 2007, GE submitted an integrated schedule for deliverables associated with the

design certification review of the Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor. Some key

deliverables include Revisions 4 and 5 of the Design Control Document, Revision 2 of the

probabilistic risk assessment, topical report submittals and revisions to topical reports. On

March 12, 2007, GE submitted a rebaselined schedule for responses to requests for additional

information. After consideration of this information, the staff will establish a schedule for future

review milestones.

Second Round of Requests for Additional Information (RAIs) submitted related to Vogtle Early

Site Permit Application

On April 20, the staff submitted a second round of RAIs to Southern Nuclear Company

concerning the Environmental Report for the Plant Vogtle Site Early Site Permit. The letter also

stated that there would be an impact to the schedule for the Draft Environmental Impact

Statement (EIS) and the Final EIS. 
April 27, 2007 ENCLOSURE C

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS)

Items of Interest

Week Ending April 27, 2007

Ongoing International Atomic Energy Agency Safety Evaluation During Operation Evaluation at

Brazilian Fuel Processing Facility

On April 25, 2007, a staff member who is participating in the first international Safety Evaluation

During Operation (SEDO) mission of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), reported

on the status of the mission. The SEDO mission is taking place at the Indústrias Nucleares do

Brasil fuel processing facility in Brazil, and its purpose is to evaluate facility operations to

identify findings that will assist the operator in its safety operations. The international team

completed training on how to conduct the evaluation April 20-22, 2007, and arrived on site to

initiate the evaluation on April 23, 2007. The team has been exceptionally well-received by the

facility. In addition, the Chairman of the company participated in the opening of the evaluation. 

The evaluation will conclude on May 11, 2007.

Public Meeting With Energy Solutions on a New Transportation Package

On April 18, 2007, staff met with representatives from Energy Solutions to discuss the design of

a new Type (B) package. The package will be used to transport irradiated hardware and

contaminated dewatered powdered, dispersible solids, such as resins. Energy Solutions

presented its design and stated that it is evaluating its design by analyses only (without

performing any physical tests). The staff expressed reservations about developing impact

loads based on analytically developed load-deflection curves, without performing any physical

tests of the foam impact limiters. Energy Solutions stated that it is benchmarking its computer

code, for the impact limiters, using previous drop tests for other cask designs. Energy

Solutions plans to submit the application in July 2007.
April 27, 2007 ENCLOSURE E

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES)

Items of Interest

Week Ending April 27, 2007

Public Meeting between NRC and External Stakeholders Regarding Risk-Informing 10 CFR 50,

Appendix G and 10 CFR 50.61 - Fracture Toughness Requirements

During the subject public meeting held on April 17, 2007, staff and industry researchers shared

results of on-going programs investigating the technical basis for revision of 10 CFR Part 50

Appendix G and 10 CFR 50.61. The NRC research project being conducted at Oak Ridge

National Laboratory and the industry research efforts are complementary. Since 10 CFR 50

Appendix G incorporates Appendix G of SC XI of the American Society of Mechanical

Engineers code, by reference, NRC and industry researchers will jointly brief the appropriate

ASME SC XI committees and working groups on research results. 
April 27, 2007 ENCLOSURE F

Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response (NSIR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending April 27, 2007

Preliminary Notifications

1. PNO-I-07-004A, ENTERGY NUCLEAR OPERATIONS, UPDATE - UNUSUAL EVENT

DECLARED DUE TO EXPLOSION IN 31 MAIN POWER TRANSFORMER AT INDIAN

POINT UNIT 3

2. PNO-I-07-005, CARDINAL HEALTH, INC., STOLEN NUCLEAR MEDICINE SYRINGES

3. PNO-II-07-004, VOGTLE NUCLEAR PLANT, AUTOMATIC REACTOR TRIP/PLANT

SHUTDOWN GREATER THAN 72 HOURS
April 27, 2007 ENCLOSURE G

Office of Administration (ADM)

Items of Interest 

Week Ending April 27, 2007

List of Approved Spent Fuel Storage Casks: HI-STORM 100 Revision 3 (AH98 - Part 72)

On April 26, 2007, the NRC published a final rule in the Federal Register (72 FR 20713) that

amends the entry for the HI-STORM 100 cask system in the list of approved spent fuel storage

casks (Amendment 3) (AH98 - Part 72). This action eliminates cooling of the multi-purpose

canister before flooding with water as part of cask unloading operations, allows linear

interpolation between minimal soluble boron concentrations for certain fuel enrichments, and

modifies several definitions. The final rule becomes effective May 29, 2007.

Government Services Administration (GSA) Federal Supply Schedule Requirement

As a result of a competitive GSA Federal Supply Schedule requirement, a labor-hour delivery

order was awarded to Battelle Memorial Institute of Columbus, Ohio on April 19, 2007. This

delivery order requires the contractor to provide technical assistance for “Evaluation of LeakBefore-Break Criteria.” The period of performance is three (3) years and the total value of the

delivery order is $813,042.00. 
April 27, 2007 ENCLOSURE H

Office of Information Services (OIS)

Items of Interest

Week Ending April 27, 2007

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

of April 20 through April 26, 2007:

Significant Determination Process (SDP) Phase I and II inspector

training material

FOIA/PA-2007-0180

Vacancy announcement NRR/PMAS-2007-0010, Team Leader (IT

Team), all records

FOIA/PA-2007-0181

Commissioners’ travel and telephone logs, 2006 calendars, summary

notes of meetings between commissioners’ and licensees

FOIA/PA-2007-0182

Office of Investigations Case 4-2006-025, all records FOIA/PA-2007-0183

Investigation report 2-2006-030, final report of investigation to

allegation NRR-2006-A-0008

FOIA/PA-2007-0184

FMRI Inc., License SMB-911, 10 Tantalum Place, Muskogee, OK

74403, all documents re: Ponds 2 and 3, decommissioning trust,

compliance and non-compliance, and violations

FOIA/PA-2007-0185

Shiltz, Graves and Associates, 1103 South Bend Ave., St. Joseph

County, South Bend, IN, license no. 13-18528-01, all records

FOIA/PA-2007-0186
April 27, 2007 ENCLOSURE J

Office of Human Resources (HR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending April 27, 2007

Arrivals

ASH, DARREN CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER EDO

BUI, THANH IT SPECIALIST OIS

BLOUGH, ALLEN CONSULTANT RI

CABRELLI, ALBERT CRIMINAL INVESTIGATOR OI

CAPONITI, KATHLEEN SECRETARY (OA) NRR

CORNELIUS, DANIELLE SECRETARY (OA) OIS

DANG, ANH SYSTEMS ANALYST/SYSTEMS ACCOUNTANT CFO

DAVIS, HENRY IT SPECIALIST OIS

FISHER, DARRELL ACMUI MEMBER FSME

GONZALEZ, MICHELLE CHEMICAL ENGINEER (NSPDP) RES

HAMMAN, JEFFREY PROJECT ENGINEER RII

HARRIS, TIMOTHY SENIOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST OIS

NUTE-BLACKSHEAR,

LORA 

BRANCH CHIEF RIV

RUESCH, ERIC REACTOR INSPECTOR RIV

SMITH, DAVID TEMP. APPOINTMENT INTERMITTENT SCHED. OIS

STRIZ, ELISE HYDROGEOLOGIST FSME

SUBIN, LLOYD ATTORNEY OGC

TEDDER, DANIEL SR. CHEMICAL PROCESS ENGINEER NMSS

TUTAK, GREGORY REACTOR ENGINEER (NSPDP) RIV

WILLIAMS, TERRY SECRETARY (OA) NRR

Retirements

BLOUGH, ALLEN DIR, DIV OF REACTOR SAFETY RI

MARTIN, THOMAS DEP DIR, DIV OF SYS SFTY and ANALYSIS NRR

SMITH, DAVID TEAM LEADER OIS
April 27, 2007 ENCLOSURE J

THOMPSON, MARK BINDERY WORKER/COPY MACHINE

OPERATOR

ADM

THROM, EDWARD SENIOR REACTOR SYSTEMS ENGINEER NRR

WALKER, HERSHELL REACTOR ENGINEER RIII

Departures

CRAIG, CLAUDIA SECTION CHIEF FSME

HAFERA, THOMAS REACTOR SYSTEMS ENGINEER NRR

JONES, GINA CHIEF, ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE TEAM CFO
April 27, 2007 ENCLOSURE K

Office of Small Business and Civil Rights (SBCR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending April 27, 2007

Bring Your Children to Work Day

On April 26, 2007, the NRC's Bring Your Children to Work Day was held and approximately 200

children attended. Commissioner Merrifield served as the keynote speaker and provided an

insightful overview on NRC's mission. The event included interactive learning activities

conducted by staff from the Offices of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, Nuclear

Reactor Regulation, and Chief Financial Officer, including a jeopardy game. Interactive tours

were conducted of the HQ Operations Center, Technical Library, and the Atomic Safety and

Licensing Board Panel Hearing Room. The Employees Welfare Recreation Association

sponsored lunch coupons for the children. 
April 27, 2007 ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs (OPA)

Items of Interest

Week Ending April 27, 2007

OPA received significant media inquiries on the following:

Aircraft and new reactor design assessments

State oversight hearings

Indian Point performance assessment and recent fine

Other Public Affairs Items:

Chairman interviewed by USA Today and spoke with the Prudential Energy Group on staffing

issues and the nuclear resurgence.

OPA Regional staff assisted in numerous end-of cycle meetings.

OPA asked Asbury Park (N.J.) Press for a correction on Oyster Creek supposed spent fuel pool

flaws to the editorial that ran on April 26.

Press Releases

Headquarters:

07-053 NRC Proposes Adding Plane Crash Security Assessments to New Reactor

Design Certification Requirements (4/24) 

Regions:

I-07-023 NRC Proposes $130,000 Fine to Entergy Nuclear for Missing Deadline to Have

New Indian Point Alert and Notification System in Operation (4/23)

II-07-024 NRC to Meet with Westinghouse Nuclear Fuel Plant Officials to Discuss Facility

Safety Performance (4/25)

II-07-025 NRC to Discuss 2006 Performance at McGuire Nuclear Plant (4/26)

II-07-026 NRC to Discuss 2006 Performance at Catawba Nuclear Plant (4/26)

II-07-027 NRC to Hold Public Meetings on May 2 at Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant on

Regulatory Findings for Restart Decision (4/27)

IV-07-011 NRC to Discuss 2006 Performance at Columbia Generating Station(4/26) 
April 27, 2007 ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary (SECY)

Items of Interest

Week Ending April 27, 2007

Document Released

to Public

Date Subject

Decision Documents

1. SRM-SECY-06-0204 4/24/07 Proposed Rulemaking–Security

Assessment Requirements for New Nuclear

Power Reactor Designs (RIN 3150-AH92)

Commission Voting

Record on 06-0204

4/24/07 (same)

2. SRM-COMGBJ-07-0001 4/5/07 Proposal to Include Aircraft Impact Design

Requirements for New Reactors

Commission Voting

Record on COMGBJ-07-

0001

4/5/07 (same)

3. SRM-SECY-07-0060 4/24/07 Basis and Justification for Approval Process

for 10 CFR 20.2002 Authorizations and

Options for Change

Commission Voting

Record on 07-0060

4/24/07 (same)

4. COMSECY-07-0011 3/28/07 Action Plan for Fiscal Years 2007 and 2008

for the Advisory Committee on Nuclear

Waste (ACNW) Staff Requirements

SRM on 07-0011 4/26/07 (same)

Commission Voting

Record on 07-0011

4/26/07 (same)

Information Papers

1. SECY-07-0069 4/06/07 Reactor Oversight Process SelfAssessment for Calendar Year 2006

2. SECY-07-0073 4/20/07 Weekly Information Report - Week Ending

April 13, 2007
April 27, 2007 ENCLOSURE O

Memoranda

1. M070426 04/26/07 Affirmation Session: (1) SECY-07-0040 -

Consumers energy Co., et al (Palisades

Nuclear Plant); License Transfer

Application; (2) SECY-07-0071 - Consumers

Energy Co. (Big Rock Point ISFSI); License

Transfer Application

2. M070417A 04/27/07 Staff Requirements: Briefing on New

Reactor Issues–Environmental Issues

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS), revised notice of 542nd meeting

(5/3-5/2007).

2. Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste, notice of 179th meeting (5/16-17/2007).

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

meeting (05/17/2007). 

4. Atomic Safety and Licensing Board, Notice of Opportunity to Make Oral or Written

Limited Appearance Statements (Amergen Energy Company, LLC), License Renewal for

Oyster Creek. 

5. Christine O. Gregoire, Governor of the State of Washington; Receipt of Petition for

Rulemaking. 

6. ACRS, Subcommittee meeting on Thermal-Hydraulic Phenomena, notice of meeting

(5/15-16/2007).
April 27, 2007 ENCLOSURE P

Region IV (RIV)

Items of Interest

Week Ending April 27, 2007

Annual Assessment Public Meeting with Entergy Operations, Inc.

On April 23, 2007, the staff conducted a public meeting with Entergy Operations, Inc.

representatives to present the NRC’s assessment of the safety performance of River Bend

Station for the period of January 1 through December 31, 2006. A local reporter from the Baton

Rouge Advocate attended the meeting along with a few members of the general public.

Annual Assessment Public Meeting with Omaha Public Power District

On April 24, 2007, the staff conducted a public meeting with Omaha Public Power District

representatives to present the NRC’s assessment of the safety performance of Fort Calhoun

Station for the period of January 1 through December 31, 2006. There was no media

coverage.

Public Meeting with Entergy Operations, Inc.

On April 26, 2007, the Regional Administrator and staff conducted a public meeting with

Entergy Operations, Inc. senior management representatives. The meeting was held to

discuss topics of interest, as well as plant performance perspectives and improvement

initiatives for the River Bend Nuclear Station, Cooper Nuclear Station, Grand Gulf Nuclear

Station, Waterford Steam Electric Station - Unit 3, and Arkansas Nuclear One - Units 1 and 2. 

Discussions also included feedback on the Reactor Oversight Program, including the use of

cross-cutting issues.
April 27, 2007 

Office of Congressional Affairs (OCA)

Items of Interest

Week Ending April 27, 2007

CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS SCHEDULE, NO. 13

OCA

Contact

 DATE and

 PLACE

TIME COMMITTEE SUBJECT 

Decker 04/24/07

1100

Longworth

2:00 House Ways and Means

Committee, Subcommittee onSelect Revenue Measures(Representatives McNulty /Camp)

Energy and Tax Policy - TBD

Decker 04/24/07

2322

Rayburn

2:00 House Energy and Commerce

Committee, Subcommittee onEnergy and Air Quality (Representatives Boucher /Hastert)

Implementation by theDepartment of Energy of theloan guarantee programs ofthe Energy Policy Act of 2005

- Dennis SpurgEnergy- James CosgrResources and - Julie JorgensExcelsior Ener- Denny DeVos POET, Sioux F- Chris Crane – Officer, Exelon - Jonathan BalGroup, Credit SYork, NY
CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS SCHEDULE, NO. 13

OCA

Contact

 DATE and

 PLACE

TIME COMMITTEE SUBJECT 

April 27, 2007 

Sahm 04/24/07

342 Dirksen

2:30 Senate Committee on Homeland

Security and GovernmentalAffairs, Subcommittee onPermanent Investigations (Senators Levin / Coleman)

"Transit Benefits: How SomeFederal Employees AreTaking Uncle Sam for a Ride" 

- Gregory Kutz Audits and Spe- John Ryan – Audits and Spe- Calvin ScoveDepartment of - Thomas GimDOD- Linda WashinSecretary of Tr- Michael RhodAdministration Headquarters S

Combs/

Powell

04/25/07

406 Dirksen

10:00 Senate Environment and Public

Works, Clean Air and NuclearSafety Subcommittee(Senators Carper / Voinovich)

Oversight and Budget - Nuclear Regu

Decker 04/26/07

1539

Longworth

10:00 House Homeland Security

Committee, Subcommittee onIntelligence, Information Sharingand Terrorism Risk Assessment (Representatives Lofgren /Souder)

"The Over-Classification andPseudo-Classification ofGovernment Information: TheResponse of the ProgramManager of theInformation-SharingEnvironment."

- TBD