INFORMATION REPORT

August 16, 2006 SECY-06-0182

For: The Commissioners

From: William M. Dean, Assistant for Operations, Office of the EDO

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING

AUGUST 4, 2006

Contents Enclosure

Nuclear Reactor Regulation A

Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards B

Nuclear Regulatory Research C

Nuclear Security and Incident Response D

General Counsel E*

Administration F

Office of Information Services G

Chief Financial Officer H*

Human Resources I

Small Business and Civil Rights J*

Enforcement K*

State and Tribal Programs L

Public Affairs M

International Programs N*

Office of the Secretary O

Region I P*

Region II P

Region III P*

Region IV P*

Executive Director for Operations Q*

Congressional Affairs R

Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards/

Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste S*

*No input this week.

/RA/

William M. Dean

Assistant for Operations, OEDO

Contact:

U. Shoop, OEDO
August 16, 2006 SECY-06-0182

For: The Commissioners

From: William M. Dean, Assistant for Operations, Office of the EDO

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING

AUGUST 4, 2006

Contents Enclosure

Nuclear Reactor Regulation A

Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards B

Nuclear Regulatory Research C

Nuclear Security and Incident Response D

General Counsel E*

Administration F

Office of Information Services G

Chief Financial Officer H*

Human Resources I

Small Business and Civil Rights J*

Enforcement K*

State and Tribal Programs L

Public Affairs M

International Programs N*

Office of the Secretary O

Region I P*

Region II P

Region III P*

Region IV P*

Executive Director for Operations Q*

Congressional Affairs R

Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards/

Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste S*

*No input this week.

/RA/

William M. Dean

Assistant for Operations, OEDO

Contact:

U. Shoop, OEDO

DISTRIBUTION:

Central File

Public Document Name: C:\WIR\week804.WPD

OEDO AO/OEDO

UShoop:paa WMDean

08/16/06 08/16/06
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING AUGUST 4, 2006

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 STP 16

NMSS 4 OPA 17

RES 8 OIP *

NSIR 9 SECY 19

OGC * Region I *

ADM 10 Region II *

OIS 11 Region III 22

CFO * Region IV *

HR 15 EDO *

SBCR * OCA 24

OE * ACRS/ACNW *

*No input this week
August 4, 2006 ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending August 4, 2006

Receipt of James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant License Renewal Application

On August 1, 2006, the staff received an application from Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc., to

renew the operating license for the James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant (JAFNPP) to

extend the license for an additional 20 years beyond the current expiration date. The current

JAFNPP operating license will expire on October 17, 2014.

AP1000 Design-Centered Working Group (DCWG) Meeting 

On July 27, 2006, the staff held a public meeting with the industry’s AP1000 DCWG, composed

of Duke Energy, Progress Energy, South Carolina Electric and Gas, Southern Company,

Tennessee Valley Authority, and Westinghouse. The meeting focused on the combined license

pre-application (COLA) activities. Presentations by the DCWG representatives addressed the

group’s commitment to high quality applications and maximizing standardization. The DCWG

also discussed their plans and schedules for a COLA, the response to Regulatory Issue

Summary (RIS) 2006-06, “New Reactor Standardization Needed to Support the DesignCentered Licensing Review Approach,” and key COLA challenges.

Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor (ESBWR) Design Certification Meeting

On July 26-27, 2006, the staff held a public meeting with representatives from General Electric

(GE) regarding the ESBWR design instrumentation and control (I&C) systems. The meeting

focused on several GE I&C Licensing Topical Reports (LTRs) previously submitted to the staff

and the schedule for future I&C-related LTRs. GE provides information on one of four possible

platforms for the ESBWR I&C system and requested clarification on some of the requests for

additional information. 

Hope Creek - Ultimate Heat Sink (UHS) Amendment

On August 1, 2006, the staff issued a license amendment for Hope Creek that permits

continued plant operation with the temperature of the UHS (the Delaware River) greater than 

89 °F. The amendment permits continued operation at the elevated UHS temperatures

provided the UHS temperature averaged over the prior 24-hour period is verified at least once

per hour to be less than or equal to 89 °F, and the UHS temperature does not exceed a

maximum value of 91.4 °F. Previously, the Hope Creek Technical Specifications permitted

continued plant operation with a UHS temperature up to 89 °F. The UHS temperature reached

approximately 88 °F on August 1, 2006, and is expected to remain at elevated levels due to

continued hot weather conditions.

Indian Point Unit 2 - Emergency Amendment

On July 26, 2006, Entergy applied for an emergency amendment to the Technical Specification

(TS) for Indian Point 2. The TS change decreased the number of containment sump water

level channels that are required to be operable from 3 to 2 channels. Containment sump water
August 4, 2006 ENCLOSURE A

level is used for post-accident monitoring, as defined in Regulatory Guide (RG) 1.97. The staff

concluded that removal of one channel would still meet the criteria of RG 1.97 since the

remaining channels provide acceptable redundancy. The staff issued the license amendment

on July 28, 2006.

National Fire Protection Association Standard 805 (NFPA 805) Public Workshop

During July 24-25, 2006, NRC in conjunction with staff from DC Cook, conducted the subject

workshop in Buchanan, MI, for plants transitioning to NFPA 805. Industry participants included

the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), Duke Engineering, Progress Energy, Nuclear Management

Company (NMC), Callaway, and various support contractors. DC Cook’s team presented the

transition status of their fire PRA, fundamental elements, multiple spurious operations, recovery

actions, and non-power operations.
August 4, 2006 ENCLOSURE B

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS)

Items of Interest

Week Ending August 4, 2006

High-Level Waste Staff Observe Waste Package Outer Barrier Prototype

From July 25-27, 2006, NRC and the Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses staff

observed the solution-annealing and quenching operation of the 21-PWR Uncanistered Fuel

Prototype Waste Package outer barrier. The purpose of this full-scale demonstration was to

ensure that the solution-annealing and quenching operation reduces the residual stresses from

welding and fabrication; thus, reducing the probability of stress corrosion cracking of the waste

package. This critical step in the fabrication process will be performed at the Delphi facilities in

Sewell, NJ, under a subcontract with Joseph Oat Corporation.

Meeting with J. L. Shepherd and Associates

On August 2, 2006, representatives from J. L. Shepherd and Associates met with Spent Fuel

Project Office staff to provide an overview of their plans to develop and submit applications for

two new transport package designs. J. L. Shepherd and Associates plan to submit these

applications in early 2008.
August 4, 2006 ENCLOSURE C

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES)

Items of Interest

Week Ending August 4, 2006

Renewal of Technical Exchange and Cooperation Arrangement in the Field of Nuclear Safety

Research and Development

On August 1, 2006, the Executive Director for Operations (EDO) signed the renewal of the

subject Arrangement, which defines the terms and conditions by which the NRC and United

Kingdom Health and Safety Executive (HSE) will continue its cooperation. Under this

Arrangement, the NRC and HSE will exchange technical information and cooperate in reactor

safety research in areas that include: reactor vessel and piping integrity; aging of reactor

components; equipment qualification; thermal hydraulic code application and maintenance;

plant and human performance; core melt and reactor system failure; containment safety;

structural integrity; seismic safety; probabilistic risk assessment; severe accident analysis;

radiation protection and health effects; radionuclide transport and waste management; nuclear

fuels analysis; dry cask storage and transport; decommissioning; and, fire protection. This

renewed Arrangement will remain in effect for an additional five years.

Workshop on Basic Research Needs for Advanced Nuclear Energy Systems

On July 31 through August 2, 2006, RES staff attended the subject workshop in Rockville, MD,

hosted by the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Basic Energy Sciences. The workshop's

purpose was to identify basic science research directions and priorities in support of the

long-term development of deep-burn fast-neutron reactors and associated advanced fuel cycles

for DOE's Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP). During the workshop, six working

panels discussed research in the following areas: materials, chemistry, separations science,

advanced actinide fuels, advanced waste forms, and predictive modeling and simulation. DOE

plans to issue a report on the workshop results in October 2006. RES staff is noting the

direction of DOE’s research in these areas, the relation of DOE’s programs to NRC’s activities,

and opportunities for NRC research collaboration with DOE.
August 4, 2006 ENCLOSURE D

Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response (NSIR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending August 4, 2006

Preliminary Notifications

1. PNO-III-06-017, D.C. Cook-American Electric Power,-D.C. COOK UNIT 1 SHUTS DOWN

DUE TO HIGH CONTAINMENT AIR TEMPERATURE.

2. PNO-III-06-018, Detroit Edison Company,-FERMI 2 REACTOR SHUTDOWN AND

UNUSUAL EVENT.
August 4, 2006 ENCLOSURE F

Office of Administration (ADM)

Items of Interest 

Week Ending August 4, 2006

Requirements for Expanded Definition of Byproduct Material

On July 28, 2006, the NRC published a proposed rule in the Federal Register (71 FR 42952)

that would amend its regulations to include jurisdiction over certain radium sources, 

accelerator-produced radioactive materials and certain naturally occurring radioactive material. 

The proposed rule is required by the Energy Policy Act, which expanded the Atomic Energy Act

definition of byproduct material to include any discrete source of radium-226, any material made

radioactive by use of a particle accelerator, and certain discrete sources of naturally occurring

radioactive material. The comment period for this action closes September 11, 2006.

Requirements for Expanded Definition of Byproduct Material; Meeting

On August 3, 2006, the NRC published a document in the Federal Register (71 FR 43996) that

announces a public meeting to solicit public comment on a proposed rule that would amend its

regulations to include jurisdiction over certain radium sources, accelerator-produced radioactive

materials and certain naturally occurring radioactive material. The meeting will be held on

August 22, 2006.
August 4, 2006 ENCLOSURE G

Office of Information Services (OIS)

Items of Interest

Week Ending August 4, 2006

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

July 28 through August 3, 2006:

License No. 29-30262-01, 10 year renewal application, Bracco

Research USA, Inc., Princeton, NJ

FOIA/PA-2006-0256

License No. 22-16300-01, copy of license & compliance information

(all supporting documentation referenced in the license) & all

inspection reports from 1991 to present

FOIA/PA-2006-0257

Fall 2005 self-assessment of NRC’s “accelerated review process” for

license requests to convert to standard technical specifications, & any

& all information related to that review process

FOIA/PA-2006-0258

Names of all NRC personnel Grade 13 & higher who have been

accorded waivers allowing them to receive both full salary & federal

retirement benefits & legal basis; also number of personnel who have

been denied waivers & reason

FOIA/PA-2006-0259

Gamma Knife, Women’s Medical College of Pennsylvania Hospital,

report/license stating that Gamma Knife was decommissioned, 2004

FOIA/PA-2006-0260

“Official Use Only” documents sent by NRR to the Commission, JuneJuly, 2006FOIA/PA-2006-0261

Active NRC Region I Medical licensees, MLTS FOIA/PA-2006-0262

Records re: deportation of named individual FOIA/PA-2006-0263
August 4, 2006 ENCLOSURE I

Office of Human Resources (HR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending August 4, 2006

Arrival

AHN, HOSUNG HYDROLOGIST NRR

BELEN-OJEDA, AIXA GENERAL ENGINEER (NSPDP) RES

BETANCOURT-ROLDAN, DIANA REACTOR ENGINEER (NSPDP) R-III

BRANDON, LOU EMERGENCY RESPONSE

COORDINATOR

NSIR

CAMPBELL, LILLIE SECRETARY (OA) NMSS

DE JESUS SEGARRA, JONATHAN GENERAL ENGINEER (NSPDP) RES

EARGLE, JASON A. GENERAL ENGINEER (NSPDP) NRR

GIBBS, CATINA M. SECRETARY (OA) HR

GILLUM, SHIRLEY C. SECRETARY (OA) R-IV

NIEBAUM, PHILLIP K. PROJECT ENGINEER (RI DEVEL.

PROGRAM)

R-II

OXENDINE, JAMES H. GENERAL ENGINEER (NSPDP) NRR

ROLDAN, LIZETTE HEALTH PHYSICIST (NSPDP) R-I

SAGER, WILLIAM W. ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE ASLBP

SREENIVAS, LEELA ENFORCEMENT SPECIALIST OE

TAVLARIDES, LAWRENCE L. ACNW CONSULTANT ACRS

WOOD, JEFFREY GENERAL ENGINEER (NSPDP) RES

Retirements

CODELL, RICHARD B. SENIOR HYDRAULIC ENGINEER NMSS

COWARD, BEVERLY K. FISCAL ACCOUNTING ASSISTANT CFO

DRAGOUN, THOMAS F. REACTOR INSPECTOR NRR

MCKEIGNEY, ALEX F. FINANCIAL ANALYST NRR

VENSON, LYNDA S. ACTING DEPUTY DIRECTOR CFO
August 4, 2006 ENCLOSURE I

Departures

GARAN, NESRIN E. STUDENT LAW CLERK OGC

HORN, ERICA D. INVESTIGATIVE ANALYST OIG

ST JOHN, JOSEPH S. STUDENT LAW CLERK OGC
August 4, 2006 ENCLOSURE L

Office of State and Tribal Programs (STP)

Items of Interest

Week Ending August 4, 2006

2006 National State Liaison Officers’ (SLO) Meeting

On August 1-2, 2006, STP hosted the subject meeting in the Two White Flint North Auditorium. 

Major topics discussed included the Energy Policy Act of 2005, Congressional District

Outreach, New Reactor Licensing and Construction Efforts, Emergency Preparedness Incidents

and Exercises, Tritium Task Force Updates, Preemption Activities, and Avian Flu Pandemic

Implications. Thirty-five State Officials and one Federal staff from the U.S. Department of

Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration were in attendance. Staff from the Office of

the Executive Director for Operations (OEDO), Office of the General Counsel (OGC), Office of

Congressional Affairs (OCA), numerous staff offices, and the NRC’s Regional State Officers

participated in presentations and panel discussions. Preliminary meeting feedback was positive

with numerous recommendations from the SLOs that the NRC should hold the triennial meeting

on a more frequent basis. 
August 4, 2006 ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs (OPA)

Items of Interest

Week Ending August 4, 2006

The Office of Public Affairs (OPA) received significant media inquiries on the following:

An announcement by Unistar to resume manufacturing in the United States of components for

nuclear reactors.

Amarillo Power’s intention to apply to NRC to build two new reactors.

The recent incident at a Swedish nuclear plant, and whether a similar event could happen in the

United States.

Heat-related outages at Fermi and D.C. Cook.

Other Public Affairs Items:

Commissioner Jaczko was interviewed by Inside NRC.

Press Releases

Headquarters:

06-099 NRC Names Directors for New Reactors, National Materials Offices (8/3)

06-100 NRC Announces Availability of License Renewal Application for FitzPatrick

Nuclear Plant (8/4)

Regions:

I-06-044 NRC, W.Va. Firm to Discuss Apparent Violations Involving Portable Nuclear

Gauge (8/3)

II-06-036 NRC Names New Senior Resident Inspector at Oconee Nuclear Station in South

Carolina (8/4)
August 4, 2006 ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary (SECY)

Items of Interest

Week Ending August 4, 2006

Document Released

to Public

Date Subject

Information Papers

1. SECY-06-0163 7/25/06 Weekly Information Report - Week Ending

July 14, 2006

2. SECY-06-0161 7/20/06 Summary of Activities Related to Generic

Safety Issues

Commission Correspondence

- Letter to Linda Keen, President & CEO, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission,

expressing appreciation for congratulatory letter.

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. Denial of petition for rulemaking, 10 CFR Part 50, Docket No. PRM-50-79, Mr. Lawrence

T. Christian, et al.

2. Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste (ACNW), Meetings of the ACNW Ad Hoc

Subcommittee on Waste Management and the ACNW Full Committee, notice of meeting

(8/15-17/06).

3. Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards, Subcommittee Meeting on ThermalHydraulic Phenomena, notice of meeting (8/23-24/06). 
August 4, 2006 ENCLOSURE P

Region II (RII)

Items of Interest

Week Ending August 4, 2006

Chairman Visits BWX Technologies, Inc and AREVA-Lynchburg.

On August 2, 2006, Chairman Klein, the Director, Office of Nuclear Security and Incident

Response, and the Deputy Regional Administrator visited the BWX Technologies, Inc., fuel

facility for a site tour, and a meeting with licensee management. 

On August 3, 2006, Chairman Klein, the Director, Office of Nuclear Security and Incident

Response, and the Deputy Regional Administrator visited AREVA Lynchburg for a site tour of

the Mt. Athos Road Fuel Fabrication Facility and a meeting with licensee management. 
August 4, 2006 

Office of Congressional Affairs (OCA)

Items of Interest

Week Ending August 4, 2006

CONGRESSIONAL HEARING SCHEDULE, NO. 29

 OCAContact

 DATE & PLACE

TIME WITNESS SUBJECT 

Combs 08/03/06

SD-366

10:00 Senators Reid and Ensign;

Ward Sproat, DOD; BobLoux, NV Agency forNuclear Projects; NARUC;NRDC; Martin Virgilio, NRC

S. 2589, Administration’s YuccaMountain legislation

Senators Energy a

Shane 09/14/06

SD406(Tentative)

9:30 NRC Commissioners NRC Oversight Senators 

Clean Air

Nuclear SEnvironm

Shane TBD

SD-406(Tentative)

9:30 Markup S. 2348, Nuclear Release Notice Act

of 2006

Senators Environm

The House of Representatives is in recess until September 5, 2006.The Senate is scheduled to go into recess from August 6 until September 5, 2006.