INFORMATION REPORT 

August 31, 2007 SECY-07-0151

For: The Commissioners 

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

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING 

AUGUST 24, 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 Tamara E. Bloomer Acting For/ 

Vonna L. Ordaz 

Assistant for Operations, OEDO 

Contact: 

J. Raber, OEDO 
August 31, 2007 SECY-07-0151

For: The Commissioners 

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

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING 

AUGUST 24, 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 Tamara E. Bloomer Acting For/ 

Vonna L. Ordaz 

Assistant for Operations, OEDO 

Contact: 

J. Raber, OEDO 

DISTRIBUTION: 

EDO R/F 

AO R/F Document Name: G:\Melissa\WIR\week0824.WPD 

OEDO AO/OEDO 

JRaber VLOrdaz 

08/31/07 09/06/07 
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING AUGUST 24,, 2007

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

Headquarters and Regional Office activities. 

Contact: J. Raber , OEDO by E-mail: hjr1@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 
August 24, 2007 ENCLOSURE A 

 Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending August 24, 2007 

American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Code Meeting on the Development of a 

Code Case on Dissimilar Butt Welds

On August 13, 2007, the Task Group on Alloy 600 met and finalized a significant portion of the 

draft Code case that the ASME is developing. The Code case will provide appropriate 

examination frequency requirements for nickel-based dissimilar metal butt welds in reactor 

coolant pressure boundary piping of pressurized water reactors. This action is intended to result 

in the incorporation of inspection requirements into the ASME Code that are similar to those 

contained in MRP-139, "Materials Reliability Program: Primary System Piping Butt Weld 

Inspection and Evaluation Guideline." The Code case will be issued for review and comment to 

the responsible ASME committees in September 2007, with the intent of gaining ASME approval 

of the Code case by April 2008. 

ASME Section III and Section XI Meeting

During the week of August 13, 2007, the staff participated in several ASME Section III and 

Section XI meetings at the working group, sub-group, and subcommittee levels. Section XI 

Working Group on Containment discussed proposed revisions of a consolidated list of certain 

ambiguous provisions in ASME Subsections IWE and IWL to clarify the current wording and 

improve understanding of intended requirements. The Commentary for Subsection IWE was 

recommended for publishing. Additionally, in reaction to the recently published NRC Regulatory 

Guide 1.207, “Guidelines for Evaluating Fatigue Analyses Incorporating the Life Reduction of 

Metal Components Due to the Effects of the Light-Water Reactor Environment for New 

Reactors,” a draft ASME Code non-mandatory appendix to address environmental fatigue was 

presented to the Section III, Subgroup Design and Subcommittee on Nuclear Power. The 

Section III, Subgroup and Subcommittee voted to proceed with the development of the 

nonmandatory appendix. Updates on staff activities were also presented to the various 

subcommittees. 

Operator Licensing Regional Counterparts and Industry Focus Group Meetings

On August 23, 2007, the staff from Division of Inspection and Regional Support (DIRS) 

conducted a counterparts meeting with Regional staff to review a number of issues related to the 

operator licensing program. The discussion topics included simulator fidelity and testing, public 

comments on the Draft Supplement to Revision 9 of NUREG-1021, AOperator Licensing 

Examination Standards for Power Reactors,@ and the associated Knowledge and Abilities 

Catalogs (NUREGs -1122 and -1123), requalification training and examinations, and operator 

licensing issues at new reactors. The meeting was followed, on August 24,, 2007, by a public 

meeting with the Industry Focus Group on Operator Licensing, the Nuclear Energy Institute 

(NEI), and the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations to review a similar set of issues. Staff from 

DIRS hosted the public meeting with support from the Associate Director for Operating Reactor 

Oversight and Licensing, the Regional staff, and representatives from the Office of New 

Reactors. 
August 24, 2007 ENCLOSURE A 

Monthly Reactor Oversight Process Public Meeting

On August 22, 2007, staff from DIRS held the monthly Reactor Oversight Process (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 implementation, safety culture integration into the ROP, performance indicator issues, and 

open and new frequently asked questions for the ROP. 

Regulatory Issue Summary (RIS) 2007-19

On August 20, 2007, the staff issued RIS 2007-19, AProcess for Communicating Clarifications of 

Staff Positions Provided in Regulatory Guide 1.205 Concerning Issues Identified During the Pilot 

Application of National Fire Protection Association Standard 805.” 

NFPA 805 Frequently Asked Questions Monthly Meeting

On August 23, 2007, the staff participated in a monthly teleconference with representatives from 

the NEI NFPA 805 Task Force and other stakeholders to address questions related to the 

adoption of NFPA 805. 
August 24, 2007 ENCLOSURE B 

 Office of New Reactors (NRO) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending August 24, 2007 

Technical Training to the Chinese on the AP1000 Design

From August 6-17, 2007, staff from NRO, and the Offices of Human Resources, Nuclear 

Regulatory Research (RES) and International Programs provided technical training to the 

Chinese on the AP1000 design and the NRC=s design certification review in Beijing and 

Beidaihe, China. In addition, the staff was briefed on nuclear and radiation safety in China by 

managers from the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) and the National 

Nuclear Safety Administration (NNSA) of the People=s Republic of China. This training program 

was the first cooperative activity under the Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) between the 

NRC and the NNSA signed in May 2007. The MOC agrees to cooperation on the nuclear safety 

review and inspection for the siting, design, manufacturing, construction, commissioning and 

operation phases of the AP1000. The NRC-NNSA Steering Committee on Nuclear Safety 

Cooperation will meet annually to determine future cooperation activities. 

Structural Mechanics in Reactor Technology Conference

From August 12-August 17, 2007, staff from NRO, RES, and the Offices of Nuclear Reactor 

Regulation, and Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards presented papers at the 19th Session 

of Structural Mechanics in Reactor Technology in Toronto, Canada. Additionally, Commissioner 

Lyons gave an opening address and participated in the Leadership Forum. NRC staff also 

chaired a session on “Seismic Fragility Methods.” There was also considerable interest in the 

plenary sessions on “New Reactors: U.S. Plans, Process, and Progress,” and “Knowledge 

Management at the NRC - Capturing the Past to Prepare for the Future.” The NRC participants 

also held brief discussions with two members of the International Atomic Energy Agency mission 

who went to Japan and toured the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa site. 
August 24, 2007 ENCLOSURE C 

 Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending August 24, 2007 

Technical Exchange on Pre-Closure and Post-Closure Criticality at Yucca Mountain

On August 16, 2007, NRC staff met with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) at a public 

Technical Exchange at NRC Headquarters. The meeting focused on criticality safety during the 

pre-closure and post-closure periods, at the potential high-level waste repository, at Yucca 

Mountain, Nevada. DOE explained its approach for analyzing and screening criticality-event 

sequences, and its plans to obtain additional data to support the use of burn-up credit in postclosure analysis. 

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Signed by U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and 

U.S. Department of Energy

On August 23, 2007, the MOU between the NRC and DOE, for the Protection of Classified 

Information and Related Security Activities at Uranium Enrichment Facilities, was signed. The 

purpose of this MOU is to define and set forth the mutual understanding of the assistance DOE 

will provide NRC in carrying out its responsibilities, with respect to certain classified information 

technology systems, and related security activities, at specified uranium enrichment facilities, 

licensed or otherwise regulated by NRC. 
August 24, 2007 ENCLOSURE E 

 Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending August 24, 2007 

Meeting with Hyperion Power Generation, Inc. (HPG) on the Hyperion Reactor Design

On August 22, 2007, staff from RES, and the Offices of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, 

New Reactors, and Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response met with representatives 

from HPG to discuss items related to pre-application review of the Hyperion reactor design. 

NRC staff opened the Category 1 public meeting by presenting high-level questions. HPG then 

presented an overview of their organization, followed by a presentation regarding the major 

concepts of their proposed design. HPG indicated that formal analysis and design 

documentation suitable for NRC pre-application review would be available in late Fiscal Year 

2009. Members of the public in attendance included representatives from Areva NP, Pebble 

Bed Modular Reactor (Pty) Ltd., Platts, and Westinghouse. 
August 24, 2007 ENCLOSURE F 

 Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response (NSIR) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending August 24, 2007 

Preliminary Notifications

• PNO-II-07-008, ST. LUCIE NUCLEAR PLANT, ST. LUCIE UNIT 2 SHUTDOWN TO 

REPAIR REACTOR COOLANT PUMP SEAL INJECTION LINE LEAK 
August 24, 2007 ENCLOSURE G 

 Office of Administration (ADM) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending August 24, 2007 

EnergySolutions; Receipt of Petition for Rulemaking (PRM-50-88)

On August 21, 2007, the NRC published a document in the Federal Register (72 FR 46569) that 

requests comment on a petition for rulemaking submitted by Thomas E. Magette of 

EnergySolutions (PRM-50-88). The petitioner requests NRC amend its regulations to allow 

funds from licensees’ decommissioning trust funds to be used for the cost of disposal of “major 

radioactive components” that have been removed from reactors before the permanent cessation 

of operations. The comment period for this action closes November 5, 2007. 
August 24, 2007 ENCLOSURE H 

 Office of Information Services (OIS) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending August 24, 2007 

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

of August 17 through August 23, 2007: 

The Wackenhut Corporation, Wackenhut Services Inc., all records FOIA/PA-2007-0301

Environmental effects from nuclear power plants FOIA/PA-2007-0302

DR-33-05-397, all records FOIA/PA-2007-0303

SUB-831 and 37–02006-05 license files, all records FOIA/PA-2007-0304

Global Nuclear Fuels site, NC, October 11, 2006, letter of intent to 

submit application for new and/or expanded enrichment facility

FOIA/PA-2007-0305

Office of Investigations Report 4-2007-008 FOIA/PA-2007-0306

Procedural information leading to withdrawal of job offer FOIA/PA-2007-0307
August 24, 2007 ENCLOSURE J 

 Office of Human Resources (HR) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending August 24, 2007 

Departures 

BENEDETTI, JAY STUDENT COMPUTER SCIENTIST NRR 

CAMERON-GONZALEZ, ANTONIO STUDENT TRAINEE 

(GEOPHYSICS) 

NMSS 

ETO, CHINENYE KANAYO STUDENT ENGINEER (SUMMER) RII 

MENDOZA, MARCO STUDENT ENGINEER RIV 

WASHINGTON, BRITTNEY MARIE STUDENT CLERK (TYPING) ADM 

WOLFSON, AVIDON STUDENT ENGINEER RIV 
August 24, 2007 ENCLOSURE M 

 Office of Public Affairs (OPA) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending August 24, 2007 

OPA received significant media inquiries on the following: 

Nuclear Fuel Services’ recent hearing request, recent staff proposals, NRC’s Official Use Only 

policy, the Atomic Safety Licensing Board process and upcoming Commission decision. 

Vermont Yankee nuclear plant’s possible strike, a new batch of KI pills for community, and 

deterioration of a bank of forced-air cooling towers. 

Indian Point nuclear plant’s new siren system, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) 

review of system and license renewal reviews. 

MOX hearing on proposed plant. 

Other Public Affairs Items:

OPA participated and coordinated interviews at the mixed oxide (MOX) Hearing in Augusta, GA. 

OPA participated in the Vogtle License Renewal public meeting. 

OPA participated in the Hatch exercise. 

OPA responded to a Forbes article about an unbalance cybersecurity article - OPA reiterated 

that rector safety systems and their controls are physically isolated form the internet and cannot 

be manipulated remotely. 

Press Releases

Headquarters:

07-106 NRC Amends its Regulations to Require E-Filing In All Agency Hearings (8/21)

07-107 NRC Announces Opportunity to Request Hearing on Application to Renew 

Operating Licenses for Vogtle Nuclear Power Plant 

Regions:

IV-07-029 NRC Issues License for Irradiator in Honolulu, Hawaii (8/20)

IV-07-030 NRC Finalizes "White" Finding for Cooper Nuclear Station (8/20)
August 24, 2007 ENCLOSURE N 

 Office of International Programs (OIP) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending August 24, 2007 

Export License Issued For Rokkasho Reprocessing Plant in Japan

On August 20, 2007, OIP issued a license (XSNM3485) to the U.S. Department of Energy/New 

Brunswick Laboratory authorizing the export of gram quantities of natural and high-enriched 

uranium to Japan for use at the Rokkasho Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing Plant to carry out material 

accountancy analyses using the Isotope Dilution Mass Spectrometry method. 
August 24, 2007 ENCLOSURE O 

 Office of the Secretary (SECY) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending August 24, 2007 

Document Released 

to Public

Date Subject

Decision Documents 

1. SECY-07-0109 7/3/07 Final E-Filing Rule

 Commission Voting 

 Record on SECY-07-0109

8/21/07 (same)

SRM-SECY-07-0118 8/22/07 Status Report on the Progress of the G-8 

Countries in Implementing the IAEA Code of 

Conduct (SRM-M050602A)

 Commission Voting 

 Record on 07-0118

8/22/07 (same)

Information Papers

SECY-07-0130 8/7/07 Licensing Support Network Program 

Administration - Semiannual Report

Memoranda

M070821A 8/21/07 Affirmation Session: SECY-07-0109 - Final 

E-Filing Rule

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. Atomic Safety Licensing Board, Notice of Hearing (Application for 20-year License Renewal 

for Oyster Creek). 

2. Final Rule - 10 CFR Parts 1, 2, 13, and 110, 3150 - RIN AH74, Use of Electronic 

Submissions in Agency Hearings. 

3. 10 CFR Part 2 [Docket No. PRM-2-14], State of Nevada; Receipt of Petition for Rulemaking. 

4. Advisory Committee on the Medical Uses of Isotopes: notice of teleconference meeting 

(9/20/2007). 

5. Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards, Meeting of the Subcommittee on Digital 

Instrumentation and Controls Systems, notice of meeting (9/13/2007). 
August 24, 2007 ENCLOSURE P 

 Region II (RII) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending August 24, 2007 

Hatch Emergency Exercise

On August 22, 2007, RII participated in the biennial Federal Emergency Management Agency 

exercise with the Southern Nuclear Company=s Hatch Nuclear Plant. A RII Base Team staffed 

the RII Incident Response Center with the Director, Division of Reactor Safety as the Base Team 

Manager. A RII Site Team participated under the direction of the Deputy Regional Administrator 

for Operations, who was the Site Team Director in the Emergency Operations Facility in 

Birmingham, Alabama. The State of Georgia participated at the Forward Emergency Operations 

Center in Vidalia, Georgia, and the NRC had liaison participation with the state there, in 

Birmingham, and thru the Base Team in Atlanta. The Joint Information Center was activated 

and the RII Public Affairs Officer participated from that location. 
August 24, 2007 ENCLOSURE P 

 Region IV (RIV) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending August 24, 2007 

Commissioner Lyons’ Visit to Diablo Canyon

On August 23, Commissioner Lyons toured the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant. He was 

accompanied by the RIV Deputy Regional Administrator. They met with senior plant 

management and discussed plant performance. Commissioner Lyons also met with San Luis 

Obispo County Office of Emergency Services personnel and the Chairman of the San Luis 

Obispo County Board of Supervisors.