INFORMATION REPORT

June 27, 2006 SECY-06-0145

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING

JUNE 16, 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:

L. Rakovan, OEDO
June 27, 2006 SECY-06-0145

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING

JUNE 16, 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:

L. Rakovan, OEDO

DISTRIBUTION:

Central File

Public Document Name: C:\WIR\week616.WPD

OEDO AO/OEDO

LRakovan:paa WMDean

06/27/06 06/28/06
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING JUNE 16, 2006

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

Headquarters and Regional Office activities. 

Contact: L. Rakovan, OEDO by E-mail: LJR2@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 *

NMSS 4 OPA 17

RES 8 OIP * 

NSIR * SECY 19

OGC * Region I *

ADM 10 Region II *

OIS 11 Region III *

CFO * Region IV 23

HR 15 EDO *

SBCR 16 OCA 24

OE * ACRS/ACNW 25

*No input this week
June 16, 2006 ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending June 16, 2006

Audit of Pilgrim License Renewal Application

During June 6-9, 2006, the staff conducted a scoping and screening (S&S) methodology audit

at Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station (Pilgrim). A detailed review of the S&S methodology and

implementation of that methodology for the evaluation of plant mechanical, electrical, and

structural systems was performed to support the staff’s review of the Pilgrim license renewal

application. Several areas were identified where additional information will be required to

complete the staff’s final safety determination.

Configuration Management Benchmarking Group Presentation

On June 13, 2006, staff provided a presentation to the Configuration Management

Benchmarking Group in Richmond, Virginia. The presentation covered component design

bases inspections and how they differ from other types of inspections, as well as plans for

future use of component design bases inspections.

Monthly Reactor Oversight Process Public Meeting

On June 14, 2006, the DIRS staff hosted the monthly Reactor Oversight Process (ROP) public

meeting at NRC Headquarters. Meeting attendees discussed Mitigating Systems Performance

Index implementation, safety culture integration into the ROP, security ROP topics of interest,

performance indicator issues and open and new frequently asked questions.

Significance Determination Process Workshop

On June 15, 2006, staff held a workshop with participants from each of the regions to develop

guidance for a management review process to risk-inform inspection findings which do not fit

any of the existing Significance Determination Process models. Once approved, the guidance

will be an attachment to Inspection Manual Chapter 0609 "Significance Determination Process.”

Nine Mile Point Units 1 and 2, Issuance of Final Safety Evaluation Report

By letter dated May 26, 2004, as amended by letter dated July 14, 2005, Constellation Energy

Group, LLC, submitted an application pursuant to 10 CFR Part 54, to renew the Nine Mile Point

Nuclear Station (NMPNS), Units 1 and 2, operating licenses for an additional 20 years. On

June 1, 2006, staff issued the final Safety Evaluation Report (SER) for the NMPNS license

renewal application. Two open items that were previously identified in the draft SER have been

resolved. The schedule for the full Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards review of the

NMPNS SER has been set for July 12, 2006.

Staff Audits ESBWR Seismic Design, Analysis, and RAI Responses at General Electric

During the week of June 5, 2006, staff and contractors from Brookhaven National Laboratory

conducted an audit of the Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor (ESBWR) seismic design
June 16, 2006 ENCLOSURE A

and analysis at the General Electric (GE) Nuclear Energy facility in San Jose, CA. Discussions

were also held on GE’s responses to requests for additional information (RAIs) in the seismic

area. The audit was in support of the seismic design review of GE’s application for design

certification of the ESBWR. A public exit meeting for the audit was held on June 8, 2006. GE

agreed to provide revised responses to the RAIs.
June 16, 2006 ENCLOSURE B

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS)

Items of Interest

Week Ending June 16, 2006

NRC and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Staff Visit the Salmon River

Decommissioning Site

From June 5-7, 2006, NMSS staff, along with staff from EPA and the Idaho Department of

Environmental Quality, conducted a visit at the Salmon River Uranium Development Mill Site in

North Fork, ID. The site was licensed from 1958 through 1959 for uranium and thorium

processing, but the site is currently inactive. The site has both radiological and hazardous

material contamination and the site owner possesses insufficient resources to decommission

the site. The purpose of the site visit was to allow EPA to obtain information about the site and

to collect samples to determine the extent of contamination. EPA will use this information to

determine whether the site qualifies for any EPA clean-up programs. The results of EPA's

evaluation are expected in several months.

NRC and Department of Energy (DOE) Public Meeting to Discuss Draft Waste Determination

On June 8, 2006, staff and management met with representatives of DOE at the Aiken

Municipal Building in Aiken, SC. The purpose of this open meeting was to discuss NRC’s

Request for Additional Information regarding DOE’s incidental waste determination for Tanks

18 and 19 at the Savannah River Site (SRS). The meeting was attended by representatives of

the SRS Citizens Advisory Board, EPA, the South Carolina Department of Health and

Environmental Control, the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, and the offices of United

States Senators Isakson and Chambliss (GA).

2006 American Nuclear Society (ANS) Annual Meeting - A Special Session on Regulatory

Issues in Decommissioning

From June 4-8, 2006, in Reno, NV, staff and management from NMSS participated in the

subject session, which was sponsored by the ANS Division on Decommissioning,

Decontamination, and Reutilization. NMSS participants delivered presentations on: 

(1) “Incidental Waste Determination;” (2) “Status of Decommissioning Program Rulemaking and

Guidance;” (3) “Update on Implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding between NRC

and EPA on Decommissioning Sites;” and (4) “Complex Dose Modeling Analysis for

Decommissioning.”

2006 International GoldSim User Conference

From June 5-7, 2006, staff attended the subject conference in Vancouver, British Columbia. 

Staff provided a presentation on the reviewers' perspective of simulation modeling, focusing on

the need to develop transparent and traceable analysis with a level of complexity

commensurate with the available supporting information. The presentation is available in

ADAMS, under ML061220644. Staff attended a variety of training sessions on advanced

features of the software and shared experiences with international GoldSim users.
June 16, 2006 ENCLOSURE B

Seventh Annual Meeting of the Forum on Stakeholder Confidence (FSC) in Paris, France

From June 7-9, 2006, NRC staff participated in and chaired a session at the subject meeting,

sponsored by the Radioactive Waste Management Committee of the Nuclear Energy Agency. 

The meeting took place in Paris, France. Of particular note were three topical sessions: 

(1) “Tools and Processes to help Society Prepare and Manage Radioactive Waste Decisions”

(chaired by NRC staff); (2) a joint session held with a delegation of the association of Swedish

municipalities with nuclear facilities, “Forming a Sustainable Relationship to a Local Waste

Management Facility: the Value-Added Project initiative of the FSC;” and (3) “Experience with

Electronic, Web and Internet Platforms for Communicating on Radioactive Waste

Management.” Staff also contributed to planning discussions for the next FSC country

workshop, in Hungary, to be held the week of November 23, 2006.
June 16, 2006 ENCLOSURE C

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES)

Items of Interest

Week Ending June 16, 2006

Annual Program Review Meeting Related to Fuel Cladding Research at Argonne National

Laboratory (ANL)

On June 8-9, 2006, NRC staff, U.S. industry research partners, and representatives from ten

cooperating international organizations participated in the subject meeting to review research

related to 10 CFR 50.46 criteria for loss-of-coolant accidents. Significant new data were

presented by ANL staff on ductility as measured by ring compression, on the effect of cooling

rate, and on breakaway oxidation. Very recent data on cooling rate effects, presented by

participants from the French Atomic Energy Commission’s laboratory at Saclay, and the ANL

data provided a basis for modifying test conditions for the final measurements at ANL. Also,

recent results from the Halden reactor were presented regarding axial fuel relocation following a

transient.

American Nuclear Society (ANS) 2006 Annual Meeting and 2006 International Congress on

Advances in Nuclear Power Plants (ICAPP’06)

From June 4-8, 2006, the staff attended the subject meetings and chaired sessions on safety

analysis and accident management. ICAPP’06 was an embedded topical meeting within the

ANS 2006 Annual Meeting with particular focus on advances in nuclear power plant and fuel

cycle design, operation, and safety. Technical sessions in both ANS and ICAPP’06 meetings

highlighted next generation nuclear plants (NGNP) with regard to design and safety issues,

technology and licensing infrastructure needs, and economic viability. Information

disseminated at these meetings will be useful for NRC in developing infrastructure to support

licensing.

Sandia National Laboratory (SNL) Site Visit

On June 8, 2006, the staff met with SNL researchers to view the calibration tests for the small

scale radiant flux cable fire tests and tour the facilities for the intermediate testing. The majority

of test cables are on site and the special electrical instrumentation to determine cable

functionality has been assembled and tested. 

Public Meeting on Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) on “Approaches to Riskinformed and Performance-based Requirements for Nuclear Power Reactors”

On June 15, 2006, staff from the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation and RES held a public

meeting to discuss the Commission’s ANPR regarding the potential development of a riskinformed and performance-based alternative to 10 CFR Part 50 (referred to as Part 53). The

purposes of the meeting were to: (1) clarify the questions in the ANPR; (2) describe the

differences between the January 2005 and April 2006 working versions of the framework, and

the working version to be made available in July 2006; and (3) solicit input from stakeholders on

content, format and organization of a 3-day workshop planned in late August 2006. The

meeting was well attended and included representatives from NEI, vendors, licensees,

Department of Energy, and Department of Homeland Security as well as different consultants. 
June 16, 2006 ENCLOSURE C

Two issues were raised by the attendees: (1) include a discussion at the workshop on the

implementation of the framework to better understand how the approach would be applied on a

technology-specific basis, and (2) most comments would not be provided until the end of the

ANPR period in December 2006. The staff plans to continually interact with both internal and

external stakeholders to receive their input.
June 16, 2006 ENCLOSURE F

Office of Administration (ADM)

Items of Interest 

Week Ending June 16, 2006

Relief from Fingerprinting and Criminal History Record Checks for Designated Categories of

Individuals (AH94 - Part 73)

On June 13, 2006, the NRC published a final rule in the Federal Register (71 FR 33989) that

relieves certain categories of individuals who have been approved by the Commission for

access to Safeguards Information from the fingerprinting and criminal history records check

requirements of Section 149 of the Atomic Energy Act, as amended. The final rule became

effective June 13, 2006.

National Source Tracking of Sealed Sources (AH48 - Parts 20 & 32)

On June 13, 2006, the NRC published a proposed rule in the Federal Register (71 FR 34024)

that amends its regulation that would establish a National Source Tracking System for certain

sealed sources. The NRC is proposing to change the basis for the rule from its authority to

promote the common defense and security to protection of public health and safety. The

comment period for this action closes July 3, 2006.

William Stein III, M.D.; Receipt of Petition for Rulemaking (PRM-35-19)

On June 14, 2006, the NRC published a document in the Federal Register (71 FR 34285) that

announces the receipt of a petition for rulemaking submitted by William Stein III, MD. (PRM-35-

19). The petitioner requests that the NRC amend its regulations for the medical use of

byproduct material concerning training for the parenteral administration of certain radioactive

drugs used to treat cancer. The petitioner requests that the regulations be clarified to codify an

80-hour training and experience requirement as appropriate and sufficient for medical

oncologists and hematologists to qualify as an authorized user for these unsealed byproduct

materials. The comment period on this action closes August 28, 2006.
June 16, 2006 ENCLOSURE G

Office of Information Services (OIS)

Items of Interest

Week Ending June 16, 2006

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

June 08 through June 15, 2006:

Credit Card holders at NRC FOIA/PA-2006-0222

Paper presented to the NRC by Martha Dibblee, Oregon Health

Division’s Radiation Control Section, re: Precision Castparts dumping

radioactive material, 1989

FOIA/PA-2006-0223

Yucca Mountain, independent analyses by NRC which indicate that

the current repository design will meet regulatory compliance goals by

NRC & EPA

FOIA/PA-2006-0224

License, radioactive material use, for named individual FOIA/PA-2006-0225
June 16, 2006 ENCLOSURE I

Office of Human Resources (HR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending June 16, 2006

Arrival

BICKEL, JOHN H. CONSULTANT ACRS

BOZGA, JOHN V. REACTOR INSPECTOR (CIV/STRUCT ENGR) R-III

HARRIS, BRIANA A. STUDENT SCIENTIST NRR

LEARN, MATTHEW C. STUDENT ENGINEER (CO-OP) R-III

MARTIN, DEAN A. INFORMATION MANAGEMENT ANALYST OIS

PRUETT, TIMOTHY D. IT SPECIALIST (INET) OIS

RIVERA TORRES, JOSE M. STUDENT SCIENTIST RES

ROIG-SILVA, CORAL M. STUDENT ENGINEER NRR

PAUL, DOREEN E. SUMMER HIRE (WASHINGTON INTERNSHIPS

FOR NATIVE STUDENT PROGRAM (WINS))

NSIR

SEAY, JAYE E. CONTRACT MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST

(NSPDP)

ADM

WOODYATT, DIANA GENERAL ENGINEER (NSPDP) NRR

YU, DEANNA STUDENT CLERK ADM

Retirements

BRITZ, WAYNE L. FUEL FACILITIES INSPECTOR R-II

Departures

MANN, JULIAN A. STUDENT TRAINEE NRR
June 16, 2006 ENCLOSURE J

Office of Small Business and Civil Rights (SBCR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending June 16, 2006

NRC Hosts Small Business Awards Ceremony

On June 13, 2006, the SBCR hosted a Small Business Awards Ceremony at NRC

Headquarters. The purpose of the ceremony was to recognize those offices that made

significant, notable, or participatory contributions to NRC’s Fiscal Year 2005 accomplishments

in contracting with small, disadvantaged, and woman-owned businesses. The Executive

Director for Operations gave out three separate categories of awards to 23 NRC offices. Ten of

these offices received the Gold Star award and were recognized as the key contributors to the

agency’s success. 
June 16, 2006 ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs (OPA)

Items of Interest

Week Ending June 16, 2006

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

The draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Oyster Creek license renewal.

The 9th Circuit’s ruling on terrorism in environmental reviews and its potential impact on other

NRC licensing actions.

Limerick’s plans to begin dry cask storage of spent nuclear fuel.

Other Public Affairs Items:

OPA assisted Chairman Diaz in a press conference sponsored by Energy Daily.

Press Releases

Headquarters:

06-080 Heather Astwood Named as NRC Nuclear Safety Attaché (6/14)

06-081 Commissioner Gregory B. Jaczko Takes Oath of Office at NRC Ceremony

(6/16)

Regions:

I-06-037 NRC Seeks Public Input on Draft Environmental Report for Oyster Creek

Nuclear Plant License Renewal; Meetings July 12 (6/12)

III-06-025 NRC to Discuss 2005 Performance Assessment for Quad Cities Nuclear Power

Plant (6/12)
June 16, 2006 ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary (SECY)

Items of Interest

Week Ending June 16, 2006

Document Released

to Public

Date Subject

Decision Documents

1. SRM-SECY-06-0094 06/09/06 Tracking or Providing Enhanced Controls

for Category 3 Sources

Commission Voting

Record on 06-0094

06/09/06 (same)

2. SECY-06-0124 05/26/06 Rulemaking Plan to Amend Fracture

Toughness Requirements for Protection

Against Pressurized Thermal Shock Events

(10 CFR 50.61)

3. COMSECY-06-0028 05/31/06 Status Update on Feasibility of Developing

Fuel Facility Performance Indicators

SRM on COMSECY-06-

0028

06/16/06 (same)

Voting Record on 

COMSECY-06-0028

06/14/06 (same)

Information Papers

1. SECY-06-0135 06/09/06 Weekly Information Report - Week Ending

June 2, 2006

2. SECY-06-0087 04/17/06 Annual Report to the Commission on

Licensee Performance in the Materials and

Waste Programs - Fiscal Year 2005

3. SECY-06-0128 05/31/06 Annual Report on Activities Associated with

Evaluating Scientific Information and

Radiation Protection Recommendations

Memoranda

M060516B 06/14/06 Briefing on Results of the Agency Action

Review Meeting - Reactors/Materials
June 16, 2006 ENCLOSURE O

Commission Correspondence

- Letter to Senator Joseph Lieberman, dated June 7, 2006, responds to letter forwarding a

letter from Connecticut Attorney General Blumenthal requesting legislation directing the

NRC to conduct an ISA of the Indian Point Energy Center.

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS), Meeting of the Subcommittee on

Plant License Renewal, notice of meeting (7/11/06).

2. ACRS, Subcommittee Meeting on Planning and Procedures, notice of meeting (7/11/06).

3. ACRS, Meeting of the ACRS Subcommittee on Plant Operations, notice of meeting

(7/26/06).
June 16, 2006 ENCLOSURE P

Region IV (RIV)

Items of Interest

Week Ending June 16, 2006

Energy Northwest Public Meeting

On June 12, 2006, the Regional Administrator and staff held a public meeting at the Region IV

office with representatives of Energy Northwest. The purpose was to discuss the licensee’s

actions to address a Columbia Generating Station substantive crosscutting issue in the area of

problem identification and resolution. 
June 16, 2006 

Office of Congressional Affairs (OCA)

Items of Interest

Week Ending June 16, 2006

CONGRESSIONAL HEARING SCHEDULE, NO. 23

 OCAContact

 DATE & PLACE

TIME WITNESS SUBJECT 

Decker 06/12/06

SD-366

2:30 DOE Next Generation of Nuclear Plant

Project within the Department ofEnergy

Senators Energy a

Shane 06/13/06

2154 RHOB

2:00 TBA H.R. 4859 - Information Technology

and Federal Employee HealthProgram

Reps. PoFederal WOrganizaGovernm

Decker 06/14/06

SD-342

10:00 Markup S. 2145, enhance security at

chemical facilities

Senators Homeland  Affairs

Shane 06/19/06

2123 RHOB

4:00 NRC, GAO GAO Report on the Reactor

Oversight Process

Reps. WhOversight Energy a

Shane 06/22/06

SD-628

9:30 NRC, GAO, NEI, UCS GAO Report on Reactor Oversight

Process and other topics

Senators Clean Air

Nuclear SEnvironm
June 16, 2006 ENCLOSURE S

Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS)/

Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste (ACNW)

Items of Interest

Week Ending June 16, 2006

As a result of its 533rd meeting (May 31-June 1, 2006), the ACRS issued letters and

reports on the following subjects. 

Date

June 15, 2006 Draft Final Generic Letter 2006-XX, “Inaccessible or Underground

Cable Failures That Disable Accident Mitigation Systems”

June 16, 2006 Draft Final Generic Letter 2006-XX: “Post-Fire Safe-Shutdown

Circuit Analysis Spurious Actuations“