INFORMATION REPORT 

September 27, 2007 SECY-07-0170

For: The Commissioners 

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

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING 

SEPTEMBER 21, 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: 

L. Quinones, OEDO 
September 27, 2007 SECY-07-0170

For: The Commissioners 

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

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING 

SEPTEMBER 21, 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: 

L. Quinones, OEDO 

DISTRIBUTION: 

EDO R/F 

AO R/F Doc Name: G:\Melissa\WIR\week0921.WPD 

OEDO AO/OEDO ML072760320 

LQuinones VLOrdaz 

09/27/07 09/27/07 
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 21, 2007

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

Headquarters and Regional Office activities. 

Contact: L. Quinones, OEDO by E-mail: lnq@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 
September 21, 2007 ENCLOSURE A 

 Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending September 21, 2007 

Farley Regulatory Conference

 

On September 12, the staff participated in a regulatory conference with Region II and the Farley 

licensee regarding a preliminary yellow finding related to the failure of the Unit 2 residual heat 

removal containment sump suction motor operated valve (MOV) during inservice testing. This 

regulatory conference was held as part of the Significance Determination Process (SDP). The 

licensee plans to submit additional information as a result of the conference before a final 

determination is made regarding this finding. 

Power Reactor Security Meeting on Draft Regulatory Guide -5021

On September 14, the staff held a public meeting to discuss draft Regulatory Guide DG-5021 

“Managing the Safety Security Interface.” DG-5021 was published for public comment on July 

24, 2007, and it provided guidance for implementation of proposed 10 CFR 73.58 

“Safety/Security Interface Requirements for Nuclear Power Reactors.” Proposed 10 CFR 73.58 

is part of the power reactor security rulemaking that is now in the final rule stage. Draft final rule 

language for 10 CFR 73.58 was handed out to meeting attendees. The comment period for DG5021 closed on September 25, 2007. 

Final Safety Evaluation Issued for MELLLA+ Topical Report

On September 14, the staff issued the final safety evaluation approving the General Electric 

topical report NEDC-33006P, "General Electric BWR Maximum Extended Load Line Limit 

Analysis Plus," (MELLLA+). The MELLLA+ expanded operating domain increases operating 

flexibility by allowing control of reactivity at maximum power (up to 120%) by changing flow 

rather than rod insertion and withdrawal. The MELLLA+ topical report addresses the impact of 

MELLLA+ operation as well as the scope of analyses that are needed to meet the safety and 

regulatory requirements for operation in the MELLLA+ domain. The staff presented to the 

Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) Thermal-Hydraulic phenomena subcommittee in May and full committee in June on NEDC-33006P, MELLLA+. 

Wolf Creek License Renewal- Draft Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement 

On September 18, the staff issued the draft “Generic Environmental Impact Statement for 

License Renewal” for the Wolf Creek Generating Station,” for public comment. This 

supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) includes the staff’s preliminary analysis 

that considers and weighs the environmental effects of the proposed action, the environmental 

impacts of alternatives to the proposed action, and mitigative measures available for reducing or 

avoiding adverse impacts. It also includes the staff’s preliminary recommendation that the 

Commission determine that the adverse environmental impacts of license renewal for Wolf 

Creek Generating Station, are not so great that preserving the option of license renewal for 

energy planning decision makers would be unreasonable. 
September 21, 2007 ENCLOSURE A 

A 75-day public comment period will begin on October 12, 2007, with the Notice of Filing of the 

draft SEIS with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The staff has scheduled public 

meetings on November 8, 2007, in Burlington, Kansas, to present its analyses and to accept 

public comments on the draft SEIS. 

Monthly Reactor Oversight Process Public Meeting

On September 19, the staff held the monthly Reactor Oversight Process (ROP) public meeting 

to allow discussion on staff initiatives and provide a forum for industry feedback. Meeting 

attendees discussed mitigating systems performance index (MSPI) implementation, safety 

culture integration into the reactor oversight process, performance indicator issues, and open 

and new frequently asked questions for the ROP. 

Indian Point 2/3 License Renewal Environmental Scoping Meeting

On September 19, the staff conducted two public scoping meetings in Cortlandt Manor, New 

York, to solicit comments on the scope of the Indian Point Energy Center, Units 1 and 2, license 

renewal environmental review. Approximately 400 individuals attended the meetings. 

Comments addressed both the potential environmental impacts of license renewal, as well as 

emergency planning, current performance issues, terrorism, and other issues outside the scope 

of license renewal. NRR staff will continue to receive scoping comments by mail, electronically, 

or in person at headquarters until the scoping period ends on October 12, 2007. 
September 21, 2007 ENCLOSURE B 

 Office of New Reactors (NRO) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending September 21, 2007 

Pre-Application Quality Assurance Audit for the North Anna and Grand Gulf Combined 

Construction and Operating License Applications (COLAs)

From September 10-14, 2007, the staff conducted a pre-application quality assurance audit of 

the preparation activities for the North Anna and Grand Gulf COLAs, which will reference the 

Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor design. The staff found that the potential applicants 

and their contractors were progressing in the preparation of the COLAs and that the audit 

experiences will assist the staff in reviewing the anticipated COLAs. 

Inspection of Velan, Inc 

From September 17-21, 2007, the staff led a team inspection at Velan, Inc., Montreal, Quebec, 

Canada. The purpose of this inspection was to review and verify the implementation of their 

quality program for the supply of safety-related and American Society of Mechanical Engineers 

(ASME) Section III code valves for the nuclear industry. It is expected that Velan will be a major 

supplier of ASME code valves in support of new reactor construction activities in the United 

States. This inspection was to be observed by a senior inspector from the French Nuclear 

Safety Authority. 
September 21, 2007 ENCLOSURE C 

 Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending September 21, 2007 

Bruges, Belgium, Presentation on Repository Seismic Scenario Methodology

From September 2-7, 2007, a Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses (CNWRA) staff 

member presented a paper, at the 11th International Conference on Environmental Remediation 

and Radioactive Waste Management, and visited, as part of the conference, the Central 

Organization for Radioactive Waste storage facilities, in The Netherlands. Updates on 

worldwide high-level waste programs were provided at the conference. 

Technical Exchange on Repository Licensing Process

On September 13, 2007, the NRC and the U.S. Department of Energy held a technical 

exchange on repository licensing process topics, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Meeting topics 

included: protocols for interactions during the license application review; license application 

content; NRC organizational structure; future NRC interim staff guidance; and 

electronic-information exchange - rules for submission of a license application. Stakeholders 

and interested members of the public attended this meeting. 

Repository Environment Presentation at Materials Research Society, England

On September 16-21, 2007, CNWRA staff attended the Materials Research Society Symposium 

on the Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management XXXI, held in Sheffield, United Kingdom. 

Interim results were presented, which indicated that rock-dust capillary retention does not 

prevent dust deliquescence brines from corroding carbon steel. 

Public Meetings at Nuclear Fuel Services

On September 17, 2007, Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards staff supported Region II 

at several public meetings, concerning Nuclear Fuel Services (NFS), in Erwin, Tennessee. A 

public poster session and a public meeting with the licensee were conducted at the NFS 

Training Center, in the afternoon. The licensee meeting concerned the most recent License 

Performance Review. The public asked a wide range of questions concerning operations at the 

site. A second poster session was conducted for the public, in the evening, at the Erwin City 

Hall. There was significant media interest and members of Senator Alexander’s staff attended. 

Staff from the Office of Congressional Affairs and the Office of the Inspector General supported 

the meetings also. 

Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board Meeting on Repository Surface Facilities

On September 19, 2007, staff observed a meeting of the U.S. Nuclear Waste Technical Review 

Board, in Las Vegas, NV. This was a public meeting that focused on the design and operation 

of the repository preclosure surface facility and on transportation, aging, and disposal. 
September 21, 2007 ENCLOSURE C 

Meeting with Transnuclear, Inc. to Discuss Standardized NUHOMS Amendment 10 Request for 

Additional Information

On September 19, 2007, Division of Spent Fuel Storage and Transportation staff met with 

Transnuclear, Inc. (TN) to discuss Standardized NUHOMS Amendment 10 requests for 

additional information (RAIs). The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the RAIs that the staff 

provided to TN in an August 29, 2007, letter, and TN's approach to the response to the RAIs. 

RAIs in the materials, structural, and thermal area were discussed. At the end of the meeting, 

TN indicated that it intended to factor the results of the meeting into its response and that it will 

meet the scheduled date of November 5, 2007, for its response. 
September 21, 2007 ENCLOSURE F 

 Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response (NSIR) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending September 21, 2007 

PNO-II-07-010, Duke Power Company, LLC

Special inspection to review charging pump oil coolers 

PNO-II-07-009, Southern Company

Component cooling water pump breaker failures 

PNO-I-07-008, Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc

Restoration of west cooling tower 

PNO-I-07-009

Alert declared due to inadvertent discharge of carbon dioxide into Nine Mile Point Unit 2 

electrical switchgear room 
September 21, 2007 ENCLOSURE G 

 Office of Administration (ADM) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending September 21, 2007 

The following four awards were made under Solicitation 03-07-036 for the combined license 

application reviews for the Office of New Reactors. The awards were design center specific. 

Three of the design centers were competed under full and open procedures and one was a 

100% small business, set aside. Based on the evaluation of technical and cost proposals 

received, three out of the four awards were made to small businesses. Details of the awards are 

as follows: 

Contract Number NRC-42-07-036 Award for Technical Assistance in Support of Design 

Certification (DC), Early Site Permit (ESP), Combined License (COL), Environmental, and 

Pre-Application Activities Related to New Reactor License Applications 

On September 9, 2007, a competitive cost plus fixed fee contract was awarded to Information 

Systems Laboratories for the Westinghouse Advanced Plant 1000 (AP1000) design center. The 

Contractor will provide expert technical assistance in a wide range of technical and scientific 

disciplines and in accomplishing its work related activities aimed at ensuring the overall safety 

and adequacy of nuclear power plant design, construction, and operations. The contractor shall 

provide technical assistance in work related to the review of DC, ESP, COL, pre-application 

activities and related support will be undertaken. The total estimated value of the contract is 

$33,852,575. The period of performance is September 7, 2007-September 6, 2012. 

Contract Number NRC-42-07-081 Award for Technical Assistance in Support of DC, ESP, COL, 

Environmental, and Pre-Application Activities related to New Reactor License Applications 

On September 9, 2007, a competitive cost plus fixed fee contract was awarded to Numark 

Associates Inc. located in Washington DC, for the Areva Evolutionary Power Reactor (EPR) 

design center. Numark Associates is a small business. The Contractor will provide expert 

technical assistance in a wide range of technical and scientific disciplines and in accomplishing 

its work related activities aimed at ensuring the overall safety and adequacy of nuclear power 

plant design, construction, and operations. The contractor shall provide technical assistance in 

work related to the review of DC, ESP, COL, pre-application activities and related support will be 

undertaken. The total estimated value of the contract is $29,205,885. The period of 

performance is September 7, 2007-September 6, 2012. 

Contract Number NRC-42-07-082 Award for Technical Assistance in Support of DC, ESP, COL, 

Environmental, and Pre-Application Activities related to New Reactor 

On September 9, 2007, a competitive cost plus fixed fee contract was awarded to Energy 

Research, Inc. located in Rockville, MD, for the General Electric Economic Simplified Boiling 

Water Reactor Design Center. Energy Research is a small business. The Contractor will 

provide expert technical assistance in a wide range of technical and scientific disciplines and in 

accomplishing its work related activities aimed at ensuring the overall safety and adequacy of 

nuclear power plant design, construction, and operations. The contractor shall provide technical 

assistance in work related to the review of DC, ESP, COL, pre-application activities and related 

support will be undertaken. The total estimated value of the contract is $16,675,053. The 

period of performance is September 7, 2007 to September 6, 2012. 
September 21, 2007 ENCLOSURE G 

Contract Number NRC-42-07-083 Awarded for Technical Assistance in Support of DC, ESP, 

COL, Environmental, and Pre-Application Activities Related to New Reactor License 

Applications

On September 13, 2007, a small business set aside contract (cost plus fixed fee) was awarded 

to Energy Research, Inc. located in Rockville, MD, for the General Electric Advanced Boiling 

Water Reactor design center. The Contractor will provide expert technical assistance in a wide 

range of technical and scientific disciplines and in accomplishing its work related activities aimed 

at ensuring the overall safety and adequacy of nuclear power plant design, construction, and 

operations. The contractor shall provide technical assistance in work related to the review of 

DC, ESP, COL, pre-application activities and related support will be undertaken. The total 

estimated value of the contract is $5,945,663. The period of performance is September 13, 

2007-September 12, 2012. 
September 21, 2007 ENCLOSURE H 

 Office of Information Services (OIS) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending September 21, 2007 

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

of September 14-September 20, 2007: 

All active NRC licenses (MLTS) FOIA/PA-2007-0330 

List of NRC licensees FOIA/PA-2007-0331 

Terracon, 2020 East Starita Road, Charlotte, NC 28206, license no. 

060-1064-3, all records FOIA/PA-2007-0332 

Equipment & standards used in the analysis of neutron irradiated 

gemstones at the following licensees: Research Reactor Center, 

Columbia, MO, Gem Testing & Research Center, Miami, FL, & 

Gemological Institute of America, Carlsbad, CA FOIA/PA-2007-0333 

Contracts NRC4207036, NRC42070481, NRC4207482 & NRC4207483 FOIA/PA-2007-0334 

Office of Investigations Case 4-2006-0035, all records FOIA/PA-2007-0335 

Office of New Reactors procedures (office instructions) to support the 

various functions & responsibilities, as stated in SECY-2007-152 FOIA/PA-2007-0336 
September 21, 2007 ENCLOSURE M 

 Office of Public Affairs (OPA) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending September 21, 2007 

OPA Received Significant Media Inquiries on the Following

Alert declared by Nine Mile Point nuclear plant after a fire suppression system inadvertently 

discharged carbon dioxide into room housing electrical equipment for safety systems. 

NRC’s public meeting to discuss performance of the Nuclear Fuel Services facility in Erwin, 

Tennessee. 

Inattentive guards at Peach Bottom nuclear plant. 

 

New reactors and the status of anticipated applications through 2008. 

Indian Point nuclear plant license renewal process and forthcoming environmental scoping 

meeting. 

Oyster Creek nuclear plant license renewal evidentiary hearing. 

Other Public Affairs Items

OPA coordinated Business Week’s interview with NRC staff on federal workforce issues and the 

predicted wave of retirees. 

OPA coordinated Platts’ interview with NRC staff about the GAO sting and the agency’s path 

forward for changes in the nuclear materials licensing process. 

Press Releases

Headquarters:

07-120 NRC to Co-Sponsor Workshop for Minority Serving Institutions, September 24-27 

in Dallas, Texas (9/19) 

Regions:

I-07-048 NRC Monitoring “Alert” at Nine Mile Point Unit 2 (9/19) 

I-07-049 NRC Sends Team to Review Peach Bottom Security (9/20) 

II-07-045 NRC Sets Public Meeting with Farley on Sept. 20 in Dothan to discuss Inspection 

of Cooling Water System Breaker Failures (9/17) 

II-07-046 Telephone Bridge Line Established for Public Meeting Between NRC and Farley 

Nuclear Power Plant (9/19) 
September 21, 2007 ENCLOSURE M 

II-07-047 NRC to Solicit Public Input Sept. 27 in Waynesboro as Part of Vogtle Nuclear Plant 

License Renewal Application Review (9/20) 

IV-07-035 NRC Names New Senior Resident Inspector at Callaway Nuclear Plant (9/18) 

IV-07-036 NRC to Hold Public Meetings on Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Wolf 

Creek License Renewal Application (9/19) 
September 21, 2007 ENCLOSURE O 

 Office of the Secretary (SECY) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending September 21, 2007 

 Document Released 

 to Public 

 Date Subject 

Decision Documents

1. SRM-SECY-07-0147 09/18/07 Response to Government Accounting Office 

Recommendations and Other 

Recommendations to Address Security 

Issues in the NRC Materials Program 

2. Commission Voting 

Record on 07-0147 

09/18/07 (same) 

Information Papers

1. SECY-07-0152 08/31/07 Semiannual Update of the Status of New 

Reactor Licensing Activities and Future 

Planning for New Reactors 

2. SECY-07-0161 09/14/07 Weekly Information Report – Week Ending 

September 7, 2007 

Memoranda

Commission Correspondence

 

1. Letter to Senators George Voinovich and Thomas Carper, dated September 12, 2007, 

responds to letter regarding concerns about the GAO’s ability to set up a false company and 

obtain a license to buy radioactive material, and on safety procedures and controls at NSF in 

regard to a leak involving a solution containing HEU. 

2. Letter to Bill Richardson, Governor of New Mexico, dated September 12, 2007, responds to 

letter expressing concern with NRC’s proposed generic environmental impact statement for 

in-situ leach uranium recovery. 

3. Letter to Congressmen John Dingell and Senator Barbara Boxer, dated September 11, 2007, 

submits a report to Congress that describes the results of each security response evaluation 

(i.e., force-on-force exercises) conducted and any relevant corrective action taken by a 

licensee during the previous year. 

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS), notice of 546th meeting (10/4-6/2007).
September 21, 2007 ENCLOSURE O 

2. ACRS, Subcommittee Meeting on Reliability and Probabilistic Risk Assessment, notice of meeting 

(10/2/2007). 

3. ACRS, Notice of Hearing, Application for a License Amendment (Jefferson Proving Ground 

Site). 

4. ACRS, Procedures for Meetings. 

5. ACNW&M, Procedures for Meetings. 

6. ACRS, Subcommittee Meeting on Power Uprates (Susquehanna), notice of meeting 

 (10/9-10/2007). 
September 21, 2007 ENCLOSURE P 

 Region IV (RIV) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending September 21, 2007 

Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation Senior Management Changes

The following senior management changes at Wolf Creek Generating Station became effective 

on September 17, 2007. Matt Sunseri, formerly Vice President, Engineering assumed the duties 

of Vice President, Operations and Plant Manager. Steve Hedges, formerly Vice President, 

Operations and Plant Manager, assumed the duties of Vice President, Engineering.
September 21, 2007 

 Office of Congressional Affairs (OCA)  Items of Interest  Week Ending September 21, 2007 

CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS SCHEDULE, NO. 29 

OCA 

Contact 

Date & 

Place Time Committee Subject W

Decker 09/18/07 

2123 

Rayburn 

10:00 House Energy and Commerce, 

Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations (Representatives 

“Nuclear Terrorism Prevention: Status Report on the Federal Government's Assessment of New Radiation Detection Monitors” 

• Gene Aloise – 

Resources and Government A

• Keith Rhodes – • Vayl Oxford – 

Detection Offic

• Huban Gowad

Mission Manag

• Dave Huizenga 

Administrator, Material ProtecNNSA 

• John Higbee – 

Management, Managers, De

• Paul Schneide

Homeland Sec

Powell 09/20/07 

406 Dirksen 

9:55 Senate Environment and Public 

Works (Senators Boxer / Inhofe) 

Federal Property Transfer (may include NRC space prospectus) 

TBD 

Shane 10/03/07 

TBD 

TBD Senate Environment and Public 

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

NRC Oversight: Reactor Oversight Process and GAO report on NRC’s preparedness to process new license applications 

TBD 

Powell 10/TBD/07 

TBD 

TBD Senate Environment and Public 

Works (Senators Boxer / Inhofe) 

Licensing of a Repository at Yucca Mountain 

TBD