INFORMATION REPORT 

July 11, 2008 SECY-08-0102

For: The Commissioners 

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

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING 

JULY 4, 2008 

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 Bloomer for/

 

Vonna L. Ordaz 

Assistant for Operations, OEDO 

Contact: 

S. Bagley, OEDO 
July 11, 2008 SECY-08-0102

For: The Commissioners 

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

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING 

JULY 4, 2008 

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 Bloomer for/

Vonna L. Ordaz 

Assistant for Operations, OEDO 

Contact: 

S. Bagley, OEDO 

DISTRIBUTION: 

EDO R/F 

AO R/F Document Name: G:\AO\WIR\2008\Week0704.doc 

OEDO AO/OEDO 

SBagley VLOrdaz /RA Tamara Bloomer for/ 

07/11/08 07/11/08 

ML081960465
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING JULY 4, 2008

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

Headquarters and Regional Office activities. 

Contact: S. Bagley, OEDO by E-mail: Susan.Bagley@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 
July 4, 2008 ENCLOSURE A 

 Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending July 4, 2008 

American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) International 24th Annual Symposium on 

Effects of Radiation on Nuclear Materials and the Nuclear Fuel Cycle

From June 23 through 25, 2008, NRC staff attended the ASTM International 24th Annual 

Symposium on Effects of Radiation on Nuclear Materials and the Nuclear Fuel Cycle and 

provided the opening plenary presentation “Research on Radiation Effects – An NRC 

Perspective.” The symposium was well-attended by national and international experts in the 

field from industry, research laboratories, academia, and regulatory authorities. Principal topics 

covered by the presentations included radiation embrittlement of reactor pressure vessel steels 

and degradation of reactor pressure vessel internals due to the effects of radiation. 

USA/Strategic Teaming and Resource Sharing (STARS) Conference on Air Operated Valves 

(AOV)

From June 23 through 26, 2008, NRC staff attended the USA/STARS conference on AOV. At 

the meeting, the staff discussed regulatory activities related to in-service testing (IST) and the 

new NRC acceptance review process as related to IST issues. Major topics presented by the 

membership at the USA/STARS group meeting included power uprate implementation, AOV 

operating experience, AOV diagnostics, AOV actuator maintenance, valve trim options, and 

digital positioners. A portion of the meeting was held at the Newman Hattersley valve facility in 

Mississauga, Canada, where the vendor provided demonstrations of AOV maintenance and 

testing activities. 

Joint International Atomic Energy Agency-Nuclear Energy Agency (IAEA-NEA) Technical 

Meeting

From July 1 through 4, 2008, the NRR staff attended an IAEA-NEA joint technical meeting on 

the “Revision of the Incident Reporting System (IRS) Guidelines” in Vienna, Austria. This 

meeting was held to finalize the revision to the guidelines. 
July 4, 2008 ENCLOSURE B 

 Office of New Reactors (NRO) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending July 4, 2008 

Issuance of Review Schedules for the Vogtle Combined License (COL) Application

On June 27, 2008, the staff issued the safety and environmental review schedules for Southern 

Nuclear Operating Company’s COL application for Vogtle Units 3 and 4. The safety review 

schedule is 30 months in duration, and the environmental review schedule is 19.5 months in 

duration. The completion of the safety review of the Vogtle COL depends on both the 

Westinghouse AP1000 design certification amendment review and the Tennessee Valley 

Authority (TVA)/Bellefonte COL review (the TVA COL is the “reference” COL for the design 

center). 

Approval of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd, Kobe, Japan Safeguards Information Control 

Program

On June 30, 2008, the staff approved the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), Ltd., Kobe, Japan 

office to handle and store Safeguards Information (SGI). The MHI review was conducted on 

June 2, 2008, to verify the adequacy of procedures submitted to NRC by Mitsubishi Nuclear 

Energy Systems (MNES). The procedures covered the protection program for SGI at various 

MNES and MHI facilities as described in the Safeguards Information Control Program submitted 

to the NRC on September 25, 2007. As a result of this review, MHI and MNES may handle and 

store SGI at the Arlington, VA, Monroeville, PA, and Kobe, Japan facilities. MNES will serve as 

the primary contact with NRC staff and will also perform oversight activities for the MHI SGI 

facilities in Japan. This is the first approval of an applicant's (licensee's or vendor's) SGI storage 

facility located outside of the U.S. 

Notice of Hearing and Opportunity to Petition for Leave to Intervene - Grand Gulf COL 

Application

On July 1, 2008, a notice was issued in the Federal Register (73 FR 37511) that a hearing will 

be held at a time and place to be set in the future by the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board 

regarding the Grand Gulf Unit 3 COL application. This notice informs interested parties of the 

opportunity to file a written petition for leave to intervene in the license proceedings for the Grand 

Gulf Unit 3 combined license application. 
July 4, 2008 ENCLOSURE D 

 Office of Federal and State Materials and Environmental Management Programs (FSME) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending July 4, 2008 

NRC Publishes the Governors’ Designees Receiving Advance Notification of Transportation of 

Nuclear Waste

On July 1, 2008, the NRC published in the Federal Register (Volume 73, Number 127; pages 

37508-37511) the Governors’ Designees Receiving Advance Notification of Transportation of 

Nuclear Waste. Amendments to 10 CFR Parts 71 and 73 (effective July 6, 1982) require 

advance notification to Governors or their designees by NRC licensees prior to transportation of 

certain shipments of nuclear waste and spent fuel. The advance notification covered in Part 73 

is for spent nuclear reactor fuel shipments and the notification in Part 71 is for large quantity 

shipments of radioactive waste (and of spent nuclear reactor fuel not covered under the final 

amendment to 10 CFR Part 73). The published list updates the names, addresses, and 

telephone numbers of those individuals in each State who are responsible for receiving 

information on nuclear waste shipments. Current State contact information can also be 

accessed throughout the year at the Office of Federal and State Materials and Environmental 

Management Programs external website: http://nrc-stp.ornl.gov/special/designee.pdf. 
July 4, 2008 ENCLOSURE E 

 Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending July 4, 2008 

RES Publication of Regulatory Guide (RG) 6.4, “Classification of Containment Properties of 

Sealed Radioactive Sources”

On June 25, 2008, the staff published a RG that identifies the type of information necessary for 

staff evaluation and verification of sealed radioactive source containment in accordance with 

10 CFR Part 32. RG 6.4 is available on the NRC website at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doccollections/reg-guides/products/active/. 
July 4, 2008 ENCLOSURE G 

 Office of Administration (ADM) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending July 4, 2008 

Contract Award for Diversity Management Support Services 

As a result of a competitive acquisition set aside for small businesses, a requirements type 

Contract No. NRC-27-08-322 for “Diversity Management Support Services” was awarded to 

HGM Management and Technologies, Inc. The contractor will provide assistance to NRC’s 

diversity management initiative including assisting with agency efforts to enhance individual staff 

and agency performance. The period of performance for this contract is July 1, 2008 - June 30, 

2009, with four additional one year option periods. The total estimated value of this contract is 

$931,341, including all option periods. 

Contract Award for P8 Software

As a result of a competition under the GSA Federal Supply Schedule, Delivery Order No. 

NRC-33-08-191 was awarded to Mainline Information Systems of Tallahassee, Florida on 

June 30, 2008 for IBM P8 Software. The purchase enables the NRC to complete the 

agency-wide upgrade of outdated Content Services software, which serves as the basis for 

NRC's agency-wide document management system. The P8 software will allow the NRC to 

address immediate functional requirements such as automated categorization, profiling of 

documents, and navigation between the multiple files that comprise licensing applications. The 

total value of the award is $841,194.82 and delivery will take place within 30 days. 
July 4, 2008 ENCLOSURE H 

 Office of Information Services (OIS) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending July 4, 2008 

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

of June 27, 2008 through July 3, 2008: 

Investigation of the “NRC’s Oversight of Davis-Besse Boric Acid 

Leakage & Corrosion During the April 2000 Refueling Outage,” Office 

of the Inspector General Case 03-02S, October 17, 2003, all interview 

material FOIA/PA-2008-0266 

Office of Investigations Case 2-1999-042, all records including 

correspondence with named individual FOIA/PA-2008-0267 

Named companies in New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah, all 

records including ownership of land, deeds, licenses, payments (rent, 

royalties), mining, milling, etc. FOIA/PA-2008-0268 

Office of Investigations Report 4-2008-008 FOIA/PA-2008-0269 

Material License Tracking System (MLTS), active and retired facilities FOIA/PA-2008-0270 

Duke Energy, complaints regarding Catawba Nuclear Station 

employees or contractors January 1, 2000, to present; Day Zimmerman 

Atlantic, January 1, 2000, to present; investigations, audits, inspections, 

enforcements, January 1, 2000, to present FOIA/PA-2008-0271 
July 4, 2008 ENCLOSURE J 

 Office of Human Resources (HR) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending July 4, 2008 

Arrivals 

ASH, MELISSA BRANCH CHIEF FSME 

BENSON, MICHAEL GENERAL ENGINEER (NSPDP) ACRS 

BRAISTED, JONATHAN REACTOR INSPECTOR (NSPDP) RIV 

CLARKSON SHARON PROGRAM ANALYST (ACQUISTIONS) OIS 

DYMEK, JOHN LAWRENCE GENERAL ENGINEER RII 

ELKINS, DON REACTOR SYSTEMS ENGINEER RES 

FREDETTE, THOMAS ELECTRICAL ENGINEER (DIGITAL I&C) NRO 

GALL, JENNIFER GENERAL ENGINEER (NSPDP) NRR 

GIBSON, MICHAEL ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE (LEGAL) ASLBP 

GRAHAM, THORNE SENIOR IT SECURITY OFFICER (TEAM 

LDR) 

OIS 

JONES, LYNDSEY STUDENT CLERK OGC 

KENT, JONATHAN CONSTRUCTION INSPECTOR (ELECT. 

I&C) 

RII 

KOWALCZIK, JEFFREY PHYSICAL SCIENTIST (NSPDP) NSIR 

LE, SOPHIE STUDENT SCIENTIST (CO-OP) FSME 

LIPSCOMB, GEORGE ELECTRONICS ENGINEER (DIGITAL 

I&C) 

NRO 

MACHALEK, JOSEPH VISUAL INFORMATION SPECIALIST ADM 

MANHEIM, MARIANNE MANAGEMENT ANALYST (POLICY) OIS 

MARTIN, TONYA MANAGEMENT ANALYST RES 

MCCARTHY, JAMES IT SPECIALIST (INFOSEC) CSO 

MCKELVEY, HAROLD BRANCH CHIEF RIV 

PATTERSON, KASARAH STUDENT ENGINEER NMSS 

QUINLAN, KEVIN PHYSICAL SCIENTIST 

(METEOROLOGIST) 

NRO 

RAMIREZ, MARIAN STUDENT ENGINEER (CO-OP) NRO 

RAY, HAROLD ACRS MEMBER ACRS 

SHAFFER, SARAH SECRETARY RES 

SHINO, KATHLEEN SR. GRANTS MANAGEMENT 

SPECIALIST 

ADM 

SMITH, ARTHUR TEAM LEADER OIS 

SPRADLEY, LEAH SYSTEMS PERFORMANCE ANALYST 

(NSPDP) 

FSME 

VERA, MARIELIZ STUDENT ENGINEER (CO-OP) NRO 

Retirements 

CUCURA, JEANNE SR. POLICY ANALYST ADM 

O'CONNELL, ROBERT PROJECT MANAGER FSME 

SCHWINK, WALTER TECHNICAL ASSISTANT NMSS 

SCOTT, MARY DIRECTOR, DIV OF CONTRACTS ADM 

TAPIA, JOSEPH SENIOR REACTOR INSPECTOR RII 
July 4, 2008 ENCLOSURE J 

Departures 

CARTER, CYNTHIA HR SPECIALIST HR 

CHANG, KENNETH BRANCH CHIEF NRR 

EDDY, MICHAELA ENGINEERING INTERN NMSS 

GILLUM, SHIRLEY ALLEGATION/ENFORCEMENT 

ASSISTANT 

RIV 

HENDZEL, DOROTHY PROGRAM ANALYST RI 

SHEPPARD, REGINALD FOIA/PRIVACY ACT SPECIALIST OIS 

YUSKO, CONSTANCE SECRETARY (OA) RI 
July 4, 2008 ENCLOSURE M 

 Office of Public Affairs (OPA) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending July 4, 2008 

OPA Received Significant Media Inquiries on the Following:

Government Accountability Office Fire Protection report 

Annual Assessment meeting for Indian Point nuclear power plant (New York); request from 

Entergy for a change in the Indian Point Updated Final Safety Analysis Report with regard to 

sump use following an accident 

Investigation underway regarding potential environmental effects of the plutonium spill at the 

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) lab (Colorado) 

Problems at the Mixed Oxide facility under construction 

Browns Ferry nuclear plant (Alabama) uprate 

Other Public Affairs Items:

OPA submitted a rebuttal to the Las Vegas Sun about the Glow Train television program that 

covered nuclear waste to be shipped to Yucca Mountain, Nevada; NRC emphasized its 

continuous efforts to ensure safety of these kinds of shipments. 

OPA responded the to Salt Lake Tribune reporter who mischaracterized a proposal to 

“downblend” B and C waste by using “untainted” material (South Carolina). 

OPA supported an interview on what the NRC is doing to help Vietnam put in place a regulatory 

regime for nuclear power reactors. 

Press Releases 

Headquarters: 

08-125 NRC Meeting July 17, in Waynesboro, Georgia, to Discuss Review Process for 

Vogtle New Reactor Application (7/3) 

08-124 NRC Approves Power Uprate for Cooper Nuclear Power Plant (7/2) 

08-123 NRC Approves Power Uprate for Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Plant (7/1) 

Regions: 

II-08-036 NRC Staff to Hold Predecisional Enforcement Conference in Atlanta with 

Westinghouse Nuclear Fuel Plant Officials (7/1) 

II-08-037 NRC Staff to Hold Public Meeting to Discuss Inspection Findings at Farley (7/3) 

IV-08-030 NRC Sends Special Inspection Team to NIST Lab in Colorado Following Report 

of Possible Plutonium Contamination (7/2) 
July 4, 2008 ENCLOSURE O 

 Office of the Secretary (SECY) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending July 4, 2008 

Document Released 

to Public Date Subject 

Decision Documents

1. SECY-08-0083 06/17/08 Proposed Rule Establishing Criminal 

Penalties for the Unauthorized 

Introduction of Weapons Into Facilities 

Designated by the NRC 

Memoranda

1. M080604 06/30/08 SRM-Briefing on Results of the Agency 

Action Review Meeting (AARM) 

2. M080625 07/03/08 SRM-Periodic Briefing on New Reactor 

Issues 

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. Notice, Applications and Amendments to Facility Operating Licenses Involving Proposed No 

Significant Hazards Considerations and Containing Sensitive Unclassified Non-Safeguards 

Information or Safeguards Information and Order Imposing Procedures for Access to 

Sensitive Unclassified Non-Safeguards Information or Safeguards Information. 
July 4, 2008 ENCLOSURE P 

 Region IV (RIV) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending July 4, 2008 

Palo Verde Meeting

On June 30, 2008, Region IV and the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation staff held a 

Category 1 public meeting in Tonopah, Arizona with Arizona Public Service Company to discuss 

the current status of actions being taken by the licensee to address the performance areas 

identified in the Palo Verde Confirmatory Action Letter (CAL). Approximately five members of 

the public were in attendance. Local radio and newspaper media reported on this meeting. 

Arkansas Nuclear One Operational Safety Assessment Review Team (OSART)

On July 2, 2008, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) OSART conducted a public exit 

meeting following the team inspection at Arkansas Nuclear One (ANO), Units 1 and 2. The 

team concluded that the ANO site was properly managed and maintained. The OSART will 

provide their draft report to the NRC for review. 

Diablo Canyon Public Meetings

On July 2, 2008, Region IV management and staff held two public meetings pertaining to Diablo 

Canyon Power Plant. The first meeting was with representatives of Pacific Gas and Electric 

Company to discuss the annual assessment of the Diablo Canyon Power Plant for 2007. The 

meeting was attended by about 30 people, including county and State officials, as well as 

members of the interest group Mothers For Peace. No media was present. 

The second meeting was with members of the public in a town hall type forum to provide 

members of the community an opportunity to ask questions and provide comments to the NRC 

staff on issues regarding the Diablo Canyon Power Plant. The meeting was attended by about 

75 people, including several local officials. Members of the interest groups Mothers For Peace 

and the Alliance For Nuclear Responsibility also attended. Most of the public’s interest dealt 

with the licensee’s planned Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI). Discussions 

were limited on this topic due to ongoing Commission review of the information provided during 

the July 1, hearings associated with the environmental evaluation of the ISFSI. Local television 

media covered this meeting. 
July 4, 2008 ENCLOSURE Q 

 Office of the Executive Director for Operations (EDO) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending July 4, 2008 

Letter to Ms. Nguyen Regarding Petition for Rulemaking

On July 3, 2008, the Acting Executive Director for Operations (EDO) signed a letter to Ms. Hanht 

Nguyen regarding an e-mail she submitted dated April 23, 2008, requesting that the NRC amend 

the regulations that govern emergency planning for nuclear power facilities. Ms. Nguyen 

requested that residential builders be required to inform potential homebuyers that new 

residences being constructed are within the 10-mile emergency planning zone of a commercial 

nuclear power plant. 

The staff has reviewed the email and has determined that this request does not meet the 

Commission’s criteria under 10 CFR 2.802(c)(1) for a petition for rulemaking. The NRC’s 

emergency preparedness regulations are located in 10 CFR 50.47 and in Appendix E to 

10 CFR Part 50. The NRC does not have direct regulatory authority over entities conducting 

activities with no nexus to the public’s radiological health and safety or common defense and 

security, such as residential homebuilders or sellers. 

This action constitutes notice to the Commission that, in accordance with the rulemaking 

authority delegated to the EDO, the acting EDO has signed this letter informing Ms. Nguyen of 

the NRC’s response. 

This action does not constitute a significant question of policy, nor would it amend regulations 

contained in 10 CFR Parts 7, 8, or 9, Subpart C, concerning matters of policy. 

The letter to Ms. Nguyen can be found in the Agencywide Documents Access and Management 

System at ML081560223. 
July 4, 2008 

 Office of Congressional Affairs (OCA)  Items of Interest  Week Ending July 4, 2008 

CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS SCHEDULE, NO. 23 

OCA Contact Date & Place Time Committee Subject Witnesses Decker 07/08/08 TBA Senate Appropriations 

Committee, Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development (Senators Dorgan / Domenici) 

Draft Fiscal 2009 Appropriations for Energy and Water Development Programs 

• Markup 

Decker 07/10/08 

TBA 

TBA Senate Appropriations 

Committee (Senators Byrd / Cochran) 

Draft Fiscal 2009 Appropriations for Energy and Water Development Programs 

• Markup 

Powell 07/15/08 TBA House Energy and Commerce 

Committee, Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality (Representatives Boucher / Upton) 

Yucca Mountain • NRC Repres

• Others TBD 

Powell 07/15/08 11:00 House Science and Technology, 

Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation (Representatives Wu / Gingrey) 

NIST Event in Colorado 

• NRC Repres• Others TBD 

Dacus/Hatchett 07/16/08 

406 DSOB 

10:00 Senate Environment and Public 

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

New Reactors and License Renewal 

• NRC Comm• Others TBD 
July 4, 2008 

Kron 07/24/08 TBA Senate Homeland Security and 

Governmental Affairs, Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security (Senators Carper / Coburn) 

Improving Federal Program Management Using Performance Information 

• NRC Repres• Others TBD 

Powell TBD TBA House Energy and Commerce 

Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations (Representatives Stupak / Whitfield) 

Inattentive Guards at Peach Bottom and other Security Related Topics 

• TBD