INFORMATION REPORT 

December 31, 2007 SECY-07-0223

For: The Commissioners 

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

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING 

DECEMBER 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. Rakovan, OEDO 
December 31, 2007 SECY-07-0223

For: The Commissioners 

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

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING 

DECEMBER 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. Rakovan, OEDO 

DISTRIBUTION: 

EDO R/F 

AO R/F Document Name: G:\Melissa\WIR\Week1221.WPD 

OEDO AO/OEDO 

LRakovan VLOrdaz ML073620562 

12/28/07 12/31/07 
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 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. 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 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 
December 21, 2007 ENCLOSURE A 

 Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending December 21, 2007 

License Renewal Application for Oyster Creek Generating Plant

On December 18, 2007, the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board (ASLB) issued an initial 

decision rejecting a challenge by a group of organizations collectively known as “Citizens” to 

AmerGen's application to renew its operating license for the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating 

Station. In the decision, the ASLB ruled that AmerGen has demonstrated that the frequency of 

its planned ultrasonic measurements, in combination with the other elements of its aging 

management program, provides reasonable assurance that the sand bed region of the drywell 

shell will maintain the necessary safety margin during the period of extended operation. A public 

hearing was conducted in Toms River, NJ on September 24 and 25, 2007 to hear testimony on 

this matter. 

Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste and Material Briefing 

On December 18, 2007, the staff participated in a briefing to the Advisory Committee on Nuclear 

Waste and Material (ACNW&M) on changes to the Significance Determination Process (SDP) 

for the Public Dose Cornerstone of the Reactor Oversight Process (ROP). ACNW&M requested 

this briefing to become familiar with the ROP and changes being made to the Public Dose 

Cornerstone SDP as a result of SECY-07-0112, “Staff Evaluation and Proposed Revision to the 

Public Radiation Safety Significance Determination Process to Address Radioactive Liquid Spills 

and Leaks.” 
December 21, 2007 ENCLOSURE B 

 Office of New Reactors (NRO) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending December 21, 2007 

NRC Receives Revision 1 to Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant, Unit 3 Partial Combined 

License Application

By letter dated December 14, 2007, UniStar Nuclear provided Revision 1 to the Calvert Cliffs 

Nuclear Power Plant, Unit 3 partial combined license application. This letter was submitted in 

response to the eight issues that the NRC staff identified during the acceptance review. The staff 

will review the information which included revisions to the final safety analysis report chapter 2 

and the environmental report to determine if the application has sufficient information to warrant 

accepting for processing and further review. If the application is found acceptable for docketing, 

the staff will assign a docket number to the partial application. The second and final part of the 

combined license application is due to be submitted by the end of March 2008. 

Selection of Reference Design for the Berwick Site

On December 18, 2007, Pacific Power and Light (PPL) informed the staff that it has officially 

chosen the U.S. Evolutionary Power Reactor as their reference design for the Berwick site. PPL 

signed a contract on December 18, 2007, with UniStar to develop the combined license 

application for submission later in 2008. 
December 21, 2007 ENCLOSURE C 

 Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending December 21, 2007 

American Geophysical Union Fall Annual Meeting

From December 10-14, 2007, NRC and the Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses 

(Center) staff members attended the American Geophysical Union Fall Annual Meeting. NRC 

and Center staff presented posters and papers related to the Yucca Mountain Project. NRC 

staff also conducted recruiting activities at the meeting. 

International Atomic Energy Agency, Geological Disposal of Radioactive Waste Meeting

From December 10-14, 2007, NRC staff participated in an International Atomic Energy Agency 

(IAEA) Consultants Meeting, to assist IAEA review and respond to comments from the Member 

States, on a “Safety Guide for Geological Disposal of Radioactive Waste.” The safety guide 

provides information useful to regulators and developers of geological disposal sites for 

radioactive waste. 

Louisiana Energy Services Management Meeting

On December 17, 2007, staff members from NMSS and Region II held a semi-annual 

management meeting with Louisiana Energy Services (LES) staff, in Eunice, New Mexico, to 

discuss management issues related to the LES uranium enrichment project, in Lea County, New 

Mexico. Discussions included the status of current licensing and legal actions, security issues, 

construction plans, design changes, and schedules. 

NRC / U.S. Department of Energy Quarterly Management Meeting on Yucca Mountain Project

On December 19, 2007, NRC and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) staff held a Quarterly 

Management Meeting, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The meeting focused on: (1) the level of design 

details that DOE intends to include in a license application for a repository; and (2) quality 

assurance activities. The public observed the meeting and provided input before the meeting 

was adjourned. 
December 21, 2007 ENCLOSURE D 

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

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending December 21, 2007 

Staff Issues NRC’s Agency Report to the Council on Environmental Quality

On December 13, 2007, NRC issued to the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) a report on 

NRC’s Fiscal Year 2007 Environmental Impact Statements and Environmental Assessments. 

This report is submitted annually to the CEQ. All Federal agencies report to the CEQ to ensure 

consistency in environmental documents and analyses. The NRC routinely and extensively 

consults with other Federal, State, Tribal and local entities, which pursues the goals of formal 

Cooperating Agency agreements. 
December 21, 2007 ENCLOSURE E 

 Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending December 21, 2007 

Public Meeting On Nuclear Energy Institute's (NEI) NEI 06-11, “Managing Fatigue at Nuclear 

Power Reactor Sites”

On December 13, staff from RES and the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation held a public 

meeting to discuss NEI 06-11. This document provides guidance for meeting the requirements 

of the draft fitness for duty rule, Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 26, Subpart I. 

During the meeting, the staff identified some outstanding issues regarding the risk analysis of 

structures, systems and components of high safety significance; transition of personnel between 

outage and operating units; application of outage hours; and performance-based review 

guidance. Another public meeting is anticipated in early 2008. 

Participation in NASA Workshop on Databases and Parameter Estimation Methods

On December 19-20, RES staff participated as invited guests in the National Aeronautics and 

Space Administration (NASA) workshop at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. The 

primary workshop objective was to discuss comments on NASA’s draft handbook on databases 

and parameter estimation methods. The design and implementation of a new generation of risk 

and reliability data systems was also discussed at the workshop. 
December 21, 2007 ENCLOSURE F 

 Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response (NSIR) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending December 21, 2007 

Partnership in Preparedness Conference

On December 11-12, NSIR staff and management gave several presentations on various 

emergency preparedness issues at the Joint Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) - 

NRC Partnership in Preparedness Conference held at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. The 

NRC Deputy Director of Emergency Preparedness made a keynote address to open the session 

on December 12. Approximately 150 representatives from FEMA, Licensees, and State and 

local Emergency Managers from the Southeastern United States were present at this meeting. 

Topics presented included an update on the status of current NRC Headquarters projects 

including the rulemaking for emergency preparedness (EP) regulations and guidance, Protective 

Actions Recommendation Study; the Incident Response Outreach efforts to strengthen 

relationships with State officials during EP Exercises and Security Drill and Exercise program. 
December 21, 2007 ENCLOSURE H 

 Office of Information Services (OIS) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending December 21, 2007 

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

of December 14 through December 20, 2007: 

Licensees for Portable Nuclear Density Gauges in states of DE, DC, IN, 

NJ, MI, PA, UT, VA and WV FOIA/PA-2008-0069 

Work products submitted by Ruth Pierce and/or Southwind Enterprise 

Inc., regarding the Office of Congressional Affairs FOIA/PA-2008-0070 

Nuclear Energy Institute letter to NRC dated December 8, 2006, 

regarding proposed rulemaking - Security Assessment Requirements 

for New Nuclear Power Reactor Designs, SECY-06-0204 FOIA/PA-2008-0071 
December 21, 2007 ENCLOSURE J 

 Office of Human Resources (HR) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending December 21, 2007 

Arrivals

JENKINS, KEVIN STUDENT FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT 

ANALYSIS (CO-OP)

CFO

LE, SOPHIE STUDENT SCIENTIST (CO-OP) FSME

RAMEY-SMITH, ANN TECHINICAL ASSISTANT NRO

RICKETTS, PAUL SR IT SECURITY OFFICER OIS

ROBINSON, REBECCA STUDENT IT SPECIALIST (CO-OP) OIS

SMITH, BEVERLY SECRETARY (OA) CFO

WOLFSON, AVIDON STUDENT ENGINEER RIV

Departures

COMBS, THOMAS CONSULTANT CA

GONZALEZ-PIZARRO, RAFAEL STUDENT ENGINEER (COOP) RES

MENDEZ GONZALEZ, SANDRA STUDENT ENGINEER (COOP) RES

ROLFES, JAMES IT SPECIALIST OIS
December 21, 2007 ENCLOSURE M 

 Office of Public Affairs (OPA) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending December 21, 2007 

OPA Received Significant Media Inquiries on the Following

NRC’s recent special inspections performed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s 

research reactor in Cambridge, Massachusetts. 

Status of new reactor design applications and Combined License (COL) applications. 

Recent Atomic Safety and Licensing Board panel ruling in the Oyster Creek nuclear plant’s 

license renewal proceedings. 

The NRC’s release of an Augmented Inspection Team’s evaluation at the Farley nuclear power 

plant near Dothan, Alabama. 

Wackenhut security guard force’s “fitness for duty” and other security issues at nuclear power 

plants. 

Status of Commissioner appointments. 

Other Public Affairs Items

Chairman Klein visited Yucca Mountain, Nev. with members of the local, state and federal 

governments. OPA set up a press conference for him at the Las Vegas Hearing Facility where 

he discussed the role of the NRC staff, the role of the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board and 

the role of the Commission with regard to the Department of Energy’s expected application for a 

high-level waste repository at Yucca Mountain in mid 2008. 

 

OPA participated in Exelon’s media day event at the Clinton Nuclear plant 

Press Releases

Headquarters:

07-171 NRC Seeks Public Comment on Proposed Security Requirements for a Nuclear 

Waste Repository (12/19) 

07-170 NRC Clarifies Acceptance Process for New Reactor License Applications (12/20) 

07-169 NRC Announces Opportunity to Participate in Hearing on New Reactor 

Application for South Texas Project Site (12/20) 

07-168 NRC Proposes $19,200 Civil Penalty Against California Firm for Falsified 

Inspection Report (12/21) 

Regions:

I-07-066 NRC Assigns New Senior Resident Inspector to Vermont Yankee Nuclear 

Plant(12/17) 

I-07-067 NRC Assigns New Resident Inspector to Indian Point Unit 3 (12/17) 
December 21, 2007 ENCLOSURE M 

I-07-068 NRC Assigns New Resident Inspector to Beaver Valley (12/18) 

III-07-027 NRC Proposes $3,250 Fine Against Indiana Department of Transportation for 

Failure to Properly Secure Nuclear Gauges(12/18) 
December 21, 2007 ENCLOSURE O 

 Office of the Secretary (SECY) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending December 21, 2007 

 Document Released 

 to Public 

 Date Subject 

Decision Documents

1. SECY-07-0208 11/30/07 Proposal for Updating Office of Nuclear 

Material Safety and Safeguards-Cognizant 

Regulatory Guides 

2. SECY-07-0155 9/7/07 Denial of a Petition for Rulemaking to 

Reconcile NRC Generic Environmental 

Impact Statement for Nuclear Power Plant 

Operating License Renewal Applications 

with the National Academy of Sciences 

Health Risk from Exposure to Low Levels of 

Ionizing Radiation: Biological Effects of 

Ionizing Radiation VII, Seventh Ed., 2005 

Report (PRM-51-11) 

 SRM on SECY-07-0155 11/15/07 (same) 

 Commission Voting 

 Record on SECY-07-0155 

11/15/07 (same) 

3. SRM on SECY-07-0203 12/17/07 Rulemaking Plan: 10 CFR Part 110, “Export 

and Import of Nuclear Equipment and 

Material; Updates and Clarifications” 

 Commission Voting 

 Record on SECY-07-0203 

12/17/07 (same) 

4. SECY-07-0114 7/6/07 Staff Recommendations for Revisions to the 

Adversary Characteristics Screening 

Process 

 SRM on SECY-07-0114 12/4/07 (same) 

5. COMSECY-07-0035 11/19/07 Annual Human Resources Statistical Report 

 SRM on COMSECY-07- 

 0035 

12/20/07 (same) 

 Commission Votes on 

 COMSECY-07-0035 

12/20/07 (same) 

6. SRM on SECY-07-0184 12/21/07 Industry Trends Program for Operating 

Power Reactors—Baseline Risk for Initiating 

Events 

 Commission Voting 

 Record on SECY-07-0184 

12/21/07 (same) 
December 21, 2007 ENCLOSURE O 

7. SRM-SECY-07-0182 12/21/07 Semi-Annual Update on the Status of 

Emergency Preparedness Activities 

 Commission Voting 

 Record on SECY-07-0182 

12/21/07 (same) 

Information Papers

1. SECY-07-0209 11/30/07 Status of Decommissioning Program—2007 

Annual Report 

2. SECY-07-0218 12/14/07 Weekly Information Report – Week Ending 

December 7, 2007 

Memoranda

1. M071127B 12/17/07 Staff Requirements – Briefing on Equal 

Employment Opportunity Programs 

Commission Correspondence

1. Letter to Congressman Joe Barton and Ed Whitfield, dated December 13, 2007, 

responds to letter regarding EnergySolutions’ application to import radioactive waste 

from Italy. 

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. Independent External Review Panel to Identify Vulnerabilities in the NRC’s Materials 

Licensing Program, notice of meeting (December 14-18, 2008). 

2. Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS), Meeting of the Joint ACRS 

Subcommittees on Thermal-Hydraulic Phenomena and on Reliability and Probabilistic 

Risk Assessment, notice of meeting (January 18, 2008).

3. South Texas Project Nuclear Operating Company, Notice of Hearing and Opportunity to 

Petition for Leave to Intervene on a Combined License for the South Texas Project Units 

3 and 4, Docket Nos. 52-012 and 52-013. 

4. Lincoln County, Nevada; Denial of Petition for Rulemaking,10 CFR Part 2, Docket No. 

PRM-2-13.
December 21, 2007 ENCLOSURE P 

 Region I (RI) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending December 21, 2007 

Predecisional Enforcement Conference with Materials Testing, Inc.

On December 18, 2007, an open predecisional enforcement conference was held with Materials 

Testing, Incorporated at the RI office. The conference was held to discuss one apparent repeat 

violation of 10 CFR 30.34(i) regarding proper storage of gauges identified during an NRC routine 

inspection completed in September 2007. At the conference, the licensee described their 

corrective actions, which included hiring a quality control individual to monitor activities at all five 

of the licensee’s locations. 
December 21, 2007 ENCLOSURE P 

 Region IV (RIV) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending December 21, 2007 

Luminant Generation Company LLC Senior Management Change at Comanche Peak Steam 

Electric Station

On December 17, Luminant Generation Company LLC announced the resignation of 

Mr. Mark Kanavos, Plant Manager of Comanche Peak Steam Electric Station (CPSES). 

Mr. Dave Kross, formerly the CPSES Operations Manager, has been selected as the Plant 

Manager, replacing Mr. Kanavos. 

Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station Special Inspection Public Exit Meeting

On December 19, the staff conducted a public exit meeting at the Palo Verde Nuclear 

Generating Station Energy Information Center with representatives of Arizona Public Service 

Company to present the results of the 95003 team inspection. Following the exit meeting, a 

second public meeting was conducted during which the licensee provided details of their 

performance improvement plan. There were approximately 120 people in attendance, the vast 

majority who were Arizona Public Service Company employees. Two members of the Arizona 

Corporation Commission also attended. The meeting was covered by two print media reporters 

from local newspapers. 

Public Meeting with Omaha Public Power District

On December 20, the staff met with representatives of Omaha Public Power District in the 

Region IV office to discuss performance at Fort Calhoun Station and the status of the station’s 

performance improvement plan. Omaha Public Power District representatives also discussed 

their readiness to support an NRC supplemental inspection (Inspection Procedure 95002) and 

indicated they would be ready for the inspection in February 2008. 
December 21, 2007 

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

CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS SCHEDULE, NO. 42 

OCA Contact Date & Place Time Committee Subject Keeling 12/19/07 

406 Dirksen 

10:00 Senate Environment and Public 

Works (Senators Boxer / Inhofe) 

Markup of Legislation and Pending Nominations to the NRC of Kristine Svinicki and Gregory Jaczko 

Shane / Dacus 

02/28/08 TBD 

TBD Senate Environment and Public 

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

Oversight Hearing on New Reactors