INFORMATION REPORT

June 15, 2007 SECY-07-0100

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING

JUNE 8, 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 by Tamara E. Bloomer Acting For/

Vonna L. Ordaz 

Assistant for Operations, OEDO

Contact:

U. Shoop, OEDO
June 15, 2007 SECY-07-0100

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING

JUNE 8, 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 by Tamara E. Bloomer Acting For/

Vonna L. Ordaz

Assistant for Operations, OEDO

Contact:

U. Shoop, OEDO

DISTRIBUTION:

EDO R/F

AO R/F Document Name: C:\WIR\week608.WPD

OEDO US AO/OEDO TEB for

UShoop:paa VLOrdaz

06/15/07 06/15/07
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING JUNE 8, 2007

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

Headquarters and Regional Office activities. 

Contact: U. Shoop, OEDO by E-mail: USS@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 * SECY 19

RES * Region I *

NSIR 10 Region II *

ADM 11 Region III *

OIS 12 Region IV 23

CFO * EDO *

HR 16 OCA 24

SBCR *

*No input this week
June 8, 2007 ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending June 8, 2007

American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Code for Operation and Maintenance of

Nuclear Power Plants

On June 4, 2007, the staff participated in a public meeting with members of the ASME Code for

Operation and Maintenance of Nuclear Power Plants (OM Code) at NRC Headquarters to

discuss pump inservice testing issues. Key activities at this meeting involved the discussion of

the purpose of the current OM Code pump inservice tests, proposed definitions of pump design

flow, and instrumentation requirements. Preliminary consensus was reached on the need for

testing to demonstrate the ability of pumps to achieve their design basis flows. Additionally, the

need for further discussion regarding acceptance criteria and instrument accuracy during

comprehensive pump tests was identified. Also, the value of Group B pump tests in detecting

degradation was discussed. Follow up discussion on future code direction regarding pump

testing will occur at the summer ASME OM meeting the week of June 25, 2007.

Observation of the National Nuclear Accrediting Board Meetings

On June 6, 2007, the staff observed two meetings of the National Nuclear Accrediting Board

(NNAB). The Institute of Nuclear Power Operations manages accreditation as a means of

meeting systems approach to training requirements. Observation of the NNAB meetings allows

NRC to monitor the implementation of programmatic aspects of the accreditation process, to

understand what is happening with industry training programs, to assess the effectiveness of

the accreditation process, and to determine the overall effectiveness of industry training

programs.

Risk Management Technical Specifications (RMTS) Meeting

On June 7, 2007, the staff met with Nuclear Energy Institute and the industry owner group

representatives to discuss the status of specific Risk Management Technical Specifications

(RMTS) initiatives. The RMTS initiatives are significant agency efforts to risk-inform the

Standard Technical Specifications. The discussion focused on status of the active RMTS

initiatives and plans for the upcoming months to achieve Operating Plan milestones. The

following RMTS Initiatives were discussed at the meeting: Initiative 1 to modify plant Technical

Specifications (TS) Required Action end states; Initiative 4b to allow licensee use of risk to

calculate Completion Times for TS Required Actions; Initiative 5 to allow relocation of certain

risk-informed TS Required Surveillance Frequencies to Licensee’s Control Program; Initiative 6

to allow risk-informed TS Required Action Completion Times to restore system Operability prior

to starting a TS 3.0.3 plant shutdown; and Initiative 8 which proposes to allow

Removal/Relocation of non-safety and non-risk significant systems from TS. 

Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards Subcommittee (ACRS) Meeting Concerning the

Staff’s Review of the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station License Renewal Application

On June 5, 2007, the staff presented to the ACRS subcommittee the results of the staff’s

evaluation of the Vermont Yankee license renewal application (LRA). Entergy Nuclear Vermont
June 8, 2007 ENCLOSURE A

Yankee, LLC, and Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. submitted the LRA for Vermont Yankee on

January 25, 2006. The staff has completed its preliminary review and determined that there are

no open items. There are six confirmatory items that the staff is reviewing and will be

addressed in the final Safety Evaluation Report. 

Participation in Bilateral Meeting With Korean Institute of Nuclear Safety (KINS)

On June 6, 2007, the staff made two presentations to the visiting delegation from KINS. 

Information presented included risk-informed operational decision-making process in the areas

of the reactive inspections, the Significance Determination Process, Notices of Enforcement

Discretion, emergent safety issues, status of risk-informed regulation activities including riskinformed technical specification initiatives, risk-informed rulemaking, and Regulatory Guide

1.200 on probabilistic risk assessment quality.

Generic Safety Issue 191

During the week of June 4, 2007, staff performed a site visit to Waterford to audit the licensee's

corrective actions for Generic Safety Issue 191, PWR Sump Clogging. This audit is one of ten

that have been and/or will be performed to provide insights to the staff on actions taken by the

licensees and their strainer vendors to address debris-induced sump strainer clogging and

related issues.
June 8, 2007 ENCLOSURE C

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS)

Items of Interest

Week Ending June 8, 2007

Teleconference with U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)

On June 5, 2007, staff held an “Appendix 7” teleconference with DOE, to gather information on

Yucca Mountain Project human-reliability analysis. The teleconference was held between NRC;

the Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses in San Antonio, Texas; and the DOE, in Las

Vegas, Nevada. Public participation included representatives from: the State of Nevada; Clark

County, Nevada; the Nuclear Energy Institute; and Platts News Service, a Division of McGrawHill Companies, which provides energy information services.

Meeting with DOE on Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP)

On June 5, 2007, staff from NMSS, the Office of New Reactors, and the Office of Nuclear

Regulatory Research met with staff from DOE, Office of Nuclear Energy, to discuss DOE

activities and projects for the GNEP. DOE provided status updates on GNEP projects and

planning for the Advanced Burner Reactor (ABR), and the May 9, 2007, Funding Opportunity

Announcement for industry engagement, in design and planning for the ABR and a nuclear fuel

recycling center, which would be NRC-licensed commercial facilities. DOE plans for the

Advanced Fuel Cycle Facility, Grid-Appropriate Reactors (small to medium reactors for

international deployment) and their plans for research and development affecting other areas of

GNEP, were also discussed. 

Presentation to World Nuclear Transport Institute 

On June 5, 2007, staff made a presentation, at the semi-annual meeting of the World Nuclear

Transport Institute, in Charleston, South Carolina. The title of the presentation was “A joint

Canadian-U.S. Initiative on Type B(U) and Fissile Material Transportation Package Approval.” 

This is a joint effort between the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, U.S. Department of

Transportation, and U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The aim of this project is to facilitate

a more timely validation of the Certificate of Compliance for the transportation package designs. 

These packages are used to transport radioactive and fissile materials between the two

countries. The attendees included domestic and international shippers of radioactive and fissile

materials.
June 8, 2007 ENCLOSURE F

Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response (NSIR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending June 8, 2007

Preliminary Notification

- PNO-IV-O7-005A, RIVER BEND STATION, UPDATE TO REACTOR SHUTDOWN DUE

TO UNEXPECTED CHANGE IN RECIRCULATION FLOW. 
June 8, 2007 ENCLOSURE G

Office of Administration (ADM)

Items of Interest 

Week Ending June 8, 2007

Revision of Fee Schedules; Fee Recovery for FY 2007 (AI00 - Parts 170 and 171)

On June 6, 2007, the NRC published a final rule in the Federal Register (72 FR 31402) that

amends the licensing, inspection, and annual fees charged to the Commission’s applicants and

licensees. The final rule is intended to ensure NRC compliance with the Omnibus Budget and

Reconciliation Act of 1990, as amended. The Act mandates that the NRC recover

approximately 90 percent of its budget authority in Fiscal Year 2007, less amounts appropriated

from the Nuclear Waste Fund, for Waste Incidental to Reprocessing, and for generic homeland

security activities. The amount to be recovered for FY 2007, including carryover and billing

adjustments, is approximately $670.5 million. The final rule becomes effective August 6, 2007.

Award for Technical Assistance in Support of GSI-191 (NRC-03-07-041)

On June 4, 2007, a competitive cost reimbursement, task ordering type contract was awarded

to Environmental Management Support, Inc. The contractor will provide technical assistance in

support of chemical effects in response to Generic Safety Issue -191. The period of

performance is for three years. The total estimated cost is $196,762.
June 8, 2007 ENCLOSURE H

Office of Information Services (OIS)

Items of Interest

Week Ending June 8, 2007

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

of June 1 through June 7, 2007:

Companies/businesses with current radioactive material

licenses/permits within specified cities within 25 miles of MacDill Air

Force Base, Hillsborough Co., FL; provide specific isotope and

maximum activity authorized for each item

FOIA/PA-2007-0224

OI investigative file no. 3-2005-010, all exhibits, appendices and

supporting documentation including transcripts of named individual

FOIA/PA-2007-0225
June 8, 2007 ENCLOSURE J

Office of Human Resources (HR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending June 8, 2007

Arrivals

AVILES, OLGA SUMMER INTERN RES

BAQUERA, MICA REACTOR ENGINEER (NSPDP) RIV

BENEDETTI, JAY SUMMER INTERN NRR

BERRY, ROLLIE GENERAL ENGINEER NSIR

CAMERON-GONZALEZ,

ANTONIO

STUDENT SCIENTIST NMSS

CASTELLO, JENNIFER SENIOR SYSTEMS ANALYST CFO

CEPURA, HARRY BUILDING MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST ADM

CIANCI, SANDRA SECRETARY CFO

COLON, JESSICA AIMEE STUDENT ENGINEER TRAINEE (CO-OP) RES

DESCHAINE, WESLEY GENERAL ENGINEER (NSPDP) NRO

FIGUEROA, ROBERTO IT SPECIALIST (PLCYPLN) NSIR

GORDON, MARK INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST RII

KISH, EDWARD CHEMICAL ENGINEER NMSS

LEE, MICHAEL MANAGEMENT ANALYST TRAINEE (COOP)NRR

LIU, SHERRY ACCOUNTANT/SYSTEMS ACCOUNTANT CFO

LOFTUS, MATTHEW ATTORNEY OGC

LUEBBERING, AMY CHEMICAL ENGINEER NMSS

MCGOVERN, DENISE ELECTRICAL ENGINEER NRO

MOONEY, BARRETT REACTOR INSPECTOR RII

MURRAY, HEATHER BUDGET ANALYST (2 POS.) CFO

PETROVICH, CHRISTOPHER PHYSICAL SCIENTIST STUDENT TRAINEE NRR

RABER, HARRIET SUMMER CLERK EDO

RULEMAN, KARLEN STUDENT ENGINEER NRR

RYAN, CHRISTOPHER REACTOR INSPECTOR (NSPDP) RIV
Arrivals

June 8, 2007 ENCLOSURE J

SAMPSON, MICHELE PROJECT MANAGER NMSS

SOTOMAYOR-RIVERA, ALEXIS NUCLEAR ENGINEER (NSPDP) NMSS

STAMM, ERIC PROJECT ENGINEER RII

VERA, MERIELIZ STUDENT ENGINEER RES

WASHINGTON, BRITTANY STUDENT CLERK ADM

WASSON, DAVID STUDENT ENGINEER NRR

WHITE, MATHEW STUDENT ENGINEER (SUMMER) RII

WONG, JOANN STUDENT INTERN OPA

WRIGHT, WALTER EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

SPECIALIST

NSIR

Retirements

CHRISTNOT, EDWARD RESIDENT INSPECTOR (BWR) RII

HARRIS, CAROL SPECIAL ASSISTANT NSIR

Departures

BEACH, KIMBERLY SECRETARY (OA) NRO

GREENE, ALEXANDRA REGULATIONS ASSISTANT FSME

HEALY, SHAWN SR. POLICY ANALYST ADM
June 8, 2007 ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs (OPA)

Items of Interest

Week Ending June 8, 2007

OPA received significant media inquiries on the following:

Chairman Klein’s Speech at GE conference.

Diablo Canyon’s ISFSI draft environmental assessment in response to the 9th Circuit case.

Staff’s proposal to the Commission for developing a regulatory framework for reprocessing

facilities and breeder reactors under GNEP.

Other Public Affairs Items:

OPA support for Chairman Klein’s interview by a trade publication about the nuclear industry.

OPA support for Chairman Klein’s speech at Goizueta Leadership Center in Atlanta, Ga., on

June 5, 2007. 

Press Releases

Headquarters:

07-070 NRC Issues Final Licensing, Inspection and Annual Fees Rule for Fiscal

Year 2007(6/4) 

07-071 NRC Seeks Public Comment on Proposed Changes to New Reactor

Application Hearing Policy (6/7)

07-072 NRC Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste to Meet in Rockville, Maryland,

June 19-21 (6/7)

07-073 NRC Seeks Public Comment on Terrorism Risk Assessment for Proposed

Irradiator in Hawaii (6/8)

Regions:

I-07-033 NRC Issues Final Licensing, Inspection and Annual Fees Rule for Fiscal

Year 2007(6/4) 

IV-07-017 William Raymond Named NRC Senior Resident Inspector at Seabrook

Nuclear Power Plant (6/5)

IV-07-018 NRC to Discuss 2006 Performance at Comanche Peak Nuclear Plant (6/5)

IV-07-019 NRC to Discuss 2006 Performance at South Texas Nuclear Plant (6/5)
June 8, 2007 ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary (SECY)

Items of Interest

Week Ending June 8, 2007

Document Released

to Public

Date Subject

Decision Documents

1. SECY-07-0083 5/17/07 Proposed Agreement Between the

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the

Commission Pursuant to Section 274 of the

Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended

SRM-SECY-07-0083 6/8/07 (same)

Commission Voting

Record on 07-0083

6/8/07 (same)

2. COMSECY-07-0019 5/22/07 Status of NRC Research Conducted by the

Russian Research Center and the Russian

Academy of Sciences

Revised SRM on 07-

0019

6/5/07 (same)

Commission Voting

Record on 07-0019

6/5/07 (same)

Information Papers

1. SECY-07-0087 6/4/07 Weekly Information Report - Week Ending

May 11, 2007

2. SECY-07-0089 6/5/07 Weekly Information Report - Week Ending

May 18, 2007

Memoranda

- M070529 6/8/07 Staff Requirements - NRC All Hands

Meeting

Commission Correspondence

1. Letter to Congress, dated May 30, 2007, responds to request for information about

telework programs at the NRC.

2. Letter to Steve Aitken, OMB, dated May 30, 2007, provides NRC’s FY 2007 Regulatory

Plan.
June 8, 2007 ENCLOSURE O

3. Letter to Congress, dated May 30, 2007, provides NRC’s quarterly report on the status of

its licensing and other regulatory activities.

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. Draft Statement of Policy on Conduct of New Reactor Licensing Proceedings - Issuance of

Draft Policy Statement and Notice of Opportunity for Public Comment.

2. Establishment of Atomic Safety and Licensing Board, Shaw AREVA MOX Services

(License Application for Possession and Use of Byproduct, Source, and Special Nuclear

Materials). 

3. Proposed rule - 10 CFR Part 2, RIN: 3150- AI08 - Interlocutory Review of Rulings on

Requests by Potential Parties for Access to Sensitive Unclassified Non-Safeguards

Information and Safeguards Information.
June 8, 2007 ENCLOSURE P

Region IV (RIV)

Items of Interest

Week Ending June 8, 2007

Public Meeting with Arizona Public Service Company

On June 6, 2007, the Regional Administrator and staff met with senior managers of the Arizona

Public Service Company, the operator of Palo Verde, in Tonopah, Arizona. The meeting was

the first of a series of quarterly meetings, open to public observation, where progress under the

Palo Verde performance improvement plan is discussed. This meeting also served as the

entrance meeting for NRC’s supplemental inspection per NRC Procedure Number 95003. 

Category 3 (Town Hall) Meeting near Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station

On June 7, 2007, the staff held a “town hall” public meeting in Tonapah, AZ, near the Palo

Verde site. Topics discussed included plant performance, safety culture issues, and items in

the news related to the Palo Verde Station.
June 8, 2007 

Office of Congressional Affairs (OCA)

Items of Interest

Week Ending June 8, 2007

CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS SCHEDULE, NO. 18

OCA

Contact

 DATE &

 PLACE

TIME COMMITTEE SUBJECT 

Decker 06/06/07

2359

Rayburn

10:00 House Committee on

Appropriations(Representatives Obey / Lewis)

Markup of proposed FY2008Energy-Water Appropriations

< N/A

Sahm 06/07/07

2154

Rayburn

2:00 House Committee on Oversight

and Government Reform,Subcommittee on InformationPolicy, Census, and NationalArchives(Representatives Clay / Turner)

“Federal IT Security: TheFuture of FISMA”

< TBD

Sahm 06/12/07

562 Dirksen

2:30 Senate Committee on Homeland

Security and GovernmentalAffairs, Subcommittee onOversight of GovernmentManagement, the FederalWorkforce, and the District ofColumbia(Senators Akaka / Voinovich)

“Assessing Telework Policiesand Initiatives in the FederalGovernment”

< TBD