INFORMATION REPORT

July 6, 2007 SECY-07-0111

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING

JUNE 29, 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 Mindy Landau Acting For/

Vonna L. Ordaz 

Assistant for Operations, OEDO

Contact:

R. Taylor, OEDO
July 6, 2007 SECY-07-0111

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING

JUNE 29, 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 Mindy Landau Acting For/

Vonna L. Ordaz

Assistant for Operations, OEDO

Contact:

R. Taylor, OEDO

DISTRIBUTION:

EDO R/F

AO R/F Document Name: C:\WIR\week629.WPD

OEDO JR for AO/OEDO MSL for

RTaylor:paa VLOrdaz

07/06/07 07/06/07
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING JUNE 29, 2007

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

Headquarters and Regional Office activities. 

Contact: R. Taylor, OEDO by E-mail: rxt2@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 4 OPA 12

NMSS 6 OIP *

FSME * SECY 13

RES 7 Region I *

NSIR 8 Region II *

ADM 9 Region III *

OIS 10 Region IV 15

CFO * EDO *

HR 11 OCA 16

SBCR *

*No input this week
June 29, 2007 ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending June 29, 2007

Advanced Finite Element Analyses

On June 19-20, 2007, NRR and the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES) staff

conducted a public meeting with industry representatives on the advanced finite element

analyses that the industry is performing. These analyses are performed to address staff

concerns regarding the potential for rupture without prior evidence of leakage in pressurizer

nozzle dissimilar metal welds susceptible to primary water stress corrosion cracking. Industry is

performing approximately 100 sensitivity analyses to reduce the uncertainties involved in the

analyses of the Wolf Creek flaws performed last fall. Industry presented the results of the first

20 cases analyzed and discussed plans and schedules for the remaining cases. Results of the

remaining cases will be needed prior to reaching any conclusions from this study. The staff

presented results of confirmatory studies that it is currently performing. The industry plans to

complete its analyses by the end of June and provide a draft report to the NRC staff by July 6

and a final report by the end of July. The NRC staff plans to complete its review and

preparation of a safety evaluation report by the end of August. 

Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) Internals Aging Management Program

On June 21, 2007, Nuclear Energy Institute/Electric Power Research Institute (NEI/EPRI)

(industry) met with the staff to discuss the status of the industry’s program to develop guidelines

for the development of an aging management program (AMP) for PWR Reactor Vessel

Internals (RVI). The industry program includes development of inspection and evaluation

(I & E) guidelines for the RVI components. In this meeting the industry discussed various

concepts that are used in the development of the I & E guidelines, inspection strategy, methods

and qualification of the inspections. The staff and the industry will meet again in November

2007 to discuss the status related to the development of the I & E guidelines, functionality

analysis of the PWR RVI components, and inspection methods and qualifications. The industry

proposes to submit the I & E guidelines in 2008 for staff review and approval. The staff agreed

to meet with the industry frequently so that the review process can be expedited. 

Inservice Testing Owner's Group (ISTOG)

On June 25, 2007, the staff attended a meeting of the ISTOG in Tysons Corner, VA. The

owners' group discussed current issues related to inservice testing of pumps and valves and

areas for potential code development interactions with the American Society of Mechanical

Engineers (ASME) Code for Operation and Maintenance of Nuclear Power Plants (OM Code). 

The owners' group specifically discussed issues regarding code relief requests related to pump

testing. This meeting was held in conjunction with the ASME OM Code summer meeting.

17th Annual Radiological Effluent Technical Specifications/Radiological Environmental

Monitoring Program Conference

From June 25 - 27, 2007, staff from NRR, Office of New Reactors, RES, and Regions I, II, and

III, attended the 17th Annual Radiological Effluent Technical Specifications/Radiological
June 29, 2007 ENCLOSURE A

Environmental Monitoring Program (RETS/REMP) Conference, in Philadelphia, PA. One

hundred and twenty-eight US and international participants with interests in radiological and

environmental monitoring attended the meeting. The majority of the presentations at this

meeting focused on the US ground water monitoring and tritium issues. NEI presented an

update on the industry’s Groundwater Protection Initiative and groundwater monitoring

programs. Additionally, members of RES and the Regions participated in a panel session

promoting an open discussion of current topics and events relate to licensee’s environmental

monitoring programs. This meeting provided an excellent opportunity for the NRC to further

regulatory openness and communicate directly to the NRC’s working level stakeholders.

Regulatory Issue Summary (RIS) 2007-12, “Changes to the Unplanned Scrams with Loss of

Normal Heat Removal Performance Indicator”

On June 26, 2007, the staff issued the subject RIS to inform addressees that beginning on

July 1, 2007, the agency will replace the unplanned scrams with a loss of normal heat removal

(LONHR) performance indicator (PI) with the unplanned scrams with complications (USwC)

performance indicator. This RIS and NEI 99-02, “Regulatory Assessment Performance

Indicator Guideline,” provide guidance to participating addressees for calculating and submitting

USwC data to the NRC. This RIS also contains background information for interested

members of the public and other stakeholders. Addressee participation in the PI program is

voluntary.
June 29, 2007 ENCLOSURE B

Office of New Reactors (NRO)

Items of Interest

Week Ending June 29, 2007

Multinational Design Evaluation Program Stage 2 meeting

On June 20-21, 2007, staff participated in the Multinational Design Evaluation Program Stage 2

experts group meeting on digital instrumentation and control (I&C) in Paris, France. 

Representatives from France, Korea, Japan, Canada, and Organization for Economic

Cooperation and Development participated in the meeting. The purpose of the meeting was to

discuss the results of the surveys on the regulatory requirements and practices regarding digital

I&C and to develop potential areas of convergence or cooperation among the participating

countries based on the projected benefit and cost/difficulty. The expert group successfully

identified and categorized areas of convergence or cooperation, which would be included in the

MDEP Stage 2 report. 

NEI Decision Regarding Operator Licensing Program

On June 19, 2007, Nuclear Energy Institute informed the staff that the industry/NEI has decided

not to pursue the proposed change to the initial examination process that they raised in a

meeting with NRC staff on May 24, 2007. The industry, however, is continuing to evaluate the

possibility of INPO assuming responsibility for administration of the GFE. 

Aircraft Impact Characteristics Sharing

On June 22, 2007, the staff issued a letter to Westinghouse approving its safeguards protection

program. Attached to the letter was a copy of the SGI-level aircraft impact characteristics. This

information was provided to Westinghouse as directed in SECY-06-0204 which specified that

aircraft impact characteristics be shared with the new reactor design vendors.

Meeting with Industry Regarding Future Development of Construction Programs

On June 26, 2007, the NRC staff met with industry representatives to discuss the role of the

assessment and enforcement programs in a construction environment. The NRC was invited to

exchange high-level concepts for consideration during future development of these programs.

Specific discussion topics at this public meeting included Inspections, Tests, Analyses, and

Acceptance Criteria (ITAAC) closure verification, ITAAC sample expansion, on-site NRC

staffing during construction activities, the importance of the licensee corrective action programs,

possible utilization of Reactor Oversight Program concepts (predictability, transparency, etc),

and preparation for the upcoming August 30, 2007, public meeting.

Interagency Agreements with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Geological Survey

On June 28, 2007, the Contract Planning and Management Branch received the Chairman’s

approval to proceed with the interagency agreements with U.S. Geological Survey and U.S.

Army Corps of Engineers to provide technical assistance in support of new reactor licensing. 
June 29, 2007 ENCLOSURE B

Vendor Inspections Planned

The staff has finalized its plans for vendor inspections for the remainder of FY07. The staff will

conduct inspections at Conval, located in Somers, Connecticut during the July/August 

time-frame, and at Velan Inc., located in Montreal, Canada, either in late August or early

September. Both vendors manufacture a variety of safety-related valves for the U.S. nuclear

industry. Conval manufactures high-pressure forged steel valves. Velan manufactures cast

and steel valves and holds an American Society of Mechanical Engineers "N" stamp. 
June 29, 2007 ENCLOSURE C

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS)

Items of Interest

Week Ending June 29, 2007

Hearing Process Workshop for Affected Units of Local Government

On June 19-20, 2007, staff held a workshop on the NRC hearing process, which will be used

when NRC receives a license application for a high-level waste repository. The workshop was

organized in response to multiple requests for NRC to hold a forum where representatives of

Affected Units of Local Government could get information from, and ask questions of NRC

staff. The representatives are seeking information to help them decide whether and how they

will participate in an NRC hearing on the decision to construct a repository at Yucca Mountain,

NV. Workshop topics included: the licensing process; the formal hearing process; criteria

governing NRC adoption of a Final Environmental Impact Statement; and mechanisms to

request NRC services and activities to facilitate participation. It also included the role of the

Licensing Support Network and Digital Data Management System in the licensing proceeding. 

The representatives were interested in techniques, such as web-streaming, whereby members

of the public could view NRC’s Yucca Mountain proceedings from their home counties.

Yucca Mountain Technical Exchange on Quality Assurance

On June 26, 2007, staff participated in a Technical Exchange with the U.S. Department of

Energy (DOE), in Las Vegas, Nevada. The goal of this meeting was for NRC staff to

understand the quality assurance actions that DOE and its contractors are taking and plan to

take to ensure that DOE's potential license application for the high-level waste repository at

Yucca Mountain, Nevada, meets the requirements of 10 CFR Part 63, and is traceable,

transparent, and technically sound. This meeting was video-conferenced to NRC headquarters

and the Center for Nuclear Waste Repository Analyses, and was open to the public.

Meeting with Nye County Officials in Pahrump, Nevada, on Yucca Mountain

On June 21, 2007, staff traveled to Pahrump, Nevada, to meet with Commissioner Hollis of the

Nye County Commission, and Nye County Nuclear Waste Repository Project Office staff. The

purpose of the meeting was to discuss means whereby citizens of Nye County will be able to

view potential NRC hearings on the proposed repository at Yucca Mountain. While in Pahrump,

staff visited a facility the county is renovating to serve as a county meeting site. The county is

seeking support to install equipment and electronic connectivity so that interested local citizens

could come together and view the Yucca Mountain proceedings.
June 29, 2007 ENCLOSURE E

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES)

Items of Interest

Week Ending June 29, 2007

Onsite Review of the Low Power and Shutdown Standardized Plant Analysis Risk (SPAR)

Model at Davis Besse

From June 19 - 21, 2007, staff from RES, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, and Region III

and a contractor from the Idaho National Laboratory participated in a Davis Besse SPAR

shutdown (SPAR-SD) model meeting which was held at the licensee offices. This effort is part

of RES's ongoing SPAR-SD model development project. The purpose of this meeting was to

review the Davis-Besse SPAR-SD model and also to gather additional information on the

plant's shutdown operations and procedures. Participants provided perspectives on risk at

different plant operating states and reviewed the event trees, potential accident sequences, and

operator actions for the shutdown scenarios. SPAR models are used in several agency

processes, including the Reactor Oversight Process, the MD 8.3 Incident Investigation

Program, and the Accident Sequence Precursor program. This on-site SPAR review process

will lead to greater consistency in NRC and industry estimates of plant and event risk. 
June 29, 2007 ENCLOSURE F

Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response (NSIR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending June 29, 2007

Preliminary Notifications

1. PNO-IV-07-006A, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON, UPDATE TO UNIT 2 REACTOR

SHUT DOWN (EVENT NOTIFICATION EN 43435)

2. PNO-III-07-008A, POINT BEACH UNIT 1, UPDATE TO UNIT 1 REACTOR SHUTDOWN
June 29, 2007 ENCLOSURE G

Office of Administration (ADM)

Items of Interest 

Week Ending June 29, 2007

Conforming Administrative Changes (AH62 - Part 70I)

On June 27, 2007, the NRC published a final rule in the Federal Register (72 FR 35144) that

makes conforming changes to citations in regulatory text. This action updates a number of

cross references in regulatory text. The final rule became effective June 27, 2007.

Organization of Agreement States; Petition for Rulemaking Meeting (PRM-34-6)

On June 27, 2007, the NRC published a document in the Federal Register (72 FR 35203) that

announces a transcribed public meeting with the petitioner to obtain information about specific

issues relative to the petition. This action is being taken as part of the petition for rulemaking

review process that is evaluating the petitioner’s request that the NRC amend its regulations to

require that an individual receive at least 40 hours of radiation safety training before they may

use sources of radiation for industrial radiography, clarify the requirements for at least two

individuals to be present at a temporary job site, and clarify how many individuals are required

to meet surveillance requirements. The meeting will be held on August 15, 2007.
June 29, 2007 ENCLOSURE H

Office of Information Services (OIS)

Items of Interest

Week Ending June 29, 2007

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

of June 22 through June 28, 2007:

Communications between NRC and Fred D. Thompson or his

office/staff, 1994-2002; any FOIA request dealing with Fred

Thompson since 1-1-01

FOIA/PA-2007-0236

MediPhysics Inc., 4380 Brockton Drive SE, Kentwood, Kent Co.,

Michigan, all documents

FOIA/PA-2007-0237

Staff’s current policy re: SECY-92-223, Resolution of Deviations

Identified During the Systematic Evaluation Program (SEP)

FOIA/PA-2007-0238
June 29, 2007 ENCLOSURE J

Office of Human Resources (HR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending June 29, 2007

Arrivals

CHANDLER, LAWRENCE CONSULTANT OGC

COPELAND, TABITHA SECRETARY (OA) CSU

ETO, CHINENYE STUDENT ENGINEER RII

MCARTHUR, SHANNON STUDENT CRIMINAL INVESTIGATOR OIG

MERCHANT, SALLY SR. ENFORCEMENT SPECIALIST OE

Retirements

BURROWS, FREDERICK ELECTRICAL I/C ENGINEER NMSS

CHANDLER, LAWRENCE ASSOCIATE GENERAL COUNSEL OGC

HOLDEN, CORNELIUS DIR, DIV OF RISK ASSESSMENT NRR

MERCHANT, SALLY SENIOR ENFORCEMENT SPECIALIST OE

Departures

BHATIA, RAM REACTOR INSPECTOR RI

BRUSH, FRANCIS SENIOR PROJECT ENGINEER RIV

CULLEN, WILLIAM SENIOR MATERIALS ENGINEER RES

DANIS, AARON SR. INTELLIGENCE ANALYST NSIR

JONES, FANGIE NUCLEAR SYSTEMS ENGINEER RIV

MERRIFIELD, JEFFREY COMMISSIONER OCM
June 29, 2007 ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs (OPA)

Items of Interest

Week Ending June 29, 2007

OPA received significant media inquiries on the following:

Indian Point’s License renewal process received considerable coverage by local and NYC

media following NRC’s proactive outreach to editorial boards prior to and following the public

meeting; additional queries were addressed about the plants siren testing. 

First Energy’s response in the case of Davis-Besse to staff’s demand for information.

OPA’s proactive outreach to the media prior to the public meeting on a new reactor license at

the South Texas project, awarded NRC staff interviews with Telemundo Spanish language

television and the Houston Chronicle for the opportunity to discuss the public information

meeting, the licensing process, public participation and safety.

Wall Street Journal interviewed Commissioner Merrifield on overseas reactor safety as well as

domestic reactor safety. 

Pilgrims’ pursuit of a license extension.

Other Public Affairs Items:

Region IV OPA staff participated in year-end meetings.

Commissioner Lyons was interviewed by Boston radio station, WATD, which is developing a

story regarding Pilgrim. Lyons discussed many general topics including GNEP goal and the

NRC’s role.

Press Releases

Headquarters:

07-080 NRC Adopts Efficiencies in New Reactor License Review Process (6/25)

07-081 NRC Improves Method for Measuring Reactor Performance During

Unplanned Shutdowns (6/27)

07-082 NRC Consolidates Security Upgrades for Operating Reactors (6/27)

Regions:

II-07-034 Oral Comments to be Accepted in Raleigh on July 17 Regarding

Proceedings on Harris Nuclear Plant License Renewal Application (6/29)

IV-07-024 NRC Conducting Special Inspection at San Onofre Nuclear Station (6/27)

IV-07-025 NRC to Increase Oversight of Fort Calhoun Nuclear Plant (6/28)
June 29, 2007 ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary (SECY)

Items of Interest

Week Ending June 29, 2007

Document Released

to Public

Date Subject

Decision Documents

1. COMDEK-07-0001/

COMJSM-07-0001

4/18/07 Report of the Combined License Review

Task Force

SRM on 07-0001 6/22/07 (same)

Commission Voting

Record on 07-0001

6/22/07 (same)

2. COMSECY-07-0021 6/8/07 Draft Press Release and Federal Register

Notice to Solicit Qualified Candidates for

Appointment to the Advisory Committee on

Nuclear Waste and Materials (ACNW&M)

SRM on 07-0021 6/27/07 (same)

Commission Voting

Record on 07-0021

6/27/07 (same)

3. SRM on SECY-07-0081 6/28/07 Regulatory Options for Licensing Facilities

Associated with the Global Nuclear Energy

Partnership (GNEP)

Voting Record on SECY07-00816/27/07 (same)

4. SRM on SECY-07-0091 6/29/07 Integrated Regulatory Review Service SelfAssessment Results and Recommendation

to Invite an Integrated Regulatory Review

Service Mission to the United States

Commission Voting

Record on 07-0091

6/29/07 (same)

Information Papers

- SECY-07-0103 6/20/07 Weekly Information Report - Week Ending

June 15, 2007
June 29, 2007 ENCLOSURE O

Memoranda

- M070628 6/28/07 Staff Requirements - Affirmation Session: I.

SECY-07-0097-Consumers Energy Co. (Big

Rock Point ISFSI); License Transfer

Application; Petition for Reconsideration of

CLI-07-19; II. SECY-07-0098-Consumers

Energy Company, et al. (Palisades Nuclear

Plant); License Transfer Application; Petition

for Reconsideration

Commission Correspondence

1. Letter to Attorney Alberto Gonzales, dated June 22, 2007, writing to advise that Darren B.

Ash is designated the NRC’s Chief Freedom of Information Act Officer.

2. Letter to Noriyuki Kuwata, Mitsubishi Nuclear Energy Systems, dated June 22, 2007,

responding to letter requesting authorization for Mitsubishi Nuclear Energy Systems to

establish and implement a Safeguards Information protection system as preprescribed by

Title 10.

3. Letter to Min-Shen Ouyang, Taiwan, dated June 22, 2007, acknowledges letter informing of

retirement from the Atomic Energy Council of Taiwan.

4. Letter to Congressman Tom Davis, dated June 20, 2007, responds to request for

information describing how NRC implements key information technology laws.

5. Letter to Congress, dated June 19, 2007, informing of a delay in the National Academies’

study fo industrial, research, and commercial uses for radiation sources.

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste and Materials (ACNW&M), Meeting on Planning

and Procedures, notice of meeting (07/17/2007). 

2. Atomic Safety and Licensing Board, Notice of Opportunity to Make Oral or Written Limited

Appearance Statements (Shearon Harris). 

3. ACNW&M, notice of 181st meeting (7/17-19/2007).

4. Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards, Subcommittee Meeting on Regulatory

Policies and Practices, revised 07/10/2007 meeting. 

5. Raymond A. Crandall; Receipt of Petition for Rulemaking (PRM-50-87) - notice of receipt.
June 29, 2007 ENCLOSURE P

Region IV (RIV)

Items of Interest

Week Ending June 29, 2007

Diablo Canyon Power Plant Annual Assessment and Town Hall Meetings

On June 26, 2007, NRC staff held two public meetings in San Luis Obispo, California regarding

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

Electric to discuss annual performance assessment results for 2006. The second meeting was

a town hall meeting with members of the public. The majority of the discussions concerned the

Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation and associated environmental impact study. Both

meetings were well attended by members of the public, state and local officials, representatives

from the Mother’s for Peace, and a member of a U.S. Representative’s staff. The second

meeting was covered by reporters from a local newspaper and a local television station. 

Arkansas Nuclear One Annual Assessment Meeting

On June 26, 2007, NRC staff held a public meeting in Russellville, Arkansas with

representatives of Entergy Operations, Inc., to discuss the annual assessment of Arkansas

Nuclear One for 2006. The meeting was attended by about 12 people. There were no

members of the general public and no media representatives present.
June 29, 2007 

Office of Congressional Affairs (OCA)

Items of Interest

Week Ending June 29, 2007

CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS SCHEDULE, NO. 21

OCA

Contact

 DATE &

 PLACE

TIME COMMITTEE SUBJECT 

Decker 06/26/07

192 Dirksen

3:00 Senate Appropriations

Subcommittee on Energy andWater DevelopmentSenators Dorgan/Domenici

Markup of FY 2008 Energy andWater Appropriations 

N/A

Shane 06/27-28/07

2123

Rayburn

TBA House Energy and Commerce

Reps. Dingell/Barton

Markup of Pending Legislation1. Committee print to promoteenergy efficiency, 2. Comm. printto facilitate the transition to asmart grid, 3. Comm. print re:DOE EPAct Loan Guarantees, 4.Comm. print to promoterenewable-fuel infrastructure

N/A

Powell 06/28/07

406 Dirksen

10:00 Senate Environment and Public

WorksSenators Boxer/Inhofe

(Coal-fired) Power Plants andGlobal Warming Issues

TBA
CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS SCHEDULE, NO. 21

OCA

Contact

 DATE &

 PLACE

TIME COMMITTEE SUBJECT 

June 29, 2007 

Decker 06/28/07

216 Hart

2:00 Senate Appropriations

Senators Byrd/Cochran

Markup of FY 2008 Energy andWater Appropriations

N/A