INFORMATION REPORT

March 29, 2007 SECY-07-0059

For: The Commissioners

From: Michael R. Johnson, Assistant for Operations, Office of the EDO

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING

MARCH 23, 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/

Michael R. Johnson 

Assistant for Operations, OEDO

Contact:

R. Taylor, OEDO
March 29, 2007 SECY-07-0059

For: The Commissioners

From: Michael R. Johnson, Assistant for Operations, Office of the EDO

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING

MARCH 23, 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/

Michael R. Johnson

Assistant for Operations, OEDO

Contact:

R. Taylor, OEDO

DISTRIBUTION:

EDO R/F

AO R/F Document Name: C:\WIR\week323.WPD

OEDO AO/OEDO

RTaylor:jva MRJohnson

03/27/07 03/29/07
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING MARCH 23, 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 * OPA 8

NMSS * OIP *

FSME * SECY 9

RES 3 Region I *

NSIR 4 Region II 11

ADM 5 Region III 12

OIS 6 Region IV 13

CFO * EDO *

HR 7 OCA 14

SBCR *

*No input this week
 March 23, 2007 ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 23, 2007

Training Accreditation Board Observation

On March 20-22, 2007, the staff observed a periodic National Nuclear Accrediting Board

(NNAB) meeting to assess the effectiveness of the accreditation process. The NRC periodically

sends an official observer to monitor NNAB meetings in accordance with the Memorandum of

Agreement with the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations.

Meeting with Japanese Nuclear Safety Commission

On March 16, 2007, the staff met with members of the Japanese Nuclear Safety Commission to

discuss how the NRC conducts inspections at nuclear power plants. Other topics included: 1)

developing 18-month inspection schedules and selecting activities or system/components for

inspection; 2) dealing with minor findings that are not documented in inspection reports; 

3) inspector competencies and inspector training requirements; and 4) enhancing NRC safety

culture in the reactor oversight process.

Reactor Oversight Process Monthly Meeting

On March 21, 2007, the staff held the monthly Reactor Oversight Process (ROP) public

meeting. The purpose of this meeting was to allow discussion on staff initiatives and provide a

forum for industry feedback. Meeting attendees discussed mitigating systems performance

index implementation, safety culture integration into the reactor oversight process, performance

indicator issues, open and new frequently asked questions, and 2007 goals for the ROP

Working Group.

Meeting with Exelon Generation Company

On March 20, 2007, the staff held a public meeting with licensing managers from Exelon

Generation Company to discuss the current status of licensing actions and the details of the

company's plans for upcoming licensing activities. The staff took the opportunity to provide

feedback to Exelon on ways to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the licensing

process.
 March 23, 2007 ENCLOSURE E

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES)

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 23, 2007

Publication of NUREG/CR-6923, “Expert Panel Report on Proactive Materials Degradation

Assessment”

On March 16, 2007, the subject report was posted to the NRC public website. As part of NRC’s

Proactive Materials Degradation Assessment program, Brookhaven National Laboratory used

the knowledge of an international panel of eight experts and the Phenomena Identification and

Ranking Table process to identify materials and components where future degradation may

occur in specific light water reactor (LWR) systems. The panel was given information on the

materials, fabrication process, and operational environment for hundreds of different boilingwater reactor and pressurized-water reactor components. Prediction methodologies for various

phenomena, calibrated by past component failures in the global LWR fleet, aided in judgements

of future degradation behavior. Also considered were the successes and limitations of

mitigation/control approaches that have been used to date. This report includes the panel’s

scoring, rationale, conclusions, as well as considerable documentation of issues relevant to

materials degradation.
 March 23, 2007 ENCLOSURE F

Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response (NSIR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 23, 2007

Preliminary Notification

- PNO-III-07-005, Prairie Island 1 & 2, NON-CREDIBLE BOMB THREAT
 March 23, 2007 ENCLOSURE G

Office of Administration (ADM)

Items of Interest 

Week Ending March 23, 2007

Design Basis Threat (AH60-Part 73)

On March 19, 2007, the NRC published a final rule in the Federal Register (72 FR 12705)

amending the regulations pertaining to its design basis threat requirements. The final rule

makes the security requirements imposed by the Commission’s April 29, 2003, design basis

threat Orders generically applicable. The final rule redefines the level of security requirements

necessary to adequately protect public health and safety and common defense and security. 

The final rule also revises design basis threat requirements for radiological sabotage and the

theft or diversion of NRC-licensed strategic special nuclear material. The final rule becomes

effective April 18, 2006.

Periodic Update of 10 CFR 50.55a to Incorporate New Editions of American Society of

Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Codes

During the week of March 26, 2007, EDO staff will review and issue a proposed rule that

amends the regulations to incorporate by reference the 2004 Edition of Division 1 of Section III

of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (BPV Code); the 2004 Edition of Division 1 rules

of Section XI of the ASME BPV Code; and the 2004 Edition of the ASME Code for Operation

and Maintenance of Nuclear Power Plants (OM Code) to provide updated rules for constructing

and inspecting components and testing pumps and valves in light-water nuclear power plants. 

This action is in accordance with the NRC’s policy to periodically update § 50.55a to incorporate

new editions and addenda of the ASME Codes by reference. ASME Codes are national

voluntary consensus standards, and, as such, are required by the National Technology Transfer

and Advancement Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-113, to be used by government agencies unless the

use of such a standard is inconsistent with applicable law or otherwise impractical. 
 March 23, 2007 ENCLOSURE H

Office of Information Services (OIS)

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 23, 2007

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

of March 16 through March 22, 2007:

Awarded contract to Lockheed Martin FOIA/PA-2007-0151

Allegation NRR-1998-A-007, all documents including correspondence

between named individual and NRC

FOIA/PA-2007-0152

Bargaining unit (or eligible) employees including name, title, grade,

etc.; grievances filed and/or settlement agreements; copies of

lawsuits or claims and/or settlements between NRC and employees

FOIA/PA-2007-0153

Office of Investigations Peer Review by the Social Security

Administration, dated March 15, 2005

FOIA/PA-2007-0154

List of denied materials or operating licenses pertaining to Uranium

Resources Inc and/or Hydro Resources Inc.; list of source material

licenses allowing the possession of uranium by Hydro Resources, Inc. 

FOIA/PA-2007-0155

Martin State Airport, 2920 Strawberry Point Road, Baltimore,

Maryland 21220, any regulatory records regarding air, land, or water

pollution incidents

FOIA/PA-2007-0156

Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station’s safety culture assessment

and methodology, all documents from 3-15-07 meeting

FOIA/PA-2007-0157

Thorium-related material licenses at Dow Chemical, Michigan, Illinois

and California, 1951-1973; Consolidated Aluminum Corp., Illinois

1973-1986; Spectrulite Consortium, 1986 - February 2007

FOIA/PA-2007-0158

NRR, Information Management Branch, work activities for the period

fo September 17, 2006 through March 3, 2007, items to include TAC

numbers, docket numbers, hours, budgetary codes, etc.

FOIA/PA-2007-0159

Proposed Staff Position on the Use of Industry Standard ANSI/AISC

N690 in the Advanced Reactor Applications, February 22, 1993

FOIA/PA-2007-0160
 March 23, 2007 ENCLOSURE J

Office of Human Resources (HR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 23, 2007

Arrivals

BAIG, USMAN MECHANICAL ENGINEER NRR
 March 23, 2007 ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs (OPA)

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 23, 2007

OPA received significant media inquiries on the following:

Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office Petition for changes in the context of license renewal

reviews, with regard to spent fuel pools.

NRC’s preparations for new reactor applications, licensing process and design certifications.

Missing Gauge in Philadelphia contamination issues.

Other Public Affairs Items:

OPA supported the Licensee Performance Review public meeting for the Honeywell conversion

plant in Illinois.

Commissioner Merrifield was interviewed by Barron’s about new reactor licensing and the

global nuclear renaissance.

OPA participated in the Dresden Exercise.

Press Releases

Headquarters:

07-037 NRC Announces Hearing Opportunity and Intent to Develop Environmental

Report on Harris Nuclear Plant License Renewal (03/21)

Regions:

I-07-008 NRC to Discuss 2006 Assessment for Seabrook Nuclear Plant at Public Meeting

Scheduled for March 29 (03/23)

I-07-009 Nuclear Gauge Reported Stolen in Philadelphia; Recovery of Device is Sought

(3/20)

I-07-010 Stolen Nuclear Gauge Found in Philadelphia (3/23)

III-07-006 NRC to Discuss 2006 Performance Assessment for Point Beach Nuclear Power

Plant (3/23)

IV-07-005 NRC Proposes $13,000 Fine for Accurate NDE & Inspection, LLC (03/21)
 March 23, 2007 ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary (SECY)

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 23, 2007

Document Released

to Public

Date Subject

Decision Documents

1. COMSECY-07-0009 03/02/07 Strategy for Funding the Agreement States

for Training and Other Activities That

Support the Development and Initiation of

the National Source Tracking System

SRM on 07-0009 03/19/07 (same)

Commission Voting

Record on 07-0009

03/19/07 (same)

2. COMNJD-97-

007/COMEXM-97-004

12/15/97 Streamlining NRC Adjudications

SRM on COMNJD-97-

007/COMEXM-97-004

01/30/98 (same)

SRM on COMNJD-97-

007/COMEXM-97-004

06/26/98 (same)

Voting Record on

COMNJD-97-

007/COMEXM-97-004

12/30/97 (same)

Information Papers

1. SECY-07-0053 03/19/07 Weekly Information Report - Week Ending

March 9, 2007

2. SECY-07-0047 03/08/07 Staff Approach to Verifying the Closure of

Inspections, Tests, Analyses, and

Acceptance Criteria Through a SampleBased Inspection Program

3. SECY-07-0042 03/07/07 Status of the Plan for the Implementation of

the Commission’s Phased Approach to

Probabilistic Risk Assessment Quality

Memoranda

1. M070307A 03/21/07 Briefing on Office of Nuclear Security and

Incident Response Programs, Performance,

and Plans
 March 23, 2007 ENCLOSURE O

2. M070308C 03/22/07 Briefing on Office of Nuclear Reactor

Regulation Programs, Performance, and

Plans

3. M070308B 03/22/07 Briefing on NMSS Programs, Performance,

and Plans

Commission Correspondence

1. Letter to Congress, dated March 16, 2007, provides NRC’s quarterly report on the status

of licensing and other regulatory issues (October through December 2006).

2. Letter to Congress, dated March 12, 2007, provides a summary of actions taken by NRC

in response to recommendations contained in various Government Accountability Office

reports.

3. Letter to Khammar Mrabit, International Atomic Energy Agency, dated February 23, 2007,

responds to invitation for NRC to nominate a representative to participate in the workshop

on “Lessons Learned from the integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) Mission to

France.”

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS), Meeting of the Subcommittee on

Plant License Renewal, notice of meeting (04/04/07).

2. Request for a License to Import Radioactive Waste (Westinghouse Electric Company

LLC). 

3. Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste, notice of meeting (04/10-12/07)

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

Subcommittee on Digital Instrumentation and Control Systems (04/18/07).
 March 23, 2007 ENCLOSURE P

Region II (RII)

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 23, 2007

Commissioner and United Kingdom Visits Crystal River and Turkey Point

On March 19-20, 2007, Commissioner Merrifield, United Kingdom officials, HM Chief Inspector

of Nuclear Installations and Director of Nuclear Safety, and Chief, Nuclear Fuel Cycle and

Decommissioning Regulation, visited the Crystal River and Turkey Point Nuclear Plants and

toured the site. They were accompanied by the Deputy Regional Administrator for Operations

(DRAO). Commissioner Merrifield and the DRAO also visited the site in Levy County Florida

which Progress Energy has proposed for a new reactor.

Licensee Performance Review Meeting with Honeywell

On March 21, 2007, the DRAO and staff met with licensee and corporate management from

Honeywell’s Metropolis, Illinois uranium conversion facility for a Licensee Performance Review. 

Other personnel who were present during the public meeting included approximately 20

members of the licensee’s staff, USEC staff from the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant, two

print reporters and one television station reporter. 
 March 23, 2007 ENCLOSURE P

Region III (RIII)

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 23, 2007

Decision Issued on Differing Professional Opinion (DPO-2006-001) on Point Beach Problem

Identification and Resolution Substantive Cross-cutting Issue

On March 1, 2007, the Regional Administrator issued a decision on a Differing Professional

Opinion regarding the NRC’s closure of the substantive cross-cutting issue in the area of

problem identification and resolution at the Point Beach Nuclear Plant during the 2005 end-ofcycle performance assessment. The Differing Professional Opinion questioned whether the

NRC’s decision to close the issue was correct. An AD Hoc Review Panel was put together to

assess this matter and concluded that the decision to close the cross-cutting issue did not

result in a reduction of inspection effort or a reduction in safety at the Point Beach Plant. After

reviewing the panel’s report and Manual Chapter 0305, the Regional Administrator agreed with

the panel’s conclusions.

Dresden Exercise and Visit of Major Nelson from North American Aerospace Defense

Command

On March 21, 2007, Region III staff demonstrated response capabilities in the Dresden Biennial

Exercise with full Base and Site Teams, along with Headquarters Operation Center, under the

leadership of Commissioner Lyons.

The Region III response to the Dresden exercise was observed by Army Major Jeffrey Nelson

of North American Aerospace Defense Command-United States Northern Command. Major

Nelson is United States Northern Command’s primary liaison to the NRC related to the

"imminent threat" process. On March 20, the Region III Emergency Response Coordinator and

Resident Inspectors at Braidwood station provided Major Nelson with a comprehensive tour of

Braidwood.

Public Meeting at Perry

On March 21, 2007, staff conducted a public meeting in Ohio to present to the public the results

of the NRC 2006 assessment of plant performance and the return of the plant to regular

oversight which took place on March 2, 2007. State and local representatives attended the

meeting. 

Braidwood Community Meeting

On March 22, 2007, NRC resident inspectors participated in a community information night at

Braidwood. They provided information to members of the public and local officials who

attended the meeting. The plant started hosting information nights after the discovery of tritium

offsite to keep the public informed about the ongoing tritium remediation efforts on and off plant

property. The Illinois Emergency Management Agency, local law enforcement agencies and a

contract health physicist also provided information at the meeting.
 March 23, 2007 ENCLOSURE P

Region IV (RIV)

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 23, 2007

Management Changes at Palo Verde

On March 20, 2007, Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station announced that Dave Mauldin,

Vice President, Nuclear Engineering, has retired. John Hesser, formerly Director, Emergency

Services, has been named acting Vice President, Nuclear Engineering.

Palo Verde Drop-in Visit

On March 21, 2007, Randy Edington, Senior Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer, Arizona

Public Service Company, and Dwight Mims, Vice President, Regulatory Affairs and

Performance Improvement, met with Bruce Mallett, Regional Administrator, Region IV and other

Region IV management to discuss the status of the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station

performance improvement plan. 
 March 23, 2007 

Office of Congressional Affairs (OCA)

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 23, 2007

CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS SCHEDULE, NO. 9

OCA

Contact

 DATE &

 PLACE

TIME COMMITTEE SUBJECT 

Combs 03/21/2007

311 Cannon

10:00 House Homeland Security

Subcommittee on EmergingThreats, Cybersecurity, andScience and Technology(Representatives Langevin /Sanchez

Countering the Nuclear Threatto the Homeland: Evaluatingthe Deployment of RadiationDetection Technologies

Not yet determ

Decker 03/22/2007

2362B

Rayburn

10:00 House Appropriations Committee,

Subcommittee on Energy andWater Development(Representatives Visclosky /Hobson)

Nuclear Nonproliferation -Draft Bill - FY2008 EnergyWater Appropriations

Not yet determ

Decker 03/28/2007

2362B

Rayburn

10:00 House Appropriations Committee,

Subcommittee on Energy andWater Development(Representatives Visclosky /Hobson)

FY 2008 Appropriations Chairman Dale 

Dennis SpurgeNuclear EnergWard Sproat - Radioactive W