INFORMATION REPORT

October 25, 2006 SECY-06-0214

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING

OCTOBER 13, 2006

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*

Office of Information Services H

Chief Financial Officer I*

Human Resources J

Small Business and Civil Rights K*

Enforcement L*

Public Affairs M

International Programs N

Office of the Secretary O

Region I P*

Region II P

Region III P*

Region IV P

Executive Director for Operations Q*

Congressional Affairs R*

Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards/

Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste S*

*No input this week.

/RA/

Michael R. Johnson 

Assistant for Operations, OEDO

Contact:

R. Taylor, OEDO
October 25, 2006 SECY-06-0214

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING

OCTOBER 13, 2006

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*

Office of Information Services H

Chief Financial Officer I*

Human Resources J

Small Business and Civil Rights K*

Enforcement L*

Public Affairs M

International Programs N

Office of the Secretary O

Region I P*

Region II P

Region III P*

Region IV P

Executive Director for Operations Q*

Congressional Affairs R*

Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards/

Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste S*

*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\week1013.WPD

OEDO AO/OEDO

RTaylor:paa MRJohnson

10/25/06 10/26/06
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 13, 2006

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 17

NMSS 4 OIP 18

FSME * SECY 19

RES 5 Region I *

NSIR 10 Region II 21

ADM * Region III *

OIS 12 Region IV 23

CFO * EDO *

HR 16 OCA *

SBCR * ACRS/ACNW *

*No input this week
October 13, 2006 ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending October 13, 2006

Plastics Pipes XIII Conference

During October 3-5, 2006, staff attended the Plastics Pipes XIII Conference held in

Washington, DC. This conference provided an opportunity for the staff to become familiar with

the compatibility of plastic piping in nuclear plant applications. The nuclear industry has

expressed interest in the use of plastic pipes such as polyethylene piping for underground

service water piping because the plastic pipes are well suited for underground use due to their

flexibility to soil movement and their corrosion resistance. The conference provided many

discussions on various subjects such as developments in new materials, installation, lifetime

and durability of systems, plastic pipe design, material science on slow crack growth and rapid

crack propagation, joining, additive, composites, and standards and specifications. 

License Renewal Application for Wolf Creek Generating Station (WCGS)

On October 4, 2006, the staff received an application from Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating

Corporation requesting an extension of the operating license for the WCGS, Unit 1. WCGS’s

current operating license expires at midnight on March 11, 2025. The license renewal

application was submitted pursuant to 10 CFR Parts 51 and 54, and requests an additional 20

years beyond the current 40-year term. The staff will conduct its acceptability review to

determine whether the application has sufficient information for docketing. If found acceptable

for docketing, the staff plans to hold a public information session near the site to describe the

license renewal process.

Economical Simplified Boiling Water Reactor (ESBWR) Design Certification Status

On October 5, 2006, the staff issued a letter to General Electric Company (GE) regarding the

ESBWR design certification review schedule. The letter notifies GE that, due to further delays

in GE submitals and proposed changes to the design and the design control document, the

staff has established a third milestone for issuance of request for additional information (RAIs)

on January 31, 2007. The staff plans to issue a safety evaluation report (SER) with open items

in October 2007, and anticipates that many of the issues identified in the third RAI milestone will

not be resolved in time to be addressed in this SER. Further delays in achieving interim

milestones could also increase the number of open items in this SER. GE’s ability to close all

open items will directly impact the staff’s ability to complete a combined license review in 30

months for those applications referencing the ESBWR. 

Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) Risk-Informed Regulatory Forum

During October 11-13, 2006, the staff attended the Nuclear Energy Institute Risk-Informed

Regulatory Forum in Bonita Springs, Florida to participate in panel discussions on various risk

related initiatives, including the Risk Management Technical Specifications initiatives. The staff

also obtained information and observed industry presentations on the status and schedule of

active risk-informed initiatives.
October 13, 2006 ENCLOSURE A

Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) Process for National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 805

On September 28, 2006, the staff held its monthly public meeting with NEI's NFPA 805

Transition Task Force to review ongoing FAQ's and receive new FAQ's. There are currently

10 FAQ's in various stages of review with the Task Force and the staff. The process is a few

months old and is proving to be a benefit for those licensees transitioning to NFPA 805.
October 13, 2006 ENCLOSURE C

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS)

Items of Interest

Week Ending October 13, 2006

Public Meeting on Groundwater Discharge Permit for Louisiana Energy Services (LES)

On October 5, 2006, staff attended a public meeting conducted by the New Mexico

Environment Department (NMED) regarding the draft groundwater discharge permit for LES. 

The staff was asked by NMED to attend the meeting to answer any questions raised during the

meeting relative to the NRC’s licensing of LES. NMED and LES gave presentations and

answered questions from the public. Approximately 50 people attended the meeting. 

Numerous public speakers were very supportive of LES, and recommended issuance of the

permit. Several public speakers raised some issues with the draft permit. 

Receipt of General Electric (GE) Letter Regarding Schedule for Seperation of Isotopes by Laser

Extraction (SILEX)

In a letter dated October 11, 2006, GE Nuclear informed the NRC of its intention to license an

enrichment facility in the United States using the SILEX technology. They expect to install the

first test phase at the Global Nuclear Fuel - Americas site in Wilmington, NC. This phase would

involve laboratory quantities of material to verify design parameters. GE stated that they intend

to submit an amendment request in January 2007 for anticipated startup of the test phase in

November 2007. GE stated that they intend to submit a license application for a full-scale

enrichment facility as early as December 2007, with approval anticipated in 2009. 

Meeting with Dominion

On October 5, 2006, staff met with representatives from Dominion to discuss Dominion’s spent

fuel storage activities at its sites at North Anna, Surry, Millstone and Kewaunee. Dominion

presented a schedule for planned loadings for the NUHOMS HD and NUHOMS 32PT casks. 

Staff provided the tentative rulemaking schedule for the NUHOMS HD cask system, and also

discussed generic requirements associated with general licensing of spent fuel storage

systems.

NRC Staff Meet with Representatives of Clark County, Nevada on Yucca Mountain

On October 10, 2006, staff and management attended a drop-in visit that was held at NRC

headquarters with representatives of Clark County, Nevada. The purpose of the meeting was

to listen to the County’s concerns about a potential high-level waste repository at Yucca

Mountain. Clark County representatives expressed their wish that NRC be more forthcoming

with Congress about the Agency’s views on proposed legislation concerning Yucca Mountain,

especially with regard to those proposals that would affect NRC’s role as independent regulator. 

NRC staff noted they are planning a number of public technical exchanges, in Nevada, with the

Department of Energy. The County representatives invited NMSS staff to take advantage of

County communication vehicles, including local television and podcasting, in order to reach

Nevada stakeholders.
October 13, 2006 ENCLOSURE E

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES)

Items of Interest

Week Ending October 13, 2006

Adivsory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) Review of NUREG-1824

On October 5, 2006, RES and the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation staff, with support from

the Electric Power and Research Institute (EPRI) and National Institute for Standards and

Technology, briefed the ACRS on RES efforts related to developing NUREG-1824, "Verification

and Validation of Selected Fire Models for Nuclear Power Plant Application." This report

documents a joint RES and EPRI program to verify and validate five different fire models to be

used by the NRC and industry when performing fire analysis. NUREG-1824 is expected to be

issued in January 2007.
October 13, 2006 ENCLOSURE F

Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response (NSIR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending October 13, 2006

Preliminary Notifications

1. PNO-11-06-003, Surry Power Station - PARTIAL LOSS OF OFFSITE POWER TO

SURRY UNITS 1 AND 2 SAFETY SYSTEM EMERGENCY BUSSES AND UNIT 2

MANUAL REACTOR TRIP.

2. PNO-IV-06-012, Goolsby Testing - RADIOGRAPHER’S RADIATION DOSE IN EXCESS

OF REGULATORY LIMITS.

3. PNO-I-06-011, Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station - LOSS OF CONTAINMENT

INTEGRITY DUE TO LEAK IN A TEST RETURN LINE.
October 13, 2006 ENCLOSURE H

Office of Information Services (OIS)

Items of Interest

Week Ending October 13, 2006

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

of October 6 through October 12, 2006:

Martin Marietta, 5312 SW 6th Place, Ocala, FL, records re: nuclear

materials used, stored or processed

FOIA/PA-2007-0011

NRC Systems of Records, all information on named individual FOIA/PA-2007-0012

FY2005 log of FOIA requests FOIA/PA-2007-0013

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, correspondence between her office &

NRC, from Jan. 1, 2001 to present

FOIA/PA-2007-0014

Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) re: fly ash

contamination (Referral by the Department of Justice)

FOIA/PA-2007-0015
October 13, 2006 ENCLOSURE J

Office of Human Resources (HR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending October 13, 2006

Arrivals

BENNETT, WILLIAM TYLER GENERAL ENGINEER NRR

BJORNSEN, ALAN PROJECT MANAGER NRR

BOGGI, MICHAEL A. HUMAN FACTORS ANALYST/ENGINEER RES

BREZOVEC, MICHAEL S. SR. ACCOUNT CFO

CLARK, CARINA A. ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGEMENT TRAINEE ADM

FOCHT, ERIC M. MATERIALS ENGINEER RES

FORD, CAROL P. SECRETARY (OA) NRR

GRICE, THOMAS MC&A PHYSICAL SCIENTIST/STATISTICIAN NMSS

HACKWORTH, SANDRA SR CRIMINAL INVESTIGATOR/OPER OFFICER OI

KARIPINENI, NAGESWARA R. REACTOR SYSTEMS ENGINEER NRR

KELLUM, JAMES C. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS SPECIALIST NSIR

KIM, ERIC T. ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGEMENT TRAINEE ADM

KOHEN, MARSHALL D. SECURITY SPECIALIST NSIR

LIEN, PETER H. REACTOR SYSTEMS ENGINEER NRR

LILLY, MARK R. PHYSICAL SCIENTIST NRR

MONTGOMERY, CYNTHIA K. PROJECT MANAGER NRR

NEFF, RANDI K. TRAINING PROGRAM SPEC (GRANTS) HR

SPINDLER, DAVID I. TRAINING PROGRAM SPECIALIST HR

TODD, COLLEEN F. HUMAN RESOURCES SPECIALIST RI

Retirement

NALLUSWAMI, M. HYDROGEOLOGIST FSME

Departures

GRAVES, DAVID N. BRANCH CHIEF RIV

HESSELINK, RACHEL J. CHIEF, PROGRAM ANALYSIS TEAM II CFO

NILES, IMARI R. CRIMINAL INVESTIGATOR OIG
October 13, 2006 ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs (OPA)

Items of Interest

Week Ending October 13, 2006

The OPA received significant media inquiries on the following:

The Chairman’s directive to staff to conduct an independent review of NRC’s oversight of Indian

Point. 

The staff’s study of severe accident consequences.

Other Public Affairs Items:

The Chairman held media availabilities in Omaha after visiting Fort Calhoun and at Region IV in

Arlington, Texas.

Press Releases

Headquarters:

06-127 NRC Announces Availability of License Renewal Application for Wolf Creek

Nuclear Generating Station (10/10)

06-128 NRC Chairman Directs Staff Plan for Independent Review of Execution of

Reactor Oversight Process at Indian Point (10/11)

Regions:

II-06-042 NRC Staff to Meet with TVA Officials in Rockville to Discuss Unit 1 Restart at

Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant (10/12)

II-06-043 NRC to Send Special Inspection Team to Surry Nuclear Plant to Review Offsite

Power Loss and Shutdown (10/13)

III-06-030 NRC Proposes $60,000 Fine Against Indiana Michigan Power for Emergency

Plan violation at D.C. Cook Nuclear Plant (10/11)
October 13, 2006 ENCLOSURE N

Office of International Programs (OIP)

Items of Interest

Week Ending October 13, 2006

Application Submitted to Export High-Enriched Uranium to Canada

On October 5, 2006, the Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration,

Y-12 National Security Complex applied for a license to export 15.5 kilograms of high-enriched

uranium (enriched up to 93% uranium-235) to Chalk River Laboratories in Canada. The

material will be used by Atomic Energy of Canada Limited to fabricate targets in the Nuclear

Fuel Fabrication Facility which will be irradiated in the National Research Universal Reactor to

produce medical isotopes.
October 13, 2006 ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary (SECY)

Items of Interest

Week Ending October 13, 2006

Document Released

to Public

Date Subject

Decision Documents

- SECY-06-0195 10/10/06 Transition Plan for the Regulation of Certain

Byproduct Materials Mandated by the

Energy Policy Act of 2005

Voting Record for

SECY-06-0195

10/10/06 (same)

Information Papers

- SECY-06-0201 9/22/06 Periodic Assessment of the Activities of the

Committee to Review Generic

Requirements from June 1, 2005, Through

May 31, 2006

Memoranda

1. M061010 10/10/06 SRM-Affirmation Session: (1) SECY-06-

0199 - Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.

(Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station and Vermont

Yankee Nuclear Power Station)

2. M060912A 10/11/06 SRM-Meeting with Organization of

Agreement States (OAS) and Conference of

Radiation Control Program Directors

(CRCPD)

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. Atomic Safety and Licensing Board, Notice of Hearing, System Energy Resources, Inc.

(Early Site Permit for Grand Gulf Site).

2. Supplemental Proposed Rule, 10 CFR Parts 2, 50, 51, and 52, RIN 3150-AG24,

Licenses, Certifications, and approvals for Nuclear Power Plants.

3. Power Reactor Security Requirements, Proposed rule, RIN 3150-AG63.
October 13, 2006 ENCLOSURE P

Region II (RII)

Items of Interest

Week Ending October 13, 2006

Turkey Point Regulatory Conference

On October 10, 2006, representatives from Florida Power and Light Company attended a

Regulatory Conference in the Regional office. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the

Turkey Point Unit 3 loss of residual heat removal event.
October 13, 2006 ENCLOSURE P

Region IV (RIV)

Items of Interest

Week Ending October 13, 2006

Chairman Klein Visit to the Fort Calhoun Station and Region IV

On October 12, 2006, Chairman Klein and Region IV staff met with representatives of the Fort

Calhoun Station. The Chairman toured the plant and met with local media at the Fort Calhoun

Joint Information Center. On October 13, 2006, Chairman Klein toured the Region IV office,

met with Region IV staff, and addressed the local media.