INFORMATION REPORT

April 30, 2007 SECY-07-0075

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING

APRIL 20, 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
April 30, 2007 SECY-07-0075

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING

APRIL 20, 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: C:\WIR\wee420.WPD

OEDO AO/OEDO

LRakovan:paa VLOrdaz

5/1/07 5/3/07
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING APRIL 20, 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 * OIP *

FSME * SECY 19

RES 4 Region I 20

NSIR * Region II 21

ADM * Region III *

OIS 6 Region IV 22

CFO * EDO 23

HR 16 OCA 24

SBCR *

*No input this week
April 20, 2007 ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending April 20, 2007

Relief Request for Byron Station Unit 2

On April 16, 2007, NRR granted a verbal relief from the ASME Code for Byron Station, Unit 2

(Byron). While performing reactor pressure vessel head inspections to satisfy NRC Order EA03-009, the licensee detected two flaws on control rod drive mechanism penetration number 68. 

The licensee intends to remove a portion of the flaw prior to the repair (i.e., boat sample) and

then perform a weld overlay embedding a portion of the flaw. This embedded flaw repair

requires relief from Code because Code specified repair is not feasible. The boat sample is

important because of possible generic implications of primary water stress-corrosion cracking

(PWSCC) at low susceptibility plants such as Byron. Because the flaw was found, and

assumed to be caused by PWSCC by the licensee, Byron has been considered to be a high

susceptibility plant.

Regulatory Issue Summary (RIS) 2007-08, Updated Licensing Submittal Information to Support

the Design-centered Licensing Review Approach

On April 16, 2007, the staff issued the subject RIS to obtain updated information regarding the

scheduling of early site permit, combined license (COL), and design certification application

submissions, and the extent to which they will support the NRC’s design-centered review

approach. This RIS is intended to promote standardization of COL applications and to facilitate

the establishment of a predictable and consistent method for reviewing applications.

Meeting with Nuclear Industry on Generic Safety Issue-191, “Assessment of Debris

Accumulation on PWR Sump Performance”

On April 18, 2007, the staff participated in a public meeting concerning GSI-191. This meeting

was one in a series of periodic meetings that will be held between NRC staff and the nuclear

industry to work through remaining GSI-191 technical issues. The staff discussed the ongoing

effort to review and disposition technical issues that have been raised by the staff as well as

issues that were raised by the chemical effects peer review panel. The staff informed industry

representatives that an initial list of issues and the manner in which they have been

dispositioned will be made available at the next public meeting. The staff also discussed issues

that have been identified during plant audits related to licensee evaluations, provided updates

of the status of ongoing audits, and provided a list of future plant audits. The industry

representatives discussed ongoing GSI-191 activities, including plans for reducing the

conservatism in the chemical model of the WCAP-16530-NP report, “Evaluation of PostAccident Chemical Effects in Containment Sump Fluids to Support GSI-191.” The strainer

vendors provided an update to their chemical effects testing status. The next meeting is

tentatively scheduled for early June 2007.
April 20, 2007 ENCLOSURE A

Advisory Committee for Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) Subcommittee Meeting on Issues Related

to Staff Activities concerning Digital Instrumentation and Control Systems

On April 18, 2007, NRR, Office of New Reactors, and Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research

staff met with the ACRS Subcommittee on Digital Instrumentation and Control Systems and

presented an overview of the NRC staff activities by the Diversity and Defense-in-Depth and the

Risk Task Working Groups. The Task Working Groups were formed to resolve digital

instrumentation and control issues under the oversight of the NRC's Digital Instrumentation and

Control Steering Committee. The discussions included the work being performed by the Task

Working Groups and the research being done by RES which will support the Task Working

Group activities. A representative from the Nuclear Energy Institute presented the industry

perspective on the issues. 
April 20, 2007 ENCLOSURE E

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES)

Items of Interest

Week Ending April 20, 2007

Staff Participation in Digital Instrumentation and Control (I&C) Risk-Informing Issues Task

Working Group (TWG) Meeting

On April 11 and 12, 2007, RES, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR), and Office of New

Reactors (NRO) staff participated in the above-mentioned TWG meeting, the purpose of which

was to discuss digital I&C issues relevant to risk-informing digital system reviews and the

current project plan to resolve the issues. RES staff presentations at the meeting addressed

research being conducted to evaluate and demonstrate the capabilities and limitations of both

traditional and dynamic methods for modeling and quantifying digital system reliability. 

Second Meeting on Next Generation Nuclear Plant (NGNP) Using the Phenomena Identification

and Ranking Table (PIRT) Technique

On April 14-16, 2007, the staff conducted the subject meeting to rank safety-related

phenomena with regard to importance and knowledge base. Five parallel sessions covered

major NGNP topics including thermofluidics and accident analysis, high-temperature materials,

graphite, process heat and hydrogen co-generation, and fission products and dose. Twenty -

five national and international experts participated in the deliberations. 

Public Meeting with the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) and the Digital I&C Integrated Control

Room - Human Factors TWG

On April 18, 2007, RES, NRR, and NRO staff participated in the subject meeting to discuss a

plan developed by the Fully-Integrated Control Room - Human Factors TWG. Public

participants included NEI and Electric Power Research Institute staff and new reactor vendors. 

The TWG plan includes review guidelines for topics such as minimum control room inventory,

credit for operator action, and computerized procedures. Meeting discussions focused on

problem statements and priorities. The industry is expected to formally submit comments to the

NRC on April 25, 2007. 
April 20, 2007 ENCLOSURE H

Office of Information Services (OIS)

Items of Interest

Week Ending April 20, 2007

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

of April 13 through April 19, 2007:

Facilities licensed to use tritium in the U.S. FOIA/PA-2007-0177

Currently registered tritium exit signs FOIA/PA-2007-0178

Union Carbide Corp/Dow-Tech Center, 3200-3300 Kanawha

Turnpike, South Charleston, Kanawha County, WV, all records

FOIA/PA-2007-0179
April 20, 2007 ENCLOSURE J

Office of Human Resources (HR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending April 20, 2007

Arrival

KEITH, FELICIA SECRETARY(OA) NRO
April 20, 2007 ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs (OPA)

Items of Interest

Week Ending April 20, 2007

OPA received significant media inquiries on the following:

Palo Verde former employee public indictment--accused of illegally exporting control room

simulation software to Iran

Indian Point siren testing and failures; on white performance indicator

Vermont Yankee NRC oversight during plant refueling and maintenance outage 

NRC Ranked #1: Best Places to Work

Other Public Affairs Items:

Chairman interviewed with Federal News Radio on agency’s new reactor application

preparations

OPA Regional staff assisted in numerous end-of cycle meetings.

Commissioner Merrifield spoke with Wall Street Journal regarding a story postulating that nonU.S. reactors are not as safe as those in the United States and a lack of transparency at

international agencies and organizations, as well as at foreign regulatory bodies, hides safety

data. Story will contrast NRC's openness with the lack of transparency elsewhere and will note

the U.S. encourages transparency.

Aired BBC story on Nuclear Growth Abroad with quotes from Commissioner Lyons 

OPA submitted Letter to the editor to Raleigh News & Observer taking issue with the

characterization of spent fuel pool issues preluding town meeting

Press Releases

Headquarters:

07-049 NRC Issues Final Rules on Limited Work Authorizations, Worker

Fatigue/Drug-Testing Provisions (4/17)

07-050 NRC Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards to Meet in Rockville,

Maryland, May 3-5 (4/18)

07-051 NRC Ranked Best Place to Work in the Federal Government (4/19)

07-052 NRC’s Draft Final Rule on Expanded Definition of Byproduct Material Available

on Agency Web Site (4/19)
April 20, 2007 ENCLOSURE M

Regions:

I-07-017 NRC to Discuss 2006 Assessments for Salem, Hope Creek Nuclear Plants at

Public Meeting Scheduled for April 23 (4/16)

I-07-018 NRC to Discuss 2006 Assessment for Indian Point Nuclear Plant at Public

Meeting Scheduled for April 26 (4/17)

 I-07-019 NRC to Discuss 2006 Assessment for Nine Mile Point Nuclear Plant At Public

Meeting Scheduled for April 24 (4/17)

I-07-020 NRC to Discuss 2006 Assessment for Susquehanna Nuclear Plant At Public

Meeting Scheduled for April 24 (4/17)

I-07-021 NRC to Discuss 2006 Assessment for Beaver Valley Nuclear Plant at Public

Meeting Scheduled for April 25 (4/18) 

I-07-022 NRC to Discuss 2006 Assessment for R.E. Ginna Nuclear Plant At Public

Meeting Scheduled for April 25 (4/18)

II-07-022 NRC to Discuss 2006 Performance at Brunswick Nuclear Plant (4/18)

II-07-023 NRC Finalizes “White” Finding at Brunswick Nuclear Power Plant; Places

Brunswick Unit 1 in the Degraded Cornerstone Column of the NRC’s Action

Matrix (4/20)

IV-07-008 NRC to Discuss 2006 Performance Assessment for River Bend Nuclear Plant

(4/17)

IV-07-009 NRC to Discuss 2006 Performance Assessment for Ft. Calhoun Nuclear Plant

(4/17)

IV-07-010 NRC to Hold Regulatory Conference with Hirata & Associates, Inc. (4/20)
April 20, 2007 ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary (SECY)

Items of Interest

Week Ending April 20, 2007

Document Released

to Public

Date Subject

Decision Documents

1. Commission Voting

Record on SECY-06-

0244

4/17/07 Final Rulemaking–10 CFR Part 26–FitnessFor-Duty Programs

2. Commission Voting

Record on SECY-07-

0030

4/17/07 Final Rulemaking on Limited Work

Authorizations

3. SECY-07-0062 4/3/07 Final Rule: Requirements for Expanded

Definition of Byproduct Material (RIN: 3150-

AH84)

4. COMSECY-07-0005 2/6/07 Discussion of Plants in the

Multiple/Repetitive Degraded Cornerstone

Column of the Reactor Oversight Process

Action Matrix

SRM on 07-0005 4/19/07 (same)

Commission Voting

Record on 07-0005

4/19/07 (same)

5. SECY-07-0066 04/04/07 Annual Report to the Commission on

Licensee Performance in the Materials and

Waste Programs - Fiscal Year 2006

Information Papers

1. SECY-07-0063 4/3/07 Fiscal Year 2006 Results of the Industry

Trends Program for Operating Power

Reactors and Status of the Ongoing

Development of the Program

2. SECY-07-0072 4/16/07 Weekly Information Report - Week Ending

April 6, 2007

3. SECY-07-0065 4/04/07 Outreach and Compliance Coordination

Program
April 20, 2007 ENCLOSURE O

Memoranda

1. M070417B 4/17/07 Staff Requirements - Affirmation Session: I. 

SECY-06-0244 - Final Rulemaking--10 CFR

Part 26 – Fitness-For-Duty Programs; II.

SECY-07-0030 - Final Rulemaking on

Limited Work Authorizations; III. SECY-07-

0064 - Southern Nuclear Operating Co.

(Early Site Permit for Vogtle ESP Site),

Docket No. 52-011-ESP, Certified Question

Commission Correspondence

1. Letter to Ashot Martirosyan, Republic of Armenia, dated April 13, 2007, regarding the

renewal of the information exchange arrangement between the Armenian Nuclear

Regulatory Agency and NRC.

2. Letter to Dr. Ivan Lux, Hungary, dated April 13, 2007, regarding the renewal of the

information exchange arrangement between the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority and

NRC. 

3. Letter to Dr. Linda Keen, Canada, dated April 13, 2007, regarding the signing of two

documents: a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Canadian Nuclear Safety

Commission (CNSC) and the NRC for Import and Export of Certain Radioactive Sources,

and the renewal of an Administrative Agreement between the CNSC and NRC.

4. Letter to Wolfgang Renneberg, Germany, dated April 13, 2007, regarding the renewal of

the information exchange arrangement between the Federal Ministry for the Environment,

Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety for the Federal Republic of Germany and NRC. 

5. Letter to Assemblywoman Sandra Galef, New York, dated April 9, 2007, responds to

letter stating support for the performance of a comprehensive safety review of Indian

Point prior to NRC approving a 20-year renewed license.
April 20, 2007 ENCLOSURE P

Region IV (RIV)

Items of Interest

Week Ending April 20, 2007

Regulatory Conference With Omaha Public Power District

On April 16, 2007, a regulatory conference was conducted in the Region IV office with

representatives of the Omaha Public Power District to discuss an apparent violation at their Fort

Calhoun Station facility. The apparent violation was detailed in NRC Inspection Report

05000285/2006018 as a preliminary White finding dealing with the incorrect installation of a

containment spray header isolation valve. Omaha Public Power District representatives

accepted the violation, but asserted that their analysis showed the risk to be very low (Green).

Region IV is reviewing the basis for the licensee’s assertion.

Reassignment Chief Nuclear Officer Responsibilities for Energy Northwest

On April 21, 2007, Mr. Vic Parrish, currently the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief

Nuclear Officer (CNO), Energy Northwest, licensee for the Columbia Generating Station, will

transfer his CNO duties to Mr. Dale Atkinson. Mr. Atkinson’s new title will be Vice President,

Nuclear Generation/CNO. 
April 20, 2007 ENCLOSURE Q

Office of the Executive Director for Operations (EDO)

Items of Interest

Week Ending April 20, 2007

DPO-2005-009: Issuance of Differing Professional Opinion (DPO) Appeal on Solvent

Flammability Limits fro the Proposed Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility

On April 19, 2007, the Executive Director for Operations (EDO) issued a decision on an appeal

to an August 25, 2006, decision made by the Director of the Office of Nuclear Materials Safety

and Safeguards (NMSS). The appeal related to a September 23, 2005, DPO submitted by an

NRC employee on the adequacy of chemical consequence limits proposed by a license

applicant. The original DPO focused on five issues surrounding the lower flammability limit of

chemical combustion concentrations, how it was applied in the MOX Construction Authorization

Request (CAR), and compliance with the regulations. The EDO agrees with the DPO decision

that DPO submitter did not raise any safety concerns that have technical or legal implications

on the staff’s approval of the CAR. Most the concerns are related to the inherited issue with the

two-step licensing process. The applicant made the business decision to proceed with the

two-step licensing process knowing the associated uncertainties and potential risks. The

NMSS staff approved the CAR in accordance with relevant regulations for the two-step

licensing process. Upon receipt of the DPO appeal, the EDO initiated an extensive review of

related information. In order to fully understand the issues, the EDO also met with the

members of the DPO panel and the DPO Submitter.

Based on all the available information reviewed, the EDO agrees with the DPO panel decision

that no safety concerns that have technical or legal implications on the staff’s approval of the

CAR were raised. As such, there is no need to re-open the DPO on Solvent Flammability Limits

at the Proposed Mixed-Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility (DPO-2005-009), and the follow up

actions taken by the staff in response to the DPO are adequate. The EDO also recognized the

efforts of the submitter in raising the issues concerns and the contribution of the employee in

ensuring the agency’s safety goals are achieved. 
April 20, 2007 

Office of Congressional Affairs (OCA)

Items of Interest

Week Ending April 20, 2007

CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS SCHEDULE, NO. 12

OCA

Contact

 DATE &

 PLACE

TIME COMMITTEE SUBJECT 

Sahm 04/18/07

1539

Longworth

1:00 House Homeland Security

Committee, Subcommittee onEmerging Threats, Cybersecurity,and Science and Technology (Representatives Langevin /Sensenbrenner)

Can BioShield EffectivelyProcure MedicalCountermeasures thatSafeguard the Nation?

< Jim Pan

VaxGen 

< Richard 

Pharma

< James 

PresideHuman 

< Jeffrey 

Secretaand ChHealth 

< Gerry P

AssistaPrepare

< Anthon

InstituteDisease

< Jesse G

BiologicFDA
CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS SCHEDULE, NO. 12

OCA

Contact

 DATE &

 PLACE

TIME COMMITTEE SUBJECT 

April 20, 2007 

Sahm 04/19/07

1539

Longworth

1:00 House Homeland Security

Committee, Subcommittee onEmerging Threats, Cybersecurity,and Science and Technology (Representatives Langevin /Sensenbrenner)

Cyber Insecurity: Hackers ArePenetrating Federal Systemsand Critical Infrastructure

< Dave Ja

InfrastrDepartm

< Donald 

Security DiplomState

< Jerry D

Security 

< Greg W

Security 

< Ken Sil

VeriSig

< Aaron T

StrategSecurity

< Rob Th

Decker 04/19/07

B-318

Rayburn

2:00 House Ways and Means

Committee, Subcommittee onSelect Revenue Measures(Representatives McNulty /Camp)

Energy and Tax Policy < TBD
CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS SCHEDULE, NO. 12

OCA

Contact

 DATE &

 PLACE

TIME COMMITTEE SUBJECT 

April 20, 2007 

Combs/Powell

04/25/07

406 Dirksen

10:00 Senate Environment and Public

Works, Clean Air and NuclearSafety Subcommittee(Senators Carper / Voinovich)

Oversight and Budget < Nuclea