INFORMATION REPORT 

October 26, 2007 SECY-07-0188

For: The Commissioners 

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

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING 

OCTOBER 19, 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. Quinones, OEDO 
October 26, 2007 SECY-07-0188

For: The Commissioners 

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

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING 

OCTOBER 19, 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. Quinones, OEDO 

DISTRIBUTION: 

EDO R/F 

AO R/F Document Name: G:\Melissa\WIR\week1019.WPD 

OEDO AO/OEDO 

LQuinones VLOrdaz 

10/25/07 10/25/07 
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 19, 2007 

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

Headquarters and Regional Office activities. 

Contact: L. Quinones, OEDO by E-mail: lnq@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 6 SECY 19 

RES * Region I 20 

NSIR 10 Region II 21 

ADM 11 Region III 22 

OIS 12 Region IV 23 

CFO * EDO * 

HR 16 OCA 24 

SBCR * 

*No input this week 
October 19, 2007 ENCLOSURE A 

 Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending October 19, 2007 

Meeting with Taiwan Representatives on Steam Generator Tube Inspections

 

On October 9, 2007, the staff met with representatives from the Taiwan Atomic Energy Council 

(TAEC) to discuss its review of proposals to limit the extent of steam generator tube inspections 

in the tubesheet region. The staff provided references to publicly available information (staff 

evaluations and approved license amendments) and discussed technical issues related to 

approval of this type of amendment. 

Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, Units 1 and 2 - Advisory Subcommittee on Reactor 

Safeguards Technical Review

On October 9 and 10, 2007, the staff presented its technical review of PPL’s extended power 

uprate application for the Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, Units 1 and 2, to the Advisory 

Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) Subcommittee on Power Uprates. Significant 

portions of the meeting focused on PPL’s steam dryer analysis, the AREVA fuel methodology, 

and the staff’s review of these technical areas. Although there are some remaining questions 

from the meeting, the Subcommittee did not identify any significant technical or safety 

deficiencies in PPL’s application or in the staff’s review. The staff is working with ACRS to 

prepare for the November ACRS Full-Committee meeting. 

Nuclear Procurement Issues Committee (NUPIC) Meeting

From October 9 to 11, 2007, NRR and Office of New Reactors (NRO) staff attended the Nuclear 

Procurement Issues Committee (NUPIC) meeting in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The staff 

presented results from the recent NRC vendor inspections and participated in discussions 

regarding nuclear vendors. NUPIC evaluates suppliers furnishing safety related items and 

services to the nuclear industry. The committee, which meets three times a year, is represented 

by all domestic and several international nuclear utilities. 

Meeting with Dominion Nuclear to Discuss GSI-191 Chemical Effects Testing

On October 11, 2007, the NRC staff met with representatives from Dominion Nuclear and their 

contractor, Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL), to discuss proposed testing methods 

related to GSI-191 chemical effects. Dominion's contactor presented a chemical effects test 

plan based on bench top testing with the objective of demonstrating that materials stay in 

solution rather than precipitate, i.e., a "solubility" approach. The staff identified for the licensee 

significant issues with the proposed test approach and identified several assumptions that would 

require demonstration of an adequate technical basis before the approach could be found 

acceptable. 

Public Meeting with Toshiba

On October 15, 2007, NRR, NRO, and Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research staff held a 

Category 2 meeting with Toshiba. Most of the Toshiba staff participated via phone from Japan. 

Members of the public were present during the meeting. The purpose of the meeting was to 
October 19, 2007 ENCLOSURE A 

discuss the contents of Toshiba’s topical report (TR) on generic qualification program for field 

programmable gate array-based safety-related instrumentation and control systems. Toshiba 

announced its plans to submit the generic TR by the end of October 2007 and another TR on 

systems development in early spring 2008. 

Millstone Unit 3 Stretch Power Uprate (SPU) Application Acceptance

By application dated July 13, 2007, the licensee requested a 7% SPU for Millstone 3. By letter 

dated October 15, 2007, the NRC informed the licensee that the licensee provided the 

necessary information for the staff to begin a detailed technical review, and that the application 

meets the criteria for an SPU. 

The application requested NRC approval of the amendment by June 30, 2008. However, the 

NRC stated in its October 15, 2007, letter that the application may require more review time due 

to the licensee’s proposed revisions to the licensing basis for the alternative source term dose 

consequence analysis, and as a result, the licensee agreed to a new requested completion date 

of August 15, 2008. 

The highest SPU previously approved by the staff was a 6% SPU for Kewaunee on February 27, 

2004. 

Monthly Reactor Oversight Process Public Meeting

On October 18, 2007, the staff held the monthly Reactor Oversight Process (ROP) public 

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

forum for industry feedback. Meeting attendees discussed mitigating systems performance 

index (MSPI) implementation, safety culture integration into the reactor oversight process, 

performance indicator issues, and frequently asked questions for the ROP. 

Final Issuance of NUREGs 1021, 1122 and 1123

On October 19, 2007, the staff issued final supplements to three operator licensing NUREGs: 

NUREG-1021, 1122, and 1123. The changes in the supplements were developed in 

cooperation with the industry during a series of public meetings with the Nuclear Energy 

Institute’s Operator Licensing Focus Group, and the joint Owner’s Group Training Group for 

Pressurized and Boiling Water Reactors. The supplements include a number of changes that 

are intended to: (1) clarify licensed operator medical requirements, including the use of 

prescription medications; (2) clarify the use of surrogate operators during dynamic simulator 

scenarios; (3) clarify the selection process for generic knowledge and ability (K/A) statements; 

(4) qualify the NRC review of post-examination comments; (5) provide additional guidance for 

maintaining an active license (watchstander proficiency). In addition, a new examination topic 

was added for generator voltage and electric grid disturbances. 
October 19, 2007 ENCLOSURE B 

 Office of New Reactors (NRO) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending October 19, 2007 

Meeting with Westinghouse on AP1000 Seismic Issues

From October 8 - 12, 2007, staff met with Westinghouse to discuss Westinghouse’s efforts to 

standardize and complete AP1000 Seismic analyses associated with soil sites. A portion of the 

meeting was dedicated to a discussion of Westinghouse’s responses to the staff’s questions 

associated with several seismic and structural design related Technical Reports. NRC staff and 

Westinghouse also discussed the near term schedule for submission of new seismic and 

structural reports and revisions to Technical Reports. Based on the review of information 

provided by Westinghouse, the staff determined that Westinghouse’s general approach to 

developing the seismic response spectra for all soil conditions is reasonable and acceptable. 

Final conclusions will be based on the review of final Technical Report revisions and Design 

Control Document changes. 

STP Combined License (COL) Application

The staff completed its SUNSI review of the South Texas Project COL application and the 

application was made available on the public website on October 15, 2007. 

Pre-Submittal Quality Assurance Audit of the EPR Design Certification Application 

From October 15 - 19, 2007, the staff conducted a pre-submittal audit of the draft safety analysis 

report (also referred to as the design control document or [DCD]) at AREVA NP’s office in 

Lynchburg, Virginia. The 23-member audit team reviewed the processes in place to prepare the 

DCD as well as its content using the COL application regulatory guidance (Regulatory Guide 

1.206). No quality assurance issues were identified. Approximately 300 additional observations 

were identified by the team as either potential acceptance review issues or potential requests for 

additional information. These observations were verbally communicated to AREVA staff and 

management. 

Institute of Nuclear Power Operations Meeting

On October 17, 2007, staff met with representatives from the New Reactor Deployment Group of 

the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO). The purpose of this meeting was to discuss 

and incorporate NRC and INPO comments on the revision to the November 2005 Memorandum 

of Agreement (MOA) between the NRC and INPO. Specifically, this MOA is being revised to 

include NRC and INPO coordination of activities, exchange of information, and operational 

experience regarding construction, inspection, and evaluation of new nuclear power plants. 

NRC and INPO plan to finalize revisions to the MOA by December 2007. 

Pre-Application Audit of EPR Design Certification 

During the week of October 15, 2007, the staff conducted a pre-application audit of the EPR 

design certification application. The reviewers compared the final safety analysis report (FSAR) 

portion of the design certification application (the design control document) with Part I of 
October 19, 2007 ENCLOSURE B 

Regulatory Guide 1.206. The focus was on identifying any information gaps between the FSAR 

and the technical content requirements of a design certification application as specified in 10 

CFR 52.47. 
October 19, 2007 ENCLOSURE C 

 Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending October 19, 2007 

Meeting with Department of Energy on Interagency Agreements

On October 16, 2007, staff from the Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards and the Office 

of Nuclear Security and Incident Response met with staff from the Department of Energy’s 

(DOE’s) Oak Ridge Operations Office to discuss implementation of recently signed Interagency 

Agreements between DOE and the U.S Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for protection of 

classified information and related security activities. Under the Interagency Agreements, DOE 

has agreed to be the Designated Approval Authority for licensee classified computer networks. 

During the meeting, the staff discussed implementation issues, reviewed processes and 

schedules for the review of licensee classified computer networks, and discussed technical 

assistance needed for performing inspections of licensee classified computer networks. The 

NRC staff also provided to DOE the first licensee classified network plan for review. 

Repository post-closure performance Meeting

From October 10-12, 2007, the NRC held an Appendix 7 meeting in Las Vegas, NV, with DOE 

on topics related to post-closure performance of the proposed repository at Yucca Mountain. 

NRC staff gathered information from DOE staff and contractors on potential tunnel degradation 

and DOE’s model for the impact of seismic events on waste isolation. Public stakeholders 

observed the meeting. 

Meeting with NAC International October 17, 2007

On October 17, 2007, NMSS staff met with NAC International to discuss two upcoming 

amendments for the Model No. NAC-LWT package for the transport of spent fuel. The requests 

include (1) revising the fuel specifications for the TRIGA fuel that is currently authorized and (2) 

adding fresh and spent mixed oxide (MOX) fuel as new authorized contents. The separate 

applications are expected to be received in December 2007. Future plans by NAC were also 

introduced. 
October 19, 2007 ENCLOSURE F 

 Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response (NSIR) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending October 19, 2007 

PNO-II-07-012, Catawba Nuclear Station

ONSITE GROUND WATER TRITIUM CONTAMINATION 

PNO-III- 07-010, Fermit Unit 2

UNUSUAL EVENT DECLARED AT FERMI DUE TO UNEXPECTED PIPING HOLE AND 

INDENTATIONS 

PNO-III-07-010A, Fermi unit 2

UPDATE: UNUSUAL EVENT TERMINATED AT FERMI AND SPECIAL INSPECTION TEAM 

DISPATCHED 

PNO-III-08-011, Quad Cities

TRITIUM LEAKAGE 
October 19, 2007 ENCLOSURE G 

 Office of Administration (ADM) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending October 19, 2007 

Exemptions from Licensing, General Licenses, and Distribution of Byproduct Material; Licensing 

and Reporting Requirements (AH41 - Parts 30, 31, 32, and 150)

On October 16, 2007, the NRC published a final rule in the Federal Register (72 FR 58473) that 

would amend its regulations governing the use of byproduct material. The amendments revise 

requirements for reporting transfers of byproduct materials to persons exempt from licensing, 

simplify the licensing of smoke detector distribution, remove obsolete provisions, and clarify 

certain regulatory provisions. The final rule becomes effective December 17, 2007. 
October 19, 2007 ENCLOSURE H 

 Office of Information Services (OIS) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending October 19, 2007 

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

of October 12 through October 18, 2007: 

Office of Investigations (OI) Report 3-2007-017 FOIA/PA-2008-0012 

OI Report 4-2007-008, Exhibits 23, 25, 27, 28, 29, 40, 41, & 49 FOIA/PA-2008-0013 

Seismic reference probability value for Central & Eastern United States 

(CEUS) nuclear power plants, 2004 letter report (Referral by the 

Department of Interior) FOIA/PA-2008-0014 

Ideal Cement Co. (Baton Rouge, LA facility) license application, 

renewals, amendments, waste processing treatment, disposal, closure 

of facility and termination of license, all records FOIA/PA-2008-0015 

Farley Nuclear Power Plant electrical breaker problems associated with 

component cooling water pumps in 2007, improperly operating valve 

during surveillance testing, April 2006 & January 2007, records, reports 

and e-mails FOIA/PA-2008-0016` 

Name and type of software source code used in the License Fee Billing 

System, E-Travel Conversion, E-Rulemaking, Digital Data Management 

System, open source code or proprietary FOIA/PA-2008-0017 

Peach Bottom Nuclear Power Plant, NRC’s investigation into 

Wackenhut security guards sleeping on the job FOIA/PA-2008-0018 

OI Report 4-2006-040 regarding allegation RIV-2006-A-0019 FOIA/PA-2008-0019 
October 19, 2007 ENCLOSURE J 

 Office of Human Resources (HR) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending October 19, 2007 

Arrivals 

BARNETT, MARK ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE ASLBP 

LOVE, EARL SAFETY INSPECTOR ENGINEER NMSS 
October 19, 2007 ENCLOSURE N 

 Office of International Programs (OIP) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending October 19, 2007 

Export License Issued For the National Research Universal (NRU) Reactor in Canada

On October 19, 2007, OIP issued a license (XSNM3504) to the U.S. Department of Energy/ 

National Nuclear Security Administration authorizing the export of high-enriched uranium to 

Canada for use as target material in the NRU reactor to produce medical isotopes. 
October 19, 2007 ENCLOSURE O 

 Office of the Secretary (SECY) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending October 19, 2007 

Document Released 

to Public Date Subject 

Decision Documents

1. SRM-SECY-07-0163 10/18/07 Policy for Use of Peer-to-Peer Software and 

the Peer-to-Peer Threat to Sensitive 

Unclassified Non-Safeguards Information 

2. Commission Voting 

Record on 07-0163 

10/18/07 (same) 

Information Papers

1. SECY-07-0173 9/28/07 Future Management of the Graduate 

Fellowship Program 

2. SECY-07-0178 10/12/07 Weekly Information Report – Week Ending 

October 5, 2007 

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards, notice of 547th meeting (11/1-3/2007). 

2. Establishment of Atomic Safety and Licensing Board, Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. 

(Indian Point Nuclear Generating Units 2 and 3). 

3. State of Nevada; Denial of a Petition for Rulemaking, 10 CFR Part 63 (Docket No. 

PRM-63-2). 
October 19, 2007 ENCLOSURE P 

 Region II (RII) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending October 19, 2007 

McGuire Emergency Exercise

On October 19, 2007, Region II participated in the NRC/McGuire Exercise. The Region 

participated with a full Base Team and Site Team. The Regional Administrator participated as 

the Site Team Director and the Deputy Director. Division of Reactor Safety participated as the 

Base Team Manager. Commissioner Jaczko was an observer during the exercise at the State 

of North Carolina Emergency Operations Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. Headquarters fully 

participated in this exercise. 

NRC’s TOPOFF Exercise

On October 17-19, 2007, Region II participated in the Agency's TOPOFF Exercise. The 

Regional participation included two individuals at the Federal Radiological Monitoring and 

Assessment Center (FRMAC) in Portland, Oregon. Regional staff participated at the FRMAC as 

the NRC Public Affairs Liaison Coordinator and as the State Liaison Coordinator. 
October 19, 2007 ENCLOSURE P 

 Region IV (RIV) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending October 19, 2007 

Arizona Public Service Company Executive Management Changes

On October 17, Arizona Public Service (APS) Company announced the retirement of Mr. Jack 

Davis, the President and Chief Operating Officer of Pinnacle West Capital Corporation and Chief 

Executive Officer (CEO) of APS. Mr. Don Brandt, currently APS President, was selected to be 

CEO, APS. Mr. Randy Edington has been promoted to Executive Vice President, Nuclear, and 

Mr. John Hesser has been named Vice President, Nuclear Engineering. APS and Pinnacle 

West Corporation are the primary owners of Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station. 
October 19, 2007 

 Office of Congressional Affairs (OCA)  Items of Interest  Week Ending October 19, 2007 

CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS SCHEDULE, NO. 33 

OCA Contact Date & Place Time Committee Subject Witnesses Decker 10/17/07 

311 Cannon 

2:00 House Homeland Security, 

Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity, and Science and Technology (Representatives Langevin / McCaul) 

“The Cyber Threat to Control Systems: Stronger Regulations are Necessary to Secure the Electric Grid” 

• Greg Wilshusen – Di

Issues, GAO 

• Greg Garcia – Assist

Security for cyber sec

• Tim Roxey – Technic

CGG/Security and DeNuclear Sector CoordCore Injection SystemGroup 

• Joe Weiss – Managin

Solutions 

• Joseph McClelland – 

Reliability, FERC 

• David Cook – Vice P

and Director of ReguAmerican Electric Re

Powell 10/23/07 

2154 Rayburn 

10:00 House Oversight and 

Government Reform (Representatives Waxman / Davis) 

Health and Environmental Impact on Navajo Nation of Uranium Mining on Indian lands 

• Charlie Miller, NRC • EPA • DOE • Indian Health Service • Bureau of Indian Affa• Navajo Nation 

Powell 10/31/07 

TBD 

TBD Senate Environment and 

Public Works (Senators Boxer / Inhofe) 

Licensing of a Repository at Yucca Mountain 

TBD