INFORMATION REPORT

June 20, 2007 SECY-07-0103

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING

JUNE 15, 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:

U. Shoop, OEDO
June 20, 2007 SECY-07-0103

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING

JUNE 15, 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:

U. Shoop, OEDO

DISTRIBUTION:

EDO R/F

AO R/F Document Name: C:\WIR\week615.WPD

OEDO AO/OEDO

UShoop:paa VLOrdaz

06/20/07 06/20/07
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING JUNE 15, 2007

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

Headquarters and Regional Office activities. 

Contact: U. Shoop, OEDO by E-mail: USS@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 * SECY 19

RES 6* Region I *

NSIR 7 Region II *

ADM 11 Region III *

OIS 12 Region IV 23

CFO * EDO *

HR 16 OCA 24

SBCR *

*No input this week
June 15, 2007 ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending June 15, 2007

Vendor Inspection of Veridiam Incorporated

During June 4-7, 2007, staff conducted an inspection at the Veridiam Incorporated (Veridiam)

facility in El Cajon, California. Veridiam supplies safety-related nuclear fuel channel tubing to

AREVA ANP. The inspection team reviewed the implementation of the 10 CFR Part 21

program, selected portions of the Part 50 Appendix B Quality Assurance program, and

assessed Veridiam’s in-process manufacturing controls. No findings or non-conformances

were identified.

Reactor Oversight Process Public Meeting 

On June 13, 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, and open and new frequently asked questions for the ROP.
June 15, 2007 ENCLOSURE C

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS)

Items of Interest

Week Ending June 15, 2007

Quality Assurance Audit of Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses

From June 5-8, 2007, NRC staff observed an internal quality assurance audit of the Center for

Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses (CNWRA), in San Antonio, Texas. The purpose of the

audit was to verify that the CNWRA Quality Assurance Program is being effectively

implemented. All quality assurance programs were audited. Staff concluded that the CNWRA

is effectively implementing its Quality Assurance Program.

Louisiana Energy Services Management Meeting

On June 11, 2007, staff from the NMSS, the Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response,

the Office of the General Counsel, and Region II held a semiannual management meeting with

Louisiana Energy Services (LES) staff, to discuss management issues related to the LES

uranium enrichment project in Lea County, New Mexico. Discussions included: the status of

current licensing and legal actions, security issues, construction plans, design changes, and

schedules.

Joint Canada - U.S. Guide for Radioactive Material Transportation Package Design

In a letter dated June 7, 2007, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) issued the draft

“Joint Canada - United States Guide for Approval of Type B(U) and Fissile Material

Transportation Packages.” The guide was developed by a DOT, NRC, and Canadian Nuclear

Safety Commission combined staff Working Group. The guide has been developed to facilitate

U.S./Canadian validation of each other’s Competent Authority approvals. 

Meeting with Energy Solutions on New Package Design

On June 13, 2007, NRC staff met with staff from Energy Solutions, to discuss the design and

analyses of the impact limiters, for its proposed new transportation package for irradiated

reactor hardware. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the use of Energy Solution’s inhouse computer code, instead of physical drop tests, to demonstrate the performance of the

impact limiters. NRC staff identified the limitations of the computer code, and stated that a

more detailed model of the impact limiters, as part of the cask system, with the appropriate

benchmarks, will be needed to replace the physical tests.
June 15, 2007 ENCLOSURE E

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES)

Items of Interest

Week Ending June 15, 2007

Briefing on the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) Report, “Assessment of the Performance

of Engineered Waste Containment Barriers”

On June 4, 2007, the staff attended a technical briefing regarding a NAS report that describes

the development of guidelines for the direct monitoring of engineered system performance and

for implementing performance-based designs. The report identifies specific methods for

monitoring engineered barrier performance and models for estimating infiltration through

covers. The results of this study are particularly relevant for NRC-licensed facilities such as

disposal and decommissioned sites that incorporate engineered barriers to preclude the release

of radioactive materials, and could influence designs used to implement the provisions of

10 CFR 20.1406, “Minimization of Contamination.”
June 15, 2007 ENCLOSURE F

Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response (NSIR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending June 15, 2007

Preliminary Notifications

1. PNO-III-O7-007, POINT BEACH UNIT 1, UNIT 1 MANUAL REACTOR TRIP. 

2. PNO-III-07-007A, POINT BEACH UNIT 1, UPDATE TO UNIT MANUAL REACTOR TRIP.
June 15, 2007 ENCLOSURE G

Office of Administration (ADM)

Items of Interest 

Week Ending June 15, 2007

Proposed Rule on Requests by Potential Parties for Access to Sensitive Unclassified NonSafeguards Information and Safeguards Information Published (AI08 - Part 2)

On June 11, 2007, the NRC published a proposed rule in the Federal Register (72 FR 32018)

that would amend the regulations to provide for expedited Commission review of orders on

requests by potential parties for access to certain sensitive unclassified non-safeguards

information and Safeguards Information. The comment period for this action closes July 11,

2007.

Draft Statement of Policy on Conduct of New Reactor Licensing Proceedings

On June 11, 2007, the NRC published a document in the Federal Register (72 FR 32139)

requesting public comment on a statement of policy under consideration by the Commission. 

The draft statement of policy concerns the conduct of new reactor licensing adjudicatory

proceedings. The Commission is considering this action in view of the anticipated receipt of a

number of applications for combined licenses for nuclear power reactors expected to be filed

within the next two years. The comment period on this action closes August 10, 2007. 
June 15, 2007 ENCLOSURE H

Office of Information Services (OIS)

Items of Interest

Week Ending June 15, 2007

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

of June 8 through June 14, 2007:

Contract GS-22F-9614D and/or RFP & associated purchase orders

awarded to Dun and Bradstreet

FOIA/PA-2007-0226

Allegation NRR-1998-A-0088, all documents including all

correspondence between named individual and NRC

FOIA/PA-2007-0227

Copy of original FOIA request FOIA/PA-2007-0212 FOIA/PA-2007-0228

Bankcard holders, names, e-mail addresses (Visa SmartPay) FOIA/PA-2007-0229

Transfer of special nuclear materials 1963 US AEC forms,

attachment to AEC-388, SNM-21-DIA, No. 50 and No. 42

FOIA/PA-2007-0230
June 15, 2007 ENCLOSURE J

Office of Human Resources (HR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending June 15, 2007

Arrivals

JESSUP, JR, WILLIAM GENERAL ENGINEER (NSPDP) NRR

O'MEARA, KYLE SUMMER CLERK OIS

RAMIERZ, MARIAN SUMMER ENGINEER RES

SEIFRIED, JEFFREY STUDENT ENGINEER RES

TORO, JETSENIA STUDENT ENGINEER RES

Departure

OLIMENE, BRUNO STUDENT ENGINEER (CO-OP) RIII
June 15, 2007 ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs (OPA)

Items of Interest

Week Ending June 15, 2007

OPA received significant media inquiries on the following:

Uranium Recovery - a rising interest – answering inquires about different milling methods and

what NRC regulates.

Indian Point license renewal process and recent fine paid for missing new sirens operable

deadline.

Tritium issues at nuclear plants following recent Brunswick report.

Other Public Affairs Items:

OPA supported the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Fuel Cycle Information

Exchange where trade publication reporters participated.

OPA met with journalists in Las Vegas to discuss press needs for future hearing on Yucca

Mountain.

Press Releases

Headquarters:

07-073 NRC Seeks Comments on Proposed Rule to Expedite Review of Access

Determinations for Certain Information for Hearings (6/11)

07-074 NRC Meeting June 27 to Discuss Review Process for Expected New

Reactor Application near Bay City, Texas (6/11)

07-075 NRC to Meet with First Energy in Rockville, Md June 27 to Discuss Demand

for Information (6/14)

07-076 NRC Considering Request by Pennsylvania to Become an “Agreement

State” (6/15)

Regions:

I-07-034 NRC to Discuss Process for Review of License Renewal Application for

Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant (6/13)

I-07-035 NRC, Entergy to Discuss License Renewal Inspection Conducted at James

A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant (6/15)

IV-07-019 NRC Names New Resident Inspectors at Cooper Nuclear Station (6/12)
June 15, 2007 ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary (SECY)

Items of Interest

Week Ending June 15, 2007

Document Released

to Public

Date Subject

Information Papers

1. SECY-07-0086 5/28/07 Annual Report on Activities Associated with

Evaluating Scientific Information About

Radiation Health Effects and Radiation

Protection Recommendations

2. SECY-07-0092 6/13/07 Weekly Information Report - Week Ending

May 25, 2007

Memoranda

- SRM-M070531 6/14/07 Staff Requirements - Briefing on the Agency

Action Review Meeting (AARM) - Reactors

Commission Correspondence

1. Letter to Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, dated June 8, 2007, responding to letter

requesting that civil penalty funds related to Entergy’s non-compliance with a Commission

order be distributed to counties surrounding Indian Point Plant, for use in local emergency

planning activities.

2. Letter to Congressman Peter J. Visclosky, dated June 8, 2007, provides an invitation to tour

Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Plant.

3. Letter to Richard Blumenthal, Attorney General, Connecticut, dated June 8, 2007, responds

to letter expressing concerns about the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program at

the Windsor, CT site.

4. Letter to Peter Souza, Town Manager, Windsor, CT, dated June 8, 2007, responds to letter

commenting on NRC’s role in ensuring the public’s safety through the overall remediation of

the ABB Windsor site in Windsor, CT.

5. Letter to Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone, National Research Council, dated June 8, 2007, requesting

that the Council share the draft report prepared by the Radiation Source Use and

Replacement Study Committee with the NRC staff before finalizing.

6. Letter to Paul Schmidt, Organization of Agreement States, dated June 7, 2007, responds to

letter expressing concerns regarding the proposed implementation of Section 652 of the

Energy Policy Act of 2005 relating to fingerprinting and criminal history checks.
June 15, 2007 

Office of Congressional Affairs (OCA)

Items of Interest

Week Ending June 15, 2007

CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS SCHEDULE, NO. 19

OCA

Contact

 DATE &

 PLACE

TIME COMMITTEE SUBJECT 

Sahm 06/12/07

2154

Rayburn

10:00 House Committee on Oversight and

Government Reform(Representatives Waxman / Davis)

Markup - Several bills: H.R.2635, A Bill to Reduce theFederal Governments’Contribution to Global Warmingthrough Measures that PromoteEfficiency in the FederalGovernment’s Management andOperations and H.R. 404, A Bill

to Require the Establishment ofCustomer Service Standards forFederal Agencies

N/A

Sahm 06/12/07

562 Dirksen

2:30 Senate Committee on Homeland

Security and Governmental Affairs,Subcommittee on Oversight ofGovernment Management, theFederal Workforce, and the Districtof Columbia(Senators Akaka / Voinovich)

“Assessing Telework Policiesand Initiatives in the FederalGovernment”

TBD