INFORMATION REPORT

April 11, 2006 SECY-06-0083

For: The Commissioners

From: William M. Dean, Assistant for Operations, Office of the EDO /RA/

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING

MARCH 31, 2006

Contents Enclosure

Nuclear Reactor Regulation A

Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards B*

Nuclear Regulatory Research C

Nuclear Security and Incident Response D

General Counsel E*

Administration F

Office of Information Services G

Chief Financial Officer H*

Human Resources I

Small Business and Civil Rights J*

Enforcement K*

State and Tribal Programs 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/

William M. Dean

Assistant for Operations, OEDO

Contact:

U. Shoop, OEDO
April 11, 2006 SECY-06-0083

For: The Commissioners

From: William M. Dean, Assistant for Operations, Office of the EDO

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING

MARCH 31, 2006

Contents Enclosure

Nuclear Reactor Regulation A

Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards B*

Nuclear Regulatory Research C

Nuclear Security and Incident Response D

General Counsel E**

Administration F

Office of Information Services G

Chief Financial Officer H*

Human Resources I

Small Business and Civil Rights J*

Enforcement K*

State and Tribal Programs 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/

William M. Dean

Assistant for Operations, OEDO

Contact:

U. Shoop, OEDO

DISTRIBUTION:

Central File

Public Document Name: C:\WIR\week331.WPD

OEDO AO/OEDO

UShoop:paa WMDean

04/11/06 04/11/06
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING MARCH 31, 2006

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 STP *

NMSS * OPA 17

RES 8 OIP *

NSIR 9 SECY 19

OGC * Region I *

ADM 10 Region II 21

OIS 11 Region III *

CFO * Region IV 23

HR 15 EDO *

SBCR * OCA 24

OE * ACRS/ACNW 25

*No input this week
March 31, 2006 ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 31, 2006

Review of Technical Specifications Task Force-423

On March 23, 2006, the staff completed its review of Technical Specifications Task Force

(TSTF)-423, ''Risk-Informed Modifications to Selected Required Action End States,'' and

published a notice of availability in the Federal Register. The notice makes TSTF-423 available

in accordance with the Consolidated Line Item Improvement Program (CLIIP), which facilitates

plant-specific applications that reference the CLIIP. This TSTF will allow all boiling water

reactor licensees to apply to modify selected required action end states in plant Technical

Specifications (TS). Completion of the TSTF-423 review is part of the Risk Managed Technical

Specifications (RMTS) initiatives. The RMTS initiatives are an application of the Commission's

policy statement on the "Use of Probabilistic Risk Assessment Methods in Nuclear Regulatory

Activities."

General Electric Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor Technical Specifications Meeting

On March 23, 2006, the staff met with General Electric (GE) to discuss the TS for the Economic

Simplified Boiling Water Reactor (ESBWR). GE provided an overview of the ESBWR design,

an overview of the ESBWR electrical systems, and background information regarding the

development of the ESBWR TS. The development of the ESBWR TS included a road map to

NUREG-1434, “Standard Technical Specifications General Electric Plants, BWR/6

Specifications,” identifying deviations from the BWR/6 standard TS. GE and the staff plan to

hold another meeting on April 19, 2006, to discuss how the ESBWR TS meet the criteria for

establishing TS limiting conditions for operation (LCOs) as specified in 10 CFR 50.36(c)(2)(ii).

Technical Assistance for New Reactors Sought

On March 29, 2006, the staff posted sources sought on FedBizOpps. The listing "Technical

Assistance for New Reactor Licensing Application Reviews for Reactor Design Certifications,

Early Site Permits (ESPs), Combined Construction Operating License (COL) Applications, and

New Reactor Pre-application Activities," provides information on projected agency needs in FY

2007 and FY 2008. Interested contractors must respond to a list of questions and complete a

spreadsheet to notify the staff of their capabilities to support the Agency’s upcoming needs. 

Responses are due by April 28, 2006. The synopsis can be viewed at:

http://www.fbo.gov/spg/NRC/OA/DCPM/Reference%2DNumber%2DRS%2DNRR%2D06%2DS

SSS/listing.html

Hope Creek Power Uprate - Public Pre-application Meeting

On March 29, 2006, the staff met with PSEG Nuclear LLC to discuss its planned resubmittal of

its extended power uprate (EPU) application for the Hope Creek Generating Station. PSEG

first applied for the EPU on November 7, 2005. During the acceptance review, the staff

determined that the application did not contain sufficient information on the effects of higher

flow rates, particularly on the steam dryers. PSEG withdrew its application on February 10,

2006. The meeting focused on the analysis pertaining to steam dryer structural integrity.
March 31, 2006 ENCLOSURE A

10 CFR Part 26 Rulemaking Public Workshop

On March 29 - 30, 2006, the staff held a public workshop at Headquarters to discuss the

proposed rule to amend 10 CFR Part 26 on Fitness-for-Duty (FFD) and Fatigue. The proposed

rule was published in the Federal Register on August 26, 2005. The purpose of the workshop

was to discuss guidance for work hour controls and staff developed alternative proposals in two

areas; how FFD program requirements would be applied to personnel at reactor construction

sites and proposed work hour controls for normal operations and during outages. These

alternate proposals were developed in response to comments submitted by stakeholders on the

proposed rule. 

The first day was devoted to proposed alternatives for how FFD program requirements would

be applied to personnel at reactor construction sites and proposed work hour controls for

normal operations and during outages. In the area of FFD program requirements at

construction sites, the industry agreed that key personnel directly responsible for the quality of

construction should be subject to FFD, but expressed different views about other details of the

staff-proposed program for construction personnel. The meaning of "unescorted access," how

it would be controlled, and its objectives were also discussed. In the area of proposed work

hour controls for normal operations and during outages, the industry stated that the staff<s

alternative proposals (for average number of days off over a time period), would not provide

them sufficient flexibility for work scheduling. The industry repeated its interest in focusing on

the performance objectives in section 26.199(c), in lieu of further prescriptive limits on individual

work hour scheduling. 

The second day of the workshop focused on the development of work hour controls guidance. 

The meeting was attended by representatives from industry, professional organizations, public

interest groups, and the media. Participants requested that the comment period for the revised

draft rule language be a minimum of 30 days. The staff will consider the comments from the

workshop when developing a proposal for completing the rulemaking by January 2007.
March 31, 2006 ENCLOSURE C

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES)

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 31, 2006

TRAC/RELAP Advanced Computational Engine (TRACE) Workshop

From March 27-29, 2006, staff sponsored the subject workshop in Potomac, Maryland. The

workshop included an overview of the TRACE thermal-hydraulics code and discussions of the

Symbolic Nuclear Analysis Package (SNAP) user interface, similarities and differences between

TRACE and RELAP5 modeling, and how to develop and use TRACE input models. 
March 31, 2006 ENCLOSURE D

Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response (NSIR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 31, 2006

Preliminary Notifications

1. PNO-II-06-005, LaSalle Unit 1 - INDICATION FAILURE FOR 3 CONTROL RODS

FOLLOWING REACTOR TRIP.

2. PNO-III-06-005B, LaSalle Unit 1 - UNIT 1 RESTARTS FROM REACTOR TRIP

(UPDATE).

3. PNO-III-06-007, Braidwood 1 and 2 - TRITIUM CONTAMINATION ISSUES.

4. PNO-IV-06-002, South Texas Project Nuclear Operating Company - FIRE AFFECTING

NON-SAFETY-RELATED EQUIPMENT LOCATED IN A SAFETY-RELATED ROOM.

5. PNO-IV-06-003, Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station Unit 1 - PALO VERDE UNIT 1

EXTENDED SHUTDOWN TO REPAIR SHUTDOWN COOLING VALVE VIBRATION.

6. PNO-IV-06-004, San Onofre, Unit 3 - SHUTDOWN OF SAN ONOFRE UNIT 3 TO

INVESTIGATE SAFETY INJECTION TANK GASKETS.

7. PNO-IV-06-005, Columbia Generating Station - NOTICE OF UNUSUAL EVENT DUE TO

RANGE FIRE IN PROXIMITY OF THE COLUMBIA NUCLEAR PLANT.
March 31, 2006 ENCLOSURE F

Office of Administration (ADM)

Items of Interest 

Week Ending March 31, 2006

Minor Amendments (AH82 - Part 1, et al)

On March 27, 2006, the NRC published a final rule in the Federal Register (71 FR 15005) that

made a number of minor changes to 10 CFR Chapter I. The final rule removed references to

an expired provision of the regulations, reflected an address change for NRC Region III, and

made several additional minor corrective and conforming changes. The final rule became

effective March 27, 2006. 
March 31, 2006 ENCLOSURE G

Office of Information Services (OIS)

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 31, 2006

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

March 24 through March 30, 2006:

Engelhard Corporation, 30 Taunton Street, Plainville, MA 02762,

ongoing remediation of facility since 1997, radiological contamination

FOIA/PA-2006-0152

Vacancy Announcement OGC-2005-0003, all correspondence related

to named individual’s application

FOIA/PA-2006-0153

Contract NRC-38-05-366, Hummer Whole Health FOIA/PA-2006-0154

Mailing list (Referral by GSA) FOIA/PA-2006-0155

Mailing list (Referral by GSA) FOIA/PA-2006-0156

Mailing list (Referral by GSA) FOIA/PA-2006-0157

Dominion Nuclear Connecticut, Millstone Power Station, reports, such

as condition reports, labeled “discrimination complaints,” 2005

FOIA/PA-2006-0158

Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station “force-on-force” inspection in 2005, all

communications & records; Emergency Plan, 01-06 proposal by

Entergy Nuclear to amend staffing requirements, all communications

& records

FOIA/PA-2006-0159

Mailing list (Referral by GSA) FOIA/PA-2006-0160

NUREG reports re: Precursors to Potential Severe Core Damage

Accidents, NUREG/CR-2497, NUREG/CR-3491, & NUREG/CR-4674,

all volumes

FOIA/PA-2006-0161

Worker’s Compensation claim of April 2005 on named individual, all

NRC records

FOIA/PA-2006-0162

Iroquois Apartments, 2805 N. 47th St., Philadelphia, PA 29131, use of

radioactive chemicals

FOIA/PA-2006-0163
March 31, 2006 ENCLOSURE I

Office of Human Resources (HR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 31, 2006

Arrival

ABEYWICKRAMA, BERNADETTE SECRETARY (OA) NRR

BEASLEY, BENJAMIN G. RELIABILITY & RISK ANALYST/

ENGINEER

RES

BIRD, JOHN E. CONSULTANT CFO

FREDERICKS, CARL A. SENIOR SYSTEMS ACCOUNTANT CFO

GAUDETTE, ABBY J. STUDENT ENGINEER (COOP) R-I

GIBNEY, LISA A. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

SPECIALIST

NSIR

KANTOR, FALK CONSULTANT NSIR

LEVIN, ROSELYN H. SECRETARY (OA) R-I

MANZANO, SEAN E. STUDENT ENGINEER (COOP) R-I

SMITH, TUWANDA M. CIVIL RIGHTS SPECIALIST SBCR

TORRES, ROBERTO L. GENERAL ENGINEER (NSPDP) NRR

TOUKATLY, KELLY M. SECRETARY (OA) R-I

Retirements

BELL, SHARON A. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANALYST NRR

HANNON, JOHN N. CHIEF, PLANT SYSTEMS BRANCH NRR

HUMISTON, JEAN L. SECRETARY (OA) R-IV

LEWIS, ARDENIA V. SECRETARY (OA) IP

MCNEILL, WILLIAM M. SENIOR REACTOR INSPECTOR R-IV

SMITH, PAULETTE D. CONTRACT SPECIALIST ADM

Departures

BURNS, JOSEPH K. REACTOR SYSTEMS ENGINEER NRR

THOMPSON, BERNARD E. CONSULTANT OIG
March 31, 2006 ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs (OPA)

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 31, 2006

Media Interest

The Office of Public Affairs (OPA) received significant media inquiries on the following:

GAO Report on Border Security and Statement by Senator Coleman.

Inspection of Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant.

Press Releases

Headquarters:

06-042 NRC Begins Special Inspection at Texas A&M University’s Research

Reactor (3/28/06)

06-043 NRC Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards to Meet April 5-8 in

Rockville, Maryland (3/29/06)

Regions:

I-06-018 NRC to Discuss 2005 Performance Assessment for Three Mile Island 1

Nuclear Power Plant (3/29/06)

II-06-008 NRC to Discuss 2005 Performance at Sequoyah Nuclear Power Plant

(3/28/06)

II-06-009 NRC to Discuss 2005 Performance at Watts Bar Nuclear Power Plant

(3/28/06)

II-06-010 NRC to Discuss 2005 Performance at St. Lucie Nuclear Power Plant

(3/28/06)

II-06-011 NRC Sends Augmented Inspection Team to Review Equipment Damage at

Florida Nuclear Power Plant (3/31/06)

III-06-012 NRC to Discuss 2005 Performance Assessment for LaSalle Nuclear Power

Plant (3/28/06)

IV-06-003 NRC to Discuss 2005 Performance Assessment at Palo Verde Nuclear

Power Plant (3/28/06)
March 31, 2006 ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary (SECY)

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 31, 2006

Document Released

to Public

Date Subject

Decision Documents

SECY-06-0053 3/3/06 Package Performance Study Status Update

Information Papers

SECY-06-0067 3/27/06 Weekly Information Report - Week Ending

March 17, 2006

Memoranda

M060316 3/28/06 Briefing on NRR Programs, Performance,

and Plans

Commission Correspondence

1. Letter to Vilmos Zsombori, National Commission for Nuclear Activities Control, Romania,

dated March 22, 2006, responds to invitation to visit Romania.

2. Letter to Andre-Claude Lacoste, Directorate General for Nuclear Safety and Radiation

Protection, France, dated March 21, 2006, responds to letter concerning the successful

visit to NRC of French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN).

Federal Register Notices Issued

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

Subcommittee on Reliability and Probabilistic Risk Assessment, notice of meeting

(4/28/06). 

2. ACRS, revised 531st meeting notice (4/5-8/06).

3. Atomic Safety and Licensing Board, Notice of Hearing (Application for 20-year License

Renewal), In the Matter of Amergen Energy Company, LLC (License Renewal for Oyster

Creek). 

4. ACRS, Meeting of the ACRS Subcommittee on Reliability and Probabilistic Risk

Assessment, notice of meeting (4/20-21/06). 
March 31, 2006 ENCLOSURE P

Region II (RII)

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 31, 2006

V. C. Summer Management Meeting

On March 30, 2006, representatives from South Carolina Electric & Gas Company attended a

management meeting at the Regional Office to discuss the root cause evaluation for the high

failure rate on the V. C. Summer operator licensing initial written examination administered on

January 10, 2006.

Reactor Oversight Process (ROP) Annual Assessment Meetings

During the week of March 27-31, 2006, the Regional Office held the NRC ROP Annual

Assessment Meetings for the Vogtle and V. C. Summer Nuclear Power Plants. The meetings

were held to discuss plant performance and were held at or near the nuclear plants and were

open to the public. 
March 31, 2006 ENCLOSURE P

Region IV (RIV)

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 31, 2006

Palo Verde Performance Improvement Public Meeting

On March 30, 2006, the staff conducted a public meeting in Arlington, Texas, to discuss Palo

Verde Nuclear Generating Station’s safety performance improvement plan. Specifically, the

corrective actions taken or planned to address human performance and corrective action

program issues were discussed. Participants included Arizona Public Service Company

officials, Region IV and headquarters staff, and several members of the public.
March 31, 2006 

Office of Congressional Affairs (OCA)

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 31, 2006

CONGRESSIONAL HEARING SCHEDULE, NO. 12

 OCAContact

 DATE & PLACE

TIME WITNESS SUBJECT 

Combs 03/28/06 

SD-342

9:30 GAO, DOE/NNSA,

DHS/Customs and BorderProtection

GAO findings with regard tocounterfeiting an NRC license andgeneral availability of exemptquantity radioactive sources

Senators PermaneInvestigatHomeland Affairs

Decker 03/29/06

S-407Capitol(Closed)

9:30 Department of State U.S.-India Nuclear Cooperation

Agreement

Senators Foreign R

Combs 03/30/06

SD-138

10:00 DOE Yucca Mountain/EM/Office of

Safeguards and Security

Senators Energy aAppropria

Decker 03/30/06

2362-BRHOB

10:00 DOE DOE-Energy Supply and

Conservation

Reps. Ho

Keeling 04/04/06

2247 RHOB

2:00 NRC, GAO, NEI, Exelon,

Connecticut AttorneyGeneral, POGO

NRC efforts to define the DBT andset protective standards for theNuclear Power Industry

Reps. ShNational Sand InternGovernm
CONGRESSIONAL HEARING SCHEDULE, NO. 12

 OCAContact

 DATE & PLACE

TIME WITNESS SUBJECT 

March 31, 2006 

Combs 04/06/06

23620BRHOB

10:00 DOE DOE Waste Treatment Plant at

Hanford

Reps. HoEnergy aAppropria

Combs April TBA DOE Status of Yucca Mountain license

application

Senators Energy a

Decker TBA TBA TBA U.S.-Indian Nuclear Agreement Reps. Hy

Internatio

Combs 04/26/06

TBA

TBA NRC, GAO, DOE/OCRWM,

DOE/IG, Bechtel

Yucca Mountain Project: PersistentManagement and Quality Assurance

Reps. PoFederal WOrganizaGovernm

Shane 05/08/06

TBA

TBA TBA New Nuclear Power Plants Senators 

Energy a
March 31, 2006 ENCLOSURE S

Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS)/

Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste (ACNW)

Items of Interest

Week Ending March 31, 2006

As a result of its 530th meeting (March 9-11, 2006), the ACRS issued letters and reports

on the following subjects. 

Date Subject

March 23, 2006 Report on the Safety Aspects of the License Renewal Application

for the Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Units 1, 2, and 3

March 24, 2006 Generic Safety Issue 191 - Assessment of Debris Accumulation on

PWR Sump Performance

March 24, 2006 Final Review of the Exelon Generation Company, LLC, Application

for Early Site Permit and the Associated NRC Staff’s Final Safety

Evaluation Report

March 28, 2006 Draft Final Revision 4 to Regulatory Guide 1.97, "Criteria for

Accident Monitoring Instrumentation for Nuclear Power Plants"