INFORMATION REPORT 

June 19, 2008 SECY-08-0085

For: The Commissioners 

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

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING 

JUNE 6, 2008 

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 Mindy Landau for/ 

Vonna L. Ordaz 

Assistant for Operations, OEDO 

Contact: 

U. Shoop, OEDO 
June 19, 2008 SECY-08-0085

For: The Commissioners 

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

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING 

JUNE 6, 2008 

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 Mindy Landau for/ 

Vonna L. Ordaz 

Assistant for Operations, OEDO 

Contact: 

U. Shoop, OEDO 

DISTRIBUTION: 

EDO R/F 

AO R/F Document Name: G:\AO\WIR\2008\Week0606.doc 

OEDO AO/OEDO 

UShoop VLOrdaz (Mindy Landau for) 

06/18/08 06/19/08 

 ML081710355
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING JUNE 6, 2008

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 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 
June 6, 2008 ENCLOSURE A 

 Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending June 6, 2008 

Public Fire Protection Steering Committee (FPSC) Meeting

On June 3, 2008, the NRC FPSC held a Category 2 public meeting with industry stakeholders 

regarding the issue of fire-induced circuit failures. The meeting achieved its goal of gathering 

industry feedback on the NRC staff’s proposed approach to bring closure to the issue of fireinduced circuit failures, including multiple spurious actuations. Other fire protection topics were 

discussed and participants agreed to meet again in early July 2008. Information about the 

FPSC charter is available in the Agencywide Documents Access and Management System 

(ADAMS), Accession No. ML072640666. 

Staff Holds Public Meetings on the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement 

(DSEIS) for the License Renewal of Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2

On June 3, 2008, the staff conducted two meetings in Waynesboro, Georgia, to solicit 

comments from the public on the DSEIS, regarding the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Units 1 

and 2, License Renewal Review. Approximately 40 people attended the meetings, including 

members of the public and representatives of the NRC staff, Southern Nuclear Operating 

Company, local citizen organizations, and local news media. Public comments and questions 

were mainly focused on spent fuel storage and disposal, alternatives, and public health and 

safety.

As part of the public outreach effort the staff held an open house for one hour prior to the start 

of each meeting. The open house provided members of the public with an opportunity to talk 

informally with NRC staff and view informational displays and brochures. The public comment 

period ends on July 16, 2008. At the conclusion of the comment period, the staff will evaluate 

the comments received and revise the DSEIS if appropriate. The final supplemental 

environmental impact statement is scheduled to be published in January 2009. 

Generic Fundamentals Examination (GFE)

On June 4, 2008, NRC administered its GFE to 108 license operator applicants at 13 utilities 

across all four Regions. The GFE measures applicant knowledge in components, reactor 

theory, and thermodynamics, and is the first examination that license operator applicants must 

take and pass before they can proceed to their site specific training and subsequently take the 

NRC site-specific license examination. 

NRR staff meets with Boiling Water Reactor Owners Group (BWROG)

On June 5, 2008, representatives of the NRR staff met with representatives of BWROG to 

discuss the performance of BWR emergency core cooling system (ECCS) strainers. The issue 

of BWR ECCS strainer performance was initially resolved in the 1990’s; however, more recent 

information obtained while resolving the PWR ECCS strainer performance has raised additional 

issues. During the meeting, the BWROG presented an overview of a proposed plan to 

comprehensively evaluate and address these issues. The plan would address issues such as 

chemical and downstream effects identified by NRC staff as well as additional issues not 
June 6, 2008 ENCLOSURE A 

specifically identified by the staff at this time. The work scope and schedule have not been 

finalized pending funding approval. The participants agreed to meet again in late summer 2008, 

after the scope and schedule for the BWROG work is clear. The NRC staff indicated that it is 

important that these issues be addressed in a timely manner. 
June 6, 2008 ENCLOSURE B 

 Office of New Reactors (NRO) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending June 6, 2008 

Exelon Nuclear Texas Holdings, LLC’s Response to Regulatory Issue Summary (RIS) 2008-01

By letter dated June 2, 2008, Exelon Nuclear Texas Holdings, LLC responded to RIS 2008-01, 

“Process for scheduling acceptance reviews based on notification of applicant submission dates 

for early site permits, combined license, and design certifications and process for determining 

budget needs for fiscal year 2010,” communicating their expectation to submit a Combined 

License Application (COLA) on or before September 1, 2008, for the proposed two-unit project 

in Victoria County, Texas. This application date is consistent NRC staff’s plans for receipt of the 

Victoria County application. 

NRC Reviews Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI’s) Safeguards Information (SGI) Storage 

Facility in Japan

On June 2-4, 2008, the staff inspected a facility in Japan at which Mitsubishi Heavy Industries 

intends to store SGI materials in support of its U.S. Advanced Pressurized Water Reactor 

(US-APWR) standard design certification application. The staff approved MHI’s procedure for 

gathering and protecting criminal history and background information for purposes of access to 

safeguards information in a letter dated April 2, 2008. This facility review is necessary to 

approve storage of SGI material at this location. The staff will document its review in a future 

letter. 

Calvert Cliffs Combined License Application (COLA) (Part 2) Found Acceptable for Docketing

On June 3, 2008, the staff issued a letter to notify UniStar Nuclear Energy, Inc., that the 

acceptance review had been completed and that Part 2 of the combined COLA for an EPR 

pressurized water reactor unit to be located at the Calvert Cliffs site was found acceptable for 

docketing. The first part of the COL application was submitted on July 13, 2007 and accepted 

for docketing by the staff on January 25, 2008. The docket number established for this 

application is 52-016. 

NRC Staff Visited US-APWR Training Simulator

On June 4, 2008, staff toured Mitsubishi’s US-APWR training simulator in Warrendale, 

Pennsylvania. This simulator was originally built for the Ohi nuclear plant (2 loop PWR) in 

Japan and will incorporate the US-APWR digital instrumentation and controls features. 

Mitsubishi is using reactor operators from the Comanche Peak operating units to change the 

design of the 
June 6, 2008 ENCLOSURE B 

simulator from Ohi to the US-APWR. As a result of the staff’s visit, Mitsubishi and the staff have 

agreed to hold future meetings to obtain additional information on task analysis and human 

reliability analysis, to quantify the level of design information that will be provided as part of the 

US-APWR design certification application, and to address any outstanding requests for 

additional information related to the digital instrumentation and controls topical reports. 
June 6, 2008 ENCLOSURE D 

 Office of Federal and State Materials and Environmental Management Programs (FSME) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending June 6, 2008 

Meeting with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

During the week of June 2, 2008, staff from FSME met with staff from the Texas Commission on 

Environmental Quality in Austin, Texas, on a technical exchange of information related to 

uranium recovery (UR) licensing. The exchange focused on common regulatory issues facing 

both agencies and how the challenges related to increased interest in UR are being solved. 

The exchange concluded with site visits to UR facilities. 

Establishment of U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Radiation Safety Program

On June 3, 2008, NRC participated in a conference call with the DHS Corporate Safety and 

Environmental Programs to continue ongoing discussions on the establishment of DHS’s 

radiation safety program. Specifically, the call covered actions that DHS and NRC will take to 

facilitate better coordination between DHS Headquarters and DHS Components (i.e. 

Transportation Security Administration, and Border Protection) as well as actions DHS will take 

leading to more experienced personnel in radiation protection at DHS Headquarters. As a 

follow-up, DHS will be sending the NRC a request to be included in activities and 

correspondence related to DHS licenses. 
June 6, 2008 ENCLOSURE E 

 Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending June 6, 2008 

Meeting on Peer Review of Joint NRC, Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) Fire Human 

Reliability Analysis (HRA) Methodology

On June 4 and 5, 2008, a peer review meeting on the draft of the joint NRC/EPRI Fire HRA 

Methodology was hosted by the NRC. Peer reviewers included subject experts from both the 

NRC and industry. The NRC and EPRI are working jointly to develop methodologies and 

associated guidance for the performance of HRA under fire generated conditions. This 

guidance will support licensees that have opted to transition to the risk-informed, performancebased fire protection rule, 10CFR50.48c, as well as NRC staff who will review the submissions 

from these licensees. 

RES issues Research Information Letter (RIL) 0801, “Technical Basis for Revision of 

Embrittlement Criteria in 10 CFR 50-46(b)(2)”

On May 30, 2008, the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research issued a new RIL. The RIL 

summarizes recently completed research that provides the technical basis for modification of 

10 CFR 50.46(b)(2) to account for burnup and alloy effects on fuel rod cladding during a 

postulated loss-of-coolant accident. The information summarized in RIL-0801 supports a 

performance-based modification that would apply to zirconium alloy cladding material. Major 

contributions to the research came from NRC-sponsored programs at Argonne National 

Laboratory, the Kurchatov Institute (Russia), and the Halden Reactor Project (Norway). 

RES Publication of Regulatory Guide (RG) 3.65, Revision 1, “Standard Format and Content of 

Decommissioning Plans for Licensees Under 10 CFR Parts 30, 40, 70 and 72” 

On May 30, 2008, the staff published the subject revised RG. The RG endorses the method 

described in the most current version of NUREG-1757, Volume 1, “Consolidated 

Decommissioning Guidance,” as an acceptable process for meeting the regulatory requirements 

in termination of a materials license. RG 3.65 is available on the NRC website at 

http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/reg-guides/fuels-materials/active/. 

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research Publication of Regulatory Guide (RG) 3.66, Revision 1, 

“Standard Format and Content of Financial Assurance Mechanisms Required for 

Decommissioning Under 10 CFR Parts 30, 40, 70 and 72”

On May 30, 2008, the staff published the subject revised RG. The RG endorses the methods 

described in Volumes 1 and 3 of NUREG-1757 as an acceptable process for meeting the 

regulatory requirements. Specifically, it provides guidance on financial assurance mechanisms 

required for decommissioning activities, which support termination of a materials license. RG 

3.66 is available on the NRC website at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/regguides/fuels-materials/active/. 
June 6, 2008 ENCLOSURE E 

RES Publication of Draft Regulatory Guide 3024 (DG-3024) “Standard Format and Content of 

License Applications for Uranium Mills”

On May 30, 2008, the staff issued the subject DG to provide an opportunity for public 

comments. The DG is proposed Revision 2 to Regulatory Guide 3.5 and includes updates to 

forms, regulatory guides, and regulations referenced in the guide. Additional information 

important to the safe operation and subsequent decommissioning and reclamation of a 

conventional uranium mill is also provided. The proposed revision provides specific guidance 

on the format and content of the expected applications for licenses authorizing the recovery of 

uranium from conventional mining and milling operations. The DG also reflects experiences 

gained in previous licensing cases. DG-3024 is available on the NRC website at 

http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/reg-guides/fuels-materials/draft-index.html. 
June 6, 2008 ENCLOSURE G 

 Office of Administration (ADM) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending June 6, 2008 

Licenses, Certifications, and Approvals for Nuclear Power Plants; Correction - Part 50 

On June 3, 2008, NRC published a correction (73 FR 31607) to a final rule published on 

August 28, 2007 (72 FR 49352) revising the provisions applicable to the licensing and approval 

processes for nuclear power plants. The correction restored a paragraph that was inadvertently 

omitted in that final rule. 
June 6, 2008 ENCLOSURE H 

 Office of Information Services (OIS) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending June 6, 2008 

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

of May 30, 2008 through June 5, 2008: 

Material License Tracking System, active and inactive records FOIA/PA-2008-0239 

Nuclear Material Events Database (NMED), all years FOIA/PA-2008-0240 

Inadvertent exposure at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station 

(SONGS), 1990 or 1991, records on named individual FOIA/PA-2008-0241 

Radioisotope thermal generators, drawings, specific ML numbers FOIA/PA-2008-0242 

NRC’s Field Policy Manual #9, or whichever specifies NRC employees’ 

conduct with regard to Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO) FOIA/PA-2008-0243 

Office of Investigations Report 4-2006-037, complete investigation file FOIA/PA-2008-0244 

Nuclear energy liability “facility form” insurance policies, along with any 

endorsements issued by Nuclear Liability Insurance Association 

(NELIA) or its successor American Nuclear Insurers (ANI) 

communications between NELIA and NRC regarding 1990 amendatory 

endorsement FOIA/PA-2008-0245 

Deputation of Office of Investigations staff, communications between 

U.S. Marshals Service and NRC from January 1, 2007, through May 7, 

2008 (Referral by DOJ) FOIA/PA-2008-0246 

Civil and administrative violations for which a monetary penalty was 

assessed for calendar year 2007 FOIA/PA-2008-0247 

Yucca Mountain application authored by DOE, unabridged FOIA/PA-2008-0248 
June 6, 2008 ENCLOSURE J 

 Office of Human Resources (HR) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending June 6, 2008 

Arrivals 

ALEXANDER, STEPHEN REACTOR ENGINEER NRR 

ARTZ, MARK STUDENT MANAGEMENT ANALYST OIG 

DIGIOVANNA, ERIC STUDENT CLERK ACRS 

HASTINGS, NICOLE STUDENT LAW CLERK OGC 

NORSWORTHY, MARK STUDENT ENGINEER NSIR 

RIFFLE, ASHLEY STUDENT SCIENTIST (COOP) FSME 

WASHINGTON, BRITTNEY STUDENT CLERK ADM 

WOROSILO, JANNETTE PROJECT ENGINEER RII 

WYNN, COURTNEY STUDENT CLERK OIP 

Retirements 

KOO, WILLIAM SENIOR MATERIALS ENGINEER NRR 

LE, NGOC SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER NRR 

Departure 

TOMS, GERALD EMERGENCY RESPONSE 

COORDINATOR 

NSIR 
June 6, 2008 ENCLOSURE M 

 Office of Public Affairs (OPA) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending June 6, 2008 

OPA Received Significant Media Inquiries on the Following:

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) submission of the application for a high-level waste disposal 

facility at Yucca Mountain; State of Nevada challenges; the NRC application process and 

policies; 

New siren system at the Indian Point nuclear plant, north of New York City; 

NRC workforce and the agency’s preparations for new reactor applications and the agency’s 

administration of $15 million educational grant program; and, 

Recent shut down of a Slovenia nuclear power plant and the alleged European radiation alert 

Other Public Affairs Items:

OPA staff orchestrated media aspects of DOE’s delivery of the Yucca Mountain license 

application to NRC, answering media questions and posting information and photographs to the 

web. 

Press Releases 

Headquarters: 

08-105 NRC Issues Final Environmental Impact Statement on Sequoyah Fuels 

Corporation Remediation Plan (6/2) 

08-106 NRC Receives DOE’s License Application to Construct High-Level Nuclear 

Waste Repository at Yucca Mountain (6/3) 

08-107 NRC Announces Opportunity to Participate in Hearing on New Reactor 

Application for Shearon Harris (6/4) 

08-108 NRC Names Charles Brown to its Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards 

(6/4) 

08-109 NRC to Hold Public Meeting June 10 in Piketon, Ohio, to Discuss Recertification 

of USEC Enrichment Plant (6/4) 

08-110 NRC Accepts Application for New Reactor At Calvert Cliffs (6/4) 

08-111 NRC to Host Third Annual Nuclear Fuel Cycle Information Exchange June 17–

19 in Rockville, Maryland (6/5) 

08-112 NRC Issues Final Licensing, Inspection and Annual Fees Rule for Fiscal Year 

2008 (6/6) 

08-113 NRC Proposes $3,250 Civil Penalty Against Kansas City, MO., Medical Center 

for Violations of Agency Requirements (6/6) 
June 6, 2008 ENCLOSURE M 

Regions: 

I-08-037 NRC to Discuss Peach Bottom Nuclear Plant Annual Assessment at Public 

Meeting Set for June 9 in Delta, Pennsylvania (6/3) 

I-08-038 New NRC Inspector Assigned to Seabrook Station (6/6) 

II-08-034 NRC Staff to Meet with Vogtle Nuclear Plant Officials to Discuss Nuclear Plant 

License Renewal Inspection (6/2) 

III-08-023 NRC Proposes $3,250 Civil Penalty Against Kansas City, Missouri, Medical 

Center for Violations of Agency Requirements (6/6) 

IV-08-024 NRC Names New Senior Resident Inspector at San Onofre Nuclear Generating 

Station (6/4) 

IV-08-025 NRC to Hold Two Public Meetings About Diablo Canyon Nuclear Plant on July 2 

(6/5) 
June 6, 2008 ENCLOSURE O 

 Office of the Secretary (SECY) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending June 6, 2008 

Document Released 

 to Public 

Date Subject 

Decision Documents

1. COMSECY-08-0013 04/10/08 Action Plans Regarding Web Re-Design and 

Publication Improvements 

 SRM-COMSECY-08-0013 06/04/08 (same) 

 Commission Voting 

 Record on COMSECY- 

 08-0013 

06/04/08 (same) 

Information Papers

SECY-08-0076 06/04/08 Weekly Information Report – Week Ending 

May 23, 2008 

Memoranda

1. M080605A 06/05/08 SRM-Affirmation Session: I. SECY-08-0068 

– U.S. Department of Energy (High-Level 

Waste Repository Pre-Application Matters, 

Advisory Pre-License Application Presiding 

Officer (PAPO) Board), Nevada Motion to 

Disqualify Department of Energy Counsel 

Commission Correspondence

1. Letter to Michael Binder, President and Chief Executive Officer, CNSC, dated May 28, 

 2008, provides congratulations on his recent five-year appointment as president and 

 Chief Executive. 

2. Letter to Congressman Edward J. Markey, dated May 28, 2008, responds to letter 

 requesting that the NRC responds to questions related to the impact of climate change 

 on the continued safe operations of U.S. nuclear power plants and spent fuel storage 

 installations. 

3. Letter to Jeffrey Kupfer, DOE, dated May 27, 2008, responds to letter regarding DOE’s 

 evaluation of various policy, security, legal and environmental issues associated with the 

 possible release of a small, limited quantity of Americium-241 for use by industry in 

 licensed applications. 
June 6, 2008 ENCLOSURE O 

Federal Register Notices Issued

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

Simplified Boiling Water Reactor (ESBWR) Subcommittee, notice of meeting (06/18-

19/2008). 

2. Final Rule. Regulatory Improvements to the Nuclear Materials Management and 

Safeguards System, 10 CFR Parts 40, 72, 73, 74 and 150, RIN: 3150-AH-85, 

[NRC-2007-0002]. 

3. Notice. Applications and Amendments to Facility Operating Licenses Involving 

Proposed No Significant Hazards Considerations and Containing Sensitive Unclassified 

Non-Safeguards Information or Safeguards Information and Order Imposing Procedures 

for Access to Sensitive Unclassified Non-Safeguards Information or Safeguards 

Information. 

4. Correction. Progress Energy Carolinas, Inc., Notice of Hearing and Opportunity to 

Petition for Leave to Intervene and Order Imposing Procedures for Access to Sensitive 

Unclassified Non-Safeguards Information and Safeguards Information for Contention 

Preparation on a Combined License for the Shearon Harris Units 2 and 3. 
June 6, 2008 ENCLOSURE P 

 Region IV (RIV) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending June 6, 2008 

Cooper Nuclear Station Public End-of-Cycle Assessment Meeting

On June 2, 2008, the Region IV staff conducted a public meeting in Brownville, Nebraska, to 

discuss Cooper Nuclear Station=s safety performance for 2007. Approximately 25 people 

attended the presentation, including numerous licensee supervisors and managers, a 

representative from the state of Missouri, and several members of the public. 

Comanche Peak Public End-of-Cycle Assessment Meeting

On June 5, 2008, the Region IV staff conducted a public meeting to discuss plant performance 

at the Comanche Peak Steam Electric Station, Units 1 and 2. The meeting was attended by 

approximately 14 people including a Hood County Judge, a Hood County Sheriff-Elect, 

representative for a Texas State Senator, and members of the licensee’s organization. No 

members of the media were in attendance. 
June 6, 2008 ENCLOSURE R 

 Office of Congressional Affairs (OCA)  Items of Interest  Week Ending June 6, 2008 

CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS SCHEDULE, NO. 19 

OCA Contact Date & Place Time Committee Subject Witnesses 

Decker 06/05/08 

2154 RHOB 

2:00 House Oversight and Government 

Reform Subcommittee on Government Management, Organization, and Procurement (Representatives Towns / Bilbray) 

Federal Financial Management Oversight 

• TBD 

Powell TBD TBA House Energy and Commerce 

Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations (Representatives Stupak / Whitfield) 

Inattentive Guards at Peach Bottom and other Security Related Topics 

• TBD 

Shane/Dacus 07/16/08 

406 DSOB 

10:00 Senate Environment and Public 

Works Committee Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety (Senators Carper / Voinovich) 

New Reactors and License Renewal 

• NRC Commission • Others TBD