INFORMATION REPORT 

December 19, 2008 SECY-08-0193

For: The Commissioners 

From: Vonna L. Ordaz 

 Assistant for Operations 

 Office of the Executive Director for Operations 

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING 

DECEMBER 12, 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/ 

Vonna L. Ordaz 

Assistant for Operations, OEDO 

Contact: 

U. Shoop, OEDO 
December 19, 2008 SECY-08-0193

For: The Commissioners 

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

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING 

DECEMBER 12, 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/ 

Vonna L. Ordaz 

Assistant for Operations, OEDO 

Contact: 

U. Shoop, OEDO 

DISTRIBUTION: 

EDO R/F 

AO R/F Document Name: G:\AO\WIR\2008\Week1212.doc 

OEDO AO/OEDO 

UShoop VLOrdaz ML083570068 

12/19/08 12/19/08 
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 12, 2008

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

Headquarters and Regional Office activities. 

Contact: Undine Shoop, OEDO by E-mail: Undine.Shoop@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 
December 12, 2008 ENCLOSURE A 

 Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending December 12, 2008 

Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) - Performance Demonstration Initiatives (PDI) Meeting

From December 2 - 3, 2008, the staff met with representatives of the Electric Power Research 

Institute (EPRI) - Performance Demonstration Initiatives (PDI). These meetings are conducted 

semiannually to discuss EPRI-PDI's implementation of the requirements of the ASME Code for 

ultrasonic testing (UT) qualifications and other UT issues of mutual interest. The staff 

aggressively pursued EPRI-PDI for improvements of flaw sizing accuracy and on addressing 

conflicts and omissions of UT ASME Code qualifications. 

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 805 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

Monthly Meeting

On December 4, 2008, the staff participated in a monthly public meeting with representatives 

from the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) NFPA Task Force, other stakeholders, and the public, to 

discuss the FAQs related to the adoption of NFPA 805. During the meeting industry 

representatives announced that they would publish their positions on the issues covered by FAQ 

08-0044, “Large Oil Fires,” FAQ 08-0046, “Incipient Fire Detection Systems,” and FAQ 08-0048, 

“Fire Ignition Frequency,” outside the FAQ process via a report to be issued in December 2008 

by the Electric Power Research Institute. The staff began holding these monthly public meetings 

in July 2006, and expects to continue holding them throughout the transition period to the new 

licensing basis. 

Generic Fundamentals Examination

On December 10, 2008, the NRC administered its Generic Fundamentals Examination (GFE) to 

79 license operator applicants at nine utilities across three of the Regions (no applicants from 

Region III). 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. 

Observation of the National Nuclear Accrediting Board Meetings

From December 10 - 11, 2008, the Associate Director for Operating Reactor Oversight and 

Licensing observed four meetings of the National Nuclear Accrediting Board (NNAB). The 

Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) recognizes the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations 

managed accreditation as a means of meeting systems approach to training requirements. 

Observation of the NNAB meetings allows NRC to monitor the implementation of programmatic 

aspects of the accreditation process, to understand what is happening with industry training 

programs, to assess the effectiveness of the accreditation process, and to determine the overall 

well-being of industry training programs. 
December 12, 2008 ENCLOSURE A 

Staff Issues Vogtle Electric Generating Plant License Renewal Final Supplemental Generic 

Environmental Impact Statement

On December 11, 2008, the staff issued the Final Supplement 34 to NUREG-1437, AGeneric 

Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants,@ regarding Vogtle 

Electric Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2. The supplemental environmental impact statement 

(SEIS) represents the completion of the staff=s environmental review of the license renewal 

application submitted by Southern Nuclear Operating Company. 
December 12, 2008 ENCLOSURE B 

 Office of New Reactors (NRO) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending December 12, 2008 

Completion of Acceptance Review for Callaway Combined License Application (COLA)

On December 4, 2008, the staff docketed AmerenUE’s combined license application for an EPR 

reactor at the existing Callaway site near Fulton, Missouri. This COLA incorporates by reference 

the EPR Design Control Document that was accepted for docketing by the NRC on February 25, 

2008, and is currently under review by the staff. AmerenUE, submitted the application on 

July 28, 2008, and supplemented it on September 24, 2008, and again on November 14, 2008, 

to resolve quality and sufficiency issues in Final Safety Analysis Report (FSAR) Section 2.5, 

Geology and Seismology. 

Completion of Acceptance Review for Nine Mile Point, Unit 3 COLA

On December 4, 2008, the COLA for the proposed Nine Mile Point, Unit 3 (NMP3) was accepted 

for docketing. Nine Mile Point 3 Nuclear Project, LLC, and UniStar Nuclear Operating Services, 

LLC (UniStar) submitted the COLA on September 30, 2008, and supplemented it on 

November 18, 2008, to resolve quality and sufficiency issues in FSAR Section 2.5, Geology and 

Seismology. Although the acceptance review determined that the NMP3 COLA is complete and 

technically sufficient, the staff has identified issues in the area of seismology that have 

introduced uncertainty into the review schedule. Consequently, the date for publishing a 

complete and integrated review schedule cannot be determined until additional information 

regarding these issues is received from the applicant. 
December 12, 2008 ENCLOSURE E 

 Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending December 12, 2008 

RES Category 2 Public Meeting to discuss Draft Regulatory Guide 1175 (DG-1175)

On December 9, 2008, RES/DE staff hosted a Category 2 public meeting to discuss public 

comments received on draft Regulatory Guide DG-1175 “Seismic Qualification of Electrical and 

Active Mechanical Equipment and Functional Qualification of Active Mechanical Equipment for 

Nuclear Power Plants” (RG 1.100 Rev 3). Industry was represented by members of the seismic 

equipment qualification standards development committees from the Institute of Electrical and 

Electronics Engineers, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and the Nuclear Utility 

Group on Equipment Qualification, engineering companies, the Nuclear Energy Institute, and 

licensees. A good exchange of information occurred among the participants which led to a 

better understanding of the differing opinions on the technical issues. 
December 12, 2008 ENCLOSURE H 

 Office of Information Services (OIS) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending December 12, 2008 

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

of December 5, 2008 through December 11, 2008: 

Texas Instrument, Inc., Attleboro, Massachusetts, unredacted 

documents regarding Site Decontamination Management Program 

(SDMP) list in SECY-90-121 

FOIA/PA-2009-0050 

Shpack Landfill, Union Road, Norton, Massachusetts, unredacted copy 

of all documents such as Report No. 078-154-A, “Radioactive Material 

in Uncontrolled Location, Norton, MA” 

FOIA/PA-2009-0051 
December 12, 2008 ENCLOSURE J 

Office of Human Resources (HR) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending December 12, 2008 

Arrivals 

Green, Matthew Student Visual Info Specialist(Co-Op) ADM 

LaCroix, Courtney Student Security Specialist (Co-Op) NSIR 

Le, Sophie Student General Scientist (Co-Op) FSME 

Morgan, Thomas Student Engineer (Co-Op) NRR 

Purdie, Michael Student Socio-Economist (Co-Op) NRO 

Departures 

Dawson, Jonnel Fire Protection Engineer NRR 
December 12, 2008 ENCLOSURE M 

 Office of Public Affairs (OPA) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending December 12, 2008 

OPA Received Significant Media Inquiries on the Following:

Commission’s public meeting providing the status of all NRC uranium-mining programs 

Event Notification report regarding an oil sheen spotted in the discharge canal at Indian Point 

nuclear plant in Buchanan, New York 

Extreme weather conditions in the U.S. Northeast and its impact on area nuclear power plants 

Other Public Affairs Items:

OPA coordinated a background interview with staff regarding the proposed Hyperion 

mini-reactors and discussed the potential innovations and regulatory challenges that Hyperion 

would face. 

Press Releases

Headquarters:

08-220 NRC Announces Opportunity to Participate in Hearing on New Reactor 

Application for Levy County Site(12/8) 

08-221 NRC Accepts Application for New Reactor at River Bend Site (12/10) 

08-222 NRC Issues Final Environmental Impact Statement for Vogtle Nuclear Power 

Plant (12/11) 

08-223 NRC Staff Recommends Security Over Replacement of Cesium Chloride 

Radiation Sources (12/12) 

Regions:

I-08-062 NRC to Discuss Results of License Renewal Inspection for Susquehanna 

Nuclear Power Plant on December 16 (12/10) 

IV-08-042 NRC Staff Proposes $3,250 Fine for Security Violations at Glaxo Smith Kline 

Biologicals (12/10) 

IV-08-043 NRC to Hold Public Meeting on Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station (12/12) 

 
December 12, 2008 ENCLOSURE O 

 Office of the Secretary (SECY) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending December 12, 2008 

Document Released 

to Public 

Date Subject 

Decision Documents

1. SECY-08-0179 11/20/08 Recommendations on Amending Preceptor 

Attestation Requirements in 10 CFR Part 

35, Medical Use of Byproduct Material 

2. SECY-08-0184 11/24/08 Strategy for the Security and Use of Cesium137 Chloride Sources 

3. SECY-08-0185 11/24/08 Options for Security Openness, 

Transparency, and Reactor Oversight 

Process Improvements 

4. COMSECY-08-0034 11/13/08 Renewal of Advisory Committee on Reactor 

Safeguards Charter 

 SRM on COMSECY-08- 

 0034 

12/11/08 (same) 

 Commission Voting 

 Record on COMSECY- 

 08-0034 

12/11/08 (same) 

Information Papers

1. SECY-08-0181 11/21/08 Homeland Security Presidential Directive-12 

Update 

2. SECY-08-0190 12/09/08 Weekly Information Report – Week Ending 

November 28, 2008 

Memoranda

1. M081209A 12/09/08 Staff Requirements – Affirmation Session: 

I. SECY-08-0164 – Entergy Nuclear 

Operations, Inc. (Indian Point Nuclear 

Generating Units 2 and 3), Order (Striking 

WestCAN’s Request for Hearing) (July 31, 

2008) 

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. Notice of renewal of the Charter of the Licensing Support Network Advisory Review 

Panel. 
December 12, 2008 ENCLOSURE P 

Region II (RII) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending December 12, 2008 

Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO)/NRC Senior Management Meeting

On December 8, 2008, several senior managers attended the INPO/NRC Senior Management 

meeting in Atlanta. This meeting was the annual public information exchange meeting between 

the NRC and INPO described in the INPO-NRC Memorandum of Agreement.