INFORMATION REPORT

December 5, 2006 SECY-06-0236

For: The Commissioners

From: Michael R. Johnson, Assistant for Operations, Office of the EDO

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING

NOVEMBER 24, 2006

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*

Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards/

Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste S*

*No input this week.

/RA/

Michael R. Johnson 

Assistant for Operations, OEDO

Contact:

L. Rakovan, OEDO
December 5, 2006 SECY-06-0236

For: The Commissioners

From: Michael R. Johnson, Assistant for Operations, Office of the EDO

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING

NOVEMBER 24, 2006

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*

Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards/

Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste S*

*No input this week.

/RA/

Michael R. Johnson

Assistant for Operations, OEDO

Contact:

L. Rakovan, OEDO

DISTRIBUTION:

EDO R/F

AO R/F Document Name: C:\WIR\week1124.WPD

OEDO AO/OEDO

LRakovan:paa MRJohnson

12/04/06 12/05/06
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 24, 2006

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

Headquarters and Regional Office activities. 

Contact: L. Rakovan, OEDO by E-mail: ljr2@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 18

NMSS 4 OIP *

FSME * SECY 19

RES 5 Region I *

NSIR 6 Region II *

ADM 11 Region III *

OIS 12 Region IV 23

CFO * EDO *

HR 16 OCA *

SBCR * ACRS/ACNW *

*No input this week
November 24, 2006 ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending November 24, 2006

Meeting with the Materials Reliability Program (MRP)

On November 16, 2006, the staff held a public meeting with representatives from the 

Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), and the 

Materials Reliability Program (MRP). The purpose of the meeting was to revisit MRP-139,

“Materials Reliability Program: Primary System Piping Butt Weld Inspection and Evaluation

Guideline” for pressurizer nozzle-to-piping butt welds in light of the recently discovered 

Wolf Creek pressurizer nozzle circumferential flaw indications. The discussions included a

background presentation on MRP-139, a recent pressurized water reactor fleetwide survey of

pressurizer location inspection and mitigation status, NRC’s and industry’s perspective on the

significance of the Wolf Creek inspection results, and a summary of each side’s analytical

evaluation results. The meeting provided a forum to exchange information, to discuss future

activities, and to discuss a follow on meeting in mid-December.

Institute of Nuclear Power Operations Human Performance Workshop

A member of the NRR staff participated as a keynote speaker at the Institute of Nuclear Power

Operations annual Human Performance Workshop on November 14-16, 2006. This year's

theme was Change Management Issues in Human Performance. The Nuclear Regulatory

Commission keynote address was on the role of inspection findings and cross-cutting issues in

the Reactor Oversight Process.

Staff Holds Public Information and Environmental Scoping Meetings on the License Renewal of

Susquehanna Steam Electric Station Units 1 and 2

On November 15, 2006, the staff conducted two meetings to solicit comments from the public

on the scope of the environmental review of the Susquehanna Steam Electric Station Units 1

and 2 license renewal application and to provide information about the overall license renewal

process. Approximately 28 people attended the meetings, including members of the public,

representatives of Pennsylvania Power & Light (the applicant), local citizen organizations, and

local news media. Public comments focused on radiation protection, emergency planning,

security, power uprate, water resources, and spent fuel storage. The public scoping period and

opportunity for petition for hearing will end on January 2, 2007. The draft supplemental

environmental impact statement (SEIS) is scheduled to be published in December 2007, and

the final SEIS is scheduled to be published in August 2008.

License Renewal Application for Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant

On November 16, 2006, the staff received an application from Carolina Power & Light (CP&L),

doing business as Progress Energy Carolinas, Inc., requesting the extension of the operating

license for the Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant, Unit 1. The application requests an

additional 20 years beyond the current 40-year term, pursuant to 10 CFR Parts 51 and 54. The

current operating license for Shearon Harris, Unit 1, expires at midnight on October 24, 2026. 
November 24, 2006 ENCLOSURE A

The staff plans to hold a public information session near the plant site in the near future, to

describe the license renewal process.

James A. Fitzpatrick Nuclear Power Plant License Renewal Audit

From November 13-17, 2006, the staff conducted an aging management program audit of the

license renewal application at the James A. Fitzpatrick Nuclear Power Plant (FitzPatrick) site in

Scriba, NY. The audit team conducted numerous interviews and breakout meetings with the

FitzPatrick staff. The audit team also reviewed the applicant's responses to the team's

questions and the technical bases documents. The audit team will conduct its second audit

from December 11-15, 2006 to review time-limited aging analyses and aging management

reviews identified in the license renewal application.

Palo Verde - Meeting on Nuclear Fuel Management Activities

On November 16, 2006, the staff met with Arizona Public Service (APS), the licensee for the

Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station Units 1, 2, and 3 (Palo Verde). The purpose of this

meeting was to discuss the nuclear fuel management functions, strengths, and new

management personnel at Palo Verde. APS presented its new control element assembly

design, fuel performance, and its lead fuel assembly program. APS discussed planned

licensing actions in support of the fuel replacement to be submitted through 2008. In addition,

APS provided an update of its dry cask storage activities.
November 24, 2006 ENCLOSURE C

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS)

Items of Interest

Week Ending November 24, 2006

International Atomic Energy Agency Meeting on a Safety Standard for Volcanic Hazards

From November 13-17, 2006 at the request of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA),

geologic staff working on the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) high-level waste

program participated in a consultant meeting at the IAEA, in Vienna, Austria. At the meeting,

revisions to the 1997 IAEA Provisional Safety Standard for volcanic hazards and to the siting of

nuclear facilities were completed. NRC staff helped to draft significant changes, which better

represent a risk-informed regulatory framework for the assessment of potential volcanic

hazards.

Staff Attends Forum on Stakeholder-Confidence Workshop in Hungary

From November 13-17, 2006, the NRC staff officiated at a workshop and participated in a site

visit organized by the Forum on Stakeholder Confidence (FSC) in Tengelic, Hungary. The FSC

is a working party for the Radioactive Waste Management Committee, of the Organization for

Economic Cooperation and Development's Nuclear Energy Agency. The workshop was

organized in cooperation with municipalities near a new disposal site for intermediate- and lowlevel waste, and with the Hungarian Radioactive Waste Management Agency, and was

supported by the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority. The disposal site, located in granite

formations near Bátaapáti, was approved by local referendum after a voluntary siting process. 

Subsequent to the referendum, the Hungarian Parliament voted to establish the facility, in

November 2005. The workshop focused on factors contributing to the failure and vigorous

public opposition to an earlier siting process, in the late 1980s, and to the success of the more

recent one. Special attention was given to the role of local oversight and information

associations, which were key for reaching agreement between the implementer and the local

communities. During the workshop, FSC members met with local, regional, and national

stakeholders, received overview presentations on the institutional and legal framework in

Hungary, and learned about the history of stakeholder involvement in Hungary. Immediately

after the workshop, the FSC held a business meeting at which NRC’s representative was

elected, by unanimous vote, as the new FSC chairman.

NRC’s Annual Program Review of the Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses 

From November 13-17, 2006, the NRC management and staff attended the Annual Program

Review of the Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses, in San Antonio, Texas. The

review focused on management aspects of the entire NRC Program at the Center, including

work on: (1) high-level waste, (2) fuel cycle, (3) environmental & low-level waste,

(4) decommissioning, (5) waste incidental to reprocessing, (6) NRC research, and (7) uranium

mill tailing sites. NRC Headquarters staff also participated in the review via video-conference

facilities.
November 24, 2006 ENCLOSURE C

Receipt of Revised Mixed-Oxide Fuel-Fabrication Facility License Application

On November 15, 2006, Shaw AREVA MOX Services (MOX Services), the applicant for the

Mixed-Oxide Fuel-Fabrication Facility, submitted a revised License Application for a license to

possess radioactive material, including special nuclear material, necessary to manufacture

mixed-plutonium / uranium-dioxide nuclear fuel assemblies. This revised Application was in

response to a letter sent to MOX Services on November 7, 2006, which noted certain

deficiencies in the Application. The letter also requested that MOX Services provide a revised

application before completion of the NRC 60 day acceptance review of the September 27,

2006, submittal. NRC will extend its acceptance review by 45 days, to review the revised

application.
November 24, 2006 ENCLOSURE E

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES)

Items of Interest

Week Ending November 24, 2006

Public Meeting on Implementation Guidance for Subpart I of 10 CFR Part 26, Fitness for Duty

Rulemaking

On November 9, 2006, the staff held the subject meeting with the Nuclear Energy Institute

(NEI), Union of Concerned Scientists (USC), International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers

(IBEW), and other stakeholders to discuss the potential NRC endorsement of NEI-06-1,

“Managing Fatigue at Power Reactor Sites.” A follow-on stakeholder meeting is being planned

for the week of December 11, 2006.

American Nuclear Society (ANS) Standards Meetings

On November 12-16, 2006, staff participated in several consensus standards meetings. A staff

member chaired the ANS's Standards Board meeting, which discussed establishing better

working relations between ANS and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers to serve the

needs for consensus standards relative to new reactors. Staff participated in other consensus

committee meetings, including the Nuclear Facilities Standards Committee, the Risk-Informed

Standards Committee, and the Fire Probabilistic Risk Assessment (PRA) Standard Committee,

where staff provided agency comments on the Fire PRA Standard. Due to public comments,

the version of the Standard which was distributed for public comment is undergoing significant

modification.

Industry Hemyc Fire Barrier Testing

On November 17, 2006, staff witnessed a Progress Energy full-scale, 1-hour, Hemyc Electrical

Raceway Fire Barrier System (ERFBS) fire endurance test, which was conducted in response

to Generic Letter 2006-03. Progress Energy is currently constructing new ERFBS on the same

conduits and electric cable trays used for the subject test, incorporating upgrades to improve

the ERFBS performance. The improved ERFBS are scheduled to be tested December 14,

2006. 

Final Meeting for the 3rd International Steam Generator Tube Integrity Program (ISG TIP)

On November 14-16, 2006, staff and contractors attended the subject meeting during which

information was presented on the steam generator research being conducted at Argonne

National Laboratory. The staff presented the preliminary research plans for the next 5-year

program. All current participants have expressed an interest in participating in a 4th ISG TIP;

however, some may not be able to maintain the same level of financial support.

10th Semiannual Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Piping

Failure Data Exchange (OPDE) Meeting

On November 16-17, 2006, RES staff attended the subject international meeting to discuss the

objectives, features, potential uses, and technical issues associated with the OPDE database,

and to present the status of recent program efforts. The purpose of the OPDE program is to
November 24, 2006 ENCLOSURE E

assemble and maintain a database of the relatively rare light-water reactor (LWR) piping

failures and precursor events, which are provided by the OPDE member countries. This

operating experience data is used to develop pipe failure estimates which can be utilized by

OPDE members to improve the safety of their LWRs.
November 24, 2006 ENCLOSURE F

Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response (NSIR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending November 24, 2006

Preliminary Notifications

1. PNO-I-06-014, Constellation Generation Group, LLC - SHUTDOWN GREATER THAN

72 HOURS DUE TO REACTOR/TURBINE TRIP FROM THE UNEXPECTED CLOSURE

OF MAIN TURBINE GOVERNOR AND INTERCEPT VALVES.

2. PNO-I-06-14A, Constellation Generation Group, LLC - SHUTDOWN GREATER THAN

72 HOURS DUE TO REACTOR/TURBINE TRIP FROM THE UNEXPECTED CLOSURE

OF MAIN TURBINE GOVERNOR AND INTERCEPT VALVES.

3. PNO-I-06-015, McLeod Regional Medical Center - EXPOSURE TO FETUS FROM

THYROID ABLATION THERAPY
November 24, 2006 ENCLOSURE G

Office of Administration (ADM)

Items of Interest 

Week Ending November 24, 2006

Sally Shaw; Receipt of Petition for Rulemaking (PRM-51-11)

On November 20, 2006, the NRC published a document in the Federal Register (71 FR 67072)

that announces the receipt of a petition for rulemaking submitted by Sally Shaw (PRM-51-11). 

The petitioner requests that the NRC prepare a rulemaking that requires it to reconcile its

generic environmental impact statement for nuclear power plant operating license renewal with

the most recent Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation VII Phase 2 report. The petitioner

requests that the NRC consider the contents of the report as new and significant information,

and recalculate certain conclusions in the generic environmental impact statement, including

fatalities, latent fatalities, and injury projections based on this information. The comment period

on this action closes February 5, 2007.
November 24, 2006 ENCLOSURE H

Office of Information Services (OIS)

Items of Interest

Week Ending November 24, 2006

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

of November 17 through November 22, 2006:

Contract GS-35F-4524G, Lockheed Martin, BPA NRC-33-01-182 FOIA/PA-2007-0037

MLTS database for entire U.S. FOIA/PA-2007-0038

Vacancy announcement R-II/DRMA-2006-0004, HR Specialist, all

records including emails, telephone notes, interview notes, etc.

FOIA/PA-2007-0039

Columbia Generating Station, all records re: reports on or allegations

of physical protection issues from 1-1-06 to present

FOIA/PA-2007-0040

MLTS database, radioactive materials licenses FOIA/PA-2007-0041

Resumes & curricula vitae for named NRC staff FOIA/PA-2007-0042
November 24, 2006 ENCLOSURE J

Office of Human Resources (HR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending November 24, 2006

Arrivals

CODELL, RICHARD CONSULTANT NMSS

DAVIS, CATHERINE SECRETARY (OA) OIS

DAWSON, JONNEL STUDENT ENGINEER TRAINEE (CO-OP) NRR

HARPER, KEVIN SECRETARY NRR

HOLLIDAY, TAMARA SECRETARY (OA) NMSS

HUGHES, NIAV HUMAN FACTORS ANALYST RES

IVANCHEV, YAVOR HUMAN FACTORS ANALYST RES

LANE, SUSAN STRUCTURAL ENGINEER NRR

MEYER, KAREN SECRETARY NRR

MONROE, SHIRLEY HUMAN RESOURCES SPECIALIST RI

MOSS, SUSAN SECRETARY (OA) NRR

POWELL, AMY CONGRESSIONAL AFFAIRS OFFICER OCA

SALLMAN, AHSAN REACTOR SYSTEMS ENGINEER NRR

THOMAS, GEORGE STRUCTURAL ENGINEER RES

Retirement

JABBOUR, KAHTAN SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER NRR

JOHNSTON, GARY SENIOR OPERATIONS ENGINEER RIV

MENCINSKY, GEORGE PROGRAM MANAGER NRR

Departure

STANBACK, TASHA SECRETARY (OA) NRR

THOMAS, JAMIE FINANCIAL ANALYST CFO
November 24, 2006 ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs (OPA)

Items of Interest

Week Ending November 24, 2006

The OPA received significant media inquiries on the following:

Tests for groundwater contamination near Indian Point.

NRC’s regulatory conference regarding safety concerns at Palo Verde.

Shieldalloy’s decommissioning plan for its site in New Jersey.

An “unusual event” declaration at Watts Bar that prompted a local school system to close for

the day.

Press Releases

Headquarters:

06-144 Ten NRC Executives Honored With Presidential Awards (11/20)

Regions:

I-06-060 NRC, Pa. Company to Discuss Apparent Violations Stemming from Temporary

Loss of Nuclear Gauge (11/21)
November 24, 2006 ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary (SECY)

Items of Interest

Week Ending November 24, 2006

Document Released

to Public

Date Subject

Memoranda

1. M061016AB 11/21/06 Briefing on Status of New Reactor IssuesCOLS

2. M061025A 11/21/06 Briefing on Institutionalization and

Integration of Agency Lessons Learned

Commission Correspondence

- Letter to The President and Congress, dated November 15, 2006, provides NRC’s Fiscal

Year 2006 Performance and Accountability Report.

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. Atomic Safety and Licensing Board, Revised Notice of Opportunity to Make Oral Limited

Appearance Statements, USEC, Inc. (American Centrifuge Plant).

2. Advisory Committee on the Medical Uses of Isotopes: Call for Nominations.
November 24, 2006 ENCLOSURE P

Region IV (RIV)

Items of Interest

Week Ending November 24, 2006

Palo Verde Regulatory and Predecisional Enforcement Conference

On November 20, 2006, representatives from the Palo Verde Nuclear Station participated in a

Regulatory and Predecisional Enforcement Conference in the Region IV office. The purpose of

the conference was for the NRC representatives to hear and understand the licensee’s position

on root causes, corrective actions and risk significance for NRC findings from a special

inspection. The special inspection examined the licensee’s actions in response to inadequate

chemistry controls in the spray pond cooling system and potential for degradation in various

safety systems.