INFORMATION REPORT 

December 3, 2007 SECY-07-0210

For: The Commissioners 

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

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING 

NOVEMBER 23, 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: 

A.C. Ridge, OEDO 
December 3, 2007 SECY-07-0210

For: The Commissioners 

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

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING 

NOVEMBER 23, 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: 

A.C. Ridge, OEDO 

DISTRIBUTION: 

EDO R/F 

AO R/F Document Name: G:\Melissa\WIR\Week1123.doc 

OEDO AO/OEDO 

ACRidge VLOrdaz ML073371253

11/30/07 12/03/07 
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 23, 2007

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

Headquarters and Regional Office activities. 

Contact: A.C. Ridge, OEDO by E-mail: acr1@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 
November 23, 2007 ENCLOSURE A 

 Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending November 23, 2007 

Generic Letter 2004-02

On November 20, 2007, the NRC staff denied a request from Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. 

to extend the deadline for completion of certain corrective actions related to Generic Letter (GL) 

2004-02, “Potential Impact of Debris Blockage on Emergency Recirculation during Design Basis 

Accidents at Pressurized Water Reactors,” for the Indian Point Nuclear Generating Unit No. 3. 

The staff concluded that Entergy had not adequately justified the need for the proposed 15-

month extension beyond the December 31, 2007, target date in GL 2004-02. The letter to the 

licensee noted that the staff would consider a request for a shorter-duration extension, 

consistent with the time required to prepare for and implement the remaining corrective actions 

expeditiously. 
November 23, 2007 ENCLOSURE B 

 Office of New Reactors (NRO) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending November 23, 2007 

Meeting with Regulatory Counterparts from South Africa

From November 13 to 15, 2007, NRC staff hosted a 3-day meeting with regulatory counterparts 

from South Africa (NNR). Three staff members from NNR along with one of their primary 

consultants gave presentations on a variety of topics, including their licensing process, 

environmental topics, and some technical issues related to the innovative design of the Pebble 

Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR). NNR is currently reviewing an application by South Africa's only 

utility, Eskon, for a demonstration PBMR plant. 

Briefing to Senator Stevens of Alaska

On November 15, 2007, staff members briefed Senator Stevens of Alaska and members of his 

staff on a potential combined license application for a Toshiba 4S reactor proposed to be sited 

at Galena, Alaska. 
November 23, 2007 ENCLOSURE C 

 Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending November 23, 2007 

International Atomic Energy Agency Guidelines for Conducting Safety Evaluations at Fuel 

Facilities

From November 12 to 16, 2007, a staff member from the Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and 

Safeguards participated in a 5-day working-level consultants’ meeting at the International Atomic 

Energy Agency (IAEA), in Vienna, Austria, to update the guidelines for conducting, “Safety 

Evaluations During Operation” (SEDO) reviews at fuel facilities. The IAEA had conducted its 

first SEDO review between April 23 and May 9, 2007, at Brazil’s low-enriched uranium fuel 

fabrication facility in Resende. Lessons learned from the Brazilian SEDO review were 

considered in updating the SEDO guidelines. Participants at the consultants’ meeting included 

four of the five experts who had conducted the SEDO review in Brazil and officials associated 

with natural uranium fuel fabrication facilities in Argentina and Romania, where IAEA is expected 

to conduct its next SEDO reviews in 2009. 

State of Nevada Petition for an Independent Investigation and Suspension of Sandia National 

Laboratories from Further Work on the Yucca Mountain Project

On November 15, 2007, NMSS staff notified the Attorney General of the State of Nevada that its 

“Petition for an Independent Investigation and Suspension of Sandia National Laboratories from 

Further Work on the Yucca Mountain Project,” dated October 16, 2007, did not meet the criteria 

for consideration under 10 CFR 2.206. The Petition Review Board noted in the letter that the 

petition does not request the Commission to take an enforcement-related action against an NRC 

licensee, applicant, certificate holder, or its contractors. In a second letter on November 15, 

2007, NMSS staff noted that the concerns the petition raised are best addressed in a future 

licensing proceeding, if NRC receives a license application. 

NRC’s Request for Welded Titanium Plates from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)

On November 15, 2007, NRC staff in the high-level waste program requested samples of 

welded titanium plates from DOE. These samples were to be representative of material that 

DOE is considering for use in drip shields in the potential repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. 

NRC staff requested these samples to help support independent technical investigations it is 

performing to prepare for review of a potential license application. 

European Commission Institute for Transuranium Elements Staff Member Visit to U.S. Nuclear 

Regulatory Commission

On November 16, 2007, a member of the European Commission (EC) Institute for Transuranium 

Elements (located in Karlsruhe, Germany) visited NRC to give a seminar on research the 

institute is doing on spent nuclear and nuclear reactor fuels. The member also discussed future 

information exchanges and potential collaborative work with NRC and NRC contractor staff. 
November 23, 2007 ENCLOSURE C 

Public Meeting on Transnuclear, Inc. NUHOMS Dry Cask Storage Certificate Amendment

On November 20, 2007, NRC staff held a public meeting with Transnuclear, Inc. (TN), to discuss 

NRC’s Request for Additional Information (RAI) regarding Amendment 11 to the Standardized 

NUHOMS(c) System, dated October 22, 2007. Amendment 11 has two parts; it includes a 

revision to standardize the Technical Specifications and changes to certain aspects of a 

proposed light-weight transfer cask. NRC and TN staff members discussed 1 RAI that TN 

requested to have clarified and 2 proposed responses that TN plans to provide to other RAIs. 

TN plans to submit the RAI responses by the requested date of December 21, 2007. Attendees 

included a representative from Ft. Calhoun, industry reporters, and a Nuclear Energy Institute 

representative. 

Core Group of the Reversibility and Retrievability Project Meeting

On November 21, 2007, NRC staff attended the Core Group of the Reversibility and 

Retrievability (R&R) project related to geologic disposal at the Organization for Economic 

Cooperation and Development’s Washington, D.C. office. Topics included organization of a 

topical session on R&R at the meeting of the Radioactive Waste Management Committee in 

March 2008. 
November 23, 2007 ENCLOSURE F 

 Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response (NSIR) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending November 23, 2007 

International Association of Emergency Managers Conference

On November 12 to 15, 2007, the staff attended the annual conference for the International 

Association of Emergency Managers in Reno, Nevada, which promotes an “all-hazards” 

emergency preparedness approach. The conference was attended by more than 1,400 

emergency management professionals from the United States and at least 8 foreign countries. 

Representatives from Federal, State, local, and Tribal governments as well as the private sector 

attended. Examples of topics of discussion included updates on the Federal Emergency 

Management Agency’s planning for catastrophic events, partnerships with the National Weather 

Service for all-hazards warning, planning for special populations, and crisis communication 

during emergencies. 
November 23, 2007 ENCLOSURE G 

 Office of Administration (ADM) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending November 23, 2007 

Use of Electronic Submissions in Agency Hearings; Correction (AH74 - Parts 1, 2, 13, and 110)

On November 16, 2007, the NRC published a document in the Federal Register (72 FR 64529) 

correcting typographical errors in cross references in a final rule that requires the use of 

electronic submissions in all agency hearings, consistent with the existing practice for the 

high-level waste repository application (72 FR 49139; August 28, 2007). The final rule requires 

the electronic transmission of electronic documents in submissions made to the NRC=s 

adjudicatory boards. The final rule became effective October 15, 2007. 

Alternate Fracture Toughness Requirements for Protection Against Pressurized Thermal Shock 

Events; Reopening of Comment Period for Information Collection (AI01 - Part 50)

On November 21, 2007, the NRC published a document in the Federal Register (72 FR 65470) 

that reopens the comment period to collect information on a proposed rule that would amend 

NRC’s regulations to provide updated fracture toughness requirements for protection against 

pressurized thermal shock events (72 FR 56275; October 3, 2007). The proposed rule would 

provide new pressurized thermal requirements that are based on updated analysis methods. 

The comment period for information collection and all other aspects of the proposed rule closes 

December 17, 2007. 

Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material; Notice of Document Availability and 

Request for Comment (Part 71)

On November 21, 2007, the NRC published a document in the Federal Register (72 FR 65470) 

that requests public comment on a draft revision of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s 

(IAEA) “Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material.” The NRC and the 

Department of Transportation will submit joint comments on the draft document to IAEA and are 

seeking public assistance in developing the comments. The comment period for this action 

closes January 4, 2008. 
November 23, 2007 ENCLOSURE H 

 Office of Information Services (OIS) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending November 23, 2007 

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

of November 16 through November 22, 2007: 

Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station, contamination incident on September 6, 

2007, records concerning named individual FOIA/PA-2008-0045 

Crossflow Ultrasonic Flow Meter (UFM); all documents regarding 

meetings between NRC and Westinghouse and/or ABB Combustion 

Engineering Nuclear Power Inc.; all documents concerning any version 

of Crossflow, January 1, 1999, to present FOIA/PA-2008-0046 

USAEC meeting reports - Westinghouse Electric Corp. Ice Condenser 

Full-Scale Testing dated November 29, 1973, February 4, 1974, March 

12, 1974, April 2, 1972, and April 2, 1974; WCAP8282 Final Report - 

Ice Condenser Full-Scale Section Tests at Waltz Mill Facility, February 

1974 FOIA/PA-2008-0047 

FOIA Case logs, FY 2005, FY 2006, FY 2007 to present, include 

business names, addresses, and phone numbers FOIA/PA-2008-0048 

Material License Tracking System, active and retired records FOIA/PA-2008-0049 
November 23, 2007 ENCLOSURE J 

 Office of Human Resources (HR) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending November 23, 2007 

Arrivals

HEBBAR, SUDHA SECRETARY (OA) NRO 

HUNTER, KAREN BRANCH SECRETARY RII 

LITTLEJOHN, JENNENE SECRETARY (OA) RES 

LONTCHAR, RACHEL PROTOCOL SPECIALIST CA 

MAZZA, JAN REACTOR OPERATIONS ENGINEER NRO 

NAIDU, KAMALKAR SR. REACTOR OPERATIONS 

ENGINEER 

NRO 

OKONKWO, NNAERIKA REACTOR INSPECTOR RIV 

SALTER, SUSAN HUMAN RESOURCES RECRUITMENT 

TL 

HR 

TABAKOV, EMIL BUDGET ANALYST/PROGRAM 

ANALYST 

CFO 

THOMPSON, RICHARD EXPORT/IMPORT LICENSING ANALYST NMSS 

WILSON, TIMOTHY MANAGEMENT ANALYST OIG 

Departures

ANDERSEN, NANCY SECRETARY (OA) RII 
November 23, 2007 ENCLOSURE M 

 Office of Public Affairs (OPA) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending November 23, 2007 

OPA Received Significant Media Inquiries on the Following

Recent event report on Farley nuclear plant in Alabama regarding a defect associated with 

circuit breakers. 

Concerns about seismic and terrorism issues not being considered during the NRC’s relicensing 

review process for nuclear plants. 

Status of resolution for the new siren system at the Indian Point nuclear plant in New York. 

Updates on efforts to stop leakage from the Pennsylvania State University’s research reactor. 

Other Public Affairs Items

OPA facilitated an interview of Chairman Klein by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on several 

topics, including the impact of a continuing budget resolution on the NRC and the latest 

problems at Farley nuclear plant in Alabama. 

 

OPA coordinated interviews with USA Today on a variety of topics including reactor safety, the 

reactor oversight process, and new reactors. 

OPA facilitated an interview with Diversity Careers in Engineering and IT magazine on NRC’s 

hiring initiatives and strategies for obtaining engineers and scientists of diverse backgrounds in 

preparation for new nuclear plant applications. 

Press Releases

Headquarters:

07-149 NRC Amends Regulations to Extend Fines for Violating Employee Protection 

Requirements to Additional Entities (11/13) 

07-150 Society Honors Luis Reyes For Outstanding Contributions to The Nuclear Field 

(11/14) 

07-151 NRC Names Two New Members to Its Advisory Committee On Reactor 

Safeguards (11/14) 

Regions:

II-07-052 NRC Increases Oversight of Both Farley Nuclear Plant Units and Issues 

Confirmatory Action Letter on Breakers (11/13) 

II-07-053 NRC to Hold Public Meeting in Dothan on November 19 to Discuss Extended 

Farley Breaker Failure Inspection Results (11/16) 
November 23, 2007 ENCLOSURE O 

 Office of the Secretary (SECY) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending November 23, 2007 

Document Released 

to Public 

Date Subject 

Information Papers

1. SECY-07-0196 11/6/07 Information about Products and Quantities of 

Source Material Distributed to and Used By 

Exempt Persons and 10 CFR 40.22 General 

Licensees 

2. SECY-07-0199 11/13/07 Weekly Information Report – Week Ending 

November 2, 2007 

3. SECY-07-0204 11/20/07 Weekly Information Report – Week Ending 

November 9, 2007 

Memoranda

1. M071120 11/20/2007 Staff Requirements – Affirmation Session: I. 

SECY-07-0194 – Dominion Nuclear North 

Anna, LLC (Early Site Permit for North Anna 

ESP Site), LBP-07-9 (June 29, 2007) 

Commission Correspondence

1. Letter to The President, Congress, Government Accountability Office, Office of 

Management and Budget, dated November 15, 2007, submits the NRC’s FY 2007 

Performance and Accountability Report. 

2. Letter to Admiral James Ellis, USN (Ret.), Institute of Nuclear Power Operations, dated 

November 13, 2007, provides an invitation to participate in NRC’s 20th Annual Regulatory 

Information Conference. 

3. Letter to Congress dated November 9, 2007, responds to letter concerning security at the 

Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station. 

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. Advisory Committee on the Medical Uses of Isotopes, notice of meeting (12/12/2007).
November 23, 2007 

 Office of Congressional Affairs (OCA)  Items of Interest  Week Ending November 23, 2007 

CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS SCHEDULE, NO. 38 

OCA Contact 

Date & Place Time Committee Subject Witne

Sahm 12/05/07 

406 Dirksen 

TBD Senate Environment and Public Works

(Senators Boxer / Inhofe) 

Markup of S 2191 – America’s Climate Security Act 

• N/

Shane 02/28/08 

TBD 

TBD Senate Environment and Public 

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

Oversight Hearing on New Reactors 

• Co