INFORMATION REPORT

August 8, 2006 SECY-06-0176

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING

JULY 28, 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 Thomas A. Bergman, Acting for/

William M. Dean

Assistant for Operations, OEDO

Contact:

U. Shoop, OEDO
August 8, 2006 SECY-06-0176 

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING

JULY 28, 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 Thomas A. Bergman, Acting for/

William M. Dean

Assistant for Operations, OEDO

Contact:

U. Shoop, OEDO

DISTRIBUTION:

Central File

Public Document Name: C:\WIR\week728.WPD

OEDO AO/OEDO

UShoop:paa WMDean

08/08/06 08/08//06
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING JULY 28, 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 *

RES 8 OIP *

NSIR * SECY 19

OGC * Region I *

ADM 10 Region II 21

OIS 11 Region III *

CFO * Region IV 22

HR 15 EDO *

SBCR * OCA 24

OE * ACRS/ACNW *

*No input this week
July 28, 2006 ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending July 28, 2006

Ninth NRC/ASME Symposium on Valves, Pumps, and Inservice Testing

From July 17-19, 2006, the NRC and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)

jointly sponsored the subject Symposium in Washington, DC. This Symposium is held every

two years to exchange information on technical, programmatic, and regulatory issues

associated with the testing of valves and pumps used in nuclear power plants. Over 200

individuals from the U.S. and other countries participated in the Symposium representing

nuclear power plant licensees, consultants, valve and pump vendors, and regulators. The

Director, Division of Component Integrity (DCI), Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR)

provided the NRC keynote address. During the Symposium, NRC staff members presented

several papers on valve and pump performance, risk-informed programs, plant operating

experience, and new reactor licensing. The Symposium also included an interactive session

where an NRC staff panel discussed established regulatory positions related to valves, pumps,

and inservice testing.

Advanced Fracture Methods Workshop

From July 18-20, 2006, NRR staff members attended the Advanced Fracture Methods for Light

Water Reactor Components Workshop in Baltimore, Maryland. This workshop provided

insights on the following: (a) current activities in fracture mechanics in modeling and testing

techniques in U.S., Europe, and Japan; (b) updated information on radiation embrittlement

processes; and (c) techniques for using probabilistic fracture mechanics for reactor pressure

vessel pressurized thermal shock to other applications.

Brief for United Kingdom Senior Inspectors

On July 24, 2006, the Division of Inspection and Regional Support (DIRS) staff provided a brief

on the Reactor Oversight Process (ROP) to senior staff members of United Kingdom's Health

and Safety Executive/Nuclear Installation Inspectorate. Discussions were held on the various

improvements made to the ROP to address lessons learned from the 2002 Davis-Besse boric

acid event and how the ROP was improved to enhance the treatment of cross-cutting and

safety culture issues.

Nuclear Energy Institute and the Westinghouse Owners Group Meeting

On July 25, 2006, the staff held a public meeting to discuss the status of Technical

Specification Task Force (TSTF) Traveler TSTF-409. Attendees included members of the

Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), the Westinghouse Owners Group, and the NRC staff. 

Discussions were focused on the resolution of industry comments on the TSTF-409 Notice for

Comment, which was published in the Federal Register on April 10, 2006, [71 FR 18380]. 

TSTF-409 allows licensees to increase the completion time for an inoperable containment spray

system train using a risk-informed approach.
July 28, 2006 ENCLOSURE A

Robinson Simulator Scenario Based Testing

On July 27-28, 2006, two NRC staff members visited the H.B. Robinson site to observe and

gather information relevant to Simulator Scenario Based Testing (SBT) in preparation for an

upcoming fall national simulator workshop. The NRC and the NEI Operator Licensing Focus

Group is working to resolve an outstanding NRC issue with the industry's SBT approach and

related simulator documentation of the simulator's performance. While on site, a demonstration

of a proposed pressurized water reactor SBT package was observed and discussed.

Pilgrim and Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station License Renewal Application Public

Meetings

On July 19-20, 2006, the staff conducted two separate public meetings - one at Plymouth, MA

and another at Brattleboro, VT, to report the status of the aging management program audits

for Pilgrim and Vermont Yankee, respectively. The staff presented information about the audit

process, and provided a copy of the staff questions and licensee responses that were asked

during the audit process and publically documented at the completion of the audit.

Meeting on Infrastructure Development Schedules

On July 24, 2006, the NRC staff met with representatives from NEI and industry in a public

meeting to discuss schedules associated with the Standard Review Plan (SRP) Update and

Associated Regulatory Guides, New Reactor Licensing Rulemaking, and Combined License

(COL) Regulatory Guide (DG-1145). NEI and industry requested schedules for these

infrastructure activities in order to establish the level of resources needed to review these

documents to support new reactor license applications. Additional discussion about the SRP

update and COL regulatory guide schedules will be held as part of the September COL

regulatory guide workshop.

Meeting on Draft Proposed Rule for Security Assessments for New Reactors

On July 25, 2006, staff from NRR, the Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response and

the Office of the General Counsel conducted the subject public meeting. Following a staff

presentation on the draft proposed rule and guidance plans, the staff responded to questions

on specific aspects of the draft proposed rule language.
July 28, 2006 ENCLOSURE C

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES)

Items of Interest

Week Ending July 28, 2006

14th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE 14)

On July 16-20, 2006, RES staff attended the subject conference and participated in workshops

on computational fluid dynamics for gas-cooled reactors, sessions on advanced reactor

designs, two-phase flow, and safety code assessment. The staff presented papers on rod

bundle heat transfer model assessment, and presented a summary of the development of the

TRACE code for new and advanced reactors. In addition, the staff conducted informal

discussions with representatives from around the world on current and past research programs

to leverage international cooperation.

Public Meeting on Proposed Revisions to Regulatory Guide (RG) 1.200, “An Approach for

Determining the Technical Adequacy of Probabilistic Risk Assessment Results for RiskInformed Activities” Public Meeting

On July 20, 2006, RES staff conducted the subject meeting to: (1) share with the public the

proposed staff changes to RG 1.200, and (2) provide the schedule for issuing Revision 1 of RG

1.200 for use. The proposed changes to the RG resulted from lessons learned from the pilot

applications of the RG, revisions to the ASME probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) standard,

revisions to the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) Self-Assessment Process, and the need to

support other risk-informed activities.

Publication of Draft Regulatory Guide DG-1144, “Guidelines for Evaluating Fatigue Analyses

Incorporating the Life Reduction of Metal Components Due to the Effects of the Light-Water

Reactor Environment for New Reactors”

On July 21, 2006, the subject DG was issued for public comment. The DG describes a method

that the staff considers acceptable for use in determining the fatigue life of ASME pressure

boundary components with consideration of the light-water reactor (LWR) environment. This

DG will support reviews of applications for new nuclear reactor construction permits or

operating licenses, and is publicly available on the NRC’s web site at 

http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/reg-guides/power-reactors/draft-index.html. The

technical basis for this DG is presented in NUREG/CR-6909, “Effect of LWR Coolant

Environments on the Fatigue Life of Reactors Materials,” also available for public comment at

http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/nuregs/docs4comment.html.

Technical Exchange and Cooperative Arrangement Between the NRC and the Institut de

Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN) in the Field of Reactor Safety Research

On July 26, 2006, the Executive Director for Operations (EDO) signed the subject Arrangement. 

This Arrangement defines the terms and conditions by which the NRC and IRSN will continue

their cooperation, and is a renewal of the Arrangement that was signed on December 13, 2000. 

Under this broad Arrangement, the NRC and IRSN will exchange technical information and

cooperate in the field of reactor safety research that includes many areas that are pertinent to
July 28, 2006 ENCLOSURE C

both current and future reactor designs. This renewed Arrangement will remain in effect for an

additional five years.
July 28, 2006 ENCLOSURE F

Office of Administration (ADM)

Items of Interest 

Week Ending July 28, 2006

Facilities Management Contract

On July 27, 2006, a small business set-aside, competitive contract no. NRC-10-06-430 was

awarded to WW Contractors, Incorporated. WW is also a HUBZone firm. The contractor will

provide all necessary supervision, labor, materials and equipment to efficiently and safely

operate and maintain the facilities, equipment, and systems described in the Statement of Work

for NRC’s Headquarters buildings. The period of performance is 5 years (a base year plus two

1-year options and two 1-year award terms). The total estimated cost is $9,979,389.82. 

Information System Security Services

On July 28, 2006, a competitive Delivery Order no. DR-33-06-236 was awarded to Mar,

Incorporated under the General Service Administration's Federal Supply Schedule. The

contractor will provide information system security services for the entire agency. The total

estimated cost is $41,118,236. The period of performance is five years, including four one-year

options.

Award for Technical Assistance

On July 31, 2006, a GSA/Federal Supply Schedule Delivery Order no. DR-04-06-071 was

awarded to Information Systems Laboratories, Incorporated. Technical assistance is required

under this delivery order for "TRACE Applicability Evaluation for Economic and Simplified

Boiling Water Reactor (ESBWR)." The contractor will evaluate and demonstrate the

applicability of the TRACE code for simulating an ESBWR loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA). 

The period of performance for this order is twelve (12) months. The total estimated cost is

$583,857.
July 28, 2006 ENCLOSURE G

Office of Information Services (OIS)

Items of Interest

Week Ending July 28, 2006

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

July 21 through July 27, 2006:

Budd Company, Red Lion Rd/Sandmeyer Lane, Philadelphia, PA,

records on permits or violations; Region III handler data

FOIA/PA-2006-0249

OIG and OGC records on named individual FOIA/PA-2006-0250

Name, job title, & grade of Washington, D.C. area NRC employees in

grades GS 3-12

FOIA/PA-2006-0251

Referral - Department of State - Korea nuclear program FOIA/PA-2006-0252

Contract DR0204012 awarded to Force 3, Scope of Work

(unredacted), Section B Price Table, & task orders

FOIA/PA-2006-0253

OIG report 06-069 & records associated with report FOIA/PA-2006-0254

Spent fuel storage/reactor decommissioning annual fee, all records

discussing or substantiating NRC’s decision to shift the fees to

general class of Part 50 license holders

FOIA/PA-2006-0255
July 28, 2006 ENCLOSURE I

Office of Human Resources (HR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending July 28, 2006

Arrival

ABDEL-KADER, WAGIH G. SUMMER FACULTY HR

ARNOLD, VALANITA K. STUDENT CLERK R-II

BOROWITZ, JEFFREY A. STUDENT ENGINEER (CO-OP) NMSS

BROWN, NICOLE L. STUDENT CLERK ACRS

CHENG, CARMEN T. IT SPECIALIST (SYSANALYST) NMSS

EUL, RYAN C. PROJECT ENGINEER (RI DEVEL.PROGRAM) R-II

JOHNSON, WILLIAM D. CONSULTANT NRR

VILADE, CHARLES E. CONSULTANT COMM

Departures

SEIFRIED, JEFFREY E. STUDENT ENGINEER (COOP) NMSS
July 28, 2006 ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary (SECY)

Items of Interest

Week Ending July 28, 2006

Document Released

to Public

Date Subject

Decision Documents

1. SECY-06-0144 6/24/06 Proposed Reorganization of the Office of

Nuclear Reactor Regulation and Region II

SRM on 06-0144 7/21/06 (same)

Commission Voting on

06-0144

7/21/06 (same)

2. SECY-06-0152 7/7/06 Title 10 Code of Federal Regulations Part

72 License and Certificate of Compliance

Terms

Memoranda

1. M060726 7/26/06 Staff Requirements - Affirmation Session: I.

SECY-06-0140 - Pa'ina Hawaii, LLC,

Unpublished April 27, 2006 Memorandum

and Order (Accepting the Intervenor's and

NRC Staff's Joint Stipulation Regarding Two

Admitted Environmental Contentions); II.

SECY-06-0147 - David Geisen, LBP-06-13

(May 19, 2006); III. SECY-06-0148 - Exelon

Generation Company, LLC (Early Site

Permit for Clinton ESP), System Energy

Resources, Inc. (Early Site Permit for Grand

Gulf ESP); IV. SECY-06-0154 - Florida

Power & Light Co., et al., Docket Nos.

50-250-LT, et al., International Brotherhood

of Electrical Workers' "Petition to File Motion

to Intervene and Protest Out-of-time" and

"Motion for Hearing and Right to Intervene

and Protest"

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. Atomic Safety and Licensing Board, NOTICE (Notice of Opportunity to Make Oral or

Written Limited Appearance Statements), In the Matter of System Energy Resources, Inc.

(Early Site Permit for Grand Gulf ESP Site). 

2. Request for a license to import radioactive waste, AREVA NP, Inc.
July 28, 2006 ENCLOSURE P

Region II (RII)

Items of Interest

Week Ending July 28, 2006

Browns Ferry Management Meeting

On July 25, 2006, RII held a management meeting with representatives from Tennessee Valley

Authority at the Regional Office. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the Browns Ferry

Units 2 and 3 operating performance. 

Vogtle Regulatory Conference

On July 26, 2006, RII conducted a regulatory conference with representatives from Southern

Nuclear Operating Company, Inc. at the Regional Office. The purpose of the meeting was to

discuss the risk significance of a preliminary White finding involving a critique of a full-scale

exercise that did not identify a weakness.
July 28, 2006 ENCLOSURE P

Region IV (RIV)

Items of Interest

Week Ending July 28, 2006

Senior Management Change at Grand Gulf Nuclear Station

On July 25, 2006, Entergy Operations, Inc., announced that effective August 14, Russ Brian,

General Manager of Plant Operations at the Grand Gulf Nuclear Station will transition to the

interim role of Site Vice President. George Williams, the current Site Vice President for Grand

Gulf Nuclear Station, has announced he will leave Entergy in mid-August and assume new

responsibilities as a Senior Vice President of Utility Operations, for Commonwealth Edison

Company, a Chicago-based unit of Exelon. 

Diablo Canyon Power Plant Annual Assessment Public Meeting

On July 25, 2006, the staff conducted a public meeting in San Luis Obispo, California, to

discuss Diablo Canyon's safety performance for 2005. Approximately 40 people attended the

presentation, including representatives of Mothers for Peace, several members of the local

community, and Senator Feinstein’s regional representative. Questions and comments

received from the public were primarily focused in the areas of plant and independent spent fuel

storage installation (ISFSI) security, offsite emergency response, and the 9th Circuit Court of

Appeals decision involving the Diablo Canyon ISFSI. 

NRC Town Hall Meeting in San Luis Obispo, California

On July 25, 2006, the staff conducted a town hall public meeting in San Luis Obispo, California,

to discuss issues important to the community involving the Diablo Canyon Power Plant. 

Approximately 75 people attended the meeting, including representatives of Mothers for Peace,

a San Luis Obispo County Board Supervisor, members of both the press and television media,

several members of the local community, members of a pro-nuclear group from Virginia and

Senator Feinstein’s regional representative. Questions and comments received from the public

were primarily focused on the NRC's response to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling on the

Diablo Canyon ISFSI, ISFSI construction, emergency response, and security for the power

plant and spent fuel storage.
July 28, 2006 

Office of Congressional Affairs (OCA)

Items of Interest

Week Ending July 28, 2006

CONGRESSIONAL HEARING SCHEDULE, NO. 28

 OCAContact

 DATE & PLACE

TIME WITNESS SUBJECT 

Shane 07/25/06

2247 RHOB

2:00 TBA Re-Employing Retirees Rep. Port

Federal WOrganizaGovernm

Shane 07/26/06

SD-406(Tentative)

9:30 Markup S. 2348, Nuclear Release Notice Act

of 2006

Senators Environm

Shane 07/26/06

2247 RHOB

2:00 TBA Implementing Freedom of

Information Act

Reps. PlaGovernmand AccoGovernm

Combs 07/26/06

2212 RHOB

3:00 Linton Brooks, NNSA,

Charles Anderson, DOE,Michael Guhin, DOS,Matthew Bunn, Harvard U.

Plutonium and the U.S. Mixed OxideFuel Facility

Reps. EvStrategic Armed Se

Keeling 07/27/06

SD-406

9:30 TBA Review of Emergency Preparedness

and Response Mechanisms

Senators Environm

Combs 07/27/06

210 CHOB

10:00 Markup Chemical Facility Security Reps. Kin

Homeland 
CONGRESSIONAL HEARING SCHEDULE, NO. 28

 OCAContact

 DATE & PLACE

TIME WITNESS SUBJECT 

July 28, 2006 

Shane 07/28/06

SD-342

9:30 DHS, NSA, OMB, GAO Cyber Security Issues Senators 

Federal FGovernmInternatioHomeland  Affairs