INFORMATION REPORT 

September 3, 2008 SECY-08-0126

For: The Commissioners 

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

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING 

AUGUST 22, 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 
September 3, 2008 SECY-08-0126

For: The Commissioners 

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

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING 

AUGUST 22, 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\Week0822.doc 

OEDO AO/OEDO 

UShoop VLOrdaz ML082490603 

09/03/08 09/03/08 
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING AUGUST 22, 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: 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 
August 22, 2008 ENCLOSURE A 

 Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending August 22, 2008 

Dresden Unit 3 - Notice of Enforcement Discretion (NOED)

On August 17, 2008, the Exelon Generation Company requested an NOED to address the 

failure of a drywell floor drain sump containment isolation valve. The valve failure rendered the 

floor drain system inoperable and prevented the licensee from meeting its technical specification 

requirement to monitor unidentified reactor coolant system leakage. Inability to monitor 

unidentified reactor coolant system leakage required a plant shutdown. 

The Dresden Unit 3 drywell consists of two similar sump systems, the floor drain sump and the 

equipment drain sump. The licensee was granted an NOED for 7 days to allow it time to 

reconfigure the drywell floor and equipment drain sumps such that the equipment drain sump 

could be used to monitor all drywell leakage (identified and unidentified), and to authorize a 

technical specification change to allow the licensee to operate in this configuration. 

10 CFR 50.55a Amendment to Update ASME Codes

On August 18, 2008, the Executive Director for Operations approved a final rule that amends 10 

CFR 50.55a to incorporate by reference the 2004 Edition of Division 1 of Section III of the 

American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (BPV 

Code); the 2004 Edition of Division 1 of Section XI of the ASME BPV Code; and the 2004 Edition 

of the ASME Code for Operation and Maintenance of Nuclear Power Plants (OM Code). These 

additions provide updated rules for constructing and inspecting components and testing pumps 

and valves in light-water nuclear power plants. This action is in accordance with the NRC’s 

policy to periodically update § 50.55a to incorporate new editions and addenda of the ASME 

Codes by reference. ASME Codes are national voluntary consensus standards, and, as such, 

are required by the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-

113, to be used by government agencies unless the use of such a standard is inconsistent with 

applicable law or otherwise impractical. 

Environmental Audit of Prairie Island License Renewal Application

During the week of August 18, 2008, the staff conducted an environmental site audit at the 

Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant as part of its license renewal review. In accordance with 

a Memorandum of Understanding with the Prairie Island Indian Community (PIIC), a 

representative of the PIIC participated in site audit activities pertaining to socioeconomics, land 

use, and environmental justice. In addition, two observers from the PIIC accompanied the staff 

during an archaeological tour of the site. 
August 22, 2008 ENCLOSURE B 

 Office of New Reactors (NRO) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending August 22, 2008 

Issuance of Interim Staff Guidance on Assessment of Normal and Extreme Winter Precipitation 

Loads on the Roofs of Seismic Category I Structures for Use and Comment

On August 18, 2008, the staff posted the subject Interim Staff Guidance on the NRC website for 

public comment. The ISG presents the staff's position on identifying winter precipitation events 

as site characteristics and site parameters for determining normal and extreme winter 

precipitation loads on the roofs of Seismic Category I structures. 

Issuance of a Supplement to Proposed Interim Staff Guidance on Limited Work Authorizations

On August 21, 2008, the staff posted the subject Interim Staff Guidance, for use and comment. 

This guidance is intended to clarify the delineation of preconstruction activities and those 

activities that require prior NRC approval (i.e., construction activities). 
August 22, 2008 ENCLOSURE D 

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

Items of Interest 

Week Ending August 22, 2008 

Chairman and NRC Staff Visit a Uranium Recovery Facility

On August 20, 2008, staff from FSME, the Office of Congressional Affairs, the Office of Public 

Affairs, and Region IV accompanied Chairman Klein on a visit to the NRC-Licensed PRI Smith 

Ranch in situ leach uranium recovery facility in Wyoming. U.S. Senator Barrasso and the 

Deputy Director, Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality also participated. The group 

learned about the future plans for the facility, toured the central processing plant, and visited with 

the staff at the facility. 

Organization of Agreement States (OAS) Annual Meeting Held 

From August 18-21, 2008, the Ohio Department of Health Radiation Protection hosted the 2008 

OAS meeting in Columbus, Ohio. A number of NRC senior leaders, including the Chairman, 

and Commissioner Lyons, and members of NRC staff, attended some or all of the meeting. The 

OAS consists of state radiation control directors and staff from the 35 Agreement States who are 

responsible for implementation of their respective Agreement State programs. OAS provides a 

mechanism for those States to work with each other and with NRC on regulatory issues 

associated with their respective agreements. 
August 22, 2008 ENCLOSURE E 

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES) 

Items of Interest 

Week Ending August 22, 2008 

Publication of Report on “Cladding Embrittlement During Postulated Loss-of-Coolant Accidents”

On August 21, 2008, the final published version of NUREG/CR-6967, “Cladding Embrittlement 

During Postulated Loss-of-Coolant Accidents,” was made available to the public through 

ADAMS. This report provides test results that could be used to establish the technical basis for 

revision of 10 CFR 50.46(b) to accommodate burnup effects. 
August 22, 2008 ENCLOSURE F 

 Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response (NSIR) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending August 22, 2008 

Emergency Preparedness (EP) Focus Group Forums

On August 19, 2008, NRC staff attended the 19th in a series of 20 Federal Emergency 

Management Agency (FEMA)-sponsored Emergency Preparedness (EP) focus group forums, 

with discussions of draft preliminary language regarding proposed changes to scenario 

demonstration criteria that will support FEMA and NRC EP rulemaking changes. The focus 

group was conducted in Jackson, MS, and was attended by representatives from Radiological 

Health and Emergency Management agencies for the State of Mississippi and plume exposure 

counties, as well as a local fire department representative for Grand Gulf Station. In general, 

comments were supportive of the proposed changes to make scenarios more challenging and 

less predictive. However, stakeholders indicated that the use of natural events (i.e., hurricanes, 

tornados) should be minimized since these would involve a regional response effort outside the 

evaluation scope for radiological EP exercises. 

Emergency Response Data System

On August 19, 2008, NRC staff published the latest Emergency Response Data System (ERDS) 

Modernization Newsletter. The newsletter provides project related activities performed during 

June and July and is designed to keep stakeholders abreast of the ongoing activities related to 

the ERDS modernization effort. The newsletter is located in ADAMS # ML071010182. 
August 22, 2008 ENCLOSURE G 

 Office of Administration (ADM) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending August 22, 2008 

Clarified Requirements When Licensees Depart from a License Condition or Technical 

Specification in an Emergency; Proposed Generic Communication – Part 50

On August 15, 2008, the NRC published a document (73 FR 47853) in the Federal Register that 

requested public comment on a proposed regulatory issue summary. The proposed issuance 

would clarify the application of regulatory requirements when licensees implement regulations 

that allow them to depart from a license condition or technical specification in an emergency 

situation. The comment period for this action closes October 14, 2008. 
August 22, 2008 ENCLOSURE H 

 Office of Information Services (OIS) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending August 22, 2008 

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

of August 15, 2008 through August 21, 2008: 

NUREG-0020, Vol. 4, N12, Licensed Operating Reactors Status 

Summary Report 

FOIA/PA-2008-0301 

Contract between Re/Max Allegiance Relocation Services and GSA 

(GS-23F-0202L) including all enclosures, addendums, attachments, 

summaries, interpretations and usage rules etc. 

FOIA/PA-2008-0302 

Information pertaining to named individual while employed at the 

Nevada Test Site in Mercury, Nevada 

FOIA/PA-2008-0303 

Tripler Army medical incident involving I131 dated 6/19/90; Queens 

Hospital, Hawaii, December 2, 1991, all records 

FOIA/PA-2008-0304 

Contract between the Federal Government and Turner Construction 

Company and/or its subsidiary Roane-Anderson regarding property 

management of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, 1940's 

FOIA/PA-2008-0305 

Oyster Creek, review of the metal fatigue analyses for the recirculation 

nozzles since April 1, 2008 

FOIA/PA-2008-0306 

Nuclear Information and Records Management Association 2008 Conference 

Staff members from the Information and Records Services Division attended the Nuclear 

Information and Records Management Association 2008 Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada 

from August 10-13, 2008. The conference provided NRC employees the opportunity to learn 

about current issues related to information management, information technology, records 

management, and document control. 

Bimonthly Records and Information Discussion Group Meeting 

On August 20, 2008, staff from the Information and Records Services Division attended a 

Bimonthly Records and Information Discussion Group held by the National Archives and 

Records Administration. Discussions were held on, proposed Records Management 

Regulations, and new Electronic Records Management tools and guidance. Detailed 

demonstrations were also provided on the Federal Records Center’s Program, and the Archives 

and Records Centers Information System. 
August 22, 2008 ENCLOSURE J 

Office of Human Resources (HR) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending August 22, 2008 

Arrivals 

LAWRENCE, TIMOTHY STUDENT CLERK RES 

MEEKS, MICHAEL OPERATIONS ENGINEER/OPERATIONS 

EXAMIN RII 

Retirements 

SLAGGIE, E SPECIAL COUNSEL TO THE SOLICITOR OGC 

Departures

BARR, EDWARD STUDENT INVESTIGATIONS SPECIALIST ADM 

BASUMALLICK, PRIYANKA STUDENT CLERK FSME 

BATTLE, STEPHANIE STUDENT CLERK NSIR 

FREEMAN, ERIC STUDENT ENGINEER (CO-OP) NMSS 

FYNAN, DOUGLAS STUDENT ENGINEER RES 

GIBSON, JAMES STUDENT ELECTRICAL ENGINEER (CO-OP) NRO 

HOFFMAN, ADAM GENERAL ENGINEER (NSPDP) NRR 

JONES, LYNDSEY STUDENT CLERK OGC 

KOTTKE, ALBERT STUDENT ENGINEER RES 

LACROIX, COURTNEY STUDENT SECURITY SPECIALIST NSIR 

MARSDEN, JESSICA STUDENT MANAGEMENT ASSISTANT ACRS 

MEDLEY, MONTIA STUDENT CLERK NSIR 

POWERS, ROSS STUDENT ENGINEER NSIR 

RIFFLE, ASHLEY STUDENT SCIENTIST (CO-OP) FSME 

ST PIERRE, ANNA JEAN HUMAN RESOURCES SPECIALIST HR 

THOMPSON, ANNA STUDENT CONTRACT SPECIALIST (CO-OP) ADM 
August 22, 2008 ENCLOSURE J 

WALKER, SHAMICA SYSTEMS PERFORMANCE ANALYST FSME 

WHITED, JEFFREY STUDENT ENGINEER NRR 

WYNN, COURTNEY STUDENT CLERK OIP 
August 22, 2008 ENCLOSURE M 

Office of Public Affairs (OPA) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending August 22, 2008 

OPA Received Significant Media Inquiries on the Following:

License renewal and power uprates for Susquehanna nuclear power plant (Pennsylvania) 

Nuclear plant occupational radiation low dose levels 

NRC Commission ruling rejecting Nevada’s petition to block docketing of the Yucca Mountain 

application (Nevada) 

Seismic risks at Indian Point nuclear power plant (New York); Federal Emergency Management 

Agency’s final approval of the design report for the plant’s new siren system 

The Commission’s decision to allow an extension of time that enforcement discretion would 

apply to plants transiting to the National Fire Protection Association 805 standard. 

Other Public Affairs Items:

OPA facilitated interviews between Chairman Klein with the Denver Post and the Associated 

Press mostly about mining issues, new reactors and waste scheduling issues. 

OPA Region II facilitated an interview for Mark Clayton of the Christian Science Monitor with 

Timothy Johnson regarding proliferation issues related to the GE Silex test loop uranium 

enrichment plat at Wilmington, North Carolina. 

OPA supported an outreach meeting on an anticipated application for a new reactor at the Bell 

Bend site near the existing Susquehanna nuclear power plant in northeastern Pennsylvania. 

Press Releases 

Headquarters: 

08-158 NRC Licensing Board to Webcast Sept. 3 Session on Lee Reactor Application as 

Part of Pilot Program (8/20) 

08-157 NRC to Hold Public Meeting at its Headquarters to Solicit Ways to Increase 

Public Access to Security Information (8/20) 

08-156 NRC Reports Lowest Average Occupational Dose Ever for Nuclear Power Plant 

Workers in 2007 (8/19) 

08-155 NRC Finds No Significant Environmental Impacts From Extended Operation of 

Harris Nuclear Plant (8/19) 

08-154 NRC Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards to Meet September 4-6 in 

Rockville, Maryland (8/19) 

08-153 NRC Seeking Roundtable Participants for September Public Meeting on the Use 

of Radioactive Cesium-137 Chloride Sources (8/19) 

08-152 NRC Issues Final Environmental Impact Statement for Vogtle Early Site Permit 

(8/18) 
August 22, 2008 ENCLOSURE O 

Office of the Secretary 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending August 22, 2008 

Document Released 

to Public 

Date Subject 

Decision Documents

1. SRM-COMSECY-08-0022 8/19/08 Request for an Extension of Discretion for 

the Interim Enforcement Policy for Fire 

Protection Issues on 10 CFR Section 

50.48(c), “National Fire Protection 

Association Standard NFPA 805” 

Commission Voting Record 

on COMSECY-08-0022 

(same) (same) 

2. SECY-08-0115 8/6/08 Proposed Rule: 10 CFR 51.22, “Criterion for 

Categorical Exclusion; Identification of 

Licensing and Regulatory Actions Eligible for 

Categorical Exclusion or Otherwise not 

Requiring Environmental Review” (RM#644) 

Information Papers

1. SECY-08-0119 8/15/08 Weekly Information Report – Week Ending 

August 8, 2008 

Memoranda

1. M080822 8/22/08 SRM- Affirmation Session, 9:35 a.m., Friday, 

August 22, 2008, Commissioners’ 

Conference Room, One White Flint North, 

Rockville, Maryland (Open to Public 

Attendance) I. SECY-08-0081 – Entergy 

Nuclear Operations, Inc. (Pilgrim Nuclear 

Power Station), Application for Order 

Approving Indirect Transfer of Control of 

Licenses (Filed July 30, 2007) II. SECY-08-

0087 – U.S. DOE (HLW Repository) – 

Petitions of the State of Nevada and Dr. 

Jacob Paz to Reject the Department of 

Energy’s (DOE) Application to Construct a 

Geologic Repository at Yucca Mountain, 

Nevada. 
August 22, 2008 ENCLOSURE O 

Commission Correspondence

1. Letter to Dr. Do-Yeon Kim, Republic of Korea, dated August 14, 2008, responds to 

invitation to participate in the Republic of Korea’s Radiological Emergency Exercise in 

October, in Korea. 

2. Letter to Congress, dated August 13, 2008, provides the NRC/DOE report to Congress on 

licensing strategy for the Next Generation Nuclear Plant. 

3. Letter to W.E. Cummins, Westinghouse Electric Company, dated August 11, 2008, 

responds to letter requesting permission to disclose Safeguards Information (SGI) 

related to AP1000 security to selected personnel at Eskom Holdings Limited. 

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS), notice of 555th meeting 

 (September 04-06, 2008). 

2. Natural Resources Defense Council; Receipt of Petition for Rulemaking; Reopening of 

Public Comment Period, 10 CFR Part 50, Docket No. PRM-50-90, NRC-2008-0279. 

3. ACRS, Meeting of the ACRS Subcommittee on Reliability and Probabilistic Risk 

Assessment, notice of meeting (September 30, 2008). 

4. Establishment of Atomic Safety and Licensing Board (ASLB), Florida Power and Light 

Company (Turkey Point Nuclear Plant Units 3 and 4). 
August 22, 2008 ENCLOSURE P 

Region II (RII) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending August 22, 2008 

Duke Energy Corporation – Public Management Meeting

On August 21, 2008, representatives from the Duke Energy Corporation attended a public 

meeting in the Region II Office. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the causal analysis 

and corrective actions moving ahead for the reactor coolant pump seal failures at the Oconee 

Nuclear Plant. 
August 22, 2008 ENCLOSURE P 

Region IV (RIV) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending August 22, 2008 

Meeting with Nebraska Public Power District

On August 21, 2008, the staff met with representatives of Nebraska Public Power District in the 

Region IV office to discuss performance at Cooper Nuclear Station and the status of the 

station’s performance improvement plan. The public meeting was held at the request of the 

licensee. The licensee discussed their preparations for an upcoming supplemental inspection to 

be conducted during the first half of November 2008.