INFORMATION REPORT 

August 25, 2008 SECY-08-0122

For: The Commissioners 

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

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING 

AUGUST 15, 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 Tamara Bloomer for/ 

Vonna L. Ordaz 

Assistant for Operations, OEDO 

Contact: 

U. Shoop, OEDO 
August 25, 2008 SECY-08-0122

For: The Commissioners 

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

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING 

AUGUST 15, 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 Tamara Bloomer for/ 

Vonna L. Ordaz 

Assistant for Operations, OEDO 

Contact: 

U. Shoop, OEDO 

DISTRIBUTION: 

EDO r/f 

AO r/f Document Name: G:\AO\WIR\2008\Week0815.doc 

OEDO AO/OEDO 

UShoop (TBloomer for) VLOrdaz (TBloomer for) 

08/25/08 08/25/08 

 ML082380653
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING AUGUST 15, 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 15, 2008 ENCLOSURE A 

 Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending August 15, 2008 

Omaha Public Power District - Appointment of New Site Vice President for Fort Calhoun Station 

(FCS)

By letter dated July 30, 2008, Omaha Public Power District announced the appointment of 

Mr. Jeffrey A. Reinhart as the new Site Vice President for FCS, Unit 1. Mr. Reinhart was 

previously an assignee to FCS from the Institute for Nuclear Power Operations (INPO). 

Mr. Reinhart assumed responsibility effective August 4, 2008, and reports to Mr. David J. 

Bannister, Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer. 

Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) Sponsored Mitigating Systems Performance Index Workshop

On August 11 to 13, 2008, the staff participated in a NEI-sponsored public workshop on the 

Reactor Oversight Process Mitigating Systems Performance Index (MSPI) in San Francisco, 

California. The purpose of the workshop was to discuss current issues with the MSPI, review 

recent industry experience from lessons learned events, provide refresher training for new MSPI 

stewards, and provide training on INPO’s Consolidated Data Entry database used for 

transmitting data to the NRC. 

Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for License Renewal of Shearon 

Harris Unit 1 Issued

On August 13, 2008, the staff issued the Final Supplement 33 regarding Shearon Harris Nuclear 

Power Plant, Unit 1. The Final SEIS represents the completion of the staff’s environmental 

review of the license renewal application for the Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant, Unit 1. 

The report contains the NRC’s finding that there are no environmental impacts that would 

preclude license renewal for an additional 20 years of operation. 

License Renewal Application for Kewaunee Power Station (KPS)

On August 14, 2008, Dominion Energy Kewaunee submitted an application for renewal of the 

operating license for the KPS to the NRC staff. The application requests that the operating 

license for KPS be renewed for an additional 20 years beyond the current 40-year term, 

pursuant to 10 CFR, Parts 51 and 54. KPS, a pressurized water reactor designed by 

Westinghouse, has a current operating license that expires at midnight on December 21, 2013. 

The staff is currently determining whether the application is sufficient for docketing, and if it is, 

plans to hold a public information session near the plant site in the near future. Information on 

this meeting will be posted on the NRC public meeting website to describe the license renewal 

process. 
August 15, 2008 ENCLOSURE B 

 Office of New Reactors (NRO) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending August 15, 2008 

Plant Vogtle Early Site Permit (ESP) Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) Issued

On August 15, 2008, the Plant Vogtle ESP FEIS was delivered to the Atomic Safety and 

Licensing Board Panel. Copies of the FEIS were mailed to the service list and delivered to the 

United States Environmental Protection Agency on the same day. The FEIS was also made 

available on the Vogtle webpage on August 15, 2008. The Notice of Availability (NOA) will 

appear in the Federal Register on Friday, August 22, 2008. The date for the NOA meets the 

schedule published on the Vogtle webpage. 

Pre-Application Meeting for Toshiba 4S Reactor

On August 8, 2008, the staff met with representatives of Toshiba and Westinghouse for a 

pre-application presentation of a Phenomena Identification and Ranking Table (PIRT) for the 

Toshiba 4S (Super-Safe, Small and Simple) reactor. A television crew from Japan filmed 

portions of the meeting and conducted interviews before and afterward with members of the preapplicant team. 
August 15, 2008 ENCLOSURE D 

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

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending August 15, 2008 

Onsite Observation Visit to the United States Department of Energy Idaho National Laboratory

During the week of August 11, 2008, staff, in coordination with the State of Idaho, conducted an 

Onsite Observation Visit to the United States Department of Energy Idaho National Laboratory 

as part of the NRC’s overall monitoring responsibilities under the Ronald Reagan Defense 

Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (NDAA). The purpose of the visit was to observe 

activities related to the disposal of incidental waste. The specific items that the staff and the 

State of Idaho focused on were: process line grout formulation and placement, environmental 

sampling, and radiation protection. 

United States Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Workshop in Salt Lake City, Utah

On August 12, 2008, staff made a presentation on the NRC’s role in regulating uranium milling 

at a workshop hosted by the United States Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Salt Lake City, 

Utah. The purpose of the workshop was for the BLM to gain a greater understanding of the 

roles of other Federal and State agencies in the regulation, permitting, and licensing of uranium 

mills. NRC staff will be interacting with BLM during our reviews of license applications for new 

uranium mills. 

NRC Issues Manufacturer and Distributor Order to Best Theratronics Ltd.

On August 14, 2008, the staff issued the Manufacturer and Distributor Order for additional 

security measures to Best Theratronics Ltd. In April 2008, Best Theratronics purchased MDS 

Nordion’s self-contained irradiator and teletherapy product line. The Order is effective 

immediately. 
August 15, 2008 ENCLOSURE F 

 Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response (NSIR) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending August 15, 2008 

PNO-III-08-008A – Palisades Nuclear Plant

On August 9, 2008, the Palisades plant resumed operation after a maintenance outage to 

replace leaking control rod drive (CRD) seals that commenced on August 5. The reactor 

became critical at 6:48 p.m. EDT on August 9, and the main generator synchronized to the grid 

at 4:31 a.m. on August 10. The licensee replaced five CRD seals during the outage. 

Emergency Preparedness (EP) Focus Group Forums

On August 13, 2008, NRC staff attended the 18th in a series of 19 FEMA-sponsored EP focus 

group forums, with discussions of draft preliminary language regarding proposed changes to 

scenario demonstration criteria that will support NRC EP rulemaking changes. The focus group 

was conducted in Charlotte, North Carolina, and was attended by representatives from 

Radiological Health and Emergency Management agencies for the States of North Carolina and 

South Carolina, plume exposure counties, local law enforcement/fire, and licensees. In general, 

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

less predictive. Specific comments emphasized the need for the proposed guidance changes to 

be flexible, allowing for greater negotiation of extent of play. Representatives also 

recommended expanding the current 6-year exercise cycle to allow scenarios to be less 

predictive. 
August 15, 2008 ENCLOSURE G 

 Office of Administration (ADM) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending August 15, 2008 

Medical Use of Byproduct Material – Amendments/Medical Event Definitions (RIN 3150-AI26, 10 

CFR Part 35)

On August 6, 2008, NRC published a proposed rule (73 FR 45635) in the Federal Register that 

would amend the regulations governing the reporting and notification of medical events. The 

proposed rule would clarify requirements for permanent implant brachytherapy by changing the 

criteria for defining a medical event from dose-based to activity-based and make other conforming 

and clarifying changes. The comment period for this action closes October 20, 2008. 

Petitions for Rulemaking; Denial (PRM-51-10 and PRM-51-12)

On August 8, 2008, NRC published a document (73 FR 46204) in the Federal Register denying 

nearly identical petitions for rulemaking submitted by the Attorney General of the Commonwealth of 

Massachusetts (PRM-51-10) and the Attorney General of California (PRM-51-12). The petitioners 

requested rulemaking concerning the environmental impacts of the high-density storage of spent 

nuclear fuel in large water pools known as spent fuel pools. The petitioners asserted that new and 

significant information shows that the characterization of environmental impact as insignificant was 

incorrect. The NRC denied the petitions because it determined that the studies on which the 

petitioners rely do not constitute new and significant information and that the NRC has met and 

continues to meet its obligations under the National Environmental Protection Act. 

Alternate Fracture Toughness Requirements for Protection Against Pressurized Thermal Shock 

Events (RIN 3150-AI01, 10 CFR Part 50)

On August 11, 2008, NRC published a supplemental proposed rule (73 FR 46557) in the 

Federal Register to address several changes in the October 3, 2007 (72 FR 56275), proposed rule 

on the Alternate Fracture Toughness Requirements for Protection Against Pressurized thermal 

Shock Events issue to address concerns expressed in stakeholder comments. In the supplemental 

proposed rule, the NRC is considering the adoption of new provisions regarding the procedures to 

perform surveillance data checks related to the updated fracture toughness requirements for 

protection against pressurized thermal shock events. The comment period for this action closes 

September 10, 2008. 

Contract Award for the Meta System Helpdesk Operation

On August 11, 2008, a firm fixed price contract (NRC-33-08-330) was awarded to Aqiwo, Inc., 

Arlington, Virginia, under the Small Business Administration’s 8(a) Program. The contractor will be 

responsible for establishing a dedicated call center for end users of NRC Meta System applications 

and business processes that is scaled to handle an anticipated significant increase in call volume in 

the near future. The period of performance of the contract is August 11, 2008, through August 10, 

2009, with three additional option years. The total estimated amount of the contract, including 

option years, is $2,156,606.67. 
August 15, 2008 ENCLOSURE H 

 Office of Information Services (OIS) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending August 15, 2008 

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

of August 8, 2008 through August 14, 2008: 

Millstone Unit 2, all exams administered for new reactor operator and 

new senior reactor operator licenses, January 1, 2002 to present FOIA/PA-2008-0296 

Indian Point emergency sirens, self-assessment of Entergy’s actions 

related to the emergency siren order issued in January 2006, 

report/memo only FOIA/PA-2008-0297 

IMPAC card holder listing, updated since March 26, 2007 FOIA/PA-2008-0298 

Geomatrix Consultants Inc., draft report, “Investigation of the 

Quarternary Structural & Tectonic Character of the Meers Fault,” 

(Southwestern Oklahoma), submitted to NRC, NRC-04-87-007, 1993 FOIA/PA-2008-0299 

Draft Guideline 5022, “Cyber Security Programs for Nuclear Facilities,” 

(ML081400825) FOIA/PA-2008-0300 
August 15, 2008 ENCLOSURE J 

 Office of Human Resources (HR) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending August 15, 2008 

Arrivals 

ADAMONIS, JACLYN REACTOR SYSTEMS ENGINEER NRO 

BETANCOURT, LUIS DIGITAL I&C ENGINEER RES 

BONE, ALYSIA RELIABILITY AND RISK ANALYST 

(NSPDP) 

RES 

BORGES, JENNIFER SECRETARY (OA) RES 

BUCHER, MATTHEW CONTRACT SPECIALIST ADM 

BUSH, TYESHA SECRETARY (OA) NRO 

CHAPMAN, GREGORY HEALTH PHYSICIST NMSS 

CURRIE, SEAN REACTOR ENGINEER/EXAMINER NRR 

DIAZ, MARILYN GENERAL ENGINEER/PHYSICAL 

SCIENTIST 

NMSS 

FARIA, CAROLYN GENERAL ENGINEER OE 

GUO, LIFENG HYDROGEOLOGIST FSME 

HEILIG, CHRISTOPH PERSONNEL SECURITY SPECIALIST ADM 

HENDZEL, DOROTHY PROGRAM ANALYST RI 

HERNANDEZ, NICHOLAS PROJECT ENGINEER RIV 

HERNANDEZ, PETE GENERAL ENGINEER (NSPDP) OE 

JOSEPH, STACEY PROJECT MANAGER NRO 

KEIGHLEY, ELIZABETH REACTOR ENGINEER (NSPDP) RI 

LEDFORD, JOSEPH PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER PA 

LIBBY, EARL PROJECT MANAGER NRO 

METZGER, BRIAN FIRE PROTECTION ENGINEER NRR 

MEYER, MATTHEW GENERAL PHYSICAL SCIENTIST FSME 

MILLER, DEBORAH ANN SECRETARY (OA) FSME 

MONTGOMERY, CARLOS TRAINING PROGRAM SPECIALIST HR 

NEVET, SHALOM SR. IT SPECIALIST OIS 

OUSLEY, ELIZABETH BRANCH CHIEF OIS 

PERKINS, RICHARD RELIABILITY/RISK ENGINEER RES 

PURTSCHER, PATRICK MATERIALS ENGINEER NRR 

RICH, SARAH REACTOR ENGINEER RI 

SANCHEZ, JESUS PERSONNEL SECURITY SPECIALIST ADM 
August 15, 2008 ENCLOSURE J 

SHAW, BRIAN IT SPECIALIST (SYSANALYSIS) OIS 

SPAULDING, DEIRDRE ELECTRONICS ENGINEER NRO 

ZEITLER, MICHAEL MANAGEMENT ANALYST OIG 

Departures 

ALEXANDER, SARAH ELIZABETH STUDENT ENGINEER (SUMMER) RII 

BACKUS, ERIC STUDENT ENGINEER RIII 

BARTHOLOMEW, AARON STUDENT ENGINEER RIV 

BENNER, KERRI STUDENT SECURITY SPECIALIST NSIR 

BURLESON, KELLY STUDENT COMMUNICATIONS 

SPECIALIST 

ASLBP 

CHAMBERS, ALEX STUDENT ENGINEER RIV 

CHAZELL, RUSSELL STUDENT ENGINEER NRO 

CLARKE, JAMES FRANCIS STUDENT CLERK ACRS 

CONLEY, CASEY STUDENT ENGINEER RIV 

COOPER, DOMINIQUE STUDENT CLERK NMSS 

CRAIG, SETH STUDENT ENGINEER (SUMMER) RII 

CROSTIC, JOHN STUDENT BUDGET ANALYST CFO 

DIGIOVANNA, ERIC STUDENT FINANCIAL ANALYST ACRS 

EL TELEATY, SHADIA SUMMER FACULTY RES 

FIGUEROA-ORTIZ, GLADYS STUDENT ENGINEER RES 

FONG, CHRISTOPHER NUCLEAR SAFETY INTERN RII 

GREEN, MATTHEW LEE STUDENT INFORMATION 

SPECIALIST 

ADM 

GUZMAN, JESSICA STUDENT ENGINEER RIV 

HATHORN, JAMES STUDENT ENGINEER (SUMMER) RII 

HELM, JONATHAN REACTOR INSPECTOR (NSPDP) RII 

JANBERGS, HOLLY STUDENT CONGRESSIONAL 

AFFAIRS ASST. 

OCA 

JOHNSON, IMA INTELLIGENCE ASSISTANT NSIR 

JURIS, KRISTA STUDENT INFO SECURITY SPEC ADM 

KERN, LUDWIG STUDENT ENGINEER NRR 

KUL, STEPHANIE STUDENT LAW CLERK OGC 

KUNTZ, NATHAN STUDENT CLERK NMSS 

LACROIX, COURTNEY STUDENT SECURITY SPECIALIST NSIR 

LAM, NATHANIEL STUDENT CLERK RES 

LE, SOPHIE STUDENT SCIENTIST (CO-OP) FSME 
August 15, 2008 ENCLOSURE J 

LYNCH, STEVEN STUDENT ENGINEER FSME 

MORGAN, THOMAS STUDENT ENGINEER NRR 

PATTERSON, KASARAH STUDENT CLERK NMSS 

RUSSO, GENEVIEVE STUDENT ENGINEER NRO 

SCHUMAN, MICHAEL STUDENT PERSONNEL SECURITY 

SPECIALIST (CO-OP) 

ADM 

SKAGGS RYAN, TERESA STUDENT ENGINEER RIV 

SPIVEY, MARY SECRETARY (OA) RIV 

THOMAS, KYLE STUDENT FINANCIAL MNGT 

ANALYST 

ACRS 

VIRGEN, MATTHEW STUDENT ENGINEER RES 

ZARE, DAVID STUDENT CLERK NRR 
August 15, 2008 ENCLOSURE M 

 Office of Public Affairs (OPA) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending August 15, 2008 

OPA Received Significant Media Inquiries on the Following:

New emergency notification system at Indian Point nuclear power plant (New York) 

Seven percent power uprate at Millstone nuclear power plant Unit 3 (Connecticut) 

Restart of Browns Ferry Unit 1 (Alabama) 

NRC response to Babcock & Wilcox agreement to acquire Nuclear Fuel Services (Tennessee) 

Nuclear academic programs and government funding; increasing nuclear demand and public 

interest 

NRC response to the press release on prohibition on the use of highly enriched uranium (HEU) 

at research reactors 

Other Public Affairs Items:

OPA coordinated C-SPAN taping of the NRC emergency planning meeting with the Federal 

Emergency Management Agency and state representatives to discuss emergency preparedness 

and hostile action issues. 

OPA participated in a phone interview with an Idaho TV station answering questions about the 

NRC’s review process for combined license applications. 

OPA spoke to Science magazine clarifying the NRC’s role in licensing a potential Next 

Generation Nuclear Plant (NGNP), and pointed out technical areas which need increased 

knowledge in order to properly evaluate an NGNP application. 

Press Releases 

Headquarters: 

08-151 Levy County Application for New Reactors 

Available on NRC Website (8/15) 

08-150 NRC, DOE Give Congress Licensing Strategy 

for Next-Generation Nuclear Plant (8/15) 

08-149 NRC Approves Power Uprate for Millstone Nuclear Power Plant (8/12) 

08-148 NRC Releases Review of Doe’s Hanford Waste Treatment Plant (8/12) 

08-147 NRC Issues Supplemental Proposed Rule Improving Reactor Vessel 

Requirements (8/11) 

Regions: 

II-08-042 NRC Staff Proposes $16,250 Fine Against Global Nuclear Fuels for Violations at 

Wilmington Nuclear Fuel Plant (8/14) 
August 15, 2008 ENCLOSURE M 
August 15, 2008 ENCLOSURE O 

 Office of the Secretary (SECY) 

 Items of Interest 

 Week Ending August 15, 2008 

Document Released 

to Public Date Subject 

Decision Documents 

1. SRM-SECY-08-0083 08/12/08 Proposed Rule Establishing Criminal Penalties for 

the Unauthorized Introduction of Weapons into 

Facilities Designated by the NRC 

 Commission Voting 

 Record on SECY-08-0083 

08/12/08 (same) 

Information Papers

1. SECY-08-0108 07/28/08 Summary of Activities Related to Generic Issues 

Program 

2. SECY-08-0116 08/12/08 Weekly Information Report – Week Ending 

August 1, 2008 

Memoranda

1. M080813 08/13/08 SRM- SECY-08-0091 – In the Matter of Pa’ina 

Hawaii, LLC, Materials License Application 

Commission Sua Sponte Review of Board 

Decision to Admit Contention on Potential Health 

Effects of Irradiated Foods. 

SECY-08-0109 – Dominion Nuclear Connecticut, 

Inc. (Millstone Power Station, Unit 3), Connecticut 

Coalition Against Millstone and Nancy Burton 

Appeal of LBP-08-09. 

SECY-08-0114 – United States Department of 

Energy (High Level Waste Repository) – State of 

Nevada’s Request for Extension of Time to File 

Request for Hearing – SRM SECY-08-0072. 

Commission Correspondence

1. Letter to Congress, dated August 4, 2008, provides the report entitled, Review of the United 

States Department of Energy’s Regulatory Process for the Hanford Waste Treatment Plant. 

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. Establishment of Atomic Safety and Licensing Board (ASLB), Progress Energy Carolinas, 

Inc. (Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant, Units 2 and 3). 

2. Establishment of ASLB, Crow Butte Resources, Inc. (In Situ Leach Uranium Recovery 

Facility).