INFORMATION REPORT

June 9, 2006 SECY-06-0135

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING

JUNE 2, 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/

William M. Dean

Assistant for Operations, OEDO

Contact:

L. Rakovan, OEDO
June 9, 2006 SECY-06-0135

For: The Commissioners

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

Subject: WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING

JUNE 2, 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/

William M. Dean

Assistant for Operations, OEDO

Contact:

L. Rakovan, OEDO

DISTRIBUTION:

Central File

Public Document Name: C:\WIR\week602.WPD

OEDO AO/OEDO

LRakovan:paa WMDean

06/08/06 06/09/06
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING JUNE 2, 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 STP *

NMSS 4 OPA 17

RES 8 OIP *

NSIR 9 SECY 19

OGC * Region I *

ADM 10 Region II *

OIS 11 Region III 22

CFO * Region IV 23

HR 15 EDO *

SBCR * OCA 24

OE * ACRS/ACNW *

*No input this week
June 2, 2006 ENCLOSURE A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending June 2, 2006

Staff Audits ESBWR Piping Design, Analysis, and RAI Responses at General Electric

During the week of May 22, 2006, NRR staff and contractors from Brookhaven National

Laboratory conducted an audit of the Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor (ESBWR)

piping design and analysis at the General Electric (GE) Nuclear Energy facility in Wilmington,

North Carolina. Discussions were also held on GE’s responses to requests for additional

information (RAIs) in the piping area. The audit was in support of the piping design review of

GE’s application for design certification of the ESBWR. A public exit meeting was held on

May 26, 2006, to discuss the results of the audit. The staff expects GE to provide revised

responses to the RAIs.

Biennial Program Review of Operator Licensing Function in Region III

During the week of May 29, 2006, NRR staff and management performed a biennial review of

the operator licensing function in Region III. The review is part of an effort to evaluate the

administration of delegated operator licensing functions within the Regions and to collect

Regional management and examiner feedback on the examination process. 

Environmental Site Audit at Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station

During the week of May 22, 2006, the staff and Argonne National Laboratory conducted an

environmental site audit at Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station, as part of the staff’s license

renewal application review. The team examined the data used by Entergy in preparation of the

Environmental Report, which is part of the license renewal application for Vermont Yankee. 

The site audit team toured the plant, the site, and surrounding environs and met with Entergy’s

environmental subject experts, plant operating staff, State of Vermont officials, and

representatives of the Fish and Wildlife Service. The site audit team also met with State

officials in Montpelier, Vermont, and local government officials in Vermont, New Hampshire,

and Massachusetts.

Dominion Early Site Permit (ESP) Application for North Anna ESP Site

On May 24, 2006, Dominion provided a response to the NRC's RAI letter dated May 10, 2006,

related to Revision 6 of the North Anna ESP application. Dominion plans to incorporate the RAI

responses and issue Revision 7 of the North Anna ESP application by June 21, 2006, in

accordance with North Anna ESP review schedule issued by the staff on May 4, 2006.

Fort Calhoun Sump Modifications - Public Meeting with Omaha Public Power District (OPPD)

On May 24, 2006, members of NRR staff met with representatives from OPPD to discuss the

licensee's response to Generic Letter (GL) 2004-02, “Potential Impact of Debris Blockage on

Emergency Recirculation During Design Basis Accidents at Pressurized-Water Reactors,” for

the Fort Calhoun facility. The licensee requested the meeting to discuss its plan to seek an

extension in time to comply with the requirements of the GL. The GL requires all identified
June 2, 2006 ENCLOSURE A

modifications to be completed by the end of 2007. The licensee discussed a proposal to extend

the completion schedule for modifications to coincide with its planned refueling outage in Spring

2008. This proposed schedule is based on (1) removal of the Tri-Sodium Phosphate and the

use of an alternative buffer, and (2) increasing its strainer area from 56 to 1100 square-feet. 

The licensee plans to implement these changes during the Fall 2006 outage to justify the 3-4

month extension. The staff expects to receive a docketed extension request from OPPD in the

near future.

Public Meeting on Fort Calhoun Crane Issues

On May 24, 2006, the NRR staff met with representatives from the OPPD to discuss its

analyses of the crane and auxiliary building structures at the Fort Calhoun Station for dry cask

loading conditions. The licensee discussed the details of its calculations and described the

methods used to assure that the design standard and stress limits have been met. The NRC

staff requested an example of the most highly stressed building member to review in greater

detail. The licensee plans to submit the additional calculation for NRC staff review in the near

future.

Peach Bottom, Unit Nos. 2 and 3, Hope Creek, and Salem, Unit Nos. 1 and 2 License Transfers

On May 30, 2006, the NRC issued an Order approving the direct transfers of the Facility

Operating Licenses for the subject facilities from PSEG Nuclear, to Exelon Generation

Company, LLC (EGC). The license transfers involve the transfer of PSEG Nuclear’s ownership

interests in Peach Bottom, Hope Creek, and Salem, and its licensed operating authorities for

Hope Creek and Salem due to the pending merger of PSEG Nuclear’s parent company, Public

Service Enterprise Group, into Exelon Corporation, EGC’s parent company.
June 2, 2006 ENCLOSURE B

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS)

Items of Interest

Week Ending June 2, 2006

Volcanic Activity Work at the University of Bristol and Cambridge University, Great Britain

From May 22-25, 2006, staff from the Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses visited its

subcontractors with the University of Bristol and Cambridge University. The purpose of the visit

was to review subcontractor progress on investigations to support the NRC staff’s analysis of

potential magma/repository interactions at the proposed Yucca Mountain Repository. Plans

were finalized and schedules developed for completion of the investigations.

Louisiana Energy Services (LES) Management Meeting

On May 23, 2006, NRC staff from NMSS, the Office of the General Counsel, the Office of

Administration, Region II, and the Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response held a

management meeting with staff from LES. In the meeting, NRC and LES staffs discussed the

status of licensing activities, coordination of inspection activities, International Atomic Energy

Agency safeguards, and the NRC security clearance process. NRC and LES staffs both noted

that the coordination and communications throughout the licensing process had been good.

Fort Belvoir Decommissioning Activities - License Termination

On May 24, 2006, NRC terminated License No. 19-10306-02 for the U.S. Department of the

Army’s Building 7304 (Vault) property located at Fort Belvoir, VA. The Army conducted

decommissioning activities at the Fort Belvoir site from March 2004 to November 2005. In

accordance with its approved decommissioning plan, the Army submitted a final status survey

report demonstrating that the site meets the unrestricted release criteria defined in its license. 

In addition, the Army submitted a dose assessment which demonstrates that the site meets the

unrestricted release criteria of 10 CFR Part 20, Subpart E. The staff's evaluation of the Army’s

request for license termination is documented in a Safety Evaluation Report dated May 24,

2006 (ML061090356).
June 2, 2006 ENCLOSURE C

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES)

Items of Interest

Week Ending June 2, 2006

Meeting on Human Performance Research with Department of Defense’s Army Research

Laboratory (DOD-ARL)

On May 22, 2006, RES and Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation staff participated in the

subject meeting at Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG). The purpose of this meeting was to

inform NRC staff of human performance research performed at APG while gathering

information about ARL's capabilities in alternative strategies, collaboration, and resolution of

human performance issues. RES staff plans to continue collaborating with DOD-ARL to

complete the operator workload project.

Ground-Water Performance Confirmation Monitoring Workshop Held on May 22-23, 2006

RES held the subject training workshop to discuss the newly-developed integrated groundwater monitoring strategy. This information, which is designed for use in reviewing site-specific

ground-water monitoring programs in conjunction with site performance modeling, is assisting

NRC inspectors and staff in their evaluation of ground-water contaminant pathways, release

rates, and migration assessments related to subsurface radiological leaks at nuclear facilities. 

Workshop attendees included Agreement State regulators from Mississippi, Ohio, and Utah. 

Third Meeting of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development/Nuclear Energy

Agency Rig-of-Safety-Assessment (ROSA) Program Review Group

On May 22-23, 2006, RES staff attended the subject meeting in Valencia, Spain to discuss two

tests conducted at the ROSA facility. The tests were a small break loss of coolant accident

(SBLOCA) simulation of the thinning of the vessel upper head found at Davis Besse and a

SBLOCA simulation of the flaw found on the vessel bottom head at South Texas. Preliminary

results were presented on actual accident sequences, system indications, and the effectiveness

of certain accident management strategies. This information will be used to enhance the

NRC’s thermal-hydraulic knowledge base on safety issues, and the data will be used to validate

the TRACE code. 

Meeting of the Committee on Geological and Geotechnical Engineering of the National

Academy of Science

On May 25-26, 2006, RES staff participated in the subject meeting which was focused on

identifying emerging geologic and geotechnical study areas related to national issues of hazard

mitigation and risk assessment. RES staff presented an overview of technical issues

associated with ongoing research to assess performance of engineered waste isolation

facilities. Of special interest to the NRC were discussions of performance of surface and

subsurface engineered barriers, landslide and seismic hazard assessment and mitigation,

risk-based assessment of dams, and development of a proposed national underground

research facility for assessing subsurface processes and rock stability.
June 2, 2006 ENCLOSURE C

Publication of Regulatory Guide (RG) 1.205, “Risk-Informed, Performance-Based Fire

Protection for Existing Light-Water Nuclear Power Plants”

On May 26, 2006, RES issued RG 1.205, “Risk-Informed, Performance-Based Fire Protection

for Existing Light-Water Nuclear Power Plants.” The RG, prepared by the Office of Nuclear

Reactor Regulation, provides guidance for use in complying with the requirements that the NRC

has promulgated for risk-informed, performance-based fire protection programs that meet the

requirements of Title 10, Section 50.48(c), of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR

50.48(c)) and the referenced 2001 Edition of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)

standard, NFPA 805, “Performance-Based Standard for Fire Protection for Light-Water Reactor

Electric Generating Plants.” The RG is available in ADAMS at ML061100174 and on the NRC

website at 

http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/reg-guides/power-reactors/active/01-205/01-

205.pdf

Publication of Revision 1 to Regulatory Guide 8.38, “Control of Access to High and Very High

Radiation Areas in Nuclear Power Plants” 

On May 31, 2006, RES issued Revision 1 to RG 8.38, “Control of Access to High and Very High

Radiation Areas in Nuclear Power Plants.“ The revised RG clarifies the terminology related to

the physical barriers that licensees could use to prevent unauthorized personnel access to high

and very high radiation areas. In addition, staff included recent references that discuss industry

experiences with high and very high radiation areas. The RG is available in ADAMS

(ML061350096) and will soon be available on the NRC website.
June 2, 2006 ENCLOSURE D

Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response (NSIR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending June 2, 2006

Preliminary Notification

- PNO-II-06-001A, Catawba Nuclear Station,-UPDATE--LOSS OF OFFSITE POWER AND

DUAL UNIT REACTOR TRIP.
June 2, 2006 ENCLOSURE F

Office of Administration (ADM)

Items of Interest 

Week Ending June 2, 2006

Revision of Fee Schedules; Fee Recovery for Fiscal Year (FY) 2006 (AH83 - Parts 170

and 171)

On May 30, 2006, a final rule that amends the licensing, inspection, and annual fees charged to

the Commission’s applicants and licensees was published in the Federal Register (71 FR

30722). The final rule ensures NRC compliance with the Omnibus Budget and Reconciliation

Act of 1990, as amended. The Act mandates that the NRC recover approximately 90 percent

of its budget authority in FY 2006, less amounts appropriated from the Nuclear Waste Fund

and for Waste Incidental to Reprocessing activities. The amount to be recovered for FY 2006

is approximately $625 million. The final rule becomes effective July 31, 2006.

List of Approved Spent Fuel Storage Casks: VSC-24 (Amendment 6), Confirmation of Effective

Date (AH87- Part 72)

On May 30, 2006, the NRC published a document in the Federal Register (71 FR 30576)

confirming the June 5, 2006, effective date for a direct final rule that amends the VSC-24 entry

in the list of approved spent fuel storage casks (Amendment 6). This action modifies the

present cask system design to revise Technical Specification requirements related to periodic

monitoring during storage operation under a general license.
June 2, 2006 ENCLOSURE G

Office of Information Services (OIS)

Items of Interest

Week Ending June 2, 2006

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

May 26 through June 01, 2006:

Complaint re: alleged importing of tritium watches without a license FOIA/PA-2006-0210

Wackenhut security at NRC-controlled facilities, all information FOIA/PA-2006-0211

Active contracts re: IT, finance, accounting, administrative support,

conference planning, logistical & facility support services; title of

contract, start & end date, contract manager

FOIA/PA-2006-0212

IMPAC cardholders/Purchase cardholders FOIA/PA-2006-0213

50.59 Annual Reports for Nine Mile Point, Monticello, Robinson, &

Turkey Point, 1999 to present

FOIA/PA-2006-0214

OI report 4-2004-035 FOIA/PA-2006-0215

Device registration, NR-399-D-101-E, & exempt distribution license

file for G.E. Ion Track, Inc.

FOIA/PA-2006-0216

Security clearance file on named individual FOIA/PA-2006-0217
June 2, 2006 ENCLOSURE I

Office of Human Resources (HR)

Items of Interest

Week Ending June 2, 2006

Arrival

GREENBERG, HOLLY STUDENT ENGINEER RES

ONG, LONG D. Y. CONSULTANT NSIR

OTERO-GONZÁLEZ, LAURA L. STUDENT HIRE HR

SPRADLEY, LEAH L. STUDENT ENGINEER ACRS

TSIRIGOTIS, ALEXANDER MECHANICAL ENGINEER NRR

VOSS, PATRICIA J. STUDENT ENGINEER R-III

WYMER, RAYMOND G. CONSULTANT ACRS

Retirements

ERESIAN, WARREN J. REACTOR ENGINEER (EXAMINER

QUALIFIED)

NRR

GILLEN, DANIEL M. DEP DIR, DECOMM DIRECTORATE NMSS

GRIMES, CATHERINE S. SENIOR BUDGET ANALYST RES

GRIMES, CHRISTOPHER I. DEPUTY DIRECTOR, DIV OF

ENGINEERING

NRR

HODGES, MARVIN W. DEP DIR, TECHNICAL REVIEW

DIRECTORATE

NMSS

LOACH, ROBERT E. HUMAN RESOURCES INFO

TECHNOLOGY MGR

HR

MONROE, KRISTIN L. OPERATIONIS OFFICER OI

SHEPARD, ALZONIA W. SR. REGULATIONS SPECIALIST ADM
June 2, 2006 ENCLOSURE M

Office of Public Affairs (OPA)

Items of Interest

Week Ending June 2, 2006

The Office of Public Affairs (OPA) received significant media inquiries on the following:

The 9th Circuit Appeals Court’s ruling that NRC must consider effects of potential terrorist

attacks in environmental reviews of new nuclear facilities.

NRC’s public meeting with AmerGen regarding drywall liner corrosion at Oyster Creek.

Neutron detectors missing from the spent fuel pool at Pilgrim.

NRC’s inspection at Catawba following last week’s Unusual Event.

Press Releases

Headquarters:

06-073 NRC Publishes Licensing, Inspection and Annual Fees for Fiscal Year 2006

(5/30)

06-074 NRC Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste to Meet in Rockville, Maryland,

June 6-7 (5/31)

06-075 NRC’s Revised Differing Professional Opinions Program Assessed (5/31) 

06-076 NRC Staff Approves Transfer of Operating Licenses for Salem, Hope Creek and

Peach Bottom (5/31)

06-077 NRC Seeks Public Comment on Draft Standard Review Plan for DOE Waste

Determinations (6/1)

06-078 NRC to Hold Public Meeting June 15 on Proposal to Establish “Technology

Neutral” Requirements for Licensing New Reactors (6/1)

Regions:

I-06-035 NRC Proposes $3,250 Civil Penalty for Elizabeth, Pa., Firm Over Temporary

Loss of Nuclear Gauge (5/30) 

II-06-032 NRC to Present Results of Catawba Nuclear Power Plant Inspection at Rock Hill

Meeting May 31 (5/30)
June 2, 2006 ENCLOSURE O

Office of the Secretary (SECY)

Items of Interest

Week Ending June 2, 2006

Document Released

to Public

Date Subject

Decision Documents

1. COMNJD-06-0004/

COMEXM-06-0006

04/07/06 Streamlining the NRR Rulemaking Process

SRM on COMNJD-06-

0004/COMEXM-06-0006

05/31/06 (same)

Commission Voting

Record on COMNJD-06-

0004/COMEXM-06-0006

05/31/06 (same)

2. SRM-SECY-06-0097 06/02/06 Proposed Rulemaking to Amend 10 CFR

Parts 19, 20, and 50: Occupational Dose

Records, Labeling Containers, and the Total

Effective Dose Equivalent (RIN 3150-AH40)

Commission Voting

Record on 06-0097

06/02/06 (same)

Information Papers

1. SECY-06-0123 05/26/06 Weekly Information Report - Week Ending

May 19, 2006

2. SECY-06-0114 05/13/06 Description of the Construction Inspection

Program for Plants Licensed Under 10 CFR

Part 52

3. SECY-06-0099 05/04/06 Energy Policy Act of 2005 Implementation

Status

Memoranda

1. M060503B 06/01/06 Staff Requirements - Briefing on Status of

Risk-Informed and Performance-Based

Reactor Regulation
June 2, 2006 ENCLOSURE O

2. M060602 06/02/06 Staff Requirements - Affirmation Session: I.

SECY-06-0116 - Louisiana Energy Services,

L.P. (National Enrichment Facility)

Intervenors’ Petition for Review of LBP-06-

08 and LBP-06-09; II. SECY-06-0120 -

Andrew Siemaszko, Docket No. IA-05-021,

Unpublished Licensing Board Order

(December 22, 2005)
June 2, 2006 ENCLOSURE P

Region III (RIII)

Items of Interest

Week Ending June 2, 2006

Meetings with Senator Voinovich’s District Representatives

On May 31- June 1, 2006, Region III and Office of Congressional Affairs staff met with District

representatives of Senator Voinovich in Cleveland, Toledo, and Columbus, Ohio. The meetings

were conducted as part of the Congressional District Outreach program and to provide the

District representatives with an NRC point of contact and basic information on NRC's

organization and mission.
June 2, 2006 ENCLOSURE P

Region IV (RIV)

Items of Interest

Week Ending June 2, 2006

Cooper Nuclear Station Performance Assessment Public Meeting

On May 30, 2006, the staff conducted a Category 1 public meeting in Brownville, Nebraska, to

discuss Cooper Nuclear Station’s safety performance for 2005. Participants included Nebraska

Public Power District managers and Region IV staff. Approximately 35 people attended the

presentation, including a representative from the state of Nebraska.

Columbia Generating Station Performance Assessment Public Meeting

On June 1, 2006, the staff conducted a Category 1 public meeting in Richland, Washington, to

discuss the annual assessment of the Columbia Generating Station for 2005. Participants

included Energy Northwest managers and Region IV staff. Approximately 25 people attended

the meeting, including 3 members of the public.
June 2, 2006 

Office of Congressional Affairs (OCA)

Items of Interest

Week Ending June 2, 2006

CONGRESSIONAL HEARING SCHEDULE, NO. 21

 OCAContact

 DATE & PLACE

TIME WITNESS SUBJECT 

Shane 06/12/06

SD-366

2:30 DOE Next Generation of Nuclear Plant

Project within the Department ofEnergy

Senators Energy a

Shane TBA

TBA

TBA TBA New Nuclear Power Plants Reps. Ba

Energy a

Shane 06/22/06

TBA

9:30 NRC, GAO, NEI, UCS GAO Report on Reactor Oversight

Process and other topics

Senators Clean Air

Nuclear SEnvironm

The Senate and House of Representatives are in recess until June 5 and 6, respectively.