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Weekly Information Report - Week Ending August 29, 2008

Previous Weekly Information Report

All past reports can be found in our SECY Collection.

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

Contents

• Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
• Office of New Reactors
• Office of Federal and State Materials and Environmental Management Programs
• Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response
• Office of Administration
• Office of Information Services
• Office of Human Resources
• Office of Public Affairs
• Office of Secretary
• Office of Region II

• Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards
• Nuclear Regulatory Research
• Chief Financial Officer
• Small Business and Civil Rights
• Enforcement
• International Programs
• Region I
• Region III
• Region IV
• Executive Director for Operations
• Congressional Affairs

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR)

Safety Evaluation Report (SER) for the License Renewal of the Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant Issued

On August 21, 2008, the staff issued the Safety Evaluation Report related to the license renewal of Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant.  By letter dated November 14, 2006 Carolina Power & Light (CP&L), doing business as Progress Energy Carolinas, Inc., submitted an application for renewal of the operating license for Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant, Unit 1.  The Shearon Harris Nuclear plant is located in Wake County, North Carolina approximately 20 miles southwest of Raleigh, North Carolina.

Meeting with Nuclear Power Industry Representatives Regarding Research Activities Associated with Risk-Informing Appendix G to Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 50

On August 21, 2008, as part of the staff’s continuing effort to develop the technical basis, the staff participated in a meeting with industry representatives to discuss the status of research activities associated with risk-informing 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix G, which includes reactor vessel (RV) Charpy upper-shelf energy requirements, pressure-temperature limits, and minimum temperature requirements to maintain RV integrity during normal operation.  Staff and industry representatives discussed preliminary analyses and results, in addition to future plans and schedule.

Boiling Water Reactor Owner’s Group (BWROG) Meeting

On August 21, 2008, a Category 2 public meeting was held between the NRC staff and representatives of the BWROG at NRC Headquarters.  The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the ongoing NRC staff review of Licensing Topical Report (LTR) NEDO-33349, Revision 1, “BWR Application to Regulatory Guide (RG) 1.97 Revision 4,” including the NRC staff requests for additional information (RAIs).

Fire Protection Public Meeting on Circuit Failure Issue Resolution

On August 27, 2008, the staff participated in a Category 2 public meeting with Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) and industry stakeholders regarding the technical resolution of the issue of fire-induced circuit failures.  NEI and industry stakeholders plan to consider information from the meeting and plan to share their industry guidance document with the NRC in September or October of 2008.

Office of New Reactors (NRO)

Letter of Intent Received by Alternate Energy Holdings, Inc.

On August 22, 2008, the staff received a letter from Alternate Energy Holdings, Inc. (AEHI) dated August 14, 2008, stating that the anticipated submittal date for the Idaho Energy Complex combined license application will be during the fourth quarter of 2009.  AEHI stated that the proposed facility would be located in Elmore County, near Hammett, Idaho.     

NRO Letter Issued to Army Corps of Engineers Regarding Memorandum of Understanding and Participation as Cooperating Agency on Environmental Impact Statements

On August 25, 2008, the staff issued a letter to the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), stating that the NRC will continue working with them to update the 1975 memorandum of understanding (MOU) allowing the Corps to participate as a cooperating agency on environmental impact statements (EISs) for nuclear power plants.  On August 26, the NRC and Corps met to continue drafting the updated MOU.

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

Public Meetings Held for the Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS) for In-Situ Leach Uranium Mills

On August 25, 27, and 29, 2008, staff held public meetings for the Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS) for In-Situ Leach Uranium Milling Facilities  in Spearfish, South Dakota; Chadron, New England; and Newcastle, Wyoming.  The purpose of these meetings was to discuss and accept public comments on the draft GEIS, which was made available for public comment on July 28.  The meetings were well attended with a mix of industry, ranchers, and Native Americans.  There was a verbal request to extend the public comment period which currently closes on October 7. 

Savannah River Site Performance Assessment Delivered

On August 25, 2008, as part of continuing NRC staff consultations with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) on non-high-level waste determinations pursuant to Section 3116 of the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005, DOE delivered to NRC staff a performance assessment (PA) for the F-Tank Farm (FTF) at the Savannah River Site.  The FTF PA was developed by DOE and takes into consideration generic technical issues that DOE has discussed with NRC staff, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency since December 2006.  The FTF PA was prepared by DOE to provide a technical basis for the eventual closure of the FTF underground radioactive waste tanks and ancillary equipment.  DOE is requesting comments and questions that NRC staff may have in advance of DOE’s planned fall 2009 submittal of a draft FTF waste determination basis document.

Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response (NSIR)

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)-Sponsored Emergency Preparedness (EP) Focus Group Forums

On August 20, 2008, NRC staff attended the last of the FEMA-sponsored 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 St. Paul, Minnesota.  Comments from the stakeholders included requesting more Federal agency participation in accordance with the National Response Framework, noting that the Emergency Classifications for Hostile Action Based initiators trigger a Site Area Emergency or General Emergency Classification sooner than other initiating conditions requiring more offsite protective actions, and the evaluation standards for “Crisis Action” during a hostile action need to be addressed in addition to the “Consequence Management” response in place now.

Office of Administration (ADM)

National Resources Defense Council; Receipt of Petition for Rulemaking (PRM-50-90)

On August 25, 2008, NRC published a document (73 FR 49965) in the Federal Register that reopened the public comment period on a petition for rulemaking submitted by the Natural Resources Defense Council (PRM-50-90).  The petitioner requests that the NRC amend its regulations governing production and utilization facilities and the regulations governing special nuclear material.  The petitioner requests the NRC to establish a date after which it will no longer license the use or export of highly enriched uranium except for restricted use by a few specialized facilities.  A number of interested stakeholder groups requested additional time to prepare and submit comments on the requested action.  The comment period has been reopened and now closes September 25, 2008.

Contract Award for Enterprise Interface Gateway

A labor hour contract, NRC-33-08-341, was awarded to Radius Technology Group, Inc, Silver Spring, Maryland to provide support for the analysis and prototype of the Enterprise Interface Gateway for the Enterprise Project Management System.  The period of performance is August 25, 2008, through June 25, 2009.  The total estimated cost of the contract is $866,256.30.  

Office of Information Services (OIS)

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Privacy Act (PA) Requests Received During the Period of August 22, 2008 through August 28, 2008:

Approval of Records Retention Schedules

On August 22, 2008, the Information and Records Services Division received notification of approval from the National Archives and Records Administration for two records disposition schedules covering three NRC Information Systems.  These schedules cover the following NRC information systems: 

1. The Management Directive-7.15 System is used to prepare an annual report to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and periodic internal reports for use by NRC management; 



2. The Strategic Workforce Planning System; and



3. The Senior Executive Services Succession Planning System which assists the Office of Human Resources in managing NRC employees’ critical skills.

Approval of the schedules enables the NRC to dispose of records associated with these systems when they reach the end of their lifecycle and have no further legal, fiscal, or operational value to the agency.

Office of Human Resources (HR)

Office of Public Affairs (OPA)

OPA Received Significant Media Inquiries on the Following:

NRC receipt of a press release by the City of New York requesting participation in the license renewal application of Indian Point nuclear power plant (New York); new siren system in service; proposal to add cooling towers

Commission’s denial of two requests for hearing on the Entergy restructuring plan

Rise in radiation levels inside the plant and the temporary evacuation of workers at Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant (Vermont)

NRC response to the conviction of the final defendant in the Davis-Besse nuclear plant trials (Ohio)

Criteria for plant shutdown and preparation for hurricanes at Waterford nuclear power plant (Louisiana)

NRC receipt of petition by Nevadans urging the agency to docket the Yucca Mountain license application

Other Public Affairs Items:

OPA coordinated an interview with the Federal Times explaining that the twenty percent increase in Senior Executive Service top rating is due to outstanding performance in preparing for new Combined License applications, the Yucca Mountain application and timely nationwide nuclear power plant license renewals as well as playing catch-up to other federal agencies.

Office of the Secretary (SECY)

Commission Correspondence

1. Letter to Congress, dated August 19, 2008, provides supplemental NRC information on the Next Generation Nuclear Plant report for consideration by the Congress.

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. Proposed rule.  Criminal Penalties; Unauthorized Introduction of Weapons, 10 CFR Part 73, RIN 3150-AI31 [NRC-2008-0458].



2. Notice of Appointment of Adjudicatory Employees, AMERGEN ENERGY COMPANY, LLC (License Renewal for Oyster Creek), Docket No. 50-219-LR.



3. Request for a License to Import Radioactive Waste, Eastern Technologies, Inc., Application No. IW025. 



4. Advisory Committee on the Medical Uses of Isotopes:  Call for Nominations. 



5. Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards, Subcommittee Meeting on Thermal-Hydraulic Phenomena, notice of meeting (9/23/2008).



6. Establishment of Atomic Safety and Licensing Board, FPL Energy, Point Beach, LLC (Point Beach Nuclear Plant, Unit 1). 

Region II (RII)

MOX and Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc. Site Visits

On August 26-27, 2008, the Regional Administrator and the Deputy Regional Administrator for Construction visited the MOX facility and Vogtle nuclear plant for site tours and met with licensee management.

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Monday, September 15, 2008