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INFORMATION REPORT

SECY-07-0043

March 7, 2007

Contact: R. Taylor, OEDO

Enclosure A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR)
Items of Interest
Week Ending February 16, 2007

NRC Regulatory Issue Summary (RIS) 2007-02, "Clarification of NRC Guidance for Emergency Notifications During Quickly Changing Events"

On February 2, 2007, the staff issued the subject RIS. The RIS described that it is not permissible to restart the 15-minute notification clock if degrading plant conditions cause an escalation in the declared emergency while the notification for the previous declaration was in progress.

Public Meeting with Industry on Generic Safety Issue (GSI)-191

On February 7 and 8, 2007, the staff participated in a public meeting with the nuclear industry including the Nuclear Energy Institute, nuclear utilities, and vendors on GSI-191, "Assessment of Debris Accumulation on Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) Sump Performance." The primary focus of the meeting was chemical effects and downstream (in vessel) effects. In the chemical effects area, presentations from the sump strainer vendors and PWR Owner's Group indicate that the initial industry testing strategy to account for chemical effects has encountered challenges. Currently, Westinghouse is performing tests to support the revision of its chemical model. The sump strainer vendors are revising their test plans and most vendors indicated revised testing would initiate in the late spring to summer time frame. Licensees are evaluating a number of options to address chemical effects including removal of fibrous insulation, changes to the post-Loss of Coolant Accident (LOCA) containment pool buffer, ability to back-flush the strainer, and water management to prevent debris from reaching the sump strainer.

Meeting with Entergy Corporation on GSI-191

On February 9, 2007, the staff met with representatives of Entergy Corporation, the licensee for Indian Point, at NRC headquarters. Entergy described the existing containment sump configuration at Indian Point and the modifications completed or under consideration to address GSI-191. Entergy noted that both units will have much larger strainers installed by spring 2007, but that additional changes may be required to address chemical effects. Entergy discussed its strategy for handling post-LOCA debris, including a circuitous flowpath to the sumps through the incore instrumentation tunnel.

Enclosure B

Office of New Reactors (NRO)
Items of Interest
Week Ending February 16, 2007

North Anna Early Site Permit (ESP) Hearing

On February 8, 2007, counsel filed the staff's responses to the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board questions related to the Safety Evaluation Report for the North Anna ESP. This filing was in accordance with the Board's Order of January 18, 2007.

On February 8, 2007, the ASLB held a Limited Appearance Session in Louisa County, Virginia. About 30 members of the public presented their views.

Enclosure C

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS)
Items of Interest
Week Ending February 16, 2007

Meeting with Transnuclear Inc. (TN), to Discuss Amendment Request

On February 8, 2007, staff met with TN to discuss their January 12, 2007, Standardized NUHOMS® design, amendment 10, application. The amendment proposes to: (1) add two new high heat-load, high-burnup dry shielded canisters (DSCs); (2) add a high-seismic version of the horizontal storage module; and (3) change the authorized contents for the NUHOMS®-24PTH DSC and the NUHOMS®-32PT DSC. TN requested an expedited review of it's application. The staff stated at the meeting that, given the complexity of the review, and assuming all issues can be resolved with one Request for Additional Information, a typical time for completing a safety evaluation report for this type of amendment request is approximately 1 year.

Meeting with Holtec International to Discuss the HI-STAR 180 Transportation Package

On February 13, 2007, staff met with Holtec International, to discuss a new application for the HI-STAR 180 transportation package. The HI-STAR 180 is unique because it uses METAMIC®, a neutron absorber, for the fuel basket material. Holtec is also proposing a bolted dual lid configuration. Either lid can act as the containment boundary. Holtec provided an introduction and brief overview of the design and special features of the new package. The application was submitted January 10, 2007.

Meeting with Eureka County, Nevada, Officials

On February 14, 2007, the NMSS Director and staff met with a County Commissioner, the Director of Public Works, and nuclear waste consultants for Eureka County, Nevada. As a recipient of nuclear waste funds, the county conducts oversight of the Yucca Mountain project, including full participation in the National Environmental Policy Act process, relative to the proposed repository.

The county officials were particularly interested in NRC's process for deciding the extent to which it could adopt a final environmental impact statement for the repository. Eureka County officials' primary concerns relate to potential transportation impacts. Another topic of discussion was potential impacts of the Department of Energy's use of a Transportation, Aging, and Disposal Canister (TAD).

Enclosure H

Office of Information Services (OIS)
Items of Interest
Week Ending February 16, 2007

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Privacy Act (PA) Requests Received During the Period of February 9 through February 15, 2007:

Enclosure J

Office of Human Resources (HR)
Items of Interest
Week Ending February 16, 2007

Enclosure M

Office of Public Affairs (OPA)
Items of Interest
Week Ending February 16, 2007

The OPA received significant media inquiries on the following:

Indian Point's test of its new siren system and the Commission's decision not to conduct an independent safety assessment of the plant.

Detroit Edison's announcement that it intends to apply for a combined license for a new reactor at the Fermi plant site.

Other Public Affairs Items:

Commissioner McGaffigan was interviewed by National Public Radio for a profile that ran February 16 on "Morning Edition."

OPA Region II assisted at the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board's pre-hearing session in Waynesboro, Georgia regarding the Vogtle early site permit application.

Enclosure O

Office of the Secretary (SECY)
Items of Interest
Week Ending February 16, 2007

Commission Correspondence

1. Letter to Congressman Hinchey, Congresswoman Lowey, and Congressman Engel, dated February 15, 2007, responds to letter requesting the development of an independent assessment of the NRC's Reactor Oversight Process at the Indian Point nuclear power plant.

2. Letter to Congress, dated February 9, 2007, concerns NRC's competitive sourcing efforts for Fiscal Year 2006.

3. Letter to Congress, dated February 2, 2007, expresses appreciation for interest in the resources needed for NRC's anticipated increased workload and related hiring goals.

4. Letter to Dixon Butler and Kevin Cook, dated February 2, 2007, expresses appreciation for interest in the resources needed for NRC's anticipated increased workload and related hiring goals.

5. Letter to Mun-Ki Lee, Republic of Korea, dated February 2, 2007, expresses congratulations on new appoint in the Energy and Environment Coordination Bureau at the Ministry of Science and Technology.

6. Letter to Dr. Yuichi Tonozuka, Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA), dated February 2, 2007, responds to letter advising of his retirement as President of JAEA.

7. Letter to Takuya Hattori, Japan Atomic Industrial Forum, Inc, (JAIF) dated February 2, 2007, responds to invitation to participate in the upcoming 40^th JAIF Annual Conference.

8. Letter to Byung-Ryong Moon, Atomic Energy Bureau, dated February 2, 2007, express congratulations on new position as Director General for Nuclear Safety at the Ministry of Science and Technology.

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards, Subcommittee Meeting on Planning and Procedures" (03/07/2007).

2. Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards, Subcommittee Meeting on Future Plant Designs (03/07/2007).

3. Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards, notice of 540^th meeting (03/8-10/2007).

Enclosure P

Region II (RII)
Items of Interest
Week Ending February 16, 2007

Tennessee Valley Authority-Sequoyah Public Meeting

On February 13, 2007, representatives from the Tennessee Valley Authority attended a public meeting for the Sequoyah Nuclear Plant in the Region II Office. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the Annual Plant Status.

Enclosure R

Office of Congressional Affairs (OCA)
Items of Interest
Week Ending February 16, 2007

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