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INFORMATION REPORT

SECY-08-0193

December 19, 2008

Contact:
U. Shoop, OEDO

Enclosure A

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR)
Items of Interest
Week Ending December 12, 2008

Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) - Performance Demonstration Initiatives (PDI) Meeting

From December 2 - 3, 2008, the staff met with representatives of the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) - Performance Demonstration Initiatives (PDI). These meetings are conducted semiannually to discuss EPRI-PDI's implementation of the requirements of the ASME Code for ultrasonic testing (UT) qualifications and other UT issues of mutual interest.  The staff aggressively pursued EPRI-PDI for improvements of flaw sizing accuracy and on addressing conflicts and omissions of UT ASME Code qualifications. 

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 805 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Monthly Meeting

On December 4, 2008, the staff participated in a monthly public meeting with representatives from the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) NFPA Task Force, other stakeholders, and the public, to discuss the FAQs related to the adoption of NFPA 805.  During the meeting industry representatives announced that they would publish their positions on the issues covered by FAQ 08-0044, “Large Oil Fires,” FAQ 08-0046, “Incipient Fire Detection Systems,” and FAQ 08-0048, “Fire Ignition Frequency,” outside the FAQ process via a report to be issued in December 2008 by the Electric Power Research Institute.  The staff began holding these monthly public meetings in July 2006, and expects to continue holding them throughout the transition period to the new licensing basis.

Generic Fundamentals Examination

On December 10, 2008, the NRC administered its Generic Fundamentals Examination (GFE) to 79 license operator applicants at nine utilities across three of the Regions (no applicants from Region III). The GFE measures applicant knowledge in components, reactor theory, and thermodynamics, and is the first examination that license operator applicants must take and pass before they can proceed to their site specific training and subsequently take the NRC site‑specific license examination.

Observation of the National Nuclear Accrediting Board Meetings

From December 10 - 11, 2008, the Associate Director for Operating Reactor Oversight and Licensing observed four meetings of the National Nuclear Accrediting Board (NNAB).  The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) recognizes the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations managed accreditation as a means of meeting systems approach to training requirements.  Observation of the NNAB meetings allows NRC to monitor the implementation of programmatic aspects of the accreditation process, to understand what is happening with industry training programs, to assess the effectiveness of the accreditation process, and to determine the overall well-being of industry training programs.

Staff Issues Vogtle Electric Generating Plant License Renewal Final Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement

On December 11, 2008, the staff issued the Final Supplement 34 to NUREG-1437, "Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants," regarding Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2.  The supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) represents the completion of the staff's environmental review of the license renewal application submitted by Southern Nuclear Operating Company.

Enclosure B

Office of New Reactors (NRO)
Items of Interest
Week Ending December 12, 2008

Completion of Acceptance Review for Callaway Combined License Application (COLA)

On December 4, 2008, the staff docketed AmerenUE’s combined license application for an EPR reactor at the existing Callaway site near Fulton, Missouri.  This COLA incorporates by reference the EPR Design Control Document that was accepted for docketing by the NRC on February 25, 2008, and is currently under review by the staff.  AmerenUE, submitted the application on July 28, 2008, and supplemented it on September 24, 2008, and again on November 14, 2008, to resolve quality and sufficiency issues in Final Safety Analysis Report (FSAR) Section 2.5, Geology and Seismology.

Completion of Acceptance Review for Nine Mile Point, Unit 3 COLA

On December 4, 2008, the COLA for the proposed Nine Mile Point, Unit 3 (NMP3) was accepted for docketing.  Nine Mile Point 3 Nuclear Project, LLC, and UniStar Nuclear Operating Services, LLC (UniStar) submitted the COLA on September 30, 2008, and supplemented it on November 18, 2008, to resolve quality and sufficiency issues in FSAR Section 2.5, Geology and Seismology.  Although the acceptance review determined that the NMP3 COLA is complete and technically sufficient, the staff has identified issues in the area of seismology that have introduced uncertainty into the review schedule.  Consequently, the date for publishing a complete and integrated review schedule cannot be determined until additional information regarding these issues is received from the applicant.

Enclosure E

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES)
Items of Interest
Week Ending December 12, 2008

RES Category 2 Public Meeting to discuss Draft Regulatory Guide 1175 (DG-1175)

On December 9, 2008, RES/DE staff hosted a Category 2 public meeting to discuss public comments received on draft Regulatory Guide DG-1175 “Seismic Qualification of Electrical and Active Mechanical Equipment and Functional Qualification of Active Mechanical Equipment for Nuclear Power Plants” (RG 1.100 Rev 3).  Industry was represented by members of the seismic equipment qualification standards development committees from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and the Nuclear Utility Group on Equipment Qualification, engineering companies, the Nuclear Energy Institute, and licensees.  A good exchange of information occurred among the participants which led to a better understanding of the differing opinions on the technical issues.

Enclosure H

Office of Information Services (OIS)
Items of Interest
Week Ending December 12, 2008

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Privacy Act (PA) Requests Received During the Period of December 5, 2008 through December 11, 2008:

Enclosure J

Office of Human Resources (HR)
Items of Interest
Week Ending December 12, 2008

Enclosure M

Office of Public Affairs (OPA)
Items of Interest
Week Ending December 12, 2008

OPA Received Significant Media Inquiries on the Following:

Commission’s public meeting providing the status of all NRC uranium-mining programs

Event Notification report regarding an oil sheen spotted in the discharge canal at Indian Point nuclear plant in Buchanan, New York

Extreme weather conditions in the U.S. Northeast and its impact on area nuclear power plants

Other Public Affairs Items:

OPA coordinated a background interview with staff regarding the proposed Hyperion mini‑reactors and discussed the potential innovations and regulatory challenges that Hyperion would face.

Enclosure O

Office of the Secretary (SECY)
Items of Interest
Week Ending December 12, 2008

Federal Register Notices Issued

1. Notice of renewal of the Charter of the Licensing Support Network Advisory Review Panel.

Enclosure P

Region II (RII)
Items of Interest
Week Ending December 12, 2008

Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO)/NRC Senior Management Meeting

On December 8, 2008, several senior managers attended the INPO/NRC Senior Management meeting in Atlanta. This meeting was the annual public information exchange meeting between the NRC and INPO described in the INPO-NRC Memorandum of Agreement.

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