Weekly Information Report - Week Ending August 20, 2010
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: L. Rakovan, OEDO
Contents
- Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
- Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards
- Federal and State Materials and Environmental Management Programs
- Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research
- Office of Administration
- Office of Information Services
- Human Resources
- Office of Public Affairs
- Office of Secretary
The following offices had no information for this issue:
- New Reactors
- Nuclear Security and Incident Response
- Chief Financial Officer
- Small Business and Civil Rights
- Enforcement
- International Programs
- Region I
- Region II
- Region III
- Region IV
- Executive Director for Operations
- Congressional Affairs
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR)
Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station License Renewal Draft Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) Issued for Public Comment
On August 12, 2010, the staff issued the draft of NUREG-1437, “Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants, Supplement 43, Regarding Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, Units 1, 2, and 3,” for public comment. This SEIS includes the staff’s preliminary analysis that considers and weighs the environmental effects of the proposed action, the environmental impacts of alternatives to the proposed action, and mitigative measures available for reducing or avoiding adverse impacts. It also includes the staff’s preliminary recommendation that the adverse environmental impacts of license renewal for Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, Units 1, 2, and 3, are not so great that preserving the option of license renewal for energy planning decision-makers would be unreasonable. The public comment period is scheduled to end on October 29, 2010. The staff has scheduled public meetings on September 15, 2010, in Tonopah and Avondale, Arizona, to present its analyses and accept public comments on the draft SEIS.
Public Meeting on 50.46(b) Emergency Core Cooling System (ECCS) Acceptance Criteria
On August 12, 2010, the staff conducted a Category 3 public meeting to provide a status update on the 50.46(b) ECCS acceptance criteria rulemaking and also to allow the industry to present its project plan to provide plant specific ECCS performance assessments to the NRC. This information is necessary in light of recent research findings which identified previously unknown embrittlement mechanisms and will supplement a preliminary safety assessment conducted by the staff (ADAMS Accession No. ML090340073).
Fire Protection Meeting on National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 805 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
On August 19, 2010, the staff held a Category 2 public meeting with the Nuclear Energy Institute NFPA Standard 805 Task Force, other stakeholders, and the public to discuss the FAQs related to licensees’ adoption of NFPA 805. The staff began holding these monthly public meetings in July 2006 and expects to continue holding them at least throughout the transition period for the pilot plants adopting NFPA 805.
Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS)
Meeting with the Blue Ribbon Commission Subcommittee
On August 10, 2010, NRC staff observed a public meeting of the Transportation and Storage Subcommittee of the Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future. The meeting provided a forum for a number of external stakeholders, including industry, state and local government officials, and members of the public to provide information and insights on the continued storage of spent fuel at away-from-reactor sites. Comments included support for development of centralized interim storage of spent fuel to allow removal of spent fuel from decommissioned sites, such as Maine Yankee, while a permanent disposal solution is sought. Staff will continue to follow the Blue Ribbon Commission activities.
Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (FSME)
Public Meetings on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Proposed AREVA Enrichment Services, LLC (AES) Eagle Rock Enrichment Facility in Bonneville County, Idaho
On August 9 and 12, 2010, staff conducted public meetings in Boise and Idaho Falls, Idaho, respectively, to gather public comments on the Draft EIS for the proposed AES uranium enrichment facility to be located near Idaho Falls in Bonneville County, Idaho. The staff provided an overview of the licensing and environmental review process and presented the preliminary conclusions from the Draft EIS (NUREG-1945). Attendees included State and local officials; supporters of the proposed facility; individuals opposing the proposed facility; and individuals from Boise, Idaho Falls, and other nearby communities. The NRC received comments on a variety of topics, including storage, transportation, and disposal of depleted uranium; environmental impacts of pre-construction; public and occupational health; ecological resources; and socioeconomic, groundwater, and transportation impacts. The period to provide comments on the Draft EIS ends on September 13, 2010.
Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES)
RES Staff Seeks Digital Systems and Software Knowledge from National Science Foundation Program and Other Federal Agencies
On August 10-12, 2010, RES staff participated in a National Science Foundation “Cyber-Physical Systems” (CPS) program meeting for technical exchange across medical, automobile, aircraft, energy, and other applications of software-reliant digital systems (various types of CPS) and, in cooperation with technical staff from the Office of New Reactors, organized a special interest group (SIG) on “Research Needs in Certifiable CPSs.” The SIG attracted participants from the Air Force Research Labs, Office of Naval Research, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), CalTech’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Boeing, Ford, and five universities. Further technical interchange will continue in a virtual community online at http://www.cps-vo.org/faceted_search/results/taxonomy%3A126.
RES Staff Seeks Digital Systems and Software Knowledge from NASA and JPL
On August 13, 2010, under the NRC-NASA memorandum of understanding, RES staff met with researchers from JPL and NASA headquarters to learn from their operating experience in flight-critical software. NASA and JPL staff will make available to NRC over 13,000 anomaly reports from unmanned space missions and related knowledge about methods for root cause analysis; related NASA standards, requirements, and guidelines; and related lessons learned. RES intends to extract from these reports information about credible failures and faults and causes that could occur in digital systems and software used in nuclear power plants.
Office of Administration (ADM)
Extended Functionalities in Support of New Reactor Licensing
On August 5, 2010, as a result of a competitive General Services Administration (GSA) schedule solicitation, a firm fixed-price task order (NRC-33-10-337) was awarded to Ruland Associates, Inc. of Kearnesyville, West Virginia for professional information technology services to continue the operation, maintenance, and support of a number of subsystems and integrations previously developed for the NRC to support an increased volume of new reactor license applications. The period of performance is September 30, 2010, through September 29, 2011, with a 1-year option period. The total cost is $1,143,253.78, inclusive of all options.
Decommissioning Financial Assurance Reviews
On August 11, 2010, as a result of a competitive GSA schedule solicitation, a labor hour task order (NRC-DR-41-10-003) was awarded to ICF Incorporated, LLC of Fairfax, Virginia to provide assistance to the Office of Federal and State Materials and Environmental Management Programs with the review of licensee submittals related to decommissioning financial assurance. Such submittals include, but are not limited to: financial documents and instruments, financial assurance certifications, financial ratings, decommissioning cost estimates, and decommissioning funding plans. The period of performance is August 11, 2010, through August 10, 2011, with four 1-year option periods. The ceiling price is $858,406.66, inclusive of all options.
Response Letter to a Petition for Rulemaking from the American Physical Society
On August 16, 2010, the Executive Director for Operations signed a letter to Dr. Francis Slakey of the American Physical Society (APS) informing him that his correspondence does not meet the acceptance criteria for a petition for rulemaking. APS requested that the NRC promulgate a regulation that includes proliferation assessments as part of the licensing process. The APS request does not meet the NRC’s acceptance criteria for a petition for rulemaking because: (1) the petition acknowledges that the NRC is not, “formally required to consider non-proliferation as part of the licensing process,” but the petition does not address why the “formality” of a rule requiring such consideration during licensing is necessary; (2) the petition does not explain how, from a substantive or technical standpoint, the NRC would evaluate non-proliferation in a licensing proceeding; and (3) the petition does not clearly indicate what licensing actions and types of “facilities” would be covered by a rulemaking. APS has 90 days to meet the criteria.
Infrastructure Services and Support Contract – SEAT Management
On August 18, 2010, as a result of a non-competitive modification, a hybrid firm fixed-price/labor hour modification (DR-01-0290) was awarded to L-3 Communication Government Services, Inc. of Reston, Virginia to ensure continuity of services for maintenance, operation, administration, control, and upgrade of the NRC Information Technology (IT) infrastructure until the follow-on IT Infrastructure and Support Services contract is awarded. The period of performance of the extension is September 28, 2010, through December 27, 2010, with two 3-month option periods. The total cost for the contract modification is $24,866,200.00, inclusive of all options.
Meeting and Facilitation Support for the Office of Federal and State Materials and Environmental Management Programs (FSME)
On August 18, 2010, as a result of a competitive negotiated acquisition set aside for small businesses in historically underutilized business zones, an indefinite quantity labor hour type contract (NRC-41-10-020) was awarded to B.L. Seamon Corporation of Greenbelt, Maryland. The contractor will provide, on a task order basis, meeting, planning, and facilitation type services for FSME sponsored offsite meetings and functions. The period of performance is August 18, 2010, through August 17, 2011, with a 1-year option period. The estimated cost is $961,375.00, inclusive of all options.
Office of Information Services (OIS)
Nuclear Information and Records Management Association Conference
From August 15-18, 2010, staff attended the annual Nuclear Information and Records Management Association (NIRMA) conference. Three technical tracks presented information on various topics including: 1) long-term strategies around the use of portable document format (PDF)/A; 2) knowledge management best practices for new built projects; 3) cloud computing; and 4) the relationships of Nuclear Quality Assurance Standard 1 and National Archives and Records Administration regulations. Staff participated in the NIRMA board meeting plus made two presentations. One was a panel that included an industry representative from Braidwood, a NARA representative, and OIS staff. The panel discussed the lifecycle of a license record. The second NRC presentation was made on the establishment of the NRC’s Enterprise Content Management Program.
National Archives Meetings
On August 18, 2010, staff attended meetings hosted by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). Representatives from the Federal Records Center Program Forum conducted the first meeting and described the planned replacement of the Washington National Records Center by 2014 to allow for greater storage capacity and enhanced records retrieval capability. The second meeting, the Bimonthly Records and Information Discussion Group, enabled NARA representatives to describe the current status of the Electronic Records Archives, electronic records scheduling, FY 2011 records management training, and plans for the release of forthcoming guidance on Cloud Computing, Web 2.0 records, and on scheduling records in all formats or media neutral records.
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Privacy Act (PA) Requests Received During the Period of August 13, 2010, through August 19, 2010:
| White House, Office of Management and Budget reviews or political appointees of incoming Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests deemed politically sensitive, etc., all documents from 01/20/2009 to present | FOIA/PA-2010-0306 |
| Documents sent by NRC's Chief FOIA Officer to staff responsible for implementing or working with FOIA to request documents/memoranda sent widely to multiple viewers outside the context of specific requests Dec 19, 2005 -present | FOIA/PA-2010-0307 |
| Depleted uranium shipped from Savannah River site in South Carolina, 14,800 drums, to Energy Solutions in Clive, Utah | CON-2010-0005 |
| General Electric Plant, Evendale, Ohio, documents pertaining to the transfer of or maintenance of buildings C or D | CON-2010-0006 |
| Radioactive materials at 1001 College Street, Madison, Illinois 62060 from 1-1-57 to 8-10-10 (site commonly known as Cherokee Industries, Spectrulite Consortium, Consolidated Aluminum Company, et., all reports and test results | FOIA/PA-2010-0308 |
| Tritium database report, groundwater database and any related databases that contain information about groundwater contamination, on or off nuclear power plant sites | FOIA/PA-2010-0309 |
Office of Human Resources (HR)
| Arrivals | ||
|---|---|---|
| Allen, William | Project Manager | NMSS |
| Boyle, Thomas | General Engineer (NSPDP) | NRO |
| Brown, Shannon | Investigative Analyst | OIG |
| Floyd, Niklas | Reactor Engineer (NSPDP) | RI |
| Foli, Adakou | General Engineer (NSPDP) | NRR |
| Folk, Kevin | Project Manager | NRR |
| Ganti, Usha | Grants Management Specialist | ADM |
| Hicks, Angelisa | General Engineer | RES |
| Kenyon, Thomas | Sr. Project Manager (Re-Employed) | NRO |
| West, Stephanie | Administrative Assistant | RES |
| Retirements | ||
| None | ||
| Departures | ||
| Alberts, David | GENERAL ENGINEER (NSPDP) | NMSS |
| Allen, Justin | STUDENT ENGINEER (Summer) | RII |
| Battle, Stephanie | STUDENT CLERK | NSIR |
| Cai, James | STUDENT ENGINEER (Summer) | RII |
| Carrico, Erica | STUDENT ENGINEER (Summer) | RII |
| Debold, Thomas | STUDENT ENGINEER | NMSS |
| Dickerson, Michael | STUDENT MANAGEMENT ANALYST | OIG |
| Donovan, Molly | STUDENT ENGINEER | RES |
| Eastman, David | STUDENT CLERK | RES |
| Ernst, Patrick | PROJECT MANAGER | NRR |
| Everett, Samantha | STUDENT HEALTH PHYSICIST | RIV |
| Fitz, Jonah | STUDENT ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT | ACRS |
| Fuller, Gabrielle | STUDENT ENGINEER (CO-OP) | ACRS |
| Fuller, Jeffrey | STUDENT ENGINEER | NRR |
| Garcia, Karla | STUDENT CONTRACT ASSISTANT (CO-OP) | ADM |
| Governor, Kendrick | STUDENT SPACE DESIGN ASSISTANT | ADM |
| Hansing, Nicholas | STUDENT ENGINEER | RIII |
| Hiser, Diana | STUDENT ENGINEER ( CO-OP) | NRR |
| Jenkins, Kevin | STUDENT FINANCIAL ANALYST (CO-OP) | CFO |
| Khan, Akhteruzzaman | STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANT | CFO |
| Lake, Russell | MECHANICAL ENGINEER | NRR |
| Lemay, Matthew | STUDENT ENGINEER | RIII |
| Lighty, Ryan | LAW CLERK | OGC |
| Lindell, Joseph | LAW CLERK | OGC |
| Liptak, Joseph | STUDENT ENGINEER | RES |
| McGrattan, Brian | STUDENT MANAGEMENT ASSISTANT | RES |
| Mehrvarzi, Christopher | SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER | ACRS |
| Meyers, Beth | STUDENT SCIENTIST | NMSS |
| Molik, Daniel | STORAGE & TRANS SAFETY INSPECTOR | NRR |
| Morse, Theresa | LAW CLERK | OGC |
| Newell, Trenton | STUDENT ENGINEER | OIP |
| Nguyen, Cong-tam Michael | STUDENT ENGINEER | RIV |
| Olson, Bradford | STUDENT ENGINEER | ACRS |
| Patrick, Laura | STUDENT ENGINEER | NRR |
| Popova, Alexandra | STUDENT ENGINEER | NRR |
| Pruett, Timothy | IT SPECIALIST (INET) | OIS |
| Semmes, Mollie | STUDENT ENGINEER | RES |
| Skaggs Ryan, Teresa | STUDENT ENGINEER (CO-OP) | RIV |
| Smith, Clint | STUDENT ENGINEER (CO-OP) | RII |
| Smith, Jordan | STUDENT MANAGMEMENT ASSISTANT | ACRS |
| Steddenbenz, Katherine | STUDENT ENGINEER | RII |
| Sterling, Gwin | ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT | NRR |
| Sugrue, Rosemary | STUDENT ENGINEER | RES |
| Treadway, Ryan | SENIOR RESIDENT INSPECTOR (PWR/TL) | RIV |
| Tregre, David | CRIMINAL INVESTIGATOR | OI |
| Tsukruk, Taisia | STUDENT ENGINEER (Summer) | RII |
| Turner, Annaleigh | PROJECT MANAGER | ADM |
| Weimer, Stephanie | STUDENT ENGINEER | NRR |
| Wu, Angela | STUDENT ENGINEER (CO-OP) | NRR |
Office of Public Affairs (OPA)
OPA Received Significant Media Inquiries on the Following:
The dual unit shutdown at Braidwood nuclear power plant (Illinois).
Commission votes on waste confidence.
Other Public Affairs Items
OPA facilitated a call between NRR and a reporter from Platts discussing staff’s efforts to get information from industry on the potential for fuel cladding oxidation.
| Press Releases Issued | |
|---|---|
| Headquarters: | |
| 10-140 | NRC Issues Final Environmental Impact Statement for Cooper Nuclear Power Plant License Renewal Application (8/16/10) |
| 10-141 | NRC Meeting Aug. 27 In Rockville, Maryland to Discuss Draft Rule on New Reactor Construction Site Security (8/16/10) |
| 10-142 | NRC Seeks Public Input on Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Palo Verde Nuclear Power Plant License Renewal; Meeting September 15, 2010 (8/17/10) |
| 10-143 | NRC Issues Final Environmental Impact Statement Impact Statement for Kewaunee Nuclear Plant License Renewal Application (8/20/10) |
| 10-144 | NRC Submits Inter-Agency Task Force Report on Radiation Source Protection and Security (8/20/10) |
| 10-145 | NRC Approves Power Uprate for Prairie Island Nuclear Power Plant (8/20/10) |
| Regions: | |
| II-10-059 | NRC Schedules Meeting to Discuss Inspection Results for Crystal River Nuclear Plant Containment (8/18/10) |
| III-10-032 | NRC Begins Special Inspection at Braidwood Nuclear Power Plant (8/18/10) |
Office of the Secretary (SECY)
| Documents Released to Public |
Date | Subject |
|---|---|---|
| Decision Documents | ||
|
08/13/10 | Final Update of the Commission’s Waste Confidence Decision |
|
08/13/10 | Final Update of the Commission’s Waste Confidence Decision |
| Information Papers | ||
|
8/13/10 | Weekly Information Report – Week Ending August 6, 2010 |
|
7/29/10 | Summary of Activities Related to Generic Issues Program |
|
7/30/10 | Proposed Revision to Memorandum of Understanding Between the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission |
|
8/5/10 | Staff Progress in Resolving Issues Associated with Inspections, Tests, Analyses, and Acceptance Criteria |
Commission Correspondence
-
Letter to Senators Thomas Carper and Susan Collins, dated August 12, 2010, responds to letter concerning the Federal use of information technology.
-
Letter to Congressman William D. Delahunt, dated August 11, 2010, responds to letter requesting an update on the status of the Pilgrim license renewal application and a timeframe for when the review will be completed.
-
Letter to Paul Verkuil, Chairman, Administrative Conference of the United States, dated August 11, 2010, responds to invitation to join the Council of Independent Regulatory Agencies.
-
Letter to Congress, dated August 11, 2010, provides the Radiation Source Protection and Security Task Force Report.
Federal Register Notices Issued
- Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS), notice of the 575th meeting (09/9-11/2010).
- ACRS, Meeting of the ACRS Subcommittee on Planning and Procedures, notice of meeting (09/08/2010).
- ACRS, Meeting of the ACRS Subcommittee on Digital I&C Systems, notice of meeting (09/08/2010).
- ACRS, Meeting of the ACRS Subcommittee on Thermal Hydraulics Phenomena, notice of meeting (09/07/2010).
- ACRS, Meeting of the ACRS Subcommittee on Plant License Renewal, notice of meeting (09/08/2010).
- Notice – Applications and Amendments to Facility Operating Licenses Involving Proposed No Significant Hazards Considerations and Containing Sensitive Unclassified Non-Safeguards Information and Order Imposing Procedures for Access to Sensitive Unclassified Non-Safeguards Information
