THE POWERLINE (FEB 2008)

SurryPower

Station2008

WinterEdition

In This EditionPhoto Contest

SPS Family HomecomingThe Fall 2007 U1 RFO

Chat In The CornerHoliday CelebrationWhat’s Your Hobby

NCRODP ClassSPS Family Athletes

Surry Supports Our Troops

Pet Corner

And Much More...

Created by the Employees ofSurry Power Station

And Much More...

Surry Supports Our Troops

Pet Corner

And Much More...

Surry Family Photos

Day of Caring

2The Power Line - Winter 2008 Edition

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com

eThank YouThe Power Line staff would like to express special thanks to the following individuals for their contributions and assistance:

Adina and Josh LaFranceAlsendia WellsBarry BryantBobby HuskeyBonnie “Sue” HollenbeckCarol ElmoreDave SandersonDavid BridgesDavid EwellDerek DunlapDon JerniganHenry JohnsonJim BordenJames ClaiborneJoe DelPrincipeJoel WilliamsJohnny D. RogersKeith JohnsonKenny EwellLahoma WilliamsLarry BlackLeslie BullardLinda WarrenMandy NewellMarlene HaskettMatt RogersPaul SkopicRick RichardsonRob WainwrightRobin and Tony CastilloRobin GynnRodney AdamsRon HumphreysRon SaundersSharon CarawanTim KeatingToni HuberTony XenakisTyler GrossVinnie StouterWayne BlanchardWendy Jones

And to everyone who submitted to our photo contest!

The Power Line StaffManagement Liaison Kenny Sloane Editor Kara Ewell, Operations SupportCo-Editor Charlene Chotalal, Reactor EngineeringCo-Editor Stuart Kardian, System EngineeringDesign Char Stump, Nuclear Graphics

Staff MembersCarolyn Brown Electrical MaintenanceCurt Lycke Station Nuclear SafetyCynthia Catoe-Warren Information TechnologyCynthia Shepheard System EngineeringElaine Sparrow Outage & PlanningLinda Waller Radiation ProtectionLois Little ManagementMargaret Hangach Engineering ProgramsMaria Groshner Site EngineeringMike Holle Engineering ProgramsPaulin Cheatham Nuclear Public AffairsPhillissia Clinton Human ResourcesSam Maggio Mechanical MaintenanceSandy Easley Nuclear Site ServicesScott Brazil OE Human PerformanceSherry Adkins Nuclear Site ServicesSue Redman Records ManagementSusan Turner ChemistryTammi Jones Station SafetyTom Norris EngineeringVivian Johnson Radiation ProtectionWanda Brim Nuclear Site Services

If you are interested in information about becoming a part of The Power Line staff, please email SPS Newsletter [email protected].



In This Issue: PageThank You ....................................................................................... 2The Power Line Staff ....................................................................... 2Letter From The Editor .................................................................... 3The Power Line: Your Magazine and Your Staff ............................. 4Photo Contest .................................................................................. 6Surry Remembers Tony Van Hollenbeck ......................................... 8Surry Serves Dominion Family Member Returns From Iraq .............................. 10 Surry Power Station Support The Troops Update ........................ 12 Bake Sale For The Troops ............................................................ 12 Ways To Support The Troops ....................................................... 12 The SPS Volunteer Corner Surry Volunteer Update ................................................................ 13 United Way Day Of Caring ........................................................... 16 The Short Story of “Fort Dan” (Sort Of) ........................................ 19 IBEW Celebrates Participation In United Way Campaign ............................................................ 20 Successful Blood Drive ................................................................ 20 Jazzing It Up For The United Way ................................................ 21The SPS Team A Chat In The Corner .................................................................... 22 The Next Generation: SPS New Hires ........................................ 23 SPS Service Awards ..................................................................... 23 Operations: NCRODP Class ....................................................... 24 New Masters Of Engineering Program Offered ............................ 26 Surry Reinstating Plant Branch Of American Nuclear Society .......................................................................... 26 Family Members Tour Surry Power Station .................................. 27 Surry Employees Smoke The Hog Jog 2007 ............................... 28 NSS Labor Shop .......................................................................... 30 Surry Power Station’s 2007 Holiday Celebration .......................... 31The Outage Corner Fall 2007 Pre-Outage Celebration ................................................ 34 Processing Center Moves To Chuckatuck .................................... 35 Turbine Group .............................................................................. 36 GSI Project ................................................................................... 37 Thanksgiving Day ......................................................................... 37 Surry Fuel Handlers Break Core Reload Record ......................... 38 A Fuel Handler’s Perspective ....................................................... 39 A Refueler’s Tanrenga .................................................................. 39 Operations Outage Testing Prevents Failures .............................. 40 Surry Acquires New Fire Truck ..................................................... 41Surry Celebrates Family Remember When ......................................................................... 42 What’s Your Hobby, Dave Sanderson? ........................................ 43 What’s Your Hobby, Tom Norris? .................................................. 44 What’s Your Hobby, James Claiborne? ....................................... 46 Do You Know, Wendy Catherine Jones? ...................................... 47 Le Tour du Mont Blanc .................................................................. 48 An American in Europe: Summer 2007 ....................................... 50 SPS’s Talented Young Athletes .................................................... 52 SPS Family Announcements ........................................................ 53 Human Performance Tools At Home ............................................ 54 Fitness Center Contest Results .................................................... 55 Surry Power Station Is Dedicated To Fitness In 2008 .................. 55 Surry Family Photos ..................................................................... 56 Surry Pet Corner .......................................................................... 57 Cook’s Corner ............................................................................... 58 Picture Puzzle .............................................................................. 59Advertisements Let’s Cheer ................................................................................... 15 lia sophia ...................................................................................... 20

Letter From The EditorThe Power Line newsletter came togeth-er as a project close to Kenny Sloane’s heart. He asked for a newsletter that would celebrate the special group that we have working here at Surry Power Station.

As The Power Line staff began to pull together articles and ideas for the first is-sue, we realized one thing very quickly. From your family photos and your volun-teer projects, to your accomplishments and hobbies, our pages quickly began to fill with a plethora of colorful images of your personal successes. In order to do justice to our talented coworkers, we were creating more than a brief newsletter. We printed a station magazine. In response to our expanded efforts and goals, we have decided to print the magazine three times each year. Our website will also be updated to reflect that our publication has expanded into a station magazine.

On behalf of your Power Line staff, I would like to thank you for your feedback and ideas. We encourage you to continue to access The Power Line website lo-cated on the Surry Power Station homep-age. I would also like to take this time to thank the staff of The Power Line for once again donating their free time and hard work to create another exciting is-sue. In this issue you will find some of our signature columns such as “Support Our Troops” and “Chat in the Corner.” You will also find some new additions includ-ing our coverage of the Fall 2007 Unit 1 Refueling Outage and stories about your accomplished child athletes. We sincere-ly hope you enjoy the winter 2008 issue of your station magazine, The Power Line.Kara Ewell, Editor



HOTOFFTHE

PRESS



The Power LineYour Magazine And Your Staffsubmitted by: Maria Groshner

photos submitted by: Kara Ewell

It was with great anticipation that the inaugural edition of Surry Power Station’s new station magazine was unveiled. On Wednesday, September 26, 2007, Don Jernigan, Surry Site VP, unveiled the magazine at the Employee Update Meetings. He also congratulated Stacy Byrd, Mechanical Maintenance, for suggesting the winning name, The Pow-er Line. The distribution event was a festive celebration including beverages and refreshments provided by Don Jernigan and Kenny Sloane, Surry Plant Manager. Over 800 copies were delivered to Dominion and supplemental employees. Another 50 copies were distributed to recent retirees from Surry Power Station, and 40 copies were mailed to Bev Robinson for distribution to Dominion family members serving in the military. The magazine received great reviews from Surry Power Station and Dominion employees.

The Power Line was made possible by Surry Manage-ment. The magazine celebrates Surry Power Station’s

employees and their families. One goal is to include news about people in every Department. And, who better to develop the articles than our own talented employees?

Kenny Sloane is the Management Liaison. Editor, Kara Ewell, is from Operations Support. Co-editors are Stuart Kardian and Charlene Chotalal, both from Engineering. Char Stump, Nuclear Graphics, has the enormous task of pulling everything together as the graphic designer. Additional members of the staff include Carolyn Brown (Maintenance), Curt Lycke (Engineering), Cynthia Catoe-Warren (Information Technology), Elaine Sparrow (Outage & Planning), Lois Little (Management), Margaret Hangach (Engineering), Maria Groshner (Engineering), Mike Holle (Engineering), Paulin Cheatham (Nuclear Public Affairs), Phillissia Clinton (Human Resources), Sam Maggio (Main-tenance), Sandy Easley (Nuclear Site Services), Cynthia Shepheard (Engineering), Scott Brazil (OE Human Perfor-mance), Sherry Adkins (Nuclear Site Services), Sue Red-man (Records Management), Susan Turner (Chemistry), Tammi Jones (Station Safety and Loss Prevention), Tom Norris (Engineering), Vivian Johnson (Radiation Protec-tion) and Wanda Brim (Nuclear Site Services). Look for articles featuring our staff members in future editions.

The magazine is available on the Surry nuclear webpage. If you would like to join the staff or submit an article, please email the Editors at: SPS Newsletter [email protected]. The Power Line staff thanks our Surry station manage-ment for supporting this project, as well as all of our em-ployees for participating!

Left: During the Employee Update Meeting, Don Jernigan presents an award to Stacy Byrd for winning the “Name the Newsletter” contest.Bottom: Charlene Chotalal and Char Stump prepare for The Power Line release.


Photo ContestResultssubmitted by: Charlene Chotalal

For each issue of The Power Line, the newsletter staff will solicit entries for a themed photo contest. The theme for this issue is “Fall Festivities.” We received over thirty entries ranging from football games, to animals, to fields of many colors. There were no restrictions on how many pictures an employee could submit, and the names of the submitters were kept confidential for judging purposes. It was very difficult to pick one out of the many entries, but our photo contest team came up with the best pictures that they felt represented the theme of “Fall Festivities.”

Our first place winner is Sam Maggio, who photographed his seven-month old grandson, Kenny Berrane surrounded by pumpkins. Sam will win a $50 gift certificate. In addition, a framed 8”x10” print of his picture will be displayed in the Administrative Building until a new winner is selected.

The following are some of the comments from our judges:

“I love the colors…it makes you reminisce about a trip to the pumpkin patch.”

“Kids are always precious subjects.”

“Going to the pumpkin patch is pivotal to fall time. The baby among the baby pumpkins is cute for fall.”



Honorable Mention

The theme for our next issue of The Power Line is “Childhood Memories.” Think of a photograph that makes you feel like a kid again. Whether it is a photo of a Ferris wheel at a fair or hanging out with your school friends from the second grade, we want to know your most photogenic childhood memory. Guidelines for this contest are posted on The Power Line website. If you are interested in submitting a photograph, please con-tact Charlene Chotalal, Engineering.

Thank you to all who submitted!Visit The Power Line website to see other photos submitted for the Photo Contest.

Our second place winner is Don Jernigan. This is a picture of “The Mill” taken near Beaverdam, Virginia. Judges’ Comments:

“This picture epitomized fall for me.”

“The old millpond shot was awesome! I really liked it.”

“There is a calm about the location and beauty of the many colors to the point that I wish I were there.”

Our third place winner is Don Jerni-gan. This picture was taken in Mont-pelier, Virginia. Judges’ Comment:

“This is a classic autumn scene”

Ron AdkinsRon Adkins Ron SaundersJoe Martin

Second PlaceDon Jernigan

Third PlaceDon Jernigan

Photo Contest

Honorable Mention

8The Power Line - Winter 2008 Edition8The Power Line - Winter 2008 Edition

Surry Remembers Tony Van Hollenbecksubmitted by: Bobby Huskey

photos submitted by: Ron Adkins and Mrs. Hollenbeck

Surry Power Station employee Tony Van Hollenbeck passed away on October 15, 2007. He was fi fty-two years old and had worked with Dominion for 26 years. Tony began with Dominion on April 2, 1981 as an Operator. He later attended Licensed Reactor Opera-tor Class and obtained his NRC License in 1986. On November 16, 1996, Tony joined the Outage and Planning Department where he remained until his passing. In his spare time, Tony loved to play golf. He played on courses all over the United States and was a member of the Williamsburg National golf course. Tony was known by many to be an excellent friend and to never say anything negative about friends or coworkers. Tony is survived by his loving wife, Bonnie “Sue” Hollenbeck and his two sons, Anthony and Adam.

The following statements have been provided by Surry employees in memory of Tony Van Hollenbeck:

“Tony was always quick to take people under his wing. He immediately made me feel welcome when I started my new job in O&P. I will always be grateful for the help he gave me. We have all lost a great friend.” – Jeff Chapin, Workweek Coordinator, SPS.

“A couple of years ago, four of us were playing golf at Stonehouse. We were on the third hole green when I started to putt. There was a turtle on the green between me and the hole. I asked Tony to move the turtle, which was only about the size of a quarter. Instead of moving the turtle to the edge of the green like most people, Tony was determined to take the turtle down to the water. He fell and tore up his knee so badly that he needed surgery the next day. That’s how big his heart was. That was Tony.” – Kenny Simmons, Atlantic Group Site Representative, SPS.

“Ever since I have known Tony, he has brought me back a souvenir golf ball from every course he has ever played. I was able to collect over 50 balls thanks to Tony. He never once forgot me. That meant a lot.” – Larry Darden, Senior Planning Specialist, SPS.

“Tony, my friend and my co-worker, sadly I miss that brave smile you always gave whenever we talked about your ongoing battle with the big “C.” I fi rst met you when we worked together on “E” Shift in Operations, with me being your eyes and ears (Non-licensed Operator) and you, the Reactor Operator. You were unlike anyone I have ever met, never hearing you say an unkind word about any of our co-workers and always maintaining an upbeat and positive attitude despite the situation. Your perseverance for beating this cancer beast was admirable. After we both left Operations, the memo-ries of my weekly drive-bys to your offi ce to talk were sometimes humorous, yet mostly serious. Our benchmarking trip to Millstone with Staten Miller, playing the fi ve-dollar black jack table at Foxwoods Casino and watching fi reworks at the Mohegan Sun Casino were fantastic. After we returned to Surry


following the Millstone trip, I recall you laughing and joking because you got in trouble after renting a larger car to accommodate your golf clubs. I miss you calling me “TAZ” and “kiddo.” Your guardian angel worked hard to keep you safe and now you are in the most beautiful, secure place in the world, free of disease and worry. Rest in peace my friend. I miss you dearly.” – Elaine Sparrow, Friend, O&P Dept. SPS.

“I met Tony in 1983 when we went to RO License class. Neither one of us made it the first time, but I only made it as far as I did because of his help. I spent many hours with him in his kitchen in Den-

bigh, while he helped me with the math and physics. He was patient and very kind, without making me feel embarrassed for the help. We became good friends and when I got mar-ried in 1985, he was my Best Man. I regret that we drifted apart after we both left Operations. He was a great friend and I will miss him very much, but I know he is with God now and that all his pain is gone and he is at peace.” – Bobby Huskey, Dear Friend.

Golf Benefit In Memory Of Tony Van HollenbeckA golf benefit will be held in Tony’s memory at the Williamsburg National Jamestown Golf course on Friday, March 28, 2008. Four-man golf teams will tee off at 11:00 a.m. The $65 entry fee also covers golf balls, prizes and a cookout.

The memorial event will benefit the Hospice House of Williamsburg, where Tony spent his final weeks. The Hospice House strives to “enhance the quality of living for individuals facing the last phases of life and to support the people they love.” The Hospice House offers non-medical assis-tance for individuals who are living with a life threatening illness and for those who love them. While the Hospice House accepts do-nations, they do not charge patients or families for the services they provide.

For any questions about this event or to sub-mit your entry fee, please contact Jeff Chapin, Outage and Planning, Surry Power Station.


Surry ServesDominion Family Member Returns From Iraqsubmitted by: Kara Ewell

photos submitted by: Johnny D. Rogers

When your son is deployed with the Army to Iraq, the only thing you can think about is the potential for harm. At least that is what Johnny Rogers has felt since his son was deployed in July 2006. And when your child returns from deployment, the fi rst thing to enter your mind is immense relief and grati-tude that he is safely home.

Matthew Rogers served over a year in Tikrit and fi nally returned to his home base of Wheeler Army Airfi eld in Hawaii. For the fi rst time in over fi fteen months, Matt was able to reunite with his family at Richmond International Airport on November 2, 2007.

Matt decided to join the Army in 2005 in an effort to fi nd stable employment that also offered educational benefi ts. He was also joining in tradition with two of his best friends who were already serving in Iraq. In Febru-ary 2005, Matt graduated from boot camp in Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Matt breezed through boot camp thinking, “This is much easier than people made it out to be.” It seems Matt had found the right fi t as he trained to become a Helicopter Avionics Me-chanic and Electrician for the U.S. Army.

Matt is currently stationed at Wheeler Army Airfi eld in Hawaii with the 3-25 Aviation Bri-gade. While deployed, Matt’s troop settled outside the city of Tikrit. However, as a helicopter specialist Matt “fl ew to numerous camps scattered across Northern Iraq.”

When asked about the living conditions, Matt reports that “The weather in Iraq is extremely hot… con-stantly 120 degrees. However, what a lot of people don’t know is that it gets very cold in the winter as well.” It can be as low as 30 to 40 degrees. Matt says that “It doesn’t snow, but there is a lot rain and some ice.” All in all, he reports that “Living conditions were pretty good. We lived in trailer type rooms with two or three people in a room.” The camp was also equipped with an internet and phone building which allowed soldiers to easily communicate with their families back home.

As a Helicopter Avionics Mechanic and Electrician, Matt’s responsibilities are similar both at his home base and while deployed. Matt repairs equipment on UH-60 Blackhawks and CH-47 Chinooks. Some examples of equipment that needs repair are “radar equipment, radios and communications, fl ight controls, or anything with a wire to it.” Typical days while deployed are like being in Hawaii, only Matt is much busier because the troops spend more hours fl ying while deployed.

Since most missions are fl own at night, Matt worked nights while in Iraq. Throughout the night shift, Matt worked to repair damaged aircraft. However, the shift’s priority was to attend to aircraft with scheduled missions each night. “We would get a list from the day shift of broken aircraft and also aircraft that were going to launch that night. We were on standby for the missions about to launch in order to attempt to fi x them as quickly as possible if they did break. We worked on the broken aircraft

Above: Matt Rogers reunites with his parents, Johnny and Carmen Rogers at Richmond International Airport.



until we were called. I worked 12-hour shifts for the majority of the deployment, six days a week.”

After his long work day, Matt would typically get off at eight in the morning, watch a movie on a laptop, check his email and then go to sleep. This was Matt’s daily routine for the entire 15-month deploy-ment. Matt recalls that “the best thing about being deployed was the chance to save money, but the worst parts were being away from friends and fam-ily and having to be constantly aware.”

Working in Iraq, Matt did learn interesting things about the local culture. “I learned about Ramadan, which is the Muslim religion’s version of Thanks-giving, Christmas, and New Years all celebrated during the same month.” Matt found that Rama-

dan “was usually the most active with insurgents because the people were emboldened religiously to attack.”

Matt was very grateful for the Dominion care-packages he received almost monthly while deployed. While one may not think to donate them, Matt says baby wipes are a helpful item to send to the troops. Matt says, “They come in handy because the port-a-potties usually ran out of toilet paper. However, cookies were always a good treat as well.”

If Matt remains assigned to his current unit, they are slated to deploy to Afghanistan in March 2009. However, in the military noth-ing is ever set in stone. Matt hopes to be reassigned prior to this deployment. Until that time, he will continue to repair helicopters in Hawaii. Matt currently has three years remaining under his original enlistment. After his enlist-ment is complete, Matt plans to pursue entrepreneurship by opening his own restaurant or bar in the Richmond area. Matt is clearly thankful for his military experience because he “can always fall back on the military experience and possi-bly earn a position at an airport. The military has provided me with the stability in my life to create and focus on my goals.”

On behalf of Surry Power Station, thank you Matt Rogers and the entire Rogers Family for your sacri-fi ce. Welcome home, Matt!

Above: Matt Rogers enjoys some time at home with his parents, Carmen and Johnny Rogers.

Above: Matt Rogers poses with his family, Natalie, Johnny and Carmen Rogers.

Surry Serves


SPS Support The Troops Updatesubmitted by: Toni Huber

In June camoufl aged barrels were placed around the sta-tion to collect goods for deployed soldiers. Since that time, a total of 43 boxes have been sent to Bev Robinson for distribution. The items collected were donated by Domin-ion personnel, as well as local chapters of the Girl Scouts and the American Legion. A total of $440.00 in spare change has been collected from “Support the Troops” canisters located in Security Access area, the cafeteria and In-processing. The monetary donations were sent to Bev Robinson for postage expenses. In addition, Surry employees have provided 33 pillows for Bev Robinson’s “Operation Pillow Talk.”

Bake Sale For The Troopssubmitted by: Elaine Sparrow

On October 18th, during the pre-outage cook-out, em-ployees hosted a “Support the Troops” bake sale. Cakes, cookies and brownies donated by employees sold for a nominal fee of $1.00 each. Despite the overcast and rainy day, project organizer Elaine Sparrow, Outage and Planning, resourcefully sold all of the donated baked goods! The bake sale netted $188.00. In addition, “Uncle Sam” Steve Tross, Outage and Planning, and Robin Gynn, Engineering, passed around a soldier’s boot collecting spare change. Their efforts raised $491.00. The total amount collected for the troops was $679.00. Thanks to all the employees who supported our efforts!

Ways To Support The TroopsPlace Goods in the Camoufl age Barrels: Camoufl age barrels are located in the cafeteria and on the second fl oor of the Administrative Building.

Donate Loose Change in the Camoufl age Canisters: Change canisters are located in Security Access area, the caf-eteria and In-processing.

Fill a Box: Lois Little and Denise Segovia have provided empty U.S. Postal Service fl at-rate boxes. These boxes are available for pick up outside of the Protected Area turnstiles in the main Administrative Building. Please return your fi lled boxes to Toni Huber, Security.

Adopt a Soldier: If you are interested in adopting a soldier, please contact Bev B. Robinson at Innsbrook.

Advertise in The Power Line: In an effort to further promote the “Support the Troops” campaign, The Power Line will offer advertising space to Surry employees. Employees can showcase their personal business ventures in an advertise-ment section of the newsletter. Place your $25 suggested donation and a standard business card in inter-offi ce mail ad-dressed to Susan Turner, Chemistry Department (Make all checks payable to the “SPS Volunteer Council.”). All donations will be processed by the Surry Volunteer Council and will be designated specifi cally for troop support.

Great Job, Surry! Keep Up The Hard Work!

Above: The Surry Power Station team shows their support for our troops in Iraq. Photo submitted by Sam Maggio


The Volunteer CornerSPS Volunteer Update submitted by: Charlene Chotalal

photos submitted by: Kevin Hennet, Sam Maggio and Charlene Chotalal

In 2007, the Surry volunteers participated in 29 projects. Here is a recap of the volunteer activi-ties from 2007:

SkyAnchor: Much progress has been made since August, when volunteers began to repair a hurricane damaged playground area located at SkyAnchor Camp. Susan Turner thought, “It was such a worthwhile project. We had a lot of participation from folks that have not helped in the past, which was a plus! An entire Operations shift made time in their schedule to come out and support this.” Joel Williams, Nuclear Mainte-nance Supervisor, was involved heavily in the rebuilding of the play-ground. He recalls, “At the opening ceremony, the kids were at the ribbon, ready to burst in… It was a challenge when we started it. The more I think back, the more I realized how much work was put into the project. It was definitely a worthwhile effort.” Luther Jones, Susan Turner and Joel Williams were the orga-nizers of this project. Thanks to Don Jernigan and Margaret Hangach, the end results of this project were completed during the United Way Day of Caring. Read more about the success at SkyAnchor on page 17.

Recycling Program: Facilities and Support personnel gather up all recyclable paper in the bins located throughout the station and deposit it in a blue enclosed container located outside the F&S shop. It holds approximately five to six tons of paper and typically gets emptied twice a year. After the delivery fee from the vendor, the remaining profit is returned via check to the volunteer committee chairperson. Last year, the Surry volunteers received a check for $1,025.50. Please keep in mind that the paper in the blue recycle bins does not go to the Surry Landfill with the other trash. Recycling truly makes a differ-ence, not only for the environment, but also for our Volunteer Council. The Chairperson for the project is Sandy Easley.

WAVY 10 Coats for Kids/Adults: New and gently used coats were donated by Surry employees dur-ing the month of December. The coats were cleaned and distributed to individu-als that would otherwise not have a coat for the winter. Over 100 coats were collected through this project. The Chairperson for this project is Susan Turner.

Patterson’s Bake Sale: Pat Patterson worked for SPS for over 37 years. He passed away early in 2007, leaving behind his loving wife, Sandy. The handrails on the front steps of the Patterson home were in need of repair. Two em-ployees proposed a way to raise money to the Volunteer Council and on Tuesday, August 7, a council member worked with one of the employ-ees to host a bake sale. At this sale, $326.00 was raised, which was more than enough to pur-chase the supplies to repair Sandy Patterson’s

Above: Joel Williams stands proudly in front of the tower dedicated to him.

VolunteerUpdate


porch. According to one employee, “I know the Patterson family will appreciate our efforts in remembrance of Pat.”

Christmas Bears/Dolls: The Suffolk branch of the Salvation Army made bears and dolls avail-able for Surry employees to dress and decorate

this Christmas. About 125 bears and 50 dolls were dressed up for delivery. Prizes were awarded for “Best Dressed,” “Most Creative” and the “Most Colorful” bears.

The Chairpersons for this project were Belinda Mason and Jean Trehern. According to them, “The project was fun. It was inter-esting to see how each doll and bear was differ-ent. There are so many kids out there who don’t get a gift for Christmas. Hopefully, this will help some of them out.”

TheVolunteer

Corner

Stuffing Stockings: Christmas stockings were available for Surry employees to pick up and stuff with items appropriate for children. Items stuffed included toothpaste, toothbrushes, school

supplies, gum, cards and even soap. This Christmas, approximately 100 stockings were delivered to the Salvation Army. The Chairper-sons for this project were Wendy Jones and Pat Person.

Christmas Angel Tree: Chairpersons Wendy Jones and Elaine Sparrow worked with several shelters for this project. Through the Genieve Shelter, the HER Shelter and the Christian Out-reach/YMCA, Wendy and Elaine were able to obtain names for the angel tree. Most of the families have been dis-located due to abuse, neglect or financial hardship. Ap-proximately 151 gifts were donated dur-ing the month of December.

Above: Christmas Bears on display, before they were returned to the Salvation Army and presented to area kids.

Above: Belinda Mason and Jean Trehern, chairpersons of the project.

Above: Sherry Adkins stands among the many Christmas Stockings filled and donated by the employees.

Above: Christmas presents fill this room to capacity during the Christmas Angel Tree drive.

14The Power Line - Winter Edition


Surry Open House: SPS held its first Open House since 2000 on Thursday, October 11, 2007. Surry Volunteers were at the SNIC, entertaining the children who were too young to enter the plant. More information about this event can be found on page 27.

Gently Used Books: SPS Volunteers teamed up with Suffolk schools to bring books to the victims of New Orleans’ Hurricane Katrina. The Chairperson for this project is Waverly Jones.

Through the years, the volunteers have supported the local community by supporting many recycling programs. Besides recycling paper, below are some items that are requested throughout the entire year:• Labels and receipts are exchanged for much

needed school supplies for local schools.• Used eyewear aids those that can not afford

glasses.• Toiletry items are given to those in need.• Yogurt lids aid in donations to cancer research.

If you have any questions about SPS volunteer projects or are interested in joining the Volunteer Council, please contact one of the council mem-bers listed below:

Volunteer Council Members:Management Support Luther JonesChair Linda WarrenVice Chair Susan TurnerTreasurer Tin MyintSecretary Maria Groshner

Alsendia WellsCharlene ChotalalSandy EasleySharon CarawanWendy Jones

Above: Elaine Sparrow, Wendy Jones and Sherry Ad-kins prepare to deliver presents, donated by the employees, for the Christmas Angel Tree project.


Above: Surry Volunteers entertained future Dominion employees, while family members embarked on tours of the station.


The Volunteer CornerUnited Way Day Of Caringsubmitted by: Kara Ewell

photos submitted by: Kevin Hennet, Sam Maggio and Charlene Chotalal

On three days in August and September, Surry Power Station employees gave their hard work and time to improve homes and lives of five families in the local community. However, the hard work and planning for these projects be-gan in the winter. Initially, local Social Services departments or United Way chapters provided Surry volunteers with a list of projects and fami-lies in need. Nuclear Maintenance Supervisor, Joel Williams visited multiple locations to “walk the projects down” and determine suitability for our Surry Volunteers. After the initial walk down, Joel provided estimates and proposals to Don Jernigan. With this information in mind, Mr. Jernigan selected the following five locations as part of our 2007 United Way Day of Caring campaign.

Erma Wilson’s House, Smithfield, Virginia: Erma Wilson lives on a limited, fixed income and provides care for her disabled daughter. Though her yard was in immaculate condition, Erma needed Dominion’s assistance with house re-pairs. On three very hot days, over fifty employ-ees assisted with the following repairs:• Installed a new roof• Replaced four windows• Replaced outer sill of picture window• Hung new shutters• Painted the entire house• Repaired front and back porch posts• Hung new door and siding on the shed

Joel Williams believes that “In the time that Dominion spent there, the volunteers truly went above and beyond to improve the conditions of the home.”




SkyAnchor Camp, Spring Grove, Virginia: In 2003 Hurricane Isabel damaged the property at SkyAnchor Campground located in Spring Grove, Virginia. The Campground, established by Dennis “Papa Tertle” Evans in 1985 includes 45 acres, a lake, nature trails, challenge courses and full RV hookups for camping. SkyAnchor courses are utilized by scout troops to earn merit badges. However, some of the most remark-able work at SkyAnchor is in the area of disabil-ity awareness. Through games and activities able bodied children and family members can experience the challenges disabled individuals face. For example, one game that is played is blind target shooting. The blindfolded individual aims a BB gun with an attached laser pointer in the direction of a target. The individual behind him must serve as his vision and communicate the target location by watching where the laser pointer hits its mark. Since the time that Dominion began volunteering at SkyAnchor, the following projects have been completed:• Tree and brush removal• Removal of tree stumps and broken wood• Rebuilt Playground• Rebuilt “Fort Dan”• Deliver and spread new sand in playground area• Painted the swing set• Installed fencesJoel Williams continues to work and follow up with Dennis at SkyAnchor. Joel is not only moni-toring the status of previous work to the fort and playground, but also plans to return in the spring to clear about a mile of hiking trails. He will also return with volunteers to stain the playground equipment. If you are interested in volunteer-ing at SkyAnchor, please contact Joel Williams, Maintenance, Surry Power Station.


The Hill House, Windsor, Virginia: For the Hills who both walk with canes, entering and exiting the home was once a challenge. Surry volunteers improved their access to the home by building an 8’x8’ porch on the front of their house. Volunteers also attached handrail to the stairs exiting the back door for safety and comfort.

For the final two locations, Surry volunteers per-formed miscellaneous trash removal, yard work and clean up.

Arthur and Dorethia Berryman’s House, Elberon, Virginia (shown below):

Sharon Gregory’s House, Elberon Virginia (shown below):

Project Supervisor, Joel Williams believes that “All of the individuals who participated played a significant part in our ability to complete these projects.” Thank you Surry volunteers for all of your hard work and congratulations in five jobs very well done!


United WayDay Of Caring


The Volunteer CornerThe Short Story Of “Fort Dan”submitted by: Joel Williams

Once upon a time long, long ago (actually just a few years ago) in a place far, far away (actually just up the road a piece from Jamestown), there stood a proud place called “Fort Dan” on the property known as SkyAnchor. “Fort Dan” was built by a Construction Battalion way back in the 80’s (the 1980’s actually) as a place for fearless warriors (actually the kids) to come and get inside to feel safe from all attackers (or their parents). From the strategically placed high towers of “Fort Dan,” fearless warriors could keep watch for evil doers of all types (or watch Papa Tertle cruise around on his golf cart) while feeling safe and secure.

“Fort Dan” stood proud and tall for many a year against all attackers (mostly termites, bees, spiders and poison ivy) and kept all inside safe. But alas, along came one attacker that “Fort Dan” could not stand against. That attacker (also known as Hurricane Isabelle) pushed the once proud and safest of all places, “Fort Dan,” into a state of ruin with her high winds and torrential rains (and falling trees). The once proud “Fort Dan” stood idle for many, many years (actually about five years) and fell into various stages of disrepair. The decks were no longer safe for the kids to walk on and the sturdy walls (actually the hand rails) were no longer safe for the kids to hide behind. The “Fort Dan” sign had blown down and left the area nameless, overrun and covered in poison ivy.

But then, along came a fearless warrior riding a noble steed (actually it was a silver diesel powered Dodge dually 3500 four-by-four) to “Fort Dan” who had been introduced to the area by several vol-unteers from a huge conglomerate (also known as Dominion Virginia Power). Thanks to his fearless leadership and dedication and mostly to all of his warriors (otherwise known as Dominion volunteers), “Fort Dan” began to take on a new look.

Poison ivy was removed from the tattered walls, and old damaged and worn out rails and walls were torn down and hauled away (for recycling of course). New high strength outer walls (actually cham-fered pressure treated wood pickets) were installed all the way around “Fort Dan” leaving only one entrance and exit to safeguard from future attackers. The deck supports were reinforced with quality high strength materials and the deck boards were fastened securely to the reinforcing materials with new weather resistant threaded devices (also known as wood screws). The old rope bridge across the moat (or the entrance / exit) was reinforced and made safe again for foot traffic.

The “Fort Dan” sign was recovered from the mud bogs over yonder and washed down with a special time honored and biologically degradable cleaning solution. The sign was then framed up with new protective materials and hung over the en-trance (or exit as it were) to the fort. A base of secret rare earth material (actually con-crete sand) was discovered and applied to the entire inside area of “Fort Dan.”

The once proud “Fort Dan” now stands proud and tall again awaiting the arrivals of a new troop of warriors and plans to stand tall for years to come, thanks to all of those volun-teers and the promised oversight of one fear-less warrior and his noble steed (yep, Joel and his silver truck).

The End (sort of)Above: The new warriors of “Fort Dan” spend a day playing in the secret rare earth material.



The Volunteer CornerIBEW Celebrates Participation In United Way Campaign

submitted by: Kara Ewell

On October 17, 2007 Mr. Jernigan celebrated IBEW members’ outstanding contributions to the 2007 United Way Campaign with a picnic lun-

cheon at the train-ing center. IBEW members pledged $24,727.00 in this year’s campaign, the second high-est for all business groups. Special thanks to John King

(Operations), Amber Gilliam (Electrical Mainte-nance) and Mike DiSisto (DTech Solutions) who

were the ambassadors for IBEW fund raising. Also, thank you, Chef Swann (Hospitality Servic-es), for serving up delicious steak from the grill with fresh vegetables and to Margaret Hangach (Engineering) for orga-nizing the celebration

Right: Chef Swann prepares the hearty feast for the IBEW

Luncheon Celebration.

Above: Chris Burgess and Bobby Zoldork enjoy good food and conservation at the luncheon.

Above: Don Jernigan thanks John King for his work on the United Way Campaign.

Successful Blood Drivesubmitted by: Alsendia Wells

On December 5th, 2007, Surry employees donat-ed over 55 pints of blood at the Red Cross Blood

drive held at the SNIC. Congratulations to Barney Hall, Engi-neering, for winning the blood drive park-ing space. Barney will be entitled to his own personal parking space until a new win-ner is selected at the next blood drive. Also, congratulations to

NSS for receiving the “Blood Hound Dog” award for again being the department that donated the most blood.

Blood drives are scheduled approximately every 56 days. Please con-sider giving the “gift of life” at our next blood drive, Thurs-day, February 21, 2008.

Above: Skip Irwin donates a pint of blood for the blood drive.

Above: Mike DiSisto sits patiently while he donates a pint of blood to the Red Cross..



Jazzing It Up For United Waysubmitted by: Maria Groshner

photos submitted by: Kara Ewell and Char Stump

What sways, is a bit cheesy, and full of grape fl a-vor? Why it’s the Wine, Cheese & All That Jazz Festival sponsored by Surry Power Station! The

Festival was held to raise funds for The United Way of Isle of Wight County. Wonderful, sunny weather and a gentle breeze greeted over 130 guests on Saturday, September 29, 2007. The event was held courtesy of Richard and Wendy Dean at the Davis Day House in Smithfi eld, Virginia. The Davis Day House, a circa 1809 historical building, was open to guests for tours and for viewing of paintings provided by a local artist.

Lively music was provided by Forte, a local jazz band. Guests swayed to the sounds of this dynamic group and munched on multiple varieties of cheese, breads, and meats provided by The Smithfi eld Inn, The Smithfi eld Station, and The Smithfi eld Gourmet Bakery. Guests also enjoyed delicious smoked pork and beef tenderloin prepared by Surry’s own George Marshall, Station Procedures, and Jason Marshall,

Electrical Maintenance. Beautiful tables adorned in white linens and col-orful centerpieces dot-ted the landscape. Bon Vivant sponsored the wine tasting table with a won-derful selection of red and white wines. Surry Power Station employees should be proud of their efforts to

support The United Way, as we are a top leader of funds raised within the Dominion family!

Top Left: Kenny congratulates Lois, Margaret and Phillissia for an outstanding job on the preparations for the event. Top Right: Renee, Susan and Toni take a break from col-lecting donations. Left: Forte plays a cool set of jazz music for the crowd.

Below: Top Left: Guests decide which fl avorful wine they will entice their palette with, the selections provided by Bon Vivant. Top Right: Guests enjoy great food and some quality time with their friends, all under a beautiful blue sky with fall temperatures. Bottom Left: Don Jernigan, along with his lovely wife, Carrie, enjoy the day with his parents Mr. & Mrs. Jernigan. Bottom Middle: Lois Little presents door prizes to Guests. Bottom Right: Chef George Marshall carves and serves his speciality smoked tenderloins.


The SPS TeamA Chat In The Corner With Kenny Sloane

submitted by: Scott Brazilphoto submitted by: Char Stump

Welcome back to “A Chat in the Corner,” a visit with one of our leaders, from Supervisors to the Site Vice President, to tell us a little about their families, their hobbies, their likes and dislikes, and a little about their life away from the station.

This month’s Chat is an interview with our Plant Manager, Kenny Sloane.

SB: Thanks for giving us a few minutes to tell us a little more about yourself. Let’s start at the very beginning: Where were you born? Tell us about growing up and where you are now.

KS: I was born and grew up in Portsmouth. I graduated from Churchland High School, attended Virginia Tech for two years, and then transferred to ODU for one year. I started work at Surry as a Non-Licensed Operator after Danny Modlin told me they were starting a new operator development program and were looking for entry-level applicants. I knew how much money Danny and Bobby [Allen] made in those days with all the long outages. It was very tempting to a young newlywed. I’ve never regretted that decision. I started at Surry when I was 22, got my RO license when I was 24 and my SRO license when I was 27. I’ve been a Shift Manager, the Supervisor-Shift Operations, the Supervisor-Operations Support, the Outage & Planning Manager, plus I was an INPO loanee for 16 months. I’ve been the Plant Manager at Surry for four years now. That’s thirty great years with no regrets.

SB: That’s quite the nuclear resume. If you hadn’t chosen a career in nuclear, what kind of work do you think would have made you happy?

KS: I could have been a builder. I would have really enjoyed building custom homes.

SB: Tell us about your “non-Surry” family.

KS: I have been married to my high school sweetheart, Ellen, for almost 32 years, and we have two grown sons. Kenny Jr. is 29 and lives in Nags Head. He and his wife Shannon have two kids, a son (9) and a daughter (7). Cory is 27, single, and lives in Honolulu. He’s living the good life: 80 degrees, 365 days a year, cobalt-blue water, surf and lots of palm trees. It’s just a long way from Mom and Dad.

SB: What do you do to relax?

KS: Golf, shag dancing, and photography. In the summer, I can sit on the beach all day long, listening to music and reading, always with friends and family. I also enjoy surfing the internet, catching up on the latest news and emailing friends.

SB: Do you have a favorite vacation spot?

KS: Sunset Beach, on the North Shore of Oahu.

SB: Do you have any pet peeves?

KS: I can’t stand to be late, no matter what the occasion.

SB: If you could invite three people to dinner, other than your immediate family, who would you invite?

KS: Tiger Woods – I’m a huge Tiger fan – Joe Gibbs, and Colin Powell. I have a lot of questions for him!

SB: If you were stranded on a deserted island with only five CDs to listen to, what would you choose?

KS: In Between Dreams by Jack Johnson, Widespread Panic: Live in the Classic City and any three R&B CDs that I could shag dance to.

SB: There’s a movie coming out soon called The Bucket List, where the characters do all the things they were plan-ning to do before they “kick the bucket.” Do you have a Bucket List?

KS: I want to personally witness the Pipeline Masters, or the Big Eddie, surfing contests in Hawaii with thirty- to forty-foot waves.

SB: What’s the last thing you checked off your list?

KS: I went to the Masters golf tournament in 2003 and 2004. I want to go back again and take some photographs. There isn’t anything that can compare to that experience.

SB: If you had to be someone else for one day, who would it be and why?

KS: Tiger Woods, in the final round of a major, with a one-stroke lead over Phil Mickelson. I just can’t imagine what goes on inside his head to perform like he does under such pressure.

SB: Tell us something we probably don’t already know about you…any hidden talents or unknown accomplish-ments?

KS: I have caught and released three blue marlins, two in St. Thomas and one in Cape Hatteras. I coached soccer for 14 years, including four as an assistant coach at Western Branch High School in Chesapeake. I was a licensed coach and a certi-fied soccer referee, and I love to dance!

SB: Finally, tell us about your role models.

KS: For my life in general, my parents. As far as work, I’ve worked for many great leaders and have learned some-thing from each of them: Jim McCar-thy, Mike Kansler, Dave Christian, and of course, Don Jernigan! Above: Kenny and his beautiful wife,

Ellen, attend the Holiday Celebration at Kingsmill Resort & Spa.


SPS Service Awardssubmitted by: Lois Little

July 10, 2007 - December 1, 2007Congratulations on many years of service


10 Years of Service

Jeff Chapin

Brian Dobmeier

John Duff

Chris Huth

Roy Maupin

Ryan Phillips

David H. Wilson

5 Years of Service

Sterling Crocker

John Blommel

Richard Bowen

Darleen Byrd

Derek Dunlap

Robert Enochs

Mark Fielding

Roger Lee Jones

Carla Martin

Thomas Oliver

Eric Chris Orgnon

Anthony Parson

Fred Seward

The SPS Team

The Next Generation: SPS New Hiressubmitted by: Lois Little

July 10, 2007 - December 1, 2007Please join us in welcoming the following new employees to Surry Power Station:

NAME HIRE DATE DEPARTMENT

Vincent S. Livingston 07/10/2007 Maintenance

Steven Biedenbach 07/16/2007 Surry Training Center

Patrick Cilli 07/16/2007 Surry Training Center

Jason Coulter 07/18/2007 Engineering

Patrick J. Ennis 07/23/2007 Engineering

Joshua D. Ashby 07/30/2007 Chemistry

Carlos Montgomery 07/30/2007 Surry Training Center

Lorne W. Archer 08/01/2007 Operations

Ronald J. Clement 08/01/2007 Operations

Christopher A. Easley 08/01/2007 Operations

Frank W. Pace 08/01/2007 Engineering

Danny L. Queen 08/01/2007 Operations

Brigham P. Riddle 08/01/2007 Operations

Ryan J. Springer 08/01/2007 Operations

William V. Swineford 08/01/2007 Operations

Cristal M. Castillo 08/06/2007 Security

James Ryan Flournoy 08/06/2007 Chemistry

William J. Frye 08/06/2007 Engineering

Dennis Marks Gwaltney 08/06/2007 Security

Christina A. Long 08/06/2007 Security

Osborne L. Taylor 08/06/2007 Security

Susan Bracey 08/13/2007 Human Resources

Kevin P. Anderson 08/20/2007 IT

Cherry Jason 08/20/2007 Security

Leslie R. Claudio-Casiano 08/20/2007 Security

Brad Wayne Fallen 08/20/2007 Security

Cleon Maurice Long 08/20/2007 Engineering

Robert T. Richards 08/20/2007 Security

Joseph Kevin Wah 08/20/2007 Security

Nicole A. Henderson 08/29/2007 Site Services

Michael T. French 09/17/2007 Security

Andrew T. Jones 09/21/2007 Site Services

Daniel T. Edwards 09/24/2007 Site Services

Michael E. Gordon 10/01/2007 Engineering

James Tyrone Pittman 10/01/2007 Security

Carlos R. Byrd 10/02/2007 Site Services

Andrew H. Kunkle 10/08/2007 Site Services

Benjamin B. Railey 10/08/2007 Control Ops

Patyence Parker Green 10/23/2007 Procedures

Paulin E. Cheatham 11/05/2007 Public Affairs - SNIC

Mollie C. Nelson 11/20/2007 Chemistry

30 Years of Service

Roger Adkins

Kenneth Ohman

David Reed

Randall Scherer

Kenny Sloane

Levin Twitty

Walt Tynes

Michael Wells

Tony Xenakis

25 Years of Service

Linda Blount

Darlene Brock

Mike Holland

David Holt

Ernest Howard

Earl Humphrey

Steven McCalester

Robert Miller

David Rogers

Selma Spratley

Michal Small

Gregory Weston

Thomas Worrell

20 Years of Service

Edward Evans

Timothy Hesselbach

Donna Hines

John Paul Matava

Tim Poppell

Charlene Stump

24The Power Line - Winter 2008 Edition The SPS Team

Operations: NCRODP Classsubmitted by: Mike Holle

photos submitted by: Rob Wainwright

Dominion’s Nuclear Control Room Operator Development Program (NCRODP) is an intense training program, which lasts for many years, even longer if you want to get your NRC license. The program, also known as the Step Program because of its tiered, step progression, is a seven-step program, which starts the candidate out with some of the station’s basic systems such as Fire Protection and Domestic Water, and three years later finishes up with some of the most challenging and complex systems, such as Reactor Protection and Turbine Control & Protection. To make matters even more difficult, the can-didate must maintain a minimum of an 80% grade point average and may only fail one test throughout the entire program! Typically, most Operators come from the nuclear Navy or other power stations. Because these new employees have experience in the industry, they start off in Surry’s Step Program at Step Four pay and have just eight months to complete Steps One through Four.

To help qualify “new to the industry” Operators (basically individuals right off the street with no industry background), our Training Department, in conjunction with the Operation’s Department, has started a Foundations Program. Besides the experience level between candidates, the difference between the Step Program and the Foundations Program is that the Foundations candidates spend eight of their twelve hour shifts at the Training Center learning things like Math, Physics, Thermodynamics, Mechani-cal and Electrical Sciences, Instrumentation & Control, Chemistry and Nuclear Science. The Founda-tion’s Program Lead Instructor is Dave Sanderson. Dave has been with Dominion for over 36 years. He has been a Licensed Control Room Operator, a Senior Licensed Control Room Operator, an Assistant Shift Supervisor and an Operations Instructor at the Training Center. Other Foundation’s Instructors are SRO’s Pat Cilli, from Beaver Valley and Carlos Montgomery, from Turkey Point.

Even though the above classes are taught by Surry’s own staff, they are not simple or easy. They are college accredited courses, which are fully transferable to other collegiate institutions. During the re-maining four hours of their shift (and their weekend shifts) these Foundations candidates work on com-pleting their rather large Job Performance Measures (JPM). These JPM’s range from things as simple as how to use the Gai-Tronics, which is obviously not as easy as it sounds, to how to read a piping drawing. Along the way they are also learning how to take logs, what a pump sounds like when it is operating correctly, what is too hot and too cold for fluid processes, how to take oil samples and how to take motor and pump vibration readings.

The Foundations Program and Step Program join together at Step Five, with the Foundations candi-dates completing Step Four. The Operation’s trainees then must complete the remaining steps Five, Six and Seven within the next eighteen months.

The eight men in Surry’s Foundations Program come from various backgrounds, including the con-ventional Navy, dairy farming, Heating & Air conditioning and winding electrical motors.



Ron Clement: Ron comes to Surry from CIBA Chemical in Suffolk, Virginia. He was previously in the nuclear Navy (submariner). He is married with one child.

Joey Beck: Joey comes from the Operations Department from Yorktown Power Station. He is married with two children.

Bill Swineford: Bill was a nuclear mechanic for six years and spent time in the Marines. He is married.

Brig Riddle: Brig was an Electrical Technician (ET) in the conventional Navy. He also worked at the shipyards on the peninsula. He is married with one child.

Ryan Springer: Ryan has dairy farmed and sod farmed. He’s spent six years in the Navy. He plays the electric and acoustic guitars and hopes to do some recording some day.

Chris Easley: Chris was a mechanical industrial contractor before coming to Surry. He is married with one child.

Lorne Archer: Lorne was in HVAC for nine years. He has two children.

Dan Queen: Dan also came to Surry from CIBA. He’s worked as a Nuclear Test Engineer and a Mechanic in the Navy.

Top Right: Bill Swineford performing a 480 volt breaker rack-out.Middle Right: Brig Riddle performing a 480 volt breaker rack-out.Bottom Right: Ryan Springer performing a breaker rack-out.




New Masters Of Engineering Program Offered

submitted by: Maria Groshner

Excitement is in the air with the prospect of new nuclear plant development. To fulfill the grow-ing need for engineers with nuclear knowledge, Virginia Commonwealth University added a new Masters of Engineering program with Nuclear Engineering emphasis. Several Dominion em-ployees are taking advantage of this opportunity. Surry employees enrolled in the program are Cynthia Shepheard, Charlene Chotalal, Allen Harrow, Aaron Moyer, Tin Myint, Pamela Torres-Jimenez, James Lash, and Janean Sealey.

Although reasons vary for pursuing the degree, the quest for knowledge was a common theme. Charlene Chotalal loves learning new things and finally has the time to pursue an advanced degree. Pamela Torres-Jimenez and Cynthia Shepheard like the convenience of having class-es offered on site at Surry. Cynthia also wanted to try something different. Jim Lash enrolled for the challenge and to refresh his knowledge.

The classes are offered in the evenings at Surry to accommodate work schedules. Students meet once or twice a week, depending on the course. The 30 credit hour curriculum consists of 10 courses over three years. To find out more about the program, contact the school through its website at www.vcu.edu.Below: Surry Masters Program students with their instructors.

Surry Reinstating Plant Branch Of American Nuclear Society

submitted by: Maria Groshner

One of the best kept secrets at Surry Power Station is that it once had a plant branch of the American Nuclear Society (ANS). With new employees joining the Surry family and renewed interest in nuclear power from the public, Surry Power Station is gearing up for reinstatement of the plant branch. Participation in the ANS is being encouraged by David Christian, President and Chief Nuclear Officer Dominion Nuclear, and Don Jernigan, Site Vice President at Surry.

The Branch is a part of the Virginia section of the ANS and is open to all employees and their fami-lies. A major objective of ANS is public outreach. More information regarding the reinstatement will be provided during the Surry Employee Update Meetings over the next few months, and a sur-vey will be sent out to employees to identify the types of programs and committees Surry Power Station would like to support. If you are interest-ed in participating or have questions regarding ANS, please contact Maria Groshner, Engineer-ing, Surry Power Station.

Fishing On The Intake Canal

Right: John Duff along with his daughter and son, enjoys some fam-ily time fishing on the Intake Canal.

Right: John Knapp brings home the catch of the day from the Intake Canal at Surry.


Family Members Tour Surry Power Station

submitted by: Carol Elmorephotos submitted by: Sam Maggio

Surry Power Station hosted its first Pre-Outage Open House event since 2000 on Thursday, Oc-tober 11, 2007. The event, coordinated by Carol Elmore and Michelle Helton, was well received by over 200 employee family members.

The Open House, which took place the week before the Unit 1 Fall Refueling Outage, invited employees to bring their families for a tour of the power station. To begin the evening, refresh-ments were offered at the SNIC. Families were invited to participate in the Information Center exhibits and also to view the latest film on “Man-aging Used Nuclear Fuel” in the theater. Dave Sanderson also delivered a Reactor Model pre-sentation. This new operating model provides a view of the major components inside the power station and how they contribute to generating electricity.

After spending time at the Information Center, employees checked in with the Security Desk where Toni Huber and Eva Livesay issued badges to visitors. Visitors were allowed to view the Main Control Room from the Annex, and the Emergency Diesel Room #2 was made available for the visitors to tour. A children’s area provided young children entertainment during the station tours. Children enjoyed a Walt Disney movie, snacks and an activities table where they could color and draw.

On behalf of Surry Power Station employees, thank you station management for the opportu-nity to allow our families to see where their loved ones work! Also, special thanks to the follow-ing volunteers for providing adult supervision in the children’s area: Belinda Mason, Yulanda Shivers, Natalie Yonker, Charlene Chotalal and Cynthia Catoe-Warren.

Top: Families enjoy a meet and greet, along with appetiz-ers before taking the tour of the station.

Middle Left: Levin Twitty and his daughter, Michaela (12), are about to enter the control room.

Middle Right: Glen Canter demonstrates how an electri-cal circuit works.

Bottom Left: Belinda Mason babysits Drew Monroe’s daughter, Allison Leigh, at the SNIC.

Bottom Right: Fred Bull takes his family on a tour of the control room.

The SPSTeam


Surry Employees Smoke The Hog Jog 2007submitted by: Kara Ewell

“This seemed like a good idea three months ago.” Those words were printed on a participant’s t-shirt at the Sixth Annual Hog Jog and echoed my thoughts exactly, as I leaned down to re-tie my shoe prior to the start of the 5K jog and walk. As I stood up, I took a deep breath and anxiously awaited the signal to start…

The Hog Jog benefited the Isle of Wight Education Foundation and the Christian Outreach Program. The race kicked off “Town and Country Day” in Smithfield on October 13, 2007 at 9:00 a.m. This celebration offered exhibits of agricultural and other country pursuits as well as a 150-vehicle antique car show. The car show on Main Street was hosted by the Smithfield Ruritan club. Tom Norris, Engineering, is the 2007 Ruritan club president and this is the chapter’s sixth annual show. There were approximately 100 classic, antique, custom, and high performance cars and trucks on display, including Tom’s own 1946 Chevy Panel Delivery street rod. I first learned about the event from two coworkers.

Approximately five months prior to the race, while working in the Control Room Annex I discussed local races and charity events with two “B” Shift Operators, Rich Bowen and Rob Young. Rich and Rob had recently com-peted in a half marathon and were looking forward to upcoming local races. I shared with them my personal goal to compete in a half marathon one day. The truth is that at the time, I had only ever run one 5K race with a longer-than-average finish time of 44 minutes.

All I had to do was mention that I might be interested in a race and a few months later my registration confirma-tion for the 2007 Hog Jog appeared in my inbox, courtesy of Rich Bowen! Also on the Dominion team, were Shift Operators Rob Young and Lincoln Marcoux, as well as I&C Technician Jeffrey Fitch.

In the months leading up to race day, my counterparts were very helpful and encouraging. Rich and Rob left me issues of Runner’s Magazine, while Jeff stopped by to exchange training tips and techniques. Jeff would ask, “How many miles have you run this week, Kara?”

And I would reply, “Well, I sort of walked and jogged two miles a few days ago.”

Then Jeff would positively remind me that the race was quickly approaching and that it might be a good idea to build my distance before the actual race day.

As the weeks passed, I found ways to fill my time that did not include focusing on my training program. Two weeks prior to the race, Jeff stopped by again to check on my progress, “So, Kara… How many miles are you up to now?”

The reply was the same, “Actually, Jeff, I ran two miles a few days ago. I mean… I walked a portion of it, but I am feeling pretty good. Did I mention that I am not really competing for time? As long as I beat my personal record of 44 minutes, I will be happy.”

Jeff was again supportive, agreeing that sometimes it is best to try to compete against your own records and important to set your own personal goals.

Finally, the morning of the race arrived. I still had not run three miles consecutively. I was standing around with Rich, Rob, Linc, and Jeff feeling exactly what the words on the t-shirt described, “This seemed like a good idea a few months ago!”

As the others stretched and jogged around the registration area, I stood next to the stage, iPod in hand, biting my fingernails nervously. The appropriately named “Hog Jog” began on Main Street in Smithfield, not far from the Smithfield Packing Plant. There were pig mascots and many runners adorned pig noses and tails.



As we lined up at the corner of South Mason and Main Street, volunteers held up signs with times on them, “5:00, 6:00, 7:00.” Rich, Rob, Linc, and Jeff headed to the front of the pack where the faster runners take off. I did not see them again until the finish line!

We were guided by pink, hog prints that were painted on the pavement and raced through historic Smithfield and along Jericho Road. It was a beautiful fall morn-ing. The course was a flat one, with the exception of two hills at the very beginning and end of the race. As I approached the three-mile marker the course plunged down the steep hill, only to climb again prior to the finish line. Luckily though, after the final climb, the road dropped again for a downhill finish. As I descended down the first hill, I could see Rich Bowen jogging towards me from the direction of the finish line. Rich had completed the race and was return-ing to cheer me to the finish line. As we climbed the final hill, he coached “Great job Kara. You’re running strong! Take smaller steps. You are almost there. The finish line is just on the other side of this hill!”

Rich’s words were just the encouragement I needed. Even though I was out of breath and feeling small waves of nausea, I conquered the hill and headed straight down to the finish line, where I completed the race with a time of 34:18, ten minutes faster than my first 5K!

On the other side of the finish line, I met and celebrated with my coworkers. Rich, Rob, Linc, Jeff and I all shared our times and congratulations with one another. We paused to take a photo with the hog mascot and then headed over to dine on complimentary hot dogs.

Jeff Fitch placed an impressive first place for the “Men’s Ages 40-44” category with a time of 20:06. That’s an average of 6:28 per mile! Lincoln Marcoux also took home a prize, placing third for the “Men’s Ages 25-29” category with a time of 23:50. Rob Young and Rich Bowen both finished with notable times completing the trek in 23:08 and 24:43 respectively. In addition, Jim Thornton, a Technical Consultant at Innsbrook, took first place for the Masters Men category with a time of 18:30.

Participating in this race taught this Dominion new hire much about the culture here at Surry. Not only did the event support the local community, but my coworkers illustrate a healthy balance between their shift work and personal interests. My friends literally cheered me through training and the finish line on race-day, which shows their support and dedication to our combined success. For these things I would like to offer special thanks to Rich, Rob, Linc and Jeff. Even with all of the sweat and hard work, it is definitely a great idea to race with you anytime!

If you are interested in participating with coworkers in a racing event, please contact Richard F. Bowen, Opera-tions, Surry Power Station.

Above: From Left To Right, Kara Ewell, Rich Bowen, the Hog Jog Mascott, Rob Young, Jeff Fitch and Linc Mar-coux pose after they cross the finish line at the Hog Jog.

Above: Winners Linc Mar-coux and Jeff Fitch cel-ebrate by drinking from their trophy glasses.

The SPS Team


The SPS TeamNSS Labor Shopsubmitted by: Wanda Brim

The best way to introduce everyone to the NSS Labor Shop would be to take a picture. In this picture

you will notice that these are people you see every-day in, around, and outside of the station. They are working to clean, fix, maintain, deliver and transport just about every place, piece, or part around this site to help maintain Surry Power Station.

A nuclear site requires more than your usual Labor shop. There is no such thing as a “Janitor” here at Surry Power Station. Laborers have to be trained in a variety of areas, including but no limited for: radia-tion worker, firewatch, floodwatch, confined space, confined space rescue, sub atmospheric entry and to be a forklift operator. We are also qualified to respond and provide cleanup for any oil spills, on land or in the water. Some of the laborers maintain Commercial Driver’s license and HAZMAT qualifica-tions to support critical station deliveries. Laborers are also trained to fill out CR’s and orange cards. On a daily basis, laborers are required to know any of the given activities that could be taking place around the plant through our morning briefs. Our job description ranges from something as simple as replacing an empty roll of hand towels to making a containment entry at power to replace PORV bottles.

Additionally, laborers are required to be on-site for all inclement weather related events. We are the ones who keep the walkways “walk-able” and the drive-ways “drive-able.” If you happen to be stuck here, do not worry! The Facilities & Support shop has some-thing for that as well. In our “Hurricane Storage” area, we store cots, pillows, blankets, and sheets. We keep these items year round for just such an oc-casion and are prepared to assist our fellow employ-ees if the need arises.

The following individuals make up the SPS Facilities & Support Labor Group:

• Prior to Dominion, I (Wanda Brim) was a Residen-tial Recycling Truck Driver, Hazmat Driver, as well as a Shipper & Receiver. I started with Dominion as a Meter Reader and was re-assigned to Surry in 2001.

• Phil Morton has been with the Facilities & Support department for over 25 years. His knowledge and experience is valued and appreciated by all in the shop.

• Clarence Miller has over 20 years service with Do-minion. Clarence was in the Operation’s program, a Warehouse storekeeper, a Tool room attendant, and at Yorktown was an Operator’s Helper.

• Rodney Taylor previously worked on the James-town Ferry. He became a laborer in 2001.

• James Pegram started at Chesterfield Power Sta-tion in 1986 before relocating to Surry in 2001.

• Shawn Livesay, Brad Dooley, Deontae Jefferson, and Andrew Kunkle are the newest members to the Labor Shop. Shawn was previously employed by a lawn care company in Williamsburg and hired on with Dominion in 2004. Brad and Deontae joined our team in 2006. Brad holds an associate degree in business and currently pursuing his bachelors. Deontae worked with his family lawn care business before coming to Dominion. Finally Andrew, who was hired this year, is our most recent addition. Andrew holds a bachelors degree in Business and worked for a lawn care business in Chesapeake.

• Sheila Burris, Fritz Etienne, Phyllis Ponton, Michael Berryman, George Lassiter, Nicole Henderson, Carlos Byrd, Andrew Jones and Troy Edwards: These laborers came from various jobs, some with associate and bachelor’s degrees, hired between 2004 and 2007. They came from all walks of life, including military careers. All were employed by Fluor Global or Atlantic before becoming employed as Dominion laborers.

• Additionally, there are also several utility work-ers assigned to the Labor Shop who support our vacancies. They work side by side with us on our daily work activities. The following individuals are instrumental to the success of our shop: Jean Montague, Theresa Marshall, Patti Sigman, Kelly Leggett, Ronice Conner (Daughter of Ron Mavin, Training) and Tondra Hill (formerly employed in the SPS cafeteria by Hospitality Services).

• And finally, Lahoma Williams and Anthony Turner, who are the Labor Crew Supervisors.

If you do see any members of the Labor Shop, stop and say hello. Take the time to thank my hard work-ing colleagues for helping to maintain our power station!



Surry Power Station’s2007 Holiday Celebration

submitted by: Phillissia Clinton

The 2007 Holiday Celebration was held on Satur-day, December 15, at the Kingsmill Resort. Out-side it was raining, but inside it was snowing. Yes, snowing! The white stuff fi lled the hallway as you entered the pre-reception area. As the registration line formed down the hallway, so did the excitement of what was to come. The place was fi lled with holi-day lights, Christmas trees and holiday decorations in every room.

To help spice up the night, Kenny Sloane, Plant Manager, provided red and white fl ashing pilsner glasses that actually lit up! There was food of all kinds throughout the entire night. Kelsey Olsen, daughter of Craig Olsen provided caricature draw-ings that were outstanding and a fun keepsake. An array of music was provided by FAB, formerly “Fat Ammon’s Band,” in the main ballroom.

The casino offered a great interactive, social atmo-sphere and was a hit! A DJ played music that fi lled the casino with all the latest sounds. It was fun to watch the high rollers in action and the dance fl oor fi lled to capacity. In addition to the social element of the games, there was also the fantasy factor that goes along with winning big, even when there isn’t any real money at stake.

There were prizes galore and the following were a few of our top winners:

Grand PrizeSony 40” 1080i High Defi nition LCD TV

Kelly Mapp (guest)

TIVO High Defi nition Digital Video RecorderMelissa Hooper (guest)

Canon XTI Digital Camera with 2 LensRicardo Manrique, Engineering

Casino Big WinnerTonya Byrd, Training

A special thanks to Donald Jernigan and Kenny Sloane, for creating an evening that will be remem-bered for quite some time by all who attended. We look forward to another exciting holiday celebration in 2008! Enjoy the collage of photos submitted by Ron Adkins and Char Stump.





The Outage CornerFall 2007 Pre-Outage Celebrationsubmitted by: Stuart Kardian

photos submitted by: Kara Ewell and Sam Maggio

On Thursday, October 18, 2007 Management generously hosted the “Fall 2007 Pre-Outage Celebration” for all Dominion and supplemental site employees. Though rain showers passed overhead, hundreds of employees attended the three-hour event at the Training Center. Prior to the picnic, Kenny Sloane brainstormed the idea of taking a site personnel photo beneath the Turbine Deck American Flag. Joe DelPrincipe worked closely with employees from the Chuckatuck Sub-station to utilize two bucket trucks to hoist the flag. Hundreds of employees gathered beneath the colossal American flag for the photograph, which will be sent as a token of our thanks to all of the Dominion-related deployed troops, (see page 12 for finished photo). The photo is also on display in the Admin Building hallway between the elevator and the cafeteria. Spirits were high as music played continuously throughout the day, thanks to DJ Tom Norris (Engineering). Beneath the tents, employees enjoyed home-style BBQ, prepared and served by fellow Dominion employees. During the celebration, Elaine Sparrow (Outage & Planning) hosted the “Support the Troops” bake sale, while “Uncle Sam,” Steve Tross (Out-age & Planning) and Robin Gynn (Engineering) passed around a boot to raise funds for troop support. Kenny Sloane (Plant Manager), Lois Little (Management), Margaret Hangach (Engineering) and Char Stump (Nuclear Graphics) all weathered the harsh elements to provide fellow employees with tasty beverages. On behalf of Surry Power Station, thank you, Mr. Jernigan, for providing such an exciting picnic prior to our Unit 1 Refueling Outage. Also special thanks to all those who assisted with the food and beverage services.


Processing Moves To Chuckatuck

submitted by: Mandy Newellphotos submitted by: Johnny D. Rogers

It is a fall day long before the 2007 Unit 1 Refueling Outage be-gins, and individuals are hard at work rebuilding Surry’s Process-ing Center at the Chuckatuck Substation.

Michael Crawley, Collin Forehand and his electrical team have their work cut out for them. Their task: to set up electrical infrastructure for the mobile units that will become the Outage Processing Center. Telecom and IT employees are also on-site to set up over 80 terminals for computer based training in ad-dition to phones, faxes, printers and all other necessary office equipment. Betty’s Plumbing and AVES also played key roles in setting up other facility needs. Once all of the components are in place, the mobile office park affectionately known by staff as “Camp Chuck,” is ready for its first customer.

Processing Coordinator and staff-appointed “Mayor” of Camp Chuck, Johnny Rogers, carefully balances the Surry Fitness for Duty program in addition to the processing activities at Chuck-atuck. For the past three years, Johnny has moved the Process-ing Center to Chuckatuck during outage processing to accommo-date thousands of supplemental employees.

On September 24, 2007 the Processing Center opened its doors for this year’s Fall U1 Refuel-ing Outage. From that day

forward, any individuals who were seeking an Unescorted Access badge reported directly to Chuckatuck for processing, fitness for duty screening and training. However, the process begins prior to a supplemental employee’s arrival on site.

First, travelers must be made for each individual. A traveler assesses each person’s processing needs and directs them through the processing circuit. Have they worked nuclear before or are they brand new? Do they need a drug test, fingerprints, picture or an MMPI evaluation? Finally, what level of training is required? All of these questions must be answered prior to the arrival of each individual.

Supplemental employees typically arrive in Chuckatuck at 6:00 a.m. and are greeted by their company site representative. They immediately complete their company “hire-in” paperwork and then attend an orientation conducted by Johnny Rogers at 7:00 a.m. Marilyn King with Employee Concerns covers the rights and responsibilities of nuclear employees. Curtis Luffman, Manager of Protection Services, addresses supplemental personnel by highlighting site expectation, roles and responsibilities. In addi-tion, Doug Williams and the Safety team present the final presen-tation, explaining their tips for a safe outage.

Once the orientation lectures are complete, each individual is checked in by an In-processing Assistant, activating their official entry into the processing system. When employees receive their traveler, they begin their trip around the processing circuit. They visit the site nurse, Dose Control, Fitness for Duty, and the Training departments to prepare them for outage work. Once they have completed all of the components on their travelers, employees check out of Chuckatuck and are directed to the Surry In-Processing facility to pick up their badge and TLD.

Many people work to-gether to create a wel-coming and efficient Processing Center. Returning supplemen-tal employee, Mandy Newell-Reynolds, wife of Roderick Reynolds at NAPS, facilitated Johnny’s team of friendly In-Processing Assistants. Amy Camper and Kristi James, both Security Officers were helpful new addi-tions to the processing team. Sharon Carawan, from Radiation Protection, also returned for the 16th year to process individuals. In addition, Margo Stewart, a supplemental employee and wife of Bobby Stewart, Welder here at Surry, also joined the Chuck-atuck team. Ronice Conner, daughter of Ron Mavin, joined the team of Fitness for Duty collectors this outage. Also aiding in the processing effort were Debbie Breeden, Micheline Canty, Peter Marchese and Angela Timmons, all personnel from Innsbrook and North Anna. Back at Surry, Access Services employees Donna Mason and Eva Livesay joined by Dee Smith from the Engineering Department, and Toni Huber of the Security Depart-ment kept things running smoothly and printed over a thousand badges this outage! Throughout the entire outage processing, the Access Services team in Innsbrook worked around the clock to grant clearances for individuals at Surry and other Dominion nuclear plants.

The Processing team would like to thank Ron Mavin, Bill Martin, Mike Barber and Marcy Elliott for their hard work and contribu-tions related to Computer Based Training. Also, special thanks to Joe DelPrincipe and a team of laborers that supported Chuck-atuck Processing with vehicles, supplies and set-up.

Did You Know…?Interesting Processing Facts For the

Fall 2007 U1 Refueling Outage• A total of 1,860 people were processed and trained, over 700

more than the Fall 2006 U2 Outage • 1480 Unescorted Access badges were issued• 82% of people seeking Unescorted Access received a badge

within two days• 215 Dominion employees from other sites traveled to Surry to

support the outage• DZ Atlantic provided over 850 qualified employees• During Outage processing, Surry admitted 143 visitors on site• 143 individuals processed were new to the nuclear industry• On average, it took 1.14 days to receive a clearance and a badge

Above: Johnny Rogers gives a presentation at the Chuckatuck In-processing Center.

Above: In-processing Assistants check-in supplemental personnel.


Turbine Groupsubmitted by: Paul Skopic

During the Fall 2007 Unit 1 Refueling Outage, the Turbine Group’s main projects included the replacement of both LP Turbine rotors, a re-placement of the HP Turbine casing bolting, the replacement and rebuild of nine turbine control valves, and EHC and Seal Oil system mainte-nance.

This work was accomplished by first deciding which components required attention during the upcoming outage. This determination is based on keeping the equipment in proper operating condition and also on various regula-tory and insurance requirements. The total scope is in-tegrated into a schedule intended to optimize work ef-ficiency and mini-mize cost. Work orders are gener-ated which typically rely on existing pro-cedures to control the work evolution. Parts are ordered and allocated based on each work order’s scope. A Turbine Deck “laydown” plan is also developed to fit all the disassembled components in a logical sequence on the turbine deck, to accommodate other departments work scope, and to facilitate a clean and safe work environment.

First, Laborers place the protective rubber mat-ting on the floor and assemble the screen mesh enclosures for various parts, cages, and FME enclosures. NSS personnel accomplish the pre-outage rigging and lifting to place the required Sea Vans, Office Modules, and other equipment on the Turbine Deck. Station Maintenance de-partment undertakes the connection of the office

Above: Riggers lower the LP Turbine Cover.

module fire protection systems. Approximately one month prior to the outage a meeting must be held with the North Anna and Kewaunee Turbine Groups, along with Millwright Supervision to dis-cuss outage support and work scope.

The physical outage work is accomplished with Union Millwrights brought in through the lo-cal union. The majority of our Millwrights are travelers that hail from Mississippi to Maine and anywhere in between. Approximately two weeks prior to the outage, the Millwright Super-vision arrives to accomplish a detailed review of the outage work. The replacement parts are also staged on the Turbine Deck during the two weeks prior to the outage. Approximately one week prior to the outage, anywhere from 40 to 85 Millwrights will arrive, depending on the out-age work scope.

On day one the fun begins, machine disassem-bly begins as tags are released. All personnel remain fully engaged throughout the entire out-age with safety being the most important aspect followed by quality maintenance and FME control.

During this past outage, the heaviest com-ponents lifted were the LP Rotors at 224,000 pounds. The total weight of all components lifted during the past outage on the Turbine deck can be estimated at several million pounds.

Below: Unit 1 Turbine Deck during the Refueling Outage.


GSI Projectsubmitted by: Derek Dunlap

The GSI project was a critical path project throughout the outage. There were two different tasks involved, insulation and the sump modification. The insulation

team had approxi-mately 2,000 linear feet of insulation to cover with stainless steel jacketing. The sump modification crew had two major projects: the strainer installation and the

dike wall installation. The sump modification includes placing an advanced filter system to prevent debris from entering the recirc and containment spray sys-tems. Both projects had various challenges through-out the outage that had to be worked through. How-ever, a very experienced team, who has also worked at North Anna on their GSI project, completed the work for Unit 1 this past outage. On behalf of the GSI

team, we would like to thank Nuclear Site Services for scaffolding support as well as ISI for the insula-tion installation. Our team was also supplemented by employees from Sargent and Lundy and AECL from Canada, who were instrumental in the planning and implementation of the Design Change Procedures for the project. While the work this outage completed the project for Unit 1, the same project will be imple-mented for Unit 2 in future outages.

The Outage Corner

Above: Operations enjoys Thanksgiving Dinner during the Refueling Outage.

Below: Henry Pulley prepares Turkey Hotdogs in HP on Thanksgiving Day.

Above: GSI Employees work on the dike wall in containment.

Above: The GSI-191 Team for the Surry Unit 1 2007 Refueling Outage.

Thanksgiving Daysubmitted by: Kara Ewell

During the Unit 1 Fall Refueling Outage, employ-ees worked around the clock until the Unit was back online. Therefore, even on Thanksgiving Day, the show must go on! Surry Power Station employees as well as supplemental employees sacrificed time with their families on Thanksgiving Day to be here at work. Even though they were working, some departments still found ways to celebrate with delicious pot luck Thanksgiving dinners. Thank you, Mr. Jernigan and to Chef Swann and his hardworking staff, who provided a delicious Thanksgiving lunch to all who were here.


Surry Fuel Handlers Break Core Reload Recordsubmitted by: Tony Xenakis

photos submitted by: Kara Ewell and Charlene Chotalal

On Sunday, November 11, Veteran’s Day, the veteran Surry Fuel Handling team worked around the clock and illustrated their expertise by wrapping up the core reload in a record-breaking time of 28 hours and 4 minutes. This time set a new fleet-wide record and beats out the previous fleet record of 28 hours and 37 minutes (S1 EOC 19 reload, November 2004).

Typically, the offload and the reload are scheduled for 34 hours each. Fuel Handling Supervisor, Kenny Ewell attributes the remarkable time to several factors, including, but not limited to, a conscientious and skilled core group of fuel han-dlers, diligent equipment maintenance, and crisp, clean on-station turnovers.

For a refueling outage, the Fuel Handling team is augmented with Surry and North Anna Shift Operators that have been trained specifically in the area of Fuel Handling. With years of combined experience measured in triple digits, these vet-eran operators set the industry-wide pace for both safe and efficient fuel movement.

At the time of the Fall 2007 Unit 1 Outage, the following individuals made up the SPS FH team: Surry Team Members- Fuel Handling Supervisor: Kenny Ewell. Fuel Handling Group Members: Timothy Keating, Tony Xenakis, Joseph Lyons and Jeff Hangach. On-shift Team Members- SRO’s: Steve Wightman, Don Masingo, Tim Green and Henry Johnson. Fuel Handlers: Vinnie Stouter, Bill Schwarz, Steve Coffin, Ryan Phillips, Rob Young, Jeff Catley, Ron Humphreys, David Dials, Ernie Howard, Neil Hanlon, Dave Bradford, Josh Humphries, Brian Dobmeier and Glen Griffin. North Anna Team Members- Fuel Handling Supervisor: Bobby Speckine. Fuel Handling Group Members: Scott Clements, Bill Carlin, Ed-die Patrick, Tom Durrett and Bill Campbell. On-shift Team Members- Fuel Handlers: Andrew Mueller, Stan Krysztopik and Travis Jarrell.

Above: A Fuel Assembly coming out of the Fuel Building Upender.

Above: Surry core being loaded with fresh and used fuel assemblies.

Above: Fuel Handlers moving a fuel assembly into the spent fuel pool..

Above: The Fuel Handling Team, from left to right: Steve Wightman, Andrew Mueller, Travis Jarrell, Eddie Patrick, Timothy Keat-ing and Supervisor: Kenny Ewell.38The Power Line - Winter 2008 Edition


A Fuel Handler’s Perspectivesubmitted by: Ron Humphreys and Vinnie Stouter

Fuel handling, by its nature, is repetitive and meticulous. Every step of the process has the distinct possibility of being a career-impacting decision.

Why do Fuel Handlers volunteer for intense, routine tasks with potential risk for human error? They volunteer because fuel handlers have a very profound respect for the core. They un-derstand how important it is, not only for Surry Power Station and Dominion, but also for the entire nuclear industry, that fuel be handled with the utmost care before, during, and after its use in the core. Fuel Handlers internalize human performance standards and continually support the members of their team.

In preparation for the outage, approximately 60 new fuel assemblies are received, inspected, and moved into the spent fuel pool. After a unit is shutdown, fuel handlers off-load the core. The 157 fuel assemblies are removed from the reac-tor and transferred to the spent fuel pool utilizing the Transfer System, which holds the assemblies safely in place. In the fuel building, assemblies are carefully inspected. The burnable poison rods and control rods are shuffled to different assemblies. The process is repeated in reverse when 157 assemblies, which include the 60 new assemblies, are reinserted into the reactor core.

Most people might not understand the implica-tions of an incident involving fuel, but consider this: Each of the 157 fuel assemblies has 204 fuel rods. A pinhole leak in any of the fuel rods immediately violates the first line of defense in the prevention of a release of contamination to the public. This violation would increase the operating radiation levels in the reactor compart-ment and the auxiliary buildings. Additionally, the higher contamination levels in the primary

would increase the necessary protection, treat-ment, and disposal costs associated with contin-ued operation.

Another interesting aspect concerning fuel han-dling is that our fuel handlers are Dominion employees. Many power plants utilize special-ized supplemental employees to perform fuel handling. However, Dominion utilizes fuel han-dlers from Surry and North Anna to process and maintain our fuel. Amazingly enough, these teams have been able to consistently perform fuel off-loads and on-loads in times of less than 32 hours. All Fuel Handlers utilize Human Per-formance Tools such as a review of industry ex-perience, briefing at each phase of the process, utilizing formal three-way communication, self checking, and peer checking, while maintaining situational awareness and a questioning attitude.

Dominion Refuelers enjoy a camaraderie stem-ming from the common goals for safe, efficient operation and an intolerance of substandard material condition or personnel performance. We pull together as a team to maintain refueling excellence. While safety is the highest priority, this alignment additionally led to the record-breaking performance this outage. Because we believe excellence is a journey and not a desti-nation, our standards as Fuel Handlers inevitably move higher.

A Refueler’s Tanrengasubmitted by: Vinnie Stouter

A fall wind whispers

Hot thermals swirling arise

Cherenkov’s rays strike

Upon our retinas’ eyes

Daz’ling periwinkle light


The Outage Corner


Operations Outage Testing Prevents Failuressubmitted by: David Bridges

Just inside the old Admin Building, with only a paper sign to identify its purpose is the Opera-tions Testing Crew’s office. The office is used for preparing outage clearances during most of the year, but during outages the Testing Office is manned by Operators responsible for pressure tests and electrical tests of numerous station systems.

John Ott, a nine-year testing crew veteran ex-plains that Operators “Test containment penetra-tions and their isolation valves, to ensure there is no release to the public in the event of an emergency.” This testing, called Type C test-ing, is performed in accordance with numerous procedures designed to simulate high pressure inside containment and to measure the amount of leakage, if any, through hundreds of valves. If excessive leakage is discovered, processes are initiated to ensure the valve is repaired and retested before power operations recommence.

Logic testing is another major evolution that is coordinated by the testing office. “Simulating low intake canal level and actually making sure the circulating water valves close” and “initiating a Hi-Hi CLS signal and ensuring that all the proper equipment starts when it should and that all the timers work” is something that Dale Jones, a licensed Reactor Operator, has been involved with many times during outages. Logic testing requires coordination between the Testing Crew, Maintenance Electricians, Electrical Control Op-erations and Engineering and must be performed every outage on both emergency busses.

Electrical bus outages are also routed through the testing office. Normally energized 4160 volt

station service and emergency busses are de-energized, allowing electricians to perform main-tenance and cleaning. With the Testing Crew’s assistance, Maintenance Electricians swap out numerous 480 volt breakers with refurbished breakers and test them. The removed breakers are rebuilt after the outage by electrical breaker specialists, and reinstalled during the following outage.

Although testing is repetitive because the same tests are being performed on the same valves, and logic testing and bus outages are performed every outage, the Testing Crew is always look-ing for the abnormal. During a recent outage, excessive leakage on a penetration pressure test led to the discovery of piping cracks in the recirculating water spray system. This discovery forced piping to be replaced and unfortunately delayed the return to power. However, this main-tenance increased the reliability of a critical sys-tem. Logic testing has discovered components that, while not failed, were ultimately replaced to ensure their continued operability through the next 18-month operating cycle and possibly avoiding a unit trip.

Working in the testing office provides a chance to see things happen that you hope you never actually see during normal operation of the plant. It reinforces a lot of the knowledge gained during the Operations training program, and gives you a chance to really operate the plant.

Left: Control Room Op-erator Josh Humphries checks the status of Type C testing in the Operations Test-ing Office.


Surry Acquires New Fire Trucksubmitted by: Paul Harte

In accordance with emergency preparedness guide-lines, Safety & Loss Prevention was assigned a special task. With a budget of $150,000, they were asked to find a fire truck that meets the guidelines and to take delivery before the end of the year. Not only did we find several pumpers through the inter-net using an online broker, we completed the entire acquisition process in less than two weeks! Surry Power Station’s brand new fire truck arrived on-site Sunday, December 23rd, just in time for Christmas!

Many people, both here at SPS and at the corporate office, worked together to complete the project. Safe-ty personnel took a day trip to Pennsylvania to in-spect the proposed vehicle and perform a test drive, while corporate employees followed steps to issue the purchase. Once we were satisfied with our selec-tion, we contacted key personnel in Purchasing, Fleet Maintenance, and within our own station manage-ment to move ahead with an offer. Through it all, we managed to get a purchase order, the requisition, a receipt of goods, in just a matter of days. The whole payment process took less than two weeks, much to everyone’s surprise. Though it could have been viewed as an almost impossible task, we succeeded thanks to everyone who sacrificed their holiday time.

The pumper is a 1990, Pierce LANCE unit with less than 18,000 miles. It was purchased and delivered for less than the allotted budget. ENG-65, as the pumper was known to the Garden City Volunteer Fire Department (GCFD) Co. No. 1, was purchased from the department with Chief Joe Lombardo overseeing the transaction. The pumper was purchased new by them in 1990 from Pierce Manufacturing in Wiscon-sin. The truck was then driven to Wallingford, Penn-sylvania by the manufacturer where the GCFD took delivery. The pumper was used to serve specialty areas that required apparatus with a smaller wheel base to navigate the city streets and the winding roads. The GCFD had purchased a 2001 pumper and hoped to sell ENG-65 to offset this expense.

ENG-65 was delivered to SPS on December 23, 2007 via Truck Line and a Low-Boy trailer. And yes, we think Santa played a major role in its smooth delivery! The new fire truck is currently housed in the new Emergency Response Building (ERB), which is located on warehouse road.

The new pumper will go through a series of modifica-tions and setups. It must be assigned a Dominion fleet number and complete vehicle licensing and state inspection. There will also be radio installation and hose testing, just to name a few before going into full service. Training is planned for Fire Bri-gade members in 2008. Lastly, our original Pumper, the 1984 Ford will find a new assignment at the Kewaunee Power Station in the spring or summer of 2008.

Facts about ENG-65: Surry Power Station’s new pumper has the following features:• A Detroit diesel engine and an allison automatic

transmission• Six-man crew cab with self contained breathing

packs on board• A Diesel generator with a 200 amp electrical panel

and portable power outlets• 1,250 gallon per minute pump• Carries 1,000 gallons of water (twice the capacity

of our original pumper)• Capable of running air-powered extrication or

power tools• Two scene floodlights to illuminate the work area

around the pumper• Equipped with air brakes• Carries a 4” fire hose to replace the 2.5” on our

original truck (This means more water volume!)• Includes quick-connect fittings for hoses to the truck• Includes a deck or turret gun to shoot water

streams into upper levels of buildings

Above: Surry Power Station’s brand new fire truck arrived on-site December 23, 2007.


Surry Celebrates FamilyRemember When?submitted by: Lois Little and Tom Norris

photos submitted by: Lois Little

Above: John Grau leading the “Instruc-tional Excellence Workshop,” November 1999.

Above: The Technical Training staff of 1999 assist John Grau with his opening skit for the “Instructional Excellence Workshop.” From Left to Right in the Front: Michael Wagner-Diggs, Marcy Elliott, Ann Consolvo, and Bill Martin. From Left to Right in the Back: John Grau and Harry Linde.

Above: Harry Linde provides comic relief for the group.

Above: Even when things are at their worst LORP Instructors are at their best. From Left to Right: Hal Warren, Kevin Spencer, Kevin Labat, Ron Herbert, and Alex Stanley.



What’s Your Hobby, Dave Sanderson?submitted by: Cynthia Shepheard

ASTRONOMY: the scientific study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the Earth’s atmosphere.

It is the night of the new moon, astronomers, both amateur and expert, are gathering their equipment and making their way to the best star gazing areas ready to find planets, comets, nebulas, and constellations. Among them you will find Dave Sanderson, a Senior Nuclear Instructor at Surry Power Sta-tion, heading towards one of the best star watching spots in Hampton Roads: Chippokes State Park, Northwest River Park, or the Southampton Fair Grounds. These three parks are far enough away from the light in the cities. After all, as Dave explains “magnification is not as important as light gathering.” With little to no moon, the telescope has a greater opportunity of gathering light from dim nebulas and stars further away.

Dave’s current telescope allows him to see a few million light years away. He has already finished a list of 110 objects known as Messier’s List. Dave explained this list is ironic be-cause Messier was fascinated with comets not nebulas. Since comets and nebulas show up in a telescope in a similar fash-ion, Messier kept a list of what was not a comet so as to keep

track of what he did not want to see. For new astronomers, Messier’s List is a perfect list to learn. There are two ways to view the nebulas on Messier’s List: using a telescope or using binoculars. Dave has completed both lists in addition to the Urban List which focuses on objects that are visible from the cities. He’s seen all the planets except the outer three. He explained that Mercury is espe-cially hard to locate due to its proximity to the sun. A couple of Dave’s favorite celestial objects are the Swan Nebula (M17) and The Great Orion Nebula (M42).

Dave has worked at Surry in Operations and Training for the past 36 years after spending 6 years as a Navy Nuke. He’s always been interested in astronomy. It wasn’t until five to six years ago that he began to sharpen his astronomer skills looking at planetary nebula. Dave is a member of the Back Bay Amateur Astronomers of Virginia Beach which holds star gazing parties monthly to exchange findings. “The best part is using the sky charts to find the objects in the sky,” Dave said, “using the go-to telescopes aren’t as fun.” To account for the rotation of the Earth, he built his own platform to set his telescope on which rotates 15 degrees every hour. Dave brought his telescope to the Windsor Relay for Life, in 2007, so attendees could peer into the sky.

Interested in astronomy? Dave has some advice for you. “Start with a planisphere and a good pair of binoculars. And don’t show up to a star gazing party with a flashlight unless it’s a red light.”

Above: Dave Sanderson and his Newto-nian Telescope at Relay For Life.



Surry Celebrates FamilyWhat’s Your Hobby,Tom Norris?

submitted by: Tom Norrisphotos submitted by: Tom Norris

For nearly fifty years I have been involved with collecting automotive items. It all started with an expired 1958 license plate bolted to my pedal car and grew from there. My hobby has evolved from saving license plates, gas station road maps, model cars, and slot cars to eventually collecting full size cars. Currently I own a 1946 Chevrolet Panel Delivery street rod, three Cor-vettes (1969 coupe, 1987 coupe, and 2001 con-vertible), several VW beetles (1957, 1966, and a 1970s vintage dune buggy), and most recently acquired a high performance 1968 Camaro built by our own Charlie Turner. My garage walls are decorated with automotive signs, shelves of vin-tage car parts and literature, and vintage license plates, including over 300 different Virginia plates dating back to 1910. I am active in several local car clubs, including Virginia Chevy Lovers, Pen-insula Volkswagen Club, Virginia Rat Pack, and Portsmouth Street Rod Association. I also assist with hosting several area classic and custom car shows, including Smithfield Olden Days, Virginia Chevy Lovers Spring Dustoff, and the Smithfield Ruritan car show.

I suppose it was fate that this became a life long hobby. One car that made an early impression on me was the 1955 Chevro-let. My uncle Bobby owned one in 1961 that was de-chromed

and had that ‘tough’ look of the era. About the same time my cousin Warren bought a nearly new white 61 Impala convertible with red inte-rior, a very nice car. Another cousin Tommy had a string of VW Beetles in the 60s, including the now very desirable 1952 split window that ended up on a Hampton used car lot in 1969. Today this car can bring $15,000 and above. Not being of driving age, I made do with collecting model cars and license plates, dreaming of the day when one of these classics would be mine.

A memorable ride in 1967 set the stage for my present day collection. Cousin Warren had come home from Vietnam and bought a new car. And not just any new car, but a Corvette Sting Ray with a 427 cubic inch engine and a four-speed transmission. One super fast car! He opened it up for me one night on Pembroke Avenue. To an adult ‘gear-head’ this would have been a memorable experience, but to a wide-eyed twelve year old, even more so. Once I be-gan driving in 1970, I had to make do with a six cylinder Plymouth Duster until I had the means to get a ‘cool’ car. That was accomplished in 1977 when I graduated college and bought a 1965 GTO. Since then I have owned a string of collec-

tor cars, some road worthy and some not, including three 55-57 Chevys, 1961 and 1962 Chevy Impalas, 1964 Chevy Fleetside pickup, 1969 SS396 Chevelle, 1970 Ch-evelle Malibu, 1970 SS350 Camaro , and culminating with the present collection.

Above: Tom Norris stands beside his 1946 Chevrolet Panel Delivery street rod.


Some collectors name their cars. In that tradition, the 1987 Corvette is named “Lois” because I purchased it from Lois Little in 2004. The 2001 Corvette is named “Barbara” because I purchased the car from Charlie and the late Barbara Turner in 2005. The 1969 Corvette is named Stephany. Care to guess the previous owners name? Finally, the 1946 Chevy is named Linda, who was a girlfriend of the previous owner and who is hon-ored on one of the truck’s murals.

What does the future hold? Collectors are never truly ‘owners’ of these cars because, unlike traditional daily drivers who become abandoned in junk yards after sev-eral years, these classics are timeless. We are merely caretakers, creating a car from raw materials and spare parts, restoring an original classic, or buying the fruits of someone else’s labor. We are constantly enjoying, maintaining, and tinkering, only to pass on with our adventures yet another chapter in the vehicle’s legacy for subsequent car lovers to enjoy. The smiles and waves I get, from kids as well as adults, are priceless. As long as I am blessed with the ability to drive, new acquisitions will always be coming and going out of my garage door.

Above: Tom Norris sits on top of a 1959-TCN-54-Mercury in Hampton, Virginia.

Below: Three of Tom Norris’ many treasured vehicles sit inside his well-maintained garage.

What’s Your Hobby,James Claiborne?

submitted by: Cynthia Catoe-Warren

Martial Arts is not only a hobby or a sport; it is a way of life. Martial Arts teaches discipline while emphasizing fitness, self confidence, self cultiva-tion, meditation, mental discipline, endurance, and character development. James Claiborne, a Senior Technician in the Radiological Protec-tion practices this way of life as a 5th Degree Black Belt and Martial Arts instructor. James has been practicing Shorin-ryu, an Okanou style of karate for over 21 years. James mastered Shorin-ryu under the direction of his instructor or Sensei, Master C.D. Williamson, a 7th Degree Black Belt. James has competed in both state and national tournaments, earning grand cham-pion titles and over 75 trophies in both Kata and Kumite fighting styles.

Master James Claiborne has been teaching Sho-rin-ryu at Surry’s Recreational Center for over 12 years, and 8 years at Rodney Cheeseman Dojo. Living a life of discipline, and wanting to share that way of life with others, has inspired Master James Claiborne to become a Sensei. Master James Claiborne’s students range from ages 5 years old to adults. He emphasizes self control, self discipline, good attitude, and living a healthy life style to all of his students.

His Dojo Motto is: We love our country. We love and respect our parents. We respect our educa-tion. We will fulfill our duties, and we respect the Shorin-ryu karate tradition. We are a black belt school. We are motivated. We are dedicated. We are on a quest to be our best.

Master, James Claiborne’s next goal is to obtain a 6th Degree Black Belt before 2009.

Above Left and Right: James Claiborne receives certifications from Sensei Master Williamson.

Left: James Claiborne is ready to begin his class.

Below: James Claiborne is pictured with his students.

SurryCelebrates

Family46The Power Line - Winter 2008 Edition


Do You Know,Wendy Catherine Jones?

submitted by: Sherry Adkinsphoto submitted by: Sherry Adkins

“Happiness comes from giving, not getting. If we try hard to bring happiness to others, we cannot stop it from coming to us also. To get joy, we must give it, and to keep joy, we must scatter it.” - John Templeton

Imagine a world where people give of themselves simply be-cause they want to. Not out of a sense of debt, or because they want something in return. Not because they have an ulterior motive or guilty feelings. They just have a desire to give to those less fortunate. We have a lot of people like that here at Surry Power Station, and I had the pleasure of meeting one of those people when I began working in Nuclear Site Services in March of 2007. When I first met Wendy Jones, I knew right away that she was a mover and a shaker. She’s always on the go and does a great job of keeping the scaffolding crew running smoothly. When Wendy’s not at work, she’s volunteering her time and gifts to her favorite shelters for battered women. This year she headed up Surry Power Station’s Angel Tree Project and Christmas stockings for the Salvation Army. She spent hours organizing, wrapping and delivering all the wonderful gifts that were given by the employee’s and still found the time to shop for twenty-five of the Angels and to fill forty or more Salvation Army stockings on her own! She’s a humble person, so to know exactly what she did, I had to find out for myself.

Wendy would say she is an ordinary person trying to contribute to a greater good. Did you know that the average American gives about 3.2% of his or her income (before taxes) to charity? It is a known fact that the people that give the most actually make the least. Household’s earning under $10,000 a year (far below the poverty line) gave 5.2% of their income to charity. Giving of herself is the heart of Wendy and if you haven’t had a chance to meet her, you need to.

SA: What is your job title?

WJ: Scaffold builder.

SA: Where were you born?

WJ: Timmonsville, S.C.

SA: Do you have any pets?

WJ: A lovable chow named Cody. He’s ten and is my favorite companion!

SA: Do you collect anything?

WJ: Anything Redskins. I got a great Redskins clock this Christ-mas from a friend.

SA: What is your pet peeve?

WJ: People who are always late for everything. If you tell some-one you will be there at a certain time then be there on time.

SA: What’s your favorite food?

WJ: Steak, shrimp and all sorts of vegetables.

SA: What hobbies do you have?

WJ: I love gardening, it relaxes me. I also love Bingo, and of course my volunteer projects.

SA: Who is your favorite actor?

WJ: I love the show Reba so I guess I will have to say Reba McEntire.

SA: What is your favorite TV show?

WJ: Besides reruns of Reba I watch Biggest Loser when I find the time; I really admire their dedication for accomplishing what they want.

SA: Do you have a favorite song?

WJ: Go Rest High on that Mountain by Vince Gill. When my sister passed away it was sung at her funeral. The words have so much meaning to me.

SA: If you could live anywhere, where would it be?

WJ: On a beach, any beach!

SA: Who would you say was the biggest influence in your life?

WJ: I really look up to my Uncle Jim. He took my three sisters and me in and raised us when my parents passed away when I was eleven.

SA: When you were a little girl you used to say, “When I grow up I want to be __________”.

WJ: I used to tell everyone that I wanted to be an airline stew-ardess but due to my mom and dad passing away at such an early age, I gave up on my dream so that I could help raise my sisters. I was determined to keep my promise that we would never be split up.

SA: Do you have a childhood memory that stands out?

WJ: When I was ten my mom let me get my ears pierced and afterwards she told me that Dad had not agreed with the idea but, she had let me do it anyway. I did everything to make sure he didn’t see what I had done. I always kept my hair just right so as to keep it hidden. Then one day it was raining and Dad was giving us a ride to school and he asked me a question and I whipped my head around to answer him and my hair parted just right and he saw my earring. He was so upset and couldn’t believe that I had done such a thing. I was so glad when I finally got to school.

SA: If you won the lottery what would you do with the money?

WJ: I have always said that I would take care of my sisters and then build a battered women’s shelter.

SA: What do you do in your free time?

WJ: I go to the nursing home to spend time with my “Granny.” I met Granny when I first came to Virginia and was looking for a place to stay. She took me in and let me stay with her. It’s been thirteen years and I have long ago moved out but I still visit as often during the week as time allows. She is just like a real “Granny” to me and I love her.

Right: Wendy Jones



Le Tour du Mont Blancsubmitted by: Barry Bryant

photos submitted by: Barry Bryant

Le Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB) is a circuit hike around the 15,771’ Mont Blanc massif, which straddles the French, Italian, and Swiss Alps. It’s a trek that captured my interest when I first heard about it nearly 10 years ago. For me, the lure of hiking the TMB was steeped by the natural beauty, chal-lenge, and sense of adventure it presented. By the summer of 2007, I could wait no more.

The first preparation for the trip was convincing my wife, Debbie, that not only was she physically capable of completing the TMB, but that she would enjoy it too. It was a tough sell: 11 days of hiking with a backpack, rain or shine, cold or hot, with an accumulated height gain of over 38,000 feet over a distance of 105 miles. Oh, and to keep it interesting, we would sleep in refuge bunk rooms right beside fellow trekkers from all over the world.

After allaying her concerns, she agreed to go. Then the real work began, about four months of physi-cal training, running, biking, and hiking with a weighted backpack. The other preparation challenges were making the travel arrangements, finding French topographic maps, and making reservations at the mountain refuges. We also spent a lot of time trying to find just the right combination of clothing. With temperatures ranging from 25 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit in a single day, it was important to have a system of layers that could be put on or taken off, as needed, and at the same time that were light-weight enough to carry.

By late August, the preparations were complete and we were ready both mentally and physically. We flew to Geneva, Switzerland and transferred by bus to Chamonix, France. Chamonix is a very picturesque resort town in the shadow of Mont Blanc and proved to be a wonderful place to recover from jet lag and a base for some warm-up hikes. After a couple of days, we began our trek from the nearby village of Les Houches, the traditional TMB starting point.

The first three days on the trail were filled with excitement and a bit of apprehension as we navigated the cols (passes) and began to develop our “trail legs.” The alpine scenery and glacial views were truly spec-tacular and the evenings in the mountain refuges were an experience to say the least. Imagine eating a family-style dinner with people you just met and that don’t speak English. Then imagine sleeping next to them on a raised platform in a converted dairy barn. You get the picture.

On the fourth day, we crossed the border into Italy and took a welcomed rest day in Courmayeur where we enjoyed delicious Italian food and a comfortable hotel room. After a day of rest, we were anxious to get back on the trail. While our confidence was high, we knew the toughest hiking lay

Above: Barry Bryant and his courageous wife, Debbie, take a rest from hiking to pose in front of these breathtaking mountains.



ahead. On the second day out of Courmayeur, we crossed the border into Switzerland at the 8,324’ Grand Col Ferret. The climb was difficult because the wind was gusting in excess of 50 mph, and memorable because one of the gusts literally knocked Debbie off her feet. Over the following four days we hiked through the Swiss Alps, crossed the French border, and continued on to Les Houches to complete the trip.

The TMB was everything I expected and more. It was physically and mentally demanding, but left us with a sense of confidence that is hard to describe. It provided an opportunity to meet and spend quality time with people from around the globe, including England, Ireland, Scotland, Sweden, Denmark, Spain, France, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Israel, Australia, and New Zea-land. It truly was a life experience that I won’t forget, and will encourage others to consider.

Above: This photo was taken on the way to Les Houches.

Top Right: Barry Bryant hiking La Balme to Mottets.

Middle Right: Barry Bryant hiking from Mottets to Courmayeur.

Bottom Right: The trip consisted of more than simply walking.

Surry Celebrates Family49

The Power Line - Winter 2008 Edition


An American In Europe: Summer 2007submitted by: Scott Brazil

photos submitted by: Scott Brazil

Last summer, my wife and I traveled to Rome (Italy, not Texas) on a business trip, and I got to be the spouse. That’s right! My wife, Andrea, was asked to attend a seminar in Rome, and I was invited to go along. I’ll come clean right off the bat. There is no better way to travel than as a business trip spouse. I didn’t have to attend the requisite business meetings, seminars, or training sessions; I got to sleep in as late as I wanted; and I still got to participate in all the social and cultural events (includ-ing golf, but that’s an entirely separate article). You can’t beat it.

After we received our official invitation to the conference in Rome and arranged for our kids to spend a couple of weeks with relatives, we decided to fly over a few days early to visit London first, a city near the top of both of our “must see” lists.

After what should have been a twelve-hour trip, we arrived in Lon-don two hours later than expected, but a day and a half before our luggage. Besides not having any clean clothes or toiletries for a couple of days, not having to drag our bags from the airport to the hotel via train and taxi worked out well. An event such as this reinforces the importance of packing the essentials—a toothbrush, clean socks and underwear—in your carry-on bag. I only wish I had learned that lesson before the trip.

After checking in to our hotel and taking a quick nap, we wandered out into Leicester Square. There we found a pub and enjoyed a meal of fish and chips (and a few pints) with a group of locals who were watching the Wimbledon men’s finals on the ‘telly,’ which was occurring just down the street. After dinner, we walked back to our hotel by way of Piccadilly Circus, which is London’s equivalent of

Times Square: massive neon billboards, shop fronts, and theaters as far as you can see, and it was amazingly tidy.

On our first full day, we learned to navigate the city via subway, or “the tube” as they call it over there. We purchased what was essentially a “season pass” to ride anywhere we wanted via tube or bus (yes, the double-decker kind) for four days, which turned out to be one of the best purchases of the trip. London may be the most difficult city on Earth to navigate by car. Taxi drivers enter a five-year training program where they are required to ride the streets of the city on a bike, learning to get from Point A to Point B in the most efficient manner possible, then ultimately must pass a series of written tests and a driving exam before they can get a license. Taxi drivers have to be a little crazy, but know the town better than almost anyone. And after a couple of taxi rides, I’d never dream of even trying to drive in London.

Above: Westminster Abbey

Above: Big Ben right in the middle of the city.


We made a list of sightseeing goals for each day — three days isn’t nearly enough time for such a fascinating city — but we did manage to hit the highlights:• Buckingham Palace: We didn’t take a tour, but it was the first landmark we walked past — slowly

— on the walk to our hotel. Every bar on the fence is tipped in gold. The guards don’t blink. It was just as I expected.

• Big Ben: It is surprisingly located on a very busy street and bridge intersection. But then, in Lon-don, all the streets are busy.

• Westminster Abbey: The most famous church in London, where all the important weddings (think Charles & Diana), funerals (think Diana again) and memorials have taken place. It also contains Great Britain’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

• The Tower of London: A series of buildings that housed kings, queens, and the royal families for hun-dreds of years. An ultra-secure section also houses the Crown Jewels. Just outside the Tower is the Tower Bridge, which is often mistaken for the “London Bridge,” but is a very ornate bridge no less.

• St. Paul’s Cathedral: The largest church on London, designed by Sir Christopher Wren, who also designed The Wren Building at the College of William and Mary. As alumni, my wife and I made sure this one was on our agenda.

• Wimbledon: I grew up playing tennis, so I had to see Wimbledon. Unfortunately, the grounds are closed the week after the big tournament, so we didn’t get to take an official tour, but one of the security guys let me in to get a photo of Court 1.

As a lifelong Virginian, I have an appreciation for historical things — how can you live here and not have one? However, when you go to Europe, “old stuff” is put into a totally new perspective. Most of the oldest things in our region—Jamestown, Colonial Williamsburg—were all built since the first set-tlers came over. Almost everything you encounter in London is older than these, and I certainly look at “historic” differently since the trip.

Next issue, I’ll cover the trip to Rome...

Below: Scott Brazil poses next to Court One at the All-England Lawn Tennis Club, otherwise known as Wimbledon.


Below: The Tower Bridge, which is often mistaken for the “London Bridge.”


Surry Power Station’s Talented Young Athletessubmitted by: Scott Brazil

Josh Borden, son of Jim Borden (Operations), is an 18 year-old senior at Tidewater Academy. He plays linebacker, center, and is a defensive captain. Last year, Josh was named to the sec-

ond-team All-Virginia Com-monwealth Conference as an offensive tackle and was the Offensive Player of the Year at Tidewater Academy. He was also named honor-able mention All-VCC this season. Having played var-sity football since the eighth grade, Josh has applied for

admission at the U.S. Naval Academy, William and Mary, James Madison University, and the University of Virginia.

Zach Borden, Josh’s younger brother, is 13 and has played varsity football for two years. The youngest varsity starter in the VCC, Zach started at right offensive tackle, and also played linebacker and safety on defense.

Aaron “Bubba” Hum-phreys (far right), son of Ron Humphreys (Oper-ations), played defense for the Williamsburg Warriors Lacrosse team.

James Wrenn, son of Lahoma Williams (Su-pervisor of Labor, Facilities and Support), played quarterback for York High School. He is pictured in the white jersey div-ing for extra yardage after a long run.

Andrew Blanchard (#70), son of Wayne Blanchard (Mechani-cal Design), played for Smithfield High School’s junior varsity squad as an eighth grader. At 6’2” and 227 pounds, Andrew appears to have a great future ahead!

Chelsea Edwards, niece of Char Stump (Nu-clear Graphics), is a junior at Indian River High School. In her second year on the Indian River

field hockey team, she has played forward and started every game this season. Her hobbies are snowboard-ing, playing the violin, and this summer she wants to learn how to surf. After graduation she would like to

attend the University of Virginia and study Foren-sic Anthropology.


AnnouncementsRetirement

Congratulations, William C. DeWalt, on his retirement from Surry Power Station, effective September 1, 2007.

Engagements

Congratulations, Tyler Gross (Engineering) and Christina Baker, on their engagement. Tyler and Christina plan to wed on Saturday, August 2, 2008. Tyler is the son of Butch Gross, (Operations).

Weddings

Congratulations, Antonio Lee Castillo (Radio-logical Protection, Millstone) and Robin Lynn Everitt (Records Management, SPS), who were married on December 8, 2007 at Cornerstone City of Refuge Ministries, Inc. in Norfolk, Virginia. The ceremony was performed by Mildred Bland, also a SPS employee in Records Management. Tony recently accepted a position with Millstone Power Station and Robin hopes to soon follow. Best of Luck Tony and Robin!

Congratulations, Sonja Watson and Henry Johnson (Operations), who were married on October 5, 2007 at the Elizabethan Gardens in Manteo, NC. After a few days in the Outer Banks, the happy couple traveled to the Mayan Riviera south of Cancun for a week.

Births

Congratulations, Mar-lene Haskett (Opera-tions), on the arrival of Caleb Haskett. Caleb was born on November 13, 2007 at 10:45 a.m. He weighed 6 pounds and 10 ounces.

Congratulations, Angel and Bobby Portlock (Op-erations), on the arrival of Briana Nichole Portlock. Briana was born on October 29, 2007. She weighed 9 pounds and 8 ounces.

Congratulations, Leslie Bullard (Training), on the arrival of Anthony Tye Bullard. Anthony was born on October 13, 2007. He weighed 9 pounds and 9 ounces and was welcomed by his big sister Camryn Nicole Bullard.

Congratulations, Mariah and Larry Black (Op-erations), on the arrival of Larry Joe Black III. Larry III was born on September 1, 2007 at 9:58 p.m. He weighed 6 pounds and 4 ounces. He is also the grandson of Jim Warren, (Outage & Planning).

SurryCelebrates

Family


Human Performance ToolsAt Home

submitted by: Curt Lyckephoto submitted by: Curt Lycke

Human Performance tools are great to use at work. But they can just as effectively lead to event free performance at home as well. Addi-tionally, the failure to use them at home can lead to dire consequences just as they do at work. I hope to use the following story to illustrate just this point.

My brother, Craig, and I have always competed for who was the smartest and in doing so usually managed to prove the complete opposite. If you asked me, I always thought he’d end up wear-ing a funny hat and carting a monkey and organ grinder around, but I don’t know what he says about me. One day several years ago, however, Craig couldn’t argue who the smarter brother was.

Craig was working some odd jobs, one of which included the use of a hatchet to clear some brush. Craig had a good time the night before and probably wasn’t thinking too clearly to be-gin with, when he began his project clearing the brush under the early summer sun. As the day wore on, that sun got hotter and the night before took its toll on him. Craig began to sweat under the hot sun and a particular piece of his clothing began to rattle his nerves. He was wearing an old ball cap that used a leather strap to adjust the fit of the cap. The leather strap was rubbing on his neck, leading to some minor discomfort. His only tool to remedy this discomfort was the hatchet he had been using on the brush. Craig figured that if the hatchet was good on the brush, it would be just as good to use on that nasty leather strap. Craig put the cap on a tree stump, holding down the leather strap with his thumb. Craig brought the hatchet down with a determined swing and connected the hatchet

to the stump. Unfortunately for Craig though, the hatchet went through his thumb on the way down, thus separating it from his hand. He even missed the leather strap that started it all! Craig was lucky enough to have a neighbor to see his need. If there is a happy ending to this story, it is that the neighbor was able to get Craig to the hospital in time to have his thumb reattached.

Now, I don’t know about you, but now that the thumb was reattached I can admit I do chuckle a bit. However, if Craig had merely taken the time to Stop, Think, Act, and Review, he probably would not have considered the hatchet suitable to use on the hat. Additionally, his Situational Awareness was certainly impaired by his previ-ous night’s festivities. What do you think?

Above: Curtis Lycke and his brother, Craig.


Fitness Center Contest Resultssubmitted by: Cynthia Catoe-Warren

The Fitness Center Committee would like to thank all of the contestants for participating in the Surry Power Station Weight Loss Challenge, and the winning contestants for staying commit-ted to their weight loss challenges. Seven out of twenty contestants kept their commitments to the weight loss challenge. Although all of the contestants are winners, the real winner of the weight loss challenge is Dan Jensen. Dan Jen-sen won another chance to live a healthier life.

While we were in the midst of the contest Dan was advised by his doctor that he was in need of triple bypass surgery. However, during the surgery, the doctor discovered that he had to perform a quadruple bypass and remove some valves. As a result of Dan’s commitment to his weight loss goal and living a healthier life, Dan had a speedy recovery. On behalf of the Surry Power Station family, we wish you well and congratulations on your choice to live a healthier lifestyle.

The winners of the Surry Power Station Fitness Center Weight Loss Challenge are as follows:

First Place Men - $100Dan Jensen – lost 35 pounds. Dan impressively

rode his bike every morning during the contest before he went into the hospital.

First Place Women - $100Charlene Chotalal – lost 5 pounds. Good work

and keep coming to the gym!

Second Place Men - $50Mike Fanguy – Mike made the most muscle

improvement for biceps and thighs.

Third Place Men - $30Dave Wong – Dave made most muscle improve-

ment in the calf category.

Runner up Weight Lost - $20Matt Winter – Matt lost 7 pounds.

Runner up Waist $20 Gift card to the Atomic Café

Bob Zoldork

Runner up Bicep$20 Gift card to the Atomic Café

Mitchell Scott

The members of the Fitness Center once again would like to take this opportunity to thank Don Jernigan for our well equipped Fitness Center, and Mitchell Scott for his dedication in maintain-ing the Fitness Center.

Surry Power Station Is Dedicated To Fitness In 2008

submitted by: Kara Ewell

Thanks to Station Management, Surry Power Station employees can truly improve their per-sonal fitness in 2008. Sixty-eight employees signed up for a 17-week “Weight Watchers at Work” program held at the SNIC. Station Man-agement generously provided two-thirds of the program’s cost as well as a “Deluxe Starter Kit” for each employee who committed to attend. In addition, flat screen, high definition televisions were installed in our station’s fitness facility. On behalf of Surry employees, thank you Station Management for your dedication to our personal health! Stay tuned for more information regard-ing your fellow employees’ fitness success in 2008!

SurryCelebrates

Family55

The Power Line - Winter 2008 Edition


Surry Celebrates FamilySurry Family Photos

Above: From Left to Right Abby Conyers, 7 years old, Dylan Conyers, 5 years old, Noah Cony-ers, 3 years old, and Samantha Conyers, 2 years old. The photos were submitted by Matt Conyers. Matt is a Shift Operator and a member of License Class 06-01.

Bottom Left: On the left is Chalinda Warren, daughter of William Warren (NSS) and Linda Warren (OR). On the right, Anaya Miller, daughter of William Miller (Protection Services), granddaughter of Benjamin Warren (Supply Mgmnt), niece of William and Linda Warren. Both are performing with the South of Broadway Dance Studio in the 2007 Smithfield Jaycees’ Annual Christmas Parade. The photo was submitted by Linda Warren, Organizational Effectiveness.

Bottom Center: Don Jernigan’s granddaughter, Madelyn, enjoys picking her first pumpkin from a pumpkin patch near Ashland, Virginia. The photo was submitted by Don Jernigan, Site Vice President.

Bottom Right: Adam Richardson, son of Jacqueline and Rick Richardson (Security Department), is a 2005 Honor Graduate of Smithfield High School and the Governor’s School for the Arts at Old Dominion University. Adam is currently a junior at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburg, PA with a 3.5 GPA, where he is a Vocal Performance Major. At CMU he has added tap dancing and learning three languages to help him advance his love for singing Opera. He has held professional jobs with both Virginia and Pittsburg Opera companies. He also had the pleasure of performing at the Brevard Music Center with some of the most talented students in the country in North Carolina. Upon gradu-ation in the spring of 2009, Adam plans to attend graduate school to pursue his Masters of Music in Performance. The photo was submitted by Rick Richardson, Security Department.



Surry Celebrates FamilySurry Pet Corner

Top Left: This is Jersey Girl. She was born under a car somewhere and was adopted by Joel Williams’ son when she was 10 weeks old. Joel then adopted her from his son 3 years ago. She is now 7 years old and spoiled rot-ten. “I would not trade her for the world,” says Joel Williams.

Top Right: Josh LaFrance with the family dog, Vesper going nose to nose with the family fer-ret, Butters.

Center Left: Church (foreground) and Bea-sley relaxing as usual while on vacation in Murphy, North Carolina in June. Photo submit-ted by Keith Johnson (Chemistry).

Bottom Left: Josh and Adina LaFrance and their 7-month old dog, Vesper.

Bottom Right: Josh and Adina LaFrance’s dog, Vesper, is getting into the holiday spirit.



Stu’s Stewsubmitted by: Stuart Kardian

Apple Cider Beef StewApple cider and cinnamon are the unique additions that give a down-home flavor to this easy and economical stew. It also makes a rich, favorable potluck dish for holiday gatherings on busy nights!

• 4 cups frozen vegetables (about 24 ounces), thawed• 2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes• 1 can (8 ounces) sliced water chestnuts, drained• 1 can (14-1/2 ounces) beef broth• 1 jar (4-1/2 ounces) sliced mushrooms, drained• 1-1/4 cups apple cider or unsweetened apple juice• 1 tablespoon dried minced onion• 1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce• 2 envelopes brown gravy mix • 1 bay leaf• 2 tablespoons onion soup mix • 3 tablespoons cornstarch• 2 teaspoons steak seasoning • 1/3 cup cold water• 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Place vegetables, water chestnuts, mushrooms and onion in a 5-quart slow cooker.In a large resealable plastic bag, combine the gravy mix, soup mix, steak seasoning and cinnamon; add beef, a few pieces at a time, and shake to coat. Add beef to the slow cooker.Combine the broth, cider and tomato sauce in a mixing bowl; add bay leaf. Pour over beef. Cover and cook on low for 6 - 7 hours or until meat is tender.Combine cornstarch and water until smooth; stir into stew. Cover and cook on high for 15 minutes or until thickened. Discard bay leaf.Yield: 12 servings.

Got a special family recipe? Write down those ingredients and share with your SPS family!!!



Picture Puzzlesubmitted by: Char Stump

Can you spot the 11 differences? Answers Below.

A

B

C

1 2 3 4

1 2 3 4

A

C

B

Answers for the Picture PuzzleB1 - This Snowman is seeing green. C2 - What happened to the stripes on the scarf. B2 - The flute has grown. C2 - We know who those symbols belong too. B2 - The Snowman is trying to tell us something, B2 - That snowman must be the lead, there’s something about his hat. C3 - The violin somehow looks different. C3 - Someone forgot to add buttons to that snowman. C3 - His drum is loosing color. C4 - Where did this snowman find blue coal? B4 - The Snowman’s nose has changed a little.


The Power Line - 2008 Winter EditionA Station Magazine For The EmployeesSurry Power Station5570 Hog Island RoadSurry, Virginia

Documents

THE POWERLINE (FEB 2008)