80 FR 24982 - Northern States Power Company; Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 84 (May 1, 2015)
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 84 (May 1, 2015)
| Page Range | 24982-24983 | |
| FR Document | 2015-10246 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 84 (Friday, May 1, 2015)] [Notices] [Pages 24982-24983] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-10246] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION [Docket Nos. 50-282, 50-306, and 72-10; NRC-2014-0236] Northern States Power Company; Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ACTION: Exemption; issuance. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing an exemption in response to a May 16, 2013, request from Northern States Power Company (NSPM or the licensee), a Minnesota corporation doing business as Xcel Energy, for its specific license to operate an independent spent fuel storage installation (ISFSI) at the Prairie Island (PI) Nuclear Generating Plant. The licensee seeks relief from a regulatory provision with regard to the location of the primary alarm station. DATES: Notice of issuance of exemption is given on May 1, 2015. ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2014-0236 when contacting the NRC about the availability of information regarding this document. You may obtain publicly-available information related to this document using any of the following methods:Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2014-0236. Address question about NRC dockets to Carol Gallagher; telephone: 301-415-3463; email: [email protected]. For technical questions, contact the individual listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document. NRC's PDC: You may examine and purchase copies of public documents at the NRC's PDR, Room O1-F21, One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pamela Longmire, Ph.D., Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-7000; email: [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background The licensee possesses a specific license under part 72 of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) for the storage of spent fuel in an ISFSI at the PI Nuclear Generating Plant. Section 72.180, ``Physical protection plan,'' requires the licensee to comply with the physical protection requirements in 10 CFR 73.51, ``Requirements for the physical protection of stored spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste.'' The licensee is subject to the requirements of 10 CFR 73.51(d)(3), which specifies the location, components, and requirements for the primary alarm station for the ISFSI. II. Request/Action By letter dated May 16, 2013, NSPM submitted a request for an exemption from a specific portion of the requirements of 10 CFR 73.51(d), ``Physical protection systems, components, and procedures.'' Specifically, the licensee seeks relief from a regulatory provision of 10 CFR 73.51(d)(3) with regard to the location of the primary alarm station. The NRC has the authority under 10 CFR 73.5 to grant a specific exemption from these requirements if the exemption is authorized by law and will not endanger life or property or the common defense and security, and the exemption is otherwise in the public interest. III. Discussion In accordance with the provisions of 10 CFR 73.21, physical protection plans for the storage of spent fuel and high-level radioactive waste are protected as Safeguards Information. This exemption request pertains to the location of the primary alarm station. The NRC evaluated the exemption request in greater detail in the safety evaluation report (SER). The SER is withheld from public disclosure in accordance with 10 CFR 2.390 because it contains security information. A. Regulatory Evaluation In the final rule, ``Physical Protection for Spent Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Radioactive Waste'' (63 FR 26955; May 15, 1998), the introductory text of 10 CFR 73.51(d) was revised to more clearly indicate the Commission's intent that alternative measures may also be acceptable for meeting the performance objectives of 10 CFR 73.51(d). B. Technical Evaluation Pursuant to 10 CFR 73.5, the Commission may, upon application by any interested person or upon its own initiative, grant such exemptions from the requirements of the regulations in 10 CFR part 73 as it determines are authorized by law, will not endanger life or property or the common defense and security, and are otherwise in the public interest. The NRC reviewed this request to determine whether the exemption should be granted. The NRC's evaluation of this exemption request is set forth in the SER. The NRC has found that the NSPM meets the criteria for an exemption in 10 CFR 73.5. The NRC has determined that granting the exemption will not result in a violation of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, or otherwise violate the Commission's regulations. Therefore, the exemption is authorized by law. This exemption would not reduce the safeguards effectiveness of the physical security plan, and would [[Page 24983]] allow NSPM to continue to maintain the 10 CFR 73.51 performance objectives of high assurance of public health and safety and the common defense and security. Therefore, granting the exemption would not endanger life or property or the common defense and security. Lastly, issuance of the exemption would facilitate effective security management at the PI site. Therefore, issuance of the exemption is in the public interest. C. Environmental Assessment The NRC also considered whether there would be any significant environmental impacts associated with the exemption. For this proposed action, the NRC performed an environmental assessment pursuant to 10 CFR 51.30. The proposed action is the approval of a request to exempt the applicant from certain requirements of 10 CFR 73.51(d)(3). The environmental assessment concluded that the proposed action would not significantly impact the quality of the human environment. The NRC concludes that the proposed action would not result in any changes in the types or amounts of any radiological or non-radiological effluents that may be released offsite, and there would be no significant increase in occupational or public radiation exposure because of the proposed action. The environmental assessment and the finding of no significant impact were published in the Federal Register on October 24, 2014 (79 FR 63649). IV. Conclusion Accordingly, the Commission has determined that, pursuant to 10 CFR 73.5, this exemption is authorized by law, will not endanger life or property or the common defense and security, and is otherwise in the public interest. Therefore, the Commission hereby grants NSPM an exemption from certain requirements of 10 CFR 73.51(d)(3), as specified in the SER. The licensee did not request, and the Commission does not grant, relief from any other requirement in 10 CFR 73.51(d)(3) or any other provision. Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 23rd day of April 2015. For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Anthony H. Hsia, Deputy Director, Division of Spent Fuel Management, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards. [FR Doc. 2015-10246 Filed 4-30-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
![24982 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 84 / Friday, May 1, 2015 / Notices
identifying or contact information that SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory from a specific portion of the
they do not want to be publicly Commission (NRC) is issuing an requirements of 10 CFR 73.51(d),
disclosed in their comment submission. exemption in response to a May 16, ‘‘Physical protection systems,
Your request should state that the NRC 2013, request from Northern States components, and procedures.’’
does not routinely edit comment Power Company (NSPM or the licensee), Specifically, the licensee seeks relief
submissions to remove such information a Minnesota corporation doing business from a regulatory provision of 10 CFR
before making the comment as Xcel Energy, for its specific license to 73.51(d)(3) with regard to the location of
submissions available to the public or operate an independent spent fuel the primary alarm station.
entering the comment into ADAMS. storage installation (ISFSI) at the Prairie The NRC has the authority under 10
Island (PI) Nuclear Generating Plant. CFR 73.5 to grant a specific exemption
II. Discussion from these requirements if the
The licensee seeks relief from a
Electrical enclosures are a potential regulatory provision with regard to the exemption is authorized by law and will
source of fire in nuclear power plants location of the primary alarm station. not endanger life or property or the
because they contain both combustible DATES: Notice of issuance of exemption common defense and security, and the
materials and live electrical circuits. is given on May 1, 2015. exemption is otherwise in the public
These fires have the potential to disrupt interest.
ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID
power, instrumentation, and control in
NRC–2014–0236 when contacting the III. Discussion
the plant. Key parameters affecting fire
NRC about the availability of In accordance with the provisions of
in an electrical enclosure include its
information regarding this document. 10 CFR 73.21, physical protection plans
size, openings, electrical voltage, and
You may obtain publicly-available for the storage of spent fuel and high-
combustible load. This report
information related to this document level radioactive waste are protected as
documents the results from 112 full-
using any of the following methods: Safeguards Information. This exemption
scale experiments conducted by the
• Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to request pertains to the location of the
National Institute of Standards and
http://www.regulations.gov and search primary alarm station. The NRC
Technology at the Chesapeake Bay
for Docket ID NRC–2014–0236. Address evaluated the exemption request in
Detachment of the Naval Research
question about NRC dockets to Carol greater detail in the safety evaluation
Laboratory to better quantify the heat
Gallagher; telephone: 301–415–3463; report (SER). The SER is withheld from
release rate (HRR) and burning behavior
email: Carol.Gallagher@nrc.gov. For public disclosure in accordance with 10
of electrical enclosures. Eight electrical
technical questions, contact the CFR 2.390 because it contains security
enclosures were acquired from
individual listed in the FOR FURTHER information.
Bellefonte Nuclear Generating Station, a
INFORMATION CONTACT section of this
plant owned by the Tennessee Valley A. Regulatory Evaluation
document.
Authority located in Hollywood, • NRC’s PDC: You may examine and
Alabama. The enclosures were In the final rule, ‘‘Physical Protection
purchase copies of public documents at for Spent Nuclear Fuel and High-Level
originally low voltage control cabinets, the NRC’s PDR, Room O1–F21, One
but in the experiments they were Radioactive Waste’’ (63 FR 26955; May
White Flint North, 11555 Rockville 15, 1998), the introductory text of 10
reconfigured with various amounts and Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
types of electrical cable to represent CFR 73.51(d) was revised to more
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: clearly indicate the Commission’s intent
other kinds of enclosures that would be
found in a typical plant. An oxygen Pamela Longmire, Ph.D., Office of that alternative measures may also be
consumption calorimeter was built on Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, acceptable for meeting the performance
site to measure the HRR of the fire as a U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, objectives of 10 CFR 73.51(d).
function of time. The peak HRR varied Washington, DC 20555–0001; telephone:
301–415–7000; email: B. Technical Evaluation
from 0.3 kW to 576 kW.
Pamela.Longmire@nrc.gov. Pursuant to 10 CFR 73.5, the
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 21st day Commission may, upon application by
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
of April 2015. any interested person or upon its own
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. I. Background initiative, grant such exemptions from
Mark Henry Salley, The licensee possesses a specific the requirements of the regulations in 10
Chief, Fire Research Branch, Division of Risk license under part 72 of Title 10 of the CFR part 73 as it determines are
Analysis, Office of Nuclear Regulatory Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) authorized by law, will not endanger
Research. for the storage of spent fuel in an ISFSI life or property or the common defense
[FR Doc. 2015–10128 Filed 4–30–15; 8:45 am] at the PI Nuclear Generating Plant. and security, and are otherwise in the
BILLING CODE 7590–01–P Section 72.180, ‘‘Physical protection public interest. The NRC reviewed this
plan,’’ requires the licensee to comply request to determine whether the
with the physical protection exemption should be granted. The
NUCLEAR REGULATORY requirements in 10 CFR 73.51, NRC’s evaluation of this exemption
COMMISSION ‘‘Requirements for the physical request is set forth in the SER.
[Docket Nos. 50–282, 50–306, and 72–10; protection of stored spent nuclear fuel The NRC has found that the NSPM
NRC–2014–0236] and high-level radioactive waste.’’ The meets the criteria for an exemption in 10
licensee is subject to the requirements of CFR 73.5. The NRC has determined that
Northern States Power Company;
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
10 CFR 73.51(d)(3), which specifies the granting the exemption will not result in
Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant location, components, and requirements a violation of the Atomic Energy Act of
Independent Spent Fuel Storage for the primary alarm station for the 1954, as amended, or otherwise violate
Installation ISFSI. the Commission’s regulations.
AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Therefore, the exemption is authorized
II. Request/Action by law. This exemption would not
Commission.
By letter dated May 16, 2013, NSPM reduce the safeguards effectiveness of
ACTION: Exemption; issuance.
submitted a request for an exemption the physical security plan, and would
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![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 84 / Friday, May 1, 2015 / Notices 24983
allow NSPM to continue to maintain the NUCLEAR REGULATORY White Flint North, 11555 Rockville
10 CFR 73.51 performance objectives of COMMISSION Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
high assurance of public health and FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
[Docket No. 72–10; NRC–2013–0002]
safety and the common defense and Chris Allen, Office of Nuclear Material
security. Therefore, granting the Northern States Power Company; Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear
exemption would not endanger life or Prairie Island Independent Spent Fuel Regulatory Commission, Washington,
property or the common defense and Storage Installation DC 20555–0001; telephone: 301–415–
security. Lastly, issuance of the 6877; email: William.Allen@nrc.gov.
exemption would facilitate effective AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: By
security management at the PI site. Commission. application dated May 23, 2014, as
Therefore, issuance of the exemption is ACTION: License amendment application; supplemented November 19, 2014,
in the public interest. issuance. NSPM submitted to the NRC, in
accordance with part 72 of Title 10 of
C. Environmental Assessment SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR),
Commission (NRC) reviewed an
The NRC also considered whether a request to amend Special Nuclear
application by Northern States Power
there would be any significant Materials License No. SNM–2506 for its
Company (NSPM) for amendment of
environmental impacts associated with PI ISFSI site located in Welch,
Materials License No. SNM–2506 which
the exemption. For this proposed action, Minnesota. License No. SNM–2506
authorizes NSPM to receive, possess,
the NRC performed an environmental authorizes NSPM to receive, possess,
store, and transfer spent nuclear fuel
store, and transfer spent nuclear fuel
assessment pursuant to 10 CFR 51.30. and associated radioactive materials.
and associated radioactive materials
The proposed action is the approval of The amendment sought to revise the
resulting from the operation of the PI
a request to exempt the applicant from cask cavity pressurization Technical
Power Plant in an ISFSI at the power
certain requirements of 10 CFR Specifications for the spent fuel storage
plant site for a term of 20 years.
73.51(d)(3). casks utilized at the Prairie Island (PI)
Specifically, the amendment proposed
The environmental assessment Independent Spent Fuel Storage
to revise the cask cavity pressurization
concluded that the proposed action Installation (ISFSI).
technical specifications for the spent
would not significantly impact the DATES: Notice of amendment to fuel storage casks utilized at the PI
quality of the human environment. The Materials License No. SNM–2506 given ISFSI.
NRC concludes that the proposed action on May 1, 2015. The NRC issued a letter dated July 30,
would not result in any changes in the ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID 2014, notifying NSPM that the
types or amounts of any radiological or NRC–2013–0002 when contacting the application was acceptable for review.
non-radiological effluents that may be NRC about the availability of In accordance with 10 CFR 72.16, a
released offsite, and there would be no information regarding this document. notice of docketing was published in the
significant increase in occupational or You may obtain publicly-available Federal Register on September 3, 2014
public radiation exposure because of the information related to this document (79 FR 52375). The notice of docketing
proposed action. The environmental using any of the following methods: included an opportunity to request a
assessment and the finding of no • Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to hearing and to petition for leave to
significant impact were published in the http://www.regulations.gov and search intervene. No requests for a hearing or
Federal Register on October 24, 2014 for Docket ID NRC–2013–0002. Address petitions for leave to intervene were
(79 FR 63649). questions about NRC dockets to Carol submitted.
Gallagher; telephone: 301–415–3463; The NRC prepared a safety evaluation
IV. Conclusion email: Carol.Gallagher@nrc.gov. For report (SER) (ADAMS Accession No.
technical questions, contact the ML15092A166) to document its review
Accordingly, the Commission has individuals listed in the FOR FURTHER and evaluation of the amendment
determined that, pursuant to 10 CFR INFORMATION CONTACT section of this request. In addition, the NRC evaluated
73.5, this exemption is authorized by document. an assertion by PI that the amendment
law, will not endanger life or property • NRC’s Agencywide Documents request satisfied the categorical
or the common defense and security, Access and Management System exclusion criteria specified in 10 CFR
and is otherwise in the public interest. (ADAMS): You may obtain publicly 51.22(c)(11). Under 10 CFR 51.22(c)(11),
Therefore, the Commission hereby available documents online in the a categorical exclusion is allowed for
grants NSPM an exemption from certain ADAMS Public Documents collection at amendments to materials licenses which
requirements of 10 CFR 73.51(d)(3), as http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/ are administrative, organizational, or
specified in the SER. The licensee did adams.html. To begin the search, select procedural in nature, or which result in
not request, and the Commission does ‘‘ADAMS Public Documents’’ and then a change to process operations or
not grant, relief from any other select ‘‘Begin Web-based ADAMS equipment, provided that (i) there is no
requirement in 10 CFR 73.51(d)(3) or Search.’’ For problems with ADAMS, significant change in the types or
any other provision. please contact the NRC’s Public significant increase in the amounts of
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 23rd day Document Room (PDR) reference staff at any effluents that may be released
of April 2015. 1–800–397–4209, 301–415–4737, or by offsite, (ii) there is no significant
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
email to pdr.resource@nrc.gov. The increase in individual or cumulative
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Prairie Island License Amendment occupational radiation exposure, (iii)
Anthony H. Hsia, Request No. 9 package is available there is no significant construction
Deputy Director, Division of Spent Fuel electronically under ADAMS Accession impact, and (iv) there is no significant
Management, Office of Nuclear Material No. ML14143A202. increase in the potential for or
Safety and Safeguards. • NRC’s PDR: You may examine and consequences from radiological
[FR Doc. 2015–10246 Filed 4–30–15; 8:45 am] purchase copies of public documents at accidents. As explained in the SER, the
BILLING CODE 7590–01–P the NRC’s PDR, Room O1–F21, One NRC determined that the license
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Document Created: 2018-02-21 10:20:52
Document Modified: 2018-02-21 10:20:52
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Exemption; issuance. | |
| Dates | Notice of issuance of exemption is given on May 1, 2015. | |
| Contact | Pamela Longmire, Ph.D., Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-7000; email: [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 24982 |
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