80_FR_46210 80 FR 46062 - Exelon Generation Company, LLC; LaSalle County Station, Units 1 and 2

80 FR 46062 - Exelon Generation Company, LLC; LaSalle County Station, Units 1 and 2

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 148 (August 3, 2015)

Page Range46062-46066
FR Document2015-18890

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering issuance of amendments to Facility Operating License Nos. NPF-11 and NPF-18 issued to Exelon Generation Company, LLC (Exelon, the licensee) for operation of LaSalle County Station (LSCS), Units 1 and 2, located in LaSalle County, Illinois. The proposed amendment would revise the maximum allowable technical specification (TS) temperature of the ultimate heat sink for the plant. The NRC staff is issuing a final Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) associated with the proposed license amendments.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 148 (Monday, August 3, 2015) 
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 148 (Monday, August 3, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46062-46066]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-18890]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket Nos. 50-373 and 50-374; NRC-2015-0180]


Exelon Generation Company, LLC; LaSalle County Station, Units 1 
and 2

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact; 
issuance.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering 
issuance of amendments to Facility Operating License Nos. NPF-11 and 
NPF-18 issued to Exelon Generation Company, LLC (Exelon, the licensee) 
for operation of LaSalle County Station (LSCS), Units 1 and 2, located 
in LaSalle County, Illinois. The proposed amendment would revise the 
maximum allowable technical specification (TS) temperature of the 
ultimate heat sink for the plant. The NRC staff is issuing a final 
Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact 
(FONSI) associated with the proposed license amendments.

DATES: The environmental assessment and finding of no significant 
impact referenced in this document is available on August 3, 2015.

[[Page 46063]]


ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2015-0180 when contacting the 
NRC about the availability of information regarding this document. You 
may obtain publically 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-2015-0180. Address 
questions about NRC dockets to Carol Gallagher; telephone: 301-415-
3463; email: Carol.Gallagher@nrc.gov. For technical questions, contact 
the individual listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION section of this 
document.
     NRC's Agencywide Documents Access and Management System 
(ADAMS): You may obtain publicly-available documents online in the 
ADAMS Public Documents collection at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. To begin the search, select ``ADAMS Public Documents'' and 
then select ``Begin Web-based ADAMS Search.'' For problems with ADAMS, 
please contact the NRC's Public Document Room (PDR) reference staff at 
1-800-397-4209, 301-415-4737, or by email to pdr.resource@nrc.gov. The 
ADAMS accession number for each document referenced (if it available in 
ADAMS) is provided the first time that a document is referenced. For 
the convenience of the reader, the ADAMS accession numbers are provided 
in a table in the AVAILABILITY OF DOCUMENTS section of this document.
     NRC's PDR: 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: Bhalchandra Vaidya, Office of Nuclear 
Reactor Regulation; U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 
20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-3308; email: Bhachandra.Vaidya@nrc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Introduction

    The NRC is considering issuance of amendments to Facility Operating 
License Nos. NPF-11 and NPF-18 issued to Exelon Generation Company, LLC 
for operation of LaSalle County Station (LSCS), Units 1 and 2, located 
in LaSalle County, Illinois, in accordance with section 50.90 of Title 
10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR).
    LSCS is located in Brookfield Township of LaSalle County in 
northeastern Illinois. The Illinois River is 5 miles north of the site. 
A 2,058-acre cooling pond provides water for the station's condenser 
cooling. A small river screen house, located on the Illinois River, 
pumps makeup water to the cooling pond. The ultimate heat sink (UHS) 
for emergency core cooling consists of an excavated portion of the 
cooling pond with an intake flume. LSCS discharges liquid effluents to 
the cooling pond blowdown line, which subsequently discharges into the 
Illinois River.
    In accordance with 10 CFR 51.21, the NRC staff prepared an 
environmental assessment documenting its finding.
    Based on the results of the EA documented herein, the NRC has 
determined not to prepare any environmental impact statement for the 
proposed license amendment, and is instead issuing a FONSI in 
accordance with 10 CFR 51.32.

II. Environmental Assessment

Plant Site and Environs

    LSCS is located in Brookfield Township in LaSalle County in 
northeastern Illinois. The Illinois River is 5 miles north of the site. 
Condenser cooling for the station is provided from a perched cooling 
lake of 2,058 acres. A small river screen house, located on the 
Illinois River, provides makeup water to the cooling lake. The ultimate 
heat sink (UHS) for emergency core cooling consists of an excavated 
pond integral with the cooling lake. Liquid effluents from LSCS are 
discharged into the cooling lake blowdown line that subsequently 
discharges into the Illinois River.

Description of the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would amend LSCS TS 3.7.3, ``Ultimate Heat 
Sink'' by changing Surveillance Requirement (SR) 3.7.3.1 and adding a 
new action statement. The SR 3.7.3.1 currently requires verification 
that the cooling water temperature supplied to the plant from the core 
standby cooling system pond (i.e., the UHS) be less than or equal to 
101.25 degrees Fahrenheit ([deg]F) (38.47 degrees Celsius [[deg]C]). 
The licensee proposes to change SR 3.7.3.1 to require verification that 
the UHS cooling water upper temperature limit is between 101.25 and 104 
[deg]F (38.47 and 40 [deg]C) depending on the time of day. The proposed 
SR change would permit the plant to continue to operate during times 
when the UHS cooling water temperature exceeds 101.25 [deg]F (38.47 
[deg]C) but is less than or equal to 104 [deg]F (40 [deg]C). In 
addition, the licensee proposes to add a new action statement to TS 
3.7.3 requiring SR 3.7.3.1, ``temperature verification,'' be performed 
each hour when the cooling water temperature supplied to the plant from 
the Core Standby Cooling System pond is greater than or equal to 101 
[deg]F (38.33 [deg]C).
    The proposed action to amend TS 3.7.3 is in accordance with the 
licensee's application dated July 12, 2012 (ADAMS Accession No. 
ML12200A330), as supplemented by letters dated September 17, 2012 
(ADAMS Accession No. ML122690041), January 18, 2013 (ADAMS Accession 
No. ML13022A476), February 11, 2013 (ADAMS Accession No. ML13042A405), 
October 4, 2013 (ADAMS Accession No. ML13282A339), December 4, 2014 
(ADAMS Accession No. ML14352A311), and April 15, 2015 (ADAMS Accession 
No. ML15113B115).

Need for the Proposed Action

    The proposed action is needed for operational flexibility during 
periods of high UHS temperature in order to prevent any unnecessary 
plant shutdown. The licensee states that recent summer weather 
conditions have resulted in the UHS temperature limit being challenged. 
These conditions include elevated air temperatures, high humidity, and 
low wind speed. The current temperature limit does not account for 
daytime weather effects on the allowable UHS temperature. The proposed 
action will allow the temperature limit to vary with the diurnal cycle, 
thereby better reflecting the effect of more severe weather conditions.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The NRC has completed its environmental evaluation of the proposed 
action. No changes would occur in the types of radioactive effluents 
that may be released from the plant offsite. No significant increase in 
the amount of any radioactive effluent released offsite or significant 
increase in occupational or public radiation exposure is expected from 
the proposed action. Separate from the environmental assessment in this 
document, the NRC staff is evaluating the licensee's analyses of the 
potential radiological consequences of an accident that may result from 
the proposed action. The results of the NRC staff's safety evaluation 
and conclusion will be documented in a Safety Evaluation (SE). If the 
NRC staff concludes in the SE that all pertinent regulatory 
requirements are met by the proposed elevated temperature limit, then 
there would be no significant radiological environmental impact due to 
the proposed action. The NRC staff's SE will be issued with the license 
amendment if the amendment is approved.

[[Page 46064]]

    With regard to potential non-radiological impacts, raising the 
maximum allowable temperature of the UHS would likely result in cooling 
pond water temperature increases, especially during periods of extreme 
high air temperature, high humidity, and low wind. The cooling pond is 
a wastewater treatment works as defined by Illinois Administrative Code 
(35 IAC 301.415). Under this definition, the cooling pond is not 
considered waters of the State under Illinois Administrative Code (35 
IAC 301.440) or waters of the United States under the Federal Clean 
Water Act (40 CFR 230.3(s)), and so the cooling pond is not subject to 
State water quality standards.
    Exelon leases a large portion of the LSCS cooling pond to the 
Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), which maintains the 
LSCS cooling pond as an outdoor recreation area for public use and 
fishing. For example, IDNR surveys the cooling pond each year and 
determines which fish to stock based on fishermen preferences, fish 
abundance, different species' tolerance to warm waters, predator and 
prey dynamics, and other factors (Exelon 2002). The cooling pond can be 
characterized as a managed ecosystem where IDNR fish stocking and other 
human activities primarily influence the species composition and 
population dynamics. Commonly stocked species include largemouth bass 
(Micropterus salmoides), smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu), black 
crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus), white crappie (Pomoxis annularis), 
channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), blue catfish (Ictalurus 
furcatus), striped bass hybrid (Morone saxatilis), walleye (Sander 
vitreus), bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus), and other species (Exelon 
2002, ADAMS Accession No. ML021330421). The IDNR (2007 and 2009, ADAMS 
Accession Nos. ML15160A289 and ML15160A296) reported abundant, growing 
populations of striped bass hybrids and channel catfish. Gizzard shad 
(Dorosoma cepedianum) and threadfin shad (Dorosoma petenense)--together 
called ``shad''--also occur in the cooling pond. Shad are not 
recreationally fished, and IDNR does not stock them. The IDNR stocks 
some recreationally fished species that consume shad (e.g., catfish and 
striped bass) in part to limit the size of shad populations (Exelon 
2002, ADAMS Accession No. ML021330421).
    Raising the maximum allowable temperature of the UHS could result 
in increased cooling pond water temperatures, especially during extreme 
warm weather conditions. Fish kills would sometimes occur when cooling 
pond temperatures rise above 95 [deg]F (35 [deg]C), the temperature at 
which most fish in the cooling pond are thermally stressed. For 
example, LSCS has had four reportable fish kills in the cooling pond 
since 2001, including fish kills in July 2001, June 2005, June 2009, 
and August 2010 (Exelon 2014, ADAMS Accession Nos. ML14343A883 and 
ML14343A897). The temperature in the cooling pond during these events 
ranged from 93 [deg]F (33.9 [deg]C) to 101[emsp14] [deg]F (38.3 [deg]C) 
(Exelon 2001, 2009, and 2010, ADAMS Accession Nos. ML012330070, 
ML092040381, and ML102371289, respectively). In addition, several 
smaller non-reportable fish kills have occurred when the cooling pond 
was 95 [deg]F (35 [deg]C) or above. The largest fish kill occurred in 
July 2001 when IDNR reported approximately 94,500 dead fish due to high 
temperatures that peaked at 98.2 [deg]F (36.9 [deg]C) (Exelon 2001, 
ADAMS Accession No. ML012330070). The IDNR found the maximum 
temperature in the cooling pond discharge canal to be 120 [deg]F (48.9 
[deg]C) and dissolved oxygen levels to range from 6.2 to 18.8 parts per 
million. The majority of dead fish (96 percent) were gizzard shad 
(90,800) (Exelon 2001, ADAMS Accession No. ML012330070). The IDNR 
identified other dead fish to include 1,279 carp (cyprinus carpio), 
1,143 smallmouth buffalo (Ictiobus bubalus), 610 freshwater drum 
(Aplodinotus grunniens), 345 channel catfish, 238 striped bass hybrid, 
93 smallmouth bass, 24 walleye, 13 bluegill, 12 white bass (Morone 
chrysops), 6 yellow bullhead catfish (Ameiurus natalis), and 4 yellow 
bass (M. mississippiensis) (Exelon 2001, ADAMS Accession No. 
ML012330070). Exelon (2001, ADAMS Accession No. ML012330070) attributed 
the fish kill to high water temperatures resulting in part from a 
combination of high summer air temperatures, high dew points, and low 
wind speeds.
    The majority of the fish in kills since 2001 were either gizzard 
shad or threadfin shad (Exelon 2001, 2009, and 2010, ADAMS Accession 
Nos. ML012330070, ML092040381, and ML102371289, respectively). Shad 
populations generally recovered within one year after a kill occurred 
(Exelon 2002, ADAMS Accession No. ML021330421), and loss of shad did 
not significantly affect the community dynamics within the cooling pond 
(Exelon 2010, ADAMS Accession No. ML102371289).
    The NRC staff determined that an increase in the number or 
intensity of fish kills would not result in a significant impact 
because the cooling pond is a managed ecosystem where fish populations 
affected by fish kills generally recover within a year and do not 
significantly alter the fish community structure. The NRC staff also 
did not identify any long-term changes from previous fish kills and 
many recreationally fished species continue to grow abundantly within 
the cooling pond (IDNR 2007 and 2009, ADAMS Accession Nos. ML15160A289 
and ML15160A296). The most affected fish species from fish kills are 
gizzard shad and threadfin shad, which are managed partly by stocking 
predators to limit shad populations in the cooling pond (Exelon 2002, 
ADAMS Accession No. ML021330421). Lastly, any impacts from the 
increased temperatures would be limited to the cooling pond, which is a 
managed ecosystem and sustained by IDNR's annual fish stockings.
    Some terrestrial species resources, such as birds or other 
wildlife, rely on fish or other aquatic resources from the cooling pond 
as a source of food. The NRC staff does not expect any significant 
impacts to birds or other wildlife because, if a fish kill occurs, the 
number of dead fish would be a small proportion of the total population 
of fish in the cooling pond. Furthermore, during fish kills, birds and 
other wildlife consume many of the floating, dead fish.
    In regards to water resources and ecological resources along and 
within the Illinois River, Exelon (2015, ADAMS Accession No. 
ML15023A459) reports that raising the allowable temperature in the UHS 
would not result in noticeably warmer thermal discharges to the 
Illinois River. Further, Exelon is required to administratively control 
cooling pond discharges to the Illinois River in accordance with the 
current National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. 
Exelon's Extreme Heat Implementation Plan describes procedures for 
Exelon to follow during extreme warm weather events to maintain 
compliance with the NPDES permit requirements for thermal discharges to 
the Illinois River (Exelon 2015, ADAMS Accession No. ML15023A459). 
Therefore, the NRC staff does not expect any significant impacts to 
water resources or ecological resources within and along the Illinois 
River as a result of raising the maximum allowable intake temperature 
in the UHS.
    Exelon (2014, ADAMS Accession Nos. ML14343A883 and ML14343A897) 
reports that it is not aware of any State- or Federally listed species 
occurring in the cooling pond. As referenced above, increasing the 
allowable temperature at the UHS intake would not noticeably affect the 
discharge temperature of

[[Page 46065]]

effluent released in Illinois River. Therefore, the NRC staff does not 
expect any impacts to State- or Federally listed species. The NRC staff 
has identified no foreseeable land or air quality impacts given that 
the proposed action would not change any land uses on or off site or 
result in air emissions beyond what has already been experienced. In 
addition, there would be no socioeconomic or environmental justice 
impacts associated with the proposed action since no physical change 
would occur beyond the site boundaries and any impacts would be limited 
to the cooling pond. Accordingly, the NRC staff concludes that the 
proposed action would have no significant environmental impacts.

Environmental Impacts of the Alternatives to the Proposed Action

    As an alternative to the proposed action, the NRC considered denial 
of the proposed amendment (i.e., the ``no-action'' alternative). Denial 
of the proposed amendment would have no impact on current environmental 
conditions at LSCS.

Alternative Use of Resources

    This action does not involve the use of any resources not 
previously considered in the Final Environmental Statement (NUREG-0486, 
ADAMS Accession No. ML14353A388) for LSCS.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    The staff did not enter into consultation with any other Federal 
Agency or with the State of Illinois regarding the environmental impact 
of the proposed action.

III. Finding of No Significant Impact

    The NRC is considering issuing amendments for Facility Operating 
License Nos. NPF-11 and NPF-18, issued to Exelon for operation of LSCS. 
The proposed amendments would revise SR 3.7.3.1 to require verification 
that the cooling water upper TS temperature limit is between 101.25 and 
104 [deg]F (38.47 and 40 [deg]C) depending on the time of day and to 
add an action statement to TS 3.7.3 requiring SR 3.7.3.1 be performed 
each hour when the cooling water temperature from the UHS being 
supplied to the plant is greater than or equal to 101 [deg]F (38.3 
[deg]C). The NRC's evaluation considered information provided in the 
licensee's application and its associated supplements, as well as the 
NRC staff's independent review of other environmental documents. 
Section IV below lists the environmental documents related to the 
proposed action and includes information on the availability of these 
documents. On the basis of the EA, the NRC staff concludes that the 
proposed action would not have a significant effect on the quality of 
the human environment. Accordingly, the NRC staff has decided an 
environmental impact statement for the proposed action would not be 
necessary.

IV. Availability of Documents

    The following table identifies the environmental and other 
documents cited in this document and related to the NRC's FONSI. These 
documents are available for public inspection online through ADAMS at 
http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html or in person at the NRC's PDR 
as previously described.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        ADAMS Accession
                       Document                               No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Application dated June 12, 2012......................        ML12200A330
Supplemental Response dated September 17, 2012.......        ML122690041
Supplemental Response dated January 18, 2013.........        ML13022A476
Supplemental Response dated February 11, 2013........        ML13042A405
Supplemental Response dated October 4, 2013..........        ML13282A339
Supplemental Response dated February 20, 2014........        ML14066A174
Exelon Generation Company, LLC. 2001. Letter from            ML012330070
 William Riffer, Regulatory Assurance Manager,
 LaSalle County Station to U.S. NRC, Document Control
 Desk. Subject: Environmental Non-Routine Event
 Report for Exelon Generation Company, LLC--LaSalle
 County Station. August 17, 2001.....................
Exelon Generation Company, LLC. 2002. Letter from            ML021330421
 Glen T. Kaegi, Regulatory Assurance Manager, LaSalle
 County Station to U.S. NRC, Document Control Desk.
 Subject: Environmental Protection Plan and Operating
 Report Appendix B to Facility License No. NPF-11 and
 NPF-18. April 29, 2002..............................
Exelon Generation Company, LLC. 2009. Letter from            ML092040381
 David Rhoads, Plant Manager, LaSalle County Station
 to U.S. NRC, Document Control Desk. Subject:
 Environmental Non-Routine Event Report for Exelon
 Generation Company, LLC--LaSalle County Station.
 July 22, 2009.......................................
Exelon Generation Company, LLC. 2010. Letter from            ML102371289
 Peter J. Karaba, Plant Manager, LaSalle County
 Station to U.S. NRC, Document Control Desk. Subject:
 Environmental Non-Routine Event Report for Exelon
 Generation Company, LLC--LaSalle County Station.
 August 25, 2010.....................................
Exelon Generation Company, LLC. 2014. LaSalle County         ML14343A883
 Station, Units 1 and 2, License Renewal Application,        ML14343A897
 Appendix E, Applicant's Environmental Report,
 Operating License Renewal Stage. December 9, 2014...
Exelon Generation Company, LLC (Exelon). 2015. Letter        ML15023A459
 from David M. Gullott, Manager--Licensing, LaSalle
 County Station to U.S. NRC, Document Control Desk.
 Subject: Response to Request for Additional
 Environmental Information Regarding Request to
 Revise Ultimate Heat Sink Temperature Limits.
 January 23, 2015....................................
Illinois Department of Natural Resources. 2007.              ML15160A289
 Status of the Catfish Fishery. Illinois Department
 of Natural Resources, Division of Fisheries. March
 2007. Available at: http://www.dnr.state.il.us/orc/fisheries/07/07%20catfish%20status%20report.pdf
 (accessed 21 May 2015)..............................
[IDNR] Illinois Department of Natural Resources.             ML15160A296
 2009. Status of the Striped Bass/Hybrid Striped Bass
 Fishery. Illinois Department of Natural Resources,
 Division of Fisheries. March 2009. Available at:
 http://www.prairiestateoutdoors.com/images/uploads/2009_Striped_Bass_Status.pdf (accessed 21 May 2015).
LaSalle County Station, Units 1 and 2--Request for           ML14338A612
 Additional Environmental Information Regarding
 Request to Revise Ultimate Heat Sink Temperature
 Limits..............................................
NUREG-0486, ``Environmental Statement Related to the         ML14353A388
 Operation of LaSalle County Nuclear Power Station,
 Unit Nos. 1 and 2, Commonwealth Edison Company,''
 November 1978.......................................
Response to Request for Additional Environmental             ML15023A459
 Information Regarding Request to Revise Ultimate
 Heat Sink Temperature Limits........................
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[[Page 46066]]

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 24th day of July 2015.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Peter S. Tam,
Senior Project Manager, Plant Licensing Branch II-2, Division of 
Operating Reactor Licensing, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 2015-18890 Filed 7-31-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P

46062 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 148 / Monday, August 3, 2015 / Notices I. Obtaining Information and II. Discussion the occurrence of an additional fire in Submitting Comments The NRC is issuing for public the location of the CT itself or at a comment a proposed draft test plan. The location remote to the CT. This potential A. Obtaining Information event is described in Section 3.5.2.1 of purpose of this test program is to better Please refer to Docket ID NRC–2015– understand and obtain information to the NEI 00–01, Revision 2 (ADAMS 0183 when contacting the NRC about form a technical basis for assessing the Accession No. ML091770265), and the availability of information for this propensity of a secondary fire or damage endorsed by Regulatory Guide 1.189, action. You may obtain publicly- to the secondary side circuit or Revision 2 (ADAMS under Accession available information related to this components as a result of an open- No. ML092580550). action by any of the following methods: circuited current transformer (CT) Accordingly, the purpose of this test secondary winding. Specifically, the test program is to better understand and • Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to obtain information to form a technical http://www.regulations.gov and search program will allow investigation of the high-voltage in the secondary circuit to basis for assessing the propensity of a for Docket ID NRC–2015–0183. secondary fire or damage to the determine if it is sufficient to induce a • NRC’s Agencywide Documents fire in the circuit’s insulation at the CT secondary side circuit or components Access and Management System location or within the secondary circuit. under an open-circuited CT secondary (ADAMS): You may obtain publicly- The NRC is seeking public comment winding. Specifically, the test program available documents online in the in order to receive feedback from the will allow investigation of the high- ADAMS Public Documents collection at widest range of interested parties and to voltage in the secondary circuit to http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/ ensure that all information relevant to determine if it is sufficient to induce a adams.html. To begin the search, select developing this document is available to fire in the circuit’s insulation at the CT ‘‘ADAMS Public Documents’’ and then the NRC staff. This document is issued location or within the secondary circuit. select ‘‘Begin Web-based ADAMS for comment only and is not intended Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 27th day Search.’’ For problems with ADAMS, for interim use. The NRC will review of July 2015. please contact the NRC’s Public public comments received on the For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Document Room (PDR) reference staff at documents, incorporate suggested Felix Gonzalez, 1–800–397–4209, 301–415–4737, or by changes as necessary, and make the Acting Chief, Fire Research Branch, Division email to pdr.resource@nrc.gov. The final test plan available to the public of Risk Analysis, Office of Nuclear Regulatory proposed draft test plan, ‘‘Testing of through ADAMS and http:// Research. Open Secondary Window-Type Current www.regulations.gov at Docket ID NRC– [FR Doc. 2015–18997 Filed 7–31–15; 8:45 am] Transformers—Test Plan’’ is available in 2015–0183, and will be documented in BILLING CODE 7590–01–P ADAMS under Accession No. the final test report. No responses will ML15203A228. be provided to specific commenters in • NRC’s PDR: You may examine and regards to the disposition of their NUCLEAR REGULATORY purchase copies of public documents at comments. COMMISSION the NRC’s PDR, Room O1–F21, One Current transformers (CTs) are widely [Docket Nos. 50–373 and 50–374; NRC–2 White Flint North, 11555 Rockville used to monitor the current at strategic 015–0180] Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852. locations of electrical power distribution systems in nuclear power Exelon Generation Company, LLC; B. Submitting Comments plants (NPPs). The CTs provide LaSalle County Station, Units 1 and 2 Please include Docket ID NRC–2015– isolation from the high-voltage primary, and step-down the magnitude of the AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory 0183 in your comment submission. measured current to a value that can be Commission. The NRC cautions you not to include safely handled by the monitoring ACTION: Environmental assessment and identifying or contact information that instruments. Thus, they are designed to finding of no significant impact; you do not want to be publicly measure the current in alternating issuance. disclosed in your comment submission. current (AC) power systems (generally The NRC will post all comment three-phase systems) in their primary SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory submissions at http:// winding and transform this current into Commission (NRC) is considering www.regulations.gov as well as enter the a representative low secondary current issuance of amendments to Facility comment submissions into ADAMS. for instrumentation used for remote Operating License Nos. NPF–11 and The NRC does not routinely edit readout of the current. An open-circuit NPF–18 issued to Exelon Generation comment submissions to remove in a CT’s secondary winding can cause Company, LLC (Exelon, the licensee) for identifying or contact information. high voltages on the secondary circuit as operation of LaSalle County Station If you are requesting or aggregating the CT attempts to maintain the current (LSCS), Units 1 and 2, located in LaSalle comments from other persons for relationship dictated by the County, Illinois. The proposed submission to the NRC, then you should transformer’s winding turns ratio. The amendment would revise the maximum inform those persons not to include resulting high voltage condition in the allowable technical specification (TS) identifying or contact information that secondary circuit from an open- temperature of the ultimate heat sink for they do not want to be publicly circuited CT introduces a potential the plant. The NRC staff is issuing a final Environmental Assessment (EA) mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES disclosed in their comment submission. failure mode that warrants further Your request should state that the NRC investigation as part of the final and Finding of No Significant Impact does not routinely edit comment resolution of circuit failure issues (FONSI) associated with the proposed submissions to remove such information associated with the fire protection license amendments. before making the comment strategies at nuclear power plants. DATES: The environmental assessment submissions available to the public or Specifically, an open circuit on a high and finding of no significant impact entering the comment submissions into voltage CT circuit may result in referenced in this document is available ADAMS. secondary damage, possibly resulting in on August 3, 2015. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:35 Jul 31, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00131 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\03AUN1.SGM 03AUN1

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 148 / Monday, August 3, 2015 / Notices 46063 ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID river screen house, located on the from the Core Standby Cooling System NRC–2015–0180 when contacting the Illinois River, pumps makeup water to pond is greater than or equal to 101 °F NRC about the availability of the cooling pond. The ultimate heat sink (38.33 °C). information regarding this document. (UHS) for emergency core cooling The proposed action to amend TS You may obtain publically available consists of an excavated portion of the 3.7.3 is in accordance with the information related to this document cooling pond with an intake flume. licensee’s application dated July 12, using any of the following methods: LSCS discharges liquid effluents to the 2012 (ADAMS Accession No. • Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to cooling pond blowdown line, which ML12200A330), as supplemented by http://www.regulations.gov and search subsequently discharges into the Illinois letters dated September 17, 2012 for Docket ID NRC–2015–0180. Address River. (ADAMS Accession No. ML122690041), questions about NRC dockets to Carol In accordance with 10 CFR 51.21, the January 18, 2013 (ADAMS Accession Gallagher; telephone: 301–415–3463; NRC staff prepared an environmental No. ML13022A476), February 11, 2013 email: Carol.Gallagher@nrc.gov. For assessment documenting its finding. (ADAMS Accession No. ML13042A405), technical questions, contact the Based on the results of the EA October 4, 2013 (ADAMS Accession No. individual listed in the FOR FURTHER documented herein, the NRC has ML13282A339), December 4, 2014 INFORMATION section of this document. determined not to prepare any (ADAMS Accession No. ML14352A311), • NRC’s Agencywide Documents environmental impact statement for the and April 15, 2015 (ADAMS Accession Access and Management System proposed license amendment, and is No. ML15113B115). (ADAMS): You may obtain publicly- instead issuing a FONSI in accordance Need for the Proposed Action available documents online in the with 10 CFR 51.32. ADAMS Public Documents collection at The proposed action is needed for II. Environmental Assessment operational flexibility during periods of http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/ adams.html. To begin the search, select Plant Site and Environs high UHS temperature in order to ‘‘ADAMS Public Documents’’ and then prevent any unnecessary plant LSCS is located in Brookfield shutdown. The licensee states that select ‘‘Begin Web-based ADAMS Township in LaSalle County in Search.’’ For problems with ADAMS, recent summer weather conditions have northeastern Illinois. The Illinois River resulted in the UHS temperature limit please contact the NRC’s Public is 5 miles north of the site. Condenser Document Room (PDR) reference staff at being challenged. These conditions cooling for the station is provided from include elevated air temperatures, high 1–800–397–4209, 301–415–4737, or by a perched cooling lake of 2,058 acres. A email to pdr.resource@nrc.gov. The humidity, and low wind speed. The small river screen house, located on the current temperature limit does not ADAMS accession number for each Illinois River, provides makeup water to account for daytime weather effects on document referenced (if it available in the cooling lake. The ultimate heat sink the allowable UHS temperature. The ADAMS) is provided the first time that (UHS) for emergency core cooling proposed action will allow the a document is referenced. For the consists of an excavated pond integral temperature limit to vary with the convenience of the reader, the ADAMS with the cooling lake. Liquid effluents diurnal cycle, thereby better reflecting accession numbers are provided in a from LSCS are discharged into the the effect of more severe weather table in the AVAILABILITY OF cooling lake blowdown line that conditions. DOCUMENTS section of this document. subsequently discharges into the Illinois • NRC’s PDR: You may examine and Environmental Impacts of the Proposed River. purchase copies of public documents at Action the NRC’s PDR, Room O1–F21, One Description of the Proposed Action The NRC has completed its White Flint North, 11555 Rockville The proposed action would amend environmental evaluation of the Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852. LSCS TS 3.7.3, ‘‘Ultimate Heat Sink’’ by proposed action. No changes would FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: changing Surveillance Requirement (SR) occur in the types of radioactive Bhalchandra Vaidya, Office of Nuclear 3.7.3.1 and adding a new action effluents that may be released from the Reactor Regulation; U.S. Nuclear statement. The SR 3.7.3.1 currently plant offsite. No significant increase in Regulatory Commission, Washington, requires verification that the cooling the amount of any radioactive effluent DC 20555–0001; telephone: 301–415– water temperature supplied to the plant released offsite or significant increase in 3308; email: Bhachandra.Vaidya@ from the core standby cooling system occupational or public radiation nrc.gov. pond (i.e., the UHS) be less than or exposure is expected from the proposed SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: equal to 101.25 degrees Fahrenheit (°F) action. Separate from the environmental (38.47 degrees Celsius [°C]). The assessment in this document, the NRC I. Introduction licensee proposes to change SR 3.7.3.1 staff is evaluating the licensee’s analyses The NRC is considering issuance of to require verification that the UHS of the potential radiological amendments to Facility Operating cooling water upper temperature limit is consequences of an accident that may License Nos. NPF–11 and NPF–18 between 101.25 and 104 °F (38.47 and result from the proposed action. The issued to Exelon Generation Company, 40 °C) depending on the time of day. results of the NRC staff’s safety LLC for operation of LaSalle County The proposed SR change would permit evaluation and conclusion will be Station (LSCS), Units 1 and 2, located in the plant to continue to operate during documented in a Safety Evaluation (SE). LaSalle County, Illinois, in accordance times when the UHS cooling water If the NRC staff concludes in the SE that temperature exceeds 101.25 °F (38.47 mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES with section 50.90 of Title 10 of the all pertinent regulatory requirements are Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR). °C) but is less than or equal to 104 °F met by the proposed elevated LSCS is located in Brookfield (40 °C). In addition, the licensee temperature limit, then there would be Township of LaSalle County in proposes to add a new action statement no significant radiological northeastern Illinois. The Illinois River to TS 3.7.3 requiring SR 3.7.3.1, environmental impact due to the is 5 miles north of the site. A 2,058-acre ‘‘temperature verification,’’ be proposed action. The NRC staff’s SE will cooling pond provides water for the performed each hour when the cooling be issued with the license amendment station’s condenser cooling. A small water temperature supplied to the plant if the amendment is approved. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:35 Jul 31, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00132 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\03AUN1.SGM 03AUN1

46064 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 148 / Monday, August 3, 2015 / Notices With regard to potential non- pond temperatures rise above 95 °F (35 fish populations affected by fish kills radiological impacts, raising the °C), the temperature at which most fish generally recover within a year and do maximum allowable temperature of the in the cooling pond are thermally not significantly alter the fish UHS would likely result in cooling stressed. For example, LSCS has had community structure. The NRC staff pond water temperature increases, four reportable fish kills in the cooling also did not identify any long-term especially during periods of extreme pond since 2001, including fish kills in changes from previous fish kills and high air temperature, high humidity, July 2001, June 2005, June 2009, and many recreationally fished species and low wind. The cooling pond is a August 2010 (Exelon 2014, ADAMS continue to grow abundantly within the wastewater treatment works as defined Accession Nos. ML14343A883 and cooling pond (IDNR 2007 and 2009, by Illinois Administrative Code (35 IAC ML14343A897). The temperature in the ADAMS Accession Nos. ML15160A289 301.415). Under this definition, the cooling pond during these events ranged and ML15160A296). The most affected cooling pond is not considered waters of from 93 °F (33.9 °C) to 101 °F (38.3 °C) fish species from fish kills are gizzard the State under Illinois Administrative (Exelon 2001, 2009, and 2010, ADAMS shad and threadfin shad, which are Code (35 IAC 301.440) or waters of the Accession Nos. ML012330070, managed partly by stocking predators to United States under the Federal Clean ML092040381, and ML102371289, limit shad populations in the cooling Water Act (40 CFR 230.3(s)), and so the respectively). In addition, several pond (Exelon 2002, ADAMS Accession cooling pond is not subject to State smaller non-reportable fish kills have No. ML021330421). Lastly, any impacts water quality standards. occurred when the cooling pond was 95 from the increased temperatures would Exelon leases a large portion of the °F (35 °C) or above. The largest fish kill be limited to the cooling pond, which is LSCS cooling pond to the Illinois occurred in July 2001 when IDNR a managed ecosystem and sustained by Department of Natural Resources reported approximately 94,500 dead fish IDNR’s annual fish stockings. (IDNR), which maintains the LSCS due to high temperatures that peaked at Some terrestrial species resources, cooling pond as an outdoor recreation 98.2 °F (36.9 °C) (Exelon 2001, ADAMS such as birds or other wildlife, rely on area for public use and fishing. For Accession No. ML012330070). The fish or other aquatic resources from the example, IDNR surveys the cooling IDNR found the maximum temperature cooling pond as a source of food. The pond each year and determines which in the cooling pond discharge canal to NRC staff does not expect any fish to stock based on fishermen be 120 °F (48.9 °C) and dissolved significant impacts to birds or other preferences, fish abundance, different oxygen levels to range from 6.2 to 18.8 wildlife because, if a fish kill occurs, the species’ tolerance to warm waters, parts per million. The majority of dead number of dead fish would be a small predator and prey dynamics, and other fish (96 percent) were gizzard shad proportion of the total population of fish factors (Exelon 2002). The cooling pond (90,800) (Exelon 2001, ADAMS in the cooling pond. Furthermore, can be characterized as a managed Accession No. ML012330070). The during fish kills, birds and other ecosystem where IDNR fish stocking IDNR identified other dead fish to wildlife consume many of the floating, and other human activities primarily include 1,279 carp (cyprinus carpio), dead fish. influence the species composition and 1,143 smallmouth buffalo (Ictiobus In regards to water resources and population dynamics. Commonly bubalus), 610 freshwater drum ecological resources along and within stocked species include largemouth bass (Aplodinotus grunniens), 345 channel the Illinois River, Exelon (2015, ADAMS (Micropterus salmoides), smallmouth catfish, 238 striped bass hybrid, 93 Accession No. ML15023A459) reports bass (Micropterus dolomieu), black smallmouth bass, 24 walleye, 13 that raising the allowable temperature in crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus), bluegill, 12 white bass (Morone the UHS would not result in noticeably white crappie (Pomoxis annularis), chrysops), 6 yellow bullhead catfish warmer thermal discharges to the channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), (Ameiurus natalis), and 4 yellow bass Illinois River. Further, Exelon is blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus), striped (M. mississippiensis) (Exelon 2001, required to administratively control bass hybrid (Morone saxatilis), walleye ADAMS Accession No. ML012330070). cooling pond discharges to the Illinois (Sander vitreus), bluegill (Lepomis Exelon (2001, ADAMS Accession No. River in accordance with the current macrochirus), and other species (Exelon ML012330070) attributed the fish kill to National Pollutant Discharge 2002, ADAMS Accession No. high water temperatures resulting in Elimination System (NPDES) permit. ML021330421). The IDNR (2007 and part from a combination of high summer Exelon’s Extreme Heat Implementation 2009, ADAMS Accession Nos. air temperatures, high dew points, and Plan describes procedures for Exelon to ML15160A289 and ML15160A296) low wind speeds. follow during extreme warm weather reported abundant, growing populations The majority of the fish in kills since events to maintain compliance with the of striped bass hybrids and channel 2001 were either gizzard shad or NPDES permit requirements for thermal catfish. Gizzard shad (Dorosoma threadfin shad (Exelon 2001, 2009, and discharges to the Illinois River (Exelon cepedianum) and threadfin shad 2010, ADAMS Accession Nos. 2015, ADAMS Accession No. (Dorosoma petenense)—together called ML012330070, ML092040381, and ML15023A459). Therefore, the NRC ‘‘shad’’—also occur in the cooling pond. ML102371289, respectively). Shad staff does not expect any significant Shad are not recreationally fished, and populations generally recovered within impacts to water resources or ecological IDNR does not stock them. The IDNR one year after a kill occurred (Exelon resources within and along the Illinois stocks some recreationally fished 2002, ADAMS Accession No. River as a result of raising the maximum species that consume shad (e.g., catfish ML021330421), and loss of shad did not allowable intake temperature in the and striped bass) in part to limit the size significantly affect the community UHS. mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES of shad populations (Exelon 2002, dynamics within the cooling pond Exelon (2014, ADAMS Accession Nos. ADAMS Accession No. ML021330421). (Exelon 2010, ADAMS Accession No. ML14343A883 and ML14343A897) Raising the maximum allowable ML102371289). reports that it is not aware of any State- temperature of the UHS could result in The NRC staff determined that an or Federally listed species occurring in increased cooling pond water increase in the number or intensity of the cooling pond. As referenced above, temperatures, especially during extreme fish kills would not result in a increasing the allowable temperature at warm weather conditions. Fish kills significant impact because the cooling the UHS intake would not noticeably would sometimes occur when cooling pond is a managed ecosystem where affect the discharge temperature of VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:35 Jul 31, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00133 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\03AUN1.SGM 03AUN1

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 148 / Monday, August 3, 2015 / Notices 46065 effluent released in Illinois River. Alternative Use of Resources greater than or equal to 101 °F (38.3 °C). Therefore, the NRC staff does not expect This action does not involve the use The NRC’s evaluation considered any impacts to State- or Federally listed of any resources not previously information provided in the licensee’s species. The NRC staff has identified no considered in the Final Environmental application and its associated foreseeable land or air quality impacts Statement (NUREG–0486, ADAMS supplements, as well as the NRC staff’s given that the proposed action would Accession No. ML14353A388) for LSCS. independent review of other not change any land uses on or off site environmental documents. Section IV or result in air emissions beyond what Agencies and Persons Consulted below lists the environmental has already been experienced. In The staff did not enter into documents related to the proposed addition, there would be no consultation with any other Federal action and includes information on the socioeconomic or environmental justice Agency or with the State of Illinois availability of these documents. On the impacts associated with the proposed regarding the environmental impact of basis of the EA, the NRC staff concludes action since no physical change would the proposed action. that the proposed action would not have occur beyond the site boundaries and a significant effect on the quality of the III. Finding of No Significant Impact any impacts would be limited to the human environment. Accordingly, the cooling pond. Accordingly, the NRC The NRC is considering issuing NRC staff has decided an environmental staff concludes that the proposed action amendments for Facility Operating impact statement for the proposed would have no significant License Nos. NPF–11 and NPF–18, issued to Exelon for operation of LSCS. action would not be necessary. environmental impacts. The proposed amendments would IV. Availability of Documents Environmental Impacts of the revise SR 3.7.3.1 to require verification Alternatives to the Proposed Action that the cooling water upper TS The following table identifies the As an alternative to the proposed temperature limit is between 101.25 and environmental and other documents action, the NRC considered denial of the 104 °F (38.47 and 40 °C) depending on cited in this document and related to proposed amendment (i.e., the ‘‘no- the time of day and to add an action the NRC’s FONSI. These documents are action’’ alternative). Denial of the statement to TS 3.7.3 requiring SR available for public inspection online proposed amendment would have no 3.7.3.1 be performed each hour when through ADAMS at http://www.nrc.gov/ impact on current environmental the cooling water temperature from the reading-rm/adams.html or in person at conditions at LSCS. UHS being supplied to the plant is the NRC’s PDR as previously described. ADAMS Document Accession No. Application dated June 12, 2012 ................................................................................................................................................... ML12200A330 Supplemental Response dated September 17, 2012 ................................................................................................................... ML122690041 Supplemental Response dated January 18, 2013 ........................................................................................................................ ML13022A476 Supplemental Response dated February 11, 2013 ...................................................................................................................... ML13042A405 Supplemental Response dated October 4, 2013 .......................................................................................................................... ML13282A339 Supplemental Response dated February 20, 2014 ...................................................................................................................... ML14066A174 Exelon Generation Company, LLC. 2001. Letter from William Riffer, Regulatory Assurance Manager, LaSalle County Station to U.S. NRC, Document Control Desk. Subject: Environmental Non-Routine Event Report for Exelon Generation Com- pany, LLC—LaSalle County Station. August 17, 2001 ............................................................................................................. ML012330070 Exelon Generation Company, LLC. 2002. Letter from Glen T. Kaegi, Regulatory Assurance Manager, LaSalle County Sta- tion to U.S. NRC, Document Control Desk. Subject: Environmental Protection Plan and Operating Report Appendix B to Facility License No. NPF–11 and NPF–18. April 29, 2002 ....................................................................................................... ML021330421 Exelon Generation Company, LLC. 2009. Letter from David Rhoads, Plant Manager, LaSalle County Station to U.S. NRC, Document Control Desk. Subject: Environmental Non-Routine Event Report for Exelon Generation Company, LLC—La- Salle County Station. July 22, 2009 .......................................................................................................................................... ML092040381 Exelon Generation Company, LLC. 2010. Letter from Peter J. Karaba, Plant Manager, LaSalle County Station to U.S. NRC, Document Control Desk. Subject: Environmental Non-Routine Event Report for Exelon Generation Company, LLC—La- Salle County Station. August 25, 2010 ...................................................................................................................................... ML102371289 Exelon Generation Company, LLC. 2014. LaSalle County Station, Units 1 and 2, License Renewal Application, Appendix E, Applicant’s Environmental Report, Operating License Renewal Stage. December 9, 2014 .................................................... ML14343A883 ML14343A897 Exelon Generation Company, LLC (Exelon). 2015. Letter from David M. Gullott, Manager—Licensing, LaSalle County Sta- tion to U.S. NRC, Document Control Desk. Subject: Response to Request for Additional Environmental Information Re- garding Request to Revise Ultimate Heat Sink Temperature Limits. January 23, 2015 .......................................................... ML15023A459 Illinois Department of Natural Resources. 2007. Status of the Catfish Fishery. Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Divi- sion of Fisheries. March 2007. Available at: http://www.dnr.state.il.us/orc/fisheries/07/ 07%20catfish%20status%20report.pdf (accessed 21 May 2015) ............................................................................................. ML15160A289 [IDNR] Illinois Department of Natural Resources. 2009. Status of the Striped Bass/Hybrid Striped Bass Fishery. Illinois De- partment of Natural Resources, Division of Fisheries. March 2009. Available at: http://www.prairiestateoutdoors.com/im- ages/uploads/2009_Striped_Bass_Status.pdf (accessed 21 May 2015) ................................................................................... ML15160A296 LaSalle County Station, Units 1 and 2—Request for Additional Environmental Information Regarding Request to Revise Ulti- mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES mate Heat Sink Temperature Limits .......................................................................................................................................... ML14338A612 NUREG–0486, ‘‘Environmental Statement Related to the Operation of LaSalle County Nuclear Power Station, Unit Nos. 1 and 2, Commonwealth Edison Company,’’ November 1978 ..................................................................................................... ML14353A388 Response to Request for Additional Environmental Information Regarding Request to Revise Ultimate Heat Sink Tempera- ture Limits ................................................................................................................................................................................... ML15023A459 VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:35 Jul 31, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00134 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\03AUN1.SGM 03AUN1

46066 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 148 / Monday, August 3, 2015 / Notices Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 24th day document referenced (if that document appendix G].’’ Footnote 2 to Table 1 in of July 2015. is available in ADAMS) is provided the 10 CFR part 50, appendix G specifies For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. first time that a document is referenced. that RPV minimum temperature Peter S. Tam, • NRC’s PDR: You may examine and requirements related to RPV closure Senior Project Manager, Plant Licensing purchase copies of public documents at flange considerations shall be based on Branch II–2, Division of Operating Reactor the NRC’s PDR, Room O1–F21, One ‘‘[t]he highest reference temperature of Licensing, Office of Nuclear Reactor White Flint North, 11555 Rockville the material in the closure flange region Regulation. Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852. that is highly stressed by bolt preload.’’ [FR Doc. 2015–18890 Filed 7–31–15; 8:45 am] FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John By letter dated July 24, 2014, NextEra BILLING CODE 7590–01–P G. Lamb, Office of Nuclear Reactor submitted a license amendment request Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory (LAR) to implement a revision of the P– Commission, Washington, DC 20555– T operating limits for Seabrook. In NUCLEAR REGULATORY requesting the revisions to the P–T 0001; telephone: 301–415–3100, email: COMMISSION operating limits, the licensee referenced John.Lamb@nrc.gov. [Docket No. 50–443; NRC–2015–0184] a topical report with a methodology that SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: did not meet some of the requirements NextEra Energy Seabrook, LLC, I. Background of 10 CFR part 50, appendix G, thus Seabrook Station, Unit 1 requiring the exemption pursuant to 10 NextEra is the holder of Facility CFR 50.12. Specifically, the exemption AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Operating License No. NPF–86, which would permit use of an alternate Commission. authorizes operation of the Seabrook methodology contained in WCAP– ACTION: Exemption; issuance. Station, Unit No. 1 (Seabrook). 17444–P, Revision 0 (ADAMS The Seabrook facility consists of a Accession No. ML14216A406), ‘‘Reactor SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory pressurized-water reactor located in Vessel Closure Head/Vessel Flange Commission (NRC) is issuing an Rockingham County, New Hampshire. Requirements Evaluation for Seabrook, exemption in response to a July 24, Unit 1,’’ October 2011. The exemption 2014, request from NextEra Energy II. Request/Action would permit the methodology Seabrook, LLC (NextEra or the licensee), By letter dated July 24, 2014 (ADAMS contained in WCAP–17444–P, in lieu of from specific requirements in NRC’s Accession No. ML14216A404), as the specific requirements of 10 CFR part regulations, as they pertain to the supplemented by letters dated March 9, 50, appendix G, related to the establishment of minimum temperature April 24, and June 24, 2015 (ADAMS establishment of minimum temperature requirements, for all modes of Accession Nos. ML15072A023, criteria for all modes of reactor operation, based on the material ML15125A140, and ML15181A262, operation addressed by Table 1 of 10 properties of the material of the reactor respectively), the licensee requested an CFR part 50, appendix G, that are based pressure vessel (RPV) closure flange exemption from section 50.60 of Title 10 on the properties of the material of the region that is highly stressed by the bolt of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 RPV closure flange region, that is highly preload. CFR), ‘‘Acceptance criteria for fracture stressed by the bolt preload for ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID prevention measures for lightwater pressures greater than 20 percent of the NRC–2015–0184 when contacting the nuclear power reactors for normal pre-service hydrostatic test pressure. A NRC about the availability of operation,’’ pursuant to 10 CFR 50.12, non-proprietary version of WCAP– information regarding this document. ‘‘Specific exemptions.’’ 17444–P is available in ADAMS under You may obtain publicly-available Part 50, appendix G requires that Accession No. ML14216A406. The information related to this document pressure-temperature (P–T) limits be requirements from which NextEra using any of the following methods: established for RPVs during normal requested that Seabrook be exempted • Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to operating and hydrostatic or leak rate shall be referred to, for the purpose of http://www.regulations.gov and search testing conditions. Specifically, 10 CFR this exemption, as those requirements for Docket ID NRC–2015–0184. Address part 50, appendix G states that ‘‘[t]he related to the application of footnote (2) questions about NRC dockets to Carol minimum temperature requirements to Table 1 of 10 CFR part 50, appendix Gallagher; telephone: 301–415–3463; . . . pertain to the controlling material, G, for pressures greater than 20 percent email: Carol.Gallagher@nrc.gov. For which is either the material in the of the pre-service hydrostatic test technical questions, contact the closure flange or the material in the pressure. The licensee did not request individual listed in the FOR FURTHER beltline region with the highest exemption from those requirements INFORMATION CONTACT section of this reference temperature. . . . the related to the application of footnote (2) document. minimum temperature requirements to Table 1 of 10 CFR part 50, appendix • NRC’s Agencywide Documents and the controlling material depend on G, for pressures less than or equal to 20 Access and Management System the operating condition (i.e., hydrostatic percent of the pre-service hydrostatic (ADAMS): You may obtain publicly- pressure and leak tests, or normal test pressure. These minimum available documents online in the operation including anticipated normal temperature requirements (hereafter ADAMS Public Documents collection at operational occurrences), the vessel referred to as the minimum bolt-up http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/ pressure, whether fuel is in the vessel, temperature requirements) shall remain adams.html. To begin the search, select and whether the core is critical. The in effect for the Technical Specification mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES ‘‘ADAMS Public Documents’’ and then metal temperature of the controlling (TS) P–T limit curves for all modes of select ‘‘Begin Web-based ADAMS material, in the region of the controlling reactor operation. Search.’’ For problems with ADAMS, material which has the least favorable WCAP–17444–P documents a linear please contact the NRC’s Public combination of stress and temperature, elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) Document Room (PDR) reference staff at must exceed the appropriate minimum analysis of postulated flaws in the 1–800–397–4209, 301–415–4737, or by temperature requirement for the Seabrook RPV closure flange region email to pdr.resource@nrc.gov. The condition and pressure of the vessel under normal operating conditions ADAMS accession number for each specified in Table 1 [of 10 CFR part 50, associated with RPV bolt-up, the 100 VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:35 Jul 31, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00135 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\03AUN1.SGM 03AUN1


Document Created: 2018-02-23 10:51:58
Document Modified: 2018-02-23 10:51:58
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionEnvironmental assessment and finding of no significant impact; issuance.
DatesThe environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact referenced in this document is available on August 3, 2015.
ContactBhalchandra Vaidya, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation; U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-3308; email: [email protected]
FR Citation80 FR 46062 
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