81_FR_22201 81 FR 22129 - Neutron-Absorbing Materials in Spent Fuel Pools

81 FR 22129 - Neutron-Absorbing Materials in Spent Fuel Pools

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 72 (April 14, 2016)

Page Range22129-22130
FR Document2016-08621

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is announcing the availability of a final generic letter addressing degradation of neutron-absorbing materials in the spent fuel pool (SFP). The NRC has determined that it is necessary to obtain plant-specific information requested in the generic letter so that the NRC can determine if the degradation of the neutron-absorbing materials in the SFP is being managed to maintain reasonable assurance that the materials are capable of performing their intended design basis function, and if the addressees are in compliance with the regulations.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 72 (Thursday, April 14, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 72 (Thursday, April 14, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22129-22130]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-08621]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[NRC-2014-0040 and NRC-2015-0136]


Neutron-Absorbing Materials in Spent Fuel Pools

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Generic letter; issuance.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is announcing the 
availability of a final generic letter addressing degradation of 
neutron-absorbing materials in the spent fuel pool (SFP). The NRC has 
determined that it is necessary to obtain plant-specific information 
requested in the generic letter so that the NRC can determine if the 
degradation of the neutron-absorbing materials in the SFP is being 
managed to maintain reasonable assurance that the materials are capable 
of performing their intended design

[[Page 22130]]

basis function, and if the addressees are in compliance with the 
regulations.

DATES: The final generic letter is available as of April 14, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2014-0040 and NRC-2015-0136 
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-2014-0040 and NRC-
2015-0136. Address questions about NRC dockets to Carol Gallagher; 
telephone: 301-415-3463; email: [email protected]. For technical 
questions, contact the individual listed in the CONTACT 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 [email protected]. The 
final generic letter, GL-2016-01, is available in ADAMS under Accession 
No. ML16097A169.
     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.
     This generic letter is also available on the NRC's public 
Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/gen-comm/gen-letters/ (select ``2016'' and then select ``GL-16-01'').

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Krepel, Office of Nuclear 
Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington DC 
20555-0001; telephone: 301-302-0399, email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NRC is issuing a final generic letter, 
GL-2016-01, addressing degradation of neutron-absorbing materials in 
the SFP. This generic letter requests information from nuclear power 
plant licensees demonstrating that credited neutron-absorbing materials 
in the SFP of power reactors and the fuel storage pool, reactor pool, 
or other wet locations designed for the purpose of fuel storage, as 
applicable for non-power reactors, are in compliance with the current 
licensing and design basis, as well as applicable regulatory 
requirements, and that there are measures in place to maintain this 
compliance. The information is being requested so that the NRC can 
determine if it needs to take any additional licensee-specific 
regulatory action with respect to neutron-absorbing materials in the 
spent fuel pool.
    The NRC published notices of opportunities for public comment on 
drafts of this generic letter in the Federal Register (79 FR 13685, 
March 11, 2014; 80 FR 31930, June 4, 2015; and 80 FR 81560, December 
30, 2015). In total, the agency received 18 comments. The staff 
considered all comments, which resulted in minor revisions to the 
generic letter. The evaluation of these comments, and the resulting 
changes to the generic letter are discussed in the publicly-available 
documents in ADAMS under Accession Nos. ML14181B130, ML15222A005, and 
ML16033A002, respectively.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 11th day of April 2016.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Sheldon D. Stuchell,
Branch Chief, Generic Communications Branch, Division of Policy and 
Rulemaking, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 2016-08621 Filed 4-13-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7590-01-P



                                                                                Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 72 / Thursday, April 14, 2016 / Notices                                                 22129

                                                  INFORMATION CONTACT     section of this                 NUCLEAR REGULATORY                                    responses to comments are available in
                                                  document.                                               COMMISSION                                            ADAMS under Accession No.
                                                     • NRC’s Agencywide Documents                                                                               ML15323A345.
                                                                                                          [NRC–2015–0188]
                                                  Access and Management System                                                                                     • NRC’s PDR: You may examine and
                                                  (ADAMS): You may obtain publicly-                       Use of Accreditation in Lieu of                       purchase copies of public documents at
                                                  available documents online in the                       Commercial Grade Surveys for                          the NRC’s PDR, Room O1–F21, One
                                                  ADAMS Public Document collection at                     Procurement of Laboratory Calibration                 White Flint North, 11555 Rockville
                                                  http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/                          and Test Services                                     Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
                                                  adams.html. To begin the search, select                                                                          • This RIS is also available on the
                                                  ‘‘ADAMS Public Documents’’ and then                     AGENCY:  Nuclear Regulatory                           NRC’s public Web site at http://
                                                  select ‘‘Begin Web-based ADAMS                          Commission.                                           www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-
                                                  Search.’’ For problems with ADAMS,                      ACTION: Regulatory issue summary;                     collections/gen-comm/reg-issues/ (select
                                                  please contact the NRC’s Public                         issuance.                                             ‘‘2016’’ and then select ‘‘RIS–16–01’’).
                                                  Document Room (PDR) reference staff at                                                                        FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                  1–800–397–4209, 301–415–4737, or by                     SUMMARY:   The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory                Alexandra Popova, Office of Nuclear
                                                  email to pdr.resource@nrc.gov. The                      Commission (NRC) is issuing Regulatory                Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear
                                                  license renewal application is available                Issue Summary (RIS) 2016–01, ‘‘Nuclear                Regulatory Commission, Washington DC
                                                  in ADAMS under Accession No.                            Energy Institute Guidance for the use of              20555–0001; telephone: 301–415–2876,
                                                  ML16088A324.                                            Accreditation in Lieu of Commercial                   email: Alexandra.Popova@nrc.gov.
                                                     • NRC’s PDR: You may examine and                     Grade Surveys for Procurement of                      SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NRC
                                                  purchase copies of public documents at                  Laboratory Calibration and Test                       published a notice of opportunity for
                                                  the NRC’s PDR, Room O1–F21, One                         Services.’’ This RIS informs addressees               public comment on this RIS in the
                                                  White Flint North, 11555 Rockville                      of guidance prepared by the Nuclear                   Federal Register (80 FR 47957) on
                                                  Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852.                        Energy Institute for procurement of                   August 10, 2015. The agency received
                                                                                                          calibration and testing services                      comments from nine commenters. The
                                                  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                                                                          performed by domestic and                             staff considered all comments, which
                                                  Phyllis Clark, Office of Nuclear Reactor
                                                                                                          international laboratories, which the                 resulted in clarifications to the RIS. The
                                                  Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
                                                                                                          NRC staff has found acceptable for use.               evaluation of these comments and the
                                                  Commission, Washington DC 20555–
                                                  0001; telephone: 301–415–6447; email:                   DATES: The RIS is available as of April               resulting changes to the RIS are
                                                  Phyllis.Clark@nrc.gov.                                  14, 2016.                                             discussed in a publicly available
                                                  SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                              ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID                  memorandum which is in ADAMS
                                                     The NRC has received an application                  NRC–2015–0188 when contacting the                     under Accession No. ML15323A345.
                                                  from Entergy Operations, Inc., dated                    NRC about the availability of                            Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 6th day
                                                  March 23, 2016, filed pursuant to                       information regarding this document.                  of April 2016.
                                                  Section 103 of the Atomic Energy Act of                 You may obtain publicly-available                        For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
                                                  1954, as amended, and part 54 of title                  information related to this document                  Sheldon D. Stuchell,
                                                  10 of the Code of Federal Regulations,                  using any of the following methods:
                                                                                                                                                                Chief, Generic Communications Branch,
                                                  to renew the operating license for                         • Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to               Division of Policy and Rulemaking, Office
                                                  Waterford 3. Renewal of the license                     http://www.regulations.gov and search                 of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
                                                  would authorize the applicant to                        for Docket ID NRC–2015–0188. Address                  [FR Doc. 2016–08589 Filed 4–13–16; 8:45 am]
                                                  operate the facility for an additional 20-              questions about NRC dockets to Carol
                                                                                                                                                                BILLING CODE 7590–01–P
                                                  year period beyond the period specified                 Gallagher; telephone: 301–415–3463;
                                                  in the current operating license. The                   email: Carol.Gallagher@nrc.gov. For
                                                  current operating license for Waterford                 technical questions, contact the                      NUCLEAR REGULATORY
                                                  3 expires at midnight on December 18,                   individual listed in the FOR FURTHER                  COMMISSION
                                                  2024. Waterford 3 is a pressurized-water                INFORMATION CONTACT section of this
                                                                                                          document.                                             [NRC–2014–0040 and NRC–2015–0136]
                                                  reactor designed by Combustion
                                                  Engineering and is located in Killona,                     • NRC’s Agencywide Documents
                                                                                                          Access and Management System                          Neutron-Absorbing Materials in Spent
                                                  Louisiana. The acceptability of the                                                                           Fuel Pools
                                                  tendered application for docketing, and                 (ADAMS): You may obtain publicly
                                                  other matters, including an opportunity                 available documents online in the                     AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory
                                                  to request a hearing, will be the subject               ADAMS Public Documents collection at                  Commission.
                                                  of subsequent Federal Register notices.                 http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/                        ACTION: Generic letter; issuance.
                                                     A copy of the license renewal                        adams.html. To begin the search, select
                                                  application for Waterford 3 is also                     ‘‘ADAMS Public Documents’’ and then                   SUMMARY:    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
                                                  available to local residents near the site              select ‘‘Begin Web-based ADAMS                        Commission (NRC) is announcing the
                                                  at the St. Charles Parish Library—East                  Search.’’ For problems with ADAMS,                    availability of a final generic letter
                                                  Regional Library, 160 W. Campus Drive,                  please contact the NRC’s Public                       addressing degradation of neutron-
                                                  Destrehan, Louisiana 70047.                             Document Room (PDR) reference staff at                absorbing materials in the spent fuel
                                                                                                          1–800–397–4209, 301–415–4737, or by                   pool (SFP). The NRC has determined
                                                    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 7th day
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                          email to pdr.resource@nrc.gov. The NRC                that it is necessary to obtain plant-
                                                  of April, 2016.                                         RIS, ‘‘Nuclear Energy Institute Guidance              specific information requested in the
                                                    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.                for the use of Accreditation in Lieu of               generic letter so that the NRC can
                                                  Jane E. Marshall,                                       Commercial Grade Surveys for                          determine if the degradation of the
                                                  Acting Director, Division of License Renewal,           Procurement of Laboratory Calibration                 neutron-absorbing materials in the SFP
                                                  Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.                   and Test Services’’ is available in                   is being managed to maintain reasonable
                                                  [FR Doc. 2016–08660 Filed 4–13–16; 8:45 am]             ADAMS under Accession No.                             assurance that the materials are capable
                                                  BILLING CODE 7590–01–P                                  ML15323A346. The NRC staff’s                          of performing their intended design


                                             VerDate Sep<11>2014   17:56 Apr 13, 2016   Jkt 238001   PO 00000   Frm 00082   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\14APN1.SGM   14APN1


                                                  22130                         Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 72 / Thursday, April 14, 2016 / Notices

                                                  basis function, and if the addressees are               in compliance with the current                        FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                  in compliance with the regulations.                     licensing and design basis, as well as                David A. Trissell, General Counsel, at
                                                  DATES: The final generic letter is                      applicable regulatory requirements, and               202–789–6820.
                                                  available as of April 14, 2016.                         that there are measures in place to                   SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                                  ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID                    maintain this compliance. The
                                                                                                          information is being requested so that                Table of Contents
                                                  NRC–2014–0040 and NRC–2015–0136
                                                  when contacting the NRC about the                       the NRC can determine if it needs to                  I. Introduction
                                                  availability of information regarding this              take any additional licensee-specific                 II. Notice of Commission Action
                                                  document. You may obtain publicly-                      regulatory action with respect to                     III. Ordering Paragraphs
                                                  available information related to this                   neutron-absorbing materials in the spent              I. Introduction
                                                  document using any of the following                     fuel pool.
                                                  methods:                                                   The NRC published notices of                         In accordance with 39 U.S.C. 3642
                                                                                                          opportunities for public comment on                   and 39 CFR 3020.30–.35, the Postal
                                                     • Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to
                                                                                                          drafts of this generic letter in the                  Service filed a formal request and
                                                  http://www.regulations.gov and search
                                                                                                          Federal Register (79 FR 13685, March                  associated supporting information to
                                                  for Docket ID NRC–2014–0040 and
                                                                                                          11, 2014; 80 FR 31930, June 4, 2015; and              add First-Class Package Service Contract
                                                  NRC–2015–0136. Address questions
                                                                                                          80 FR 81560, December 30, 2015). In                   51 to the competitive product list.1
                                                  about NRC dockets to Carol Gallagher;
                                                                                                          total, the agency received 18 comments.                 The Postal Service
                                                  telephone: 301–415–3463; email:
                                                                                                          The staff considered all comments,                    contemporaneously filed a redacted
                                                  Carol.Gallagher@nrc.gov. For technical
                                                                                                          which resulted in minor revisions to the              contract related to the proposed new
                                                  questions, contact the individual listed
                                                                                                          generic letter. The evaluation of these               product under 39 U.S.C. 3632(b)(3) and
                                                  in the CONTACT section of this
                                                                                                          comments, and the resulting changes to                39 CFR 3015.5. Request, Attachment B.
                                                  document.                                                                                                       To support its Request, the Postal
                                                     • NRC’s Agencywide Documents                         the generic letter are discussed in the
                                                                                                          publicly-available documents in                       Service filed a copy of the contract, a
                                                  Access and Management System
                                                                                                          ADAMS under Accession Nos.                            copy of the Governors’ Decision
                                                  (ADAMS): You may obtain publicly-
                                                                                                          ML14181B130, ML15222A005, and                         authorizing the product, proposed
                                                  available documents online in the
                                                                                                          ML16033A002, respectively.                            changes to the Mail Classification
                                                  ADAMS Public Documents collection at
                                                                                                                                                                Schedule, a Statement of Supporting
                                                  http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/                            Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 11th day         Justification, a certification of
                                                  adams.html. To begin the search, select                 of April 2016.
                                                                                                                                                                compliance with 39 U.S.C. 3633(a), and
                                                  ‘‘ADAMS Public Documents’’ and then                       For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.              an application for non-public treatment
                                                  select ‘‘Begin Web-based ADAMS                          Sheldon D. Stuchell,                                  of certain materials. It also filed
                                                  Search.’’ For problems with ADAMS,                      Branch Chief, Generic Communications                  supporting financial workpapers.
                                                  please contact the NRC’s Public                         Branch, Division of Policy and Rulemaking,
                                                  Document Room (PDR) reference staff at                  Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.                 II. Notice of Commission Action
                                                  1–800–397–4209, 301–415–4737, or by                     [FR Doc. 2016–08621 Filed 4–13–16; 8:45 am]             The Commission establishes Docket
                                                  email to pdr.resource@nrc.gov. The final                BILLING CODE 7590–01–P                                Nos. MC2016–119 and CP2016–149 to
                                                  generic letter, GL–2016–01, is available                                                                      consider the Request pertaining to the
                                                  in ADAMS under Accession No.                                                                                  proposed First-Class Package Service
                                                  ML16097A169.                                                                                                  Contract 51 product and the related
                                                     • NRC’s PDR: You may examine and                     POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION                          contract, respectively.
                                                  purchase copies of public documents at                                                                          The Commission invites comments on
                                                  the NRC’s PDR, Room O1–F21, One                         [Docket Nos. MC2016–119 and CP2016–149;               whether the Postal Service’s filings in
                                                  White Flint North, 11555 Rockville                      Order No. 3226]                                       the captioned dockets are consistent
                                                  Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852.                                                                              with the policies of 39 U.S.C. 3632,
                                                     • This generic letter is also available              New Postal Product                                    3633, or 3642, 39 CFR part 3015, and 39
                                                  on the NRC’s public Web site at
                                                                                                          AGENCY:   Postal Regulatory Commission.               CFR part 3020, subpart B. Comments are
                                                  http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-
                                                                                                          ACTION:   Notice.                                     due no later than April 18, 2016. The
                                                  collections/gen-comm/gen-letters/
                                                                                                                                                                public portions of these filings can be
                                                  (select ‘‘2016’’ and then select ‘‘GL–16–
                                                                                                          SUMMARY:   The Commission is noticing a               accessed via the Commission’s Web site
                                                  01’’).
                                                                                                          recent Postal Service filing concerning               (http://www.prc.gov).
                                                  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                                                                                The Commission appoints Katalin K.
                                                                                                          the addition of First-Class Package
                                                  Scott Krepel, Office of Nuclear Reactor                                                                       Clendenin to serve as Public
                                                                                                          Service Contract 51 to the competitive
                                                  Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory                                                                           Representative in these dockets.
                                                                                                          product list. This notice informs the
                                                  Commission, Washington DC 20555–
                                                                                                          public of the filing, invites public                  III. Ordering Paragraphs
                                                  0001; telephone: 301–302–0399, email:
                                                                                                          comment, and takes other
                                                  Scott.Krepel@nrc.gov.                                                                                           It is ordered:
                                                                                                          administrative steps.
                                                  SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NRC                                                                              1. The Commission establishes Docket
                                                                                                          DATES: Comments are due: April 18,
                                                  is issuing a final generic letter, GL–                                                                        Nos. MC2016–119 and CP2016–149 to
                                                  2016–01, addressing degradation of                      2016.
                                                                                                                                                                consider the matters raised in each
                                                  neutron-absorbing materials in the SFP.                 ADDRESSES:   Submit comments                          docket.
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                  This generic letter requests information                electronically via the Commission’s                     2. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, Katalin
                                                  from nuclear power plant licensees                      Filing Online system at http://                       K. Clendenin is appointed to serve as an
                                                  demonstrating that credited neutron-                    www.prc.gov. Those who cannot submit
                                                  absorbing materials in the SFP of power                 comments electronically should contact                  1 Request of the United States Postal Service to

                                                  reactors and the fuel storage pool,                     the person identified in the FOR FURTHER              Add First-Class Package Service Contract 51 to
                                                                                                                                                                Competitive Product List and Notice of Filing
                                                  reactor pool, or other wet locations                    INFORMATION CONTACT section by
                                                                                                                                                                (Under Seal) of Unredacted Governors’ Decision,
                                                  designed for the purpose of fuel storage,               telephone for advice on filing                        Contract, and Supporting Data, April 8, 2016
                                                  as applicable for non-power reactors, are               alternatives.                                         (Request).



                                             VerDate Sep<11>2014   17:56 Apr 13, 2016   Jkt 238001   PO 00000   Frm 00083   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\14APN1.SGM   14APN1



Document Created: 2018-02-07 13:47:59
Document Modified: 2018-02-07 13:47:59
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
ActionGeneric letter; issuance.
DatesThe final generic letter is available as of April 14, 2016.
ContactScott Krepel, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington DC 20555-0001; telephone: 301-302-0399, email: [email protected]
FR Citation81 FR 22129 

2025 Federal Register | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy
USC | CFR | eCFR