81 FR 96048 - South Carolina Electric & Gas Company, South Carolina Public Service Authority; Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station, Units 2 and 3; Radiologically Controlled Area Ventilation System

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 250 (December 29, 2016)

Page Range		96048-96050
FR Document		2016-31591

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing an exemption to allow a departure from the certification information of Tier 1 of the generic design control document (DCD) and is issuing License Amendment No. 53 to Combined Licenses (COLs), NPF-93 and NPF- 94. The COLs were issued to South Carolina Electric & Gas Company, (the licensee); for construction and operation of the Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station (VCSNS) Units 2 and 3, located in Fairfield County, South Carolina. The issuance of the exemption allows the changes to Tier 1 information requested in the amendment. Because the acceptability of the exemption was determined in part by the acceptability of the amendment, the exemption and amendment are being issued concurrently.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 250 (Thursday, December 29, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 250 (Thursday, December 29, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 96048-96050]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-31591]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket Nos. 52-027 and 52-028; NRC-2008-0441]


South Carolina Electric & Gas Company, South Carolina Public 
Service Authority; Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station, Units 2 and 3; 
Radiologically Controlled Area Ventilation System

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Exemption and combined license amendment; issuance.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing an 
exemption to allow a departure from the certification information of 
Tier 1 of the generic design control document (DCD) and is issuing 
License Amendment No. 53 to Combined Licenses (COLs), NPF-93 and NPF-
94. The COLs were issued to South Carolina Electric & Gas Company, (the 
licensee); for construction and operation of the Virgil C. Summer 
Nuclear Station (VCSNS) Units 2 and 3, located in Fairfield County, 
South Carolina. The issuance of the exemption allows the changes to 
Tier 1 information requested in the amendment. Because the 
acceptability of the exemption was determined in part by the 
acceptability of the amendment, the exemption and amendment are being 
issued concurrently.

DATES: The exemption was issued on October 31, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2008-0441 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-2008-0441. Address 
questions about NRC dockets to Carol Gallagher; telephone: 301-415-
3463; email: [email protected]. For technical questions, contact 
the individual listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of 
this document.
     NRC's 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,

[[Page 96049]]

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 
ADAMS accession number for each document referenced (if it is available 
in ADAMS) is provided the first time that it is mentioned in this 
document. The request for the amendment and exemption was submitted by 
letter dated December 17, 2015 (ADAMS Accession No. ML15351A165) and it 
was supplemented by letter dated September 6, 2016 (ADAMS Accession No. 
ML16250A721).
     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: William Gleaves, Office of New 
Reactors, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-
0001; telephone: 301-415-5848; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Introduction

    The NRC is issuing an exemption from Paragraph B of Section III, 
``Scope and Contents,'' of Appendix D, ``Design Certification Rule for 
the AP1000,'' to part 52 of title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations 
(10 CFR), and issuing License Amendment No. 53 to COLs, NPF-93 and NPF-
94, to the licensee. The exemption is required by Paragraph A.4 of 
Section VIII, ``Processes for Changes and Departures,'' Appendix D, to 
10 CFR part 52 to allow the licensee to depart from Tier 1 information. 
With the requested amendment, the licensee sought proposed changes to 
the Updated Final Safety Analysis Report in the form of departures from 
the incorporated plant-specific Design Control Document Tier 2 
information. The proposed amendment also involves related changes to 
plant-specific Tier 1 information, with corresponding changes to the 
associated COL Appendix C information. Specifically, the licensee 
requested changes to the Radiologically Controlled Area Ventilation 
System configuration and equipment list.
    Part of the justification for granting the exemption was provided 
by the review of the amendment. Because the exemption is necessary in 
order to issue the requested license amendment, the NRC granted the 
exemption and issued the amendment concurrently, rather than in 
sequence. This included issuing a combined safety evaluation containing 
the NRC staff's review of both the exemption request and the license 
amendment. The exemption met all applicable regulatory criteria set 
forth in 10 CFR 50.12, 10 CFR 52.7, and Section VIII.A.4 of Appendix D 
to 10 CFR part 52. The license amendment was also found to be 
acceptable. The combined safety evaluation is available in ADAMS under 
Accession No. ML16273A324.
    Identical exemption documents (except for referenced unit numbers 
and license numbers) were issued to the licensee for VCSNS Units 2 and 
3 (COLs NPF-93 and NPF-94). The exemption documents for VCSNS Units 2 
and 3 can be found in ADAMS under Accession Nos. ML16273A305 and 
ML16273A312, respectively. The exemption is reproduced (with the 
exception of abbreviated titles and additional citations) in Section II 
of this document. The amendment documents for COLs NPF-93 and NPF-94 
are available in ADAMS under Accession Nos. ML16273A272 and 
ML16273A290, respectively. A summary of the amendment documents is 
provided in Section III of this document.

II. Exemption

    Reproduced below is the exemption document issued to Summer Units 2 
and Unit 3. It makes reference to the combined safety evaluation that 
provides the reasoning for the findings made by the NRC (and listed 
under Item 1) in order to grant the exemption:
    1. In a letter dated December 17, 2015, as supplemented by letter 
dated September 6, 2016, the licensee requested from the Commission an 
exemption to allow changes to plant-specific Tier 1 information from 
the certified AP1000 DCD that was incorporated by reference in 10 CFR 
part 52, Appendix D, as part of license amendment request 15-15, 
``Radiologically Controlled Area Ventilation System (VAS) Design 
Changes.''
    For the reasons set forth in Section 3.1, of the NRC staff's Safety 
Evaluation that supports this license amendment, which can be found in 
ADAMS under Accession No. ML16273A324, the Commission finds that:
    A. The exemption is authorized by law;
    B. the exemption presents no undue risk to public health and 
safety;
    C. the exemption is consistent with the common defense and 
security;
    D. special circumstances are present in that the application of the 
rule in this circumstance is not necessary to serve the underlying 
purpose of the rule;
    E. the special circumstances outweigh any decrease in safety that 
may result from the reduction in standardization caused by the 
exemption; and
    F. the exemption will not result in a significant decrease in the 
level of safety otherwise provided by the design.
    2. Accordingly, the licensee is granted an exemption from the 
certified AP1000 DCD Tier 1 information, as described in the licensee's 
request dated December 17, 2015, as supplemented by letter dated 
September 6, 2016. This exemption is related to, and necessary for, the 
granting of License Amendment No. 53, which is being issued 
concurrently with this exemption.
    3. As explained in Section 5 of the NRC staff's Safety Evaluation 
that supports this license amendment, this exemption meets the 
eligibility criteria for categorical exclusion set forth in 10 CFR 
51.22(c)(9). Therefore, pursuant to 10 CFR 51.22(b), no environmental 
impact statement or environmental assessment needs to be prepared in 
connection with the issuance of the exemption.
    4. This exemption is effective as of the date of its issuance.

III. License Amendment Request

    By letter dated December 17, 2015, as supplemented by letter dated 
September 6, 2016, the licensee requested that the NRC amend the COLs 
for VCSNS, Units 2 and 3, COLs NPF-93 and NPF-94. The proposed 
amendment is described in Section I of this Federal Register notice.
    The Commission has determined for these amendments that the 
application complies with the standards and requirements of the Atomic 
Energy Act of 1954, as amended (the Act), and the Commission's rules 
and regulations. The Commission has made appropriate findings as 
required by the Act and the Commission's rules and regulations in 10 
CFR Chapter I, which are set forth in the license amendment.
    A notice of consideration of issuance of amendment to facility 
operating license or combined license, as applicable, proposed no 
significant hazards consideration determination, and opportunity for a 
hearing in connection with these actions, was published in the Federal 
Register on February 16, 2016 (81 FR 7840). No comments were received 
during the 30-day comment period.
    The Commission has determined that these amendments satisfy the 
criteria for categorical exclusion in accordance with 10 CFR 51.22. 
Therefore, pursuant to 10 CFR 51.22(b), no environmental impact 
statement or environmental assessment need be prepared for these 
amendments.

IV. Conclusion

    Using the reasons set forth in the combined safety evaluation, the 
staff

[[Page 96050]]

granted the exemption and issued the amendment that the licensee 
requested on December 17, 2015 and supplemented on September 6, 2016.
    The exemption and amendment were issued on October 31, 2016 as part 
of a combined package to the licensee (ADAMS Accession No. 
ML16273A142).

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 19th day of December 2016.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Brian Hughes,
Acting Chief, Licensing Branch 4, Division of New Reactor Licensing, 
Office of New Reactors.
[FR Doc. 2016-31591 Filed 12-28-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7590-01-P

Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 250 / Thursday, December 29, 2016 / Notices 96049

please contact the NRC’s Public amendment. The exemption met all F. the exemption will not result in a
Document Room (PDR) reference staff at applicable regulatory criteria set forth in significant decrease in the level of safety
1–800–397–4209, 301–415–4737, or by 10 CFR 50.12, 10 CFR 52.7, and Section otherwise provided by the design.
email to pdr.resource@nrc.gov. The VIII.A.4 of Appendix D to 10 CFR part 2. Accordingly, the licensee is granted
ADAMS accession number for each 52. The license amendment was also an exemption from the certified AP1000
document referenced (if it is available in found to be acceptable. The combined DCD Tier 1 information, as described in
ADAMS) is provided the first time that safety evaluation is available in ADAMS the licensee’s request dated December
it is mentioned in this document. The under Accession No. ML16273A324. 17, 2015, as supplemented by letter
request for the amendment and Identical exemption documents dated September 6, 2016. This
exemption was submitted by letter (except for referenced unit numbers and exemption is related to, and necessary
dated December 17, 2015 (ADAMS license numbers) were issued to the for, the granting of License Amendment
Accession No. ML15351A165) and it licensee for VCSNS Units 2 and 3 (COLs No. 53, which is being issued
was supplemented by letter dated NPF–93 and NPF–94). The exemption concurrently with this exemption.
September 6, 2016 (ADAMS Accession documents for VCSNS Units 2 and 3 can 3. As explained in Section 5 of the
No. ML16250A721). be found in ADAMS under Accession NRC staff’s Safety Evaluation that
• NRC’s PDR: You may examine and Nos. ML16273A305 and ML16273A312, supports this license amendment, this
purchase copies of public documents at respectively. The exemption is exemption meets the eligibility criteria
the NRC’s PDR, Room O1–F21, One reproduced (with the exception of for categorical exclusion set forth in 10
White Flint North, 11555 Rockville abbreviated titles and additional CFR 51.22(c)(9). Therefore, pursuant to
Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852. citations) in Section II of this document. 10 CFR 51.22(b), no environmental
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The amendment documents for COLs impact statement or environmental
William Gleaves, Office of New NPF–93 and NPF–94 are available in assessment needs to be prepared in
Reactors, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory ADAMS under Accession Nos. connection with the issuance of the
Commission, Washington, DC 20555– ML16273A272 and ML16273A290, exemption.
0001; telephone: 301–415–5848; email: respectively. A summary of the 4. This exemption is effective as of the
Bill.Gleaves@nrc.gov. amendment documents is provided in date of its issuance.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Section III of this document. III. License Amendment Request
I. Introduction II. Exemption By letter dated December 17, 2015, as
Reproduced below is the exemption supplemented by letter dated September
The NRC is issuing an exemption 6, 2016, the licensee requested that the
document issued to Summer Units 2
from Paragraph B of Section III, ‘‘Scope NRC amend the COLs for VCSNS, Units
and Unit 3. It makes reference to the
and Contents,’’ of Appendix D, ‘‘Design 2 and 3, COLs NPF–93 and NPF–94. The
combined safety evaluation that
Certification Rule for the AP1000,’’ to proposed amendment is described in
provides the reasoning for the findings
part 52 of title 10 of the Code of Federal Section I of this Federal Register notice.
made by the NRC (and listed under Item
Regulations (10 CFR), and issuing The Commission has determined for
1) in order to grant the exemption:
License Amendment No. 53 to COLs, 1. In a letter dated December 17, 2015, these amendments that the application
NPF–93 and NPF–94, to the licensee. as supplemented by letter dated complies with the standards and
The exemption is required by Paragraph September 6, 2016, the licensee requirements of the Atomic Energy Act
A.4 of Section VIII, ‘‘Processes for requested from the Commission an of 1954, as amended (the Act), and the
Changes and Departures,’’ Appendix D, exemption to allow changes to plant- Commission’s rules and regulations.
to 10 CFR part 52 to allow the licensee specific Tier 1 information from the The Commission has made appropriate
to depart from Tier 1 information. With certified AP1000 DCD that was findings as required by the Act and the
the requested amendment, the licensee incorporated by reference in 10 CFR Commission’s rules and regulations in
sought proposed changes to the Updated part 52, Appendix D, as part of license 10 CFR Chapter I, which are set forth in
Final Safety Analysis Report in the form amendment request 15–15, the license amendment.
of departures from the incorporated ‘‘Radiologically Controlled Area A notice of consideration of issuance
plant-specific Design Control Document Ventilation System (VAS) Design of amendment to facility operating
Tier 2 information. The proposed Changes.’’ license or combined license, as
amendment also involves related For the reasons set forth in Section applicable, proposed no significant
changes to plant-specific Tier 1 3.1, of the NRC staff’s Safety Evaluation hazards consideration determination,
information, with corresponding that supports this license amendment, and opportunity for a hearing in
changes to the associated COL which can be found in ADAMS under connection with these actions, was
Appendix C information. Specifically, Accession No. ML16273A324, the published in the Federal Register on
the licensee requested changes to the Commission finds that: February 16, 2016 (81 FR 7840). No
Radiologically Controlled Area A. The exemption is authorized by comments were received during the 30-
Ventilation System configuration and law; day comment period.
equipment list. B. the exemption presents no undue The Commission has determined that
Part of the justification for granting risk to public health and safety; these amendments satisfy the criteria for
the exemption was provided by the C. the exemption is consistent with categorical exclusion in accordance
review of the amendment. Because the
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

the common defense and security; with 10 CFR 51.22. Therefore, pursuant
exemption is necessary in order to issue D. special circumstances are present to 10 CFR 51.22(b), no environmental
the requested license amendment, the in that the application of the rule in this impact statement or environmental
NRC granted the exemption and issued circumstance is not necessary to serve assessment need be prepared for these
the amendment concurrently, rather the underlying purpose of the rule; amendments.
than in sequence. This included issuing E. the special circumstances outweigh
a combined safety evaluation containing any decrease in safety that may result IV. Conclusion
the NRC staff’s review of both the from the reduction in standardization Using the reasons set forth in the
exemption request and the license caused by the exemption; and combined safety evaluation, the staff

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Document Created: 2016-12-29 01:58:25
Document Modified: 2016-12-29 01:58:25

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Exemption and combined license amendment; issuance.
Dates		The exemption was issued on October 31, 2016.
Contact		William Gleaves, Office of New Reactors, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555- 0001; telephone: 301-415-5848; email: [email protected]
FR Citation		81 FR 96048