82_FR_14975 82 FR 14920 - Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc., Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Units 3 and 4 Nuclear Instrumentation System Excore Detector Surface Material Inspection Clarification

82 FR 14920 - Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc., Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Units 3 and 4 Nuclear Instrumentation System Excore Detector Surface Material Inspection Clarification

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 55 (March 23, 2017)

Page Range14920-14921
FR Document2017-05778

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is granting 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. 66 to Combined Licenses (COLs), NPF-91 and NPF- 92. The COLs were issued to Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc., and Georgia Power Company, Oglethorpe Power Corporation, MEAG Power SPVM, LLC, MEAG Power SPVJ, LLC, MEAG Power SPVP, LLC, Authority of Georgia, and the City of Dalton, Georgia (the licensee); for construction and operation of the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant (VEGP) Units 3 and 4, located in Burke County, Georgia. The granting of the exemption allows the changes to Tier 1 information asked for 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 82 Issue 55 (Thursday, March 23, 2017) 
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 55 (Thursday, March 23, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14920-14921]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-05778]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket Nos. 52-025 and 52-026; NRC-2008-0252]


Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc., Vogtle Electric 
Generating Plant, Units 3 and 4 Nuclear Instrumentation System Excore 
Detector Surface Material Inspection Clarification

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Exemption and combined license amendment; issuance.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is granting 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. 66 to Combined Licenses (COLs), NPF-91 and NPF-
92. The COLs were issued to Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc., 
and Georgia Power Company, Oglethorpe Power Corporation, MEAG Power 
SPVM, LLC, MEAG Power SPVJ, LLC, MEAG Power SPVP, LLC, Authority of 
Georgia, and the City of Dalton, Georgia (the licensee); for 
construction and operation of the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant 
(VEGP) Units 3 and 4, located in Burke County, Georgia.
    The granting of the exemption allows the changes to Tier 1 
information asked for 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 and amendment were issued on January 19, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2008-0252 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-2008-0252. 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 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 pdr.resource@nrc.gov. 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 July 25, 2016 (ADAMS Accession No. ML16207A496), and 
supplemented by the letters dated September 23, 2016 (ADAMS Accession 
No. ML16267A429) and October 13, 2016 (ADAMS Accession No. 
ML16287A662).
     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: Chandu Patel, Office of New Reactors, 
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001; 
telephone: 301-415-3025; email: Chandu.Patel@nrc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Introduction

    The NRC is granting an exemption from Paragraph B of Section III, 
``Scope and Contents,'' of appendix D, ``Design Certification Rule for 
the AP1000,'' to

[[Page 14921]]

part 52 of title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), and 
issuing License Amendment No. 66 to COLs, NPF-91 and NPF-92, 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 VEGP 
Units 3 and 4 Updated Final Safety Analysis Report (UFSAR) in the form 
of departures from the incorporated plant-specific DCD 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 to clarify the Inspections, 
Tests, Analyses and Acceptance Criteria (ITAAC) related to the 
inspection of excore (source range, intermediate range, and power 
range) detectors. 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 found to be 
acceptable as well. The combined safety evaluation is available in 
ADAMS under Accession No. ML16320A370.
    Identical exemption documents (except for referenced unit numbers 
and license numbers) were issued to the licensee for VEGP Units 3 and 4 
(COLs NPF-91 and NPF-92). The exemption documents for VEGP Units 3 and 
4 can be found in ADAMS under Accession Nos. ML16320A277 and 
ML16320A282, 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-91 and NPF-92 
are available in ADAMS under Accession Nos. ML16320A258 and 
ML16320A265, 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 VEGP Units 3 
and Unit 4. 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 July 25, 2016, as supplemented by letters 
dated September 23, 2016, and October 13, 2016, the licensee requested 
from the Commission an exemption to allow departures from Tier 1 
information in the certified DCD incorporated by reference in 10 CFR 
part 52, Appendix D, as part of license amendment request 16-010, 
``Nuclear Instrumentation System Excore Detector Surface Material 
Inspection Clarification.''
    For the reasons set forth in Section 3.1 of the NRC staff's Safety 
Evaluation, which can be found at ADAMS Accession No. ML16320A370, 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 DCD Tier 1 information, with corresponding changes to 
Appendix C of the Facility Combined Licenses as described in the 
licensee's request dated July 25, 2016, as supplemented by letters 
dated September 23, 2016, and October 13, 2016. This exemption is 
related to, and necessary for the granting of License Amendment No. 66, 
which is being issued concurrently with this exemption.
    3. As explained in Section 5.0 of the NRC staff's Safety Evaluation 
(ADAMS Accession No. ML16320A370), 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 July 25, 2016 (ADAMS Accession No. ML16207A496), 
and supplemented by the letters dated September 23, 2016 (ADAMS 
Accession No. ML16267A429), and October 13, 2016 (ADAMS Accession No. 
ML16287A662), the licensee requested that the NRC amend the COLs for 
VEGP, Units 3 and 4, COLs NPF-91 and NPF-92. The proposed amendment is 
described in Section I of this document.
    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 COL, 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 
September 13, 2016 (81 FR 62926). 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 granted the exemption and issued the amendment that the licensee 
requested on July 25, 2016, as supplemented by letters dated September 
23, 2016, and October 13, 2016. The exemption and amendment were issued 
on January 19, 2017, as part of a combined package to the licensee 
(ADAMS Accession No. ML16320A230).

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 13th day of March 2017.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Jennifer Dixon-Herrity,
Chief, Licensing Branch 4, Division of New Reactor Licensing, Office of 
New Reactors.
[FR Doc. 2017-05778 Filed 3-22-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7590-01-P

14920 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 55 / Thursday, March 23, 2017 / Notices comment submissions to remove issuing agencies to perform the acceptability of the exemption was identifying or contact information. verification on behalf of the licensee determined in part by the acceptability If you are requesting or aggregating transferring the radioactive materials. of the amendment, the exemption and comments from other persons for amendment are being issued III. Specific Requests for Comments submission to the NRC, then you should concurrently. inform those persons not to include The NRC is seeking comments that DATES: The exemption and amendment identifying or contact information that address the following questions: were issued on January 19, 2017. they do not want to be publicly 1. Is the proposed collection of information necessary for the NRC to ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID disclosed in their comment submission. NRC–2008–0252 when contacting the Your request should state that the NRC properly perform its functions? Does the information have practical utility? NRC about the availability of does not routinely edit comment information regarding this document. submissions to remove such information 2. Is the estimate of the burden of the information collection accurate? You may obtain publicly-available before making the comment information related to this document submissions available to the public or 3. Is there a way to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the using any of the following methods: entering the comment into ADAMS. • Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to information to be collected? II. Background 4. How can the burden of the http://www.regulations.gov and search information collection on respondents for Docket ID NRC–2008–0252. Address In accordance with the Paperwork questions about NRC dockets to Carol Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. be minimized, including the use of automated collection techniques or Gallagher; telephone: 301–415–3463; Chapter 35), the NRC is requesting email: Carol.Gallagher@nrc.gov. For public comment on its intention to other forms of information technology? technical questions, contact the request the OMB’s approval for the Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 17th day individual listed in the FOR FURTHER information collection summarized of March 2017. INFORMATION CONTACT section of this below. For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. document. 1. The title of the information David Cullison, • NRC’s Agencywide Documents collection: NRC Form 749, ‘‘Manual NRC Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Access and Management System License Verification Report.’’ Information Officer. (ADAMS): You may obtain publicly- 2. OMB approval number: 3150–0223. [FR Doc. 2017–05749 Filed 3–22–17; 8:45 am] available documents online in the 3. Type of submission: Extension. BILLING CODE 7590–01–P ADAMS Public Documents collection at 4. The form number, if applicable: http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/ NRC Form 749. 5. How often the collection is required adams.html. To begin the search, select NUCLEAR REGULATORY ‘‘ADAMS Public Documents’’ and then or requested: On occasion. Licensees COMMISSION subject to 10 CFR part 37, ‘‘Physical select ‘‘Begin Web-based ADAMS Protection of Byproduct Material’’ [Docket Nos. 52–025 and 52–026; NRC– Search.’’ For problems with ADAMS, license verification requirements must 2008–0252] please contact the NRC’s Public verify the legitimacy of the license with Document Room (PDR) reference staff at Southern Nuclear Operating Company, 1–800–397–4209, 301–415–4737, or by the issuing agency prior to transferring Inc., Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, email to pdr.resource@nrc.gov. The radioactive materials in quantities of Units 3 and 4 Nuclear Instrumentation ADAMS accession number for each concern. 6. Who will be required or asked to System Excore Detector Surface document referenced (if it is available in respond: Licensees are required to Material Inspection Clarification ADAMS) is provided the first time that complete a license verification under it is mentioned in this document. The AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory the circumstances noted in 4 above. A request for the amendment and Commission. License Verification System (LVS) is exemption was submitted by letter ACTION: Exemption and combined available to provide an electronic dated July 25, 2016 (ADAMS Accession license amendment; issuance. No. ML16207A496), and supplemented method for fulfilling this requirement. In cases where a licensee is unable to SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory by the letters dated September 23, 2016 use the LVS to perform a verification, Commission (NRC) is granting an (ADAMS Accession No. ML16267A429) they will provide NRC Form 749 for exemption to allow a departure from the and October 13, 2016 (ADAMS manual license verification. certification information of Tier 1 of the Accession No. ML16287A662). 7. The estimated number of annual generic design control document (DCD) • NRC’s PDR: You may examine and responses: 456. and is issuing License Amendment No. purchase copies of public documents at 8. The estimated number of annual 66 to Combined Licenses (COLs), NPF– the NRC’s PDR, Room O1–F21, One respondents: 456. 91 and NPF–92. The COLs were issued White Flint North, 11555 Rockville 9. The estimated number of hours to Southern Nuclear Operating Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852. needed annually to comply with the Company, Inc., and Georgia Power FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: information collection requirement or Company, Oglethorpe Power Chandu Patel, Office of New Reactors, request: 46 hours. Corporation, MEAG Power SPVM, LLC, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 10. Abstract: When a licensee is MEAG Power SPVJ, LLC, MEAG Power Washington, DC 20555–0001; telephone: unable to use the License Verification SPVP, LLC, Authority of Georgia, and 301–415–3025; email: Chandu.Patel@ System to perform their license nrc.gov. sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES the City of Dalton, Georgia (the verification prior to transferring licensee); for construction and operation SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: radioactive materials in quantities of of the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant concern, a manual process is available, (VEGP) Units 3 and 4, located in Burke I. Introduction in which licensees submit the NRC County, Georgia. The NRC is granting an exemption Form 749, ‘‘Manual License Verification The granting of the exemption allows from Paragraph B of Section III, ‘‘Scope Report.’’ The form provides the the changes to Tier 1 information asked and Contents,’’ of appendix D, ‘‘Design information necessary for the license for in the amendment. Because the Certification Rule for the AP1000,’’ to VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:13 Mar 22, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00056 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\23MRN1.SGM 23MRN1

Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 55 / Thursday, March 23, 2017 / Notices 14921 part 52 of title 10 of the Code of Federal provides the reasoning for the findings No. ML16267A429), and October 13, Regulations (10 CFR), and issuing made by the NRC (and listed under Item 2016 (ADAMS Accession No. License Amendment No. 66 to COLs, 1) in order to grant the exemption: ML16287A662), the licensee requested NPF–91 and NPF–92, to the licensee. 1. In a letter dated July 25, 2016, as that the NRC amend the COLs for VEGP, The exemption is required by Paragraph supplemented by letters dated Units 3 and 4, COLs NPF–91 and NPF– A.4 of Section VIII, ‘‘Processes for September 23, 2016, and October 13, 92. The proposed amendment is Changes and Departures,’’ appendix D, 2016, the licensee requested from the described in Section I of this document. to 10 CFR part 52 to allow the licensee Commission an exemption to allow to depart from Tier 1 information. With departures from Tier 1 information in The Commission has determined for the requested amendment, the licensee the certified DCD incorporated by these amendments that the application sought proposed changes to the VEGP reference in 10 CFR part 52, Appendix complies with the standards and Units 3 and 4 Updated Final Safety D, as part of license amendment request requirements of the Atomic Energy Act Analysis Report (UFSAR) in the form of 16–010, ‘‘Nuclear Instrumentation of 1954, as amended (the Act), and the departures from the incorporated plant- System Excore Detector Surface Material Commission’s rules and regulations. specific DCD Tier 2 information. The Inspection Clarification.’’ The Commission has made appropriate proposed amendment also involves For the reasons set forth in Section 3.1 findings as required by the Act and the related changes to plant-specific Tier 1 of the NRC staff’s Safety Evaluation, Commission’s rules and regulations in information, with corresponding which can be found at ADAMS 10 CFR chapter I, which are set forth in changes to the associated COL Accession No. ML16320A370, the the license amendment. Appendix C information to clarify the Commission finds that: A notice of consideration of issuance Inspections, Tests, Analyses and A. The exemption is authorized by of amendment to facility operating Acceptance Criteria (ITAAC) related to law; the inspection of excore (source range, B. the exemption presents no undue license or COL, as applicable, proposed intermediate range, and power range) risk to public health and safety; no significant hazards consideration detectors. Part of the justification for C. the exemption is consistent with determination, and opportunity for a granting the exemption was provided by the common defense and security; hearing in connection with these the review of the amendment. Because D. special circumstances are present actions, was published in the Federal the exemption is necessary in order to in that the application of the rule in this Register on September 13, 2016 (81 FR issue the requested license amendment, circumstance is not necessary to serve 62926). No comments were received the NRC granted the exemption and the underlying purpose of the rule; during the 30-day comment period. issued the amendment concurrently, E. the special circumstances outweigh The Commission has determined that rather than in sequence. This included any decrease in safety that may result these amendments satisfy the criteria for issuing a combined safety evaluation from the reduction in standardization categorical exclusion in accordance containing the NRC staff’s review of caused by the exemption; and F. the exemption will not result in a with 10 CFR 51.22. Therefore, pursuant both the exemption request and the significant decrease in the level of safety to 10 CFR 51.22(b), no environmental license amendment. The exemption met otherwise provided by the design. impact statement or environmental all applicable regulatory criteria set forth in 10 CFR 50.12, 10 CFR 52.7, and 2. Accordingly, the licensee is granted assessment need be prepared for these Section VIII.A.4 of appendix D to 10 an exemption from the certified DCD amendments. CFR part 52. The license amendment Tier 1 information, with corresponding IV. Conclusion was found to be acceptable as well. The changes to Appendix C of the Facility combined safety evaluation is available Combined Licenses as described in the Using the reasons set forth in the in ADAMS under Accession No. licensee’s request dated July 25, 2016, as combined safety evaluation, the staff ML16320A370. supplemented by letters dated granted the exemption and issued the Identical exemption documents September 23, 2016, and October 13, amendment that the licensee requested (except for referenced unit numbers and 2016. This exemption is related to, and on July 25, 2016, as supplemented by license numbers) were issued to the necessary for the granting of License letters dated September 23, 2016, and licensee for VEGP Units 3 and 4 (COLs Amendment No. 66, which is being October 13, 2016. The exemption and NPF–91 and NPF–92). The exemption issued concurrently with this amendment were issued on January 19, documents for VEGP Units 3 and 4 can exemption. 2017, as part of a combined package to be found in ADAMS under Accession 3. As explained in Section 5.0 of the the licensee (ADAMS Accession No. Nos. ML16320A277 and ML16320A282, NRC staff’s Safety Evaluation (ADAMS Accession No. ML16320A370), this ML16320A230). respectively. The exemption is reproduced (with the exception of exemption meets the eligibility criteria Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 13th day abbreviated titles and additional for categorical exclusion set forth in 10 of March 2017. citations) in Section II of this document. CFR 51.22(c)(9). Therefore, pursuant to For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The amendment documents for COLs 10 CFR 51.22(b), no environmental Jennifer Dixon-Herrity, NPF–91 and NPF–92 are available in impact statement or environmental Chief, Licensing Branch 4, Division of New ADAMS under Accession Nos. assessment needs to be prepared in Reactor Licensing, Office of New Reactors. ML16320A258 and ML16320A265, connection with the issuance of the [FR Doc. 2017–05778 Filed 3–22–17; 8:45 am] respectively. A summary of the exemption. sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES 4. This exemption is effective as of the BILLING CODE 7590–01–P amendment documents is provided in Section III of this document. date of its issuance. II. Exemption III. License Amendment Request Reproduced below is the exemption By letter dated July 25, 2016 (ADAMS document issued to VEGP Units 3 and Accession No. ML16207A496), and Unit 4. It makes reference to the supplemented by the letters dated combined safety evaluation that September 23, 2016 (ADAMS Accession VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:13 Mar 22, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00057 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\23MRN1.SGM 23MRN1


Document Created: 2017-03-23 02:45:37
Document Modified: 2017-03-23 02:45:37
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
ActionExemption and combined license amendment; issuance.
DatesThe exemption and amendment were issued on January 19, 2017.
ContactChandu Patel, Office of New Reactors, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-3025; email: [email protected]
FR Citation82 FR 14920 
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