82 FR 27292 - Southern Nuclear Operating Company; Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Units 3 and 4; Boric Acid Storage Tank Changes

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 113 (June 14, 2017)

Page Range		27292-27294
FR Document		2017-12335

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 Nos. 78 and 77 to Combined Licenses (COLs), NPF-91 and NPF-92 for the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant (VEGP) Units 3 and 4, respectively. The COLs were issued to Southern Nuclear Operating Company (SNC), 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 Station (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 113 (Wednesday, June 14, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 113 (Wednesday, June 14, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27292-27294]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-12335]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

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


Southern Nuclear Operating Company; Vogtle Electric Generating 
Plant, Units 3 and 4; Boric Acid Storage Tank Changes

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 Nos. 78 and 77 to Combined Licenses (COLs), NPF-91 
and NPF-92 for the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant (VEGP) Units 3 and 
4, respectively. The COLs were issued to Southern Nuclear Operating 
Company (SNC), 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

[[Page 27293]]

Vogtle Electric Generating Station (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 May 25, 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: [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, 
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 October 26, 2016, and is available in ADAMS under 
Accession No. ML16300A325.
     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: [email protected].

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 part 52 of title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations 
(10 CFR), and issuing License Amendment Nos. 78 and 77 to COLs, NPF-91 
and NPF-92, respectively, to the licensee. The exemption is required by 
Paragraph A.4 of Section VIII, ``Processes for Changes and 
Departures,'' of 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 that would revise the 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. Specifically, the license amendment request (LAR) 
revises the inspections, tests, analyses, and acceptance criteria 
(ITAAC) in COL Appendix C Table 2.3.2-4, ITAAC No. 2.3.02.8a.ii to 
state that the volume in the boric acid storage tank is at least 70,000 
gallons between the tank suction point and the tank overflow; and COL 
Appendix C Table 2.3.2-4, ITAAC No. 2.3.02.8a.iii to state that the 
total chemical and volume control system makeup flow to the reactor 
coolant system is less than or equal to 175 gpm.
    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 Sec. Sec.  50.12, 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. ML17072A320.
    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. ML17072A318 and 
ML17072A315, 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. ML17072A316 and 
ML17072A314, 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 an application dated October 26, 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 15-028, 
``Boric Acid Storage Tank Suction Point ITAAC Changes.''
    For the reasons set forth in Section 3.1 of the NRC staff's Safety 
Evaluation, which can be found in ADAMS under Accession No. 
ML17072A320, 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 related to the boric acid storage tank 
(BAST) available volume at the suction point, chemical and volume 
control system (CVS) makeup flow rate, and BAST installation, as 
described in the licensee's request dated October 26, 2016. This 
exemption is related to, and necessary for the granting of License 
Amendment Nos. 78 and 77 for Units 3 and 4, respectively, 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. ML17072A320), this exemption meets the eligibility 
criteria for categorical exclusion set forth in 10

[[Page 27294]]

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 October 26, 2016 (ADAMS Accession No. ML16300A325), 
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 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 December 20, 2016 (81 FR 92872). 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 October 26, 2016. The exemption and amendment were issued 
on May 25, 2017, as part of a combined package to the licensee (ADAMS 
Accession No. ML17072A312).

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 5th day of June 2017.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Jennifer Dixon-Herrity,
Chief, Licensing Branch 4, Division of New Reactor Licensing, Office of 
New Reactors.
[FR Doc. 2017-12335 Filed 6-13-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7590-01-P

27292 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 113 / Wednesday, June 14, 2017 / Notices

• NRC’s Clearance Officer: A copy of 4. The form number if applicable: Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland
the collection of information and related NRC Form 781 and 782. 20852. The OMB clearance request are
instructions may be obtained without 5. How often the collection is required available at the NRC’s Web site: http://
charge by contacting NRC’s Clearance or requested: Provisions for this www.nrc.gov/public-involve/doc-
Officer, David Cullison, Office of the collection are covered in § 4.331 of title comment/omb/. The document will be
Chief Information Officer, U.S. Nuclear 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations available on the NRC’s home page site
Regulatory Commission, Washington, (10 CFR) Compliance Reviews, which for 60 days after the signature date of
DC 20555–0001; telephone: 301–415– indicates that the NRC may conduct this notice.
2084; email: INFOCOLLECTS.Resource@ compliance reviews and Pre-Award
reviews of recipients or use other III. Specific Requests for Comments
NRC.GOV.
similar procedures that will permit it to The NRC is seeking comments that
B. Submitting Comments investigate and correct violations of the address the following questions:
Please include Docket ID NRC–2017– act and these regulations. The NRC may 1. Is the proposed collection of
0133 in the subject line of your conduct these reviews even in absence information necessary for the NRC to
comment submission, in order to ensure of a complaint against a recipient. The properly perform its functions? Does the
that the NRC is able to make your reviews may be as comprehensive as information have practical utility?
comment submission available to the necessary to determine whether a 2. Is the estimate of the burden of the
public in this docket. violation of these regulations has information collection accurate?
The NRC cautions you not to include occurred. 3. Is there a way to enhance the
identifying or contact information that 6. Who will be required or asked to quality, utility, and clarity of the
you do not want to be publicly respond: Recipients of Federal Financial information to be collected?
Assistance provided by the NRC 4. How can the burden of the
disclosed in your comment submission.
(including Educational Institutions, information collection on respondents
The NRC posts all comment
Other Nonprofit Organizations receiving be minimized, including the use of
submissions at http://
Federal Assistance, and Agreement automated collection techniques or
www.regulations.gov as well as entering
States). other forms of information technology?
the comment submissions into ADAMS.
7. The estimated number of annual Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 6th day
The NRC does not routinely edit
responses: 600. of May 2017.
comment submissions to remove 8. The estimated number of annual
identifying or contact information. For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
respondents: 200. David Cullison,
If you are requesting or aggregating 9. An estimate of the total number of
comments from other persons for NRC Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief
hours needed annually to comply with
submission to the NRC, then you should Information Officer.
the information collection requirement
inform those persons not to include [FR Doc. 2017–12333 Filed 6–13–17; 8:45 am]
or request: 3,600 (3,000 hrs for reporting
identifying or contact information that (5 hrs per respondent) and 600 hrs for BILLING CODE 7590–01–P
they do not want to be publicly recordkeeping (3 hrs per recordkeeper).
disclosed in their comment submission. 10. Abstract: The regulations under 10
Your request should state that the NRC CFR part 4 implement the provisions of NUCLEAR REGULATORY
does not routinely edit comment the Title VI of the Civil Rights of 1964, COMMISSION
submissions to remove such information Public Law 88–352; (78 Stat. 241; 42 [Docket Nos. 52–025 and 52–026; NRC–
before making the comment U.S.C. 2000a note), Title IV of the 2008–0252]
submissions available to the public or Energy Reorganization Act of 1974,
entering the comment submissions into Public Law 93–438, (88 stat. 1233; 42 Southern Nuclear Operating Company;
ADAMS. U.S.C. 580 note), which relate to Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Units
nondiscrimination with respect to race, 3 and 4; Boric Acid Storage Tank
II. Background Changes
color, national origin or sex in any
Under the provisions of the program or activity receiving Federal AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 financial assistance from NRC; Section Commission.
U.S.C. Chapter 35), the NRC recently 504 or the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as ACTION: Exemption and combined
submitted a request for renewal of an amended, Public Law 93–112 (87 Stat.
existing collection of information to license amendment; issuance.
355; 29 U.S.C. 701 note), Public Law
OMB for review entitled, ‘‘10 CFR part 95–602 (92 Stat. 2955; 29 U.S.C. 701 SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
4, Nondiscrimination in Federally note, which relates to Commission (NRC) is granting an
Assisted Commission Programs.’’ The nondiscrimination with respect to exemption to allow a departure from the
NRC hereby informs potential disability in any program or activity certification information of Tier 1 of the
respondents that an agency may not receiving Federal financial assistance; generic design control document (DCD)
conduct or sponsor, and that a person is and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and is issuing License Amendment Nos.
not required to respond to, a collection as amended, Public Law 94–135 (89 78 and 77 to Combined Licenses (COLs),
of information unless it displays a Stat. 713; 42 U.S.C. 3001 note), Public NPF–91 and NPF–92 for the Vogtle
currently valid OMB control number. Law 95–478 (92 Stat. 1513; 42 U.S.C. Electric Generating Plant (VEGP) Units
The NRC published a Federal 3001 note), which relates to 3 and 4, respectively. The COLs were
Register notice with a 60-day comment nondiscrimination on the basis of age in issued to Southern Nuclear Operating
mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES

period on this information collection. any program or activity receiving Company (SNC), and Georgia Power
1. The title of the information Federal financial assistance. The public Company, Oglethorpe Power
collection: ‘‘Nondiscrimination in may examine, and have copied for a fee, Corporation, MEAG Power SPVM, LLC,
Federally Assisted Commission publicly-available documents, including MEAG Power SPVJ, LLC, MEAG Power
Programs.’’ the final supporting statement at the SPVP, LLC, Authority of Georgia, and
2. OMB approval number: 3150–0053. NRC’s Public Document Room, Room the City of Dalton, Georgia (the licensee)
3. Type of submission: Extension. O–1F21, One White Flint North, 11555 for construction and operation of the

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Document Created: 2017-06-14 01:24:05
Document Modified: 2017-06-14 01:24:05

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 and amendment were issued on May 25, 2017.
Contact		Chandu Patel, Office of New Reactors, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-3025; email: [email protected]
FR Citation		82 FR 27292