82_FR_46736 82 FR 46544 - Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc., Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Units 3 and 4; Standardization of Instrumentation Setpoint Nomenclature

82 FR 46544 - Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc., Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Units 3 and 4; Standardization of Instrumentation Setpoint Nomenclature

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 192 (October 5, 2017)

Page Range46544-46545
FR Document2017-21496

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. 87 and 86 to Combined Licenses (COL), NPF-91 and NPF-92, respectively. 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 192 (Thursday, October 5, 2017) 
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 192 (Thursday, October 5, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46544-46545]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-21496]


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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; Standardization of Instrumentation 
Setpoint Nomenclature

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. 87 and 86 to Combined Licenses (COL), NPF-91 and 
NPF-92, respectively. 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 September 22, 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 February 24, 2017, as supplemented by letter dated August 
7, 2017 (ADAMS Accession Nos. ML17055C352 and ML17219A185, 
respectively).
     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. 87 and 86 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,'' 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

[[Page 46545]]

Final Safety Analysis Report (UFSAR) in the form of departures from the 
plant-specific Design Control Document (DCD) Tier 2 information, and 
involves changes to related plant-specific DCD Tier 1 information, with 
corresponding changes to the associated COL Appendix C information. In 
addition, revisions are proposed to COL Appendix A, Technical 
Specifications. The proposed changes revise the COLs concerning 
standardizing the Protection and Safety Monitoring System (PMS) 
setpoint nomenclature. No changes were proposed to setpoint values or 
PMS alarms and actuations.
    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. ML17233A122.
    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. ML17233A110 and 
ML17233A111, 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. ML17233A105 and 
ML17233A106, 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 February 24, 2017, as supplemented by letter 
dated August 7, 2017, 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 17-004, ``Standardization of Instrumentation 
Setpoint Nomenclature.''
    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. 
ML17233A122, 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 License, as described in the 
licensee's request dated February 24, 2017, as supplemented by letter 
dated August 7, 2017. This exemption is related to, and necessary for 
the granting of License Amendment Nos. 87 (Unit 3) and 86 (Unit 4), 
which is being issued concurrently with this exemption.
    3. As explained in Section 6.0 of the NRC staff's Safety Evaluation 
(ADAMS Accession No. ML17233A122), 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 February 24, 2017 (ADAMS Accession No. 
ML17055C352), as supplemented by letter dated August 7, 2017 (ADAMS 
Accession No. ML17219A185), 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 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 
April 25, 2017 (82 FR 19104). 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 February 24, 2017, as supplemented by letter dated August 
7, 2017.
    The exemption and amendment were issued on September 22, 2017, as 
part of a combined package to the licensee (ADAMS Accession No. 
ML17233A104).

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 28th day of September 2017.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Jennifer Dixon-Herrity,
Chief, Licensing Branch 4, Division of New Reactor Licensing, Office of 
New Reactors.
[FR Doc. 2017-21496 Filed 10-4-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7590-01-P

46544 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 192 / Thursday, October 5, 2017 / Notices submission. Your request should state this part also establish the rights and You may obtain publicly-available that the NRC does not routinely edit responsibilities of the Commission and information related to this document comment submissions to remove such individuals during interviews using any of the following methods: information before making the comment compelled by subpoena as part of • Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to submissions available to the public or agency’s inspections or investigations http://www.regulations.gov and search entering the comment submissions into under Section 161c of the Atomic for Docket ID NRC–2008–0252. Address ADAMS. Energy Act of 1954, as amended, on any questions about NRC dockets to Carol matter within the Commission’s Gallagher; telephone: 301–415–3463; II. Background email: Carol.Gallagher@nrc.gov. For jurisdiction. Under the provisions of the technical questions, contact the Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 28th day Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 of September , 2017. individual listed in the FOR FURTHER U.S.C. Chapter 35), the NRC recently For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. INFORMATION CONTACT section of this submitted a request for renewal of an document. David Cullison, existing collection of information to • NRC’s Agencywide Documents OMB for review entitled, ‘‘Notices, NRC Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Access and Management System Information Officer. Instructions and Reports to Workers: (ADAMS): You may obtain publicly- [FR Doc. 2017–21418 Filed 10–4–17; 8:45 am] Inspection and Investigations.’’ The available documents online in the NRC hereby informs potential BILLING CODE 7590–01–P ADAMS Public Documents collection at respondents that an agency may not http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/ conduct or sponsor, and that a person is adams.html. To begin the search, select not required to respond to, a collection NUCLEAR REGULATORY ‘‘ADAMS Public Documents’’ and then of information unless it displays a COMMISSION select ‘‘Begin Web-based ADAMS currently valid OMB control number. [Docket Nos. 52–025 and 52–026; NRC– Search.’’ For problems with ADAMS, The NRC published a Federal 2008–0252] please contact the NRC’s Public Register notice with a 60-day comment Document Room (PDR) reference staff at period on this information collection on Southern Nuclear Operating Company, 1–800–397–4209, 301–415–4737, or by June 21, 2017 (82 FR 28360). Inc., Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, email to pdr.resource@nrc.gov. The 1. The title of the information Units 3 and 4; Standardization of ADAMS accession number for each collection: 10 CFR part 19, ‘‘Notices, Instrumentation Setpoint document referenced (if it is available in Instructions and Reports to Workers: Nomenclature ADAMS) is provided the first time that Inspection and Investigations.’’ AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory it is mentioned in this document. The 2. OMB approval number: 3150–0044. Commission. request for the amendment and 3. Type of submission: Extension. exemption was submitted by letter 4. The form number if applicable: N/ ACTION: Exemption and combined license amendment; issuance. dated February 24, 2017, as A. supplemented by letter dated August 7, 5. How often the collection is required SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory 2017 (ADAMS Accession Nos. or requested: As necessary in order that Commission (NRC) is granting an ML17055C352 and ML17219A185, adequate and timely reports of radiation exemption to allow a departure from the respectively). exposure be made to individuals certification information of Tier 1 of the • NRC’s PDR: You may examine and involved in applicable NRC-licensed generic design control document (DCD) purchase copies of public documents at activities. and is issuing License Amendment Nos. the NRC’s PDR, Room O1–F21, One 6. Who will be required or asked to 87 and 86 to Combined Licenses (COL), White Flint North, 11555 Rockville respond: Licensees authorized to NPF–91 and NPF–92, respectively. The Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852. receive, possess, use, or transfer COLs were issued to Southern Nuclear FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: material licensed by the NRC. Operating Company, Inc., and Georgia 7. The estimated number of annual Chandu Patel, Office of New Reactors, Power Company, Oglethorpe Power U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, responses: 20,300. Corporation, MEAG Power SPVM, LLC, Washington, DC 20555–0001; telephone: 8. The estimated number of annual MEAG Power SPVJ, LLC, MEAG Power 301–415–3025; email: Chandu.Patel@ respondents: 1,401,163. 9. An estimate of the total number of SPVP, LLC, Authority of Georgia, and nrc.gov. hours needed annually to comply with the City of Dalton, Georgia (the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: the information collection requirement licensee); for construction and operation or request: 320,969. of the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant I. Introduction 10. Abstract: Part 19 of title 10 of the (VEGP) Units 3 and 4, located in Burke The NRC is granting an exemption Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), County, Georgia. from paragraph B of section III, ‘‘Scope establishes requirements for notices, The granting of the exemption allows and Contents,’’ of appendix D, ‘‘Design instructions, and reports by licensees the changes to Tier 1 information asked Certification Rule for the AP1000,’’ to and regulated entities to individuals for in the amendment. Because the part 52 of title 10 of the Code of Federal participating in NRC-licensed and acceptability of the exemption was Regulations (10 CFR), and issuing regulated activities and options determined in part by the acceptability License Amendment Nos. 87 and 86 to available to these individuals in of the amendment, the exemption and COLs, NPF–91 and NPF–92, connection with Commission amendment are being issued respectively, to the licensee. The ethrower on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES inspections of licensees and regulated concurrently. exemption is required by paragraph A.4 entities, and to ascertain compliance DATES: The exemption and amendment of section VIII, ‘‘Processes for Changes with the provisions of the Atomic were issued on September 22, 2017. and Departures,’’ appendix D, to 10 CFR Energy Act of 1954, as amended, titles ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID part 52 to allow the licensee to depart II and IV of the Energy Reorganization NRC–2008–0252 when contacting the from Tier 1 information. With the Act of 1974, and regulations, orders, and NRC about the availability of requested amendment, the licensee licenses thereunder. The regulations in information regarding this document. sought proposed changes to the Updated VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:52 Oct 04, 2017 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00069 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\05OCN1.SGM 05OCN1

Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 192 / Thursday, October 5, 2017 / Notices 46545 Final Safety Analysis Report (UFSAR) reference in 10 CFR part 52, appendix Commission’s rules and regulations. in the form of departures from the plant- D, as part of license amendment request The Commission has made appropriate specific Design Control Document 17–004, ‘‘Standardization of findings as required by the Act and the (DCD) Tier 2 information, and involves Instrumentation Setpoint Commission’s rules and regulations in changes to related plant-specific DCD Nomenclature.’’ 10 CFR Chapter I, which are set forth in Tier 1 information, with corresponding For the reasons set forth in Section 3.1 the license amendment. changes to the associated COL of the NRC staff’s Safety Evaluation, A notice of consideration of issuance Appendix C information. In addition, which can be found in ADAMS under of amendment to facility operating revisions are proposed to COL Accession No. ML17233A122, the license or COL, as applicable, proposed Appendix A, Technical Specifications. Commission finds that: no significant hazards consideration The proposed changes revise the COLs A. The exemption is authorized by determination, and opportunity for a concerning standardizing the Protection law; hearing in connection with these and Safety Monitoring System (PMS) B. the exemption presents no undue actions, was published in the Federal setpoint nomenclature. No changes were risk to public health and safety; Register on April 25, 2017 (82 FR proposed to setpoint values or PMS C. the exemption is consistent with 19104). No comments were received alarms and actuations. the common defense and security; during the 30-day comment period. Part of the justification for granting D. special circumstances are present The Commission has determined that the exemption was provided by the in that the application of the rule in this these amendments satisfy the criteria for review of the amendment. Because the circumstance is not necessary to serve categorical exclusion in accordance exemption is necessary in order to issue the underlying purpose of the rule; with 10 CFR 51.22. Therefore, pursuant the requested license amendment, the E. the special circumstances outweigh to 10 CFR 51.22(b), no environmental NRC granted the exemption and issued any decrease in safety that may result impact statement or environmental the amendment concurrently, rather from the reduction in standardization assessment need be prepared for these than in sequence. This included issuing caused by the exemption; and amendments. a combined safety evaluation containing F. the exemption will not result in a the NRC staff’s review of both the significant decrease in the level of safety IV. Conclusion exemption request and the license otherwise provided by the design. Using the reasons set forth in the amendment. The exemption met all 2. Accordingly, the licensee is granted combined safety evaluation, the staff applicable regulatory criteria set forth in an exemption from the certified DCD granted the exemption and issued the §§ 50.12, 52.7, and section VIII.A.4 of Tier 1 information, with corresponding amendment that the licensee requested appendix D to 10 CFR part 52. The changes to Appendix C of the Facility on February 24, 2017, as supplemented license amendment was found to be Combined License, as described in the by letter dated August 7, 2017. acceptable as well. The combined safety licensee’s request dated February 24, The exemption and amendment were evaluation is available in ADAMS under 2017, as supplemented by letter dated issued on September 22, 2017, as part of Accession No. ML17233A122. August 7, 2017. This exemption is a combined package to the licensee Identical exemption documents related to, and necessary for the granting (ADAMS Accession No. ML17233A104). (except for referenced unit numbers and of License Amendment Nos. 87 (Unit 3) Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 28th day license numbers) were issued to the and 86 (Unit 4), which is being issued of September 2017. licensee for VEGP Units 3 and 4 (COLs concurrently with this exemption. For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. NPF–91 and NPF–92). The exemption 3. As explained in Section 6.0 of the documents for VEGP Units 3 and 4 can NRC staff’s Safety Evaluation (ADAMS Jennifer Dixon-Herrity, be found in ADAMS under Accession Accession No. ML17233A122), this Chief, Licensing Branch 4, Division of New Nos. ML17233A110 and ML17233A111, exemption meets the eligibility criteria Reactor Licensing, Office of New Reactors. respectively. The exemption is for categorical exclusion set forth in 10 [FR Doc. 2017–21496 Filed 10–4–17; 8:45 am] reproduced (with the exception of CFR 51.22(c)(9). Therefore, pursuant to BILLING CODE 7590–01–P abbreviated titles and additional 10 CFR 51.22(b), no environmental citations) in Section II of this document. impact statement or environmental The amendment documents for COLs assessment needs to be prepared in POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION NPF–91 and NPF–92 are available in connection with the issuance of the [Docket Nos. MC2017–213 and CP2017–321; ADAMS under Accession Nos. exemption. MC2017–214 and CP2017–322] ML17233A105 and ML17233A106, 4. This exemption is effective as of the respectively. A summary of the date of its issuance. New Postal Products amendment documents is provided in III. License Amendment Request Section III of this document. AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission. By letter dated February 24, 2017 ACTION: Notice. II. Exemption (ADAMS Accession No. ML17055C352), Reproduced below is the exemption as supplemented by letter dated August SUMMARY: The Commission is noticing a document issued to VEGP Units 3 and 7, 2017 (ADAMS Accession No. recent Postal Service filing for the Unit 4. It makes reference to the ML17219A185), the licensee requested Commission’s consideration concerning combined safety evaluation that that the NRC amend the COLs for VEGP, a negotiated service agreement. This provides the reasoning for the findings Units 3 and 4, COLs NPF–91 and NPF– notice informs the public of the filing, made by the NRC (and listed under Item 92. The proposed amendment is invites public comment, and takes other ethrower on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES 1) in order to grant the exemption: described in Section I of this Federal administrative steps. 1. In a letter dated February 24, 2017, Register notice. DATES: Comments are due: October 10, as supplemented by letter dated August The Commission has determined for 2017. 7, 2017, the licensee requested from the these amendments that the application ADDRESSES: Submit comments Commission an exemption to allow complies with the standards and electronically via the Commission’s departures from Tier 1 information in requirements of the Atomic Energy Act Filing Online system at http:// the certified DCD incorporated by of 1954, as amended (the Act), and the www.prc.gov. Those who cannot submit VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:52 Oct 04, 2017 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00070 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\05OCN1.SGM 05OCN1


Document Created: 2017-10-05 00:53:48
Document Modified: 2017-10-05 00:53:48
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 September 22, 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 46544 
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