82 FR 57010 - Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc., Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Units 3 and 4; Consistency Update to the Raceway Separation Requirements in the Main Control Room and Remote Shutdown Room

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 230 (December 1, 2017)

Page Range		57010-57012
FR Document		2017-25867

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. 88 and 87 to Combined Licenses (COL), 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, 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 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 230 (Friday, December 1, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 230 (Friday, December 1, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57010-57012]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-25867]


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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; Consistency Update to the Raceway 
Separation Requirements in the Main Control Room and Remote Shutdown 
Room

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. 88 and 87 to Combined Licenses (COL), 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, 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 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 27, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2008-0252 when contacting the 
NRC about the availability of information regarding this document. You 
may access information related to this document, which the NRC 
possesses and is publicly-available, 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 March 8, 2017 (ADAMS Accession No. ML17067A517).
     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 (Billy) 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 granting an exemption from paragraph B of section III, 
``Scope and Contents,'' of appendix D, ``Design Certification Rule for 
the AP1000,'' to

[[Page 57011]]

part 52 of title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), and 
issuing License Amendment Nos. 88 and 87 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. The amendment authorizes changes to the VEGP Units 3 and 
4 Updated Final Safety Analysis Report in the form of departures from 
the generic AP1000 DCD in the plant-specific DCD Tier 2 information.
    With the requested amendment, dated March 8, 2017, (ADAMS Accession 
No. ML17067A517), Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc., (SNC/
licensee) requested that the NRC amend the COL for VEGP Units 3 and 4, 
COL Numbers NPF-91 and NPF-92, respectively. The amendment requested 
changes to the VEGP COL appendix C, Table 3.3-6 (and associated plant-
specific Tier 1 table) to capture additional raceway separation 
configurations for the Main Control Room and Remote Shutdown Room as 
discussed in the VEGP Updated Final Safety Analysis Report. In addition 
to those changes, the licensee proposed editorial changes to improve 
the readability of the text by deleting one particular extraneous 
period that appears only in the plant-specific Tier 1 Table 3.3-6 and 
the word ``except'' in certain parts of the COL Appendix C Table 3.3-6 
(and associated plant-specific Tier 1 table).
    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. 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. This included issuing a combined safety evaluation 
containing the NRC staff's review of both the exemption request and the 
license amendment. The license amendment was found to be acceptable as 
well. The safety evaluation is available in ADAMS under Accession No. 
ML17206A414.
    Identical exemption documents (except for referenced unit numbers, 
license numbers and amendment 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. 
ML17206A416 and ML17206A415, 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. ML17206A418 and 
ML17206A417, 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 Unit 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 March 8, 2017, Southern Nuclear Operating 
Company requested from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or 
Commission) an exemption to allow departures from Tier 1 information in 
the certified Design Control Document (DCD) incorporated by reference 
in 10 CFR part 52, appendix D, ``Design Certification Rule for the 
AP1000 Design,'' as part of license amendment request (LAR) 17-007, 
``Consistency Update to the Raceway Separation Requirements in the Main 
Control Room and Remote Shutdown Room.''
    For the reasons set forth in Section 3.1 of the NRC staff's safety 
evaluation, which can be found at ADAMS Accession No. ML17206A414, 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 March 8, 2017. This exemption is related to, 
and necessary for, the granting of License Amendment [Nos. 88 and 87 
for Units 3 and 4, respectively], 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. ML17206A414), 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 March 8, 2017, (ADAMS Accession No. ML17067A517), 
Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc., (SNC/licensee) requested that 
the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) amend the combined 
licenses (COL) for Vogtle Electric Generating Plant (VEGP) Units 3 and 
4, COL Numbers NPF-91 and NPF-92, respectively. 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 19105). 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 by letter dated March 8, 2017. The exemption and amendment 
were issued on September 27, 2017, as part of a combined package to the 
licensee (ADAMS Accession No. ML17206A413).

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 27th day of November 2017.


[[Page 57012]]


    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Jennifer Dixon-Herrity,
Chief, Licensing Branch 4, Division of New Reactor Licensing, Office of 
New Reactors.
[FR Doc. 2017-25867 Filed 11-30-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7590-01-P

Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 230 / Friday, December 1, 2017 / Notices 57011

part 52 of title 10 of the Code of Federal respectively. The exemption is 3. As explained in Section 6.0 of the
Regulations (10 CFR), and issuing reproduced (with the exception of NRC staff’s Safety Evaluation (ADAMS
License Amendment Nos. 88 and 87 to abbreviated titles and additional Accession No. ML17206A414), this
COLs, NPF–91 and NPF–92, citations) in Section II of this document. exemption meets the eligibility criteria
respectively, to the licensee. The The amendment documents for COLs for categorical exclusion set forth in 10
exemption is required by paragraph A.4 NPF–91 and NPF–92 are available in CFR 51.22(c)(9). Therefore, pursuant to
of section VIII, ‘‘Processes for Changes ADAMS under Accession Nos. 10 CFR 51.22(b), no environmental
and Departures,’’ of appendix D, to 10 ML17206A418 and ML17206A417, impact statement or environmental
CFR part 52 to allow the licensee to respectively. A summary of the assessment needs to be prepared in
depart from Tier 1 information. The amendment documents is provided in connection with the issuance of the
amendment authorizes changes to the Section III of this document. exemption.
VEGP Units 3 and 4 Updated Final 4. This exemption is effective as of the
Safety Analysis Report in the form of II. Exemption date of its issuance.
departures from the generic AP1000 Reproduced below is the exemption
III. License Amendment Request
DCD in the plant-specific DCD Tier 2 document issued to VEGP Unit 3 and
information. Unit 4. It makes reference to the By letter dated March 8, 2017,
With the requested amendment, dated combined safety evaluation that (ADAMS Accession No. ML17067A517),
March 8, 2017, (ADAMS Accession No. provides the reasoning for the findings Southern Nuclear Operating Company,
ML17067A517), Southern Nuclear made by the NRC (and listed under Item Inc., (SNC/licensee) requested that the
Operating Company, Inc., (SNC/ 1) in order to grant the exemption: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
licensee) requested that the NRC amend 1. In a letter dated March 8, 2017, (NRC) amend the combined licenses
the COL for VEGP Units 3 and 4, COL Southern Nuclear Operating Company (COL) for Vogtle Electric Generating
Numbers NPF–91 and NPF–92, requested from the Nuclear Regulatory Plant (VEGP) Units 3 and 4, COL
respectively. The amendment requested Commission (NRC or Commission) an Numbers NPF–91 and NPF–92,
changes to the VEGP COL appendix C, exemption to allow departures from Tier respectively. The proposed amendment
Table 3.3–6 (and associated plant- 1 information in the certified Design is described in Section I of this Federal
specific Tier 1 table) to capture Control Document (DCD) incorporated Register notice.
additional raceway separation by reference in 10 CFR part 52, The Commission has determined for
configurations for the Main Control appendix D, ‘‘Design Certification Rule these amendments that the application
Room and Remote Shutdown Room as for the AP1000 Design,’’ as part of complies with the standards and
discussed in the VEGP Updated Final license amendment request (LAR) 17– requirements of the Atomic Energy Act
Safety Analysis Report. In addition to 007, ‘‘Consistency Update to the of 1954, as amended (the Act), and the
those changes, the licensee proposed Raceway Separation Requirements in Commission’s rules and regulations.
editorial changes to improve the the Main Control Room and Remote The Commission has made appropriate
readability of the text by deleting one Shutdown Room.’’ findings as required by the Act and the
particular extraneous period that For the reasons set forth in Section 3.1 Commission’s rules and regulations in
appears only in the plant-specific Tier 1 of the NRC staff’s safety evaluation, 10 CFR Chapter I, which are set forth in
Table 3.3–6 and the word ‘‘except’’ in which can be found at ADAMS the license amendment.
certain parts of the COL Appendix C Accession No. ML17206A414, the A notice of consideration of issuance
Table 3.3–6 (and associated plant- Commission finds that: of amendment to facility operating
specific Tier 1 table). A. The exemption is authorized by license or COL, as applicable, proposed
Part of the justification for granting law; no significant hazards consideration
the exemption was provided by the B. the exemption presents no undue determination, and opportunity for a
review of the amendment. Because the risk to public health and safety; hearing in connection with these
exemption is necessary in order to issue C. the exemption is consistent with actions, was published in the Federal
the requested license amendment, the the common defense and security; Register on April 25, 2017 (82 FR
NRC granted the exemption and issued D. special circumstances are present 19105). No comments were received
the amendment concurrently, rather in that the application of the rule in this during the 30-day comment period.
than in sequence. The exemption met circumstance is not necessary to serve The Commission has determined that
all applicable regulatory criteria set the underlying purpose of the rule; these amendments satisfy the criteria for
forth in §§ 50.12, 52.7, and Section E. the special circumstances outweigh categorical exclusion in accordance
VIII.A.4 of appendix D to 10 CFR part any decrease in safety that may result with 10 CFR 51.22. Therefore, pursuant
52. This included issuing a combined from the reduction in standardization to 10 CFR 51.22(b), no environmental
safety evaluation containing the NRC caused by the exemption; and impact statement or environmental
staff’s review of both the exemption F. the exemption will not result in a assessment need be prepared for these
request and the license amendment. The significant decrease in the level of safety amendments.
license amendment was found to be otherwise provided by the design. IV. Conclusion
acceptable as well. The safety 2. Accordingly, the licensee is granted
evaluation is available in ADAMS under an exemption from the certified DCD Using the reasons set forth in the
Accession No. ML17206A414. Tier 1 information, with corresponding combined safety evaluation, the staff
Identical exemption documents changes to Appendix C of the Facility granted the exemption and issued the
(except for referenced unit numbers, Combined Licenses as described in the amendment that the licensee requested
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES

license numbers and amendment licensee’s request dated March 8, 2017. by letter dated March 8, 2017. The
numbers) were issued to the licensee for This exemption is related to, and exemption and amendment were issued
VEGP Units 3 and 4 (COLs NPF–91 and necessary for, the granting of License on September 27, 2017, as part of a
NPF–92). The exemption documents for Amendment [Nos. 88 and 87 for Units combined package to the licensee
VEGP Units 3 and 4 can be found in 3 and 4, respectively], which is being (ADAMS Accession No. ML17206A413).
ADAMS under Accession Nos. issued concurrently with this Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 27th day
ML17206A416 and ML17206A415, exemption. of November 2017.

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Document Created: 2018-10-25 10:46:16
Document Modified: 2018-10-25 10:46:16

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 September 27, 2017.
Contact		William (Billy) Gleaves, Office of New Reactors, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555- 0001; telephone: 301-415-5848; email: [email protected]
FR Citation		82 FR 57010