82 FR 58224 - Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc., Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Units 3 and 4; Addition of New Turbine Building Sump Pumps

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 236 (December 11, 2017)

Page Range		58224-58225
FR Document		2017-26602

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is granting an exemption to allow a departure from elements of the certification information of Tier 1 of the generic AP1000 design control document (DCD) and is issuing License Amendment Nos. 96 and 95 to Combined Licenses (COL), NPF-91 and NPF-92, respectively. The COLs were issued to Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc. (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 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 236 (Monday, December 11, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 236 (Monday, December 11, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58224-58225]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-26602]


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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; Addition of New Turbine Building Sump 
Pumps

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 elements of the certification 
information of Tier 1 of the generic AP1000 design control document 
(DCD) and is issuing License Amendment Nos. 96 and 95 to Combined 
Licenses (COL), NPF-91 and NPF-92, respectively. The COLs were issued 
to Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc. (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 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 November 6, 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 December 22, 2015, as revised by letters dated July 27, 
2016, May 19, 2017, and the response to the staff's request for 
additional information dated August 31, 2017, (ADAMS Accession Nos. 
ML15356A655, ML16209A477, ML17139D394, and ML17243A459, respectively), 
titled, ``Addition of Two Turbine Building Sump Pumps,'' and designated 
License Amendment Request (LAR) 15-019.
     NRC's PDR: You may examine and purchase copies of public 
documents at the NRC's PDR, Room O1-F21, One White Flint North, 11555 
Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Gleaves, Office of New 
Reactors, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-
0001; telephone: 301-415-5848; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Introduction

    The NRC is 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. 96 and 95 to COLs, NPF-91 
and NPF-92, respectively, to the licensee. The exemption is required by 
paragraph A.4 of section III, ``Processes for Changes and Departures,'' 
appendix D, to 10 CFR part 52 to allow the licensee to depart from Tier 
1 information. With the requested amendment, the licensee sought 
proposed changes to the Updated Final Safety Analysis Report (UFSAR) in 
the form of departures from the incorporated plant-specific DCD Tier 2 
information and involves changes to COL Appendix C and COL Appendix A, 
Technical Specifications. The proposed changes revise the licensing 
basis documents to depart from COL Appendix C information (with 
corresponding changes to the associated plant-specific Tier 1 
information) and associated changes to Tier 2 information in the VEGP 
UFSAR. The proposed

[[Page 58225]]

changes were to accommodate increased flow to the turbine building main 
sumps during condensate polishing system rinsing operations. SNC also 
requested related exemptions from the Commission's regulations.
    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. ML17272A280.
    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. ML17272A278 and 
ML17272A279, 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. ML17272A275 and 
ML17272A276, 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 December 22, 2015, as revised by letters dated 
July 27, 2016, May 19, 2017, and the response to the staff's request 
for additional information dated August 31, 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 DCD incorporated by reference in 10 CFR part 52, 
appendix D, ``Design Certification Rule for the AP1000 Design,'' as 
part of LAR 15-019, ``Addition of New Turbine Building Sump Pumps.''
    For the reasons set forth in Section 3.1 of the NRC staff's safety 
evaluation, which can be found at ADAMS Accession No. ML17272A280, 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 
request dated December 22, 2015, as revised by letters dated July 27, 
2016, May 19, 2017, and the response to the staff's request for 
additional information dated August 31, 2017. This exemption is related 
to, and necessary for, the granting of License Amendment Nos. 96 and 
95, 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. ML17272A280, this exemption meets the eligibility 
criteria for categorical exclusion set forth in 10 CFR 51.22(c)(9). 
Therefore, pursuant to 10 CFR 51.22(b), no environmental impact 
statement or environmental assessment needs to be prepared in 
connection with the issuance of the exemption.
    4. This exemption is effective as of the date of its issuance.

III. License Amendment Request

    By letter dated December 22, 2015, as revised by letters dated July 
27, 2016, May 19, 2017, and the response to the staff's request for 
additional information dated August 31, 2017 (ADAMS Accession Nos. 
ML15356A655, ML16209A477, ML17139D394, and ML17243A459, respectively), 
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 
July 5, 2017 (82 FR 31089). 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 December 22, 2015, as revised by letters dated July 27, 
2016, May 19, 2017, and the response to the staff's request for 
additional information dated August 31, 2017.
    The exemption and amendment were issued on November 6, 2017, as 
part of a combined package to the licensee (ADAMS Accession No. 
ML17272A272).

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 6th day of December 2017.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Jennifer L. Dixon-Herrity,
Chief, Licensing Branch 4, Division of New Reactor Licensing, Office of 
New Reactors.
[FR Doc. 2017-26602 Filed 12-8-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7590-01-P

Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 236 / Monday, December 11, 2017 / Notices 58225

changes were to accommodate increased For the reasons set forth in Section 3.1 Commission’s rules and regulations.
flow to the turbine building main sumps of the NRC staff’s safety evaluation, The Commission has made appropriate
during condensate polishing system which can be found at ADAMS findings as required by the Act and the
rinsing operations. SNC also requested Accession No. ML17272A280, the Commission’s rules and regulations in
related exemptions from the Commission finds that: 10 CFR Chapter I, which are set forth in
Commission’s regulations. A. The exemption is authorized by the license amendment.
Part of the justification for granting law; A notice of consideration of issuance
the exemption was provided by the B. the exemption presents no undue of amendment to facility operating
review of the amendment. Because the risk to public health and safety; license or COL, as applicable, proposed
exemption is necessary in order to issue C. the exemption is consistent with no significant hazards consideration
the requested license amendment, the the common defense and security; determination, and opportunity for a
NRC granted the exemption and issued D. special circumstances are present hearing in connection with these
the amendment concurrently, rather in that the application of the rule in this actions, was published in the Federal
than in sequence. This included issuing circumstance is not necessary to serve Register on July 5, 2017 (82 FR 31089).
a combined safety evaluation containing the underlying purpose of the rule; No comments were received during the
the NRC staff’s review of both the E. the special circumstances outweigh 30-day comment period.
exemption request and the license any decrease in safety that may result The Commission has determined that
amendment. The exemption met all from the reduction in standardization these amendments satisfy the criteria for
applicable regulatory criteria set forth in caused by the exemption; and categorical exclusion in accordance
§§ 50.12, 52.7, and section VIII.A.4 of F. the exemption will not result in a with 10 CFR 51.22. Therefore, pursuant
appendix D to 10 CFR part 52. The significant decrease in the level of safety to 10 CFR 51.22(b), no environmental
license amendment was found to be otherwise provided by the design. impact statement or environmental
acceptable as well. The combined safety 2. Accordingly, the licensee is granted assessment need be prepared for these
evaluation is available in ADAMS under an exemption from the certified DCD amendments.
Accession No. ML17272A280. Tier 1 information, with corresponding
Identical exemption documents changes to Appendix C of the Facility IV. Conclusion
(except for referenced unit numbers and Combined Licenses as described in the Using the reasons set forth in the
license numbers) were issued to the request dated December 22, 2015, as combined safety evaluation, the staff
licensee for VEGP Units 3 and 4 (COLs revised by letters dated July 27, 2016, granted the exemption and issued the
NPF–91 and NPF–92). The exemption May 19, 2017, and the response to the amendment that the licensee requested
documents for VEGP Units 3 and 4 can staff’s request for additional information on December 22, 2015, as revised by
be found in ADAMS under Accession dated August 31, 2017. This exemption letters dated July 27, 2016, May 19,
Nos. ML17272A278 and ML17272A279, is related to, and necessary for, the 2017, and the response to the staff’s
respectively. The exemption is granting of License Amendment Nos. 96 request for additional information dated
reproduced (with the exception of and 95, which is being issued August 31, 2017.
abbreviated titles and additional concurrently with this exemption. The exemption and amendment were
citations) in Section II of this document. 3. As explained in Section 6.0 of the issued on November 6, 2017, as part of
The amendment documents for COLs NRC staff’s Safety Evaluation (ADAMS a combined package to the licensee
NPF–91 and NPF–92 are available in Accession No. ML17272A280, this (ADAMS Accession No. ML17272A272).
ADAMS under Accession Nos. exemption meets the eligibility criteria Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 6th day
ML17272A275 and ML17272A276, for categorical exclusion set forth in 10 of December 2017.
respectively. A summary of the CFR 51.22(c)(9). Therefore, pursuant to For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
amendment documents is provided in 10 CFR 51.22(b), no environmental Jennifer L. Dixon-Herrity,
Section III of this document. impact statement or environmental
Chief, Licensing Branch 4, Division of New
assessment needs to be prepared in Reactor Licensing, Office of New Reactors.
II. Exemption
connection with the issuance of the
Reproduced below is the exemption [FR Doc. 2017–26602 Filed 12–8–17; 8:45 am]
exemption.
document issued to VEGP Units 3 and 4. This exemption is effective as of the BILLING CODE 7590–01–P

Unit 4. It makes reference to the date of its issuance.
combined safety evaluation that
provides the reasoning for the findings III. License Amendment Request OFFICE OF PERSONNEL
made by the NRC (and listed under Item By letter dated December 22, 2015, as MANAGEMENT
1) in order to grant the exemption: revised by letters dated July 27, 2016,
1. In a letter dated December 22, 2015, May 19, 2017, and the response to the Submission for Review: Survivor
as revised by letters dated July 27, 2016, staff’s request for additional information Annuity Election for a Spouse, RI 20–
May 19, 2017, and the response to the dated August 31, 2017 (ADAMS 63; Cover Letter Giving Information
staff’s request for additional information Accession Nos. ML15356A655, About the Cost To Elect Less Than the
dated August 31, 2017, Southern ML16209A477, ML17139D394, and Maximum Survivor Annuity, RI 20–116;
Nuclear Operating Company requested ML17243A459, respectively), the Cover Letter Giving Information About
from the Nuclear Regulatory licensee requested that the NRC amend the Cost To Elect the Maximum
Commission (NRC or Commission) an the COLs for VEGP, Units 3 and 4, COLs Survivor Annuity, RI 20–117
exemption to allow departures from Tier NPF–91 and NPF–92. The proposed AGENCY: Office of Personnel
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES

1 information in the certified DCD amendment is described in Section I of Management.
incorporated by reference in 10 CFR this Federal Register notice. ACTION: 30-Day notice and request for
part 52, appendix D, ‘‘Design The Commission has determined for comments.
Certification Rule for the AP1000 these amendments that the application
Design,’’ as part of LAR 15–019, complies with the standards and SUMMARY: The Retirement Services,
‘‘Addition of New Turbine Building requirements of the Atomic Energy Act Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
Sump Pumps.’’ of 1954, as amended (the Act), and the offers the general public and other

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Document Created: 2017-12-09 01:50:00
Document Modified: 2017-12-09 01:50:00

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 November 6, 2017.
Contact		William Gleaves, Office of New Reactors, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555- 0001; telephone: 301-415-5848; email: [email protected]
FR Citation		82 FR 58224