[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 53 (Friday, March 18, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-6407]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: March 18, 1994]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50-261]

 

Carolina Power & Light Co.; (H.B. Robinson Steam Electric Plant, 
Unit No. 2); Exemption Amendment

I

    Carolina Power & Light Company (CP&L or the licensee) is the holder 
of Facility Operating License No. DPR-23 that authorizes operation of 
the H.B. Robinson Steam Electric Plant, Unit No. 2 (HBR), at a steady-
state reactor power level not in excess of 2300 megawatts thermal. The 
facility consists of one pressurized water reactor located at the 
licensee's site in Darlington County, South Carolina. The license 
provides, among other things, that it is subject to all rules, 
regulations and Orders of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the 
Commission or NRC) now or hereafter in effect.

II

    Section 50.54(q) of 10 CFR part 50 requires a licensee authorized 
to operate a nuclear power reactor to follow and maintain in effect 
emergency plans that meet the standards of 10 CFR 50.47(b) and the 
requirements of appendix E to 10 CFR part 50. Section IV.F.2 of 
appendix E requires that each licensee annually exercise its emergency 
plan. Section IV.F.3 of appendix E requires that each licensee shall 
exercise with offsite authorities such that the State and local 
emergency plans are exercised biennially.
    The NRC may grant exemptions from the requirements of the 
regulations which, pursuant to 10 CFR 50.12(a), are (1) authorized by 
law, will not present an undue risk to the public health and safety, 
and are consistent with the common defense and security; and (2) 
present special circumstances. Special circumstances exist when the 
exemption would result in benefit to the public health and safety that 
compensates for any decrease in safety that may result from the 
granting of the exemption (see 10 CFR 50.12(a)(2)(iv)). In addition, 
special circumstances exist when the exemption would provide only 
temporary relief from the applicable regulation and the licensee has 
made a good faith effort to comply with the regulation (see 10 CFR 
50.12(a)(2)(v)).
    On December 30, 1993, the Commission granted an Exemption to the 
H.S. Robinson Steam Electric Plant, Unit No. 2, from the requirements 
of 10 CFR 50.47 and 10 CFR part 50, appendix E, section F.2, to conduct 
an annual exercise of the Emergency Plan in 1993, and authorized the 
rescheduling of the annual exercise of the HBR Emergency Plan from 
November 30, 1993, to the week of March 21, 1994.
    By letter dated February 21, 1994, the licensee requested an 
amendment to the Exemption to allow the annual emergency preparedness 
exercise to be conducted on March 30, 1994. The licensee stated that 
the schedule to conduct the exercise during the week of March 21, 1994, 
conflicted with scheduled training being conducted by the affected 
State agencies. In addition, due to the extended forced outage the 
plant is undergoing, deferral of licensed operator requalification 
training and examinations has resulted in the unavailability of the 
plant simulator, which is necessary to support the exercise during the 
week of March 21, 1994. The Commission's staff has evaluated the 
information provided by the licensee to support the amendment to the 
Exemption and finds the 3-day delay of the annual exercise is 
acceptable.
    Accordingly, the Commission has determined that, pursuant to 10 CFR 
50.12, the Exemption Amendment as requested by the licensee's letter 
dated February 21, 1994, as discussed above, is authorized by law and 
will not endanger life or property and is otherwise in the public 
interest. Furthermore, the Commission hereby grants an Exemption 
Amendment to the Exemption granted on December 30, 1993, and authorizes 
a delay until March 30, 1994, of the annual emergency preparedness 
exercise which had been scheduled for the week of March 21, 1994. The 
amendment to the Exemption is subject to modification by rule, 
regulation or Order of the Commission.
    Pursuant to 10 CFR 51.32, the Commission previously determined on 
December 28, 1993, that granting the Exemption would have no 
significant impact on the environment (59 FR 100). The Exemption 
Amendment does not alter that finding.
    This Exemption Amendment is effective upon issuance.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland this 11th day of March 1994.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Steven A. Varga,
Director, Division of Reactor Projects--I/II, Office of Nuclear Reactor 
Regulation.
[FR Doc. 94-6407 Filed 3-17-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-M