[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 10 (Tuesday, January 17, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3439-3441]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-1023]



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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50-313]


Entergy Operations, Inc.; Consideration of Issuance of Amendment 
to Facility Operating License. Proposed No Significant Hazards 
Consideration Determination, and Opportunity for a Hearing

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is 
considering issuance of an amendment to Facility Operating License No. 
DPR-51 issued to Entergy Operations, Inc. (the licensee) for operation 
of Arkansas Nuclear One, Unit 1 located in Pope County, Arkansas.
    The proposed amendment revised technical specifications to address 
the installation of two battery chargers on each vital 125 vdc power 
train in lieu of the ``swing'' battery charger that is currently used.
    Before issuance of the proposed license amendment, the Commission 
will have made findings required by the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as 
amended (the Act) and the Commission's regulations.
    The Commission has made a proposed determination that the amendment 
request involves no significant hazards consideration. Under the 
Commission's regulations in 10 CFR 50.92, this means that operation of 
the facility in accordance with the proposed amendment would not (1) 
involve a significant increase in the probability or consequences of an 
accident previously evaluated; or (2) create the possibility of a new 
or different kind of accident from any accident previously evaluated; 
or (3) involve a significant reduction in a margin of safety. As 
required by 10 CFR 50.91(a), the licensee has provided its analysis of 
the issue of no significant hazards consideration, which is presented 
below:

    Criterion 1--Does Not Involve a Significant Increase in the 
Probability or Consequences of an Accident Previously Evaluated.
    The vital 125 vc system is not an accident initiator. It serves 
as a power supply to systems which mitigate the effects of 
postulated accidents.
    The proposed Technical Specification (TS) changes are consistent 
with those of the plant system currently addressed by the TSs. The 
proposed Limiting Condition for Operation maintains the minimum 
equipment operability requirement of one battery charger per 
electrical train. The Action Statement allows operation for an 8 
hour period with no operable battery charger on one electrical 
train, maintaining the current requirements. The separate 
requirement for testing a ``swing'' battery charger has been 
deleted. The remaining surveillance requirement wording continues to 
require testing and loading of all battery chargers on their 
associated busses, including the [[Page 3440]] ``swing'' battery 
charger. These changes are considered to be purely administrative in 
nature as the requirements themselves have not been reduced.
    The change to Specification 3.7.1.B is considered to be 
administrative in nature and results in consistency between the 
Limiting Condition for Operation and the associated Action 
Statement.
    Therefore, the change does not involve a significant increase in 
the probability or consequences of any accident previously 
evaluated.
    Criterion 2--Does Not Create the Possibility of a New or 
Different Kind of Accident from any Previously Evaluated.
    The proposed Technical Specification (TS) changes are consistent 
with those of the plant system currently addressed by the TSs. The 
proposed Limiting Condition for Operation maintains the minimum 
equipment operability requirement of one battery charger per 
electrical train. The Action Statement allows operation for an 8 
hour period with no operable battery charger on one electrical 
train, maintaining the current requirements. The separate 
requirement for testing a ``swing'' battery charger has been 
deleted. The remaining surveillance requirement wording continues to 
require testing and loading of all battery chargers on their 
associated busses, including the ``swing'' battery charger. These 
changes are considered to be purely administrative in nature as the 
requirements themselves have not been reduced.
    The change to Specification 3.7.1.B is considered to be 
administrative in nature and results in consistency between the 
Limiting Condition for Operation and the associated Action 
Statement.
    Therefore, this change does not create the possibility of a new 
or different kind of accident from any previously evaluated.
    Criterion 3--Does Not Involve a Significant Reduction in the 
Margin of Safety.
    The proposed Technical Specification (TS) changes are consistent 
with those of the plant system currently addressed by the TSs. The 
proposed Limiting Condition for Operation maintains the minimum 
equipment operability requirement of one battery charger per 
electrical train. The Action Statement allows operation for an 8 
hour period with no operable battery charger on one electrical 
train, maintaining the current requirements. The separate 
requirement for testing a ``swing'' battery charger has been 
deleted. The remaining surveillance requirement wording continues to 
require testing and loading of all battery chargers on their 
associated busses, including the ``swing'' battery charger. These 
changes are considered to be purely administrative in nature as the 
requirements themselves have not been reduced.
    The change to Specification 3.7.1.B is considered to be 
administrative in nature and results in consistency between the 
Limiting Condition for Operation and the associated Action 
Statement.
    Therefore, this change does not involve a significant reduction 
in the margin of safety.

    The NRC staff has reviewed the licensee's analysis and, based on 
this review, it appears that the three standards of 10 CFR 50.92(c) are 
satisfied. Therefore, the NRC staff proposes to determine that the 
amendment request involves no significant hazardous consideration.
    The Commission is seeking public comments on this proposed 
determination. Any comment received within 30 days after the date of 
publication of this notice will be considered in making any final 
determination.
    Normally, the Commission will not issue the amendment until the 
expiration of the 30-day notice period. However, should circumstances 
change during the notice period such that failure to act in a timely 
way would result, for example, in derating or shutdown of the facility, 
the Commission may issue the license amendment before the expiration of 
the 30-day notice period, provided that its final determination is that 
the amendment involves no significant hazards considerations. The final 
determination will consider all public and State comments received. 
Should the Commission take this action, it will publish in the Federal 
Register a notice of issuance and provide for opportunity for a hearing 
after issuance. The Commission expects that the need to take action 
will occur very infrequently.
    Writtne comments may be submitted by mail to the Rules Review and 
Directives Branch, Division of Freedom of Information and Publications 
Services, Office of Administrative, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 
Washington, DC 20555, and should cite the publication date and page 
number of this Federal Register notice. Written comments may also be 
delivered to Room 6D22, Two White Flint North, 11545 Rockville Pike, 
Rockville, Maryland, from 7:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Federal workdays. 
Copies of written comments received may be examined at the NRC Public 
Document Room, the Gelman Building, 2120 L Street, NW., Washington, DC.
    The filing of requests for hearing and petitions for leave to 
intervene is discussed below.
    By February 16, 1995, the licensee may file a request for a hearing 
with respect to issuance of the amendment to the subject facility 
operating license and any person whose interest may be affected by this 
proceeding and who wishes to participate as a party in the proceeding 
must file a written request for a hearing and a petition for leave to 
intervene. Requests for a hearing and a petition for leave to intervene 
shall be filed in accordance with the Commission's ``Rules of Practice 
for Domestic Licensing Proceedings'' in 10 CFR Part 2. Interested 
persons should consult current copy of 10 CFR 2.714 which is available 
at the Commission's Public Document Room, the Gelman Building, 2120 L 
Street, NW., Washington, DC, and at the local public document room 
located at the Tomlinson Library, Arkansas Tech University, 
Russellville, Arkansas 72801. If a request for a hearing or petition 
for leave to intervene is filed by the above date, the Commission or an 
Atomic Safety and Licensing Board, designated by the Commission or by 
the Chairman of the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel, will rule 
on the request and/or petition; and the Secretary or the designated 
Atomic Safety and Licensing Board will issue a notice of hearing or an 
appropriate order.
    As required by 10 CFR 2.714, a petition for leave to intervene 
shall set forth with particularity the interest of the petitioner in 
the proceeding, and how that interest may be affected by the results of 
the proceeding. The petition should specifically explain the reasons 
why intervention should be permitted with particular reference to the 
following factors: (1) The nature of the petitioner's right under the 
Act to be made party to the proceeding; (2) the nature and extent of 
the petitioner's property, financial, or other interest in the 
proceeding; and (3) the possible effect of any order which may be 
entered in the proceeding on the petitioner's interest. The petition 
should also identify the specific aspect(s) of the subject matter of 
the proceeding as to which petitioner wishes to intervene. Any person 
who has filed a petition for leave to intervene or who has been 
admitted as a party may amend the petition without requesting leave of 
the Board up to 15 days prior to the first prehearing conference 
scheduled in the proceeding, but such an amended petition must satisfy 
the specificity requirements described above.
    Not later than 15 days prior to the first prehearing conference 
scheduled in the proceeding, a petitioner shall file a supplement to 
the petition to intervene which must include a list of the contentions 
which are sought to be litigated in the matter. Each contention must 
consist of a specific statement of the issue of law or fact to be 
raised or controverted. In addition, the petitioner shall provide a 
brief explanation of the bases of the contention and a concise 
statement of the alleged facts or expert opinion which support the 
contention and on which the petitioner intends to rely in proving the 
contention at the hearing. The petitioner must also provide references 
to those specific [[Page 3441]] sources and documents of which the 
petitioner is award and on which the petitioner intends to rely to 
establish those facts or expert opinion. Petitioner must provide 
sufficient information to show a genuine dispute exists with the 
applicant on a material issue of law or fact. Contentions shall be 
limited to matters within the scope of the amendment under 
consideration. The contention must be one which, if proven, would 
entitle the petitioner to relief. A petitioner who fails to file such a 
supplement which satisfies these requirements with respect to at least 
one contention will not be permitted to participate as a party.
    Those permitted to intervene become parties to the proceeding, 
subject to any limitations in the order granting leave to intervene, 
and have the opportunity to participate fully in the conduct of the 
hearing, including the opportunity to present evidence and cross-
examine witnesses.
    If a hearing is requested, the Commission will make a final 
determination on the issue of no significant hazards consideration. The 
final determination will serve to decide when the hearing is held.
    If the final determination is that the amendment request involves 
no significant hazards consideration, the Commission may issue the 
amendment and make it immediately effective, notwithstanding the 
request for a hearing. Any hearing held would take place after issuance 
of the amendment.
    If the final determination is that the amendment request involves a 
significant hazards consideration, any hearing held would take place 
before the issuance of any amendment.
    A request for a hearing or a petition for leave to intervene must 
be filed with the Secretary of the Commission, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory 
Commission, Washington, DC 20555, Attention: Docketing and Services 
Branch, or may be delivered to the Commission's Public Document Room, 
the Gelman Building, 2120 L Street, NW., Washington, DC, by the above 
date. Where petitions are filed during the last 10 days of the notice 
period, it is requested that the petitioner promptly so inform the 
Commission by a toll-free telephone call to Western Union at 1-(800) 
248-5100 (in Missouri 1-(800) 342-6700). The Western Union operator 
should be given Datagram Identification Number N1023 and the following 
message addressed to William D. Beckner: petitioner's name and 
telephone number, date petition was mailed, plant name, and publication 
date and page number of this Federal Register notice. A copy of the 
petition should also be sent to the Office of the General Counsel, U.S. 
Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555, and to Mr. 
Nicholas S. Reynolds, Winston & Strawn, 1400 L Street, NW., Washington, 
DC 20005-3502, attorney for the licensee.
    Nontimely filings of petitions for leave to intervene, amended 
petitions, supplemental petitions and/or requests for hearing will not 
be entertained absent a determination by the Commission, the presiding 
officer or the presiding Atomic Safety and Licensing Board that the 
petition and/or request should be granted based upon a balancing of the 
factors specified in 10 CFR 2.714(a)(1) (i)-(v) and 2.714(d).
    For further details with respect to this action, see the 
application for amendment dated August 30, 1994, which is available for 
public inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room, the Gelman 
Building, 2120 L Street, NW., Washington, DC, and at the local public 
document room located at the Tomlinson Library, Arkansas Tech 
University, Russellville, Arkansas 72801.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 10th day of January 1995.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Thomas W. Alexion,
Project Manager, Project Directorate IV-1, Division of Reactor 
Projects--III/IV, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 95-1023 Filed 1-13-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-M