[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 94 (Thursday, May 15, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 26828]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-12741]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket Nos. 50-338 and 50-339]


Virginia Electric and Power Company; Notice of Partial Denial of 
Amendment to Facility Operating License and Opportunity for Hearing

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) has 
partially denied a request by Virginia Electric and Power Company, 
(licensee) for an amendment to Facility Operating License Nos. NPF-4 
and NPF-7 issued to the licensee for operation of the North Anna Power 
Station, Unit Nos. 1 and 2, located in Louisa County, Virginia. Notice 
of Consideration of Issuance of this amendment was published in the 
Federal Register on December 4, 1996 (61 FR 64396).
    The purpose of the licensee's amendment request was to revise the 
Technical Specifications (TS) to permit the insertion of four 
demonstration fuel assemblies into the reactor core of either North 
Anna 1 or North Anna 2, as described in the licensee's submittal. The 
four lead test assemblies, fabricated by Framatome Cogema Fuels, will 
incorporate several advanced design features, including: a debris 
filter bottom nozzle, mid-span mixing grids, a floating top end grid, a 
quick disconnect top nozzle, and use of advanced zirconium alloys for 
fuel assembly structural tubing and for fuel rod cladding. A portion of 
the amendment request included a proposal to amend Section 6.9.1.7.b by 
adding one sentence. Because the non-specific sentence does not specify 
methods used to determine core operating limits, the proposal to add 
the sentence to the TS is denied.
    The NRC staff has concluded that the licensee's request cannot 
fully be granted. The licensee was notified of the Commission's partial 
denial of the proposed change by a letter dated May 9, 1997.
    By June 16, 1997 the licensee may demand a hearing with respect to 
the denial described above. Any person whose interest may be affected 
by this proceeding may file a written petition for leave to intervene.
    A request for hearing or 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.
    A copy of any petitions should also be sent to the Office of the 
General Counsel, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 
20555, and to Michael W. Maupin, Esq., Hunton and Williams, Riverfront 
Plaza, East Tower, 951 E. Byrd Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, 
attorney for the licensee.
    For further details with respect to this action, see (1) the 
application for amendment dated September 4, 1996, as supplemented 
February 3, 1997, and (2) the Commission's letter to the licensee dated 
May 9, 1997.
    These documents are 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 Alderman Library, Special Collections Department, University of 
Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903-2498.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 9th day of May 1997.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Mark Reinhart,
Acting Project Director, Project Directorate II-1, Division of Reactor 
Projects--I/II, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 97-12741 Filed 5-14-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P