[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 139 (Wednesday, July 21, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39176-39177]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-18635]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-397]


In the Matter of Washington Public Power Supply System, WPPSS 
Nuclear Project No. 2 (WNP-2), Exemption

I

    Washington Public Power Supply System (the Supply System or the 
licensee) is the holder of Facility Operating License No. NPF-21, which 
authorizes operation of the Washington Public Power Supply System 
Nuclear Project 2 (WNP-2). The facility consists of a boiling water 
reactor at the licensee's site in Benton County, Washington. The 
operating license provides, among other things, that WNP-2 is subject 
to all rules, regulations, and orders of the Commission now or 
hereafter in effect.

II

    Pursuant to 10 CFR 55.59(a)(1), each licensed operator is required 
to successfully complete a requalification program developed by the 
licensee that has been approved by the Commission. This program is to 
be conducted for a continuous period not to exceed 24 months in 
duration. In addition, pursuant to 10 CFR 55.59(a)(2), each licensed 
operator must also pass a comprehensive requalification written 
examination and an annual operating test.
    By letter dated May 7, 1999, the Supply System requested an 
exemption under 10 CFR 55.11 from the requirements of 10 CFR 
55.59(a)(2). The schedular exemption requested would extend the 
completion date for the administration of the annual operating test for 
the WNP-2 requalification program from October 23, 1999, to February 
12, 2000, because the scheduled examination time coincides with the 
plant refueling outage. The requested exemption would constitute a one-
time extension of the annual operating test requirement of the 
requalification program.
    The Code of Federal Regulations at 10 CFR 55.11 states that, ``The 
Commission may, upon application by an interested person, or upon its 
own initiative, grant such exemptions from the requirements of the 
regulations in this part as it determines are authorized by law and 
will not endanger life or property and are otherwise in the public 
interest.''

III

    In support of its request for exemption, the Supply System 
indicated that the licensed operators at WNP-2 will continue to 
participate in the ongoing requalification training program. The Supply 
System further indicated that due to the two extended shutdowns, the 
annual operating test would have to be conducted on overtime. The 
exemption would eliminate the need to conduct the annual operating 
tests on overtime.
    The NRC staff finds the one-time exemption will allow additional 
licensed operator support during the current refueling outage, which 
will provide a safety enhancement during plant shutdown operations, and 
post-maintenance testing and eliminate the need to conduct annual 
operating tests on overtime. The affected licensed operators will 
continue to demonstrate and possess the required levels of knowledge, 
skills, and abilities needed

[[Page 39177]]

to safely operate the plant throughout the extension period via 
continuation of the current satisfactory licensed operator 
requalification program. In meeting the requirement for the 
administration of an annual operating test, the current plant refueling 
outage could be prolonged without a net benefit to safety, and would 
otherwise have a detrimental effect on the public interest.

IV

    The Commission has determined that pursuant to 10 CFR 55.11, 
granting an exemption to the Washington Public Power Supply System from 
the requirements in 10 CFR 55.59(a)(2) is authorized by law and will 
not endanger life or property and is otherwise in the public interest.
    Therefore, the Commission hereby grants Washington Public Power 
Supply System an exemption on a one-time only basis from the schedular 
requirements of 10 CFR 55.59(a)(2), to allow the Washington Public 
Power Supply System Nuclear Project 2 current annual operating 
examination to be extended until February 12, 2000.
    Pursuant to 10 CFR 51.32, the Commission has also determined that 
the issuance of the exemption will have no significant impact on the 
environment. An Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant 
Impact was noticed in the Federal Register on July 9, 1999 (64 FR 
37173).
    This exemption is effective upon issuance.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland this 14th day of July, 1999.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Bruce A. Boger,
Director, Division of Inspection Program Management Office of Nuclear 
Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 99-18635 Filed 7-20-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P