[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 36 (Wednesday, February 23, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 8995]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-4254]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-263; License No. DPR-22]


Northern States Power Company (Monticello, Unit No. 1); Exemption

I

    Northern States Power Company (NSP or the licensee) is the holder 
of Facility Operating License No. DPR-22, which authorizes operation of 
the Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant (the facility) at steady state 
core power levels not in excess of 1775 megawatts thermal. The facility 
consists of a boiling water reactor, located in Wright County at the 
licensee's site in Wright and Sherburne Counties, Minnesota. The 
license provides, among other things, that Monticello 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 and, upon its conclusion, must be promptly followed by a 
successive requalification program. 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.

III

    By letter dated January 19, 2000, NSP requested an exemption under 
10 CFR 55.11 from the requirements of 10 CFR 55.59(a)(2). The schedular 
exemption requested will extend the current Monticello requalification 
program from March 9, 2000, to May 12, 2000. The requested exemption 
would constitute a one-time extension of the requalification program 
duration.
    The regulation 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.''

IV

    The Commission has determined that, pursuant to 10 CFR 55.11, 
granting an exemption to NSP from the requirements in 10 CFR 
55.59(a)(1) and (a)(2) is authorized by law and will not endanger life 
or property and is otherwise in the public interest. To require 
scheduling of the comprehensive examination of the licensee's operators 
and staff in order to support the 24-month requalification cycle could 
have a detrimental effect on the public interest, because it could 
prolong the current plant refueling outage without a net benefit to 
safety. Further, this one-time exemption will allow additional operator 
support during plant shutdown conditions, which will provide a safety 
enhancement during plant shutdown operations and post-maintenance 
testing. The affected licensed operators will continue to demonstrate 
and possess the required levels of knowledge, skills, and abilities 
needed to safely operate the plant throughout the transitional period 
via continuation of the current satisfactory licensed operator 
requalification program. Accordingly, the Commission hereby grants NSP 
an exemption, on a one-time only basis, from the schedular requirements 
of 10 CFR 55.59(a)(1) and (a)(2) to allow the current Monticello 
requalification program to be extended beyond 24 months, not to exceed 
27 months, and to expire on May 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 February 16, 2000 (65 FR 
7897).
    This exemption is effective upon issuance. This exemption expires 
on May 12, 2000.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland this 16th day of February 2000.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Bruce A. Boger,
Directory, Division of Inspection Program Management, Office of Nuclear 
Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 00-4254 Filed 2-22-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P