[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 58 (Monday, March 26, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16499-16500]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-7355]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 72-35 (50-397)]


In the Matter of Energy Northwest Columbia Generating Station 
Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation; Exemption

I

    Energy Northwest, the licensee, is planning to implement the 
general license provisions of 10 CFR Part 72 for receipt and storage of 
spent fuel from the Columbia Generating Station at an Independent Spent 
Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI) located on the Columbia Generating 
Station site. The facility is located in Benton County, Washington.

II

    Pursuant to 10 CFR 72.7, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) 
may grant exemptions from the requirements of the regulation in 10 CFR 
part 72 as it determines are authorized by law, will not endanger life 
or property or the common defense and security, and are otherwise in 
the public interest.
    Section 72.72(d) of 10 CFR part 72 requires each licensee to keep 
duplicate records of spent fuel and high-level radioactive waste in 
storage. The duplicate set of records must be kept at a separate 
location sufficiently remote from the original records that a single 
event would not destroy both sets of records. The applicant stated 
that, pursuant to 10 CFR 72.140(d), the Energy Northwest Operational 
Quality Assurance (QA) Program Description will be used to satisfy the 
QA requirements for the ISFSI. The QA Program Description states that 
QA records are maintained in accordance with commitments to ANSI 
N45.2.9-1974. ANSI N45.2.9-1974 allows for the storage of QA records in 
a duplicate storage location sufficiently remote from the original 
records or in a record storage facility subject to certain provisions 
designed to protect the records from fire and other adverse conditions. 
The applicant seeks to streamline and standardize recordkeeping 
procedures and processes for the Columbia Generating Station and ISFSI 
spent fuel records. The applicant states that requiring a separate 
method of record storage for ISFSI records diverts resources 
unnecessarily.
    ANSI N45.2.9-1974 provides requirements for the protection of 
nuclear power plant QA records against degradation. It specifies design 
requirements for use in the construction of record storage facilities 
when use of a single storage facility is desired. It includes specific 
requirements for protection against degradation mechanisms such as 
fire, humidity, and condensation. The requirements in ANSI N45.2.9-1974 
have been endorsed by the NRC in Regulatory Guide 1.88, ``Collection, 
Storage and Maintenance of Nuclear Power Plant Quality Assurance 
Records,'' as adequate for satisfying the recordkeeping requirements of 
10 CFR 72.72 by providing for adequate maintenance of records regarding 
the identity and history of the spent fuel in storage. Such records 
would be subject to and need to be protected from the same types of 
degradation mechanisms as nuclear power plant QA records.

III

    By letter dated December 12, 2000, Energy Northwest requested an 
exemption from the requirement in 10 CFR 72.72(d) which states in part 
that ``Records of spent fuel and high-level radioactive waste in 
storage must be kept in duplicate. The duplicate set of records must be 
kept at a separate location sufficiently remote from the original 
records that a single event would not destroy both sets of records.'' 
The applicant proposes to maintain a single set of spent fuel records 
in storage at a record facility that satisfies the requirements set 
forth in ANSI N45.2.9-1974.

IV

    The staff considered the applicant's request and determined that 
granting the proposed exemption from the requirements of 10 CFR 
72.72(d) is authorized by law, will not endanger life or property or 
the common defense and security, and is otherwise in the public 
interest. The staff grants the exemption, subject to the following 
conditions:
    (1) Energy Northwest may maintain records of spent fuel and high-
level radioactive waste in storage either in duplicate as required by 
10 CFR 72.72(d), or alternatively, a single set of records may be 
maintained at a record storage facility that satisfies the standards 
set forth in ANSI N45.2.9-1974.
    (2) All other requirements of 10 CFR 72.72(d) shall be met.
    The documents related to this proposed action are available for 
public

[[Page 16500]]

inspection and for copying (for a fee) at the NRC Public Document Room, 
One White Flint North Building, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, 
Maryland 20852, or from the publicly available records component of 
NRC's Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS). ADAMS 
is accessible from the NRC web site at http://www.nrc.gov/NRC/ADAMS/index.html (the Public Electronic Reading Room).
    Pursuant to 10 CFR 51.35, NRC has published it finding that 
granting this exemption will have no significant impact on the quality 
of the human environment in the Federal Register (66 FR 10758).
    This exemption is effective upon issuance.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 15th day of March 2001.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
E. William Brach,
Director, Spent Fuel Project Office, Office of Nuclear Material Safety 
and Safeguards.
[FR Doc. 01-7355 Filed 3-23-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P