[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 145 (Friday, July 27, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39213-39214]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-18768]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION


Virginia Electric Power Company, North Anna, Units 1 and 2, and 
Surry, Units 1 and 2, Notice of Acceptance for Docketing of the 
Applications and Notice of Opportunity for a Hearing Regarding Renewal 
of Facility Operating License Nos. NPF-4, NPF-7, DPR-32, and DPR-37 for 
an Additional 20-year Period

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is 
considering applications for the renewal of Operating License Nos. NPF-
4 and NPF-7, issued pursuant to Section 103 of the Atomic Energy Act of 
1954, as amended, which authorize Virginia Electric Power Company 
(VEPCO) to operate North Anna Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2, at 2893 
megawatts thermal; and Operating License Nos. DPR-32 and DPR-37, issued 
pursuant to Section 104b of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, 
which authorize VEPCO to operate Surry Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2, 
at 2546 megawatts thermal. The renewed licenses would authorize the 
applicant to operate North Anna Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2, and 
Surry Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2, for an additional 20 years beyond 
the period specified in the current licenses. The current operating 
licenses for North Anna Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2, expire on April 
1, 2018, and August 21, 2020, respectively. The current operating 
licenses for Surry Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2, expire on May 25, 
2012 and January 29, 2013, respectively.
    VEPCO submitted an application to renew the operating licenses for 
North Anna, Units 1 and 2, and Surry, Units 1 and 2 on May 29, 2001. A 
Notice of Receipt of Application, ``Virginia Electric Power Company, 
North Anna, Units 1 and 2, and Surry, Units 1 and 2; Notice of Receipt 
of Application for Renewal of Facility Operating License Nos. NPF-4, 
NPF-7, DPR-32, and DPR-37 for an Additional 20-year Period,'' was 
published in the Federal Register on June 28, 2001 (66 FR 34489).
    The Commission's staff has determined that VEPCO has submitted 
information in accordance with 10 CFR 54.19, 54.21, 54.22, 54.23, and 
51.53(c) that is complete and acceptable for docketing. The current 
Docket Nos. 50-338, 339, 280, and 281 for Operating License Nos. NPF-4, 
NPF-7, DPR-32, and DPR-37, respectively, will be retained. The 
docketing of the renewal application does not preclude requesting 
additional information as the review proceeds, nor does it predict 
whether the Commission will grant or deny the application.
    Before issuance of each requested renewed license, the NRC will 
have made the findings required by the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as 
amended (the Act), and the NRC's rules and regulations. In accordance 
with 10 CFR 54.29, the NRC will issue a renewed license on the basis of 
its review and findings that actions have been identified and have been 
or will be taken with respect to (1) managing the effects of aging 
during the period of extended operation on the functionality of 
structures and components that have been identified as requiring aging 
management review, and (2) time-limited aging analyses that have been 
identified as requiring review such that there is reasonable assurance 
that the activities authorized by the renewed license will continue to 
be conducted in accordance with the current licensing basis (CLB) and 
that any changes made to the plant's CLB comply with the Act and the 
Commission's regulations.
    Additionally, in accordance with 10 CFR 51.95(c), the NRC will 
prepare an environmental impact statement that is a supplement to the 
Commission's NUREG-1437, ``Generic Environmental Impact Statement for 
License Renewal of Nuclear Power Plants'' (May 1996). Pursuant to 10 
CFR 51.26, and as part of the environmental scoping process, the staff 
intends to hold a public scoping meeting. Detailed information 
regarding this meeting will be included in a future Federal Register 
notice. The Commission also intends to hold public meetings to discuss 
the license renewal process and the schedule for conducting the review. 
The Commission will provide prior notice of these meetings. As 
discussed further herein, in the event that a hearing is held, issues 
that may be litigated will be confined to those pertinent to the 
foregoing.
    By August 27, 2001, the applicant may file a request for a hearing, 
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 
with respect to the renewal of the licenses in accordance with the 
provisions of 10 CFR 2.714. Interested persons should consult a current 
copy of 10 CFR 2.714, which is available at the Commission's Public 
Document Room, 11555 Rockville Pike (first floor) Rockville, Maryland, 
and on the NRC Web site at http://www.nrc.gov (the Electronic Reading 
Room). If a request for a hearing or a 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(s) 
and/or petition(s), and the Secretary or the designated Atomic Safety 
and Licensing Board will issue a notice of hearing or an appropriate 
order. In the event that no request for a hearing or petition for leave 
to intervene is filed by the above date, the NRC may, upon completion 
of its evaluations and upon making the findings required under 10 CFR 
parts 54 and 51, renew the licenses without further notice.
    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, taking into consideration the limited scope of matters 
that may be considered pursuant to 10 CFR parts 54 and 51. The petition 
must 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 a 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 that may be entered in the proceeding on the 
petitioner's interest. The petition must 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 before 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 before the first prehearing conference 
scheduled in the proceeding, a petitioner shall file a supplement to 
the petition to intervene that must include a list of the contentions 
that the petitioner seeks to have litigated in the hearing. Each 
contention must consist of a specific

[[Page 39214]]

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 each contention and a concise statement of the alleged facts or the 
expert opinion that supports 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 sources and 
documents of which the petitioner is aware and on which the petitioner 
intends to rely to establish those facts or expert opinion. The 
petitioner must provide sufficient information to show that 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 action 
under consideration. The contention must be one that, if proven, would 
entitle the petitioner to relief. A petitioner who fails to file such a 
supplement that 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.
    Requests for a hearing and petitions for leave to intervene must be 
filed with the Secretary of the Commission, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory 
Commission, Washington DC 20555-0001, Attention: Rulemakings and 
Adjudications Staff, or may be delivered to the Commission's Public 
Document Room, 11555 Rockville Pike (first floor), Rockville, Maryland, 
20855-2738, by the above date. A copy of the request for a hearing and 
the petition to intervene should also be sent to the Office of the 
General Counsel, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 
20555-0001, and to Mr. David A. Christian, Sr. Vice President and Chief 
Nuclear Officer, Virginia Electric Power Company, Innsbrook Technical 
Center, 5000 Dominion Boulevard, Glen Allen, VA 23060-6711.
    Nontimely filings of petitions for leave to intervene, amended 
petitions, supplemental petitions, and/or requests for a hearing will 
not be entertained absent a determination by the Commission, the 
presiding officer, or the 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).
    Detailed information about the license renewal process can be found 
under the nuclear reactors' icon of the NRC's Web page at http://www.nrc.gov.
    A copy of the applications to renew the operating licenses for 
North Anna Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2, and Surry Nuclear Station, 
Units 1 and 2, is available for public inspection at the Commission's 
Public Document Room, 11555 Rockville Pike (first floor), Rockville, 
Maryland, 20855-2738, and on the NRC's Web page at http://www.nrc.gov. 
The staff has also verified that a copy of the license renewal 
application for the North Anna nuclear station has been provided to the 
Alderman Library at the University of Virginia, and that a copy of the 
license renewal application for the Surry nuclear station has been 
provided to the Swem Library at the College of William and Mary.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this the 23rd day of July 2001.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Christopher I. Grimes,
Chief, License Renewal and Standardization Branch, Division of 
Regulatory Improvement Programs, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 01-18768 Filed 7-26-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P