[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 138 (Thursday, July 18, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 47411]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-18154]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket Nos. 50-237 and 50-249]


Exelon Generation Company, LLC, (Dresden Nuclear Station Units 2 
and 3); Exemption

I

    Exelon Generation Company, LLC, (Exelon) is the holder of Facility 
Operating License Nos. DPR-19 and DPR-25, which authorizes operation of 
the Dresden Nuclear Power Station, Units 2 and 3 (Dresden), at steady 
state core power levels not to exceed 2957 megawatts thermal per unit. 
Dresden's two boiling water reactors are located in Morris, Illinois. 
The licenses provide, among other things, that Dresden is subject to 
all rules, regulations, and orders of the Commission now or hereafter 
in effect.

II

    Pursuant to 10 CFR 55.59(c), a facility's licensed operator 
requalification program must be conducted for a continuous period not 
to exceed two years (24 months) and upon conclusion must be promptly 
followed, pursuant to a continuous schedule, by successive 
requalification programs. Each two-year requalification program must 
include a comprehensive written examination and annual operating tests.

III

    By letter dated July 2, 2002, as supplemented by letter dated July 
8, 2002, Exelon requested a one-time exemption from the requirements of 
10 CFR 55.59(c). Specifically, for Dresden, Exelon has requested a one-
time extension to August 2, 2002, for completing the comprehensive 
written examination for the February 2000 through January 2002 licensed 
operator requalification program. This requested exemption would allow 
an extension of approximately 6 months beyond the 24-month limit for 
completion of the written examinations as required by of 10 CFR 
55.59(c). Exelon's letters constitute a request for exemption under 10 
CFR 55.11 which states: ``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.'' The exemption is being requested 
due to circumstances which led Dresden to inadvertently schedule the 
comprehensive requalification written examinations at an interval 
greater than the required 24 months.

IV

    The Commission has determined that, pursuant to 10 CFR 55.11, 
granting an exemption to Exelon from the requirements in 10 CFR 
55.59(c), by allowing Dresden a one-time extension of the two-year 
requirement to conduct a comprehensive requalification written 
examination, is authorized by law and will not endanger life or 
property and is otherwise in the public interest. Although the 24-month 
requirement at Dresden for conducting a comprehensive written 
examination was exceeded, operator performance continues to be 
satisfactory, as demonstrated both in the plant and during other 
written examinations, operating tests, and periodic simulator 
evaluations. Granting this exemption will allow the makeup of the 
Dresden operating crews to remain unchanged, thereby maintaining 
effective crew teamwork, which will contribute to continued safe plant 
operations.
    Accordingly, the Commission hereby grants Exelon an exemption on a 
one-time only basis from the two-year requirement of 10 CFR 55.59(c) 
for conducting a comprehensive licensed operator requalification 
written examination at Dresden by granting an extension of the 
examination completion date to August 2, 2002. The NRC understands 
that, following the completion of that examination, the next 
comprehensive licensed operator requalification written examination at 
Dresden will be administered at the completion of the current 24-month 
requalification period (i.e., examination administered in January/
February 2004), and will include a comprehensive sampling of licensed 
operator requalification training topics contained in the current 
(February 2002-January 2004) 24-month requalification period.
    Pursuant to 10 CFR 51.32, the Commission has determined that the 
granting of this exemption will not have a significant effect on the 
quality of the human environment (67 FR 46218)
    This exemption is effective upon issuance. This exemption expires 
on August 2, 2002.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland this 12th day of July, 2002.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Bruce A. Boger,
Director, Division of Inspection Program Management, Office of Nuclear 
Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 02-18154 Filed 7-17-02; 8:45 am]
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