[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 208 (Thursday, October 28, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66395-66398]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-27275]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket Nos. 50-269, 50-270, and 50-287; NRC-2010-0334]
Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC; Notice of Consideration of Issuance
of Amendment to Facility Operating License, Proposed No Significant
Hazards Consideration Determination and Opportunity for a Hearing
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC, the Commission) is
considering issuance of an amendment to Renewed Facility Operating
License Nos. DPR-38, DPR-47, and DPR-55 issued to Duke Energy
Carolinas, LLC (the licensee) for operation of the Oconee Nuclear
Station, Units 1, 2, and 3, (ONS) located in Oconee County, South
Carolina.
The proposed amendment would approve the transition of the fire
protection licensing basis at ONS from Title 10 of the Code of Federal
Regulations (10 CFR) Section 50.48(b) to 10 CFR 50.48(c), National Fire
Protection Association (NFPA) 805.
Before issuance of the proposed license amendment, the Commission
will have made findings required by the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as
amended (the Act), and the Commission's regulations.
The Commission has made a proposed determination that the amendment
request involves no significant hazards consideration. Under the
Commission's regulations in 10 CFR 50.92, this means that operation of
the facility in accordance with the proposed amendment would not (1)
involve a significant increase in the probability or consequences of an
accident previously evaluated; or (2) create the possibility of a new
or different kind of accident from any accident previously evaluated;
or (3) involve a significant reduction in a margin of safety. As
required by 10 CFR 50.91(a), the licensee has provided its analysis of
the issue of no significant hazards consideration, which is presented
below:
(1) Does the proposed amendment involve a significant increase
in the probability or consequences of an accident previously
evaluated?
Response: No.
Operation of ONS in accordance with the proposed amendment does
not increase the probability or consequences of accidents previously
evaluated. The Updated Final Safety Analysis Report (UFSAR)
documents the analyses of design basis accidents (DBA) at ONS. The
proposed amendment does not adversely affect accident initiators nor
alter design assumptions, conditions, or configurations of the
facility and does not adversely affect the ability of structures,
systems, and components (SSCs) to perform their design function.
SSCs required to safely shut down the reactor and to maintain it in
a safe shutdown (SSD) condition will remain capable of performing
their design functions.
The purpose of this amendment is to permit ONS to adopt a new
fire protection (FP) licensing basis which complies with the
requirements in 10 CFR 50.48(a) and (c) and the guidance in Revision
1 of Regulatory Guide (RG) 1.205. The NRC considers that National
Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 805 provides an acceptable
methodology and performance criteria for licensees to identify FP
systems and features that are an acceptable alternative to the
Appendix R FP features (69 FR 33536, June 16, 2004). Engineering
analyses, in accordance with NFPA 805, have been performed to
demonstrate that the risk-informed, performance-based (RI-PB)
requirements per NFPA 805 have been met.
NFPA 805, taken as a whole, provides an acceptable alternative
to 10 CFR 50.48(b) and satisfies 10 CFR 50.48(a) and General Design
Criterion (GDC) 3 of Appendix A to 10 CFR Part 50 and meets the
underlying intent of the NRC's existing FP regulations and guidance,
and achieves defense-in-depth (DID) and the goals, performance
objectives, and performance criteria specified in Chapter 1 of the
standard. The small increases in core damage frequency associated
with this LAR submittal are consistent with the Commission's Safety
Goal Policy. Additionally 10 CFR 50.48(c) allows self approval of
fire protection program changes post-transition. If there are any
increases post-transition in core damage frequency (CDF) or risk,
the increase will be small and consistent with the intent of the
Commission's Safety Goal Policy.
Based on this, the implementation of this amendment does not
significantly increase the probability of any accident previously
evaluated. Equipment required to mitigate an accident remains
capable of performing the assumed function. Therefore, the
consequences of any accident previously evaluated are not
significantly increased with the implementation of this amendment.
(2) Does the proposed amendment create the possibility of a new
or different kind of accident from any kind of accident previously
evaluated?
Response: No.
Operation of ONS in accordance with the proposed amendment does
not create the possibility of a new or different kind of accident
from any accident previously evaluated. Any scenario or previously
analyzed accident with offsite dose was included in the evaluation
of DBAs documented in the UFSAR. The proposed change does not alter
the requirements or
[[Page 66396]]
function for systems required during accident conditions.
Implementation of the new FP licensing basis which complies with the
requirements in 10 CFR 50.48(a) and (c) and the guidance in Revision
1 of RG 1.205 will not result in new or different accidents.
The proposed amendment does not adversely affect accident
initiators nor alter design assumptions, conditions, or
configurations of the facility. The proposed amendment does not
adversely affect the ability of SSCs to perform their design
function. SSCs required to safely shut down the reactor and maintain
it in a safe shutdown condition remain capable of performing their
design functions.
The purpose of this amendment is to permit ONS to adopt a new FP
licensing basis which complies with the requirements in 10 CFR
50.48(a) and (c) and the guidance in Revision 1 of RG 1.205. The NRC
considers that NFPA 805 provides an acceptable methodology and
performance criteria for licensees to identify FP systems and
features that are an acceptable alternative to the Appendix R FP
features (69 FR 33536, June 16, 2004).
The requirements in NFPA 805 address only FP and the impacts of
fire on the plant have already been evaluated. Based on this, the
implementation of this amendment does not create the possibility of
a new or different kind of accident from any kind of accident
previously evaluated. The proposed changes do not involve new
failure mechanisms or malfunctions that can initiate a new accident.
Therefore, the possibility of a new or different kind of accident
from any kind of accident previously evaluated is not created with
the implementation of this amendment.
(3) Does the proposed amendment involve a significant reduction
in the margin of safety?
Response: No.
Operation of ONS in accordance with the proposed amendment does
not involve a significant reduction in the margin of safety. The
proposed amendment does not alter the manner in which safety limits,
limiting safety system settings or limiting conditions for operation
are determined. The safety analysis acceptance criteria are not
affected by this change. The proposed amendment does not adversely
affect existing plant safety margins or the reliability of equipment
assumed to mitigate accidents in the UFSAR. The proposed amendment
does not adversely affect the ability of SSCs to perform their
design function. SSCs required to safely shut down the reactor and
to maintain it in a safe shutdown condition remain capable of
performing their design functions.
The purpose of this amendment is to permit ONS to adopt a new FP
licensing basis which complies with the requirements in 10 CFR
50.48(a) and (c) and the guidance in Revision 1 of RG 1.205. The NRC
considers that NFPA 805 provides an acceptable methodology and
performance criteria for licensees to identify FP systems and
features that are an acceptable alternative to the Appendix R FP
features (69 FR 33536, June 16, 2004). Engineering analyses, which
may include engineering evaluations, probabilistic safety
assessments, and fire modeling calculations, have been performed to
demonstrate that the performance-based methods do not result in a
significant reduction in the margin of safety.
Based on this, the implementation of this amendment does not
significantly reduce the margin of safety. The proposed changes are
evaluated to ensure that risk and safety margins are kept within
acceptable limits. Therefore, the transition does not involve a
significant reduction in the margin of safety.
NFPA 805 continues to protect public health and safety and the
common defense and security because the overall approach of NFPA 805
is consistent with the key principles for evaluating license basis
changes, as described in RG 1.174, is consistent with the defense-
in-depth philosophy, and maintains sufficient safety margins.
Margins previously established for the ONS FP program in
accordance with 10 CFR 50.48(b) and Appendix R to 10 CFR 50 are not
significantly reduced. Therefore, this LAR does not result in a
reduction in a margin of safety
The NRC staff has reviewed the licensee's analysis and, based on
this review, it appears that the three standards of 10 CFR 50.92(c) are
satisfied. Therefore, the NRC staff proposes to determine that the
amendment request involves no significant hazards consideration.
The Commission is seeking public comments on this proposed
determination. Any comments received within 30 days after the date of
publication of this notice will be considered in making any final
determination.
Normally, the Commission will not issue the amendment until the
expiration of 60 days after the date of publication of this notice. The
Commission may issue the license amendment before expiration of the 60-
day period provided that its final determination is that the amendment
involves no significant hazards consideration. In addition, the
Commission may issue the amendment prior to the expiration of the 30-
day comment period should circumstances change during the 30-day
comment period such that failure to act in a timely way would result,
for example, in derating or shutdown of the facility. Should the
Commission take action prior to the expiration of either the comment
period or the notice period, it will publish in the Federal Register a
notice of issuance. Should the Commission make a final No Significant
Hazards Consideration Determination, any hearing will take place after
issuance. The Commission expects that the need to take this action will
occur very infrequently.
Written comments may be submitted by mail to the Chief, Rules,
Announcements and Directives Branch (RADB), TWB-05-B01M, Division of
Administrative Services, Office of Administration, U.S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, and should cite the
publication date and page number of this Federal Register notice.
Written comments may also be faxed to the RADB at 301-492-3446.
Documents may be examined, and/or copied for a fee, at the NRC's Public
Document Room (PDR), located at One White Flint North, Public File Area
O1 F21, 11555 Rockville Pike (first floor), Rockville, Maryland.
Within 60 days after the date of publication of this notice, any
person(s) whose interest may be affected by this action may file a
request for a hearing and a petition to intervene with respect to
issuance of the amendment to the subject facility operating license.
Requests for a hearing and a petition for leave to intervene shall be
filed in accordance with the Commission's ``Rules of Practice for
Domestic Licensing Proceedings'' in 10 CFR part 2. Interested person(s)
should consult a current copy of 10 CFR 2.309, which is available at
the Commission's PDR, located at One White Flint North, Public File
Area O1F21, 11555 Rockville Pike (first floor), Rockville, Maryland.
Publicly available records will be accessible from the Agencywide
Documents Access and Management System's (ADAMS) Public Electronic
Reading Room on the Internet at the NRC Web site, http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/cfr/. If a request for a hearing or petition
for leave to intervene is filed by the above date, the Commission or a
presiding officer designated by the Commission or by the Chief
Administrative Judge of the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel,
will rule on the request and/or petition; and the Secretary or the
Chief Administrative Judge of the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board
will issue a notice of a hearing or an appropriate Order.
As required by 10 CFR 2.309, 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. The petition should specifically explain the reasons
why intervention should be permitted with particular reference to the
following general requirements: (1) The name, address and telephone
number of the requestor or petitioner; (2) the nature of the
requestor's/petitioner's right under the Act to be made a party to the
proceeding; (3) the nature and extent of the requestor's/petitioner's
property, financial, or other interest in the proceeding; and (4) the
possible
[[Page 66397]]
effect of any decision or order which may be entered in the proceeding
on the requestor's/petitioner's interest. The petition must also
identify the specific contentions which the requestor/petitioner seeks
to have litigated at the proceeding.
Each contention must consist of a specific statement of the issue
of law or fact to be raised or controverted. In addition, the
requestor/petitioner shall provide a brief explanation of the bases for
the contention and a concise statement of the alleged facts or expert
opinion which support the contention and on which the petitioner
intends to rely in proving the contention at the hearing. The
requestor/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 petition must include 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
amendment under consideration. The contention must be one which, if
proven, would entitle the petitioner to relief. A requestor/petitioner
who fails to satisfy 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.
If a hearing is requested, the Commission will make a final
determination on the issue of no significant hazards consideration. The
final determination will serve to decide when the hearing is held. If
the final determination is that the amendment request involves no
significant hazards consideration, the Commission may issue the
amendment and make it immediately effective, notwithstanding the
request for a hearing. Any hearing held would take place after issuance
of the amendment. If the final determination is that the amendment
request involves a significant hazards consideration, any hearing held
would take place before the issuance of any amendment.
All documents filed in NRC adjudicatory proceedings, including a
request for hearing, a petition for leave to intervene, any motion or
other document filed in the proceeding prior to the submission of a
request for hearing or petition to intervene, and documents filed by
interested governmental entities participating under 10 CFR 2.315(c),
must be filed in accordance with the NRC E-Filing rule (72 FR 49139,
August 28, 2007). The E-Filing process requires participants to submit
and serve all adjudicatory documents over the internet, or in some
cases to mail copies on electronic storage media. Participants may not
submit paper copies of their filings unless they seek an exemption in
accordance with the procedures described below.
To comply with the procedural requirements of E-Filing, at least
ten (10) days prior to the filing deadline, the participant should
contact the Office of the Secretary by e-mail at
[email protected], or by telephone at (301) 415-1677, to request
(1) a digital ID certificate, which allows the participant (or its
counsel or representative) to digitally sign documents and access the
E-Submittal server for any proceeding in which it is participating; and
(2) advise the Secretary that the participant will be submitting a
request or petition for hearing (even in instances in which the
participant, or its counsel or representative, already holds an NRC-
issued digital ID certificate). Based upon this information, the
Secretary will establish an electronic docket for the hearing in this
proceeding if the Secretary has not already established an electronic
docket.
Information about applying for a digital ID certificate is
available on NRC's public Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/site-help/e-submittals/apply-certificates.html. System requirements for accessing
the E-Submittal server are detailed in NRC's ``Guidance for Electronic
Submission,'' which is available on the agency's public Web site at
http://www.nrc.gov/site-help/e-submittals.html. Participants may
attempt to use other software not listed on the Web site, but should
note that the NRC's E-Filing system does not support unlisted software,
and the NRC Meta System Help Desk will not be able to offer assistance
in using unlisted software.
If a participant is electronically submitting a document to the NRC
in accordance with the E-Filing rule, the participant must file the
document using the NRC's online, Web-based submission form. In order to
serve documents through EIE, users will be required to install a Web
browser plug-in from the NRC Web site. Further information on the Web-
based submission form, including the installation of the Web browser
plug-in, is available on the NRC's public Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/site-help/e-submittals.html.
Once a participant has obtained a digital ID certificate and a
docket has been created, the participant can then submit a request for
hearing or petition for leave to intervene. Submissions should be in
Portable Document Format (PDF) in accordance with NRC guidance
available on the NRC public Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/site-help/e-submittals.html. A filing is considered complete at the time the
documents are submitted through the NRC's E-Filing system. To be
timely, an electronic filing must be submitted to the E-Filing system
no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the due date. Upon receipt of
a transmission, the E-Filing system time-stamps the document and sends
the submitter an e-mail notice confirming receipt of the document. The
E-Filing system also distributes an e-mail notice that provides access
to the document to the NRC Office of the General Counsel and any others
who have advised the Office of the Secretary that they wish to
participate in the proceeding, so that the filer need not serve the
documents on those participants separately. Therefore, applicants and
other participants (or their counsel or representative) must apply for
and receive a digital ID certificate before a hearing request/petition
to intervene is filed so that they can obtain access to the document
via the E-Filing system.
A person filing electronically using the agency's adjudicatory E-
Filing system may seek assistance by contacting the NRC Meta System
Help Desk through the ``Contact Us'' link located on the NRC Web site
at http://www.nrc.gov/site-help/e-submittals.html, by e-mail at
[email protected], or by a toll-free call at (866) 672-7640. The
NRC Meta System Help Desk is available between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.,
Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, excluding government holidays.
Participants who believe that they have a good cause for not
submitting documents electronically must file an exemption request, in
accordance with 10 CFR 2.302(g), with their initial paper filing
requesting authorization to continue to submit documents in paper
format. Such filings must be submitted by: (1) First class mail
addressed to the Office of the Secretary of the Commission, U.S.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, Attention:
Rulemaking and Adjudications Staff; or (2) courier, express mail, or
expedited delivery service to the Office of the Secretary, Sixteenth
Floor, One White Flint North,
[[Page 66398]]
11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland, 20852, Attention: Rulemaking
and Adjudications Staff. Participants filing a document in this manner
are responsible for serving the document on all other participants.
Filing is considered complete by first-class mail as of the time of
deposit in the mail, or by courier, express mail, or expedited delivery
service upon depositing the document with the provider of the service.
A presiding officer, having granted an exemption request from using E-
Filing, may require a participant or party to use E-Filing if the
presiding officer subsequently determines that the reason for granting
the exemption from use of E-Filing no longer exists.
Documents submitted in adjudicatory proceedings will appear in
NRC's electronic hearing docket which is available to the public at
http://ehd.nrc.gov/EHD_Proceeding/home.asp, unless excluded pursuant
to an order of the Commission, or the presiding officer. Participants
are requested not to include personal privacy information, such as
social security numbers, home addresses, or home phone numbers in their
filings, unless an NRC regulation or other law requires submission of
such information. With respect to copyrighted works, except for limited
excerpts that serve the purpose of the adjudicatory filings and would
constitute a Fair Use application, participants are requested not to
include copyrighted materials in their submission.
Petitions for leave to intervene must be filed no later than 60
days from the date of publication of this notice. Non-timely filings
will not be entertained absent a determination by the presiding officer
that the petition or request should be granted or the contentions
should be admitted, based on a balancing of the factors specified in 10
CFR 2.309(c)(1)(i)-(viii).
For further details with respect to this license amendment
application, see the application for amendment dated May 30, 2008, as
supplemented by letters dated October 31, 2008, January 30, February 9,
February 23, May 31, August 3, September 29, and November 30, 2009. By
letter dated April 14, 2010, the licensee resubmitted the application
which superseded the content of the application letters dated May 30,
2008, and October 31, 2008. This resubmitted application, however, does
not supersede previous responses to request for additional information
submitted by letters dated January 30, February 9, February 23, May 31,
August 3, September 29, and November 30, 2009, which are available for
public inspection at the Commission's PDR, located at One White Flint
North, File Public Area O1 F21, 11555 Rockville Pike (first floor),
Rockville, Maryland. Publicly available records will be accessible
electronically from the Agencywide Documents Access and Management
System's (ADAMS) Public Electronic Reading Room on the Internet at the
NRC Web site, http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. Persons who do
not have access to ADAMS or who encounter problems in accessing the
documents located in ADAMS, should contact the NRC PDR Reference staff
by telephone at 1-800-397-4209, 301-415-4737, or by e-mail to
[email protected].
Attorney for licensee: Lara S. Nichols, Associate General Counsel,
Duke Energy Corporation, 526 South Church Street--EC07H, Charlotte, NC
28202
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 21st day of October 2010.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Jon Thompson,
Acting Project Manager, Plant Licensing Branch II-1, Division of
Operating Reactor Licensing, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 2010-27275 Filed 10-27-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P