[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 239 (Wednesday, December 12, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74030-74032]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-29950]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-133; NRC-2012-0288]


Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Humboldt Bay Power Plant, Unit 
3; Schedular Exemption From Final Rule for Enhancements to Emergency 
Preparedness Regulations

1.0 Background

    On July 2, 1976, Humboldt Bay Power Plant (HBPP) Unit 3 was shut 
down for annual refueling and to conduct seismic modifications. The 
unit was never

[[Page 74031]]

restarted. In 1983, updated economic analyses indicated that restarting 
Unit 3 would probably not be cost-effective, and in June 1983, Pacific 
Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) announced its intention to decommission 
the unit. On July 16, 1985, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 
(NRC) issued Amendment No. 19 to the HBPP Unit 3 Operating License to 
change the status to possess-but-not-operate. (Agencywide Documents 
Access and Management System Accession No. 8507260045). In December of 
2008, the transfer of spent fuel from the fuel storage pool to the dry-
cask Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI) was completed, 
and the decontamination and dismantlement phase of HBPP Unit 3 
decommissioning commenced. Active decommissioning is currently 
underway.

2.0 Request/Action

    The NRC issued the Final Rule for Enhancements to Emergency 
Preparedness Regulations (Final Rule) in the Federal Register on 
November 23, 2011 (76 FR 72560). Certain portions of the Final Rule are 
required to be implemented by June 20, 2012, while other portions of 
the Final Rule have later implementation dates.
    By letter dated June 19, 2012 (ADAMS Accession No. ML12187A235), 
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E, the licensee) requested a 
schedular exemption which would extend the date for implementing 
certain sections of the Final Rule from June 20, 2012, to September 20, 
2012. The specific sections are:

For Security-Related Emergency Plan Issues:
    Emergency Action Levels for Hostile Action (10 CFR Part 50, 
Appendix E, IV.B)
    Emergency Response Organization Augmentation at Alternate 
Facility--capability for staging emergency organization personnel at an 
alternate facility and the capability for communications with the 
control room and plant security (10 CFR Part 50, Appendix E, IV.E.8.d)
    Protection for Onsite Personnel (10 CFR Part 50, Appendix E, IV.I)
For Non-Security Related Issues:
    Emergency Declaration Timeliness (10 CFR Part 50, Appendix E, 
IV.C.2.)
    Emergency Operations Facility--Performance Based Approach (10 CFR 
Part 50, Appendix E, IV.E.8.a.-c.)

    PG&E asserts that the Final Rule does not specifically address 
defueled, non-operating facilities such as HBPP, the Final Rule is not 
applicable to 10 CFR Part 72 ISFSI emergency plans, and therefore PG&E 
needs more time to evaluate the impact of the Final Rule on HBPP.

3.0 Discussion

    Through the Final Rule which became effective December 23, 2011, 
the NRC amended certain emergency preparedness (EP) requirements that 
apply to certain 10 CFR Parts 50 and Part 52 licensees and applicants. 
The Final Rule codified certain voluntary protective measures contained 
in NRC Bulletin 2005-02, ``Emergency Preparedness and Response Actions 
for Security-Based Events'' (BL-05-02) dated February 25, 2002, and 
generically applicable requirements similar to those previously imposed 
by Commission orders, in particular EA-02-026, ``Order for Interim 
Safeguards and Security Compensatory Measures,'' dated February 25, 
2002. In addition, the Final Rule amended other licensee emergency plan 
requirements based on a comprehensive review of the NRC's EP 
regulations and guidance. The requirements enhance the ability of 
licensees in preparing to take and taking certain EP and protective 
measures in the event of a radiological emergency; address, in part, 
security issues identified after the terrorist events of September 11, 
2001; clarify regulations to effect consistent emergency plan 
implementation among licensees; and modify certain EP requirements to 
be more effective and efficient.
    Pursuant to 10 CFR 50.12, the Commission may, upon application by 
any interested person or upon its own initiative, grant exemptions from 
the requirements of 10 CFR part 50 when (1) the exemptions are 
authorized by law, will not present an undue risk to public health or 
safety, and are consistent with the common defense and security; and 
(2) when special circumstances are present.
    This exemption would, as noted above, allow the licensee to defer 
compliance with portions of the new EP rule contained in 10 CFR part 
50, from June 20, 2012, until September 20, 2012. The Atomic Energy Act 
of 1954, as amended and the Commission's regulations permit the 
Commission to grant exemptions from the regulations in 10 CFR part 50. 
Granting exemptions is consistent with the authority provided to the 
Commission in the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended. Therefore, the 
exemption is authorized by law.
    The Final Rule incorporated several security-related emergency 
planning improvements that had previously been issued by Order EA-02-
026 or BL-05-02. EA-02-026 was sent only to operating power reactor 
licensees, and B-05-02 was sent only to holders of operating licenses 
for nuclear power reactors, except for those licensees who have 
permanently ceased operation and have certified that fuel has been 
removed from the reactor vessel. Although both the Order and Bulletin 
were not applicable to nuclear power reactor facilities that have 
permanently shutdown, such as Humboldt Bay, all aspects of the Final 
Rule are applicable to these licensees.
    The staff determined that Humboldt Bay's EP program met the 
baseline requirements of the previous version of the EP requirements in 
10 CFR 50.47, and 10 CFR part 50, Appendix E as previously approved by 
the NRC in the Decommissioning Safety Evaluation Report dated April 27, 
1987. The EP Final Rule was not necessary for adequate protection. The 
Federal Register notice for the Final Rule stated, ``the Commission has 
determined that the existing regulatory structure ensures adequate 
protection of public health and safety and common defense and 
security.'' Thus, compliance with the EP requirements in effect before 
the effective date of the EP Final Rule demonstrated reasonable 
assurance of adequate protection, and granting an extension of time to 
comply with portions of the EP Final Rule will not present an undue 
risk to public health or safety and is consistent with the common 
defense and security.
    The Humboldt Bay Site Emergency Plan is a joint emergency plan 
addressing both the 10 CFR part 50 licensed facility and the 10 CFR 
part 72 licensed ISFSI. The Emergency Plan does not include PG&E-
staffed offsite facilities or an onsite Technical Support Center. As 
stated in Section 2.0 above, the licensee has stated that the Final 
Rule does not specifically address defueled, non-operating facilities 
such as HBPP, it is not applicable to 10 CFR part 72 ISFSI emergency 
plans, and therefore PG&E is still evaluating the applicability of the 
Final Rule to HBPP. Because PG&E is still evaluating the applicability 
of the Final Rule to HBPP, special circumstances are present in that 
the licensee reasonably needs more time to assess the impact of the 
rule.

4.0 Conclusion

    The NRC staff reviewed the licensee's submittals and concludes that 
the licensee has justified its request for an extension of the 
compliance date with regard to five specific requirements of 10 CFR 
50.47, and Part 50, Appendix E until September 20, 2012.

[[Page 74032]]

    Accordingly, the Commission has determined that pursuant to 10 CFR 
50.12, ``Specific exemptions,'' an exemption from the June 20, 2012, 
compliance date is authorized by law and will not endanger life or 
property or the common defense and security, is otherwise in the public 
interest, and special circumstances are present. Therefore, the 
Commission hereby grants the requested exemption.
    As per the licensee's request and the NRC's regulatory authority to 
grant an exemption to the June 20, 2012, deadline for the five sections 
specified in the licensee's letter dated June 19, 2012, the licensee is 
required to be in compliance with 10 CFR part 50, Appendix E, IV.B, 10 
CFR part 50, Appendix E, IV.E, 10 CFR part 50, Appendix E, IV.I, 10 CFR 
part 50, Appendix E, IV.C, and 10 CFR part 50, Appendix E, IV.E.8, or 
request appropriate exemption by September 20, 2012.
    Pursuant to 10 CFR 51.32, ``Finding of no significant impact,'' the 
Commission has previously determined that the granting of this 
exemption will not have a significant effect on the quality of the 
human environment (77 FR 71198; November 29, 2012).
    This exemption is effective upon issuance.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 3rd day of December 2012.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Larry W. Camper,
Director, Division of Waste Management, and Environmental Protection, 
Office of Federal and State Materials, and Environmental Management 
Programs.
[FR Doc. 2012-29950 Filed 12-11-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P