[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 84 (Friday, May 1, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24982-24983]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-10246]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket Nos. 50-282, 50-306, and 72-10; NRC-2014-0236]


Northern States Power Company; Prairie Island Nuclear Generating 
Plant Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Exemption; issuance.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing an 
exemption in response to a May 16, 2013, request from Northern States 
Power Company (NSPM or the licensee), a Minnesota corporation doing 
business as Xcel Energy, for its specific license to operate an 
independent spent fuel storage installation (ISFSI) at the Prairie 
Island (PI) Nuclear Generating Plant. The licensee seeks relief from a 
regulatory provision with regard to the location of the primary alarm 
station.

DATES: Notice of issuance of exemption is given on May 1, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2014-0236 when contacting the 
NRC about the availability of information regarding this document. You 
may obtain publicly-available information related to this document 
using any of the following methods:
     Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2014-0236. Address 
question about NRC dockets to Carol Gallagher; telephone: 301-415-3463; 
email: [email protected]. For technical questions, contact the 
individual listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of 
this document.
     NRC's PDC: You may examine and purchase copies of public 
documents at the NRC's PDR, Room O1-F21, One White Flint North, 11555 
Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pamela Longmire, Ph.D., Office of 
Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory 
Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-7000; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The licensee possesses a specific license under part 72 of Title 10 
of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) for the storage of spent 
fuel in an ISFSI at the PI Nuclear Generating Plant. Section 72.180, 
``Physical protection plan,'' requires the licensee to comply with the 
physical protection requirements in 10 CFR 73.51, ``Requirements for 
the physical protection of stored spent nuclear fuel and high-level 
radioactive waste.'' The licensee is subject to the requirements of 10 
CFR 73.51(d)(3), which specifies the location, components, and 
requirements for the primary alarm station for the ISFSI.

II. Request/Action

    By letter dated May 16, 2013, NSPM submitted a request for an 
exemption from a specific portion of the requirements of 10 CFR 
73.51(d), ``Physical protection systems, components, and procedures.'' 
Specifically, the licensee seeks relief from a regulatory provision of 
10 CFR 73.51(d)(3) with regard to the location of the primary alarm 
station.
    The NRC has the authority under 10 CFR 73.5 to grant a specific 
exemption from these requirements if the exemption is authorized by law 
and will not endanger life or property or the common defense and 
security, and the exemption is otherwise in the public interest.

III. Discussion

    In accordance with the provisions of 10 CFR 73.21, physical 
protection plans for the storage of spent fuel and high-level 
radioactive waste are protected as Safeguards Information. This 
exemption request pertains to the location of the primary alarm 
station. The NRC evaluated the exemption request in greater detail in 
the safety evaluation report (SER). The SER is withheld from public 
disclosure in accordance with 10 CFR 2.390 because it contains security 
information.

A. Regulatory Evaluation

    In the final rule, ``Physical Protection for Spent Nuclear Fuel and 
High-Level Radioactive Waste'' (63 FR 26955; May 15, 1998), the 
introductory text of 10 CFR 73.51(d) was revised to more clearly 
indicate the Commission's intent that alternative measures may also be 
acceptable for meeting the performance objectives of 10 CFR 73.51(d).

B. Technical Evaluation

    Pursuant to 10 CFR 73.5, the Commission may, upon application by 
any interested person or upon its own initiative, grant such exemptions 
from the requirements of the regulations in 10 CFR part 73 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. The NRC reviewed this request to determine whether the 
exemption should be granted. The NRC's evaluation of this exemption 
request is set forth in the SER.
    The NRC has found that the NSPM meets the criteria for an exemption 
in 10 CFR 73.5. The NRC has determined that granting the exemption will 
not result in a violation of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, 
or otherwise violate the Commission's regulations. Therefore, the 
exemption is authorized by law. This exemption would not reduce the 
safeguards effectiveness of the physical security plan, and would

[[Page 24983]]

allow NSPM to continue to maintain the 10 CFR 73.51 performance 
objectives of high assurance of public health and safety and the common 
defense and security. Therefore, granting the exemption would not 
endanger life or property or the common defense and security. Lastly, 
issuance of the exemption would facilitate effective security 
management at the PI site. Therefore, issuance of the exemption is in 
the public interest.

C. Environmental Assessment

    The NRC also considered whether there would be any significant 
environmental impacts associated with the exemption. For this proposed 
action, the NRC performed an environmental assessment pursuant to 10 
CFR 51.30. The proposed action is the approval of a request to exempt 
the applicant from certain requirements of 10 CFR 73.51(d)(3).
    The environmental assessment concluded that the proposed action 
would not significantly impact the quality of the human environment. 
The NRC concludes that the proposed action would not result in any 
changes in the types or amounts of any radiological or non-radiological 
effluents that may be released offsite, and there would be no 
significant increase in occupational or public radiation exposure 
because of the proposed action. The environmental assessment and the 
finding of no significant impact were published in the Federal Register 
on October 24, 2014 (79 FR 63649).

IV. Conclusion

    Accordingly, the Commission has determined that, pursuant to 10 CFR 
73.5, this exemption is authorized by law, will not endanger life or 
property or the common defense and security, and is otherwise in the 
public interest. Therefore, the Commission hereby grants NSPM an 
exemption from certain requirements of 10 CFR 73.51(d)(3), as specified 
in the SER. The licensee did not request, and the Commission does not 
grant, relief from any other requirement in 10 CFR 73.51(d)(3) or any 
other provision.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 23rd day of April 2015.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Anthony H. Hsia,
Deputy Director, Division of Spent Fuel Management, Office of Nuclear 
Material Safety and Safeguards.
[FR Doc. 2015-10246 Filed 4-30-15; 8:45 am]
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