[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 151 (Tuesday, August 6, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38297-38304]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-15132]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[NRC-2019-0146]
Applications and Amendments to Facility Operating Licenses and
Combined Licenses Involving Proposed No Significant Hazards
Considerations and Containing Sensitive Unclassified Non-Safeguards
Information and Safeguards Information and Order Imposing Procedures
for Access to Sensitive Unclassified Non-Safeguards Information and
Safeguards Information
AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: License amendment request; notice of opportunity to comment,
request a hearing, and petition for leave to intervene; order imposing
procedures.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) received and is
considering approval of one amendment request. The amendment request is
for Fort Calhoun Station, Unit No. 1. For the amendment request, the
NRC proposes to determine that it involves no significant hazards
consideration. Because the amendment request contains sensitive
unclassified non-safeguards information (SUNSI) and safeguards
information (SGI), an order imposes procedures to obtain access to
SUNSI and SGI for contention preparation.
DATES: Comments must be filed by September 5, 2019. A request for a
hearing must be filed by October 7, 2019. Any potential party as
defined in Sec. 2.4 of title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10
CFR), who believes access to SUNSI and/or SGI is necessary to respond
to this notice must request document access by August 16, 2019.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
Federal Rulemaking Website: Go to https://www.regulations.gov/ and search for Docket ID NRC-2019-0146. Address
questions about NRC dockets IDs in Regulations.gov to Jennifer Borges;
telephone: 301-287-9127; email: [email protected]. For technical
questions, contact the individual listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT section of this document.
Mail comments to: Office of Administration, Mail Stop:
TWFN-7-A60M, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-
0001, ATTN: Program Management, Announcements and Editing Staff.
For additional direction on obtaining information and submitting
comments, see ``Obtaining Information and Submitting Comments'' in the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paula Blechman, Office of Nuclear
Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington DC
20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-2242, email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Obtaining Information and Submitting Comments
A. Obtaining Information
Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2019-0146, facility name, unit
number(s), plant docket number, application date, and subject when
contacting the NRC about the availability of information for
[[Page 38298]]
this action. You may obtain publicly-available information related to
this action by any of the following methods:
Federal Rulemaking Website: Go to https://www.regulations.gov/ and search for Docket ID NRC-2019-0146.
NRC's Agencywide Documents Access and Management System
(ADAMS): You may obtain publicly-available documents online in the
ADAMS Public Documents collection at https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. To begin the search, select ``Begin Web-based ADAMS
Search.'' For problems with ADAMS, please contact the NRC's Public
Document Room (PDR) reference staff at 1-800-397-4209, 301-415-4737, or
by email to [email protected]. The ADAMS accession number for each
document referenced (if it is available in ADAMS) is provided the first
time that it is mentioned in this document.
NRC's PDR: 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.
B. Submitting Comments
Please include Docket ID NRC-2019-0146, facility name, unit
number(s), plant docket number, application date, and subject in your
comment submission.
The NRC cautions you not to include identifying or contact
information that you do not want to be publicly disclosed in your
comment submission. The NRC will post all comment submissions at
https://www.regulations.gov/ as well as enter the comment submissions
into ADAMS. The NRC does not routinely edit comment submissions to
remove identifying or contact information.
If you are requesting or aggregating comments from other persons
for submission to the NRC, then you should inform those persons not to
include identifying or contact information that they do not want to be
publicly disclosed in their comment submission. Your request should
state that the NRC does not routinely edit comment submissions to
remove such information before making the comment submissions available
to the public or entering the comment into ADAMS.
II. Background
Pursuant to Section 189a.(2) of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as
amended (the Act), the NRC is publishing this notice. The Act requires
the Commission to publish notice of any amendments issued, or proposed
to be issued, and grants the Commission the authority to issue and make
immediately effective any amendment to an operating license or combined
license, as applicable, upon a determination by the Commission that
such amendment involves no significant hazards consideration,
notwithstanding the pendency before the Commission of a request for a
hearing from any person.
This notice includes notices of amendments containing SUNSI and/or
SGI.
III. Notice of Consideration of Issuance of Amendments to Facility
Operating Licenses and Combined Licenses, Proposed No Significant
Hazards Consideration Determination, and Opportunity for a Hearing
The Commission has made a proposed determination that the following
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. The basis
for this proposed determination for the amendment request is shown
below.
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 if 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. If the Commission
takes action prior to the expiration of either the comment period or
the notice period, it will publish a notice of issuance in the Federal
Register. If the Commission makes 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.
A. Opportunity To Request a Hearing and Petition for Leave To Intervene
Within 60 days after the date of publication of this notice, any
persons (petitioner) whose interest may be affected by this action may
file a request for a hearing and petition for leave to intervene
(petition) with respect to the action. Petitions shall be filed in
accordance with the Commission's ``Agency Rules of Practice and
Procedure'' in 10 CFR part 2. Interested persons should consult a
current copy of 10 CFR 2.309. The NRC's regulations are accessible
electronically from the NRC Library on the NRC's website at https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/cfr/. Alternatively, a copy of
the regulations is available at the NRC's Public Document Room, located
at One White Flint North, Room O1-F21, 11555 Rockville Pike (first
floor), Rockville, Maryland 20852. If a petition is filed, the
Commission or a presiding officer will rule on the petition and, if
appropriate, a notice of a hearing will be issued.
As required by 10 CFR 2.309(d) the petition should specifically
explain the reasons why intervention should be permitted with
particular reference to the following general requirements for
standing: (1) The name, address, and telephone number of the
petitioner; (2) the nature of the petitioner's right under the Act to
be made a party to the proceeding; (3) the nature and extent of the
petitioner's property, financial, or other interest in the proceeding;
and (4) the possible effect of any decision or order which may be
entered in the proceeding on the petitioner's interest.
In accordance with 10 CFR 2.309(f), the petition must also set
forth the specific contentions which the petitioner seeks to have
litigated in 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 petitioner must 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
petitioner must also provide references to the specific sources and
documents on which the petitioner intends to rely to support its
position on the issue. The petition must include sufficient information
to show that a genuine dispute exists with the applicant or licensee on
a material issue of law or fact. Contentions must be limited to matters
within the scope of
[[Page 38299]]
the proceeding. The contention must be one which, if proven, would
entitle the petitioner to relief. A petitioner who fails to satisfy the
requirements at 10 CFR 2.309(f) 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.
Parties have the opportunity to participate fully in the conduct of the
hearing with respect to resolution of that party's admitted
contentions, including the opportunity to present evidence, consistent
with the NRC's regulations, policies, and procedures.
Petitions must be filed no later than 60 days from the date of
publication of this notice. Petitions and motions for leave to file new
or amended contentions that are filed after the deadline will not be
entertained absent a determination by the presiding officer that the
filing demonstrates good cause by satisfying the three factors in 10
CFR 2.309(c)(1)(i) through (iii). The petition must be filed in
accordance with the filing instructions in the ``Electronic Submissions
(E-Filing)'' section of this document.
If a hearing is requested, and the Commission has not made a final
determination on the issue of no significant hazards consideration, the
Commission will make a final determination on the issue of no
significant hazards consideration. The final determination will serve
to establish 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 would take place after issuance of the amendment. If the final
determination is that the amendment request involves a significant
hazards consideration, then any hearing held would take place before
the issuance of the amendment unless the Commission finds an imminent
danger to the health or safety of the public, in which case it will
issue an appropriate order or rule under 10 CFR part 2.
A State, local governmental body, Federally-recognized Indian
Tribe, or agency thereof, may submit a petition to the Commission to
participate as a party under 10 CFR 2.309(h)(1). The petition should
state the nature and extent of the petitioner's interest in the
proceeding. The petition should be submitted to the Commission no later
than 60 days from the date of publication of this notice. The petition
must be filed in accordance with the filing instructions in the
``Electronic Submissions (E-Filing)'' section of this document, and
should meet the requirements for petitions set forth in this section,
except that under 10 CFR 2.309(h)(2) a State, local governmental body,
or Federally-recognized Indian Tribe, or agency thereof does not need
to address the standing requirements in 10 CFR 2.309(d) if the facility
is located within its boundaries. Alternatively, a State, local
governmental body, Federally-recognized Indian Tribe, or agency thereof
may participate as a non-party under 10 CFR 2.315(c).
If a hearing is granted, any person who is not a party to the
proceeding and is not affiliated with or represented by a party may, at
the discretion of the presiding officer, be permitted to make a limited
appearance pursuant to the provisions of 10 CFR 2.315(a). A person
making a limited appearance may make an oral or written statement of
his or her position on the issues but may not otherwise participate in
the proceeding. A limited appearance may be made at any session of the
hearing or at any prehearing conference, subject to the limits and
conditions as may be imposed by the presiding officer. Details
regarding the opportunity to make a limited appearance will be provided
by the presiding officer if such sessions are scheduled.
B. Electronic Submissions (E-Filing)
All documents filed in NRC adjudicatory proceedings, including a
request for hearing and petition for leave to intervene (petition), 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 that request to
participate under 10 CFR 2.315(c), must be filed in accordance with the
NRC's E-Filing rule (72 FR 49139; August 28, 2007, as amended at 77 FR
46562; August 3, 2012). 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. Detailed
guidance on making electronic submissions may be found in the Guidance
for Electronic Submissions to the NRC and on the NRC website at https://www.nrc.gov/site-help/e-submittals.html. 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 10
days prior to the filing deadline, the participant should contact the
Office of the Secretary by email at [email protected], or by
telephone at 301-415-1677, to (1) request a digital identification (ID)
certificate, which allows the participant (or its counsel or
representative) to digitally sign submissions and access the E-Filing
system for any proceeding in which it is participating; and (2) advise
the Secretary that the participant will be submitting a petition or
other adjudicatory document (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 the NRC's public website at https://www.nrc.gov/site-help/e-submittals/getting-started.html. Once a participant has obtained a
digital ID certificate and a docket has been created, the participant
can then submit adjudicatory documents. Submissions must be in Portable
Document Format (PDF). Additional guidance on PDF submissions is
available on the NRC's public website at https://www.nrc.gov/site-help/electronic-sub-ref-mat.html. A filing is considered complete at the
time the document is 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 email notice confirming receipt of the document. The
E-Filing system also distributes an email notice that provides access
to the document to the NRC's 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
document on those participants separately. Therefore, applicants and
other participants (or their counsel or representative) must apply for
and receive a digital ID certificate before adjudicatory documents are
filed so that they can obtain access to the documents via the E-Filing
system.
A person filing electronically using the NRC's adjudicatory E-
Filing system may seek assistance by contacting the NRC's Electronic
Filing Help Desk through the ``Contact Us'' link located on the NRC's
public website at https://www.nrc.gov/site-help/e-submittals.html, by
email to
[[Page 38300]]
[email protected], or by a toll-free call at 1-866-672-7640. The
NRC Electronic Filing Help Desk is available between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.,
Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, excluding government holidays.
Participants who believe that they have 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
stating why there is good cause for not filing electronically and
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, 11555
Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852, Attention: Rulemaking and
Adjudications Staff. Participants filing adjudicatory documents 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 the
NRC's electronic hearing docket which is available to the public at
https://adams.nrc.gov/ehd, unless excluded pursuant to an order of the
Commission or the presiding officer. If you do not have an NRC-issued
digital ID certificate as described above, click ``Cancel'' when the
link requests certificates and you will be automatically directed to
the NRC's electronic hearing dockets where you will be able to access
any publicly available documents in a particular hearing docket.
Participants are requested not to include personal privacy information,
such as social security numbers, home addresses, or personal phone
numbers in their filings, unless an NRC regulation or other law
requires submission of such information. For example, in some
instances, individuals provide home addresses in order to demonstrate
proximity to a facility or site. 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.
For further details with respect to this license amendment
application, see the application for amendment which is available for
public inspection in ADAMS and at the NRC's PDR. For additional
direction on accessing information related to this document, see the
``Accessing Information and Submitting Comments'' section of this
document.
Omaha Public Power District, Docket No. 50-285, Fort Calhoun Station,
Unit No. 1 (FCS), Washington County, Nebraska
Date of amendment request: February 28, 2019, as supplemented by
letter dated May 20, 2019. Publicly-available versions are in ADAMS
under Accession Nos. ML19065A055 and ML19140A390, respectively.
Description of amendment request: This amendment request contains
SGI. The proposed amendment would revise the Security Plan, Training
and Qualification Plan, and Safeguards Contingency Plan (the ``Plan''
or ``Security Plan'') at the FCS. The Security Plan will supersede the
current Security Plan, Training and Qualification Plan, and Safeguards
Contingency Plan at FCS. These changes will more fully reflect the
permanently shutdown and defueled status of the facility, as well as
the reduced scope of potential radiological accidents and security
concerns, once all spent fuel has been permanently moved to dry cask
storage within the onsite FCS independent spent fuel storage
installation (ISFSI), an activity which is currently scheduled for
completion in mid-2020.
Basis for proposed no significant hazards consideration
determination: 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.
The irradiated fuel at FCS is currently stored in the spent fuel
pool (SFP) and at the ISFSI. In this condition, the number of
credible accidents/transients is significantly smaller than for a
plant authorized to operate the reactor or emplace of retain fuel in
the reactor vessel. Accidents/transients that are no longer
applicable in a permanently defueled condition have been deleted
from the FCS Safety Analysis Report, as updated (DSAR) Chapter 14.
One of the remaining DSAR Chapter 14 accidents is the Fuel Handling
Accident (FHA). However, as previously discussed, the Plan reflects
the future site configuration where all the remaining spent fuel in
the SFP has been moved to the ISFSI and there are no requirements to
return spent fuel to the SFP. The FHA will no longer be credible
after all fuel has been removed from the SFP.
The casks are maintained in accordance with the provisions of
the general license for the FCS ISFSI, utilizing the TN Americas
LLC, 32PT Dry Shield Canister (DSC), Certificate of Compliance No.
72-1004, and in accordance with the associated NUH-003 Updated Final
Safety Analysis Report (UFSAR) for the Standardized NUHOMS[supreg]
Horizontal Modular Storage System for Irradiated Nuclear Fuel. The
32PT DSC consists of spent nuclear fuel residing within a fuel
basket structure contained within the sealed metallic canister. The
Horizontal Storage Module 202 System (HSM-202) receives and contains
the sealed DSC for long term storage, and provides gamma and neutron
shielding, ventilation passages, missile protection, and protection
against natural phenomena and accidents for the DSC. The NUH-003
UFSAR, Section 8.2, Accident Analysis, provides the evaluation of
accidents for the 32PT and HSM-202 System which satisfies the
minimum acceptance criteria. In which accident conditions are
analyzed to demonstrate that the requirements of 10 CFR 72.122 are
met and that adequate safety margins exist for the NUHOMS[supreg]
system design.
The 32PT DSC and HSM-202 System provides the spent nuclear fuel
and radioactive material in storage with confinement, radiation
shielding, criticality and passive heat removal, independent of
other facility structures, systems, and components (SSCs).
The proposed amendment has no effect on the capability of any
facility SSC to perform its design function. The modifications
associated with these changes do not significantly affect the
ability of the DSC and HSM to perform their functions as described
in the NUH-003 UFSAR. Hence, the proposed amendment has no effect on
the ability of the Cask System to perform its design function nor
would it increase the likelihood of an accident previously
evaluated. The proposed amendment would not increase the likelihood
of the malfunction of any plant SSC. Therefore, the proposed
amendment does not involve a significant increase in the probability
or consequences of a previously evaluated accident.
2. Does the proposed amendment create the possibility of a new
or different kind of accident from any accident previously
evaluated?
Response: No.
The proposed amendment does not involve major physical
alterations of any facility SSCs or Cask System components required
to mitigate or prevent any accident previously evaluated and does
not have a significant effect on the capability of any facility SSC
or Cask System component to perform its design functions. Minor
modifications are associated
[[Page 38301]]
with this proposed amendment (e.g. Vehicle Barrier System (VBS)
relocation, wiring changes in security equipment, the addition of
telecommunications equipment, and software changes to the security
computer system). The proposed license amendment would not
physically change any SSCs involved in the mitigation of any
postulated accident. Thus, no new initiators or precursors of new or
different kind of accident are created. Furthermore, the proposed
amendment does not create the possibility of a new failure mode
associated with any equipment failures. The credible events for the
ISFSI remain unchanged.
Therefore, the proposed changes do not create the possibility of
new or different kind of accident from any previously evaluated.
3. Does the proposed amendment involve a significant reduction
in a margin of safety?
Response: No.
Because the 10 CFR part 50 license for FCS no longer authorizes
operation of the reaction or emplacement or retention of fuel into
the reactor vessel, as specified in 10 CFR 50.82(a)(2), the
occurrence of postulated accidents associated with reactor operation
is no longer credible. The modifications associated with the
proposed amendment include lighting, intruder detection systems,
protected area boundary fencing, access control system,
telecommunications equipment, VBS relocation, and a central alarm
station. The proposed amendment does not involve a significant
change in any facility SSCs or Cask System component's design,
configuration, or operation. Therefore, the modifications associated
with this proposed amendment do not significantly affect the
capability or manner in which facility SSCs or Cask System
components perform their safety functions or the safety.
Therefore, the proposed amendment does not involve a significant
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.
Attorney for licensee: Stephen M. Bruckner, Attorney, Fraser
Stryker PC LLO, 500 Energy Plaza, 409 South 17th Street, Omaha, NE
68102.
NRC Branch Chief: Bruce Watson, CHP.
Order Imposing Procedures for Access to Sensitive Unclassified Non-
Safeguards Information and Safeguards Information for Contention
Preparation
Omaha Public Power District, Docket No. 50-285, Fort Calhoun Station,
Unit No. 1, Washington County, Nebraska
A. This Order contains instructions regarding how potential parties
to this proceeding may request access to documents containing sensitive
unclassified information (including SUNSI and SGI). Requirements for
access to SGI are primarily set forth in 10 CFR parts 2 and 73. Nothing
in this Order is intended to conflict with the SGI regulations.
B. Within 10 days after publication of this notice of hearing and
opportunity to petition for leave to intervene, any potential party who
believes access to SUNSI or SGI is necessary to respond to this notice
may request access to SUNSI or SGI. A ``potential party'' is any person
who intends to participate as a party by demonstrating standing and
filing an admissible contention under 10 CFR 2.309. Requests for access
to SUNSI or SGI submitted later than 10 days after publication will not
be considered absent a showing of good cause for the late filing,
addressing why the request could not have been filed earlier.
C. The requestor shall submit a letter requesting permission to
access SUNSI, SGI, or both to the Office of the Secretary, U.S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, Attention:
Rulemakings and Adjudications Staff, and provide a copy to the Deputy
General Counsel for Hearings and Administration, Office of the General
Counsel, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001.
The expedited delivery or courier mail address for both offices is:
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville,
Maryland 20852. The email address for the Office of the Secretary and
the Office of the General Counsel are [email protected] and
[email protected], respectively.\1\ The request must
include the following information:
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\1\ While a request for hearing or petition to intervene in this
proceeding must comply with the filing requirements of the NRC's
``E-Filing Rule,'' the initial request to access SUNSI and/or SGI
under these procedures should be submitted as described in this
paragraph.
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(1) A description of the licensing action with a citation to this
Federal Register notice;
(2) The name and address of the potential party and a description
of the potential party's particularized interest that could be harmed
by the action identified in C.(1);
(3) If the request is for SUNSI, the identity of the individual or
entity requesting access to SUNSI and the requestor's basis for the
need for the information in order to meaningfully participate in this
adjudicatory proceeding. In particular, the request must explain why
publicly available versions of the information requested would not be
sufficient to provide the basis and specificity for a proffered
contention; and
(4) If the request is for SGI, the identity of each individual who
would have access to SGI if the request is granted, including the
identity of any expert, consultant, or assistant who will aid the
requestor in evaluating the SGI. In addition, the request must contain
the following information:
(a) A statement that explains each individual's ``need to know''
the SGI, as required by 10 CFR 73.2 and 10 CFR 73.22(b)(1). Consistent
with the definition of ``need to know'' as stated in 10 CFR 73.2, the
statement must explain:
(i) Specifically why the requestor believes that the information is
necessary to enable the requestor to proffer and/or adjudicate a
specific contention in this proceeding; \2\ and
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\2\ Broad SGI requests under these procedures are unlikely to
meet the standard for need to know; furthermore, NRC staff redaction
of information from requested documents before their release may be
appropriate to comport with this requirement. These procedures do
not authorize unrestricted disclosure or less scrutiny of a
requestor's need to know than ordinarily would be applied in
connection with an already-admitted contention or non-adjudicatory
access to SGI.
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(ii) The technical competence (demonstrable knowledge, skill,
training or education) of the requestor to effectively utilize the
requested SGI to provide the basis and specificity for a proffered
contention. The technical competence of a potential party or its
counsel may be shown by reliance on a qualified expert, consultant, or
assistant who satisfies these criteria.
(b) A completed Form SF-85, ``Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive
Positions,'' for each individual who would have access to SGI. The
completed Form SF-85 will be used by the Office of Administration to
conduct the background check required for access to SGI, as required by
10 CFR part 2, subpart C, and 10 CFR 73.22(b)(2), to determine the
requestor's trustworthiness and reliability. For security reasons, Form
SF-85 can only be submitted electronically through the Electronic
Questionnaires for Investigations Processing website, a secure website
that is owned and operated by the Office of Personnel Management. To
obtain online access to the form, the requestor should contact the
NRC's Office of Administration at 301-415-3710.\3\
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\3\ The requestor will be asked to provide his or her full name,
social security number, date and place of birth, telephone number,
and email address. After providing this information, the requestor
usually should be able to obtain access to the online form within
one business day.
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(c) A completed Form FD-258 (fingerprint card), signed in original
ink,
[[Page 38302]]
and submitted in accordance with 10 CFR 73.57(d). Copies of Form FD-258
may be obtained by writing the Office of Administrative Services, Mail
Services Center, Mail Stop P1-37, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission,
Washington, DC 20555-0001, or by email to [email protected]. The
fingerprint card will be used to satisfy the requirements of 10 CFR
part 2, subpart C, 10 CFR 73.22(b)(1), and Section 149 of the Atomic
Energy Act of 1954, as amended, which mandates that all persons with
access to SGI must be fingerprinted for an Federal Bureau of
Investigation identification and criminal history records check.
(d) A check or money order payable in the amount of $357.00 \4\ to
the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission for each individual for whom the
request for access has been submitted.
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\4\ This fee is subject to change pursuant to the Office of
Personnel Management's adjustable billing rates.
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(e) If the requestor or any individual(s) who will have access to
SGI believes they belong to one or more of the categories of
individuals that are exempt from the criminal history records check and
background check requirements in 10 CFR 73.59, the requestor should
also provide a statement identifying which exemption the requestor is
invoking and explaining the requestor's basis for believing that the
exemption applies. While processing the request, the Office of
Administration, Personnel Security Branch, will make a final
determination whether the claimed exemption applies. Alternatively, the
requestor may contact the Office of Administration for an evaluation of
their exemption status prior to submitting their request. Persons who
are exempt from the background check are not required to complete the
SF-85 or Form FD-258; however, all other requirements for access to
SGI, including the need to know, are still applicable.
Note: Copies of documents and materials required by paragraphs
C.(4)(b), (c), and (d) of this Order must be sent to the following
address: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, ATTN: Personnel Security
Branch, Mailstop TWFN-07D04M, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD
20852. These documents and materials should not be included with the
request letter to the Office of the Secretary, but the request letter
should state that the forms and fees have been submitted as required.
D. To avoid delays in processing requests for access to SGI, the
requestor should review all submitted materials for completeness and
accuracy (including legibility) before submitting them to the NRC. The
NRC will return incomplete packages to the sender without processing.
E. Based on an evaluation of the information submitted under
paragraphs C.(3) or C.(4) above, as applicable, the NRC staff will
determine within 10 days of receipt of the request whether:
(1) There is a reasonable basis to believe the petitioner is likely
to establish standing to participate in this NRC proceeding; and
(2) The requestor has established a legitimate need for access to
SUNSI or need to know the SGI requested.
F. For requests for access to SUNSI, if the NRC staff determines
that the requestor satisfies both E.(1) and E.(2) above, the NRC staff
will notify the requestor in writing that access to SUNSI has been
granted. The written notification will contain instructions on how the
requestor may obtain copies of the requested documents, and any other
conditions that may apply to access to those documents. These
conditions may include, but are not limited to, the signing of a Non-
Disclosure Agreement or Affidavit, or Protective Order setting forth
terms and conditions to prevent the unauthorized or inadvertent
disclosure of SUNSI by each individual who will be granted access to
SUNSI.\5\
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\5\ Any motion for Protective Order or draft Non-Disclosure
Affidavit or Agreement for SUNSI must be filed with the presiding
officer or the Chief Administrative Judge if the presiding officer
has not yet been designated, within 30 days of the deadline for the
receipt of the written access request.
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G. For requests for access to SGI, if the NRC staff determines that
the requestor has satisfied both E.(1) and E.(2) above, the Office of
Administration will then determine, based upon completion of the
background check, whether the proposed recipient is trustworthy and
reliable, as required for access to SGI by 10 CFR 73.22(b). If the
Office of Administration determines that the individual or individuals
are trustworthy and reliable, the NRC will promptly notify the
requestor in writing. The notification will provide the names of
approved individuals as well as the conditions under which the SGI will
be provided. Those conditions may include, but are not limited to, the
signing of a Non-Disclosure Agreement or Affidavit, or Protective Order
\6\ by each individual who will be granted access to SGI.
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\6\ Any motion for Protective Order or draft Non- Disclosure
Agreement or Affidavit for SGI must be filed with the presiding
officer or the Chief Administrative Judge if the presiding officer
has not yet been designated, within 180 days of the deadline for the
receipt of the written access request.
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H. Release and Storage of SGI. Prior to providing SGI to the
requestor, the NRC staff will conduct (as necessary) an inspection to
confirm that the recipient's information protection system is
sufficient to satisfy the requirements of 10 CFR 73.22. Alternatively,
recipients may opt to view SGI at an approved SGI storage location
rather than establish their own SGI protection program to meet SGI
protection requirements.
I. Filing of Contentions. Any contentions in these proceedings that
are based upon the information received as a result of the request made
for SUNSI or SGI must be filed by the requestor no later than 25 days
after receipt of (or access to) that information. However, if more than
25 days remain between the petitioner's receipt of (or access to) the
information and the deadline for filing all other contentions (as
established in the notice of hearing or opportunity for hearing), the
petitioner may file its SUNSI or SGI contentions by that later
deadline.
J. Review of Denials of Access.
(1) If the request for access to SUNSI or SGI is denied by the NRC
staff either after a determination on standing and requisite need, or
after a determination on trustworthiness and reliability, the NRC staff
shall immediately notify the requestor in writing, briefly stating the
reason or reasons for the denial.
(2) Before the Office of Administration makes a final adverse
determination regarding the trustworthiness and reliability of the
proposed recipient(s) for access to SGI, the Office of Administration,
in accordance with 10 CFR 2.336(f)(1)(iii), must provide the proposed
recipient(s) any records that were considered in the trustworthiness
and reliability determination, including those required to be provided
under 10 CFR 73.57(e)(1), so that the proposed recipient(s) have an
opportunity to correct or explain the record.
(3) The requestor may challenge the NRC staff's adverse
determination with respect to access to SUNSI or with respect to
standing or need to know for SGI by filing a challenge within 5 days of
receipt of that determination with: (a) The presiding officer
designated in this proceeding; (b) if no presiding officer has been
appointed, the Chief Administrative Judge, or if he or she is
unavailable, another administrative judge, or an Administrative Law
Judge with jurisdiction pursuant to 10 CFR 2.318(a); or (c) if another
officer has been designated to rule on information access issues, with
that officer.
(4) The requestor may challenge the Office of Administration's
final adverse
[[Page 38303]]
determination with respect to trustworthiness and reliability for
access to SGI by filing a request for review in accordance with 10 CFR
2.336(f)(1)(iv).
(5) Further appeals of decisions under this paragraph must be made
pursuant to 10 CFR 2.311.
K. Review of Grants of Access. A party other than the requestor may
challenge an NRC staff determination granting access to SUNSI whose
release would harm that party's interest independent of the proceeding.
Such a challenge must be filed within 5 days of the notification by the
NRC staff of its grant of access and must be filed with: (a) The
presiding officer designated in this proceeding; (b) if no presiding
officer has been appointed, the Chief Administrative Judge, or if he or
she is unavailable, another administrative judge, or an Administrative
Law Judge with jurisdiction pursuant to 10 CFR 2.318(a); or (c) if
another officer has been designated to rule on information access
issues, with that officer.
If challenges to the NRC staff determinations are filed, these
procedures give way to the normal process for litigating disputes
concerning access to information. The availability of interlocutory
review by the Commission of orders ruling on such NRC staff
determinations (whether granting or denying access) is governed by 10
CFR 2.311.\7\
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\7\ Requestors should note that the filing requirements of the
NRC's E-Filing Rule (72 FR 49139; August 28, 2007, as amended at 77
FR 46562; August 3, 2012) apply to appeals of NRC staff
determinations (because they must be served on a presiding officer
or the Commission, as applicable), but not to the initial SUNSI/SGI
request submitted to the NRC staff under these procedures.
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L. The Commission expects that the NRC staff and presiding officers
(and any other reviewing officers) will consider and resolve requests
for access to SUNSI or SGI, and motions for protective orders, in a
timely fashion in order to minimize any unnecessary delays in
identifying those petitioners who have standing and who have propounded
contentions meeting the specificity and basis requirements in 10 CFR
part 2. The attachment to this Order summarizes the general target
schedule for processing and resolving requests under these procedures.
It is so ordered.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 11th day of July, 2019.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Annette L. Vietti-Cook,
Secretary of the Commission.
Attachment 1--General Target Schedule for Processing and Resolving
Requests for Access to Sensitive Unclassified Non-Safeguards
Information and Safeguards Information in This Proceeding
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Day Event/activity
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0........................... Publication of Federal Register notice of
hearing and opportunity to petition for
leave to intervene, including order with
instructions for access requests.
10.......................... Deadline for submitting requests for
access to Sensitive Unclassified
NonSafeguards Information (SUNSI) and/or
Safeguards Information (SGI) with
information: Supporting the standing of a
potential party identified by name and
address; describing the need for the
information in order for the potential
party to participate meaningfully in an
adjudicatory proceeding; demonstrating
that access should be granted (e.g.,
showing technical competence for access
to SGI); and, for SGI, including
application fee for fingerprint/
background check.
60.......................... Deadline for submitting petition for
intervention containing: (i)
Demonstration of standing; (ii) all
contentions whose formulation does not
require access to SUNSI and/or SGI (+25
Answers to petition for intervention; +7
requestor/petitioner reply).
20.......................... U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
staff informs the requestor of the
staff's determination whether the request
for access provides a reasonable basis to
believe standing can be established and
shows (1) need for SUNSI or (2) need to
know for SGI. (For SUNSI, NRC staff also
informs any party to the proceeding whose
interest independent of the proceeding
would be harmed by the release of the
information.) If NRC staff makes the
finding of need for SUNSI and likelihood
of standing, NRC staff begins document
processing (preparation of redactions or
review of redacted documents). If NRC
staff makes the finding of need to know
for SGI and likelihood of standing, NRC
staff begins background check (including
fingerprinting for a criminal history
records check), information processing
(preparation of redactions or review of
redacted documents), and readiness
inspections.
25.......................... If NRC staff finds no ``need,'' no ``need
to know,'' or no likelihood of standing,
the deadline for requestor/petitioner to
file a motion seeking a ruling to reverse
the NRC staff's denial of access; NRC
staff files copy of access determination
with the presiding officer (or Chief
Administrative Judge or other designated
officer, as appropriate). If NRC staff
finds ``need'' for SUNSI, the deadline
for any party to the proceeding whose
interest independent of the proceeding
would be harmed by the release of the
information to file a motion seeking a
ruling to reverse the NRC staff's grant
of access.
30.......................... Deadline for NRC staff reply to motions to
reverse NRC staff determination(s).
40.......................... (Receipt +30) If NRC staff finds standing
and need for SUNSI, deadline for NRC
staff to complete information processing
and file motion for Protective Order and
draft Non-Disclosure Affidavit. Deadline
for applicant/licensee to file Non-
Disclosure Agreement for SUNSI.
190......................... (Receipt +180) If NRC staff finds
standing, need to know for SGI, and
trustworthiness and reliability, deadline
for NRC staff to file motion for
Protective Order and draft Non-disclosure
Affidavit (or to make a determination
that the proposed recipient of SGI is not
trustworthy or reliable). Note: Before
the Office of Administration makes a
final adverse determination regarding
access to SGI, the proposed recipient
must be provided an opportunity to
correct or explain information.
205......................... Deadline for petitioner to seek reversal
of a final adverse NRC staff
trustworthiness or reliability
determination under 10 CFR
2.336(f)(1)(iv).
A........................... If access granted: Issuance of a decision
by a presiding officer or other
designated officer on motion for
protective order for access to sensitive
information (including schedule for
providing access and submission of
contentions) or decision reversing a
final adverse determination by the NRC
staff.
A + 3....................... Deadline for filing executed Non-
Disclosure Affidavits. Access provided to
SUNSI and/or SGI consistent with decision
issuing the protective order.
A + 28...................... Deadline for submission of contentions
whose development depends upon access to
SUNSI and/or SGI. However, if more than
25 days remain between the petitioner's
receipt of (or access to) the information
and the deadline for filing all other
contentions (as established in the notice
of opportunity to request a hearing and
petition for leave to intervene), the
petitioner may file its SUNSI or SGI
contentions by that later deadline.
A + 53...................... (Contention receipt +25) Answers to
contentions whose development depends
upon access to SUNSI and/or SGI.
A + 60...................... (Answer receipt +7) Petitioner/Intervenor
reply to answers.
>A + 60..................... Decision on contention admission.
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[[Page 38304]]
[FR Doc. 2019-15132 Filed 8-5-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P