[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 116 (Tuesday, June 16, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36428-36432]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-12961]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket Nos. 50-331; 50-445; 50-446; 50-341; 50-261; 50-354; 50-272; 
50-311; 50-284; 50-166; 50-020; 50-184; 50-277; 50-278; 50-186; 50-424; 
50-425; NRC-2020-0110]


Issuance of Multiple Exemptions in Response to COVID-19; Public 
Health Emergency

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Exemptions; issuance.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued 16 
exemptions in response to requests from 12 licensees. The exemptions 
allow these licensees temporary relief from certain requirements under 
NRC regulations. The exemptions are in response to the COVID-19 public 
health emergency (PHE). The NRC is issuing a single notice to announce 
the issuance of the exemptions.

DATES: The 16 exemptions were issued between May 7, 2020, and May 29, 
2020.

ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2020-0110 when contacting the

[[Page 36429]]

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 Website: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2020-0110. Address 
questions about NRC docket 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.
     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].
    For the convenience of the reader, instructions about obtaining 
materials referenced in this document are provided in the 
``Availability of Documents'' section.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Danna, Office of Nuclear Reactor 
Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington DC 20555-
0001; telephone: 301-415-7422, email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Introduction

    The NRC issued 16 exemptions to 12 licensees in response to 
requests dated between April 30, 2020, and May 21, 2020. These 
exemptions temporarily allow the licensees to deviate from certain 
requirements (as cited below) of various parts of chapter I of Title 10 
of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR).
    The exemption from certain requirements of 10 CFR part 20 for the 
University of Missouri-Columbia (for its research reactor) allows the 
licensee temporary relief from the respirator fit-testing requirements 
of 10 CFR 20.1703(c)(6). This temporary exemption does not conflict 
with practices recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention to limit the spread of COVID-19. The licensee has committed 
to implement a licensee-specific process to manage any personnel with 
overdue respiratory protection fit-tests while ensuring the safety of 
its workers.
    The exemption from certain requirements of 10 CFR part 26 for DTE 
Electric Company (for Fermi 2) allows the licensee temporary relief 
from the work-hour controls under 10 CFR 26.205(d)(1) through (d)(7). 
The licensee stated that its staffing levels are affected or are 
expected to be affected by the COVID-19 PHE, and it can no longer meet 
or likely will not meet the work-hour controls of 10 CFR 26.205(d)(1) 
through (d)(7). The licensee has committed to implementing site-
specific administrative controls for COVID-19 PHE fatigue-management 
for personnel specified in 10 CFR 26.4(a). This temporary exemption 
from certain requirements of 10 CFR part 26 ensures that the licensee's 
control of work hours and management of worker fatigue do not unduly 
limit licensee flexibility in using personnel resources to most 
effectively manage the impacts of the COVID-19 PHE on maintaining the 
safe operation of this facility.
    The exemptions from certain requirements of 10 CFR part 55 for 
Idaho State University (for its research reactor); Massachusetts 
Institute of Technology (for its research reactor); National Institute 
of Standards and Technology (for its test reactor); PSEG Nuclear LLC 
(for the Hope Creek Generating Station and Salem Nuclear Generating 
Station, Units 1 and 2); and University of Maryland (for its training 
reactor) allow these licensees temporary exemptions from requirements 
related to licensed operator requalification program scheduling (under 
10 CFR 55.59(a)(1), 10 CFR 55.59(a)(2), and 10 CFR 55.59(c)(1)); 
licensed operator active status for research and test reactors (under 
10 CFR 55.53(e)); and delays in completion of biennial medical 
examinations of licensed operators and senior operators (under 10 CFR 
55.21 and 10 CFR 55.53(i)). These licensees have committed to 
compensatory measures to address the delay in receipt of 
recommendations from a licensed physician concerning their licensed 
operator's health. These licensees have also committed to implement a 
program to evaluate operator performance in the facility and control 
room to identify and correct operator performance issues in a timely 
manner. Lastly, the research, training, and test reactor licensees 
committed to use alternative measures for the hours under the 4-hour 
minimum of 10 CFR 55.53(e).
    The exemptions from certain requirements of 10 CFR part 73 for Duke 
Energy Progress, LLC (for the H. B. Robinson Steam Electric Plant, Unit 
2); Exelon Generation Company, LLC (for the Peach Bottom Atomic Power 
Station, Units 2 and 3); PSEG Nuclear LLC (for the Hope Creek 
Generating Station and Salem Nuclear Generating Station, Units 1 and 
2); NextEra Energy Duane Arnold, LLC (for the Duane Arnold Energy 
Center); Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc. (for the Vogtle 
Electric Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2); and Vistra Operations 
Company, LLC (for the Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant, Units 1 and 
2), allow these licensees temporary exemptions from certain 
requirements of 10 CFR part 73, Appendix B, ``General Criteria for 
Security Personnel,'' Section VI. The exemptions will help to ensure 
that these regulatory requirements do not unduly limit licensee 
flexibility in using personnel resources in a manner that most 
effectively manages the impacts of the COVID-19 PHE on maintaining the 
safe and secure operation of these facilities and the implementation of 
a licensee's NRC-approved security plans, protective strategy, and 
implementing procedures. These licensees have committed to certain 
security measures to ensure response readiness and for their security 
personnel to maintain performance capability.
    The NRC is providing compiled tables of exemptions using a single 
Federal Register notice for COVID-19-related exemptions instead of 
issuing individual Federal Register notices for each exemption. The 
compiled tables below provide transparency regarding the number of 
exemptions the NRC is issuing. Additionally, the NRC publishes tables 
of approved regulatory actions related to the COVID-19 PHE on its 
public website at https://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/covid-19/reactors/licensing-actions.html.

II. Availability of Documents

    The tables below provide the facility name, docket number, document 
title, and ADAMS accession number for each exemption issued. Additional 
details on each exemption issued, including the exemption request 
submitted by the respective licensee and the NRC's decision, are 
provided in each exemption approval listed on the tables below. For 
additional directions on accessing information in ADAMS, see the 
ADDRESSES section of this document.

[[Page 36430]]



              Duane Arnold Energy Center--Docket No. 50-331
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                 Document title                     ADAMS accession No.
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Duane Arnold Energy Center--Exemption Request     ML20122A130 (non-
 for Security Training Requirements Due to COVID-  public, withheld
 19 Pandemic, dated May 1, 2020.                   under 10 CFR 2.390).
Duane Arnold Energy Center--Response to Request   ML20141L497.
 for Additional Information Regarding Exemption
 Request for Security Training Requirements Due
 to COVID-19 Pandemic, dated May 20, 2020.
Duane Arnold Energy Center--Exemption Request     ML20139A006.
 from Certain Requirements of 10 CFR Part 73,
 Appendix B, ``General Criteria for Security
 Personnel,'' Section VI (EPID L-2020-LLE-0042
 to L-2020-LLE-0045 and L-2020-LLE-0051 [COVID-
 19]), dated May 26, 2020.
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Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant, Units 1 and 2--Docket Nos. 50-445 and
                                 50-446
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                 Document title                     ADAMS accession No.
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CPNPP COVID-19 Part 73 Security Training          ML20135H233 (non-
 Exemption Request, dated May 14, 2020.            public, withheld
                                                   under 10 CFR 2.390).
Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant, Units 1 and    ML20136A141.
 2--Exemption Request from Certain Requirements
 of 10 CFR Part 73, Appendix B, ``General
 Criteria for Security Personnel,'' Section VI
 (EPID L-2020-LLE-0061) [COVID-19], dated May
 29, 2020.
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                       Fermi 2--Docket No. 50-341
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                 Document title                     ADAMS accession No.
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Fermi 2 Work Hour Limits Exemption Request Due    ML20132A239.
 to COVID-19, dated May 11, 2020.
Fermi 2--Exemption from Select Requirements of    ML20133K055.
 10 CFR Part 26 (EPID L-2020-LLE-0056 [COVID-
 19]), dated May 14, 2020.
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   H. B. Robinson Steam Electric Plant, Unit No. 2--Docket No. 50-261
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                 Document title                     ADAMS accession No.
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H. B. Robinson Steam Electric Plant, Unit 2,      ML20121A191 (non-
 Response in Related to the NRC Plan[n]ed          public, withheld
 Actions Requirements for Part 73, Appendix B,     under 10 CFR 2.390).
 Section VI During the Coronavirus Disease 2019
 Public Health Emergency, dated April 30, 2020.
H. B. Robinson Steam Electric Plant, Unit 2--     ML20129J867.
 Temporary Exemption from Certain Requirements
 of 10 CFR Part 73, Appendix B, ``General
 Criteria for Security Personnel,'' Section VI
 (EPID L-2020-LLE-0041 [COVID-19]), dated May
 14, 2020.
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            Hope Creek Generating Station--Docket No. 50-354
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                 Document title                     ADAMS accession No.
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Hope Creek Generating Station--Part 55 Exemption  ML20126G379.
 Request (COVID-19) (Redacted), dated May 4,
 2020.
Hope Creek Generating Station--Exemption from     ML20125A379.
 Select Requirements of 10 CFR Part 55,
 ``Operators' Licenses'' (EPID L-2020-LLE-0049
 [COVID-19]), dated May 7, 2020.
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            Hope Creek Generating Station--Docket No. 50-354
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                 Document title                     ADAMS accession No.
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Hope Creek Generating Station--Part 55 Exemption  ML20142A512.
 Request for Power Reactors (COVID-19)
 (Redacted), dated May 21, 2020.
Hope Creek Generating Station--Exemption from     ML20148M318.
 Select Requirements of 10 CFR Part 55,
 ``Operators' Licenses'' (EPID L-2020-LLE-0066
 [COVID-19]), dated May 29, 2020.
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Hope Creek Generating Station and Salem Nuclear Generating Station, Unit
          Nos. 1 and 2--Docket Nos. 50-354, 50-272, and 50-311
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                 Document title                     ADAMS accession No.
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Salem Generating Station, Units 1 and 2, and      ML20133K163 (non-
 Hope Creek Generating Station--Request a          public, withheld
 Temporary Exemption from the Identified           under 10 CFR 2.390).
 Security Training Requalification Requirements
 listed in the Table, dated May 12, 2020.

[[Page 36431]]

 
Hope Creek Generating Station and Salem Nuclear   ML20134J083.
 Generating Station, Unit Nos. 1 and 2--
 Temporary Exemptions from Certain Requirements
 of 10 CFR Part 73, Appendix B, ``General
 Criteria for Security Personnel,'' Section VI
 (EPID L-2020-LLE-0058 [COVID-19]), dated May
 19, 2020.
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       Idaho State University Research Reactor--Docket No. 50-284
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                 Document title                     ADAMS accession No.
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Idaho State University--Request for Exemption to  ML20135G765.
 License R-110 Requirements, dated May 13, 2020.
E-mail from ISU, COVID-19 Part 55 Exemption       ML20142A492.
 Supplement, dated May 21, 2020.
Idaho State University--Approval of Exemption     ML20142A499.
 from Select Requirements of 10 CFR Part 55,
 ``Operators' Licenses,'' dated May 22, 2020.
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       University of Maryland Training Reactor--Docket No. 50-166
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                 Document title                     ADAMS accession No.
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University of Maryland--Part 55 Exemption         ML20142A271.
 Request for Research and Test Reactors/Non-
 Power Reactors'' REDACTED, dated May 13, 2020.
University of Maryland--Approval of Exemption     ML20142A288.
 from Select Requirements of 10 CFR Part 55,
 ``Operators' Licenses,'' dated May 22, 2020.
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 Massachusetts Institute of Technology Research Reactor--Docket No. 50-
                                   020
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Document title                     ADAMS accession No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 CFR [Part] 55 Requirement Exemption Request    ML20135H166.
 for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
 Research Reactor, Facility Operating License
 No. R-37, dated May 11, 2020.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology--Approval   ML20135H188.
 of Exemption from Select Requirements of 10 CFR
 Part 55, ``Operators' Licenses,'' dated May 15,
 2020.
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      National Bureau of Standards Test Reactor--Docket No. 50-184
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                 Document title                     ADAMS accession No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
E-mail COVID-19 Part 55 Exemption Request NIST--  ML20136A442.
 REDACTED, dated May 11, 2020.
National Institute of Standards and Technology--  ML20133J915.
 Approval of Exemption from Select Requirements
 of 10 CFR Part 55, ``Operators' Licenses,''
 dated May 18, 2020.
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Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station, Units 2 and 3--Docket Nos. 50-277 and
                                 50-278
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                 Document title                     ADAMS accession No.
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Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station, Units 2 and    ML20129K011 (non-
 3, Request for Exemption from Certain 10 CFR      public, withheld
 Part 73 Training Requirements Due to              under 10 CFR 2.390).
 Coronavirus 2019 Public Health Emergency, dated
 May 8, 2020.
Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station, Units 2, and   ML20132A285.
 3--Exemption Request from Certain Requirements
 of 10 CFR Part 73, Appendix B, ``General
 Criteria for Security Personnel'' (EPID L-2020-
 LLE-0055), dated May 20, 2020.
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 Salem Nuclear Generating Station, Unit Nos. 1 and 2--Docket Nos. 50-272
                               and 50-311
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                 Document title                     ADAMS accession No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salem Nuclear Generating Station, Units Nos. 1    ML20126G378.
 and 2--Part 55 Exemption Request (COVID-19)
 (Redacted), dated May 4, 2020.
Salem Nuclear Generating Station, Unit Nos. 1     ML20122A140.
 and 2--Exemption from Select Requirements of 10
 CFR Part 55, ``Operators' Licenses'' (EPID
 L[dash]220-LLE-0048 [COVID-19]), dated May 7,
 2020.
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 Salem Nuclear Generating Station, Unit Nos. 1 and 2--Docket Nos. 50-272
                               and 50-311
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                 Document title                     ADAMS accession No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salem Nuclear Generating Station, Units Nos. 1    ML20142A513.
 and 2--Part 55 Exemption Request for Power
 Reactors (COVID-19) (Redacted), dated May 21,
 2020.

[[Page 36432]]

 
Salem Nuclear Generating Station, Unit Nos. 1     ML20148M329.
 and 2--Exemption from Select Requirements of 10
 CFR Part 55, ``Operators' Licenses'' (EPID L-
 220-LLE-0065 [COVID-19]), dated May 29, 2020.
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  University of Missouri--Columbia Research Reactor--Docket No. 50-186
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                 Document title                     ADAMS accession No.
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University of Missouri-Columbia--Applying for     ML20126G458.
 Respirator Exemption Signed, dated May 4,2020.
The University of Missouri at Columbia--          ML20128J494.
 Exemption from Select Requirements of Title 10
 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 20,
 ``Standards for Protection Against Radiation''
 (EPID L-2020-LLL-0008 [COVID-19]), dated May
 18, 2020.
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 Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2--Docket Nos. 50-424 and
                                 50-425
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                 Document title                     ADAMS accession No.
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Vogtle Electric Generating Plant Units 1 and 2    ML20129J923 (non-
 (VEGP) Requests a Temporary Exemption from the    public, withheld
 Identified Security Training Requalification      under 10 CFR 2.390).
 Requirements, dated May 8, 2020.
Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2-- ML20126G266.
 Exemption Request from Certain Requirements of
 10 CFR Part 73, Appendix B, ``General Criteria
 for Security Personnel,'' Section VI (EPID L-
 2020-LLE-0047), dated May 14, 2020.
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    The NRC may post additional materials to the Federal rulemaking 
website at https://www.regulations.gov under Docket ID NRC-2020-0110. 
The Federal rulemaking website allows you to receive alerts when 
changes or additions occur in a docket folder. To subscribe: (1) 
Navigate to the docket folder (NRC-2020-0110); (2) click the ``Sign up 
for Email Alerts'' link; and (3) enter your email address and select 
how frequently you would like to receive emails (daily, weekly, or 
monthly).

    Dated: June 11, 2020.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Jennifer C. Tobin,
Project Manager, Plant Licensing Branch I, Division of Operating 
Reactor Licensing, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 2020-12961 Filed 6-15-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P