[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 188 (Monday, September 28, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60841-60844]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-21382]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket Nos. 50-454; 50-455; 50-461; 50-298; 50-237; 50-249; 50-333; 
50-321; 50-348; 50-366; 50-364; 50-354; 50-272; 50-311; 50-373; 50-374; 
50-352; 50-353; 50-220; 50-410; 50-255; 50-266; 50-301; 50-254; 50-265; 
50-382; 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 15 
exemptions in response to requests from 7 licensees. The exemptions 
afford these licensees temporary relief from certain requirements under 
NRC regulations. The exemptions are in response to the licensees' 
requests for relief due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) 
public health emergency (PHE). The NRC is issuing a single notice to 
announce the issuance of the exemptions.

DATES: During the period from August 3, 2020, to August 28, 2020, the 
NRC granted 15 exemptions in response to requests submitted by 
licensees from June 24, 2020, to August 20, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2020-0110 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 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 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

    During the period from August 3, 2020, to August 28, 2020, the NRC 
granted 15 exemptions in response to requests submitted by licensees 
from June 24, 2020, to August 20, 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 exemptions from certain requirements of 10 CFR part 26, 
``Fitness for Duty Programs,'' for Exelon Generation Company, LLC (for 
James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant), and NextEra Energy Point 
Beach, LLC (for Point Beach Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2) allow these 
licensees temporary relief from the work-hour controls under 10 CFR 
26.205(d)(1) through (d)(7). The exemptions from 10 CFR 26.205(d)(1) 
through (d)(7) ensure that the 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 these facilities. 
Specifically, the licensees stated that their staffing levels are 
affected or are expected to be affected by the COVID-19 PHE, and they 
can no longer meet or likely will not meet the work-hour controls of 10 
CFR 26.205(d)(1) through (d)(7). The licensees have committed to 
effecting site-specific administrative controls for COVID-19 PHE 
fatigue-management for personnel specified in 10 CFR 26.4(a).
    The exemption from certain requirements of 10 CFR part 55, 
``Operators' Licenses,'' for NextEra Energy Point Beach, LLC (for Point 
Beach Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2) affords the licensee a temporary 
exemption 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)). The exemption from the 
requalification program requirements provides increased scheduling 
flexibility to manage conditions resulting from the COVID-19 PHE by 
allowing NextEra Energy Point Beach, LLC to reduce the possibility of 
exposures associated with groups of people gathered in a single 
location, as discussed above.
    The exemptions from certain requirements of 10 CFR part 73 for 
Exelon Generation Company, LLC (for Byron Station, Unit Nos. 1 and 2; 
Clinton Power Station, Unit No. 1; Dresden Nuclear Power Station, Units 
2 and 3; LaSalle County Station, Units 1 and 2; Limerick Generating 
Station, Units 1 and 2; Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2; 
Quad Cities Nuclear Power Station, Units 1 and 2); Entergy Nuclear 
Operations, Inc. (for Palisades Nuclear Plant); Nebraska Public Power 
District (for Cooper Nuclear Station); Southern Nuclear Operating 
Company, Inc. (for Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant, Unit Nos. 1 and 2; and 
Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2); PSEG Nuclear LLC (for 
Hope Creek Generating Station and Salem Nuclear Generating Station, 
Unit Nos. 1 and 2); and Entergy Operations, Inc. (for Waterford Steam 
Electric Station, Unit 3) afford 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 
the licensees' 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 and 
type of exemptions the NRC has issued. 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.

[[Page 60842]]

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 in the tables below. For 
additional directions on accessing information in ADAMS, see the 
ADDRESSES section of this document.

           Byron Station, Unit Nos. 1 and 2--50-454 and 50-455
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Document title                     ADAMS accession No.
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Byron Station, Units Nos.1 and 2--Request for     ML20212L886 (non-
 Exemption from Certain 10 CFR part 73 Training    public, withheld
 Requirements Due to Coronavirus 2019 Public       pursuant to 10 CFR
 Health Emergency, dated July 30, 2020.            2.390).
Byron Station, Units Nos. 1 and 2--Exemption      ML20213C177.
 Request from Certain Requirements of 10 CFR
 part 73, appendix B, ``General Criteria for
 Security Personnel'' [COVID-19] (EPID L-2020-
 LLE-0124), dated August 17, 2020.
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          Clinton Power Station, Unit No. 1--Docket No. 50-461
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                 Document title                     ADAMS accession No.
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Clinton Power Station, Unit No. 1--Request for    ML20205L605 (non-
 Exemption from Certain 10 CFR part 73 Training    public, withheld
 Requirements Due to Coronavirus 2019 Public       pursuant to 10 CFR
 Health Emergency, dated July 23, 2020.            2.390).
Clinton Power Station, Unit No. 1--Exemption      ML20209A000.
 Request from Certain Requirements of 10 CFR
 part 73, appendix B, General Criteria for
 Security Personnel (EPID-L-2020-LLE-0119 [COVID-
 19]), dated August 13, 2020.
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                Cooper Nuclear Station--Docket No. 50-298
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                 Document title                     ADAMS accession No.
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Cooper Nuclear Station--Temporary Exemption       ML20191A274 (non-
 Request from 10 CFR part 73, appendix B,          public, withheld
 section VI Requirements for Force-on-Force        pursuant to 10 CFR
 Exercises due to COVID-19 Pandemic, dated June    2.390).
 24, 2020.
Cooper Nuclear Station--Supplement to Temporary   ML20219A218 (non-
 Exemption Request from 10 CFR part 73, appendix   public, withheld
 B, section VI Requirements for Force-on-Force     pursuant to 10 CFR
 Exercises due to COVID-19 Pandemic, dated July    2.390).
 27, 2020.
Cooper Nuclear Station--Temporary Exemption From  ML20212J176.
 Certain Requirements of 10 CFR part 73,
 appendix B, General Criteria for Security
 Personnel, section VI (EPID L 2020-LLE-0110
 [COVID-19]), dated August 24, 2020.
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Dresden Nuclear Power Station, Units 2 and 3--Docket Nos. 50-237 and 50-
                                   249
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                 Document title                     ADAMS accession No.
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Dresden Nuclear Power Station, Units 2 and 3--    ML20210M410 (non-
 Request for Exemption from Certain 10 CFR part    public, withheld
 73 Training Requirements Due to Coronavirus       pursuant to 10 CFR
 2019 Public Health Emergency, dated July 28,      2.390).
 2020.
Dresden Nuclear Power Station, Units 2 and 3--    ML20216A260.
 Exemption Request from Certain Requirements of
 10 CFR part 73, appendix B, ``General Criteria
 for Security Personnel'' [COVID-19] (EPID L-
 2020-LLE-0123), dated August 27, 2020.
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       James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant--Docket No. 50-333
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                 Document title                     ADAMS accession No.
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James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant--        ML20233A814.
 Incoming Request re: COVID-19 Exemption from
 [10 CFR] part 26 Work Hours Requirements, dated
 August 20, 2020.
James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant--        ML20238B947.
 Exemption from Select Requirements of 10 CFR
 part 26 (EPID L-2020-LLE-0136 [COVID-19]),
 dated August 28, 2020.
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    Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant, Unit Nos. 1 and 2, Joseph M. Farley
Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2--Docket Nos. 50-321, 50-348, 50-366, and 50-
                                   364
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                 Document title                     ADAMS accession No.
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Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant, Unit Nos. 1 and 2,  ML20220A331 (non-
 and Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and   public, withheld
 2--Southern Nuclear Operating Co., Inc.           pursuant to 10 CFR
 Requests Temporary Exemptions from Security       2.390).
 Training Requalification Requirement due to
 COVID-19, dated August 7, 2020.
Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2,    ML20220A673.
 and Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant, Unit Nos. 1
 and 2--Exemption Request from Certain
 Requirements of 10 CFR part 73, appendix B,
 ``General Criteria for Security Personnel,''
 section VI (EPIDs L-2020-LLE-0131/0132), dated
 August 18, 2020.
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[[Page 60843]]


  Hope Creek Generating Station, 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, Unit Nos. 1 and 2, and  ML20204A724.
 Hope Creek Generating Station--LR-N20-0049
 COVID-19 Email Exemption Request Security FOF
 [Force-on-Force]--NRC, dated July 21, 2020.
Hope Creek Generating Station and Salem Nuclear   ML20204A937.
 Generating Station, Unit Nos. 1 and 2--
 Exemptions From Certain Requirements of 10 CFR
 part 73, appendix B, ``General Criteria for
 Security Personnel,'' section VI (EPID L-2020-
 LLE-0118 [COVID-19]), dated August 3, 2020.
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  LaSalle County Station, Units 1 and 2--Docket Nos. 50-373 and 50-374
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                 Document title                     ADAMS accession No.
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LaSalle County Station Units 1 and 2--Request     ML20199M370 (non-
 for Exemption from Certain 10 CFR part 73         public, withheld
 Training Requirements Due to Coronavirus 2019     pursuant to 10 CFR
 Public Health Emergency, dated July 17, 2020.     2.390).
LaSalle County Station, Units 1 and 2--Temporary  ML20203M233.
 Exemption Request from Certain Requirements of
 10 CFR part 73, appendix B, ``General Criteria
 for Security Personnel,'' section VI (EPID L-
 2020-LLE-0116) [COVID-19], dated August 3, 2020.
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 Limerick Generating Station, Units 1 and 2--Docket Nos. 50-352 and 50-
                                   353
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                 Document title                     ADAMS accession No.
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Limerick Generating Station, Units 1 and 2--      ML20211L699 (non-
 Request for Exemption from Certain 10 CFR part    public, withheld
 73 Training Requirements Due to Coronavirus       pursuant to 10 CFR
 Disease 2019 Public Health Emergency, dated       2.390).
 July 29, 2020.
Limerick Generating Station, Units 1 and 2--      ML20209A525.
 Temporary Exemption from Certain Requirements
 of 10 CFR part 73, appendix B, ``General
 Criteria for Security Personnel'' (EPID L-2020-
 LLE-0122 [COVID-19]), dated August 19, 2020.
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 Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2--Docket Nos. 50-220 and
                                 50-410
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                 Document title                     ADAMS accession No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Request for Exemption from Certain 10 CFR part    ML20206K830 (non-
 73 Training Requirements Due to Coronavirus       public, withheld
 2019 Public Health Emergency, dated July 24,      pursuant to 10 CFR
 2020.                                             2.390).
Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2--  ML20218A860.
 Exemption from Certain Requirements of 10 CFR
 part 73, appendix B, ``General Criteria for
 Security Personnel'' (EPID L-2020-LLE-0210
 [COVID-19]), dated August 25, 2020.
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               Palisades Nuclear Plant--Docket No. 50-255
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                 Document title                     ADAMS accession No.
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Palisades Nuclear Plant--Temporary Exemption      ML20218A353 (non-
 Request from 10 CFR part 73, appendix B,          public, withheld
 section VI Requirements for Force-On-Force        pursuant to 10 CFR
 Exercises due to COVID-19 Pandemic, dated         2.390).
 August 4, 2020.
Palisades Nuclear Plant--Temporary Exemption      ML20219A156.
 from 10 CFR part 73, appendix B, General
 Criteria for Security Personnel, section VI,
 Requirements for Force-on-Force Exercise (EPID
 L-2020-LLE-0126 [COVID-19]), dated August 21,
 2020.
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 Point Beach Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2--Docket Nos. 50-266 and 50-301
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                 Document title                     ADAMS accession No.
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Point Beach Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2--        ML20219A448.
 NextEra Energy Point Beach, LLC (NextEra)
 Requests NRC Approval for Alternative Work Hour
 Controls Delineated in the NRC Letter of 3/28/
 2020, dated August 6, 2020.
Point Beach Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2--        ML20219A751.
 Exemption from Select Requirements of 10 CFR
 part 26 (EPID L-2020-LLE-0129 [COVID-19]),
 dated August 17, 2020.
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 Point Beach Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2--Docket Nos. 50-266 and 50-301
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                 Document title                     ADAMS accession No.
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Point Beach Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2--        ML20218A702.
 Request for Exemption from the ``not to exceed
 two years'' requirement for the Requalification
 Program in 10 CFR 55.59(c)(1), dated August 5,
 2020.

[[Page 60844]]

 
Point Beach Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2--        ML20230A299.
 Response to Request for Additional Information
 Request for Exemption from Certain Operator
 Requalification Requirements, dated August 17,
 2020.
Point Beach Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2--        ML20231A519.
 Exemption from Select Requirements of 10 CFR
 part 55, ``Operators' Licenses'' (EPID L-2020-
 LLE-0127 [COVID-19]), dated August 27, 2020.
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Quad Cities Nuclear Power Station, Units 1 and 2--Docket Nos. 50-254 and
                                 50-265
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                 Document title                     ADAMS accession No.
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Quad Cities Nuclear Power Station, Units 1 and    ML20210M072 (non-
 2--Request for Exemption from Certain 10 CFR      public, withheld
 part 73 Training Requirements Due to              pursuant to 10 CFR
 Coronavirus 2019 Public Health Emergency, dated   2.390).
 July 27, 2020.
Quad Cities Nuclear Power Station, Units 1 and    ML20211L833.
 2--Exemption Request From Certain Requirements
 of 10 CFR part 73, appendix B, ``General
 Criteria For Security Personnel,'' section VI
 (EPID L-2020-LLE-0121 [COVID-19]), dated August
 27, 2020.
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       Waterford Steam Electric Station, Unit 3--Docket No. 50-382
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                 Document title                     ADAMS accession No.
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Waterford Steam Electric Station, Unit 3--        ML20219A343 (non-
 Temporary Exemption Request from 10 CFR part      public, withheld
 73, appendix B, section VI Requirements for       pursuant to 10 CFR
 Force-On-Force Exercises due to COVID-19          2.390).
 Pandemic, dated August 6, 2020.
Waterford Steam Electric Station, Unit 3--        ML20227A368.
 Exemption From Certain Requirements of 10 CFR
 part 73, appendix B, ``General Criteria For
 Security Personnel,'' section VI (EPID L-2020-
 LLE-0130 [COVID-19]), dated August 27, 2020.
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    Dated: September 23, 2020.

For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
James G. Danna,
Chief, Plant Licensing Branch I, Division of Operating Reactor 
Licensing, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 2020-21382 Filed 9-25-20; 8:45 am]
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