[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 131 (Tuesday, July 13, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36785-36788]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-14767]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket Nos. 50-338 and 50-339; NRC-2021-0123]
Virginia Electric Power Company; North Anna Power Station, Units
1 and 2
AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: License amendment application; opportunity to comment, request
a hearing, and petition for leave to intervene.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering
issuance of an amendment to Facility Operating License Nos. NPF-4 and
NPF-7, issued to Virginia Electric Power Company (VEPCO), for operation
of the North Anna Power Station, Units 1 and 2. The proposed amendment
would add a new requirement to isolate Primary Grade water from the
reactor coolant system within 1 hour following a reactor shutdown from
Mode 2. Additionally, it would make an editorial change to Technical
Specification (TS) 5.6.5, ``Core Operating Limits Report (COLR).''
DATES: Submit comments by August 12, 2021. Request for a hearing or
petitions for leave to intervene must be filed by September 13, 2021.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods;
however, the NRC encourages electronic comment submission through the
Federal Rulemaking website:
Federal Rulemaking Website: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2021-0123. Address
questions about Docket IDs in Regulations.gov to Stacy Schumann;
telephone: 301-415-0624; 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-
[[Page 36786]]
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: Glenn E. Miller, Jr., Office of
Nuclear Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission,
Washington, DC 20555-0001, telephone: 301-415-2481, email:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Obtaining Information and Submitting Comments
A. Obtaining Information
Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2021-0123, facility name, unit
number(s), docket number(s), application date, and subject, if
applicable, when contacting the NRC about the availability of
information for 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-2021-0123.
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.
Attention: The PDR, where you may examine and order copies
of public documents, is currently closed. You may submit your request
to the PDR via email at [email protected] or call 1-800-397-4209 or
301-415-4737, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (ET), Monday through
Friday, except Federal holidays.
B. Submitting Comments
The NRC encourages electronic comment submission through the
Federal Rulemaking website (https://www.regulations.gov). Please
include Docket ID NRC-2021-0123 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. Introduction
The NRC is considering issuance of an amendment to Facility
Operating License No. NPF-4; NPF-7, issued to VEPCO, for operation of
the North Anna Power Station, Units 1 and 2, located in Louisa County,
VA, in response to VEPCO's application dated May 6, 2021 (ADAMS
Accession No. ML21126A314).
The proposed amendment would add a new requirement to isolate
Primary Grade water from the reactor coolant system within 1 hour
following a reactor shutdown from Mode 2. Additionally, it would make
an editorial change to TS 5.6.5, ``Core Operating Limits Report
(COLR).''
Before any issuance of the proposed license amendment, the NRC will
need to make the findings required by the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as
amended (the Act), and NRC's regulations.
The NRC has made a proposed determination that the license
amendment request involves no significant hazards consideration (NSHC).
Under the NRC's regulations in Sec. 50.92 of title 10 of the Code of
Federal Regulations (10 CFR), 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. As required
by 10 CFR 50.91(a), the licensee has provided its analysis of the issue
of NSHC, which is presented below:
1. Does the proposed change involve a significant increase in
the probability or consequences of an accident previously evaluated?
Response: No.
There are no design changes associated with the proposed change.
All design, material, and construction standards that were
applicable prior to this amendment request will continue to be
applicable. The proposed change will not affect accident initiators
or precursors or alter the design, conditions, or configuration of
the facility. The proposed change does not alter the way the plant
is operated and maintained, with respect to accident initiators or
precursors. [The proposed change] would allow for PG water isolation
within 1 hour after entry into Mode 3 following reactor shutdown
from Mode 2 when there is no planned dilution or makeup activity
occurring. This would be an increase from the current Completion
Time of 15 minutes. The 1-hour Completion Time following reactor
shutdown is requested to continue to ensure prompt implementation of
PG water isolation without placing an undue burden on the operating
staff[.] Additionally, following a reactor shutdown, operators are
highly focused on plant reactivity conditions and are now better
equipped (since the reinsertion of SSAs at NAPS Units 1 and 2 in
response to the lessons learned from the Surry Boron Dilution event
in May 2011) to be able to identify, detect, and respond to
reactivity changes that could be caused by an inadvertent dilution
event. Additionally, an editorial change is made to TS 5.6.5, Core
Operating Limits Report (COLR), to accurately reflect Amendments
287/270. Therefore, it is concluded that the proposed amendment does
not involve a significant increase in the probability or
consequences of an accident previously evaluated.
2. Does the proposed change create the possibility of a new or
different kind of accident from any accident previously evaluated?
Response: No.
There are no proposed design changes or changes in the methods
by which any safety-related plant structures, systems, or components
perform their specified safety functions. The proposed change will
not affect the normal methods of plant operation or change any
operating parameters. No equipment performance requirements will be
affected. The proposed change will not alter any assumptions in the
safety analyses. The proposed change does not involve a physical
modification of the plant. No new accident scenarios, transient
precursors, failure mechanisms, or limiting single failures will be
introduced because of this proposed change. There will be no adverse
effect or challenges imposed on any safety-related system because of
this proposed change. Additionally, an editorial change is made to
TS 5.6.5, Core Operating Limits Report (COLR), to accurately reflect
Amendments 287/270. Therefore, it is concluded that the proposed
amendment does not create the possibility of a new or different kind
of accident from any previously evaluated.
3. Does the proposed change involve a significant reduction in a
margin of safety?
Response: No.
The proposed change would allow for PG water isolation within 1
hour after entry into
[[Page 36787]]
Mode 3 following reactor shutdown from Mode 2 when there is no
planned dilution or makeup activity occurring. This would be a
change from the current Completion Time of 15 minutes. The 1-hour
Completion Time following reactor shutdown would ensure prompt
implementation of PG water isolation without placing an undue burden
on the operating staff and is consistent with prior NRC approved
Completion Times for PG water isolation following reactor shutdown.
There will be no effect on plant systems necessary to perform
protection functions. No Instrument setpoints or system response
times are affected and none of the acceptance criteria for any
accident analysis will be changed. Consequently, the proposed change
will have no impact on the radiological consequences of a design
basis accident. Additionally, an editorial change is made to TS
5.6.5, Core Operating Limits Report (COLR), to accurately reflect
Amendments 287/270. Therefore, it is concluded that 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 3 standards of 10 CFR 50.92(c) are
satisfied. Therefore, the NRC staff proposes to determine that the
license amendment request involves NSHC.
The NRC is seeking public comments on this proposed determination
that the license amendment request involves NSHC. 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 the 60-day notice period. However, if circumstances
change during the notice period, such that failure to act in a timely
way would result, for example, in derating or shutdown of the facility,
the Commission may issue the license amendment before the expiration of
the notice period, provided that its final determination is that the
amendment involves no significant hazards consideration. The final
determination will consider all public and State comments received. If
the Commission takes action prior to the expiration of either the
comment period or the notice period, it will publish in the Federal
Register a notice of issuance. The Commission expects that the need to
take this action will occur very infrequently.
III. Opportunity To Request a Hearing and Petition for Leave To
Intervene
Within 60 days after the date of publication of this notice, any
person (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 10 CFR
2.309. If a petition is filed, the presiding officer will rule on the
petition and, if appropriate, a notice of a hearing will be issued.
Petitions must be filed no later than 60 days from the date of
publication of this notice in accordance with the filing instructions
in the ``Electronic Submissions (E-Filing'') section of this document.
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).
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, which 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 designated agency thereof, may submit a petition to the
Commission to participate as a party under 10 CFR 2.309(h) no later
than 60 days from the date of publication of this notice.
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).
For information about filing a petition and about participation by
a person not a party under 10 CFR 2.315, see ADAMS Accession No.
ML20340A053 and on the NRC website at https://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/regulatory/adjudicatory/hearing.html#participate.
IV. Electronic Submissions (E-Filing)
All documents filed in NRC adjudicatory proceedings including
documents filed by an interested State, local governmental body,
Federally recognized Indian Tribe, or designated agency thereof that
requests to participate under 10 CFR 2.315(c), must be filed in
accordance with 10 CFR 2.302. 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,
unless an exemption permitting an alternative filing method, as
discussed below, is granted. Detailed guidance on electronic
submissions is located in the Guidance for Electronic Submissions to
the NRC (ADAMS Accession No. ML13031A056) and on the NRC website at
https://www.nrc.gov/site-help/e-submittals.html.
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 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. After a digital ID certificate is
obtained and a docket created, the participant must submit adjudicatory
documents in Portable Document Format. Guidance on 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 timestamps the document and sends
the submitter an email
[[Page 36788]]
confirming receipt of the document. The E-Filing system also
distributes an email 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 to
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 [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 in accordance with 10 CFR
2.302(b)-(d). Participants filing adjudicatory documents in this manner
are responsible for serving their documents on all other participants.
Participants granted an exemption under 10 CFR 2.302(g)(2) must still
meet the electronic formatting requirement in 10 CFR 2.302(g)(1),
unless the participant also seeks and is granted an exemption from 10
CFR 2.302(g)(1).
Documents submitted in adjudicatory proceedings will appear in the
NRC's electronic hearing docket, which is publicly available at https://adams.nrc.gov/ehd, unless excluded pursuant to an order of 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. 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
should not include copyrighted materials in their submission.
For further details with respect to this action, see the
application for license amendment dated May 6, 2021 (ADAMS Accession
No. ML21126A314).
Attorney for licensee: William S. Blair, Senior Counsel, Dominion
Resources Services, Inc., 120 Tredegar St., RS-2, Richmond, VA 23219.
NRC Branch Chief: Michael Markley.
Dated: July 7, 2021.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Glenn E. Miller Jr.,
Senior Project Manager, Plant Licensing Branch II-1, Division of
Operating Reactor Licensing, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 2021-14767 Filed 7-12-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P