[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 88 (Friday, May 6, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27190-27195]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-09709]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50-391; NRC-2021-0104]
Tennessee Valley Authority; Watts Bar Nuclear Plant, Unit 2
AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Exemption; issuance.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has issued an
exemption in response to an April 15, 2022, request from Tennessee
Valley Authority (the licensee), as supplemented by letter dated April
25, 2022. The licensee requested one-time exemptions to allow the use
of the less restrictive work hour limitations described in NRC
regulations, for additional 60-day periods for the Watts Bar Nuclear
Plant, Unit 2.
DATES: The exemptions were issued on April 29, 2022.
ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2021-0104 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-2021-0104. 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.
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 Request for Exemption from
Requirements of paragraph 26.205(d)(4) of title 10 of the Code of
Federal Regulations (10 CFR), 26.206(d)(6), and 10 CFR 26.205(d)(7) is
available in ADAMS under Accession No. ML22105A579. The Watts Bar
Nuclear Plant, Unit 2--Response to Request for Additional Information
and Clarification Regarding Request for Exemption from Requirements of
10 CFR 26.205(d)(4), 26.205(d)(6) and 26.205(d)(7), ``Fitness for Duty
Programs--Work Hours,'' is available in ADAMS under Accession No.
ML22115A232.
NRC's PDR: You may examine and purchase copies of public
documents, by appointment, at the NRC's PDR, Room P1 B35, One White
Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852. To make
an appointment to visit the PDR, please send an email to
[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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kimberly Green, Office of Nuclear
Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC
20555-0001, telephone: 301-415-1627, email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The text of the exemptions is attached.
Dated: May 2, 2022.
[[Page 27191]]
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Kimberly J. Green,
Senior Project Manager, Plant Licensing Branch II-2, Division of
Operating Reactor Licensing, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
Attachment--Exemption
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
Docket No. 50-391
Tennessee Valley Authority Watts Bar Nuclear Plant, Unit 2 Exemption
I. Background
The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA, the licensee) is the holder of
Facility Operating License No. NPF-96 which authorizes operation of
Watts Bar Nuclear Plant (Watts Bar), Unit 2. The license provides,
among other things, that the facility is subject to all rules,
regulations, and orders of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC, the
Commission) now or hereafter in effect.
The facility consists of two pressurized-water reactors located in
Rhea County in Tennessee.
II. Request/Action
By letter dated April 15, 2022, as supplemented by letter dated
April 25, 2022 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System
(ADAMS) Accession Nos. ML22105A579 and ML22115A232, respectively), TVA
requested one-time exemptions from the work hour requirements in Title
10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), part 26, ``Fitness for
Duty Programs,'' section 26.205(d)(7), pursuant to 10 CFR 26.9,
``Specific exemptions.''
Section 26.205(d)(7) of 10 CFR provides, in part, that licensees
may, as an alternative to the minimum days off requirements in 10 CFR
26.205(d)(3), ensure that individuals subject to the work hour controls
in Section 26.205(d) do not work more than a weekly average of 54
hours, calculated using an averaging period of up to 6 weeks. Section
26.205(d)(4) of 10 CFR provides that during the first 60 days of a unit
outage, licensees need not meet the requirements of 10 CFR 26.205(d)(3)
or (d)(7) for individuals specified in 10 CFR 26.4(a)(1) through 10 CFR
26.4(a)(4), while those individuals are working on outage activities.
However, 10 CFR 26.205(d)(4) also provides that the licensee shall
ensure that the individuals specified in 10 CFR 26.4(a)(1) through
(a)(3) have at least 3 days off in each successive (i.e., non-rolling)
15-day period and that the individuals specified in 10 CFR 26.4(a)(4)
have at least 1 day off in any 7-day period. Section 26.205(d)(6)
states that the 60-day periods in 10 CFR 26.205(d)(4) and (d)(5) may be
extended for each individual in 7-day increments for each non-
overlapping 7-day period the individual has worked not more than 48
hours during the unit or security system outage or increased threat
condition, as applicable.
Watts Bar, Unit 2, entered a refueling outage on March 1, 2022.
During this refueling outage, the licensee also commenced a steam
generator replacement (SGR) project. The outage, including the SGR
project, was originally planned to be completed in mid-May, 2022, and
TVA intended to administer work hour controls in accordance with 10 CFR
26.204(d)(4) and (d)(6). However, primarily due to adverse weather
conditions and the emergent discovery of issues while removing the
original steam generators and installing the replacement steam
generators, the outage was delayed such that it is now scheduled to be
completed by early June 2022. Due to these delays, TVA will not be able
to complete outage activities within the period of time when outage
work hour controls would be permitted in accordance with 10 CFR
26.205(d)(4), as extended by the allowances in 10 CFR 26.205(d)(6).
Therefore, TVA requested one-time exemptions from 10 CFR 26.205(d)(7)
to allow personnel to work less restrictive hours for an additional
period to support the refueling outage.
Within the exemption request, TVA has identified two categories of
affected personnel. Category A personnel are identified as those
individuals performing activities directly in support of the SGR
project; these activities constitute maintenance activities, as
discussed in 10 CFR 26.4, ``FFD [fitness for duty] program
applicability to categories of individuals,'' section (a)(4). Category
A personnel include specialized craft workers such as, pipefitters,
boilermakers, operating engineers, electricians, and iron workers.
Category B personnel are identified as those individuals performing
normal outage shutdown, startup, maintenance, fuel handling, and
modification activities, which are not related to the SGR project, and
are covered by 10 CFR 26.4(a)(1), (a)(2), and (a)(4). Category B
personnel includes operations, health physics, chemistry, and
maintenance personnel.
For Category A personnel, TVA requested a one-time exemption from
the requirements of 10 CFR 26.205(d)(7) that would be applicable for a
period not to exceed 60 days beyond the end of the current 60-day unit
outage period in 10 CFR 26.205(d)(4) that began on March 1, 2022.
During this exemption period, TVA would continue to administer work
hour controls for Category A personnel in accordance with the outage-
related minimum day off requirements listed in 10 CFR 26.205(d)(4), and
TVA would also administer certain additional mitigating actions
discussed in Section V of the Enclosure to the submittal letter. The
exemption period for Category A personnel would conclude either at the
end of the additional 60-day period (i.e., no later than June 29, 2022)
or when Watts Bar, Unit 2, is connected to the electrical grid,
whichever occurs first.
For Category B personnel, TVA requested a one-time exemption from
the requirements of 10 CFR 26.205(d)(7) that would begin upon
completion of refueling outage Schedule Milestone SGM0184 (the SGR
project schedule milestone for turnover of the polar crane from the SGR
project team to the TVA outage team). During the exemption period,
Category B personnel would be permitted to work in accordance with the
minimum day off requirements in 10 CFR 26.205(d)(4) for a 60-day
period. Similar to the provisions of 10 CFR 26.205(d)(6) for outages,
this 60-day period could be extended for each individual in 7-day
increments for each non-overlapping 7-day period of the 60-day period
during which the individual has worked not more than 48 hours.
Following the conclusion of the 60-day period for a given individual,
normal (non-outage) work hour controls, would resume for that
individual, in accordance with the requirements of 10 CFR 26.205(d)(7).
The exemption period for Category B personnel would conclude when Watts
Bar, Unit 2, is connected to the electrical grid.
III. Discussion
Pursuant to 10 CFR 26.9, the Commission may, upon application by
any interested person or upon its own initiative, grant exemptions from
the requirements of 10 CFR part 26 when the exemptions are authorized
by law and will not endanger life or property or the common defense and
security; and are otherwise in the public interest.
A. The Exemption Is Authorized by Law
The exemption for Category A personnel would authorize a one-time
exemption from the requirements of 10 CFR 26.205(d)(7) to allow the use
the less restrictive work hour controls provided in 10 CFR 26.205(d)(4)
for up to an additional 60 days, no later than June 29, 2022, or until
the reactor unit is connected to the electrical grid, whichever occurs
first, to allow SGR activities to be completed. The
[[Page 27192]]
exemption for Category B personnel would authorize a one-time exemption
from the requirements of 10 CFR 26.205(d)(7) to allow the use the less
restrictive work hour controls provided in 10 CFR 26.205(d)(4) for a
60-day period that would begin upon completion of refueling outage
Schedule Milestone SGM0184 and may be extended as described in 10 CFR
26.205(d)(6) (Category B personnel), or until the reactor unit is
connected to the electrical grid, whichever occurs first, to allow
normal outage activities to be completed. As stated above, 10 CFR 26.9
allows the NRC to grant exemptions from the requirements of 10 CFR part
26. The NRC staff has determined that granting of the exemptions is
permissible under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, and other
regulatory requirements. Therefore, the exemptions are authorized by
law.
B. The Exemption Will Not Endanger Life or Property
The underlying purpose of subpart I of 10 CFR part 26 is to ensure
that cumulative fatigue does not compromise the abilities of
individuals to perform their duties safely and competently. The
underlying purpose of 10 CFR 26.205(d)(7) is to provide a method for
licensees to manage worker fatigue while a unit is in operation by
limiting the number of hours that can be worked on a weekly basis, as
averaged over a 6-week period. The underlying purpose of 10 CFR
26.205(d)(4) is to provide licensees flexibility in scheduling required
days off while accommodating more intense work schedules associated
with a unit outage. The underlying purpose of 10 CFR 26.205(d)(6) is to
allow the flexibilities provided by 10 CFR 26.205(d)(4) to be extended
when directly justified by an individual's actual work history.
For Category B personnel, TVA requested an exemption from the
requirements of 10 CFR 26.205(d)(7) that would begin upon completion of
refueling outage Schedule Milestone SGM0184 (the SGR project schedule
milestone for turnover of the polar crane from the SGR project team to
the TVA outage team). During the exemption period, Category B personnel
would be permitted to work in accordance with the minimum day off
requirements in 10 CFR 26.205(d)(4) for a 60-day period. In addition,
similar to the provisions of 10 CFR 26.205(d)(6) for outages, this 60-
day period could be extended for each individual in 7-day increments
for each non-overlapping 7-day period of the 60-day period during which
the individual has worked not more than 48 hours. TVA cited Position
C.10 from Regulatory Guide 5.73, ``Fatigue Management for Nuclear Power
Plant Personnel,'' which discusses the expectation that licensees
should confirm that an individual transitioning from an outage at one
plant to another ``has had a 34-hour break period within the 9 days
that precede the day on which the individual begins working for the
receiving licensee.'' TVA stated that prior to the start of the
additional 60-day period, Category B personnel would have a minimum of
3 consecutive days off.
The NRC staff reviewed the schedules that had been worked by
Category B personnel in various positions leading up to when TVA
submitted the exemption request, as well as the originally planned work
schedule for the remainder of the outage for Category B personnel
(discussed in Table 1 of Enclosure 1 of TVA's submittal letter) to
determine whether it would be appropriate to allow for a 60-day period
for Category B personnel to use the flexibilities in 10 CFR
26.206(d)(4) and (d)(6), in addition to the 60 days of the current unit
outage, from a fatigue management standpoint. The NRC staff noted that,
for all positions except for Chemistry, individuals will have worked
less than the 54-hour-per-week limit established for normal operating
conditions in accordance with 10 CFR 26.205(d)(7) leading up to the
start of the additional 60-day period for Category B personnel.
With regards to Chemistry personnel, the NRC staff noted that,
under the most extreme scheduling case in accordance with the
scheduling plan discussed in Table 1 of Enclosure 1 of TVA's submittal
(including the 3 consecutive days off that will be provided to
personnel), Chemistry personnel could potentially have worked up to 56
hours per week starting on March 14, 2022, and through the remainder of
the first 60 days of the unit outage. However, this slight increase in
the average hours worked per week, above the 10 CFR 26.205(d)(7)
limits, is expected to be offset by the fact that the workers will be
guaranteed 3 consecutive days off prior to transitioning into the
exemption period for Category B personnel.
The NRC staff further noted that, in accordance with the 60-day
limit established by 10 CFR 26.205(d)(4), Chemistry personnel who are
not eligible for an extension under 10 CFR 26.205(d)(6) would need to
return to a 54-hour work week, in accordance with 10 CFR 26(d)(7),
starting at the end of the first 60-days of the unit outage. Therefore,
depending on the actual date on which Schedule Milestone SGM0184 is
completed, there is a possibility that Chemistry personnel will have
returned to a 54-hour work week leading up to the start of the
exemption period for Category B personnel.
Because Category B workers will be working a normal (or, in the
case of Chemistry personnel, a near-normal) work schedule, in
accordance with 10 CFR 26.205(d)(7), leading up to the additional 60-
day period, the NRC staff determined that administering the minimum
days off during the exemption period in accordance with the
requirements in 10 CFR 26.205(d)(4) and (d)(6) will allow TVA to
adequately manage cumulative fatigue among Category B personnel.
For Category A personnel, TVA requested authorization to apply the
flexibilities allowed by 10 CFR 26.205(d)(4) for an additional period
of up to 60 days beyond the first 60 days of the refueling outage that
began on March 1, 2022. TVA identified several mitigating factors to
justify this request. For example, TVA stated that, during the first 60
days of the refueling outage that began on March 1, 2022, when Category
A personnel were scheduled to work 72-hour work weeks, they were given
additional time off when available. This is reflected by the per-week
work hour averages shown for various worker positions in Table 2 of
Enclosure 1 of TVA's submittal letter. Additionally, TVA stated that
during the exemption period it will implement alternative controls and
mitigating actions, including the following:
Personnel will not work more than 16 work-hours in any 24-
hour period, and they will not work more than 72 work-hours in any 7-
day period, excluding shift turnover.
A minimum 10-hour break will be provided between
successive work periods.
12-hour shifts will be limited to 72 work hours in a 7-day
rolling period.
A minimum of 3 days off will be provided in each
subsequent 15-day period after the first 60 days of the outage.
The calculation of work hours and days will include all
work hours and days off during the applicable calculation periods,
including those work hours and days off preceding initiation of the
exemption period.
Requirements will be established for behavioral
observation and self-declaration during the period of the exemption.
Specifically, the station will perform targeted management and peer to
peer fatigue observations and the station will provide briefings with
station personnel on the capability and process for personnel to self-
declare fatigue.
[[Page 27193]]
Prior to personnel going to the field, the process will
include discussion of self-declaration of fatigue, with regards to both
self-awareness and keeping watch on crew members.
The station will promote fatigue awareness and perform
targeted observations of fatigue signs using an observation program.
The NRC staff reviewed TVA's scheduling plan for Category A
personnel. Because Category A workers have been provided with 1 day off
every 7 days, and because, as discussed in Section IV of Enclosure 1 of
TVA's submittal letter, those workers have typically worked consistent
12-hour schedules, there is a reasonable expectation that the day off,
plus the time after a worker's preceding shift and before a worker's
subsequent shift, will provide about 36 consecutive hours of time off
once every 7 days. Furthermore, 10 CFR 26.205(d)(2)(ii) requires that
licensees shall ensure that individuals have, at a minimum, a 34-hour
break in any 9-day period. Based on these considerations, the NRC staff
determined that Category A personnel will receive at least a 34-hour
break within the 9 days that precede the 60-day exemption period.
The NRC staff noted that compliance with the 34-hour break
requirement discussed in 10 CFR 26.205(d)(2)(ii) does not, on its own,
constitute adequate management of cumulative fatigue for workers, and
that this requirement is intended to be implemented with the other work
hour control requirements discussed in the other sections of 10 CFR
26.205. However, the NRC staff considered the required minimum 34-hour
break period in conjunction with the fact that, leading up to the 60-
day exemption period, Category A personnel will not have worked the
full 72 hours per week allowed in accordance with the minimum days off
required by 10 CFR 26.205(d)(4) for personnel performing maintenance
activities in accordance with 10 CFR 26.4(a)(4). As shown by Table 2 of
Enclosure 1 of the licensee's submittal letter, personnel will have
only worked, on average, 58 to 66 hours of the allowed 72 hours per
week. Because personnel will have been working, on average, 6 to 14
hours less than the maximum number of hours that are permitted by
regulation during outage conditions, there is added assurance that
cumulative fatigue can be adequately managed by the minimum 34-hour
period they must provide prior to the start of the subsequent 60-day
period.
One additional factor that the NRC staff considered for Category A
personnel is the fact that a significant portion of the work being
performed by these personnel consists of maintenance activities that
will be subject to verification (e.g., via non-destructive examination)
or post-maintenance testing. This provides some assurance that
potential fatigue-related errors that may occur will be identified and
resolved. However, the NRC staff did not rely exclusively on the
additional assurance provided by activities such as non-destructive
evaluation (NDE) as a basis for its determination that the exemption
would not endanger life or property, because (in accordance with
Position C.2 of Regulatory Guide 5.73) individuals performing NDE are
not necessarily subject to work hour controls and, as such, their
performance could be potentially degraded by fatigue.
The NRC staff determined that the added scheduling margin from
Category A personnel not having worked full 72-hour weeks leading up to
the exemption period, along with adherence to the alternative work hour
controls discussed in Section V of Enclosure 1 of TVA's submittal
letter, will allow TVA to adequately manage cumulative fatigue among
Category A personnel during the requested 60-day exemption period.
Because TVA proposed adequate alternative controls and mitigation
measures for managing cumulative fatigue among Category A and Category
B personnel for the duration of the requested one-time exemptions, the
NRC staff determined that the requested one-time exemptions will not
endanger life or property.
C. The Exemption Is Consistent With the Common Defense and Security
The proposed exemptions would authorize one-time exemptions from
the requirements of 10 CFR 26.205(d)(7) to allow the use of the less
restrictive work hour limitations provided in 10 CFR 26.205(d)(4) for
up to an additional 60 days for Category A personnel, and for 60 days,
which may be extended in accordance with 10 CFR 26.205(d)(6), for
Category B personnel. The proposed exemptions are not applicable to
security personnel nor do they have any relation to security issues.
Therefore, the common defense and security is not impacted by these
exemptions.
D. The Exemption Is in the Public Interest
In considering whether the requested exemptions would be in the
public interest, the NRC staff considered several factors, including:
The extent to which the need for an exemption was
reasonably avoidable by the licensee;
the interests of the licensee;
the public health and safety interests of the communities
that are impacted by the safe operation of the plant; and
the potential adverse impacts on communities resulting
from the further-extended shutdown of the unit, which would be
prolonged if fewer resources were to be available as a result of TVA
needing to resume usual (non-outage) work hours prior to completion of
the refueling outage.
Regarding the extent to which the issues that led to the outage
delays could have been foreseen and prevented, TVA noted in the
Enclosure to the supplemental letter that the SGR project was
originally scheduled to occur during the fall 2023 outage, but that it
was moved up to the spring 2022 outage due to in-service inspection
results on one of the aging steam generators that indicated degradation
warranting expedited replacement. This discovery also resulted in the
decision to commence with the spring 2022 outage early (early March, as
opposed to mid-April), to limit the runtime of the affected steam
generator. This resulted in significant impact on the planning for the
project. However, despite the accelerated nature of project planning
necessitated by these circumstances, TVA also discussed its
consideration of potential schedule risks in planning the project, as
depicted in Table 1 in the Enclosure to the supplemental letter, which
included margin built into the schedule to account for various
potential issues/delays, including weather-related delays. TVA also
provided, in Revised CNL-22054 Table 4 of the Enclosure to the
supplemental letter, explanations for the various emergent discovery
issues that delayed the project after it commenced, including the
reasons that several of these delays could not have been reasonably
foreseeable.
The NRC staff considered the fact that TVA took reasonable
measures, in accordance with its processes, to consider possible issues
that may arise and incorporated appropriate margin into the schedule.
The NRC staff considered TVA's explanations for issues that did arise
and determined that a substantial portion of the delays experienced
were not foreseeable and preventable. The NRC staff also noted that the
decision to move up the SGR project was conservative in nature and was
intended to ensure that the unit did not operate with unacceptable
steam
[[Page 27194]]
generator degradation that could have been potentially adverse to
safety.
In the Enclosure to the supplemental letter, TVA discussed the
potential impact of the requested exemption on the broader community.
Earlier completion of the outage will potentially allow for a return of
the unit to an operating status in time to support summer energy
demands. TVA stated that, without exemption, and with the resulting
delayed restart of the Unit 2, TVA will be challenged from a
reliability and environmental compliance perspective, as the area
supplied by the unit transitions further into a period of the year
characterized by warmer weather and higher loads. TVA discussed the
likelihood that additional generation from the company's fossil-fuel-
based sites would be necessary to make up for the lost generation from
an extended outage of Watts Bar, Unit 2, which would result in reliance
on a lower-reliability, higher-emission sources of electricity
production.
The NRC staff considered the balance of public interest
considerations, weighing the potential impact of the Watts Bar, Unit 2,
outage needing to be further extended if the exemption were not
approved, due to the reduced availability of personnel under a
resumption of normal (non-operational) work hours. The NRC staff also
considered the potential impacts resulting from an increase in overall
cumulative fatigue due to personnel working longer work hours for an
extended period, beyond that of a typical outage under the established
regulatory limits. As explained above, TVA proposed adequate
alternative controls and mitigation measures for managing cumulative
fatigue among Category A personnel for the duration of the requested
one-time exemption, and TVA will have adequately managed fatigue for
Category B personnel leading up to the start of the requested exemption
period. Based on these considerations, the NRC staff concluded that:
There is not expected to be a significant impact on public health and
safety as a result of the increase in cumulative fatigue; earlier
conclusion of the Watts Bar, Unit 2, refueling outage may allow TVA to
meet elevated electrical demands without reliance on additional fossil
fuel sources; and TVA took reasonable measures in its project planning
to foresee and prevent project/outage delays where possible. Therefore,
the NRC staff finds that approval of the requested exemptions is
consistent with the public interest.
E. Environmental Considerations
The Commission has determined that granting the exemptions from the
requirements 10 CFR 26.205(d)(7) involves (1) no significant hazards
consideration, (2) no significant change in the types or significant
increase in the amounts of any effluents that may be released offsite,
(3) no significant increase in individual or cumulative public or
occupational radiation exposure, (4) no significant construction
impact, and (5) no significant increase in the potential for or
consequences from radiological accidents.
(1) Under 10 CFR 50.92(c), there is no significant hazards
consideration if the action does 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 proposed exemptions are administrative in nature because they
extend the timeframe when less restrictive hours can be worked for
Category A and Category B personnel. The proposed exemptions have no
effect on systems, and components (SSCs) and no effect on the
capability of the SSCs to perform their design function. The proposed
exemptions do not make any changes to the facility or operating
procedures and do not alter the design, function, or operation of any
plant equipment. Therefore, the exemptions do not increase the
probability or consequences of an accident previously evaluated.
The proposed exemptions do not make any changes to the facility or
operating procedures and do not alter the design, function, or
operation of any plant equipment. Similarly, the proposed exemptions do
not authorize any physical changes to any SSCs involved in the
mitigation of any accidents. Therefore, the exemptions do not create
the possibility of a new or different kind of accident from any
accident previously evaluated.
The proposed exemptions do not authorize alteration of the design
basis or any safety limits for the plant. The exemptions would not
impact station operation or any SSC that is relied upon for accident
mitigation. Therefore, the exemptions do not involve a significant
reduction in a margin of safety.
For these reasons, the NRC has determined that approval of the
exemptions requested involves no significant hazards consideration.
(2) The proposed exemptions do not authorize any changes to the
design basis requirements for the SSCs at Watts Bar, Unit 2, that
function to limit the release of non-radiological effluents,
radiological liquid effluents, or radiological gaseous effluents during
and following postulated accidents. Additionally, the exemptions do not
change any requirements with respect to the conduct of radiation
surveys and monitoring. Therefore, there is no significant change in
the types or significant increase in the amounts of any effluents that
may be released offsite.
(3) The proposed exemptions do not affect the limits on the release
of any radioactive material or the limits provided in 10 CFR part 20
for radiation exposure to workers or members of the public.
Additionally, the exemptions will not increase or decrease the amount
of work activities that must be completed in order to connect the
reactor unit to the electrical grid. Therefore, there is no significant
increase in individual or cumulative public or occupational radiation
exposure.
(4) The exemptions do not involve any changes to a construction
permit; therefore, there is no significant construction impact.
(5) The proposed exemptions do not alter any of the assumptions or
limits in the licensee's accident analyses. Therefore, there is no
significant increase in the potential for or consequences from
radiological accidents.
(6) In addition, the requirements from which these exemptions are
sought involve other requirements of an administrative, managerial, or
organizational nature. Accordingly, the exemptions meets the
eligibility criteria for categorical exclusion set forth in 10 CFR
51.22(c)(25)(vi)(I). Therefore, in accordance with 10 CFR 51.22(b), no
environmental impact statement or environmental assessment need be
prepared in connection with the NRC's consideration of these exemption
requests.
IV. Conclusions
Accordingly, the Commission has determined that, pursuant to 10 CFR
26.9, the exemptions are authorized by law, will not endanger life or
property or the common defense and security, and are otherwise in the
public interest.
The Commission hereby grants Tennessee Valley Authority a one-time
exemption from 10 CFR 26.205(d)(7) for Category A personnel (i.e.,
those performing maintenance or directing maintenance activities as
discussed in 10 CFR 26.205(d)(4) and in direct support of the spring
2022 SGR project)
[[Page 27195]]
to allow the use of the minimum days off requirements discussed in 10
CFR 26.205(d)(4) for a 60-day period starting on May 1, 2022 (following
the current 60-day outage period that began on March 1, 2022). While
the exemption is in effect, TVA will also implement alternate work hour
controls for Category A personnel, as discussed in Section V of
Enclosure 1 to their submittal letter dated April 15, 2022. The
exemption for Category A personnel shall end either at the end of the
approved 60-day period (not to exceed June 29, 2022) or at the time
when Watts Bar, Unit 2, is connected to the electrical grid, whichever
occurs first.
The Commission hereby grants Tennessee Valley Authority a one-time
exemption from 10 CFR 26.205(d)(7) for Category B personnel (i.e.,
those individuals performing normal outage shutdown, startup,
maintenance, fuel handling, and modification activities, who are
covered by 10 CFR 26.4(a)(1), (a)(2), and (a)(4), and are not directly
related to the SGR project) to allow the use of the work minimum day
off requirements discussed in 10 CFR 26.205(d)(4) for a 60-day period
that shall begin upon completion of Schedule Milestone SGM0184 (i.e.,
turnover of the polar crane from SGR project team to the TVA outage
team). This 60-day period may be extended for each individual subject
to the exemption in 7-day increments for each non-overlapping 7-day
period the individual has worked not more than 48 hours during the 60-
day period as described in 10 CFR 26.205(d)(6). Following the
conclusion of the 60-day period for a given individual, normal (non-
outage) work hour controls, in accordance with requirements of 10 CFR
26.205(d)(7), shall resume for that individual. The exemption for
Category B personnel shall end when Watts Bar, Unit 2, is connected to
the electrical grid.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 29th day of April, 2022.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
/RA/
Gregory F. Suber,
Deputy Director, Division of Operating Reactor Licensing, Office of
Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 2022-09709 Filed 5-5-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P