[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 41 (Thursday, March 2, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13154-13157]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-04232]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 52-025; NRC-2008-0252]


Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc., Vogtle Electric 
Generating Plant, Unit 3

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Combined license amendment; issuance and opportunity to request 
a hearing and petition for leave to intervene.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has issued 
License Amendment No. 190 to Combined License (COL) NPF-91. The COL 
amendment involved changes to Vogtle Electric Generating Plant (VEGP), 
Unit 3, COL Appendix A, Technical Specifications (TS). The amendment 
involved changes to remove operability requirements prior to initial 
criticality for (1) the In-containment Refueling Water Storage Tank 
(IRWST) in Mode 5 (TS 3.5.7) and Mode 6 (TS 3.5.8), and (2) various 
Protection and Safety Monitoring System and Diverse Actuation System 
(DAS) automatic and/or manual actuation signals that initiate IRWST, 
Automatic Depressurization System (ADS) stage 4, and Chemical and 
Volume Control System (CVS) letdown isolation valves in Modes 5 and 6. 
These changes allow disabling the IRWST injection and recirculation 
function during the repair activities on VEGP Unit 3 IRWST injection 
isolation valve 3-PXS-V123A. Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc., 
(SNC) is licensed to operate VEGP, Unit 3, located in Burke County, 
Georgia.

DATES: The amendment was issued on February 8, 2023. A request for a 
hearing or petition for leave to intervene must be filed by May 1, 
2023.

ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2008-0252 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-2008-0252.
     NRC's Agencywide Documents Access and Management System 
(ADAMS): You may obtain publicly available documents online in the 
ADAMS Public Documents collection at https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. To begin the search, select ``Begin Web-based ADAMS 
Search.'' For problems with ADAMS, please contact the NRC's Public 
Document Room (PDR) reference staff at 1-800-397-4209, 301-415-4737, or 
by email to [email protected]. The ADAMS accession number for each 
document referenced (if it is available in ADAMS) is provided the first 
time that it is mentioned in this document.
     NRC's PDR: You may examine and purchase copies of public 
documents, by appointment, at the NRC's PDR, Room P1 B35, One White 
Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852. To make 
an

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appointment to visit the PDR, please send an email to 
[email protected] or call 1-800-397-4209 or 301-415-4737, between 8 
a.m. and 4 p.m. eastern time (ET), Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William (Billy) Gleaves, Vogtle 
Project Office, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 
20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-5848; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Introduction

    With the requested amendment, SNC sought proposed changes to COL, 
Appendix A, TSs in an application dated January 31, 2023 (ADAMS 
Accession No. ML23031A359), titled, ``Exigent License Amendment 
Request: Technical Specification Exceptions for In-containment 
Refueling Water Storage Tank Operability Prior to Initial 
Criticality,'' designated as license amendment request (LAR) 23-004. 
Specifically, the changes add notes (and footnotes) to modify the Modes 
5 and 6 operability requirements for the IRWST injection and 
recirculation flow paths, the IRWST and ADS Stage 4 actuation 
instrumentation and controls, and the CVS automatic isolation function 
so that they would not be required to be operable in Modes 5 and 6 
prior to initial criticality of the core. Specifically, the licensee 
proposed revising the Applicability of the Limiting Condition for 
Operation (LCO) for the following LCOs:
    (1) LCO 3.3.8, ``Engineered Safety Feature Actuation System (ESFAS) 
Instrumentation,'' Table 3.3.8-1:
    (a) Function 14, ``RCS Wide Range Pressure--Low,''
    (b) Function 16, ``CMT [Core Makeup Tank] Level--Low 6,'' and
    (c) Function 18, ``IRWST Lower Narrow Range Level--Low 3'';
    (2) LCO 3.3.9, ``ESFAS Manual Initiation,'' Table 3.3.9-1:
    (a) Function 7, ``ADS Stage 4 Actuation--Manual Initiation,''
    (b) Function 12, ``In-Containment Refueling Water Storage Tank 
(IRWST) Injection Line Valve Actuation--Manual Initiation,'' and
    (c) Function 13, ``IRWST Containment Recirculation Valve 
Actuation--Manual Initiation'';
    (3) LCO 3.3.10, ``ESFAS Reactor Coolant System (RCS) Hot Leg Level 
Instrumentation,'' Table 3.3.10-1:
    (a) Function 1, ``Hot Leg Level--Low 4,'' and
    (b) Function 2, ``Hot Leg Level--Low 2'';
    (4) LCO 3.3.19, ``DAS Manual Controls'':
    (a) Function 7, ``ADS stage 4 valves,''
    (b) Function 8, ``IRWST injection squib valves,'' and
    (c) Function 9, ``Containment recirculation valves'';
    (5) LCO 3.3.20, ``ADS and IRWST Injection Blocking Device,'' Table 
3.3.20-1:
    (a) Function 2, ``ADS and IRWST Injection Block Switches for Manual 
Unblocking'';
    (6) LCO 3.5.7, ``IRWST--Shutdown, MODE 5'';
    (7) LCO 3.5.8, ``IRWST--Shutdown, MODE 6'';
    (8) LCO 3.3.16, ``ESFAS Actuation Logic--Shutdown.''
    For items one through five previously listed, the Modes 5 and 6 
Applicability for each of the instrument channel actuation functions 
would be modified by a footnote that states, ``For Unit 3 only, not 
required to be OPERABLE prior to initial criticality.'' For items six 
and seven previously listed, the licensee's proposed changes would 
modify the Applicability for Modes 5 and 6 for the IRWST by adding a 
note to LCOs 3.5.7 and 3.5.8 that states, ``For Unit 3 only, not 
required to be OPERABLE prior to initial criticality.'' Similarly, for 
LCO 3.3.16 (item eight), the proposed changes would rename the current 
``NOTE'' to be ``NOTES,'' number the current note to be ``1.'' and add 
a note ``2.'' that states, ``For Unit 3 only, ESF Actuation Function 
for ADS Stage 4 flow paths, In-containment Refueling Water Storage Tank 
injection and recirculation flow paths, and CVS letdown isolation 
valves, not required to be OPERABLE prior to initial criticality.''
    The NRC has issued License Amendment No. 190 to COL NPF-91 for 
VEGP, Unit 3. The NRC letter to SNC, the safety evaluation, and the 
amendment document are available in ADAMS under Package Accession No. 
ML23037A082.

II. Notice of Issuance of Amendment to Combined License, Final 
Determination of No Significant Hazards Consideration and Opportunity 
for a Hearing (Exigent Circumstances)

    By letter dated January 31, 2023, SNC requested that the NRC amend 
COL NPF-91 for VEGP, Unit 3. The Commission has issued the amendment, 
which is described in section I of this Federal Register notice.
    The Commission has determined for this amendment that the 
application for the amendment complies with the standards and 
requirements of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (the Act), as amended, 
and the Commission's rules and regulations. The Commission has made 
appropriate findings as required by the Act and the Commission's rules 
and regulations in chapter 1 of title 10 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations (10 CFR), which are set forth in the license amendment.
    There were exigent circumstances associated with the date the 
amendment was needed, in that the Commission and the licensee had to 
act quickly, and time did not permit the Commission to publish before 
issuance its usual notice of consideration of issuance of amendment, 
proposed no significant hazards consideration (NSHC) determination and 
opportunity for public comment, and opportunity for a hearing. The 
Commission did publish a local media notice in The Augusta Chronicle on 
February 5 and 6, 2023, that provided notice of the licensee's proposed 
amendment and the proposed NSHC determination and provided a reasonable 
opportunity for public comment. The Commission was able to consult the 
State official before issuance. The State of Georgia had no comment.
    Under its regulations, the Commission may issue and make an 
amendment immediately effective, notwithstanding the pendency before it 
of a request for a hearing from any person, in advance of the holding 
and completion of any required hearing, where it has determined that 
NSHC is involved. The Commission has applied the standards of 10 CFR 
50.92, ``Issuance of amendment,'' and has made a final determination 
that the amendment involves NSHC. The basis for this determination is 
contained in the NRC documents listed in section I of this notice. 
Accordingly, the amendment has been issued and made effective as 
indicated. Because the amendment was issued in exigent circumstances 
without prior notice of an opportunity for hearing, the Commission is, 
with this notice, providing an opportunity for hearing on the 
amendment. A request for a hearing or petition for leave to intervene 
must be filed by May 1, 2023, as discussed later in this notice.
    The Commission has determined that the amendment satisfies the 
criteria for categorical exclusion in accordance with 10 CFR 51.22. 
Therefore, pursuant to 10 CFR 51.22(b), no environmental impact 
statement or environmental assessment needs to be prepared for this 
amendment.
    For further details with respect to this action, including the 
Commission's final NSHC determination or discussion of exigent 
circumstances, see the amendment and associated documents such as the 
Commission's letter and

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safety evaluation, which are referenced in section I of this notice.

III. Opportunity To Request a Hearing and Petition for Leave To 
Intervene

    Within 60 days after the date of publication of this notice, any 
persons (petitioner) whose interest may be affected by this action may 
file a request for a hearing and a petition for leave to intervene 
(petition) with respect to the action. Petitions shall be filed in 
accordance with the Commission's ``Agency Rules of Practice and 
Procedure'' in 10 CFR part 2. Interested persons should consult a 
current copy of 10 CFR 2.309. The NRC's regulations are accessible 
electronically from the NRC Library on the NRC's public website at 
https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/cfr. If a petition is 
filed, the Commission or a presiding officer will rule on the petition 
and, if appropriate, a notice of a hearing will be issued.
    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).
    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 (https://adamswebsearch2.nrc.gov/webSearch2/main.jsp?AccessionNumber=ML20340A053) and the NRC's public 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 further 
discussed, 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's public 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. ET on the due date. Upon receipt of a 
transmission, the E-Filing system time-stamps the document and sends 
the submitter an email 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., ET, Monday through Friday, except Federal 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 previously described, 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.

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V. Conclusion

    For the reasons set forth in the safety evaluation, the NRC staff 
issued the amendment that SNC requested on February 8, 2023, as part of 
a package to SNC.

    Dated: February 24, 2023.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Victor E. Hall,
Director, Vogtle Project Office, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 2023-04232 Filed 3-1-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P