[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 121 (Monday, June 24, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52514-52517]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-13768]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket Nos. 50-237 and 50-249; NRC-2024-0080]


Constellation Energy Generation, LLC; Dresden Nuclear Power 
Station, Units 2 and 3; Subsequent License Renewal Application

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Opportunity to request a hearing and to petition for leave to 
intervene.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering an 
application for the subsequent license renewal of Renewed Facility 
Operating License Nos. DPR-19 and DPR-25, which authorize Constellation 
Energy Generation, LLC (CEG, the applicant) to operate Dresden Nuclear 
Power Station (Dresden), Units 2 and 3. The subsequent renewed licenses 
would authorize CEG to operate Dresden for an additional 20 years 
beyond the period specified in each of the current licenses. The 
current operating license for Dresden, Unit 2, expires December 22, 
2029. The current operating license for Dresden, Unit 3, expires 
January 12, 2031.

DATES: A request for a hearing or petition for leave to intervene must 
be filed by August 23, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2024-0080 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-2024-0080. 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

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(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, at 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.
     Public Library: A copy of the subsequent license renewal 
application for Dresden, Units 2 and 3, can be accessed at the 
following public libraries: Morris Area Public Library, 604 Liberty St, 
Morris, IL 60450, and Coal City Public Library District, 85 N Garfield 
St, Coal City, IL 60416.
     NRC's PDR: The PDR, where you may examine and order copies 
of publicly available documents, is open by appointment. 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 
a.m. and 4 p.m. eastern time (ET), Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Yoo, Office of Nuclear Reactor 
Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-
0001; telephone: 301-415-8583; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Introduction

    The NRC received a subsequent license renewal application (SLRA) 
from CEG, dated April 17, 2024 (ADAMS Package Accession No. 
ML24108A007), filed pursuant to section 103 of the Atomic Energy Act of 
1954, as amended (the Act), and part 54 of title 10 of the Code of 
Federal Regulations (10 CFR), ``Requirements for Renewal of Operating 
Licenses for Nuclear Power Plants,'' requesting the renewal of the 
operating licenses for Dresden, Units 2 and 3, at 2,957 megawatts 
thermal for each unit. The Dresden units are boiling-water reactors 
located in Morris, Illinois. A notice of receipt of the SLRA was 
published in the Federal Register on May 7, 2024, (89 FR 38197).
    The NRC staff has determined that CEG has submitted sufficient 
information in accordance with 10 CFR 54.19, 54.21, 54.22, 54.23, 
51.45, and 51.53(c), to enable the staff to undertake a review of the 
application, and that the application is, therefore, acceptable for 
docketing. The current docket nos. 50-237 and 50-249 for the Renewed 
Facility Operating License Nos. DPR-19 and DPR-25 will be retained. The 
determination to accept the SLRA for docketing does not constitute a 
determination that a subsequent renewed license should be issued and 
does not preclude the NRC staff from requesting additional information 
as the review proceeds.
    Before issuance of the requested subsequent renewed licenses, the 
NRC will have made the findings required by the Act and the 
Commission's rules and regulations. In accordance with 10 CFR 54.29, 
the NRC may issue a subsequent renewed license on the basis of its 
review if it finds that actions have been identified and have been or 
will be taken with respect to: (1) managing the effects of aging during 
the period of extended operation on the functionality of structures and 
components that have been identified as requiring aging management 
review; and (2) time-limited aging analyses that have been identified 
as requiring review, such that there is reasonable assurance that the 
activities authorized by the renewed license will continue to be 
conducted in accordance with the current licensing basis and that any 
changes made to the plant's current licensing basis will comply with 
the Act and the Commission's regulations.
    In Florida Power & Light Co. (Turkey Point Nuclear Generating Units 
3 and 4), CLI-22-2 (ADAMS Accession No. ML22055A496), the Commission 
found that 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3), which at the time allowed applicants for 
``initial'' license renewal to rely on the 2013 Generic Environmental 
Impact Statement for License Renewal (GEIS) in their environmental 
reports for ``Category 1'' issues, does not apply to applications for 
subsequent license renewal. The Commission further found that the GEIS 
itself does not describe the environmental impacts of operation during 
the period of subsequent license renewal. In CLI-22-2 the Commission 
found that because the 2013 GEIS did not consider the impacts from 
operations during the subsequent license renewal period, applicants for 
subsequent license renewal must evaluate on a site-specific basis 
``Category 1'' impacts. Separately, in Staff Requirements Memorandum 
(SRM)--SECY--21--0066--Rulemaking Plan for Renewing Nuclear Power Plant 
Operating Licenses--Environmental Review (RIN 3150-AK32; NRC-2018-
0296), dated February 24, 2022, (ADAMS Accession No. ML22053A308), the 
Commission directed the staff to review and update the 2013 GEIS so 
that it covers operation during the subsequent license renewal period.
    In SRM-M240516A: Affirmation Session--SECY-24-0017: Final Rule--
Renewing Nuclear Power Plant Operating Licenses--Environmental Review 
(RIN 3150-AK32; NRC-2018-0296), dated May 16, 2024, (ADAMS Package 
Accession No. ML24137A213), the Commission approved a final rule that 
will amend 10 CFR part 51, ``Environmental Protection Regulations for 
Domestic Licensing and Related Regulatory Functions'' by, among other 
things, updating Table B-1, ``Summary of Findings on NEPA [National 
Environmental Policy Act] Issues for License Renewal of Nuclear Power 
Plants,'' in appendix B, ``Environmental Effect of Renewing the 
Operating License of a Nuclear Power Plant,'' to 10 CFR part 51, 
subpart A, ``National Environmental Policy Act-Regulations Implementing 
Section 102(2).'' The updates to Table B-1 are supported by the revised 
NUREG-1437, Revision 2, ``Generic Environmental Impact Statement for 
License Renewal of Nuclear Plants'' (LR GEIS). The updates fully 
account for one term of subsequent license renewal (SLR) by reflecting 
a thorough evaluation of the environmental impacts of SLR in the LR 
GEIS; the staff has also updated associated guidance. Additionally, the 
final rule will remove the word ``initial'' from 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3) and 
make conforming changes in 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii) and 10 CFR 51.95(c). 
The final Federal Register notice for the updated rule has not yet been 
published. The licensee's environmental report evaluated ``Category 1'' 
impacts via site-specific analyses because the GEIS rulemaking was not 
complete when the licensee submitted its SLR application.

II. 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

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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.

III. 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 docket 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.
    Information about the license renewal process can be found under 
the Reactor License Renewal section on the NRC's public website at 
https://www.nrc.gov/reactors/operating/licensing/renewal.html. Copies 
of the application to renew the operating licenses for Dresden, Units 2 
and 3, are available for public inspection at the NRC's PDR, and on the 
NRC's public website at https://www.nrc.gov/reactors/operating/licensing/renewal/applications.html while the application is under 
review. The application may be accessed in ADAMS through the NRC 
Library on the internet at https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html 
under ADAMS Package Accession No. ML24108A007. As previously stated, 
persons who do not have access to ADAMS or who encounter problems in 
accessing the documents located in ADAMS may contact the NRC's PDR 
reference staff by telephone at 1-800-397-4209 or 301-415-4737, or by 
email to [email protected].
    A copy of the subsequent license renewal application for Dresden, 
Units 2 and 3, is also available to local residents near the site at 
the public

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libraries listed in the ADDRESSES section of this document.

    Dated: June 17, 2024.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Lauren Gibson,
Chief, License Renewal Project Branch, Division of New and Renewed 
Licenses, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 2024-13768 Filed 6-21-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P