[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 71 (Tuesday, April 15, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15722-15727]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-06396]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50-255; NRC-2025-0074]
Holtec Palisades, LLC; Palisades Nuclear Plant; License Amendment
Request
AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Opportunity to comment, request a hearing, and petition for
leave to intervene; order imposing procedures.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC, the Commission)
is considering issuance of an amendment to Renewed Facility Operating
License (RFOL) No. DPR-20, that was requested by Holtec Palisades, LLC
for the Palisades Nuclear Plant (Palisades, PNP). The proposed license
amendment would revise the technical specifications to allow for the
use of Framatome Alloy 690 sleeves to repair the defective steam
generator tubes as an alternative to removing the tubes from service by
plugging. This will support the return to service of the steam
generators as part of the potential resumption of power operations at
the Palisades facility. For the amendment request, the NRC proposes to
determine that it involves no significant hazards consideration (NSHC).
Because this amendment request contains sensitive unclassified non-
safeguards information (SUNSI), an order imposes procedures to obtain
access to SUNSI for contention preparation.
DATES: Submit comments by May 15, 2025. Comments received after this
date will be considered if it is practical to do so, but the NRC is
able to ensure consideration only for comments received on or before
this date. Requests for a hearing or petition for leave to intervene
must be filed by June 16, 2025. Any potential party as defined in
section 2.4 of title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) who
believes access to SUNSI is necessary to respond to this notice must
request document access by April 25, 2025.
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-2025-0074. Address
questions about Docket IDs in Regulations.gov to Bridget Curran;
telephone: 301-415-1003; 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-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
[[Page 15723]]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Justin Poole, Office of Nuclear
Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC
20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-2048; email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Obtaining Information and Submitting Comments
A. Obtaining Information
Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2025-0074 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-2025-0074.
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, at 301-415-4737,
or by email to [email protected]. The License Amendment Request to
Revise Selected Permanently Defueled Technical Specifications to
Support Repairing of Steam Generator Tubes by Sleeving is available in
ADAMS under Accession No. ML25043A348.
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.
B. Submitting Comments
The NRC encourages electronic comment submission through the
Federal rulemaking website (https://www.regulations.gov). Please
include Docket ID NRC-2025-0074 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 RFOL No. DPR-20
for Palisades, located in Van Buren County, Michigan. By letter dated
February 11, 2025 (ADAMS Accession No. ML25043A348), Holtec Palisades,
LLC submitted a license amendment request for the Palisades Nuclear
Plant. The proposed amendment request would revise the technical
specifications to allow for the use of Framatome Alloy 690 sleeves to
repair the defective steam generator tubes as an alternative to
removing the tubes from service by plugging. This will support the
return to service of the steam generators as part of the potential
resumption of power operations at the Palisades facility.
Before 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. Under
the NRC's regulations in 10 CFR 50.92, 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 no significant hazards consideration, which is presented
as follows:
1. Does the proposed amendment involve a significant increase in
the probability or consequences of an accident previously evaluated?
Response: No.
The Alloy 690 mechanical tube support plate (TSP) leak-limiting
repair sleeves are designed using the applicable American Society of
Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code; therefore,
they meet the design objectives of the original SG tubing. The applied
stresses and fatigue usage for the repair sleeves are bounded by the
limits established in the ASME Code. Mechanical testing has shown that
the structural strength of the repair sleeves under normal, upset,
emergency, and faulted conditions provides margin to the acceptance
limits. The acceptance limits bound the most limiting (three times
normal operating pressure differential) burst margin recommended by
Regulatory Guide (RG) 1.121, Bases for Plugging Degraded PWR Steam
Generator Tubes. During the main steam line break (MSLB) leak testing
performed as part of qualification, very small levels of primary-to-
secondary leakage were measured and therefore no unacceptable levels of
primary-to-secondary leakage are expected during any plant condition.
The Alloy 690 repair sleeve depth-based structural limit is
determined using the RG 1.121 guidance, Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI)
97-06, Steam Generator Program Guidelines, and the pressure stress
equation of ASME Code, Section Ill with additional margin added to
account for configuration of long axial cracks at egg crate tube
support plates. A bounding detection threshold value has been
conservatively identified and statistically established to account for
growth and determine the repair sleeve/tube assembly plugging limit. A
sleeved tube is plugged upon detection of a degradation found in the
sleeve/tube assembly.
Evaluation of the repaired SG tube testing and analysis indicates
no detrimental effects on the sleeve or sleeved tube assembly from
reactor system flow, primary or secondary coolant chemistries, thermal
conditions or transients, or pressure conditions as may be experienced
at PNP. Corrosion testing and historical performance of sleeve/tube
assemblies indicates no evidence of sleeve or tube corrosion considered
detrimental under anticipated service conditions.
The implementation of the proposed amendment has no significant
effect on either the configuration of the plant or the way it is
operated. The consequences of a hypothetical failure of the sleeve/tube
assembly are bounded by the current SG tube rupture (SGTR) analysis
described in the PNP UFSAR Revision 35. Due to the slight reduction in
diameter caused by the sleeve wall thickness, primary coolant release
rates would be slightly less than assumed for the SGTR analysis and
therefore, would result in lower total primary fluid mass release to
the secondary system. A
[[Page 15724]]
MSLB will not cause a SGTR because the sleeves are analyzed for a
maximum accident differential pressure greater than that predicted in
the PNP safety analysis. The minimal leakage that could occur during
plant operation from repair of the sleeve/tube assembly is well within
the plant leakage limits.
Therefore, the proposed amendment does not involve a significant
increase in the probability or consequences of an accident previously
evaluated.
2. Does the proposed amendment create the possibility of a new or
different kind of accident from any accident previously evaluated?
Response: No.
The Alloy 690 TSP leak-limiting repair sleeves are designed using
the applicable ASME Code as guidance; therefore, it meets the
objectives of the original SG tubing. As a result, the functions of the
SG will not be significantly affected by the installation of the
proposed sleeves. The proposed repair sleeves do not interact with any
other plant systems. Any accident because of potential tube or sleeve
degradation in the repaired portion of the tube is bounded by the
existing SGTR accident analysis. The continued integrity of the
installed sleeve/tube assembly is periodically verified by the
inspection requirements in the proposed power operations technical
specifications, as amended, and the requirement to plug sleeved tubes
upon detection of a degradation. Implementation of the proposed
amendment will have no significant effect on either the configuration
of the plant, or the way it is operated.
Therefore, the proposed amendment does not create the possibility
of a new or different kind of accident from any accident previously
evaluated.
3. Does the proposed amendment involve a significant reduction in a
margin of safety?
Response: No.
The repair of degraded SG tubes with Alloy 690 TSP leak-limiting
repair sleeves restores the structural integrity of the degraded tube
under normal operating and postulated accident conditions and thereby
maintains current core cooling margin as opposed to plugging the tube
and taking it out of service. The design safety factors utilized for
the repair sleeves are consistent with the safety factors in the ASME
Code used in the original SG design. The portions of the installed
sleeve/tube assembly that represent the reactor coolant pressure
boundary can be monitored for the initiation of sleeve/tube wall
degradation and the affected tube can be plugged on upon detection of a
degradation thereby restoring the integrity of the pressure boundary.
Use of the previously identified design criteria and design
verification testing assures that the margin to safety is not different
from the original SG tubes.
Therefore, 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 three standards of 10 CFR 50.92(c) are
satisfied. Therefore, the NRC staff proposes to determine that the
license amendment request involves no significant hazards
consideration.
The NRC is seeking public comments on this proposed determination
that the license amendment request involves no significant hazards
consideration. 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 60 days after the date of publication of this notice. The
Commission may issue the license amendment before expiration of the 60-
day notice period if the Commission concludes the amendment involves no
significant hazards consideration. In addition, the Commission may
issue the amendment prior to the expiration of the 30-day comment
period if circumstances change during the 30-day comment period such
that failure to act in a timely way would result, for example, in
preventing restart of the facility. 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.
If the Commission makes a final no significant hazards consideration
determination, any hearing will take place after 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 (https://adamswebsearch2.nrc.gov/webSearch2/main.jsp?AccessionNumber=ML20340A053) and on the NRC's public website
at https://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/regulatory/adjudicatory/hearing.html#participate.
IV. Electronic Submissions and 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
[[Page 15725]]
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.
For further details with respect to this action, see the
application for license amendment dated February 11, 2025 (ADAMS
Accession No. ML25043A348).
Attorney for licensee: Jason Day, One Holtec Boulevard, Camden, New
Jersey 08104.
NRC Branch Chief: Ilka Berrios.
Order Imposing Procedures for Access to Sensitive Unclassified Non-
Safeguards Information for Contention Preparation
A. This Order contains instructions regarding how potential parties
to this proceeding may request access to documents containing Sensitive
Unclassified Non-Safeguards Information (SUNSI).
B. Within 10 days after publication of this notice of opportunity
for hearing, any potential party who believes access to SUNSI is
necessary to respond to this notice may request such access. A
``potential party'' is any person who intends to participate as a party
by demonstrating standing and filing an admissible contention under 10
CFR 2.309. Requests for access to SUNSI submitted later than 10 days
after publication will not be considered absent a showing of good cause
for the late filing, addressing why the request could not have been
filed earlier.
C. The requestor shall submit a letter requesting permission to
access SUNSI to the Office of the Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, Attention: Rulemakings and
Adjudications Staff, and provide a copy to the Deputy General Counsel
for Licensing, Hearings, and Enforcement, Office of the General
Counsel, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001.
The expedited delivery or courier mail address for both offices is:
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville,
Maryland 20852. The email addresses for the Office of the Secretary and
the Office of the General Counsel are [email protected] and
[email protected], respectively.\1\ The request must
include the following information:
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\1\ While a request for hearing or petition to intervene in this
proceeding must comply with the filing requirements of the NRC's
``E-Filing Rule,'' the initial request to access SUNSI under these
procedures should be submitted as described in this paragraph.
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(1) A description of the licensing action with a citation to this
Federal Register notice.
(2) The name and address of the potential party and a description
of the potential party's particularized interest
[[Page 15726]]
that could be harmed by the action identified in C.(1).
(3) The identity of the individual or entity requesting access to
SUNSI and the requestor's basis for the need for the information in
order to meaningfully participate in this adjudicatory proceeding. In
particular, the request must explain why publicly available versions of
the information requested would not be sufficient to provide the basis
and specificity for a proffered contention.
D. To avoid delays in processing requests for access to SUNSI, the
requestor should review all submitted materials for completeness and
accuracy (including legibility) before submitting them to the NRC. The
NRC will return incomplete packages to the sender without processing.
E. Based on an evaluation of the information submitted under
paragraph C.(3), the NRC staff will determine within 10 days of receipt
of the request whether:
(1) There is a reasonable basis to believe the petitioner is likely
to establish standing to participate in this NRC proceeding; and
(2) The requestor has established a legitimate need for access to
the SUNSI requested.
F. If the NRC staff determines that the requestor has satisfied
both E.(1) and E.(2), the NRC staff will notify the requestor in
writing that access to SUNSI has been granted. The written notification
will contain instructions on how the requestor may obtain copies of the
requested documents, and any other conditions that may apply to access
to those documents. These conditions may include, but are not limited
to, the signing of a Non-Disclosure Agreement or Affidavit, or
Protective Order \2\ setting forth terms and conditions to prevent the
unauthorized or inadvertent disclosure of SUNSI by each individual who
will be granted access to SUNSI.
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\2\ Any motion for Protective Order or draft Non-Disclosure
Affidavit or Agreement for SUNSI must be filed with the presiding
officer, or the Chief Administrative Judge if the presiding officer
has not yet been designated, within 30 days of the deadline for the
receipt of the written access request.
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G. Filing of Contentions. Any contentions in these proceedings that
are based upon the information received as a result of the request made
for SUNSI must be filed by the requestor no later than 25 days after
receipt of (or access to) that information. However, if more than 25
days remain between the petitioner's receipt of (or access to) the
information and the deadline for filing all other contentions (as
established in the notice of opportunity for hearing), the petitioner
may file its SUNSI contentions by that later deadline.
H. Review of Denials of Access.
(1) If the request for access to SUNSI is denied by the NRC staff
after a determination on standing and requisite need, the NRC staff
shall immediately notify the requestor in writing, briefly stating the
reason or reasons for the denial.
(2) The requestor may challenge the NRC staff's adverse
determination regarding access to SUNSI by filing a challenge within 5
days of receipt of that determination with: (a) the presiding officer
designated in this proceeding; (b) if no presiding officer has been
appointed, the Chief Administrative Judge, or if this individual is
unavailable, another administrative judge or an Administrative Law
Judge with jurisdiction pursuant to 10 CFR 2.318(a); or (c) if another
officer has been designated to rule on information access issues, with
that officer.
(3) Further appeals of decisions under this paragraph must be made
pursuant to 10 CFR 2.311.
I. Review of Grants of Access. A party other than the requestor may
challenge an NRC staff determination granting access to SUNSI whose
release would harm that party's interest independent of the proceeding.
Such a challenge must be filed within 5 days of the notification by the
NRC staff of its grant of access and must be filed with: (a) the
presiding officer designated in this proceeding; (b) if no presiding
officer has been appointed, the Chief Administrative Judge, or if this
individual is unavailable, another administrative judge or an
Administrative Law Judge with jurisdiction pursuant to 10 CFR 2.318(a);
or (c) if another officer has been designated to rule on information
access issues, with that officer.
If challenges to the NRC staff determinations are filed, these
procedures give way to the normal process for litigating disputes
concerning access to information. The availability of interlocutory
review by the Commission of orders ruling on such NRC staff
determinations (whether granting or denying access) is governed by 10
CFR 2.311.\3\
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\3\ Requestors should note that the filing requirements of the
NRC's E-Filing Rule (72 FR 49139; August 28, 2007, as amended at 77
FR 46562, August 3, 2012) apply to appeals of NRC staff
determinations (because they must be served on a presiding officer
or the Commission, as applicable), but not to the initial SUNSI
request submitted to the NRC staff under these procedures.
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J. The Commission expects that the NRC staff and presiding officers
(and any other reviewing officers) will consider and resolve requests
for access to SUNSI, and motions for protective orders, in a timely
fashion in order to minimize any unnecessary delays in identifying
those petitioners who have standing and who have propounded contentions
meeting the specificity and basis requirements in 10 CFR part 2. The
attachment to this Order summarizes the general target schedule for
processing and resolving requests under these procedures.
It is so ordered.
Dated: April 10, 2025.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Carrie Safford,
Secretary of the Commission.
ATTACHMENT 1--General Target Schedule for Processing and Resolving
Requests for Access to Sensitive Unclassified Non-Safeguards Information
in This Proceeding
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Day Event/activity
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0........................ Publication of Federal Register notice of
opportunity for hearing, including order
with instructions for access requests.
10....................... Deadline for submitting requests for access
to Sensitive Unclassified Non-Safeguards
Information (SUNSI).
SUNSI requests should include information:
(i) supporting the standing of a potential
party identified by name and address and
(ii) describing the requestor's need for the
information in order for the potential party
to participate meaningfully in an
adjudicatory proceeding.
60....................... Deadline for submitting petition for
intervention containing: (i) demonstration
of standing and (ii) all contentions whose
formulation does not require access to SUNSI
(+25 Answers to petition for intervention;
+7 requestor/petitioner reply).
20....................... U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
staff informs the requestor of the staff's
determination whether the request for access
provides a reasonable basis to believe
standing can be established and shows need
for SUNSI. (For SUNSI, NRC staff also
informs any party to the proceeding whose
interest independent of the proceeding would
be harmed by the release of the
information.) If NRC staff makes the finding
of need for SUNSI and likelihood of
standing, NRC staff begins document
processing (preparation of redactions or
review of redacted documents).
[[Page 15727]]
25....................... If NRC staff finds no ``need'' for SUNSI or
no likelihood of standing, the deadline for
requestor/petitioner to file a motion
seeking a ruling to reverse the NRC staff's
denial of access; NRC staff files copy of
access determination with the presiding
officer (or Chief Administrative Judge or
other designated officer, as appropriate).
If NRC staff finds ``need'' for SUNSI, the
deadline for any party to the proceeding
whose interest independent of the proceeding
would be harmed by the release of the
information to file a motion seeking a
ruling to reverse the NRC staff's grant of
access.
30....................... Deadline for NRC staff reply to motions to
reverse NRC staff determination(s).
40....................... (Receipt +30) If NRC staff finds standing and
need for SUNSI, deadline for NRC staff to
complete information processing and file
motion for Protective Order and draft Non-
Disclosure Agreement or Affidavit. Deadline
for applicant/licensee to file Non-
Disclosure Agreement or Affidavit for SUNSI.
A........................ If access granted: issuance of presiding
officer or other designated officer decision
on motion for protective order for access to
sensitive information (including schedule
for providing access and submission of
contentions) or decision reversing a final
adverse determination by the NRC staff.
A + 3.................... Deadline for filing executed Non-Disclosure
Agreements or Affidavits. Access provided to
SUNSI consistent with decision issuing the
protective order.
A + 28................... Deadline for submission of contentions whose
development depends upon access to SUNSI.
However, if more than 25 days remain between
the petitioner's receipt of (or access to)
the information and the deadline for filing
all other contentions (as established in the
notice of opportunity for hearing), the
petitioner may file its SUNSI contentions by
that later deadline.
A + 53................... (Contention receipt +25) Answers to
contentions whose development depends upon
access to SUNSI.
A + 60................... (Answer receipt +7) Petitioner/Intervenor
reply to answers.
>A + 60.................. Decision on contention admission.
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[FR Doc. 2025-06396 Filed 4-14-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P