[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 93 (Thursday, May 15, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20689-20691]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-08608]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 52-026; NRC-2025-0085]
Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.; Vogtle Electric
Generating Plant, Unit 4; License Amendment Application
AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Opportunity to comment, request a hearing, and petition for
leave to intervene.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering
issuance of an amendment to Combined License No. NPF-92, issued to
Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc. (SNC, the licensee), for
operation of the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant (VEGP), Unit 4. The
proposed license amendment would add a Note to VEGP, Unit 4, Technical
Specification (TS) 3.7.6, ``Main Control Room Emergency Habitability
System (VES),'' Action, Condition F to allow a one-time allowance to
provide time to repair VES bottled air system valve leakage. More
specifically, the proposed Note would allow a one-time 72-hour delay
for the initiation of Required Actions F.1 and F.2 Completion Times for
VES air system leakage repairs.
DATES: Submit comments by June 16, 2025. Request for a hearing or
petitions for leave to intervene must be filed by July 14, 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-2025-0085. 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
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Zachary M. Turner, Office of Nuclear
Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC
20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-2258; email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Obtaining Information and Submitting Comments
A. Obtaining Information
Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2025-0085 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-2025-0085.
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
add a one-time allowance to TS 3.7.6 for VEGP, Unit 4, is available in
ADAMS under Accession No. ML25121A336.
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-2025-0085 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 Combined License
No. NPF-92, issued to SNC, for operation of the VEGP, Unit 4, located
in Burke County, GA.
The proposed license amendment would add a Note to VEGP, Unit 4, TS
3.7.6, ``Main Control Room Emergency Habitability System (VES),''
Action, Condition F to allow a one-time allowance to provide time to
repair VES bottled air system valve leakage. The Note would extend the
initiation of Required Actions F.1 and F.2 Completion Times from
discovery of Condition F entry when Condition F entry is a result of
VES air system leakage repairs. The one-time allowance would expire
upon entry into MODE 4
[[Page 20690]]
on startup from VEGP, Unit 4's first refueling outage.
In order to approve the proposed license amendment, the NRC would
need to make the findings required by the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as
amended (the Act), and NRC's regulations. The NRC staff's determination
on this license amendment request, including, if appropriate, these
findings, will be published once the staff has completed its safety
review.
The NRC has made a proposed determination that the license
amendment request involves no significant hazards consideration (NSHC).
Under the NRC's regulations in 10 CFR 50.92, ``Issuance of amendment,''
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), ``Notice for
public comment,'' the licensee has provided its analysis of the issue
of NSHC, which is presented as follows:
1. Does the proposed change involve a significant increase in the
probability or consequences of an accident previously evaluated?
Response: No.
The proposed change does not affect the previously evaluated
accident probability because the Updated Final Safety Analysis Report,
Chapter 15, initiating events for analyzed accidents do not change. The
VES is not considered an accident initiator. The proposed changes do
not adversely affect accident initiators or precursors, and do not
alter the design assumptions, conditions, or configuration of the plant
or the manner in which the plant is operated or maintained.
Therefore, the proposed change does not result in any increase in
probability of an analyzed accident occurring.
The proposed change does not impact the nuclear island
nonradioactive ventilation system (VBS) ability to protect control room
personnel from radiological consequences. The proposed change provides
that the main control room will continue to protect the control room
personnel in meeting General Design Criterion's (GDC) 19 dose limits.
Thus, the consequences of the accidents previously evaluated are not
adversely affected.
Therefore, the proposed change does not involve a significant
increase in the probability or consequences of an accident previously
evaluated.
2. Does the proposed change create the possibility of a new or
different kind of accident from any accident previously evaluated?
Response: No.
The proposed change does not involve the installation of any new or
different type of equipment or a change to the methods governing normal
plant operation. The proposed changes continue to provide the
functional capability for previously evaluated accidents and
anticipated operational occurrences. The proposed change does not
adversely impact the function of any related systems, and thus, the
changes do not introduce a new failure mode, malfunction, or sequence
of events that could adversely affect safety or safety-related
equipment.
Therefore, the proposed change will not create the possibility of a
new or different kind of accident from any accident previously
evaluated.
3. Does the proposed change involve a significant reduction in a
margin of safety?
Response: No.
Margins of safety are established in the design of components, the
configuration of components to meet certain performance parameters, and
in the establishment of setpoints to initiate alarms or actions. The
proposed amendment does not alter the design or configuration of the
VES or VBS. The proposed change does not change the function of the
related systems. The proposed change was evaluated and demonstrated
that the control room habitability during analyzed events remains.
Therefore, the proposed change does not involve a significant
reduction in a margin of safety.
Based on the preceding, the licensee concluded that the proposed
amendment does not involve a significant hazards consideration under
the standards set forth in 10 CFR 50.92(c), and, accordingly, the
licensee concluded a finding of ``no significant hazards
consideration'' is justified.
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 an NSHC.
The NRC is seeking public comments on this proposed determination
that the license amendment request involves NSHC. Any comments received
within 30 days after the date of publication of this notice will be
considered in making any final determination.
Normally, the Commission will not issue the amendment until the
expiration of 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
NHSC. 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 derating or shutdown of the facility. If
the Commission takes action prior to the expiration of either the
comment period or the notice period, it will publish a notice of
issuance in the Federal Register. If the Commission makes a final NSHC
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 NSHC, the Commission will make a final
determination on the issue of NSHC, which will serve to establish when
the hearing is held. If the final determination is that the amendment
request involves NSHC, the Commission may issue the amendment and make
it immediately effective, notwithstanding the request for a hearing.
Any hearing
[[Page 20691]]
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 designated 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 (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.
For further details with respect to this action, see the
application for license amendment dated May 1, 2025 (ADAMS Accession
No. ML25121A336).
Attorney for licensee: Millicent Ronnlund, Vice President and
General Counsel for Southern Nuclear Operating Co., Inc., P.O. Box
1295, Birmingham, AL 35201-1295.
NRC Branch Chief: Michael Markley.
Dated: May 9, 2025.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Zachary Turner,
Project Manager, Plant Licensing Branch 2-1, Division of Operating
Reactor Licensing, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 2025-08608 Filed 5-14-25; 8:45 am]
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