[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 30 (Friday, February 13, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6900-6903]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-02947]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket Nos. 50-373 and 50-374; NRC-2026-0727]
Constellation Energy Generation, LLC; LaSalle County Station,
Units 1 and 2; License Amendment Request
AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Opportunity to comment, request a hearing and to petition for
leave to intervene.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering
issuance of amendments to Renewed Facility Operating Licenses (RFOLs)
No. NPF-11 and NPF-18, issued to Constellation Energy Generation, LLC
(Constellation, the licensee) for LaSalle County Station, Units 1 and 2
(LaSalle). The proposed license amendments, if granted, would
temporarily revise the Technical Specification (TS) Limiting Condition
for Operation (LCO) 3.3.7.1, ``Control Room Area Filtration (CRAF)
System Instrumentation,'' until December 31, 2027. The Atomic Energy
Act of 1954, as amended, (the Act) grants the Commission authority to
issue and make immediately effective any amendment to an operating
license upon a determination by the Commission that such amendment
involves no significant hazards consideration (NSHC), notwithstanding
the pendency before the Commission of a request for a hearing from any
person. For this amendment request, the NRC proposes to determine that
it involves NSHC.
DATES: Submit comments by March 16, 2026. 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 April 14, 2026.
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-2026-0727. Address
questions about Docket IDs in Regulations.gov to Bridget Curran;
telephone: 301-415-1003; email: [email protected]. For technical
questions, contact the individual(s) listed in the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document.
Mail comments to: Office of Administration, Mail Stop:
TWFN-5-A85, 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: Robert Kuntz, Office of Nuclear
Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC
20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-3733; email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Obtaining Information and Submitting Comments
A. Obtaining Information
Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2026-0727 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:
[[Page 6901]]
Federal Rulemaking website: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2026-0727.
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 ADAMS Public 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 amendment request is available in ADAMS
under Accession No. ML26028A402.
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-2026-0727 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 amendments to Renewed Facility
Operating Licenses (RFOL) Nos. NPF-11 and NPF-18 for LaSalle County
Station, Units 1 and 2 (LaSalle), located in LaSalle County, Illinois.
Constellation Energy Generation, LLC (Constellation, the licensee)
submitted the request for these license amendments via letter dated
January 28, 2026 (ADAMS Accession No. ML26028A402). The amendments, if
granted, would temporarily revise the Technical Specification (TS)
Limiting Condition for Operation (LCO) 3.3.7.1, ``Control Room Area
Filtration (CRAF) System Instrumentation,'' such that, if one of the
CRAF trip subsystems becomes inoperable, the licensee will have 21 days
to restore the inoperable subsystem. During that period, automatic
actuation is not single-failure proof. This change would only apply to
radiation monitor failure and apply until December 31, 2027. The
proposed change would also fix a typographical error in the TS.
Before issuance of the proposed license amendments, 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 Commission finds that the licensee's analyses provided,
consistent with section 50.91 of title 10 of the Code of Federal
Regulations (10 CFR) ``Notice for public comment; State consultation,''
are sufficient to support the proposed determination that this
amendment request involves NSHC. Under the NRC's regulations in 10 CFR
50.92, 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 proposed changes do not alter any of the previously evaluated
accidents in the UFSAR [Updated Final Safety Analysis Report]. The
proposed changes do not affect any of the initiators of previously
evaluated accidents in a manner that would increase the likelihood of
the event. The proposed change would allow one of the two trip systems
for a CRAF subsystem to be inoperable for up to 21 days. This would
result in single failure criterion not to being maintained for this
time period. However, manual initiation of the CRAF subsystem would
continue to be available per station operating procedures in the event
that automatic initiation does not occur from the remaining operable
trip system.
The CRAF subsystem is not an initiator of any accident previously
evaluated. The CRAF and the associated subsystems are used to mitigate
the consequences of an accident. It is designed to maintain the Control
Room habitable for operators and continued equipment operation. The
CRAF is not an accident initiator for any previously evaluated
accident.
Therefore, the proposed change 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 proposed changes will not introduce any new operating modes,
safety-related equipment lineups, accident scenarios, system
interactions, or failure modes that would create a new or different
type of accident. Failure of the system will have the same effect as
the present design.
The CRAF subsystem is not being modified by this proposed change,
only the associated TS. The proposed change would allow one of the two
trip systems for a CRAF subsystem to be inoperable for up to 21 days.
The changes do not involve a physical alteration of the plant (i.e., no
new or different type of equipment will be installed) or a change in
the methods governing normal plant operation (e.g., continue to use the
same procedures to manually start the system in the event automatic
actuation fails). In addition, the changes do not impose any new or
different requirements that could involve a new or different kind of
accident previously evaluated. The changes do not alter assumptions
made in the safety analysis.
Therefore, the proposed change 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 proposed change will not significantly reduce the margin of
safety. The CRAF subsystem is not being modified by this proposed
change, only the associated TS. The CRAF subsystem will still provide a
habitable environment by ensuring adequate radiation protection to
permit access to and occupancy of the control room following a DBA
[design basis accident]. The proposed change would allow one
[[Page 6902]]
of the two trip systems for a CRAF subsystem to be inoperable for up to
21 days during which time the automatic actuation is not single-failure
proof. Existing procedures for manual start or restoration of the CRAF
system remain in place and are deemed adequate for the 21-day period to
ensure that habitability of the control is maintained following an
accident in the event of automatic actuation failure. The additional
time provided for the condition with one trip system inoperable does
not change any analyses, system operational setpoints, or limited
safety system settings required by the accident analyses.
Therefore, the proposed changes do 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 NSHC.
The Commission 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 provided that its final determination is that the
amendment involves NSHC. 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 in the Federal Register a notice of issuance. 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 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 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
(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 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''
(ML13031A056), and on the NRC's public website (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 is created, the participant must submit
adjudicatory documents in the 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
[[Page 6903]]
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 in order
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 otherwise 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 January 28, 2026 (ADAMS
Accession No. ML26028A402).
Attorney for licensee: Roland Blackhaus, Senior Lead Counsel-
Nuclear, Vistra Corp., 325 7th Street NW, Suite 520, Washington, DC
20004.
NRC Branch Chief: Ilka Berrios.
Dated: February 11, 2026.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Robert Kuntz,
Project Manager, Plant Licensing Branch III, Division of Operating
Reactor Licensing, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 2026-02947 Filed 2-12-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P