[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 35 (Monday, February 23, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8535-8538]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-03550]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 52-025; NRC-2026-0925]
Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.; Vogtle Electric
Generating Plant, Unit 3; 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, the Commission)
is considering issuance of an amendment to Combined License (COL) NPF-
91, issued to Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc. (SNC, the
licensee), for operation of the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant
(Vogtle), Unit 3, located in Burke County, Georgia. The proposed
license amendment would delay the implementation of Amendment No. 203
for Vogtle, Unit 3, for one refueling cycle. For this amendment
request, the NRC proposes to determine that the amendment involves no
significant hazards consideration.
DATES: Submit comments by March 25, 2026. Comments received after this
date will be considered if it is practical to do so, but the Commission
is able to ensure consideration only for comments received before this
date. A request for a hearing or petition for leave to intervene must
be filed by April 24, 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-2026-0925. 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-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: John G. Lamb, Office of Nuclear
Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC
20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-3100; email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Obtaining Information and Submitting Comments
A. Obtaining Information
Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2026-0925 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-2026-0925.
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 application for amendment,
dated February 6, 2026, is available in ADAMS under Accession No.
ML26037A257.
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. 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-2026-0925 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 submissions into ADAMS.
II. Introduction
The NRC is considering issuance of a license amendment to COL NPF-
91, issued to SNC, for operation of the Vogtle Unit 3, located in Burke
County, Georgia. By letter dated February 6, 2026, SNC submitted a
license amendment request to delay the implementation of Vogtle, Unit
3, Amendment No. 203 for one refueling cycle. Amendment No. 203 was
issued to revise Technical Specifications (TS) 3.3.8, ``Engineered
Safeguards Actuation System Instrumentation,'' Table 3.3.8-1,
[[Page 8536]]
to add a new Function 11.b, ``Reactor Coolant System (RCS) Cold Leg
Temperature (Tcold)--High.'' The NRC issued Amendment No.
203 on August 8, 2025 (ADAMS Accession No. ML25199A048), which required
implementation prior to startup from the Spring 2026 refueling outage.
The proposed license amendment would change the required implementation
to prior to startup from the Fall 2027 refueling outage.
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 (NSHC).
Under the NRC's regulations in section 50.92 of title 10 of the Code of
Federal Regulations (10 CFR), 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 NSHC, 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 amendment implementation schedule extension is
administrative in nature and does not require any physical plant
modifications, physically affect any plant systems or components, or
entail changes in plant operation. The proposed changes do not affect
the previously evaluated accident probability because the UFSAR Chapter
15 initiating events for analyzed accidents does not change. The
proposed change does not adversely affect accident initiators or
precursors, and does not alter the design assumptions, conditions, or
configuration of the plant or the manner in which the plant is operated
or maintained. The proposed change continues to provide that the
Engineered Safety Features Actuation System (ESFAS) functions will
perform their design basis function.
Therefore, the proposed changes do not result in any increase in
probability of an analyzed accident occurring.
The proposed change continues to be supported by the safety
analyses described in the UFSAR. 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 amendment create the possibility of a new or
different kind of accident from any accident previously evaluated?
Response: No.
The proposed amendment implementation schedule extension is
administrative in nature and does not require any physical plant
modifications, physically affect any plant systems or components, or
entail changes in plant operation. The proposed changes do 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 required functional capability, including
single-failure protection, of the safety systems for previously
evaluated accidents and anticipated operational occurrences. The
proposed changes do 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 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 amendment implementation schedule extension is
administrative in nature and does not require any physical plant
modifications, physically affect any plant systems or components, or
entail changes in plant operation. The proposed change continues to
provide the required functional capability of the safety systems for
previously evaluated accidents and anticipated operational occurrences.
The proposed change does not change the function of the related
systems. The proposed change was evaluated and demonstrated that the
safety analyses specified acceptable fuel design limits and the design
conditions of the reactor coolant pressure boundary continue to be met.
Therefore, the proposed change does not involve a significant reduction
in a margin of safety.
Therefore, the proposed change 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 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 license 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
NSHC. In addition, the Commission may issue the license amendment prior
to the expiration of the 30-day comment period should 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. Should the Commission take action prior to the expiration of
either the comment period or the notice period, the Commission will
publish a notice of issuance in the Federal Register. Should the
Commission make a final NSHC determination, any hearing on the license
amendment 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 Commission or a presiding officer
will rule on the petition and, if appropriate, a notice of a hearing
will be issued.
Petitions must be filed no later than 60 days from the date of
publication of this notice in accordance with the filing instructions
in the ``Electronic Submissions (E-Filing)'' section of this document.
Petitions and motions for leave to file new or amended
[[Page 8537]]
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 license
amendment request involves NSHC, 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 license 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 the NRC's public website
(https://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/regulatory/adjudicatory/hearing.html#participate).
IV. Electronic Submissions (E-Filing)
All documents filed in NRC adjudicatory proceedings, including
documents filed by an interested State, local governmental body,
Federally recognized Indian Tribe, or designated agency thereof that
requests to participate under 10 CFR 2.315(c), must be filed in
accordance with 10 CFR 2.302. The E-Filing process requires
participants to submit and serve all adjudicatory documents over the
internet, or in some cases, to mail copies on electronic storage media,
unless an exemption permitting an alternative filing method, as further
discussed, is granted. Detailed guidance on electronic submissions is
located in the ``Guidance for Electronic Submissions to the NRC''
(ADAMS Accession No. ML13031A056) and on the NRC's public website at
https://www.nrc.gov/site-help/e-submittals.html.
To comply with the procedural requirements of E-Filing, at least 10
days prior to the filing deadline, the participant should contact the
Office of the Secretary by email at [email protected], or by
telephone at 301-415-1677, to (1) request a digital identification (ID)
certificate, which allows the participant (or its counsel or
representative) to digitally sign submissions and access the E-Filing
system for any proceeding in which it is participating; and (2) advise
the Secretary that the participant will be submitting a petition or
other adjudicatory document (even in instances in which the
participant, or its counsel or representative, already holds an NRC-
issued digital ID certificate). Based upon this information, the
Secretary will establish an electronic docket for the proceeding if the
Secretary has not already established an electronic docket.
Information about applying for a digital ID certificate is
available on the NRC's public website at https://www.nrc.gov/site-help/e-submittals/getting-started.html. After a digital ID certificate is
obtained and a docket created, the participant must submit adjudicatory
documents in Portable Document Format. Guidance on submissions is
available on the NRC's public website at https://www.nrc.gov/site-help/electronic-sub-ref-mat.html. A filing is considered complete at the
time the document is submitted through the NRC's E-Filing system. To be
timely, an electronic filing must be submitted to the E-Filing system
no later than 11:59 p.m. ET on the due date. Upon receipt of a
transmission, the E-Filing system time-stamps the document and sends
the submitter an email confirming receipt of the document. The E-Filing
system also distributes an email that provides access to the document
to the NRC's Office of the General Counsel and any others who have
advised the Office of the Secretary that they wish to participate in
the proceeding, so that the filer need not serve the document on those
participants separately. Therefore, applicants and other participants
(or their counsel or representative) must apply for and receive a
digital ID certificate before adjudicatory documents are filed to
obtain access to the documents via the E-Filing system.
A person filing electronically using the NRC's adjudicatory E-
Filing system may seek assistance by contacting the NRC's Electronic
Filing Help Desk through the ``Contact Us'' link located on the NRC's
public website at https://www.nrc.gov/site-help/e-submittals.html, by
email to [email protected], or by a toll-free call at 1-866-672-
7640. The NRC Electronic Filing Help Desk is available between 9 a.m.
and 6 p.m., ET, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
Participants who believe that they have good cause for not
submitting documents electronically must file an exemption request, in
accordance with 10 CFR 2.302(g), with their initial paper filing
stating why there is good cause for not filing electronically and
requesting authorization to continue to submit documents in paper
format. Such filings must be submitted in accordance with 10 CFR
2.302(b)-(d). Participants filing adjudicatory documents in this manner
are responsible for serving their documents on all other participants.
Participants granted an exemption under 10 CFR 2.302(g)(2) must still
meet the electronic formatting requirement in 10 CFR 2.302(g)(1),
unless the participant also seeks and is granted an exemption from 10
CFR 2.302(g)(1).
Documents submitted in adjudicatory proceedings will appear in the
NRC's electronic hearing docket, which is publicly available at https://adams.nrc.gov/ehd, unless excluded pursuant to an order of the
presiding officer. If you do not have an NRC-issued digital ID
certificate as previously described, click ``cancel'' when the link
requests certificates and you will be automatically directed to the
NRC's electronic hearing dockets where you will be able to access any
publicly available documents in a particular hearing docket.
Participants are requested not to include personal privacy information
such as social security numbers, home addresses, or personal phone
numbers in their filings unless an NRC regulation or other law requires
submission of such information. With respect to copyrighted works,
except for limited excerpts that serve the purpose of the adjudicatory
filings and would constitute a Fair Use application, participants
should not include copyrighted materials in their submission.
For further details with respect to this action, see the
application for license amendment dated February 6, 2026 (ADAMS
Accession No. ML26037A257).
Attorney for licensee: Millicent Ronnlund, Vice President and
General Counsel, Southern Nuclear Operating Co., Inc., P.O. Box 1295,
Birmingham, AL 35201-1295
[[Page 8538]]
NRC Director: Aida Rivera-Varona.
Dated: February 19, 2026.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Aida Rivera-Varona,
Acting Director, Division of Operating Reactor Licensing, Office of
Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 2026-03550 Filed 2-20-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P