Energy Northwest; Columbia Generating Station; Exemption, 782-784 [2012-31707]

Download as PDF 782 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 3 / Friday, January 4, 2013 / Notices determination of the date on which total or partial separations began or threatened to begin and the subdivision of the firm involved. The petitioners or any other persons showing a substantial interest in the subject matter of the investigations may request a public hearing, provided such request is filed in writing with the Director, Office of Trade Adjustment Assistance, at the address shown below, not later than January 14, 2013. Interested persons are invited to submit written comments regarding the subject matter of the investigations to the Director, Office of Trade Adjustment Assistance, at the address shown below, not later than January 14, 2013. The petitions filed in this case are available for inspection at the Office of the Director, Office of Trade Adjustment Assistance, Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N–5428, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210. Signed at Washington, DC, this 19th day of December 2012. Del Min Amy Chen, Certifying Officer, Office of Trade Adjustment Assistance. APPENDIX [30 TAA petitions instituted between 12/10/12 and 12/14/12] TA–W 82228 82229 82230 82231 82232 82233 82234 82235 82236 82237 82238 82239 82240 82241 ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... 82242 82243 82244 82245 82246 82247 82248 82249 82250 82251 82252 82253 82254 82255 82256 82257 ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... Hostess Brands Inc. (State/One-Stop) .................................... Designer Blinds (State/One-Stop) ............................................ YP Holdings LLC (Workers) ..................................................... PepsiCo (Workers) ................................................................... EEP Quality Group, Inc. (State/One-Stop) .............................. Hostess Brands/Interstate Brands Corp. (Workers) ................ Hostess Cake IBC (State/One-Stop) ....................................... SP Fiber Technologies LLC (Union) ........................................ Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (State/One-Stop) ........ State Street Bank and Trust Company (Workers) ................... Dolby Laboratories, Inc. (State/One-Stop) ............................... Universal Music Group (State/One-Stop) ................................ Allesee Orthodontic Appliances (Company) ............................ Alcoa Automotive, Indiana Assembly & Fabricating Center, Inc. (Company). Burroughs Inc. (Union) ............................................................. Leach International, Esterline Corporation (Company) ........... Philips Lighting (Company) ...................................................... Filmtec (State/One-Stop) ......................................................... Itron (State/One-Stop) .............................................................. Kincaid Furniture (Workers) ..................................................... Hostess Brands (Workers) ....................................................... United Health Group (State/One-Stop) .................................... YP Holdings LLC (Workers) ..................................................... Cooper Hosiery Mill, Inc. (Company) ....................................... Heritage Footwear (Company) ................................................. Cardinal Health (Workers) ....................................................... Invensys Systems Inc. (State/One-Stop) ................................. Hostess Brands (Company) ..................................................... Verizon Business Network Services, Inc. (State/One-Stop) .... Harley Davidson (State/One-Stop) .......................................... East Windsor, CT ................... Omaha, NE ............................. Dallas, TX ............................... Bradenton, FL ......................... East Syracuse, NY ................. Cheswick, PA .......................... Los Angeles, CA ..................... Newberg, OR .......................... Plattsburgh, NY ....................... North Quincy, MA ................... Brisbane, CA ........................... Santa Monica, CA ................... Calexico, CA ........................... Auburn, IN ............................... 12/10/12 12/10/12 12/10/12 12/10/12 12/11/12 12/11/12 12/11/12 12/11/12 12/11/12 12/11/12 12/11/12 12/11/12 12/12/12 12/12/12 12/07/12 12/07/12 12/07/12 12/07/12 12/10/12 12/11/12 12/10/12 12/07/12 12/11/12 11/16/12 12/10/12 12/10/12 12/11/12 12/11/12 Plymouth, MI ........................... Buena Park, CA ...................... Wilmington, MA ....................... Edina, MN ............................... Waseca, MN ........................... Hudson, NC ............................ Lafayette, IN ........................... Coon Rapids, MN ................... Anaheim, CA ........................... Fort Payne, AL ........................ Fort Payne, AL ........................ Albuquerque, NM .................... Foxboro, MA ........................... Northwood, OH ....................... San Antonio, TX ..................... Milwaukee, WI ........................ 12/12/12 12/12/12 12/12/12 12/12/12 12/12/12 12/12/12 12/12/12 12/12/12 12/13/12 12/13/12 12/14/12 12/14/12 12/14/12 12/14/12 12/14/12 12/14/12 12/11/12 12/11/12 12/10/12 12/11/12 12/11/12 12/07/12 12/11/12 12/11/12 12/12/12 12/12/12 12/12/12 12/13/12 12/13/12 12/13/12 12/13/12 12/14/12 Commission (NRC, the Commission) now or hereafter in effect. The facility consists of a boiling-water reactor located in Benton County in the state of Washington. BILLING CODE 4510–FN–P NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 2.0 [Docket No. 50–397; NRC–2012–0322] Energy Northwest; Columbia Generating Station; Exemption mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with Background Energy Northwest (the licensee) is the holder of Renewed Facility Operating License No. NPF–21, which authorizes operation of the Columbia Generating Station. The license provides, among other things, that the facility is subject to all rules, regulations, and orders of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory VerDate Mar<15>2010 Date of petition Location [FR Doc. 2012–31656 Filed 1–3–13; 8:45 am] 1.0 Date of institution Subject firm (petitioners) 16:34 Jan 03, 2013 Jkt 229001 Request/Action The regulations in paragraph 50.36a(a)(2) of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), require a radioactive effluent release report for each commercial nuclear power plant to be submitted annually such that the time between submission of any two reports is not longer than 12 months. The licensee’s Technical Specification (TS) 5.6.2, ‘‘Radioactive Effluent Release Report,’’ requires the Annual Radioactive Effluent Release Report (ARERR) to be submitted in accordance with 10 CFR 50.36a as specified in the PO 00000 Frm 00094 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 licensee’s Offsite Dose Calculation Manual (ODCM). The licensee’s ODCM specifies the ARERR to be submitted within 60 days after January 1 of each calendar year. The licensee indicates this constitutes an undue administrative burden due to the compressed schedule for data collection, report preparation, and internal review following closure of the reporting period. As a result, the licensee wants to change the ODCM so that the report can be submitted prior to May 1 of each year. In order to implement this change to the ODCM, the licensee has requested a one-time exemption from the required 12-month reporting interval for the next required submittal of the ARERR for the Columbia Generating Station. This would result in a one-time allowance of an additional 2 months (i.e., a 14-month E:\FR\FM\04JAN1.SGM 04JAN1 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 3 / Friday, January 4, 2013 / Notices interval) for the next required submittal of the ARERR. An exemption is needed because 10 CFR 50.36a(a)(2) specifies the interval between submittal of successive ARERRs must not exceed 12 months. In summary, the end result of this exemption would be that the time interval between the 2011 and the 2012 ARERRs (generated in March 2012 and May 2013) would be 14 months. This is a one-time exemption, and subsequent ARERRs, generated in 2014 and beyond, would be subject to the 12-month interval specified in 10 CFR 50.36a(a)(2). unrestricted areas during the previous calendar year. The proposed exemption only changes the date the ARERR would be submitted to the NRC, but does not change any of the information presented in the ARERR. Based on the above, no new accident precursors are created by extending the submittal date for the next ARERR (from prior to March 1) to prior to May 1, thus, the probability of postulated accidents is not increased. Also, based on the above, the consequences of postulated accidents are not increased. Therefore, there is no undue risk to public health and safety. 3.0 Discussion Pursuant to 10 CFR 50.12, the Commission may, upon application by any interested person or upon its own initiative, grant exemptions from the requirements of 10 CFR part 50 when (1) the exemptions are authorized by law, will not present an undue risk to public health or safety, and are consistent with the common defense and security; and (2) when special circumstances are present. These circumstances include the special circumstances that would provide only temporary relief from the applicable regulation and the licensee or applicant has made good faith efforts to comply with the regulations. Consistent With Common Defense and Security The proposed exemption would extend the time interval between the 2011 and the 2012 ARERRs (generated in March 2012 and May 2013, respectively) to 14 months. This is a one-time exemption, and subsequent ARERRs, generated in 2014 and beyond, would be subject to the 12-month interval specified in 10 CFR 50.36a(a)(2). This change to the date the ARERR is submitted to the NRC has no relation to security issues. Therefore, the common defense and security is not impacted by this exemption. mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with Authorized by Law This exemption would allow the time interval between the 2011 and the 2012 ARERRs (generated in March 2012 and May 2013 respectively) to be increased to 14 months. This is a one-time exemption, and subsequent ARERRs, generated in 2014 and beyond, would be subject to the 12-month interval specified in 10 CFR 50.36a(a)(2). As stated above, 10 CFR 50.12 allows the NRC to grant exemptions from the requirements of 10 CFR 50.36a(a)(2). The NRC staff has determined that granting of the licensee’s proposed exemption will not result in a violation of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, or the Commission’s regulations. Therefore, the exemption is authorized by law. No Undue Risk to Public Health and Safety The underlying purposes of 10 CFR 50.36a(a)(2) is to ensure that once each year, prior to a specified date, the licensee submits an ARERR to the NRC that specifies (1) the principal radionuclides released in liquid and gaseous effluents, (2) the amounts of each radionuclide released, and (3) other such information that may be required by the NRC to estimate doses to members of the public in the VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:34 Jan 03, 2013 Jkt 229001 Special Circumstances Special circumstances, in accordance with 10 CFR 50.12(a)(2)(v), are present whenever application of the regulation in the particular circumstances would provide only temporary relief from the applicable regulation and the licensee has made good faith efforts to comply with the regulation. The requested exemption asks for a one-time relaxation of the 12-month ARERR reporting requirement. Therefore, the relief is temporary. The licensee has submitted an annual report at the 12-month reporting interval every year since 1985. The NRC staff agrees submitting the report within 60 days of January 1 may present an undue administrative burden due to the necessary data collection, report preparation, and internal review. The licensee agrees to submit the report, in its entirety, within 2 months of the required 12-month reporting interval. In addition, ARERRs generated in 2014 and beyond, would be subject to the 12month interval specified in 10 CFR 50.36a(a)(2) with ARERRs being submitted prior to May 1 of each year. As a result, the NRC staff concludes the licensee has made a good faith effort to comply with the regulation. Therefore, since the underlying purpose of 10 CFR 50.36a(a)(2) is achieved, the special circumstances required by 10 CFR 50.12(a)(2)(v) for the granting of an PO 00000 Frm 00095 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 783 exemption from 10 CFR 50.36a(a)(2) exist. 4.0 Environmental Consideration This exemption authorizes a one-time exemption from the requirements of 10 CFR 50.36a(a)(2) for the CGS. The NRC staff has determined that this exemption involves no significant hazards considerations: (1) The proposed exemption is limited to a one-time 2-month extension for submittal of the 2012 ARERR. The proposed exemption does not make any changes to the facility or operating procedures and does not alter the design, function or operation of any plant equipment. Therefore, issuance of this exemption does not increase the probability or consequences of an accident previously evaluated. (2) The proposed exemption is limited to a one-time 2-month extension for submittal of the 2012 ARERR. The proposed exemption does not make any changes to the facility or operating procedures and would not create any new accident initiators. The proposed exemption does not alter the design, function or operation of any plant equipment. Therefore, this exemption does not create the possibility of a new or different kind of accident from any accident previously evaluated. (3) The proposed exemption is limited to a one-time 2-month extension for submittal of the 2012 ARERR. The proposed exemption does not alter the design, function or operation of any plant equipment. Therefore, this exemption does not involve a significant reduction in the margin of safety. Based on the above, the NRC staff concludes that the proposed exemption does not involve a significant hazards consideration under the standards set forth in 10 CFR 50.92(c), and accordingly, a finding of ‘‘no significant hazards consideration’’ is justified. The NRC staff has also determined that the exemption involves no significant increase in the amounts, and no significant change in the types, of any effluent that may be released offsite; there is no significant increase in individual or cumulative occupational radiation exposure; there is no significant construction impact; and there is no significant increase in the potential for or consequences from a radiological accident. Furthermore, the requirement from which the licensee will be exempted involves reporting requirements. Accordingly, the exemption meets the eligibility criteria for categorical exclusion set forth in 10 CFR 51.22(c)(25). Pursuant to 10 CFR 51.22(b), no environmental impact statement or environmental assessment E:\FR\FM\04JAN1.SGM 04JAN1 784 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 3 / Friday, January 4, 2013 / Notices needs to be prepared in connection with the issuance of this exemption. 5.0 Conclusion Accordingly, the Commission has determined that, pursuant to 10 CFR 50.12, the exemption is authorized by law, will not present an undue risk to the public health and safety, and is consistent with the common defense and security. Also, special circumstances are present. Therefore, the Commission hereby grants Energy Northwest a one-time exemption from 10 CFR Part 50, Section 50.36a(a)(2) to submit the 2012 ARERR prior to May 1, 2013, for the Columbia Generating Station. This exemption is effective upon issuance. Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 21st day of December 2012. For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Michele G. Evans, Director, Division of Operating Reactor Licensing, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation. [FR Doc. 2012–31707 Filed 1–3–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590–01–P NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION [Docket No. 50–293; NRC–2012–0311] Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.; Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station; Exemption 1.0 Background Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. (the licensee) is the holder of Renewed Facility Operating License No. DPR–35, which authorizes operation of the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station (PNPS). The license provides, among other things, that the facility is subject to all rules, regulations, and orders of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC, the Commission) now or hereafter in effect. The facility consists of a boilingwater reactor located in Plymouth, Massachusetts. 2.0 Request/Action Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), Part 50, Appendix E, Section IV.F.2.c, requires that ‘‘Offsite plans for each site shall be exercised biennially with full participation by each offsite authority having a role under the radiological response plan.’’ By letter dated November 29, 2012, the licensee requested a one-time exemption from this requirement that would allow the licensee to delay conduct of the offsite portions of a biennial emergency preparedness (EP) exercise from November 7, 2012, to March 2013. The licensee’s request states that on October 29, 2012, Hurricane Sandy passed through the East Coast of the United States, impacting Washington DC, the States of Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, causing widespread devastation and flooding throughout the surrounding areas. This hurricane event resulted in a multi-agency emergency response, which included the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), and the local town officials in the Pilgrim Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ). The licensee further states that immediate and longterm resource commitments were needed to recover from the hurricane event, and as a result, FEMA, MEMA, and local town resources did not participate in the previously planned and scheduled Pilgrim Biennial Exercise that was conducted on November 7, 2012. Consequently, the requirement of 10 CFR part 50, Appendix E, Section IV.F.2.c, for a full participation of offsite authorities during the biennial exercise was not satisfied. Based on discussions with FEMA and MEMA representatives, the licensee does not consider it feasible to schedule and perform a full participation biennial exercise prior to the end of calendar year (CY) 2012. In an email from FEMA to the licensee dated November 26, 2012, FEMA Region I acknowledged agreement with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts that offsite portions of the Pilgrim biennial exercise can be scheduled for and conducted on March 21, 2013. The email was submitted as an attachment to the licensee’s application dated November 29, 2012. The onsite portion of the exercise was conducted as scheduled on November 7, 2012, and was inspected by the NRC under Inspection Procedure No. 71114.01. The NRC’s inspection of the licensee’s conduct and self-evaluation of the exercise identified no findings. Outof-sequence demonstrations for various schools, daycare centers, special facilities, and camps were also conducted and evaluated during FEMA Region I staff visits between the months of July 2012 and September 2012, in accordance with the November 2012 biennial exercise objectives and extent of play. In addition, the following outof-sequence demonstrations were evaluated by FEMA Region I since the previous PNPS Biennial Exercise conducted on November 16, 2010: Radiological Emergency Worker Monitoring and Decontamination Center ....................................................................... Quincy Medical Center Medical Service Drill ...................................................................................................................... KIDS Site Brockton High School ........................................................................................................................................... mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with 3.0 Discussion Pursuant to 10 CFR 50.12, the Commission may, upon application by any interested person or upon its own initiative, grant exemptions from the requirements of 10 CFR part 50, Appendix E, when: (1) the exemptions are authorized by law, will not present an undue risk to public health or safety, and are consistent with the common defense and security; and (2) when special circumstances are present. Authorized by Law This exemption would allow the licensee and offsite response VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:34 Jan 03, 2013 Jkt 229001 organizations to accommodate Hurricane Sandy’s impact upon their resources by postponing the offsite portion of the exercise from the previously scheduled date of November 7, 2012, until March 2013. As stated above, 10 CFR 50.12 allows the NRC to grant exemptions from the requirements of 10 CFR part 50, Appendix E. The NRC has determined that granting of the licensee’s proposed exemption will not result in a violation of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, or the Commission’s regulations. Therefore, the exemption is authorized by law. PO 00000 Frm 00096 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 August 23, 2011. August 7, 2012. October 5, 2011. January 26, 2012. No Undue Risk to Public Health and Safety The underlying purpose of 10 CFR part 50, Appendix E, Section IV.F.2.c, is to ensure that licensees test and maintain interfaces among themselves and affected State and local authorities during the intervals between biennial exercises by conducting emergency preparedness activities and interactions. In order to accommodate the scheduling of full participation exercises, the NRC has allowed licensees to schedule the exercises at any time during the calendar biennium. Conducting the remaining offsite portions of the PNPS E:\FR\FM\04JAN1.SGM 04JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 3 (Friday, January 4, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 782-784]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-31707]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-397; NRC-2012-0322]


Energy Northwest; Columbia Generating Station; Exemption

1.0 Background

    Energy Northwest (the licensee) is the holder of Renewed Facility 
Operating License No. NPF-21, which authorizes operation of the 
Columbia Generating Station. The license provides, among other things, 
that the facility is subject to all rules, regulations, and orders of 
the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC, the Commission) now or 
hereafter in effect.
    The facility consists of a boiling-water reactor located in Benton 
County in the state of Washington.

2.0 Request/Action

    The regulations in paragraph 50.36a(a)(2) of Title 10 of the Code 
of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), require a radioactive effluent release 
report for each commercial nuclear power plant to be submitted annually 
such that the time between submission of any two reports is not longer 
than 12 months.
    The licensee's Technical Specification (TS) 5.6.2, ``Radioactive 
Effluent Release Report,'' requires the Annual Radioactive Effluent 
Release Report (ARERR) to be submitted in accordance with 10 CFR 50.36a 
as specified in the licensee's Offsite Dose Calculation Manual (ODCM). 
The licensee's ODCM specifies the ARERR to be submitted within 60 days 
after January 1 of each calendar year. The licensee indicates this 
constitutes an undue administrative burden due to the compressed 
schedule for data collection, report preparation, and internal review 
following closure of the reporting period. As a result, the licensee 
wants to change the ODCM so that the report can be submitted prior to 
May 1 of each year. In order to implement this change to the ODCM, the 
licensee has requested a one-time exemption from the required 12-month 
reporting interval for the next required submittal of the ARERR for the 
Columbia Generating Station. This would result in a one-time allowance 
of an additional 2 months (i.e., a 14-month

[[Page 783]]

interval) for the next required submittal of the ARERR. An exemption is 
needed because 10 CFR 50.36a(a)(2) specifies the interval between 
submittal of successive ARERRs must not exceed 12 months.
    In summary, the end result of this exemption would be that the time 
interval between the 2011 and the 2012 ARERRs (generated in March 2012 
and May 2013) would be 14 months. This is a one-time exemption, and 
subsequent ARERRs, generated in 2014 and beyond, would be subject to 
the 12-month interval specified in 10 CFR 50.36a(a)(2).

3.0 Discussion

    Pursuant to 10 CFR 50.12, the Commission may, upon application by 
any interested person or upon its own initiative, grant exemptions from 
the requirements of 10 CFR part 50 when (1) the exemptions are 
authorized by law, will not present an undue risk to public health or 
safety, and are consistent with the common defense and security; and 
(2) when special circumstances are present. These circumstances include 
the special circumstances that would provide only temporary relief from 
the applicable regulation and the licensee or applicant has made good 
faith efforts to comply with the regulations.

Authorized by Law

    This exemption would allow the time interval between the 2011 and 
the 2012 ARERRs (generated in March 2012 and May 2013 respectively) to 
be increased to 14 months. This is a one-time exemption, and subsequent 
ARERRs, generated in 2014 and beyond, would be subject to the 12-month 
interval specified in 10 CFR 50.36a(a)(2). As stated above, 10 CFR 
50.12 allows the NRC to grant exemptions from the requirements of 10 
CFR 50.36a(a)(2). The NRC staff has determined that granting of the 
licensee's proposed exemption will not result in a violation of the 
Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, or the Commission's regulations. 
Therefore, the exemption is authorized by law.

No Undue Risk to Public Health and Safety

    The underlying purposes of 10 CFR 50.36a(a)(2) is to ensure that 
once each year, prior to a specified date, the licensee submits an 
ARERR to the NRC that specifies (1) the principal radionuclides 
released in liquid and gaseous effluents, (2) the amounts of each 
radionuclide released, and (3) other such information that may be 
required by the NRC to estimate doses to members of the public in the 
unrestricted areas during the previous calendar year. The proposed 
exemption only changes the date the ARERR would be submitted to the 
NRC, but does not change any of the information presented in the ARERR.
    Based on the above, no new accident precursors are created by 
extending the submittal date for the next ARERR (from prior to March 1) 
to prior to May 1, thus, the probability of postulated accidents is not 
increased. Also, based on the above, the consequences of postulated 
accidents are not increased. Therefore, there is no undue risk to 
public health and safety.

Consistent With Common Defense and Security

    The proposed exemption would extend the time interval between the 
2011 and the 2012 ARERRs (generated in March 2012 and May 2013, 
respectively) to 14 months. This is a one-time exemption, and 
subsequent ARERRs, generated in 2014 and beyond, would be subject to 
the 12-month interval specified in 10 CFR 50.36a(a)(2). This change to 
the date the ARERR is submitted to the NRC has no relation to security 
issues. Therefore, the common defense and security is not impacted by 
this exemption.

Special Circumstances

    Special circumstances, in accordance with 10 CFR 50.12(a)(2)(v), 
are present whenever application of the regulation in the particular 
circumstances would provide only temporary relief from the applicable 
regulation and the licensee has made good faith efforts to comply with 
the regulation. The requested exemption asks for a one-time relaxation 
of the 12-month ARERR reporting requirement. Therefore, the relief is 
temporary. The licensee has submitted an annual report at the 12-month 
reporting interval every year since 1985. The NRC staff agrees 
submitting the report within 60 days of January 1 may present an undue 
administrative burden due to the necessary data collection, report 
preparation, and internal review. The licensee agrees to submit the 
report, in its entirety, within 2 months of the required 12-month 
reporting interval. In addition, ARERRs generated in 2014 and beyond, 
would be subject to the 12-month interval specified in 10 CFR 
50.36a(a)(2) with ARERRs being submitted prior to May 1 of each year. 
As a result, the NRC staff concludes the licensee has made a good faith 
effort to comply with the regulation. Therefore, since the underlying 
purpose of 10 CFR 50.36a(a)(2) is achieved, the special circumstances 
required by 10 CFR 50.12(a)(2)(v) for the granting of an exemption from 
10 CFR 50.36a(a)(2) exist.

4.0 Environmental Consideration

    This exemption authorizes a one-time exemption from the 
requirements of 10 CFR 50.36a(a)(2) for the CGS. The NRC staff has 
determined that this exemption involves no significant hazards 
considerations:
    (1) The proposed exemption is limited to a one-time 2-month 
extension for submittal of the 2012 ARERR. The proposed exemption does 
not make any changes to the facility or operating procedures and does 
not alter the design, function or operation of any plant equipment. 
Therefore, issuance of this exemption does not increase the probability 
or consequences of an accident previously evaluated.
    (2) The proposed exemption is limited to a one-time 2-month 
extension for submittal of the 2012 ARERR. The proposed exemption does 
not make any changes to the facility or operating procedures and would 
not create any new accident initiators. The proposed exemption does not 
alter the design, function or operation of any plant equipment. 
Therefore, this exemption does not create the possibility of a new or 
different kind of accident from any accident previously evaluated.
    (3) The proposed exemption is limited to a one-time 2-month 
extension for submittal of the 2012 ARERR. The proposed exemption does 
not alter the design, function or operation of any plant equipment. 
Therefore, this exemption does not involve a significant reduction in 
the margin of safety.
    Based on the above, the NRC staff concludes that the proposed 
exemption does not involve a significant hazards consideration under 
the standards set forth in 10 CFR 50.92(c), and accordingly, a finding 
of ``no significant hazards consideration'' is justified.
    The NRC staff has also determined that the exemption involves no 
significant increase in the amounts, and no significant change in the 
types, of any effluent that may be released offsite; there is no 
significant increase in individual or cumulative occupational radiation 
exposure; there is no significant construction impact; and there is no 
significant increase in the potential for or consequences from a 
radiological accident. Furthermore, the requirement from which the 
licensee will be exempted involves reporting requirements. Accordingly, 
the exemption meets the eligibility criteria for categorical exclusion 
set forth in 10 CFR 51.22(c)(25). Pursuant to 10 CFR 51.22(b), no 
environmental impact statement or environmental assessment

[[Page 784]]

needs to be prepared in connection with the issuance of this exemption.

5.0 Conclusion

    Accordingly, the Commission has determined that, pursuant to 10 CFR 
50.12, the exemption is authorized by law, will not present an undue 
risk to the public health and safety, and is consistent with the common 
defense and security. Also, special circumstances are present. 
Therefore, the Commission hereby grants Energy Northwest a one-time 
exemption from 10 CFR Part 50, Section 50.36a(a)(2) to submit the 2012 
ARERR prior to May 1, 2013, for the Columbia Generating Station.
    This exemption is effective upon issuance.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 21st day of December 2012.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Michele G. Evans,
Director, Division of Operating Reactor Licensing, Office of Nuclear 
Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 2012-31707 Filed 1-3-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
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