Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station, Units 2 and 3; South Carolina Electric and Gas; Change to the Bracing Design in the Turbine Building and Corresponding Change to Structural Design Code, 48724-48726 [2013-19309]

Download as PDF 48724 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 154 / Friday, August 9, 2013 / Notices including lease adjudication, royalty relief, lease bonds, suspensions of operation, technical studies, and information management and publication support records. 10. Department of Justice, Executive Office for United States Attorneys (N1– 118–10–6, 3 items, 1 temporary item). Non-case file records created by or for each United States Attorney within the 94 judicial districts, including discretionary local operating procedures for routine administrative functions. Proposed for permanent retention are all United States Attorneys’ subject, project, and correspondence files, official calendars, briefing books, local operating policies, organizational charts, and district-specific office directives. 11. Department of Justice, Executive Office for United States Attorneys (N1– 118–10–7, 6 items, 5 temporary items). All case files, matters, and records created within the 94 judicial districts which do not meet the criteria for permanent retention, including outstanding fugitive warrants, uncollected civil claims, certain criminal and civil categories, and certain magistrate and district court cases. Proposed for permanent retention are all cases that went to trial, involve life or death sentences, or match certain other categories. 12. Environmental Protection Agency, Agency-wide (DAA–0412–2013–0008, 2 items, 2 temporary items). Records of activities relating to management and oversight of grants and other program support agreements. 13. Environmental Protection Agency, Agency-wide (DAA–0412–2013–0014, 5 items, 5 temporary items). Records of activities related to management and oversight of the acquisition of goods and services. Dated: August 1, 2013. Paul M. Wester, Jr., Chief Records Officer for the U.S. Government. BILLING CODE 7515–01–P NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION pmangrum on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES President’s Committee on the National Medal of Science; Notice of Meeting In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92– 463, as amended), the National Science Foundation announces the following meeting: Name: President’s Committee on the National Medal of Science (1182). Date and Time: Tuesday, September 3, 2013, 8:30 a.m.–2 p.m. 14:54 Aug 08, 2013 Jkt 229001 Dated: August 6, 2013. Susanne Bolton, Committee Management Officer. [FR Doc. 2013–19274 Filed 8–8–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7555–01–P NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION [Docket Nos. 52–027 and 52–028; NRC– 2008–0441] Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station, Units 2 and 3; South Carolina Electric and Gas; Change to the Bracing Design in the Turbine Building and Corresponding Change to Structural Design Code Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ACTION: Exemption and combined license amendment; issuance. AGENCY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is granting an exemption to allow a departure from the certification information of Tier 1 of the generic design control document (DCD) and issuing License Amendment No. 7 to Combined Licenses (COL), NPF–93 and NPF–94. The COLs were issued to South Carolina Electric and Gas (SCE&G) and South Carolina Public Service Authority (Santee Cooper) (the licensee), for construction and operation of the Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station (VCSNS), Units 2 and 3 located in Fairfield County, South Carolina. The amendment changes requested revise the design of the bracing used to support the Turbine Building structure. This request requires changing Tier 1 information found in the Design Description portion of Updated Final SUMMARY: [FR Doc. 2013–19287 Filed 8–8–13; 8:45 am] VerDate Mar<15>2010 Place: National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA, 22230. Type of Meeting: Closed. Contact Person: Ms. Mayra Montrose, Program Manager, Room 1282, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22230. Telephone: 703– 292–4757. Purpose of Meeting: To provide advice and recommendations to the President in the selection of the 2013 National Medal of Science recipients. Agenda: To review and evaluate nominations as part of the selection process for awards. Reason for Closing: The nominations being reviewed include information of a personal nature where disclosure would constitute unwarranted invasions of personal privacy. These matters are exempt under 5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(6) of the Government in the Sunshine Act. PO 00000 Frm 00083 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Safety Analysis Report (UFSAR) section 3.3, ‘‘Buildings.’’ The granting of the exemption allows the changes to Tier 1 information asked for in the amendment. Because the acceptability of the exemption was determined in part by the acceptability of the amendment, the exemption and amendment are being issued concurrently. Please refer to Docket ID NRC–2008–0441 when contacting the NRC about the availability of information regarding this document. You may access information related to this document, which the NRC possesses and is publicly available, using any of the following methods: • Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC–2008–0441. Address questions about NRC dockets to Carol Gallagher; telephone: 301–287–3422; email: Carol.Gallagher@nrc.gov. For technical questions, contact the individual listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document. • NRC’s Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS): You may access publicly available documents online in the NRC Library at https://www.nrc.gov/readingrm/adams.html. To begin the search, select ‘‘ADAMS Public Documents’’ and then 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, 301–415–4737, or by email to pdr.resource@nrc.gov. The ADAMS accession number for each document referenced in this document (if that document is available in ADAMS) is provided the first time that a document is referenced. The request for the amendment and exemption were submitted by letter dated February 7, 2013 (ADAMS Accession No. ML13042A003). The licensee supplemented this request on February 14, 2013 (ADAMS Accession No. ML13050A603). • NRC’s PDR: You may examine and purchase copies of public documents at the NRC’s PDR, Room O1–F21, One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852. ADDRESSES: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Denise McGovern, Office of New Reactors, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555– 0001; telephone: 301–415–0681; email: Denise.McGovern@nrc.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: E:\FR\FM\09AUN1.SGM 09AUN1 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 154 / Friday, August 9, 2013 / Notices pmangrum on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES I. Introduction II. Exemption The NRC is granting an exemption from Paragraph B of Section III, ‘‘Scope and Contents,’’ of Appendix D, ‘‘Design Certification Rule for the AP1000,’’ to Part 52 of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) and issuing License Amendment No. 7 to COLs, NPF–93 and NPF–94, to the licensee. The exemption is required by Paragraph A.4 of Section VIII, ‘‘Processes for Changes and Departures,’’ Appendix D to 10 CFR Part 52 to allow the licensee to depart from Tier 1 information. With the requested amendment, the licensee sought to revise UFSAR information related to the design of the bracing used to support the non-seismic portion of the Turbine Building. As part of this request, the licensee needed to change Tier 1 information located in the ‘‘Design Description’’ portion of section 3.3, ‘‘Buildings’’ of the UFSAR. These changes sought to allow the licensee to use a mixed bracing system of both eccentrically and concentrically braced framing versus only eccentrically braced framing in the Turbine Building. Part of the justification for granting the exemption was provided by the review of the amendment. Because the exemption is necessary in order to issue the requested license amendment, the NRC granted the exemption and issued the amendment concurrently, rather than in sequence. This included issuing a combined safety evaluation containing the NRC staff’s review of both the exemption request and the license amendment. The exemption met all applicable regulatory criteria set forth in 10 CFR 50.12, 10 CFR 52.7, and Section VIII.A.4. of Appendix D to 10 CFR Part 52. The license amendment was found to be acceptable as well. The combined safety evaluation is available in ADAMS under Accession No. ML13151A472. Identical exemption documents (except for referenced unit numbers and license numbers) were issued to the licensee for VCSNS Units 2 and 3 (COLs NPF–93 and NPF–94). These documents can be found in ADAMS under Accession Nos. ML13151A466 and ML13151A468. The exemption is reproduced (with the exception of abbreviated titles and additional citations) in Section II of this document. The amendment documents for COLs NPF–93 and NPF–94 are available in ADAMS under Accession Nos. ML13151A461 and ML13151A463. A summary of the amendment documents is provided in Section III of this document. Reproduced below is the exemption document issued to VCSNS Units 2 and 3. It makes reference to the combined safety evaluation that provides the reasoning for the findings made by the NRC (and listed under Item 1) in order to grant the exemption: 1. In a letter dated February 7, 2013, and supplemented by a letter dated February 14, 2013, the licensee requested from the Commission an exemption from the provisions of 10 CFR Part 52, Appendix D, Section III.B, ‘‘Design Certification Rule for the AP1000 Design, Scope, and Contents,’’ as part of license amendment request 13–03, ‘‘Turbine Building Eccentric and Concentric Bracing.’’ For the reasons set forth in Section 3.1, ‘‘Evaluation of Exemption,’’ of the NRC staff’s Safety Evaluation, which can be found in ADAMS under Accession No. ML13151A472, the Commission finds that: A. the exemption is authorized by law; B. the exemption presents no undue risk to public health and safety; C. the exemption is consistent with the common defense and security; D. special circumstances are present in that the application of the rule in this circumstance is not necessary to serve the underlying purpose of the rule; E. the special circumstances outweigh any decrease in safety that may result from the reduction in standardization caused by the exemption; and F. the exemption will not result in a significant decrease in the level of safety otherwise provided by the design. 2. Accordingly, the licensee is granted an exemption to the provisions of 10 CFR Part 52, Appendix D, Section III.B, to allow deviations from the Tier 1 certification information in the ‘‘Design Description’’ portion of section 3.3 ‘‘Buildings’’ of the Certified Design Control Document regarding the design of the supports used in the non-seismic portion of the Turbine Building, as described in the licensee’s request dated February 7, 2013 and supplemented on February 14, 2013. This exemption is related to, and necessary for the granting of License Amendment No. 7, which is being issued concurrently with this exemption. 3. As explained in Section 5.0, ‘‘Environmental Consideration,’’ of the NRC staff Safety Evaluation (ADAMS Accession No. ML13151A472), this exemption meets the eligibility criteria for categorical exclusion set forth in 10 CFR 51.22(c)(9). Therefore, pursuant to 10 CFR 51.22(b), no environmental impact statement or environmental VerDate Mar<15>2010 14:54 Aug 08, 2013 Jkt 229001 PO 00000 Frm 00084 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 48725 assessment needs to be prepared in connection with the issuance of the exemption. 4. This exemption is effective as of July 1, 2013. III. License Amendment Request By letter dated February 7, 2012, the licensee requested that the NRC amend the COLs for VCSNS Units 2 and 3, COLs NPF–93 and NPF–94. The licensee supplemented this application on February 14, 2013. The licensee sought to change Tier 2 information previously incorporated into the UFSAR. Additionally, these Tier 2 changes involved changes to Tier 1 material in the UFSAR, and would revise the associated material that has been included in Appendix C of each of the VCS, Units 2 and 3, COLs. The Tier 2 changes modified sections of the UFSAR related to the design information and code requirements regarding the supports used in the Turbine Building. These Tier 2 changes require modifications to particular Tier 1 information located in the ‘‘Design Description’’ portion of Section 3.3. ‘‘Buildings’’ of the UFSAR. In this section the licensee sought to revise the original design of only using eccentrically braced framing in the nonseismic portion of the Turbine Building. Instead the licensee plans to use a mixed bracing system consisting of both eccentrically and concentrically braced framing. The staff determined that these changes did not alter any relevant conclusions made for the AP1000 standard design. The Commission has determined for these amendments that the application complies with the standards and requirements of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (the Act), and the Commission’s rules and regulations. The Commission has made appropriate findings as required by the Act and the Commission’s rules and regulations in 10 CFR Chapter I, which are set forth in the license amendment. A notice of consideration of issuance of amendment to facility operating license or combined license, as applicable, proposed no significant hazards consideration determination, and opportunity for a hearing in connection with these actions, was published in the Federal Register on March 4, 2013 (78 FR 14126). The supplements had no effect on the no significant hazards consideration determination and no comments were received during the 60-day comment period. The Commission has determined that these amendments satisfy the criteria for categorical exclusion in accordance E:\FR\FM\09AUN1.SGM 09AUN1 48726 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 154 / Friday, August 9, 2013 / Notices with 10 CFR 51.22. Therefore, pursuant to 10 CFR 51.22(b), no environmental impact statement or environmental assessment need be prepared for these amendments. IV. Conclusion Using the reasons set forth in the combined safety evaluation, the staff granted the exemption and issued the amendment that the licensee requested on February 7, 2013, and supplemented by letter dated February 14, 2013. The exemption and amendment were issued on July 1, 2013 as part of a combined package to the licensee. (ADAMS Accession No. ML13151A457). Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 5th day of August 2013. For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Lawrence Burkhart, Chief, Licensing Branch 4, Division of New Reactor Licensing, Office of New Reactors. [FR Doc. 2013–19309 Filed 8–8–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590–01–P NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION [NRC–2013–0181] Placement of the Georgia Agreement State Program on Probation Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ACTION: Notice of the Georgia Agreement State Program being placed on probation. AGENCY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is announcing the placement of the Georgia Agreement State Program (Georgia Program) for the regulation of certain Atomic Energy Act materials on probation and a further increase in the NRC oversight of the Georgia Program, including overseeing implementation of a ‘‘Program Improvement Plan’’ developed by the staff of the Georgia Program. Once the Georgia Program has met the commitments made in the ‘‘Program Improvement Plan,’’ and has demonstrated significant and sustainable improvements, the probationary status could be lifted. There will be further announcements of such action. ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC–2013–0181] when contacting the NRC about the availability of information regarding this document. You may access publicly-available information related to this action by the following methods: • Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and search pmangrum on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 14:54 Aug 08, 2013 Jkt 229001 for Docket ID NRC–2013–0181]. Address questions about NRC dockets to Carol Gallagher; telephone: 301–287–3422; email: Carol.Gallagher@nrc.gov. For technical questions, contact the individual(s) listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document. • NRC’s Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS): You may access publicly available documents online in the NRC Library at https://www.nrc.gov/readingrm/adams.html. To begin the search, select ‘‘ADAMS Public Documents’’ and then 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, 301–415–4737, or by email to pdr.resource@nrc.gov. The ADAMS accession number for each document referenced in this document (if that document is available in ADAMS) is provided the first time that a document is referenced • NRC’s PDR: You may examine and purchase copies of public documents at the NRC’s PDR, Room O1–F21, One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lisa Dimmick, Office of Federal and State Materials and Environmental Management Programs, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555, telephone: 301–415–0694, email: Lisa.Dimmick@nrc.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under Section 274 of the Atomic Energy Act, as amended, the Commission retains the authority and the responsibility to ensure that Agreement State programs continue to provide adequate protection of public health and safety, and to be compatible with the NRC’s program with respect to the regulation of the materials and uses authorized under the agreement. Agreement States are States that have assumed regulatory authority from the NRC over the possession and use of certain radioactive materials. Section 274j. of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, requires that the NRC periodically review each Agreement State to ensure each State’s regulatory programs are adequate and compatible. The NRC evaluates Agreement State radiation control programs, using performance indicators, to ensure that public health and safety is being adequately protected. The periodic review process for Agreement State programs is called the Integrated Materials Performance Evaluation Program (IMPEP). PO 00000 Frm 00085 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 The Management Review Board (MRB), in a public meeting, makes the overall assessment of the Agreement State program. Information considered by the MRB includes the proposed final IMPEP report, which presents suggested performance indicator ratings and recommendations prepared by the IMPEP review team, and information provided by the State at the MRB meeting. For most IMPEP reviews, no action other than issuance of the final IMPEP report is needed. For those infrequent reviews where additional action is needed, the MRB may consider Monitoring, Heightened Oversight, and recommendations for Probation, Suspension, or Termination. The most significant actions, Probation, Suspension, or Termination, require Commission approval. In 2008, the MRB placed the Georgia Program under a condition of Monitoring due to the results of the 2008 Georgia Program IMPEP. After the most recent review, the MRB found the overall Georgia Program compatible with the NRC’s program and adequate to protect public health and safety, but it needs improvement. The MRB found the Georgia Program performance unsatisfactory for two performance indicators: Technical Quality of Inspections, and Technical Quality of Incident and Allegation Activities. The Georgia Program was found satisfactory, but it needs improvement, for three performance indicators: Technical Staffing and Training, Status of Materials Inspection Program, and Technical Quality of Licensing Actions. The indicators, Compatibility Requirements and Sealed Source and Device Evaluation were found satisfactory. The MRB recommended that the Georgia Program be placed on Probation due to the significant performance issues identified. The Commission agreed that the Georgia Program should be placed on Probation. The Georgia Agreement State Program’s progress in addressing the program weaknesses will be evaluated in January 2014 by an IMPEP review team. Once the MRB determines that the Agreement State has met the commitments in the ‘‘Program Improvement Plan’’ and has demonstrated significant and sustainable improvements in program performance, a recommendation will be made to the Commission that the probationary status be lifted. Notification of discontinuance of Probation would be made to the Governor of Georgia, the Georgia Congressional delegation, and all other Agreement and Non-Agreement States. E:\FR\FM\09AUN1.SGM 09AUN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 154 (Friday, August 9, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48724-48726]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-19309]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket Nos. 52-027 and 52-028; NRC-2008-0441]


Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station, Units 2 and 3; South Carolina 
Electric and Gas; Change to the Bracing Design in the Turbine Building 
and Corresponding Change to Structural Design Code

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Exemption and combined license amendment; issuance.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is granting an 
exemption to allow a departure from the certification information of 
Tier 1 of the generic design control document (DCD) and issuing License 
Amendment No. 7 to Combined Licenses (COL), NPF-93 and NPF-94. The COLs 
were issued to South Carolina Electric and Gas (SCE&G) and South 
Carolina Public Service Authority (Santee Cooper) (the licensee), for 
construction and operation of the Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station 
(VCSNS), Units 2 and 3 located in Fairfield County, South Carolina. The 
amendment changes requested revise the design of the bracing used to 
support the Turbine Building structure. This request requires changing 
Tier 1 information found in the Design Description portion of Updated 
Final Safety Analysis Report (UFSAR) section 3.3, ``Buildings.'' The 
granting of the exemption allows the changes to Tier 1 information 
asked for in the amendment. Because the acceptability of the exemption 
was determined in part by the acceptability of the amendment, the 
exemption and amendment are being issued concurrently.

ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2008-0441 when contacting the 
NRC about the availability of information regarding this document. You 
may access information related to this document, which the NRC 
possesses and is publicly available, using any of the following 
methods:
     Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2008-0441. Address 
questions about NRC dockets to Carol Gallagher; telephone: 301-287-
3422; email: Carol.Gallagher@nrc.gov. For technical questions, contact 
the individual listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of 
this document.
     NRC's Agencywide Documents Access and Management System 
(ADAMS): You may access publicly available documents online in the NRC 
Library at https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. To begin the 
search, select ``ADAMS Public Documents'' and then 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, 301-415-
4737, or by email to pdr.resource@nrc.gov. The ADAMS accession number 
for each document referenced in this document (if that document is 
available in ADAMS) is provided the first time that a document is 
referenced. The request for the amendment and exemption were submitted 
by letter dated February 7, 2013 (ADAMS Accession No. ML13042A003). The 
licensee supplemented this request on February 14, 2013 (ADAMS 
Accession No. ML13050A603).
     NRC's PDR: You may examine and purchase copies of public 
documents at the NRC's PDR, Room O1-F21, One White Flint North, 11555 
Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Denise McGovern, Office of New 
Reactors, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-
0001; telephone: 301-415-0681; email: Denise.McGovern@nrc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 48725]]

I. Introduction

    The NRC is granting an exemption from Paragraph B of Section III, 
``Scope and Contents,'' of Appendix D, ``Design Certification Rule for 
the AP1000,'' to Part 52 of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations 
(10 CFR) and issuing License Amendment No. 7 to COLs, NPF-93 and NPF-
94, to the licensee. The exemption is required by Paragraph A.4 of 
Section VIII, ``Processes for Changes and Departures,'' Appendix D to 
10 CFR Part 52 to allow the licensee to depart from Tier 1 information. 
With the requested amendment, the licensee sought to revise UFSAR 
information related to the design of the bracing used to support the 
non-seismic portion of the Turbine Building. As part of this request, 
the licensee needed to change Tier 1 information located in the 
``Design Description'' portion of section 3.3, ``Buildings'' of the 
UFSAR. These changes sought to allow the licensee to use a mixed 
bracing system of both eccentrically and concentrically braced framing 
versus only eccentrically braced framing in the Turbine Building.
    Part of the justification for granting the exemption was provided 
by the review of the amendment. Because the exemption is necessary in 
order to issue the requested license amendment, the NRC granted the 
exemption and issued the amendment concurrently, rather than in 
sequence. This included issuing a combined safety evaluation containing 
the NRC staff's review of both the exemption request and the license 
amendment. The exemption met all applicable regulatory criteria set 
forth in 10 CFR 50.12, 10 CFR 52.7, and Section VIII.A.4. of Appendix D 
to 10 CFR Part 52. The license amendment was found to be acceptable as 
well. The combined safety evaluation is available in ADAMS under 
Accession No. ML13151A472.
    Identical exemption documents (except for referenced unit numbers 
and license numbers) were issued to the licensee for VCSNS Units 2 and 
3 (COLs NPF-93 and NPF-94). These documents can be found in ADAMS under 
Accession Nos. ML13151A466 and ML13151A468. The exemption is reproduced 
(with the exception of abbreviated titles and additional citations) in 
Section II of this document. The amendment documents for COLs NPF-93 
and NPF-94 are available in ADAMS under Accession Nos. ML13151A461 and 
ML13151A463. A summary of the amendment documents is provided in 
Section III of this document.

II. Exemption

    Reproduced below is the exemption document issued to VCSNS Units 2 
and 3. It makes reference to the combined safety evaluation that 
provides the reasoning for the findings made by the NRC (and listed 
under Item 1) in order to grant the exemption:
    1. In a letter dated February 7, 2013, and supplemented by a letter 
dated February 14, 2013, the licensee requested from the Commission an 
exemption from the provisions of 10 CFR Part 52, Appendix D, Section 
III.B, ``Design Certification Rule for the AP1000 Design, Scope, and 
Contents,'' as part of license amendment request 13-03, ``Turbine 
Building Eccentric and Concentric Bracing.''
    For the reasons set forth in Section 3.1, ``Evaluation of 
Exemption,'' of the NRC staff's Safety Evaluation, which can be found 
in ADAMS under Accession No. ML13151A472, the Commission finds that:
    A. the exemption is authorized by law;
    B. the exemption presents no undue risk to public health and 
safety;
    C. the exemption is consistent with the common defense and 
security;
    D. special circumstances are present in that the application of the 
rule in this circumstance is not necessary to serve the underlying 
purpose of the rule;
    E. the special circumstances outweigh any decrease in safety that 
may result from the reduction in standardization caused by the 
exemption; and
    F. the exemption will not result in a significant decrease in the 
level of safety otherwise provided by the design.
    2. Accordingly, the licensee is granted an exemption to the 
provisions of 10 CFR Part 52, Appendix D, Section III.B, to allow 
deviations from the Tier 1 certification information in the ``Design 
Description'' portion of section 3.3 ``Buildings'' of the Certified 
Design Control Document regarding the design of the supports used in 
the non-seismic portion of the Turbine Building, as described in the 
licensee's request dated February 7, 2013 and supplemented on February 
14, 2013. This exemption is related to, and necessary for the granting 
of License Amendment No. 7, which is being issued concurrently with 
this exemption.
    3. As explained in Section 5.0, ``Environmental Consideration,'' of 
the NRC staff Safety Evaluation (ADAMS Accession No. ML13151A472), this 
exemption meets the eligibility criteria for categorical exclusion set 
forth in 10 CFR 51.22(c)(9). Therefore, pursuant to 10 CFR 51.22(b), no 
environmental impact statement or environmental assessment needs to be 
prepared in connection with the issuance of the exemption.
    4. This exemption is effective as of July 1, 2013.

III. License Amendment Request

    By letter dated February 7, 2012, the licensee requested that the 
NRC amend the COLs for VCSNS Units 2 and 3, COLs NPF-93 and NPF-94. The 
licensee supplemented this application on February 14, 2013. The 
licensee sought to change Tier 2 information previously incorporated 
into the UFSAR. Additionally, these Tier 2 changes involved changes to 
Tier 1 material in the UFSAR, and would revise the associated material 
that has been included in Appendix C of each of the VCS, Units 2 and 3, 
COLs. The Tier 2 changes modified sections of the UFSAR related to the 
design information and code requirements regarding the supports used in 
the Turbine Building. These Tier 2 changes require modifications to 
particular Tier 1 information located in the ``Design Description'' 
portion of Section 3.3. ``Buildings'' of the UFSAR. In this section the 
licensee sought to revise the original design of only using 
eccentrically braced framing in the non-seismic portion of the Turbine 
Building. Instead the licensee plans to use a mixed bracing system 
consisting of both eccentrically and concentrically braced framing. The 
staff determined that these changes did not alter any relevant 
conclusions made for the AP1000 standard design.
    The Commission has determined for these amendments that the 
application complies with the standards and requirements of the Atomic 
Energy Act of 1954, as amended (the Act), and the Commission's rules 
and regulations. The Commission has made appropriate findings as 
required by the Act and the Commission's rules and regulations in 10 
CFR Chapter I, which are set forth in the license amendment.
    A notice of consideration of issuance of amendment to facility 
operating license or combined license, as applicable, proposed no 
significant hazards consideration determination, and opportunity for a 
hearing in connection with these actions, was published in the Federal 
Register on March 4, 2013 (78 FR 14126). The supplements had no effect 
on the no significant hazards consideration determination and no 
comments were received during the 60-day comment period.
    The Commission has determined that these amendments satisfy the 
criteria for categorical exclusion in accordance

[[Page 48726]]

with 10 CFR 51.22. Therefore, pursuant to 10 CFR 51.22(b), no 
environmental impact statement or environmental assessment need be 
prepared for these amendments.

IV. Conclusion

    Using the reasons set forth in the combined safety evaluation, the 
staff granted the exemption and issued the amendment that the licensee 
requested on February 7, 2013, and supplemented by letter dated 
February 14, 2013. The exemption and amendment were issued on July 1, 
2013 as part of a combined package to the licensee. (ADAMS Accession 
No. ML13151A457).

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 5th day of August 2013.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Lawrence Burkhart,
Chief, Licensing Branch 4, Division of New Reactor Licensing, Office of 
New Reactors.
[FR Doc. 2013-19309 Filed 8-8-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
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