Susquehanna Nuclear, LLC; Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, Units 1 and 2, 45559-45562 [2015-18733]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 146 / Thursday, July 30, 2015 / Notices 702, a FICU may be subject to reporting requirements based on its net worth classification. Additionally, the rule allows FICUs to request waivers from certain requirements to which they may otherwise be subject. NCUA uses the information provided to ensure the purpose of PCA is being carried out and that FICUs build adequate levels of net worth within a reasonable time. Respondents: Federally insured credit unions. Estimated Number of Respondents: 642 FICUs. Estimated Burden Hours per Response: Varies by collection. Frequency of Response: On occasion. Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 3,847 hours. Estimated Total Annual Cost: $122,680.33. By the National Credit Union Administration Board on July 24, 2015. Gerard Poliquin, Secretary of the Board. [FR Doc. 2015–18696 Filed 7–29–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7535–01–P I. Obtaining Information and Submitting Comments NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION [Docket Nos. 50–387 and 50–388; NRC– 2015–0178] Susquehanna Nuclear, LLC; Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, Units 1 and 2 Nuclear Regulatory Commission. AGENCY: License amendment application; opportunity to comment, request a hearing, and petition for leave to intervene. ACTION: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering issuance of an amendment to Renewed Facility Operating License Nos. NPF–14 and NPF–22, issued to Susquehanna Nuclear, LLC, for operation of the Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, Units 1 and 2 (SSES or the licensee). The proposed amendment would revise Technical Specification (TS) 3.4.10, ‘‘RCS [Reactor Coolant System] Pressure and Temperature (P/T) Limits.’’ SUMMARY: Submit comments by August 31, 2015. Requests for a hearing or petition for leave to intervene must be filed by September 28, 2015. DATES: NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION Lhorne on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Sunshine Act Meetings; National Science Board You may submit comments by any of the following methods (unless this document describes a different method for submitting comments on a specific subject): • Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC–2015–0178. Address questions about NRC dockets to Carol Gallagher; telephone: 301–415–3463; email: Carol.Gallagher@nrc.gov. For technical questions, contact the individual listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document. • Mail comments to: Cindy Bladey, Office of Administration, Mail Stop: OWFN–12–H08, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555–0001. For additional direction on obtaining information and submitting comments, see ‘‘Obtaining Information and Submitting Comments’’ in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document. ADDRESSES: The National Science Board’s Committee on Audit and Oversight (AO), pursuant to NSF regulations (45 CFR part 614), the National Science Foundation Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 1862n–5), and the Government in the Sunshine Act (5 U.S.C. 552b), hereby gives notice of the scheduling of a teleconference for the transaction of National Science Board business, as follows: DATE AND TIME: Wednesday, August 5, 2015 at 2:00–3:00 p.m. EDT. SUBJECT MATTER: Discussion of the current faculty salary two-month rule and possible prospective options. STATUS: Closed. This meeting will be held by teleconference. Please refer to the National Science Board Web site for additional information and schedule updates (time, place, subject matter or status of meeting), which may be found at https://www.nsf.gov/nsb/meetings/ notices/jsp. Point of contact for this meeting is Ann Bushmiller (abushmil@ nsf.gov). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: [FR Doc. 2015–18895 Filed 7–28–15; 4:15 pm] Jeffrey Whited, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington DC 20555–0001; telephone: 301–415–4090, email: Jeffrey.Whited@nrc.gov. BILLING CODE 7555–01–P SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Kyscha Slater-Williams, Program Specialist. VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:54 Jul 29, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00059 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 45559 A. Obtaining Information Please refer to Docket ID NRC–2015– 0178 when contacting the NRC about the availability of information for this action. You may obtain publiclyavailable information related to this action by any of the following methods: • Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC–2015–0178. • NRC’s Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS): You may obtain publiclyavailable documents online in the ADAMS Public Documents collection 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 (if it is available in ADAMS) is provided the first time that it is mentioned in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section. • 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. B. Submitting Comments Please include Docket ID NRC–2015– 0178 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 posts all comment submissions at https:// www.regulations.gov as well as entering 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. E:\FR\FM\30JYN1.SGM 30JYN1 Lhorne on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 45560 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 146 / Thursday, July 30, 2015 / Notices II. Introduction The NRC is considering issuance of an amendment to Renewed Facility Operating License Nos. NPF–14 and NPF–22, issued to Susquehanna Nuclear, LLC, for operation of SSES, Units 1 and 2, located in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. The amendment proposes changes to SSES, Units 1 and 2, Technical Specification (TS) 3.4.10, ‘‘RCS [Reactor Coolant System] Pressure and Temperature (P/T) Limits,’’ which includes revisions to the P/T Limits curves. The revision is to provide P/T Limits curves that extend into the vacuum region to mitigate the risk of a level transient during startup and shutdown, and to update the analysis supporting use of the new curves. Updated analysis will address considerations included in Regulatory Information Summary (RIS) 2014 11, ‘‘Information on Licensing Applications for Fracture Toughness Requirements for Ferritic Reactor Coolant Pressure Boundary Components,’’ dated October 14, 2014 (ADAMS Accession No. ML14149A165). The new curves account for updated surveillance material and fluence data for the vessel beltline materials. References to the new, updated analysis will be made in an associated TS Bases change when the new limits are approved for use in the TS. A notice of consideration of issuance for the license amendment request (LAR) was previously noticed in the Federal Register on November 25, 2014 (79 FR 70217). The license amendment request is being renoticed due to an expansion in the scope of the license amendment. In addition, on June 1, 2015, the NRC staff issued an amendment changing the name on the SSES license from PPL Susquehanna, LLC, to Susquehanna Nuclear, LLC (ADAMS Accession No. ML15054A066). This amendment was issued subsequent to an order issued on April 10, 2015, to SSES, approving an indirect license transfer (ADAMS Accession No. ML15058A073). Before any 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 LAR involves no significant hazards consideration. Under the NRC’s regulations in § 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 VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:54 Jul 29, 2015 Jkt 235001 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 below: 1. Does the proposed change involve a significant increase in the probability or consequences of an accident previously evaluated? Response: No. The proposed changes request that the P/T limits curves in TS 3.4.10, ‘‘RCS Pressure and Temperature (P/T) Limits’’ be revised by extending each of the P/T Limits curves below 0 psig to allow operation with the RPV [reactor pressure vessel] at a vacuum. These changes update the analysis for ferritic RPV components, taking into account the considerations discussed by RIS 2014–11, and account for updated surveillance material and fluence data for the vessel beltline materials. The P/T curves are used as operational limits during heatup or cooldown maneuvering, when pressure and temperature indications are monitored and compared to the applicable curve to determine that operation is within the allowable region. The P/T curves provide assurance that station operation is consistent with previously evaluated accidents. Therefore, the probability of an accident or the radiological consequences of an accident previously evaluated are not significantly increased. 2. Does the proposed change create the possibility of a new or different kind of accident from any accident previously evaluated? Response: No. The proposed changes do not change the response of any plant equipment to transient conditions. The proposed changes do not introduce any new equipment, modes of system operation, or failure mechanisms. Therefore, there are no new types of failures or new or different kinds of accidents or transients that could be created by these changes. The proposed changes do not create the possibility of a new or different kind of accident from any accident previously evaluated. 3. Does the proposed change involve a significant reduction in a margin of safety? Response: No. The consequences of a previously evaluated accident are not increased by these proposed changes, since the Loss of Coolant Accident analyzed in the FSAR [Final Safety Analysis Report] assumes a complete break of the reactor coolant pressure boundary. The proposed changes to the P/T Limits curves do not change this assumption. 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 PO 00000 Frm 00060 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 standards of 10 CFR 50.92(c) are satisfied. Therefore, the NRC staff proposes to determine that the LAR involves no significant hazards consideration. The NRC is seeking public comments on this proposed determination that the LAR involves no significant hazards consideration. 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 60day notice period if the Commission concludes the amendment involves no significant hazards consideration. In addition, the Commission may issue the 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, it will publish in the Federal Register a notice of issuance. Should the Commission make a final No Significant Hazards Consideration 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 Federal Register notice, any person whose interest may be affected by this proceeding and who desires to participate as a party in the proceeding must file a written request for hearing or a petition for leave to intervene specifying the contentions which the person seeks to have litigated in the hearing with respect to the LAR. Requests for hearing and petitions for leave to intervene shall be filed in accordance with the NRC’s ‘‘Agency Rules of Practice and Procedure’’ in 10 CFR part 2. Interested person(s) should consult a current copy of 10 CFR 2.309, which is available at the NRC’s PDR. The NRC’s regulations are accessible electronically from the NRC Library on the NRC’s Web site at https:// www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doccollections/cfr/. As required by 10 CFR 2.309, a request for hearing or petition for leave to intervene must set forth with particularity the interest of the E:\FR\FM\30JYN1.SGM 30JYN1 Lhorne on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 146 / Thursday, July 30, 2015 / Notices petitioner in the proceeding and how that interest may be affected by the results of the proceeding. The hearing request or petition must specifically explain the reasons why intervention should be permitted, with particular reference to the following general requirements: (1) The name, address, and telephone number of the requestor or petitioner; (2) the nature of the requestor’s/petitioner’s right under the Act to be made a party to the proceeding; (3) the nature and extent of the requestor’s/petitioner’s property, financial, or other interest in the proceeding; and (4) the possible effect of any decision or order which may be entered in the proceeding on the requestor’s/petitioner’s interest. The hearing request or petition must also include the specific contentions that the requestor/petitioner seeks to have litigated at the proceeding. For each contention, the requestor/ petitioner must provide a specific statement of the issue of law or fact to be raised or controverted, as well as a brief explanation of the basis for the contention. Additionally, the requestor/ petitioner must demonstrate that the issue raised by each contention is within the scope of the proceeding and is material to the findings that the NRC must make to support the granting of a license amendment in response to the application. The hearing request or petition must also include a concise statement of the alleged facts or expert opinion that support the contention and on which the requestor/petitioner intends to rely at the hearing, together with references to those specific sources and documents. The hearing request or petition must provide sufficient information to show that a genuine dispute exists with the applicant on a material issue of law or fact, including references to specific portions of the application for amendment that the petitioner disputes and the supporting reasons for each dispute. If the requestor/petitioner believes that the application for amendment fails to contain information on a relevant matter as required by law, the requestor/ petitioner must identify each failure and the supporting reasons for the requestor’s/petitioner’s belief. Each contention must be one which, if proven, would entitle the requestor/ petitioner to relief. A requestor/ petitioner who does not satisfy these requirements for at least one contention will not be permitted to participate as a party. Those permitted to intervene become parties to the proceeding, subject to any limitations in the order granting leave to intervene, and have the opportunity to VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:54 Jul 29, 2015 Jkt 235001 participate fully in the conduct of the hearing with respect to resolution of that person’s admitted contentions, including the opportunity to present evidence and to submit a crossexamination plan for cross-examination of witnesses, consistent with NRC regulations, policies, and procedures. The Atomic Safety and Licensing Board will set the time and place for any prehearing conferences and evidentiary hearings, and the appropriate notices will be provided. Hearing requests or petitions for leave to intervene must be filed no later than 60 days from the date of publication of this notice. Requests for hearing, petitions for leave to intervene, and motions for leave to file new or amended contentions that are filed after the 60-day 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)–(iii). If a hearing is requested, the Commission will make a final determination on the issue of no significant hazards consideration. The final determination will serve to decide 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 held 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 any 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. IV. Electronic Submissions (E-Filing) All documents filed in NRC adjudicatory proceedings, including a request for hearing, a petition for leave to intervene, any motion or other document filed in the proceeding prior to the submission of a request for hearing or petition to intervene, and documents filed by interested governmental entities participating under 10 CFR 2.315(c), must be filed in accordance with the NRC’s E-Filing rule (72 FR 49139; August 28, 2007). The EFiling process requires participants to submit and serve all adjudicatory documents over the internet, or in some cases to mail copies on electronic storage media. Participants may not submit paper copies of their filings PO 00000 Frm 00061 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 45561 unless they seek an exemption in accordance with the procedures described below. To comply with the procedural requirements of E-Filing, at least ten 10 days prior to the filing deadline, the participant should contact the Office of the Secretary by email at hearing.docket@nrc.gov, or by telephone at 301–415–1677, to request (1) a digital identification (ID) certificate, which allows the participant (or its counsel or representative) to digitally sign documents and access the E-Submittal server for any proceeding in which it is participating; and (2) advise the Secretary that the participant will be submitting a request or petition for hearing (even in instances in which the participant, or its counsel or representative, already holds an NRCissued digital ID certificate). Based upon this information, the Secretary will establish an electronic docket for the hearing in this 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 Web site at https:// www.nrc.gov/site-help/e-submittals/ getting-started.html. System requirements for accessing the ESubmittal server are detailed in the NRC’s ‘‘Guidance for Electronic Submission,’’ which is available on the agency’s public Web site at https:// www.nrc.gov/site-help/esubmittals.html. Participants may attempt to use other software not listed on the Web site, but should note that the NRC’s E-Filing system does not support unlisted software, and the NRC Meta System Help Desk will not be able to offer assistance in using unlisted software. If a participant is electronically submitting a document to the NRC in accordance with the E-Filing rule, the participant must file the document using the NRC’s online, Web-based submission form. In order to serve documents through the Electronic Information Exchange System, users will be required to install a Web browser plug-in from the NRC’s Web site. Further information on the Webbased submission form, including the installation of the Web browser plug-in, is available on the NRC’s public Web site at https://www.nrc.gov/site-help/esubmittals.html. Once a participant has obtained a digital ID certificate and a docket has been created, the participant can then submit a request for hearing or petition for leave to intervene. Submissions should be in Portable Document Format (PDF) in accordance with NRC guidance E:\FR\FM\30JYN1.SGM 30JYN1 Lhorne on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 45562 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 146 / Thursday, July 30, 2015 / Notices available on the NRC’s public Web site at https://www.nrc.gov/site-help/esubmittals.html. A filing is considered complete at the time the documents are 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. Eastern Time on the due date. Upon receipt of a transmission, the E-Filing system time-stamps the document and sends the submitter an email notice confirming receipt of the document. The E-Filing system also distributes an email notice 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 documents on those participants separately. Therefore, applicants and other participants (or their counsel or representative) must apply for and receive a digital ID certificate before a hearing request/ petition to intervene is filed so that they can obtain access to the document via the E-Filing system. A person filing electronically using the NRC’s adjudicatory E-Filing system may seek assistance by contacting the NRC Meta System Help Desk through the ‘‘Contact Us’’ link located on the NRC’s public Web site at https:// www.nrc.gov/site-help/esubmittals.html, by email to MSHD.Resource@nrc.gov, or by a tollfree call at 1–866–672–7640. The NRC Meta System Help Desk is available between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, excluding government holidays. Participants who believe that they have a 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 requesting authorization to continue to submit documents in paper format. Such filings must be submitted by: (1) First class mail addressed to the Office of the Secretary of the Commission, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555– 0001, Attention: Rulemaking and Adjudications Staff; or (2) courier, express mail, or expedited delivery service to the Office of the Secretary, Sixteenth Floor, One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852, Attention: Rulemaking and Adjudications Staff. Participants filing a document in this manner are responsible for serving the document on all other participants. Filing is considered complete by first-class mail as of the time of deposit in the mail, or by courier, express mail, or expedited VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:54 Jul 29, 2015 Jkt 235001 delivery service upon depositing the document with the provider of the service. A presiding officer, having granted an exemption request from using E-Filing, may require a participant or party to use E-Filing if the presiding officer subsequently determines that the reason for granting the exemption from use of E-Filing no longer exists. Documents submitted in adjudicatory proceedings will appear in the NRC’s electronic hearing docket which is available to the public at https:// ehd1.nrc.gov/ehd/, unless excluded pursuant to an order of the Commission, or the presiding officer. Participants are requested not to include personal privacy information, such as social security numbers, home addresses, or home phone numbers in their filings, unless an NRC regulation or other law requires submission of such information. However, in some instances, a request to intervene will require including information on local residence in order to demonstrate a proximity assertion of interest in the proceeding. 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 are requested not to include copyrighted materials in their submission. For further details with respect to this action, see the application for license amendment dated August 11, 2014 (ADAMS Accession No. ML14223A780), as supplemented by letters dated April 6, 2015 (ADAMS Accession No. ML15097A386), and July 16, 2015 (ADAMS Accession No. ML15197A256). Attorney for licensee: Damon D. Obie, Associate General Counsel, Talen Energy Supply, LLC, 835 Hamilton St., Suite 150, Allentown, PA 18101. NRC Branch Chief: Douglas A. Broaddus. Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 23rd day of July 2015. For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Jeffrey A. Whited, Project Manager, Plant Licensing Branch I– 2, Division of Operating Reactor Licensing, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation. [FR Doc. 2015–18733 Filed 7–29–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590–01–P NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION [NRC–2014–0131] Open Phase Conditions in Electric Power System Nuclear Regulatory Commission. AGENCY: PO 00000 Frm 00062 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Branch technical position-final; issuance. ACTION: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing a final version of Branch Technical Position (BTP) 8–9, ‘‘Open Phase Conditions in Electric Power System,’’ of NUREG– 0800, ‘‘Standard Review Plan for the Review of Safety Analysis Reports for Nuclear Power Plants: LWR Edition.’’ DATES: The effective date of this Branch Technical Position is August 31, 2015. ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC–2014–0131 when contacting the NRC about the availability of information regarding this document. You may obtain publicly-available information related to this document using any of the following methods: • Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC–2014–0131. Address questions about NRC dockets to Carol Gallagher; telephone: 301–415–3463; 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 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 ‘‘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 notice (if that document is available in ADAMS) is provided the first time that a document is referenced. The final version for BTP 8–9, ‘‘Open Phase Conditions in Electric Power System,’’ is available under ADAMS Accession No. ML15057A085. A redline strikeout comparing the proposed and final revision of the document can be found in ADAMS under Accession No. ML15056A316. • 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. • The NRC posts its issued staff guidance on the NRC’s external Web page (https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/ doc-collections/nuregs/staff/sr0800/). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark D. Notich, Office of New Reactors, SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\30JYN1.SGM 30JYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 146 (Thursday, July 30, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45559-45562]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-18733]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket Nos. 50-387 and 50-388; NRC-2015-0178]


Susquehanna Nuclear, LLC; Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, 
Units 1 and 2

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: License amendment application; opportunity to comment, request 
a hearing, and petition for leave to intervene.

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

SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering 
issuance of an amendment to Renewed Facility Operating License Nos. 
NPF-14 and NPF-22, issued to Susquehanna Nuclear, LLC, for operation of 
the Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, Units 1 and 2 (SSES or the 
licensee). The proposed amendment would revise Technical Specification 
(TS) 3.4.10, ``RCS [Reactor Coolant System] Pressure and Temperature 
(P/T) Limits.''

DATES: Submit comments by August 31, 2015. Requests for a hearing or 
petition for leave to intervene must be filed by September 28, 2015.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods 
(unless this document describes a different method for submitting 
comments on a specific subject):
     Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2015-0178. Address 
questions about NRC dockets to Carol Gallagher; telephone: 301-415-
3463; email: Carol.Gallagher@nrc.gov. For technical questions, contact 
the individual listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of 
this document.
     Mail comments to: Cindy Bladey, Office of Administration, 
Mail Stop: OWFN-12-H08, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, 
DC 20555-0001.
    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: Jeffrey Whited, Office of Nuclear 
Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington DC 
20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-4090, email: Jeffrey.Whited@nrc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Obtaining Information and Submitting Comments

A. Obtaining Information

    Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2015-0178 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 Web site: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2015-0178.
     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 ``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 (if it is available 
in ADAMS) is provided the first time that it is mentioned in the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.
     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.

B. Submitting Comments

    Please include Docket ID NRC-2015-0178 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 posts all comment submissions at https://www.regulations.gov as well as entering 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.

[[Page 45560]]

II. Introduction

    The NRC is considering issuance of an amendment to Renewed Facility 
Operating License Nos. NPF-14 and NPF-22, issued to Susquehanna 
Nuclear, LLC, for operation of SSES, Units 1 and 2, located in Luzerne 
County, Pennsylvania.
    The amendment proposes changes to SSES, Units 1 and 2, Technical 
Specification (TS) 3.4.10, ``RCS [Reactor Coolant System] Pressure and 
Temperature (P/T) Limits,'' which includes revisions to the P/T Limits 
curves. The revision is to provide P/T Limits curves that extend into 
the vacuum region to mitigate the risk of a level transient during 
startup and shutdown, and to update the analysis supporting use of the 
new curves. Updated analysis will address considerations included in 
Regulatory Information Summary (RIS) 2014 11, ``Information on 
Licensing Applications for Fracture Toughness Requirements for Ferritic 
Reactor Coolant Pressure Boundary Components,'' dated October 14, 2014 
(ADAMS Accession No. ML14149A165). The new curves account for updated 
surveillance material and fluence data for the vessel beltline 
materials. References to the new, updated analysis will be made in an 
associated TS Bases change when the new limits are approved for use in 
the TS. A notice of consideration of issuance for the license amendment 
request (LAR) was previously noticed in the Federal Register on 
November 25, 2014 (79 FR 70217). The license amendment request is being 
renoticed due to an expansion in the scope of the license amendment. In 
addition, on June 1, 2015, the NRC staff issued an amendment changing 
the name on the SSES license from PPL Susquehanna, LLC, to Susquehanna 
Nuclear, LLC (ADAMS Accession No. ML15054A066). This amendment was 
issued subsequent to an order issued on April 10, 2015, to SSES, 
approving an indirect license transfer (ADAMS Accession No. 
ML15058A073).
    Before any 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 LAR involves no 
significant hazards consideration. Under the NRC's regulations in Sec.  
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 no significant hazards 
consideration, which is presented below:

    1. Does the proposed change involve a significant increase in 
the probability or consequences of an accident previously evaluated?
    Response: No.
    The proposed changes request that the P/T limits curves in TS 
3.4.10, ``RCS Pressure and Temperature (P/T) Limits'' be revised by 
extending each of the P/T Limits curves below 0 psig to allow 
operation with the RPV [reactor pressure vessel] at a vacuum. These 
changes update the analysis for ferritic RPV components, taking into 
account the considerations discussed by RIS 2014-11, and account for 
updated surveillance material and fluence data for the vessel 
beltline materials.
    The P/T curves are used as operational limits during heatup or 
cooldown maneuvering, when pressure and temperature indications are 
monitored and compared to the applicable curve to determine that 
operation is within the allowable region. The P/T curves provide 
assurance that station operation is consistent with previously 
evaluated accidents.
    Therefore, the probability of an accident or the radiological 
consequences of an accident previously evaluated are not 
significantly increased.
    2. Does the proposed change create the possibility of a new or 
different kind of accident from any accident previously evaluated?
    Response: No.
    The proposed changes do not change the response of any plant 
equipment to transient conditions. The proposed changes do not 
introduce any new equipment, modes of system operation, or failure 
mechanisms.
    Therefore, there are no new types of failures or new or 
different kinds of accidents or transients that could be created by 
these changes. The proposed changes do not create the possibility of 
a new or different kind of accident from any accident previously 
evaluated.
    3. Does the proposed change involve a significant reduction in a 
margin of safety?
    Response: No.
    The consequences of a previously evaluated accident are not 
increased by these proposed changes, since the Loss of Coolant 
Accident analyzed in the FSAR [Final Safety Analysis Report] assumes 
a complete break of the reactor coolant pressure boundary. The 
proposed changes to the P/T Limits curves do not change this 
assumption.

    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 LAR 
involves no significant hazards consideration.
    The NRC is seeking public comments on this proposed determination 
that the LAR involves no significant hazards consideration. Any 
comments received within 30 days after the date of publication of this 
notice will be considered in making any final determination.
    Normally, the Commission will not issue the amendment until the 
expiration of 60 days after the date of publication of this notice. The 
Commission may issue the license amendment before expiration of the 60-
day notice period if the Commission concludes the amendment involves no 
significant hazards consideration. In addition, the Commission may 
issue the 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, it will publish in the Federal Register a notice of issuance. 
Should the Commission make a final No Significant Hazards Consideration 
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 Federal 
Register notice, any person whose interest may be affected by this 
proceeding and who desires to participate as a party in the proceeding 
must file a written request for hearing or a petition for leave to 
intervene specifying the contentions which the person seeks to have 
litigated in the hearing with respect to the LAR. Requests for hearing 
and petitions for leave to intervene shall be filed in accordance with 
the NRC's ``Agency Rules of Practice and Procedure'' in 10 CFR part 2. 
Interested person(s) should consult a current copy of 10 CFR 2.309, 
which is available at the NRC's PDR. The NRC's regulations are 
accessible electronically from the NRC Library on the NRC's Web site at 
https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/cfr/.
    As required by 10 CFR 2.309, a request for hearing or petition for 
leave to intervene must set forth with particularity the interest of 
the

[[Page 45561]]

petitioner in the proceeding and how that interest may be affected by 
the results of the proceeding. The hearing request or petition must 
specifically explain the reasons why intervention should be permitted, 
with particular reference to the following general requirements: (1) 
The name, address, and telephone number of the requestor or petitioner; 
(2) the nature of the requestor's/petitioner's right under the Act to 
be made a party to the proceeding; (3) the nature and extent of the 
requestor's/petitioner's property, financial, or other interest in the 
proceeding; and (4) the possible effect of any decision or order which 
may be entered in the proceeding on the requestor's/petitioner's 
interest. The hearing request or petition must also include the 
specific contentions that the requestor/petitioner seeks to have 
litigated at the proceeding.
    For each contention, the requestor/petitioner must provide a 
specific statement of the issue of law or fact to be raised or 
controverted, as well as a brief explanation of the basis for the 
contention. Additionally, the requestor/petitioner must demonstrate 
that the issue raised by each contention is within the scope of the 
proceeding and is material to the findings that the NRC must make to 
support the granting of a license amendment in response to the 
application. The hearing request or petition must also include a 
concise statement of the alleged facts or expert opinion that support 
the contention and on which the requestor/petitioner intends to rely at 
the hearing, together with references to those specific sources and 
documents. The hearing request or petition must provide sufficient 
information to show that a genuine dispute exists with the applicant on 
a material issue of law or fact, including references to specific 
portions of the application for amendment that the petitioner disputes 
and the supporting reasons for each dispute. If the requestor/
petitioner believes that the application for amendment fails to contain 
information on a relevant matter as required by law, the requestor/
petitioner must identify each failure and the supporting reasons for 
the requestor's/petitioner's belief. Each contention must be one which, 
if proven, would entitle the requestor/petitioner to relief. A 
requestor/petitioner who does not satisfy these requirements for at 
least one contention will not be permitted to participate as a party.
    Those permitted to intervene become parties to the proceeding, 
subject to any limitations in the order granting leave to intervene, 
and have the opportunity to participate fully in the conduct of the 
hearing with respect to resolution of that person's admitted 
contentions, including the opportunity to present evidence and to 
submit a cross-examination plan for cross-examination of witnesses, 
consistent with NRC regulations, policies, and procedures. The Atomic 
Safety and Licensing Board will set the time and place for any 
prehearing conferences and evidentiary hearings, and the appropriate 
notices will be provided.
    Hearing requests or petitions for leave to intervene must be filed 
no later than 60 days from the date of publication of this notice. 
Requests for hearing, petitions for leave to intervene, and motions for 
leave to file new or amended contentions that are filed after the 60-
day 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)-(iii).
    If a hearing is requested, the Commission will make a final 
determination on the issue of no significant hazards consideration. The 
final determination will serve to decide 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 held 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 any 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.

IV. Electronic Submissions (E-Filing)

    All documents filed in NRC adjudicatory proceedings, including a 
request for hearing, a petition for leave to intervene, any motion or 
other document filed in the proceeding prior to the submission of a 
request for hearing or petition to intervene, and documents filed by 
interested governmental entities participating under 10 CFR 2.315(c), 
must be filed in accordance with the NRC's E-Filing rule (72 FR 49139; 
August 28, 2007). 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. Participants may not 
submit paper copies of their filings unless they seek an exemption in 
accordance with the procedures described below.
    To comply with the procedural requirements of E-Filing, at least 
ten 10 days prior to the filing deadline, the participant should 
contact the Office of the Secretary by email at hearing.docket@nrc.gov, 
or by telephone at 301-415-1677, to request (1) a digital 
identification (ID) certificate, which allows the participant (or its 
counsel or representative) to digitally sign documents and access the 
E-Submittal server for any proceeding in which it is participating; and 
(2) advise the Secretary that the participant will be submitting a 
request or petition for hearing (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 hearing in this 
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 Web site at https://www.nrc.gov/site-help/e-submittals/getting-started.html. System requirements for accessing 
the E-Submittal server are detailed in the NRC's ``Guidance for 
Electronic Submission,'' which is available on the agency's public Web 
site at https://www.nrc.gov/site-help/e-submittals.html.
    Participants may attempt to use other software not listed on the 
Web site, but should note that the NRC's E-Filing system does not 
support unlisted software, and the NRC Meta System Help Desk will not 
be able to offer assistance in using unlisted software.
    If a participant is electronically submitting a document to the NRC 
in accordance with the E-Filing rule, the participant must file the 
document using the NRC's online, Web-based submission form. In order to 
serve documents through the Electronic Information Exchange System, 
users will be required to install a Web browser plug-in from the NRC's 
Web site. Further information on the Web-based submission form, 
including the installation of the Web browser plug-in, is available on 
the NRC's public Web site at https://www.nrc.gov/site-help/e-submittals.html.
    Once a participant has obtained a digital ID certificate and a 
docket has been created, the participant can then submit a request for 
hearing or petition for leave to intervene. Submissions should be in 
Portable Document Format (PDF) in accordance with NRC guidance

[[Page 45562]]

available on the NRC's public Web site at https://www.nrc.gov/site-help/e-submittals.html. A filing is considered complete at the time the 
documents are 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. Eastern Time on the due date. Upon receipt of 
a transmission, the E-Filing system time-stamps the document and sends 
the submitter an email notice confirming receipt of the document. The 
E-Filing system also distributes an email notice 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 
documents on those participants separately. Therefore, applicants and 
other participants (or their counsel or representative) must apply for 
and receive a digital ID certificate before a hearing request/petition 
to intervene is filed so that they can obtain access to the document 
via the E-Filing system.
    A person filing electronically using the NRC's adjudicatory E-
Filing system may seek assistance by contacting the NRC Meta System 
Help Desk through the ``Contact Us'' link located on the NRC's public 
Web site at https://www.nrc.gov/site-help/e-submittals.html, by email to 
MSHD.Resource@nrc.gov, or by a toll-free call at 1-866-672-7640. The 
NRC Meta System Help Desk is available between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., 
Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, excluding government holidays.
    Participants who believe that they have a 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 
requesting authorization to continue to submit documents in paper 
format. Such filings must be submitted by: (1) First class mail 
addressed to the Office of the Secretary of the Commission, U.S. 
Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, Attention: 
Rulemaking and Adjudications Staff; or (2) courier, express mail, or 
expedited delivery service to the Office of the Secretary, Sixteenth 
Floor, One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 
20852, Attention: Rulemaking and Adjudications Staff. Participants 
filing a document in this manner are responsible for serving the 
document on all other participants. Filing is considered complete by 
first-class mail as of the time of deposit in the mail, or by courier, 
express mail, or expedited delivery service upon depositing the 
document with the provider of the service. A presiding officer, having 
granted an exemption request from using E-Filing, may require a 
participant or party to use E-Filing if the presiding officer 
subsequently determines that the reason for granting the exemption from 
use of E-Filing no longer exists.
    Documents submitted in adjudicatory proceedings will appear in the 
NRC's electronic hearing docket which is available to the public at 
https://ehd1.nrc.gov/ehd/, unless excluded pursuant to an order of the 
Commission, or the presiding officer. Participants are requested not to 
include personal privacy information, such as social security numbers, 
home addresses, or home phone numbers in their filings, unless an NRC 
regulation or other law requires submission of such information. 
However, in some instances, a request to intervene will require 
including information on local residence in order to demonstrate a 
proximity assertion of interest in the proceeding. 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 are requested not to include copyrighted 
materials in their submission.
    For further details with respect to this action, see the 
application for license amendment dated August 11, 2014 (ADAMS 
Accession No. ML14223A780), as supplemented by letters dated April 6, 
2015 (ADAMS Accession No. ML15097A386), and July 16, 2015 (ADAMS 
Accession No. ML15197A256).
    Attorney for licensee: Damon D. Obie, Associate General Counsel, 
Talen Energy Supply, LLC, 835 Hamilton St., Suite 150, Allentown, PA 
18101.
    NRC Branch Chief: Douglas A. Broaddus.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 23rd day of July 2015.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Jeffrey A. Whited,
Project Manager, Plant Licensing Branch I-2, Division of Operating 
Reactor Licensing, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 2015-18733 Filed 7-29-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
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