GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas, LLC, Vallecitos Nuclear Center, 53332-53336 [2015-21801]
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 171 / Thursday, September 3, 2015 / Notices
Agenda
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–2015–0189. 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 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 available in
ADAMS) is provided the first time that
a document is referenced. For the
convenience of the reader, the ADAMS
accession numbers are provided in a
table in the ‘‘Availability of Documents’’
section of this document.
• 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:
Breeda Reilly, Office of Nuclear Material
Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission, Washington,
DC 20555–0001; telephone: 301–415–
7553; email: Breeda.Reilly@nrc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Wednesday, October 21, 2015; 8:30
a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Directorate and NSF activities and plans
Review of 2015 COV Reports
Meeting with the Director of the Office
of Legislative and Public Affairs
Update on I–USE and INCLUDES
Thursday, October 22, 2015; 8:30 a.m.–
2:00 p.m.
Meeting with the NSF Director and CIO
Division Subcommittee Meetings
Action Items/Planning for Fall Meeting
Dated: August 31, 2015.
Crystal Robinson,
Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015–21926 Filed 9–2–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555–01–P
NUCLEAR REGULATORY
COMMISSION
[Docket No. 70–754; NRC–2015–0189]
GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas,
LLC, Vallecitos Nuclear Center
Nuclear Regulatory
Commission.
ACTION: License renewal application;
receipt, opportunity to request a hearing
and to petition for leave to intervene;
order.
AGENCY:
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission (NRC) has received a
revised license renewal application
from GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy
Americas, LLC (GEH), requesting
renewal of Special Nuclear Material
License No. SNM–960 for the Vallecitos
Nuclear Center. This license authorizes
GEH to conduct laboratory analysis and
engineering studies of licensed material
and to store onsite material previously
used in analysis. The request, if granted,
would authorize GEH to continue
licensed activities at the Vallecitos
Nuclear Center for 10 years.
DATES: Requests for a hearing or petition
for leave to intervene must be filed by
November 2, 2015. Any potential party
as defined in § 2.1 of Title 10 of the
Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR)
who believes access to Sensitive
Unclassified Non-Safeguards
Information (SUNSI) is necessary to
respond to this notice must request
document access by September 14,
2015.
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SUMMARY:
Please refer to Docket ID
NRC–2015–0189 when contacting the
NRC about the availability of
information regarding this document.
You may obtain publicly-available
ADDRESSES:
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I. Introduction
By letter dated March 18, 2015
(ADAMS Accession No. ML15077A495),
GEH submitted to the NRC a revised
license renewal application for the
Vallecitos Nuclear Center, located near
Sunol, California. Special Nuclear
Material License No. SNM–960
authorizes GEH to conduct laboratory
analysis and engineering studies of
licensed material and to store onsite
material previously used in analysis.
The request, if granted, would authorize
GEH to continue licensed activities at
the Vallecitos Nuclear Center for 10
years.
The current license expired on June
30, 2010. Because GEH filed an original
renewal application on September 30,
2009, and subsequent revisions, the
license is under timely renewal as
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provided in 10 CFR 2.109(a). The
revised license renewal application
submitted on March 18, 2015,
supersedes previous license renewal
applications submitted to the NRC.
An NRC administrative review,
documented in a letter to GEH dated
May 1, 2015 (ADAMS Accession No.
ML15077A406), found the March 18,
2015, renewal application acceptable to
begin a formal technical review. If the
NRC approves the request, the approval
will be documented in NRC License No.
SNM–960. However, before approving
the request, the NRC will need to make
the findings required by the Atomic
Energy Act of 1954, as amended (the
Act), and the NRC’s regulations. These
findings will be documented in a Safety
Evaluation Report. Because the licensed
material will be used in research and
development, renewal of SNM–960 is an
action that is categorically excluded
from the requirement to prepare an
environmental assessment pursuant to
10 CFR 51.22(c)(14)(v).
II. Opportunity To Request a Hearing
and Petition for Leave To Intervene
Within 60 days after the date of
publication of this notice, any person(s)
whose interest may be affected by this
action may file a request for a hearing
and a petition to intervene with respect
to the revised license renewal
application. Requests for a hearing and
a petition 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, located in One White
Flint North, Room O1–F21 (first floor),
11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville,
Maryland 20852. 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/. If a request for a hearing
or petition for leave to intervene is filed
within 60 days, the Commission or a
presiding officer designated by the
Commission or by the Chief
Administrative Judge of the Atomic
Safety and Licensing Board Panel will
rule on the request and/or petition. The
Secretary or the Chief Administrative
Judge of the Atomic Safety and
Licensing Board will issue a notice of
hearing or an appropriate order.
As required by 10 CFR 2.309, a
petition for leave to intervene shall set
forth with particularity the interest of
the petitioner in the proceeding and
how that interest may be affected by the
results of the proceeding. The petition
should specifically explain the reasons
why intervention should be permitted,
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with particular reference to the
following general requirements: (1) The
name, address, and telephone number of
the requester or petitioner; (2) the nature
of the requester’s/petitioner’s right
under the Act to be made a party to the
proceeding; (3) the nature and extent of
the requester’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
requester’s/petitioner’s interest. The
petition must also set forth the specific
contentions which the requestor/
petitioner seeks to have litigated at the
proceeding.
Each contention must consist of a
specific statement of the issue of law or
fact to be raised or controverted. In
addition, the requestor/petitioner shall
provide a brief explanation of the bases
for the contention and a concise
statement of the alleged facts or expert
opinion which support the contention
and on which the requestor/petitioner
intends to rely in proving the contention
at the hearing. The requestor/petitioner
must also provide references to those
specific sources and documents of
which the petitioner is aware and on
which the requestor/petitioner intends
to rely to establish those facts or expert
opinion. The petition must include
sufficient information to show that a
genuine dispute exists with the
applicant on a material issue of law or
fact. Contentions shall be limited to
matters within the scope of the
amendment under consideration. The
contention must be one which, if
proven, would entitle the requestor/
petitioner to relief. A requestor/
petitioner who fails to satisfy these
requirements with respect to 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 motion 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.
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
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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).
A State, local governmental body,
Federally-recognized Indian Tribe, or
agency thereof, may submit a petition to
the Commission to participate as a party
under 10 CFR 2.309(h)(1). The petition
should state the nature and extent of the
petitioner’s interest in the proceeding.
The petition should be submitted to the
Commission by November 2, 2015. The
petition must be filed in accordance
with the filing instructions in the
‘‘Electronic Submissions (E-Filing)’’
section of this document, and should
meet the requirements for petitions for
leave to intervene set forth in this
section, except that under § 2.309(h)(2)
a State, local governmental body, or
Federally-recognized Indian Tribe, or
agency thereof does not need to address
the standing requirements in 10 CFR
2.309(d) if the facility is located within
its boundaries. A State, local
governmental body, Federallyrecognized Indian Tribe, or agency
thereof may also have the opportunity to
participate under 10 CFR 2.315(c).
If a hearing is granted, any person
who does not wish, or is not qualified,
to become a party to the proceeding
may, in the discretion of the presiding
officer, be permitted to make a limited
appearance pursuant to the provisions
of 10 CFR 2.315(a). A person making a
limited appearance may make an oral or
written statement of position on the
issues, but may not otherwise
participate in the proceeding. A limited
appearance may be made at any session
of the hearing or at any prehearing
conference, subject to the limits and
conditions as may be imposed by the
presiding officer. Persons desiring to
make a limited appearance are
requested to inform the Secretary of the
Commission by November 2, 2015.
The Commission requests that each
contention be given a separate numeric
or alpha designation within one of the
following groups: (1) Technical
(primarily related to safety concerns; (2)
Environmental; or (3) Miscellaneous.
As specified in 10 CFR 2.309, if two
or more requestors/petitioners seek to
co-sponsor a contention or propose
substantially the same contention, the
requestors/petitioners will be required
to jointly designate a representative who
shall have the authority to act for the
requestors/petitioners with respect to
the contention.
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III. 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
unless they seek an exemption in
accordance with the procedures
described below.
To comply with the procedural
requirements of E-filing, at least 10 days
prior to the filing deadline, the
petitioner 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
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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. Submission
should be in Portable Document Format
(PDF) in accordance with NRC guidance
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 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 firstclass mail as of the time of deposit in
Document
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Portions of the license renewal
application and its supporting
documents contain SUNSI. These
portions will not be available to the
public in the NRC’s ADAMS. Any
person requesting to obtain the SUNSI
information will need to follow the
procedures described in the Order
below.
Order Imposing Procedures for Access
to Sensitive Unclassified NonSafeguards Information for Contention
Preparation
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IV. Availability of Documents
Documents related to this action,
including the license renewal
application and other supporting
documentation, are available to
interested persons as indicated.
ADAMS Accession No.
License Renewal Application, March 18, 2015 ........................................
Vallecitos Decommissioning Funding Plan, January 31, 2014 ................
Inventory Consolidation Status Report, November 24, 2014. .................
Acceptance of Application for Technical Review, May 1, 2015 ...............
A. This Order contains instructions
regarding how potential parties to this
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.
ML15077A495.
ML14045A339.
ML14328A766.
ML15077A406.
proceeding may request access to
documents containing SUNSI.
B. Within 10 days after publication of
this notice of docketing and opportunity
to petition for leave to intervene, any
potential party who believes access to
SUNSI is necessary to respond to this
notice may request such access. A
‘‘potential party’’ is any person who
intends to participate as a party by
demonstrating standing and filing an
admissible contention under 10 CFR
2.309. Requests for access to SUNSI
submitted later than 10 days after
publication will not be considered
absent a showing of good cause for the
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late filing, addressing why the request
could not have been filed earlier.
C. The requester shall submit a letter
requesting permission to access SUNSI
to the Office of the Secretary, U.S.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission,
Washington, DC 20555–0001, Attention:
Rulemakings and Adjudications Staff,
and provide a copy to the Associate
General Counsel for Hearings,
Enforcement and Administration, Office
of the General Counsel, Washington, DC
20555–0001. The expedited delivery or
courier mail address for both offices is:
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission,
11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville,
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Maryland 20852. The email address for
the Office of the Secretary and the
Office of the General Counsel are
Hearing.Docket@nrc.gov and
OGCmailcenter@nrc.gov, respectively.1
The request must include the following
information:
(1) A description of the licensing
action with a citation to this Federal
Register notice;
(2) The name and address of the
potential party and a description of the
potential party’s particularized interest
that could be harmed by the action
identified in C.(1); and
(3) The identity of the individual or
entity requesting access to SUNSI and
the requester’s basis for the need for the
information in order to meaningfully
participate in this adjudicatory
proceeding. In particular, the request
must explain why publicly-available
versions of the information requested
would not be sufficient to provide the
basis and specificity for a proffered
contention.
D. Based on an evaluation of the
information submitted under paragraph
C.(3) the NRC staff will determine
within 10 days of receipt of the request
whether:
(1) There is a reasonable basis to
believe the petitioner is likely to
establish standing to participate in this
NRC proceeding; and
(2) The requestor has established a
legitimate need for access to SUNSI.
E. If the NRC staff determines that the
requestor satisfies both D.(1) and D.(2)
above, the NRC staff will notify the
requestor in writing that access to
SUNSI has been granted. The written
notification will contain instructions on
how the requestor may obtain copies of
the requested documents, and any other
conditions that may apply to access to
those documents. These conditions may
include, but are not limited to, the
signing of a Non-Disclosure Agreement
or Affidavit, or Protective Order 2 setting
forth terms and conditions to prevent
the unauthorized or inadvertent
disclosure of SUNSI by each individual
who will be granted access to SUNSI.
F. Filing of Contentions. Any
contentions in these proceedings that
are based upon the information received
as a result of the request made for
SUNSI must be filed by the requestor no
later than 25 days after the requestor is
granted access to that information.
However, if more than 25 days remain
between the dates the petitioner is
granted access to the information and
the deadline for filing all other
contentions (as established in the notice
of hearing or opportunity for hearing),
the petitioner may file its SUNSI
contentions by that later deadline. This
provision does not extend the time for
filing a request for a hearing and
petition to intervene, which must
comply with the requirements of 10 CFR
2.309.
G. Review of Denials of Access.
(1) If the request for access to SUNSI
is denied by the NRC staff after a
determination on standing and need for
access, the NRC staff shall immediately
notify the requestor in writing, briefly
stating the reason or reasons for the
denial.
(2) The requester may challenge the
NRC staff’s adverse determination by
filing a challenge within 5 days of
receipt of that determination with: (a)
The presiding officer designated in this
proceeding; (b) if no presiding officer
has been appointed, the Chief
Administrative Judge, or if he or she is
unavailable, another administrative
judge, or an administrative law judge
53335
with jurisdiction pursuant to 10 CFR
2.318(a); or (c) another officer, if that
officer has been designated to rule on
information access issues.
H. Review of Grants of Access. A
party other than the requester may
challenge an NRC staff determination
granting access to SUNSI whose release
would harm that party’s interest
independent of the proceeding. Such a
challenge must be filed with the Chief
Administrative Judge within 5 days of
the notification by the NRC staff of its
grant of access.
If challenges to the NRC staff
determinations are filed, these
procedures give way to the normal
process for litigating disputes
concerning access to information. The
availability of interlocutory review by
the Commission of orders ruling on
such NRC staff determinations (whether
granting or denying access) is governed
by 10 CFR 2.311.3
I. The Commission expects that the
NRC staff and presiding officers (and
any other reviewing officers) will
consider and resolve requests for access
to SUNSI, and motions for protective
orders, in a timely fashion in order to
minimize any unnecessary delays in
identifying those petitioners who have
standing and who have propounded
contentions meeting the specificity and
basis requirements in 10 CFR part 2.
Attachment 1 to this Order summarizes
the general target schedule for
processing and resolving requests under
these procedures.
It is so ordered.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 27th day
of August, 2015.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Annette L. Vietti-Cook,
Secretary of the Commission.
ATTACHMENT 1—GENERAL TARGET SCHEDULE FOR PROCESSING AND RESOLVING REQUESTS FOR ACCESS TO SENSITIVE
UNCLASSIFIED NON-SAFEGUARDS INFORMATION IN THIS PROCEEDING
Day
Event/activity
0 ......................
Publication of Federal Register notice of hearing and opportunity to petition for leave to intervene, including order with instructions for access requests.
Deadline for submitting requests for access to Sensitive Unclassified Non-Safeguards Information (SUNSI) with information:
Supporting the standing of a potential party identified by name and address; describing the need for the information for the
potential party to participate meaningfully in an adjudicatory proceeding.
Deadline for submitting petition for intervention containing: (i) Demonstration of standing; and (ii) all contentions whose formulation does not require access to SUNSI (+25 Answers to petition for intervention; +7 petitioner/requestor reply).
10 ....................
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60 ....................
1 While a request for hearing or petition to
intervene in this proceeding must comply with the
filing requirements of the NRC’s ‘‘E-Filing Rule,’’
the initial request to access SUNSI under these
procedures should be submitted as described in this
paragraph.
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2 Any motion for Protective Order or draft NonDisclosure Affidavit or Agreement for SUNSI must
be filed with the presiding officer or the Chief
Administrative Judge if the presiding officer has not
yet been designated, within 30 days of the deadline
for the receipt of the written access request.
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3 Requesters should note that the filing
requirements of the NRC’s E-Filing Rule (72 FR
49139; August 28, 2007) apply to appeals of NRC
staff determinations (because they must be served
on a presiding officer or the Commission, as
applicable), but not to the initial SUNSI request
submitted to the NRC staff under these procedures.
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ATTACHMENT 1—GENERAL TARGET SCHEDULE FOR PROCESSING AND RESOLVING REQUESTS FOR ACCESS TO SENSITIVE
UNCLASSIFIED NON-SAFEGUARDS INFORMATION IN THIS PROCEEDING—Continued
Day
Event/activity
20 ....................
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff informs the requester of the staff’s determination of whether the request
for access provides a reasonable basis to believe standing can be established and shows need for SUNSI. (The NRC staff
also informs any party to the proceeding whose interest independent of the proceeding would be harmed by the release of
the information.) If the NRC staff makes the finding of need for SUNSI and likelihood of standing, the NRC staff begins document processing (preparation of redactions or review of redacted documents).
If NRC staff finds no ‘‘need’’ or no likelihood of standing, the deadline for petitioner/requester to file a motion seeking a ruling
to reverse the NRC staff’s denial of access; the NRC staff files copy of access determination with the presiding officer (or
Chief Administrative Judge or other designated officer, as appropriate). If the NRC staff finds ‘‘need’’ for SUNSI, the deadline
for any party to the proceeding whose interest independent of the proceeding would be harmed by the release of the information to file a motion seeking a ruling to reverse the NRC staff’s grant of access.
Deadline for NRC staff reply to motions to reverse NRC staff determination(s).
(Receipt +30) If the NRC staff finds standing and need for SUNSI, deadline for the NRC staff to complete information processing and file motion for Protective Order and draft Non-Disclosure Affidavit. Deadline for applicant/licensee to file Non-Disclosure Agreement for SUNSI.
If access granted: Issuance of presiding officer or other designated officer decision on motion for Protective Order for access
to sensitive information (including schedule for providing access and submission of contentions) or decision reversing a final
adverse determination by the NRC staff.
Deadline for filing executed Non-Disclosure Affidavits. Access provided to SUNSI consistent with decision issuing the protective order.
Deadline for submission of contentions whose development depends upon access to SUNSI. However, if more than 25 days
remain between the petitioner’s receipt of (or access to) the information and the deadline for filing all other contentions (as
established in the notice of hearing or opportunity for hearing), the petitioner may file its SUNSI contentions by that later
deadline.
(Contention receipt +25) Answers to contentions whose development depends upon access to SUNSI.
(Answer receipt +7) Petitioner/Intervenor reply to answers.
Decision on contention admission.
25 ....................
30 ....................
40 ....................
A .....................
A + 3 ...............
A + 28 .............
A + 53 .............
A + 60 .............
>A + 60 ...........
[FR Doc. 2015–21801 Filed 9–2–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590–01–P
NUCLEAR REGULATORY
COMMISSION
[Docket Nos. 052–00027 and 052–00028;
NRC–2008–0441]
Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station,
Units 2 and 3
Nuclear Regulatory
Commission.
ACTION: License amendment application;
opportunity to comment, request a
hearing, and petition for leave to
intervene.
AGENCY:
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission (NRC) is considering
issuance of an amendment to Combined
Licenses (NPF–93 and NPF–94), 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 proposed amendment departs
from Tier 2* and associated Tier 2
information in the VCSNS Units 2 and
3 Updated Final Safety Analysis Report
(UFSAR) (which includes the plant
specific Design Control Document Tier
2 information) to demonstrate that the
mechanical weldable couplers to
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
14:42 Sep 02, 2015
Jkt 235001
structural steel weld capacity required
by the American Concrete Institute
(ACI) 349–01 is satisfied using the
American Institute of Steel Construction
(AISC) N690–1994 analysis and testing
provisions.
DATES: Submit comments by October 5,
2015. Requests for a hearing or petition
for leave to intervene must be filed by
November 2, 2015.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
by 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: 301–415–3463;
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: Paul
Kallan, Office of New Reactors, U.S.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission,
Washington, DC 20555–0001; telephone:
PO 00000
Frm 00060
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
301–415–2809; email:
Paul.Kallan@nrg.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Obtaining Information and
Submitting Comments
A. Obtaining Information
Please refer to Docket ID NRC–2008–
0441 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–2008–0441.
• 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
application for amendment, dated
August 24, 2015, is available in ADAMS
under Accession No. ML15236A344.
• NRC’s PDR: You may examine and
purchase copies of public documents at
the NRC’s PDR, Room O1–F21, One
E:\FR\FM\03SEN1.SGM
03SEN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 171 (Thursday, September 3, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53332-53336]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-21801]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 70-754; NRC-2015-0189]
GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas, LLC, Vallecitos Nuclear
Center
AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: License renewal application; receipt, opportunity to request a
hearing and to petition for leave to intervene; order.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has received a
revised license renewal application from GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy
Americas, LLC (GEH), requesting renewal of Special Nuclear Material
License No. SNM-960 for the Vallecitos Nuclear Center. This license
authorizes GEH to conduct laboratory analysis and engineering studies
of licensed material and to store onsite material previously used in
analysis. The request, if granted, would authorize GEH to continue
licensed activities at the Vallecitos Nuclear Center for 10 years.
DATES: Requests for a hearing or petition for leave to intervene must
be filed by November 2, 2015. Any potential party as defined in Sec.
2.1 of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) who
believes access to Sensitive Unclassified Non-Safeguards Information
(SUNSI) is necessary to respond to this notice must request document
access by September 14, 2015.
ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2015-0189 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-2015-0189. 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 (if it available in
ADAMS) is provided the first time that a document is referenced. For
the convenience of the reader, the ADAMS accession numbers are provided
in a table in the ``Availability of Documents'' section of this
document.
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: Breeda Reilly, Office of Nuclear
Material Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission,
Washington, DC 20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-7553; email:
Breeda.Reilly@nrc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Introduction
By letter dated March 18, 2015 (ADAMS Accession No. ML15077A495),
GEH submitted to the NRC a revised license renewal application for the
Vallecitos Nuclear Center, located near Sunol, California. Special
Nuclear Material License No. SNM-960 authorizes GEH to conduct
laboratory analysis and engineering studies of licensed material and to
store onsite material previously used in analysis. The request, if
granted, would authorize GEH to continue licensed activities at the
Vallecitos Nuclear Center for 10 years.
The current license expired on June 30, 2010. Because GEH filed an
original renewal application on September 30, 2009, and subsequent
revisions, the license is under timely renewal as provided in 10 CFR
2.109(a). The revised license renewal application submitted on March
18, 2015, supersedes previous license renewal applications submitted to
the NRC.
An NRC administrative review, documented in a letter to GEH dated
May 1, 2015 (ADAMS Accession No. ML15077A406), found the March 18,
2015, renewal application acceptable to begin a formal technical
review. If the NRC approves the request, the approval will be
documented in NRC License No. SNM-960. However, before approving the
request, the NRC will need to make the findings required by the Atomic
Energy Act of 1954, as amended (the Act), and the NRC's regulations.
These findings will be documented in a Safety Evaluation Report.
Because the licensed material will be used in research and development,
renewal of SNM-960 is an action that is categorically excluded from the
requirement to prepare an environmental assessment pursuant to 10 CFR
51.22(c)(14)(v).
II. Opportunity To Request a Hearing and Petition for Leave To
Intervene
Within 60 days after the date of publication of this notice, any
person(s) whose interest may be affected by this action may file a
request for a hearing and a petition to intervene with respect to the
revised license renewal application. Requests for a hearing and a
petition 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, located in One White Flint North,
Room O1-F21 (first floor), 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland
20852. 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/. If a request for a hearing or petition for leave to
intervene is filed within 60 days, the Commission or a presiding
officer designated by the Commission or by the Chief Administrative
Judge of the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel will rule on the
request and/or petition. The Secretary or the Chief Administrative
Judge of the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board will issue a notice of
hearing or an appropriate order.
As required by 10 CFR 2.309, a petition for leave to intervene
shall set forth with particularity the interest of the petitioner in
the proceeding and how that interest may be affected by the results of
the proceeding. The petition should specifically explain the reasons
why intervention should be permitted,
[[Page 53333]]
with particular reference to the following general requirements: (1)
The name, address, and telephone number of the requester or petitioner;
(2) the nature of the requester's/petitioner's right under the Act to
be made a party to the proceeding; (3) the nature and extent of the
requester'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 requester's/petitioner's
interest. The petition must also set forth the specific contentions
which the requestor/petitioner seeks to have litigated at the
proceeding.
Each contention must consist of a specific statement of the issue
of law or fact to be raised or controverted. In addition, the
requestor/petitioner shall provide a brief explanation of the bases for
the contention and a concise statement of the alleged facts or expert
opinion which support the contention and on which the requestor/
petitioner intends to rely in proving the contention at the hearing.
The requestor/petitioner must also provide references to those specific
sources and documents of which the petitioner is aware and on which the
requestor/petitioner intends to rely to establish those facts or expert
opinion. The petition must include sufficient information to show that
a genuine dispute exists with the applicant on a material issue of law
or fact. Contentions shall be limited to matters within the scope of
the amendment under consideration. The contention must be one which, if
proven, would entitle the requestor/petitioner to relief. A requestor/
petitioner who fails to satisfy these requirements with respect to 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 motion 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.
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).
A State, local governmental body, Federally-recognized Indian
Tribe, or agency thereof, may submit a petition to the Commission to
participate as a party under 10 CFR 2.309(h)(1). The petition should
state the nature and extent of the petitioner's interest in the
proceeding. The petition should be submitted to the Commission by
November 2, 2015. The petition must be filed in accordance with the
filing instructions in the ``Electronic Submissions (E-Filing)''
section of this document, and should meet the requirements for
petitions for leave to intervene set forth in this section, except that
under Sec. 2.309(h)(2) a State, local governmental body, or Federally-
recognized Indian Tribe, or agency thereof does not need to address the
standing requirements in 10 CFR 2.309(d) if the facility is located
within its boundaries. A State, local governmental body, Federally-
recognized Indian Tribe, or agency thereof may also have the
opportunity to participate under 10 CFR 2.315(c).
If a hearing is granted, any person who does not wish, or is not
qualified, to become a party to the proceeding may, in the discretion
of the presiding officer, be permitted to make a limited appearance
pursuant to the provisions of 10 CFR 2.315(a). A person making a
limited appearance may make an oral or written statement of position on
the issues, but may not otherwise participate in the proceeding. A
limited appearance may be made at any session of the hearing or at any
prehearing conference, subject to the limits and conditions as may be
imposed by the presiding officer. Persons desiring to make a limited
appearance are requested to inform the Secretary of the Commission by
November 2, 2015.
The Commission requests that each contention be given a separate
numeric or alpha designation within one of the following groups: (1)
Technical (primarily related to safety concerns; (2) Environmental; or
(3) Miscellaneous.
As specified in 10 CFR 2.309, if two or more requestors/petitioners
seek to co-sponsor a contention or propose substantially the same
contention, the requestors/petitioners will be required to jointly
designate a representative who shall have the authority to act for the
requestors/petitioners with respect to the contention.
III. 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 10
days prior to the filing deadline, the petitioner 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
[[Page 53334]]
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. Submission should be in
Portable Document Format (PDF) in accordance with NRC guidance
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 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.
IV. Availability of Documents
Documents related to this action, including the license renewal
application and other supporting documentation, are available to
interested persons as indicated.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Document ADAMS Accession No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
License Renewal Application, March 18, ML15077A495.
2015.
Vallecitos Decommissioning Funding ML14045A339.
Plan, January 31, 2014.
Inventory Consolidation Status Report, ML14328A766.
November 24, 2014..
Acceptance of Application for Technical ML15077A406.
Review, May 1, 2015.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Portions of the license renewal application and its supporting
documents contain SUNSI. These portions will not be available to the
public in the NRC's ADAMS. Any person requesting to obtain the SUNSI
information will need to follow the procedures described in the Order
below.
Order Imposing Procedures for Access to Sensitive Unclassified Non-
Safeguards Information for Contention Preparation
A. This Order contains instructions regarding how potential parties
to this proceeding may request access to documents containing SUNSI.
B. Within 10 days after publication of this notice of docketing and
opportunity to petition for leave to intervene, any potential party who
believes access to SUNSI is necessary to respond to this notice may
request such access. A ``potential party'' is any person who intends to
participate as a party by demonstrating standing and filing an
admissible contention under 10 CFR 2.309. Requests for access to SUNSI
submitted later than 10 days after publication will not be considered
absent a showing of good cause for the late filing, addressing why the
request could not have been filed earlier.
C. The requester shall submit a letter requesting permission to
access SUNSI to the Office of the Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, Attention: Rulemakings and
Adjudications Staff, and provide a copy to the Associate General
Counsel for Hearings, Enforcement and Administration, Office of the
General Counsel, Washington, DC 20555-0001. The expedited delivery or
courier mail address for both offices is: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville,
[[Page 53335]]
Maryland 20852. The email address for the Office of the Secretary and
the Office of the General Counsel are Hearing.Docket@nrc.gov and
OGCmailcenter@nrc.gov, respectively.\1\ The request must include the
following information:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ While a request for hearing or petition to intervene in this
proceeding must comply with the filing requirements of the NRC's
``E-Filing Rule,'' the initial request to access SUNSI under these
procedures should be submitted as described in this paragraph.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) A description of the licensing action with a citation to this
Federal Register notice;
(2) The name and address of the potential party and a description
of the potential party's particularized interest that could be harmed
by the action identified in C.(1); and
(3) The identity of the individual or entity requesting access to
SUNSI and the requester's basis for the need for the information in
order to meaningfully participate in this adjudicatory proceeding. In
particular, the request must explain why publicly-available versions of
the information requested would not be sufficient to provide the basis
and specificity for a proffered contention.
D. Based on an evaluation of the information submitted under
paragraph C.(3) the NRC staff will determine within 10 days of receipt
of the request whether:
(1) There is a reasonable basis to believe the petitioner is likely
to establish standing to participate in this NRC proceeding; and
(2) The requestor has established a legitimate need for access to
SUNSI.
E. If the NRC staff determines that the requestor satisfies both
D.(1) and D.(2) above, the NRC staff will notify the requestor in
writing that access to SUNSI has been granted. The written notification
will contain instructions on how the requestor may obtain copies of the
requested documents, and any other conditions that may apply to access
to those documents. These conditions may include, but are not limited
to, the signing of a Non-Disclosure Agreement or Affidavit, or
Protective Order \2\ setting forth terms and conditions to prevent the
unauthorized or inadvertent disclosure of SUNSI by each individual who
will be granted access to SUNSI.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ Any motion for Protective Order or draft Non-Disclosure
Affidavit or Agreement for SUNSI must be filed with the presiding
officer or the Chief Administrative Judge if the presiding officer
has not yet been designated, within 30 days of the deadline for the
receipt of the written access request.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
F. Filing of Contentions. Any contentions in these proceedings that
are based upon the information received as a result of the request made
for SUNSI must be filed by the requestor no later than 25 days after
the requestor is granted access to that information. However, if more
than 25 days remain between the dates the petitioner is granted access
to the information and the deadline for filing all other contentions
(as established in the notice of hearing or opportunity for hearing),
the petitioner may file its SUNSI contentions by that later deadline.
This provision does not extend the time for filing a request for a
hearing and petition to intervene, which must comply with the
requirements of 10 CFR 2.309.
G. Review of Denials of Access.
(1) If the request for access to SUNSI is denied by the NRC staff
after a determination on standing and need for access, the NRC staff
shall immediately notify the requestor in writing, briefly stating the
reason or reasons for the denial.
(2) The requester may challenge the NRC staff's adverse
determination by filing a challenge within 5 days of receipt of that
determination with: (a) The presiding officer designated in this
proceeding; (b) if no presiding officer has been appointed, the Chief
Administrative Judge, or if he or she is unavailable, another
administrative judge, or an administrative law judge with jurisdiction
pursuant to 10 CFR 2.318(a); or (c) another officer, if that officer
has been designated to rule on information access issues.
H. Review of Grants of Access. A party other than the requester may
challenge an NRC staff determination granting access to SUNSI whose
release would harm that party's interest independent of the proceeding.
Such a challenge must be filed with the Chief Administrative Judge
within 5 days of the notification by the NRC staff of its grant of
access.
If challenges to the NRC staff determinations are filed, these
procedures give way to the normal process for litigating disputes
concerning access to information. The availability of interlocutory
review by the Commission of orders ruling on such NRC staff
determinations (whether granting or denying access) is governed by 10
CFR 2.311.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ Requesters should note that the filing requirements of the
NRC's E-Filing Rule (72 FR 49139; August 28, 2007) apply to appeals
of NRC staff determinations (because they must be served on a
presiding officer or the Commission, as applicable), but not to the
initial SUNSI request submitted to the NRC staff under these
procedures.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
I. The Commission expects that the NRC staff and presiding officers
(and any other reviewing officers) will consider and resolve requests
for access to SUNSI, and motions for protective orders, in a timely
fashion in order to minimize any unnecessary delays in identifying
those petitioners who have standing and who have propounded contentions
meeting the specificity and basis requirements in 10 CFR part 2.
Attachment 1 to this Order summarizes the general target schedule for
processing and resolving requests under these procedures.
It is so ordered.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 27th day of August, 2015.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Annette L. Vietti-Cook,
Secretary of the Commission.
Attachment 1--General Target Schedule for Processing and Resolving
Requests for Access to Sensitive Unclassified Non-Safeguards Information
in This Proceeding
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Event/activity
------------------------------------------------------------------------
0....................... Publication of Federal Register notice of
hearing and opportunity to petition for leave
to intervene, including order with
instructions for access requests.
10...................... Deadline for submitting requests for access to
Sensitive Unclassified Non-Safeguards
Information (SUNSI) with information:
Supporting the standing of a potential party
identified by name and address; describing
the need for the information for the
potential party to participate meaningfully
in an adjudicatory proceeding.
60...................... Deadline for submitting petition for
intervention containing: (i) Demonstration of
standing; and (ii) all contentions whose
formulation does not require access to SUNSI
(+25 Answers to petition for intervention; +7
petitioner/requestor reply).
[[Page 53336]]
20...................... The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
staff informs the requester of the staff's
determination of whether the request for
access provides a reasonable basis to believe
standing can be established and shows need
for SUNSI. (The NRC staff also informs any
party to the proceeding whose interest
independent of the proceeding would be harmed
by the release of the information.) If the
NRC staff makes the finding of need for SUNSI
and likelihood of standing, the NRC staff
begins document processing (preparation of
redactions or review of redacted documents).
25...................... If NRC staff finds no ``need'' or no
likelihood of standing, the deadline for
petitioner/requester to file a motion seeking
a ruling to reverse the NRC staff's denial of
access; the NRC staff files copy of access
determination with the presiding officer (or
Chief Administrative Judge or other
designated officer, as appropriate). If the
NRC staff finds ``need'' for SUNSI, the
deadline for any party to the proceeding
whose interest independent of the proceeding
would be harmed by the release of the
information to file a motion seeking a ruling
to reverse the NRC staff's grant of access.
30...................... Deadline for NRC staff reply to motions to
reverse NRC staff determination(s).
40...................... (Receipt +30) If the NRC staff finds standing
and need for SUNSI, deadline for the NRC
staff to complete information processing and
file motion for Protective Order and draft
Non-Disclosure Affidavit. Deadline for
applicant/licensee to file Non-Disclosure
Agreement for SUNSI.
A....................... If access granted: Issuance of presiding
officer or other designated officer decision
on motion for Protective Order for access to
sensitive information (including schedule for
providing access and submission of
contentions) or decision reversing a final
adverse determination by the NRC staff.
A + 3................... Deadline for filing executed Non-Disclosure
Affidavits. Access provided to SUNSI
consistent with decision issuing the
protective order.
A + 28.................. Deadline for submission of contentions whose
development depends upon access to SUNSI.
However, if more than 25 days remain between
the petitioner's receipt of (or access to)
the information and the deadline for filing
all other contentions (as established in the
notice of hearing or opportunity for
hearing), the petitioner may file its SUNSI
contentions by that later deadline.
A + 53.................. (Contention receipt +25) Answers to
contentions whose development depends upon
access to SUNSI.
A + 60.................. (Answer receipt +7) Petitioner/Intervenor
reply to answers.
>A + 60................. Decision on contention admission.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[FR Doc. 2015-21801 Filed 9-2-15; 8:45 am]
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