Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station, Units 2 and 3; South Carolina Electric & Gas Company, 55381-55383 [2015-23086]

Download as PDF mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 178 / Tuesday, September 15, 2015 / Notices authorize this information collection. See 29 U.S.C. 29 U.S.C. 1021, 1104, 1108, and 1135. This information collection is subject to the PRA. A Federal agency generally cannot conduct or sponsor a collection of information, and the public is generally not required to respond to an information collection, unless it is approved by the OMB under the PRA and displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. In addition, notwithstanding any other provisions of law, no person shall generally be subject to penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information that does not display a valid Control Number. See 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 1320.6. The DOL obtains OMB approval for this information collection under Control Number 1210–0127. OMB authorization for an ICR cannot be for more than three (3) years without renewal, and the current approval for this collection is scheduled to expire on September 30, 2015. The DOL seeks to extend PRA authorization for this information collection for three (3) more years, without any change to existing requirements. The DOL notes that existing information collection requirements submitted to the OMB receive a month-to-month extension while they undergo review. For additional substantive information about this ICR, see the related notice published in the Federal Register on June 17, 2015 (80 FR 34696). Interested parties are encouraged to send comments to the OMB, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the address shown in the ADDRESSES section within thirty (30) days of publication of this notice in the Federal Register. In order to help ensure appropriate consideration, comments should mention OMB Control Number 1210–0127. The OMB is particularly interested in comments that: • Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; • Evaluate the accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; • Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and • Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:04 Sep 14, 2015 Jkt 235001 other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses. Agency: DOL–EBSA. Title of Collection: Abandoned Individual Account Plan Termination. OMB Control Number: 1210–0127. Affected Public: Private Sector— businesses or other for-profits. Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 26,700. Total Estimated Number of Responses: 1,308,000. Total Estimated Annual Time Burden: 47,700 hours. Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $689,000. Dated: September 9, 2015. Michel Smyth, Departmental Clearance Officer. [FR Doc. 2015–23153 Filed 9–14–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4510–29–P NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION National Science Board; Sunshine Act Meetings; Notice The National Science Board’s ad hoc Task Force on NEON Performance and Plans, 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 in regard to the scheduling of a meeting for the transaction of National Science Board business, as follows: Thursday, September 17, 2015 at 2:30–3:30 p.m. EDT. DATE AND TIME: Task Force Chair’s opening remarks; approval of minutes; discussion of upcoming Congressional hearing on NEON, and related background documents. SUBJECT MATTER: Closed. This meeting will be held by teleconference originating at the National Science Board Office, National Science Foundation, 4201Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22230. Please refer to the National Science Board Web site (www.nsf.gov/nsb) for information or schedule updates, or contact: John Veysey (jveysey@nsf.gov), National Science Foundation, 4201Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22230. STATUS: Kyscha Slater-Williams, Program Specialist. [FR Doc. 2015–23207 Filed 9–11–15; 11:15 am] BILLING CODE 7555–01–P PO 00000 Frm 00060 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 55381 NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION National Science Board; Sunshine Act Meetings; Notice The National Science Board’s ad hoc Task Force on NEON Performance and Plans, 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 in regard to the scheduling of a meeting for the transaction of National Science Board business, as follows: DATE AND TIME: Friday, September 11, 2015 at 10–11:30 a.m. EDT. SUBJECT MATTER: Task Force Chair’s opening remarks; discussion of background documents, including a table that summarizes near-term deliverables and metrics for NEON, Inc. STATUS: Closed. This meeting will be held by teleconference originating at the National Science Board Office, National Science Foundation, 4201Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22230. Please refer to the National Science Board Web site (www.nsf.gov/nsb) for information or schedule updates, or contact: John Veysey (jveysey@nsf.gov), National Science Foundation, 4201Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22230. Kyscha Slater-Williams, Program Specialist. [FR Doc. 2015–23208 Filed 9–11–15; 11:15 am] BILLING CODE 7555–01–P NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION [Docket Nos. 52–027 and 52–028; NRC– 2008–0441] Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station, Units 2 and 3; South Carolina Electric & Gas Company Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ACTION: Exemption and combined license amendment; issuance. AGENCY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is granting an exemption to allow a departure from the certification information of Tier 1 of the generic design control document (DCD) and issuing License Amendment No. 29 to Combined Licenses (COL), NPF–93 and NPF–94. The COLs were issued to South Carolina Electric & Gas Company (SCE&G), and South Carolina Public Service Authority (the licensee), for construction and operation of the Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station (VCSNS), SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\15SEN1.SGM 15SEN1 55382 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 178 / Tuesday, September 15, 2015 / Notices Units 2 and 3 located in Fairfield County, South Carolina. The granting of the exemption allows the changes to Tier 1 information requested in the amendment. Because the acceptability of the exemption was determined in part by the acceptability of the amendment, the exemption and amendment are being issued concurrently. DATES: September 15, 2015. Please refer to Docket ID NRC–2008–0441 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–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. • 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 a document is referenced. The request for the amendment and exemption was submitted by the letter dated September 25, 2014 (ADAMS Accession No. ML14268A388). The licensee supplemented this request by letter dated March 13, 2015 (ADAMS Accession No. ML15072A306). • 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. mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES ADDRESSES: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ruth Reyes, Office of New Reactors, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555–0001; telephone: 301–415–3249; email: Ruth.Reyes@ nrc.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:04 Sep 14, 2015 Jkt 235001 I. Introduction The NRC is granting an exemption from Tier 1 information in the certified DCD incorporated by reference in part 52 of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), appendix D, ‘‘Design Certification Rule for the AP1000 Design,’’ and issuing License Amendment No. 29 to COLs, NPF–93 and NPF–94, to the licensee. The exemption is required by Paragraph A.4 of Section VIII, ‘‘Processes for Changes and Departures,’’ appendix D to 10 CFR part 52 to allow the licensee to depart from Tier 1 information. With the requested amendment, the licensee sought proposed changes related to the design details of the containment internal structural wall modules (CA04, CA01, and CB65). The proposed changes to Tier 2 information in the VCSNS Units 2 and 3 Updated Final Safety Analysis Report (UFSAR), plantspecific Tier 1 information, and corresponding COL appendix C information would allow an increase of the concrete wall thickness tolerances. The proposed changes would allow: (1) A change to Tier 2 information in UFSAR Subsection 3.8.3.6.1, ‘‘Fabrication, Erection, and Construction of Structural Modules,’’ to allow an increase in wall thickness tolerance beyond the American Concrete Institute (ACI) 117, ‘‘Standard Specifications for Tolerance for Concrete Construction and Material,’’ specified tolerance for some ContainmentInternal Structure (CIS) walls; (2) the addition of Notes 10 and 11 to Tier 1 Table 3.3–1, which provides the wall thickness tolerance deviations. Part of the justification for granting the exemption was provided by the review of the amendment. Because the exemption is necessary in order to issue the requested license amendment, the NRC granted the exemption and issued the amendment concurrently, rather than in sequence. This included issuing a combined safety evaluation containing the NRC staff’s review of both the exemption request and the license amendment. The exemption met all applicable regulatory criteria set forth in 10 CFR 50.12, 10 CFR 52.7, and 10 CFR 52.63(b)(1). The license amendment was found to be acceptable as well. The combined safety evaluation is available in ADAMS under Accession No. ML15216A264. Identical exemption documents (except for referenced unit numbers and license numbers) were issued to the licensee for VCSNS Units 2 and 3 (COLs NPF–93 and NPF–94). These documents can be found in ADAMS under Accession Nos. ML15216A245 and PO 00000 Frm 00061 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 ML15216A249, respectively. The exemption is reproduced (with the exception of abbreviated titles and additional citations) in Section II of this document. The amendment documents for COLs NPF–93 and NPF–94 are available in ADAMS under Accession Nos. ML15216A075 and ML15216A183, respectively. A summary of the amendment documents is provided in Section III of this document. II. Exemption Reproduced below is the exemption document issued to VCSNS, Units 2 and 3. It makes reference to the combined safety evaluation that provides the reasoning for the findings made by the NRC (and listed under Item 1) in order to grant the exemption: 1. In a letter dated September 25, 2014, and supplemented by letter dated March 13, 2015, South Carolina Electric & Gas Company (licensee) requested from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (Commission) an exemption to allow departures from Tier 1 information in the certified Design Control Document (DCD) incorporated by reference in 10 CFR part 52, appendix D, ‘‘Design Certification Rule for the AP1000 Design,’’ as part of license amendment request (LAR) 14– 07, ‘‘CA04 Structural Module Inspection, Test, Analysis, and Acceptance Criteria Dimensions Change.’’ For the reasons set forth in Section 3.1 of the NRC staff’s Safety Evaluation, which can be found at ADAMS Accession No. ML15216A264, the Commission finds that: A. The exemption is authorized by law; B. the exemption presents no undue risk to public health and safety; C. the exemption is consistent with the common defense and security; D. special circumstances are present in that the application of the rule in this circumstance is not necessary to serve the underlying purpose of the rule; E. the special circumstances outweigh any decrease in safety that may result from the reduction in standardization caused by the exemption, and F. the exemption will not result in a significant decrease in the level of safety otherwise provided by the design. 2. Accordingly, the licensee is granted an exemption from the certified DCD Tier 1 Table: 3.3–1, as described in the licensee’s request dated September 25, 2014, and supplemented by letter dated March 13, 2015. This exemption is related to, and necessary for the granting of License Amendment No. 29, which is being issued concurrently with this exemption. E:\FR\FM\15SEN1.SGM 15SEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 178 / Tuesday, September 15, 2015 / Notices For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Lawrence Burkhart, Chief, Licensing Branch 4, Division of New Reactor Licensing, Office of New Reactors. III. License Amendment Request The request for the amendment and exemption was submitted by the letter dated September 25, 2014. The licensee supplemented this request by the letter dated March 13, 2015. The proposed amendment is described in Section I, above. The Commission has determined for these amendments that the application complies with the standards and requirements of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (the Act), and the Commission’s rules and regulations. The Commission has made appropriate findings as required by the Act and the Commission’s rules and regulations in 10 CFR chapter I, which are set forth in the license amendment. A notice of consideration of issuance of amendment to facility operating license or combined license, as applicable, proposed no significant hazards consideration determination, and opportunity for a hearing in connection with these actions, was published in the Federal Register on April 14, 2015 (80 FR 20020). No comments were received during the 30day comment period. The NRC staff has found that the amendment involves no significant hazards consideration. The Commission has determined that these amendments satisfy the criteria for categorical exclusion in accordance with 10 CFR 51.22(c)(9). Therefore, pursuant to 10 CFR 51.22(b), no environmental impact statement or environmental assessment need be prepared for these amendments. mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 3. As explained in Section 5.0 of the NRC staff’s Safety Evaluation (ADAMS Accession No. ML15216A264), this exemption meets the eligibility criteria for categorical exclusion set forth in 10 CFR 51.22(c)(9). Therefore, pursuant to 10 CFR 51.22(b), no environmental impact statement or environmental assessment needs to be prepared in connection with the issuance of the exemption. 4. This exemption is effective as of the date of its issuance. Watts Bar Nuclear Plant, Unit No. 1; Application and Amendment to Facility Operating License Involving Proposed No Significant Hazards Consideration Determination IV. Conclusion Using the reasons set forth in the combined safety evaluation, the staff granted the exemption and issued the amendment that the licensee requested on September 25, 2014, and supplemented by the letter dated March 13, 2015. The exemption and amendment were issued on August 24, 2015, as part of a combined package to the licensee (ADAMS Accession No. ML15216A071). Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 4th day of September 2015. VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:04 Sep 14, 2015 Jkt 235001 [FR Doc. 2015–23086 Filed 9–14–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590–01–P NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION [Docket Nos. 50–390; NRC–2015–0170] Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ACTION: License amendment request; 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 Facility Operating License No. NFP–90, issued to the Tennessee Valley Authority (the licensee), for operation of the Watts Bar Nuclear Plant (WBN), Unit No. 1. The proposed amendment would modify the technical specifications (TSs) to define support systems needed in the first 48 hours after a unit shutdown when steam generators are not available for heat removal. The proposed amendment would also make changes consistent with Technical Specification Task Force (TSTF) Traveler TSTF–273–A, Revision 2, to provide clarifications related to the requirements of the Safety Function Determination Program (SFDP). The proposed license amendment was submitted by letter dated June 17, 2015, and was supplemented by letters dated July 14, August 28, and September 3, 2015. The NRC staff previously made a proposed determination that the amendment involves no significant hazards consideration. By letter dated September 3, 2015, the licensee provided additional information that expanded the scope of the amendment request as originally noticed. The September 3, 2015, supplement proposed new modifications to TS 3.3.2 and TS 3.4.6. This notice supersedes the previous notice in its entirety to update the description of the amendment request and the no significant hazards determination. SUMMARY: Submit comments by October 15, 2015. A request for a hearing or petition for leave to intervene must be filed by November 16, 2015. DATES: PO 00000 Frm 00062 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 55383 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–2015–0170. 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: Jeanne A. Dion, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555–0001; telephone: 301–415– 1349; email: Jeanne.Dion@nrc.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: ADDRESSES: I. Obtaining Information and Submitting Comments A. Obtaining Information Please refer to Docket ID NRC–2015– 0170 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–2015–0170. • 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 June 17, 2015, and supplemented by letters dated July 14, August 28, and September 3, 2015, are available in ADAMS under ADAMS Accession Nos. ML15170A474, ML15197A357, ML15243A044, and ML15246A638. E:\FR\FM\15SEN1.SGM 15SEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 178 (Tuesday, September 15, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55381-55383]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-23086]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

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


Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station, Units 2 and 3; South Carolina 
Electric & Gas Company

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Exemption and combined license amendment; issuance.

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

SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is granting an 
exemption to allow a departure from the certification information of 
Tier 1 of the generic design control document (DCD) and issuing License 
Amendment No. 29 to Combined Licenses (COL), NPF-93 and NPF-94. The 
COLs were issued to South Carolina Electric & Gas Company (SCE&G), and 
South Carolina Public Service Authority (the licensee), for 
construction and operation of the Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station 
(VCSNS),

[[Page 55382]]

Units 2 and 3 located in Fairfield County, South Carolina.
    The granting of the exemption allows the changes to Tier 1 
information requested in the amendment. Because the acceptability of 
the exemption was determined in part by the acceptability of the 
amendment, the exemption and amendment are being issued concurrently.

DATES: September 15, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2008-0441 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-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.
     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 a document is referenced. The 
request for the amendment and exemption was submitted by the letter 
dated September 25, 2014 (ADAMS Accession No. ML14268A388). The 
licensee supplemented this request by letter dated March 13, 2015 
(ADAMS Accession No. ML15072A306).
     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: Ruth Reyes, Office of New Reactors, 
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001; 
telephone: 301-415-3249; email: Ruth.Reyes@nrc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Introduction

    The NRC is granting an exemption from Tier 1 information in the 
certified DCD incorporated by reference in part 52 of Title 10 of the 
Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), appendix D, ``Design 
Certification Rule for the AP1000 Design,'' and issuing License 
Amendment No. 29 to COLs, NPF-93 and NPF-94, to the licensee. The 
exemption is required by Paragraph A.4 of Section VIII, ``Processes for 
Changes and Departures,'' appendix D to 10 CFR part 52 to allow the 
licensee to depart from Tier 1 information. With the requested 
amendment, the licensee sought proposed changes related to the design 
details of the containment internal structural wall modules (CA04, 
CA01, and CB65). The proposed changes to Tier 2 information in the 
VCSNS Units 2 and 3 Updated Final Safety Analysis Report (UFSAR), 
plant-specific Tier 1 information, and corresponding COL appendix C 
information would allow an increase of the concrete wall thickness 
tolerances. The proposed changes would allow:
    (1) A change to Tier 2 information in UFSAR Subsection 3.8.3.6.1, 
``Fabrication, Erection, and Construction of Structural Modules,'' to 
allow an increase in wall thickness tolerance beyond the American 
Concrete Institute (ACI) 117, ``Standard Specifications for Tolerance 
for Concrete Construction and Material,'' specified tolerance for some 
ContainmentInternal Structure (CIS) walls;
    (2) the addition of Notes 10 and 11 to Tier 1 Table 3.3-1, which 
provides the wall thickness tolerance deviations.
    Part of the justification for granting the exemption was provided 
by the review of the amendment. Because the exemption is necessary in 
order to issue the requested license amendment, the NRC granted the 
exemption and issued the amendment concurrently, rather than in 
sequence. This included issuing a combined safety evaluation containing 
the NRC staff's review of both the exemption request and the license 
amendment. The exemption met all applicable regulatory criteria set 
forth in 10 CFR 50.12, 10 CFR 52.7, and 10 CFR 52.63(b)(1). The license 
amendment was found to be acceptable as well. The combined safety 
evaluation is available in ADAMS under Accession No. ML15216A264.
    Identical exemption documents (except for referenced unit numbers 
and license numbers) were issued to the licensee for VCSNS Units 2 and 
3 (COLs NPF-93 and NPF-94). These documents can be found in ADAMS under 
Accession Nos. ML15216A245 and ML15216A249, respectively. The exemption 
is reproduced (with the exception of abbreviated titles and additional 
citations) in Section II of this document. The amendment documents for 
COLs NPF-93 and NPF-94 are available in ADAMS under Accession Nos. 
ML15216A075 and ML15216A183, respectively. A summary of the amendment 
documents is provided in Section III of this document.

II. Exemption

    Reproduced below is the exemption document issued to VCSNS, Units 2 
and 3. It makes reference to the combined safety evaluation that 
provides the reasoning for the findings made by the NRC (and listed 
under Item 1) in order to grant the exemption:
    1. In a letter dated September 25, 2014, and supplemented by letter 
dated March 13, 2015, South Carolina Electric & Gas Company (licensee) 
requested from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (Commission) an 
exemption to allow departures from Tier 1 information in the certified 
Design Control Document (DCD) incorporated by reference in 10 CFR part 
52, appendix D, ``Design Certification Rule for the AP1000 Design,'' as 
part of license amendment request (LAR) 14-07, ``CA04 Structural Module 
Inspection, Test, Analysis, and Acceptance Criteria Dimensions 
Change.''
    For the reasons set forth in Section 3.1 of the NRC staff's Safety 
Evaluation, which can be found at ADAMS Accession No. ML15216A264, the 
Commission finds that:
    A. The exemption is authorized by law;
    B. the exemption presents no undue risk to public health and 
safety;
    C. the exemption is consistent with the common defense and 
security;
    D. special circumstances are present in that the application of the 
rule in this circumstance is not necessary to serve the underlying 
purpose of the rule;
    E. the special circumstances outweigh any decrease in safety that 
may result from the reduction in standardization caused by the 
exemption, and
    F. the exemption will not result in a significant decrease in the 
level of safety otherwise provided by the design.
    2. Accordingly, the licensee is granted an exemption from the 
certified DCD Tier 1 Table: 3.3-1, as described in the licensee's 
request dated September 25, 2014, and supplemented by letter dated 
March 13, 2015. This exemption is related to, and necessary for the 
granting of License Amendment No. 29, which is being issued 
concurrently with this exemption.

[[Page 55383]]

    3. As explained in Section 5.0 of the NRC staff's Safety Evaluation 
(ADAMS Accession No. ML15216A264), this exemption meets the eligibility 
criteria for categorical exclusion set forth in 10 CFR 51.22(c)(9). 
Therefore, pursuant to 10 CFR 51.22(b), no environmental impact 
statement or environmental assessment needs to be prepared in 
connection with the issuance of the exemption.
    4. This exemption is effective as of the date of its issuance.

III. License Amendment Request

    The request for the amendment and exemption was submitted by the 
letter dated September 25, 2014. The licensee supplemented this request 
by the letter dated March 13, 2015. The proposed amendment is described 
in Section I, above.
    The Commission has determined for these amendments that the 
application complies with the standards and requirements of the Atomic 
Energy Act of 1954, as amended (the Act), and the Commission's rules 
and regulations. The Commission has made appropriate findings as 
required by the Act and the Commission's rules and regulations in 10 
CFR chapter I, which are set forth in the license amendment.
    A notice of consideration of issuance of amendment to facility 
operating license or combined license, as applicable, proposed no 
significant hazards consideration determination, and opportunity for a 
hearing in connection with these actions, was published in the Federal 
Register on April 14, 2015 (80 FR 20020). No comments were received 
during the 30-day comment period.
    The NRC staff has found that the amendment involves no significant 
hazards consideration. The Commission has determined that these 
amendments satisfy the criteria for categorical exclusion in accordance 
with 10 CFR 51.22(c)(9). Therefore, pursuant to 10 CFR 51.22(b), no 
environmental impact statement or environmental assessment need be 
prepared for these amendments.

IV. Conclusion

    Using the reasons set forth in the combined safety evaluation, the 
staff granted the exemption and issued the amendment that the licensee 
requested on September 25, 2014, and supplemented by the letter dated 
March 13, 2015. The exemption and amendment were issued on August 24, 
2015, as part of a combined package to the licensee (ADAMS Accession 
No. ML15216A071).

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 4th day of September 2015.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Lawrence Burkhart,
Chief, Licensing Branch 4, Division of New Reactor Licensing, Office of 
New Reactors.
[FR Doc. 2015-23086 Filed 9-14-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
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