Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.; Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2; License Amendment Application, 60930-60935 [2024-16647]

Download as PDF 60930 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 145 / Monday, July 29, 2024 / Notices recognition. OSHA limits the expansion of NNA’s recognition to the recognized testing site in Round Rock, Texas and testing and certification of products for demonstration of conformance to the test standard listed below in table 1. TABLE 1—LIST OF APPROPRIATE TEST STANDARDS FOR INCLUSION IN NNA’S NRTL SCOPE OF RECOGNITION Test standard UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL 60079–0 .......................... 60079–1 .......................... 60079–2 .......................... 60079–5 .......................... 60079–6 .......................... 60079–7 .......................... 60079–11 ........................ 60079–15 ........................ 60079–18 ........................ 60079–25 ........................ 60079–28 ........................ UL 60079–31 ........................ NFPA 496 ............................. UL 913 .................................. UL 121201 ............................ TIA 4950 ............................... UL 1203 ................................ UL 674 .................................. UL 698A ............................... Test standard title Explosive Atmospheres—Part 0: Equipment—General Requirements. Explosive Atmospheres—Part 1: Equipment Protection by Flameproof Enclosures ‘‘d’’. Explosive Atmospheres—Part 2: Equipment Protection by Pressurized Enclosures ‘‘p’’. Explosive Atmospheres—Part 5: Equipment Protection by Powder Filling ‘‘q’’. Explosive Atmospheres—Part 6: Equipment Protection by Oil Immersion ‘‘o’’. Explosive Atmospheres—Part 7: Equipment Protection by Increased Safety ‘‘e’’. Explosive Atmospheres—Part 11: Equipment Protection by Intrinsic Safety ‘‘i’’. Explosive Atmospheres—Part 15: Equipment Protection by Type of Protection ‘‘n’’. Explosive Atmospheres—Part 18: Equipment Protection by Encapsulation ‘‘m’’. Explosive Atmospheres—Part 25: Intrinsically Safe Electrical Systems. Standard for Explosive Atmospheres—Part 28: Protection of Equipment and Transmission Systems Using Optical Radiation. Standard for Explosive Atmospheres—Part 31: Equipment Dust Ignition Protection Enclosure ‘‘t’’. Purged and Pressurized Enclosures for Electrical Equipment. Intrinsically Safe Apparatus and Associated Apparatus for Use in Class I, II and III, Division I, Hazardous (Classified) Locations. Nonincendive Electrical Equipment for Use in Class I and II, Division 2 and Class III, Division 1 and 2 Hazardous (Classified) Locations. Requirements for Battery-Powered, Portable Land Mobile Radio Applications in Class I, II, and III, Division I, Hazardous (Classified) Locations. Explosion-Proof and Dust-Ignition-Proof Electrical Equipment for Use in Hazardous (Classified) Locations. Electric Motors and Generators for Use in Hazardous (Classified) Locations. Industrial Control Panels Relating to Hazardous (Classified) Locations. ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 OSHA’s recognition of any NRTL for a particular test standard is limited to equipment or materials for which OSHA standards require third-party testing and certification before using them in the workplace. Consequently, if a test standard also covers any products for which OSHA does not require such testing and certification, a NRTL’s scope of recognition does not include these products. A. Conditions Recognition is contingent on continued compliance with 29 CFR 1910.7, including, but not limited to, abiding by the following conditions of the recognition: 1. NNA must inform OSHA as soon as possible, in writing, of any change of ownership, facilities, or key personnel, and of any major change in its operations as a NRTL, and provide details of the change(s); 2. NNA must meet all the terms of its recognition and comply with all OSHA policies pertaining to this recognition; and 3. NNA must continue to meet the requirements for recognition, including all previously published conditions on NNA’s scope of recognition, in all areas for which it has recognition. Pursuant to the authority in 29 CFR 1910.7, OSHA hereby expands the scope of recognition of NNA as a NRTL to include nineteen additional test standards and an additional testing site in Round Rock, Texas, subject to the VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:51 Jul 26, 2024 Jkt 262001 limitations and conditions specified above. III. Authority and Signature James S. Frederick, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, authorized the preparation of this notice. Accordingly, the agency is issuing this notice pursuant to 29 U.S.C. 657(g)(2), Secretary of Labor’s Order No. 8–2020 (85 FR 58393, Sept. 18, 2020), and 29 CFR 1910.7. Signed at Washington, DC, on July 17, 2024. James S. Frederick, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health. [FR Doc. 2024–16561 Filed 7–26–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4510–26–P NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION [Docket Nos. 50–348 and 30–364; NRC– 2024–0134] Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.; Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2; License Amendment Application Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ACTION: Opportunity to comment, request a hearing, and petition for leave to intervene; order imposing procedures. AGENCY: PO 00000 Frm 00076 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering issuance of an amendment to Facility Operating License No. NPF–2 and NPF– 8, issued to Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc. (SNC, the licensee), for operation of the Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant, (Farley) Units 1 and 2. The requested amendment would revise the operating license, Appendix A, Technical Specification (TS) 3.6.5, ‘‘Containment Air Temperature,’’ actions upon exceeding the containment average air temperature limit of 120 degrees Fahrenheit (°F) and remove an expired Note provision. Specifically, the proposed amendment would revise TS 3.6.5 Required Actions and Completion Time A.1, add Required Actions and Completion Times A.2 and A.3, as well as remove an expired Note in TS 3.6.5 Limiting Conditions for Operation. For this amendment request, the NRC proposes to determine that it involves no significant hazards consideration. Because this amendment request contains sensitive unclassified nonsafeguards information (SUNSI), an order imposes procedures to obtain access to SUNSI for contention preparation. SUMMARY: Comments must be received by August 28, 2024. A request for a hearing or petitions for leave to intervene must be filed by September 27, 2024. Any potential party as defined in section 2.4 of title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) who believes DATES: E:\FR\FM\29JYN1.SGM 29JYN1 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 145 / Monday, July 29, 2024 / Notices access to SUNSI is necessary to respond to this notice must request document access by August 8, 2024. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods; however, the NRC encourages electronic comment submission through the Federal rulemaking website. • Federal rulemaking website: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC–2024–0134. Address questions about Docket IDs in Regulations.gov to Stacy Schumann; telephone: 301–415–0624; email: Stacy.Schumann@nrc.gov. For technical questions, contact the individual listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document. • Mail comments to: Office of Administration, Mail Stop: TWFN–7– A60M, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555– 0001, ATTN: Program Management, Announcements and Editing Staff. 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: Zachary M. Turner, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555–0001; telephone: 301–415– 2258; email: Zachary.Turner@nrc.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 I. Obtaining Information and Submitting Comments A. Obtaining Information Please refer to Docket ID NRC–2024– 0134, facility name, unit number(s), docket number(s), application date, and subject when contacting the NRC about the availability of information for this action. You may obtain publicly available information related to this action by any of the following methods: • Federal Rulemaking Website: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC–2024–0134. • 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 ‘‘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, at 301–415–4737, or by email to PDR.Resource@nrc.gov. The license amendment request to change containment air temperature actions for Farley, Units 1 and 2, is available in VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:51 Jul 26, 2024 Jkt 262001 ADAMS under Accession Nos. ML24201A107 (non-publicly available) and ML24201A108 (publicly available). • NRC’s PDR: The PDR, where you may examine and order copies of publicly available documents, is open by appointment. To make an appointment to visit the PDR, please send an email to PDR.Resource@nrc.gov or call 1–800–397–4209 or 301–415– 4737, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. eastern time (ET), Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. B. Submitting Comments The NRC encourages electronic comment submission through the Federal rulemaking website (https:// www.regulations.gov). Please include Docket ID NRC–2024–0134, facility name, unit number(s), docket number(s), application date, and subject, in your comment submission. The NRC cautions you not to include identifying or contact information that you do not want to be publicly disclosed in your comment submission. The NRC will post all comment submissions at https:// www.regulations.gov as well as enter the comment submissions into ADAMS. The NRC does not routinely edit comment submissions to remove identifying or contact information. If you are requesting or aggregating comments from other persons for submission to the NRC, then you should inform those persons not to include identifying or contact information that they do not want to be publicly disclosed in their comment submission. Your request should state that the NRC does not routinely edit comment submissions to remove such information before making the comment submissions available to the public or entering the comment into ADAMS. II. Introduction The NRC is considering issuance of an amendment to Facility Operating License No. NPF–2 and NPF–8, issued to SNC, for operation of the Farley, Units 1 and 2, located in Houston County, Alabama. By letter dated July 18, 2024 (ADAMS Accession Nos. ML24201A107 nonpublicly available; ML24201A108 publicly available), SNC submitted a license amendment request to change TS 3.6.5, ‘‘Containment Air Temperature,’’ at Farley, Units 1 and 2. SNC proposes to revise TS 3.6.5 Required Action and Completion Time A.1, add Required Actions and Completion Times A.2, and A.3, as well as remove an expired note in TS 3.6.5 Limiting Conditions for Operation (LCO). Specifically, the change would PO 00000 Frm 00077 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 60931 modify the TS 3.6.5 Actions if containment average air temperature exceeds the LCO of 120 °F to allow continued operation for up to seven cumulative days per calendar year provided that the containment average air temperature does not exceed 122 °F (verified within eight hours of containment average air temperature exceeding 120 °F and once per eight hours thereafter) and that refueling water storage tank temperature remains less than or equal to 100 °F (verified within eight hours of containment average air temperature exceeding 120 °F and once per eight hours thereafter). Before any issuance of the proposed license amendment, the NRC will need to make the findings required by the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (the Act), and NRC’s regulations. The NRC has made a proposed determination that the license amendment request involves no significant hazards consideration. Under the NRC’s regulations in 10 CFR 50.92, this means that operation of the facility in accordance with the proposed amendment would not (1) involve a significant increase in the probability or consequences of an accident previously evaluated; or (2) create the possibility of a new or different kind of accident from any accident previously evaluated; or (3) involve a significant reduction in a margin of safety. As required by 10 CFR 50.91(a), the licensee has provided its analysis of the issue of no significant hazards consideration, which is presented as follows: 1. Does the proposed change involve a significant increase in the probability or consequences of an accident previously evaluated? Response: No, the proposed changes do not adversely affect the operation of any structures, systems, or components (SSCs) associated with an accident initiator or initiating sequence of events. The proposed changes do not affect the design of the containment heat removal systems. The proposed amendment does not affect accident initiators or precursors nor adversely alter the design assumptions, conditions, and configuration of the facility. The proposed amendment does not alter any plant equipment or operating practices with respect to such initiators or precursors in a manner that the probability of an accident is increased. The proposed amendment to allow exceeding the containment average air temperature above the current limit of 120 °F up to a maximum of 122 °F for up to seven cumulative days in the calendar year and remove an expired E:\FR\FM\29JYN1.SGM 29JYN1 ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 60932 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 145 / Monday, July 29, 2024 / Notices Note does not adversely affect the operation of the assumed mitigation systems or the containment fission product barrier assumptions. As demonstrated in the SNC request, the potential increase in containment average air temperature coupled with limiting the refueling water storage tank (RWST) temperature to 100 °F is more than offset by existing margins in the safety analyses. As such, the proposed change will not alter assumptions relative to the mitigation of an accident or transient event. The proposed amendment does not increase the likelihood of the malfunction of an SSC or adversely impact analyzed accidents. Therefore, the proposed change does not involve a significant increase in the probability or consequences of an accident previously evaluated. 2. Does the proposed change create the possibility of a new or different kind of accident from any accident previously evaluated? Response: No, the proposed amendment does not introduce any new or unanalyzed modes of operation. The proposed changes do not involve a physical alteration to the plant (i.e., no new or different type of equipment will be installed) or a change to the methods governing normal plant operation. The changes do not alter the limiting assumptions made in the safety analysis. Therefore, the proposed change does not create the possibility of a new or different kind of accident from any accident previously evaluated. 3. Does the proposed change involve a significant reduction in a margin of safety? Response: No, the margin of safety is related to the ability of the fission product barriers to perform their design functions during and following an accident. These barriers include the fuel cladding, the reactor coolant system, and the containment. The fission product barriers continue to be able to perform their required functions; based on the pre-existing margins and conservatisms currently assumed in the safety analyses. Therefore, the margins to the onsite and offsite radiological dose limits are not significantly reduced. Therefore, the proposed change does not involve a significant reduction in a margin of safety. The NRC staff has reviewed the licensee’s analysis and, based on this review, it appears that the three standards of 10 CFR 50.92(c) are satisfied. Therefore, the NRC staff proposes to determine that the license amendment request involves no significant hazards consideration. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:51 Jul 26, 2024 Jkt 262001 The NRC is seeking public comments on this proposed determination that the license amendment request involves no significant hazards consideration. Any comments received within 30 days after the date of publication of this notice will be considered in making any final determination. Normally, the Commission will not issue the amendment until the expiration of 60 days after the date of publication of this notice. The Commission may issue the license amendment before expiration of the 60day period provided that its final determination is that the amendment involves no significant hazards consideration. In addition, the Commission may issue the amendment prior to the expiration of the 30-day comment period if circumstances change during the 30-day comment period such that failure to act in a timely way would result, for example, in derating or shutdown of the facility. If the Commission takes action prior to the expiration of either the comment period or the notice period, it will publish a notice of issuance in the Federal Register. If the Commission make a final no significant hazards consideration determination, any hearing will take place after issuance. The Commission expects that the need to take this action will occur very infrequently. III. Opportunity To Request a Hearing and Petition for Leave To Intervene Within 60 days after the date of publication of this notice, any person (petitioner) whose interest may be affected by any of these actions may file a request for a hearing and petition for leave to intervene (petition) with respect to that action. Petitions shall be filed in accordance with the Commission’s ‘‘Agency Rules of Practice and Procedure’’ in 10 CFR part 2. Interested persons should consult a current copy of 10 CFR 2.309. If a petition is filed, the Commission or a presiding officer will rule on the petition and, if appropriate, a notice of a hearing will be issued. Petitions must be filed no later than 60 days from the date of publication of this notice in accordance with the filing instructions in the ‘‘Electronic Submissions (E-Filing)’’ section of this document. Petitions and motions for leave to file new or amended contentions that are filed after the 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) through (iii). If a hearing is requested, and the Commission has not made a final PO 00000 Frm 00078 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 determination on the issue of no significant hazards consideration, the Commission will make a final determination on the issue of no significant hazards consideration, which will serve to establish when the hearing is held. If the final determination is that the amendment request involves no significant hazards consideration, the Commission may issue the amendment and make it immediately effective, notwithstanding the request for a hearing. Any hearing would take place after issuance of the amendment. If the final determination is that the amendment request involves a significant hazards consideration, then any hearing held would take place before the issuance of the amendment unless the Commission finds an imminent danger to the health or safety of the public, in which case it will issue an appropriate order or rule under 10 CFR part 2. A State, local governmental body, federally recognized Indian Tribe, or designated agency thereof, may submit a petition to the Commission to participate as a party under 10 CFR 2.309(h) no later than 60 days from the date of publication of this notice. Alternatively, a State, local governmental body, Federally recognized Indian Tribe, or agency thereof may participate as a non-party under 10 CFR 2.315(c). For information about filing a petition and about participation by a person not a party under 10 CFR 2.315, see ADAMS Accession No. ML20340A053 (https:// adamswebsearch2.nrc.gov/webSearch2/ main.jsp?AccessionNumber= ML20340A053) and on the NRC’s public website at https://www.nrc.gov/aboutnrc/regulatory/adjudicatory/ hearing.html#participate. IV. Electronic Submissions (E-Filing) All documents filed in NRC adjudicatory proceedings, including documents filed by an interested State, local governmental body, Federally recognized Indian Tribe, or designated agency thereof that requests to participate under 10 CFR 2.315(c), must be filed in accordance with 10 CFR 2.302. 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, unless an exemption permitting an alternative filing method, as further discussed, is granted. Detailed guidance on electronic submissions is located in the ‘‘Guidance for Electronic Submissions to the NRC’’ (ADAMS Accession No. ML13031A056) and on the NRC’s public website at E:\FR\FM\29JYN1.SGM 29JYN1 ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 145 / Monday, July 29, 2024 / Notices https://www.nrc.gov/site-help/esubmittals.html. To comply with the procedural requirements of E-Filing, at least 10 days prior to the filing deadline, the participant should contact the Office of the Secretary by email at Hearing.Docket@nrc.gov, or by telephone at 301–415–1677, to (1) request a digital identification (ID) certificate, which allows the participant (or its counsel or representative) to digitally sign submissions and access the E-Filing system for any proceeding in which it is participating; and (2) advise the Secretary that the participant will be submitting a petition or other adjudicatory document (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 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 website at https:// www.nrc.gov/site-help/e-submittals/ getting-started.html. After a digital ID certificate is obtained and a docket created, the participant must submit adjudicatory documents in Portable Document Format. Guidance on submissions is available on the NRC’s public website at https://www.nrc.gov/ site-help/electronic-sub-ref-mat.html. A filing is considered complete at the time the document is 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. ET on the due date. Upon receipt of a transmission, the E-Filing system time-stamps the document and sends the submitter an email confirming receipt of the document. The E-Filing system also distributes an email 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 document on those participants separately. Therefore, applicants and other participants (or their counsel or representative) must apply for and receive a digital ID certificate before adjudicatory documents are filed to obtain access to the documents via the E-Filing system. A person filing electronically using the NRC’s adjudicatory E-Filing system may seek assistance by contacting the NRC’s Electronic Filing Help Desk through the ‘‘Contact Us’’ link located on the NRC’s public website at https:// www.nrc.gov/site-help/e- VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:51 Jul 26, 2024 Jkt 262001 submittals.html, by email to MSHD.Resource@nrc.gov, or by a tollfree call at 1–866–672–7640. The NRC Electronic Filing Help Desk is available between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., ET, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Participants who believe that they have 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 stating why there is good cause for not filing electronically and requesting authorization to continue to submit documents in paper format. Such filings must be submitted in accordance with 10 CFR 2.302(b)–(d). Participants filing adjudicatory documents in this manner are responsible for serving their documents on all other participants. Participants granted an exemption under 10 CFR 2.302(g)(2) must still meet the electronic formatting requirement in 10 CFR 2.302(g)(1), unless the participant also seeks and is granted an exemption from 10 CFR 2.302(g)(1). Documents submitted in adjudicatory proceedings will appear in the NRC’s electronic hearing docket, which is publicly available at https:// adams.nrc.gov/ehd, unless excluded pursuant to an order of the presiding officer. If you do not have an NRCissued digital ID certificate as previously described, click ‘‘cancel’’ when the link requests certificates and you will be automatically directed to the NRC’s electronic hearing docket where you will be able to access any publicly available documents in a particular hearing docket. Participants are requested not to include personal privacy information such as social security numbers, home addresses, or personal phone numbers in their filings unless an NRC regulation or other law requires submission of such information. 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 should not include copyrighted materials in their submission. For further details with respect to this action, see the application for license amendment dated July 18, 2024, (ADAMS Accession Nos. ML24201A107 non-publicly available; ML24201A108 publicly available). Attorney for licensee: Millicent Ronnlund, Vice President and General Counsel, Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc., P.O. Box 1295, Birmingham, AL 35201–1295. NRC Branch Chief: Michael Markley. PO 00000 Frm 00079 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 60933 Order Imposing Procedures for Access to Sensitive Unclassified NonSafeguards Information for Contention Preparation A. This Order contains instructions regarding how potential parties to this proceeding may request access to documents containing Sensitive Unclassified Non-Safeguards Information (SUNSI). B. Within 10 days after publication of this notice of hearing or opportunity for hearing, any potential party who believes access to SUNSI is necessary to respond to this notice may request access to SUNSI. 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 of this notice 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 requestor 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 Deputy General Counsel for Licensing, Hearings, and Enforcement, Office of the General Counsel, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555–0001. The expedited delivery or courier mail address for both offices is: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852. The email addresses for the Office of the Secretary and the Office of the General Counsel are Hearing.Docket@nrc.gov and RidsOgcMailCenter.Resource@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 requestor’s basis for the need for the information in order to meaningfully participate in this adjudicatory proceeding. In particular, the request 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. E:\FR\FM\29JYN1.SGM 29JYN1 60934 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 145 / Monday, July 29, 2024 / Notices 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, 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), 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 receipt of (or access to) that information. 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. 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 requisite need, the NRC staff shall immediately notify the requestor in writing, briefly stating the reason or reasons for the denial. (2) The requestor 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 this individual is unavailable, another administrative judge, or an Administrative Law Judge with jurisdiction pursuant to 10 CFR 2.318(a); or (c) if another officer has been designated to rule on information access issues, with that officer. (3) Further appeals of decisions under this paragraph must be made pursuant to 10 CFR 2.311. H. Review of Grants of Access. A party other than the requestor 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 within 5 days of the notification by the NRC staff of its grant of access and must be filed with: (a) the presiding officer designated in this proceeding; (b) if no presiding officer has been appointed, the Chief Administrative Judge, or if this individual is unavailable, another administrative judge, or an Administrative Law Judge with jurisdiction pursuant to 10 CFR 2.318(a); or (c) if another officer has been designated to rule on information access issues, with that officer. 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. The attachment to this Order summarizes the general target schedule for processing and resolving requests under these procedures. It is so ordered. Dated: July 24, 2024. For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Carrie Safford, 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 or opportunity for hearing, including order with instructions for access requests. Deadline for submitting requests for access to Sensitive Unclassified Non-Safeguards Information (SUNSI) with information: (i) supporting the standing of a potential party identified by name and address; and (ii) describing the need for the information in order 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). U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff informs the requestor of the staff’s determination whether the request for access provides a reasonable basis to believe standing can be established and shows need for SUNSI. (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 NRC staff makes the finding of need for SUNSI and likelihood of standing, NRC staff begins document processing (preparation of redactions or review of redacted documents). 10 ...................... 60 ...................... ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 20 ...................... 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. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:51 Jul 26, 2024 Jkt 262001 3 Requestors should note that the filing requirements of the NRC’s E-Filing Rule (72 FR 49139; August 28, 2007, as amended at 77 FR 46562; August 3, 2012, 78 FR 34247, June 7, 2013) apply to appeals of NRC staff determinations (because they must be served on a presiding officer PO 00000 Frm 00080 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 or the Commission, as applicable), but not to the initial SUNSI request submitted to the NRC staff under these procedures. E:\FR\FM\29JYN1.SGM 29JYN1 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 145 / Monday, July 29, 2024 / Notices 60935 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 25 ...................... If NRC staff finds no ‘‘need’’ or no likelihood of standing, the deadline for petitioner/requestor to file a motion seeking a ruling to reverse the NRC staff’s denial of access; NRC staff files copy of access determination with the presiding officer (or Chief Administrative Judge or other designated officer, as appropriate). If 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 NRC staff finds standing and need for SUNSI, deadline for NRC staff to complete information processing and file motion for Protective Order and draft Non-Disclosure Agreement or Affidavit. Deadline for applicant/licensee to file NonDisclosure Agreement or Affidavit 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 Agreements or 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 notice of 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. 30 ...................... 40 ...................... A ....................... A + 3 ................. A + 28 ............... A + 53 ............... A + 60 ............... >A + 60 ............. [FR Doc. 2024–16647 Filed 7–26–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590–01–P PENSION BENEFIT GUARANTY CORPORATION Solicitation of Nominations for the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation Participant and Plan Sponsor Advocate Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) Advisory Committee is soliciting nominations for the PBGC Participant and Plan Sponsor Advocate position. DATES: Nominations must be received on or before August 28, 2024. ADDRESSES: Nominations must be submitted electronically to PBGCRecruitment@pbgc.gov as email attachments in Word or pdf format. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC or the Corporation) administers the pension plan termination insurance program under title IV of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). Section 4004 of ERISA provides for the Participant and Plan Sponsor Advocate (the Advocate) position. In general, the Advocate and staff in the Office of the Advocate help participants and plan sponsors resolve disputes with the PBGC. The Office of the Advocate works directly with participants in defined benefit plans to ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:51 Jul 26, 2024 Jkt 262001 ensure that they receive benefits that they are entitled to from PBGC. The Office of the Advocate also assists plan sponsors in resolving disputes and other issues with PBGC. The Advocate works independently of the PBGC Departments and reports directly to the PBGC Board of Directors. They report to Congress annually on the activities of the Office of the Participant and Plan Sponsor Advocate; and provide oversight and supervision of the Office of the Advocate staff. The Participant and Plan Sponsor Advocate’s prescribed duties under section 4004 of ERISA include: (1) act as a liaison between the Corporation, sponsors of defined benefit pension plans insured by the Corporation, and participants in pension plans trusteed by the Corporation; (2) advocate for the full attainment of the rights of participants in plans trusteed by the Corporation; (3) assist pension plan sponsors and participants in resolving disputes with the Corporation; (4) identify areas in which participants and plan sponsors have persistent problems in dealings with the Corporation; (5) to the extent possible, propose changes in the administrative practices of the corporation to mitigate problems; (6) identify potential legislative changes which may be appropriate to mitigate problems; and (7) refer instances of fraud, waste, and abuse, and violations of law to the Office of the Inspector General of the Corporation. PO 00000 Frm 00081 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Due to an impending vacancy, the Advisory Committee is seeking nominations for the Participant and Plan Sponsor Advocate position. Section 4004(a) of ERISA requires the PBGC Board of Directors to select a Participant and Plan Sponsor Advocate from the candidates nominated by the Advisory Committee. If you or your organization would like to nominate one or more people for the Participant and Plan Sponsor Advocate position, you may submit nominations to PBGC. Nominations may be in the form of a letter, resolution, or petition, signed by the person making the nomination, and must include the resume of the individual being nominated. Resumes should include positions held, experience and salary history of the nominee. Additional supporting letters of nomination are encouraged. Please do not include any information that should not be publicly disclosed. This is a supervisory position. The salary range for this position is $191,900 to $221,900, and includes a comprehensive benefits package. This position is located in Washington, DC. Nominations, including supporting letters, should: • state the person’s qualifications to serve as the Participant and Plan Sponsor Advocate, to include positions held, and experience relevant to the Advocate position; • include the nominee’s full name, work affiliation, mailing address, phone number, and email address; E:\FR\FM\29JYN1.SGM 29JYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 145 (Monday, July 29, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60930-60935]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-16647]


=======================================================================
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket Nos. 50-348 and 30-364; NRC-2024-0134]


Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.; Joseph M. Farley 
Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2; License Amendment Application

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Opportunity to comment, request a hearing, and petition for 
leave to intervene; order imposing procedures.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering 
issuance of an amendment to Facility Operating License No. NPF-2 and 
NPF-8, issued to Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc. (SNC, the 
licensee), for operation of the Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant, 
(Farley) Units 1 and 2. The requested amendment would revise the 
operating license, Appendix A, Technical Specification (TS) 3.6.5, 
``Containment Air Temperature,'' actions upon exceeding the containment 
average air temperature limit of 120 degrees Fahrenheit ([deg]F) and 
remove an expired Note provision. Specifically, the proposed amendment 
would revise TS 3.6.5 Required Actions and Completion Time A.1, add 
Required Actions and Completion Times A.2 and A.3, as well as remove an 
expired Note in TS 3.6.5 Limiting Conditions for Operation. For this 
amendment request, the NRC proposes to determine that it involves no 
significant hazards consideration. Because this amendment request 
contains sensitive unclassified non-safeguards information (SUNSI), an 
order imposes procedures to obtain access to SUNSI for contention 
preparation.

DATES: Comments must be received by August 28, 2024. A request for a 
hearing or petitions for leave to intervene must be filed by September 
27, 2024. Any potential party as defined in section 2.4 of title 10 of 
the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) who believes

[[Page 60931]]

access to SUNSI is necessary to respond to this notice must request 
document access by August 8, 2024.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods; 
however, the NRC encourages electronic comment submission through the 
Federal rulemaking website.
     Federal rulemaking website: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2024-0134. Address 
questions about Docket IDs in Regulations.gov to Stacy Schumann; 
telephone: 301-415-0624; email: [email protected]. For technical 
questions, contact the individual listed in the For Further Information 
Contact section of this document.
     Mail comments to: Office of Administration, Mail Stop: 
TWFN-7-A60M, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-
0001, ATTN: Program Management, Announcements and Editing Staff.
    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: Zachary M. Turner, Office of Nuclear 
Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 
20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-2258; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Obtaining Information and Submitting Comments

A. Obtaining Information

    Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2024-0134, facility name, unit 
number(s), docket number(s), application date, and subject when 
contacting the NRC about the availability of information for this 
action. You may obtain publicly available information related to this 
action by any of the following methods:
     Federal Rulemaking Website: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2024-0134.
     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 ``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, at 301-415-4737, 
or by email to [email protected]. The license amendment request to 
change containment air temperature actions for Farley, Units 1 and 2, 
is available in ADAMS under Accession Nos. ML24201A107 (non-publicly 
available) and ML24201A108 (publicly available).
     NRC's PDR: The PDR, where you may examine and order copies 
of publicly available documents, is open by appointment. To make an 
appointment to visit the PDR, please send an email to 
[email protected] or call 1-800-397-4209 or 301-415-4737, between 8 
a.m. and 4 p.m. eastern time (ET), Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays.

B. Submitting Comments

    The NRC encourages electronic comment submission through the 
Federal rulemaking website (https://www.regulations.gov). Please 
include Docket ID NRC-2024-0134, facility name, unit number(s), docket 
number(s), application date, and subject, in your comment submission.
    The NRC cautions you not to include identifying or contact 
information that you do not want to be publicly disclosed in your 
comment submission. The NRC will post all comment submissions at 
https://www.regulations.gov as well as enter the comment submissions 
into ADAMS. The NRC does not routinely edit comment submissions to 
remove identifying or contact information.
    If you are requesting or aggregating comments from other persons 
for submission to the NRC, then you should inform those persons not to 
include identifying or contact information that they do not want to be 
publicly disclosed in their comment submission. Your request should 
state that the NRC does not routinely edit comment submissions to 
remove such information before making the comment submissions available 
to the public or entering the comment into ADAMS.

II. Introduction

    The NRC is considering issuance of an amendment to Facility 
Operating License No. NPF-2 and NPF-8, issued to SNC, for operation of 
the Farley, Units 1 and 2, located in Houston County, Alabama.
    By letter dated July 18, 2024 (ADAMS Accession Nos. ML24201A107 
non-publicly available; ML24201A108 publicly available), SNC submitted 
a license amendment request to change TS 3.6.5, ``Containment Air 
Temperature,'' at Farley, Units 1 and 2. SNC proposes to revise TS 
3.6.5 Required Action and Completion Time A.1, add Required Actions and 
Completion Times A.2, and A.3, as well as remove an expired note in TS 
3.6.5 Limiting Conditions for Operation (LCO). Specifically, the change 
would modify the TS 3.6.5 Actions if containment average air 
temperature exceeds the LCO of 120 [deg]F to allow continued operation 
for up to seven cumulative days per calendar year provided that the 
containment average air temperature does not exceed 122 [deg]F 
(verified within eight hours of containment average air temperature 
exceeding 120 [deg]F and once per eight hours thereafter) and that 
refueling water storage tank temperature remains less than or equal to 
100 [deg]F (verified within eight hours of containment average air 
temperature exceeding 120 [deg]F and once per eight hours thereafter).
    Before any issuance of the proposed license amendment, the NRC will 
need to make the findings required by the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as 
amended (the Act), and NRC's regulations.
    The NRC has made a proposed determination that the license 
amendment request involves no significant hazards consideration. Under 
the NRC's regulations in 10 CFR 50.92, this means that operation of the 
facility in accordance with the proposed amendment would not (1) 
involve a significant increase in the probability or consequences of an 
accident previously evaluated; or (2) create the possibility of a new 
or different kind of accident from any accident previously evaluated; 
or (3) involve a significant reduction in a margin of safety. As 
required by 10 CFR 50.91(a), the licensee has provided its analysis of 
the issue of no significant hazards consideration, which is presented 
as follows:
    1. Does the proposed change involve a significant increase in the 
probability or consequences of an accident previously evaluated?
    Response: No, the proposed changes do not adversely affect the 
operation of any structures, systems, or components (SSCs) associated 
with an accident initiator or initiating sequence of events. The 
proposed changes do not affect the design of the containment heat 
removal systems.
    The proposed amendment does not affect accident initiators or 
precursors nor adversely alter the design assumptions, conditions, and 
configuration of the facility. The proposed amendment does not alter 
any plant equipment or operating practices with respect to such 
initiators or precursors in a manner that the probability of an 
accident is increased. The proposed amendment to allow exceeding the 
containment average air temperature above the current limit of 120 
[deg]F up to a maximum of 122 [deg]F for up to seven cumulative days in 
the calendar year and remove an expired

[[Page 60932]]

Note does not adversely affect the operation of the assumed mitigation 
systems or the containment fission product barrier assumptions. As 
demonstrated in the SNC request, the potential increase in containment 
average air temperature coupled with limiting the refueling water 
storage tank (RWST) temperature to 100 [deg]F is more than offset by 
existing margins in the safety analyses. As such, the proposed change 
will not alter assumptions relative to the mitigation of an accident or 
transient event. The proposed amendment does not increase the 
likelihood of the malfunction of an SSC or adversely impact analyzed 
accidents.
    Therefore, the proposed change does not involve a significant 
increase in the probability or consequences of an accident previously 
evaluated.
    2. Does the proposed change create the possibility of a new or 
different kind of accident from any accident previously evaluated?
    Response: No, the proposed amendment does not introduce any new or 
unanalyzed modes of operation. The proposed changes do not involve a 
physical alteration to the plant (i.e., no new or different type of 
equipment will be installed) or a change to the methods governing 
normal plant operation. The changes do not alter the limiting 
assumptions made in the safety analysis.
    Therefore, the proposed change does not create the possibility of a 
new or different kind of accident from any accident previously 
evaluated.
    3. Does the proposed change involve a significant reduction in a 
margin of safety?
    Response: No, the margin of safety is related to the ability of the 
fission product barriers to perform their design functions during and 
following an accident. These barriers include the fuel cladding, the 
reactor coolant system, and the containment. The fission product 
barriers continue to be able to perform their required functions; based 
on the pre-existing margins and conservatisms currently assumed in the 
safety analyses. Therefore, the margins to the onsite and offsite 
radiological dose limits are not significantly reduced. Therefore, the 
proposed change does not involve a significant reduction in a margin of 
safety.
    The NRC staff has reviewed the licensee's analysis and, based on 
this review, it appears that the three standards of 10 CFR 50.92(c) are 
satisfied. Therefore, the NRC staff proposes to determine that the 
license amendment request involves no significant hazards 
consideration.
    The NRC is seeking public comments on this proposed determination 
that the license amendment request involves no significant hazards 
consideration. Any comments received within 30 days after the date of 
publication of this notice will be considered in making any final 
determination.
    Normally, the Commission will not issue the amendment until the 
expiration of 60 days after the date of publication of this notice. The 
Commission may issue the license amendment before expiration of the 60-
day period provided that its final determination is that the amendment 
involves no significant hazards consideration. In addition, the 
Commission may issue the amendment prior to the expiration of the 30-
day comment period if circumstances change during the 30-day comment 
period such that failure to act in a timely way would result, for 
example, in derating or shutdown of the facility. If the Commission 
takes action prior to the expiration of either the comment period or 
the notice period, it will publish a notice of issuance in the Federal 
Register. If the Commission make a final no significant hazards 
consideration determination, any hearing will take place after 
issuance. The Commission expects that the need to take this action will 
occur very infrequently.

III. Opportunity To Request a Hearing and Petition for Leave To 
Intervene

    Within 60 days after the date of publication of this notice, any 
person (petitioner) whose interest may be affected by any of these 
actions may file a request for a hearing and petition for leave to 
intervene (petition) with respect to that action. Petitions shall be 
filed in accordance with the Commission's ``Agency Rules of Practice 
and Procedure'' in 10 CFR part 2. Interested persons should consult a 
current copy of 10 CFR 2.309. If a petition is filed, the Commission or 
a presiding officer will rule on the petition and, if appropriate, a 
notice of a hearing will be issued.
    Petitions must be filed no later than 60 days from the date of 
publication of this notice in accordance with the filing instructions 
in the ``Electronic Submissions (E-Filing)'' section of this document. 
Petitions and motions for leave to file new or amended contentions that 
are filed after the 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) 
through (iii).
    If a hearing is requested, and the Commission has not made a final 
determination on the issue of no significant hazards consideration, the 
Commission will make a final determination on the issue of no 
significant hazards consideration, which will serve to establish when 
the hearing is held. If the final determination is that the amendment 
request involves no significant hazards consideration, the Commission 
may issue the amendment and make it immediately effective, 
notwithstanding the request for a hearing. Any hearing would take place 
after issuance of the amendment. If the final determination is that the 
amendment request involves a significant hazards consideration, then 
any hearing held would take place before the issuance of the amendment 
unless the Commission finds an imminent danger to the health or safety 
of the public, in which case it will issue an appropriate order or rule 
under 10 CFR part 2.
    A State, local governmental body, federally recognized Indian 
Tribe, or designated agency thereof, may submit a petition to the 
Commission to participate as a party under 10 CFR 2.309(h) no later 
than 60 days from the date of publication of this notice. 
Alternatively, a State, local governmental body, Federally recognized 
Indian Tribe, or agency thereof may participate as a non-party under 10 
CFR 2.315(c).
    For information about filing a petition and about participation by 
a person not a party under 10 CFR 2.315, see ADAMS Accession No. 
ML20340A053 (https://adamswebsearch2.nrc.gov/webSearch2/main.jsp?AccessionNumber=ML20340A053) and on the NRC's public website 
at https://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/regulatory/adjudicatory/hearing.html#participate.

IV. Electronic Submissions (E-Filing)

    All documents filed in NRC adjudicatory proceedings, including 
documents filed by an interested State, local governmental body, 
Federally recognized Indian Tribe, or designated agency thereof that 
requests to participate under 10 CFR 2.315(c), must be filed in 
accordance with 10 CFR 2.302. 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, 
unless an exemption permitting an alternative filing method, as further 
discussed, is granted. Detailed guidance on electronic submissions is 
located in the ``Guidance for Electronic Submissions to the NRC'' 
(ADAMS Accession No. ML13031A056) and on the NRC's public website at

[[Page 60933]]

https://www.nrc.gov/site-help/e-submittals.html.
    To comply with the procedural requirements of E-Filing, at least 10 
days prior to the filing deadline, the participant should contact the 
Office of the Secretary by email at [email protected], or by 
telephone at 301-415-1677, to (1) request a digital identification (ID) 
certificate, which allows the participant (or its counsel or 
representative) to digitally sign submissions and access the E-Filing 
system for any proceeding in which it is participating; and (2) advise 
the Secretary that the participant will be submitting a petition or 
other adjudicatory document (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 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 website at https://www.nrc.gov/site-help/e-submittals/getting-started.html. After a digital ID certificate is 
obtained and a docket created, the participant must submit adjudicatory 
documents in Portable Document Format. Guidance on submissions is 
available on the NRC's public website at https://www.nrc.gov/site-help/electronic-sub-ref-mat.html. A filing is considered complete at the 
time the document is 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. ET on the due date. Upon receipt of a 
transmission, the E-Filing system time-stamps the document and sends 
the submitter an email confirming receipt of the document. The E-Filing 
system also distributes an email 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 document on those 
participants separately. Therefore, applicants and other participants 
(or their counsel or representative) must apply for and receive a 
digital ID certificate before adjudicatory documents are filed to 
obtain access to the documents via the E-Filing system.
    A person filing electronically using the NRC's adjudicatory E-
Filing system may seek assistance by contacting the NRC's Electronic 
Filing Help Desk through the ``Contact Us'' link located on the NRC's 
public website at https://www.nrc.gov/site-help/e-submittals.html, by 
email to [email protected], or by a toll-free call at 1-866-672-
7640. The NRC Electronic Filing Help Desk is available between 9 a.m. 
and 6 p.m., ET, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    Participants who believe that they have 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 
stating why there is good cause for not filing electronically and 
requesting authorization to continue to submit documents in paper 
format. Such filings must be submitted in accordance with 10 CFR 
2.302(b)-(d). Participants filing adjudicatory documents in this manner 
are responsible for serving their documents on all other participants. 
Participants granted an exemption under 10 CFR 2.302(g)(2) must still 
meet the electronic formatting requirement in 10 CFR 2.302(g)(1), 
unless the participant also seeks and is granted an exemption from 10 
CFR 2.302(g)(1).
    Documents submitted in adjudicatory proceedings will appear in the 
NRC's electronic hearing docket, which is publicly available at https://adams.nrc.gov/ehd, unless excluded pursuant to an order of the 
presiding officer. If you do not have an NRC-issued digital ID 
certificate as previously described, click ``cancel'' when the link 
requests certificates and you will be automatically directed to the 
NRC's electronic hearing docket where you will be able to access any 
publicly available documents in a particular hearing docket. 
Participants are requested not to include personal privacy information 
such as social security numbers, home addresses, or personal phone 
numbers in their filings unless an NRC regulation or other law requires 
submission of such information. 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 
should not include copyrighted materials in their submission.
    For further details with respect to this action, see the 
application for license amendment dated July 18, 2024, (ADAMS Accession 
Nos. ML24201A107 non-publicly available; ML24201A108 publicly 
available).
    Attorney for licensee: Millicent Ronnlund, Vice President and 
General Counsel, Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc., P.O. Box 
1295, Birmingham, AL 35201-1295.
    NRC Branch Chief: Michael Markley.

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 Sensitive 
Unclassified Non-Safeguards Information (SUNSI).
    B. Within 10 days after publication of this notice of hearing or 
opportunity for hearing, any potential party who believes access to 
SUNSI is necessary to respond to this notice may request access to 
SUNSI. 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 of this notice 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 requestor 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 Deputy General Counsel 
for Licensing, Hearings, and Enforcement, Office of the General 
Counsel, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001. 
The expedited delivery or courier mail address for both offices is: 
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, 
Maryland 20852. The email addresses for the Office of the Secretary and 
the Office of the General Counsel are [email protected] and 
[email protected], 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 requestor's basis for the need for the information in 
order to meaningfully participate in this adjudicatory proceeding. In 
particular, the request

[[Page 60934]]

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, 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), 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 
receipt of (or access to) that information. 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.
    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 requisite need, the NRC staff 
shall immediately notify the requestor in writing, briefly stating the 
reason or reasons for the denial.
    (2) The requestor 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 this individual is unavailable, another 
administrative judge, or an Administrative Law Judge with jurisdiction 
pursuant to 10 CFR 2.318(a); or (c) if another officer has been 
designated to rule on information access issues, with that officer.
    (3) Further appeals of decisions under this paragraph must be made 
pursuant to 10 CFR 2.311.
    H. Review of Grants of Access. A party other than the requestor 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 within 5 days of the notification by the 
NRC staff of its grant of access and must be filed with: (a) the 
presiding officer designated in this proceeding; (b) if no presiding 
officer has been appointed, the Chief Administrative Judge, or if this 
individual is unavailable, another administrative judge, or an 
Administrative Law Judge with jurisdiction pursuant to 10 CFR 2.318(a); 
or (c) if another officer has been designated to rule on information 
access issues, with that officer.
    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\ Requestors should note that the filing requirements of the 
NRC's E-Filing Rule (72 FR 49139; August 28, 2007, as amended at 77 
FR 46562; August 3, 2012, 78 FR 34247, June 7, 2013) 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. The 
attachment to this Order summarizes the general target schedule for 
processing and resolving requests under these procedures.
    It is so ordered.

    Dated: July 24, 2024.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Carrie Safford,
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 or opportunity for hearing,
                            including order with instructions for access
                            requests.
10.......................  Deadline for submitting requests for access
                            to Sensitive Unclassified Non-Safeguards
                            Information (SUNSI) with information: (i)
                            supporting the standing of a potential party
                            identified by name and address; and (ii)
                            describing the need for the information in
                            order 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).
20.......................  U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
                            staff informs the requestor of the staff's
                            determination whether the request for access
                            provides a reasonable basis to believe
                            standing can be established and shows need
                            for SUNSI. (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 NRC staff
                            makes the finding of need for SUNSI and
                            likelihood of standing, NRC staff begins
                            document processing (preparation of
                            redactions or review of redacted documents).

[[Page 60935]]

 
25.......................  If NRC staff finds no ``need'' or no
                            likelihood of standing, the deadline for
                            petitioner/requestor to file a motion
                            seeking a ruling to reverse the NRC staff's
                            denial of access; NRC staff files copy of
                            access determination with the presiding
                            officer (or Chief Administrative Judge or
                            other designated officer, as appropriate).
                            If 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 NRC staff finds standing and
                            need for SUNSI, deadline for NRC staff to
                            complete information processing and file
                            motion for Protective Order and draft Non-
                            Disclosure Agreement or Affidavit. Deadline
                            for applicant/licensee to file Non-
                            Disclosure Agreement or Affidavit 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
                            Agreements or 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 notice of 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. 2024-16647 Filed 7-26-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P


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