[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 84 (Friday, May 1, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24982-24983]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-10246]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket Nos. 50-282, 50-306, and 72-10; NRC-2014-0236]
Northern States Power Company; Prairie Island Nuclear Generating
Plant Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation
AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Exemption; issuance.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing an
exemption in response to a May 16, 2013, request from Northern States
Power Company (NSPM or the licensee), a Minnesota corporation doing
business as Xcel Energy, for its specific license to operate an
independent spent fuel storage installation (ISFSI) at the Prairie
Island (PI) Nuclear Generating Plant. The licensee seeks relief from a
regulatory provision with regard to the location of the primary alarm
station.
DATES: Notice of issuance of exemption is given on May 1, 2015.
ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2014-0236 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 http://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2014-0236. Address
question about NRC dockets to Carol Gallagher; telephone: 301-415-3463;
email: [email protected]. For technical questions, contact the
individual listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of
this document.
NRC's PDC: 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: Pamela Longmire, Ph.D., Office of
Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-7000; email:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The licensee possesses a specific license under part 72 of Title 10
of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) for the storage of spent
fuel in an ISFSI at the PI Nuclear Generating Plant. Section 72.180,
``Physical protection plan,'' requires the licensee to comply with the
physical protection requirements in 10 CFR 73.51, ``Requirements for
the physical protection of stored spent nuclear fuel and high-level
radioactive waste.'' The licensee is subject to the requirements of 10
CFR 73.51(d)(3), which specifies the location, components, and
requirements for the primary alarm station for the ISFSI.
II. Request/Action
By letter dated May 16, 2013, NSPM submitted a request for an
exemption from a specific portion of the requirements of 10 CFR
73.51(d), ``Physical protection systems, components, and procedures.''
Specifically, the licensee seeks relief from a regulatory provision of
10 CFR 73.51(d)(3) with regard to the location of the primary alarm
station.
The NRC has the authority under 10 CFR 73.5 to grant a specific
exemption from these requirements if the exemption is authorized by law
and will not endanger life or property or the common defense and
security, and the exemption is otherwise in the public interest.
III. Discussion
In accordance with the provisions of 10 CFR 73.21, physical
protection plans for the storage of spent fuel and high-level
radioactive waste are protected as Safeguards Information. This
exemption request pertains to the location of the primary alarm
station. The NRC evaluated the exemption request in greater detail in
the safety evaluation report (SER). The SER is withheld from public
disclosure in accordance with 10 CFR 2.390 because it contains security
information.
A. Regulatory Evaluation
In the final rule, ``Physical Protection for Spent Nuclear Fuel and
High-Level Radioactive Waste'' (63 FR 26955; May 15, 1998), the
introductory text of 10 CFR 73.51(d) was revised to more clearly
indicate the Commission's intent that alternative measures may also be
acceptable for meeting the performance objectives of 10 CFR 73.51(d).
B. Technical Evaluation
Pursuant to 10 CFR 73.5, the Commission may, upon application by
any interested person or upon its own initiative, grant such exemptions
from the requirements of the regulations in 10 CFR part 73 as it
determines are authorized by law, will not endanger life or property or
the common defense and security, and are otherwise in the public
interest. The NRC reviewed this request to determine whether the
exemption should be granted. The NRC's evaluation of this exemption
request is set forth in the SER.
The NRC has found that the NSPM meets the criteria for an exemption
in 10 CFR 73.5. The NRC has determined that granting the exemption will
not result in a violation of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended,
or otherwise violate the Commission's regulations. Therefore, the
exemption is authorized by law. This exemption would not reduce the
safeguards effectiveness of the physical security plan, and would
[[Page 24983]]
allow NSPM to continue to maintain the 10 CFR 73.51 performance
objectives of high assurance of public health and safety and the common
defense and security. Therefore, granting the exemption would not
endanger life or property or the common defense and security. Lastly,
issuance of the exemption would facilitate effective security
management at the PI site. Therefore, issuance of the exemption is in
the public interest.
C. Environmental Assessment
The NRC also considered whether there would be any significant
environmental impacts associated with the exemption. For this proposed
action, the NRC performed an environmental assessment pursuant to 10
CFR 51.30. The proposed action is the approval of a request to exempt
the applicant from certain requirements of 10 CFR 73.51(d)(3).
The environmental assessment concluded that the proposed action
would not significantly impact the quality of the human environment.
The NRC concludes that the proposed action would not result in any
changes in the types or amounts of any radiological or non-radiological
effluents that may be released offsite, and there would be no
significant increase in occupational or public radiation exposure
because of the proposed action. The environmental assessment and the
finding of no significant impact were published in the Federal Register
on October 24, 2014 (79 FR 63649).
IV. Conclusion
Accordingly, the Commission has determined that, pursuant to 10 CFR
73.5, this exemption is authorized by law, will not endanger life or
property or the common defense and security, and is otherwise in the
public interest. Therefore, the Commission hereby grants NSPM an
exemption from certain requirements of 10 CFR 73.51(d)(3), as specified
in the SER. The licensee did not request, and the Commission does not
grant, relief from any other requirement in 10 CFR 73.51(d)(3) or any
other provision.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 23rd day of April 2015.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Anthony H. Hsia,
Deputy Director, Division of Spent Fuel Management, Office of Nuclear
Material Safety and Safeguards.
[FR Doc. 2015-10246 Filed 4-30-15; 8:45 am]
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