[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 67 (Friday, April 7, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20918-20921]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-07268]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket Nos. 50-390 and 50-391; NRC-2023-0074]


Tennessee Valley Authority; Watts Bar Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 
2

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

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

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering 
issuance of amendments to Facility Operating License No. NPF-90 and 
NPF-96, issued to Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA, the licensee), for 
operation of the Watts Bar Nuclear Plant (Watts Bar or WBN), Units 1 
and 2. The proposed amendments would revise Watts Bar, Units 1 and 2, 
Technical Specification (TS) 3.7.11, ``Control Room Emergency Air 
Temperature Control System (CREATCS),'' to change the dates in the one-
time footnotes for Required Actions A.1 and E.1 for performing 
modifications to the Watts Bar, Units 1 and 2, main control room 
CREATCS chillers.

DATES: Submit comments by May 8, 2023. Request for a hearing or 
petitions for leave to intervene must be filed by June 6, 2023.

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-2023-0074. 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: Kimberly Green, Office of Nuclear 
Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 
20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-1627; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Obtaining Information and Submitting Comments

A. Obtaining Information

    Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2023-0074 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-2023-0074.
     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, 301-415-4737, or 
by email to [email protected]. The ``Expedited Application to Modify 
the Watts Bar Nuclear Plant, Unit 1 and Unit 2 Technical Specifications 
for Main Control Room Chiller Completion Time Extension (WBN-TS-22-
08),'' and ``Watts Bar Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2--Issuance of 
Amendment Nos. 145 and 51 for One-Time Change to Technical 
Specification 3.7.11 to Extend the Completion Time for Main Control 
Room Chiller Modifications (EPID L-2020-LLA-0114)'' are available in 
ADAMS under Accession Nos. ML23058A447 and ML21078A484.
     NRC's PDR: You may examine and purchase copies of public 
documents, by appointment, at the NRC's PDR, Room P1 B35, One White 
Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852. 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-2023-0074 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.

[[Page 20919]]

II. Introduction

    The NRC is considering issuance of amendments to Facility Operating 
License Nos. NPF-90 and NPF-96, issued to Tennessee Valley Authority, 
for operation of the Watts Bar Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2, located in 
Rhea County, Tennessee.
    By letter dated May 5, 2021, the NRC issued Amendment Nos. 145 and 
51 to Facility Operating Licenses Nos. NPF-90 and NPF-96, for Watts Bar 
Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2, respectively. The amendments revised 
Watts Bar, Units 1 and 2, TS 3.7.11, ``Control Room Emergency Air 
Temperature Control System (CREATCS),'' by adding a one-time footnote 
to the Completion Time for Required Action A.1 to allow one CREATCS 
train to be inoperable for up to 60 days while performing modifications 
to the main control room CREATCS chillers between May 1, 2022, and May 
1, 2023. Additionally, the amendments added a one-time footnote to the 
Completion Time for Required Action E.1 to allow delayed entry into TS 
Limiting Condition for Operation 3.0.3 for up to 4 days in the event 
that both CREATCS trains are inoperable during the modifications to the 
main control room CREATCS chillers between May 1, 2022, and May 1, 
2023.
    Due to delays in the vendor delivery of the main control room 
CREATCS chillers, TVA is requesting to revise the timeframe in the 
previously mentioned footnotes to begin no earlier than July 1, 2023, 
and end no later than December 31, 2024.
    Before any issuance of the proposed license amendments, 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 (NSHC). 
Under the NRC's regulations in section 50.92 of title 10 of the Code of 
Federal Regulations (10 CFR), this means that operation of the facility 
in accordance with the proposed amendment would not (1) involve a 
significant increase in the probability or consequences of an accident 
previously evaluated; or (2) create the possibility of a new or 
different kind of accident from any accident previously evaluated; or 
(3) involve a significant reduction in a margin of safety. As required 
by 10 CFR 50.91(a), the licensee has provided its analysis of the issue 
of NSHC, 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 revision to the footnotes in the Completion Time for 
WBN Units 1 and 2 TS 3.7.11, Required Actions A.1 and E.1, is 
administrative in nature to reflect the revision to the scheduled 
completion time for the modification activities planned for the upgrade 
of the MCR chillers. The compensatory measures listed in References 1 
and 3 \1\ remain unchanged. Therefore, the proposed change does not 
involve a significant increase in the probability or consequences of an 
accident previously evaluated.
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    \1\ Reference 1 is the TVA letter to NRC, CNL-20-012, 
``Application to Modify the Watts Bar Nuclear Plant Unit 1 and Unit 
2 Technical Specifications for Main Control Room Chiller Completion 
Time Extension (WBN-TS-18-16),'' dated May 19, 2020 (ML20140A342). 
Reference 3 is the NRC letter to TVA, ``Watts Bar Nuclear Plant, 
Units 1 and 2--Issuance of Amendment Nos. 145 and 51 for One-Time 
Change to Technical Specification 3.7.11 to Extend the Completion 
Time for Main Control Room Chiller Modifications (EPID L-2020-LLA-
0114),'' dated May 5, 2021 (ML21078A484).
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    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 revision to the footnotes in the Completion Time for 
WBN Units 1 and 2 TS 3.7.11, Required Actions A.1 and E.1, is 
administrative in nature to reflect the revision to the scheduled 
completion time for the modification activities planned for the upgrade 
of the MCR chillers. The compensatory measures listed in References 1 
and 3 remain unchanged. Therefore, the proposed change does not create 
the possibility of a new or different kind of accident from any 
previously evaluated.
    3. Does the proposed change involve a significant reduction in a 
margin of safety?
    Response: No.
    The proposed revision to the footnotes in the Completion Time for 
WBN Units 1 and 2 TS 3.7.11, Required Actions A.1 and E.1, is 
administrative in nature to reflect the revision to the scheduled 
completion time for the modification activities planned for the upgrade 
of the MCR chillers. The compensatory measures listed in References 1 
and 3 remain unchanged. 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 NSHC.
    The NRC is seeking public comments on this proposed determination 
that the license amendment request involves NSHC. 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 the 60-day notice period. However, the Commission may 
issue the license amendment before the expiration of the notice period, 
provided that its final determination is that the amendment involves 
NSHC. 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. A 
final NSHC determination, if made, will consider all public and State 
comments received. If the Commission takes action prior to the 
expiration of either the comment period or the notice period, it will 
publish in the Federal Register a notice of issuance. If the Commission 
makes a final NSHC determination for the amendments, any hearing will 
take place after issuance. The Commission expects that the need to take 
action on any amendment before 60 days have elapsed 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 this action may 
file a request for a hearing and petition for leave to intervene 
(petition) with respect to the 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 10 CFR 
2.309. If a petition is filed, the 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).

[[Page 20920]]

    If a hearing is requested and the Commission has not made a final 
determination on the issue of NSHC, the Commission will make a final 
determination on the issue of NSHC, which will serve to establish when 
the hearing is held. If the final determination is that the amendment 
request involves NSHC, 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 
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 dockets 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 February 27, 2023 (ADAMS 
Accession No. ML23058A447). Attorney for licensee: David Fountain, 
Executive VP and General Counsel, Tennessee Valley Authority, 6A West 
Tower, 400 West Summit Hill Drive, Knoxville, TN 37902. NRC Branch 
Chief: David Wrona.

    Dated: April 3, 2023.


[[Page 20921]]


    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Kimberly J. Green,
Senior Project Manager, Plant Licensing Branch II-2, Division of 
Operating Reactor Licensing, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 2023-07268 Filed 4-6-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P