ML101310289
| ML101310289 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Hatch, Vogtle, Farley  |
| Issue date: | 05/17/2010 |
| From: | Martin R Plant Licensing Branch II |
| To: | Ajluni M Southern Nuclear Operating Co |
| Martin R, NRR/DORL, 415-1493 | |
| References | |
| TAC ME2657, TAC ME2658, TAC ME2659, TAC ME2660, TAC ME2661, TAC ME2662 | |
| Download: ML101310289 (4) | |
Text
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 May 17, 2010 Mr. Mark J. Ajluni Manager, Nuclear Licensing Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc 40 Inverness Center Parkway Post Office Box 1295 Birmingham, AL 35201
SUBJECT:
LICENSE AMENDMENT REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF THE CYBER SECURITY PLAN FOR THE SOUTHERN NUCLEAR OPERATING COMPANY FLEET (TAC NOS. ME2657, ME2658, ME2659, ME2660, ME2661 AND ME2662)
Dear Mr. Ajluni:
By letter dated November 20,2009, the Southern Nuclear Operating Company (SNC, licensee) submitted a license amendment request (LAR) for the SNC fleet that includes Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2, Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2, and the Vogtle Electric Generating Station, Units 1 and 2. The proposed LAR includes the cyber security plan, proposed changes to of the Renewed Facility Operating License, and a proposed Cyber Security Plan Implementation Schedule. The proposed cyber security plan has been submitted in accordance with Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), Section 73.54. The purpose of this letter is to inform you that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff has completed an initial review of this LAR. In accordance with the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Office Instruction L1C-109, "Acceptance Review Procedures," (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML091810088), Section 3.1.3, the NRC staff has decided to forgo the traditional acceptance review due to the complexity and "first-of-a-kind" nature of this application. While the NRC staff has docketed your application, we are not rendering a judgment as to the acceptability of the submittal within the context of an acceptance review.
The cyber security plan submittal prepared for the SNC fleet is based on an earlier version of Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) guidance. The NRC staff had significant generic concerns with this guidance. As a result of NRC staff discussions with NEI and the Executive Task Force of the industry Nuclear Security Working Group (NSWG), NEI and NSWG committed to representing operating power reactor licensees in resolving these concerns.
M. Ajluni
- 2 Through numerous interactions, the NRC staff has communicated their generic concerns with the NEI guidance. The security-related nature of the information required these interactions to be conducted in closed meetings not open to the public. A publically available list of the specific issues discussed with NEI and NSWG was communicated to the licensees via e-mail dated March 9, 2010, (ADAMS Accession No. ML100680284).
By letters dated April 28, 2010, (ADAMS Accession Nos. ML101180434 and ML101180437),
NEI submitted Revision 6 to NEI 08-09, which contains changes that address the NRC staff concerns associated with previous versions. Based on a technical review of the document, the Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response, in its letter dated May 5, 2010, (ADAMS Accession No. ML101190371), concluded that submission of a cyber security plan using the template provided in NEI 08-09, Revision 6, dated April 2010, would be acceptable for use by licensees to comply with the requirements of 10 CFR 73.54, with the exception of the definition of "cyber attack."
Therefore, to resolve the NRC staff's concerns with the requested LAR, SNC is requested to review the list of generic issues provided to the industry cyber security writing team and forwarded to all licensees via e-mail dated March 9, 2010 and provide a revised submittal. For those generic issues that will not be addressed in the revised submittal, please provide additional information or justification in the revised submittal.
For any changes to the Cyber Security Plan proposed in the LAR, SNC is requested to indicate that the revised submittal supersedes, in its entirety, the previous submittal (or indicate what portions are superseded).
As an alternative to, and a potentially less resource intensive method than, addressing the individual issues, SNC may submit a revised Cyber Security Plan consistent with Regulatory Guide (RG) 5.71 1 or submit a revised Cyber Security Plan consistent with NEI 08-09,Revision 6. However, if this option is exercised, the NRC staff expects that the existing application will be withdrawn and the revised application resubmitted at the same time.
The NRC staff requests that SNC's response or revised application be submitted within 60 days of the date of this letter. Please contact me if circumstances result in the need to revise the requested response date.
Following receipt and review of your response, you will be advised by separate correspondence if any further information is needed to support the NRC staff's detailed technical review.
In January, 2010, the NRC staff issued RG 5.71, "Cyber Security Programs for Nuclear Facilities" (ADAMS Accession No. ML090340159). This guidance provides an approach that the NRC staff deems acceptable for complying with the Commission's regulations regarding the protection of digital computers, communications systems, and networks from a cyber security attack.
M. Ajluni
- 3 If you have any questions regarding this matter, I may be reached at (301) 415-1493.
Sincerely,
,) /JA---NJ~
R~rti:~inior Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch 2-1 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-348, 50-364, 50-321, 50-366, 50-424, and 50-425 cc: Distribution via ListServ
M. Ajluni
- 3 If you have any questions regarding this matter, I may be reached at (301) 415-1493.
Sincerely, IRA!
Robert E. Martin, Senior Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch 2-1 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-348, 50-364, 50-321, 50-366, 50-424, and 50-425 cc: Distribution via ListServ DISTRIBUTION:
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