ML22041A451

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Incoming Request-La Salle-Constellation Energy, COVID-19 Related Request for Exemption from Part 26 Work Hours Requirements
ML22041A451
Person / Time
Site: LaSalle  Constellation icon.png
Issue date: 02/10/2022
From: Lueshen K
Constellation Energy Group
To: Bhalchandra Vaidya
Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
Download: ML22041A451 (5)
v • d • e


Text

COVID-19 Related Request for Exemption from Part 26 Work Hours Requirements

Submitted: Feb 10, 2022

1. Submitter Name/Title:

Kevin Lueshen, Sr. Manager - Licensing

2. Email Address Please enter the email address for which you would like to receive communications regarding this request.

Kevin.Lueshen@constellation.com

3. Organization Constellation Energy
4. Plant Name La Salle
5. Plant Unit(s): 1,2
6. Need By Date 2022-02-21
7. Docket Number(s)

Example: 05000313

05000373 05000374

8. License Number(s)

Example: DPR-51

NPF-11 NPF-18

9. NRC Licensing Project Manager B. VAIDYA
10. Statement that the licensee above can no longer meet the work hour controls of 10 CFR 26.205(d) for certain personnel or groups of personnel specified in 10 CFR 26.4(a) because of site specific issues as a result of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE).

As a result of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) public health emergency (PHE), Constellation Energy Generation, LLC (CEG) is requesting NRC approval to utilize the alternative work hour controls delineated in the NRCs March 28, 2020 letter (ML20087P237) and November 10, 2020 letter (ML20261H515) for LaSalle County Station, Units 1 and 2 (LaSalle) for the covered workers noted below.

CEG is requesting NRC approval to proactively enter the alternative work hour controls, as necessary, for the covered workers noted below. The basis for the request is that CEG is anticipating conditions where the station would no longer be able to meet the work-hour controls of 10 CFR 26.205(d)(1) through (d)(7) to support plant operational safety and security. The CDC has determined that the community transmission rate is now HIGH in LaSalle County (where Lasalle is located) and surrounding counties in Illinois. The HIGH transmission rate could impact the station's ability to meet the workhour controls of 10 CFR 26.205(d) in maintaining minimum staffing and ensuring that adequate qualified individuals of personnel specified in 10 CFR 26.4(a)(1) through (a)(5) are available to complete necessary operations, tests, inspections, and maintenance in a manner that supports nuclear safety and security. CEG has determined that implementing the alternative work hour controls, for the covered workers noted below would allow Lasalle to proactively ensure added flexibility facilitating worker and community protection while ensuring safe operation during the exemption period.

Exemption from the 10 CFR 26.205(d)(1) through (d)(7) requirements is intended to prevent and limit the spread of COVID-19 and to mitigate its effect should LaSalle staffing be significantly impacted. LaSalle intends to use the alternative controls, where necessary, to efficiently perform operation, inspection, maintenance and testing activities that cannot be performed in accordance with the CDC recommendations related to social distancing, mask usage, worker screening, and limiting close proximity work. This practice will reduce the number of people involved in specific activities to limit the potential spread of COVID-19 and supports LaSalle's continuing efforts to maintain CDC recommendations. In addition, the alternative controls will be used to mitigate the staffing impacts should personnel absences challenge required staffing levels. As the US Departments of Homeland Security and Energy have stated in their guidance, the electric grid and nuclear plant operation make up the nations critical infrastructure similar to the medical, food, communications, and other critical industries. LaSalle's operation must be conducted such that the operating unit can be maintained on-line safely, and the upcoming outage can be completed safely and efficiently such that the plant is available when needed to support the critical infrastructure.

In accordance with the NRC Letter from H. Nieh to NEI, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Planned Actions Related to the Requirements for Work Hour Controls During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Public Health Emergency, dated March 28, 2020 (ML20087P237) and NRC Letter from H. Nieh to NEI, "U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Updated Planned Actions Related to Certain Requirements for Operating and Decommissioning Reactor Licensees During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Public Health Emergency," dated November 10, 2020 (ML20261H515), the following work groups would begin phasing in the site-specific alternative controls, as necessary, to minimize transition issues:

11. List of personnel or groups of personnel specified in 10 CFR 26.4(a) for which the licensee will maintain current work hour controls under 10 CFR 26.205(d)(1)-(d)(7).

N/A

12. List and description of alternative controls for the management of fatigue to address site specific issues as a result of the COVID-19 PHE.

LaSalle's site-specific COVID-19 PHE fatigue-management controls are consistent with the constraints outlined in the referenced NRC letters and their attachments and enclosures. LaSalle will continue to follow the fatigue management controls, behavioral observation requirements, and self-declaration allowances currently delineated within the CEG work hour control program and procedures (LS AA 119, SY AA 102, SY AA 103-500).

The requirements of 10 CFR 26.33, Behavioral observation; 10 CFR 26.209, Self-declarations; and 10 CFR 26.211, Fatigue assessments remain in effect during the period of the exemption. These requirements provide reasonable assurance that should personnel become impaired due to fatigue, requirements and processes are in place to identify the impairment through observation by plant staff or by worker self-declaration, and to assess and address instances of impairment through fatigue assessments.

13. Date when the licensee will begin implementing its site-specific COVID-19 PHE fatigue-management controls for personnel specified in 10 CFR 26.4(a)

2022-02-21

14. The time when the licensee will begin implementing its alternative controls for the management of fatigue for personnel (or group of personnel) specified in 10 CFR 26.4(a).

00:00

15. Statement that the licensees site specific alternative controls for the management of fatigue are consistent with the minimum alternative controls listed below.

LaSalle's site-specific COVID-19 PHE fatigue-management controls are consistent with the constraints outlined in the referenced NRC letters, dated March 28, 2020 and November 10, 2020.

16. Does Licensee continue to meet the requirements of 10 CFR 26.33, Behavioral observation; 10 CFR 26.209, Self declarations; and 26.211, Fatigue assessments.

Yes

17. The alternative controls include the following, as a minimum:
1. Individuals will not work more than 16 work-hours in any 24-hour period and not more than 86 work-hours in any 7-day period, excluding shift turnover;
2. A minimum 10-hour break is provided between successive work periods;
3. 12-hour shifts are limited to not more than 14 consecutive days;
4. A minimum of 6-days off are provided in any 30 -day period; and
5. Changes in actions to meet requirements for behavioral observation for both acute and cumulative fatigue and self declaration during the period of the exemption as appropriate due to potential for increased worker fatigue.

Yes

18. Additional Information:

Use the area below to provide any additional information related to your exemption request.

Upon NRC approval, LaSalle would implement the alternative controls described in the referenced NRC letters for the management of fatigue on February 21, 2022 for an initial period of 60 days. Near the end of the 60-day period, if COVID-19 pandemic conditions persist at the site affecting staffing requirements and the efforts to maintain CDC, state and local recommendations related to social distancing, worker screening, and limiting close-proximity work, as well as of particular concern is the COVID-19 challenge in the immediate community of LaSalle, an additional email supplement request may be submitted to extend the 60-day exemption period implementation.

Two previous LaSalle exemptions from select requirements of 10 CFR Part 26 due to the potential impact of COVID-19 were approved by the NRC and in effect between December 7, 2020 to February 4, 2021 (ML20330A326) and February 5, 2021 to April 5, 2021 (ML21025A294).

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