ML23046A036
| ML23046A036 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Palo Verde  |
| Issue date: | 03/14/2023 |
| From: | Dennis Galvin NRC/NRR/DORL/LPL4 |
| To: | Heflin A Arizona Public Service Co |
| References | |
| EPID L-2023-LLO-0000 | |
| Download: ML23046A036 (1) | |
Text
March 14, 2023 Mr. Adam C. Heflin Executive Vice President/
Chief Nuclear Officer Mail Station 7605 Arizona Public Service Company P.O. Box 52034 Phoenix, AZ 85072-2034
SUBJECT:
PALO VERDE NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION, UNITS 1, 2, AND 3 -
ORDER EXTENDING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE APPROVAL OF THE INDIRECT TRANSFER OF THE CO-OWNER LICENSES FROM PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF NEW MEXICO TO AVANGRID, INC.
(EPID L-2023-LLO-0000)
Dear Mr. Heflin:
By letter dated February 10, 2023 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML23041A441), Arizona Public Service Company (APS), on behalf of Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM), Avangrid, Inc. (Avangrid), and their corporate affiliates (together, the applicants), requested that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) extend by 1 year its prior approvals of the applicants applications, pursuant to Section 184 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, and Sections 50.80, Transfer of licenses, and 72.50, Transfer of license, of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations, for NRC consent to the indirect transfer of PNMs interests in Renewed Facility Operating License Nos.
NPF-41, NPF-51, and NPF-74 for the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station (Palo Verde),
Units 1, 2, and 3, respectively, and the associated general license for the Palo Verde independent spent fuel storage installation (the NRC licenses).
On May 25, 2021, the NRC issued an indirect transfer order approving the indirect transfer of PNMs 10.2 percent tenant-in-common interest and possession-only rights in the NRC licenses to Avangrid (ML21118B029). The indirect transfer order was effective upon issuance and stated that, should the proposed indirect transfer not be completed within 1 year of the date of the order, the order would become null and void, provided, however, that upon written application and for good cause shown, such date may be extended by order. On May 10, 2022, the NRC issued an order extending the effectiveness of the indirect transfer order from May 25, 2022, to May 25, 2023 (ML22101A266) in response to a request dated February 8, 2022 (ML22040A068).
By order dated December 8, 2021, the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (NMPRC) declined to issue the regulatory approvals necessary for the applicants to consummate the proposed indirect transfer. The applicants have obtained all other required regulatory approvals, but they cannot proceed with the transfer without the approval of the NMPRC.
On January 3, 2022, the applicants filed a Notice of Appeal of the NMPRC order to the Supreme Court of New Mexico. It is not expected, however, that these further legal proceedings will be resolved within the 1-year effectiveness of the initial extended indirect transfer order (i.e., by May 25, 2023).
The NRC staff has considered the information presented in the applicants February 10, 2023, extension request and determined that the applicants have shown good cause for extending the effectiveness of the indirect transfer order from May 25, 2023, to May 25, 2024. The enclosed order approves this extension.
The NRC staff safety evaluation supporting the indirect transfer order remains valid (ML21118B028). The extension order is being forwarded to the Office of the Federal Register for publication.
Should you have any questions concerning this action, please contact me at 301-415-6256 or via email at Dennis.Galvin@nrc.gov.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Dennis J. Galvin, Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch IV Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos.: STN 50-528, STN 50-529, STN 50-530, and 72-44
Enclosure:
Order Extending the Effectiveness of the Approval of the Indirect Transfer of Licenses cc: Listserv
ENCLOSURE ORDER EXTENDING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE APPROVAL OF THE INDIRECT TRANSFER OF LICENSES PALO VERDE NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION, UNITS 1, 2, AND 3 AND INDEPENDENT SPENT FUEL STORAGE INSTALLATION
Package: ML23045A228 Letter: ML23046A036 Order: ML23045A355 FRN (not in pkg): ML23045A311
- via email OFFICE NRR/DORL/LPL4/PM*
NRR/DORL/LPL4/LA*
OGC - NLO*
NAME DGalvin PBlechman KDowling DATE 2/17/2023 2/16/2023 3/6/2023 OFFICE NRR/DORL/LPL4/BC*
NRR/DORL/D*
NRR/DORL/LPL4/PM*
NAME JDixon-Herrity BPham (GSuber for)
DGalvin DATE 3/7/2023 3/14/2023 3/14/2023