ML23165A250

Issuance of Amendment No. 237 Request for Deviation from Fire Protection Requirements

ML23165A250
Person / Time
Site:	Wolf Creek
Issue date:	08/31/2023
From:	Samson Lee NRC/NRR/DORL/LPL4
To:	Reasoner C Wolf Creek
References
EPID L-2022-LLA-0107
Download: ML23165A250 (1)

Text

August 31, 2023

Mr. Cleveland Reasoner Chief Executive Officer and Chief Nuclear Officer Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation P.O. Box 411 Burlington, KS 66839

SUBJECT:

WOLF CREEK GENERATING STATION, UNIT 1 - ISSUANCE OF AMENDMENT NO. 237 RE: REQUEST FOR DEVIATION FROM FIRE PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS (EPID L-2022-LLA-0107)

Dear Mr. Reasoner:

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) has issued the enclosed Amendment No. 237 to Renewed Facility Operating License No. NPF-42 for the Wolf Creek Generating Station, Unit 1. The amendment consists of changes to the renewed facility operating license and the Updated Safety Analysis Report (USAR) in response to your application dated August 2, 2022, as supplemented by letters dated January 26, and August 8, 2023.

The amendment revises License Condition 2.C.(5), Fire Protection (Section 9.5.1, SER [Safety Evaluation Report], Section 9.5.1.8, SSER [Supplement to SER] #5), and the USAR to allow the use of hard hat mounted portable lights as the primary emergency lighting means in certain fire areas for illuminating safe shutdown equipment, and access and egress routes to the equipment.

C. Reasoner

A copy of the related Safety Evaluation is enclosed. Notice of Issuance will be included in the Commissions monthly Federal Register notice.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Samson S. Lee, Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch IV Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Docket No. 50-482

Enclosures:

1. Amendment No. 237 to NPF-42

2. Safety Evaluation

cc: Listserv WOLF CREEK NUCLEAR OPERATING CORPORATION

WOLF CREEK GENERATING STATION, UNIT 1

DOCKET NO. 50-482

AMENDMENT TO RENEWED FACI LITY OPERATING LICENSE

Amendment No. 237 License No. NPF-42

1. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) has found that:

A. The application for amendment to the Wolf Creek Generating Station, Unit 1 (the facility) Renewed Facility Operating License No. NPF-42 filed by the Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation (the Corporation), dated August 2, 2022, as supplemented by letters dated January 26, and August 8, 2023, complies with the standards and requirements of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (the Act), and the Commissions rules and regulations set forth in 10 CFR Chapter I;

B. The facility will operate in conformity with the application, as amended, the provisions of the Act, and the rules and regulations of the Commission;

C. There is reasonable assurance (i) that the activities authorized by this amendment can be conducted without endangering the health and safety of the public, and (ii) that such activities will be conducted in compliance with the Commissions regulations;

D. The issuance of this amendment will not be inimical to the common defense and security or to the health and safety of the public; and

E. The issuance of this amendment is in accordance with 10 CFR Part 51 of the Commissions regulations and all applicable requirements have been satisfied.

Enclosure 1

2. Accordingly, the license is hereby amended as indicated in the attachment to this license amendment, and paragraph 2.C.(5) of Renewed Facility Operating License No. NPF-42 is hereby amended to read, in part, as follows

(5) Fire Protection (Section 9.5.1, SER Section 9.5.1.8, SSER #5)

(a) The Operating Corporation shall maintain in effect all provisions of the approved fire protection program as described in the SNUPPS Final Safety Analysis Report for the facility through Revision 17, the Wolf Creek site addendum through Revision 15, as approved in the SER through Supplement 5, Amendment 189, Amendment No. 191, Amendment No. 193, Amendment No. 205, Amendment No. 214, and Amendment No. 237, subject to provisions b and c below.

In addition, by Amendment No. 237, Renewed Facility Operating License No. NPF 42 is hereby amended to authorize revision to t he Updated Safety Analysis Report (USAR) as set forth in the licensees application dated August 2, 2022, as supplemented by letters dated January 26, and August 8, 2023, and evaluated in the NRC staffs safety evaluation associated with this amendment. The licensee shall submit the update of the USAR authorized by this amendment in accordance with 10 CFR 50.71(e).

3. The license amendment is effective as of its date of issuance and shall be implemented within 90 days of the date of issuance.

FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Jennifer L. Dixon-Herrity, Chief Plant Licensing Branch IV Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Attachment:

Changes to the Renewed Facility Operating License

Date of Issuance: August 31, 2023 ATTACHMENT TO LICENSE AMENDMENT NO. 237 TO

RENEWED FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE NO. NPF-42

WOLF CREEK GENERATING STATION, UNIT 1

DOCKET NO. 50-482

Replace the following page of Renewed Facility Operating License No. NPF-42 with the attached revised page. The revised page is identified by amendment number and contains a marginal line indicating the area of change.

Renewed Facility Operating License

REMOVE INSERT

5 5

5

(5) Fire Protection (Section 9.5.1, SER, Section 9.5.1.8, SSER #5)

(a) The Operating Corporation shall maintain in effect all provisions of the approved fire protection program as described in the SNUPPS Final Safety Analysis Report for the facility through Revision 17, the Wolf Creek site addendum through Revision 15, as approved in the SER through Supplement 5, Amendment 189, Amendment No. 191, Amendment No. 193, Amendment No. 205, Amendment No. 214, and Amendment No. 237, subject to provisions b and c below.

(b) The licensee may make changes to the approved fire protection program without prior approval of the Commission only if those changes would not adversely affect the ability to achieve and maintain safe shutdown in the event of a fire.

(c) Deleted.

(6) Qualification of Personnel (Section 13.1.2, SSER #5, Section 18, SSER

1. 1)

Deleted per Amendment No. 141.

(7) NUREG-0737 Supplement 1 Conditions (Section 22, SER)

Deleted per Amendment No. 141.

(8) Post-Fuel-Loading Initial Test Program (Section 14, SER Section 14, SSER #5)

Deleted per Amendment No. 141.

(9) Inservice Inspection Program (Sections 5.2.4 and 6.6, SER)

Deleted per Amendment No. 141.

(10) Emergency Planning

Deleted per Amendment No. 141.

(11) Steam Generator Tube Rupture (Section 15.4.4, SSER #5)

Deleted per Amendment No. 141.

(12) LOCA Reanalysis (Section 15.3.7, SSER #5)

Deleted per Amendment No. 141.

Renewed License No. NPF-42 Amendment No. 214, 237 SAFETY EVALUATION BY THE OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION

RELATED TO AMENDMENT NO. 237 TO

RENEWED FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE NO. NPF-42

WOLF CREEK NUCLEAR OPERATING CORPORATION

WOLF CREEK GENERATING STATION, UNIT 1

DOCKET NO. 50-482

1.0 INTRODUCTION

By letter dated August 2, 2022 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No.ML22215A000), as supplemented by letters dated January 26, and August 8, 2023 (ML23026A359 and ML23220A422, respectively), Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation (the licensee) submitted a license amendment request (LAR) for the Wolf Creek Generating Station, Unit 1 (Wolf Creek), in accordance with Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Section 50.90, Application for amendment of license, construction permit, or early site permit, requesting changes to the fire protection License Condition 2.C.(5), Fire Protection (Section 9.5.1, SER [Safety Evaluation Report],

Section 9.5.1.8, SSER [Supplement to SER] #5). The LAR proposed a deviation from the requirements of 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix R, Fire Protection Program for Nuclear Power Facilities Operating Prior to January 1, 1979. Specifically, the licensee proposed a deviation from Wolf Creek Updated Safety Analysis Report (USAR), Appendix 9.5E, 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix R Comparison (ML22151A150), to allow the use of hard hat mounted portable lights as the primary emergency lighting means in cert ain fire areas for illuminating safe shutdown equipment, and access and egress routes to the equipment in lieu of meeting the requirements of 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix R, Section III.J, Emergency lighting.

The supplemental letters dated January 26, and August 8, 2023, provided additional information that clarified the application, did not expand the scope of the application as originally noticed, and did not change the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or the Commission) staffs original proposed no significant hazards consideration determination as published in the Federal Register on October 4, 2022 (87 FR 60217).

2.0 REGULATORY EVALUATION

2.1 Program Description and Regulatory Requirements

The regulations in 10 CFR 50.48(a), require that each operating nuclear power plant have a fire protection plan which satisfies Criterion 3, Fire protection, of Appendix A to 10 CFR Part 50, General Design Criteria for Nuclear Power Plants. Specific fire protection features deemed

Enclosure 2

necessary to ensure this capability are delineated in Appendix R to 10 CFR Part 50. Criterion 3 of Appendix A to 10 CFR Part 50, requires, in part, that [s]tructures, systems, and components

[SSCs] important to safety shall be designed and located to minimize, the probability and effect of fire and explosions. It further requires that the [f]irefighting systems shall be designed to assure that their rupture or inadvertent operation does not significantly impair the capability of these structures, systems, and components.

The regulations in 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix R establish fire protection features required to satisfy Criterion 3 of Appendix A to 10 CFR Part 50 with respect to certain generic issues for nuclear power plants licensed to operate prio r to January 1, 1979. One of the principal objectives of the commercial nuclear power plant fire protection program is to ensure that the risk of fire-induced radiological hazards to the public, environment and plant personnel is minimized. To meet this objective, 10 CFR 50.48, Fire protection, requires each operating nuclear power plant to have the means to limit fire damage to SSCs important to safety so that the capability to shut down the plant safely is ensured. The objective of safe shutdown of the plant is to assure that at least one means of achieving and maintaining safe shutdown capability is available during and after any postulated fire.

Wolf Creek was licensed to operate on June 4, 1985, and thus, is not subject to Appendix R to 10 CFR Part 50. However, the licensee committed to meet the requirements of Appendix R to 10 CFR Part 50, Section III.J to provide emergency lighting to assure safe shutdown capability is maintained during and after a fire. Appendix R to 10 CFR Part 50, Section III.J, states that, Emergency lighting units with at least an 8-hour battery power supply shall be provided in all areas needed for operation of safe shutdown equipment and in access and egress routes thereto. The objective of this requirement is that in the event of a fire, adequate lighting will be available to assure that the plant can be safely shut down.

The Wolf Creek operating license includes a fire protection license condition requiring the implementation of an approved fire protection program. License Condition 2.C.(5) allows the licensee to make changes to an approved fire protection program without prior NRC staff approval only if those changes would not adversely affect the ability to achieve and maintain safe shutdown in the event of a fire. All changes to the fire protection program must ensure that compliance is maintained with the requirements of 10 CFR 50.48(a).

2.2 Licensees Proposed Changes

The licensees proposed changes would revise paragraph 2.C.(5)(a) of Renewed Facility Operating License NPF-42 and the fire protection program as described in the USAR for Wolf Creek.

The licensee proposes to revise License Condi tion 2.C.(5) by adding this current license amendment, as approved, to state (changes shown in bold):

(a) The Operating Corporation shall maintain in effect all provisions of the approved fire protection program as described in the SNUPPS Final Safety Analysis Report for the facility through Revision 17, the Wolf Creek site addendum through Revision 15, as approved in the SER through Supplement 5, Amendment 189, Amendment No. 191, Amendment No. 193, Amendment No. 205, Amendment No. 214, and Amendment No. 237, subject to provisions b and c below.

The licensee proposes to revise Wolf Creek USAR table 9.5E-1 (Sheet 19) and sections 9.5.3.1.2, Power Generation Design Bases; 9.5.3.2.3, Emergency Lighting Systems; and 9.5.3.3, Failure Analysis. The licensee proposes to delete the current wording in USAR table 9.5E-1 (Sheet 19) for 10 CFR 50 Appendix R, Section III.J in its entirety and replace with the following:

The emergency lighting strategy involves a diverse approach utilizing the following:

8-hour fixed battery units for the locations that may require long term attendance in support of safe shutdown. These locations are identified in E-1F9900.

Portable (hard hat mounted) lighting for illuminating implementing procedures, safe shutdown equipment, and the access egress routes to the equipment. This will be the primary emergency lighting method for most locations.

1.5-hour fixed battery units for firefighting activities, life safety access/egress, and supplementary lighting to portable lighting.

The licensee proposes to revise Wolf Creek USAR section 9.5.3.1.2 to state (changes shown in bold):

POWER GENERATION DESIGN BASES ONE. Adequate fixed and/or portable lighting is provided for areas used during shutdown or emergency, including the appropriate access or exit routes.

The licensee proposes to revise Wolf Creek USAR section 9.5.3.2.3 to state (changes shown in bold):

The fixed emergency lighting system consists of individual sealed-beam, self-contained, 8-hour battery units to provide illumination of panel locations that may require long term attendance in support of safe shutdown.

Portable lighting, via a hard hat mounted headlamp worn by Operations personnel designated for operator manual action response, is credited as the primary emergency lighting means for illuminating implementing procedures, safe shutdown equipment, and the respective access egress routes to the equipment in support of post-fire safe shutdown or a non-fire event resulting in the loss of all AC [alternating current] power. Spare portable lighting and batteries are strategically located in the plant to ensure adequate reserve illumination capability for the portable lighting.

Refer to E-1F9900 for the technical basis supporting the use of portable lighting as the primary emergency lighting means for operator manual actions.

For cold shutdown, operator actions may be required in the electrical penetration rooms (1409 and 1410) to isolate the accumulator tanks and to open the RHR

[residual heat removal] suction valves from the hot legs. These actions may be taken as late as 72 hours8.333333e-4 days <br />0.02 hours <br />1.190476e-4 weeks <br />2.7396e-5 months <br /> following an event. The safe shutdown scenario does not require access to the containment for hot shutdown but could require access to containment for cold shutdown.

In areas required to be manned for safe shutdown, sufficient lighting with 8-hour battery packs is directed at the control panels to enable operation of controls. This includes the following:

a. Main control board

b. Auxiliary shutdown panel(s)

c. Diesel generator control panel(s)

In the area above the main control board and operators console, the emergency lighting system consists of emergency lights with 8 hour9.259259e-5 days <br />0.00222 hours <br />1.322751e-5 weeks <br />3.044e-6 months <br /> battery packs and fixtures supplied from a Class IE battery through a normally deenergized contactor. The contactor control circuit monitors the normal ac [alternating current] lighting feed and automatically energizes the fixtures from one Class IE battery upon loss of ac power. The contactor, switch, wiring, raceways, and fixture mounting for this system are equivalent to Class IE with regard to separation, color coding, and seismic supports.

Remaining fixed emergency lighting units for the powerblock have 1.5 hour5.787037e-5 days <br />0.00139 hours <br />8.267196e-6 weeks <br />1.9025e-6 months <br /> battery capacity, which provides illumination for fire fighting activities, life safety access/egress, and supplemental lighting to portable lighting. Each unit is connected to the normal lighting ac source for maintaining the charge and is automatically transferred to its internal battery upon loss of ac power.

The licensee proposes to revise Wolf Creek USAR section 9.5.3.3 to state (changes shown in bold):

The emergency lighting strategy involves a diverse approach utilizing the following:

8-hour fixed battery units for the locations that may require long term attendance in support of safe shutdown. These locations are identified in E-1F9900.

Portable (hard hat mounted) lighting for illuminating implementing procedures, safe shutdown equipment, and the access egress routes to the equipment. This will be the primary emergency lighting method for most locations.

1.5-hour fixed battery units for firefighting activities, life safety access/egress, and supplementary lighting to portable lighting.

The standby lighting system is powered from the emergency diesel generators in the event of the loss of offsite power. Refer to Section 9.5.3.2.2.

3.0 TECHNICAL EVALUATION

In its LAR dated August 2, 2022, the licensee requested a deviation from certain technical requirements of 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix R, Section III.J (as documented in Appendix 9.5E of the Wolf Creek USAR). Specifically, the licensee requested the use of hard hat mounted portable lights in certain fire areas as the primary emergency lighting means for illuminating implementing procedures, safe shutdown equipmen t, and the respective access egress routes to the equipment in support of post-fire safe shutdown or a non-fire event resulting in the loss of all AC power. The licensees proposed changes would replace the requirement of meeting the 8-hour fixed emergency lighting requirements of 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix R, Section III.J, referenced in Appendix 9.5E of the Wolf Creek USAR in certain fire areas.

The equipment needed for safe shutdown at Wolf Creek is maintained inside the main power block and several buildings onsite. Fixed emergency lighting is provided inside these buildings for areas needed for operation of safe shutdown equipment, as well as for access and egress routes in accordance with 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix R, Section llI.J.

The licensee requested to use hard hat mounted portable lights as an alternative for fixed emergency lighting units in the fire areas listed in table 1 of this safety evaluation (SE), where operator manual actions are performed.

Table 1 - Hard Hat Mounted Lighting Locations (identified in the LAR enclosure 1)

Fire Area Location A-16 Auxiliary Building 2026 General Corridor C-18 Control Building 2016 Cable Chase C-21 Control Building 2032 Lower Cable Spreading Room C-22 Control Building 2073-6 Upper Cable Spreading Room C-23 Control Building 2032 South Cable Chase C-24 Control Building 2032 North Cable Chase C-30 Control Building 2047-6 C-33 Control Building 2073-6

Fixed emergency lighting units with 8-hour battery capacity that will continue to be credited in the emergency lighting illumination response strategy for safe shutdown are listed in table 2 of this SE.

Table 2 Hour Emergency Lighting Locations (identified in LAR table E.2.5-1)

Asset Location QDC036 Control Room Equipment Cabinet Area QDC037 Control Room QDC038 Control Room QDC039 Control Room QDC040 Control Room QDC057 I QDC067 Control Room Equipment Cabinet Area QDC060 I QDC061 Control Room Shift Managers Office

1The body of the text in the LAR states that the hard hat mounted lighting and the 8-hour emergency lighting locations are identified in Enclosure 1 but the enclosure itself doesnt include the 1.

QDT018 Comm Corridor - Operations Hard Hat Rack QDA053 Auxiliary Shutdown Panel Room QDC046 A Emergency Diesel Generator Control Panel KJ121 QDC047 A Emergency Diesel Generator Panel NE107 QDC048 A Emergency Diesel Generator Panel NG03D QDC052 B Emergency Diesel Generator Panel KJ122 and NE106 QDC053 B Emergency Diesel Generator Panel NE106 QDC054 B Emergency Diesel Generator Panel NG04D

The fixed emergency lighting system is powered from vital buses. Upon loss of the normal power supply to the vital buses, the emergency diesel generators will provide power to the vital buses. Thus, the emergency lighting system will be continuously energized to the fire areas listed in table 2 of this SE.

Section III.J of Appendix R to 10 CFR Part 50, requires plants that are required to provide self-contained 8-hour battery-backed emergency lighting to illuminate the location of operator actions and access and egress routes thereto to perform operator manual actions credited for safe shutdown. The LAR credits the use of hard hat mounted portable lights in certain applications as the primary emergency lighting means for illuminating implementing procedures, safe shutdown equipment, and the respective access and egress routes to the equipment in support of post-fire safe shutdown or a non-fire event resulting in the loss of AC power. In the LAR, the licensee stated that Wolf Creek continues to maintain a deterministic fire protection license basis, with no plans to transition to a risk-informed, performance-based fire protection licensing basis (i.e., National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 805, Performance-Based Standard for Fire Protection for Light Water Reactor Electric Generating Plants, or 10 CFR 50.48(c)).

Based on its review of information in the LAR, the NRC staff provided a request for additional information (RAI) to the licensee on December 27, 2022 (ML22361A005). The NRC staffs RAI requested information concerning the performance of regular maintenance on emergency light fixtures that would no longer be required to illuminate safe shutdown equipment or access/egress paths. Furthermore, the NRC sta ffs RAI requested information regarding the status of updating the feasibility and reliability review for each fire area where operator manual actions are conducted since it did not appear to the NRC staff that this review had been updated to reflect the use of portable hard hat mounted lights in lieu of fixed emergency light fixtures.

In its response to the RAI by letter dated January 26, 2023, the licensee provided an updated evaluation that evaluated operator manual actions using hard hat mounted lights as the primary emergency lighting means in certain fire areas for illumination during safe shutdown implementing procedures, including the equipment, and respective access and egress routes to the equipment. The licensee stated that its evaluation concluded that the proposed change of crediting hard hat mounted portable lights in certain areas as the primary emergency lighting means does not adversely affect operator manual action implementation, uncertainty, or time margins.

In its response to the RAI, the licensee indicated that its evaluation determined that the post-fire operator manual actions for a fire outside the main control room continue to remain feasible and reliable demonstrating that the plant can be safely shutdown in the event of a fire. In addition, the licensee indicated that the performance of the operator manual actions in support of applicable procedures will not be adversely affected by the use of hard hat mounted portable

lights as the primary emergency lighting means. The licensee further indicated that for life safety access, egress, and for firefighting activities, 1.5-hour fixed lights will be available for supplementary lighting to the portable lights.

The licensee response to the RAI provided additional information the NRC staff needed to complete its review.

3.1 NRC Staff Evaluation

The underlying purpose of 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix R, Section Ill.J, is to ensure that adequate lighting is available to aid the operator for an extended period of time during plant fire emergencies. In plant areas, where installation of 8-hour battery backup supplied lighting is not achievable, the hard hat mounted portable lights accomplish the purpose of achieving adequate emergency lighting because they will ensure that adequate lighting is available to aid the operator for an extended period of time during plant fire emergencies.

The licensees proposed change would allow Wolf Creek to use hard hat mounted portable lights in certain fire areas in conjunction with the other installed fire protection features, to ensure the proper illumination of implementing procedures, safe shutdown equipment, and access and egress routes to the equipment, in lieu of meeting the requirements of 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix R, Section III.J, for 8-hour fixed emergency light fixture. The areas are listed in table 1 of this SE, and include fire areas A-16, C-18, C-21, C-22, C-23, C-24, C-30, and C-33.

The licensee stated that the defense-in-depth elements are maintained (i.e., control of transient combustible materials), through the implementation of administrative procedures, automatic fire detection and fire suppression systems are provided as required by the fire hazard analysis, portable fire extinguishers and fire hose stations are provided throughout the plant for manual firefighting, and passive fire barrier features (walls, floors/ceilings, fire dampers, doors, penetration seals, fire wrap, and structural steel fireproofing) separating redundant post-fire safe-shutdown components are installed in accordance with industry standards and fire tested assemblies. Therefore, fire areas A-16, C-18, C-21, C-22, C-23, C-24, C-30, and C-33 provide a level of safety that results in the unlikely occurrence of fires; rapid detection, control, and extinguishment of fires that do occur, and the protection of SSCs important to safety.

In addition, the licensee has provided preventative and protective measures in addition to feasible and reliable operator manual actions that together demonstrate the licensees ability to preserve or maintain safe shutdown capability at Wolf Creek in the event of a fire in the identified fire areas. An action is considered feasible if it is shown that it is possible to be performed within the available time (considering relevant uncertainties in estimating the time available). An action is considered to be reliable as well if it is shown that it can be dependably and repeatedly performed within the available time, by different crews, under somewhat varying conditions.

Based on its review of the information provided by the licensee, the NRC staff concluded that, in the event of a fire, the use of hard hat mounted portable lights in the fire areas listed in table 1 of this SE, will provide sufficient illumination to enable safe shutdown of the plant because the licensee has demonstrated that the actions remain feasible and reliable with the use of the hard hat mounted portable lights.

3.2 NRC Staff Conclusion

On the basis of this evaluation, the NRC sta ff concludes that the licensees proposed use of hard hat mounted portable lights in lieu of 8-hour battery supplied emergency light fixtures in the fire areas described in table 1 of this SE, satisfy the underlying purpose of 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix R, Section Ill.J, to provide sufficient illumination to the areas needed for operation of safe shutdown equipment and in access and egress routes thereto.

4.0 STATE CONSULTATION

In accordance with the Commissions regulations, the Kansas State official was notified of the proposed issuance of the amendment on May 18, 2023. The State official had no comments.

5.0 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATION

The amendment changes a requirement with respect to installation or use of a facility component located within the restricted area as defined in 10 CFR Part 20. The NRC staff has determined that the amendment involves no significant increase in the amounts, and no significant change in the types, of any effluents that may be released offsite, and that there is no significant increase in individual or cumulative occupational radiation exposure. The Commission has previously issued a proposed finding that the amendment involves no significant hazards consideration, published in the Federal Register on October 4, 2022 (87 FR 60217), and there has been no public comment on such finding. Accordingly, the amendment meets the eligibility criteria for catego rical exclusion set forth in 10 CFR 51.22(c)(9).

Pursuant to 10 CFR 51.22(b), no environmental impact statement or environmental assessment need be prepared in connection with the issuance of the amendment.

6.0 CONCLUSION

The Commission has concluded, based on the considerations discussed above, that: (1) there is reasonable assurance that the health and safety of the public will not be endangered by operation in the proposed manner, (2) there is reasonable assurance that such activities will be conducted in compliance with the Commissions regulations, and (3) the issuance of the amendment will not be inimical to the common defense and security or to the health and safety of the public.

Principal Contributors: N. Iqbal, NRR J. Robinson, NRR

Date: August 31, 2023

ML23165A250 *via memo dated **via email concurrence NRR-058 OFFICE NRR/DORL/LPL4/PM NRR/DORL/LPL4/LA** NRR/DRA/APLB/BC (A)* OGC**

NAME SLee PBlechman SMehta MCarpentier DATE 8/15/2023 6/28/2023 w/comments 5/15/2023 8/30/2023 OFFICE NRR/DORL/LPL4/BC** NRR/DORL/LPL4/PM**

NAME JDixon-Herrity SLee DATE 8/31/2023 8/31/2023