ML25346A012
| ML25346A012 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Palo Verde  |
| Issue date: | 01/05/2026 |
| From: | William Orders NRC/NRR/DORL/LPL4 |
| To: | Heflin A Arizona Public Service Co |
| Orders W, NRR/DORL/LPL4 | |
| References | |
| EPID L-2025-LLA-0069 | |
| Download: ML25346A012 (0) | |
Text
January 5, 2026 Mr. Adam 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 -
ISSUANCE OF AMENDMENT NOS. 227, 227, AND 227 RE: REVISION OF THE EMERGENCY PLAN (EPID L-2025-LLA-0069)
Dear Mr. Heflin:
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) has issued the enclosed Amendment No. 227 to Renewed Facility Operating License No. NPF-41, Amendment No. 227 to Renewed Facility Operating License No. NPF-51, and Amendment No. 227 to Renewed Facility Operating License No. NPF-74 for the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station (PVNGS),
Units 1, 2, and 3, respectively in response to your application dated April 8, 2025, as supplemented by \
letter dated August 15, 2025. The amendments consist of changes to the PVNGS Emergency Plan which revise the staffing requirement for the Shift Manager/Emergency Coordinator position in the PVNGS Emergency Plan along with staff augmentation times to 120 minutes for both normal and off normal timeframes.
A copy of the related Safety Evaluation is also enclosed. Notice of Issuance will be included in the Commissions monthly Federal Register notice.
Sincerely,
/RA/
William Orders, Senior Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch IV Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. STN 50-528, STN 50-529, and STN 50-530
Enclosures:
- 1. Amendment No. 227 to NPF-41
- 2. Amendment No. 227 to NPF-51
- 3. Amendment No. 227 to NPF-74
- 4. Safety Evaluation cc: Listserv
ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY, ET AL.
DOCKET NO. STN 50-528 PALO VERDE NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION, UNIT 1 AMENDMENT TO RENEWED FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE Amendment No. 227 License No. NPF-41
- 1.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) has found that:
A.
The application for amendment by the Arizona Public Service Company (APS) on behalf of itself and the Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District, El Paso Electric Company, Southern California Edison Company, Public Service Company of New Mexico, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, and Southern California Public Power Authority dated April 8, 2025, as supplemented by \
letter dated August 15, 2025, complies with the standards and requirements of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (the Act) and the Commissions regulations set forth in 10 CFR Chapter I; B.
The facility will operate in conformity with the application, 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.
- 2.
Accordingly, by Amendment No. 227, Renewed Facility Operating License No. NPF-41 is hereby amended to authorize the revision to the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station Emergency Plan as set forth in application dated April 8, 2025, as supplemented by \
letter dated August 15, 2025, and as evaluated in the NRC staffs safety evaluation issued with this amendment.
- 3.
This license amendment is effective as of the date of issuance and shall be implemented within six months of the date of issuance.
FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Jeremy Groom, Director (Acting)
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Attachment:
Changes to Renewed Facility Operating License No. NPF-41 Date of Issuance: January 5, 2026 JAMIE PELTON Digitally signed by JAMIE PELTON Date: 2026.01.05 13:42:56 -05'00'
ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY, ET AL.
DOCKET NO. STN 50-529 PALO VERDE NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION, UNIT 2 AMENDMENT TO RENEWED FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE Amendment No. 227 License No. NPF-51
- 1.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) has found that:
A.
The application for amendment by the Arizona Public Service Company (APS) on behalf of itself and the Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District, El Paso Electric Company, Southern California Edison Company, Public Service Company of New Mexico, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, and Southern California Public Power Authority dated April 8, 2025, as supplemented by \
letter dated August 15, 2025, complies with the standards and requirements of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (the Act) and the Commissions regulations set forth in 10 CFR Chapter I; B.
The facility will operate in conformity with the application, 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.
- 2.
Accordingly, by Amendment No. 227, Renewed Facility Operating License No. NPF-51 is hereby amended to authorize the revision to the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station Emergency Plan as set forth in application dated April 8, 2025, as supplemented by \
letter dated August 15, 2025, and as evaluated in the NRC staffs safety evaluation issued with this amendment
- 3.
This license amendment is effective as of the date of issuance and shall be implemented within six months of the date of issuance.
FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Jeremy Groom, Director (Acting)
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Attachment:
Changes to Renewed Facility Operating License No. NPF-51 Date of Issuance: January 5, 2026 JAMIE PELTON Digitally signed by JAMIE PELTON Date: 2026.01.05 13:43:20 -05'00'
ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY, ET AL.
DOCKET NO. STN 50-530 PALO VERDE NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION, UNIT 3 AMENDMENT TO RENEWED FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE Amendment No. 227 License No. NPF-74
- 1.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) has found that:
A.
The application for amendment by the Arizona Public Service Company (APS) on behalf of itself and the Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District, El Paso Electric Company, Southern California Edison Company, Public Service Company of New Mexico, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, and Southern California Public Power Authority dated April 8, 2025, as supplemented by \
letter dated August 15, 2025, complies with the standards and requirements of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (the Act) and the Commissions regulations set forth in 10 CFR Chapter I; B.
The facility will operate in conformity with the application, 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.
- 2.
Accordingly, by Amendment No. 227, Renewed Facility Operating License No. NPF-74 is hereby amended to authorize the revision to the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station Emergency Plan as set forth in application dated April 8, 2025, as supplemented by \
letter dated August 15, 2025, and as evaluated in the NRC staffs safety evaluation issued with this amendment
- 3.
This license amendment is effective as of the date of issuance and shall be implemented within six months of the date of issuance.
FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Jeremy Groom, Director (Acting)
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Attachment:
Changes to Renewed Facility Operating License No. NPF-74 Date of Issuance: January 5, 2026 JAMIE PELTON Digitally signed by JAMIE PELTON Date: 2026.01.05 13:43:55 -05'00'
SAFETY EVALUATION BY THE OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION RELATED TO AMENDMENT NOS. 227, 227, AND 227 TO RENEWED FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE NOS. NPF-41, NPF-51, AND NPF-74 ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY, ET AL.
PALO VERDE NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION, UNITS 1, 2, AND 3 DOCKET NOS. STN 50-528, STN 50-529, AND STN 50-530 1.0 INTRODUCTION By application dated April 8, 2025 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML25098A330), as supplemented by \
letter dated August 15, 2025 (ML25227A252), Arizona Public Service Company (APS, the licensee), requested U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC, the Commission) review and prior approval of a proposed license amendment request (LAR) to revise the Emergency Plan for the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station (PVNGS, Palo Verde) Units 1, 2, and 3 pursuant to Section 50.90 of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR).
The proposed changes to the PVNGS Emergency Plan would revise the staffing requirement for the Shift Manager/Emergency Coordinator position in the PVNGS Emergency Plan along with staff augmentation times to 120 minutes for both normal and off normal timeframes.
The supplemental \
letter dated August 15, 2025, provided additional information that clarified the application, did not expand the scope of the application as originally noticed, and did not change the NRC staffs proposed no significant hazards consideration determination as published in the Federal Register (FR) on June 10, 2025 (90 FR 24419).
2.0 REGULATORY EVALUATION
The regulatory requirements and guidance, on which the NRC staff based this review, are provided below.
2.1 Regulations The planning standards, as set forth in 10 CFR 50.47(b), establish the requirements that the onsite and offsite emergency response plans must meet for the NRC staff to find there is
reasonable assurance that the licensee will take adequate protective measures in the event of a radiological emergency.
Planning standard of 10 CFR 50.47(b)(2), states:
On-shift facility licensee responsibilities for emergency response are unambiguously defined, adequate staffing to provide initial facility accident response in key functional areas is maintained at all times, timely augmentation of response capabilities is available and the interfaces among various onsite response activities and offsite support and response activities are specified.
Section IV.A of Appendix E to 10 CFR Part 50 requires, in part:
The organization for coping with radiological emergencies shall be described, including definition of authorities, responsibilities, and duties of individuals assigned to the licensees emergency organization and the means for notification of such individuals in the event of an emergency.
2.2 Guidance NUREG 0654/FEMA-REP-1 [Federal Emergency Management Agency - Radiological Emergency Preparedness], Criteria for Preparation and Evaluation of Radiological Emergency Response Plans and Preparedness in Support of Nuclear Power Plants, Revision 2 (NUREG 0654) (ML19347D139), provides specific acceptance criteria that the NRC has determined to be an acceptable means of complying with the standards in 10 CFR 50.47. These criteria provide a basis for NRC licensees and State and local governments to develop acceptable radiological emergency preparedness plans.
3.0 TECHNICAL EVALUATION
3.1 Background
As stated in the application, the proposed PVNGS Emergency Plan revises the requirement for APS to maintain three Shift Manager/Emergency Coordinators on shift to only one Shift Manager/Emergency Coordinator for the site with another Emergency Coordinator qualified individual on shift that has a senior reactor operator level of knowledge. Additionally, the current augmentation time for normal hours would be changed from 60 minutes to as soon as possible but no later than 120 minutes after declaration of an Alert or higher emergency classification level.
The LAR includes enclosures that describe the licensees evaluation of the proposed changes to the PVNGS Emergency Plan. The LAR also included a detailed description, redline strikeout, and a justification for each change.
The licensee provided a copy of a letter from the State of Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs as Attachment 3, State and Local Government Review of License Amendment Changes, to the LAR. This letter confirmed that the State governmental agency reviewed the proposed changes, as described in the LAR against the State of Arizona and Maricopa County Offsite Emergency Response Plan, and that there were no adverse impacts identified to the offsite radiological emergency response program.
3.2 Evaluation The NRC staff reviewed the licensees technical justification of the proposed changes to the PVNGS Emergency Plan, in letter dated April 8, 2025, as supplemented by \
3.2.1 Shift Manager/Emergency Coordinators The command and control function identified in NUREG-0654, Table B 1, Minimum Staffing Requirements for Nuclear Power Plant Emergencies, states that an emergency coordinator respond to the technical support center (TSC) within 60 minutes of an Alert or higher emergency classification level and that an emergency director respond to the emergency operations facility (EOF) within 90 minutes of a Site Area Emergency or higher emergency classification level.
The current PVNGS Emergency Plan has an Emergency Coordinator respond to the TSC and an Emergency Operations Director respond to the EOF within 60 minutes during normal hours and 120 minutes during off hours of an Alert or higher emergency classification level.
APS proposes to change the number of Shift Manager/Emergency Coordinators in Table 1, of the PVNGS emergency plan that are on shift from one per unit (for a total of three) to one Site Shift Manager/Emergency Coordinator. The proposed change will also denote a second qualified Emergency Coordinator with a senior reactor operator level of knowledge who will be on shift and not assigned any technical specification required operating duties or other Emergency Response Organization (ERO) functions. This allows for command and control relief to the site Shift Manager/Emergency Coordinator by the additional on-shift Emergency Coordinator until facility augmentation is complete.
APS states that it will continue to maintain Shift Managers, Control Room Supervisors and Shift Technical Advisors, trained to the Emergency Coordinator level. APS further states the Shift Manager/EC or the additional qualified Emergency Coordinator will remain within the plant protected area and be able to immediately respond to perform the Emergency Coordinator function. APS further stated that upon any off normal event, the Shift Manager is required to promptly report to the Control Room. APS further stated that they do not use the Shift Technical Advisor as an on-shift Emergency Coordinator.
The NRC staff reviewed the licensees proposed changes to the command and control function and because the proposed PVNGS Emergency Plan will continue to maintain command and control function capabilities with one Site Shift Manager/Emergency Coordinator staffed by the affected unit Shift Manager and relief for the Site Shift Manager/Emergency Coordinator provided by a second on shift and onsite qualified Emergency Coordinator that is staffed by personnel not assigned Control Room Technical Specification operating, Emergency Plan duties or performing the Shift Technical Advisor function and has a Senior Reactor Operator level of knowledge of the affected Palo Verde facilities during an emergency, the NRC staff finds the proposed change to the command and control function acceptable.
Based on the above evaluation, the NRC staff has determined that the proposed PVNGS Emergency Plan will continue to meet the planning standard of 10 CFR 50.47(b)(2) and the requirements of Appendix E to 10 CFR Part 50, Section IV.A, regarding effective and timely command and control of licensee emergency response.
3.2.2 ERO Staff Augmentation NUREG-0654, Table B 1, Minimum Staffing Requirements for Nuclear Power Plant Emergencies, states that augmentation of the ERO functions responding to the TSC within 60 minutes of an Alert or greater emergency classification level, to the Operations Support Center (OSC) within 90 minutes of an Alert or greater emergency classification level, and to the EOF within 60 minutes of a Site Area Emergency or greater emergency classification level.
APS currently has an ERO augmentation time of 60 minutes for an Alert or greater emergency classification during normal hours and 120 minutes for an Alert or greater emergency classification for off-normal hours.
APS proposes changing the current augmentation time for normal hours from 60 minutes to as soon as possible but no later than 120 minutes after declaration of an Alert or higher emergency classification level.
APS states that the proposed change has activation of the emergency response facilities as soon as possible after the declaration of an Alert or higher emergency not to exceed 120 minutes. Facility activation occurs when at least the minimum staff personnel are in the facility, and an adequate turnover has occurred.
APS further states that support for the following functions remain on-shift at all times:
o Command-and-Control:
Augmented Command-and-Control assistance to the affected Unit Shift Manager in the form of a second qualified Emergency Coordinator.
Shift Managers, Control Room Supervisors and Shift Technical Advisors are all trained to the Emergency Coordinator position.
o Radiation Protection:
Additional Radiation Protection support for onsite and offsite field monitoring is available if needed.
Dose Assessment and Radiation Protection leadership available on shift.
o Repair Teams:
The number of plant equipment operators onsite (12, 4 per unit) allows for support of operations and maintenance critical activities at all times.
One mechanic, one electrician and one Instrumentation and Controls (I&C) technician to support critical maintenance activities at all times.
o Communications:
Offsite communications to State and local government and the NRC are in place.
o Engineering Support:
Unaffected unit Shift Technical Advisor.
o Security Leadership to support the callout process.
APS further states that on-shift maintenance technicians (mechanical, electrical and I&C) are in place for those expanded repair actions needed for critical safety function (CSF) restoration.
The capability of on-shift Plant Equipment Operators and the on-shift mechanical, electrical and I&C technicians ensure repair activities associated with restoration of CSFs (to include Emergency Core Cooling System) can progress until augmentation at the 120-minute timeframe.
The NRC staff reviewed the licensees proposed change to standardize ERO staff augmentation time to as soon as possible but not to exceed 120 minutes at all times following the declaration of an Alert or higher emergency classification level. The NRC staff finds that because APS maintains personnel on-shift and are onsite that would have responded to augment the ERO functions within 60 minutes of an Alert or greater emergency classification according to NUREG-0654, Rev. 2, Table B-1 for command and control, engineering support, repair activities, and communications functions, the NRC finds that the proposed change to the ERO augmentation time from 60 minutes to as soon as possible but no later than 120 minutes after declaration of an Alert or higher emergency classification level acceptable.
Therefore, the NRC staff concludes that the proposed PVNGS Emergency Plan continues to meet planning standard 10 CFR 50.47(b)(2) and the requirements in Section IV.A to Appendix E of 10 CFR Part 50.
4.0 STATE CONSULTATION
In accordance with the Commissions regulations, the Arizona State official was notified of the proposed issuance of the amendment on December 11, 2025. The State official had no comments.
5.0 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATION The amendment changes the site emergency plan. The amendment relates, in part, to changes in recordkeeping, reporting, or administrative procedures or requirements. The amendment also relates, in part, to changing requirements with respect to the installation or use of facility components 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 Federal Register on June,10, 2025 (90 FR 24419), and there has been no public comment on such finding. Accordingly, the amendment meets the eligibility criteria for categorical exclusion set forth in 10 CFR 51.22(c)(9) and 51.22(c)(10). Pursuant to 10 CFR 51.22(b), no environmental impact statement or environmental assessment needs to 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 amendments will not be inimical to the common defense and security or to the health and safety of the public.
Principal Contributors: Jeffrey Herrera, NSIR Jamole Skeeter, NSIR Date: January 5, 2026
ML25346A012 NRR-058 OFFICE NRR/DORL/LPL4/PM NRR/DORL/LPL4/LA NRR/DORL/LPL4/BC NAME WOrders PBlechman (SLent for)
TNakanishi (MMahoney for)
DATE 12/16/2025 12/17/2025 12/23/2025 OFFICE NRR/DORL/D (A)
NRR/D (A)
NRR/DORL/LPL4/PM NAME ARivera-Varona JGroom (JPelton for)
WOrders DATE 12/23/2025 1/5/2026 1/5/2026