ML26030A043
| ML26030A043 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Duane Arnold  (DPR-049) |
| Issue date: | 01/30/2026 |
| From: | Ballard B Plant Licensing Branch III |
| To: | Jennifer Davis, Murrell R NextEra Energy Duane Arnold |
| References | |
| EPID L-2025-LLA-0205 | |
| Download: ML26030A043 (0) | |
Text
1 Brent Ballard From:
Brent Ballard Sent:
Friday, January 30, 2026 9:03 AM To:
Murrell, Robert; Davis, James Cc:
Subject:
Duane Arnold Energy Center - Acceptance of License Amendment Request to Revise the Physical Security Plan to Support Resumption of Power Operations (EPID L-2025-LLA-0205)
Good morning, By letter dated December 17, 2025, (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS)
Accession No. ML25363A083), NextEra Energy Duane Arnold, LLC (NEDA), submitted a license amendment request (LAR) for the Duane Arnold Energy Center (DAEC) to revise the Physical Security Plan to support resumption of power operations at DAEC. The purpose of this e-mail is to provide the results of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) stas acceptance review of this amendment request. The acceptance review was performed to determine whether the application contains suicient technical information to allow the NRC sta to complete a detailed technical review. The acceptance review is also intended to identify any readily apparent de"ciencies related to the characterization of the regulatory requirements or plant licensing basis.
Consistent with Section 50.90 of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), an application for an amendment to a license must fully describe the changes requested, and following as far as applicable, the form prescribed for original applications. Section 50.34 of 10 CFR addresses the content of technical information required. This section stipulates that the submittal address the design and operating characteristics, unusual or novel design features, and principal safety considerations.
The NRC sta has reviewed your application and concluded that it includes technical information in suicient detail to enable the NRC sta to complete its detailed technical review and make an independent assessment regarding the acceptability of the proposed amendment in terms of regulatory requirements and the protection of public health and safety and the environment. Given the more limited scope and depth of the acceptance review compared to the detailed technical review, issues that aect the NRC stas ability to complete the technical review may still be identi"ed despite the acceptance review being deemed adequate. If additional information is needed, you will be noti"ed by separate correspondence.
Due to insuicient precedent to support a schedule or hour estimate, the NRC sta based its estimate on the information provided in your submittal, discussions during the pre-licensing meeting on October 27, 2025, and the Graded Estimate Method (GEM) for licensing actions, which was discussed with industry during a public workshop on August 5, 2025 (ML25217A212). The sta estimates that this licensing request will require approximately 300 hours0.00347 days <br />0.0833 hours <br />4.960317e-4 weeks <br />1.1415e-4 months <br /> to complete and 9 months. Accordingly, the NRC sta expects to complete the safety review by October 2026 and issue the amendment coincident with issuance of NEDAs 10 CFR 50.82(a)(2) exemption request (ML25023A270), if approved.
If emergent complexities or challenges arise during the NRC stas review that aect the initial forecasted completion date or result in signi"cant changes to the estimated review hours, the reasons for those changes along with updated estimateswill be communicated during routine interactions with the assigned project manager. These estimates are based on the NRC stas initial review of the application and may change due to several factors, including requests for additional information, unanticipated expansion of the review scope, involvement of NRC advisory committees, hearing-related activities, or if the submittal is provided to the NRC in advance of or concurrently with industry program initiatives or pilot applications.
2 If you have any questions, please contact me.
Brent Ballard Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch III Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 301-415-0680