ML26036A111
| ML26036A111 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Palo Verde  |
| Issue date: | 02/04/2026 |
| From: | William Orders NRC/NRR/DORL/LPL4 |
| To: | Dilorenzo M Arizona Public Service Co |
| Orders, William | |
| References | |
| EPID L-2025-LLR-0098 | |
| Download: ML26036A111 (0) | |
Text
From:
William Orders Sent:
February 4, 2026 To:
Michael.Dilorenzo@aps.com
Subject:
Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station (PVNGS) Unit 1 Docket No. STN 50-528 Renewed Operating License No. NPF-41 Relief Request 77 - Pressurizer Lower Instrument Nozzle
Dear Michael Dilorenzo,
By letter dated December 19, 2025, (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System Accession No. ML25262A158), in accordance with 10 CFR 50.55a(z)(1), Arizona Public Service Company (the licensee) requested Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approval of a proposed alternative for Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, Unit 1.
Pursuant to Sections 50.55a(z)(1) of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), the applicant must demonstrate that the proposed alternative(s) would provide an acceptable level of quality and safety, or that compliance with the specified requirements of Section 50.55a would result in hardship or unusual difficulty without a compensating increase in the level of quality or safety.
The purpose of this e-mail is to provide the results of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staffs acceptance review of this relief request. The review was performed to determine whether the application contains sufficient technical information to allow the NRC staff to complete a detailed technical review. The review is also intended to identify any readily apparent deficiencies related to the characterization of the regulatory requirements or plant licensing basis.
The NRC staff has reviewed your application and concluded that it includes technical information in sufficient detail to enable the NRC staff to complete its comprehensive technical review and make an independent assessment regarding the acceptability of the proposed 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 affect the NRC staffs ability to complete the technical review may still be identified despite the conclusions of the acceptance review. If additional information is needed, you will be notified by separate correspondence.
The NRC staff evaluated precedents related to this request employing Graded Estimate Method (GEM) for Licensing Actions (GEM) which was discussed with industry during a public workshop on August 5, 2025 (ML25217A212). Based on the GEM approach, the review time estimate for this review is 94 hours0.00109 days <br />0.0261 hours <br />1.554233e-4 weeks <br />3.5767e-5 months <br />, completing the review by June 30, 2026. If achieved, this represents approximately a 20% reduction in estimated hours and a 20% reduction in review time. These estimates are based on the NRC staffs initial review of the application, which could change due to several factors including requests for additional information, and unanticipated addition to the scope of the review. Additional delay may occur if the submittal is provided to the NRC in advance of or in parallel with industry program initiatives or pilot applications.
If emergent complexities or challenges arise during the NRC staffs review that affect the forecasted completion date or result in significant changes to the estimated review hours, the
reasons for those changesalong with updated estimateswill be communicated during routine interactions with the assigned project manager.
If you have any questions, please contact me at (301) 415-3329 or by email to William.Orders@nrc.gov.
Sincerely, William T. Orders, Senior Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch LPL4 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No.
50-528 cc: Listserv