ML26069A378
| ML26069A378 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Duane Arnold  (DPR-049) |
| Issue date: | 03/09/2026 |
| From: | Justin Poole Plant Licensing Branch III |
| To: | Jennifer Davis, Murrell R NextEra Energy Duane Arnold |
| Wall S | |
| References | |
| EPID L-2026-LLA-0019 | |
| Download: ML26069A378 (0) | |
Text
From:
Justin Poole To:
Murrell, Robert; Davis, James
Subject:
Duane Arnold Energy Center - Acceptance of License Amendment Request to Revise the Site Emergency Plan and EAL Scheme to Support Resumption of Power Operations (L-2026-LLA-0019)
Date:
Monday, March 9, 2026 1:05:00 PM Bob/Mike,
By letter dated January 30, 2026 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System(ADAMS) Accession No. ML26033A048), NextEra Energy Duane Arnold, LLC (NEDA),
submitted a license amendment request (LAR) for the Duane Arnold Energy Center (DAEC).
NEDA proposes to revise the DAEC Site Emergency Plan and emergency action level classification scheme to reflect the 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) staffs acceptance review of this amendment request. The acceptance review was performed to determine whether the application contains sufficient technical information to allow the NRC staff to complete a detailed technical review. The acceptance review is also intended to identify any readily apparent deficiencies 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 (10CFR), 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 10CFR 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 staff has reviewed your application and concluded that it includes technical information in sufficient detail to enable the NRC staff 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 affect the NRC staffs ability to complete the technical review may still be identified despite the acceptance review being deemed adequate. If additional information is needed, you will be notified by separate correspondence.
Due to insufficient precedent to support a schedule or hour estimate, the NRC staff based its estimate on the information provided in your submittal, discussions during the pre-licensing meeting on December 10, 2025 (ML25350C204), and the Graded Estimate Method (GEM) for licensing actions, which was discussed with industry during a public workshop on August 5, 2025 (ML25217A212). The NRC staff estimates that this licensing request will require approximately 545 hours0.00631 days <br />0.151 hours <br />9.011243e-4 weeks <br />2.073725e-4 months <br /> to complete and 12 months. Accordingly, the NRC staff expects to complete the safety review by March 2027 and issue the amendment coincident with issuance
of NEDAs 10 CFR 50.82(a)(2) exemption request (ML25023A270), if approved.
The NRC staff did identify specific information needed to complete the NRC staffs technical review and any delays to providing the information and completing the actions could place at risk the NRC established review schedule.
- 1) 10 CFR 50.47(b)(8) requires adequate emergency facility and equipment to support the emergency response are provided and maintained. The application is missing information describing the adequacy of the emergency facility and equipment to support the emergency response and how the facility is maintained.
- 2) Appendix E to 10 CFR 50 specifies requirements for the location and distance of the emergency operations facility. Additionally, Appendix E.IV.E.8.c specifies capability for plant data and radiological information, to analyze plant technical information, to provide technical briefings on event conditions and prognosis to licensee and offsite response organizations, to support response to events occurring simultaneously. The application is missing information about the location and distance of the facility from the nuclear power plant. Further, the application is missing information describing the capability for obtaining and displaying plant data and radiological information; the capability to analyze plant technical information and provide technical briefings on event conditions and prognosis to licensee and offsite response organizations; and the capability to support response to events occurring simultaneously at more than one nuclear power reactor site if the emergency operations facility serves more than one site
- 3) Establishment of these emergency response facilities and providing a supplement to the NRC to allow review of and audit of the facility should occur no later than 3 months prior to planned issuance of the bundle but should be provided as early as possible.
This would allow the NRC to complete its review consistent with the established timeline.
If emergent complexities or challenges arise during the NRC staffs review that affect the initial 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. These estimates are based on the NRC staffs 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.
If you have any questions, please contact me.
Justin C. Poole
Project Manager Palisades, Crane, Duane Arnold Restart NRR/DORL/LPL 3 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (301)415-2048