ML20243A000

FRN - Notice of Issuance of Multiple Exemptions Regarding Various Parts of 10 CFR Due to COVID-19 Impacts for August 2020

ML20243A000
Person / Time
Site:	Hatch, Dresden, Salem, Nine Mile Point, Palisades, Point Beach, Hope Creek, Cooper, Byron, Limerick, Waterford, Farley, Clinton, Quad Cities, FitzPatrick, LaSalle
Issue date:	09/23/2020
From:	James Danna NRC/NRR/DORL/LPL1
To:
Ronewicz, Lynn, 301-415-1927
References
85 FR 60841-60844; 9/28/2020, NRC-2020-0110
Download: ML20243A000 (10)

Text

[7590-01-P]

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket Nos. 50-454; 50-455; 50-461; 50-298; 50-237; 50-249; 50-333; 50-321; 50-348; 50-366; 50-364; 50-354; 50-272; 50-311; 50-373; 50-374; 50-352; 50-353; 50-220; 50-410; 50-255; 50-266; 50-301; 50-254; 50-265; 50-382; NRC-2020-0110]

Issuance of Multiple Exemptions in Response to COVID-19 Public Health Emergency AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Exemptions; issuance.

SUMMARY

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued 15 exemptions in response to requests from 6 licensees. The exemptions afford these licensees temporary relief from certain requirements under NRC regulations. The exemptions are in response to the licensees requests for relief due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) public health emergency (PHE). The NRC is issuing a single notice to announce the issuance of the exemptions.

DATES: During the period from August 3, 2020, to August 28, 2020, the NRC granted 15 exemptions in response to requests submitted by licensees from June 24, 2020, to August 20, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2020-0110 when contacting the NRC about the availability of information regarding this document. You may obtain publicly-available information related to this document using any of the following methods:

• Federal Rulemaking Web Site: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2020-0110. Address questions about NRC Docket IDs in Regulations.gov to Jennifer Borges; telephone: 301-287-9127; e-mail:

Jennifer.Borges@nrc.gov. For technical questions, contact the individual listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document.

• NRCs Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS): You may obtain publicly-available documents online in the ADAMS Public Documents collection at https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. To begin the search, select Begin Web-based ADAMS Search. For problems with ADAMS, please contact the NRCs Public Document Room reference staff at 1-800-397-4209, 301-415-4737, or by e-mail to pdr.resource@nrc.gov.

For the convenience of the reader, instructions about obtaining materials referenced in this document are provided in the Availability of Documents section.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Danna, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington DC 20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-7422, e-mail: James.Danna@nrc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Introduction During the period from August 3, 2020, to August 28, 2020, the NRC granted 15 exemptions in response to requests submitted by licensees from June 24, 2020, to August 20, 2020. These exemptions temporarily allow the licensees to deviate from certain requirements (as cited below) of various parts of chapter I of title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR).

The exemptions from certain requirements of 10 CFR part 26, Fitness for Duty Programs, for Exelon Generation Company, LLC (for James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant), and NextEra Energy Point Beach, LLC (for Point Beach Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2) allow these licensees temporary relief from the work-hour controls under 10 CFR 26.205(d)(1) through (d)(7). The exemptions from 10 CFR 26.205(d)(1) through 2

(d)(7) ensure that the control of work hours and management of worker fatigue do not unduly limit licensee flexibility in using personnel resources to most effectively manage the impacts of the COVID-19 PHE on maintaining the safe operation of these facilities.

Specifically, the licensees stated that their staffing levels are affected or are expected to be affected by the COVID-19 PHE, and they can no longer meet or likely will not meet the work-hour controls of 10 CFR 26.205(d)(1) through (d)(7). The licensees have committed to effecting site-specific administrative controls for COVID-19 PHE fatigue-management for personnel specified in 10 CFR 26.4(a).

The exemption from certain requirements of 10 CFR part 55, Operators Licenses, for NextEra Energy Point Beach, LLC (for Point Beach Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2) affords the licensee a temporary exemption from requirements related to licensed operator requalification program scheduling (under 10 CFR 55.59(a)(1), 10 CFR 55.59(a)(2), and 10 CFR 55.59(c)(1)). The exemption from the requalification program requirements provides increased scheduling flexibility to manage conditions resulting from the COVID-19 PHE by allowing NextEra Energy Point Beach, LLC to reduce the possibility of exposures associated with groups of people gathered in a single location, as discussed above.

The exemptions from certain requirements of 10 CFR part 73 for Exelon Generation Company, LLC (for Byron Station, Unit Nos. 1 and 2; Clinton Power Station, Unit No. 1; Dresden Nuclear Power Station, Units 2 and 3; LaSalle County Station, Units 1 and 2; Limerick Generating Station, Units 1 and 2; Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2; Quad Cities Nuclear Power Station, Units 1 and 2); Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. (for Palisades Nuclear Plant); Nebraska Public Power District (for Cooper Nuclear Station); Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc. (for Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant, Unit Nos. 1 and 2; and Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2);

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PSEG Nuclear LLC (for Hope Creek Generating Station and Salem Nuclear Generating Station, Unit Nos. 1 and 2); and Entergy Operations, Inc. (for Waterford Steam Electric Station, Unit 3) afford these licensees temporary exemptions from certain requirements of 10 CFR part 73, appendix B, General Criteria for Security Personnel, section VI.

The exemptions will help to ensure that these regulatory requirements do not unduly limit licensee flexibility in using personnel resources in a manner that most effectively manages the impacts of the COVID-19 PHE on maintaining the safe and secure operation of these facilities and the implementation of the licensees NRC-approved security plans, protective strategy, and implementing procedures. These licensees have committed to certain security measures to ensure response readiness and for their security personnel to maintain performance capability.

The NRC is providing compiled tables of exemptions using a single Federal Register notice for COVID-19-related exemptions instead of issuing individual Federal Register notices for each exemption. The compiled tables below provide transparency regarding the number and type of exemptions the NRC has issued. Additionally, the NRC publishes tables of approved regulatory actions related to the COVID-19 PHE on its public Web site at https://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/covid-19/reactors/licensing-actions.html.

II. Availability of Documents The tables below provide the facility name, docket number, document title, and ADAMS accession number for each exemption issued. Additional details on each exemption issued, including the exemption request submitted by the respective licensee and the NRCs decision, are provided in each exemption approval listed in the tables below. For additional directions on accessing information in ADAMS, see the ADDRESSES section of this document.

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Byron Station, Unit Nos. 1 and 2 50-454 and 50-455 Document Title ADAMS Accession No.

Byron Station, Units Nos.1 and 2 - Request for ML20212L886 (non-public, Exemption from Certain 10 CFR part 73 Training withheld pursuant to 10 CFR Requirements Due to Coronavirus 2019 Public 2.390)

Health Emergency, dated July 30, 2020 Byron Station, Units Nos. 1 and 2 - Exemption Request from Certain Requirements of 10 CFR part 73, appendix B, General Criteria for Security ML20213C177 Personnel [COVID-19] (EPID L-2020-LLE-0124),

dated August 17, 2020 Clinton Power Station, Unit No. 1 Docket No. 50-461 Document Title ADAMS Accession No.

Clinton Power Station, Unit No. 1 - Request for ML20205L605 (non-public, Exemption from Certain 10 CFR part 73 Training withheld pursuant to 10 CFR Requirements Due to Coronavirus 2019 Public 2.390)

Health Emergency, dated July 23, 2020 Clinton Power Station, Unit No. 1 - Exemption Request from Certain Requirements of 10 CFR part 73, appendix B, General Criteria for Security ML20209A000 Personnel (EPID-L-2020-LLE-0119 [COVID-19]),

dated August 13, 2020 Cooper Nuclear Station Docket No. 50-298 Document Title ADAMS Accession No.

Cooper Nuclear Station - Temporary Exemption ML20191A274 (non-public, Request from 10 CFR part 73, appendix B, section withheld pursuant to 10 CFR VI Requirements for Force-on-Force Exercises due 2.390) to COVID-19 Pandemic, dated June 24, 2020 Cooper Nuclear Station - Supplement to Temporary Exemption Request from 10 CFR part 73, appendix ML20219A218 (non-public, B, section VI Requirements for Force-on-Force withheld pursuant to 10 CFR Exercises due to COVID-19 Pandemic, dated July 2.390) 27, 2020 Cooper Nuclear Station - Temporary Exemption From Certain Requirements of 10 CFR part 73, appendix B, General Criteria for Security Personnel, ML20212J176 section VI (EPID L 2020-LLE-0110 [COVID 19]),

dated August 24, 2020 5

Dresden Nuclear Power Station, Units 2 and 3 Docket Nos. 50-237 and 50-249 Document Title ADAMS Accession No.

Dresden Nuclear Power Station, Units 2 and 3 -

ML20210M410 (non-public, Request for Exemption from Certain 10 CFR part 73 withheld pursuant to 10 CFR Training Requirements Due to Coronavirus 2019 2.390)

Public Health Emergency, dated July 28, 2020 Dresden Nuclear Power Station, Units 2 and 3 -

Exemption Request from Certain Requirements of 10 CFR part 73, appendix B, General Criteria for ML20216A260 Security Personnel [COVID-19] (EPID L-2020-LLE-0123), dated August 27, 2020 James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant Docket No. 50-333 Document Title ADAMS Accession No.

James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant -

Incoming Request re: COVID-19 Exemption from ML20233A814

[10 CFR] part 26 Work Hours Requirements, dated August 20, 2020 James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant -

Exemption from Select Requirements of 10 CFR ML20238B947 part 26 (EPID L-2020-LLE-0136 [COVID-19]), dated August 28, 2020 Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant, Unit Nos. 1 and 2 Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2 Docket Nos. 50-321, 50-348, 50-366, and 50-364 Document Title ADAMS Accession No.

Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant, Unit Nos. 1 and 2, and Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2 -

ML20220A331 (non-public, Southern Nuclear Operating Co., Inc. Requests withheld pursuant to 10 CFR Temporary Exemptions from Security Training 2.390)

Requalification Requirement due to COVID-19, dated August 7, 2020 Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2, and Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant, Unit Nos. 1 and 2 -

Exemption Request from Certain Requirements of ML20220A673 10 CFR part 73, appendix B, General Criteria for Security Personnel, section VI (EPIDs L-2020-LLE-0131/0132), dated August 18, 2020 6

Hope Creek Generating Station Salem Nuclear Generating Station, Unit Nos. 1 and 2 Docket Nos. 50-354, 50-272, and 50-311 Document Title ADAMS Accession No.

Salem Generating Station, Unit Nos. 1 and 2, and Hope Creek Generating Station - LR-N20-0049 ML20204A724 COVID-19 Email Exemption Request Security FOF

[Force-on-Force] - NRC, dated July 21, 2020 Hope Creek Generating Station and Salem Nuclear Generating Station, Unit Nos. 1 and 2 - Exemptions From Certain Requirements of 10 CFR part 73, ML20204A937 appendix B, General Criteria for Security Personnel, section VI (EPID L-2020-LLE-0118

[COVID 19]), dated August 3, 2020 LaSalle County Station, Units 1 and 2 Docket Nos. 50-373 and 50-374 Document Title ADAMS Accession No.

LaSalle County Station Units 1 and 2 - Request for ML20199M370 (non-public, Exemption from Certain 10 CFR part 73 Training withheld pursuant to 10 CFR Requirements Due to Coronavirus 2019 Public 2.390)

Health Emergency, dated July 17, 2020 LaSalle County Station, Units 1 and 2 - Temporary Exemption Request from Certain Requirements of 10 CFR part 73, appendix B, General Criteria for ML20203M233 Security Personnel, section VI (EPID L-2020-LLE-0116) [COVID-19], dated August 3, 2020 Limerick Generating Station, Units 1 and 2 Docket Nos. 50-352 and 50-353 Document Title ADAMS Accession No.

Limerick Generating Station, Units 1 and 2 -

ML20211L699 (non-public, Request for Exemption from Certain 10 CFR part 73 withheld pursuant to 10 CFR Training Requirements Due to Coronavirus Disease 2.390) 2019 Public Health Emergency, dated July 29, 2020 Limerick Generating Station, Units 1 and 2 -

Temporary Exemption from Certain Requirements of 10 CFR part 73, appendix B, General Criteria for ML20209A525 Security Personnel (EPID L-2020-LLE-0122

[COVID-19]), dated August 19, 2020 7

Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2 Docket Nos. 50-220 and 50-410 Document Title ADAMS Accession No.

Request for Exemption from Certain 10 CFR part 73 ML20206K830 (non-public, Training Requirements Due to Coronavirus 2019 withheld pursuant to 10 CFR Public Health Emergency, dated July 24, 2020 2.390)

Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2 -

Exemption from Certain Requirements of 10 CFR part 73, appendix B, General Criteria for Security ML20218A860 Personnel (EPID L-2020-LLE-0210 [COVID-19]),

dated August 25, 2020 Palisades Nuclear Plant Docket No. 50-255 Document Title ADAMS Accession No.

Palisades Nuclear Plant - Temporary Exemption ML20218A353 (non-public, Request from 10 CFR part 73, appendix B, section withheld pursuant to 10 CFR VI Requirements for Force-On-Force Exercises due 2.390) to COVID-19 Pandemic, dated August 4, 2020 Palisades Nuclear Plant - Temporary Exemption from 10 CFR part 73, appendix B, General Criteria for Security Personnel, section VI, Requirements for ML20219A156 Force-on-Force Exercise (EPID L-2020-LLE-0126

[COVID-19]), dated August 21, 2020 Point Beach Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2 Docket Nos. 50-266 and 50-301 Document Title ADAMS Accession No.

Point Beach Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2 - NextEra Energy Point Beach, LLC (NextEra) Requests NRC Approval for Alternative Work Hour Controls ML20219A448 Delineated in the NRC Letter of 3/28/2020, dated August 6, 2020 Point Beach Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2 -

Exemption from Select Requirements of 10 CFR ML20219A751 part 26 (EPID L-2020-LLE-0129 [COVID-19]), dated August 17, 2020 8

Point Beach Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2 Docket Nos. 50-266 and 50-301 Document Title ADAMS Accession No.

Point Beach Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2 - Request for Exemption from the not to exceed two years ML20218A702 requirement for the Requalification Program in 10 CFR 55.59(c)(1), dated August 5, 2020 Point Beach Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2 -

Response to Request for Additional Information Request for Exemption from Certain Operator ML20230A299 Requalification Requirements, dated August 17, 2020 Point Beach Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2 -

Exemption from Select Requirements of 10 CFR ML20231A519 part 55, Operators Licenses (EPID L-2020-LLE-0127 [COVID-19]), dated August 27, 2020 Quad Cities Nuclear Power Station, Units 1 and 2 Docket Nos. 50-254 and 50-265 Document Title ADAMS Accession No.

Quad Cities Nuclear Power Station, Units 1 and 2 -

ML20210M072 (non-public, Request for Exemption from Certain 10 CFR part 73 withheld pursuant to 10 CFR Training Requirements Due to Coronavirus 2019 2.390)

Public Health Emergency, dated July 27, 2020 Quad Cities Nuclear Power Station, Units 1 and 2 -

Exemption Request From Certain Requirements of 10 CFR part 73, appendix B, General Criteria For ML20211L833 Security Personnel, section VI (EPID L-2020-LLE-0121 [COVID 19]), dated August 27, 2020 Waterford Steam Electric Station, Unit 3 Docket No. 50-382 Document Title ADAMS Accession No.

Waterford Steam Electric Station, Unit 3 -

Temporary Exemption Request from 10 CFR part ML20219A343 (non-public, 73, appendix B, section VI Requirements for Force- withheld pursuant to 10 CFR On-Force Exercises due to COVID-19 Pandemic, 2.390) dated August 6, 2020 Waterford Steam Electric Station, Unit 3 -

Exemption From Certain Requirements of 10 CFR part 73, appendix B, General Criteria For Security ML20227A368 Personnel, section VI (EPID L-2020-LLE-0130

[COVID 19]), dated August 27, 2020 9

Dated: September 23, 2020.

For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

/RA/

James G. Danna, Chief, Plant Licensing Branch I, Division of Operating Reactor Licensing, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.

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