[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 210 (Monday, October 30, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 64725]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-27808]
[[Page 64725]]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50-391]
In the Matter of Tennessee Valley Authority (Watts Bar Nuclear
Plant, Unit 2); Order
Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA, the permittee) is the current
holder of Construction Permit No. CPPR-92, issued by the Atomic Energy
Commission on January 23, 1973, for construction of the Watts Bar
Nuclear Plant (WBN), Unit 2. (CPPR-91 for construction of WBN Unit 1
was also issued on January 23, 1973, and Facility Operating License
NPF-90 was issued for operation of Unit 1 on February 7, 1996.) Unit 2
is currently partially completed and is being maintained in a
construction layup status. These facilities are at the permittee's site
on the west branch of the Tennessee River approximately 50 miles
northeast of Chattanooga, Tennessee.
On October 13, 1999, the Tennessee Valley Authority filed a request
pursuant to 10 CFR 50.55(b) for an extension of the completion date for
Unit 2 to December 31, 2010. This request was supplemented by letter
dated July 14, 2000. The permittee requested this extension for Unit 2
for the following reasons, as stated in its application:
At this time, WBN Unit 2 is being maintained in a construction
layup status. TVA plans to maintain the unit in this status pending
the determination of new generation (supply-side) options to meet
future electric power demands. TVA's integrated resource plan--
Energy Vision 2020--identified the need for a flexible range of
options and alternatives required to meet, among other things, the
Tennessee Valley region's new base-load power supply needs through
the year 2020. Recent record breaking energy demand in the Tennessee
Valley reinforced TVA's obligation to provide ample safe, economic,
reliable, and environmentally responsible sources of electric power.
Fulfilling this responsibility in light of the many uncertainties
associated with the future electric utility industry makes it
imperative that TVA maintain a robust and flexible range of
generating options. The extension of WBN Unit 2's construction
permit will help TVA maintain a full scope of competitive energy
production choices.
In support of this request, the permittee stated that
[WBN Unit 2 meets] * * * NRC's definition for deferred nuclear
plant units as described in Generic Letter (GL) 87-15, ``Policy
Statement on Deferred Plants.'' Consideration of these units in a
deferred status does not constitute a reduction in commitment in
accordance with 10 CFR 50.55(f)(3)(i).
The current quality assurance requirements applicable to the
subject units, particularly the maintenance, preservation, and
documentation requirements, will continue in accordance with the
Nuclear Quality Assurance Plan * * * (NQA Plan). Future changes to
the NQA Plan may be submitted commensurate with the site activities
and expected length of delay, in accordance with 10 CFR 50.55(f)(3).
TVA has established maintenance and lay-up programs that are
described and controlled in accordance with approved plant
procedures. No changes have been made to these programs as a result
of considering these units in accordance with GL 87-15. These
programs have been inspected periodically since their inception. NRC
conducted the last inspection of * * * WBN Unit 2 in July 1999* * *,
and no findings or violations were identified.
Consistent with GL 87-15 * * * and 10 CFR 2.109, ``Effect of
Timely Renewal Application,'' TVA is maintaining * * * [the WBN Unit
2] construction permit * * * . At this time, no projected date for
the resumption of construction activities for * * * [WBN Unit 2] is
available.
The NRC's Policy Statement on Deferred Plants addresses extension
of construction permits for plants in deferred status and states that
the staff will consider such extensions in accordance with 10 CFR
50.55(b). Section 50.55(b) does not specify any limit on the duration
of an extension that the staff may grant, but states that ``Upon good
cause shown the Commission will extend the completion date for a
reasonable period of time.'' The staff has concluded that the
permitee's stated bases for the requested duration of the extension
represent good cause and are reasonable, and that this action involves
no significant hazards consideration.
Pursuant to 10 CFR 51.32, the Commission has determined that
extending the construction completion date will have no significant
impact on the environment.
The NRC staff has prepared an environmental assessment and finding
of no significant impact which was published in the Federal Register on
October 10, 2000.
For further details with respect to this action, see the
application dated October 13, 1999, as supplemented by letter dated
July 14, 2000, and the NRC staff's letter and Safety Evaluation of the
request for extension of the construction permit, dated October 24,
2000. Documents may be examined, and/or copied for a fee, at the NRC's
Public Document Room, located at One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville
Pike (first floor), Rockville, Maryland, and are accessible
electronically through the ADAMS public Electronic Reading Room link at
the NRC Web site (http://www.nrc.gov).
It Is Hereby Ordered That the latest completion date for
Construction Permit No. CPPR-92 is extended from December 31, 1999, to
December 31, 2010.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 24th day of October 2000.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Brian W. Sheron,
Acting Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 00-27808 Filed 10-27-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P