Rules and Regulations. Exemptions; issuance

Agency: Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Action: Exemptions; issuance
Citation: FR Doc. 2022-01373 · Docket Nos. 50-341, 50-250, and 50-251; NRC-2020-0110

Summary

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

Dates

During the period from December 9, 2021, to December 30, 2021, the NRC granted two exemptions in response to requests submitted by two licensees from December 6, 2021, to December 30, 2021.

Supplementary Information

I. Introduction During the period from December 9, 2021, to December 30, 2021, the NRC granted two exemptions in response to requests submitted by two licensees from December 6, 2021, to December 30, 2021. These exemptions temporarily allow the licensees to deviate from certain requirements of chapter 1 of title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), part 26, “Fitness for Duty Programs,” section 26.205, “Work hours.” The exemptions from certain requirements of 10 CFR part 26 for DTE Electric Company (for Fermi, Unit 2), and Florida Power & Light Company (for Turkey Point Nuclear Generating, Units 3 and 4) afford these licensees temporary relief from the work-hour control requirements under 10 CFR 26.205(d)(1) through (d)(7). The exemptions from 10 CFR 26.205(d)(1) through (d)(7) ensure that the control of work hours and management of worker fatigue does 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, these licensees have 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). These 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 tables in this notice 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 website at https://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/covid-19/reactors/licensing-actions.html. II. Availability of Documents The tables in this notice provide the facility name, docket number, document description, 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 NRC's decision, are provided in each exemption approval listed in the tables in this notice. For additional directions on accessing information in ADAMS, see the ADDRESSES section of this document. Fermi, Unit 2—Docket No. 50-341 Document description ADAMS accession No. Fermi, Unit 2—Work Hour Limits Exemption Request due to COVID-19, dated December 6, 2021 ML21340A030 Fermi, Unit 2—Exemption from Specific Requirements of 10 CFR part 26 (EPID L-2020-LLE-0053 [COVID-19]), dated December 9, 2021 ML21340A245 Turkey Point Nuclear Plant, Units 3 and 4—Docket Nos. 50-250 and 50-251 Document description ADAMS accession No. Turkey Point Nuclear Plant, Units 3 and 4—COVID-19 Related Request for Exemption from part 26 Work Hours Requirements, dated December 30, 2021 ML21364A050 Turkey Point Nuclear Plant Units 3 and 4—Exemption from Specific Requirements of 10 CFR part 26, “Fitness for Duty Programs” (EPID L-2021-LLE-0058 [COVID-19]), dated December 30, 2021 ML21364A052 Dated: January 20, 2022. For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. James G. Danna, Chief, Plant Licensing Branch I, Division of Operating Reactor Licensing, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation. [FR Doc. 2022-01373 Filed 1-24-22; 8:45 am]