[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 154 (Tuesday, August 11, 1998)] [Notices] [Pages 42885-42887] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 98-21463] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION [Docket Nos. 50-269, 50-270, and 50-287] Duke Energy Corporation, Oconee Nuclear Station Units 1, 2, and 3; Notice of Acceptance for Docketing of the Application and Notice of Opportunity for a Hearing Regarding Renewal of Licenses Nos. DPR-38, DPR-47, and DPR-55 for an Additional 20-Year Period The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is considering the renewal of operating license Nos. DPR-38, DPR-47 and DPR-55, which authorize the Duke Energy Corporation (Duke), the applicant, to operate its Oconee Nuclear Station (ONS) Units 1, 2, and 3 at 2568 megawatts thermal. The renewed licenses would authorize the applicant to operate ONS Units 1, 2, and, 3 for an additional 20 years beyond the current 40-year period. The current operating licenses for the ONS Units 1, 2, and 3 expire on February 6, 2013, October 6, 2013, and July 19, 2014, respectively. Duke submitted an application to renew the operating licenses for its ONS units by letter dated July 6, 1998. A Notice of Receipt of Application, ``Duke Energy Corporation, Oconee Nuclear Station Units 1, 2, and 3, Notice of Receipt of Application for Renewal of Facility Operating Licenses Nos. DPR-38, DPR-47, and DPR-55, for an Additional 20 Year Period,'' was [[Page 42886]] published in the Federal Register on July 14, 1998, (63 FR 37909). The Commission's staff has determined that Duke has submitted information in accordance with 10 CFR 54.19, 54.21, 54.22, 54.23, and 51.53(c) that is complete and acceptable for docketing. The current docket nos. 50-269, 50-270, and 50-287 for License Nos. DPR-38, DPR-47, and DPR-55, respectively, will be retained. If the Commission determines that new license or docket numbers are necessary, any such changes will be published in a subsequent Federal Register notice. The docketing of the renewal application does not preclude requesting additional information as the review proceeds, nor does it predict whether the Commission will grant or deny the application. Prior to issuance of the requested license renewals, the NRC will have made the findings required by the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (the Act), and the NRC's rules and regulations. In accordance with 10 CFR 54.29, the NRC will issue a renewed license based upon its review and findings that actions have been identified and have been or will be taken with respect to (1) Managing the effects of aging during the period of extended operation on the functionality of structures and components that have been identified to require aging management review and (2) time-limited aging analyses that have been identified to require review such that there is reasonable assurance that the activities authorized by the renewed license will continue to be conducted in accordance with the current licensing basis (CLB) and that any changes made to the plant's CLB comply with the Act and the Commission's regulations. Additionally, in accordance with 10 CFR 51.95(c), the NRC will prepare an environmental impact statement which is a supplement to the Commission's NUREG-1437, ``Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Power Plants'' (May 1996). Pursuant to 10 CFR 51.26, as part of the environmental scoping process, the staff intends to hold a public scoping meeting. The details of the public scoping meeting will be included in a future Federal Register notice. The Commission also intends to hold public meetings to discuss the license renewal process and schedule for conducting the review. The Commission will provide prior notice for these meetings. As discussed further below, in the event that a hearing is held, issues that may be litigated will be confined to those pertinent to the foregoing. By September 10, 1998, the applicant may file a request for a hearing, and any person whose interest may be affected by this proceeding and who wishes to participate as a party in the proceeding must file a written request for a hearing and a petition for leave to intervene with respect to the license renewals in accordance with the provisions of 10 CFR 2.714. Interested persons should consult a current copy of 10 CFR 2.714 which is available at the Commission's Public Document Room, the Gelman Building, 2120 L Street, NW, Washington, DC 20037 and at the Local Public Document Room for the ONS Units 1, 2, and 3 located in the Oconee County Library, 501 West South Broad Street, Walhalla, SC 29691. If a request for a hearing or a petition for leave to intervene is filed by the above date, the Commission or an Atomic Safety and Licensing Board, designated by the Commission or by the Chairman of the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel, will rule on the request(s) and/or petition(s), and the Secretary or the designated Atomic Safety and Licensing Board will issue a notice of a hearing or an appropriate order. In the event that no request for hearing or petition for leave to intervene is filed by the above date, the NRC may, upon completion of its evaluations and upon making the findings required under 10 CFR Part 54 and Part 51, renew the licenses without further notice. As required by 10 CFR 2.714, a petition for leave to intervene shall set forth with particularity the interest of the petitioner in the proceeding and how that interest may be affected by the results of the proceeding, taking into consideration the limited scope of matters which may be considered pursuant to 10 CFR Parts 54 and 51. The petition should specifically explain the reasons why intervention should be permitted with particular reference to the following factors: (1) The nature of the petitioner's right under the Act to be made a party to the proceeding; (2) the nature and extent of the petitioner's property, financial, or other interest in the proceeding; and (3) the possible effect of any order which may be entered in the proceeding on the petitioner's interest. The petition should also identify the specific aspect(s) of the subject matter of the proceeding as to which petitioner wishes to intervene. Any person who has filed a petition for leave to intervene or who has been admitted as a party may amend the petition without requesting leave of the Board up to 15 days prior to the first prehearing conference scheduled in the proceeding, but such an amended petition must satisfy the specificity requirements described above. Not later than fifteen (15) days prior to the first prehearing conference scheduled in the proceeding, a petitioner shall file a supplement to the petition to intervene which must include a list of the contentions which are sought to be litigated in the matter. Each contention must consist of a specific statement of the issue of law or fact to be raised or controverted. In addition, the petitioner shall provide a brief explanation of the bases of the contention and a concise statement of the alleged facts or expert opinion which support the contention and on which the petitioner intends to rely in proving the contention at the hearing. The petitioner must also provide references to those specific sources and documents of which the petitioner is aware and on which the petitioner intends to rely to establish those facts or expert opinion. The petitioner must provide sufficient information to show that a genuine dispute exists with the applicant on a material issue of law or fact. Contentions shall be limited to matters within the scope of the action under consideration. The contention must be one which, if proven, would entitle the petitioner to relief. A petitioner who fails to file such a supplement which satisfies these requirements with respect to at least one contention will not be permitted to participate as a party. Those permitted to intervene become parties to the proceeding, subject to any limitations in the order granting leave to intervene, and have the opportunity to participate fully in the conduct of the hearing, including the opportunity to present evidence and cross- examine witnesses. Requests for a hearing and petitions for leave to intervene must be filed with the Secretary of the Commission, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, Attention: Rulemakings and Adjudications Staff, or may be delivered to the Commission's Public Document Room, the Gelman Building, 2120 L Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20037 by the above date. A copy of the request for a hearing and the petition should also be sent to the Office of the General Counsel, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, and to Paul R. Newton, Esquire, Duke Energy Corporation, 422 South Church Street, Charlotte, North Carolina 28201-1006. Nontimely filings of petitions for leave to intervene, amended petitions, supplemental petitions, and/or requests for a hearing will not be entertained absent a determination by the [[Page 42887]] Commission, the presiding officer, or the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board that the petition and/or request should be granted based upon a balancing of the factors specified in 10 CFR 2.714(a)(1) (i)-(v) and 2.714(d). Detailed information about the license renewal process can be found under the nuclear reactors icon of the NRC's web page, http:// www.nrc.gov. A copy of the application to renew the ONS Units 1, 2, and 3 licenses is available for public inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room, the Gelman Building, 2120 L Street, NW, Washington, DC 20037, and the Local Public Document Room for the ONS Units 1, 2, and 3 located in the Oconee County Library, 501 West South Broad Street, Walhalla, SC 29691. Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 5th day of August 1998. For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Christopher I. Grimes, Director, License Renewal Project Directorate, Division of Reactor Program Management, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation. [FR Doc. 98-21463 Filed 8-10-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590-01-P