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###### Nuclear Regulatory Commission

          - [Docket No. 50-341; NRC-2023-0177]

# AGENCY:

Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

# ACTION:

License amendment application; opportunity to comment, request a hearing, and petition for leave to intervene.

# SUMMARY:

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC, the Commission) is considering issuance of an amendment to Renewed Facility Operating License No. NPF-43, issued to DTE Electric Company, for operation of Fermi, Unit 2 (Fermi 2). The proposed amendment requests an amendment to the Fermi 2 Technical Specifications (TS) 3.8.1, to allow for a one-time extension of the Required Action B.4 Completion Time to allow repair of Division 1 Mechanical Draft Cooling Tower A and C fan pedestals while online. In addition, the proposed amendment requests an editorial correction to the one-time footnote added to TS 3.7.2 in the previously approved amendment 225. The proposed amendment is being requested under exigent circumstances pursuant to NRC regulations.

# DATES:

Submit comments by October 27, 2023. Request for a hearing or petitions for leave to intervene must be filed by December 12, 2023.

# ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments by any of the following methods; however, the NRC encourages electronic comment submission through the Federal rulemaking website.
      -  Federal Rulemaking Website:                          Go to                          https://www.regulations.gov                          and search for Docket ID NRC-2023-0177. Address questions about Docket IDs in                          Regulations.gov                          to Stacy Schumann; telephone: 301-415-0624; email:                          Stacy.Schumann@nrc.gov.                          For technical questions, contact the individual listed in the                          FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT                          section of this document.                    
      -  Mail Comments To:                          Office of Administration, Mail Stop: TWFN-7-A60M, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, ATTN: Program Management, Announcements and Editing Staff.                    

                        For additional direction on obtaining information and submitting comments, see “Obtaining Information and Submitting Comments” in the                         **SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION**                         section of this document.                    

# FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

                        Surinder S. Arora, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-1421, email:                         *Surinder.Arora@nrc.gov.*

# SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

## I. Obtaining Information and Submitting Comments

### A. Obtaining Information

Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2023-0177 when contacting the NRC about the availability of information for this action. You may obtain publicly available information related to this action by any of the following methods:
    -  Federal Rulemaking Website:                      Go to                      https://www.regulations.gov                      and search for Docket ID NRC-2023-0177.                
    -  NRC's 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 NRC's Public Document Room (PDR) reference staff at 1-800-397-4209, at 301-415-4737, or by email to                      PDR.Resource@nrc.gov.                      The ADAMS accession number for each document referenced (if it is available in ADAMS) is provided the first time that it is mentioned in this document.                
    -  NRC's PDR:                      The PDR, where you may examine and order copies of publicly available documents, is open by appointment. To make an appointment to visit the PDR, please send an email to                      PDR.Resource@nrc.gov                      or call 1-800-397-4209 or 301-415-4737, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. eastern time (ET), Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.                

### B. Submitting Comments

                    The NRC encourages electronic comment submission through the Federal rulemaking website (                    *https://www.regulations.gov*). Please include Docket ID NRC-2023-0177 in your comment submission.                

                    The NRC cautions you not to include identifying or contact information that you do not want to be publicly disclosed in your comment submission. The NRC will post all comment submissions at                     *https://www.regulations.gov*                     as well as enter the comment submissions into ADAMS. The NRC does not routinely edit comment submissions to remove identifying or contact information.                

If you are requesting or aggregating comments from other persons for submission to the NRC, then you should inform those persons not to include identifying or contact information that they do not want to be publicly disclosed in their comment submission. Your request should state that the NRC does not routinely edit comment submissions to remove such information before making the comment submissions available to the public or entering the comment into ADAMS.

## II. Introduction

The NRC is considering issuance of an amendment to Renewed Facility Operating License No. NPF-43, issued to DTE Electric Company, for operation of Fermi, Unit 2, located in Monroe County, Michigan.

                    The proposed amendment (ADAMS Accession No. ML23271A188) requests an amendment to the Fermi, Unit 2, Technical Specifications (TS) 3.8.1, to allow for a one-time extension of the Required Action B.4 Completion Time to allow repair of Division 1 Mechanical Draft Cooling Tower A and C fan pedestals while online. In addition, the proposed amendment requests an editorial correction to the one-time footnote in TS 3.7.2, which was added in the previously approved amendment 225 (ADAMS Accession No. ML23243A885). The proposed amendment is being requested under exigent circumstances pursuant to paragraph 50.91(a)(6) of title 10 of the                     *Code of Federal Regulations*                     (10 CFR).                

                    On July 18, 2023, the Division II Residual Heat Removal Service Water Mechanical Draft Cooling Tower (MDCT) fan D tripped due to high vibrations caused by a degraded, non-conforming gearbox pedestal. Corrective actions were required to correct the conditions and restore the equipment to an operable status, using extra time allowed by the Notice of Enforcement Discretion approved by the NRC on July 20, 2023. During that time the ultimate heat sink was declared inoperable. During the `extent of condition' review by DTE, it was discovered that the MDCT A and C fan pedestals were also                           ( print page 71038)                        degraded and non-conforming but remained operable and also in need of similar repair. DTE submitted this amendment request to repair the Division I MDCT A and C fan pedestals. Additionally, the request provides justification for obtaining an extension of the Completion Time to repair the Division I MDCT fan pedestals online instead of waiting until the next refueling outage.                

Before any issuance of the proposed license amendment, the NRC will need to make the findings required by the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (the Act), and NRC's regulations.

Pursuant to 10 CFR 50.91(a)(6) for amendments to be granted under exigent circumstances, the NRC has made a proposed determination that the license amendment request involves no significant hazards consideration. Under the NRC's regulations in 10 CFR 50.92, this means that operation of the facility in accordance with the proposed amendment would not (1) involve a significant increase in the probability or consequences of an accident previously evaluated; or (2) create the possibility of a new or different kind of accident from any accident previously evaluated; or (3) involve a significant reduction in a margin of safety. As required by 10 CFR 50.91(a), the licensee has provided its analysis of the issue of no significant hazards consideration, which is presented as follows:

1. Does the proposed change involve a significant increase in the probability or consequences of an accident previously evaluated?

*Response:*                     No.                

DTE will use the compensatory measures and Fermi 2 Configuration Risk Management program requirements outlined [in] Section 3.3 [in ML23271A188] and in previously approved amendment 225 (Reference 6.6) [in ML23271A188] during the duration of the proposed extension of the Completion Time for the MDCT fan pedestal repair. Note: A risk-informed justification for this change had been previously evaluated and approved under Reference 6.6 [in ML23271A188].

Therefore, the proposed changes do not involve a significant increase in the probability or consequences of an accident previously evaluated.

2. Does the proposed change create the possibility of a new or different kind of accident from any accident previously evaluated?

*Response:*                     No.                

The proposed changes do not involve a change in design, configuration, or method of operation of the plant. The proposed changes will not alter the manner in which equipment is initiated, nor will the functional demands on credited equipment be changed. The proposed changes do not impact the interaction of any systems whose failure or malfunction can initiate an accident. There are no identified redundant components affected by these changes and thus, there are no new common cause failures or any existing common cause failures that are affected by extending the Completion Time. The proposed changes do not create any new failure modes.

Therefore, the proposed changes do not create the possibility of a new or different kind of accident from any previously evaluated.

3. Does the proposed change involve a significant reduction in a margin of safety?

*Response:*                     No.                

The proposed changes do not alter the plant design, nor do they affect the assumptions contained in the safety analyses. Specifically, there are no changes being made to the MDCT fan design. The proposed changes have been evaluated and margins of safety ascribed to Emergency Equipment Cooling Water (EECW) availability and to plant risk have been determined to be not significantly reduced. The risk impact of the proposed changes is acceptable to the compensatory measures and other requirements, as outlined [in] Section 3.3 [in ML23271A188] and [in] previously approved amendment in Reference 6.6 [in ML23271A188]. As analyzed in the UFSAR [Updated Final Safety Analysis Report], the loss of the Division I MDCT fans would not cause a significant reduction in safety because the MDCT system is redundant and can perform its function with one division unavailable.

The evaluation provided above shows that the proposed changes will not significantly increase the probability or the consequences of any accident previously evaluated, create the possibility of a new or different kind of accident from any accident previously evaluated, or involve a significant reduction in the margin of safety.

The NRC staff has reviewed the licensee's analysis and based on this review, the three standards of 10 CFR 50.92(c) are satisfied. Therefore, the NRC staff proposes to determine that the license amendment request involves a no significant hazards consideration.

The NRC is seeking public comments on this proposed determination that the license amendment request involves no significant hazards consideration. Any comments received within 14 days after the date of publication of this notice will be considered in making any final determination.

                    Normally, the Commission will not issue the amendment until the expiration of the 14-day notice period. However, if circumstances change during the notice period, such that failure to act in a timely way would result, for example, in derating or shutdown of the facility, the Commission may issue the license amendment before the expiration of the 14-day notice period, provided that its final determination is that the amendment involves no significant hazards consideration. The final determination will consider all public and State comments received. If the Commission takes this action, it will publish in the                     **Federal Register**                     a notice of issuance. The Commission expects that the need to take this action will occur very infrequently.                

## III. Opportunity To Request a Hearing and Petition for Leave To Intervene

Within 60 days after the date of publication of this notice, any person (petitioner) whose interest may be affected by this action may file a request for a hearing and petition for leave to intervene (petition) with respect to the action. Petitions shall be filed in accordance with the Commission's “Agency Rules of Practice and Procedure” in 10 CFR part 2. Interested persons should consult 10 CFR 2.309. If a petition is filed, the presiding officer will rule on the petition and, if appropriate, a notice of a hearing will be issued.

Petitions must be filed no later than 60 days from the date of publication of this notice in accordance with the filing instructions in the “Electronic Submissions (E-Filing)” section of this document. Petitions and motions for leave to file new or amended contentions that are filed after the deadline will not be entertained absent a determination by the presiding officer that the filing demonstrates good cause by satisfying the three factors in 10 CFR 2.309(c)(1)(i) through (iii).

                    If a hearing is requested and the Commission has not made a final determination on the issue of no significant hazards consideration, the Commission will make a final determination on the issue of no significant hazards consideration, which will serve to establish when the hearing is held. If the final determination is that the amendment request involves no significant hazards consideration, the Commission may issue the amendment and make it immediately effective, notwithstanding the request for a hearing. Any hearing would take place after issuance of the amendment. If the final determination is that the                           ( print page 71039)                        amendment request involves a significant hazards consideration, then any hearing held would take place before the issuance of the amendment unless the Commission finds an imminent danger to the health or safety of the public, in which case it will issue an appropriate order or rule under 10 CFR part 2.                

                    A State, local governmental body, Federally recognized Indian Tribe, or designated agency thereof, may submit a petition to the Commission to participate as a party under 10 CFR 2.309(h) no later than 60 days from the date of publication of this notice. Alternatively, a State, local governmental body, Federally recognized Indian Tribe, or agency thereof may participate as a non-party under 10 CFR 2.315(c). For information about filing a petition and about participation by a person not a party under 10 CFR 2.315, see ADAMS Accession No. ML20340A053 and the NRC's public website at                     *https://www.nrc.gov/​about-nrc/​regulatory/​adjudicatory/​hearing.html#participate.*

## IV. Electronic Submissions (E-Filing)

                    All documents filed in NRC adjudicatory proceedings, including documents filed by an interested State, local governmental body, Federally recognized Indian Tribe, or designated agency thereof that requests to participate under 10 CFR 2.315(c), must be filed in accordance with 10 CFR 2.302. The E-Filing process requires participants to submit and serve all adjudicatory documents over the internet, or in some cases, to mail copies on electronic storage media, unless an exemption permitting an alternative filing method, as further discussed, is granted. Detailed guidance on electronic submissions is located in the “Guidance for Electronic Submissions to the NRC” (ADAMS Accession No. ML13031A056) and the NRC's public website at                     *https://www.nrc.gov/​site-help/​e-submittals.html.*

                    To comply with the procedural requirements of E-Filing, at least 10 days prior to the filing deadline, the participant should contact the Office of the Secretary by email at                     *Hearing.Docket@nrc.gov,*                     or by telephone at 301-415-1677, to (1) request a digital identification (ID) certificate, which allows the participant (or its counsel or representative) to digitally sign submissions and access the E-Filing system for any proceeding in which it is participating; and (2) advise the Secretary that the participant will be submitting a petition or other adjudicatory document (even in instances in which the participant, or its counsel or representative, already holds an NRC-issued digital ID certificate). Based upon this information, the Secretary will establish an electronic docket for the proceeding if the Secretary has not already established an electronic docket.                

                    Information about applying for a digital ID certificate is available on the NRC's public website at                     *https://www.nrc.gov/​site-help/​e-submittals/​getting-started.html.*                     After a digital ID certificate is obtained and a docket created, the participant must submit adjudicatory documents in Portable Document Format. Guidance on submissions is available on the NRC's public website at                     *https://www.nrc.gov/​site-help/​electronic-sub-ref-mat.html.*                     A filing is considered complete at the time the document is submitted through the NRC's E-Filing system. To be timely, an electronic filing must be submitted to the E-Filing system no later than 11:59 p.m. ET on the due date. Upon receipt of a transmission, the E-Filing system time-stamps the document and sends the submitter an email confirming receipt of the document. The E-Filing system also distributes an email that provides access to the document to the NRC's Office of the General Counsel and any others who have advised the Office of the Secretary that they wish to participate in the proceeding, so that the filer need not serve the document on those participants separately. Therefore, applicants and other participants (or their counsel or representative) must apply for and receive a digital ID certificate before adjudicatory documents are filed to obtain access to the documents via the E-Filing system.                

                    A person filing electronically using the NRC's adjudicatory E-Filing system may seek assistance by contacting the NRC's Electronic Filing Help Desk through the “Contact Us” link located on the NRC's public website at                     *https://www.nrc.gov/​site-help/​e-submittals.html,*                     by email to                     *MSHD.Resource@nrc.gov,*                     or by a toll-free call at 1-866-672-7640. The NRC Electronic Filing Help Desk is available between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., ET, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.                

Participants who believe that they have good cause for not submitting documents electronically must file an exemption request, in accordance with 10 CFR 2.302(g), with their initial paper filing stating why there is good cause for not filing electronically and requesting authorization to continue to submit documents in paper format. Such filings must be submitted in accordance with 10 CFR 2.302(b)-(d). Participants filing adjudicatory documents in this manner are responsible for serving their documents on all other participants. Participants granted an exemption under 10 CFR 2.302(g)(2) must still meet the electronic formatting requirement in 10 CFR 2.302(g)(1), unless the participant also seeks and is granted an exemption from 10 CFR 2.302(g)(1).

                    Documents submitted in adjudicatory proceedings will appear in the NRC's electronic hearing docket, which is publicly available at                     *https://adams.nrc.gov/​ehd,*                     unless excluded pursuant to an order of the presiding officer. If you do not have an NRC-issued digital ID certificate as previously described, click “cancel” when the link requests certificates and you will be automatically directed to the NRC's electronic hearing dockets where you will be able to access any publicly available documents in a particular hearing docket. Participants are requested not to include personal privacy information such as social security numbers, home addresses, or personal phone numbers in their filings unless an NRC regulation or other law requires submission of such information. With respect to copyrighted works, except for limited excerpts that serve the purpose of the adjudicatory filings and would constitute a Fair Use application, participants should not include copyrighted materials in their submission.                

                    For further details with respect to this action, see the application for license amendment dated September 28, 2023 (ADAMS Accession No. ML23271A188).                     *Attorney for licensee:*                     Jon P. Christinidis, DTE Electric Company, Expert Attorney—Regulatory, 1635 WCB, One Energy Plaza, Detroit, MI 48226.                     *NRC Branch Chief:*                     Jeff Whited.                

Dated: October 5, 2023.

For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Surinder S. Arora,

Project Manager, Plant Licensing Branch III, Division of Operating Reactor Licensing, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.

[FR Doc. 2023-22510 Filed 10-12-23; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7590-01-P