Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 188 / Wednesday, September 27, 2000 / Notices 58111

and 12–3 p.m. on October 27th, are for

the purpose of Panel review, discussion,

evaluation, and recommendation on

applications for financial assistance

under the National Foundation on the

Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965, as

amended, including information given

in confidence to the agency by grant

applicants. In accordance with the

determination of the Chairman of May

12, 2000, these sessions will be closed

to the public pursuant to (c)(4)(6) and

(9)(B) of section 552b of Title 5, United

States Code.

Any person may observe meetings, or

portions thereof, of advisory panels that

are open to the public, and, if time

allows, may be permitted to participate

in the panel’s discussions at the

discretion of the panel chairman and

with the approval of the full-time

Federal employee in attendance.

If you need special accommodations

due to a disability, please contract the

Office of AccessAbility, National

Endowment for the Arts, 1100

Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.,

Washington, DC. 20506, 202/682–5532,

TDY–TDD 202/682–5496, at least seven

(7) days prior to the meeting.

Further information with reference to

this meeting can be obtained from Ms.

Kathy Plowitz-Worden, Office of

Guidelines & Panel Operations, National

Endowment for the Arts, Washington,

DC, 20506, or call 202/682–5691.

Dated: September 22, 2000.

Kathy Plowitz-Worden,

Panel Coordinator, Panel Operations,

National Endowment for the Arts.

[FR Doc. 00–24842 Filed 9–26–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7537–01–M

NUCLEAR REGULATORY

COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50–271]

Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power

Corporation; Notice of Consideration

of Issuance of Amendment to Facility

Operating License, Proposed No

Significant Hazards Consideration

Determination, and Opportunity for a

Hearing

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory

Commission (the Commission) is

considering issuance of an amendment

to Facility Operating License No. DPR–

28 issued to Vermont Yankee Nuclear

Power Corporation (the licensee) for

operation of the Vermont Yankee

Nuclear Power Station (Vermont

Yankee) located in Vernon, Vermont.

The proposed amendment would

clarify the valve isolation signal

information in the Technical

Specification (TS) Table 4.7.2 and make

an administrative change to the Table

main steam isolation valves component

identification. TS Table 4.7.2 lists

containment isolation valves and the

Primary Containment Isolation System

(PCIS) groups to which the valves are

assigned. Note 1 to Table 4.7.2 defines

the isolation signals that are associated

with the designated groups. The

isolation signal description for Group 2

states that the valves are closed upon

either low reactor water level or high

drywell pressure. Residual heat removal

(RHR) containment cooling valves V10–

39A/B, V10–34A/B, V10–26A/B, V10–

31A/B, and V10–38A/B are designated

as Group 2 in Table 4.7.2 and isolate

upon either (1) low-low reactor water

level and low reactor pressure, or (2)

high drywell pressure. Table 4.7.2 and

associated Note 1 are being revised to

clarify Group 2 isolation signals.

Additionally, main steam isolation

valve component identifications are

revised by this proposed change to more

clearly reflect all four inboard and

outboard valves.

Before issuance of the proposed

license amendment, the Commission

will have made findings required by the

Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended

(the Act) and the Commission’s

regulations.

The Commission has made a

proposed determination that the

amendment request involves no

significant hazards consideration. Under

the Commission’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 below:

1. The operation of the Vermont Yankee

Nuclear Power Station in accordance with

the proposed amendment will not involve a

significant increase in the probability or

consequences of an accident previously

evaluated.

No changes are being made to plant design,

method of operation or method of testing.

This change will not alter the basic operation

of process variables, systems, or components

as described in the safety analysis. No new

equipment is introduced.

The proposed change does not affect the

ability of the primary containment isolation

system or ECCS systems to perform their

required safety functions. The essential safety

functions of providing primary containment

integrity and providing water to cool the core

in the event of an accident are maintained.

There is no physical or operational change

being made which would alter the sequence

of events, plant response, or conclusions of

existing safety analyses. This proposed

change results in no impact on analyzed

accident event precursors or effects.

Therefore, the proposed change does not

involve a significant increase in the

probability or consequences of an accident

previously evaluated.

2. The operation of Vermont Yankee

Nuclear Power Station in accordance with

the proposed amendment will not create the

possibility of a new or different kind of

accident from any accident previously

evaluated.

The proposed change does not involve any

physical alteration of plant equipment and

does not change the method by which any

safety-related system performs its function.

As such, no new or different types of

equipment will be installed, and the basic

operation of installed equipment is

unchanged. There is no change in plant

operation that involves failure modes other

than those previously evaluated. The

methods governing plant operation and

testing remain consistent with current safety

analysis assumptions.

Therefore, the proposed change will not

create the possibility of a new or different

kind of accident from any accident

previously evaluated.

3. The operation of Vermont Yankee

Nuclear Power Station in accordance with

the proposed amendment will not involve a

significant reduction in a margin of safety.

No changes are being made to plant design,

method of operation or method of testing.

This change will not alter the basic operation

of process variables, systems, or components

as described in the safety analysis. No new

equipment is introduced.

The proposed change does not affect the

ability of the primary containment isolation

system or ECCS systems to perform their

required safety functions. The essential safety

functions of providing primary containment

integrity and providing water to cool the core

in the event of an accident are maintained.

There is no physical or operational change

being made which would alter the sequence

of events, plant response, or conclusions of

existing safety analyses. This proposed

change results in no impact on analyzed

accident event precursors or effects.

This proposed change does not alter the

physical design of the plant, methods or

modes of operation, testing or analyses,

thereby resulting in no impact on safety

functions. Since the proposed change does

not alter the means by which primary

containment isolation is maintained and

containment cooling valves are isolated in

support of RHR LPCI actuation, there is no

significant reduction in the margin of safety.

The NRC staff has reviewed the

licensee’s analysis and, based on this

review, it appears that the three

standards of 10 CFR 50.92(c) are

satisfied. Therefore, the NRC staff

proposes to determine that the

amendment request involves no

significant hazards consideration.

58112 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 188 / Wednesday, September 27, 2000 / Notices

The Commission is seeking public

comments on this proposed

determination. Any comments received

within 30 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 30-day notice period.

However, should 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

30-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. Should

the Commission take this action, it will

publish in the Federal Register a notice

of issuance and provide for opportunity

for a hearing after issuance. The

Commission expects that the need to

take this action will occur very

infrequently.

Written comments may be submitted

by mail to the Chief, Rules and

Directives Branch, Division of

Administrative Services, Office of

Administration, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory

Commission, Washington, DC 20555–

0001, and should cite the publication

date and page number of this Federal

Register notice. Written comments may

also be delivered to Room 6D59, Two

White Flint North, 11545 Rockville

Pike, Rockville, Maryland, from 7:30

a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Federal workdays.

Copies of written comments received

may be examined at the NRC Public

Document Room, One White Flint

North, 11555 Rockville Pike (first floor),

Rockville, Maryland.

The filing of requests for hearing and

petitions for leave to intervene is

discussed below.

By October 27, 2000, the licensee may

file a request for a hearing with respect

to issuance of the amendment to the

subject facility operating license 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. Requests for a hearing and a

petition for leave to intervene shall be

filed in accordance with the

Commission’s ‘‘Rules of Practice for

Domestic Licensing Proceedings’’ in 10

CFR part 2. Interested persons should

consult a current copy of 10 CFR 2.714

which is available at the Commission’s

Public Document Room, One White

Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike (first

floor), Rockville, Maryland, and

accessible electronically through the

ADAMS Public Electronic Reading

Room link at the NRC Web site (http:/

/www.nrc.gov). If a request for a hearing

or 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 and/or petition; and the

Secretary or the designated Atomic

Safety and Licensing Board will issue a

notice of hearing or an appropriate

order.

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. 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 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 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. 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

amendment 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.

If a hearing is requested, the

Commission will make a final

determination on the issue of no

significant hazards consideration. The

final determination will serve to decide

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 held would take

place after issuance of the amendment.

If the final determination is that the

amendment request involves a

significant hazards consideration, any

hearing held would take place before

the issuance of any amendment.

A request for a hearing or a petition

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, One White

Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike (first

floor), Rockville, Maryland, by the

above date. A copy of the petition

should also be sent to the Office of the

General Counsel, U.S. Nuclear

Regulatory Commission, Washington,

DC 20555–0001, and to David R. Lewis,

Esq., Shaw, Pittman, Potts, and

Trowbridge, 2300 N Street, NW.,

Washington, DC, 20037–1128, attorney

for the licensee.

Nontimely filings of petitions for

leave to intervene, amended petitions,

supplemental petitions and/or requests

for hearing will not be entertained

absent a determination by the

Commission, the presiding officer or the

presiding Atomic Safety and Licensing

Board that the petition and/or request

should be granted based upon a

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 188 / Wednesday, September 27, 2000 / Notices 58113

balancing of the factors specified in 10

CFR 2.714(a)(1)(i)–(v) and 2.714(d).

For further details with respect to this

action, see the application for

amendment dated September 14, 2000,

which is available for public inspection

at the Commission’s Public Document

Room, One White Flint North, 11555

Rockville Pike (first floor), Rockville,

Maryland, and accessible electronically

through the ADAMS Public Electronic

Reading Room link at the NRC Web site

(http://www.nrc.gov).

Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 21st day

of September, 2000.

For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Richard P. Croteau,

Sr. Project Manager, Section 2, Project

Directorate I, Division of Licensing Project

Management, Office of Nuclear Reactor

Regulation.

[FR Doc. 00–24831 Filed 9–26–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7590–01–P

NUCLEAR REGULATORY

COMMISSION

Sunshine Act Meeting

DATES: Weeks of September 25, October

2, 9, 16, 23, and 30, 2000.

PLACE: Commissioners’ Conference

Room, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville,

Maryland.

STATUS: Public and Closed.

MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED: 

Week of September 25

Friday, September 29

9:25 a.m.

Affirmation Session (Public Meeting)

(If needed)

9:30 a.m.

Briefing on Risk-Informing Special

Treatment Requirements (Public

Meeting) (Contact: Tim Reed, 301–

415–1462)

This meeting will be webcast live at

the Web address—

www.nrc.gov/live.html

1:30 p.m.

Briefing on Threat Environment

Assessment (Closed-Ex. 1)

Week of October 2—Tentative

Friday, October 6

9:25 a.m.

Affirmation Session (Public Meeting)

(If needed)

9:30 a.m.

Meeting with ACRS (Public Meeting)

(Contact: John Larkins, 301–415–

7360)

Week of October 9—Tentative

There are no meetings scheduled for

the Week of October 9.

Week of October 16—Tentative

Tuesday, October 17

9:25 a.m.

Affirmation Session (Public Meeting)

(If needed)

Week of October 23—Tentative

Monday, October 23

1:55 p.m.

Affirmation Session (Public Meeting)

(If needed)

Week of October 30—Tentative

There are no meetings scheduled for

the Week of October 30.

*THE SCHEDULE FOR COMMISSION

MEETINGS IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE

ON SHORT NOTICE. TO VERIFY THE

STATUS OF MEETINGS CALL

(RECORDING)—(301) 415–1292.

CONTACT PERSON FOR MORE

INFORMATION: Bill Hill (301) 415–

1661.

The NRC Commission Meeting

Schedule can be found on the Internet

at:

http://www.nrc.gov/SECY/smj/

schedule.htm

This notice is distributed by mail to

several hundred subscribers; if you no

longer wish to receive it, or would like

to be added to it, please contact the

Office of the Secretary, Attn: Operations

Branch, Washington, D.C. 20555 (301–

415–1661). In addition, distribution of

this meeting notice over the Internet

system is available. If you are interested

in receiving this Commission meeting

schedule electronically, please send an

electronic message to wmh@nrc.gov or

dkw@nrc.gov.

Dated: September 22, 2000.

William M. Hill, Jr.,

SECY Tracking Officer, Office of the

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 00–24911 Filed 9–25–00; 2:12 pm]

BILLING CODE 7590–01–M

NUCLEAR REGULATORY

COMMISSION

Notice of Correction to Biweekly

Notice Applications and Amendments

to Facility Operating Licenses

Involving No Significant Hazards

Considerations

On September 20, 2000, the Federal

Register published the Biweekly Notice

of Applications and Amendments to

Facility Operating Licenses Involving

Notice of Issuance of Amendments. On

page 56964, column 2, TXU Electric,

Docket Nos. 50–445 and 50–446,

Comanche Peak Steam Electric Station,

Unit Nos. 1 and 2, the numbers of the

amendments issued should be

Amendment Nos. 79 and 79.

Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 21st day

of September 2000.

For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

John A. Zwolinski,

Director, Division of Licensing Project

Management, Office of Nuclear Reactor

Regulation.

[FR Doc. 00–24832 Filed 9–26–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7590–01–P

OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND

BUDGET

Cumulative Report on Rescissions and

Deferrals

September 1, 2000.

Section 1014(e) of the Congressional

Budget and Impoundment Control Act

of 1974 (Public Law 93–344) requires a

monthly report listing all budget

authority for the current fiscal year for

which, as of the first day of the month,

a special message had been transmitted

to Congress.

This report gives the status, as of

September 1, 2000, of three rescission

proposals and two deferrals contained

in one special message for FY 2000. The

message was transmitted to Congress on

February 9, 2000.

Rescissions (Attachments A and C)

As of September 1, 2000, three

rescission proposals totaling $128

million have been transmitted to the

Congress. Attachment C shows the

status of the FY 2000 rescission

proposals.

Deferrals (Attachments B and D)

As of September 1, 2000, $244 million

in budget authority was being deferred

from obligation. Attachment D shows

the status of each deferral reported

during FY 2000.

Information From Special Message

The special message containing

information on the rescission proposals

and deferrals that are covered by this

cumulative report is printed in the

edition of the Federal Register cited

below: