South Carolina Electric and Gas Co., Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station; Notice of Acceptance for Docketing of the Application and Notice of Opportunity for a Hearing Regarding Renewal of Facility Operating License No. NPF-12 for an Additional 20-Year Period

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is considering an application for the renewal of Operating License No. NPF-12, which authorizes South Carolina Electric & Gas Company to operate Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station, at 2900 megawatts thermal. The renewed license would authorize the applicant to operate the Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station for an additional 20 years beyond the period specified in the current license. The current operating license for Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station expires on August 6, 2022.

On August 6, 2002, the Commission received an application from South Carolina Electric & Gas Company to renew the operating license for the Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station. A Notice of Receipt of Application, “Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station; Notice of Receipt of Application for Renewal of Facility Operating License No. NPF-12 for an Additional 20-year Period,” was published in the Federal Register on September 3, 2002, (67 FR 56316).

The Commission's staff (the staff) has determined that South Carolina Electric & Gas Company 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 No. 50-395 for Operating License No. NPF-12 will be retained. 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.

Before issuance of each requested renewed license, the Commission will have made the findings required by the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (the Act), and the Commission's rules and regulations. In accordance with 10 CFR 54.29, the Commission will issue a renewed license on the basis of its review if it finds 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 as requiring aging management review, and (2) time-limited aging analyses that have been identified as requiring 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 Commission will prepare an environmental impact statement that is a supplement to NUREG-1437, “Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Power Plants” (May 1996). Pursuant to 10 CFR 51.26, and as part of the environmental scoping process, the staff intends to hold a public scoping meeting. Detailed information regarding this 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 the schedule for conducting the review. The Commission will provide prior notice of these meetings. As discussed further herein, in the event that a hearing is held, issues that may be litigated will be confined to those pertinent to the foregoing.

Within 30 days from the date of publication of this Federal Register notice, 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 renewal of the licenses 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 (PDR), 11555 Rockville Pike (first floor) Rockville, Maryland, and on the Commission's Web site at http://www.nrc.gov (the Public Electronic Reading Room). 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 hearing or an appropriate order. In the event that no request for a hearing or petition for leave to intervene is filed by the above date, the Commission may, upon completion of its evaluations and upon making the findings required under 10 CFR parts 51 and 54, 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 that may be considered pursuant to 10 CFR parts 51 and 54. The petition must 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 that may be entered in the proceeding on the petitioner's interest. The petition must 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 before the first prehearing conference scheduled in the proceeding, but such an amended petition must satisfy the specific requirements described above.

Not later than 15 days before the first prehearing conference scheduled in the proceeding, a petitioner shall file a supplement to the petition to intervene that must include a list of the contentions that the petitioner seeks to have litigated in the hearing. 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 each contention and a concise statement of the alleged facts or the expert opinion that supports 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 that, if proven, would entitle the petitioner to relief. A petitioner who fails to file such a supplement that 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 PDR, located at One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike (first floor), Rockville, Maryland, by the above date. Because of the continuing disruptions in delivery of mail to United States Government offices, it is requested that petitions for leave to intervene and requests for hearing be transmitted to the Secretary of the Commission either by means of facsimile transmission to 301-415-1101 or by e-mail to hearingdocket@nrc.gov. A copy of the request for leave to intervene and request for hearing should also be sent to the Office of the General Counsel, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, and, because of continuing disruptions in delivery of mail to United States Government offices, it is requested that copies be transmitted either by means of facsimile transmission to 301-415-3725 or by e-mail to OGCMailCenter@nrc.gov. A copy of the request for hearing and petition for leave to intervene should also be sent to Mr. Stephen A. Byrne, Sr. Vice President—Nuclear Operations, South Carolina Electric & Gas Company, Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station, PO Box 88, Jenkinsville, SC 29065.

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 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 on the Commission's Web page at http://www.nrc.gov . A copy of the application is available for public inspection at the Commission's PDR, located at One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike (first floor), Rockville, Maryland, or on the NRC Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/operating/licensing/renewal/applications/summer.html , while the application is under review. The staff has verified that a copy of the license renewal application for the Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station is also available to local residents at the Fairfield County Library, in Winnsboro, South Carolina, and at the Thomas Cooper Library, at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina.