Notice2026-18516
Virginia Electric and Power Company, (Doing Business as Dominion Energy Virginia); North Anna Site; Early Site Permit Renewal Application
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
September 11, 2026
Issuing agencies
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Abstract
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or Commission) is considering an application for the renewal of Early Site Permit (ESP) No. ESP-003, which allows Virginia Electric and Power Company (doing business as Dominion Energy Virginia) to reference ESP-003 in an application for a construction permit (CP) or combined license (COL) at the North Anna ESP site during the period ESP-003 remains valid. The renewed permit, if approved, would extend the expiration date by an additional 20 years beyond the period specified in the current permit. The location for the North Anna ESP site is in Louisa County, Virginia, and the current ESP-003 expires on November 27, 2027. This notice provides the public an opportunity to request a hearing and petition for leave to intervene with respect to the renewal application.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 175 (Friday, September 11, 2026)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 175 (Friday, September 11, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57934-57936]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-18516]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 52-008; NRC-2008-0476]
Virginia Electric and Power Company, (Doing Business as Dominion
Energy Virginia); North Anna Site; Early Site Permit Renewal
Application
AGENCY: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: License renewal application; acceptance for docketing;
opportunity to request a hearing and petition for leave to intervene.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or Commission) is
considering an application for the renewal of Early Site Permit (ESP)
No. ESP-003, which allows Virginia Electric and Power Company (doing
business as Dominion Energy Virginia) to reference ESP-003 in an
application for a construction permit (CP) or combined license (COL) at
the North Anna ESP site during the period ESP-003 remains valid. The
renewed permit, if approved, would extend the expiration date by an
additional 20 years beyond the period specified in the current permit.
The location for the North Anna ESP site is in Louisa County, Virginia,
and the current ESP-003 expires on November 27, 2027. This notice
provides the public an opportunity to request a hearing and petition
for leave to intervene with respect to the renewal application.
DATES: A request for a hearing or petition for leave to intervene must
be filed by November 10, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2008-0476 when contacting the
NRC about the availability of information regarding this document. You
may obtain publicly available information related to this document
using any of the following methods:
<bullet> Federal Rulemaking Website: Go to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> and search for Docket ID NRC-2008-0476. Address
questions about Docket IDs in <a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a> to Bridget Curran;
telephone: 301-415-1003; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1654647f72717362385563646477785678647538717960"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3f7d4d565b585a4b117c4a4d4d5e517f514d5c11585049">[email protected]</span></a>. For technical
questions, contact the individual(s) listed in the For Further
Information Contact section of this document.
<bullet> NRC's Agencywide Documents Access and Management System
(ADAMS): You may obtain publicly available documents online in the
ADAMS Public Documents collection at <a href="https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html">https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html</a>. To begin the search, select ``Begin ADAMS Public Search.''
For problems with ADAMS, please contact the NRC's Public Document Room
(PDR) reference staff at 800-397-4209, at 301-415-4737, or by email to
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1e4e5a4c304c7b6d716b6c7d7b5e706c7d30797168"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="df8f9b8df18dbaacb0aaadbcba9fb1adbcf1b8b0a9">[email protected]</span></a>. The North Anna Early Site Permit Renewal
application and request for exemption is available in ADAMS under
Accession No. ML26195A323.
<bullet> 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
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d3839781fd81b6a0bca6a1b0b693bda1b0fdb4bca5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7d2d392f532f180e12080f1e183d130f1e531a120b">[email protected]</span></a> 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.
<bullet> NRC's Public Website: The ESP renewal application is
available under the NRC's North Anna Early Site Permit public website
<a href="https://www.nrc.gov/reactors/new-reactors/large-lwr/esp">https://www.nrc.gov/reactors/new-reactors/large-lwr/esp</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William (Billy) Gleaves, Office of
Advanced Reactors, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC
20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-5848; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3173585d5d1f765d5450475442715f43521f565e47"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5113383d3d7f163d3430273422113f23327f363e27">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Discussion
On July 14, 2026, Virginia Electric and Power Company, dba Dominion
Energy Virginia (Dominion), filed with the NRC, pursuant to Section 103
of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, and part 52 of title 10
of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), ``Licenses,
Certifications, and Approvals for Nuclear Power Plants,'' an
application to request that the NRC renew ESP-003 for an additional 20
years beyond the current November 27, 2027, expiration date or from the
date of issuance, whichever is later.
In the case of the North Anna site, Dominion holds COL NPF-103 for
a reactor designated as North Anna, Unit 3. In the renewal application
for ESP-003, Dominion notified the NRC of its decision to place COL
NPF-103 in deferred status. Dominion also included in its renewal
application for ESP-003 a request for an exemption from the subsumption
requirements of 10 CFR 52.26(d), ``Duration of permit,'' to provide for
the renewal of the ESP in its entirety, rather than renewal of only the
portions of ESP-003 not subsumed into NPF-103. Consistent with the
Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, and NRC regulations, the NRC is
not publishing a notice of opportunity for hearing on the exemption
request. A notice of receipt and availability of this renewal
application was previously published in the Federal Register on August
5, 2026 (91 FR 50560). Identical notices of receipt and availability
were published for an additional 3 consecutive weeks thereafter.
The NRC staff has determined that Dominion has submitted sufficient
information in accordance with 10 CFR 52.29(a), ``Application for
Renewal,'' to bring up to date the information and data contained in
the previous ESP application to enable the staff to undertake a review
of the ESP renewal application, and that, therefore, the ESP renewal
application is acceptable for docketing. The previous ESP application
for the North Anna ESP site is available in ADAMS under package
Accession No. ML062580096. The
[[Page 57935]]
current docket number, 52-008, for Early Site Permit No. ESP-003 will
be retained. The renewal application was docketed on September 4, 2026.
The NRC staff provided notice of the acceptance and docketing
determination by letter dated September 4, 2026 (ADAMS Accession No.
ML26215A405).
The NRC staff will perform a detailed technical review of the
renewal application and document its findings in a safety evaluation.
Docketing of the renewal application does not preclude the NRC staff
from requesting additional information from the applicant as the review
proceeds, nor does it predict whether the Commission will grant or deny
the renewal application.
The NRC may grant the request to renew the permit only if the NRC
makes the findings required by the Act and the Commission's rules and
regulations. In accordance with 10 CFR 52.31, ``Criteria for renewal,''
the NRC shall grant the renewal only if it determines that: (1) the
site complies with the Act, the Commission's regulations, and orders
applicable and in effect at the time the site permit was originally
issued, and (2) any new requirements the Commission may wish to impose
that are necessary for adequate protection to public health and safety
or common defense and security, necessary for compliance with the
Commission's regulations, and orders applicable and in effect at the
time the site permit was originally issued, or result in a substantial
increase in overall protection of the public health and safety or the
common defense and security, and the direct and indirect costs of
implementation of those requirements are justified in view of this
increased protection.
The NRC staff will also complete an environmental review of the
renewal application and will document its findings in accordance with
the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, and the
Commission's regulations in 10 CFR part 51, ``Environmental Protection
Regulations for Domestic Licensing and Related Regulatory Functions.''
II. 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 60-day 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).
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 designated 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 (<a href="https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML2034/ML20340A053">https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML2034/ML20340A053</a>) and the NRC's
public website at <a href="https://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/regulatory/adjudicatory/hearing.html#participate">https://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/regulatory/adjudicatory/hearing.html#participate</a>.
III. 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 in
adjudicatory proceedings is located in the ``Electronic Information
Exchange System Adjudicatory User's Guide'' (ADAMS Accession No.
ML23150A083) and on the NRC's public website at <a href="https://www.nrc.gov/site-help/e-submittals.html">https://www.nrc.gov/site-help/e-submittals.html</a>.
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 <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3078555142595e571e745f535b5544705e42531e575f46"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7f371a1e0d161118513b101c141a0b3f110d1c51181009">[email protected]</span></a>, 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 (<a href="https://www.nrc.gov/site-help/e-submittals/getting-started.html">https://www.nrc.gov/site-help/e-submittals/getting-started.html</a>). 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 (<a href="https://www.nrc.gov/site-help/electronic-sub-ref-mat.html">https://www.nrc.gov/site-help/electronic-sub-ref-mat.html</a>). 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 (<a href="https://www.nrc.gov/site-help/e-submittals.html">https://www.nrc.gov/site-help/e-submittals.html</a>), by
email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#307d6378741e6255435f45425355705e42531e575f46"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="064b554e422854637569737465634668746528616970">[email protected]</span></a>, 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.
[[Page 57936]]
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 on the
NRC's public website <a href="https://ehd.nrc.gov">https://ehd.nrc.gov</a>, unless otherwise excluded
pursuant to an order of the presiding officer. If you do not have an
NRC-issued digital ID certificate as described above, 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.
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.
Dated: September 8, 2026.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Laurel Bauer,
Chief, Advanced Reactor Licensing Branch 5, Division of Advanced
Reactor Licensing, Office of Advanced Reactors.
[FR Doc. 2026-18516 Filed 9-10-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on September 11, 2026.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.