Palisades Energy, LLC; Palisades Nuclear Plant; License Amendment

Issuing agencies

Abstract

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC, the Commission) has issued an amendment under exigent circumstances to Renewed Facility Operating License (RFOL) No. DPR-20, issued to Palisades Energy, LLC (the licensee), for operation of the Palisades Nuclear Plant (Palisades, PNP). The amendment modifies the PNP Updated Final Safety Analysis Report (UFSAR) Section 9.11, "Fuel Handling and Storage Systems," and Section 14.19, "Fuel Handling Accident," on a one-time basis, to facilitate transport of a fuel assembly designated DD41 from the reactor to the spent fuel pool (SFP) utilizing different plant equipment and following a different travel path than is described in the UFSAR.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 203 (Thursday, October 22, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 203 (Thursday, October 22, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66738-66740]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-21594]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-255; NRC-2026-4852]


Palisades Energy, LLC; Palisades Nuclear Plant; License Amendment

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Issuance, and opportunity to request a hearing and petition for 
leave to intervene.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC, the Commission) 
has issued an amendment under exigent circumstances to Renewed Facility 
Operating License (RFOL) No. DPR-20, issued to Palisades Energy, LLC 
(the licensee), for operation of the Palisades Nuclear Plant 
(Palisades, PNP). The amendment modifies the PNP Updated Final Safety 
Analysis Report (UFSAR) Section 9.11, ``Fuel Handling and Storage 
Systems,'' and Section 14.19, ``Fuel Handling Accident,'' on a one-time 
basis, to facilitate transport of a fuel assembly designated DD41 from 
the reactor to the spent fuel pool (SFP) utilizing different plant 
equipment and following a different travel path than is described in 
the UFSAR.

DATES: The amendment was issued on October 13, 2026. A request for a 
hearing or petitions for leave to intervene must be filed by December 
21, 2026.

ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2026-4852 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-2026-4522. 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#b4f6c6ddd0d3d1c09af7c1c6c6d5daf4dac6d79ad3dbc2"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="9fddedf6fbf8faebb1dceaededfef1dff1edfcb1f8f0e9">[email&#160;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 1-800-397-4209, at 301-415-4737, or by email 
to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b4e4f0e69ae6d1c7dbc1c6d7d1f4dac6d79ad3dbc2"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="80d0c4d2aed2e5f3eff5f2e3e5c0eef2e3aee7eff6">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>. The ADAMS accession number for each document 
referenced (if it is available in ADAMS) is provided in this document.
    <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#9cccd8ceb2cef9eff3e9eefff9dcf2eeffb2fbf3ea"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4b1b0f1965192e38243e39282e0b253928652c243d">[email&#160;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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Justin Poole, Office of Nuclear 
Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 
20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-2048; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3a704f494e5354146a5555565f7a544859145d554c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="68221d1b1c010646380707040d28061a0b460f071e">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Introduction

    The NRC issued Amendment No. 283 to RFOL No. DPR-20, to Palisades 
Energy, LLC (the licensee), under exigent circumstances, which revised 
the license for operation of the Palisades Nuclear Plant (the facility) 
located in Van Buren County, Michigan. A publicly available version of 
the license amendment is available in ADAMS under Accession No. 
ML26282A040. Documents related to this amendment are listed in the 
safety evaluation enclosed with the amendment. The amendment was 
effective as of the date of its issuance.
    The amendment modifies UFSAR sections 9.11 and 14.19, on a one-time 
basis, to describe an alternative fuel-handling process for recovery of 
tilted fuel assembly DD41. Palisades entered Mode 6 (Refueling) and 
began loading fuel into the reactor vessel on August 30, 2026. During 
core reload, fuel assembly DD41 was placed into core location H-1 and 
tilted over after being released by the refueling machine, coming to 
rest at an approximate 30-degree angle with the lower tie plate in core 
location H-1 and the upper tie plate, leaning against the core shroud 
on the opposite side of the core. The UFSAR changes were effective 
immediately upon issuance of the amendment and are applicable for the 
duration of the recovery of fuel

[[Page 66739]]

assembly DD41, including retrieval from the reactor vessel, packaging 
it within an engineered transfer canister, transporting the canister 
from the containment building to the spent fuel handling building, and 
placing the canister and fuel assembly into the cask loading area 
within the spent fuel pool.

II. Notice of Issuance of Amendment to License, Final Determination of 
No Significant Hazard Consideration, and Opportunity for a Hearing 
(Exigent Circumstances)

    By letter dated September 30, 2026, PNP requested that the NRC 
modify UFSAR sections 9.11 and 14.19 on a one-time basis. The NRC 
issued the amendment, which is described in section II of this Federal 
Register notice.
    The NRC has determined for this amendment that the application for 
the amendment complies with the standards and requirements of the 
Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (the Act), as amended, and the NRC's rules 
and regulations. The NRC has made appropriate findings as required by 
the Act and the NRC's rules and regulations in chapter 1 of title 10 of 
the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), which are set forth in the 
license amendment.
    There were exigent circumstances associated with the date the 
amendment was needed, in that the NRC and the licensee had to act 
quickly, and time did not permit the NRC to publish before issuance its 
usual notice of consideration of issuance of amendment, proposed no 
significant hazards consideration (NSHC) determination and opportunity 
for public comment, and opportunity for a hearing in the Federal 
Register. Instead, the NRC published notices in the Grand Rapids Press 
and the Kalamazoo Gazette (October 6 and 8, 2026), and the Herald 
Palladium (October 7 and 8, 2026). Public comments were received on the 
proposed no significant hazards consideration and were addressed by the 
NRC staff. The NRC was also able to consult the State Official before 
issuance, and the State of Michigan had no comment.
    Under its regulations, the NRC may issue and make an amendment 
immediately effective, notwithstanding the pendency before it of a 
request for a hearing from any person, in advance of the holding and 
completion of any required hearing, where it has determined that NSHC 
is involved. The Commission has applied the standards of 10 CFR 50.92, 
``Issuance of amendment,'' and has made a final determination that the 
amendment involves NSHC. The basis for this determination is contained 
in the Commission documents listed in section II of this notice. 
Accordingly, the amendment has been issued and made effective as 
indicated. Because the amendment was issued in exigent circumstances 
without prior notice of an opportunity for hearing, the NRC is, with 
this notice, providing an opportunity for hearing on the amendment.
    The Commission has determined that this amendment satisfies the 
criteria for categorical exclusion in accordance with 10 CFR 51.22. 
Therefore, pursuant to 10 CFR 51.22(d), no environmental impact 
statement or environmental assessment need be prepared for this 
amendment.
    For further details with respect to this action, including the 
Commission's final NSHC determination or discussion of exigent 
circumstances, see the amendment and associated documents such as the 
Commission's letter and safety evaluation, which are referenced in 
section II of this notice.

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

    For those amendments that have not been previously noticed in the 
Federal Register, within 60 days after the date of publication of this 
notice, any persons (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 Commission or a 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).
    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://adamswebsearch2.nrc.gov/webSearch2/main.jsp?AccessionNumber=ML20340A053">https://adamswebsearch2.nrc.gov/webSearch2/main.jsp?AccessionNumber=ML20340A053</a>) and the NRC's public website 
(<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>).

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'' 
(ML13031A056) and 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>).
    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#e2aa8783908b8c85cca68d81898796a28c9081cc858d94"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7b331e1a0912151c553f1418101e0f3b150918551c140d">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>, or by 
telephone at 301-415-1677, to: (1) request a digital identification 
(ID) certificate, which allows the participant (or their 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 their 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 is created, the participant must submit 
adjudicatory documents in the Portable Document Format. Guidance on 
submissions is available on the NRC's

[[Page 66740]]

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 in order 
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#ca8799828ee498afb9a5bfb8a9af8aa4b8a9e4ada5bc"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b1fce2f9f59fe3d4c2dec4c3d2d4f1dfc3d29fd6dec7">[email&#160;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.
    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 previously described, click 
``cancel'' when the link requests certificates and you will be 
automatically directed to the NRC's electronic hearing docket 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 30, 2026 (ADAMS 
Accession No. ML26273A469), as supplemented on October 2, 2026, October 
8, 2026, and October 12, 2026 (ADAMS Accession Nos. ML26275A214, 
ML26281A333, and ML26285A034, respectively).
    Attorney for licensee: Bill Gill, General Counsel, Holtec 
International, Inc., Krishna P. Singh Technology Campus, 1 Holtec 
Blvd., Camden, NJ 08104.
    NRC Branch Chief: Ilka Berrios.
    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.

    Dated: October 20, 2026.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Justin Poole,
Senior Project Manager, Operating Reactor Licensing Branch 3, Division 
of Licensing Projects 1, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 2026-21594 Filed 10-21-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P


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