ML031910652
| ML031910652 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Clinton, PROJ0718  |
| Issue date: | 07/31/2003 |
| From: | Gilles N NRC/NRR/NRLPO |
| To: | Hindman M - No Known Affiliation |
| Gilles N, NRR/ADIP/NRLPO, 415-1180 | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML031910640 | List: |
| References | |
| +ReviewedClintonESP, +reviewednvg | |
| Download: ML031910652 (7) | |
Text
July 31, 2003 Mr. Matthew Hindman
SUBJECT:
POTENTIAL APPLICATION FOR AN EARLY SITE PERMIT AT THE CLINTON SITE
Dear Mr. Hindman:
Thank you for your e-mail dated April 11, 2003. In your e-mail, you stated that it has come to your attention that there are plans to build a second nuclear reactor at the Clinton power plant.
We believe you are referring to the fact that Exelon (co-owner of the Clinton Power Station) has notified the NRC that it expects to file an application for an early site permit (ESP) for one or more new reactors at the Clinton Power Station site. It is important to note that the issuance of an ESP is a separate action from the issuance of a license to construct or operate an additional nuclear power plant at the Clinton site. An ESP only allows an applicant to "bank" or set aside a site for possible future construction and operation of a nuclear power plant; it does not give an applicant permission to construct or operate a nuclear power plant. The ESP application will address site safety, environmental issues, and emergency planning. The NRC will review the application to determine if it meets NRC regulations and the requirements of the Atomic Energy Act. The ESP process is designed to make it possible to resolve many safety and environmental issues related to nuclear power plant siting early in the licensing process before construction of a nuclear power plant begins.
In your e-mail, you indicated your interest in learning what information was available regarding ESPs. There is general information about the ESP process on the NRCs web page at http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/new-licensing/license-reviews/esp.html. However, you will not find specific information about Exelons application because it has not been submitted. Once we receive the application, all correspondence between the applicant (Exelon) and the NRC will be made available electronically at the NRCs Electronic Reading Room at http://www.nrc.gov/NRC/ADAMS/index.html. From this site, the public can access NRCs Agencywide Document Access and Management System (ADAMS), which provides text and image files of NRCs public documents. If you do not have access to ADAMS or have problems in accessing the documents located in ADAMS, contact the NRCs Public Document Room reference staff at 1-800-397-4209 or by e-mail to pdr@nrc.gov. In addition, we have made arrangements with the Vespasian Warner Public Library in Clinton, IL, to have space made available to store hard copies of these documents.
In your e-mail, you expressed concern about whether there was ample room to store the waste generated by another reactor and asked if such waste needs to be transported at any point in the future. The scope of review of an ESP application is limited. Issues associated with storage and disposal of nuclear waste are not addressed in the ESP process.
Mr. Hindman The Commission, however, has determined that spent fuel generated in any reactor can be stored safely and without significant environmental impacts at the reactors spent fuel storage basin or at either onsite or offsite independent spent fuel storage installations for at least 30 years beyond the licensed life for operation (which may include the term of a revised or renewed license) of that reactor (10 CFR 51.23). Further, the Commission also believes that there is reasonable assurance that at least one mined geologic repository will be available within the first quarter of the 21st century and that sufficient repository capacity will be available within 30 years of the end of the licensed life for operation of any reactor to dispose of the commercial high-level waste and spent fuel originating in that reactor and generated up to that time. The rule is supported by the Commissions Waste Confidence Decision and its subsequent reviews. Additional information on this topic can be found in the Federal Register under the headings, Requirements for Licensee Actions Regarding the Disposition of Spent Fuel Upon Expiration of Reactor Operating Licenses, (49 FR 34688, August 31, 1984); Waste Confidence Decision Review, (55 FR 38474, September 18, 1990); and Waste Confidence Decision Review: Status (64 FR 68005, December 6, 1999). (Federal Register Notices from 1994 to present may be downloaded at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html).
Another issue you raise is transportation of waste from the reactor. If future shipments of waste were to occur from a new facility, such shipments would be governed by NRC and Department of Transportation regulations. These regulations govern all aspects of shipment of radioactive materials, and would provide reasonable assurance of the publics health and safety.
In your e-mail, you also asked how committed officials are to keeping all of the concerns of the public intact. The NRC has a longstanding practice of providing the public with substantial information on its activities and of conducting business in an open manner. For example, the NRC held a meeting in Clinton on March 20, 2003, to specifically discuss the NRC's ESP process. The NRC held this meeting to inform the local public about the process as well as the opportunities for public involvement in that process for the Clinton site. We have enclosed a copy of the NRC's presentation material from that meeting.
Mr. Hindman We hope that this information has helped to address your concerns. Further questions can be addressed to Nanette Gilles at the USNRC, Mail Stop O-4D9A, Washington, DC 20555.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Nanette V. Gilles, Senior Project Manager New, Research and Test Reactors Program Division of Regulatory Improvement Programs Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Project No. 718
Enclosure:
As stated cc: See next page
Mr. Hindman We hope that this information has helped to address your concerns. Further questions can be addressed to Nanette Gilles at the USNRC, Mail Stop O-4D9A, Washington, DC 20555.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Nanette V. Gilles, Senior Project Manager New, Research and Test Reactors Program Division of Regulatory Improvement Programs Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Project No. 718
Enclosure:
As stated cc: See next page Distribution:
w/enclosure w/o enclosure NRLPO R/F AFernadez JSchlueter RidsOgcRp DMatthews NGilles TKenyon JLyons RidsNrrOD FGillespie PUBLIC NRLPO Group JTappert RidsNrrAdip JMoore Accession No. ML031910640-Pkg., ML031910652-Response Letter, ML030830229-Handouts DOCUMENT NAME: C:\\ORPCheckout\\FileNET\\ML031910652.wpd OFFICE NRR/NRLPO NRR/NRLPO NRR/DRIP/RLEP NMSS/DWM/HLWB NAME NGilles JWillilams JTappert JSchlueter DATE 7/10/03 7/10/03 7/25/03 7/25/03 OFFICE OGC NRR/NRLPO NAME AFernandez JLyons DATE 7/30/03 7/31/03 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
Exelon ESP cc:
Mr. David Lochbaum Union of Concerned Scientists 1707 H Street, NW Suite 600 Washington, DC 20006-3919 Mr. Paul Gunter Director of the Reactor Watchdog Project Nuclear Information & Resource Service 1424 16th Street, NW, Suite 404 Washington, DC 20036 Mr. Ron Simard Nuclear Energy Institute Suite 400 1776 I Street, NW Washington, DC 20006-3708 Mr. Thomas P. Miller U.S. Department of Energy Headquarters - Germantown 19901 Germantown Road Germantown, MD 20874-1290 Mr. James Riccio Greenpeace 702 H Street, NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20001 Mr. Rod Krich Vice President, Licensing Projects Exelon Nuclear 4300 Winfield Road Warrenville, IL 60555 Ms. Patricia Campbell Winston & Strawn 1400 L Street, NW Washington, DC 20005 Mr. Eddie Grant Exelon Generation 200 Exelon Way, KSA3-E Kennett Square, PA 19348 Mr. James F. Mallay, Director Regulatory Affairs FRAMATOME, ANP 3315 Old Forest Road Lynchburg, VA 24501 Mr. Ernie H. Kennedy Vice President New Plants Nuclear Plant Projects Westinghouse Electric Company 2000 Day Hill Road Windsor, CT 06095-0500 Dr. Regis A. Matzie Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer Westinghouse Electric Company 2000 Day Hill Road Windsor, CT 06095-0500 Ms. Marilyn Kray Vice President, Special Projects Exelon Generation 200 Exelon Way, KSA3-E Kennett Square, PA 19348 Mr. Thomas Mundy Director, Project Development Exelon Generation 200 Exelon Way, KSA3-E Kennett Square, PA 19348 Mr. William Maher Exelon Generation 203 Hazelton Court Mullica Hill, NJ 08062 Mr. Donald Anderson CH2M HILL 777 108th Avenue, NE Suite 800 Bellevue, WA 98004-5118 Ms. Amy Lientz CH2M HILL 1020 Landbank Street Idaho Falls, Idaho 83402
Mr. Gary Wright, Manager Office of Nuclear Facility Safety Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety 1035 Outer Park Drive Springfield, IL 62704 Dr. Gail H. Marcus U.S. Department of Energy Room 5A-143 1000 Independence Ave., SW Washington, DC 20585 Mr. Steven Dolly Nuclear Control Institute 1000 Connecticut Avenue, NW Suite 410 Washington, DC 20036 Mr. Jack W. Roe SCIENTECH, INC.
910 Clopper Road Gaithersburg, MD 20878 Mr. Tom Clements 6703 Guide Avenue Takoma Park, MD 20912 Mr. Vince Langman Licensing Manager Atomic Energy of Canada Limited 2251 Speakman Drive Mississauga, Ontario Canada L5K 1B2 Mr. David Ritter Research Associate on Nuclear Energy Public Citizens Critical Mass Energy and Environmental Program 215 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20003 Prairie Group Attn: Mr. George Gore P.O. Box 131 Urbana, IL 61803 Mr. Arthur L. Brighton RR1, Box 22 Weldon, IL 61882 Mr. Dale Holtzscher RR 1, Box 72A Weldon, IL 61882 Mr. John Stolfa P.O. Box 589 Mansfield, IL 61854-0589 Mr. Ed Wallace, General Manager Projects PBMR Pty LTD PO Box 9396 Centurion 0046 Republic of South Africa