ML062650221

Comment from David R. Lewis of Pillsbury, Winthrop, Shaw and Pittman on Massachusetts Attorney General'S Petition for Rulemaking PRM-51-10 to Amend 10 CFR Part 51 (August 25, 2006)

ML062650221
Person / Time
Site:	Pilgrim, Vermont Yankee
Issue date:	08/30/2006
From:	Doris Lewis Entergy Nuclear Generation Co, Entergy Nuclear Operations, Pillsbury, Winthrop, Shaw, Pittman, LLP
To:	Jaczko G, Klein D, Peter B. Lyons, Mcgaffigan E, Merrifield J NRC/Chairman, NRC/OCM
Ngbea E S
References
71FR64169, PRM-51-10
Download: ML062650221 (5)

Text

2300 NStreet NW Tel 202.663.8000 Washington, DC 20037-1122 Fax 202.663.8007 Pillsbury www.plflsburyaw.com Winthrop Shaw Pittman.

DOCKETED USNRC September 20, 2006 (3:45pm)

August 30, 2006 OFFICE OF SECRETARY David R. Lewis RULEMAKINGS AND Phone: 202.663.8474 ADJUDICATIONS STAFF david.lewis@pillsburylaw.com PRM-51-10 Hon. Dale E. Klein, Hon. Edward McGaffigan, Jr.,

Chairman U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20005 Washington, DC 20005 Hon. Gregory B. Jaczko,

,don. Jeffrey S. Merrifield, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20005 Washington, DC 20005 Hon. Peter B. Lyons U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20005 Re: Massachusetts Attorney General's Petition for Rulemaking to Amend 10 C.F.R. Part 51 (Aug. 25, 2006)

Dear Chairman Klein and Commissioners McGaffigan,

Merrifield, Jaczko, and Lyons:

On August 25, 2006, the Massachusetts Attorney General filed a Petition for Rulemaking to amend 10 C.F.R. Part 51 because of information asserted to be new and significant and alleged to show that the determination made in the Generic Environmental Impact Statement for Renewal of Nuclear Power Plant Licenses - that "the likelihood of a fuel cladding fire is highly remote"- is incorrect. The Petition's claims of new and significant information parallel those made by the Massachusetts Attorney General in the license renewal proceedings for the Vermont Yankee and Pilgrim Nuclear Power Stations (Docket Nos. 50-271-LR and 50-293-LR) and the Petition relies on and incorporates the contention and the supporting materials filed by the Massachusetts Attorney General in those proceedings. For completeness, Entergy wishes to direct the Commission's attention to Entergy's answers and brief in those proceedings (to which the Massachusetts Attorney General has replied) which explain why the Massachusetts Attorney General's 400448933v1 1FemploJ-ee&zL,7r5

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission August 30, 2006 Page 2 information is neither new nor significant. See Entergy's Answer to the Massachusetts Attorney General's Request for a Hearing, Petition for Leave to Intervene, and Petition for Backfit Order (June 22, 2006) (ML061790134 at 14-25, Pilgrim; ML061780616 at 13-25 Vermont Yankee); "Entergy's Brief on New and Significant Information in Response to Licensing Board Order of July 14, 2006" (July 21, 2006) (ML062080589 at 11-24, Pilgrim).

The Massachusetts Attorney General's Rulemaking Petition requests (at 3) that the Commission "withhold any decision to renew the operating licenses for the Pilgrim and Vermont Yankee nuclear power plants until the requested rulemaking has been completed and until the NRC has completed" the related NEPA process that may be required by any amended rule. Entergy notes that the NRC Staff has tentatively scheduled issuance of the renewed licenses for both plants, if approved, by November 27, 2007 (if no hearing is granted) and by July 27, 2008 (if a hearing is granted). See www.nrc. gov/reactors/operatine/icensing/renewal/applications/vermont-yankee.html; www.nrc.gov/reactors/operating/Iicensing/renewal/applications/Silgrjm.html. While disagreeing with the Attorney General's request to withhold license renewal pending the completion of any rulemaking, Entergy respectfully asks that the Commission act on and resolve the rulemaking petition by November 2007 in order to avoid any potential for delay in the renewal of the Vermont Yankee and Pilgrim licenses.

Entergy reserves the right to provide additional comments on whether new and significant information exists and whether issuance of the renewed licenses should be withheld pending completion of any rulemaking if and when the Commission publishes the Petition for public comment.

Sincerely, David R. Lewis Counsel for Entergy cc: Service Lists for Pilgrim and Vermont Yankee License Renewal Proceedings

Certificate of Service I certify that copies of the foregoing letter to Chairman Klein and Commissioners McGaffigan, Merrifield, Jaczko and Lyons from David R. Lewis dated August 30, 2006, were served on the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board and the counsel and other representatives of the parties to the Pilgrim and Vermont Yankee licensing renewal proceedings listed below by deposit in the U.S. mail, first class, postage prepaid, this 30e day of August, 2006.

Administrative Judge Administrative Judge Alex S. Karlin, Esq., Chairman Dr. Richard E. Wardwell Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Mail Stop T-3 F23 Mail Stop T-3 F23 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 ask2@nrc.gov rew@nrc.gov Administrative Judge Administrative Judge Dr. Thomas S. Elleman Ann Marshall Young, Esq., Chair Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Atomic Safety and Licensing Board 5207 Creedmoor Road, #101, Mail Stop T-3 F23 Raleigh, NC 27612. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission tse@nrc.gov; elleman@eos.ncsu.edu Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 amy@nrc.gov Administrative Judge Administrative Judge Dr. Richard F. Cole Paul B. Abramson Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel Mail Stop T-3 F23 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 pba~nrc.gov rfcl@nrc.gov 400448933v0

Secretary Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Att'n: Rulemakings and Adjudications Staff Mail Stop T-3 F23 Mail Stop 0-16 CI U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 secy@nrc.gov, hearingdocket(nrc.gov Office of Commission Appellate Sarah Hofmann, Esq.

Adjudication Director of Public Advocacy Mail Stop 0-16 Cl Department of Public Service U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 112 State Street - Drawer 20 Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 Montpelier, VT 05620-2601 Sarah.hofinann(state.vt.us Mitzi A. Young, Esq. Ronald A. Shems, Esq.

Steven C. Hamrick, Esq. Karen Tyler, Esq.

Office of the General Counsel Shems, Dunkiel, Kassel & Saunders, PLLC Mail Stop 0-15 D21 9 College Street U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Burlington, VT 05401 Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 rshems(sdkslaw.com may@nrc.gov; schl@nrc.gov ktyler@sdkslaw.com Anthony Z. Roisman, Esq. Diane Curran, Esq.

National Legal Scholars Law Firm Harmon, Curran, Spielberg &Eisenberg, LLP 84 East Thetford Road 1726 M Street, N.W., Suite 600 Lyme, NH 03768 Washington, D.C. 20036 aroisman@nationallegalscholars.com dcurran@harmoncurran.com Callie B. Newton, Chair Matthew Brock, Esq.

Gail MacArthur Assistant Attorney General Lucy Gratwick Environmental Protection Division Town of Marlboro Office of the Attorney General Selectboard One Ashburton Place P.O. Box 518 Boston, MA 02108 Marlboro, VT 05344 Matthew.brock@ago.state.ma.us marcialynn@evl.net; cbnewton(asover.net

Mr. Dan MacArthur Susan L. Uttal, Esq.

Director, Emergency Management Marian L. Zobler, Esq.

P.O. Box 30 Office of the General Counsel Marlboro, VY 50344 Mail Stop 0-15 D21 dmacarthur@igc.org U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 slu@nrc.gov; hew@nrc.gov Ms. Mary Lampert Molly H. Bartlett, Esq.

148 Washington Street 52 Crooked Lane Duxbury, MA 02332 Duxbury, MA 02332 lampert@adelphia.net mollyhbartlett@hotmail.com Mr. Mark D. Sylvia Sheila Slocum Hollis, Esq.

Town Manager Duane Morris LLP Town of Plymouth 1667 K Street, N.W.

I1 Lincoln St. Suite 700 Plymouth MA, 02360 Washington, D.C. 20006 msylvia@townhall.plymouth.ma.us sshollis@duanemorris.com David R. Lewis