ML101970370
| ML101970370 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Seabrook  |
| Issue date: | 07/19/2010 |
| From: | Richard Plasse, Susco J License Renewal Projects Branch 1 |
| To: | |
| SUSCO, J NRR/DLR 415-2927 | |
| References | |
| Download: ML101970370 (17) | |
Text
1 Seabrook Station License Renewal Process Overview Division of License Renewal Rick Plasse Jeremy Susco Safety Project Manager Environmental Project Manager
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- NRCs Primary Governing Statutes
- Atomic Energy Act
- Energy Reorganization Act
- National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
- NRCs Mission
- Protect public health and safety
- Promote the common defense and security
- Protect the environment NRC Regulatory Oversight
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- Current operating license expires on 3/15/2030 (40 years of operation)
- NRC received Seabrooks license renewal application on 6/1/2010
- If the NRC decides to renew the license, it would expire in 2050 Seabrook Station License Renewal
Why 20 years?
- Common question: Why can Seabrook Station apply for renewal with 20 years remaining on its current license?
- Seabrook Station is legally allowed to do so:
- Section 54.17(c) in Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations
- NRC determined that:
- 20 years of operational and regulatory experience provides an applicant with substantial amounts of information and would disclose any plant-specific concerns with regard to age-related degradation
- 20 years remaining on the operating license would be reasonable considering the estimated time for utilities to plan for replacement of retired plants 4
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- General information about the plant owner or operator
- Technical information about plant structures and components and how the applicant proposes to manage aging
- Changes to plant technical specifications
- Environmental report documenting the effects of extending the license by 20 years Application Contents
6 Environmental Review NRC Renewal Decision License Renewal Application Submitted to NRC Safety Review Review by ACRS Hearings*
Consultation and Comment License Renewal Process
- If a Request for Hearing is Granted
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- Focus is on the effects of component aging and structures important to plant safety
- Staff review is to determine that aging effects will be effectively managed
- Review application and supporting documentation
- On-site audits
- On-site inspections by NRC Region I
- Issue Safety Evaluation Report
- Independent review by the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS)
Safety Review (10 CFR Part 54)
8 The ongoing regulatory process is adequate to ensure the safety of all currently operating plants The same plant operating rules apply during the renewal term
- NRC applies additional conditions for aging management License Renewal Safety Principles
9 Emergency Planning
- 10 CFR Section 50.47 Security
- 10 CFR Part 73 Current Safety Performance Reactor Oversight Process Ongoing Regulatory Oversight
10 Focus is on environmental impacts of continued plant operation for an additional 20 years Staff review is to determine if the environmental impacts of license renewal are so great that license renewal would be unreasonable Staff prepares an Environmental Impact Statement Public input drives consideration of environmental issues Environmental Review (10 CFR Part 51)
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- Staff evaluates impacts to resources
- Fish and Wildlife
- Water and Air Resources
- Historical and Cultural Resources
- Socioeconomic (taxes, community development, environmental justice)
- Human Health
- Land Use
- Significant coordination with State agencies, Federal agencies, and the public Environmental Impact Statement
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- Public Meeting - Scoping & Process Overview
- Safety & Environmental Site Audits
- Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
- Public Meeting - Comments on Draft EIS
- Independent review by ACRS
- Final EIS
- Safety Evaluation Report
- NRC Renewal Decision Critical Milestones
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- Opportunity for hearing*
- Environmental scoping input*
- Public meeting
- Draft EIS input*
- Public meeting
- Independent review by ACRS*
- Other meetings (as required) to support the NRC staffs application review
- Federal Register Notice and Press Release Opportunities for Public Involvement
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- Commission considers:
- Results of the safety review
- Environmental impact statement
- NRC inspection findings and conclusions
- Recommendations from the Advisory Committee for Reactor Safeguards
- Outcome of the hearing process
- Typical License Renewal Review
- 22 months without a hearing
- 30 months if a hearing is conducted Final Agency Decision
Document Locations
- Seabrook, NH Public Library
- Amesbury, MA Public Library
licensing/renewal/applications/
seabrook.html 15
Keeping Up-To-Date
- Website for public comments on Federal documents and actions:
www.regulations.gov
- If you would like to keep up-to-date with all of the correspondence related to Seabrook Station (which includes license renewal), sign up for the Seabrook Station listserver:
http://www.nrc.gov/public-involve/
listserver/plants-by-region.html 16
Points of Contact Rick Plasse (800) 368-5642 x1427 richard.plasse@nrc.gov Jeremy Susco (800) 368-5642 x2927 jeremy.susco@nrc.gov 17