ML102020510
| ML102020510 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Diablo Canyon  |
| Issue date: | 07/23/2010 |
| From: | Brian Holian Division of License Renewal |
| To: | Hill A San Luis Obispo County, CA |
| Wrona D J, NRR, 415-2292 | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML102020514 | List: |
| References | |
| EDATS: SECY-2010-0091, G20100077, LTR-10-0044, LTR-10-0141, Y020100075 | |
| Download: ML102020510 (5) | |
Text
July 23, 2010 Mr. Adam Hill San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors 1055 Monterey Room D430 San Luis Obispo, CA 93408
Dear Supervisor Hill:
On behalf of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), I am responding to your letter of February 7, 2010, and the Board of Supervisors letter of March 9, 2010. In the letters, you requested that the NRC wait to begin processing the license renewal application for the Diablo Canyon Power Plant, Units 1 and 2 (DCPP), until State-requested seismic studies have been completed. In this case, the State has separate requirements for seismic evaluations that stem from State laws and regulatory oversight for issues such as electric grid reliability, electric ratemaking, and coastal land management. The NRC staff has coordinated with the State on issues related to its jurisdiction and will continue to do so.
It is not necessary, at this time, for the NRC staff to delay the reviews it recently began of the license renewal application submitted by Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) for DCPP. PG&E submitted its application for renewal of the DCPP license in November 2009, which was within the time frame allowed under NRC rules. The NRC staff then evaluated the application and found that it met the standards necessary to begin a formal review of the application. The NRCs safety and environmental review processes take a minimum of 22 months to complete.
In the Board of Supervisors letter, you requested that, should the NRC not grant a delay, the agency not complete the application process until the seismic studies have been finished. It is my understanding that the applicants Shoreline Fault study will be concluded in December 2010. As previously indicated, the NRC takes a minimum of 22 months to complete the required application reviews. Completion of the Shoreline Fault study is within the review time frame. Should any information from the seismic studies warrant further consideration by the staff relative to the license renewal review, the staff will have an opportunity to do so before issuing its final evaluations.
It is important to note that this license renewal review will not affect the ongoing safety oversight process within which the NRC staff will continue to address seismic issues. The NRC staff is involved on a daily basis in monitoring and inspecting the operations at DCPP. By addressing seismic issues within the agencys continuing safety oversight of the power plant, the NRC staff is able to quickly respond to new information, as the agency demonstrated when it monitored PG&Es response to the discovery of the Shoreline Fault.
Should information at any time, now, or in the future, regardless of whether the NRC is performing a license renewal review, show that there is a basis to question the continued safe operation of DCPP, the NRC will take the appropriate actions as part of the agencys ongoing safety oversight. The NRC staff will continue to monitor assessments of the Shoreline Fault and other seismic issues around DCPP and ensure that the power plants safety systems remain capable of safely shutting the plant down in case of a seismic event.
In order to better inform the local public about the NRCs continuing safety oversight, the staff plans to hold a public meeting in California in the fall to further discuss the NRCs role and actions regarding seismic issues. The NRC staff will publish notices on its Web site and in the local newspaper about this meeting, and will also inform representatives from the State of California.
I appreciate your time and interest in contacting the NRC. Should you have additional questions about the DCPP license renewal review process or concerns about NRC oversight of the plants safe operation, I invite you to contact Mr. David Wrona, Chief of Renewal Projects Branch 2 in the Division of License Renewal, at 301-415-2292.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Brian E. Holian, Director Division of License Renewal Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation cc: See next page
In order to better inform the local public about the NRCs continuing safety oversight, the staff plans to hold a public meeting in California in the fall to further discuss the NRCs role and actions regarding seismic issues. The NRC staff will publish notices on its Web site and in the local newspaper about this meeting, and will also contact representatives from the State of California.
I appreciate your time and interest in contacting the NRC. Should you have additional questions about the DCPP license renewal review process or concerns about NRC oversight of the plants safe operation, I invite you to contact Mr. David Wrona, Chief of Renewal Projects Branch 2 in the Division of License Renewal, at 301-415-2292.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Brian E. Holian, Director Division of License Renewal Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation cc: See next page DISTRIBUTION: G201000077/LTR-10-0044/EDATS: SECY-2010-0091 Y020100075/LTR-10-0141 See next page Accession Nos.: Pkg: ML102020514, Incoming: ML100480036 and ML100980534, Response:
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- BC:RPB2:DLR NAME KGreen IKing MSmith NLO KAzariah-Kribbs DWrona DATE 07/22/10 07/22/10 07/23/10 07/21/10 07/23/10 OFFICE D:DLR NAME BHolian DATE 07/23/10 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
Letter to A. Hill from B. Holian dated July 23, 2010
SUBJECT:
DIABLO CANYON LICENSE RENEWAL DISTRIBUTION: G20100077/LTR-10-0044/EDATS: SECY-2010-0091 Y020100075/LTR-10-0141 HARD COPY:
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Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant Units 1 and 2 cc:
Mr. John T. Conway, Senior Vice President, Generation and Chief Nuclear Officer Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant, Units 1 and 2 Pacific Gas & Electric Company 77 Beale Street, MC B32 San Francisco, CA 94105 The Honorable Sam Blakeslee California State Assembly 1104 Palm Street San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 The Honorable Abel Maldonado Lieutenant Governor of California Capitol Office State Capitol, Room 1114 Sacramento, CA 95814 The Honorable Lois Capps Member, United States House of Representatives 1110 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515