ML102710391
| ML102710391 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Prairie Island  |
| Issue date: | 09/28/2010 |
| From: | Office of Public Affairs |
| To: | |
| References | |
| Press Release-10-171 | |
| Download: ML102710391 (2) | |
See also: see also:Press Release-10-171
Text
LICENSING BOARD TO TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT, HOLD HEARING IN
HASTINGS, MINN., ON PRAIRIE ISLAND NUCLEAR PLANT LICENSE RENEWAL
An Atomic Safety and Licensing Board (ASLB) will take public comments Oct. 11 and
conduct a hearing Oct. 12 in Hastings, Minn., regarding the application to renew the operating
licenses for Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Station Units 1 and 2 near Minneapolis. The
ASLB is the independent body within the NRC that presides over hearings where the public can
challenge proposed licensing and enforcement actions.
The ASLB will hear oral comments from interested members of the public during two
sessions, from 3-5 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. CDT on Monday, Oct. 11, in Courtroom 2E of the Dakota
County Judicial Center, 1560 Highway 55 in Hastings. Although these comments do not
constitute testimony or evidence, they nonetheless may help the Board and/or the parties in their
consideration of the issue in this proceeding. Speakers will have no more than five minutes for
their statements; the Board may set further time limits if necessary in order to accommodate all
the speakers at a session. The Board reserves the right to end a session early if all scheduled and
unscheduled speakers have made a presentation. The Board also reserves the right to cancel the
evening session if there is insufficient public interest as reflected by the number of preregistered
speakers.
The hearing will begin at 9 a.m. CDT on Tuesday, Oct. 12, in Courtroom 2E of the
Dakota County Judicial Center. The session is open for public observation, but participation will
be limited to the parties admitted to the proceeding: the Prairie Island Indian Community (PIIC),
the applicant - Northern States Power Company - and NRC staff involved in the proceeding.
Early arrival is suggested to allow for security screening for all members of the public interested
in attending. NRC policy prohibits disruptive behavior in the hearing room, as well as signs,
banners, posters or displays larger than 18 inches by 18 inches.
Northern States Power Company submitted a license renewal application April 15, 2008,
seeking to extend for 20 years the operating licenses for Units 1 and 2, approximately 28 miles
southeast of Minneapolis. The ASLB admitted seven of PIICs 11 objections, or contentions,
against Northern State Powers application; the parties have resolved six of those contentions.
The ASLB panel will question the parties regarding PIICs remaining contention, which
NRC NEWS
U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
Office of Public Affairs Telephone: 301/415-8200
Washington, D.C. 20555-0001
E-mail: opa.resource@nrc.gov
Site: http://www.nrc.gov
No.10-171
September 28, 2010
concerns whether Prairie Islands safety culture can adequately provide reasonable assurance that
the company can manage the effects of plant aging during the period of extended operation. The
Board will consider the hearings results before issuing its ruling later this year.
Persons wishing to make oral comments at the Oct. 11 sessions are requested to notify the
Board by 5 p.m. EDT on Oct. 6, specifying which session they wish to attend. Anyone wishing
to submit a written statement or to submit a written request to make an oral statement may do so
by e-mail to hearingdocket@nrc.gov, by fax to 301-415-1101, or by mail to: Office of the
Secretary, Attn. Rulemaking and Adjudications Staff, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission,
Washington, DC 20555-0001. In addition, copies of written statements or requests to make an
oral statement should be sent to the Chairman of the Licensing Board by e-mail to
William.Froehlich@nrc.gov and Ann.Hove@nrc.gov; by fax to 301-415-5599, or by mail to:
Administrative Judge William J. Froehlich, Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel, Mail
Stop: T-3F23, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001.
Documents related to the Prairie Island license renewal application are available on the
NRC Web site at: http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/operating/licensing/renewal/applications/prairie-
island.html. Documents pertaining to the ASLB proceeding are available in the agencys
Electronic Hearing Docket at: http://ehd1.nrc.gov/EHD/.
More information about the ASLB can be found at: http://www.nrc.gov/about-
nrc/organization/aslbpfuncdesc.html.
NOTE: Anyone wishing to take photos or use a camera to record any portion of a NRC meeting should
contact the Office of Public Affairs beforehand.
News releases are available through a free listserv subscription at the following Web address:
http://www.nrc.gov/public-involve/listserver.html. The NRC homepage at www.nrc.gov also offers a SUBSCRIBE
link. E-mail notifications are sent to subscribers when news releases are posted to NRC's Web site.