ML11286A129

Closing of the Memorandum of Understanding Between the NRC and the Prairie Island Indian Community

ML11286A129
Person / Time
Site:	Prairie Island
Issue date:	12/18/2011
From:	Leeds E Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:	Winfrey V Prairie Island Indian Community
Keegan E, 415-8517
References
Download: ML11286A129 (4)

Text

UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 December 18,2011 Victoria Winfrey Tribal Council President Prairie Island Indian Community 5636 Sturgeon Lake Road Welch, MN 55089

SUBJECT:

CLOSING OF THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE U.S.

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION AND THE PRAIRIE ISLAND INDIAN COMMUNITY

Dear President Winfrey:

In June 2008, Mr. Ronald Johnson and I signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) granting cooperating agency status to the Prairie Island Indian Community (PIIC). As you know, this MOU was the first-of-a-kind MOU for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) where a sovereign Tribal Community worked as a cooperating agency with the NRC to develop a supplemental environmental impact statement for the license renewal of an operating nuclear power plant. The MOU recognized the PIiC's speCial expertise in the areas of historic and archeological resources, socioeconomics, land use, and environmental justice.

The purpose of this letter is to officially close the MOU between the PIIC and the NRC. This action is being taken because the "Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants: Supplement 39, Regarding Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2, Final Report" (SEIS) was published in May 2011. Based upon the staff's environmental and safety evaluations, which are documented in the final SEIS and in the "Safety Evaluation Report Related to the License Renewal of Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant Units 1 and 2" (NUREG-1960 and NUREG-1960, Supplement 1), respectively, and in accordance with Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 54, NRC issued Renewed Facility Operating License Nos. DPR-42 (Unit 1) and DPR-60 (Unit 2), for the Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant on June 27, 2011, for an additional 20 years. The Unit 1 and Unit 2 licenses will now expire on August 9,2033, and October 29, 2034, respectively.

During the development of the draft SEIS, members of my staff worked with representatives from the PIIC to develop a SEIS that included the PIIC's knowledge in the areas covered by the MOU. Additionally, in December 2009, NRC staff met with you and the other newly-elected members of the PIIC Tribal Council in person. This opportunity allowed staff to hear first-hand the Tribe's concerns and was greatly appreciated.

V. Winfrey -2 My staff and I appreciate the time and effort spent by you and your representatives to develop and to finalize the SEIS. We believe that the cooperation between the PIIC and the NRC while working on the SEIS resulted in a better understanding of the PIiC's concerns and thereby, a better document.

Sincerely,

~~

Eric . Leeds, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-282 and 50-306 cc: Listserv

V. Winfrey 2 My staff and I appreciate the time and effort spent by you and your representatives to develop and to finalize the SEIS. We believe that the cooperation between the PIIC and the NRC while working on the SEIS resulted in a better understanding of the PIiC's concerns and thereby. a better document.

Sincerely, IRA!

Eric J. Leeds, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-282 and 50-306 cc: Listserv DISTRIBUTION:

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Letter to V. Winfrey from E. Leeds dated December 18, 2011

SUBJECT:

CLOSING OF THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION AND THE PRAIRIE ISLAND INDIAN COMMUNITY DISTRIBUTION:

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