ML12072A303

Letter from the Secretary to the Honorable Edward J. Markey in Response to His February 27, 2012 Letter

ML12072A303
Person / Time
Site:	Pilgrim
Issue date:	03/08/2012
From:	Annette Vietti-Cook NRC/SECY
To:	Markey E US HR (House of Representatives)
SECY RAS
References
RAS 22032, 50-293-LR, ASLBP 06-848-02-LR
Download: ML12072A303 (7)

Text

UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON , D.C. 20555-0001 March 8, 2012 SECRETARY The Honorable Edward J. Markey United States House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515

Dear Congressman Markey:

On behalf of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) , I am responding to your letter of February 27, 2012 , addressed to Chairman Jaczko, in which you raise several concerns related to the staff's review of the licensing renewal application for the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station (Pilgrim). Specifically, you raise concerns regarding whether a NRC 2007 biological assessment associated with the Pilgrim license renewal application considered the Atlantic sturgeon and the river herring.

Under Commission regulations , the Commission has an adjudicatory role in the Pilgrim license renewal proceeding . Two appeals currently are pending before the Commission with respect to the license renewal application. Due to the nature of the Commission's role in the proceeding, all members of the Commission must remain impartial while the case is pending . At this time, therefore, the Commission cannot discuss or comment on issues involved in this matter.

You have also requested responses to questions and requests for information on the consideration of endangered species during the licensing process. I am referring your letter to the NRC staff for response .

A copy of your letter and this response will be served on the participants in the Pilgrim license renewal proceeding .

Sincerely,

~~.-~

Annette L. Vietti-Cook cc: Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station service list

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION In the Matter of )

)

ENTERGY NUCLEAR GENERATION CO. )

AND )

ENTERGY NUCLEAR OPERATIONS, INC. ) Docket No. 50-293-LR

)

(Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station) )

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify that copies of the foregoing LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY TO THE HONORABLE EDWARD J. MARKEY IN RESPONSE TO HIS FEBRUARY 27, 2012, LETTER have been served upon the following persons by Electronic Information Exchange (EIE) and by electronic mail as indicated by an asterisk*.

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel Office of the General Counsel Mail Stop - T-3 F23 Mail Stop: O-15 D21 Washington, DC 20555-0001 Washington, DC 20555-0001 Administrative Judge Susan L. Uttal, Esq.

Ann Marshall Young, Chair E-mail: Susan.Uttal@nrc.gov E-mail: Ann.Young@nrc.gov Beth N. Mizuno, Esq.

E-mail: beth.mizuno@nrc.gov Administrative Judge Brian G. Harris, Esq.

Richard F. Cole E-mail: brian.harris@nrc.gov E-mail: Richard.Cole@nrc.gov Edward Williamson, Esq.

E-mail: edward.williamson@nrc.gov Administrative Judge Maxwell Smith, Esq.

Paul B. Abramson E-mail: maxwell.smith@nrc.gov E-mail: Paul.Abramson@nrc.gov Andrea Jones, Esq.

E-mail: andrea.jones@nrc.gov Brian Newell, Paralegal James Maltese, Law Clerk E-mail: Brian.Newell@nrc.gov James.maltese@nrc.gov Lauren Woodall, Paralegal E-mail: lauren.woodall@nrc.gov E-mail: OGCMailCenter.Resource@nrc.gov U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Office of Commission Appellate Adjudication Office of Secretary of the Commission Mail Stop: O-16C1 Mail Stop: O-16C1 Washington, DC 20555-0001 Washington, DC 20555-0001 E-mail: OCAAMail.Resource@nrc.gov E-mail: hearingdocket@nrc.gov

2 Docket No. 50-293-LR LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY TO THE HONORABLE EDWARD J. MARKEY IN RESPONSE TO HIS FEBRUARY 27, 2012, LETTER U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Pillsbury, Winthrop, Shaw, Pittman, LLP Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation 2300 N. Street, N.W.

Mail Stop: O11-F1 Washington, DC 20037-1128 Washington, DC 20555-0001 David R. Lewis, Esq.

Lisa Regner* E-mail: david.lewis@pillsburylaw.com Senior Project Manager Paul A. Gaukler, Esq.

Division of License Renewal E-mail: paul.gaukler@pillsburylaw.com E-mail: Lisa.Regner@nrc.gov Jason B. Parker, Esq.

E-mail: jason.parker@pillsburylaw.com Entergy Nuclear Office of the Attorney General 1340 Echelon Parkway Environmental Protection Division Mail Stop M-ECH-62 One Ashburton Place, 18th Floor Jackson, MS 39213 Boston, MA 02108 Terence A. Burke, Esq. Matthew Brock, Assistant Attorney General E-mail: tburke@entergy.com E-mail: matthew.brock@ago.state.ma.us Jennifer Faillace, Paralegal E-mail: jennifer.faillace@state.ma.us Duxbury Emergency Management Agency Town of Plymouth MA 668 Tremont Street Town Managers Office Duxbury, MA 02332 11 Lincoln Street Plymouth, MA 02360 Kevin M. Nord, Fire Chief & Director*

E-mail: nord@town.duxbury.ma.us Melissa Arrighi, ActingTown Manager*

E-mail: marrighi@townhall.plymouth.ma.us Duane Morris, LLP Pilgrim Watch Town of Plymouth MA 148 Washington Street 505 9th Street, NW, Suite 1000 Duxbury, MA 02332 Washington, DC 20004-2166 Mary E. Lampert, Director Sheila Slocum Hollis, Esq.*

E-mail: mary.lampert@comcast.net E-mail: sshollis@duanemorris.com

Docket No. 50-293-LR 3 LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY TO THE HONORABLE EDWARD J. MARKEY IN RESPONSE TO HIS FEBRUARY 27, 2012, LETTER Town of Duxbury Nuclear Advisory Jones River Watershed Association and Committee Pilgrim Watch 31 Deerpath Trl. 61 Grozier Road North Duxbury, MA 02332 Cambridge, MA 02138 Rebecca Chin, Vice Chair* Margaret E. Sheehan, Esq.

E-mail: rebeccajchin@hotmail.com E-mail: meg@ecolaw.biz

[Original signed by R. Giitter] ________

Office of the Secretary of the Commission Dated at Rockville, Maryland this 12th day of March 2012