ML12137A409

R. Mccullum Letter Response to Nuclear Energy Institute Letter Dated May 2, 2012, Requesting a Meeting on License Renewal for Dry Cask Storage

ML12137A409
Person / Time
Site:	Prairie Island
Issue date:	05/16/2012
From:	Poole B NRC/NMSS/SFST
To:	Mccullum R Nuclear Energy Institute
Rankin J
References
Download: ML12137A409 (3)

Text

May 16, 2012 Mr. Rodney McCullum Director, Used Fuel Programs Nuclear Energy Institute 1776 I Street, NW, Suite 400 Washington, DC 20006

SUBJECT:

RESPONSE TO NUCLEAR ENERGY INSTITUTE LETTER DATED MAY 2, 2012, REQUESTING A MEETING ON LICENSE RENEWAL FOR DRY CASK STORAGE

Dear Mr. McCullum:

By letter dated May 2, 2012, the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) requested a meeting with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff to discuss concerns regarding what appears to be a new regulatory position emerging through NRC staff review of an application for dry cask storage renewal. You noted the acceptance review letter issued to Northern States Power Company, a Minnesota corporation, d/b/a Xcel Energy (NSPM), regarding the application to renew the Prairie Island Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI) for an additional 40-year license term. NEI stated that an acceptance review observation communicated new expectations for the first renewal application for long-term storage of high-burnup fuel, and appeared to be inconsistent with existing regulations.

NSPM submitted its license renewal application to the NRC on October 20, 2011 (ML11304A068). Under our internal review process, SFST-14 Acceptance Review Process (ML110450435), the NRC staff provided a request for supplemental information (RSI) which included observations intended to reduce unnecessary delays, and increase the efficiency of the review. Observations include questions which do not rise to the level of an RSI needed to accept an application, but may lead the NRC staff to issue a request for additional information during the detailed technical review. Observations made during the acceptance review process do not establish new or changed regulatory positions. In its response to the RSI, NSPM requested NRC staff feedback and additional generic guidance on the high-burnup fuel observation. As part of the normal licensing review, the NRC staff will interact with the applicant on this request.

The NRC staff is committed to identifying and communicating issues with potential generic implications from both licensing reviews and inspection activities, as appropriate. Should we determine that an issue in the Prairie Island license renewal application warrants generic consideration, we will take the necessary steps to engage industry and other external stakeholders. Nevertheless, in the interest of maintaining and promoting good communications, we are available to meet with NEI in a public meeting in the July 2012 time frame. We are particularly interested in your input on the safety case for the long-term storage of high-burnup fuel, as well as any current data or analyses you can provide that generically supports the

R. McCullum long-term storage of high-burnup spent fuel. The NRC staff does not anticipate providing a presentation or formally communicating a regulatory position at this meeting, given the active review of this first-of-a-kind license application.

If you have any questions related to this matter, please contact the Licensing Branch Chief, Michael Waters, at 301-492-3300.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Brooke D. Poole, Acting Director Division of Spent Fuel Storage and Transportation Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Docket No. 72-10

R. McCullum long-term storage of high-burnup spent fuel. The NRC staff does not anticipate providing a presentation or formally communicating a regulatory position at this meeting, given the active review of this first-of-a-kind license application.

If you have any questions related to this matter, please contact the Licensing Branch Chief, Michael Waters, at 301-492-3300.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Brooke D. Poole, Acting Director Division of Spent Fuel Storage and Transportation Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Docket No. 72-10 DISTRIBUTION: MSampson VCusumano EBenner MRahimi G:\SFST\Rankin\Respnse to NEI 05022012.docx ADAMS P8 Accession No.: ML12137A409 OFC: SFST SFST SFST SFST SFST SFST NAME: JRankin PLongmire MWaters DPstrak WWheatley DWeaver DATE: 5/4/12 5/4/12 5/4/12 5/14/12 5/4/12 5/15/12 OFC: SFST NAME: BPoole DATE: 5/16/12 C = COVER E = COVER & ENCLOSURE N = NO COPY OFFICIAL RECORD COPY