ML12170B097

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Petition to Suspend Final Decisions in All Pending Reactor Licensing Proceedings Pending Completion of Remanded Waste Confidence Proceedings
ML12170B097
Person / Time
Site: Seabrook NextEra Energy icon.png
Issue date: 06/18/2012
From: Gunter P, Shadis R
Beyond Nuclear, Friends of the Coast, New England Coalition
To:
Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel
SECY RAS
References
RAS 22613, 50-443-LR, ASLBP 10-906-02-LR-BD01
Download: ML12170B097 (16)
v • d • e


Text

June 18, 2012 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION BEFORE THE COMMISSION In the Matter of )

Calvert Cliffs 3 Nuclear Project, L.L.C. ) Docket No. 52-016-COL (Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant, Unit 3) )

In the Matter of )

Detroit Edison Co. ) Docket No. 52-033-COL (Fermi Nuclear Power Plant, Unit 3) )

In the Matter of )

Duke Energy Carolinas, L.L.C. ) Docket Nos.52-018 (William States Lee III Nuclear Station, ) and 52-019 Units 1 and 2) )

In the Matter of )

Entergy Operations, Inc. ) Docket No. 50-416-LR (Grand Gulf Nuclear Station Unit 1) )

In the Matter of )

Entergy Operations, Inc. ) Docket No. 52-024-COL (Grand Gulf Nuclear Station Unit 3) )

In the Matter of )

FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Co. ) Docket No. 50-346-LR (Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station, )

Unit 1) )

In the Matter of )

Florida Power & Light Co. ) Docket Nos. 52-040-COL (Turkey Point Units 6 and 7) ) and 52-041-COL In the Matter of )

Luminant Generation, Co., L.L.C. ) Docket Nos. 52-034-COL (Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant, ) and 52-035-COL Units 3 and 4) )

In the Matter of )

Nextera Energy Seabrook, L.L.C. ) Docket No. 50-443-LR (Seabrook Station, Unit 1) )

In the Matter of )

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. ) Docket Nos. 50-275-LR (Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant, ) and 50-323-LR Units 1 and 2) )

In the Matter of )

PPL Bell Bend, L.L.C. ) Docket No. 52-039-COL (Bell Bend Nuclear Power Plant) )

In the Matter of )

Progress Energy Carolinas, Inc. ) Docket Nos. 52-022-COL (Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant, ) and 52-023-COL Units 2 and 3) )

In the Matter of )

Progress Energy Florida, Inc. ) Docket Nos. 52-029-COL (Levy County Nuclear Power Plant, ) and 52-030-COL Units 1 and 2) )

In the Matter of )

South Texas Nuclear Operating Co. ) Docket Nos. 50-498-LR (South Texas Project, ) and 50-499-LR Units 1 and 2) )

In the Matter of )

South Texas Nuclear Operating Co. ) Docket Nos. 52-012-COL (South Texas Project, ) and 52-013-COL Units 3 and 4) )

In the Matter of )

Tennessee Valley Authority ) Docket Nos. 52-014-COL (Bellefonte Nuclear Power Plant, ) and 52-015-COL Units 3 and 4) )

In the Matter of )

Tennessee Valley Authority ) Docket No. 50-0391-OL (Watts Bar Unit 2) )

In the Matter of )

Union Electric Co. ) Docket No. 50-483-LR (Callaway Plant Unit 1) )

In the Matter of )

Virginia Electric and Power Co. )

d/b/a/ Dominion Virginia Power and ) Docket No. 52-017-COL Old Dominion Electric Cooperative )

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(North Anna Unit 3) )

PETITION TO SUSPEND FINAL DECISIONS IN ALL PENDING REACTOR LICENSING PROCEEDINGS PENDING COMPLETION OF REMANDED WASTE CONFIDENCE PROCEEDINGS I. INTRODUCTION On June 8, 2012, in State of New York v. Nuclear Reg. Comm., No. 11-1045, the U.S.

Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued a decision vacating the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commissions (NRCs or Commissions) Waste Confidence Decision Update (WCD Update) (75 Fed. Reg. 81,037 (Dec. 23, 2010)) and its Temporary Storage Rule (TSR) (75 Fed Reg. 81,032 (Dec. 23, 2010)) and remanded them to the NRC. As a result, the findings of the WCD Update and the TSR regarding the safety and environmental impacts of spent reactor fuel storage and disposal no longer provide a legally valid basis for any NRC reactor licensing decision.

Therefore, pursuant to NRC regulation 10 C.F.R. § 2.323, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Atomic Energy Act (AEA), and the courts decision in State of New York, Petitioners in the above-captioned licensing proceedings respectfully request the Commission to (1) suspend its final licensing decisions in all pending NRC licensing proceedings pending completion of the remanded proceedings on the WCD Update and TSR; and (2) establish a process for ensuring that the remanded proceeding complies with the public participation requirements of Section 189a of the Atomic Energy Act, 42 U.S.C. § 2239(a). The Petitioners have submitted this request in virtually every NRC reactor licensing proceeding now 3

pending before the NRC, including twelve applications for combined licenses (COLs), six applications for license renewal (LR), and one application for an operating license (OL). 1 As discussed in Section II below, many of the Petitioners are currently participating as intervenors in NRC licensing cases for new or existing reactors. Other Petitioners are neighbors of existing or proposed reactors who would have participated in NRC licensing proceedings had they not been barred from raising their concerns about spent fuel storage and disposal by the Commission decisions that were struck down by the court. By joining together in this Petition, Petitioners seek to ensure that the environmental analyses ordered by the U.S. Court of Appeals in State of New York will be fully applied in each reactor licensing case before operation is permitted, and that they will be given a meaningful opportunity to participate in the decision-making process.

At the outset, the Petitioners wish to establish with clarity what this Petition is not. This is not a motion for a stay of the effectiveness of a decision pursuant to 10 C.F.R. § 2.342 or any other kind of request for equitable relief. Instead, the Petition is a demand for non-discretionary compliance with the requirements of NEPA, the AEA, and the courts decision in State of New York. In addition, this Petition is not a request to suspend all or any licensing proceedings.

Petitioners do not demand any change in the schedules for the NRC Staffs review of reactor license applications or adjudications in pending reactor licensing cases. This Petition seeks the suspension of final licensing decisions only, pending the NRCs completion of the NEPA 1

Petitioners recognize that until the mandate issues in State of New York, the WCD and TSR remain effective. Nevertheless, Petitioners have submitted this Petition within ten days of becoming aware of the courts ruling, in light of Commission precedents judging the timeliness of motions and contentions according to when Petitioners became aware of a decisions potential effect on their interests. Duke Energy Corp. (McGuire Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2; Catawba Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2), CLI-02-28, 56 NRC 373, 386 (2002). If the Commission determines that this Petition is premature, Petitioners request that the Petition be held in abeyance pending issuance of the mandate.

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proceedings remanded by the U.S. Court of Appeals. In addition, Petitioners seek a ruling ensuring that they will be given an adequate opportunity for public participation in the remanded proceeding. The requested relief is fully consistent with the Commissions holding in Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. (Indian Point, Units 2 and 3), 72 NRC 98, 100 (2010) (Indian Point) that it will not conclude action on the Indian Point license renewal application until the [waste confidence] rulemaking is resolved. Petitioners seek a ruling by the Commission that it will apply the Indian Point precedent to all pending reactor licensing cases.

II. DESCRIPTION OF PETITIONERS Petitioners are individuals and organizations dedicated to the protection of the environment. These individuals and the members of these organizations live or work near operating or proposed nuclear reactors. Some organizations and individuals have been admitted as intervenors in the above-captioned pending NRC proceedings for the review of applications for COLs, license renewals, and an operating license. Other Petitioners are neighbors of proposed reactors or existing reactors whose license applications are under review by the NRC.

All of the Petitioners are concerned about the environmental and public health risks posed by the storage and ultimate disposal of spent fuel. Many of them have tried, without success, to raise their concerns about spent fuel in NRC licensing proceedings and rulemakings.

They now seek to protect their health, the health of their families, and the health of the environment, by ensuring that the NRC does not take any licensing action for a given reactor unless and until it has completed the environmental review of spent fuel storage and disposal mandated by the U.S. Court of Appeals in State of New York. The Petitioners also seek to ensure that they are given an opportunity to participate in the NRCs decision-making process, as required by Section 189a of the AEA, 42 U.S.C. § 2239(a).

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Many of the Petitioners have already established their standing to bring this Petition by gaining admission as intervenors in some of the above-captioned NRC licensing proceedings.

Other Petitioners are organizations whose members live within 50 miles of a nuclear reactor and who would have successfully petitioned to intervene regarding the issues remanded by the court in State of New York had they not been precluded from intervening by the very rules that the court struck down. They intend to submit hearing requests regarding the effect of State of New York on the licensing proceedings in which they are interested, and will submit standing declarations at that time. In the interim, they join the admitted intervenors in seeking the suspension of all licensing decisions pending compliance by the NRC with State of New York.

A list of the Petitioners follows:

  • Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League, Inc. and chapters (BREDL) (Intervenor in Bellefonte COL proceeding and North Anna COL proceeding; previously sought intervention in W.S. Lee COL proceeding and Bellefonte OL proceeding)
  • Citizens Allied for Safe Energy, Inc. (Former intervenor in Turkey Point COL proceeding)
  • Citizens Environmental Alliance of Southwestern Ontario, Inc. (Intervenor in Fermi COL proceeding and Davis-Besse license renewal proceeding)
  • Citizens for Alternatives to Chemical Contamination (Intervenor in Fermi COL proceeding) 6
  • Ecology Party of Florida (Intervenor in Levy COL proceeding)
  • Eric Epstein (potential intervenor in Bell Bend COL proceeding)
  • Friends of the Coast, Inc. (Intervenor in Seabrook license renewal proceeding)
  • Dan Kipnis (Intervenor in Turkey Point proceeding)
  • National Parks Conservation Association, Inc. (Intervenor in Turkey Point COL proceeding)
  • Mark Oncavage (Intervenor in Turkey Point COL proceeding)
  • Missouri Coalition for the Environment, Inc. (Petitioner in Callaway license renewal proceeding; Intervenor in suspended Callaway COL proceeding)
  • New England Coalition, Inc. (Intervenor in Seabrook license renewal proceeding)
  • North Carolina Waste Reduction and Awareness Network, Inc. (Admitted as an Intervenor in now-closed Shearon Harris COL proceeding)
  • Nuclear Information and Resource Service, Inc. (Intervenor in Calvert Cliffs COL proceeding and Levy COL proceeding)
  • Public Citizen, Inc. (Intervenor in South Texas COL proceeding; admitted as Intervenor in now-closed Comanche Peak COL proceeding; potential intervenor in South Texas license renewal proceeding) 7
  • San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace, Inc. (Intervenor in Diablo Canyon license renewal proceeding)
  • Southern Maryland CARES, Inc. (Citizens Alliance for Renewable Energy Solutions)

(Intervenor in Calvert Cliffs COL proceeding)

  • Sustainable Energy and Economic Development (SEED) Coalition, Inc. (Intervenor in South Texas COL proceeding; admitted as Intervenor in now-closed Comanche Peak COL proceeding; potential intervenor in South Texas license renewal proceeding)

III. FACTUAL BACKGROUND In 1984, the NRC issued its first WCD, making findings regarding the safety of spent fuel disposal and the safety and environmental impacts of spent fuel storage. Over the several decades that have passed since then, the NRC has updated the WCD. The latest update was issued in December 2010. On June 8, 2012, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit took review of the NRCs 2010 WCD Update and TSR and vacated those rules in their entirety. In the course of reviewing the WCD Update, the court found that the WCD is a major federal action under NEPA, therefore requiring either a finding of no significant impact (FONSI) or an environmental impact statement (EIS). Id., slip op. at 8. The court also found it was eminently clear that the WCD will be used to enable licensing decisions based on its findings because the WCD renders uncontestable general conclusions about the environmental effect of plant licensure that will apply in every licensing decision. Id., slip op. at 9 (citing 10 C.F.R. § 51.23(b)).

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With respect to the WCDs conclusions regarding spent fuel disposal, the court observed that the NRC has no long-term plan other than hoping for a geologic repository and that spent reactor fuel will seemingly be stored on site at nuclear plants on a permanent basis if the government continues to fail in its quest to site a permanent repository. Id., slip op. at 13.

Thus, the court concluded that the WCD must be vacated with respect to its conclusion in Finding 2 that a suitable spent fuel repository will be available when necessary. Id., slip op. at

11. In order to comply with NEPA, the court found that the NRC must examine the environmental effects of failing to establish a repository. Id., slip op. at 12.

With respect to the TSRs conclusions regarding the environmental impacts of temporary storage of spent reactor fuel at reactor sites, the court concluded that the NRCs environmental assessment (EA) and FONSI issued as part of the TSR are not supported by substantial evidence on the record in two respects. First, the NRC had reached a conclusion that the environmental impacts of spent fuel pool leaks will be insignificant, based on an evaluation of past leakage. The court concluded that the past incidence of leaks was not an adequate predictor of leakage thirty years hence, and therefore ordered the NRC to examine the risks of spent fuel pool leaks in a forward-looking fashion. Id., slip op. at 14. In addition, the court found that the NRCs analysis of the environmental impacts of pool fires was deficient because it examined only the probability of spent fuel pool fires and not their consequences. Id., slip op. at 18-19.

Depending on the weighing of the probability and the consequences, the court observed, an EIS may or may not be required. Id., slip op. at 19.

In remanding the WCD Update and the TSR to the NRC, the court purposely did not express an opinion regarding whether an EIS would be required or an EA would be sufficient.

Instead, it left that determination up to the discretion of the NRC. Id., slip op. at 12, 20.

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IV. ARGUMENT A. The Commission Must Suspend All Licensing Decisions Pending Completion Of the Remanded Waste Confidence Proceedings.

As the court concluded in State of New York, the NRC considers the WCD and its Update to constitute essential findings regarding the feasibility and likelihood of spent fuel disposal that are prerequisites to the licensing of any reactor. Similarly, the conclusions of the TSR regarding the environmental impacts of spent fuel that will be generated by a reactors operation are prerequisites to reactor licensing. The effect of the courts vacatur of the WCD Update and the TSR is to render these essential findings regarding spent fuel storage and disposal null and void. See Blacks Law Dictionary 1388 (5th ed. 1979) (to vacate is [t]o render an act void; as, to vacate an entry or record, or a judgment.) Thus, unless and until the NRC completes the proceedings remanded by the court in State of New York, the NRC has no legal basis for licensing or re-licensing any nuclear reactor. Robertson v. Methow Valley Citizens Council, 490 U.S. 332, 349 (1989) (agency must consider environmental impacts of a proposed action before taking the action).

The Commission has previously addressed the legal effect of an incomplete waste confidence proceeding. In Indian Point, the Commission refused to consider an intervenors contention regarding spent fuel storage impacts in an individual licensing proceeding, but instead suggested that the intervenor could participate in the waste confidence rulemaking. 72 NRC at 100. The Commission also declared, however, that it would not conclude action on the Indian Point license renewal application until the rulemaking is resolved. Id. Petitioners respectfully submit that the precedent set by the Commission in Indian Point continues to require suspension of the Indian Point license renewal decision in that case, and also applies to all other pending reactor licensing cases. Because NEPA requires that environmental impacts must be taken into 10

account before the NRC takes a licensing decision, see Robertson, the NRC must hold all reactor licensing decisions in abeyance until it has completed its remanded proceedings for consideration of spent fuel storage and disposal impacts.

B. The AEA and NEPA Require the NRC to Offer an Opportunity to Participate in the Remanded Proceedings.

Section 189a of the AEA requires that in any proceeding for the issuance or amendment of a license, the NRC must offer interested persons the right to participate. 42 U.S.C. § 2239(a).

With respect to the WCD Update and the TSR, as the court has concluded and as NEPA requires, those decisions apply in every licensing decision, State of New York, slip op. at 9, and therefore are governed by the procedural requirements of Section 189a. In addition, NRC regulations require the NRC to offer an opportunity for public comment on any EIS that it prepares. 10 C.F.R. §51.73. While NRC regulations do not specifically require the provision of an opportunity for comment on an EA, the Supreme Court has found that NEPA favors broad participation in environmental decisions. Marsh v. Or. Natural Res. Council, 490 U.S. 360, 371 (1989).

Petitioners seek to ensure that the NRC will fully comply with the public participation requirements of the AEA and NEPA in the remanded waste confidence proceedings, by allowing them to (1) comment on any generic determinations that NRC may make and (2) raise contentions in individual licensing proceedings where they believe that generic rulemaking is insufficient to address their site-specific concerns. Therefore Petitioners request that the Commission issue any EAs it may prepare in proposed form for comment before making them final. In addition, Petitioners should be provided with at least 60 days - the standard time period for requesting a hearing - to seek consideration, in individual licensing cases, of site-specific safety or environmental concerns raised by the remanded proceeding. A 60-day time period is 11

essential, given that some petitioners may be required to submit hearing requests, petitions to intervene, standing declarations, and motions to re-open the record in proceedings that have been closed or in which no hearing has been held.

IV. CONCLUSION For the foregoing reasons, the Petition should be granted. The Commission should issue an order that:

  • Suspends all final decisions in pending reactor licensing proceedings pending conclusion of the remanded proceeding to evaluate the environmental impacts of spent fuel storage and disposal;
  • Declares that any EAs or EISs issued by the NRC will be published in proposed form with a reasonable opportunity for public comment; and
  • Provides a period of at least 60 days for raising site-specific concerns relating to the remanded proceedings in individual licensing proceedings.

Respectfully submitted, Signed (electronically) by:

Diane Curran Harmon, Curran, Spielberg & Eisenberg, L.L.P.

1726 M Street N.W. Suite 600 Washington, D.C. 20036 202-328-3500 Fax: 202-328-6918 E-mail: dcurran@harmoncurran.com Counsel to San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace in Diablo Canyon License Renewal Proceeding, Counsel to Southern Alliance for Clean Energy in Watts Bar Unit 2 Operating License Proceeding, counsel to Nuclear Information and Resource Service and Ecology Party of Florida in Levy COL proceeding, counsel to Missouri Coalition for the Environment in Callaway Unit 1 license renewal proceeding 12

Signed (electronically) by:

Sara Barczak Southern Alliance for Clean Energy 428 Bull Street Savannah, GA 31401 912-201-0354 E-mail: sara@cleanenergy.org Duly authorized representative of Southern Alliance for Clean Energy in Bellefonte Units 3 and 4 COL proceeding and Signed (electronically) by:

Eric J. Epstein 4100 Hilldale Road Harrisburg, PA 17112 717-541-1101 E-mail: lechambon@comcast.net (pro se Petitioner in Bell Bend COL proceeding)

Signed (electronically) by:

Robert F. Eye Brett Jarmer Kauffman & Eye 112 SW 6th Ave., Suite 202 Topeka, KS 66603 785-234-4040 E-mail: bob@kauffmaneye.com Counsel for Public Citizen and SEED Coalition in Comanche Peak COL proceeding, South Texas COL proceeding, and South Texas license renewal proceeding Signed (electronically) by:

Mindy Goldstein Turner Environmental Law Clinic 1301 Clifton Road Atlanta, GA 30322 404-727-3432 Fax: 404-7272-7853 Email: magolds@emory.edu Counsel to Dan Kipnis, Mark Oncavage, National Parks Conservation Association, and the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy in Turkey Point Units 6 and 7 COL proceeding.

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Signed (electronically) by:

Paul Gunter Beyond Nuclear 6930 Carroll Ave., Suite 400 Takoma Park, MD 20912 301-270-2209 E-mail: paul@beyondnuclear.org Duly authorized representative of Beyond Nuclear in Calvert Cliffs COL proceeding, Davis-Besse license renewal proceeding, and Seabrook license renewal proceeding, Grand Gulf COL proceeding, Grand Gulf license renewal proceeding Signed (electronically) by:

Kevin Kamps Beyond Nuclear 6930 Carroll Ave., Suite 400 Takoma Park, MD 20912 301-270-2209 E-mail: paul@beyondnuclear.org Duly authorized representative of Beyond Nuclear in Davis-Besse license renewal proceeding Signed (electronically) by:

Terry J. Lodge 316 North Michigan St., Suite 520 Toledo, OH 43604-5627 419-255-7552 E-mail: tjlodge50@yahoo.com Attorney for Citizens Environment Alliance of Southwestern Ontario, Dont Waste Michigan, and the Green Party of Ohio in Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station Unit 1 license renewal proceeding.

Signed (electronically) by:

Michael Mariotte, Executive Director Nuclear Information and Resource Service 6930 Carroll Ave., Suite 340 Takoma Park, MD 20912 301-270-6477 E-mail: nirsnet@nirs.org Duly authorized representative of NIRS in Calvert Cliffs COL proceeding Henry B. Robertson Great Rivers Environmental Law Center 705 Olive Street, Suite 614 St. Louis, MO 63101-2208 314-231-4181 E-mail: hrobertson@greatriverslaw.org Counsel to Missouri Coalition for the Environment in Callaway license renewal proceeding 14

Signed (electronically) by:

John D. Runkle P.O. Box 3793 Chapel Hill, NC 27515-3793 919-942-0600 E-mail: junkle@pricecreek.com Counsel to North Carolina Waste Awareness and Reduction Network in Shearon Harris 2 and 3 COL proceeding; Counsel to Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League in North Anna 3 COL proceeding Signed (electronically) by:

Raymond Shadis Friends of the Coast/New England Coalition Post Office Box 98 Edgecomb, Maine 04556 207-882-7801 E-mail: shadis@prexar.com Duly authorized representative of Friends of the Coast and New England Coalition in Seabrook license renewal proceeding Signed (electronically) by:

Barry White Citizens Allied for Safe Energy 1001 SW 129 Terr.

Miami, FL 33176 305-251-1960 E-mail: btwamia@bellsouth.net Duly authorized representative of Citizens Allied for Safe Energy in Turkey Point COL proceeding Signed (electronically) by:

Louis A. Zeller Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League P.O. Box 88 Glendale Springs, NC 28629 336-982-2691 E-mail: BREDL@skybest.com Duly authorized representative of Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League and Bellefonte Efficiency and Sustainability Team in COL Proceeding for Bellefonte Units 3 and 4; Duly authorized representative of Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League and Peoples Alliance for Clean Energy in North Anna COL proceeding; Duly authorized representative of Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League in W.S. Lee COL proceeding June 18, 2012 15

CERTIFICATE REGARDING CONSULTATION PURSUANT TO 10 C.F.R. § 2.323(b)

I certify that on June 18, 2012, I contacted counsel for the applicant and the NRC Staff regarding this petition. Counsel for the applicant stated, NextEra will oppose the petition. Counsel for the Staff stated, Based on the representation in your email, we do not have enough information to take a position on this petition. We will respond to the petition after it is filed.

Signed electronically, Raymond Shadis___________________________

Authorized Representative Friends of the Coast/New England Coalition 16

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