ML13002A221
| ML13002A221 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Diablo Canyon  |
| Issue date: | 01/02/2013 |
| From: | Mcconnell K Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards |
| To: | Collins F Northern Chumash Tribal Council |
| Sarah Lopas | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML13002A215 | List: |
| References | |
| G20120968 | |
| Download: ML13002A221 (3) | |
Text
January 2, 2013 Fred Collins Tribal Administrator Northern Chumash Tribal Council 67 South Street San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Dear Mr. Collins:
I am responding to your recent letter to Chairman Macfarlane and the Commissioners dated November 28, 2012. In your letter, you express concern about the proposed Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant license renewal and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commissions (NRCs)
October 25, 2012, Federal Register Notice on the scoping process for an environmental impact statement (EIS) to consider updates to the Commissions Waste Confidence rule.
The Diablo Canyon license renewal environmental review is currently on hold, pending PG&Es submission of a seismic report and the outcome of Californias coastal consistency certification.
PG&E submitted an application to the California Coastal Commission to conduct 3-D High Energy Marine seismic studies, but the Commission denied the permit on November 14, 2012.
Currently, PG&E is evaluating data obtained from other seismic studies and plans to submit a seismic report to the NRC in late 2013. The NRC will publish the staffs draft supplemental EIS after PG&E provides its seismic report and after the NRC has had adequate time to review the report. Upon NRC's issuance of the draft supplemental EIS, there will be further opportunities to comment on the Diablo Canyon draft supplemental EIS. For information on the Diablo Canyon license renewal review, please see the NRCs website:
http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/operating/licensing/renewal/applications/diablo-canyon.html.
On December 5, 2012, Chairman Allison Macfarlane responded to a letter sent by twenty-three organizations and two individuals. The letter contained concerns similar to yours regarding the Waste Confidence Federal Register notice. The letter and the Chairmans response are included as Attachments 1 and 2, respectively, to this letter. Among other matters, the Chairman noted that the 70 days provided is consistent with scoping periods for other agency actions and sufficient for the public to develop thoughtful comments on the studys scope.
Consequently, the public scoping comment period will end on January 2, 2013. The NRC staff will consider comments submitted after January 2 as practicable. If you believe you'll need additional time beyond January 2 to submit comments on the scope of the Waste Confidence EIS, please contact Sarah Lopas via phone at (301) 492-3425 or by e-mail to Sarah.Lopas@nrc.gov.
The NRC thanks you for your letter and comments, and it has entered them into the Waste Confidence docket. As we move forward in the Waste Confidence environmental review, there will be additional opportunities for participation. The NRC's Waste Confidence Directorate will notify you of these opportunities by email. In the near term, beginning on January 16, 2013, the NRC will be conducting monthly status calls on the third Wednesday of each month. The calls will be from 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. EST (10:30 - 11:30 a.m. PST) and the teleconference information is
as follows: 1-800-857-2553 and passcode 3682386. See the NRCs meeting notice at http://pbadupws.nrc.gov/docs/ML1236/ML12366A201.pdf for additional information. If you have any questions, please contact Sarah Lopas.
We also want to take this opportunity to inform you of an important opportunity for you to participate in another activity underway at the NRC. The NRC staff is soliciting comments on the development of an agency-wide tribal policy statement. The enclosed Federal Register notice (Attachment 3) provides detailed information on the Commissions current efforts, including how to submit comments or suggestions on the tribal policy statement. In addition to asking for feedback on the policy statement, the NRC staff is also soliciting comments on the Draft Tribal Protocol Manual, a guidance document for NRC staff engaging in interaction with tribal governments. The draft manual, along with additional background information, can be found online at http://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/state-tribal/tpm.html. We have also included a copy of the manual with this letter for your convenience. This is an opportunity for tribal governments and organizations, as well as members of the public, to provide insights and suggestions on effective interactions with Native American tribes.
Thank you again for your comments.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Keith McConnell, Director Waste Confidence Directorate Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards
Enclosures:
- 1. Ltr from G. Fettus, D. Curran, and M. Goldstein
- 2. Ltr from Chairman Macfarlane to G. Fettus, D. Curran, and M. Goldstein
- 3. Federal Register Notice for Draft Tribal Protocol Manual
- 4. NRCs Draft Tribal Protocol Manual
ML13002A221 OFFICE NMSS/WCD/CPRB NMSS/WCD/CPRB NMSS/WCD NAME SLopas AImboden CSafford for KMcConnell DATE 01/02/13 12/31/12 01/02/13