ML13330A479

License Renewal Application Review

ML13330A479
Person / Time
Site:	Grand Gulf
Issue date:	12/23/2013
From:	David Wrona NRC/NRR/DLR/RERGUB
To:	Nelson R US Advisory Council On Historic Preservation
References
Download: ML13330A479 (6)

Text

UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 December 23, 2013 Mr. Reid Nelson Director Office of Federal Agency Programs Advisory Council on Historic Preservation Old Post Office Building 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Suite 803 Washington, DC 20004

SUBJECT:

GRAND GULF NUCLEAR STATION, UNIT 1, LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATION REVIEW

Dear Mr. Nelson:

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is conducting an environmental review of the effects of renewing the operating license for Grand Gulf Nuclear Station, Unit 1 (Grand Gulf).

Grand Gulf is located in the Claiborne County, Mississippi approximately 25 miles south of Vicksburg, Mississippi and is operated by Entergy Operations, Inc. (Entergy). As part of its review of the proposed action, the NRC has prepared a draft site-specific Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) to its "Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants," NUREG-1437. The draft SEIS includes analyses of relevant environmental issues, including potential impacts to historic, archeological and cultural properties from extended operation and refurbishment activities associated with license renewal.

As stated in our January 19, 2012, letter to you, the NRC has determined that the area of potential effect (APE) for a license renewal action is the area at the power plant site and its immediate environs that may be impacted by post-license renewal land disturbing operation or projected refurbishment activities associated with the proposed action. The NRC views the APE for the Grand Gulf license renewal review as including the Grand Gulf site and the immediate environs.

In the context of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, under which the draft SEIS was prepared, the NRC preliminary determination is that the impact of license renewal on historical and archaeological resources is small and additional mitigation is not warranted. Under the provisions of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the NRC staff's preliminary determination is that no historic properties will be affected by the proposed action.

In support of this conclusion, the NRC has conducted an environmental audit at the site and performed an independent analysis and review of historic and archaeological records. The NRC also contacted four Native American Tribes identified as having potential interest in the proposed undertaking. Two tribes--the Jena Band of Choctaw Indians and the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma-- responded with seeping comments. These did not voice any concerns with the undertaking but did ask for notification if historic and cultural resources of cultural significance were discovered on the Grand Gulf site. The NRC has taken the comments into consideration while preparing the draft SEIS. Appendix D of this draft SEIS lists these letters and how to access them.

R. Nelson 2 A copy of the draft supplement with this conclusion is enclosed. Pursuant to 36 CFR 800.8(c),

we are requesting your comments on the draft SEIS and on our preliminary conclusions regarding historic properties. Electronic comments on the draft SEIS may be submitted to the NRC by accessing www.regulations.gov and searching for Docket ID NRC-2011-0262. Written comments may be mailed to the NRC at:

Cindy Bladey, Chief Rules, Announcements, and Directives Branch (RADB)

Office of Administration, Mail Stop: 3WFN-06-44M U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555-0001 Please note that the public comment period for the draft SEIS ends on February 11, 2014.

If your office requires additional time, or if there are any other questions regarding this correspondence, please have your representative contact Emily Larson, social scientist, at 301-415-1151 or by e-mail at Emily.Larson@nrc.gov.

Sincerely, David J. Wrona, Chief Environmental Review and Guidance Update Branch Division of License Renewal Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-416

Enclosure:

"NUREG-1437, Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants, Supplement 50" cc w/encl: Listserv

R. Nelson 2 A copy of the draft supplement with this conclusion is enclosed. Pursuant to 36 CFR 800.8(c), we are requesting your comments on the draft SEIS and on our preliminary conclusions regarding historic properties. Electronic comments on the draft SEIS may be submitted to the NRC by accessing www.regulations.gov and searching for Docket ID NRC-2011-0262. Written comments may be mailed to the NRC at:

Cindy Bladey, Chief Rules, Announcements, and Directives Branch (RADB)

Office of Administration, Mail Stop: 3WFN-06-44M U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555-0001 Please note that the public comment period for the draft SEIS ends on February 11, 2014.

If your office requires additional time, or if there are any other questions regarding this correspondence, please have your representative contact Emily Larson, social scientist, at 301-415-1151 or by e-mail at Emily. Larson@nrc.gov.

Sincerely, IRA by William Ford for/

David J. Wrona, Chief Environmental Review and Guidance Update Branch Division of License Renewal Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-416

Enclosure:

"NUREG-1437, Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants, Supplement 50" cc w/encl: Listserv DISTRIBUTION:

See next page ADAMS Accession Number* ML13330A479 OFFICE LA:DLR PM:DLR/RPB2 RERB Technical BC:DLR/RERB Staff Member NAME IKing DDrucker Elarson DWrona DATE 12/6/13 12/17/13 12/23/13 12/23/13 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY