ML14080A236
| ML14080A236 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Seabrook  |
| Issue date: | 03/21/2014 |
| From: | Harris B NRC/OGC |
| To: | NRC/OCM |
| SECY RAS | |
| References | |
| 50-443-LR, ASLBP 10-906-02-LR-BD01, RAS 25712 | |
| Download: ML14080A236 (23) | |
Text
March 21, 2014 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION BEFORE THE COMMISSION
)
In the Matter of )
Detroit Edison Co. ) Docket No. 52-033-COL (Fermi Nuclear Power Plant, Unit 3) )
In the Matter of )
Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. ) Docket Nos. 50-247-LR (Indian Point Nuclear Generating ) and 50-286-LR Units 2 and 3) )
In the Matter of )
FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Co. ) Docket No. 50-346-LR (Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station, )
Unit1) )
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 )
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 )
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 )
Nuclear Innovation North America, L.L.C. ) 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) )
ii In the Matter of )
Tennessee Valley Authority ) Docket Nos. 50-327-LR, (Sequoyah Nuclear Plant, ) 50-328-LR Units 1 and 2) )
In the Matter of )
Tennessee Valley Authority ) Docket No. 50-0391-OL (Watts Bar Unit 2) )
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 )
(North Anna Unit 3) )
_______________________________________ )
NRC STAFF ANSWER OPPOSING SUSPENSION PETITION Brian G. Harris
iii TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... LEGAL STANDARD GOVERNING SUSPENSION PETITIONS ............................................ DISCUSSION......................................................................................................................... I. The Suspension Petition Does Not Meet the First Suspension Factor Because It Does Not Show That an Imminent Threat to Public Health and Safety Exists....................................................................................................................... II. The Petitioners Claims Regarding New and Significant Information are Unsupported and Do Not Meet the Second or Third Factor of the Commissions Suspension Standard .................................................................................. A. The Petitioners Bare Assertions of New and Significant Information are Not Supported by the Record .............................................................................. B. Denying the Suspension Petition Would Not Prove an Obstacle to Fair and Efficient Decisionmaking ........................................................ C. The Continuation of Licensing Activities Would Not Prevent Appropriate Implementation of Any Pertinent Rule or Policy Changes that Might Emerge from the Rulemaking Petition ..................................... III. The Existing Waste Confidence Suspension Does Not Alter the Fact that the Suspension Petition Must Satisfy the Commissions Suspension Standard ...................... CONCLUSION .....................................................................................................................
iv TABLE OF AUTHORITIES JUDICIAL DECISIONS PAGE U.S. Supreme Court:
Marsh v. Oregon Natural Resources Council, 490 U.S. 360 (1989)......................................... 8, 9 Robertson v. Methow Valley Citizens Council, 490 U.S. 332 (1989).......................................... 11 U.S. Courts of Appeals:
Hells Canyon Alliance v. U.S. Forest Serv., 227 F.3d 1170 (9th Cir. 2000) .................................8 Natural Resource Defense Council v. Hodel, 865 F.2d 288 (D.C. Cir. 1988) ...............................8 New York v. NRC, 681 F.3d 471 (D.C. Cir. 2012) ................................................................. 4, 16 U.S. District Court:
Hanson v. U.S. Forest Serv., 138 F. Supp. 2d 1295 (W.D. Wash. 2001) .....................................9 ADMINISTRATIVE DECISIONS Commission:
AmerGen Energy Company, LLC (Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station), et al.,
CLI-08-23, 68 NRC 461 (2008) .................................................................................................. 5 Calvert Cliffs 3 Nuclear Project, LLC and UniStar Nuclear Operating Services, LLC, (Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant, Unit 3), et al., CLI-12-16, 76 NRC 63 (2012) .............4, 5, 16 Duke Energy Corp. (Oconee Nuclear Station Units 1, 2, and 3),
CLI-99-11, 49 NRC 328 (1999) .................................................................................................. 5 Entergy Nuclear Generation Co. & Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. (Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station), CLI-10-11, 71 NRC 287 (2010) .................................................................................... 8 Pacific Gas & Electric Co. (Diablo Canyon Power Plant Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation), CLI-02-23, 56 NRC 230 (2002) ............................................................................ 14 Pacific Gas & Electric Co. (Diablo Canyon Power Plant Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation), CLI-03-4, 57 NRC 273 (2003) ....................................................................... passim Petition for Rulemaking to Amend 10 C.F.R. § 54.17(c),
CLI-11-1, 73 NRC 1 (2011) ............................................................................................... passim Private Fuel Storage, LLC (Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation),
CLI-01-26, 54 NRC 376 (2001) ...................................................................................4, 6, 12, 14
v Tennessee Valley Authority (Sequoyah Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2),
CLI-14-03, 79 NRC __ (2014) .................................................................................................... 5 Union Electric Co. d/b/a Ameren Missouri (Callaway Plant, Unit 2), et al.,
CLI-11-5, 74 NRC 141 (2011) ........................................................................................... passim Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. and AmerGen Vermont, LLC (Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station), CLI-00-20, 52 NRC 151 (2000)................................ 5 REGULATIONS 10 C.F.R. § 2.342(a) .................................................................................................................. 4 10 C.F.R. § 2.803..................................................................................................................... 13 10 C.F.R. § 51.92(a) .................................................................................................................. 8 10 C.F.R § 51.92(a)(1) ............................................................................................................... 8 STATUTES National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 USC § 4331 (1969), et seq. .............................. 3 MISCELLANEOUS Consideration of Environmental Impacts of Temporary Storage of Spent Fuel After Cessation of Reactor Operation, 75 Fed. Reg. 81,032 (Dec. 23, 2010) ........................4, 16 Waste Confidence Decision Update, 75 Fed. Reg. 81,037 (Dec. 23, 2010) ..........................4, 16
March 21, 2014 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION BEFORE THE COMMISSION
)
In the Matter of )
Detroit Edison Co. ) Docket No. 52-033-COL (Fermi Nuclear Power Plant, Unit 3) )
In the Matter of )
Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. ) Docket Nos. 50-247-LR (Indian Point Nuclear Generating, ) and 50-286-LR Units 2 and 3) )
In the Matter of )
FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Co. ) Docket No. 50-346-LR (Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station, )
Unit1) )
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 )
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 )
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 )
Nuclear Innovation North America, L.L.C. ) 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 Nos. 50-327-LR, (Sequoyah Nuclear Plant, ) 50-328-LR Units 1 and 2) )
In the Matter of )
Tennessee Valley Authority ) Docket No. 50-0391-OL (Watts Bar Unit 2) )
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 )
(North Anna Unit 3) )
_______________________________________ )
NRC STAFF ANSWER OPPOSING SUSPENSION PETITION INTRODUCTION Pursuant to 10 C.F.R. § 2.323(c) and the March 4, 2014 Order of the Secretary, 1 the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff (Staff) opposes the Petitioners request to suspend reactor licensing decisions in these proceedings. 2 In their petition, filed in most ongoing NRC adjudicatory proceedings for reactors on or about February 27, 2014, 3 the Petitioners requested the suspension of reactor licensing decisions in the captioned 1
Order (Mar. 4, 2014) (unpublished) (ADAMS Accession No. ML14063A637).
2 Substantially identical petitions to suspend licensing decisions were filed by participants in multiple proceedings. The Petitioners include: Beyond Nuclear, Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League, Dont Waste Michigan, Ecology Party of Florida, Friends of the Coast, Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, National Parks Conservation Association, New England Coalition, Nuclear Information and Resource Service, Public Citizen, San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace, SEED Coalition, and Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. Since the suspension petitions are substantially identical, the Staff is filing similar answers in opposition to the suspension petitions in each of the affected proceedings.
3 Petition to Suspend Reactor Licensing Decisions and Reactor Re-Licensing Decisions Pending Completion of Rulemaking Proceeding Regarding Environmental Impacts of High-Density Pool Storage of Spent Fuel and Mitigation Measures (Feb. 27, 2014) (Suspension Petition). In the NextEra Energy Seabrook, L.L.C. (Seabrook Station, Unit 1) proceeding the Suspension Petition was filed on March 1, 2014.
proceedings until the NRC addresses the allegedly new and significant information described in a February 18, 2014 petition for rulemaking (Rulemaking Petition). 4 The Commission should deny the Suspension Petition because it does not demonstrate that issuing licensing decisions before resolving the Rulemaking Petition would jeopardize the public health and safety, prove an obstacle to fair and efficient decisionmaking, or prevent appropriate implementation of any pertinent rule or policy changes that might emerge even if a rulemaking proceeding is undertaken by the Commission. 5 Further, although the Petitioners argue that information addressed in the Staffs expedited spent fuel transfer analysis 6 constitutes new and significant information for purposes of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), 7 that information is neither new nor significant under NEPA.
Therefore, NEPA does not require supplementation of the environmental impact statements (EISs) in proceedings with EISs, or delay of EISs currently being developed, before a licensing decision is made. Additionally, the rationale underlying the Commissions Waste Confidence 4
Environmental Organizations Petition to Consider New and Significant Information Regarding Environmental Impacts of High-Density Spent Fuel Storage and Mitigation Alternatives in Licensing Proceedings for New Reactors and License Renewal Proceedings for Existing Reactors and Duly Modify all NRC Regulations Regarding Environmental Impacts of Spent Fuel Storage During Reactor Operation (Feb. 18, 2014) (ADAMS Accession No. ML14071A382) (Rulemaking Petition).
5 The Commission has denied similar suspension petitions in the past, for these reasons. See Union Electric Co. d/b/a Ameren Missouri (Callaway Plant, Unit 2), et al., CLI-11-5, 74 NRC 141, 158-159 (2011); Petition for Rulemaking to Amend 10 C.F.R. § 54.17(c), CLI-11-1, 73 NRC 1, 5 (2011); Pacific Gas & Electric Co. (Diablo Canyon Power Plant Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation), CLI-03-4, 57 NRC 273, 277 (2003).
6 Consequence Study of a Beyond-Design-Basis Earthquake Affecting the Spent Fuel Pool for a U.S. Mark I Boiling Water Reactor (Oct. 2013) (ADAMS Accession No. ML13256A342) (attached to SECY-13-0112, Consequence Study of a Beyond-Design-Basis Earthquake Affecting the Spent Fuel Pool for a U.S. Mark I Boiling-Water Reactor (Oct. 9, 2013) (ADAMS Accession No. ML13256A339))
(Consequence Study); Regulatory Analysis for Japan Lessons-Learned Tier 3 Issue on Expedited Transfer of Spent Fuel (ADAMS Accession No. ML13273A628) (Regulatory Analysis) (attached to COMSECY-13-0030, Staff Evaluation and Recommendation for Japan Lessons-Learned Tier 3 Issue on Expedited Transfer of Spent Fuel (Nov. 12, 2013) (ADAMS Accession No. ML13273A601).
7 National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. § 4321 (1969), et seq. (NEPA); see Suspension Petitions at 3-4.
suspension of final licensing decisions, 8 based on the vacatur 9 of the Commissions Waste Confidence Decision and accompanying Temporary Storage Rule, 10 is not applicable to the instant case because that suspension was based on the actual invalidation of existing regulations rather than an ordinary rulemaking petition. Thus, the drastic action requested by the Petitioners is not warranted by the Commissions actions regarding the Waste Confidence Decision. 11 LEGAL STANDARD GOVERNING SUSPENSION PETITIONS When determining whether to suspend a proceeding or decision, the Commission considers three factors, namely whether moving forward with the adjudication will (1) jeopardize the public health and safety, (2) prove an obstacle to fair and efficient decision making, or (3) prevent appropriate implementation of any pertinent rule or policy changes. 12 This is referred to herein as the Commissions suspension standard.
DISCUSSION As described below, the Suspension Petition should be denied because it does not satisfy any of the three factors in the Commissions suspension standard. Further, the rationale 8
See Calvert Cliffs 3 Nuclear Project, LLC and UniStar Nuclear Operating Services, LLC, (Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant, Unit 3), et al., CLI-12-16, 76 NRC 63 (2012).
9 New York v. NRC, 681 F.3d 471 (D.C. Cir. 2012).
10 Consideration of Environmental Impacts of Temporary Storage of Spent Fuel After Cessation of Reactor Operation, 75 Fed. Reg. 81,032 (Dec. 23, 2010) (Final rule); Waste Confidence Decision Update, 75 Fed. Reg. 81,037 (Dec. 23, 2010).
11 Since the Petitioners explicitly cite to 10 C.F.R. § 2.802(d) and cite to the three-factor suspension standard (see e.g., Suspension Petition at 9-10), the Staff is responding accordingly.
However, the Petitioners also consistently use the term stay instead of suspend. See generally, Suspension Petition. To the extent that the Suspension Petition may be construed as a motion for a stay of decisions under 10 C.F.R. § 2.342, the Petitioners do not satisfy that standard because they have not argued, let alone demonstrated, that the four factors of 10 C.F.R. § 2.342(e) compel granting a motion to stay decisions. Furthermore, the Suspension Petition was not filed [w]ithin ten (10) days after service of a decision or action of a presiding officer, as is required by 10 C.F.R. § 2.342(a). Therefore, the Suspension Petition cannot be considered (or granted) as a request for stay of decisions.
12 Private Fuel Storage, LLC (Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation), CLI-01-26, 54 NRC 376, 380 (2001) (PFS). See also Callaway, et al., CLI-11-5, 74 NRC at 158; Petition for Rulemaking to Amend 10 C.F.R. § 54.17(c), CLI-11-1, 73 NRC at 5; Diablo Canyon ISFSI, CLI-03-4, 57 NRC at 277.
underlying the Commissions decision to suspend final licensing decisions in light of the Court of Appeals vacatur of the Waste Confidence rule does not apply here. For these reasons, the requested suspension is unwarranted.
I. The Suspension Petition Does Not Meet the First Suspension Factor Because It Does Not Show That an Imminent Threat to Public Health and Safety Exists The Commission considers suspension to be a drastic action that is not warranted absent immediate threats to public health and safety. 13 Absent such immediate threats, the Commission is reluctant to order suspensions in light of the substantial public interest in efficient and expeditious administrative proceedings. 14 The Petitioners have not demonstrated that moving forward with licensing decisions after the Commission lifts its Waste Confidence suspension will pose an immediate threat to public health and safety. 15 In fact, the Petitioners make no public health and safety argument. 16 Accordingly, the Suspension Petition cannot satisfy this part of the Commissions suspension standard.
13 AmerGen Energy Company, LLC (Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station), et al., CLI-08-23, 68 NRC 461, 484 (2008) (refusing to suspend license renewal proceedings) (quoting Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. and AmerGen Vermont, LLC (Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station), CLI-00-20, 52 NRC 151, 173-174 (2000) (refusing to suspend license transfer proceeding)).
14 Duke Energy Corp. (Oconee Nuclear Station Units 1, 2, and 3), CLI-99-11, 49 NRC 328, 339 (1999).
15 The Commission has already stated that it will not issue [final] licenses dependent upon the Waste Confidence Decision or the Temporary Storage Rule until the courts remand is appropriately addressed. Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant, Unit 3, et al., CLI-12-16, 76 NRC at 67. Additionally, in each of the proceedings in which the Petitioners filed, and in view of the special circumstances of the situation and as an exercise of [its] inherent supervisory authority, the Commission held in abeyance (or, in the case of Sequoyah, approved an Atomic Safety and Licensing Board order holding in abeyance) all contentions related to Waste Confidence pending [the Commissions] further order. Id. at 68-69; see Tennessee Valley Authority (Sequoyah Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2), CLI-14-03, 79 NRC __ (Feb. 12, 2014) (slip op. at 8-9). As acknowledged by the Petitioners, the NRC plans to issue its Waste Confidence GEIS in October 2014, see Rulemaking Petition at 17, and it is unlikely that this Waste Confidence suspension could be lifted before October 2014.
16 See Suspension Petition at 9-10 (quoting the Commissions three-factor suspension standard but then only addressing the latter two factors and not the public health and safety factor).
Instead, the Petitioners argue that a suspension is warranted to ensure that the NRC complies with NEPAs procedural requirements. 17 But Petitioners fail to explain how any alleged failure to comply with NEPA could constitute an immediate threat to public health and safety. Therefore, the Suspension Petition does not establish that an imminent threat to public health and safety exists, and it should be denied.
II. The Petitioners Claims Regarding New and Significant Information are Unsupported and Do Not Meet the Second or Third Factor of the Commissions Suspension Standard In addition to considering whether there will be jeopardy to the public health and safety absent the granting of a suspension petition, the Commission has stated that, with respect to suspension petitions, it also considers whether moving forward with licensing proceedings or decisions will prove an obstacle to fair and efficient decisionmaking, or prevent appropriate implementation of any pertinent rule or policy changes that might emerge from the Commissions evaluation of potential policy (or rule) changes. 18 The Petitioners essentially argue that licensing decisions should be suspended because (1) the NRC must consider the allegedly new and significant information in the Staffs expedited spent fuel transfer analysis 19 and (2) that failing to consider this information prior to making any licensing decisions would either preclude fair and efficient decision making or would prevent appropriate implementation of any pertinent rule or policy changes resulting from the consideration of this information. 20 This argument fails for lack of factual support. First, as discussed below, the Petitioners bare assertions that the Staffs expedited spent fuel transfer analysis constitutes new and 17 See Suspension Petition at 3-4 (Petitioners respectfully submit that suspension of reactor licensing and re-licensing decisions is necessary for compliance with NEPAs requirement that new and significant information be incorporated into reactor licensing decisions before those decisions are finalized.).
18 Private Fuel Storage, LLC, CLI-01-26, 54 NRC at 380. See also Callaway, et al., CLI-11-5, 74 NRC at 158; Petition for Rulemaking to Amend 10 C.F.R. § 54.17(c), CLI-11-1, 73 NRC at 5; Diablo Canyon Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation, CLI-03-4, 57 NRC at 277.
19 See generally Consequence Study (ML13256A339); Regulatory Analysis (ML13273A628).
20 Suspension Petition at 9-13.
significant information under NEPA are not supported by the record. Second, the Petitioners do not show how moving forward with final licensing decisions would prove an obstacle to fair and efficient decisionmaking or prevent implementation of pertinent rule or policy changes.
A. The Petitioners Bare Assertions of New and Significant Information are Not Supported by the Record The Suspension Petition relies on the information developed by the Staff during its analysis of whether the expedited transfer of spent fuel from spent fuel pools to dry cask storage might provide enhanced safety and be cost-justified. 21 The Staff initiated its study with Commission approval in response to concerns raised by the public after the accident at Fukushima Dai-ichi and the uncertainty, at the time, regarding the status of spent fuel in the spent fuel pools. 22 In summary, the Consequence Study of a Beyond-Design-Basis Earthquake Affecting the Spent Fuel Pool for a U.S. Mark I Boiling Water Reactor 23 (Consequence Study) and the Regulatory Analysis for Japan Lessons-Learned Tier 3 Issue on Expedited Transfer of Spent Fuel 24 (Regulatory Analysis) were performed to determine whether expedited transfer of spent fuel from spent fuel pools to dry cask storage might provide a cost-justified substantial safety benefit. 25 The Staffs plan for evaluating the expedited transfer of 21 Suspension Petition at 3-4.
22 COMSECY-13-0030, Staff Evaluation and Recommendation for Japan Lessons-Learned Tier 3 Issue on Expedited Transfer of Spent Fuel at 2-4 (Nov. 12, 2013) (ADAMS Accession No. ML13273A601) 23 Consequence Study of a Beyond-Design-Basis Earthquake Affecting the Spent Fuel Pool for a U.S. Mark I Boiling Water Reactor (Consequence Study) (Oct. 2013) (ADAMS Accession No. ML13256A342) (attached to SECY-13-0112, Consequence Study of a Beyond-Design-Basis Earthquake Affecting the Spent Fuel Pool for a U.S. Mark I Boiling-Water Reactor (Oct. 9, 2013) (ADAMS Accession No. ML13256A339)).
24 Regulatory Analysis for Japan Lessons-Learned Tier 3 Issue on Expedited Transfer of Spent Fuel (Regulatory Analysis) (ADAMS Accession No. ML13273A628) (attached to COMSECY-13-0030, Staff Evaluation and Recommendation for Japan Lessons-Learned Tier 3 Issue on Expedited Transfer of Spent Fuel (Nov. 12, 2013) (ADAMS Accession No. ML13273A601).
25 Regulatory Analysis at iv.
spent fuel originally contemplated three potential phases, depending on the analysis. The Consequence Study and Regulatory Analysis completed the first phase of the study. 26 The Petitioners assert that this analysis has yielded new and significant information about the environmental impacts of high-density pool storage of spent fuel and the cost-beneficial nature of some measures for mitigation of spent fuel pool fires. 27 Contrary to the Petitioners assertions, however, this analysis does not constitute new and significant information under NEPA because it is consistent with information considered in the Staffs previous studies on spent fuel pool accidents.
Under NEPA, the NRC must ensure that the [environmental impact] statement contains sufficient discussion of the relevant issues and opposing viewpoints to enable the decisionmaker to take a hard look at environmental factors, and to make a reasoned decision. 28 As the Commission has stated, while there will always be more data that could be gathered, agencies must have some discretion to draw the line and move forward with decisionmaking. 29 But, [i]f the proposed action has not been taken, the NRC staff will prepare a supplement to a final environmental impact statement . . . if . . . [t]here are new and significant circumstances or information relevant to environmental concerns and bearing on the proposed action or its impacts. 30 In Marsh v. Oregon Natural Resources Council, 490 U.S. 360, 374 26 The Staff has recommended to the Commission that no additional analysis be performed based on the information developed as part of this initial phase. Regulatory Analysis at vi.
27 Suspension Petition at 5.
28 Natural Resource Defense Council v. Hodel, 865 F.2d 288, 294 (D.C. Cir. 1988).
29 Entergy Nuclear Generation Co. & Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. (Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station), CLI-10-11, 71 NRC 287, 315 (2010) (quoting Hells Canyon Alliance v. U.S. Forest Serv., 227 F.3d 1170, 1185 (9th Cir. 2000)).
30 10 C.F.R. § 51.92(a) and § 51.92(a)(1). The proceedings in which the Suspension Petition has been filed are in slightly different procedural postures, especially with respect to whether the Staff has published a draft supplemental EIS, a final supplemental EIS, or any additional supplements. However, in each proceeding, an EIS is being or has been prepared, and the Staff has not yet taken the major federal action at issue.
(1989), the Supreme Court unanimously found that such supplementation is required only where the new information would affect the environment in a significant manner or to a significant extent not already considered. Consequently, later-identified information that is consistent with information already presented in an environmental impact statement is not new and significant information warranting supplementation under NEPA. 31 The Petitioners argue that the Staffs analysis constitutes new and significant information under NEPA because it is impossible to determine what NRC assumes regarding how much land is contaminated, how many people are dislocated, or for what length of time these effects will persist and that it is impossible to determine how considerations of probability affected the consequence analysis in the 2013 Revised License Renewal [Generic EIS (GEIS)]. 32 Based on this, the Petitioners speculate that the frequency of spent fuel pool fires is higher than what was previously estimated and that mitigation is warranted and cost-beneficial. 33 The Petitioners, however, fail to recognize that the Staffs expedited spent fuel transfer analysis explicitly determined that the information developed was consistent with previous studies of spent fuel pool accidentsthat is, that the information was not new. 34 Additionally, the Petitioners are also mistaken in asserting that the Staffs analysis regarding a potentially large area of contamination is new and had not been discussed previously. 35 Although the previous studies cited in the Rulemaking Petition do not explicitly state the land area potentially contaminated by the modeled spent fuel pool accidents, those studies did give estimates of 31 See, e.g., Hanson v. U.S. Forest Serv., 138 F. Supp. 2d 1295, 1302 (W.D. Wash. 2001).
32 Suspension Petition at 11.
33 Suspension Petition at 11-13.
34 Consequence Study at iii (The study results for the specific reference plant and earthquake analyzed are consistent with past studies conclusions that spent fuel pools are likely to withstand severe earthquakes without leaking.).
35 Suspension Petition at 5 (This information is new because no EIS for reactor licensing, GEIS for reactor re-licensing, or EA for standardized design certification has specified the size of the area that could be contaminated .).
offside health effects and property damage. 36 Information about contaminated land area can be derived from the information reported in these previous studies. Therefore, the Staffs expedited spent fuel transfer analysis is not new information under NEPA.
Similarly, the Petitioners arguments that the Staffs expedited spent fuel transfer analysis constitutes significant information under NEPA are also incorrect. The Suspension Petitions allegations of significance appear to be based on three assumptions: (1) that the calculated benefits might increase if the NRC altered its regulatory structure to include additional cost information beyond the scope of Atomic Energy Act, as implemented by the Commissions current regulations; (2) that reactor accidents may be initiators of spent fuel pool fires and, therefore, that the probability of such fires may be higher than previously determined; and (3) that sensitivity studies demonstrated a few worst case accident scenarios that might have cost-beneficial mitigation measures. 37 Based on these assumptions, the Petitioners argue the following. First, the Petitioners argue that the benefits of mitigating a spent fuel pool fire would appear greater if the NRC undertook a regulatory change to include costs not part of the Staffs current analyses. 38 This argument is unsupported and speculative because no such change to the Commissions regulatory structure is requested as part of the Rulemaking Petition; rather, the Rulemaking Petition requests a suspension of existing regulations and adjustments to the NRCs NEPA process. The Rulemaking Petition does not describe how changes to the NRCs NEPA process would alter the current requirements for spent fuel pools, such that the spent fuel pool analyses 36 NUREG-1353, Regulatory Analysis for the Resolution of Generic Issue 82, "Beyond Design Basis Accidents in Spent Fuel Pools, at 4-41, 5-4 (Apr. 1989) (ADAMS Accession No. ML082330232).
37 Suspension Petition at 12-13.
38 Id. at 12.
would include different kinds of accidents. 39 Therefore, this argument cannot support the Suspension Petition.
Second, the Petitioners argue that the documents cited in the Rulemaking Petition indicate that the probability of a spent fuel pool fire may be greater than previously estimated, and conclude, based on this assumption, that the consequences of such fires might be greater than already accounted for in the current regulations. 40 The potential for a reactor accident to initiate another event such as a spent fuel pool fire is not new information. Therefore, this information is not new and significant under NEPA and does not support the supplementation of the NRCs previous determination that the probability weighted consequences of a spent fuel pool accident are insignificant. 41 Finally, the Petitioners argument that certain sensitivity studies show that mitigation measures regarding spent fuel pool fires might be cost-beneficial is not sufficient to establish new and significant information under NEPA. Although NEPA requires an agency to make a reasonably complete discussion of possible mitigation measures, it does not require the formulation of a complete mitigation plan before the agency can act. 42 Thus, NEPA does not require that agencies develop or evaluate every potential mitigation measure that might serve to reduce the impact of a particular agency action. As such, the expedited spent fuel transfer analysis discussion of certain sensitivity studies indicating that cost-beneficial mitigation 39 See Rulemaking Petition at 4-5.
40 Suspension Petition at 12.
41 See NUREG-1437, Vol. 1, Rev. 1, Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants, Main Report, Final Report, at 1-27 to 1-29 (June 2013) (ADAMS Accession No. ML13106A241); NUREG-1437, Vol. 3, Rev. 1, Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants, Appendices, Final Report, E-34 to E-39 (June 2013) (ADAMS Accession No. ML13106A244). See, e.g., Environmental Assessment by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Relating to the Certification of the AP1000 Standard Plant Design, Docket No.52-006 (2006) (ADAMS Accession No. ML053630176); Environmental Assessment by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Relating to the Certification of the Amendment to the AP1000 Standard Plant Design, Docket No.52-006 (2011) (ADAMS Accession No. ML113480019).
42 Robertson v. Methow Valley Citizens Council, 490 U.S. 332, 352-353 (1989).
measures may exist is insufficient to support a suspension action of all NRC reactor licensing actions.
B. Denying the Suspension Petition Would Not Prove an Obstacle to Fair and Efficient Decisionmaking The Commission has stated that a petition to suspend may be granted if the petitioner demonstrates that denying the requested suspension would prove an obstacle to fair and efficient decisionmaking. 43 Since the NRC engages in a dynamic regulatory process the appropriate balance must be struck to promote the Commissions dual goals of public safety and timely adjudication. 44 In fact, the Commission has stated that this consideration may favor denying a petition to suspend. Specifically, with respect to petitions to suspend related to the Fukushima accident, the Commission stated, [i]nstead of finding obstacles to fair and efficient decisionmaking, we see benefits from allowing our processes to continue so that issues unrelated to [Fukushima] can be resolved. 45 The Petitioners argue that, by failing to consider the information in the expedited spent fuel transfer analysis, the Staff would fail to consider important environmental impacts as part of its licensing decisions and, thus, preclude the decisionmaking process from being either fair or efficient. 46 The Petitioners are incorrect. First, as discussed above, the Rulemaking Petition does not present new and significant information under NEPA because the information upon 43 Callaway, et al., CLI-11-5, 74 NRC at 158; Petition for Rulemaking to Amend 10 C.F.R. § 54.17(c), CLI-11-1, 73 NRC at 5; Diablo Canyon Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation, CLI-03-4, 57 NRC at 277.
44 Petition for Rulemaking to Amend 10 C.F.R. § 54.17(c), CLI-11-1, 73 NRC at 4 (quoting Private Fuel Storage, LLC, CLI-01-26, 54 NRC at 381).
45 Callaway, et al., CLI-11-5, 74 NRC at 166; see also Diablo Canyon Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation, CLI-03-4, 57 NRC at 277.
46 Suspension Petitions at 10-11.
which it relies is consistent with information that was previously considered by the Staff with respect to spent fuel pool accidents. 47 Second, fair and efficient decisionmaking would actually be better served by denying the Suspension Petition because the Suspension Petition is premature. The Commission has not yet decided whether it will grant the Rulemaking Petition, and the merits of the Rulemaking Petition have not yet been scrutinized by the agency or the public. The Commission has denied suspension petitions related to Fukushima 48 as premature because the Commission did not know today the full implications of the Japan events for U.S. facilities and, therefore, any generic NEPA duty - if one were appropriate at all - does not accrue now. 49 The Commission also denied a suspension petition because the particulars of [the associated] rulemaking petition had not yet been scrutinized by public comment and agency review. 50 Inasmuch as the Commission has not yet decided whether it will pursue rulemaking with respect to the issues raised in the Rulemaking Petition, and the merits of the Rulemaking Petition have not yet been scrutinized by the agency or the public, the Commission should deny the Suspension Petition as premature.
47 Even though the Rulemaking Petition does not constitute new and significant information under NEPA, this does not mean that the NRC will not consider rulemaking consistent with the Rulemaking Petition because the standard for rulemaking is different than the NEPA standard for supplementing environmental impact statements. See 10 C.F.R. § 2.803 (No hearing will be held on the petition unless the Commission deems it advisable. If the Commission determines that sufficient reason exists, it will publish a notice of proposed rulemaking. In any other case, it will deny the petition ).
48 Compare Callaway, et al., CLI-11-5, 74 NRC at 167 (where the petitioners argued that, through its review of the Fukushima accident, the NRC had admitted that it has new information that concededly could have a significant effect on its regulatory program and the outcome of its licensing decisions for individual reactors and that this information must be considered before making new reactor and license renewal decisions) (quotations omitted) with Suspension Petition at 10 (Here, by its own admission, the NRC has new information that concededly could have a significant effect on its regulatory program and the outcome of its licensing decisions for individual reactors.).
49 Callaway, et al., CLI-11-5, 74 NRC at 167.
50 Petition for Rulemaking to Amend 10 C.F.R. § 54.17(c), CLI-11-1, 73 NRC at 5.
The Suspension Petition should also be denied because it does not further fair and efficient decisionmaking. At this point in time, the relief that it seeks, namely the suspension of licensing decisions, is already in effect as a result of the Commissions suspension of licensing decisions during its Waste Confidence rulemaking activities. Indeed, as acknowledged by the Petitioners, their requested relief is similar to the relief granted by the Waste Confidence suspension 51 and that suspension is unlikely to be lifted before October 2014. 52 The Petitioners have not demonstrated that the requested suspension is necessary, given the existing Waste Confidence suspension, to further fair and efficient decisionmaking by the Commission.
C. The Continuation of Licensing Activities Would Not Prevent Appropriate Implementation of Any Pertinent Rule or Policy Changes that Might Emerge from the Rulemaking Petition As noted above, the Commission has stated that a suspension petition may be granted if the petitioner demonstrates that not granting the suspension would prevent appropriate implementation of any pertinent rule or policy changes that might emerge from the associated petition for rulemaking. 53 The Commission has also stated that the conclusion of a licensing proceeding need not await the outcome of a rulemaking petition to ensure that a proposed facility can accommodate any changes resulting from the rulemaking proposal because every license the Commission issues is subject to the possibility of additional requirements. 54 Here, the rule or policy changes sought by the Rulemaking Petition are modifications of current NRC [NEPA] regulations that make or rely on findings regarding the environmental impacts of spent fuel storage during reactor operation, including Table B-1 [of Appendix B to 51 Suspension Petitions at 4.
52 See Rulemaking Petition at 17.
53 Callaway, et al., CLI-11-5, 74 NRC at 158 (quoting Private Fuel Storage, LLC, CLI-01-26, 54 NRC at 380); Petition for Rulemaking to Amend 10 C.F.R. § 54.17(c), CLI-11-1, 73 NRC at 5; Diablo Canyon Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation, CLI-03-4, 57 NRC at 277.
54 Diablo Canyon ISFSI, CLI-03-4, 57 NRC at 277 (quoting Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (Diablo Canyon Power Plant Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation), CLI-02-23, 56 NRC 230, 240 (2002)).
Subpart A of 10 C.F.R. Part 51] and all regulations approving standardized reactor designs. 55 Thus, the Rulemaking Petition does not seek to make substantive changes to the operational requirements for spent fuel pools. Further, the Staff has determined that the Consequence Study and Regulatory Analysis were consistent with previous studies of spent fuel pool accidents. Therefore, the Staffs analysis in each of the affected proceedings would not need to be altered or revised to reflect the information Petitioners allege is new and significant. And because final licensing decisions are already suspended in these proceedings, no actions are imminent that may preclude or prevent any appropriate implementation of changes contemplated by the Rulemaking Petition.
In essence, the Rulemaking Petition requests that the Commission reevaluate its rules regarding the environmental impacts of reactor licensing. 56 The Rulemaking Petition alleges potential environmental impacts that might result from high-density spent fuel pool storage and requests that these alleged impacts be included with the impacts already considered by the NRC under NEPA. 57 As discussed above, these allegedly new impacts have been previously analyzed in EISs for license renewal, operating licenses, combined operating licenses, and design certifications. 58 The Petitioners do not demonstrate how a failure to suspend licensing decisions now could prevent the appropriate implementation of any rule or policy change that might emerge from consideration of the rulemaking issues discussed in the Suspension Petition in light of the procedural posture of these cases. Thus, the Suspension Petition should be denied.
55 Rulemaking Petition at 5.
56 See Rulemaking Petition at 4-5.
57 Id. at 30-34. As previously discussed, the Staff has previously looked at this information and, with respect to the information contained in the expedited spent fuel transfer analysis, determined that it is consistent with previous analyses.
58 See supra at 7-11.
III. The Existing Waste Confidence Suspension Does Not Alter the Fact that the Suspension Petition Must Satisfy the Commissions Suspension Standard Although acknowledging the applicability of the suspension standard, the Petitioners alternatively argue that, even if they fail to satisfy the standard, the Suspension Petition should be granted in a manner analogous to the Commissions Waste Confidence suspension. 59 That argument should be rejected, because the special circumstances surrounding the Waste Confidence suspension do not apply here.
In Calvert Cliffs et al., the Commission responded to petitions to suspend final licensing decisions based on the Court of Appeals decision in New York v. NRC, 681 F.3d 471 (D.C. Cir.
2012), vacating the Commissions 2010 update to the Waste Confidence Decision and accompanying Temporary Storage Rule. 60 The Commission stated that, Waste confidence undergirds certain agency licensing decisions, in particular new reactor licensing and reactor license renewal. 61 The Commission did not address the suspension standard; instead, it stated that, based on the NRCs regulatory structure and in recognition of [the Commissions] duties under the law, the Commission will not issue licenses dependent upon the Waste Confidence Decision or the Temporary Storage Rule until the courts remand is appropriately addressed. 62 Thus, the relief provided by the Waste Confidence suspension was dictated by the vacatur of the Commission rules that undergirded, in part, the licensing decisions at issue and not by any discussion specific to the suspension standard.
59 Suspension Petition at 4, 9.
60 Calvert Cliffs 3 Nuclear Project, LLC and UniStar Nuclear Operating Services, LLC, (Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant, Unit 3), et al., CLI-12-16, 76 NRC 63, 65-66 (2012). See also Consideration of Environmental Impacts of Temporary Storage of Spent Fuel After Cessation of Reactor Operation, 75 Fed. Reg. 81,032 (Dec. 23, 2010) (Final rule); Waste Confidence Decision Update, 75 Fed. Reg. 81,037 (Dec. 23, 2010).
61 Id. at 66.
62 Id. at 66-67.
The Commission has previously indicated that it disfavors upset[ting] the status quo by effectively overturning a rule that was the product of carefully considered rulemaking. 63 The Waste Confidence suspension is distinguishable, however, in that the Court of Appeals overturned an existing rule, effectively preventing the NRC from proceeding with actions in reliance upon that rule. In contrast, the current Rulemaking Petition only proposes a change to the existing rule, which proposal has not been considered or acted upon by the Commission, and does not overturn any rule. Thus, the Commissions suspension standard should apply and because the Suspension Petition does not meet any of the three suspension factors, it should be denied.
CONCLUSION For the reasons stated above, the Suspension Petition does not provide a sufficient justification for the suspension of all NRC licensing decisions pending agency consideration of the matters proposed for rulemaking. Accordingly, the Suspension Petition should be denied.
Respectfully submitted,
/Signed (electronically) by/
Brian G. Harris Counsel for the NRC Staff U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Mail Stop O-15 D21 Washington, DC 20555-0001 Telephone: (301) 415-1392 E-mail: brian.harris@nrc.gov Dated at Rockville, Maryland this 21st day of March, 2014 63 Petition for Rulemaking to Amend 10 C.F.R. § 54.17(c), CLI-11-1, 73 NRC at 5.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION BEFORE THE COMMISSION In the Matter of )
)
NEXTERA ENERGY SEABROOK, LLC ) Docket No. 50-443-LR
)
(Seabrook Station, Unit 1) )
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE Pursuant to 10 C.F.R § 2.305 (as revised), I hereby certify that copies of the foregoing NRC STAFF ANSWER OPPOSING SUSPENSION PETITION dated March 21, 2014 have been served upon the Electronic Information Exchange, the NRCs E-Filing System, in the above-captioned proceeding, this 21st day of March, 2014.
/Signed (electronically) by/
Brian G. Harris Counsel for the NRC Staff U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Mail Stop O-15 D21 Washington, DC 20555-0001 Telephone: (301) 415-1392 E-mail: Brian.Harris@nrc.gov Dated at Rockville, Maryland This 21st day of March, 2014