ML14343A966
| ML14343A966 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Byron  |
| Issue date: | 12/24/2014 |
| From: | David Wrona NRC/NRR/DLR/RERGUB |
| To: | Nelson R US Advisory Council On Historic Preservation |
| Chazell R, 415-5003 | |
| References | |
| Download: ML14343A966 (4) | |
Text
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 December 24, 2014 Mr. Reid Nelson, Director Office of Federal Agency Programs Advisory Council on Historic Preservation 401 F Street NW, Suite 308 Washington, DC 20001-2637
SUBJECT:
NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF THE DRAFT SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FOR LICENSE RENEWAL OF BYRON NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION, UNITS 1 AND 2, FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
Dear Mr. Nelson:
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is reviewing an application submitted by Exelon Generation Company, LLC (Exelon) Byron Nuclear Generating Station, Units 1 and 2 (Byron). Byron is located in Ogle County, Illinois, approximately 145 miles northwest of Chicago, and 27 miles southwest of Rockford, Illinois. 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 activities associated with license renewal.
As stated in our August 9, 2013, letter 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 Byron license renewal as including the Byron site and the immediate environs.
In the context of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, under which the draft environmental impact statement was prepared, the NRC staffs 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 staffs 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 initiated consultation with 14 Federally recognized Native American tribes, notifying them of the proposed action and requesting comments and concerns. To date, none of the tribes have responded. Documentation for tribal consultation is presented in Appendix D of the draft SEIS.
R. Nelson 2
A copy of the draft SEIS with this conclusion is enclosed. Pursuant to 36 CFR 800.8(c), we are requesting your comments on the draft supplement and on our preliminary conclusions.
Electronic comments on the draft SEIS may be submitted to the NRC by accessing www.regulations.gov and searching for NRC-2013-0178. 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 20, 2015.
Public meetings to discuss the findings of the draft SEIS will be held on February 3, 2015, at the Byron Forest Preserve, 7993 North River Rd. Byron, IL 61010. The first session will convene at 2:00 p.m. and will continue until 4:00 p.m., as necessary. The second session will convene at 7:00 p.m. and will continue until 9:00 p. m., as necessary. A meeting notice will be published shortly providing more details about those public meetings. A separate Notice of Availability of the draft SEIS will be placed in the Federal Register through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. If you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact Russell Chazell, Environmental Scientist, at 301-415-5003 or by e-mail at Russell.Chazell@nrc.gov.
Sincerely,
/RA Jeffrey Rikhoff for/
David J. Wrona, Chief Environmental Review and Guidance Update Branch Division of License Renewal Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-454 and 50-455
Enclosures:
- 1. NUREG-1437, Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants, Supplement 54 cc w/encls: Listserv
R. Nelson 2
A copy of the draft SEIS with this conclusion is enclosed. Pursuant to 36 CFR 800.8(c), we are requesting your comments on the draft supplement and on our preliminary conclusions.
Electronic comments on the draft SEIS may be submitted to the NRC by accessing www.regulations.gov and searching for NRC-2013-0178. 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 20, 2015.
Public meetings to discuss the findings of the draft SEIS will be held on February 3, 2015, at the Byron Forest Preserve, 7993 North River Rd. Byron, IL 61010. The first session will convene at 2:00 p.m. and will continue until 4:00 p.m., as necessary. The second session will convene at 7:00 p.m. and will continue until 9:00 p. m., as necessary. A meeting notice will be published shortly providing more details about those public meetings. A separate Notice of Availability of the draft SEIS will be placed in the Federal Register through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. If you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact Russell Chazell, Environmental Scientist, at 301-415-5003 or by e-mail at Russell.Chazell@nrc.gov.
Sincerely,
/RA Jeffrey Rikhoff for/
David J. Wrona, Chief Environmental Review and Guidance Update Branch Division of License Renewal Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-454 and 50-455
Enclosures:
- 1. NUREG-1437, Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants, Supplement 54 cc w/encls: Listserv DISTRIBUTION: See next page Adams Accession Number: ML14343A966
- concurred via email OFFICE LA:DLR*
PM:DLR/RPB2 RERB Technical Staff Member BC:DLR/RERB NAME IBetts LJames RChazell DWrona (JRikhoff for)
DATE 12/16/14 12/17/14 12/17/14 12/24/14 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
SUBJECT:
NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF THE DRAFT SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FOR LICENSE RENEWAL OF BYRON NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION, UNITS 1 AND 2, FOR PUBLIC COMMENT DISTRIBUTION:
PUBLIC RidsNrrDlr Resource RidsNrrDlrRpb1 Resource RidsNrrDlrRpb2 Resource RidsNrrDlrRerb Resource RidsNrrDlrRarb Resource RidsNrrDlrRasb Resource RidsNrrDlrRpob Resource RidsOpaMail RidsOgcMailCenter LJames RChazell