ML15035A332

Exemption of San Onofre Nuclear Station from Off-Site Emergency Planning Requirements and Modification of the San Onofre Operating Licenses

ML15035A332
Person / Time
Site:	San Onofre
Issue date:	06/05/2015
From:	Robert Lewis NRC/NSIR/DPR
To:	Mitchell A US Dept of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency
Richard Kinard
References
Download: ML15035A332 (4)

Text

June 5, 2015 Andrew Mitchell, Director Technological Hazards Division Federal Emergency Management Agency 1800 South Bell Street Arlington, VA 20598-3025

SUBJECT:

EXEMPTION OF SAN ONOFRE NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION FROM OFF-SITE RADIOLOGICAL EMERGENCY PLANNING REQUIREMENTS AND MODIFICATION OF THE SAN ONOFRE OPERATING LICENSES

Dear Mr. Mitchell:

This is to notify you that on June 4, 2015, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) granted an exemption to Southern California Edison (SCE or the licensee) from certain emergency planning (EP) requirements in Section 50.47, Emergency plans, and Appendix E, Emergency Planning and Preparedness for Production and Utilization Facilities, to Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Part 50, thereby allowing SCE to discontinue off-site radiological EP activities and reduce the scope of its on-site EP at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS), Units 1, 2, and 3, respectively, and Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI). On June 5, 2015, the NRC staff issued amendments to the SONGS 1, 2, and 3 operating licenses, authorizing changes based on the exemptions (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession Nos. ML15105A349 (Emergency Action Levels) and ML15126A461 (Emergency Plan)). A copy of the NRCs exemption and associated safety evaluation for the requested exemption is enclosed (Accession No. ML15082A204).

SONGS Units 1, 2 and 3 are decommissioning nuclear power reactors located approximately 45 miles southeast of Long Beach, California in San Diego County, approximately 62 miles southeast of Los Angeles and approximately 51 miles northwest of San Diego, on an 84-acre site located entirely within the Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base. The 10 CFR Part 50 licenses for SONGS no longer authorize operation of the reactors, or emplacement or retention of fuel into the reactor vessels, as specified in 10 CFR 50.82(a)(2).

SCE is authorized to possess and store spent nuclear fuel at the permanently shut-down and defueled SONGS facility. Spent fuel is currently stored on site at SONGS in spent fuel pools and an ISFSI.

The regulations in 10 CFR 50.47 and Appendix E to 10 CFR Part 50 require that each nuclear power reactor licensee establish and maintain emergency plans and preparedness. The regulations include standards for both on-site and off-site radiological emergency plans.

However, the regulations do not take into account the reduced risk of an off-site radiological release at a permanently shut-down and defueled power reactor, as compared to an operating nuclear power plant. The NRC has concluded that the EP requirements for SONGS, as modified by the enclosed exemption and safety evaluation, and approved by the license amendments, would provide: (1) an adequate basis for an acceptable state of

A. Mitchell emergency preparedness; and (2) in conjunction with arrangements made with off-site response agencies, reasonable assurance that adequate protective measures can and will be taken in the event of a radiological emergency at SONGS.

Based on the exemptions granted to SCE, the NRC no longer requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to monitor, review, or report on off-site radiological EP and preparedness activities at SONGS, in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding between FEMA and the NRC as contained in Appendix A to 44 CFR Part 353. EP and preparedness will be limited to on-site activities; notification of off-site authorities in event of an emergency classification; requiring only on-site exercises with the opportunity for off-site response organization participation; and only maintaining arrangements for off-site response organizations (i.e., law enforcement, fire and medical services) that may respond to on-site emergencies as identified in the licensees permanently defueled emergency plan.

It should be noted that SCE is required to implement the amendments that incorporate the EP exemptions for SONGS Units 1, 2, and 3 within 60 days of the NRC staff approving the amendments. The NRCs expectation is that SCE will communicate its schedule for implementation of the amendments to the State of California and local authorities, and to the NRC staff.

The NRC staff requests that FEMA notify the appropriate State and local governments that, at the time of implementation, off-site radiological emergency plans, as described in 44 CFR Part 350, are no longer required for the SONGS site due to the permanently shut-down and defueled condition of the facility based on the NRCs granting of the license amendments that implement the exemptions. Based on the information communicated to the NRC staff by the licensee, the NRC will inform FEMA of the expected implementation date of the license amendments that incorporate the EP exemptions.

A. Mitchell Should you need more information or support in interfacing with State and local government officials on this manner, please contact Joseph Anderson of my staff at (301) 287-9300.

Sincerely, James W. Andersen for /RA/

Robert J. Lewis, Director Division of Preparedness and Response Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response

Enclosure:

Letter to Mr. Palmisano Re: San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, Unit 1, 2, and 3 and Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation -

Exemptions from Certain Emergency Planning Requirements and Related Safety Evaluation (TAC Nos. MF3835, MF3836, MF3837) cc: T. Greten, FEMA V. Quinn, FEMA A. Coons, FEMA T. Hobbs, FEMA

A. Mitchell Should you need more information or support in interfacing with State and local government officials on this manner, please contact Joseph Anderson of my staff at (301) 287-9300.

Sincerely, James W. Andersen for /RA/

Robert J. Lewis, Director Division of Preparedness and Response Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response

Enclosure:

Letter to Mr. Palmisano Re: San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, Unit 1, 2, and 3 and Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation -

Exemptions from Certain Emergency Planning Requirements and Related Safety Evaluation (TAC Nos. MF3835, MF3836, MF3837) cc: T. Greten, FEMA V. Quinn, FEMA A. Coons, FEMA T. Hobbs, FEMA ADAMS Accession No.:Pkg. ML15035A374 Letter: ML15035A332

Enclosure:

ML15082A204 OFFICE: NSIR/DPR NSIR/DPR NMSS/DUWP:BC Rgn IV:DRA NRR/DORL NSIR/DPR NAME: JAnderson JAndersen BWatson KKennedy MKhanna R. Lewis DATE: 04/30/15 04/30/15 05/01/15 05/01/15 06/05/15 06/05/15 OFFICIAL RECORD