ML17090A381
| ML17090A381 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Fort Calhoun  |
| Issue date: | 04/06/2017 |
| From: | Stephanie Coffin NRC/NSIR/DPR |
| To: | Hoyes J US Dept of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency |
| Joseph Anderson | |
| References | |
| Download: ML17090A381 (3) | |
Text
April 6, 2017 Jonathan Hoyes, Director Technological Hazards Division Federal Emergency Management Agency Area 8 400 C Street, South West Washington, DC 20024
SUBJECT:
PROPOSED COMMISSION PAPER LANGUAGE FOR FORT CALHOUN STATION EMERGENCY PLAN DECOMMISSIONING EXEMPTION REQUEST
Dear Mr. Hoyes:
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is currently reviewing the Fort Calhoun Station (FCS) Unit 1 request for exemption from portions of the emergency preparedness (EP) requirements of Section 50.47 to Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) and to Appendix E to 10 CFR Part 50 (Agencywide Document Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML16356A578), which was submitted to the NRC on December 16, 2016.
The technical review of the FCS EP exemptions is being performed in accordance with NRC Interim Staff Guidance (ISG) document - NSIR/DPR-ISG-01, Emergency Planning Exemption Requests for Decommissioning Nuclear Power Plants (ADAMS Accession No. ML14106A057), and is consistent with past reviews for EP exemption requests from Kewaunee Power Station (KPS), Crystal River Unit 3 (CR-3), Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station (VY), and San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS). This approach has also recently been documented in Appendix A of the Draft Regulatory Basis Document for the proposed Regulatory Improvements for Power Reactors Transitioning to Decommissioning, currently available for public comment (ADAMS Accession No. ML15294A490).
If the staff finds the licensees request acceptable, we anticipate forwarding our recommendation to the Commission for approval by August 2017. Prior to doing so, we will provide a draft of this recommendation to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in early June 2017 as part of our consultation process.
As part of the staffs evaluation of the recent EP exemption requests, FEMA provided the following statement for incorporation in commission papers SECY-14-0066 (KPS), SECY-14-0118 (CR-3),
SECY-14-0125 (VY), and SECY-14-0144 (SONGS):
FEMA is not taking a position on the technical arguments presented by the licensee or the NRCs assessments. FEMA recognizes the NRCs role to analyze the possibility of incidents that could result in offsite dose impacts. FEMA acknowledges that individual states and local governments have the primary authority and responsibility to protect their citizens and respond to disasters and emergencies. The exemption, if issued, could create a transitional
J. Hoyes 2
environment for off-site emergency planners in how they consider radiological hazards.
FEMA will continue to support offsite organizations as they adjust their plans, capabilities, and resources to the changing radiological threat. Among the resources available to support FEMA stakeholders during the transition process include, but are not limited to, the National Preparedness System guidance materials, the Federal Radiological Preparedness Coordinating Committee, and assistance from FEMA Headquarters and Regional Staff.
While the NRC staff has not completed its evaluation of the FCS EP Exemption Request, we are seeking FEMAs continued alignment with the statement above for inclusion in the proposed commission paper. At this time, I am requesting any changes that FEMA may suggest to the above statement by no later than April 28, 2017, in order to support the schedule for a Commission decision on FCSs request.
Please do not hesitate to contact me to discuss this request further. As always, my staff stands ready to support any discussions with FEMA staff on the FCS EP exemption request, as well as the criteria and process being used to evaluate this licensing action.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Stephanie M. Coffin, Acting Director Division of Preparedness and Response Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response cc: Kathleen Fox, FEMA Acting Deputy Administrator for Protection and National Preparedness Katherine Fox, FEMA Acting Assistant Administrator for National Preparedness Timothy Greten, FEMA Deputy Director for Technological Hazards Division
ML17090A381 OFFICE NSIR/DPR:BC NSIR/DPR: (Acting) D NAME JAnderson SCoffin DATE 04/03/2017 04/06/2017