ML18152A867
| ML18152A867 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Clinch River |
| Issue date: | 06/05/2018 |
| From: | Tami Dozier NRC/NRO/DNRL |
| To: | |
| Dozier T | |
| References | |
| +reviewed | |
| Download: ML18152A867 (21) | |
Text
Public Meeting to Discuss the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for an Early Site Permit for the Clinch River Nuclear Site Tuesday, June 5, 2018 Agenda:
Afternoon Session 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM 2:00 pm - 2:10 pm Opening Remarks and Introductions Meeting Facilitator 2:10 pm - 2:35 pm NRCs ESP/Environmental Review Process and DEIS Findings NRC Staff 2:35 pm - 2:45 pm Question and Answers - NRCs Process Public/NRC Staff 2:45 pm - 3:55 pm Receive Public Comments Public 3:55pm - 4:00pm Closing Remarks Meeting Facilitator Evening Session 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM 7:00 pm - 7:10 pm Opening Remarks and Introductions Meeting Facilitator 7:10 pm - 7:35 pm NRCs ESP/Environmental Review Process and DEIS Findings NRC Staff 7:35 pm - 7:45 pm Question and Answers - NRCs Process Public/NRC Staff 7:45 pm - 8:55 pm Receive Public Comments Public 8:55pm - 9:00pm Closing Remarks Meeting Facilitator Included in this Packet:
Information Sheet:
Clinch River Nuclear Site Early Site Permit Environmental Review Public Meeting Comment Submission Sheet NRC Public Meeting Feedback (NRC FORM 659)
Meeting Slides Handout
INFORMATION SHEET ON THE CLINCH RIVER NUCLEAR SITE EARLY SITE PERMIT ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW Comments on the Clinch River Nuclear Site ESP Draft EIS will be accepted through July 13, 2018.
WHERE TO FIND MORE INFORMATION Copies of TVAs Environmental Report and the NRCs draft EIS can be:
Viewed online at http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/new-reactors/esp/clinch-river.html; or Review a printed copy or disc at Kingston Public Library at 1004 Bradford Way, Kingston, Tennessee 37763 Oak Ridge Public Library at 1401 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830 ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW MILESTONES Application submitted to NRC May 2016 Public Scoping Meetings May 2017 Publication of Draft EIS April 2018 Public Meetings on Draft EIS June 2018 Publication of Final EIS June 2019*
- Target date Environmental Project Manager Tamsen Dozier (NRC)
Tamsen.Dozier@nrc.gov 301.415.2272 OVERVIEW The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) submitted an application to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) on May 12, 2016, for an early site permit (ESP) for the Clinch River Nuclear Site in Oak Ridge, Roane County, Tennessee, for new nuclear power units demonstrating small modular reactor technology. The NRC is reviewing that application.
As part of the NRCs review of TVAs application, the staff performed an environmental review. The preliminary results of that review are documented in the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE),
Nashville District, is a cooperating agency with the NRC and participated in preparing this draft EIS.
Your input on the draft EIS is a very important aspect of our environmental review. Here are a few ways you can share your comments with us.
Email: ClinchRiverESPEIS@nrc.gov Todays Public Meeting:
Submit verbally (meeting transcribed)
Submit in writing
The purpose of the safety review is to ensure the new reactors are safely built and operated according to NRC regulations and requirements. The review includes an evaluation of the design of the facility, site requirements, quality assurance programs, physical security, and emergency preparedness. The NRCs safety analysis will be documented in the safety evaluation report (SER).
The environmental review serves to document the environmental impacts of building and operating a new nuclear reactor. The environmental review includes input from the public, consultation and coordination with local, state, and Federal agencies, tribal nations, as well as independent analysis of NRC and contractor environmental experts. These experts review the applicants environmental report (ER) that was included in the ESP application and conduct site visits and audits, review and in many cases independently confirm analyses. Subject areas reviewed include for example: water use and quality; ecology; land use; air quality; socioeconomics; and environmental justice. The NRCs analysis of the environmental impacts are documented in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
In addition, the environmental review includes input from the public by inviting comments before the draft environmental impact statement is prepared, and again after the draft environmental impact statement is issued. Impacts are categorized as SMALL, MODERATE, LARGE, or a range of these categories, which are the accepted descriptions from the Council on Environmental Quality.
Both aspects of the ESP review are addressed in a mandatory hearing. The Atomic Safety and Licensing Board (ASLB) is conducting a contested hearing as outside parties successfully filed a petition that raised safety or environmental concerns about the ESP. The Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) - an independent group of technical experts - reviews each application and the NRCs corresponding safety evaluation report, and reports its results to the NRCs five-member Commission. A mandatory public hearing will be conducted by the ASLB. The ASLB makes the final permitting decision that is subject to Commission review.
WHAT IS THE U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSIONS PROCESS FOR ISSUING AN EARLY SITE PERMIT?
An early site permit (ESP) is an NRC approval of a site for one or more nuclear power reactors.
Once an application for an ESP has been accepted, there are two separate aspects of NRCs review safety and environmental.
Figure 1 shows the complete review process for an ESP. The final product from the safety review is a safety evaluation report that details reactor design and safety issues. The final product from the environmental review is an environmental impact statement that describes the environmental effects of building and operating a new nuclear plant.
Figure 1. Review and Approval Process for Early Site Permits
DRAFT EIS FOR THE CLINCH RIVER NUCLEAR SITE The next two pages provide a review of the draft environmental impact statement.
CHAPTER 1INTRODUCTION This introductory chapter defines the proposed action and the purpose of and need for the proposed action; it also provides a brief outline of the NRC and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers environmental review processes.
CHAPTER 2AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT This chapter describes the location of the Clinch River Nuclear Site and the existing conditions at the site and surrounding area that provide the baseline for the analysis.
CHAPTER 3SITE LAYOUT AND PLANT DESIGN This chapter includes the proposed site layout and the project description used for the impact analysis of the proposed action.
CHAPTER 4ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF CONSTRUCTION This chapter describes the potential impacts from building a new nuclear power plant at the Clinch River Nuclear Site and the measures and controls that would limit the adverse impacts of building a new nuclear power plant.
CHAPTER 5ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF OPERATION This chapter examines the potential impacts from operating a new nuclear power plant at the Clinch River Nuclear Site and the measures and controls that would limit the adverse impacts during operation over a hypothetical 40-year license period.
CHAPTER 6FUEL CYCLE, TRANSPORTATION, AND DECOMMISSIONING This chapter addresses the environmental impacts from (1) the uranium fuel cycle and solid waste management, (2) the transportation of radioactive material, and (3) the decommissioning of a new nuclear power plant at the Clinch River Nuclear Site.
CHAPTER 7CUMULATIVE IMPACTS This chapter describes the cumulative impacts that may result when the effects of building and operating a new nuclear power plant at the Clinch River Nuclear Site are added to, or interact with, other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future actions on the same resources.
CHAPTER 8NEED FOR POWER A need for power assessment is not required for an ESP application. TVAs ESP application does not address the need for power; therefore, the draft EIS did not include an assessment of need for power.
CHAPTER 9ALTERNATIVES This chapter contains the evaluation of site location alternatives, and alternatives to nuclear plant systems.
CHAPTER 10CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS The final chapter provides the staffs preliminary recommendation on whether the early site permit should be issued to TVA.
After considering the environmental impacts of building, operating and decommissioning nuclear facilities at the proposed site, the review teams preliminary recommendation to the Commission is that the ESP be issued as proposed. This preliminary recommendation was determined using the criteria in Figure 2.
The ASLB will make a decision, subject to Commission review, on whether to issue the ESP following the issuance of the staffs final environmental impact statement and final safety evaluation report and the conclusion of the hearing process.
Figure 2. Basis of the Review Teams Preliminary Recommendation TVA's application, including its Environmental Report Consultation with Federal, State, tribal, and local agencies The review teams independent review The consideration of public scoping comments The assessments summarized in the draft environmental impact statement
Clinch River Nuclear Site - Early Site Permit Application Public Meeting for Comment on the DEIS - Tuesday, June 5, 2018 Commenter Name:
Organization Name (if any): _________________________________________
If you would like to be added to the NRCs mailing list to receive information on the project, please provide either your mailing address or email.
Address:
Email Address:
Session you attended:
Afternoon Evening Comment:
Clinch River Nuclear Site - Early Site Permit Application Public Meeting for Comment on the DEIS - Tuesday, June 5, 2018
1 Tamsen Dozier, Environmental Project Manager Dr. Jessica Kratchman, Environmental Scientist Office of New Reactors DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FOR AN EARLY SITE PERMIT AT THE CLINCH RIVER NUCLEAR SITE Tuesday, June 5, 2018 1
Purposes of this Meeting
- Describe the NRC ESP review process
- Share with you the NRC staffs preliminary findings and recommendation
- Describe how you can provide comments during the comment period
- Listen to and gather your comments 2
2 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
- NRCs mission:
- Protect public health and safety
- Promote common defense and security
- Protect the environment.
- The NRC is an Independent Federal Agency.
- The NRC has almost 40 years of experience regulating operating reactors and other civilian uses of nuclear materials.
3 Early Site Permit
- An NRC approval of a site for one or more nuclear power reactors
- An additional application and NRC review is needed to approve reactor construction and operation
- There are two aspects of the NRCs review of the Clinch River Nuclear Site ESP application - safety and environmental 4
3 Early Site Permit Review Process Safety Review Environmental Review Inspection Activities Inspection Reports Site Safety &
EP Review Safety Evaluation Report ACRS Review ACRS Report Scoping Activities Draft EIS Comments On Draft Final EIS Hearing Public Participation Pre-App.
Public Mtg Early Site Permit Application Commission Decision on Application 5
Environmental Review Schedule Published Federal Register notice on April 13, 2017 Scoping period from April 13 to June 12, 2017 EPA issued Notice of Availability of draft EIS on April 27, 2018 Comment period on the Draft EIS from April 27 to July 13, 2018 (75 days)
Final EIS expected to be published in June 2019 NRCs NEPA Process Notice of Intent to Conduct Scoping and Prepare EIS Scoping Process Notice of Availability of Draft EIS Public Comments on Draft EIS Notice of Availability of Final EIS 6
4 Environmental Review
- NRC systematic approach under National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA):
- Regulations (10 CFR Part 51)
- Guidance - Environmental Standard Review Plan (NUREG-1555)
- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is a Cooperating Agency for the draft EIS 7
TVAs Proposed Project
- Tennessee Valley Authority has applied for an ESP for the Clinch River Nuclear Site in Roane County for new nuclear power units demonstrating small modular reactor (SMR) technology 8
5 TVAs Proposed Project Light water SMRs are defined as light water reactor units with a nominal output of 300 MW(e) or less and are able to be factory fabricated and transported to the site for assembly of components and operation For the site evaluation, a set of bounding reactor design parameters were used (plant parameter envelope or PPE) representing two or more SMRs with a maximum total electrical output of 800 MW(e)
- The draft EIS presents the review teams evaluation of environmental impacts from building and operating at the Clinch River Nuclear Site two or more SMRs and associated facilities as described by TVAs ESP application 9
Resource Areas Meteorology and Air Quality Radiation Protection Fuel Cycle/
Waste/
Accident Analysis Terrestrial Ecology Land Use Socioeconomics/
Environmental Justice Aquatic Ecology Hydrologic Sciences (Surface and Groundwater)/
Water Use and Quality Archaeology/
Cultural Resources Alternative Sites Source U.S. NRC 10
6 How Impacts Are Quantified 11
- Environmental impacts assessed in various resource areas during construction and operation
- NRC has established three levels of impact:
- SMALL: Effect is not detectable, or so minor it will neither destabilize nor noticeably alter any important attribute of the resource.
- MODERATE: Effect is sufficient to alter noticeably, but not destabilize, important attributes of the resource.
- LARGE: Effect is clearly noticeable and sufficient to destabilize important attributes of the resource.
Water Resources DEIS Figure 2-12. Streams and Rivers near the CRN Site
- Surface water and a closed-cycle cooling system with mechanical draft cooling towers would be used at Clinch River Nuclear site.
- Cooling water source is the Clinch River arm of the Watts Bar Reservoir. Normal withdrawal would be much less than the typical discharge from Melton Hill Reservoir.
- Cooling tower water would be piped and discharged into the Clinch River arm of the Watts Bar Reservoir. A bypass at Melton Hill dam would limit the effects of the discharge on the river.
- No groundwater would be used.
7 Ecological Impacts The review team evaluated impacts on birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians, other wildlife, plants, and wetlands.
Contacted the Tennessee Natural Heritage Program, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)
==
Conclusion:==
Impacts for terrestrial ecology - MODERATE during building, SMALL during operation.
Impacts on aquatic ecology - SMALL during building and operation.
13 Northern Long-eared Bat Socioeconomics
- Socioeconomics includes impacts on taxes, housing, education, traffic, aesthetics, public services, and so on.
- Adverse impacts range from SMALL to LARGE for building and operation.
- Beneficial economic impacts from tax revenues would be SMALL for building and operation.
Socioeconomic Analysis Demography Economy Income Environmental Justice Alternative Sites Public Services Infrastructure Physical 14
8 Historic and Cultural Resources
- The review team evaluated impacts on historic and cultural resources that are eligible or potentially eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places
- Building and operation of an SMR has the potential to adversely affect some of the 16 potentially eligible historic and cultural resources and one eligible archaeological site
- The review team concluded that impacts would be MODERATE to LARGE
- TVA has developed a Programmatic Agreement with the Tennessee Historical Commission and consulting Tribes to resolve potential adverse effects of building-related activities on historic properties.
15 Radiological Impacts
- Includes impacts on members of the public, plant workers, and wildlife.
- Doses to members of the public from operation would be SMALL and below regulatory limits.
- Doses to workers would be SMALL and below regulatory limits.
- Doses to wildlife would also be SMALL and below relevant guidelines.
16
9 Cumulative Impacts
- Includes the impacts from the proposed action (ESP issuance) compared with other past, present, and possible future actions.
- Cumulative adverse impacts ranged from SMALL to LARGE.
Examples:
- SMALL impacts to groundwater use and radiological impacts of normal operations.
- MODERATE to LARGE impacts
- Traffic impact - during building
- Historical and cultural resources - during building
- Aquatic Ecosystems - primarily from past activities.
17 Alternatives Analysis No-action alternative Alternative sites analysis: no alternate site environmentally preferable to the proposed site.
Three alternate sites Redstone Arsenal Site 12 Oak Ridge Reservation Site 8 Oak Ridge Reservation Site 2 Alternative system designs: none environmentally preferable.
Systems considered include:
Heat dissipation system Cooling water intake and discharge Cooling water supply 18 Map of Initial sites considered
10 Preliminary Recommendation
- The NRC staffs preliminary recommendation to the Commission is that the ESP be issued.
- This recommendation is based on information provided in TVAs ESP application; consultation with Federal, State, Tribal, and local agencies; the teams independent review; public comments; and assessments summarized in the EIS
- The review team determined that none of the alternative sites would be environmentally preferable to the Clinch River Nuclear Site.
19 Access to the Draft EIS or Additional Information Tamsen Dozier, Environmental Project Manager Telephone: (800) 368-5642, ext. 2272 E-mail: Tamsen.Dozier@nrc.gov https://www.nrc.gov/reactors/new-reactors/esp/clinch-river.html Kingston Public Library 1004 Bradford Way Kingston, Tennessee 37763 Oak Ridge Public Library 1401 Oak Ridge Turnpike Oak Ridge, TN 37830 20
11 Submitting Comments Speaking today at this meeting ClinchRiverESPEIS@nrc.gov Ms. May Ma Office of Administration Mailstop TWFN-07-A60 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555-0001 COMMENTS ARE DUE BY July 13, 2018 21