ML18284A374

NRC Record of Decision for the License Renewal Application for River Bend Unit 1

ML18284A374
Person / Time
Site:	River Bend
Issue date:	12/20/2018
From:	George Wilson Division of Materials and License Renewal
To:	Entergy Operations
Sayoc E, NRR-DMLR 415-4084
Shared Package
ML18277A198	List: ML18277A206 ML18277A287 ML18284A369 ML18284A374
References
Download: ML18284A374 (12)

Text

RECORD OF DECISION U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION DOCKET NO. 50-458 LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATION FOR RIVER BEND STATION, UNIT 1 DECEMBER 20, 2018 BACKGROUND:

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or Commission) received an application, dated May 25, 2017 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System1 (ADAMS) Accession No, ML17153A282, from Entergy Louisiana, LLC and Entergy Operations, Inc. (collectively referred to as Entergy) filed pursuant to Section 103 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (AEA), and Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), Part 51 (Environmental Protection Regulations for Domestic Licensing) and Part 54 (Requirements for Renewal of Operating Licenses for Nuclear Power Plants), to renew the operating license for River Bend Station, Unit 1 (RBS). The application was supplemented by letters dated through October 9, 2018 (ADAMS Accession No. ML18283A082). A complete listing of the letters amending the application are documented in the Safety Evaluation Report Related to the License Renewal of River Bend Station, Unit 1, Appendix B, dated August 15, 2018 (ADAMS Accession No. ML18212A151), as revised on October 19, 2018 (ADAMS Accession No.

ML18291B147, and NUREG-1437, Supplement 58, Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants Regarding River Bend Station, Unit 1, dated November 8, 2018 (ADAMS Accession No. ML18310A072). Renewal of the license would authorize the applicant to operate RBS for an additional 20-year period beyond that specified in the current operating license, until August 29, 2045.

RBS is a single unit nuclear-powered, steam-electric generating facility located in St. Francisville, LA. RBS received its operating license on November 20, 1985 and began commercial operation in June 1986. The nuclear reactor is a General Electric boiling-water reactor (BWR) that produces 3091 megawatts thermal (MWt). RBS uses a closed-cycle cooling system with mechanical draft cooling towers that withdraws makeup water from, and discharges heated cooling water back to the Lower Mississippi River. The current operating license for RBS (NPF-47) expires on August 29, 2025.

The NRC accepted Entergys license renewal application for detailed technical and environmental review on August 14, 2017 (82 Federal Register (FR) 37908). Section 102 of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), directs that a detailed statement be prepared prior to taking major Federal actions significantly affecting the quality of the human environment. In accordance with the NRCs regulations in 10 CFR Part 51, the NRC prepares an environmental impact statement (EIS) for all nuclear power reactor license renewal applications, regardless of the actions environmental impact significance (10 CFR 51.20(b)(2)).

In this instance, the NRCs major Federal action is to decide whether to renew the RBS operating license for an additional 20 years.

Consistent with 10 CFR Part 51, the NRC staff published a Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS and conduct an environmental scoping process in the Federal Register (82 FR 44004) on 1

Documents with an ADAMS Accession No. are publicly available at: https://adams.nrc.gov/wba/.

Instructions for using ADAMS are available at: https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html.

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September 20, 2017. In addition, Federal, State, and local agencies as well as Tribal governments were notified and asked to provide comment on and to participate in the environmental scoping process and review. The NRC staff held a public scoping meeting on September 19, 2017, in St. Francisville, LA, to obtain public input on the proper scope of the environmental review related to the RBS license renewal application. In April 2018, the NRC issued its Environmental Impact Statement Scoping Process Summary Report, River Bend Station, Unit 1, St. Francisville, Louisiana, which includes the comments received during the scoping process and the NRC staffs responses to those comments (ADAMS Accession No.

ML17362A554).

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT:

To document its environmental review of a license renewal application, the NRC staff prepares a site-specific EIS, as a supplement to NUREG-1437, Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Power Plants (GEIS), in accordance with 10 CFR 51.95(c). The GEIS documents the results of the NRCs systematic approach to evaluating the environmental consequences of renewing the operating licenses of nuclear power plants for an additional 20 years.

The GEIS serves to facilitate NRCs environmental review process by identifying and evaluating environmental impacts that are considered generic (Category 1) issues, which are common to all nuclear power plants. For Category 1 issues, no additional site-specific analysis is required in the supplemental EIS (SEIS) unless new and significant information is identified that would change the conclusions in the GEIS. Plant-specific impact (Category 2) issues are addressed in supplements to the GEIS.

The NRC established a standard of significance for each NEPA issue evaluated in the GEIS based on the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations on how to evaluate significance, as described in 40 CFR 1508.27 (Significantly). Since the significance and severity of an impact can vary with the setting of the proposed action, both context and intensity, as defined in CEQ regulations 40 CFR 1508.27, were considered. Context is the geographic, biophysical, and social context in which the effects will occur. In the case of license renewal, the context is the environment surrounding the nuclear power plant. Intensity refers to the severity of the impact in whatever context it occurs. Based on this, the NRC established three levels of significance for potential impacts, SMALL, MODERATE, and LARGE, as defined below.

SMALL: Environmental effects are not detectable or are so minor that they will neither destabilize nor noticeably alter any important attribute of the resource.

MODERATE: Environmental effects are sufficient to alter noticeably, but not to destabilize, important attributes of the resource.

LARGE: Environmental effects are clearly noticeable and are sufficient to destabilize important attributes of the resource.

Entergy submitted its LRA and environmental report under the NRCs 2013 revised rule governing license renewal environmental reviews, as codified in 10 CFR Part 51.2 The 2 78 FR 37281. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Final Rule, Revisions to Environmental Review for Renewal of Nuclear Power Plant Operating Licenses. Federal Register 78 Fed. Reg. 37,281. June 20, 2013 Page 2 of 12

2013 GEIS3 provided the technical bases for the list of NEPA issues and associated environmental impact findings for license renewal that are contained in Table B-1, Summary of Findings on NEPA Issues for License Renewal of Nuclear Power Plants, in Appendix B to subpart A of 10 CFR Part 51.

The NRC issued a draft site-specific SEIS for public comment in May 2018 (ADAMS Accession No. ML18143B736). The comment period began on June 8, 2018, the date the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency published a Notice of Availability of the draft SEIS (83 FR 26665) and ended on July 23, 2018. This allowed members of the public, interested organizations and stakeholders, and governmental agencies 45 days to comment on the results of the staffs environmental review as described in the draft SEIS.

Neither Entergy nor the NRC staff identified any new and significant information related to Category 1 issues that would call into question the conclusions in the GEIS. This conclusion is supported by

• the NRC staffs review of the applicants environmental report and other documentation relevant to Entergys activities

• the NRC staffs consultation with Federal, State and local agencies, as well as Tribal representatives

• the NRC staffs independent environmental review which included an environmental site audit and a Severe Accident Mitigation Alternative analysis audit

• the NRC staffs consideration of public comments received during scoping process and on the draft SEIS The NRC issued the final SEIS (FSEIS) for the RBS license renewal application on November 8, 2018 (ADAMS Accession No. ML18310A072). All substantive comments received during the draft SEIS comment period are included in Appendix A of the FSEIS. In the FSEIS, the NRC staff recommended that the Commission determine that the environmental impacts of renewing the RBS operating license are not so great that preserving the option of license renewal for energy-planning decisionmakers would be unreasonable.

On November 16, 2018, the EPA issued the notice of availability for the FSEIS regarding the RBS license renewal application 83 FR 57726. During the 30 days following publication of the notice, the NRC received no comments on the FSEIS.

Pursuant to 10 CFR 51.102(b) and 51.103(a)(1)-(5), the NRC staff has prepared this record of decision (ROD) to document its action on the RBS license renewal application. In accordance with 10 CFR 51.103(c), this ROD incorporates by reference the material contained in the FSEIS.

DECISION:

Pursuant to 10 CFR 54.29, Standards for Issuance of a Renewed License, a renewed license may be issued by the Commission if the Commission finds that the license renewal application satisfies the requirements in 10 CFR Part 54, and the applicable requirements of Subpart A 3 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. 2013. NUREG-1437, Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants, Rev. 1, Vols. 1-3 (ADAMS Accession Nos. ML13106A241, ML13106A242, and ML13106A244). June 2013.

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National Environmental Policy ActRegulations Implementing Section 102(2), of 10 CFR Part 51 have been satisfied.

In making its final decision on the proposed RBS license renewal, the NRC must make a favorable safety finding. The purpose of the NRCs safety review of an LRA is to determine if the applicant has adequately demonstrated that the effects of aging will not adversely affect any safety structures or components as specified in 10 CFR 54.4, Scope, and 10 CFR 54.21.

Contents of ApplicationTechnical Information. The applicant must demonstrate that the effects of aging will be adequately managed so that the intended functions of systems, structures and components within the scope of license renewal will be maintained in accordance with the plants current licensing basis throughout the license renewal period. The results of the NRC staffs safety review of the RBS license renewal application are documented in the staffs Safety Evaluation Report (SER) Related to the License Renewal of River Bend Station, issued August 16, 2018, (ADAMS Accession No. ML18212A151), as revised on October 19, 2018 (ADAMS Accession No. ML18291B147.

Further, the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) conducts a review and issues a report in accordance with 10 CFR 54.25, Report of the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards, with respect to the application for renewal of the RBS operating license. The ACRS completed its review of the RBS license renewal application during its 658th meeting, held November 1, 2018. By letter dated November 15, 2018, the ACRS notified the Commission of its recommendation to approve the application for renewal of RBSs operating license (ADAMS Accession No. ML18320A243).

In the FSEIS, the NRC staff concluded that the continued operation of RBS during the license renewal term would have SMALL environmental impacts for all resource areas, except the impact to groundwater resources would range from SMALL to MODERATE. The impacts of the proposed action (license renewal) are discussed in Chapter 4 and are summarized in Table 2-2 of the FSEIS. Table 2-2 of the FSEIS is reproduced later in this ROD.

This ROD and the FSEIS, which is incorporated by reference herein, document the NRCs final decision for the environmental review of the RBS license renewal application, that the adverse environmental impacts of license renewal for RBS are not so great that preserving the option of license renewal for energy planning decisionmakers would be unreasonable. See 10 CFR 51.103(a)(5). Under its renewed license (ADAMS Accession No. ML18284A369),

Entergy will be authorized to continue operating RBS for an additional 20 years beyond the expiration of the current operating license, as requested in the license renewal application.

PURPOSE AND NEED:

As identified in Section 1.2, Purpose and Need for the Proposed Action, of the FSEIS, the purpose and need for the proposed action (issuance of renewed licenses) is to provide an option that allows for power generation capability beyond the term of the current nuclear power plant operating license to meet future system generating needs, as such needs may be determined by energy-planning decisionmakers, such as State, utility, and, where authorized, Federal agencies (other than NRC). This definition of purpose and need reflects the Commissions recognition that, unless there are findings in the safety review required by the AEA or findings in the NEPA environmental analysis that would lead the NRC to reject a license renewal application, the NRC does not have a role in the energy-planning decisions as to whether a particular nuclear power plant should continue to operate.

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A renewed license is just one of a number of conditions that licensees must meet to operate its nuclear plant during the license renewal term. State regulators, system operators, the licensee (Entergy), and other agencies, will ultimately decide whether RBS will continue to operate based on factors such as the need for power or other factors within the states jurisdiction or the owners control.

NRC EVALUATON OF ALTERNATIVES:

In license renewal environmental reviews, the NRC considers the environmental consequences of the proposed action, the no-action alternative (i.e., not renewing the operating license), and the environmental consequences of various alternatives for replacing the nuclear power plants generating capacity. Section 102(2)(C)(iii) of NEPA and the NRCs regulations require the consideration of alternatives to the proposed action in the EIS. In this case, the proposed action is whether to issue a renewed license for the continued operation of RBS, which would allow the plant to operate for 20 years beyond the current expiration date of its license. Chapter 2 of the SEIS, Alternatives Including the Proposed Action, presents the alternatives to the proposed action (license renewal) that were considered in detail, as well as those alternatives that were eliminated from detailed study. The evaluation considered environmental impacts of each alternative across the following impact areas: land use and visual resources, air quality and noise, geologic environment, water resources, terrestrial resources, aquatic resources, special status species, historic and cultural resources, socioeconomics, human health, environmental justice, and waste management.

For a replacement power alternative to be considered reasonable, it must be both (1) commercially viable on a utility scale and (2) operational before the reactors operating license expires or (3) expected to become commercially viable on a utility scale and operational before the expiration of the reactors operating license. The current operating license for RBS expires on August 29, 2025. Therefore, to be considered in this evaluation, reasonable alternatives would have to be available (i.e., constructed, permitted, and connected to the grid) by that date.

To determine whether alternatives were reasonable, or likely to be commercially suitable to replace RBS, the NRC staff reviewed energy-relevant statutes, regulations, and policies; the state of technologies; and information on energy outlook from sources such as the Energy Information Administration, other organizations within the U.S. Department of Energy, industry sources and publications, and information submitted by Entergy in its environmental report.

The NRC staff initially considered 17 alternatives to RBS license renewal; 13 of these were eliminated from detailed study because of existing technical, resource availability, or commercial limitations. These limitations are likely to continue when the RBS operating license expires, rendering these alternatives not feasible or commercially viable. The no-action alternative (i.e.,

not renewing the RBS operating license) was also considered. Alternatives considered, but eliminated from detailed study were as follows:

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solar power wind biomass demand-side management hydroelectric power geothermal power wave and ocean energy municipal solid waste petroleum-fired power coal-integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) fuel cells purchased power delayed retirement of nearby generating facilities.

The basis for the elimination of each of these alternatives is explained in Section 2.3 of the FSEIS.

The NRC staff determined that four alternatives would be feasible and commercially viable replacement power alternatives. The feasible and commercially viable replacement power alternatives considered in-depth were:

• new nuclear

• supercritical pulverized coal

• natural gas combined cycle (NGCC)

• combination alternative (NGCC, biomass, and demand-side management)

The impacts of each of these replacement power alternatives are discussed in Chapter 4 and summarized in Table 2-2 of the FSEIS. Table 2-2 of the FSEIS is reproduced later in this ROD.

In the FSEIS, the NRC staff evaluated the environmental impacts of each of the alternatives considered in depth and compared those impacts to the environmental impacts of the proposed license renewal action.

NRC EVALUATION OF ALTERNATIVES:

i. No-Action Alternative The No-Action alternative refers to a scenario in which the NRC denies the renewed operating license for RBS, which expires at the end of the current license term on August 29, 2025. The direct environmental consequences of this alternative are the impacts from the termination of nuclear power plant operations; the indirect impacts of RBS shutdown would result from operation of a range of energy sources that might be used if the RBS operating license were not renewed. After shutdown, the licensee would begin the decommissioning process in accordance with 10 CFR 50.82, Termination of License. As described in Section 4.15.2 of the FSEIS, the separate environmental impacts from decommissioning and related activities are addressed in several other NRC documents.

Assuming that there is a need for the electric power generated by RBS, the No-Action alternative would create a situation where energy planning decisionmakers (not NRC) would have to choose an alternative to replace the electric power previously provided by RBS. The no-action alternative, by itself, does not satisfy the purpose and need for RBS license renewal Page 6 of 12

as defined in the FSEIS, as it neither provides power generation capacity nor meets the needs that RBS currently fulfills or that the alternatives evaluated in detail would satisfy. These alternatives could include energy conservation, purchased power, or some combination of measures to offset the loss and replace the electric power previously provided by RBS. The environmental review includes a comparison of the environmental impacts of license renewal with impacts of the range of energy sources that may be chosen in the case of not renewing the RBS operating license.

ii. Alternative Energy Sources This section summarizes the impact analysis of four replacement power alternatives considered in detail in the FSEIS.

Replacement Power Alternatives: Common Impacts For socioeconomics and transportation, the environmental impacts from the construction and from operation of the new nuclear facility would range from SMALL to LARGE based on (1) some local communities could experience an economic boom during construction, (2) the influx of operations workers and their families having a noticeable effect on socioeconomic conditions in the region, and (3) the increase in traffic volume and congestion during construction on the new facility. Note that these impacts would range from SMALL to MODERATE for the combination alternative because the workforce increase and additional traffic would be significantly less than the workforce increase and additional traffic associated with the other replacement power alternatives. The NRC staff is unable to forecast the impacts of special status species and habitats, or environmental justice, because they are dependent on the proposed site, design, and operation of the specific alternative.

New Nuclear For the new nuclear alternative, the NRC staff assumes that a new nuclear reactor would be constructed and operated on the RBS site, allowing for the maximum use of existing ancillary facilities at those locations, such as support buildings and transmission infrastructure. This analysis assumes the replacement reactor would be a pressurized water reactor of the Westinghouse AP1000 reactor design with an approximate net electrical output of 1,080 MWe.

The analysis assumes that the heat rejection demands of a new nuclear reactor would be similar to those of the current RBS and that the existing mechanical draft closed-cycle cooling water intake and discharge structures could be used with some modifications. The NRC staff has determined that the environmental impacts for this alternative (other than the common impacts discussed above) would be SMALL.

Supercritical Pulverized Coal Alternative For this alternative, the NRC staff evaluated the construction and operation of two hypothetical supercritical pulverized coal units, each with a net capacity of 510 MWe. The supercritical pulverized coal alternatives closed-cycle cooling system would use mechanical draft cooling towers and similar amounts of water from the Mississippi River as compared to what RBS currently draws. The NRC staff assumes that the supercritical pulverized coal plant could use the existing intake and discharge structures at RBS with some modifications. The NRC staff determined that the environmental impacts for this alternative (other than the common impacts discussed above and the impacts discussed below) would be SMALL.

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The environmental impacts for land use would be SMALL to MODERATE during operation because a significant amount of land would be required for coal mining. The environmental impacts for surface water resources would be SMALL to MODERATE based on the potential for additional hydrologic alteration and potential water quality impacts from new construction and coal and ash handling and management. For groundwater resources, the environmental impacts would be SMALL to MODERATE due to the increased potential for runoff and leachate from onsite coal and ash piles. The environmental impacts on terrestrial resources would be SMALL to MODERATE during operation due to the variable impacts that air emissions and coal mining could have on terrestrial resources.

The environmental impact for air quality would be MODERATE, because carbon dioxide emissions would be much larger than the threshold in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys Greenhouse Gas Tailoring Rule and nitrogen oxide and particulate matter emissions would be noticeable and significant. The environmental impact would also be MODERATE for waste management and pollution prevention based on the large volume and high toxicity of waste generated by coal combustion.

The socioeconomic and transportation impacts would range from SMALL to LARGE. In addition to the common construction impacts of a temporary increase in workers and traffic, coal and limestone delivery and ash removal via rail would cause levels of service impacts due to delays at railroad crossings.

NGCC Alternative For the natural gas-fired combined-cycle alternative, the NRC staff evaluated the construction and operation of an NGCC facility with three units each with a capacity of 348 MWe. The NRC staff assumed the combined-cycle units would use a closed-cycle cooling system with mechanical draft cooling towers. Compared to simple-cycle combustion turbines, combined-cycle plants are significantly more efficient, and thus provide electricity at lower costs. Because of the high overall thermal efficiency of this type of plant, the NGCC alternative would require less cooling water than RBS. The NRC staff determined that the environmental impacts for this alternative (other than the common impacts discussed above and the impacts discussed below) would be SMALL.

The environmental impacts for air quality would be SMALL to MODERATE because carbon dioxide emissions would be much larger than the threshold in the Environmental Protection Agencys Greenhouse Gas Tailoring Rule and nitrogen oxide emissions would be noticeable and significant. The environmental impacts for terrestrial resources would be SMALL to MODERATE due the construction of a gas pipeline as well as the variable impacts of air emissions during the operational period.

Combination alternative (NGCC, biomass, and demand-side management)

This alternative combines natural gas and biomass replacement power generation with energy efficiency measures. The NRC staff assumes that this alternative would be composed of approximately 700 MWe from a natural gas combined-cycle facility, 160 MWe from biomass-fired units, and 110 MWe of energy savings from energy efficiency initiatives (i.e., demand-side management) within the region of influence. The NRC staff assumes that both the natural gas combined-cycle and biomass-fired portions of this alternative would be located on previously disturbed land within Entergy Louisiana, LLC property, and would use existing available site infrastructure to the extent practicable. The NRC staff determined that the Page 8 of 12

environmental impacts for this alternative (other than the common impacts discussed above and the impacts identified below) would be SMALL.

The environmental impacts on terrestrial resources would be SMALL to MODERATE for the same reasons as the NGCC alternative: i.e., the impacts from construction of a gas pipeline as well as the variable impacts of air emissions during the operational period.

The environmental impact on air quality would be MODERATE. The natural gas and biomass portions of the combined alternative would have carbon dioxide emissions much larger than the threshold for EPAs Greenhouse Gas Tailoring Rule, and nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide emissions would be noticeable and significant.

The socioeconomic and transportation impacts would range from SMALL to MODERATE, mainly due to the common construction impacts of a temporary increase in workers and traffic.

Because natural gas would be transported by pipeline, traffic would experience little to no increase during operations. These impacts are similar to those described under the NGCC alternative; however, the impact is considered SMALL to MODERATE rather than SMALL to LARGE due to the reduced size of the national gas facility in the combination alternative.

iii. Summary The environmental impacts of license renewal and alternatives to license renewal, including other methods of power generation, and not renewing the RBS operating license (the no-action alternative) were evaluated in the FSEIS. The NRC staff concluded that the continued operation of RBS during the license renewal term would have SMALL environmental impacts for all resource areas, except the impact to groundwater resources would range from SMALL to MODERATE. Based on the review presented in the SEIS, the NRC staff concludes that the environmentally preferred alternative is the proposed action, and the NRC staffs recommendation, therefore, is that a renewed RBS operating license be issued. The FSEIS concludes that under the no-action alternative, the act of shutting down RBS would have SMALL impacts, except socioeconomic impacts would be SMALL to MODERATE. However, the no action alternative shutdown would necessitate the implementation of one or a combination of alternatives in order to make up for the loss of power generation. As shown in the table below (presented as Table 2-2 in the FSEIS), all other feasible and commercially viable power-generation alternatives have impacts in at least two resource areas that are greater than license renewal, in addition to the environmental impacts inherent with new construction projects. To make up the lost power generation if the NRC does not issue a renewed license for RBS (i.e., the no-action alternative), energy decisionmakers would likely implement one of the four power replacement alternatives discussed above and in the FSEIS, or a comparable alternative capable of replacing the power generated by RBS, any of which would likely have greater environmental impact than RBS license renewal.

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Summary of Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action and Alternatives Impact Area RBS No-Action New Supercritical Natural Gas Combination (Resource) License Nuclear Pulverized Combined- (Natural Gas, Renewal Coal Cycle Biomass, (Proposed Demand-Side Action) Management)

Land Use SMALL SMALL SMALL SMALL to SMALL SMALL MODERATE Visual SMALL SMALL SMALL SMALL SMALL SMALL Resources Air Quality SMALL SMALL SMALL MODERATE SMALL to MODERATE MODERATE Noise SMALL SMALL SMALL SMALL SMALL SMALL Geologic SMALL SMALL SMALL SMALL SMALL SMALL Environment Surface Water SMALL SMALL SMALL SMALL to SMALL SMALL Resources MODERATE Groundwater SMALL to SMALL SMALL SMALL to SMALL SMAL L Resources MODERATE MODERATE Terrestrial SMALL SMALL SMALL SMALL to SMALL to SMALL to Resources MODERATE MODERATE MODERATE Aquatic SMALL SMALL SMALL SMALL SMALL SMALL Resources Special Status SEE SEE NOTE(b) SEE SEE NOTE(b) SEE NOTE(b) SEE NOTE(b)

Species and NOTE(a) NOTE(b)

Habitats Historic and SEE SEE NOTE(d) SEE SEE NOTE(e) SEE NOTE(e) SEE NOTE(e)

Cultural NOTE(c) NOTE(e)

Resources Socioeconomics SMALL SMALL to SMALL to SMALL to SMALL to SMALL to MODERATE LARGE LARGE LARGE MODERATE Transportation SMALL SMALL SMALL to SMALL to SMALL to SMALL to LARGE LARGE LARGE MODERATE Human Health SMALL(f) SMALL(f) SMALL(f) SMALL(f) SMALL(f) SMALL(f)

(h)

Environmental SEE SEE NOTE SEE SEE NOTE(i) SEE NOTE(i) SEE NOTE(i)

Justice NOTE(g) NOTE(i)

Waste SMALL(j) SMALL(j) SMALL (j) MODERATE SMALL SMALL Management and Pollution Prevention (a) The NRC staff concludes that the proposed RBS license renewal may affect, but is not likely to adversely affect, the pallid sturgeon. The proposed action would have no effect on essential fish habitat.

(b) The types and magnitudes of adverse impacts to species listed in the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); designated critical habitat; and essential fish habitat would depend on shutdown activities, the proposed site, plant design, and operation, as applicable, and on listed species and habitats present when the alternative is implemented. Therefore, the NRC staff cannot forecast a particular level of impact for this alternative.

(c) Based on (1) the location of National Register of Historic Places-eligible historic properties within the area of potential effect, (2) tribal input, (3) Entergys cultural resource protection plans, (4) the fact that no license renewal-related physical changes or ground-disturbing activities would occur, (5) State Historic Preservation Office input, and (6) cultural resource assessment, license renewal would not adversely affect any known historic properties (Title 36 of Page 10 of 12

Summary of Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action and Alternatives the Code of Federal Regulations 800.4(d)(1), No Historic Properties Affected).

(d) Until the Post-Shutdown Decommissioning Activities Report is submitted, the NRC staff cannot determine whether land disturbance would occur outside the existing operational areas after the nuclear plant is shut down.

(e) This alternative would not adversely affect known historic properties.

(f) The chronic effects of electromagnetic fields on human health associated with operating nuclear power and other electricity generating plants are uncertain.

(g) There would be no disproportionately high and adverse impacts to minority and low-income populations.

(h) A reduction in tax revenue resulting from the shutdown of RBS could decrease the availability of public services in West Feliciana Parish. Minority and low-income populations dependent on these services could be disproportionately affected.

(i) Based on the analysis of human health and environmental impacts presented in this SEIS, this alternative would not likely have disproportionately high and adverse human health and environmental effects on minority and low-income populations. However, this determination would depend on the plant design, and operational characteristics of the alternative. Therefore, the NRC staff cannot determine whether this alternative would result in disproportionately high and adverse human health and environmental effects on minority and low-income populations.

(j) NUREG-2157, Generic Environmental Impact Statement for Continued Storage of Spent Nuclear Fuel, (NRC 2014a) discusses the environmental impact of spent fuel storage for the timeframe beyond the licensed life for reactor operations.

Endangered Species Act (ESA) Section 7 Consultation As summarized in Appendix C.1.3 of the FSEIS, the NRC staff conducted consultation under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, as amended, with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). By letter dated June 5, 2018 (ADAMS Accession No. ML18095A164),

the NRC staff submitted a copy of the draft SEIS to the FWS for review, accompanied by a request for the Service to concur with the staffs determination that renewal of the RBS license may affect, but is not likely to adversely affect the pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus), in accordance with 50 CFR 402.12(j). By letter dated August 29, 2018 (ADAMS Accession No.

ML18241A321), the FWS concurred with the staffs determination. The FWSs concurrence letter concluded consultation, and the letter documents that the NRC staff has fulfilled its ESA Section 7(a)(2) obligations with respect to the proposed RBS license renewal.

MITIGATION MEASURES:

The NRC has taken all practicable measures within its jurisdiction to avoid or minimize environmental harm from the proposed action (license renewal). As stated in Chapter 5 of the FSEIS, the NRC staff considered mitigation measures for each applicable Category 2 issue, and concluded that no additional mitigation measures are warranted.

The NRC is not imposing any license conditions beyond the standard conditions for renewed licenses (i.e., that the Updated Final Safety Analysis Report (UFSAR) Supplement will be updated in accordance with 10 CFR 50.71(e) to reflect the revisions and commitments associated with renewal of the license, and that the UFSAR Supplement describes the programs and activities to be implemented prior to the period of extended operation). As stated in the FSEIS (p. 4-39), the RBS operating license contains an Environmental Protection Plan, which includes a requirement to report any unusual or important environmental events, such as mortality or unusual occurrence of a federally listed species; these requirements will continue in effect in any renewed license for RBS. In addition, RBS is subject to requirements imposed by other Federal, State, and local agencies. Thus, while the NRC is not requiring any mitigation measures for the continued operation of RBS, Appendix B continues in effect, and the Page 11 of 12

RBS National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit imposes effluent limitations and monitoring requirements as well as best management practices to ensure that the impacts to water quality and aquatic life are minimal.

DETERMINATION:

Based on the NRC staffs independent review, analysis, and evaluation as documented in the license renewal FSEIS; careful consideration of all identified social, economic, and environmental factors, as well as input received from other agencies, organizations and the public; and consideration of mitigation measures, the NRC has determined that the standards for the issuance of a renewed operating license, with respect to environmental matters, as described in 10 CFR 54.29(b), have been met and the requirements of Section 102 of NEPA have been satisfied.

Dated at Rockville, MD, this 20th day of December 2018, APPROVED BY:

/RA/

George A. Wilson, Jr., Director Division of Materials and License Renewal Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Page 12 of 12