ML19296D063

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August 2019 Palisades NEIMA 108 Public Meeting Summary
ML19296D063
Person / Time
Site: Palisades Entergy icon.png
Issue date: 11/01/2019
From: Tanya Smith
Division of Decommissioning, Uranium Recovery and Waste Programs
To: Bruce Watson
Division of Decommissioning, Uranium Recovery and Waste Programs
Smith T
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Download: ML19296D063 (6)


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UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 November 1, 2019 MEMORANDUM TO: Bruce A. Watson, CHP, Chief Reactor Decommissioning Branch Division of Decommissioning, Uranium Recovery and Waste Programs Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards FROM: Theodore B. Smith, Project Manager Reactor Decommissioning Branch //RA//

Division of Decommissioning, Uranium Recovery and Waste Programs Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards ACTIVITY: Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act (NEIMA)

Section 108 Public Meetings to Collect Feedback on Establishment and Operation of Community Advisory Boards FACILITY: PALISADES NUCLEAR POWER PLANT

SUBJECT:

SUMMARY

OF THE AUGUST 21, 2019, PUBLIC MEETING NEAR PALISADES NUCLEAR POWER PLANT REGARDING THE ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATION OF COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARDS

Background

On August 21, 2019, a Category 3 public meeting was held between U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff, members of the public and interested stakeholders at Lake Michigan College in Benton Harbor, Michigan. The purpose of the meeting was to assist the NRC staff in identifying best practices and lessons learned for establishment and operation of local community advisory boards (CABs) associated with power reactor decommissioning activities.

These actions are being taken in response to Section 108 of NEIMA, which was signed into law on January 14, 2019, and requires the NRC to provide a report to Congress no later than July 14, 2020, identifying best practices for establishing and operating local community advisory boards to foster communication and information exchange between a decommissioning licensee and the local community, including lessons learned from such organizations.

CONTACT: Theodore Smith, RDB/DUWP (301) 415-6721 Enclosure 1

B Watson The meeting notice can be found in the Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) under Accession No. ML19219B388. The meeting transcript is available in ADAMS Accession No. ML19296D062 and is linked in Enclosure 1.

Meeting On August 21, 2019, the NRC staff held a public meeting webinar to discuss the agencys activities in accordance with Section 108 of NEIMA to collect information on the use of local community advisory boards during decommissioning activities and issue a best practices report.

The contents of this report will include a description of the type of topics that could be brought before a community advisory board; how the board's input could inform the decision-making process of stakeholders for various decommissioning activities; how the board could interact with the NRC and other Federal regulatory bodies to promote dialogue between the licensee and affected stakeholders; and how the board could offer opportunities for public engagement throughout all phases of the decommissioning process. The report will also include a discussion of the composition of existing community advisory boards and best practices identified during the establishment and operation of such boards, including logistical considerations, frequency of meetings, and the selection of board members.

Representatives from the NRC staff gave a presentation on the requirements of NEIMA Section 108 and presented the various methods to provide feedback on best practices and lessons learned from community advisory boards. This presentation can be found in ADAMS at Accession No. ML19231A285 and is linked in Enclosure 2. Additional information on NEIMA Section 108, as well as an electronic means of providing comments, are available at the NRC public website at: https://www.nrc.gov/waste/decommissioning/neima-section-108.html.

At the end of the presentation, the NRC staff received feedback from members of the public and other stakeholders on the various topics outlined in NEIMA Section 108. The comments and questions received are summarized in Enclosure 3, and focused primarily on the membership of community panels, the independence of the panel as an advisory body, and the ways in which the panel can establish outreach with the community.

Please direct any inquiries to me at 301-415-6721 or by e-mail at Theodore.smith@nrc.gov.

Sincerely, Theodore Smith, Project Manager Reactor Decommissioning Branch Division of Decommissioning, Uranium Recovery and Waste Programs Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards

Enclosures:

1. Public Meeting Transcript
2. NRC Presentation Slides
3. Summary of Public Comments

ML19296D061 *via email OFFICE NMSS/RDB/PM NMSS/RDB/BC NMSS/RDB/PM NAME *TSmith *BWatson *TSmith DATE 10/7/2019 10/31/19 11/1/19 Enclosure 1 August 21, 2019 NEIMA Section 108 Transcript of Public Meeting near Palisades ML19296D062 Enclosure 1

Enclosure 2 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Presentation Slides ML19231A285 Enclosure 2

SUMMARY

OF COMMENTS FROM THE AUGUST 21, 2019, PUBLIC MEETING NEAR PALISADES REGARDING THE ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATION OF COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARDS During the public comment portion of the NEIMA Section 108 public meeting, the NRC staff received feedback from members of the public and other stakeholders on the various topics outlined in NEIMA Section 108 regarding best practices and lessons learned for community advisory boards. Comments and feedback received included the following topics:

  • The importance of formation of a Community Advisory Board (CAB) for Palisades decommissioning.
  • A CAB should independent, possibly state or locally sponsored, but locally based.
  • A CAB should include local citizens, local elected officials (including safety representatives), and possibly extend individuals in the agriculture industry and tribal nations.
  • Volunteers should be allowed to participate in a CAB
  • NRC could have done a better job advertising the NEIMA meeting.