ML19317E768

LTR-19-0420-1 - Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station - Response Letter to E. Suzanne Mcauliffe

ML19317E768
Person / Time
Site:	Pilgrim
Issue date:	11/22/2019
From:	Ho Nieh Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:	Mcauliffe E Barnstable County, MA, Assembly of Delegates
Wall S, NRR/DORL, 415-2855
Shared Package
ML19297F180	List: ML19317E768
References
LTR-19-0420-1, NRC-2019-0073-0001
Download: ML19317E768 (3)

Text

November 22, 2019 Ms. E. Suzanne McAuliffe, Speaker Barnstable County Department of Health and Environment 3195 Main Street, P.O. Box 427 Barnstable, MA 02630

Dear Ms. McAuliffe:

On behalf of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), I am responding to your October 8, 2019, letter to Chairman Svinicki where you expressed concerns about the decommissioning process and the need for a Citizens Advisory Board (CAB) for the decommissioning of the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station (Pilgrim), as well as continued planning and funding for emergency management for communities affected by this process.

The NRC considers meaningful public involvement to be a cornerstone of effective and fair regulation of the decommissioning process and is committed to providing opportunities for the public to participate meaningfully in our decision making. Additionally, to foster communication and information exchange between the licensee and members of the community who may be affected by decommissioning activities, a CAB may be established. While the NRC believes that CABs are beneficial for enhancing interactions between licensees and local communities, we do not have the authority to require the formation of CABs, nor do we participate as members of CABs in our role as an independent safety regulator.

Having said that, we are working with stakeholders in these communities to develop a report identifying best practices for the establishment and operation of CABs, in accordance with Section 108 of the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act (NEIMA). We issued a Federal Register Notice (FRN) on September 27, 2019, (84 FR 51189) requesting stakeholder input and public comments on best practices for establishment and operation of local CABs associated with decommissioning activities. We also hosted a public meeting in Plymouth, MA on September 11, 2019, to hear public comments on CABs. At this meeting, the Pilgrim Nuclear Decommissioning Citizens Advisory Panel and local citizens provided extensive comments. Your comments, along with any other data we receive as part of the public comment process, will be captured in a best practices report that will be submitted to Congress, scheduled to be issued no later than July 14, 2020.

E. McAuliffe Regarding emergency preparation efforts, Pilgrim is still required to maintain an onsite emergency plan. As part of this plan, Pilgrim must still classify emergencies, notify licensee personnel and offsite authorities, and coordinate emergency response with designated offsite government officials. The NRC will continue to inspect the site, including its emergency plans, until the site is decommissioned and meets requirements for license termination.

I appreciate your interest in these matters.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Ho K. Nieh, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Package ML19297F180; Incoming ML19297F179; Response ML19317E768

• via email NRR-106 OFFICE NRR/DORL/LPL3/PM NRR/DORL/LPL3/LA NMSS/DUWP/RDB/BC

• NSIR/DPR/RLB/BC

• NAME SWall JBurkhardt BWatson JAnderson DATE 11/14/19 11/14/19 11/13/19 11/14/19 OFFICE NRR/DORL/LPL3/BC

• NRR/DORL/DD

• NRR/D NAME NSalgado JBielecki HNieh DATE 11/18/19 11/18/19 11/22/19