ML19344C714

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Response from NEIMA Local Community Advisory Board Questionnaire 08-22-2019 Diablo Canyon DEP
ML19344C714
Person / Time
Site: Diablo Canyon  Pacific Gas & Electric icon.png
Issue date: 08/22/2019
From:
Pacific Gas & Electric Co
To:
Reactor Decommissioning Branch
Conway K
References
Download: ML19344C714 (8)
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From: Diablo Canyon Decommissioning Engagement Panel To: NEIMA108 Resource

Subject:

Response from "NEIMA Local Community Advisory Board Questionnaire" Date: Thursday, August 22, 2019 3:01:27 PM Below is the result of your feedback form. It was submitted by Diablo Canyon Decommissioning Engagement Panel (dcdep@diablocanyonpanel.org) on Thursday, August 22, 2019 at 15:06:16 through the IP 148.184.182.44 using the form at https://www.nrc.gov/waste/decommissioning/neima-local-comm-advisory-board-questionnaire.html and resulted in this email to neima108.resource@nrc.gov related-site: Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant, San Luis Obispo, CA cab-question1: In 2016 when Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) announced plans to close the DCPP, a partnership with labor and leading environmental organizations was formed to create the joint proposal.

The joint proposal included a plan to engage the community in a very transparent, robust and collaborative conversation about how DCPP will be shutdown. In addition, in 2018, the CPUC directed that PG&E take no action with respect to any of the lands and facilities before completion of a public stakeholder process. The DCDEP was formed to create an avenue for this two-way communication. The meetings and workshops held by the DCDEP allow local community members to provide direct input to PG&E, and subject matter experts to provide information to the panel and the public about DCPP decommissioning.

cab-question2: Formation Process In early February 2018, PG&E announced its intention to form the DCDEP. PG&E employed a robust print, radio and social media advertising campaign to make the public aware of the opportunity to submit an application to become a member of the Engagement Panel. That effort generated 2.8 million digital impressions, over 150,000 print impressions and 240,000 radio impressions. Participants were selected by a formation committee comprised of representatives from the local community and PG&E.

After an in-depth review of 105 applicants, a formation committee assisted in the selection of the initial eleven community members of the DCDEP (the twelfth member is a PG&E representative). The formation committee was comprised of the following individuals:

  • Dee Lacey, Co-Owner, Lacey Livestock; Gubernatorial appointee to the State Fair Board; Heritage Oaks Bank Board of Directors; former Paso Robles School Board Member; former Cuesta College Trustee
  • Katcho Achadjian, Owner, local gas stations; former San Luis Obispo County Supervisor; former California Coastal Commissioner; former California State Assembly Member
  • Ermina Karim, President and CEO, San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce
  • Rochelle Becker, Executive Director, Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility
  • Jeff Thomas, Business Manager, Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 403
  • Ken Thompson, Diablo Canyon Liaison, Avila Valley Advisory Committee
  • Tom Jones, Director of Strategic Initiatives, PG&E
  • Stephanie Isaacson, Director of Community Relations, PG&E

In conjunction with PG&E, the formation committee developed panel selection criteria, reviewed applications and participated in a facilitated process to reach consensus on a slate of community panel-member recommendations for PG&Es final decision. The formation committee was looking for representatives from the local community who broadly reflect the diverse community stakeholder viewpoints in proximity to DCPP. There are no designated seats for any organization or interest group on the panel. The community members of the DCDEP are unpaid volunteers who are highly engaged and well-informed leaders in the community. Elected officials, PG&E employees and their immediate family members were not eligible for the initial community panel membership.

Charter Yes, the DCDEP has a Charter that was approved on May 24, 2018. As part of the DCDEPs Strategic Vision document, a recommendation was made to review of the Charter itself, taking into consideration community input.

Based on this recommendation, the DCDEP proposed a number of Charter revisions and asked for the community to comment on the proposed revisions. The revisions are summarized as follows:

  • Recognition that Panel input is not only for PG&E, but also for regulatory agencies and other stakeholders, including the community
  • Membership on the Panel would not be solely PG&Es decision - membership would require majority approval by the Panel
  • Panel confirmed that elected officials and PG&E employees are generally not eligible for Panel membership
  • However, up to three, non-voting ex-officio members may be asked to join the Panel, which could include elected officials. Ex-officio members would serve in official capacity to represent a particular agency or constituency (e.g. SLO County Planning Director)
  • Panel will be more involved in preparing for hosting and conducting public and administrative meetings
  • Panel members to be reasonably reimbursed for travel expenses, but not for time
  • Panel will have greater input on future Charter amendments The proposed Charter amendments have been submitted to PG&E for review and concurrence, consistent with the existing Charter language that reads as follows:

Panel members may suggest amendments to this Charter at any time for consideration by PG&E.

PG&E will endeavor to implement reasonable amendments to the Charter.

cab-question3: The DCDEP held its first public meeting on May 30, 2018. Since that time the DCDEP has conducted a total of eight public community meetings and six all-day public workshops to receive information and listen to the publics concerns and perspectives. In addition, there have been numerous Administrative meetings and Subcommittee meetings that are used for determining topics to be covered at public meetings and workshops, setting agendas for public meetings and workshops, preparing sections of the Strategic Vision document, research and education about topics related to decommissioning. The DCDEP has also gone on tours to receive additional information and education about various topics.

The public meetings and workshops that were held are as follows:

  • May 30, 2018 Public Meeting - Introduction and Selection of Meeting Topics
  • June 27, 2018 - Public Meeting - Regulatory Requirements for the NDCTP
  • July 25, 2018 - Public Meeting - Decommissioning Funding
  • August 17, 2018 - All Day Workshop - Diablo Canyon Lands
  • August 18, 2018 - All Day Workshop - Diablo Canyon Lands
  • August 29, 2018 - Public Meeting - Diablo Canyon Lands
  • September 14, 2018 - All Day Workshop - DCPP Facility Repurposing
  • September 15, 2018 - All Day Workshop - DCPP Facility Repurposing
  • September 26, 2018 - Public Meeting - Repurposing of DCPP Facilities
  • October 24, 2018 - Public Meeting - Emergency Planning
  • November 13, 2018 - Public Meeting - Draft DCDEP Strategic Vision Report
  • February 22, 2019 - All Day Workshop - Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage
  • February 23, 2019 - All Day Workshop - Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage
  • March 13, 2019 - Public Meeting - Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage
  • June 12, 2019 - Public Meeting - Engagement Panel - Role, Function and Structure cab-question4: Composition of the Diablo Canyon Decommissioning Engagement Panel The Diablo Canyon Decommissioning Engagement Panel (DCDEP) is comprised of representatives from the local community. Each member of the DCDEP serves a two-year term (following the initial staggering of terms). The inaugural panel, formed in May 2018, has staggered terms as assigned by the membership at its first meeting through a facilitated process. Membership will be renewed or vacancies refilled through approval by a majority of the community members of the DCDEP and PG&E consistent with the DCDEP Charter.

The current members complete profiles can be found by following this link. 2018/2019 DCDEP members are as follows:

David M. Baldwin, Atascadero - David is a lifelong resident of San Luis Obispo County and currently works in Public Works Labor Compliance for the Labor Management Compliance Council and is a member of Plumbers and Steamfitters local 403.

Dena Bellman, Arroyo Grande - Dena has lived in San Luis Obispo County most of her life and is active in many community-building volunteer efforts. She currently works as a Senior Park and Recreation Specialist for California State Parks Lauren Brown, San Luis Obispo - Lauren, retired since 2018, co-founded JBL Scientific (acquired by Promega), a specialty biochemical company and moved to San Luis Obispo in 1973.

He was honored by the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce as the 2014 Citizen of the Year.

Sherri Danoff, Avila Beach - Sherri, currently retired, has lived in Avila Beach for two decades.

She was a land use planner with over 30 years of experience in California jurisdictions. Sherri has several and varied involvements in the local community.

Alex Karlin, San Luis Obispo - Alex, currently retired, served as an Administrative Judge with the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel of the NRC for eleven years, presiding over, and deciding litigation at facilities such as Diablo Canyon and Yucca Mountain. Prior to that, he was an environmental attorney for 30+ years. Alex is a hiker, birder, and docent at Montana de Oro.

Trevor Keith, San Luis Obispo - Trevor has been a resident of the Central Coast for over two decades and brings a land use planning and renewable energy background to the DCDEP.

Currently, Trevor is the Director of San Luis Obispo County Planning and Building Department.

Scott Lathrop, San Luis Obispo - Scott has lived in San Luis Obispo county for most of his life.

As a Chumash Native American, he comes to the DCDEP with ancestral roots in and around Diablo Canyon. He currently serves as Assistant Superintendent, Business Services for a public school district.

Frank Mecham, Paso Robles - Frank, currently retired, is a fifth generation San Luis Obispo County resident and a ninth generation Californian. He worked as an electrical contractor for 20 years and as a financial advisor for seven. He also served as both mayor of Paso Robles and as

the Supervisor for the First District of San Luis Obispo County.

Nancy O'Malley, Avila Beach - Nancy had been coming to the Central Coast all her life until she was able to permanently relocate here in 2015. She is an Internal Medicine physician with over 30 years of experience in a wide range of health care settings working with patients, their families and health care teams from many diverse backgrounds and cultures.

Linda Seeley, Los Osos - Linda, currently retired, has been a resident of San Luis Obispo County since 1982. She worked as a nurse-midwife and womens health nurse practitioner. She serves as a spokesperson for San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace and is a member of a number of environmental interest groups.

Jim Welsch, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) Representative - Jim is Vice President, Nuclear Generation and Chief Nuclear Officer for Pacific Gas and Electric Company. With nearly 40 years of nuclear and energy industry experience, he provides leadership over Diablo Canyon Power Plant operations as well as Nuclear Decommissioning for Diablo Canyon and Humboldt Bay Power Plants. [Added January 2019]

Kara Woodruff, San Luis Obispo - Kara has been a resident of San Luis Obispo for nearly three decades and is currently the VP/Chief Compliance Officer of Blakeslee & Blakeslee. As former project director for The Nature Conservancy and Board President of American Land Conservancy, Kara brings to the panel an interest in the conservation of the Diablo Canyon Lands.

cab-question5: Initial Selection Process In February of 2018, PG&E initiated the process of creating an Engagement Panel. They began this process by establishing a formation committee made up of six highly regarded community leaders from around the county to advise them on members of the panel, and also advise them on what should be the characteristics of potential panel members. The formation committee was looking for individuals that reflected a diversity in interest areas, diversity in knowledge, diversity in geographic locations in the county and experience in working in a group. *PG&E and the formation committee felt strongly that there needed to be diversity among the panel members in order to understand the broad range of community interests and concerns.

The application process for the panel reflected the desired characteristics as determined by the formation committee. A public announcement requesting interested applicants was made with a significant amount of publicity, including local print and TV news. The formation committee assisted in the selection of the initial eleven community members of the DCDEP (the twelfth member is a PG&E representative).

All members of the DCDEP that were initially chosen are still sitting members. There have been no changes since the DCDEP was established.

Proposed Changes The Charter amendments proposed by the DCDEP include clarifications to how replacement members will be chosen. Currently, the Charter reads as follows:

Any vacancy will be named by PG&E (in consultation with the Facilitator and panel members) to maintain representation of a diverse group of stakeholders.

The proposed amendments read as follows:

In order to fill vacancies, a slate of acceptable individuals who maintain representation of a diverse group of local stakeholders shall be nominated by a Nomination Committee with assistance from the Facilitator (collecting/soliciting applications and other support work). The Nomination Committee shall be comprised of sitting community members on the panel. Final

sections(s) will be approved by a majority of the community members and PG&E.

cab-question6: The inaugural panel was required to serve a term no shorter than one year. The inaugural panel had staggered terms as assigned by the membership through a facilitated process. Thereafter, member terms shall be three years (following the initial staggering). All current members of the DCDEP have agreed to continue beyond the initial one year term.

cab-question7: The DCDEP operates using a facilitated process with the assistance of a professional Facilitator.

There is no Chair on the DCDEP and the DCDEP typically does not take votes. The DCDEP strives to operate by consensus. In situations where a consensus of not achieved, minority perspectives have been included with DCDEP recommendations in the Strategic Vision document. The Charter contains the following language relative to conduct:

A member may be removed from the panel due to chronic absenteeism, abusive behavior to other panelists, or conduct detrimental to the panel process.

cab-question8: All DCDEP public community meetings and workshops are live-streamed and video recordings are available to be viewed online. In addition, a written transcript of each public meeting is completed. These audio and video materials are available on the DCDEPs current website, which can be found as a subset of the PG&E website. The DCDEP is in the process of developing and populating a separate website that will be established outside of the PG&E website and will be maintained by the DCDEP.

cab-question9: PG&E funds the DCDEP. Transcription services, audio/visual support, meeting venues, Facilitation services, writing/editing assistance for the Strategic Vision document, transportation for off-site tours, public noticing for meetings/workshops, informational kiosks available at each public meeting, targeted media announcements for meetings/workshops and social media advertising are covered by PG&E. There is currently no separate budget that is controlled by the DCDEP. As part of the proposed Charter amendments, the DCDEP is proposing that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) be discussed and executed annually between the DCDEP and PG&E to govern administration, logistics and operation of the panel for the upcoming year.

cab-question10: The following topics have been before the DCDEP since its establishment in May of 2018:

  • Introduction and Selection of Meeting Topics
  • Regulatory Requirements for the NDCTP
  • Decommissioning Funding
  • Diablo Canyon Lands
  • Repurposing of DCPP Facilities
  • Emergency Planning
  • Draft DCDEP Strategic Vision Report
  • Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage
  • Engagement Panel - Role, Function and Structure The following topics are slated for the remainder of this year and the beginning of next year:
  • Economic Impacts and Opportunities of Decommissioning
  • Transportation - Demolition Materials (radiological and non radiological materials)
  • Transportation - Spent Nuclear Fuel The DCDEP has discussed and will agree on additional topics for 2020 before the end of the year. Ideas for 2020 include: Spent Fuel Request for Proposal Results, Continuing Repurposing Discussions (Desal Plant / Breakwater / Specific Facilities), Outcome of NDTCP, and other topics that are requested by the public. The DCDEP is open to having meetings and workshops on any topic of interest to the community during the decommissioning per-planning process and during

the decommissioning itself.

cab-question11: The DCDEP felt it was important to create a written document that reflected the input from the community. To this end the DCDEP created the Strategic Vision document. This document contains visions, goals and specific recommendations about each of the topics that have been discussed. It reflects the input received from the community at meetings and workshops, on-line comments and emails, as well as the panels ideas generated from public input. It is a living document that will be amended and refined as the decommissioning process continues and the DCDEP addresses and hears from the public on other issues.

The Strategic Vision recommendations that were focused on activities that will be completed by PG&E has already informed a number of decisions. These include the preparation of a risk analysis by an independent consultant that would evaluate a range of alternatives for offloading spent nuclear fuel; an independent review of using both barge and trucking to transport dismantled facilities from the site; and completion of outstanding conservation documents that were a part of previous conditions of approval.

There are currently a total of 86 recommendations in the Strategic Vision that cover each of the topics that have been the subject of the public meetings and workshops held to date. A few of the recommendations in the Strategic Vision document are summarized below:

1. PG&Es pursuing a DECON, not SAFSTOR, option for decommissioning;
2. Conservation of the 12,000 acres of Diablo Canyon Lands that surround DCPP;
3. To the extent feasible, repurposing of non-contaminated infrastructure on Parcel P;
4. Purchase of dry cask storage canisters that can be inspected, maintained and continuously monitored;
5. Continued operations before and after decommissioning that ensure the safety and well being of the workforce and the community;
6. A rigorous safety and emergency planning program until the plant site is fully cleared of all waste, facilities, and other structures not suitable for repurposing; and
7. Use of best-practices for the safe transportation of spent nuclear fuel, Greater than Class C Waste, and all other decommissioning waste.

The Strategic Vision is available at: https://www.pge.com/pge_global/common/pdfs/safety/how-the-system-works/diablo-canyon-power-plant/diablo-canyon-power-plant/DCDEP-Strategic-Vision.pdf

  • The Strategic Vision has been submitted to PG&E and filed with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). Each update to the Strategic Vision will also be submitted to the CPUC.

The DCDEP anticipates that the Strategic Vision will act as a way for PG&E and all the regulatory agencies that will be involved in decommissioning to hear what the citizens of San Luis Obispo County want relative to the decommissioning of Diablo Canyon.

  • By mid-October, the new website for the Panel will be found at:

http://diablocanyonpanel.org/

cab-question12: The DCDEP has had numerous presentations from NRC officials at public meetings and workshops. In addition, the DCDEP has sent questions via email to the NRC and has received answers to the specific questions posed.

The DCDEP hopes that the NRC will continue to participate in the local public engagement process as the planning for and actual decommissioning occurs.

cab-question13: The DCDEP conducted a total of eight public community meetings and six all-day public

workshops addressing a range of decommissioning topics. Prior to each public meeting, PG&E and the DCDEP hosted an open house where the public could view information specific to the meeting topic and speak individually with PG&E technical experts and DCDEP members. Online kiosks were also available where members of the public could ask questions or provide comments. Time on the agenda was also allocated at each public meeting for public comments where members of the public or organizations could express their concerns and make recommendations. All DCDEP public community meetings were live-streamed and video recordings are available to be viewed online. In addition, a written transcript of each meeting was compiled. There was also the ability for the public to comment using online forms, emails and conversations with DCDEP members.

To date, more than 1,000 documented comments have been received. The majority of comments were received on the topics of Future Land Use, Repurposing of Facilities and the initial draft of the DCDEP Strategic Vision report. All of these comments are included in the DCDEP public comment record available in the Strategic Vision document.

cab-question14: A local Community Engagement Panel will assure that the publics perspectives are understood and considered by PG&E and regulatory agencies, encourage open communication, public involvement and education on Diablo Canyon Power Plants decommissioning plans and activities and act as a forum for the local community to provide direct input to PG&E and regulatory agencies on matters related to DCPP decommissioning.

Establishment of the DCDEP in advance of closure has had the additional advantage of creating opportunities for informing the pre-planning and local permitting phase of the decommissioning process.

cab-question15: The DCDEP does not see any disadvantages. Rather, the DCDEP as a whole believes that local residents who have a history of community involvement and who are trusted by their fellow community members create a unique opportunity for discourse and genuine grassroots involvement in the complex process of decommissioning a nuclear facility.

cab-question16: Several lessons learned by the Panel:

1. Having Panel members who are members of the local community is very important as they live in the community, share the concerns of the community and are engaged in what the future of the community will be.
2. Panel members visited local elected officials offices to inquire about their interest in joining the Panel. The Panel members recognized, as a result of their meetings, that most of the elected officials were not aware of the Panels meetings and showed little, if any, desire to become members of the Panel.
3. Panelists, for the most part, did not know each other when they began their work. Through the process of a using a professional Facilitator, the Panelists have learned to trust each other, to listen to each other, and to share the workload fairly and equitably.
4. There was a steep learning curve to understand decommissioning regulations, timelines, and complexities. The Panel has needed to meet frequently at administrative meetings outside of the public process in order to comprehend the rigors of the work.
5. It is important for the Panel to have a good understanding of the process in order to accurately communicate information to the community.
6. Having a variety of backgrounds, beliefs, and interests adds to the integrity of the Panels

work.

7. Striving to achieve consensus (though not always possible) helps Panelists understand the differing wants and needs of the larger community, because the Panels composition is a reflection of that community.
8. Creating a living Strategic Vision is a valuable practice, and it helps Panel members understand the issues more deeply because it requires thought, research, and collaboration.

The Strategic Vision provides the community a written document that contains both educational information, as well as the visions, goals and recommendations that reflect what the DCDEP heard from the community regarding decommissioning topics.

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