ML20009E952
| ML20009E952 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 04/01/2020 |
| From: | Kathryn Brock NRC/NSIR/DPR |
| To: | Hart H Federal Emergency Management Agency |
| Anderson J, | |
| References | |
| Download: ML20009E952 (3) | |
Text
April 1, 2020 Hampton H. Hart, Jr., Acting Director Technological Hazards Division Federal Emergency Management Agency 400 C Street, South West Area 8 Washington, DC 20024
SUBJECT:
NOTIFICATION TO THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF APPROVED EXEMPTIONS FROM OFF-SITE EMERGENCY PLANNING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PILGRIM NUCLEAR POWER STATION
Dear Mr. Hart:
This is to notify you that on April 1, 2020, the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station (Pilgrim) implemented specific exemptions from emergency planning (EP) requirements in Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Section 50.47, Emergency plans, and Appendix E, Emergency Planning and Preparedness for Production and Utilization Facilities, to 10 CFR Part 50, Domestic Licensing of Production and Utilization Facilities, (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML20091M575). The exemptions were authorized by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) on December 18, 2019 (ADAMS Accession No. ML19142A043), based on our analysis of an exemption application from Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. (Entergy). Upon implementation of these exemptions, emergency planning and preparedness at Pilgrim, which is mandated by the NRC, is limited to continuing to perform licensee on-site emergency response activities, such as exercises, notifying off-site authorities in the event of an emergency classification, and maintaining arrangements for only off-site response organizations (OROs) that may respond to on-site emergencies (e.g., law enforcement, fire and medical services). Pilgrim will continue to offer OROs with responsibilities under the licensees emergency plan the opportunity to participate in exercises.
The NRC-authorized exemptions included an effective date of 10 months after permanent cessation of power operations. By letter dated June 10, 2019 (ADAMS Accession No. ML19161A033), pursuant to 10 CFR 50.82(a)(1)(ii), Entergy certified that Pilgrim permanently ceased power operations on May 31, 2019, and all fuel had been permanently removed from the Pilgrim reactor vessel and placed in the spent fuel pool. Under 10 CFR 50.82(a)(2), because the docketing of the certifications for permanent cessation of operations and permanent removal of fuel from the reactor vessel has been completed, the 10 CFR Part 50 license for Pilgrim no longer authorizes operation of the reactor or emplacement or retention of fuel into the reactor vessel.
The NRC no longer requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to monitor, review, or report on off-site radiological emergency planning and preparedness activities at the Pilgrim site in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding between FEMA and the NRC, dated December 7, 2015 (ADAMS Accession No. ML15344A371). As such, we request that
H. Hart FEMA provide a formal notice to the appropriate State and local governments within the designated plume exposure pathway and ingestion pathway emergency planning zones that the off-site radiological emergency plans, under Title 44, Emergency Management and Assistance, of the CFR, Part 350, Review and Approval of State and Local Radiological Emergency Plans and Preparedness, will no longer be required for the Pilgrim site.
Should you need more information or support in interfacing with the Commonwealth and local government officials on this matter, please contact Joseph Anderson of my staff at (301) 287-9300.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Kathryn M. Brock, Director Division of Preparedness and Response Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response cc: H. Hart, FEMA V. Quinn, FEMA B. Foreman, FEMA
ML20009E952 OFFICE NSIR/DPR/BC OGC (NLO)
NSIR/DPR/D NAME JAnderson HBenowitz KBrock DATE 01/15/20 01/28/20 04/01/20