ML20125A200
| ML20125A200 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | HI-STORE |
| Issue date: | 05/04/2020 |
| From: | Andrea Kock Storage and Transportation Licensing Branch |
| To: | Heaton J Eddy Lea Energy Alliance |
| Cuadrado-Caraballo J | |
| References | |
| Download: ML20125A200 (3) | |
Text
May 4, 2020 Mr. John A. Heaton, Chairman Eddy-Lea Energy Alliance 101 N. Halagueno Carlsbad, NM 88220
SUBJECT:
REQUEST FOR CONVENING OF PUBLIC MEETING BY VIDEOCONFERENCE AT PREVIOUS SITES AND REASONABLE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD (HOLTEC INTERNATIONALS APPLICATION FOR CONSOLIDATED INTERIM STORAGE FACILITY LICENSE IN LEA COUNTY, NEW MEXICO, DOCKET NO.
72-1051)
Dear Mr. Heaton:
I am responding to your letter dated April 8, 2020, requesting that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) establish dates for public hearings to receive comments on the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Holtec Internationals proposed consolidated interim storage facility, and that these public hearings be focused on the previous five areas of New Mexico where the NRC previously held meetings in 2018. Your letter also requests that the NRC consider convening such meetings via a telecommunications platform, and states that an extension of the public comment period for an additional 60 days is reasonable.
The current 60-day comment period on the draft EIS was scheduled to close on May 22, 2020.
Given recent events associated with the COVID-19 public health emergency, and the corresponding actions taken by Federal and State governments to mitigate its spread, the NRC staff has extended the public comment period for an additional 60 days. A notice of this extension was published in the Federal Register on April 27, 2020 (85 FR 23382).
The NRC staff plans to hold a nationwide webinar and five public meetings in New Mexico during the public comment period to present the staffs preliminary findings and receive public comments. As the COVID-19 public health emergency evolves, the NRC staff will continue to re-evaluate these plans for engaging the public, and will consider whether additional extensions to the comment period are warranted.
J. Heaton 2
If you would like to discuss any of these matters, please contact John McKirgan, Chief of the Storage and Transportation Licensing Branch, at 301-415-5722, or Cinthya Román-Cuevas, Chief of the Environmental Review Materials Branch, at 301-415-7093.
Sincerely, Andrea L. Kock, Director Division of Fuel Management Office of Nuclear Materials Safety and Safeguards Docket No.: 72-1051 Andrea L. Kock Digitally signed by Andrea L. Kock Date: 2020.05.04 20:09:11 -04'00'
J. Heaton 3
SUBJECT:
REQUEST FOR CONVENING OF PUBLIC MEETING BY VIDEOCONFERENCE AT PREVIOUS SITES AND REASONABLE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD (HOLTEC INTERNATIONALS APPLICATION FOR CONSOLIDATED INTERIM STORAGE FACILITY LICENSE IN LEA COUNTY, NEW MEXICO, DOCKET NO.
72-1051),
DATED: May 4, 2020 DISTRIBUTION: Ticket Number: LTR-20-0145-1-NMSS JLubinski, NMSS RLewis, NMSS CRegan, NMSS JTappert, NMSS DMcIntyre, OPA AMoreno, OCA DMarcano, NMSS KMorgan-Butler, OEDO JStorch, OEDO DFM r/f ADAMS Accession Number: ML20125A200
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AKock DATE 4/30/20 5/1/20 5/4/20 4/30/20 5/4/20 OFFICE NAME DATE OFFICIAL RECORD COPY