ML20127L593
| ML20127L593 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Monticello  |
| Issue date: | 01/08/1993 |
| From: | Rogers K NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Taylor J ELECTRIC POWER RESEARCH INSTITUTE |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20127L597 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9301270220 | |
| Download: ML20127L593 (2) | |
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'o UNITED STATES 8"
k NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION.
{
,E w AsHWGTON, D. C. 20$65 January 8,1993 CHAIRMAN t
Mr. John J. Taylor Vice President Nuclear Power Division Electric Power Research Institute 3412 Hillview Avenue P.O. Box 10412 Palo Alto, California 94303
Dear Mr. Taylor:
I am responding to your letter of Novemtier 25, 1992,- in which you stated that you share the concerns discussed by..the. Northern States Power-(NSP) Company in-
.its report, " Perspectives on the License Renewal Process (10 CFR Part 54)."
NSP recently decided to delay submitting an application for license renewal for its' Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant.
In its report, NSP stated the following general reasons for delaying the application: -the uncertain resolution of the high level waste issue, the uncertain resolution of the low-level waste issue and rising costs resulting from that uncertainty, a need to demonstrate the ability to continue excellent operations while reducing costs, and the regulatory uncertainties of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's license renewal. process. Although the NRC does.not have the authority to act on all of the concerns discussed in the NSP report, the-Commission recognizes its responsibility to provide a stable, predictable, and reasonable process within which a utility can consider. license renewal.
t In order to address the specifics' of license renewal implementation, ~ including
.the specific concerns raised by NSP, the NRC is' conducting several activities.
- The NRC staff has initiated a review'by senior managers which is focusing.on key license renewal issues, including concerns expressed by industry. The NRC-is-also preparing a regulatory guide-on the' format and content of a. license renewal application and a standard review plan for license renewal. These documents, when published, will provide generic guidance on license renewal implementation specifics.
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Additionally,. the NRC staff has been working.with the Nuclear Utilities Management and Resources Council and the industry's lead plants for license renewal. Although-the-lead plants have either cancelled or deferred their license renewal plans, NRC staff has focused its efforts on resolving implementation issues identified during initial: review of the license l
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renewal applications for the lead plants.
The staff plans continued interaction with NSP to resolve some of the license renewal concerns discussed in its report. Most recently, the Babcock & Wilcox Owners Group (BWOG) briefed the Commission on its program for generic license renewal, and the staff expects to work with BWOG in identifying and resolving generic license renewal implementation concerns.
4 Sincerely, j
Kenneth C. Rogers Acting Chairman 1
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