ML20175A652

Summary of Public Meeting with Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc., Regarding a Proposed License Amendment Request to Change the Final Cultural Resource Management Plan for Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2

ML20175A652
Person / Time
Site:	Vogtle
Issue date:	07/09/2020
From:	John Lamb Plant Licensing Branch II
To:	Gayheart C Southern Nuclear Operating Co
Lamb J
Shared Package
ML20169A599	List: ML20175A652
References
EPID L-2020-LLM-0045
Download: ML20175A652 (6)

Text

July 9, 2020 LICENSEE: Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.

FACILITY: Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2

SUMMARY

OF JUNE 23, 2020, PUBLIC MEETING WITH SOUTHERN NUCLEAR OPERATING COMPANY, INC., REGARDING A PROPOSED LICENSE AMENDMENT REQUEST TO REVISE TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION APPENDIX B, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION PLAN, AND THE FINAL CULTURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR VOGTLE ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANT, UNITS 1 AND 2 (EPID L-2020-LLM-0045)

On June 23, 2020, a Category 1 public meeting was held between the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and representatives of Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc. (SNC, the licensee) via Skype. The purpose of the meeting was for SNC to describe its plan to submit a license amendment request (LAR) to revise the Technical Specification (TS) Appendix B, Environmental Protection Plan, and the Final Cultural Resource Management (FCRM) Plan for Vogtle Electric Generating Plant (Vogtle), Units 1 and 2.

A list of attendees is provided as an Enclosure.

On May 26, 2020 (ADAMS Accession No. ML20147A165), the meeting was noticed on the NRCs public webpage.

The SNC presented slides are contained in ADAMS Package Accession No. ML20169A599.

Introduction The SNC staff discussed the following topics: (1) the FCRM Plan, (2) TS requirements, (3) the need for the changes to the FCRM Plan, and (4) the next steps.

FCRM Plan The proposed LAR from SNC would revise TS Appendix B, Environmental Protection Plan, and the FCRM Plan to update the resource inventory and assessment studies and reflect changes to the inspection of cultural properties along transmission line corridors, and the Francis Plantation, in particular.

Vogtle, Units 1 and 2, began full power operation on June 1, 1987, and March 31, 1989, respectively. Appendix B of the Vogtle, Units 1 and 2, TSs includes the Environmental Protection Plan (Nonradiological) (ADAMS Accession No. ML052840233).

The Appendix B, TS Section 2.3, Issues Related to Maintenance of Transmission Line Corridors, states:

Routine maintenance requirements for the extent of use of herbicides, trimming of the trees, and for preservation of National Natural Landmarks and Historic Places are discussed in Section 4.2.3.

The Appendix B, TS Section 4.2.3.3, Cultural Properties Along Transmission Line Corridors, states:

Routine maintenance activities in these areas will be in accordance with the Final Cultural Resource Management Plan.

The Appendix B, TS Section 5.3, Changes in Environmental Protection Plan [EPP], states:

Requests for changes in the EPP shall include an assessment of the environmental impact of the proposed change and a supporting justification.

Implementation of such changes in the EPP shall not commence prior to NRC approval of the proposed changes in the form of a license amendment incorporating the appropriate revision to the EPP.

The Vogtle FCRM Plan provides for long term protection and management of cultural resources along the following transmission lines: (1) Vogtle-Effingham-Thalmann 500 kilovolt (kV), (2)

Vogtle-Scherer 500 kV, (3) Vogtle-Goshen 230 kV, and (4) Vogtle-South Carolina 230 kV. The Vogtle FCRM Plan has special requirements for the Francis Plantation.

The Appendix B, TS Section 4.2.3.2, Francis Plantation, states:

Routine maintenance involving trimming of the trees within the National Register of Historic Places property necessary to maintain conductor clearance shall be done by hand (Memorandum of Agreement between Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP), U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC),

State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) and Georgia Power Company).

SNC explained that the FCRM Plans and the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) have special provisions for the Francis Plantation Property; it requires hand trimming and removal of vegetation and must maintain 25 feet (ft) conductor clearance.

SNC stated that the current FCRM Plan has the following provisions: (1) periodic transmission line right of ways (ROWs) maintenance inspections, which consists of (a) 113 sites, (b) helicopter flyover every three years, and (c) follow-up inspections, as needed; and (2) annual reporting submitted to the Georgia SHPO and included in the annual environmental operating report to the NRC.

Proposed Changes to the FCRM Plan SNC proposes to revise the Vogtle FCRM Plan to transition from triannual aerial monitoring to phased, annual, pedestrian inspection of the 113 historic properties (e.g., approximately 23 sites per year over a 5-year period) within the transmission line ROWs. SNC also plans to review site significance using modern eligibility standards and historic context (SHPO recommendation).

SNC would continue its annual reporting to the Georgia SHPO and NRC.

SNC also proposed to replace the existing MOA with a Programmatic Agreement (PA). The current MOA is limited to resolving adverse effects to the Francis Plantation and does not cover the remainder of historic properties within the transmission line ROWs. SNC stated that the Francis Plantation house no longer exists, and the outbuildings continue to deteriorate. SNC said it wants to transition to an archaeological resource management for the Francis Plantation.

SNC stated that it plans to update the EPP and the FCRM Plan to include (1) pedestrian inspection, (2) updated review standards for cultural resources, (3) development of a PA to cover all historic properties within transmission line ROWs, and (4) re-evaluation of portions of the Francis Plantation within the transmission line ROW.

Need for Changes to the FCRM Plan SNC stated that the Francis Plantation house has deteriorated. SNC said it wants to re-evaluate the Francis Plantation, and develop a PA to provide more flexibility in the maintenance of the Francis Plantation and all other historic properties within the transmission line ROWs that were not included in the MOA.

SNC stated that it plans to transition from aerial monitoring every three years to a phased, annual, pedestrian inspection of approximately 23 sites per year over a 5-year period. SNC stated that it would allow for a more thorough inspection of each site than the helicopter inspection.

Next Steps SNC stated that it plans to submit the proposed LAR to the NRC in the third quarter of 2020, and will request approval in 12 months.

State, Native American Tribes, and/or Public Questions to NRC One person from the State of Georgia SHPO was in attendance but did not have any specific questions for the NRC staff.

Representatives from the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes and the Sac and Fox Nation of Missouri in Kansas and Nebraska were in attendance, but did not have any comments or questions for the NRC staff.

Three members of the public were also in attendance and had no comments or questions for the NRC staff.

Closing Once submitted, the NRC staff will perform a thorough review of the proposed LAR and make any regulatory decisions in a timely manner.

The NRC staff made no regulatory decisions during the meeting.

Public Meeting Feedback forms were available, but no comments were received.

The meeting adjourned at 10:10 am.

Please direct any inquiries to me at 301-415-3100.

/RA/

John G. Lamb, Senior Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch, II-1 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-424 and 50-425

Enclosure:

List of Attendees cc w/encls: Listserv

LIST OF ATTENDEES JUNE 23, 2020, PUBLIC MEETING WITH SOUTHERN NUCLEAR COMPANY REGARDING PROPOSED CHANGE TO THE FINAL CULTURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN VOGTLE ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANT, UNITS 1 AND 2 ATTENDEE AFFLIATION John G. Lamb NRC Mike Markley NRC Dave Alley NRC Rob Elliott NRC Jeff Rikhoff NRC James Firth NRC Mary Woods NRC Tison Campbell NRC Jennifer Davis NRC Edwin Lea NRC State of Georgia - State Historic Preservation Whitney Rooks Office Talia Martin Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Laurie Hernandez Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Sac and Fox Nation of Missouri in Kansas Mark Junker and Nebraska Ken Lowery SNC Joseph Charles Georgia Power Dan Fulton SNC Jim DeLano SNC Dan Rice Georgia Power Joe Slaughter Georgia Power Matt Euten SNC Scott Hendricks Georgia Power Jana Bergman Scientech - Curtiss-Wright National Conference of State Legislators Tansey Moore (NCSL)

Kim Tyrrell NCSL Enclosure

ML20169A599 (Package)

ML20147A165 (Meeting Notice)

ML20169A569 (Slides)

ML20175A652 (Meeting Summary) *via e-mail OFFICE NRR/DORL/LPL2-1/PM NRR/DORL/LPL2-1/LA NRR/DORL/LPL2-1/BC NRR/DORL/LPL2-1/PM NAME JLamb KGoldstein MMarkley JLamb DATE 06/23/2020 06/29/2020 07/02/2020 07/09/2020