ML20207B035
| ML20207B035 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 05/17/1999 |
| From: | Collins S NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned) |
| To: | Jackie Jones LAS VEGAS, NV |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20207B039 | List: |
| References | |
| FRN-64FR9884, RULE-PR-51 NUDOCS 9905280100 | |
| Download: ML20207B035 (6) | |
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May 17, 1999 1
l The Honorable Jan Laverty Jones l
Mayor of Las Vegas 400 East Stewart Avenue Las Vegas, Nevada 89101 l
Dear Mayor Jones:
Your letter of April 16,1999, to Chairman Jackson has been referred to me for response.
You expressed concem about the proposed rule that would amend the U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC's) environmental review requirements for the renewal of nuclear power i
plant operating licenses, which was published in the Federal Reaister on February 26,1999 (64 FR 9884). This rule is intended for the specific purpose of assessing the environmental J
impacts of the transportation of high-level waste related to applications to renew nuclear power plant operating licenses. For the reasons described herein, we have decided not to grant your request to extend the public comment period, not to reissue the proposed rule with a different title, and not to hold a public meeting in the Las Vegas, NV area. The comment period ended April 27,1999. As stated in the Federal Register notice, however, comments received after the end of the comment period will be considered to the extent practicable. We intend to include the l
specific comments you provided in your letter in the record of pubi'c comments on the proposed rule and will address them as such.
In promulgating the final rule for the environmental aspects of license renewal, the Commission recognized that it may be appropriate to address the impacts of the transportation of high-level waste on a generic basis. The intent of this proposed rule change is to reach a generic conclusion, such that license renewal applicants would not need to address this issue individually. Specifically, the proposed amendment would expand the generic findings that are currently codified in the regulations addressing the environmental impacts of license renewal to cover the transportation of spent fuel to the proposed repository at Yucca Mountain during the renewal term of individual nuclear power plants. Regarding your concerr, that this proposed rule {h.$
represents a change in the consideration of transportation routes for spent fuel in the vicinity of Las Vegas, the routes used in the addendum to the generic environmental impact statement of renewal of individual nuclear power plant operating licenses were chosen to provide estimates of transportation impacts. These estimates will then be compared to the environmentalimpact l
of transportation of fuel and waste already contained in NRC's regulations. In completing the j/
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analysis, there was t'o assumption that these routes would ultimately be chosen.
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a The Honorable Jan Laverty Jones
-2 May 17,1999 The licensing process for Yucca Mountain requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to submit, for review and approval, an application to receive and possess source, special nuclear, and byproduct material at a geologic repository. Along with the application, DOE must submit an environmental impact statement (EIS). In accordance with the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, the NRC staff will review the DOE EIS to determine whether it is sufficient to satisfy the NRC National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements. In the EIS, the DOE staff will evaluate the environmental impacts associated with the construction and use of a geological repository. The draft DOE EIS is scheduled to be available for public review and comment by July 1999. You will have the opportunity to comment on it at that time.
Given the discrete issues covered by this proposed rule change, the Commission believes that the 60-day public comment period, which extended from February 26 to April 27,1999, is reasonable. Furthermore, since the proposed rule change applies to the specific aspects of license renewal, we believe that a change in the title could create ambiguity as to the intended purpose of this rule change. In view of this specific purpose, the Commission does not believe that a public meeting was warranted before the end of the comment period. As previously stated, however, comments received after the end of the comment period will be considered to the extent practicable.
Sincerely, c
's amue oil ins, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
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The Honorable Jan Laverty Jones May 17, 1999
- The licensing process for Yucca Mountain requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to submit, for review and approval, an application to receive and possess source, special nuclear, and byproduct material at a geologic repository. Along with the application, DOE must submit an environmentalimpact statement (EIS). In accordance with the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of
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1982, the NRC staff will review the DOE EIS to determine whether it is sufficient to satisfy the l
NRC National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements. in the EIS, the DOE staff
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willevaluate the environmentalimpacts associated with the construction and use of a geological repository. The draft DOE EIS is scheduled to be available for public review and comment by July 1999. You will have the opportunity to comment on it at that time.
Given the discrete issues covered by this proposed rule change, the Commission believes that the 60-day public comment period,' which extended from February 26 to April 2'/,1999, is reasonable. Furthermore, since the proposed rule change applies to the specinc aspects of license renewal, we believe that a change in the title could create ambiguity as to the intended purpose of this rule change. in view of this specific purpose, the Commission does not believe i
that a public meeting was warranted before the end of the comment period. As previously
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stated, however, comments received after the end of the comment period will be considered to the extent practicable.
Sincerely, Original Signed By:
Samuel J. Collins, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
- SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCE SEE ALSO RESPONSE TO R. LOUX (G19990181) '
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DISTRIBUTION: Green Tickets 19990221 Ltr. J. L. Jones fm S. Collins Dated May 17, 1999 Central File (w/ incoming)(GT19990221)
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.EDO Principal Correspondence Control FROM DUE: 05/13/99 EDO CONTROL: G19990221 DOC DT: 04/16/99 FINAL REPLY:
M;yor Jan Laverty Jones City of Las Vegas, Nevada TOs Chairman Jackson FOR SIGNATURE OF :
. COMMENTS REGARDING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT Travers CONCERNING NUCLEAR POWER PLANT OPERATING LICENSES Knapp Miraglia Norry Blaha Burns DATES 04/28/99 Lohaus, SP Paperiello,NMSS ASSIGNED TO:
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. PAPER NUMBER:
CRC-99-0394 LOGGING DATE: Apr 27 99' ACTION OFFICE:
EDO LAUTHOR:.
JAN LAVERTY JONES
': AFFILIATION:
NEVADA ADDRESSEE:
CHAIRMAN JACKSON LETTER DATE:
Apr 16 99 FILE CODE:
SUBJECT:
COMMENTS RE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT CONCERNING NUC POWER' PLANT OPERATING LICENSES
. ACTION:
Direct Reply DISTRIBUTION:
CHAIRMAN, COMRS L
SPECIAL HANDLING: SECY TO ACK l
CONSTITUENT:
NOTES:
OCM #18160 DATE.DUE:
May~13 99 I
SIGNATURE:
DATE SIGNED:
AFFILIATION:
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.i EDO --Gl9990221
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