ML21084A213
| ML21084A213 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Point Beach  |
| Issue date: | 03/25/2021 |
| From: | Russell Chazell NRC/SECY |
| To: | Lodge T Physicians for Social Responsibility, Wisconsin |
| SECY RAS | |
| References | |
| 50-266-SLR, 50-301-SLR, RAS 56023, Subsequent License Renewal | |
| Download: ML21084A213 (5) | |
Text
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 March 25, 2021 Terry J. Lodge, Esq.
Counsel for Physicians for Social Responsibility - Wisconsin 316 N. Michigan St., Suite 520 Toledo, OH 43604-5627 RE: Extension Request, Docket Nos. 50-266 and 50-301, NRC-2021-0021, Point Beach Nuclear Plant Units 1 and 2 Subsequent License Renewal Application
Dear Mr. Lodge,
On March 23, 2021, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) received an undated letter by email from Mses. Ann Behrmann MD, Amy Schulz RN, and Hannah Mortensen, all officers of Physicians for Social Responsibility - Wisconsin (PSR), seeking an additional public meeting for the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Scoping and a 60-day extension on the March 23 deadline to request a hearing for Point Beach Nuclear Plant Units 1 and 2 Subsequent License Renewal Application.
Later, on March 23, 2021, you electronically filed with the NRC, on behalf of PSR, a Petition of Physicians for Social Responsibility Wisconsin for Leave to Intervene in Point Beach Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2 Subsequent License Renewal Proceeding, and Requesting an Adjudicatory Hearing (Petition).
Given the filing of the petition in this matter, the NRC considers the request for a 60-day extension of the March 23, 2021, deadline to request a hearing to be moot. Regarding the requests for an additional public meeting for EIS scoping and an extension of the EIS comment period, the Office of the Secretary has referred that request to the NRC staff, who are managing the environmental review in this proceeding, for consideration.
This reply and the incoming letter from Dr. Behrmann, et al., will be placed on the adjudicatory docket for the Point Beach Subsequent License Renewal proceeding.
Sincerely, Russell E. Chazell Assistant for Rulemakings and Adjudications cc: Ann Behrmann, MD Amy Schulz, RN Hannah Mortensen Russell E. Chazell Digitally signed by Russell E.
Chazell Date: 2021.03.25 12:38:21 -04'00'
RE: Docket Nos. 50-266 and 50-301 NRC-2021-0021 Point Beach Nuclear Plant Units 1 and 2 Subsequent License Renewal Application To whom it may concern, We are requesting an additional public meeting for the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
Scoping and a 60-day extension on the March 23 deadline to request a hearing for Point Beach Nuclear Plant Units 1 and 2 Subsequent License Renewal Application.
Environmental Impact Statement Scoping In researching NRC environmental reports documents regarding the Point Beach Units 1 and 2 Nuclear Power Plant, the data presented on the NRC website was erroneously linked (misfiled) to the Prairie Island Nuclear Reactor located in the adjacent state of Minnesota. Please see the attached video clip of said navigation. We did express this concern to the NRC on the morning of February 17, 2021 and requested for an extension on the comment period at that time. This request was denied.
The correct environmental reports for Point Beach Units 1 and 2 were not made available until February 18, 2021 when the NRC staff provided the correct links by email to us. This was the day after the February 17, 2021 public meeting. Thus, my colleagues and I were unable to access recent (2017 - 2019) relevant Point Beach condition reports in time for the February 17th public meeting. Scientifically based assessments of recent environmental monitoring are particularly relevant to public health and safety regarding the current NRC License Extension Scoping Activities and is the basis of our organization's involvement in this process. Lacking these important recent documents impaired our capacity to make comments in the February 17, 2021 public meeting, and their late availability gave inadequate time for their full incorporation into our written comments.
Furthermore, the public was not adequately informed on how to participate in the public meeting on February 17, 2021. As seen from the screenshot video attached of the chat feature in Microsoft Teams during the public meeting on February 17th, there was significant confusion on the separation of audio (Bridgeline) and visuals (Microsoft Teams). This disrupted the publics ability to participate in this meeting.
At the public meeting, members of the public were also not informed on a specific time limit they had to speak. Consequently, certain commenters were cut short while others could speak for longer durations. This inequity does not allow for fair public input on the EIS Scoping process.
On March 3, 2021 at 10:59pm CT, the comments for the EIS Scoping were due to the NRC.
However, we are aware of four people that experienced difficulties with the Regulations.Gov website during that evening starting around 5:00pm CT and two of those people were not able to submit comments. The website would redirect multiple times and was inaccessible. It should
PSR Wisconsin l info@psrwisocnsin.org l (608) 239-9945 720 Hill Street., Ste. 200, Madison, WI 53705 Facebook Page: PSR Wisconsin l Website: https://psr-wisconsin.org be noted that the NRC did not provide an email address for the public to submit comments by email. All written comments had to be submitted through the website or mailed. There was additionally a lack of clarification if the mailed comments had to be in the NRC office by March 3rd or if they would consider the postmark date of the comments.
Furthermore, the challenges posed by the current pandemic hinder the publics ability to participate. For example, individuals with slow or no internet are unable to visit a local library or other location due to COVID-19 risks. Additionally, postal carriers have faced significant delays that could hinder an individuals comment arriving or being postmarked by the deadline of March 3, 2021. The pandemic also inhibits the communitys ability to gather, discuss and share the opportunity with others.
Due to these challenges for the public participation in the EIS scoping process, we request that the NRC hold a second public meeting, providing adequate and timely notice as well as clear instructions for equitable access to and participation in the public meeting.
This opportunity should be well publicized weeks in advance by email and on the NRC website to the interested public, both for residents of Wisconsin and states bordering on Lake Michigan and those who submitted comments on the EIS scoping. There should be means to sign up for oral comments in advance and adequate time limits given to all those who request to speak publicly during the meeting. There should also be adequate time set aside for public questions of the NRC panel during this meeting.
Opportunity to Request a Hearing and Petition for Leave to Intervene According to the NRC, a request for a hearing and petition for leave to intervene must be filed by March 23, 2021. Due to the aforementioned document delays and NEPA process impairment, we are requesting an extension of 60 days to submit a request for a hearing and petition.
Insofar as the Point Beach current operating licenses extend until 2030 and 2033 for the two reactors, there is no apparent reason or need to rush to judgement. The additional meeting will allow the public to fully participate in the EIS Scoping process. This meeting should use all available technology during the pandemic to allow the licensing process to be fully transparent to the interested public to the fullest extent possible. The extension of the March 23rd deadline to request a formal hearing allows for the public and experts to be engaged, adequately assess documents, and to discuss this license extension petition.
Thank you for full consideration of this request, Ann Behrmann MD, Pediatrician, Madison, WI Treasurer, Physicians for Social Responsibility Wisconsin (PSR WI)
Amy Schulz RN, Perioperative Nurse, Madison, WI President, PSR WI Hannah Mortensen, PSR WI Executive Director
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION In the Matter of
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NEXTERA ENERGY POINT BEACH, LLC
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Docket Nos. 50-266 and 50-301-SLR
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(Point Beach Nuclear Plant,
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Units 1 and 2)
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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify that copies of the Letter in Response to Extension Request have been served upon the following persons by Electronic Information Exchange.
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Office of Commission Appellate Adjudication Mail Stop: O-16B33 Washington, DC 20555-0001 E-mail: ocaamail@nrc.gov U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel Mail Stop: T-3F23 Washington, DC 20555-0001 E. Roy Hawkens Chief Administrative Judge E-mail: roy.hawkens@nrc.gov U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Office of the Secretary of the Commission Mail Stop: O-16B33 Washington, DC 20555-0001 E-mail: hearingdocket@nrc.gov U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Office of the General Counsel Mail Stop - O-14A44 Washington, DC 20555-0001 Tison Campbell, Esq.
Travis Jones, Esq.
Joseph McManus, Esq.
Anita Naber, Esq.
David Roth, Esq.
Jeremy Wachutka, Esq.
Mitzy Young, Esq.
Brian Newell, Paralegal Stacy Schumann, Paralegal E-mail: tison.campbell@nrc.gov travis.jones@nrc.gov david.roth@nrc.gov jeremy.wachutka@nrc.gov mitzy.young@nrc.gov brian.newell@nrc.gov stacy.schumann@nrc.gov NextEra Energy Point Beach, LLC Steven Hamrick, Esq.
Florida Power & Light Company 801 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Suite 220 Washington, DC 20004 Email: steven.hamrick@fpl.com Counsel for NextEra Energy Point Beach, LLC Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP Anne Leidich, Esq.
David Lewis, Esq.
1200 17th St, NW Washington, DC 20036 E-mail: anne.leidich@pillsburylaw.com david.lewis@pillsburylaw.com
Point Beach Nuclear Plant (Units 1 and 2)
Docket Nos. 50-266 and 50-301-SLR Letter in Response to Extension Request 2
Counsel for Dont Waste Michigan, et al Terry Lodge, Esq.
316 N. Michigan Street Suite 520 Toledo, OH 43604 E-mail: tjlodge50@yahoo.com Office of the Secretary of the Commission Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 25th day of March 2021.
Krupskaya T. Castellon Digitally signed by Krupskaya T. Castellon Date: 2021.03.25 12:42:15 -04'00'