ML21090A329
| ML21090A329 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Point Beach  |
| Issue date: | 03/30/2021 |
| From: | NRC/NMSS/DREFS/ERMB |
| To: | NRC/NMSS/DREFS |
| References | |
| Download: ML21090A329 (4) | |
Text
From: Imboden, Stacey Sent: Tuesday, March 30, 2021 2:47 PM To: PointBeach-SLRDocsPEm Resource
Subject:
FW: Request for Extension Attachments: Letter Extensions for Point Beach.pdf From: PSR Wisconsin <info@psrwisconsin.org>
Sent: Tuesday, March 23, 2021 5:50 PM To: Docket, Hearing <Hearing.Docket@nrc.gov>
Subject:
[External_Sender] Request for Extension To whom it may concern, Attached is a letter that Physicians for Social Responsibility Wisconsin submitted to Senator Tammy Baldwin to send to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. We were informed today that we needed to submit to this email. Please consider our request and thank you for your time.
Sincerely, Hannah Mortensen PSR Wisconsin info@psrwisconsin.org www.psr-wisconsin.org 720 Hill Street, Suite 200 Madison, WI 53705 608.232.9945 Please consider the environment before printing this email.
Hearing Identifier: PointBeach_SLRDocs_Public Email Number: 7 Mail Envelope Properties (MN2PR09MB4636ACB42ED8E1BB2E7C7468847D9)
Subject:
FW: Request for Extension Sent Date: 3/30/2021 2:46:44 PM Received Date: 3/30/2021 2:46:49 PM From: Imboden, Stacey Created By: Stacey.Imboden@nrc.gov Recipients:
"PointBeach-SLRDocsPEm Resource" <PointBeach-SLRDocsPEm.Resource@nrc.gov>
Tracking Status: None Post Office: MN2PR09MB4636.namprd09.prod.outlook.com Files Size Date & Time MESSAGE 971 3/30/2021 2:46:49 PM Letter Extensions for Point Beach.pdf 142105 Options Priority: Normal Return Notification: No Reply Requested: No Sensitivity: Normal Expiration Date:
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 17 , there was significant confusion on th 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
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 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