ML22102A022
| ML22102A022 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Pilgrim |
| Issue date: | 06/23/2022 |
| From: | John Marshall Reactor Decommissioning Branch |
| To: | Runyon M Town of Orleans, MA |
| Sturzebecher K | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML22049A116 | List: |
| References | |
| LTR-22-0040 | |
| Download: ML22102A022 (3) | |
Text
Mefford Runyon Chair, Select Board Town Of Orleans 19 School Road Orleans, MA 02653-3699
Dear Mefford Runyon:
On behalf of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), I am responding to your letter dated January 18, 2022, (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS)
Accession No. ML22049A115)). In that letter, you raised concerns regarding potential effects of on the Cape Cod Bay from effluent discharges during decommissioning activities by Holtec Decommissioning International, LLC (Holtec) at the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station (Pilgrim).
The controlled release of liquid effluent discharges at nuclear power plants, within specified regulatory limits, is designed to ensure protection of the public health and safety and the environment, and is an activity that occurs throughout the operation and decommissioning of a facility. The NRCs regulations and licensing reviews for the facility consider such releases as part of the agencys safety and environmental determinations, ensuring that it is safe for people and the environment.
The NRC is aware of the ecological conditions of Cape Cod Bay, including the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, which lies in the Atlantic Ocean between Cape Cod Bay and Massachusetts Bay. The NRC consulted with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) per the Endangered Species Act Section 7(a)(2) as part of Pilgrims application for a renewed operating license. As a result of that consultation, the NMFS determined that continued operation of Pilgrim under the terms of a renewed operating license is not likely to adversely affect any listed species under NMFS jurisdiction (ML12145A072). The NMFS also determined that continued operation would have no effect on the critical habitat of listed species.
Additionally, the staffs environmental review included a site audit in 2006. During the site audit, the NRC staff met with staff representing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management Agency, the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, the Massachusetts Department of Public Healths Radiation Control Program, and local government organizations. The NRCs Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement, published in July 2007, (ML071990020 and ML071990027) noted that Six species of great whales, five of which are federally listed, migrate along the Massachusetts coast, with the largest number sighted in the spring on Stellwagen Bank off of the tip of Cape Cod, but concluded that operation of PNPS [Pilgrim] during the license renewal term is not likely to adversely affect any Federally listed marine aquatic species.
More recently, Holtec assessed the potential impacts of its planned decommissioning activities on ecological resources in its post-shutdown decommissioning activities report (PSDAR) submitted to the NRC on November 16, 2018 (ML18320A040). The PSDAR determined that the June 23, 2022
M. Runyon impacts of planned decommissioning activities on aquatic ecology would be small and bounded by the NRCs Decommissioning Generic Environmental Impact Statement, which is an NRC guidance document that is used to evaluate environmental impacts during the decommissioning of nuclear power reactors. Additionally, the Holtec PSDAR discusses their site-specific assessment for threatened and endangered species for Pilgrim. Based on this evaluation, Holtec does not anticipate that the planned decommissioning activities at Pilgrim would adversely affect any State or Federally listed anadromous and marine species. After reviewing this information, the NRC staff found that the potential environmental impacts associated with the Pilgrim decommissioning activities are bounded by the previously issued environmental impact statements (NUREG-0586, Supplement 1, Final Generic Environmental Impact Statement on Decommissioning of Nuclear Facilities, November 2002; and NUREG-1427, Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants, Supplement 29, Regarding Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station, July 2007) and meet the requirements of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations 50.82(a)(4)(i).
In the future, if Holtec identifies decommissioning activities for Pilgrim not previously considered that are not bounded by existing environmental analysis, Holtec will provide an update to the site-specific assessment of environmental impacts to the NRC for review.
The NRCs regulations and licensing reviews consider releases as part of the agencys safety and environmental assessments, protecting the public health and safety and the environment.
The same NRC limits that apply to effluent discharges at operating plants also apply during the decommissioning of those plants. Therefore, any liquid discharges from Pilgrim during operation and continuing through decommissioning are required to remain within the prescribed limits, be processed through filters, and sampled prior to being released. The NRC inspects the actions and the records of its licensees to ensure that compliance with environmental radiation standards is maintained. Further, licensees are required to have an environmental monitoring program that includes environmental sampling and submit an annual report to the NRC. The annual reports are publicly available in ADAMS (ML22136A256).
I appreciate your interest in the decommissioning of Pilgrim and your service to the surrounding community. If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact me, or have your staff contact Shaun Anderson, Chief, Reactor Decommissioning Branch, Division of Decommissioning, Uranium Recovery, and Waste Programs, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, at (301) 415-2039.
Sincerely, Jane E. Marshall, Director Division of Decommissioning, Uranium Recovery and Waste Programs Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Signed by Marshall, Jane on 06/23/22
ML22049A116; Ltr ML22102A022 OFFICE NMSS/DWUP/RDB NMSS/DUWP/RDB OGC/GCRPS/RMR
/NLO*
NMSS/REFS NAME KSturzebecher BWatson CEngland TInverso DATE Apr 12, 2022 Apr 12, 2022 Apr 28, 2022 Jun 16, 2022 OFFICE NMSS/DUWP NAME JMarshall DATE Jun 23, 2022