ML23083B373
| ML23083B373 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Comanche Peak  |
| Issue date: | 04/18/2023 |
| From: | Tanya Smith NRC/NMSS/DREFS/ELRB |
| To: | Wolfe M State of TX, Texas Historical Commission |
| References | |
| Download: ML23083B373 (6) | |
Text
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 Mark Wolfe State Historic Preservation Officer Executive Director, Texas Historical Commission P.O. Box 12276 Austin, TX 78711-2276
SUBJECT:
INITIATE SECTION 106 CONSULTATION AND REQUEST FOR COMMENTS ON SCOPE OF THE COMANCHE PEAK NUCLEAR POWER PLANT, UNITS 1 AND 2 LICENSE RENEWAL ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Dear Mark Wolfe:
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is conducting a review of the environmental effects of renewing Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant (CPNPP), Units 1 and 2 operating licenses. CPNPP is operated by Vistra Operations Company LLC (Vistra OpCo) in Somervell County, Texas, southwest of Fort Worth (see Enclosure 1). In a letter dated October 3, 2022, Vistra OpCo requested the renewal of CPNPP Units 1 and 2 operating licenses, in accordance with title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) part 54. Under NRC regulations, nuclear power plant operating licenses may be renewed for up to an additional 20 years.
CPNPP Units 1 and 2 current operating licenses will expire on February 8, 2030, and February 2, 2033, respectively.
As part of the license renewal review, the NRC is preparing a site-specific Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement to the Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants, NUREG-1437, under 10 CFR part 51, the NRCs environmental protection regulations for domestic licensing and related regulatory functions. These regulations implement section 102(2) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA). In accordance with 36 CFR 800.8(c), the NRC intends to comply with section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, through the NEPA process, and the purpose of this letter is to initiate section 106 consultation with the Texas Historical Commission.
Under section 106, federal agencies must consider the effects of their actions on historic properties, defined as resources that are included in, or eligible for inclusion in, the National Register. Federal agencies are also required to consult with federally recognized Indian tribes that may attach religious and cultural significance to a historic property.
April 18, 2023
M. Wolfe Lotane 2
For this review, the NRC defines the area of potential effects (APE) as the CPNPP site and its immediate environs, and any areas that may be impacted by ongoing routine maintenance and operations activities during the license renewal term (see Enclosure 2). The APE may extend beyond CPNPP if maintenance and operations activities affect offsite historic properties.
Project Review under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and/or the Antiquities Code of TexasTHC Tracking #202106168 In a letter dated May 27, 2021, your office informed Vistra OpCo that your staff had completed its review of the Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant Units 1 and 2 License Renewal, Hood County (NRC/ 106, THC# 202109853) project. The letter noted the NRC requires the license renewal application to address potential impacts to historic and cultural resources [at CPNPP].
Your staff determined there would be no historic resources present or affected by the proposed license renewal (March 22, 2021, correspondence to Vistra OpCo). Your staff also determined that aboveground historic properties, reaching historic age (50 years or older), would not be affected as there are no anticipated changes to use or construction plans that may alter these resources during the 20-year renewal term.
Based on this information, please provide any comments on the scope of the environmental review within 30 days of the date of this letter. Written comments should be submitted by mail to: Office of Administration, Mail Stop: TWFN-7-A60M, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, ATTN: Program Management, Announcements and Editing Staff. In addition, electronic comments may be submitted to the NRC staff email contact listed below.
The Environmental Report (ER) is available through the web-based version of the NRCs Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS). ADAMS is accessible at:
https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html.
M. Wolfe Lotane 3
The ER is listed under ML22276A082 and at the public project website:
https://www.nrc.gov/reactors/operating/licensing/renewal/applications/comanche-peak.html.
If you have any questions concerning the NRCs license renewal review, please contact Tam Tran, by phone at 301-415-3617 or via email at Tam.Tran@nrc.gov.
Sincerely, Theodore Smith, Chief Environmental Review License Renewal Branch Division of Rulemaking, Environmental, and Financial Support Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Docket Nos. 50-445 and 50-446
Enclosures:
As stated cc:
Caitlin Brashear, Historian Rebecca Shelton Federal Programs Texas Historical Commission P.O. Box 12276 Austin, TX 78711-2276 Signed by Smith, Theodore on 04/18/23
- concurred via email OFFICE REFS: PM REFS:LA REFS: BC NAME TTran AWalker-Smith TSmith DATE 3/21/23 3/29/23 3/31/23
CPNPP Site Area Map
Area of Potential Effect