ML23097A138

Ltr. to Joe Bunch, Chief, United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians, Re., Request for Comments Concerning the Environmental Review of Comanche Peak, Units 1 and 2, License Renewal

ML23097A138
Person / Time
Site:	Comanche Peak
Issue date:	04/10/2023
From:	Tanya Smith NRC/NMSS/DREFS/ELRB
To:	Bunch J United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians
Shared Package
ML23097A128	List: ML23088A185 ML23097A137 ML23097A138 ML23097A139 ML23097A140 ML23097A141 ML23097A142 ML23097A143 ML23097A144 ML23097A145 ML23097A146 ML23097A147 ML23097A148 ML23097A149 ML23097A150 ML23097A151 ML23097A152 ML23097A153 ML23097A155
References
Download: ML23097A138 (1)

Text

Joe Bunch, Chief United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians P.O. Box 746 Tahlequah, OK 74464

SUBJECT:

REQUEST FOR COMMENTS CONCERNING THE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW OF COMANCHE PEAK NUCLEAR POWER PLANT, UNITS 1 AND 2, LICENSE RENEWAL

Dear Chief Joe Bunch:

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 (SEIS) 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 (NHPA), through the NEPA process, and the purpose of this letter is to initiate Section 106 consultation with the Alabama Coushatta Tribe of Texas under NHPA.

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 10, 2023 J. Bunch 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 (see Enclosure 3).

As your Tribe has historic ties to Texas, the NRC invites you to submit comments on the scope of the environmental review. 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.

The CPNPP license renewal application is available at the project public website:

https://www.nrc.gov/reactors/operating/licensing/renewal/applications/comanche-peak.html.

A copy of the draft SEIS will be sent to you for your review and comment. After consideration of public comments received, the NRC will prepare a final SEIS.

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 No. 50-445 and 50-446

Enclosures:

As stated cc: Listserv Whitney Warrior Tribal Historic Preservation Officer United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians wwarrior@ukb-nsn.gov Jason Dalton Section 106 Coordinator United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians jdalton@ukb-nsn.gov Signed by Smith, Theodore on 04/10/23

ML23097A128 (Pkg), ML23097A138 (Ltr) *concurred via email OFFICE REFS: PM REFS:LA REFS: BC

NAME TTran AWalker-Smith TSmith

DATE 3/21/23 4/7/23 4/10/23 Area Map, 50-mile radius

Enclosure 1 Area Map, 6-mile radius

Enclosure 2 CPNPP Site Area Map

Enclosure 3