ML23108A188

Comment (1722) of Beate Nilsen on Notice of Intent to Conduct Scoping Process and Prepare Environmental Impact Statement; Vistra Operations Company LLC; Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant, Units 1 and 2

ML23108A188
Person / Time
Site:	Comanche Peak
Issue date:	01/25/2023
From:	Nilsen B - No Known Affiliation
To:	Office of Administration
References
NRC-2022-0183, 87FR76219 01722
Download: ML23108A188 (1)

Text

SUNSI Review Complete Template=ADM-013 As of: April 05, 2023 E-RIDS=ADM-03 Received: January 25, 2023 PUBLIC SUBMISSION ADD: Tam Tran, Antoinette Status: Pending_Post Walker-Smith, Ted Smith, Mary Tracking No. ldc-0dx5-k74y Neely Comment (1722) Comments Due: January 30, 2023 Publication Date: 12/13/2022 Submission Type: API Citation: 87 FR 76219 Docket: NRC-2022-0183 Vistra Operations Company LLC Comanche Peak Power Company LLC Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant, Units 1 and 2 Comment On: NRC-2022-0183-0003 Notice of Intent To Conduct Scoping Process and Prepare Environmental Impact Statement; Vistra Operations Company LLC; Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant, Units 1 and 2 Document: NRC-2022-0183-DRAFT-1722 Comment on FR Doc # 2022-27025 Submitter Information Name: Beate Nilsen Email: newdna@gmail.com General Comment RE: Docket ID NRC-2022-0183

Dear NRC:

Dont extend aging Comanche Peak nuclear licenses. In June, a fire in the main transformer put two units offline for a week: https://www.dallasnews.com/business/2021/06/15/a-fire-a-week-ago-forced-comanche-peak-to-shut-down-a-nuclear-power-unit-pressuring-the-states-grid/

Comanche Peak plant, "one of the nations newest," is still from 1990, which is still 32 1/2 years old. In February 2021, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission said that a feedwater pump supplying cooling water to the the South Texas Nuclear Power Station went offline, most likely due to yet another frozen pipe. I.e lack of winterization. It was the second time in ten years that this has happened. Somebody is going to need to pony up the money to winterize some if not all of these systems before this happens again.

Aging nuclear reactors become increasingly dangerous and prone to breakdowns and radiation releases but, because the meetings were shut down and reverted to online, without adequate public notice, it's now going to take Congressional hearings to get to the root of all the various NRC operational problems.

I urge you to reject the application by Vistra to extend the operating licenses for the Comanche Peak nuclear power reactors for an additional 20 years. To protect public health, safety, security, and financial health, the reactors should retire as licensed, on or before 2030 and 2033.

I request that in-person scoping meetings be held in Texas, as originally planned, when Covid risks subside. I request that a hearing opportunity be allowed for those seeking to intervene and that the deadline for requesting a hearing be postponed for 90 days past the current January 30 deadline.

file:///nrc.gov/...omments/NRC-2022-0183%20NEW/NRC-2022-0183%202023-04-05%2010-26-49_docs/NRC-2022-0183-DRAFT-1722.html[4/6/2023 1:19:07 PM]

Both an afternoon and evening public meeting were scheduled, but then postponed at the last moment, Four hours of in-person meeting time were reduced to only two hours online. There is now no evening opportunity to participate for people who work in the day, and not everyone can access online meetings. There will be no exhibits or opportunity to speak directly with NRC staff.

I am concerned about the increased safety and financial risks that would result from allowing another 20 years of Comanche Peak nuclear reactor operation. Risks from stress corrosion cracking, metal fatigue and embrittlement would all increase, and thereby increase accident risks and the potential for radiation releases. There are 7.76 million residents in nearby Dallas/Ft. Worth. Public health and safety should come first in this decision.

Scoping should consider that there is no need for 20 more years of nuclear power. Renewable solar and wind generation are the most affordable and safest way to meet energy needs. Texas has abundant renewable resources to tap and a grid to move the power as needed.

Seismic concerns of both the reactors and the Squaw Creek Reservoir need to be re-examined in light of recent earthquake activity. Comanche Peak is within the Barnett Shale, a region with extensive fracking and numerous injection wells. There are fault lines in the area and a magnitude 3 earthquake had its epicenter only 20 miles from the site. The reservoir water contains radioactive tritium, and the integrity of the earthen dam must be included in the scoping, including the extent of inspections and past and anticipated impacts to the dam from seismic activity.

Please extend the deadline for intervention and host in-person meetings and hearings.

Thank you.

file:///nrc.gov/...omments/NRC-2022-0183%20NEW/NRC-2022-0183%202023-04-05%2010-26-49_docs/NRC-2022-0183-DRAFT-1722.html[4/6/2023 1:19:07 PM]