ML23117A338

Letter to Melanie Benjamin, Chief Executive, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, from Chair Hanson Responds to Concerns Regarding the Tritium Leaks at the Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant

ML23117A338
Person / Time
Site:	Monticello
Issue date:	05/15/2023
From:	Christopher Hanson NRC/Chairman
To:	Benjamin M Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe
Shared Package
ML23102A208	List: ML23117A338
References
LTR-23-0087-1, CORR-23-0044
Download: ML23117A338 (2)

Text

UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON , D.C. 20555-0001 May 15, 2023 CHAIR Melanie Benjamin , Chief Executive Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe 43408 Oodena Drive Onamia, MN 56359

Dear Chief Executive Benjamin :

On behalf of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), I am responding to your letter, dated March 31 , 2023, regarding your concerns with the leaks of water containing tritium at the Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant and the NRC 's lack of notification to and engagement with the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe .

The NRC firmly acknowledges its trust responsibility to the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe and appreciates your reaching out to express the Band 's concerns. While the leaks have not impacted public health and safety, I agree the agency's communications with the public and Tribal Nations could be improved when situations such as the water leaks at Monticello occur.

Guided by our Tribal Policy Statement, the NRC is committed to engaging Tribal Nations and ensuring meaningful and timely conversations regarding NRC's regulated activities . We look forward to strengthening our engagement with the Band .

Thank you also for the feedback on the NRC's public website . We will correct the information on the regional government liaison role and responsibilities to properly reflect engagement with Tribal Nations.

If you have any additional questions or comments, please contact me, Allan Barker, Government Liaison Officer at 630-352-9488, or Jack Giessner, Regional Administrator at 630-829-9654.

Sincerely, Christopher T. Hanson