ML23268A327

Letter from EPA Regarding Kairos Hermes CP Feis

ML23268A327
Person / Time
Site:	Hermes
Issue date:	09/25/2023
From:	Kajumba N US Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4
To:	Tami Dozier Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards
References
Download: ML23268A327 (1)

Text

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION 4 SAM NUNN ATLANTA FEDERAL CENTER 61 FORSYTH STREET, SW ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303-8960 September 25, 2023 Tamsen Dozier Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 RE: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Comments on the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Construction Permit for the Kairos Hermes Test Reactor Permit. CEQ #20230107

Dear Tamsen Dozier:

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reviewed the U.S Nuclear Regulatory Commissions (NRC) above-referenced Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) in accordance with Section 309 of the Clean Air Act (CAA) and Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The CAA Section 309 role is unique to EPA. It requires EPA to review and comment publicly on any proposed federal action subject to NEPAs environmental impact statement requirements and to make its comments public.

The FEIS was prepared in response to an application submitted by Kairos Power, LLC (Kairos) for a construction permit (CP) for a non-power test reactor termed Hermes at a site in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

Kairos plans to build and operate Hermes to demonstrate key elements of the Kairos Power Fluoride Salt-Cooled, High Temperature Reactor technology for possible future commercial deployment. The NRC proposes to issue a CP to Kairos to construct the proposed Hermes non-power test reactor facilities on a site in the East Tennessee Technology Park.

The FEIS considered three alternatives: the No Action alternative and two site location alternatives.

Under the No Action alternative, the NRC would not issue a construction permit to Kairos to build a test reactor to demonstrate the new technology. The alternative selection process involved consideration of multiple sites, leading to two alternative site locations: (1) the proposed site is located within the East Tennessee Technology Park in Oak Ridge, Tennessee; and (2) an alternative site in Eagle Rock, Idaho.

We appreciate the inclusion of our previous comments in the FEIS and NRCs responses related to water resources and environmental justice. Based on our review of the FEIS, we have not identified any additional public health, welfare, or environmental quality concerns that should be addressed in the Record of Decision.

The EPA appreciates the opportunity to review the FEIS for the Construction Permit for the Kairos Hermes Test Reactor. If you have any questions regarding this letter, please contact Larry Long at (404) 562-9460, or by e-mail at long.larry@epa.gov.

Sincerely, Kajumb Digitally signed by Kajumba, Ntale a, Ntale Date: 2023.09.25 07:29:27 -04'00' Ntale Kajumba NEPA Manager