ML23331A004
| ML23331A004 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 11/08/2023 |
| From: | Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards |
| To: | |
| Yanely Malave Valez | |
| References | |
| Download: ML23331A004 (5) | |
Text
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Public Meeting Summary November 8, 2023
Title:
Cumulative Effects of Regulation: Renewing Nuclear Power Plant Operating Licenses -
Environmental Review Meeting Identifier: 20230201 Date of Meeting: November 8, 2023 Time of Meeting: 1:30pm (ET)
Location: Virtual Meeting (via Microsoft Teams)
Type of Meeting: Public Meeting Purpose of Meeting:
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the effective and compliance date of the "Renewing Nuclear Power Plant Operating Licenses - Environmental Review" final rule and obtain public feedback as it pertains to cumulative effects of regulation.
General Details:
The draft final rule titled Renewing Nuclear Power Plant Operating Licenses - Environmental Review would codify the revised findings of the Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants (LR GEIS; NUREG-1437, Revision 2) in Part 51 of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR Part 51), Environmental Protection Regulations for Domestic Licensing and Related Regulatory Functions. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) relies on the findings and analyses in the LR GEIS to determine which resource areas require a nuclear power plant-specific review (e.g., historic and cultural resources, federally protected ecological resources) and those that do not (e.g., land use, socioeconomics). Additionally, the NRC will be issuing the revised LR GEIS and associated guidance contained in Regulatory Guide 4.2, Supplement 1, Revision 2, Preparation of Environmental Reports for Nuclear Power Plant License Renewal Applications, and NUREG-1555, Supplement 1, Revision 2, Standard Review Plans for Environmental Reviews for Nuclear Power Plants, Supplement 1: Operating License Renewal. The draft final rule further redefines the number and scope of the environmental issues that must be addressed by the NRC and applicants during license renewal environmental reviews. These changes are based primarily on the lessons learned and knowledge gained from initial license renewal and subsequent license renewal environmental reviews performed by the NRC since development of the 2013 LR GEIS.
The changes also address Commission direction in Staff Requirements Memorandum (SRM)-
SECY-22-0024, Rulemaking Plan for Renewing Nuclear Power Plant Operating Licenses -
Environmental Review (RIN 3150-AK32, NRC-2018-0296), by thoroughly evaluating the environmental impacts of subsequent license renewal in this review and update. In addition, new scientific research, public comments, changes in environmental regulations and impacts methodology, and other new information were considered in evaluating the significance of impacts associated with license renewal.
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The proposed rule was published in the Federal Register on March 3, 2023 (88 FR 13329) for a 60-day comment period that ended on May 2, 2023. The NRC staff plans to deliver the draft final rule to the Commission in March 2024, and the estimated publication date of the final rule is August 2024.
The meeting session was attended by 46 people, including NRC staff and members of the public.
Summary of Presentation:
Ms. Lynn Ronewicz of the NRC opened the meeting and introduced herself as the meeting facilitator. Ms. Ronewicz discussed the purpose of the meeting and advised participants on the features of the teleconference platform, including how to ask questions and provide comments.
Ms. Ronewicz then introduced Dr. Patricia Holahan of the NRC to give opening remarks.
Dr. Holahan discussed the purpose of the meeting and thanked everyone for their feedback on the proposed rule and interest in the rulemaking. Dr. Holahan then introduced Mrs. Yanely Malave-Velez.
Mrs. Malave-Velez discussed the agenda and purpose on the meeting. She then stated that March 3, 2023, was when the proposed rule was issued for a 60-day public comment that ended on May 2. 2023, and that the NRC staff expects to submit the draft final rule to the Commission in March 2024. Mrs. Malave-Velez explained what the NRC must consider with respect to the Cumulative Effects of Regulations. She then summarized the amendments described in the proposed rule as well as changes to the draft final rule based on public comments received, which included revising the scope of the environmental issue microbiological hazards to the public and the elimination of a duplicative requirement regarding mitigation measures for the issue, Climate change impacts on environmental resources. Additionally, Mrs. Malave-Velez stated that based on feedback from members of the public and agency information on anticipated submittals from licensees; the staff found no reason to deviate from the Commissions direction and the final rule and LR GEIS will only apply to one term of license renewal and one term of subsequent license renewal. Last, she explained that the draft final rule, if approved by the Commission, will have an effective date of 30 days after publication and a compliance date of one year after publication.
Public Feedback and Questions:
Mrs. Ronewicz explained how to provide questions and feedback via Teams webinar and the phone. Members of the public asked clarifying questions on the effective and compliance dates and changes to the draft final rule due to public comments. For a detailed description of the questions and comments, please review the meeting transcript (ADAMS Accession No. ML23331A005).
Closing:
Mrs. Malave-Velez thanked everyone for their time and attention and ended the meeting.
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Related Documents ADAMS Accession Numbers:
- ML23299A159 - Notice of Public Meeting on Cumulative Effects of Regulation:
Renewing Nuclear Power Plant Operating Licenses - Environmental Review
- ML23296A199 - NRC Presentation on Cumulative Effects of Regulation: Renewing Nuclear Power Plant Operating Licenses - Environmental Review
- ML23331A005 - Official Transcript of November 8, 2023, Cumulative Effects of Regulation: Renewing Nuclear Power Plant Operating Licenses - Environmental Review 3
Cumulative Effects of Regulation: Renewing Nuclear Power Plant Operating Licenses -
Environmental Review Public Meeting Attendees list (Virtual Attendance)
November 8, 2023 Name Organization / Affiliation 1 Yanely Malave-Velez NRC 2 Kevin Folk NRC 3 Jennifer Davis NRC 4 Robert Hoffman NRC 5 Patricia Holahan NRC 6 Ilka Berrios NRC 7 Bill Rogers NRC 8 Lynn Ronewicz NRC 9 Neil Sheehan NRC 10 Lisa Matis Tetra Tech 11 James Cordes Court Reporter 12 Brett Titus Nuclear Energy Institute 13 Joseph Herbert Bashore Tennessee Valley Authority 14 Todd Evans Luminant 15 April Rice 16 Thomas Casey Balch 17 Paul F Guill Duke Energy 18 Ryan K Lighty Morgan Lewis 19 Jim DeLano Southern Company 20 Ben Spiesman Energy Harbor 21 EC 4N 420 Southern Company 22 Sherwin Turk NRC 23 Kristin Meek Constellation Nuclear 24 Keith J Miller Dominion Energy 25 Amy G. Aughtman Southern Company 26 Allison Stalker Constellation Nuclear 27 Rachel Turney Enercon 28 Kimberly D Leigh Pacific Northwest National Laboratory 29 Maxwell Smith NRC 30 Tracey LeRoy Duke Energy 31 Alyssa Valentine NRC 32 Joseph Azeizat NRC 33 Jeremy Wachutka NRC 34 Katie A Wagner Pacific Northwest National Laboratory 35 Julie Ezell NRC 36 Ethan Licon NRC 37 O'NEILL, Martin Nuclear Energy Institute 38 Leigh Lloveras Breakthrough Institute 4
Name Organization / Affiliation 39 David Roth NRC 40 Samuel Lee NRC 41 Lauren Gibson NRC 42 Louis Tony Banks Southern Company 43 Ted Smith NRC 44 Steve Koenick NRC 45 Caitlin A Condon Pacific Northwest National Laboratory 46 Richard T Giachetti Sargent Lundy 5